Zechariah 12
DortA prophecie, that the Lord shall destroy the enemies of the Christian church: but defend and protect his own people, verse 1, &c promising withal that he would endue the elect Jewes with faith and repentance, by the Holy Ghost, 10.
1. The burthen [Or, prophesie] of the LORD over [or, concerning, for or unto. See above chapter 9.1.] Israel: [understand here by the Israel the Christian church, or the Assemblie of the faithfull, consisting both of Jews and gentiles, whom the apostle calls the Israel of God. Galatians 6:16 and who are promised here victory aover their enemies] the LORD speaketh, [viz. that which followeth verse 2] that speaketh forth the heaven, and foundeth the earth, and formeth [or fashioneth, shapeth as a potter his vessel] the spirit of man [i.e. his soul] in the inmost of him.
2. Behold, I will put Jerusalem, [That is here, the Christian church or assembly, as Galatians 4:26. Hebrews 12:18, 20.] (to be) a cup giddlinesse [or, a poisonous beaker, or a reeling cup or, a sleep & c] to all Nations round about: [the meaning is; god shall make his church to be as it were a cup, or vessel, out of which all nations, that rise up against the Israel of God, shall be made to drink so, that it shall cause them to reel, or fall asleep. This is that he means, the enemies of all Nations, that afflict and persecute my church, shall thereby get and gain for themselves, nothing nut that whiles they are in the very act of persecuting the same. I will smite them with rage and madness, or dullness and stupidity, that they shall run headlong into their own turn and destruction. Compare Psalms 60:5. Isaiah 51:22, 23. Jeremiah 25:15, 16 with the annotate.] yea it shall be likewise upon Juda, in the siege against Jerusalem: [it, viz. the same cup of giddiness. The meaning is, not onely the heathen nations, but the Jews also themselves, viz. all such as shall persecute the christioan church, shall be confounded and destroyed by it: or and it shall be also in the siege against Jerusalem.]
3. And it shall come to passé in that day, that I will put Jerusalem [i.e. the church of Christ (to be) a burdensome stone [Or, a most heavy stone] to all Nations; all that load themselves with it, shall assuredly be cut through; [the meaning is, even as those which go about to shew their strength, by lifting up a great and heavie stone, and by tha means come to be overborn and crushed by the weight: so shall those likewise, which go about to trie and practice their strength, thereby to subvert the church of God, themselves be overthrown and destroyed by it; and so find indeed, how hard a matter it is, to kick against the pricks. Compare Luke 20:18. Acts 9:4.] and all the nations of the earth shall assemble themselves against her. [or, through all Nations do assemble &c. namely to fightagainst my church]
4. In that day, saith the LORD, will I smite all horses with shienesse, [or, with dismayednesse, that is, I will disable them away all their strength and vigour. Compare Psalms 76:6, 7., &c.] and their riders with senseless: [or, stupidity] but over the house of Juda, [i.e. over my church] will I open mine eyes, [i.e. take notice of, and care for them, as pittying their condition. Compare jer 39.12.] and all the horses of the nations [viz. being, or such as are, enemies to my church] will I strike with blindness.
5. Then shall the leaders of Juda [i.e. te church governours] say in their hearts, the inhabitants of Jerusalem [i.e. the members of the church] shall be a strength to me, [or are a strength unto me: or, that the inhabitants of Jerusalem have me a strong wall] in the Lord of hosts their God [i.e. because the LORD is with them, for the LORDS’ sake.]
6. In that day will I put the leaders of Juda, (to be) as a fiery hearth under the wood, and as a fiery torch [Heb. An hearth of fire &c a torch of fire] under the sheaves, and they shall consume all nations, on the right and on the left side: [the sense is; they shall get the victorie of and subdue all their enemies, which is to be understood spiritually of the true believers victorie over their spiritual enemies. Comp. Psalms 48. and 87 and 125. and 129.] and Jerusalem [i.e. the true citizens of Jerusalem, the whole church of Christ] shall remain [Heb. Sit or dwell. i.e. abide, continue] in her place at Jerusalem: [in that place where god is called upon in true faith and served according to his will, where ever it be, all the world over.]
7. And the Lord shall save the tents of Juda [i.e. the meaner and poorer sort of Juda, which dwelt without Jerusalem and were nor of the house of David] with the foremost, [or, first or (as) formerly, in former times] that the glory of the house [i.e. family] of David, i.e. those which are in more authority and esteem then the rest of Juda] and the glory of the inhabitants of Jerusalem, do not lift up [Heb magnifie] themselves against Judah: [i.e. left the rich and mightie ones exalt themselves against the meaner sort.]
8. In that day the LORD shall protect the inhabitans of Jerusalem, and they that are stumbling [i.e. are but weak and feeble] among them, shall be in that day like David: [i.e. as valiant and courageous as David was uderstant this spiritual valour and courage, which the holy ghost begets in Gods children] and the house of david, [i.e. the governours and over seers of the church] shall be as God’s, [oth. God; otherwise, as God’s (house); by God here may likewise be understood the angel] as the angel of the Lord [i.e. as Christ himself, for so it appears by what followes] before their face: [i.e. that goeth before, or passeth along before their face. Compare Mich. 2.13.]
9. And it shall come to passé in that day, that I shall seek to destroy all the heathen, that come against Jerusalem.
10. But upon the house of David, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, will I pour out the spirit of grace and of prayers, [i.e. the holy ghost, bearing witnesses to the elect, that god will be gracious unto them: and the same doth stir them up to prayer and supplication, to sue unto God for grace and forgiveness of sins. Compare Acts 2:37.] and they shall look upon me, [partly with corporal eyes in the time of his suffering. See Job 19.37. partly, by faith, in regard of the penitent and believers, Acts 2:37. and with terrour, in regard of the unbelievers at the last day, Revel.. 1.7.] whom the pierced through: [this piercing through of Christ, comprehends his whole crucifying. See Job 10.34 and 37 and through but one souldier did this particular act of piercing his side, yet it is imputed to the whole Jewish nation, who importuned and pressed pilate so much to crucifie Christ, and put him to death in this manner] and they shall mourn over him, [i.e. be heartily forry and grieved for this their horrible sin and gratitude] as (with) the mourning for an only son; [departed this life. See Jer. 6 on verse 26 and Amos 8:10.] And they shall wail bitterly [Heb. Make bitter] as one wailes bitterly for a first born.
11. In that day shall the lamentation be great at Jerusalem, like the lamentation of Hadadrimmon, in the valley of Megiddo: [where King Josias was slain, who was exceedingly lamented and bemoaned by his good subjects. See the history 2 Kings 23 verse 29, 30. And 2 Chron. 35 verse 22, 24, 25.]
12. And the land [i.e. the inhabitants of the land] shall mourn, each family a part; [Heb. Family, family a part] the family of the house of David apart, and their wives apart, and the family of the house of Nathan [see 2 Sam. 5.14. 1 Chro. 3.5. Luke 3:31.] Apart and their wives apart. [The meaning is that this should be an extraordinary mourning among all families: it hath regard to the manner of the Jewes mourning, as then was in use among them.]
13. The family of the house of Levi apart, and their wives apart; the family of Simei, [Who according to the opinion of some, was a son of Gerson, the son of Levi. 1 Chronicles 6:16, 17. this man is set down by name for an example, but the same is said in general of the rest of the tribes and their wives apart.
14. All the remaining families: each family apart, and their wives apart.