Zechariah 13

A prophecy of the forginess and washing away of sins, by Christ, verse 1 of the expiration of the idolatrous worship and false doctrine, 2 of the suffering and death of Christ, 7 of the destruction of the wicked and salvation of the elect, after their trial and retirement by the cross, 8, c.

1. In that day [viz, when the Messia shall be come] there shall be opened [namely, by the preaching of the gospel] a fountain [or, spring-vein, well-spring [i.e. the grace of God, for the pardon of sin, by the blood of Jesus Christ, wherein we are washed] for the house of David, and for the inhabitants of Jerusalem [i.e. for the believing children of God] against the sin, [i.e. for the washing away of sin, and defilement from and by sin contracted] and against the uncleanness. [the Heb. Word doth properly signifie the separation by reason of the monethly uncleanness, treated of Levi. 12 and 15]

2. And it shall come to passé in that day, saith the LORD of hosts, that I will destroy out of the land, the names of the idols, [i.e. all idolatry whatsoever, so that the same shall not be much as named any more among. Compare Psalms 16:4. Hosia 2.16 of the name idols see 1 Samuel 31:9] that they shall be remembred no more: yea also the prophets [viz. the false prophets. Oth. (their) prophets, to wit, those of the idols] and the unclean spirit [i.e. the false teachers, teaching impure doctrines, through the inspiration of the unclean spirit, the devil. Compare 1 Job 4:1, 2, 3.] will I put away out of the land. [viz. either by judgements of destruction, Deut. 13 or by perswading the people to renounce and abolish them.]

3. And it shall come to pass, when any one prpophesieth more, [to wit, falsely, making use of God’s name for a cloke of his lies, or when any one shall prophecy any more, by the inspiration of the unclean spirit] that his father and his mother begat him, shall say unto him, thou shalt not live, [i.e. thou art not worthy to live, tho shalt not suffered to live any longer but dersevest to be put to death according to the law, Deuteronomy 13:1, c] because thou hast spoken falsehood in the name of the LORD: [the meaning is, the faithfull shall be so zealous that they shall not suffer nor endure a false prophet; his very parents and nearest relation shall not spare to tell and shew him, what he deserves according to the law Deuteronomy 13:6.8.] and his father and his mother which begat him, shall pierce him through, when he prophesieth [to wit falsely, being acted and driven by a godly zeal, they shall deliver him up, to the judges, for to be punished according to the law. Yet some take the Hebrew word, here rendered pierced through, for, correcting, not onely by words, but also by fore stripes.]

4. And it shall come to pass, in that day, that those prophets, [viz. the false ones] shall become ashamed [as being convinced of their false doctrime, by the clear light of Truth, and their own parent remonstrance] every one because of his vision [i.e. his false prophecie] when he prophesieth: and they shall on no hairy cloack, [such as Elia wore formerly. 2 kings 1.8 and john the Baptist. Mat.3.4. compare Isaiah 20:2. and this the false prophets imated, to gain so much the more shew and credit of holiness, in what they propounded] for for lie.

5. But he shall say, [i.e. every one of these false prophets] I am no prophet, I am a man that tilleth the land, [as if he should say, I have given over that prosession; I was brought up to husbandry from a child, and I am now fallen to it again] for a man got me (to it) from my youth. [or, they put me over the cattel, r, to bring up the cattel & c or for onne taught me to deal with the cattle,]

6. And if any one sayes to him, what are these wounds in thine hands? [i.e. what mean or signifie these wounds, Heb. Strokes, i.e. stripes, or, scares of wounds. Compare 1 kings 18.28. By the hands here mentioned are likewise understood, the other parts of the body] then he shall say, they are the wounds, wherewith I was smitten in the house of my lover, [or, of those that love me. To wit, of my parents, or neer friends and kindred, who by sore stripes and chastisements (whereof I bear the markes yet) have reclaimed and withdraw me f rom lying, and prophesying falsly any more. It is a common saying, hard stripes, leave good impossions and hard knots require keen wedge. Some read, wherefore are these wounds in thine bands? Then he shall answer was smitten &c.]

7. Awake sword, against my shepherd, [because it is said in the former verse, how the false prophet was entertained by his own friends, the LORD, viz. God the father, takes occasion thereby, to foretell, how Christ, his beloved son, and the chief shepherd, shall be smitten and pt to death, as if he also himself were a false prophet; yet that should not happen accidentally, but according to divine appointment. Compare Matthew 26:31. Job 14 and 16 and 18. Acts 2:23. and 4.28] and against the man, that is my companion, [viz, my only begotten son, coeffentiall with my self] saith the LORD of hosts: smite that shepherd shall be scattered, but I will turn my hand to the little ones. [to wit for to gather them, and to strengthen their faith. Of this phrase see Ezek. 38. on verse 12. oth. And I will turn my hand against the little ones, implying that they shall suffer persecution as well as their shepherd. By the little ones seem chiefly here to understood, the disciples of Christ, who were but men, of small account and regard, of whom Christ said to those that took him, if ye seek me, let these alone and after that they were scattered the LORD gathered them again. John 18:8. yet we may well also understand here by these little ones the elect children of God, who are small and little enough in the eyes of the world. See Matthew 18:10, 14.]

8. And it shall come to passé in all the land, saith the LORD, the two parts therein [heb. The mouth of two as Deuteronomy 21:17. i.e. the two parts] shall be destroyed and give (up) the ghost, [see of this phrase, and compare gen. 6.17. and Numbers 17:12, 13.] but the third part therein shall remain. [the sense is the far greater part of men shall be cast away, that is, continue and perish in their sins and unbelief; and the smaller part or number shall be saved, through Gods gracious sparing and redeeming of them. See Matthew 1:13. Like 8.5, c]

9. And that third part [to wit my chosen ones] will I bring into the fire, [understand here the fire of persecution and the cross. See Isaiah 1:25 and 48.10. and 1 Pet. 2.7.] and I will refine them, as one refineth silver and I will try them, as one tryeth gold [oth, that third part, every one of them, whom I shall have refined and tried thus] shall call upon my name, and I will bear them, I will say, they are my people, and they shall say, [viz. every one of them] the Lord is my God. Psalms 144:15. Job 20:28.]