Zec 6:6-7 | Clarke | e4.org | Verse 6. The black horses ] This refers to the second chariot ; of the first the angel makes no mention, because the empire designed by it had ceased to exist. This had red horses , to show the cruelty of the Chaldeans towards the Jews, and the carnage they committed in the land of Judea. The black ] Cyrus , at the head of the Persians and Medes , bringing devastation and death among the Chaldeans, called the north in many parts of Scripture. The white ] Alexander , who was splendid in his victories, and mild towards all that he conquered. The grisled ] The Lagidae or Ptolemies , who founded an empire in Egypt; of these some were good , some bad , some despotic , some moderate , some cruel , and some mild ; represented by the party-coloured horses .

‏ Zechariah 6:6-7

Verse 6. The black horses] This refers to the second chariot; of the first the angel makes no mention, because the empire designed by it had ceased to exist. This had red horses, to show the cruelty of the Chaldeans towards the Jews, and the carnage they committed in the land of Judea.

The black] Cyrus, at the head of the Persians and Medes, bringing devastation and death among the Chaldeans, called the north in many parts of Scripture.

The white] Alexander, who was splendid in his victories, and mild towards all that he conquered.

The grisled] The Lagidae or Ptolemies, who founded an empire in Egypt; of these some were good, some bad, some despotic, some moderate, some cruel, and some mild; represented by the party-coloured horses.

Verse 7. And the bay went forth] The Seleucidae, who conquered Syria and the upper provinces, and who wished to extend their conquests, and "sought to go, that they might walk to and fro throughout the earth," were of unbounded ambition, and sought universal empire; such as Antiochus the Great. "So they walked to and fro," did extend their conquests; and harassed many countries by their vexatious and almost continual wars. Some think the Romans are meant, who carried their conquests hither and thither, just as the Divine providence permitted them.