A Vision of Four Chariots
Zec 6:2 In the first chariot were red horses; and in the second chariot black horses;
In the first...
רִאשׁוֹן
ri’šôn, רִאשׂן
ri’šōn: An adjective meaning first, former, foremost, earlier, head, chief. This term occurs 182 times and denotes that which comes first among given items, whether in place, rank, or order (Gen. 25:25, 32:17,18; 2Kgs. 1:14) or (more frequently) in time. Moses had the Tabernacle set up in the first month, just as the Lord commanded (Exo. 40:2, 40:17; cf. Num. 9:5; Ezra 7:9; Ezk. 45:18, 45:21). Zechariah warned the exiles who returned to the Promised Land from the Babylonian captivity not to be like their ancestors who refused to listen to the former prophets (Zec. 1:4, 7:7, 7:12). The Lord declares Himself to be the first and the last, the Eternal One (Isa. 44:6, 48:12). In later Hebrew, the word came to signify the highest in rank or authority (i.e., chief, head). The archangel Michael is portrayed as holding the rank of chief prince (Dan. 10:13; cf. 1Chr. 18:17; Est. 1:14). This word is derived from the noun rō’š.
chariot...
מֶרְכָּבָה
merkāḇāh: A feminine noun meaning chariot. It refers to something ridden, for riding and is used of a two-wheeled vehicle, drawn by horses and normally used in war. Its uses include a war chariot (Exo. 14:25; 15:4); a chariot used by the state in its processions or for travel in general (Gen. 41:43; 46:29; Isa. 22:18). It was a symbol of military might and war (Isa. 2:7). It is used figuratively of the vehicles of war used by the Lord (Isa. 66:15; Hab. 3:8). Israel constructed some idolatrous "chariots of the sun" (2Kgs. 23:11).
were red...
אָדֹם
’āḏōm: A masculine adjective meaning red, ruddy, the color of blood (red to reddish brown). The meaning of the word is best demonstrated in 2Kgs. 3:22, where the Moabites saw the sunrise reflecting off the water which the Lord had miraculously provided. The Moabites thought the water was "as red as blood." This word is also used to describe the color of lentil stew (Gen. 25:30); the health or attractiveness of a man (Song 5:10); the color of garments (Isa. 63:2); the color of animals, like a red heifer (Num. 19:2) or chestnut or bay-colored horses (Zec. 1:8; 6:2).
horses;...
סוּס
sûs, סֻס
sus: I. A masculine noun uniformly rendered as horse. It refers to any horse (Gen. 47:17; 49:17; Exo. 9:3). Horses were trained for special uses: chariotry and war (Exo. 14:9; 1Kgs. 20:1; Isa. 31:1; Ezk. 27:14). They were not to be multiplied by Israel's kings, but the kings were to trust the Lord for their might, not horses (Deu. 11:4; 17:16).
II. A masculine noun referring to a swallow, a crane, a swift. It is the name of a bird. It refers to a small, swift-flying type of bird, a swift or a swallow (Isa. 38:14; Jer. 8:7). Understanding the word to refer to a crane is difficult.
and in the second...
שֵׁנִי
šēniy: An adjective meaning second. It refers to the second item in a series (Gen. 1:8; 2:13). It indicates something done for a second time (Gen. 22:15). In a conversation, it means secondly, and second, or besides (2Sam. 16:19; Ezk. 4:6; Mal. 2:13). The plural is šeniyyim (Gen. 6:16).
chariot... see above.
שָׁחֹר
šāḥōr: An adjective meaning black. It is used to describe a hair growing in an infected area of the skin that indicates that the disease may be serious and the person is quarantined (Lev. 13:31, 13:37). Black or dark skin and black hair locks were considered beautiful (Song 1:5; 5:11). It describes a set of horses on one of the chariots which Zechariah saw in a vision (Zec. 6:2, 6:6).
horses... see above.
