Zechariah 7:2

When they had sent unto the house of God Sherezer and Regemmelech, and their men, to pray before the LORD,

When they had sent {H7971} unto the house {H1004} of God {H410} Sherezer {H8272} and Regemmelech {H7278}, and their men {H582}, to pray {H2470} before {H6440} the LORD {H3068},

He sent Sar'etzer and Regem-Melekh with his men to Beit-El in order to ask ADONAI's favor,

Now the people of Bethel had sent Sharezer and Regem-melech, along with their men, to plead before the LORD

Now they of Beth-el had sent Sharezer and Regem-melech, and their men, to entreat the favor of Jehovah,

Commentary

Context

Zechariah 7:2 opens a new section of Zechariah's prophecies, set in the fourth year of King Darius's reign (approximately 518 BC). This was about 18 years after the initial return of the Jewish exiles from Babylon to Judah, and roughly two years after Zechariah himself began his prophetic ministry. The people had returned, and while the foundation of the Second Temple had been laid, its construction had stalled for years. This verse introduces a delegation from Bethel, a significant city north of Jerusalem, who came to the newly re-established "house of God" with an important question concerning long-held fasting practices, as further revealed in Zechariah 7:3.

Meaning of Zechariah 7:2

This verse describes the arrival of a delegation from Bethel, specifically mentioning Sherezer and Regemmelech, along with their men. Their destination was Jerusalem, specifically "the house of God"—the Temple, which was the spiritual and ceremonial center for the returned exiles. Their stated purpose was "to pray before the LORD," indicating a desire to seek divine guidance or favor. The presence of individuals with Babylonian names like Sherezer (possibly meaning "prince of fire" or "prince of the treasury") and Regemmelech (meaning "friend of the king" or "king's stone") suggests these might have been prominent figures, perhaps even officials, or simply individuals who had retained their Babylonian given names from the exile.

Key Themes

  • Seeking God's Will: The primary action of the delegation is to "pray before the LORD" and inquire of Him. This highlights the post-exilic community's desire, at least in some segments, to understand and align with God's will, particularly concerning religious practices.
  • The Centrality of the Temple: Even though the Second Temple was still under construction and not yet fully restored to its former glory, it remained the designated place for the people to approach God. Its importance as the spiritual hub for worship and inquiry is evident.
  • Transition and Inquiry: The period after the Babylonian exile was one of significant transition for the Jewish people. This verse captures a moment where they are grappling with how to live out their faith in the new reality, prompting them to seek divine answers to their questions.

Linguistic Insights

The names Sherezer and Regemmelech are distinctly Babylonian, reflecting the period of exile and the cultural influence from which the people were emerging. While their precise identities are not elaborated upon, their names underscore the historical reality of the Jewish people's recent past under foreign rule, even as they sought to re-establish their identity in the land of Judah.

Practical Application

Zechariah 7:2 offers a timeless lesson in seeking God's guidance. Just as the delegation traveled to the "house of God" to inquire, believers today are called to diligently seek God's face and His guidance through prayer, His Word, and the community of faith. When faced with questions about religious practice, personal decisions, or societal challenges, the first step should always be to "pray before the LORD" and earnestly seek His wisdom. This verse reminds us that genuine faith involves not only performing rituals but also a heartfelt desire to understand and obey God's directives.

Note: If the commentary doesn’t appear instantly, please allow 2–5 seconds for it to load. It is generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash using a prompt focused on Biblical fidelity over bias. While the insights have been consistently reliable, we encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated — the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • Zechariah 8:21

    And the inhabitants of one [city] shall go to another, saying, Let us go speedily to pray before the LORD, and to seek the LORD of hosts: I will go also.

  • Jeremiah 26:19

    Did Hezekiah king of Judah and all Judah put him at all to death? did he not fear the LORD, and besought the LORD, and the LORD repented him of the evil which he had pronounced against them? Thus might we procure great evil against our souls.

  • 1 Samuel 13:12

    Therefore said I, The Philistines will come down now upon me to Gilgal, and I have not made supplication unto the LORD: I forced myself therefore, and offered a burnt offering.

  • 1 Kings 13:6

    And the king answered and said unto the man of God, Intreat now the face of the LORD thy God, and pray for me, that my hand may be restored me again. And the man of God besought the LORD, and the king's hand was restored him again, and became as [it was] before.

  • Exodus 32:11

    And Moses besought the LORD his God, and said, LORD, why doth thy wrath wax hot against thy people, which thou hast brought forth out of the land of Egypt with great power, and with a mighty hand?

  • Ezra 6:10

    That they may offer sacrifices of sweet savours unto the God of heaven, and pray for the life of the king, and of his sons.

  • Ezra 7:15

    And to carry the silver and gold, which the king and his counsellors have freely offered unto the God of Israel, whose habitation [is] in Jerusalem,
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