Desolation of Judea A. M. 3486. B. C. 518. OL LXV. 3. Superbi, ZECHARIAH. Anno Tarquinii that the word of the LORD came R. Roman., 17. unto Zechariah in the fourth day of the ninth month, even in Chisleu; for its wickedness. A. M. 3486. B. C. 518. Ol. LXV. 3. Anno Tarquinii Superbi, AND it came to pass in the 7 Should ye not hear the 2 When they had sent unto the house of God Sherezer and Regem-melech, and their men, to pray before the LORD, a b 3 And to speak unto the priests which were in the house of the LORD of hosts, and to the prophets, saying, Should I weep in the fifth month, separating myself, as I have done these so many years' s? 1 8 And the word of the LORD came unto Zechariah, saying, m 9 Thus speaketh the LORD of hosts, saying, Execute a true judgment, and show mercy and compassions every man to his brother: 10 And oppress not the widow, nor the fa 0 4 Then came the word of the LORD of hosts therless, the stranger, nor the poor, and let unto me, saying, none of you imagine evil against his brother in your heart. a Heb. to entreat the face of the LORD; 1 Sam. xiii. 12; chap. viii. 21. Deut. xvii. 9, 10, 11; xxxiii. 10; Mal. ii. 7. Jer. lii. 12; chap. viii. 19. Isa. lviii. 5. Jer. iv. 1; chap. viii. 19. Chap. i. 12..[ See Rom. xiv. 6. Or, be not ye they that, &c. Or, Are not these the words.- ―k Heb. by the hand of, &c.- Jer. xvii. 26.—Isa. lviii. 6, 7; Jer. vii. 23; NOTES ON CHAP. VII. Verse 1. The fourth year of King Darius] Two years after they began to rebuild the temple, see chap. i. 1, A. M. 3486. The ninth month, even in Chisleu] This answers to a part of our November and December. The names of the month appear only under and after the captivity. Verse 2. When they had sent-Sherezer and Regem-melech] To inquire whether the fasts should be continued, which they had hitherto observed on account of their ruined temple; and the reason why they inquired was, that they were rebuilding that temple, and were likely to bring it to a joyful issue. Verse 5. When ye fasted and mourned in the fifthmonth] This they did in the remembrance of the durming of the temple, on the tenth day of that month; and on the seventh month, on the third of which month they observed a fast for the murder of Gedaliah, and the dispersion of the remnant of the people which were with hum. See Jer, xli. 1, and 2 Kings xxv. 25. Yermed. And when we did cat] They had not observed those fasts as they should have done. They deplored the loss of their temple, and its riches, &c.; but they did not under themselves because of those miquities which had brought the displeasure of God upon them, their temple, and their city. The words which the Lord hath cried by ar mophis] Down 'N' nebüm hari Mic. vi. 8; chap. judgment of truth.i. 17; Jer. v. 28. viii. 16; Matt. xxiii. 23 Heb. Judge o Exod. xxii. 21, 22; Deut. xxiv. 17; Isa. -P Psa. xxxvi. 4; Mie. ii. 1; chap. viii. 17. Neh. ix. 29; Jer. vii. 24; Hos. iv. 16.- Heb. they gave a backsliding shoulder. Heb. made heavy. Acts vii. 57. "Ezek. xi. 19; xxxvi. 26.— Neh. ix. 29, 30.- Heb, by the hand of. shonim, is the title which the Jews give to Joshua, Judges, the two books of Samuel, and the two books of Kings. -nebitin acha נביאים אחרונים,The latter prophets ronim, are Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, and the twelve minor prophets. The hagiographa, ` kethubim, holy writings, are the Psalms, Proverbs, Job, Canticles, Ruth, Lamentations, Ecclesiastes, Esther, Daniel, Ezra, Nehemiah, and the two books of Chronicles. But the above words, the former prophets, seem to apply to Isaiah, Jeremiah, and Ezekiel. The south and the plain?] From Eleutheropolis to the sea, Obad. 19. The south was the wilderness and mountainous parts of Judea; and the plain, the plains of Jericho. Verse 9. Execute true judgment] See the parallel texts in the margin. Verse 10. Evil against his brother in your heart.] Do not indulge an unfavourable opinion of another: do not envy him; do not harbour an unbrotherly feeling towards him. Verse 11. Pulled away the shoulder] From under the yoke of the law, like an unbroken or restive bullock in the plough. Verse 12. Made their hearts as an adamant stone] To shamir may mean the granite. This is the hardest stone with which the common people could be acquainted. Perhaps the corundum, of which emery Glorious promises relative A. M. 3486. B. C. 518. Ol. LXV. 3. Anno Tarquinii Superbi, R. Roman., 17. CHAP. VIII. * therefore came a great wrath 13 Therefore it is come to pass, that as he cried, and they would not hear; so they cried, and I would not hear, saith the LORD of hosts. to the city of God. 14 But I scattered them with d A. M. 3486. R. Roman., 17. B. C. 518. a whirlwind among all the nations Ol. LXV. 3. Anno Tarquinii whom they knew not. Thus Superbi, the land was desolate after them, that no man passed through nor returned: for they laid the pleasant land desolate. 