For before these days there was no hire for man, nor any hire for beast; neither was there any peace to him that went out or came in because of the affliction: for I set all men every one against his neighbour.
Before this time, there was no work to be found, no jobs for people, no work even for animals. You couldn't travel anywhere safely because everything was chaos. I had let everyone turn against each other, neighbor fighting neighbor.
God's describing the mess before the comeback, when even getting a job or traveling safely was impossible because everyone was at each other's throats.
📚 Historical Context
Zechariah was a prophet speaking to the Jewish people who had returned from Babylonian exile around 520 BC, a time when they were rebuilding their society amid economic struggles and social turmoil. The verse refers to the difficult years before this restoration, marked by unemployment for both people and animals, widespread conflict, and a lack of peace due to God's judgment on their disobedience. This context highlights God's role in allowing hardship to discipline His people before promising renewal.
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