Zechariah 1

Chap. I. Ver. 1—21. Zechariah exhorts to repentance, Chap. I. Ver. 1. In the eighth month.—Compare Haggai ii. 1, 10.—The Who the powers were that scattered Israel; and who the agents that conquered and dispersed them, Daniel will inform us. See (Zechariah 7)throughout. The more immediate object of this vision, however, appears to be, to allay the apprehensions of the pious Jews, as to the opposition they See meet with in erecting the second temple. Chap. I. Ver. 1—14. Malachi reproves the ingratitude and down.—Namely, by Judas Maccabeus, (1 Mace. v. 65.) and John Hyreanus. (Jos. Antiq. xiii. ix. 1.)—And they shall call them—Or shall be called, &c. Ver. 6. If I be a father.—[From this verse to (Zechariah 2:9) the prophet rechange of the external administration of the sacred ordinances is evidently predicted. }—Bagster. - = Ver. 14. A corrupt thing.—See (Leviticus 25:19). 987

Notes on the verses

Ver. 18. Four horns.—{Horns were the emblems of power; and these four horns represented the enemies which the Jews had, or should have, in the ‘‘ four winds of heaven.’ ]|—Bagster. Ver. 20. Four carpenters.—From this rendering, we may suppose that our translators supposed these horns to be of wood: so Vitringa renders the word smiths, because he imagined them to be of iron. If we admit, however, that they were horns of living animals, we may render the term more literally, as Newcome does, “ Workmen,’’ or rather, working men, either in agriculture or in the arts. It is obvious that it needed neither carpenters nor smiths to drive away living animals; and nothing is said of cutting off their horns.

[Able instruments whom God would raise up to deliver his people, and punish their enemies. |—Bagster. Chap. Ik Ver. 1. A measuring line.—Heb. measuring.”; Ver. 4. To this young man—i. e. the prophet: but Dr. Stonard understands it of the angel, though we think without reason. ‘The angel that had talked with Zechariah, “ went forth’ as if to leave him; but the superior Angel directed him to run, i. e. to step quickly back with this message to the prophet. —As towns without walls—That is, with an overflowing population. [We learn from Josephus that Jerusalem actually overflowed with inhabitants, and gradually extended itself beyond its walls, and that Herod Agrippa fortified the new part, called Bezetha.

|—Bagster. ‘; Ver. 7. Daughter of Babylon.—({The Babylonians were vanquished by the Persians, formerly their servants, under Darius Hystaspes; who took Babylon after a siege of twelve months, demolished its walls, and put 300,000 of the inhabitants to death. See Prideaux.)—Bagster. es 3 Ver. 8, 9. After the glory.—Newcome, “ After (the obtaining of) glory. Stonard, ‘ After glory hath he sent me;” i. e. after the glory of the nations; as it is added, ‘they shall become a spoil to their servants; that is, they shall plunder those who plundered them. See also (Revelation 21:24).—I will shake my hand upon—or * over;” i.e., in a threatening attitude. — Ver. 11. I will dwell. The Lord hath sent, &c.—From this passage, com- “And in his hand a line of pared with (Isaiah 48:16), an argument has been drawn in favour of the Holy Trinity. One person, who is Jehovah, sends another person, who also is Jehovah, yet are there not two Jehovahs. See Dr. Eveleigh’s Sermon at Oxford, on Zech, ii, 8-11. / See note on (Job 1:6). Chap. Ill. Ver. 1. And Satan.—See margin. Ver. 2. The Lord said.—The Syriac, Newcome, Boothroyd, and others, supply from (Zechariah 1), ‘The angel of.” Compare Jude, ver. 9. This angel, however, must be understood to mean, “ the Angel of the covenant. Ver. 3. Filthy garments.—Perhaps ‘the garments of a captive.” Ver. 7. Places to walk.—Compare (Matthew 22:30). (Revelation 3:4). Ver. 8. Men wondered at.—See margin. As being all “ brands plucked out of the burning;”’ or, “‘of a sign;”

