Zechariah 1:6

“But my words and my statutes, which I commanded my servants the prophets, etc.] That is, the predictions which he ordered his prophets to declare in his name, that their fathers should die by the sword, or famine, or pestilence, or be carried captive, which he purposed in himself, and threatened them with: did they not take hold of your fathers? overtake them, seize upon them, and have their accomplishment in them? not one thing has failed, or come short of being fulfilled, of all that was determined, or said should be done: and they returned and said; that is, as many of them as perished not, but were carried captive; at least many of them, who either were thoroughly converted, and turned…”

“statutes--My determined purposes to punish for sin. which I commanded my servants--namely, to announce to your fathers. did they not take hold--that is, overtake, as a foe overtakes one fleeing. they returned--Turning from their former self-satisfaction, they recognized their punishment as that which God's prophets had foretold. thought to do--that is, decreed to do. Compare with this verse Lam 2:17. our ways--evil ways (Jer 4:18; Jer 17:10; Jer 23:2).”

“Only My words and My decrees - Which God spake by them, “did not they overtake them?” (as Psalms 2:7; Zephaniah 2:2). Pagan reminiscence of God’s justice acknowledged , “Rarely hath punishment with limping tread parted with the forerunning miscreant.” “All these curses,” Moses foretells, “shall come upon thee and overtake thee, until thou art destroyed” Deuteronomy 28:45. And they returned to God and said - The history of the Jews in Babylon is omitted in Holy Scripture, except as to His special dealings with Daniel and his three companions. Yet Jeremiah confesses in words, what Zechariah had apparently in his mind; “The Lord hath done that which He purposed; He hath fulfilled His word,…”

“My words - The dreadful menaces which I spake. My statutes - The decreed judgments which I resolved to execute on them, which by my prophets I proclaimed. Take hold - Overtake as a pursuing enemy overtakes, and seizeth on his enemy. They returned - By this it should seem that Zechariah gave them time to consider what answer to give. So hath he dealt - It is true, as God said he would do, so he hath done against us. Zechariah 1:8”

“1:6 everything . . . happened: The covenant curses (Deut 28:15-68) had overtaken their ancestors who refused to obey God.”

“my words: Isa 55:1 did: Num 23:19, Num 32:23; Ch2 36:17-21; Isa 44:26; Jer 26:15, Jer 44:28; Eze 12:25-28; Dan 9:11, Dan 9:12; Mat 24:35 take hold of: or, overtake, Deu 28:15, Deu 28:45; Jer 12:16; Amo 9:10; Th1 5:4 they returned: Job 6:29; Mal 3:18 Like: Lam 1:18, Lam 2:17, Lam 4:11, Lam 4:12; Eze 37:11 thought: Num 33:56; Jer 23:20 according to our ways: Deu 28:20; Isa 3:8-11; Jer 4:4, Jer 18:8-11; Eze 20:43; Hos 9:15, Hos 2:6-11 Zechariah 1:7”