In the eighth month, &c. Zechariah's first prophecy is dated (Zechariah 1:1) "in the eighth month in the second year of Darius" (Hystaspis) (410 b. c.). sixteen years after the Decree of Cyrus. It thus comes midway between Haggai's second and third messages. See notes on Haggai 1:1-10.
Modern critics first assume that the day ought to be named, and then further assume that it has "fallen out accidentally"!
Darius. Darius (Hystaspis). See App-57.
the LORD. Hebrew. Jehovah. App-4,
Zechariah. Remembered of Jehovah.
Berechiah. Blessed of Jehovah. Compare Matthew 23:35. This prophet would be the one referred to by the Lord, unless the father of the Zechariah of 2 Chronicles 24:20; 2 Chronicles 24:21 had more than one name, which was sometimes the ease. See Esau's wives (Genesis 26:34; Genesis 28:9; Genesis 36:2; Genesis 36:3). The latter would be the last (and Abel the first in the O.T.), according to the place of Chronicles in the Hebrew Canon (see App-1).
son. Put by Figure of speech Synecdoche (of Species), App-6, for descendant.
Iddo. See Ezra 5:1; Ezra 6:14.Nehemiah 12:4.Nehemiah 12:16.