Zechariah 8
DOYLYVer. 1. The burden of the word of the Lord in the land of Hadrach.] “The burden of the word of the Lord” is a burdensome prophecy, threatening ruin and destruction: see Jer. xxiii. 33; Nahum i. 1. Hadrach is not elsewhere mentioned as the name of a country: the context shews it to be some part of Syria. W. Lowth.
— and Damascus shall be the rest thereof;] God’s anger rests on those whom He punishes, Exek. v. 13; xvi. 42; xxiv. 13. And his rod or his arm rests upon his enemies, Ps. cxxv. 3; Isa. xxv. 32. Abp. Newcome. The land of Hadrach and Damascus is here said to be the place on which “the burden” or calamity was to “rest” or settle; that is, the land would still continue to be visited by the like calamities as it had before undergone, first under Tiglath-pileser, as prophesied by Isaiah, chap. xvii, and Amos, chap. i. 3—5; and again under Nebuchadnezzar, Jer. xlix. 23. Dr. Blayney.
— when the eyes of man, as of all the tribes of Israel, shall be toward the Lord.] This plainly implies, that a time would come, when men, and the tribes of Israel in particular, should turn their eyes towards Jehovah, and look up to Him, either in hopes of deriving some blessing from Him, or in gratitude for mercies received.
God defendeth his church. Before CHRIST about 587, a Ezek. 28. 3, &c.
Zechariah 8:4
4.—with his staff in his hand for very age.] A mode of expressing his being very old. Dr. Blayney.
Zechariah 8:6
6.—If it be marvellous &c.] And do not startle at it, saith the Lord of hosts; for though this may seem a strange and wonderful thing in the apprehension of this poor remnant of the people, that are now returned out of the land of their captivity; yet nothing should seem impossible to me, saith the Lord of hosts. Dr. Stokes.
Zechariah 8:7
7.—Behold, I will save my people &c.] This denotes the general restoration of the Jewish nation from their several dispersions; compare verses 13, 20, 23; an event foretold by most of the Prophets of the Old Testament: see the note on Isa. xi. 11. “The west country” appears to have a particular relation to their present dispersion, great numbers of them being in these latter ages settled in the western parts of the world. See the notes on Isa. xxiv. 14, and Hos. xi. 10. W. Louth. At the time of the delivery of this prophecy, there were
very few or no Jews dispersed west of the Holy Land. Dr. Wells.
Zechariah 8:8
8.—in truth and in righteousness.] These words apply equally to God and his people; and imply that they shall on both sides truly and faithfully perform the conditions of the covenant, once more renewed between them. Dr. Blayney.
Zechariah 8:9
9.—ye that hear in these days &c.] “These days” stand opposed to “the day that the foundation of the house of the Lord of hosts was laid,” which was two years before. And the people are exhorted to proceed vigorously with the building, inasmuch as they now heard repeated by the mouth of the Prophets the same things which had prevailed on them at first to engage in it. Dr. Blayney.
10.—there was no hire for man, Rather, “there was no reward for man,” &c. The fruits of the earth would not pay the labour of those who manured it. See Hsg. i. 9—11; ii. 16, 17. W. Louth.
—neither was there any peace &c.] The adversaries of the Jews ceased not to molest them from without. Ezra iv. 1. &c.; and civil dissensions, it seems, prevailed within. Dr. Blayney.
Zechariah 8:13
13.—O house of Judah, and house of Israel;] The mention both of Judah and of Israel, which had been so long separated, shews that both the curse and the blessing, here spoken of, in the ultimate sense of the prophecy, belong to the whole body of the Jews. W. Louth.
Zechariah 8:16
- These are the things that ye shall do; &c.] The Good works are required of them. Joy and enlargement are promised. Before CHRIST 518. c Ephes. 4. 25. truth and the judgment of peace.
shall do; c Speak ye every man the truth to his neighbour; † execute the judgment of truth and peace in your gates:
Zechariah 8:19
- — The fast of the fourth month, &c.] Besides the two fasts mentioned, chap. vii. 5, the Jews observed two others; that of the fourth month, when Jerusalem was taken Jer. lii. 6, 7; and that of the tenth month when the Babylonians began the siege, Jer. lii. 4. In answer to the question proposed, chap. vii. 3, the Prophet here tells them, that they may now disuse these fasts, and lay aside the mournful circumstances, with which they were solemnized; since the judgments which occasioned them were removed. W. Lowth.
— therefore love the truth and peace.] God values an upright conversation more than the exactest care of outward performances: see ver. 16; and the note on chap. vii. 9. These instructions prepared men’s minds for receiving the Gospel, the laws of which chiefly recommend purity of heart and life: see Jer. xxvi. 33. W. Lowth.
Zechariah 8:21
- And the inhabitants of one city shall go &c.] These expressions allude to the Jews going up in companies to Jerusalem at their solemn feasts. Compare Isa. ii. 2, 3; Micah iv. 1, 2. W. Lowth.
Zechariah 8:23
- — ten men] A certain number for an uncertain. See the last note on Micah v. 5. W. Lowth.
— shall take hold of the skirt] Mr. Harmer, having observed that it was customary in the East to kiss the hem of the garment of a person of rank, and especially when a favour was asked or granted, adds, that “ten men taking hold of the skirt of a Jew” is to be understood as an application of the most submissive kind, to be taken under his protection, or received among his dependents. That it was a mode of humble solicitation is evident from 1 Sam. xv. 27: and like that of embracing the knees, and laying hold on the feet, it was the natural gesture of an importunate suitor, who would seem to say thereby, “I will not let thee go, except thou bless me.” Dr. Blayney.
LORD, and to seek the LORD of hosts: I will go also.