IX. On the date and genuineness of Zechariah 9-14, see _Introduction._ It has been urged as an argument for the earlier date of Zechariah 9:1, that _this oracle speaks of several cities and kingdoms as independent, which had lost their independence before the period of the return from exile. Thus Da... [ Continue Reading ]
IN THE LAND. — Better, _on the land._ HADRACH. — Until lately this word has been an insuperable difficulty to commentators, but now it is known, from various Assyrian inscriptions, that Hadrach (Ha-ta-ri-ka) was the name of a town or district in the neighbourhood of Damascus and Hamath. (_Records o... [ Continue Reading ]
AND HAMATH... THEREBY. — Better, _And even upon Hamath,_ [which] _borders on it_: viz., on Damascus. Thus far concerning Syria; now he speaks of Phœnicia. The terms of the denunciation of Syria are so general, that if they stood alone we should be at a loss to fix the era of their fulfilment. But th... [ Continue Reading ]
SEE IT, AND FEAR. — Well might Philistia fear and tremble on hearing of the destruction of Tyre. Ashkelon and Ekron, it is true, are not mentioned in connection with this march of Alexander, but they must necessarily have been occupied by his troops. But Gaza was certainly taken, after a siege of fi... [ Continue Reading ]
A BASTARD. — _i.e.,_ a mixed race. It was a special point in Alexander’s policy to break up nationalities, and to fuse different peoples.... [ Continue Reading ]
BLOOD... ABOMINATIONS. — viz., their _idolatrous sacrifices._ JEBUSITE. — Some take this word to mean Jerusalem (comp. Joshua 15:8, and especially Joshua 18:28). Others suppose it to be a designation of the remnant of the Canaanitish tribes, who were, like the Gibeonites, retained for servile duties... [ Continue Reading ]
Amid all these dangers, Israel is promised, under Divine protection, a certain immunity. BECAUSE OF THE ARMY. — This is the meaning of the word as pointed in the Hebrew text, but some, altering the vocalisation, would render it “as a garrison;” and others, as LXX., “a column.” HIM THAT PASSETH... R... [ Continue Reading ]
(9-17) The advent of the king. It has been urged as an objection against the post-exilic authorship of this passage that “Ephraim” and “Jerusalem” are mentioned, as though Israel were still separated from Judah. But, on the contrary, Ephraim and Jerusalem are here strictly parallel terms, as are als... [ Continue Reading ]
HAVING SALVATION. — Better, _saved._ (Comp. the whole tenor of Psalms 2 and Ephesians 1:19; also Acts 2:23; Philippians 2:8; Hebrews 5:9.) LOWLY. — Better, _afflicted._ (Comp. Isaiah 53:4.) OF AN ASS. — Literally, _of she asses._ (For this use of plural comp. Genesis 37:31; Judges [ Continue Reading ]
SPEAK PEACE. — Not only to His own people (Isaiah 52:7), but also to the heathen by setting up His spiritual kingdom among them. (Comp. Zechariah 6:13.) With the latter part of this verse comp. Psalms 72:8. THE RIVER. — Namely, the Euphrates (Micah 7:12; Isaiah 7:20).... [ Continue Reading ]
THEE — _i.e.,_ Zion. BY THE BLOOD OF THY COVENANT. — Comp. Exodus 24:3. BY means _in consideration of._ THE PIT. — _i.e.,_ Babylon.... [ Continue Reading ]
STRONG HOLD. — Better, _steepness_ of their own land. Those who still remained in Babylon are exhorted to come forth. Somewhat similarly, in Zechariah 8:8 (which is on all sides admitted to be written after the return from the captivity) we read: “And I will bring them, and they shall dwell in the m... [ Continue Reading ]
WHEN. — Better, _for_; and read the verbs in the future, the tense used being the “prophetic perfect.” These verses are prophetic of the military prowess of Israel, through the aid of the Lord God, and were signally fulfilled in the triumphs of the Maccabees over the Grecian rulers of Syria (B.C. 16... [ Continue Reading ]
SHALL BE SEEN OVER THEM. — Perhaps better, _on their behalf shall He manifest Himself._ OF THE SOUTH. — Whence the most violent storms frequently came from over the desert. (Comp. Psalms 21:1.)... [ Continue Reading ]
SUBDUE WITH SLING STONES. — Better, _trample on sling stones_ in their valorous onslaught on the enemy. For the figures “devour” and “drink,” comp. Numbers 23:24; Micah 5:8; Ezekiel 14:20; Ezekiel 39:16. BE FILLED. — With the blood of their enemies, like the bowls in which the priests caught the bl... [ Continue Reading ]
FLOCK. — Observe here the first introduction of the word and idea of “flock,” which plays such a prominent part in the next three (four?) Chapter s.... [ Continue Reading ]
GOODNESS. — Better, _goodliness_ (Hosea 10:11). HIS means Israel’s. (Comp. Numbers 24:5.) MAKE... CHEERFUL. — Better, _make to grow numerously._ For the idea, comp. Psalms 72:16, and see also Zechariah 8:5; and for the fulfilment, the reference there to Maccabees.... [ Continue Reading ]