Matthew Poole and continuators on Zechariah 7:5

5 Speak unto all the people of the land , and to the priests , saying, When ye fasted and mourned in the fifth , and seventh moneths, even those seventy years , did ye at all fast unto me ? even to me ?

i. e. Either by their messengers who came in their name, or to all the Jews that were at Ierusalem.

By which it seems to be not the loiterers in Babylon, but the returned in Iudea, that sent.

Some of these perhaps doubted; and others might overvalue, and dote on these voluntary services, and needed as well as deserved, a reproof.

Who prescribed this your Fast? and since you needs would, (as it was at liberty you might fast, and mourn) who was better for it? or did you do it to please me, when you displeased me by other, your sinful courses?

See ver. 3. let. p.

For the murther of Gedalia[illegible: 1 letter], slain by Ihmael, Ier. 41.1.

So many they were since Gedaliah's death to this time of enquiry, which is made now as many years after the return as Gedaliah was slain after the beginning of the captivity.

What ever was in it. There was very little in it from me, no command, no honour, as you ordered it, you pleased your selves in it, not me; you wept more for the inconveniences of the thing, then the sinfulness of it. Had you fasted to me, you would have abstained more from sin, which I forbad, then from meats which I did not forbid.

As if God had said, I put it once more to you, did you indeed fast to me?

Marginal references: Isa. 5[illegible: 1 letter].5.; chap. 1.12.; See Rom. 14.