זכריה, פרק א׳, פסוק י״ד

Following a long period of suffering and ruin, a message of hope and comfort is delivered to the people of Israel. The prophet receives a command from an angel to publicly announce the reassuring words he has heard from God, specifically to bring comfort to the nation [רד״ק, אברבנאל]. Even if the prophet was instructed to keep other parts of his vision a secret, he must share this specific message of hope with everyone [מלבי״ם].

The announcement is made in the name of the Lord of Hosts, a title highlighting God's role as the commander of Israel's armies [אברבנאל]. At the heart of this divine message is a profound feeling of jealousy and deep anger regarding Jerusalem and Zion [מצודת ציון]. This is a protective and positive jealousy, born out of God's immense love for the city and operating entirely for its benefit [אבן עזרא].

The primary approach among commentators is that God's intense anger is directed at the nations of the world that brought harm to Jerusalem. God is furious over the humiliation the city endured, its broken walls, and the halting of the Temple's construction [אברבנאל]. Driven by this protective love, God promises to hold accountable and punish the oppressors who violated the honor of Jerusalem [רש״י, מצודת דוד, ביאור שטיינזלץ].

The root of this divine anger lies in the actions of empires such as Babylon, Persia, and Greece. While these nations were meant to discipline Israel slightly, they went far beyond what was required and caused excessive damage [אברבנאל]. Looking at how this divine retribution plays out, there is an opinion that the promised vengeance has already taken place. The complete downfall and destruction of Babylon serve as living proof that God has already acted on His protective jealousy for Zion [מלבי״ם].