Zechariah 7:3

(3) In.—Better, belonging to. LXX., wrongly, ἐν τῷ οἴκῳ.

In the fifth month.—On the tenth of the fifth month (Ab), Nebuzar-adan burnt the Temple and Jerusalem with fire (Jeremiah 52:12-13), but in 2 Kings 25:8-10, the seventh day of the fifth month is given as the date; perhaps it was in flames for three days. Now that the re-building was well in progress, they naturally desired to know whether the fast which had been kept in commemoration of the past calamity should be still held.

Separating myself—viz., from meat and drink. LXX., for “shall I weep, separating myself?” give εἰσελήλυθεν ὧδε . . . τὸ ἁγίασμα, reading the same consonants, but different vowels (see my Student’s Commentary). Consequently, instead of “as I have done,” LXX. give καθότι ἐποίησεν.

7:4-8:23. The prophet’s answer is contained in four sections (Zechariah 7:4-14; Zechariah 8:1-23), each of which is introduced by the words, “The word of the Lord of Hosts came,” &c., as a testimony that he spake not of himself.