How is the fasting inquiry addressed?

The heading says the fasting inquiry brings admonition to fast from sin. On Casleu’s fourth day, the ninth month in Darius’s fourth year, God’s word comes to Zacharias. Sarasar, Rogommelech and companions send to God’s house to entreat him and ask priests and prophets whether fifth-month weeping and sanctification must continue. The edition dates the fast to the tenth day, the temple’s burning, and explains the inquiry after rebuilding; it points forward to 8:19 for the answer.

God asks the people and priests whether seventy years of fifth- and seventh-month mourning were fasting to him, and whether eating and drinking were for themselves. He recalls earlier prophets when Jerusalem and surrounding cities were inhabited and wealthy, with inhabitants south and in the plain. A new word commands true judgment, mercy and compassion, no oppression of widow, fatherless, stranger or poor, and no evil devised against a brother. They refused, turned away and stopped ears, making hearts like adamant against the law and words sent by God’s spirit through earlier prophets. Indignation followed. As they failed to hear, God would not hear their cries; dispersion into unfamiliar kingdoms left the delightful land wilderness, without passing or return. The questions must not be turned into a blanket abolition of fasting or invented physical gratification motives.