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The Reason the Land Became Desolate

In the fourth year of King Darius,[a] the word of the Lord came to Zechariah on the fourth day of the ninth month, which is Kislev.[b]

The people of Bethel had sent Sharezer and Regem Melek with their men to plead for the favor of the Lord by asking the priests who were at the house of the Lord of Armies and the prophets, “Should I mourn and fast in the fifth month, as I have done these many years?”

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Footnotes

  1. Zechariah 7:1 That is, 518 bc
  2. Zechariah 7:1 That is, November/December

Justice and Mercy, Not Fasting

In the fourth year of King Darius, the word of the Lord came to Zechariah(A) on the fourth day of the ninth month, the month of Kislev.(B) The people of Bethel had sent Sharezer and Regem-Melek, together with their men, to entreat(C) the Lord(D) by asking the priests of the house of the Lord Almighty and the prophets, “Should I mourn(E) and fast in the fifth(F) month, as I have done for so many years?”

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Obedience Better than Fasting

Now in the fourth year of King Darius it came to pass that the word of the Lord came to Zechariah, on the fourth day of the ninth month, Chislev, when [a]the people sent [b]Sherezer, with Regem-Melech and his men, to [c]the house of God, [d]to pray before the Lord, and to (A)ask the priests who were in the house of the Lord of hosts, and the prophets, saying, “Should I weep in (B)the fifth month and [e]fast as I have done for so many years?”

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Footnotes

  1. Zechariah 7:2 Lit. they, cf. v. 5
  2. Zechariah 7:2 Or Sar-Ezer
  3. Zechariah 7:2 Heb. Bethel
  4. Zechariah 7:2 Or to entreat the favor of
  5. Zechariah 7:3 Lit. consecrate myself