7:11 Your ancestors refused to listen: They ignored God’s commands (see Jer 11:10). • stubbornly turned away (or set a defiant shoulder): The idiom signifies haughty stubbornness (see Neh 9:29). • Put their fingers in their ears places full responsibility upon the people for their obstinacy (cp. Isa 6:10). The same expression is used of Pharaoh when he “became stubborn” (or “hardened his heart”) against God and refused to release the Hebrews (Exod 8:32).

7:1-14 Zechariah’s sermons were prompted by delegates from Bethel who posed a practical question (7:2-3). Although Zechariah answered the question later (8:18-19), he responded first with rhetorical questions that focused on the people’s self-centered motives (7:5-6). Zechariah then outlined God’s expectations for Israel (7:8-10; see Jer 22:3) and recounted what had happened to those who disobeyed previously (Zech 7:11-14).