i. e. typical men, or types of a future great deliverance——The BRANCH.—/That this does not refer exclusively to Zerubbabel, as some have supposed, but to the Messiah, of whom he and Joshua were a sign or type, (mopheth,) seems evident from the circumstance of Zerubbabel being already “‘ brought forth,” and placed as high in authority as at any future time; and it is expressly applied by Jonathan to the Messiah, who renders, “I bring forth my servant the Messiah, who shall be revealed.” Tzemach BRANCH, is a frequent name of the Messiah in Scripture, and is always applied to him by the Targumist.|— Bagster. “The great Messiah himself, through whom alone iniquity is put away.” Dr. Blayney.. Ver. 9.

The stone.—See (Genesis 49:24). (Psalms 118:22). Isa. viii, 13, 14. (Daniel 2:34), &c.— Upon one stone shall be seven eyes.—Some render this in the present sense, “are seven eyes;” but as there is no verb in the original, we think, with Dr. Stonard and others, that none is necessary; “Behold…. upon one stone Seven eyes!” We can by no means, however, agree with our learned author, that these eyes “ are intended to represent the angels of God, subject to the command of our Lord Jesus Christ.” 1. Angels are not (we believe) ever compared to eyes; and, 2. The Head of the church sees with his own eyes, and not, like temporal monarchs, with the eyes of others. See exposition.—In one day.—Compare (Daniel 9)

14. (Hebrews 9:26). pe ona re ee te Bee Micah iv. 4. to hold lamps; nor is a chandelier more literally ourven, thence a more French term, its absurdity is not so glaring. The golden vessel here named appears to us to have strongly resembled the candlestick, or lamp-bearer, in the tabernacle, (Exodus 25:31), &c., with perhaps this difference, that instead of the branches being solid, as they were hollow, for the purpose of conveying to each lamp the supply of oil which was received by the bowl from the olive trees beside them.—Seven pipes to the seven lamps.—See margin. Dr. Stonard thinks that he has discovered in the Hebrew phraseology of this chapter, two sevens of lamps, one seven belonging to the Jewish, the other to the Christian church; but we confess that we see no evidence to support this discovery; nor do we think it harmonious with the doctrine of the New Testament.

It is true there were many Christian societies, or worshipping assemblies, both of Jews and Gentiles; but we have no idea of their forming two distinct and coeval churches. ‘The Christian church is one, united under one head, and animated by one spirit. We hope to be excused in the freedom of this remark, though it would be absurd to attempt here the minute examination of an hypothesis which occupies several pages in the statement. ‘ Ver. 6. Not by might, (or army,) &c.—That is, the building of this temple, and more especially of the Christian church, should not be effected by secular power, nor by human might, but by the divine agency. Ver. 7. Who (or what) art thou?—That is, who is the chief opposer of this work?

and what is the obstacle to its completion? Before the power of the Almighty, all opposition is as nothing.—Head-stone with seven shall in due time place the top or finishing stone on the temple; while all the spectators shall joyfully ascribe their success to the grace and favour of God and accompany it with their prayers that He would continue to favour and protect that Holy place so happily brought to perfection. It is supposed that the headstone mystically represents the Messiah, called the chief-stone, (Zechariah 3:9). and implies that God shall bring him into the world as the finishing ornament and perfection of the church. In this sense the Targumist interprets the words, ‘‘ He shall reveal the Messiah, whose name was declared from everlasting, and he shall exercise dominion over all kingdoms.”

|—Bagster. Ver. 10. With these seven—Namely, the eyes of the Lord, mentioned Chap. ii, 9. See exposition. Ver. 12. Two olive branches.—These appear to have overhung the lampbearer, and to have emptied their oil into the golden bowl at top.— Which through, &c.—Heb. “ Which by the hand (i. e. by means of) two golden pipes (or tubes) empty out of themselves oil into the golden (candlestick,”’) &c. Ver. 14. Two anointed ones.—See margin. Meaning, Zerubbabel and Joshua who were appointed, qualified, and enabled to execute the arduous