Zechariah 7:1-3

Context

The Hypocrisy of False Fasting

7:1 In King Darius’ fourth year, on the fourth day of Kislev, the ninth month,¹ the word of the Lord came to Zechariah. 7:2 Now the people of Bethel² had sent Sharezer and Regem-Melech and their companions to seek the Lord’s favor 7:3 by asking both the priests of the temple³ of the Lord who rules over all and the prophets, “Should we weep in the fifth month,⁴ fasting as we have done over the years?”

[7:1] ¹sn The fourth day of Kislev, the ninth month would be December 7, 518 b.c., 22 months after the previous eight visions.

[7:2] ²map For location see Map4 G4; Map5 C1; Map6 E3; Map7 D1; Map8 G3.

[7:3] ³tn Heb “house” (so NAB, NIV, NRSV).

[7:3] ⁴sn This lamentation marked the occasion of the destruction of Solomon’s temple on August 14, 586 b.c., almost exactly 70 years earlier (cf. 2 Kgs 25:8).