64; Ezek. xxxvi. 19; chap. ii. 6.- -a Deut. xxviii. 33.xxvi. 22. Dan. viii. 9.- d Heb. land of desire. refers to the swift victories and cruel conduct of the Chaldeans towards the Jews; they came upon them like a whirlwind; they were tossed to and fro, and up Verse 14. I scattered them with a whirlwind] This and down, everywhere scattered and confounded. -y Prov. i. 24-28; Isa. i. - Deut. iv. 27; xxviii. Bochart thinks it means The same naine, in * 2 Chron. xxxvi. 16; Dan. ix. 11. 15; Jer. xi. 11; xiv. 12; Mic. iii. 4.is a species, may be intended. a stone used in polishing others. Hebrew, applies to different stones. b Lev. CHAPTER VIII. In this chapter God promises the continuance of his favour to those who are returned from the captivity; so that, upon the removal of his judgments, the fasts they had observed during the captivity may now be converted to so many occasions of rejoicing. He likewise promises in due time a general restoration of his people, and the enlargement of the Church by the accession of the Gentiles, 1-20. The conclusion of the chapter intimates farther that the Jews, after their restoration, will be instrumental in converting many other nations, 21-23. Compare Rom. xi. 15, 16. : с b 3 Thus saith the LORD; I am returned 6 Thus saith the LORD of hosts; If it be unto Zion, and will dwell in the midst of Je-marvellous in the eyes of the remnant of this rusalem and Jerusalem shall be called A city people in these days, should it also be marof truth and the mountain of the LORD of vellous in mine eyes? saith the LORD of hosts. hosts, The holy mountain. 7 Thus saith the LORD of hosts; Behold, 'I will save my people from the east country, and from the west country; f 4 Thus saith the LORD of hosts; There shall yet old men and old women dwell in the Neh. i. 2; chap. i. 14.b Chap. i. 16. Chap. ii. 10. Isa. i. 21, 26.- e Isa. ii. 2, 3. Jer. xxxi. 23.- See Sam. ii. 31; Isa. lxv. 20, 22; Lam. ii. 20, &c.; v. 11-14. n Heb. for multitude of days. NOTES ON CHAP. VIH. Verse 2. I was jealous] Some refer this to the Jews themselves. They were as the spouse of Jehovah but they were unfaithful, and God punished them as an injured husband might be expected to punish an unfaithful wife. Others apply it to the enemies of the Jews. Though I gave them a commission to afflict you, yet they exceeded their commission I will therefore deal with them in fury-in vindictive justice. Verse 3. I am returned unto Zion] I have restored her from her captivity. I will dwell among them. The temple shall be rebuilt, and so shall Jerusalem; and instead of being false, unholy, and profligate, it shall be the city of truth, and my holy mountain. TRUTH shall dwell in it. Verse 4. There, shall yet old men and old women] In those happy times the followers of God shall live Or, hard, or difficult. Gen. xviii. 14; Luke i. 37; xviii. 27; Rom. iv. 21.-Isa. xi. 11, 12; xliii. 5, 6; Ezek. xxxvii. 21; Amos ix. 14, 15.- Heb. the country of the going down of the sun; See Psa. 1. 1; cxiii. 3; Mal. i. 1. out all their days, and the hoary head be always found in the way of righteousness. Verse 5. The streets of the city shall be full of boys and girls] The progeny shall be numerous, healthy, and happy. Their innocent gambols and useful exercises shall be a means of health, and a proof of happiness. To be healthy, children must have exercise. But they cannot take exercise, except in the way of play and diversion: ergo, such playfulness cannot be sinful. Let them be kept from evil words, lying,` swearing, and scurrility; and all the rest may be innocent. Verse 6. If it be marvellous] You may think that this is impossible, considering your present low condition: but suppose it be impossible in your eyes, should it be so in mine? saith the Lord of hosts. Verse 7. I will save my people from the east country, and from the west] From every land in which * 8 And I will bring them, and they shall dwell in the midst of Jerusalem: " and they shall be my people, and I will be their God, in truth and in righteousness. 