Zechariah 7

Chap. VII. Ver. 1—14. Judgment and mercy far preferable to ritual observances.—A deputation being sent from the Jews who still remained at Babylon, to seek the Lord, and to inquire of the Priests and Prophets at Jerusalem, whether they were still bound to observe those fasts which had been appointed on occasion of the destruction of Jerusalem, and kept during the captivity, the Prophet is commanded to take this opportunity of enforcing upon them the weightier matters of the law, judgment and mercy; and to caution them that they might not incur such calamities as befell their fathers. He intimates withal, that in their former fasts they had regarded themselves more than God; and that they rested too much on the performance of external rites, although all the Prophets had largely insisted on the superior excellence of moral duties:—duties, however, which must always be regarded in connexion with the authority by which they are Viii.

14. “Thou shalt delight thyself in the Lord!” (Isaiah

Notes on the verses

Chap. VII. Ver. 2. To pray before the Lord.—See margin. Doubtless by offering sacrifices on the altar. Ver. 3,5. Should I weep in the fifth month?—(This was a fast for the burning of the temple, ((2 Kings 25:8-10).) as that of the seventh month was for the death of Gedaliah; and seeing that the city and temple were in part rebuilt, they wished to know whether they should continue the observance of them.] —Bagster. ® Ver. 5. Seventh month.—When Gedaliah was murdered. (2 Kings 25:25-26).— Seventy years.—[From the 11th year of Zedekiah to the 4th of Darius Hystaspes are just seventy years.]—Bagster. f Ver. 6. Did ye not eat, &c. for yourselves.—The last words, though not in the original, are evidently implied.

When they fasted, they had not reformed, (Isaiah 58:5).; and when they feasted, it was to regale themselves, and not to rejoice in the Lord. _ Ver. 7. By the former prophets.—See margin. So ver. 12.— When men inhabited the south.—See Obad. 9. and note. r Ver. 11. They pulled away the shoulder.—See margin. Heb. “Gave a withdrawing shoulder;” like a refractory heifer refusing the yoke. Ver. 14. With a whirlwind—That is, all manner of ways.—~Pleasant land.—|Literally, “the land of desire for a desolation;”? in which the contrast is very striking.]—Bagster. Chap. VIII. Ver. 4. Old men and old women.—{This is a beautiful and affecting picture of the prosperity and peace, attended with plenty, temperance, and contentment, which the Jews enjoyed, with few intermissions, till the time of Antiochus.

|—Bagster. Ver. 6. If it be marvellous.—See margin. So next member of the sentence. Ver. 7. From the west country.—See margin. This passage, in its full import, seems to refer to the future restoration of the Jews from their present long dispersion, in which many have settled in the western parts of the world. Ver. 10. There was no hire for man, &c.—See margin. That is, no agricultural employment for the poor. p ] Ver. 12. The seed shall be prosperous.—‘Peace,” in which the Jews include every blessing.; ‘ Ver. 13. Shall be a blessing.—[‘The consideration, that all nations who now worship the true God, and receive the Sacred Scriptures as His word, have derived the whole of their divine knowledge, under God, from Jewish prophets, apostles, and teachers, and that the Saviour, “in whom all nations shall be blessed,”

sprang from that favoured race, emphatically explains what is meant by “ye shall be a blessing.” The full accomplishment of this prediction, however, is probably reserved for the future restoration of the Jews.]—B. Ver. 19. Cheerful feasts.—See margin. Heb. “* Cheerful solemnities;” Newcome, ‘‘ Cheerful seasons.”’ ‘: Ver. 21. Let us go speedily.—See margin. Heb. “Let us going go;” i. e, let us go indeed, with all our heart, &c. We are here told how this future glorious advancement of the church of God should be introduced: by multitudes, in different towns and countries, coming into an express agreement, that they will, by united and extraordinary prayer, seek God, that he would fulfil his blessed predictions.

Has not this passage received an obvious fulfilment in the MONTHLY CONCERT which is now established in all Christian countries, and at every missionary station? PA Ver. 23. Take hold of the skirt—That this is a supplicating posture, see our exposition; also Orient. Lit. No. 1102. oat Chap. IX, Ver. 1. Burden of the word—(That is, “The burden of the word of the Lord shall fall and rest on the land of Hadrach (probably Coelo-Syria) and Damascus;” which was fulfilled by Alexander, who seized on immense treasures in that city.)—Bagster.—In (or on) the land of Hadrach— A place near, or in, the valley of Damascus. Newcome.—When the eyes, &c.—“I cannot conceive how these words can be made to signify ‘the eyes of Jehovah over man,’ as represented by Houbigant and the ancient versions.

