Zechariah 8:1
Zechariah 8:1-17. The Answer. Third Section 1. _Again_ Rather, AND. See Zechariah 7:8, note.... [ Continue Reading ]
Zechariah 8:1-17. The Answer. Third Section 1. _Again_ Rather, AND. See Zechariah 7:8, note.... [ Continue Reading ]
_Thus saith the Lord of hosts_ "At each word and sentence, in which good things, for their greatness almost incredible, are promised, the prophet premises, _Thus saith the Lord of hosts_, as if he would say, Think not that what I pledge you are my own, and refuse me not credence as man. What I unfol... [ Continue Reading ]
_I am returned … and will dwell_ A repetition of the promises Zechariah 1:16; Zechariah 2:10. _a city of truth_ Rather, THE CITY OF TRUTH. Comp. Zechariah 8:16; Zephaniah 3:13; and by way of contrast, Nahum 3:1.... [ Continue Reading ]
We read, as a fulfilment of this prophecy, that in the days of Simon, in the times of the Maccabees, "the ancient men sat all in the streets, communing together of good things" (1Ma 14:9); while our Lord alludes to the games of children in the market-place, as a familiar incident in His own days. Ma... [ Continue Reading ]
_in these days_ Rather, IN THOSE DAYS (as in R. V.), viz. in which it comes to pass. "It is in the day of the fulfilment, not of the anticipation, that they would seem marvellous in their eyes, as the Psalmist says, _This is the Lord's doing, and it is marvellous in our eyes_." Pusey. _should it al... [ Continue Reading ]
_from the east country, and from the west country_ Comp. Isaiah 43:5-6. The promise is larger than has yet been fulfilled.... [ Continue Reading ]
_in truth and in righteousness_ "These are the conditions of the covenant on both sides." _Speak. Comm_.... [ Continue Reading ]
_by the mouth_ Rather, FROM THE MOUTH. R. V. _the prophets, which were_, &c. Remember that "these words" of promise (e.g. Zechariah 8:3-8 _supra_) which you are hearing in "these days" are spoken to you by the same prophets who first urged you to the work, and whose earlier promises then made are a... [ Continue Reading ]
These verses, introduced by the phrase, _Thus saith the Lord of hosts_, and beginning and ending with the same words, _Let your hands be strong_, form one continuous exhortation to persevere in rebuilding the Temple. The exhortation is grounded upon a comparison of their condition, before and after... [ Continue Reading ]
_these days_ Rather, THOSE DAYS, in which you began to build again. _hire_ i.e. return for his labour. See Haggai 1:6; Haggai 1:9-11. _the affliction_ Rather, THE ADVERSARY. Ezra 4:4. _every one against his neighbour_ This was the third evil which prevailed dearth, harassing by their enemies, the... [ Continue Reading ]
_now I will not be_ Rather, NOW (IN THIS PERIOD SINCE YE BEGAN TO BUILD) I AM NOT. My attitude towards you is already changed. _the residue_ Rather, THE REMNANT, as in Zechariah 8:12, i.e. the returned captives. See Haggai 1:12, and note.... [ Continue Reading ]
_the seed shall be prosperous_ Lit. THE SEED OF PEACE (THERE SHALL BE). This gives a very good sense, when we remember that the Hebrew words here used have a wide meaning. _Seed_is not only that which is sown, but sometimes _seed-time_, or _sowing_(Genesis 8:22), sometimes _produce_or _harvest_(Job... [ Continue Reading ]
_a curse … a blessing_ Either, the object of cursing and blessing, as men cursed you before so now they shall bless you (Jeremiah 22:9); or a formula of imprecation or benediction, God make thee like them (Jeremiah 29:22; Genesis 48:20; Ruth 4:11-12). _heathen nations_, R. V. _house of Judah, and... [ Continue Reading ]
"The ground upon which the promise rests is given in Zechariah 8:14-15, and it is closed in Zechariah 8:16-17, by the addition of the condition on which it is to be fulfilled." Keil.... [ Continue Reading ]
_the judgment of truth and peace_ Rather, TRUTH AND THE JUDGMENT OF PEACE JUDGE YE, as in R. V. margin. Jerusalem would indeed "be called a city of truth" (Zechariah 8:3), when alike in the private intercourse of her citizens (_speak ye every one the truth to his neighbour_), and in the public admin... [ Continue Reading ]
The Answer. Fourth Section In coming now to a direct answer to the question, out of which the whole prophecy arose, Almighty God enumerates not only _the fast of the fifth month_to which the question immediately referred (Zechariah 8:3), but three other fasts (one of which, _the fast of the seventh... [ Continue Reading ]
_The fast of the fourth month_ had been instituted, because on that day, under the extremity of famine, Jerusalem opened her gates to Nebuchadnezzar. Jeremiah 39:2-3; Jeremiah 52:6-7. _the fast of the tenth_ The siege of Jerusalem by Nebuchadnezzar commenced in that month. 2 Kings 25:1; Jeremiah 39... [ Continue Reading ]
_people_ Lit. PEOPLES. Here probably the _tribes_of Israel (comp. Deuteronomy 33:3; Deuteronomy 33:19, where the word is used in that sense). In Zechariah 8:22, _many peoples_, refers to foreign nations, to whom the prophecy extends itself in that and the following verses.... [ Continue Reading ]
The joyful change shall extend, in its influence, to the heathen nations of the world. Comp. Isaiah 2:2-3; Micah 4:1-2.... [ Continue Reading ]
_speedily_ Lit. COME LET US GO, TO GO, which may merely express the earnestness of the exhortation. "Omnes una et magno studio." Rosenm. _to pray before or to entreat the favour_, as in Zechariah 7:2. _I will go also_ The response of one city to the invitation of another. In like manner the inhabi... [ Continue Reading ]
_ten men_ i.e. a large number. Comp. Genesis 31:7; Leviticus 26:26; Numbers 14:22; Nehemiah 4:12. _take hold of the skirt_ See Haggai 2:12, and comp. Isaiah 4:1.... [ Continue Reading ]