9 Thus saith the LORD of hosts; P Let your hands be strong, ye that hear in these days these words by the mouth of the prophets, which were in the day, that the foundation of the house of the LORD of hosts was laid, that the temple might be built, "Jer. xxx. 22; xxxi. 1, 33; chap. xiii. 9.- o Jer. iv. 2. P Hag. ii. 4; ver. 189 Ezra v. 1, 2. Hag. ii. 18. $ Or, the hire of man became nothing, &c. t Hag. i. 6, 9, 10; ii. 16. u 2 Chron. xv. 5.- - Hos. ii. 21, 22; Joel ii. 22; Hag. Heb. of peace.- Psa. lxvii. 6.- -y See Hag. i. ii. 19. 10. Jer. xlii. 18.- a Gen. xii. 2; Ruth iv. 11, 12; Isa. xix. 24, 25; Zeph. ii. 20; Hag. ii. 19. any of them may be found. But these promises principally regard the Christian Church, or the bringing in the Jews with the fulness of the Gentiles. Verse 9. By the mouth of the prophets] The day or time of the foundation was about two years before, as this discourse of the prophet was in the fourth year of Darius. After this God raised up prophets among them. Verse 10. For before these days there was no hire for man] Previously to this, ye had no prosperity; ye had nothing but civil divisions and domestic broils. I abandoned you to your own spirits, and to your own ways. Verse 12. For the seed shall be prosperous] Ye shall be a holy and peaceable people; and God will pour down his blessing on yourselves, your fields, and your vineyards. Verse 13. As ye were a curse] Instead of being execrated among the people, ye shall be blessed; instead of being reproached, ye shall be commended. Ye shall be a blessing to all the nations round about. All these promises we may expect to be completely fulfilled when the Jews acknowledge their Messiah. a to the city of God. you, and ye shall be a blessing: fear not, but let your hands be strong.. A. M. 3486. B. C. 518. Ol. LXV. 3. Anno Tarquinii Superbi, 14 For thus saith the LORD of R. Roman., 17. hosts; As I thought to punish you, when your fathers provoked me to wrath, saith the LORD of hosts, and I repented not : d 15 So again have I thought in these days to do well unto Jerusalem and to the house of Judah fear ye not. : 16 These are the things that ye shall do: Speak ye every man the truth to his neighbour; fexecute the judgment of truth and peace in your gates: 17 And let none of you imagine evil in your hearts against his neighbour; and love no false oath for all these are things that I hate, saith the LORD. 18 And the word of the LORD of hosts came unto me, saying, 19 Thus saith the LORD of hosts; The fast of the fourth month, and the fast of the fifth, and the fast of the seventh, m and the fast of the tenth, shall be to the house of Judah " joy and gladness, and cheerful • feasts; therefore love the truth and peace. P The fast of the fifth] In memory of the ruin of the temple, 2 Kings xxv. 8; Jer. lii. 12, 13. The fast of the seventh] For the murder of Gedaliah, Jer. xli. 1–17. The fast of the tenth] In commemoration of the siege of Jerusalem, which began on the tenth day of the tenth month; 2 Kings xxv. 1; Jer. lii. 4; Ezek. xxiv. 1, 2; and see on chap. vii. 3, 5. Cheerful feasts] Ye shall find all your evils so completely redressed, that these mournful fasts shall be turned into joyful feasts. Verse 20. There shall come people] Similar promises to those in Isa. ii. 3, and in Mic. iv. 1, 2. Many Gentiles, as well as Jews, will then be found devoting themselves to the Lord. Israel shall be instrumental in A. M. 3486. Ol. LXV. 3. R. Roman., 17. yet come to pass, that there shall salem, and to pray before the 21 And the inhabitants of one city shall go to another, saying, Let us go speedily to pray before the LORD, and to seek the LORD of hosts I will go also. Verse 21. I will go also.] This is the answer of the person invited. It is a good work. We must have God for our friend. We cannot expect this unless we seek him and as we know not what an hour may bring forth, let us go speedily. Verse 22. And strong nations] This may refer to the conversion of the Mohammedan tribes; especially to those in the vicinity of Palestine. Perhaps even the Egyptians, inhabitants of Arabia Petræa, of Syria, &c. Verse 23. Ten men—shall take hold of the skirt of him that is a Jew] The converts from among the Gentiles shall be to the Jews as ten to one. But ten