_ZECHARIAH EXHORTETH TO REPENTANCE. THE VISION OF THE HORSES. AT THE PRAYER OF THE ANGEL, COMFORTABLE PROMISES ARE MADE TO JERUSALEM. THE VISION OF THE FOUR HORNS, AND THE FOUR CARPENTERS._ _Before Christ 520._ THE first six verses of this chapter contain a separate and distinct revelation, but at... [ Continue Reading ]
IN THE EIGHTH MONTH— Zechariah begins his prophesy with an exhortation to the people to be converted to the Lord, and not to imitate the stubbornness of their forefathers. Three months afterwards, Zechariah 1:7 the Lord caused to appear to him an angel on horseback in the midst of a myrtle grove, st... [ Continue Reading ]
YOUR FATHERS, WHERE ARE THEY?— This question signifies that the sepulchre of their fathers was not in Judaea, because they died captives in a foreign land; which was a great disgrace to the children. The question therefore, _Where are they?_ does not mean that they were dead; for it could not by any... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT MY WORDS, &C.— _Certainly, my words and my decrees, which I commanded,_ &c. _happened to your fathers; who when they repented, said,_ &c. Houbigant.... [ Continue Reading ]
UPON THE FOUR-AND-TWENTIETH, &C.— The second revelation, made to Zechariah about three months after the first, contains eight distinct visions following each other in the same night. The first vision is of an angel in a human form, sitting on horseback in a low valley among myrtle-trees, attended by... [ Continue Reading ]
I SAW BY NIGHT— _I saw this night,_ &c. A _red horse_ is an emblem of war and destruction. The man or angel riding upon him is thought by some to have been the _archangel Michael,_ prince and protector of the people of God. Others suppose that the _Logos,_ or Son of God, is meant, who appeared as th... [ Continue Reading ]
THE ANGEL THAT TALKED WITH ME— This was another heavenly minister, sent probably to present the visions to the prophet's imagination, as well as to explain them. Vitringa styles him, _Angelus comes et interpres,_ "the accompanying and interpreting angel:" and under his direction the prophet receives... [ Continue Reading ]
WE HAVE WALKED, &C.— This passage answers to that opinion of the Hebrews, that every province had its guardian angel. The angels subordinate to the principal one, among the myrtle-trees, report to him, that all the parts of his government are inhabited, and at rest. Instead of, _Through the earth,_... [ Continue Reading ]
I AM VERY SORE DISPLEASED, &C.— _I am very sore displeased with the nations who despise her, and who, after I had moderated my anger, have added to her affliction._ Houbigant. This may be understood of the Babylonians, Samaritans, and other neighbours of the Jews, who had not been made such terrible... [ Continue Reading ]
MY CITIES, &C.— _My cities shall yet abound with good._ Houbigant, and others.... [ Continue Reading ]
BEHOLD, FOUR HORNS— In this second vision, under the emblem of four horns, is represented, that God, by such agents as he would appoint, would quell and bring down all those powers which had risen, or should rise, to oppress his people. Horns are an usual emblem of strength and power; and because th... [ Continue Reading ]
FOUR CARPENTERS— Or as many subverters of the kingdoms as the kingdoms were which had oppressed the Jews. The word חרשׁ _choresh,_ signifies a mechanic, or artificer in brass, iron, wood, stone, &c. REFLECTIONS.—1st, The prophet Zechariah received his commission from God, and began to speak about t... [ Continue Reading ]