Zechariah 9

Chap. IX. Ver. 1—17. The Lord promises to defend his church, and to send them the Messiah.—In the Introduction to this book, we suggested a doubt which hath arisen among the learned; not as to the divine authority of these last six chapters, (for that is unimpeachable,) but whether they were not written by Jeremiah, or, some of them, by a still earlier Prophet. After considering the arguments which have been advanced on both sides, we feel fully satisfied with the evidence produced by Hartwell Horne, and Prebend. Townsend, that they were written by Zechariah, though probably at a much later period than the rest, and near the close of his life. The original grounds of the suspicion will be seen in our note on (Matthew 27:9). (Horne’s Crit. Introd. Townsend’s O. Test. Arrang.); This chapter contains prophetic burdens relative to Syria, Phenicia, and Palestine, which were conquered successively by Nebuchadnezzar and by Alexander the Great. Expositors differ as to which may be here intended, but perhaps both may be alluded to. The chief subject of this chapter is, however, the peaceful kingdom of Messiah, which, being “not of this world,” neither requires nor admits of military pomp, or secular force; but which is introduced by himself riding upon an humble ass, and thereby “pouring contempt on all earthly grandeur, and rejecting all human aid.” The address to Zion, or the daughter of Zion, (ver. 11—13,) may require elucidation. The prisoners out of the pit, must be the Jews returned from the captivity; this being effected by, that this deliverance from their second bondage was in consequence of their being God’s covenanted people; and that they were thereby as much bound to gratitude and obedience as were their forefathers by their miraculous deliverance from Egypt: and farther, that every victory they obtained over their enemies, called upon them for obedience to his laws, and for sacrifices upon his altar.

In the close of the chapter, the God of Israel speaks of them as his sheep and his jewels, and intimates, if we mistake not, that their example may be singularly useful and ornamental, like a splendid ensign which shows from afar, and animates and encourages those who are entering upon the good fight of faith: their young men should rejoice as with the joy of harvest, ((Isaiah 9:3);) and their maidens praise God with all the hilarity of the vintage.