Zechariah 7:3

“And to speak unto the priests which were in the house of the Lord of hosts, etc.] That ministered in the sanctuary, as the Targum explains it, who offered sacrifices, etc. and who were to be consulted in matters of religion, (<390207>Malachi 2:7): and to the prophets; who were then in being, as Haggai, Zechariah and Malachi: saying, Should I weep in the fifth month; which is the month Ab, and answers to July: now on the seventh day of this month, according to (<122508>2 Kings 25:8,9), the temple was burnt by the Chaldeans; and, according to (<240312>Jeremiah 3:12,13), it was on the tenth of this month, which day was kept by the Jews as a day of fasting and humiliation, in commemoration of…”

“Should I weep in the fifth month--"I" represents here the people of God (compare Zac 8:21). This rather favors MAURER'S view, taking "the house of God," the congregation, as nominative to "sent." Their hypocrisy appeared because they showed more concern about a ceremony of human institution (not improper in itself) than about moral obedience. If, too, they had trusted God's promise as to the restoration of Church and State, the fast would have now given place to joy, for which there was more cause than for grief [PEMBELLUS]. to the prophets--Haggai and Zechariah especially. The tenth day of the fifth month was kept a fast, being the anniversary of the destruction of Jerusalem (Jer 52:12-14).…”

“Should I weep in the fifth month, separating myself? - “In the fifth month,” from the seventh to the tenth day, Jerusalem was in flames, fired by Nebuchadnezzar. “He burnt the house of the Lord, and the king’s house, and all the houses of Jerusalem and every great man’s house he burnt with fire” . Jerome: “Now since it is said that the temple is builded and we see that no cause of sorrow remaineth, answer, we pray, are we to do this or to change our sorrow into joy?” Separating myself - This seems to be added, to intensify the fast which they had kept. The Nazarite was bound to “separate himself from wine and strong drink” Numbers 6:3, and so, they severed themselves to the Lord, and…”

“The prophets - Haggai and Zechariah. Weep - Fast, in remembrance of the burning of the temple on the tenth day of that month. Separating myself - From worldly cares and designs. Zechariah 7:5”

“7:3 The delegation from Bethel posed a practical procedural question.”

“speak: Deu 17:9-11, Deu 33:10; Eze 44:23, Eze 44:24; Hos 4:6; Hag 2:11; Mal 2:7 Should: Zac 7:5; Neh 8:9-11, Neh 9:1-3; Ecc 3:4; Isa 22:12, Isa 22:13; Joe 2:17; Mat 9:15; Jam 4:8-10 fifth: This was a fast for the burning of the temple, as that of the seventh month was for the death of Gedaliah; and seeing that the city and temple were in part rebuilt, they wished to know whether they should continue the observance of them. Zac 8:19; Kg2 25:8, Kg2 25:9; Jer 52:12-14 separating: Zac 12:12-14; Co1 7:5 Zechariah 7:4”