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.