Zechariah 6

The eighth vision of four charets, shewing that God would execute his judgement upon the Enemies of his church, verse 1 &c. A charge of making crowns, whereby is signified, the royal and priestly office of Christ, who was to build up the temple of the lord, that is, his church, unto which the Gentiles also should be called, 9, &c.

1. And I lift up my eyes again, [Heb. And I returned and lift up mine eyes] and I saw, and behold, four charets went forth [signifying the four Angels, that were sent forth, speedily to executeth judgements of god in the our quarters of the world: the horses, verse 2,3 signifie expedition. Some understand it, that this hath regard to the four monarchies] from between two mountains, and these mountains were mountains of copper. [understand here, by the mountains of copper, the everlasting and unmoveable councel and decree of Gods providence, who from all eternities foresaw and determined, what should happen in all ages.]

2. In the first charet were red horses; and in the second charet were black horses.

3. And in the third charet, white horses: and in the fourth charet hail-spoted [see gen. 31 on verse 10] horses that were strong. [or ash-coloured, and so in the sequel: the difference of these colours signifieth, according to some, the different working of the divine providence: black sadnesse; white, joy; red, bloodshed; hail-spotted, varios operations.]

4. And I answered and said unto the angel that spake with me, [Or in me] what are these, my Lord?

5. And the angel answered and said to me: these are the four windes of heaven. [or the four spirits, i.e. the four angels appointed to execute the judgements of God, towards the four windes, or in all the four quarters of the world] going forth where they stood. [or where they had themselves. See 1 Kings 22:19 and Job 1:6.] before the Lord of the whole earth: [a description of the true God, occurring also elsewhere.]

6. In the (charet) wherein the black horses are (those horses) go forth to the north-country, [i.e. towards Babylon, lying northward to the land of Juda. Oth. Those that are in this (charet) (and) the black horses go forth to, c. understanding that the former words have regard to the red horses: but others that applie this vision to the four Monarchies, conceive that the first is not mentioned, because the first Monarchie was past then] and the white go forth after them: and the hail-spotted, go forth to the south-country. [i.e. towards the land of Judea, lying south to Babylon.]

7. And those strong (horses) went forth, and sought to go forth, for the passé through the land, for he [to wit, the angel that spake with me, i.e. Christ] had said, go your wayes, passé through the land, and they did passé through the land. [to wit, all those horses.]

8. And he called me, [Or, he caused me to be called] and spake to me, saying, behold those that are gone forth to the north-country, [from which quarter the Jews suffered most, by the Babylonians] have caused my spirit to rest in the north-country. [i.e. they have pacified, or satisfied me, by executing my judgements against the Babylonians, and avenging my people to the purpose. Compare Ezekiel 5:13.]

9. And the word of the LORD came unto me saying;

10. Take of the captives-carried away; [to wit, of or from the Jews, that were carried away captive by Nebuchadnezzar; or of their children; for probably, there were but few left alive by this time, of those that were personally carried away. Take of them: namely the gold and silver, which they bring, for to offer in the temple] of Cheldai, [called Chalem, verse 14.] of Tobia, [Heb. Tobijahu] and of Jedaja and come thou on that day, and go into the house of Josia, the son of Zephanja, which came out of Babel: [to wit, the aforesaid Valiant men, being of the chiefest of those that were returned out of the Babylonian captivity.]

11. To wit, take silver and gold and make crowns. [viz. two crowns, one of silver and one gold: this betokening the kingdom, and that the priesthood of Christ] and put them upon the head of Josua, [representing the Messia, that is, both King and high-priest] the son of Jozadak the high-priest.

12. And speak to him, saying, thus speaketh the LORD of hosts, saying behold a man, [Or, loe there shall be, (or come) a man: to wit, Christ, true God, and true man, whose type thou art] whose name is sprout, [see above chapter 3.8.] the same shall sprout forth out of his place, [to wit, out of Bethlehem, out of the stem, or root of David, to whom he was promised. Compare Mich. 5.1. Isaiah 11:1.] and he shall build the temple of the LORD. [i.e the church of the faithfull, namely, by the preaching of the holy Gospel.]

13. Yea, he shall build the temple of the Lord, and he shall wear the ornament, [or, Majestic; that is, he shall be king and high-priest, whereof Josua was but a shadow. Others understand these words thus; he shall so govern, that he will be had in honour for it] and he shall sit and bear sway upon his throne; [i.e. he shall bear sway, rule and govern, sitting upon his throne c.] and he shall be priest upon his throne and the counsel of peace, shall be between them both: [that is, there shall be peaceable consultations between them two; to wit, between that king and high-priest; for he shall be both King and High-priestly together, which is shewed by both the Crownes before spoken off. See Hebrews 2:7 and chapter 3.3. other understand this, as if here it were foretold, that both those offices, the priestly and Royal, should always and evermore be and remain united in the person of Christ. Some understand by both, both the Jews and the Gentiles, whom Christ would gather into his church, the one as well as the other. Ephe. 2. verse 16.]

14. And those crownes shall be for Chelem [verse 10 called Cheldai] and for Jedaja and for Chen [verse 10 called Josia] the son Sephanja: for a memorial in the temple of the LORD. [the meaning is, after that these Crownes shall have been set upon the head of Jusua, as was commanded above verse 11 and when that prophecie shall be performed, then shall the Crownes be taken off again, and laid up in the Temple, for an honourable remembrance of those four men, that gave the gold and silver to make them.]

15. And those that are afar off, shall come and shall build in the Temple of the Lord, [i.e the heathen shall help to advance the building of the spiritual temple. See Isaiah 57:19. Ephe. 2.19. being themselves living stones of it] and ye shall know that the Lord of hostes hath sent me unto you: this shall come to passé, if ye shall hearken diligently [Heb hearing ye shall hear] to the voice of the LORD your God.