In the eighth month, in the second year of Darius, came the word of the LORD unto Zechariah, the son of Berechiah, the son of Iddo the prophet, saying, Ver. 1. _In the eight month, in the second year of Darius_] Two months after Haggai began to prophesy. _See Trapp on "_ Hag 1:1 _"_ These two proph... [ Continue Reading ]
The LORD hath been sore displeased with your fathers. Ver. 2. _The Lord hath been sore displeased with your fathers_] Heb. He hath boiled against your fathers with foaming anger, with height of heat. There are degrees of anger, see Mat 5:22 Deuteronomy 29:28. The Lord rooted them out of their land... [ Continue Reading ]
Therefore say thou unto them, Thus saith the LORD of hosts; Turn ye unto me, saith the LORD of hosts, and I will turn unto you, saith the LORD of hosts. Ver. 3. _Therefore say thou unto them_] These Jews, saith Cyrill, had neither seen their fathers' wickedness, nor heeded their calamities. _Mittit... [ Continue Reading ]
Be ye not as your fathers, unto whom the former prophets have cried, saying, Thus saith the LORD of hosts; Turn ye now from your evil ways, and [from] your evil doings: but they did not hear, nor hearken unto me, saith the LORD. Ver. 4. _Be ye not as your fathers_] Man is a creature apt to imitate,... [ Continue Reading ]
Your fathers, where [are] they? and the prophets, do they live for ever? Ver. 5. _Your fathers, where are they?_] Is not the grave their house? have they not made their beds in the dark? are not they gone down to the congregation of all living? Job 30:23. Every man should die the same day as he is... [ Continue Reading ]
_But my words and my statutes, which I commanded my servants the prophets, did they not take hold of your fathers? and they returned and said, Like as the LORD of hosts thought to do unto us, according to our ways, and according to our doings, so hath he dealt with us._ Ver. 6. _Did they not take h... [ Continue Reading ]
Upon the four and twentieth day of the eleventh month, which [is] the month Sebat, in the second year of Darius, came the word of the LORD unto Zechariah, the son of Berechiah, the son of Iddo the prophet, saying, Ver. 7. _Upon the four and twentieth day of the eleventh month_] The third month afte... [ Continue Reading ]
I saw by night, and behold a man riding upon a red horse, and he stood among the myrtle trees that [were] in the bottom; and behind him [were there] red horses, speckled, and white. Ver. 8. _I saw by night_] The usual time for such revelations. It may note, moreover, the obscurity of the prophecy;... [ Continue Reading ]
Then said I, O my lord, what [are] these? And the angel that talked with me said unto me, I will shew thee what these [be]. Ver. 9. _Then said I, O my Lord, what are these?_] Thus the prophets inquired and searched diligently (as saith St Peter (ερευνωντες), 1Pe 1:11), for the truth of things, as h... [ Continue Reading ]
And the man that stood among the myrtle trees answered and said, These [are they] whom the LORD hath sent to walk to and fro through the earth. Ver. 10. _And the man that stood among the myrtle trees_] The man Christ Jesus, that is ever with the Church, and in the midst of his people, that feedeth... [ Continue Reading ]
And they answered the angel of the LORD that stood among the myrtle trees, and said, We have walked to and fro through the earth, and, behold, all the earth sitteth still, and is at rest. Ver. 11. _We have walked to and fro through the earth_] Itavimus, we have coursed up and down with incredible s... [ Continue Reading ]
Then the angel of the LORD answered and said, O LORD of hosts, how long wilt thou not have mercy on Jerusalem and on the cities of Judah, against which thou hast had indignation these threescore and ten years? Ver. 12. _Then the angel of the Lord_] That advocate with the Father, Jesus, the just one... [ Continue Reading ]
And the LORD answered the angel that talked with me [with] good words [and] comfortable words. Ver. 13. _And the Lord answered the angel_] How should God do otherwise than answer his well beloved Son with good and comfortable words, since he is all in all with the Father, and can do anything with h... [ Continue Reading ]
So the angel that communed with me said unto me, Cry thou, saying, Thus saith the LORD of hosts; I am jealous for Jerusalem and for Zion with a great jealousy. Ver. 14. _So the angel that communed with me_] See the note on Zechariah 1:10 . _ Cry thou, saying_] _q.d._ Comfort ye, comfort ye my peopl... [ Continue Reading ]
And I am very sore displeased with the heathen [that are] at ease: for I was but a little displeased, and they helped forward the affliction. Ver. 15. _And I am very sore displeased with the heathen that are at ease_] Heb. I am in such a heat as causeth fuming and foaming. I am boiling hot, and eve... [ Continue Reading ]
Therefore thus saith the LORD; I am returned to Jerusalem with mercies: my house shall be built in it, saith the LORD of hosts, and a line shall be stretched forth upon Jerusalem. Ver. 16. _Therefore thus saith the Lord_] Thus, one deep calleth another, Psalms 42:7; the lower deep of our misery, th... [ Continue Reading ]
Cry yet, saying, Thus saith the LORD of hosts; My cities through prosperity shall yet be spread abroad; and the LORD shall yet comfort Zion, and shall yet choose Jerusalem. Ver. 17. _Cry yet, saying, Thus saith the Lord of hosts; My cities_] Here are four "yets" in this one verse, and all very grac... [ Continue Reading ]
Then lifted I up mine eyes, and saw, and behold four horns. Ver. 18. _Then I lift up mine eyes, and saw_] That is, I gave good heed to this second vision also; which was added purposely for confirmation of the former promises; which should be certainly accomplished to the Church, notwithstanding he... [ Continue Reading ]
And I said unto the angel that talked with me, What [be] these? And he answered me, These [are] the horns which have scattered Judah, Israel, and Jerusalem. Ver. 19. _And I said unto the angel that talked with me, What be these?_] Though the vision be dark and mysterious, yet the prophet despaireth... [ Continue Reading ]
And the LORD shewed me four carpenters. Ver. 20. _And the Lord showed me four carpenters_] He that before was called an angel is here called Jehovah, this shows him to be Christ, who is God blessed for ever. In respect of his eternal essence he is called the Lord; in respect of his office or mediat... [ Continue Reading ]
Then said I, What come these to do? And he spake, saying, These [are] the horns which have scattered Judah, so that no man did lift up his head: but these are come to fray them, to cast out the horns of the Gentiles, which lifted up [their] horn over the land of Judah to scatter it. Ver. 21. _What... [ Continue Reading ]