Zechariah 8

The prophet comferteth the Jewes, that were active in the building of the temple, that God would blesse them abundantly, and restore his decayed church by Christ verse 1, &c after that he exhorts them to godliness, 16. with promise, that then instead of the former miseries, they should have cause to rejoyce, 18 and lastly he speaks of the calling of the Gentiles, 20.

1. After that came the word of the lord of hosts unto me saying:

2. Thus saith the LORD of hosts, I have been zealous for Zion [i.e. for Jerusalem, build upon mount Zion] with a great Zealousie: [viz. to redeem Zion from the shame and damage, which their enemies put upon them] yea I have jealous for her, with great fierceness. [i.e. I have been provoked to great wrath against those that persecuted and afflicted them so Tyrannically to wit, against the Babylonians. Compare Isaiah 9:6. and the annotate there.]

3. Thus saith the LORD, I am returned to Zion, and I will dwell in the midst of Jerusalem: and Jerusalem shall be called, a city of truth, [That is, a city, which the lovers of the truth shall inhabit; and where the truth shall be preached and embraced. Compare below verse 8.16 and Zephaniah 3:13. 1 Tim. 3.15 and see the contrarie, Isaiah 1:12.] and the mountain of the LORD of hosts, a mountain of holiness.

4. Thus saith the LORD of hosts; there shall sit yet old men and old women in the streets of Jerusalem: and every one shall have his staff in his hand, because of the multitude of dayes: [i.e. because of his great age. The sense here is, that God would bless the inhabitants of Jerusalem with great age and abundance of children verse 5. this blessing Zerubbabel, Josua, Ezra, Nehemiah and other godly people were made partakers of according to the letter. But these temporal promises and blessings must especially be applied to the spiritual benefits of the Kingdom of Christ, for the children of God are to live eternally contented and joyfull in the celestial Jerusalem.]

5. And the streets of the city shall be filled with boyes and girls, playing upon her streets. [viz. Jerusalems. See the note on the former verse.]

6. Thus saith the LORD of hosts; because it [i.e. that which was foretold just now, verse 4 and 5.] is wonderful [or, impossible, as Genesis 18:14.] in the eye of the remnant of this people in these dayes, [i.e at this time, so also below verse 9 and 23.] should it (therefore) he also wonderful in mine eyes? Saith the LORD of hosts. [That which is impossible to men. Is possible to God.]

7. Thus saith the LORD of hosts: behold I will deliver my people, out of the land of the rising, and out of the land of the going down of the sun. [Heb. Entrance viz. of the sun, see Psalms 19:6. The meaning is, I will assemble and gather my people together by the preaching of the gospel, fro all the corners and quarters of the world. Compare mat. 8.11 and Luke 12:29.]

8. And I will bring them hitherwards, that they shall dwell in the midst of Jerusalem: [i.e that they shall become true members of my church] and they shall be a people unto me, and will be a God unto them in truth and in righteousness. [i.e. I will assuredly give them what I promised and will justice them through Jesus Christ. Compare Hosea 2:19, 20.]

9. Thus saith the LORD of hosts; let your hands be strong, ye who in these dayes have heard out of the mouth of the prophets, that were in the dayes when the foundation of the house of the LORD was laid, that the temple should be built [Oth. That from that day, when the foundation was laid in the house of the LORD of hosts, the Temple should have been built. In this verse the prophet doth encourage the people, to go on courageously in the building of the temple, not so much looking at their own profit, nor heeding the discouraging counsel of timorous men, nor being daunted by the enemies threats and attempts, but only hearking to, and obeying the words and exhortations of the prophets, such as were then Haggai, Zacharia himself and Malachi.]

10. For, for those days, [viz. wherein they went not on in the building of the temple] a man ages came to nothing, [according to the Hebrew letter: the wages of man was not. That meaning is, as ye were slack and sparing toward the building of the Temple, so the LORD also was slack and sparing, to impart his blessing unto you, but there was a dearth of all things, and ye were grievously plagued by your enemies: yea it was all in vain, what ever ye took in hand, Gods curse was upon all your labour; see hag. 1.6, 10 and 2.16, 17.] and the wages of the cattel was none: [Or, of the beast viz. of such as bear burdens, horses, camels, asses, oxen &c. people earned no money by them, their labour was all in vain, the land yielded no fruit, though it was never so well manured, ploughed and husband] and they that went forth and that came in had no peace, because of the enemie, [or because of the distress. The Hebrew word doth signifie an enemy, and an hostile distress: the sense is; no body could get safely into or out of Jerusalem; the straigling and licentious souldiers and divers of your enemyies, that grudge you the prosperitie ye enjoyed and were vexed to see Jerusalem building up again, did hinder and mischieve you, how and where-ever they could. Compare herewith the devine threatenings, Deut. 28 verse 16.19 and 2 Chro. 15.5.] for I sent all men, every one against his neighbour. [The sense is, I did so order it in my righteous Judgement, that people persecuted and undid one another: nay I, even, did set them one against another. The LORD makes often use of evil instruments, to execute his good intents. See Joel 2:25.]

