Charles Ellicott Commentary Zechariah 2:8

"For thus saith Jehovah of hosts: After glory hath he sent me unto the nations which plundered you; for he that toucheth you toucheth the apple of his eye." — Zechariah 2:8 (ASV)

After the glory — that is, in search of glory—namely, to display God’s glory upon the heathen in judgment and mercy, by first breaking their power (Zechariah 2:9) and afterwards attaching them to His service (Zechariah 2:11).

Compare Zechariah 14:0. When the prophet gives the substance of the Lord’s words, as in this verse and Zechariah 2:9, the first person singular refers to the prophet. However, when, as in Zechariah 2:9, he gives the actual words of God, “I” means, of course, the Lord Himself.