Zechariah 7:14

“But I scattered them with a whirlwind, etc.] Denoting the fierceness of his wrath, and the strength of his fury, seen in their dispersion: among all the nations whom they knew not; such as the Babylonians, Medes, and Persians, people before unknown to the Jews: thus the land was desolate after them; that is, the land of Judea was destitute of inhabitants, or had but few remaining in it, after the Jews were carried captive into Babylon; for the rest, after the death of Gedaliah, fled into Egypt: that no man passed through, nor returned; neither from Egypt, nor from Babylon, until the seventy years of captivity were ended; nor indeed did any from other nations pass through and fro, or settle…”

“whirlwind--of wrath (Nah 1:3). nations whom they knew not--foreign and barbarous. desolate after them--after their expulsion and exile. It was ordered remarkably by God's providence, that no occupants took possession of it, but that during the Jews' absence it was reserved for them against their return after seventy years. they laid . . . desolate--The Jews did so by their sins. The blame of their destruction lay with themselves, rather than with the Babylonians (Ch2 36:21). pleasant land--Canaan. Literally, "the land of desire" (Jer 3:19). Next: Zechariah Chapter 8”

“But I scattered them - Rather, “And I will scatter them.” The saying continues what God had said that he had said, and which had come to pass. Among all nations whom they knew not. So God had repeatedly said by Jeremiah, “I will cast you out of this land into a land that ye know not, ye nor your fathers; where I will not show you favor” (Jeremiah 16:13; add Jeremiah 15:14; Jeremiah 17:4). This was the aggravation of the original woe in the law: “The Lord shall bring a nation against thee from far, from the end of the earth, a nation whose tongue thou shalt not understand, a nation of fierce countenance” Deuteronomy 28:49-50. There was no mitigation of suffering, when the common bond between…”

“They laid the land desolate - By their sins. Next: Zechariah Chapter 8”

“7:14 As with a whirlwind, I scattered them: The scattering of the Hebrews among the nations was one of the curses for violating the Mosaic covenant (Deut 28:36-37, 64). • The pleasant land was the land of God’s covenant promise (Ps 106:24; Jer 3:19). • Their land became . . . desolate through divine judgment on their covenant unfaithfulness and idolatry (Jer 12:10).”

“scattered: Zac 2:6, Zac 9:14; Lev 26:33; Deu 4:27, Deu 28:33, Deu 28:64; Psa 58:9; Isa 17:13, Isa 21:1; Isa 66:15; Jer 4:11, Jer 4:12, Jer 23:19, Jer 25:32, Jer 25:33, Jer 30:23, Jer 36:19; Amo 1:14; Nah 1:3; Hab 3:14 whom: Deu 28:33, Deu 28:49; Jer 5:15 the land: Lev 26:22; Ch2 36:21; Jer 52:30; Dan 9:16-18; Zep 3:6 the pleasant land: Heb. the land of desire, Dan 8:9 Next: Zechariah Chapter 8”