THE BOOK OF THE PROPHET ZECHARIAH _Chronological Notes relative to this Book_ -Year from the Creation, according to Archbishop Usher, 3484. -Year of the Julian Period, 4194. -Year of the Jewish era of the world, 3241. -Year from the Flood, 1828. -Year from the vocation of Abram, 1401. -Year s... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Zechariah 1:2. _THE LORD HATH BEEN SORE DISPLEASED WITH YOUR FATHERS._] For their ingratitude idolatry, iniquity, and general rebellion.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Zechariah 1:3. _TURN YE UNTO ME_] This shows that they had _power_ to return, if they would but _use_ it. _AND I WILL TURN UNTO YOU_] I will show you mercy and grant you salvation, if you will _use the grace I have already given you_. Men are lost, because they _turn not_ unto God; but no man... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Zechariah 1:5. _YOUR FATHERS, WHERE_ ARE _THEY?_] _Israel_ has been destroyed and ruined in the bloody wars with the _Assyrians_; and _Judah_, in those with the _Chaldeans_. _THE PROPHETS, DO THEY LIVE FOR EVER?_] They also, who spoke unto your fathers, are dead; but their _predictions_ remai... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Zechariah 1:6. _DID THEY NOT TAKE HOLD OF YOUR FATHERS?_] Every thing happened according to the predictions, and they were obliged to acknowledge this; and yet they would not turn from their evil way.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Zechariah 1:7. _UPON THE FOUR AND TWENTIETH DAY OF THE ELEVENTH MONTH_] This revelation was given about _three months_ after the former, and _two months_ after they had recommenced the building of the temple. _SEBAT_] Answers to a part of our February. See Haggai 2:18.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Zechariah 1:8. _I SAW BY NIGHT_] The time was emblematical of the affliction under which the Jews groaned. _A MAN_] An angel in the form of a man: supposed to have been the _Lord Jesus_; who seems to have appeared often in this way, as a prelude to his incarnation; see Joshua 5:13; Ezekiel 1... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Zechariah 1:9. _O MY LORD, WHAT_ ARE _THESE_] The angel here mentioned was distinct from those mentioned in the _eighth_ verse; he who talked with the prophet, Zechariah 1:13.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Zechariah 1:10. _THE MAN THAT STOOD AMONG THE MYRTLE TREES_] The angel of the Covenant, as above, Zechariah 1:11. _WHOM THE LORD HATH SENT_] Who are constituted guardians of the land.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Zechariah 1:11. _ALL THE EARTH SITTETH STILL, AND IS AT REST._] There is general _peace_ through the Persian empire, and other states connected with Judea; but the Jews are still in _affliction_; their city is not yet restored, nor their temple built.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Zechariah 1:12. _THEN THE ANGEL OF THE LORD_] He who was among the myrtles-the Lord Jesus. _O LORD OF HOSTS, HOW LONG_] Jesus Christ was not only the "Lamb slain from the foundation of the world," but was always the sole _Mediator_ and _intercessor_ between God and man. _THESE THREESCORE AND... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Zechariah 1:13. _THE LORD ANSWERED THE ANGEL_] And the angel told the prophet that the answer was gracious and comfortable. This answer is given in the next verse.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Zechariah 1:14. _I AM JEALOUS FOR JERUSALEM_] I have for them a strong affection; and indignation against their enemies.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 15. _I WAS BUT A LITTLE DISPLEASED_] I was justly displeased with my people, and I gave their enemies a commission against them; but they carried this far beyond my design by oppression and cruelty; and now they shall suffer in their turn.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 16. _I AM RETURNED TO JERUSALEM WITH MERCIES_] Before, he came to them in _judgments_; and the principal mercy is, the house of the Lord shall be rebuilt, and the ordinances of' the Lord re-established. _AND A LINE SHALL BE STRETCHED FORTH_] The circuit shall be determined, and the city built... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 17. _MY CITIES - SHALL YET BE SPREAD ABROAD_] The whole land of Judea shall be inhabited, and the ruined cities restored.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 18. _AND BEHOLD FOUR HORNS._] Denoting _four powers_ by which the Jews had been oppressed; the _Assyrians, Persians, Chaldeans_, and _Egyptians_. Or these enemies may be termed _four_, in reference to the _four cardinal points of the heavens_, whence they came: - 1. NORTH. The Assyrians and B... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Zechariah 1:20. _FOUR CARPENTERS._] Four other _powers_, who should defeat the powers intended by the _horns_. These are the same as the _four_ _chariots_ mentioned Zechariah 6:1; Zechariah 6:6. The _first_ was NABOPOLASSAR, father of Nebuchadnezzar, who overturned the empire of the _Assyrian... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Zechariah 1:21. _THESE ARE COME TO FRAY THEM_] To break, pound, and reduce them to powder. _Fray_, from the French, _frayer_, to _rub_. חרשים charashim signifies either _carpenters_ or _smiths_; probably the latter are here intended, who came with _hammers,_ _files_, and such like, to destroy... [ Continue Reading ]