A. M. 3486. B. C. 518. Ol. LXV. 3. Anno Tarquinii Superbi, 23 Thus saith the LORD' of hosts; In those days it shall R. Roman., 17. come to pass, that ten men shall take hold out of all languages of the nations, even shall take hold of the skirt of him that is a Jew, saying, We will go with you: for we have heard w that God is with you. 2. - Isaiah lx. 3, &c.; lxvi. 23. Isaiah iii. 6; iv. I. w1 Cor. xiv. 25. may here signify a great number, without comparison. And from this scripture it appears as if the Jews, converted to God, should be the instruments of converting many Gentiles. See on Isa, iii. 6. Catching hold of the skirt is a gesture naturally used to entreat assistance and protection. This and the three foregoing verses, says Abp. Newcome, refer to the great accession of converts which the Jewish Church received between the captivity and the coming of Christ; to the number of Christian disciples which the Jewish preachers made, and to the future conversions of which the restoration of the Jews will be an eminent cause. CHAPTER IX. Syria, Phoenicia, and Palestine, were conquered by Nebuchadnezzar, and afterwards by Alexander. Some apply the beginning of this chapter (1-7) to the one event, and some to the other. The close of the seventh verse relates to the number of Philistines that should become proselytes to Judaism; (see Joseph. Antiq. xiv. 15, 4;) and the eighth, to the watchful providence of God over his temple in those troublesome times. From this the prophet passes on to that most eminent instance of God's goodness to his Church and people, the sending of the Messiah, with an account of the peaceable tendency and great extent of his kingdom, 9, 10. God then declares that he has ratified his covenant with his people, delivered them from their captivity, and restored them to favour, 11, 12. In consequence of this, victory over their enemies is promised them in large and lofty terms, with every other kind of prosperity, 13-17. Judas Maccabeus gained several advantages over the troops of Antiochus, who was of Grecian or Macedonian descent. without excluding these events, it must be allowed that the terms of this prophecy are much too strong to be confined to them; their ultimate fulfilment must therefore be referred to Gospel times. But A. M. cir. 3417. B. C. cir. 587. OI. XLVIII. 2. Tarquinii Prisci, t R. Roman., border thereby; Tyrus, and cir. annum 30. Jer. xlix. 23. Isa. xxiii.; Ezek. xxvi., xxvii., xxviii.; but rather of Jeremiah, Hosea, or some one before the captivity. It is certain that chap. xi. 12, 13 is quoted Matt. xxvii. 9, 10, as the language of Jeremiah the prophet. The first eight chapters appear by the introductory parts to be the prophecies of Zechariah : they stand in connection with each other, are pertinent to the time when they were delivered, are uniform in This is a prophecy against Syria, the Philistines, Tyre, and Sidon, which were to be subdued by Alexander the Great. After this the prophet speaks gloriously concerning the coming of Christ, and redemp-style and manner, and constitute a regular whole; but tion by him. Most learned men are of opinion that this and the succeeding chapters are not the work of Zechariah, the six last chapters are not expressly assigned to Zechariah, and are unconnected with those that precede :—the three first of them are unsuitable in many ZECHARIAH. very 3 And Tyrus did build herself a strong hold, and heaped up silver as the dust, and fine gold as the mire of the streets. k 4 Behold, the LORD will cast her out, and he will smite her power in the sea; and she shall be devoured with fire.. 5 Ashkelon shall see it, and fear; Gaza also shall see it, and be very sorrowful, and Ekron; for her expectation shall be ashamed; f 1 Kings xvii. 9; Ezek. xxviii. 21; Obad. 20.- -5 Ezek. xxviii. 3. &c.- Job xvii. 16; Ezek. xxviii. 4, 5. Isa. parts to the time when Zechariah lived; all of them have a more adorned and poetical turn of composition than the eight first chapters, and they manifestly break the unity of the prophetical book. I conclude, from internal marks, that these three chapters, (ix., X., xi.,) were written much earlier than the time of Jeremiah, and before the captivity of the ten tribes. They seem to suit Hosea's age and manner; but whoever wrote them, their Divine authority is established by the two quotations from thein, chap. ix. 9, and xi. 12, 13. See below. The twelfth, thirteenth, and fourteenth chapters form a distinct prophecy, and were written after the death of Josiah, chap. xii. 11; but whether before or after the captivity, and by what prophet, is uncertain, although I incline to think that the author lived before the destruction of Jerusalem by the Babylonians. See on chap. xiii. 2-6. They are twice quoted in the New Testament, chap. xii. 10, and xiii. 7.