Zechariah 1

— the month Sebat.] A Chaldee or a Syriack name. It corresponds with the latter end of January and the beginning of February. Abp. Newcome, Dr. Blayney.

walls, &c.] The inhabitants of Jerusalem will multiply so fast, that the houses within the walls will not be able to contain them, and their cattle will increase in proportion; see Jer. xxxi. 27. Under the captivity the land was made a desolation “without man and without beast,” Jer. xxxiii. 12; now the contrary blessing is promised. W. Lowth. That the prophecy was literally fulfilled, we learn from the words of Josephus: “For the city overflowing with multitudes by degrees crept beyond the walls, and joining the northern parts of the temple to the hill, they advanced no small way, so that the fourth hill, called Bezetha, was surrounded with buildings.” Dr. Blayney.

Zechariah 1:3

3.—the angel that talked with me] See chap. i. 9. “Another angel,” in the following clause, should be rather “the other angel;” that is, the angel “with the measuring line in his hand.” W. Lowth.

Zechariah 1:4

4.—speak to this young man.] Zechariah was probably at this time between twenty and thirty years of age. Dr. Blayney. Jerusalem, to see what is the breadth thereof, and what is the length thereof.

Zechariah 1:5

5. For I,—will be unto her a wall of fire &c.] This image strongly expresses the protection of the Deity. It must have reminded the Jews of the pillar of fire, by which God directed and defended their ancestors. The promise that the Lord “will be the glory in the midst of her,” is an allusion to the symbol of the Divine presence in the Holy of Holies, Rom. ix. 4. Vitrings refers the literal completion of this prophecy to the time of the Macabees; but thinks that the protection and glory of the future Jerusalem may also be predicted, Rev. xx. 9. Abp. Newcome. This promise will receive its utmost completion in that “New Jerusalem,” described Rev. xxi. 10, where “the glory of God and the Lamb” are said to be “the light thereof,” ver. 11. 23. Compare Isa. ix. 19. W. Lowth. 6. Ho, ho, come forth, and flee from the land of the north, &c.] This beautiful apostrophe is addressed to such of the Jews as continued still to dwell in Babylon, and the adjacent country, lying north of Jerusalem, exhorting them not only to come, but to make their escape with all possible speed from a land, which God was about to make the scene of his vengeance. Dr. Blayney. 8. For thus saith the Lord of hosts; That is, the Messiah. There is no part of Holy Scripture that more fully vindicates those confessions of our faith, which call upon us to acknowledge a plurality of Persons in Before CHRIST 519.

Zechariah 1:8

8. I saw by night, and behold a man &c.] A “red horse” is an emblem of war and bloodshed: see Rev. vi. 4. The “Man” or “Angel,” ver. 11, denotes the Logos, or Son of God, appearing as the “Captain of God’s hosts,” or armies: see Josh. v. 13, 14; and the notes on verses 12, 13, 20. W. Lowth.

— behind him were there red horses.] With riders, who were angels, ver. 11. They had horses to shew their power and celerity; and horses of different colours, to intimate the difference of their ministries. Abp. Newcome, Dr. Blayney.

9. — the angel that talked with me. Distinct from those represented, ver. 8; he who talked with the Prophet, ver. 13. Abp. Newcome. This was another heavenly minister, sent probably to present the visions to the Prophet’s imagination, as well as to explain them. Vitringa styles him, The accompanying and interpreting angel. Dr. Blayney.

Zechariah 1:10

10. And the man that stood among the myrtle trees answered and said, &c.] And the great Angel of the covenant, Christ Jesus, who stood among the myrtle trees, as taking the answer out of the mouth of that angel who spake to me, answered and said, These are ministering spirits, &c. Bp. Hall.

Zechariah 1:11

11. And they answered the angel of the Lord that stood among the myrtle trees.] They answer Him, as their superiour and commander. He is distinguished from the other “angel of the Lord,” ver. 12, by the circumstance of his “standing among the myrtle trees.” W. Lowth.

— all the earth sitteth still, and is at rest.] Meaning

against which thou hast had indignation these threescore and ten years?

Zechariah 1:12

12. Then the angel of the Lord answered and said, O Lord of hosts, &c.] The angel, mentioned ver. 9, makes his supplication to the superiour Angel, ver. 8, 10, who was indeed the Logos, or Son of God, being called by the name of Jehovah here, and ver. 13, 20. Compare chap. iii. 1, 2; xii. 8, 10. W. Lowth.

— threescore and ten years? See the notes on Jer. xxv. 11; xxix. 10.

13. And the Lord answered, The Lord of hosts, mentioned in the foregoing verse. W. Lowth.

Zechariah 1:15

15. — for I was but a little displeased, &c.] I made the Babylonian instruments of my vengeance upon the Jews, but they exceeded their commission, and acted as they were prompted by their own ambition and cruelty. Compare Isa. xlvii. 6. W. Lowth.

Zechariah 1:16

16. — a line] That is, the architect’s measuring line for laying out the building. See chap. ii. 1; Jer. xxxi. 39. Dr. Blayney.

17. — My cities through prosperity shall yet be spread abroad; God having determined once more to adopt the cities of Judah for his own, very aptly calls them “My cities.” The prosperity of the Jews under Simon and others of the Asmonean family completely answers to this prediction. Dr. Blayney.

Zechariah 1:18

18. Then lifted I up mine eyes, &c.] In this second vision under the emblem of four horns is represented, that God, by such agents as He would appoint, would quell and bring down all those powers, which had risen, or should rise, to oppress his people. Horns are an usual emblem of strength and power; and because those fierce beasts, that have them, push and gore with

d Chap. 8. 2. God sendeth to measure Jerusalem. The redemption of Zion. Before CHRIST about 519. talked with me, What be these? And he answered me, These are the horns which have scattered Judah, Israel, and Jerusalem.

Zechariah 1:20

20.—four carpenters.] Or, smiths, according to the number of the horns. W. Lowth. To denote such as should “come to fray them,” or frighten away the beasts with the horns, and to “cast out” or break to pieces “the horns of the Gentiles;” that is, to take away their power, to cause them to cease from disturbing the Jews any more in the building of the temple; (Dr. Wells;) and to repair the mischief which the horns had made. Bp. Holl, W. Lowth. Chap. II. This chapter contains the substance of a third vision. In conformity to what was said, chap. i. 16, “a line shall be stretched forth upon Jerusalem,” a man, or an angel, appears with a measuring line in his hand, going, as he says, to take the dimensions of Jerusalem, in order to its being rebuilt according to its former extent; which was afterwards done by Nehemiah. This is accompanied with a message delivered to the Prophet, shewing the great increase of her population and wealth; her perfect security under the Divine protection; recall of her exiles from the north country, and the punishment of those that had oppressed them; the return of God’s presence to dwell in her; and the conversion of many heathen nations; and lastly, the re-instatement of Judah and Jerusalem in the full possession of all their ancient privileges. Dr. Blayney. Ver. 1.—a man] An angel in human appearance; see ver. 3. W. Lowth.