Matthew Poole and continuators on Zechariah 1:12

12 ¶ Then the angel of the LORD answered and said , O LORD of hosts , how long wilt thou not have mercy on Jerusalem , and on the cities of Judah, against which thou hast had indignation these threescore and ten years ?

When the surveying Angels had made their report of the Prosperity of the Heathen.

The Angel, the Lord Christ, Mediator of the Church, and head of the Church.

Prays as one interceding.

Christ speaks to his Father, speaks as one much affected with the state of his afflicted Church.

It is the expostulation that well befits a praying Soul, it is not the enquiry of a discontented mind, but the request of one longing for mercy. So David, Psal. 13.1, 2. and the souls under the Altar, Rev. 6.10.

Ierusalem, thy chosen Mountain, heir of Promises to be re-edified, and on Iudah's Cities too, of whose rebuilding, peace and pr[illegible: 1 letter]sperity thou hast, O Lord, spoken great things, Ier. 30.31.32. and 33. Chapters, and Ezek. 36. and 37, &c. chapters.

They have felt thine anger and hot displeasure, it was just, and is so still; but it is not to be perpetual; thine anger hath smoaked against the sheep of thy Pasture.

The term prefixt for the captivity is fully come, 'tis the seventieth year of thei[illegible: 1 letter] miserable captivity; now shew mercy, build Sion, and glorifie thy self in doing it, for the set time is come. It is now 70 years since thy Temple was burnt, and Ierusalem sack'd. And full 80 years since Ieconias with many of thy people were carried captive into Babylon, and somewhat more, since many were carried with Iehoiachim, from which to the second of Darius are much about eighty eight, or nine years.

Marginal references: Dan. 9.2.