CHAPTER XIII _After the humiliation and conversion of the Jews, foretold in_ _the preceding chapter, they are here promised the full pardon_ _of their sins, and a deliverance from idolatry and false_ _prophets_, 1-6. _Prophecy concerning the death of the Messiah, and the_ _persecution of his d... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Zechariah 13:2. _I WILL CUT OFF THE NAMES OF THE IDOLS_] There shall not only be no _idolatry_, but the very _names_ of the _idols_ shall be forgotten, or be held in such abhorrence that no person shall _mention_ them. This prophecy seems to be ancient, and to have been delivered while idolatr... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Zechariah 13:3. _WHEN ANY SHALL YET PROPHESY_] Falsely; such shall be the horror of such an evil, that there shall be no toleration of it. Itself, and they who practise it, shall be everywhere destroyed.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Zechariah 13:4. _NEITHER SHALL THEY WEAR A ROUGH GARMENT_] A _rough_ _garment_ made of _goats'_ hair, _coarse_ wool, or the _coarse pile_ of the _camel_, was the ordinary garb of God's prophets. And the false prophets wore the same; for they pretended to the same gifts, and the same spirit, an... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Zechariah 13:5. _BUT HE SHALL SAY, I_ AM _NO PROPHET_] This must be the case of a _false prophet_ or diviner, who had been obliged to give up his infamous practice, and become even a _labourer_ in the land. But having been known to be such, he is questioned by the people to see if he still wer... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Zechariah 13:6. _WHAT_ ARE _THESE WOUNDS IN THINE HANDS?_] _Marks_ which he had received in honour of his idols. But he shall excuse himself by stating that he had received these marks in his _own family_; when, most probably, they had been dedicated to some of those idols. Isaiah 44:5. I do n... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Zechariah 13:7. _AWAKE, O SWORD, AGAINST MY SHEPHERD_] This is generally understood of Jesus Christ. The _sword_ is that of Divine justice, which seemed to have been long _asleep_, and should long ago have struck either MAN, or his SUBSTITUTE, the _Messiah_. Jesus is here called God's _Shepher... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Zechariah 13:8. _TWO PARTS THEREIN SHALL BE CUT OFF_] In the war with the Romans. _BUT THE THIRD SHALL BE LEFT_] Those who believe on the Lord Jesus Christ shall be preserved alive; and not one of these perished in the siege, or afterwards, by those wars.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Zechariah 13:9. _I WILL BRING THE THIRD PART THROUGH THE FIRE_] The _Christian Church_ shall endure a great fight of afflictions, by which they shall be refined-not consumed. _THEY SHALL CALL ON MY NAME_] In this way shall they offer all their prayers and supplications to God. _I WILL SAY, I... [ Continue Reading ]