Zechariah 1:8

The prophet saw a vision, and in his vision it was night. He saw a man sitting on a red (bay, reddish-brown) horse among myrtle trees in a ravine. He also saw red, sorrel (Heb. seruqim, mixed color), and white horses behind the man on the red horse. There were riders on these horses too (Zechariah 1:11).

To Zechariah, who knew the Old Testament and who lived in a particular culture (Persian as well as Hebrew), the meaning of these symbols would have been more readily apparent than they are to the modern reader.

"Viewed from the perspective of a literary type, symbolism has a unique force, impressing itself on the mind and touching the emotions with greater facility and power than prosaic literary types." [Note: Thomas E. McComiskey, "Zechariah," in The Minor Prophets, p. 1012.]

Night had connotations of gloom, obscurity, and foreboding. The present was such a period for the Israelites. The light of joy, clear sight, and security was yet to break for them. The riders evidently represent some of the Lord’s angelic army (host) that serve as His scouts and report world conditions to Him (Zechariah 1:10). Horses were instruments of war and prestigious possessions (Zechariah 10:3; 1 Kings 10:26), and the colors of these horses apparently represent their mission. The colors doubtless implied something to Zechariah, possibly bloodshed, a mixed mission (of judgment and blessing), and victory (cf. Zechariah 6:2; Isaiah 63:1-6; Revelation 6:4). If their color was very significant, the angel probably would have commented on it. Some scholars believed the colors of the horses has no significance. [Note: E.g., Smith, p. 190.] But if so, why did Zechariah mention their different colors?

"Compare Revelation 6:4. The whole period of Gentile world power is characterized by the red horse, i.e. by the sword. Cp. also Daniel 9:26; Matthew 24:6-7." [Note: The New Scofield Reference Bible, p. 964.]

Myrtle trees were evergreens used in the feast of Tabernacles to picture future endless messianic blessings that would come to Israel (Nehemiah 8:15; Isaiah 41:19; Isaiah 55:13). [Note: Leupold, p. 33.] Here they represent Israel. The ravine may hint at Israel’s present depressed position in Zechariah’s day. One amillennialist took the myrtle trees as typifying "the Jewish Church." [Note: Charles L. Feinberg, "Zechariah," in The Wycliffe Bible Commentary, p. 898.] Others take them as representing the church or God’s people of all ages.