_In the eighth month_ This month, according to that reckoning which begins the year with the month Abib, or Nisan, Exodus 12:2, falls in with the latter part of our October, and the beginning of November. Haggai had begun to exhort the Jews to resume the work of building the temple two months before... [ Continue Reading ]
_Therefore say_ Rather, _but say thou unto them, Thus saith the Lord, Turn ye unto me_ The word _turn_, as it related to the people, signified that they should change their corrupt manners and turn to God in newness of life; and by _God's turning to them_, was meant, that he would take them again in... [ Continue Reading ]
_Upon the four and twentieth day of the eleventh month_ That is, about three months after he had received the former vision; _which is the month Sebat_ This was the Chaldee or Syriac name of the eleventh month, not the Hebrew name. This month corresponded with the latter end of January and the begin... [ Continue Reading ]
_Then said I, O my Lord, what are these_ What is the meaning of these appearances, or visions? _And the angel that talked with me said_ “This was another heavenly minister, sent, probably, to present the visions to the prophet's imagination, as well as to explain them. _Angelus comes et interpres_,... [ Continue Reading ]
_Then the angel of the Lord said_ “Christ the mediator,” as Bishop Hall explains it, “prayed for the salvation of his church, which was now troubled, when all the countries around were at rest.” But, as we find by the next verse that God's answer to this petition was given to the angel interpreter,... [ Continue Reading ]
_And the Lord answered the angel_ “By a voice, or impulse; and the angel communicated the reply to Zechariah.” Newcome. _So the angel said, Cry thou_ Now publish what thou hearest, and assure God's poor, captive, empoverished church, that he will do her good. _Saying, Thus saith the Lord of hosts_ T... [ Continue Reading ]
_Then, behold, four horns_ Horns often signify the power of princes or people, the metaphor being taken from those cattle whose strength lies in their horns. The horns here mentioned denote the powers which had scattered Israel and Judah, or that should scatter them, as a bull, in his fury, tosses i... [ Continue Reading ]