Zechariah 10

Zechariah 10:1

ASke yee] O yee Jewes! which have now againe setled your selves in the right way of serving God, since the re-edifying of the Temple, doe but make your prayers unto him, and he will heare you Raine] See Deuteronomy 11:14. And under the name of this blessing, are meant, all other blessings Bright clouds] Signes and fore-runners of raine: Psal. 135. 7. Jeremiah 10:13.

Zechariah 10:2

For thee] The meaning is, Direct your prayers to God, who will really blesse you, and not to Idols, who have alwayes deceived you There was] Your temporall and Ecclesiasticall Governours have not performed their duties; but have been perverted: Jeremiah 23:1. Ezekiel 34:1.

Zechariah 10:3

The goats] The heads, and great Ones, upon whom God powred out his greatest vengeance by meanes of the Chaldeans: Jeremiah 39:6 For the Lord] Now, that the Lord hath turned his favourable countenance towards his people, he hath endowed them with valour and strength; so that of sheep they are now become great war horse; with which the Lord will overcome and trample his enemies, which may in part he understood of the Maccabees victories: but most perfectly of the whole Churches victories over the world and the divell: Son 1:9.

Zechariah 10:4

Out of him] From God descends all mans strength; whether it be to beare up themselves: as corner stones doe beare up the buildings; or as nailes doe hold last tents: or, be it to defend themselves by open strength, which is meant by the bow Oppressor] All manner of oppression done by other men, is also a worke of Gods providence.

Zechariah 10:5

And the riders] The powerfull enemies; who are well appointed and provided for war.

Zechariah 10:6

Of Joseph] namely; The ten Tribes, the chiefe whereof was Ephraim, descended from Joseph: that is to say; all true Israelites, according to the spirit.

Zechariah 10:8

I will hisse] I will call them by my Gospel, as from a far off into my Church: see Isaiah 5:26; Isaiah 7:18 For I have] Or, for I will redeeme them.

Zechariah 10:9

Sw them] Scatter them abroad in exile and captivity; where I will, notwithstanding preserve them and their posterity, not to let them perish utterly And turne] namely; from the Spirituall Babylon, which is the world and the Kingdome of Satan, to the true Jerusalem, and to the land of promise, which is Christs Church: as Hosea 1:11. Whereof the returne from Babylon was but a proofe and figure.

Zechariah 10:10

Shall not] A figurative amplification to signifie the infinite number of Believers: as Isaiah 49:20.

Zechariah 10:11

In his name] They shall follow him; cleaving to Him, and to his Word and service which He hath revealed unto them.