Zechariah 7:1Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

It is essential, then, to ascertain the identities of Sarasar and Arcever, the king, and his companions. What is the significance of the sanctuary in the fifth month? What do the inquiries signify, and what aims do the questioners pursue?

When Hosea, son of Elah, ruled over the ten tribes in Samaria, he inclined greatly toward idolatry, leading God to express His fury against Israel. Consequently, Salmanasar, king of Assyria, invaded the region, captured Samaria, and exiled Israel’s people, commanding some from Chaldea to settle in Israel, thereby transferring ownership of the land to the Persians as they became inhabitants. This account is detailed in the fourth book of Kings: "In the summer of the second decade of Ahaz king of Judah, Hosea the son of Elah reigned over Israel for nine years in Samaria. And he did evil in the sight of the Lord, yet not like the kings of Israel preceding him. And Salmanasar king of Assyria came against him, and Hosea became his vassal. It continues: 'And Israel was carried away from their own land to Assyria, even to this day' (4 Kings 17:1-3, 23-24). These settlers in Samaria became known as the Samaritans, eventually having families and adopting Jewish customs due to fear of lions that attacked them. Among them were Sarasar and Arcever; he was referred to as king because he led those who had been settled in Samaria from Persian lands.

Now, regarding the sanctuary, even before Nebuchadnezzar's conquest of Judah, the holy prophet Joel foresaw the impending events, urging the priests and people to mourn, for Jerusalem would soon be trampled by enemies and the most sacred temple would be consumed by fire. The prophet proclaimed: "Weep, you who serve at the altar; come, lie in your sackcloth, you who minister before God, for the grain offering and the drink offering are cut off from the house of your God. Consecrate a fast, proclaim a solemn assembly, gather the elders and all the inhabitants of the land to the house of the Lord your God, and cry out to the Lord, 'Alas for the day!' (Joel 1:13-15)."

The fulfillment of these prophecies can similarly be explained through Holy Scripture. In the fourth book of Kings, it states: "In the fifth month, on the seventh day of the month, in the nineteenth year of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, Nebuzardan, the captain of the guard, a servant of the king of Babylon, came to Jerusalem. And he burnt the house of the Lord, and the king's house, and all the houses of Jerusalem" (4 Kings 25:8-9). Later, in the seventh month, Gedaliah was appointed over the remaining people of Israel, whom he betrayed, resulting in the death of Ishmael, son of Nathan, who was of the royal lineage (4 Kings 25:25).

Since Jerusalem was captured and the temple was burned on the seventh day of the fifth month, and Gedaliah was killed in the seventh month, the remnant of the Jewish people, mindful of the prophet’s warnings, determined that on the fifth month, and specifically on the seventh day, all from neighboring regions should gather in Jerusalem to fast and mourn as if for the dead, weeping as if over a corpse for the temple and shedding tears over the devastated city, believing this response to calamity was a fitting service to God. Yet Israel observed this when still in bondage, unconcerned for the divine temple. When they returned from the land of the Persians and Medes, residing in the holy city and eventually rebuilding the temple, they found this custom unwise and unprofitable. Instead, they recognized it was more fitting to turn from grief to joy, celebrating feasts and giving thanks to the One who called them to liberation.

The Lord responded to the messengers through the prophet, instructing them to inform their constituents that they were mistaken in believing their captivity was solely a consequence of fasting for matters not commanded by God. Instead, He warned them that the true cause of their exile was their failure to observe His commandments and laws. This is encapsulated in His words: "If ye fast or mourn in the fifth month, as ye say, for seventy years, shall ye fast unto Me?" (Zechariah 7:5). He did not ordain these fasts, nor did He call attention to fasting through His prophets before or after the exile. Rather, He emphasized righteous judgment and instructed their ancestors: "Judge righteous judgment, and do mercy and bounty to everyone to his brother" (Zechariah 7:9). Because they neglected these responsibilities, He was angry with them and removed them from their land. He had called out to them prior to their captivity, but they did not listen; now, during their captivity, they cry out to Him, yet He does not respond. For He states, "They have given their shoulders to despise, and they have weighed down their ears, that they should not hear, and they have made their heart like adamantine" (Zechariah 7:11-12).

However, now that they had heard of the temple's reconstruction and no longer perceived a reason for the old grief, they sought guidance on whether their observances of fasting and lamentation should continue or if they could embrace joy in its place. It is important to note that mourning and fasting are often regarded as acts of sanctification. This is reflected in the prophecy of Joel, where the priests are instructed to consecrate fasting and proclaim healing (Joel 2:15) because such acts can mend the rifts of sin and consecrate those who are restored.