— Newcome. My own opinion is, that these chapters form not only a distinct work, but belong to a different author. If they do not belong to Jeremiah, they form a thirteenth book in the minor prophets, but the inspired writer is unknown. The land of Hadrach] The valley of Damascus, or a place near to Damascus. Alexander the Great gained possession of Damascus, and took all its treasures; but it was without blood; the city was betrayed to him. Damascus shall be the rest thereof] The principal part of this calamity shall fall on this city. God's anger rests on those whom he punishes, Ezek. v. 13, xvi. 42, xxiv. 13. And his rod, or his arm, rests upon his enemies, Ps. cxxv. 3; Isai. xxx. 23. See Newcome. When the eye of man] Newcome translates thus: "For the eye of Jehovah is over man, And over all the tribes of Israel." This is an easy sense, and is followed by the versions. Verse 2. And Hamath also shall border thereby] Hamath on the river Orontes; and Tyre and Sidon, notwithstanding their political wisdom, address, and cunning, shall have a part in the punishment. These prophecies are more suitable to the days of Jeremiah than to those of Zechariah; for there is no 786 Syria, the Philistines, &c. and the king shall perish from Gaza, and Ashkelon shall not be inhabited. A. M. cir. 3417. B. C. cir. 587. O. XLVIII. 2. Tarquinii Prisci, R. Roman., cir. annum. 30. 6 And a bastard shall dwell in Ashdod, and I will cut off the pride of the Philistines. 7 And I will take away his blood out of his mouth, and his abominations from between his teeth but he that remaineth, even he shall be for our God, and he shall be as a governor in Judah, and Ekron as a Jebusite. 8 And I will encamp about mine house Jer. xlvii. 1, 5; Zeph. ii. 4. Psa. xxxiv. 7; chap. ii. 5. xxiii. 1.- k Ezek. xxvi. 1, 7.m Amos i. 8,- Heb. bloods. evidence-although Alexander did take Damascus, but without bloodshed—that it was destroyed from the times of Zechariah to the advent of our Lord. And as Tyre and Sidon were lately destroyed by Nebuchadnezzar, it is not likely that they could soon undergo another devastation. Verse 3. And Tyrus did build herself] The rock on which Tyre was built was strongly fortified; and that she had abundance of riches has been already seen, Ezek. xxviii. 1, &c. Verse 4. Will smite her power in the sea] See Ezek. xxvi. 17. Though Alexander did take Tyre, Sidon, Gaza, &c.; yet it seems that the prediction relative to their destruction was fulfilled by Nebuchadnezzar. See Amos i. 6-8; Zeph. ii. 4, 7. Verse 5 Ashkelon shall see it, and fear] All these prophecies seem to have been fulfilled before the days of Zechariah; another evidence that these last chapters were not written by him. Her expectation shall be ashamed] The expectation of being succoured by Tyre. Verse 6. A bastard shall dwell in Ashdod] This character would suit Alexander very well, who most certainly was a bastard; for his mother Olympia said that Jupiter Ammon entered her apartment in the shape of dragon, and begat Alexander! Could her husband Philip believe this? The word signifies a stranger. Verse 1. I will take away his blood out of his mouth] The Philistines, when incorporated with the Israelites, shall abstain from blood, and every thing that is abominable. And Ekron as a Jebusite.] As an inhabitant of Jerusalem. Many of the Philistines became proselytes to Judaism; and particularly the cities of Gaza, and Ashdod. See Joseph. Antiq. lib. xiii., c. 15, s. 4. Verse 8. I will encamp about mine house] This may apply to the conquests in Palestine by Alexander, who, coming with great wrath against Jerusalem, was met by Jaddua the high priest and his fellows in their sacred robes, who made intercession for the city and the temple; and, in consequence, Alexander spared both, which he had previously purposed to destroy. He showed the Jews also much favour, and remitted the tax every seventh year, because the law on that year forbade them to cultivate their ground. See this (. 50* ) |