Zechariah pursues the same subject as in the preceding chapter: for
having promised a joyful and happy state to the faithful, who
despising their indulgences in Chaldea had returned to their own
country, he now reminds them that their peaceful condition in Judea
would not be without many trials and... [ Continue Reading ]
He afterwards adds, _I will gather all nations against Jerusalem_. He
confirms what I have already said, that God would be the author of
those calamities, and thus he puts a restraint on the Jews, that they
might not expostulate with him respecting the severity of their
punishment. He then shortly i... [ Continue Reading ]
Zechariah here amplifies the favor of God, — that he will go forth
openly, and avowedly carry on war against all the enemies of
Jerusalem. It was not indeed a small mitigation of their evils, that a
part of the Church would be saved. But the Prophet declares here what
is still far better, — that whe... [ Continue Reading ]
He continues the same subject, that God’s power would be then
conspicuous in putting enemies to flight. He indeed illustrates here
his discourse by figurative expressions, as though he wished to bring
the Jews to see the scene itself; for the object of the
personification is no other but that the fa... [ Continue Reading ]
The Prophet says again, that God’s presence would be terrible, so
that it would put to flight all the Jews; for though God promises to
be the deliverer of his chosen people, yet as there were still mixed
with them hypocrites, his language varies. But we must further
observe, that though the Lord may... [ Continue Reading ]
The Prophet confirms what we have already observed that the Church
would be subject to many troubles and commotions, so that the faithful
should not enjoy the common light, but be more miserable than men in
general. And he has ever the same object in view, to prepare the
faithful to exercise patienc... [ Continue Reading ]
Then he says, that _this day is known to Jehovah_, in order that the
faithful night depend on his good pleasure, and not too anxiously
enquire about an event hidden from them and the whole world. _The day
_then _is known_, says Zechariah, only to God, though he speaks of
things well known, and which... [ Continue Reading ]
Here is subjoined a more cheering prophecy, — that the grace of God
would yet prevail. Whatever evils, and troubles, and dangers, and
fears, and diseases awaited the faithful, he yet says that in such
miseries they would still be made happy. And this ought to be
carefully observed, for nothing can b... [ Continue Reading ]
Here the prophet shows more clearly, and without using a figurative
language, what might otherwise be more obscure: he says, that _Jehovah
would be king_. Here Zechariah compares the kingdom of Christ with
those periods of misery and calamities which had preceded, and which
had continued till the co... [ Continue Reading ]
The Prophet in this verse promises two things, — that the city would
be in a very prominent place, so as to be seen at a distance, and
also, that it would be a secure and peaceable habitation.
With regard to the former part he says, _Turned shall be the whole
land into a plain _(189) We indeed know... [ Continue Reading ]
Zechariah concludes what he said in the last verse by saying, that
Jerusalem when restored by God to its pristine state would be a
populous city, for the indefinite verb here used means the same as
though he had said, that the number of people would be as great as it
had been before, though a small... [ Continue Reading ]
The Prophet adds, that though there would not be wanting many ungodly
men, who should distress the Church, and attempt many things for its
destruction, yet God would be a defender and would inflict punishment,
which would exhibit a clear and decided proof of that paternal favor
which he manifests to... [ Continue Reading ]
The Prophet seems again to be inconsistent with himself; for after
having declared that God would be the defender of his people, so as to
destroy and consume all people for their sake, he now adds that there
would be intestine discords, by which the Jews would wilfully consume
one another; while yet... [ Continue Reading ]
Zechariah speaks here no doubt on the same subject; for he adds, that
there would be an intestine war between the country and the city,
though they were but one body, and since their return they were under
the same Divine banner: God had indeed been their leader in their
journey, and was in short th... [ Continue Reading ]
Zechariah in this verse raises up the minds of the godly, so that they
might know that their energies would effect nothing, but that after
having tried every thing they would be put to flight by the power of
God. And hence appears more evident what has been twice repeated, —
that the Prophet does no... [ Continue Reading ]
Zechariah here advances farther, — that those who shall have escaped
the ruin of which he had spoken shall be so humbled that they would of
their own accord submit to God. He said before, that God would take
vengeance and destroy all the enemies of his Church; but the promise
here is still more valu... [ Continue Reading ]
Zechariah goes on here with the same subject, — that the name of the
only true God would be known throughout the whole world, so that all
nations would unite in his worship, while the whole earth was before
polluted with various superstitions, and every one followed his own
god: but the more clearly... [ Continue Reading ]
But Zechariah speaks expressly of the Egyptians: and we indeed know
that they were most inveterate enemies to true religion; and he might
have also mentioned the Assyrians and the Chaldeans; but as the
Egyptians were nearer and more contiguous to the holy land, their
hatred towards the Jews was more... [ Continue Reading ]
He repeats the same thing, and almost in the same words; but yet it is
not done without reason: for we ought to consider how difficult it was
to believe what is said, as the Jews who had returned to their country
were few in number, and unwarlike, and on every side opposed by their
enemies. Since th... [ Continue Reading ]
Zechariah teaches us in this verse, that God would become the king of
the world, so that all things would be applied to his service, and
that nothing would be so profane as not to change its nature, so as to
be sanctified for the service of God. This is the import of the whole.
There is some obscuri... [ Continue Reading ]
The Prophet explains here more clearly what we have already considered
— that such would be the reverence for God, and the fear of him
through the whole world, that whatever men undertook would be a
sacrifice to him: he therefore says, that all the kettles, or pots, or
vessels, would be sacred to Go... [ Continue Reading ]