XII. (1-9) The opening of this chapter is similar to that of Zechariah 9, and marks the beginning of the second half of these latter prophecies. This prophecy, as far as Zechariah 12:9, seems to recur to the same events as were foretold in Zechariah 9:10 : viz., the successful contests of the Macca... [ Continue Reading ]
The first part of this verse seems to imply that all who should attack Jerusalem would do so to their injury. The second part should perhaps be translated, _And also over Judah shall be_ (the trembling, or reeling) _in the siege against Jerusalem: i.e.,_ Judah should suffer as well as Jerusalem, tho... [ Continue Reading ]
A BURDENSOME STONE. — In lifting which the builders might lacerate themselves: meaning that those who should endeavour to build Jerusalem into the fabric of their own dominion should injure themselves in the attempt. But some (as Jerome) suppose the figure to be borrowed from some such athletic spor... [ Continue Reading ]
HORSE — viz., of the enemy. (Comp. Deuteronomy 28:28 with Deuteronomy 30:7.) OPEN MINE EYES. — Comp. 1 Kings 8:29.... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR SHALL BE, read _are._ The strength of the fortress of Jerusalem should be the saving of Judah, but that strength would depend on the protection of “the Lord of Hosts, their God.”... [ Continue Reading ]
Comp. Obadiah 1:18. PEOPLE. — Better, _nations._ (Comp. Zechariah 11:10.)... [ Continue Reading ]
FIRST. — There is another reading, supported by the LXX. and a few MSS., _as in former times._ This variant does not materially alter the sense, for in any case the deliverance of Judah is made to take precedence (in importance, if not in time) of that of Jerusalem. “Judah” seems here to denote the... [ Continue Reading ]
IN THAT DAY an almost supernatural power will be given to Jerusalem through God’s favour, so that the weakest (comp. Psalms 105:37) inhabitant will be a hero like David (see 1 Samuel 8:18), and the house of David will be “as God,” or rather, _as supernatural beings,_ even “as the angel of the Lord b... [ Continue Reading ]
SEEK. — This word is only twice used of God, here and in Exodus 4:24, where “He sought to slay Moses”: _i.e.,_ He expressed His determination to do so, but for certain reasons did not carry it out. So in this case He would have utterly destroyed the nations: that is, have given the Jews _complete_ v... [ Continue Reading ]
(10-14) These are verses of almost unprecedented difficulty. If the words “and they shall look on me whom they pierced” stood alone, they might possibly be taken in a figurative sense, as denoting that they shall look to the Lord whom they had so grievously contemned (see Notes on John 19:37). Such... [ Continue Reading ]
HADADRIMMON, says Jerome, “is a city near Jezreel, now called Maximianopolis, in the field of Mageddon, where the good king Josiah was (mortally) wounded in battle with Pharaoh-necho.” (Comp. 2 Chronicles 35:22). Assyriologists seem to be of opinion that the name should be pronounced _Hadar-Ramman._... [ Continue Reading ]
NATHAN. — Not the prophet, but the son of David (2 Samuel 5:14).... [ Continue Reading ]
SHIMEI. — Not the Benjamite tribe (2 Samuel 16:5), but of the family of Gershon, son of Levi (Numbers 3:17). Thus, of the two tribes, he mentions one leading family and one subordinate branch, and then (Zechariah 12:1) embraces all together, and mentions even “their wives apart,” to show how general... [ Continue Reading ]