John Trapp on Zechariah 7:14

Verſe 14. But I ſcattered them with a whirl-wind] This is the ſecond part of their puniſhment. The firſt was no audience, or help from heaven at their greateſt need, verſe 13. This was the curſe of Saul, 1 Sam. 28.15. of Moah, Eſay 16.12. of Davids enemies, Pſal. 18.41. The next now is, they were diſjected and diſſipated, as the duſt of the mountains before a whirl-wind: caſt out of their native ſoil, and carried they knew not whither, with a great and fearfull diſperſion, and diſcerption of the ſame body and nation.

thus the land was deſolate after them] This is the third degree of their grievous puniſhment, their land laid utterly waſte and deſolate: according to that, God turneth a fruitfull land into barrenneſſe for the wickedneſſe of them that dwell therein, Pſal. 107.34. Here a learned Expoſitour obſerveth a wonderfull providence,M. Pemble in loc. that this pleaſant countrey, left thus deſtitute of inhabitants, and compaſſed about with warlike Nations, was not invaded, and replanted by forreiners for ſeventy yeers ſpace: but enjoyed her Sabbaths, reſting from tillage and all other employments.

for they laid the pleaſant land deſolate] They, by their ſinnes, rather then the Babylonians by their Armies, did all this ſpoil, as Daiel alſo confeſſeth, chap. 9.16. and Nehemiah, chap 1.8. Sin is the great make-bate, hell-hag, trouble-town that hurled confuſion over the world at firſt: and brings deſolation ſtill to pleaſant countreys. Paleſtins was very pleaſant, not more by the nature of the ſoil,Ezek. 20.[illegible: 1 letter] then by Gods ſpeciall bleſſing: a land that he had eſpied out for them, flowing with milk and honey, which was the glory of all lands: This land they had laid deſolate, or for an aſtoniſhment, as ſome render it: or for an In qua quid? as Montanus reads it, What's here? Nothing of its old pleaſantneſſe.