PURIFICATION OF JERUSALEM Important results follow this great act of national sorrow. 1. The land is purged of SIN; 2A, of idols; 2B-6, of prophets, who as a class have fallen into disrepute, and who henceforth will be ashamed of their office. 1. The idea of water as a symbol of spiritual cleansin... [ Continue Reading ]
IDOLS] Idolatry was never rampant in Israel after the exile. Those who maintain a post-exilic date for this prophecy refer to the Maccabsean age, when Greek customs and Greek idolatry were common even in Jerusalem (1Ma 1:54). THE UNCLEAN SPIRIT] which led men to sin. 3. The office of prophet will be... [ Continue Reading ]
ROUGH GARMENT] RV 'hairy mantle,' either an untanned sheep-skin, or a cloak of camel's hair, such as the Baptist wore.... [ Continue Reading ]
MAN TAUGHT ME TO KEEP CATTLE] better, with slight change in the Heb., 'the ground has been my possession.' I am so occupied with manual labour, I do not cultivate prophecy: cp. am Zechariah 7:14.... [ Continue Reading ]
IN THINE HANDS] Heb. 'between thine hands,' probably referring to self-mutilation practised in idolatrous rites: cp. Jeremiah 48:37; 1 Kings 18:28. These wounds, says the accused person, I received when frolicking with my companions. On Zechariah 13:7 see at the end of Zechariah 11.... [ Continue Reading ]