ZECHARIAH CHAPTER 12 Jerusalem a cup of trembling, and a burdensome stone, to the confusion of her adversaries, MALACHI 12:1. The victorious restoring of Judah, MALACHI 12:6. The repentance of Jerusalem, MALACHI 12:10. THE BURDEN OF THE WORD OF THE LORD: see this whole passage MALACHI 9:1. FOR ISRAE... [ Continue Reading ]
I WILL MAKE JERUSALEM; that weak, unwalled, poor, and thinly inhabited city, type of the church; and much more the church, which is antitype to Jerusalem. A CUP OF TREMBLING; they shall drink their own bane whose swords be drinking the blood of the inhabitants of this Jerusalem; there is poison mixe... [ Continue Reading ]
IN THAT DAY; in the times of the heathens afflicting the church, from the repair of Jerusalem till Christ's coming in the flesh, and in succeeding times since; but the day of the full accomplishment of this prophecy is a day known to the Lord. A burdensome stone; too heavy for them, though many join... [ Continue Reading ]
IN THAT DAY: see MALACHI 4:3. I WILL SMITE EVERY HORSE: horses are of very great use in wars; they were the main strength of Antiochus Epiphanes, his best preparations. With astonishment; a dull, sottish fear and perplexity. AND HIS RIDER WITH MADNESS; an impotency of mind both in the understanding,... [ Continue Reading ]
THE GOVERNORS OF JUDAH, the counsellors and rulers at home, and the leaders and captains abroad, the Maccabees and others, every one for himself, SHALL SAY IN THEIR HEART; shall think, believe, and reckon upon it, and be hearty in it. THE INHABITANTS OF JERUSALEM, though but few and poor, yet they s... [ Continue Reading ]
THE GOVERNORS: see MALACHI 12:5. LIKE A HEARTH OF FIRE; a hearth on which fire is thoroughly kindled. AMONG THE WOOD; the more is laid on, the more is consumed and burnt up: so the enemies of Judah and Jerusalem shall be, their multitudes shall no more save themselves than much wood cast on a great... [ Continue Reading ]
SHALL SAVE; rescue from the power and rage of the Antiochuses, nay, subdue their armies, and put them to flight before the Jews. THE TENTS; the unfenced places, the open country, the shepherd-like cottages or tents of Judah. OF JUDAH FIRST; before he saveth Jerusalem, before he put Jerusalem into ar... [ Continue Reading ]
IN THAT DAY: see MALACHI 12:3. SHALL THE LORD DEFEND THE INHABITANTS OF JERUSALEM: as he had defended and saved Judah, anti the tents thereof, so will he also defend Jerusalem and its inhabitants against all their enemies, during the Persian, Grecian, and beginnings of the Roman empire, during which... [ Continue Reading ]
AND IT SHALL COME TO PASS; this also shall certainly come to pass. THAT I; God, the Defender and Saviour of Israel. WILL SEEK: this speaks not any difficulty to God in the work, as with men, who sometimes do seek to do what they cannot do; but this implieth God would thoroughly do it, his right hand... [ Continue Reading ]
AND I; God the Father, so ACTS 2:17,18 ISA 44:3. WILL POUR, in plentiful measures, as a plentiful rain is poured forth on a thirsty ground: this was fulfilled on Christ's exaltation, when he received gifts for men, and, being glorified, gave the Spirit, sent the Comforter to his disciples and believ... [ Continue Reading ]
IN THAT DAY, when the Jews shall know, own, and mourn for their sins and for that great sin in crucifying the Lord of glory, shall there be a great mourning; a very great mourning, which is expressed by the greatest the Jews ever were acquainted with. and which for its greatness grew up into a prove... [ Continue Reading ]
THE LAND; land put for the inhabitants of it, the land in general for the land of Judea, or that where the Jews dwelt, who should every where bear a share in this mourning. Thus some of the Jews from every country where they dwelt, being met at Jerusalem, were pricked at heart, and did mourn over th... [ Continue Reading ]
The sacerdotal tribe were the most bitter and fierce persecutors of Christ, they hired the traitor, they sought witness; the high priest (head of that family) condemned him to die; for all which they shall one day reckon with God, and therefore above other tribes they are particularly named as chief... [ Continue Reading ]
It would be somewhat tedious to repeat every family and their wives once, therefore a general comprehensive account may serve; some of every family of the whole remnant of Israel mourn, believe, look to, and obey Christ the Messiah. So the mourning for Christ bears Some proportion to their violent d... [ Continue Reading ]