They answered. Having said who they were, the angel directs them to tell of their doings. The angel of the Lord. The "man riding upon the red horse" (Zechariah 1:8) is now called "the Angel of Jehovah."
This term is usually held to denote a manifestation of the Logos, the Second Person of the Holy Trinity, assuming an angelic form or imparting his immediate presence to the revealer of his will. Sitteth still, and is at rest.
The world was lying in proud security. There was no sign of that shaking of nations which Haggai (Haggai 2:7, Haggai 2:21, Haggai 2:22) had foretold should precede the coming of Messiah and the restoration of Israel.
In this second year of Darius, the empire, though suffering from internal disturbances, was outwardly at peace, and was threatened by no enemy at a distance. But the condition of the Jews was sad and disheartening; the temple still unbuilt, the walls of Jerusalem lying in ruins, themselves only a small remnant, exposed to the insults and attacks of jealous neighbours, living on sufferance as subjects of a heathen power, and no sign of the predicted salvation appearing,—this was their state.
And the angel sees their despondency, recognizes their disappointment, and intercedes for them.