Zechariah 7:3 - Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible

To speak unto, to consult with, the priests: they were to be the ordinary casuists, and ought to be able and ready to answer all cases of conscience, as Zechariah 2:7. Which were in; had their residence in or about the temple. And to the prophets: these were extraordinary casuists, who, might be supposed able to satisfy the inquiry, if the priests could not. These prophets were Haggai and Zechariah. Should I weep, i.e. fast, of which weeping was a part, 1 Samuel 1:7 Matthew 9:15. In the fifth month; in sad remembrance of the burning of the temple on the 10th day of that month. Separating myself from worldly cares and designs, and afflicting myself. As I have done: this intimateth their former practice, and seems to include in it some little boasting of it. These so many years: it had been easy for them to have reckoned up the exact number of years, but they choose rather to express it thus, to greaten their performance.