Zechariah 12

better than an idol, that is profitable for nothing, (Isa. xliv. 10.) and hath only the outward form and appearance of a shepherd. The sentence maybe rendered, Woe to the shepherd of no value; so the word elilis translated, Job xiii. 4. The sword shall be upon his arm, and upon his right eye; &e.] As he has abused his power and his understanding) signified by his arm and his right eye, God shall in his just judgment deprive him of the use of both those faculties. A sword is put for any instrument of the Divine vengeance: so it is used, xiii. 7. Jer. 1..35 — 37. Amosix. 10. and in other places. The former part of this chapter and several passages in the fourteenth, relate to an invasion made upon the inhabitants of Judea and Jerusalem, in the latter times of the world, probably after their return to, and settlement in, their own land, which is often spoken of by the prophets. It is probably the same attempt that is more largely described in the thirty-eighth and thirty-ninth chapters of Ezekiel. Mr. Mede and several other learned men are inclined to understand that propheey of the Turks and their confederates. See the Argument to those chapters, and particularly xxxviii. 8- 12.. where the expressions seem to point out the time when that and the parallel prophecies are to be fulfilled.

Zechariah 12:1

J. HE burden of the word of the Lord for Israel. Or, Towards Israel. Tho Hebrew word. massa is often translated a burden; i. e. a burdensome prophecy: (see ix. 1.) but it ykewise signifies a prophecy in general, as it does particularly in this place, also Lam. ii. 14. and Mai. i. 1. and is sometimes interpreted vision, in the Chaldee paraphrase. Wlio stretcheth forth the heavens, &c] These are mentioned as undeniable instances of God’s power, and are made use of as arguments to encourage men to rely on his word for fulfilling such promises, which seem to human understanding most unlikely to be brought to pass. (Compare Isa. xlii. 5. xliv. 24. xlv. 18. xlviii. 13.) And formeth the spirit of man within him.] He that creates the soul, and unites it to the body. (See Numb, xvi. 22. Eccles. xii. 7. Isa. Ivii. 1G. Heb. xii. 9.)

Zechariah 12:2

Behold, I will make Jerusalem a cup of trembling unto all the people round about. The nations that besiege Jerusalem shall be in the same condition with those that are overcome with poisonous or intoxicating liquors, and thereby.bereaved of their strength and understanding. (See ver. 4. and compare Isa. Ii. 17. 22.) WJien [or, even although] they shall be in the siege both against Judah and against Jerusalem.] Even although they be so numerous as to invade Judah and besiege Jerusalem at the same time. By comparing this place with xiv. 14. we may conjecture/that some of the Jews shall return before the rest, and possess themselves of Jerusalem; they shall no sooner be seated there, but all tho Mahometan nations shall confederate against them; then the other Jews shalljffy home like doves to their windotvs, or nests, (Isa. Ix. 8.) where they shall all be attacked by multitudes of Turkish forces and their confederates.

Zechariah 12:3

And in that day. The same expression is repeated, ver. 4. 6. 9. 11. and xiii. 1, 2. 4. xiv. 6. 8. 20. The phrase signifies, in the prophets, an extraordinary season, remarkable for some signal events of Providence. (See the note upon Isa. iv. 2.) This prophecy may probably be understood of the’ invasions which the enemies of God and his truth shall attempt against the Jews after their conversion. (Compare xiv. 1 — 3. 13, 14. Ezek. xxxviii. xxxix. Micah v. 8, &e.) Will I make Jerusalem a burdensome stone for all people.] St. Jerome upon the place thinks that a burdensome stone is an expression taken from an exercise kept up in’Judea to his time, where young men used to make trial of their < strength by lifting great stones as high as they could. In such an exercise, where men undertook to lift a stone too heavy for their strength, they were in danger of its falling upon them, and bruising or crushing them to pieces. To the same sense Christ saith, On ivhomsoever this stone shall fall, it will grind him to powder, (Matt. xxi. 44.) The same danger shall they ineur, who enterinto acts of hostility with the inhabitants of Jerusalem. All they that burden themselves with it shall be cut in pieces.] All that undertake to eontend with it, shall have their flesh torn and bruised like men that let a heavy stone fall upon them.

Zechariah 12:4

In that day I will smite every horse with astonishment, and his rider with madness, &c. The Turks are famous for their cavalry, wherein the strength of their armies consists; so, in order to their discomfiture, God will send a distraction among the horses and their riders, who shall be put into such a eonfusion as to fall foul one upon another, (see xiv. 13.) and not be able to distinguish between their friends and their foes; they shall be as if they were struek with blindness, just as the Syrian army was when they surrounded the door of Elisha, (2 Kings vi. 18.) And I will open mine eyes upon the Imise of Judah.] I will have an especial concern for their preservation. (Compare ix. 18.)

Zechariah 12:5

Hie governors of Judah shall say in their hearts. The inhabitants of Jerusalem shall be my strength, &e. The marginal reading is to be preferred, There is strength tome and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem in the Lord of hosts our God. God doth visibly interpose for our deliverance, and thereby encourage us to rely on his protection. Ver. G. In that day will I make the governors of Judah like a hearth of fire among the wood, &c] They shall devour all their enemies that annoy them. (See ver. 9. Obad. ver. 18. and the note upon that place.) And they shall devour all the people round about them, to the right hand and to the left.] i. e. Southward and northward. (See the note upon Ezek. xvi. 4G. so Isa. ix. 20.) The right hand and tho left, is explained in the Targum by the south and the north. And Jerusalem shall be inhabited again in her own place.] See xiv. 10.

Zechariah 12:7

The Lord also shall save the tents of Judah first. This shall be the order whereby this victory shall be accomplished; the Lord shall first give suceess to the body of the, Jewish nation that encamp in the open country, that the valour of the house of David, and of the people that defend Jerusalem from within, may not eclipse the courage of the people without the walls, and puff up one party