The order of the words leads pals to our present English translation. And this implies that a time would come, when men, and the tribes of Israel in particular, should turn their eyes toward Jehovah, either in hope of deriving some blessings from him, or in gratitude for favours received.” Dr. Blayney. These words should, however, be read in parenthesis, as in Newcome. Ver. 2. Shall border thereby.—{What is, Hamath and Tyre, which border on Hadrach and Damascus, shall share their burden; which was accomplished when Alexander conquered Tyre, Syria, and Phoenicia. |—Bagster.— Abp. Newcome supplies the preposition on (from ver. 1.) to the other places named in this verse. —Though it (or she) be very wise.—See (Ezekiel 28). Ver. 3, As the mire.—Many towns in the East are built with bricks dried only in the sun; and Maundrell says, that “upon a violent rain at Patina the whole city becomes, by the washing of the houses, as it were a quagmire." Ver. 4. Power in the sea.—See (Ezekiel 26:17). “The Sidonians, (according to Diodorus Siculus,) on the approach of an army, sent against them by Ochus, mar of Persia, first of all destroyed their shipping at sea; and then, seizing the walls of their city, when they found they could hold out no longer to their houses, and burnt themselves and their effects together.” Ver. 5. Ashkelon shall see, &c,.— i ilistiir neig eal A alarmed shh tall That is, the Philistines, their neighbours, er.

6. A bastard shall dwell in Ashdod.—Heb. “A stranger,” i. e., Ashdod. sb. “stranger,” or foreigner; see spurious race” of different nations; Newcome, ‘a stranger.’ Ver. 7. His 2 — out of his mouth—That is, put an end to his idolatrous practices. “The metaphor (says Newcome) is taken from beasts of prey who gorge themselves with blood.” The heathen offered “drink-offerings of blood,” practice was forbidden to the Jews, ((Leviticus 7:5) ff., &c.) and consequently to the heathen on their versi “See 7 Orient. Lit. NO. 752.— He shall be for our God—That is, a convert to the God of Israel.—As governor.—Meaning, that he shall be as a citizen of Jerusalem, entitled even to fill its magistracy; but the Ekronite,

or naturalized person, planted Ashdod as a proselyte did in Judah, that is, as an alien; so Blayney. Josephus mentions the conversion only of the Philistines to Judaism. (Antiq. lib. xiii. xv. 4. Franz of Siete Ver. 8. Because of the army.—Newcome, “With an army, so that none shall pass there;” namely, no enemy. s Ver. 9. Thy king.—This term is never applied to Zerubbabel, who is only called governor.— Having salvation.—Margin, “Saving himself.” All ancient versions render the word as our translators do, or nearly: but the Jews object to it, and indeed it is not easy to defend the translation. Zion’s King, as “saved” through his awful sufferings, and made triumphant over his numerous and powerful enemies, and exalted to the throne of glory in our nature, is become the Author of eternal salvation to all them that obey him.”

Thus, without any forced rendering of the words, the same general meaning is established. Ver. 10. I will cut off the chariot.—Israel was forbidden the employment of chariots and horses, ((Deuteronomy 17:16);) hence the Messiah came meekly riding upon an ass. Compare (Hosea 2:18). Ver. 11. As for thee also.—The feminine pronoun limits this to the daughter of Zion; i. e. to the Jews, the covenant with whom, at Sinai, was ratified by blood. (Exodus 24:6-8). Out of the pit, &c.—Pits, or caves, were commonly used for prisons, sometimes miry ones. (Isaiah 24:22). (Jeremiah 38:6). Ver. 12. Prisoners of hope.— A beautiful address, as God, when he doomed his people to banishment, by no means totally rejected them.”

Bp. Newcome. Ver. 13. When I have bent Judah, &c —“A strong and sublime manner of expressing that God would use Judah and Ephraim as his instruments of destruction” against Greece. Newcome. Ver. 15. Filled like bowls, and as the corners of the altar.—Filled, namely, with blood, which some explain of the blood of their enemies slain, and others of the blood of the victims shed as thanksgiving-offerings. (Assembly’s Ann. in loc.) If we adhere to the former, as most do, we must refer it to the ancient mode of fighting, (still retained in some parts of the world,) when armies attacked each other with shouts and yells, and tore one another to pieces like wild beasts. See (Numbers 23:24). If we adopt the marginal reading, ‘Shall fill both the bowls and the corners,’ &c. we may refer it to the blood of the sacrifices, received into bowls, and scattered over the corners of the altars, where the sacrifices were deposited. Ver. 16. The stones of a crown.—Some suppose this of “crowned trophies;” but the stones of a crown are jewels, and such does the word consider his faithful people, ((Malachi 2:17).) Nor is this inconsistent with the following metaphor, since ensigns were often highly embellished; and perhaps the lifting them as ensigns, may refer to the exhibition of their good example. Ver. 17. Cheerful.—See margin; i. e. to praise the God of harvest.