Zechariah 7:3 [And] to speak unto the priests which [were] in the house of the LORD of hosts, and to the prophets, saying, Should I weep in the fifth month, separating myself, as I have done these so many years?
Ver. 3. And to speak unto the priests] Whose office is to preserve knowledge, and present it too; to teach Jacob God's judgments, and to put incense before him, Deuteronomy 33:10, to sell oil, Matthew 25:9, to bring balm from Gilead, Jeremiah 8:22, to speak as the oracles of God, 1 Peter 4:11, which scarcely one of a thousand has the skill of, Job 33:23 .
And to the prophets] Who were extraordinarily raised up sometimes by God, to assist the priests in teaching the people, and to shame them for their backwardness to such businesses. See Trapp on " Zec 7:1 "
Should I weep] That is, fast, which was ever with weeping, see Joel 2:15,17, and affliction of the soul, Leviticus 16:31; Leviticus 23:27; which indeed is the soul of a fast, and without the which it is but as a brainless head, or a lifeless carcase. What is a humble day (saith one) without a humble heart? not only an irreligious incongruity, but a high provocation; like Zimri's act when all the congregation were weeping before the door of the tabernacle?
In the fifth month] Wherein the temple was consumed to ashes, Jeremiah 52:12. In a sad remembrance whereof the Jews took up that tenth day of the fifth month for a solemn fast every year, till now.
Separating myself] Heb. Nazariting myself that is, abridging myself of meats, drinks, and delights. Hence a fasting day is called a day of restraint, Joel 2:15. Hence it hath its hand both in Hebrew and Greek, Tsom, Nηστειο Hence also it is spoken of as a foul fault, Isaiah 58:3 "Behold in the day of your fast ye find your pleasure." The Popish fast is a mere mock fast; for they separate themselves from some kind of meats only; it is not a total abstinence. And herein they come short of the very Turks, who upon their fasting days will not so much as taste a cup of water, or wash their mouths with water all the day long, before the stars appear in the sky; and then they make all the cheer and joy they can devise. Like as the Attic dames in their Thesmophoria (a feast of Ceres) prepared themselves with fasting, but after that laid the reins on the neck, and ran riot.
As I have done these so many years?] Seventy at least. But they seem to reckon up upon so many as was scarce to be told; and that therefore God was deep in their debt. Is it not time now to give over, since the temple was almost rebuilt? This was the great case propounded by these Questionists. Hereunto an answer is made by the prophet in the two following Chapter s, and this answer is partly reprehensory, Zechariah 7:1,14, partly consolatory, Zechariah 8:1,23. The Sun of righteousness loves not to set in a cloud.