Zechariah 1 is the opening chapter of the book of Zechariah in the King James Version (KJV) of the Bible. The chapter begins with the prophet Zechariah receiving a series of visions from the Lord. In the eighth month of the second year of King Darius’s reign, Zechariah sees a vision of a man riding on a red horse, accompanied by other horses of different colors. These horses represent God’s messengers who have been patrolling the earth and reporting on its conditions. They bring back news of peace and tranquility.
The angel of the Lord then intercedes with a plea to God, asking how long He will withhold mercy from Jerusalem and the cities of Judah, which have been devastated by exile and destruction. God responds with comforting words, promising His zeal for Jerusalem and His plans to return in mercy. He assures Zechariah that He will rebuild Jerusalem and that His cities will again overflow with prosperity and blessings.
The chapter concludes with a call to repentance, urging the people to turn away from their evil ways and return to the Lord. God warns of the consequences of disobedience and reminds them of the fate of their ancestors who did not heed His warnings.