Rashi on TanakhZechariah 1

The prophecy of Zechariah is extremely enigmatic, because it contains visions resembling a dream that requires an interpretation. We cannot ascertain the truth of its interpretation until the teacher of righteousness comes. Nonetheless, I will put my heart to reconciling the verses, one by one, according to the interpretations that resemble it and following the interpretation of Jonathan.

In the eighth month Before they commenced resuming the work of the construction, for they commenced it on the twenty-fourth day of the [ninth] month.

with your fathers who were in the generation of the destruction of the Temple.

[As for] your fathers - where are they? See that they suffered an evil blow, with famine, with the sword, and with pestilence.

But the prophets - do they live forever? And if you ask, “the prophets, too where are they? Have they not died?” I [God] will answer you, “Should the prophets have lived forever?” But their end proves that their words were true; for all My words, and the declarations of the decrees of My retribution that I commanded My servants, the prophets, concerning you - did they not overtake your fathers?

I saw tonight Our Sages explained [this phrase as] they explained [it] in the Aggadah of the chapter entitled “Helek” (Sanh. 93a), but the sequence of the chapter and the language do not fit it.

and behold! A man an angel.

on a red horse This is an allusion that He would exact retribution upon the Chaldeans, Media, and Persia with the sword and with blood, as He says (verse 15 below): “And I was very wroth with the nations.”

and after him were red, etc., horses prepared for the mission of the Omnipresent. That there were among them [horses of] many sorts of colors was a [means of] praise for him. black do not know what color this is. Jonathan rendered קְוָחִין.

among the myrtles that were in the pool Among the myrtle trees of Babylon.

And I said to one angel who showed me all this. “What are these, my lord?” He was the one riding on the red horse.

to walk to and fro on the earth To see the tranquility of the nations.

And the angel of the Lord replied The angel that was speaking to me.

And the Lord answered the angel who was speaking to me, good words Not that the prophet heard what He answered [the angel], but from what the angel said to him, “Proclaim, saying, ‘I am jealous etc.,’” I know that He answered him good words.

I am jealous for Jerusalem I am exacting the retribution [for] the cause of Jerusalem from those who oppress her.

that are at ease Concerning whom these [messengers] say that they sit still and are at rest.

for I was wroth with My people, a little.

and they helped to do harm In addition to the wrath, [they helped] to do harm.

and a plumb line shall be stretched out to measure its wall, its length and breadth.