11. But now [to wit, since ye go on so cheerfully in the building of my temple, making it evident, that ye took my worship to heart] I shall not to the remnant of this people as in the former dayes, [viz. whiles the building of the temple stood still: henceforth, implyeth he, will I not be so severe to the remnant] saith the LORD of hosts.

12. For the seed shall be prosperous, [Heb. shall be seed of peace i.e it shall take well, and yield good encrease; it shall be sown, and grow up in peace] the vine shall give its fruits, and the earth shall give her encrease, and the heavens shall yield their dew, and I will cause this people to inherit all this [i.e. to enjoy it, possess it, according to Gods promise, Deuteronomy 28:8, 11, 12. Psalms 65:10 and 67.7. Joel 2:22.]

13. And it shall come to passé, that as ye O house of Juda, and ye O house of Israel, have been a curse among the Heathen; [i.e. Overwhelmed with all manner of miserie and calamity, the effect Gods curse] so I will keep you, and ye shall be a blessing: [i.e ye shall be blessed by me, and favoured with all manner of graces and mercies. See gen. 12.2 and compare Haggai 2:19.] fear not, let your hearts be strong;

14. For thus saith the LORd of the hosts, even as I thought [see Ezek. 18 on verse 19, 20.] to do evil unto you, [i.e. to plague, both your father and yourself their remnant, returned out of the captivity] when your fathers provoked me greatly to anger, said the LORD of hosts, and I repented not:

15. So I think again in do these dayes, to good to Jerusalem and to the house of Juda, fear not:

16. These are the things which ye shall do; speak the truth, and a judgement of peace in your gates. [i.e in your publick assemblies and judication, which of old were held in the gates. See gen. 34.10. Deuteronomy 22:16.]

17. And do not think the one the others evil in your heart; and do not love a false oath: for all these are (things) which I hate, saith the LORD: [Or, all these are that I hate and therefore ye ought to hate them likewise.]

18. Again the word of the LORD of hosts came unto me saying:

19. Thus saith the LORD of hosts; the fasting of the fourth, [intituled in remembrance of the city broken thorow. Jeremiah 52:7.] and the fasting of the fifth, [see above chapter 7.3.] and the fasting of the seventh, [see above chapter 7.5.] and the fasting of the tenth (moneth) [in remembrance, that Jerusalem, that Jerusalem was then begun to be besieged. Jeremiah 52:4. see also 2 Kings 25.] shall be unto the house of Juda [i.e. to the tribe, or people of Juda] for joy and for gladness and for cheerful festival: [the sense is, all the trouble and sorrow which ye had hitherto, shall be turned into rejoycing and cheerfulness, to wit, if so be, that ye turn seriously to the LORD and diligently in the building up of my house] love ye therefore truth and peace.

20. Thus saith the LORD of hosts; yet it shall come to pass, that the people, and the inhabitants of many cities shall come: [this is a prophecy of the calling and conversion of the heathen unto Christ. See the fulfilling, Acts 2:5, c and 8.27 and 10.1.]

21. And the inhabitants of the one (city) shall go to the inhabitants of the other, saying; let diligently go (now), [Oth. Let us go let us go. Heb. Let us going go] for to entreat the face of the LORD, and for to seek the LORD, and face LORD, and for to seek the LORD of hosts, I also will goe. [Thus shall the one speak to the other. Oth. Let me go also.]

22. Thus many nations, and mighty heathen [or, exceeding many, i.e. strong numbers, great heapes, multitude of them] shall come for to seek the LORD of hosts at Jerusalem, and for to entreat the face of the LORD.

23. Thus saith the LORD of hosts, it shall come to passe in those dayes, that ten [i.e. many Leviticus 26:16.] men of all tongues of the heathen, shall take hold, yea take hold of the skirt [or seam, Heb. Wing i.e skirt or loose part of the garment] of a Jewish man, saying; we will go with you [or, let us go with you for we have heard, that God is with you. [by this prophecy is shewed, that the Gentiles shall with great numbers and with as great a zeal, come in and joyn themselves unto the church of God, which formerly consisted onely of the Jewes. Compare Isaiah 2:3 and Mich. 4.2.]