Commentaries:
Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown
they . . . sent unto . . . house of God—The Jews of the country sent to the house of God or congregation at Jerusalem. The altar was long since reared (Ezra 3:3), though the temple was not completed till two years afterwards (Ezra 6:15). The priests' duty was to give decision on points of the law (Deuteronomy 17:9; Matthew 2:4). Beth-el is here used instead of Beth-Jehovah, because the religious authorities, rather than the house itself (designated "Beth-Jehovah" in Zechariah 7:3), are intended. The old Beth-el had long ceased to be the seat of idol-worship, so that the name had lost its opprobrious meaning. "The house of the Lord" is used for the congregation of worshippers headed by their priests (Zechariah 3:7; Hosea 8:1). MAURER makes the "house of God" nominative to "sent." HENDERSON makes "Beth-el" so.
Sherezer—an Assyrian name meaning, "Prefect of the treasury."
Regemmelech—meaning, "The king's official." These names perhaps intimate the semi-heathen character of the inquirers, which may also be implied in the name "Beth-el" (Hebrew for "house of God"), so notorious once for its calf-worship. They sent to Jehovah's house as their forefathers sent to old Beth-el, not in the spirit of true obedience.
pray before the Lord—literally, "to entreat the face of," that is, to offer sacrifices, the accompaniment of prayers, to conciliate His favor (I Samuel 13:12).
Other Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown entries containing Zechariah 7:2:
Zechariah 7:1
Zechariah 8:21
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