Zechariah 1:4

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

Summary

Be ye not as your fathers, unto whom the former prophets have cried, saying, Thus saith the LORD of hosts; Turn ye now from your evil ways, and from your evil doings: but they did not hear, nor hearken unto me, saith the LORD.

As

Unto

General references

2 Chronicles 33:10

Jeremiah 29:19

Bible References

As

Our ancestors were unfaithful and did what Jehovah our God considered evil. They deserted him. They turned away from Jehovah's tent and turned their backs on him.

Do not be like your ancestors and your relatives who were unfaithful to Jehovah the God of their ancestors. He made them something that shocks people, as you have seen.

On behalf of those who are left in Israel and Judah and me, ask Jehovah about the words in this book that was found. Jehovah's fierce anger has been poured on us because our ancestors did not obey the word of Jehovah by doing everything written in this book.

From the days of our fathers till this day we have been great sinners. Because of our sins, the kings of the lands captured us. We were given to the sword and to prison and to loss of goods and to shame of face, as it is this day.

But they and our fathers, in their pride, made their necks stiff, and paid no attention to your orders.

They should not be like their fathers, a stubborn and rebellious generation, a generation that did not prepare its heart and whose spirit was not faithful to God.

We have sinned like our fathers! We have committed iniquity and have behaved wickedly.

Now suppose this son has a son. The son sees all the sins that his father does. He is afraid, so he does not do such things.

Know that you were redeemed from your futile way of life inherited from your fathers. [The redemption] was not with corruptible things like silver or gold,

Unto

They refused to pay heed, turned a stubborn shoulder (resisted), and stopped their ears, that they might not hear.

However he still sent prophets who warned them to turn back to him. The people refused to listen.

Jehovah the God of their ancestors repeatedly sent messages through his prophets because he wanted to spare his people and his dwelling place.

But they were hard-hearted, and went against your authority. They turned their backs on your law, and murdered your prophets. These prophets gave witness against them with the purpose of turning them back again to you. They did much to make you angry.

These people are rebellious and deceitful children. They refuse to listen to Jehovah's Law.

Jehovah says: Stand by the way [of life] and see and ask for the ancient paths. Walk in the good way and you will find rest. But you said: We will not walk in it!

Give glory to Jehovah your God before he brings darkness and before your feet stumble on the dusky mountains. You hope for light. He makes it into deep darkness and turns it into gloom.

Jehovah said to me: Go and stand in the public gate, through which the kings of Judah come in and go out, as well as in all the gates of Jerusalem.

Jehovah continued to speak his word to me for twenty-three years. This covered the time from when Josiah, son of Amon, was in his thirteenth year as king of Judah until today. I have spoken to you again and again, but you have not listened.

I have sent all my servants the prophets to you again and again. They said: Turn from your evil ways, do what is right, and do not follow other gods in order to serve them. Then you will live in the land that I gave you and your ancestors. However, you refused to listen to me or obey me.

Take a scroll, and write on it everything that I have dictated to you about Israel, Judah, and all the other nations from the time I spoke to you during the reign of Josiah until today.

I kept sending you my servants the prophets, who told you not to do this terrible thing that I hate.

But the people of Israel will refuse to listen to you because they refuse to listen to me. All the people of Israel are very stubborn and hardheaded.

Do not prophesy to me. They prophesy. But they will not prophesy these things.

You obstinate men who are uncircumcised in heart and ears. You always resist the Holy Spirit as your fathers did.

They killed the Lord Jesus and the prophets, and drove us out. They did not please God and are contrary to all men.

General references

Jehovah spoke to Manasseh and his people. But they would not pay attention.

They did not listen to me,' says Jehovah. 'I sent them my servants the prophets again and again, but they refused to listen,' says Jehovah.