Take Lit. to take. This has been thought to be a general direction, extending to all that they had brought, "let (their offerings) be received, or accepted;" the special taking of silver and gold for a particular purpose by the prophet being mentioned in the next verse. But there is no reason whatever to suppose that the Jews who were rebuilding the temple had ever any scruple about receiving such offerings even from heathens (Ezra 1:4; Ezra 1:6-7; Ezra 6:8-10), so that such a direction would have been superfluous. It is better, therefore, to render with A. V. "take(thou)" sc. "silver and gold," the direction being interrupted to tell the prophet where to meet with these men, and resumed at the beginning of Zechariah 6:11.

the captivity used of the Jews who had returned from exile to their own land, Ezra 9:4; Ezra 10:8; but also, as here, of those who were still in exile, Ezekiel 1:1; Ezekiel 3:11; Ezekiel 3:15.

which are come from Babylon This clause is transposed in A. V. from the end of the verse where it stands in the Hebrew. It should be left there, as in R. V., and rendered, to which they are come from Babylon. It will then read: Take of the captivity, even of Heldai of Tobijah and of Jedaiah(their messengers and representatives) and come thou(thyself to take it in person), even come into the house of Josiah the son of Zephaniah, to which they have come from Babylon and take silver and gold, &c.

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