Zechariah 4

Under the figure of the golden candlestick and the two olive-trees, is represented the success of Zerubbabel and Joshua, in rebuilding and finishing the temple. Vcr. 1. JjLND the angel that talked with me came again, and waked me, as a man is wakened out of his sleep.’] The last vision was so pleasing to me, that it cast me into a deep sleep; (compare Jer. xxxi. 26.) from which the angel that before had talked with me, (ii. 3.) awaked me, to discover to me the following vision.

Zechariah 4:2

I have looked, and behold a candlestick all of gold, &c. This figured the temple-service, and the whole polity of the Jewish constitution, which depended upon the restoration of the temple. (Sec the note upon ver. 14.) And his seven lamps thereon.] According to the fashion of the golden candlestick in the temple. (Exod. xxv. 37.) As that candlestick figuratively signified the church, whose oflico it was -to enlighten others: (sec Ttev. i; 20.) so the seven lamps mystically represented the seven spirits of God, (Rev. iv. 5.) i. e. the various dispensations of his providence over it. (Compare ver. 10. of this chapter.)

Zechariah 4:3

And two olive-trees by it, &c. Which did in a secret unperccivablc manner convey oil for supplying the lamps, (Sec vcr. 6.)

Zechariah 4:5

Knowest thou not what these be?. The words may be rendered, both here and vcr. 13. Knowest thou what these be? (Seethe note upon Jer. xxxviii. 15. and Noldius’s Concord, p. 256.)

Zechariah 4:6

Not by might, not by power, but by my Spirit, saith the Lord of hosts. Zerubbabel and Joshua, with the Jews under their conduct, shall finish the temple, and re-establish the Jewish state, not by force of arms, or of human power, but by the secret assistances of my providence; just as the lamps are supplied with oil, in a secret and invisible manner. (Sec ver. 12. 14.) Ver; 7. Wlio art thou, O great mountain? before Zerubbabel thou shall become aplain.] Removing mountains, and levelling them into plains,’ arc proverbial expressions, to denote the overcoming the greatest difficulties, and removing all obstacles that lie in our way: (sec Isa. xl. 4. Matt. xxi. 21.) so the angel here encourages Zerubbabel to go on with his undertaking, assuring him that nothing shall be able to withstand him. And he shall bring forth the head-stone thereof with shoutings, saying, Grace, grace, unto it.] He shall put the top or finishing stone upon the walls of the temple; which action the standers-by shall accompany with their wishes and prayers, that God’s grace and favour may protect that holy place so happily finished, and with such joyful acclamations as they used at laying its foundations. (See Ezra iii. 10, 11.) The chief, or principal, stone, mentioned iii. 9; denoted the Messias, called the Branch, vcr. 8. and the words before us mystically.reprcsent the same person: viz. that God shall bring forth, or bring him into the world, as the top or head-stone, the last and finishing ornament and perfection (expressed by Grace, grace, i. c. the chief grace) of tho church, God’s spiritual house, (Eph. ii. 21.) To this sense the Chaldee paraphrase expounds the words, His Messias shall come forth, who tvas named from all eternity, and shall obtain the empire of all the kingdoms of the earth: and St. Jerome tells us upon the place, that the ancient Jews explained it so.

Zechariah 4:9

The hands of Zerubbabel have laid the foundations of this house; his hands also shall finish it. He shall have the happiness of seeing the great work which he had begun finished and brought to perfection. (See Ezra iii. 10. vi.15.) And thou shalt know, &c] See ii. 9. Vcr. 10. For who hath despised the day of small things? for they shall rejoice, and shall see the plummet in the hand of Zerubbabel.] Or, For whoso hath despised the day of small things, they shall rejoice, &c. The particle mi is sometimes used, without an interrogation, for whosoever. (See Noldius, p. 602.) AVhoever despised the small beginnings of this building, when the foundations of the temple were first laid, may now utter their joyful acclamations, when they see, under the conduct of Zerubbabel, the walls risd, and the top-stone laid upon them in order to their finishing, (vcr. 7.) With those seven; they are the eyes of the Lord, which run to and fro through the whole earth.] The LXX. translate the words to a better sense, taking them for a distinct sen- 1 tencc from what goes before, These seven are the eyes of the Lord, &c. The sentence relates to the head-stone, (ver. 7.) upon which these seven eyes were to bo engraved, (iii. 9.) hieroglyphically representing the angelical ministry, which always attend upon this head or Prince of the church. The Scriptures mention this as a prerogative of the Messias, that the angels were to minister to him: (sec Psal. xci. 11, 12. Matt. iv. 11. John i. 51. 1 Tim. iii. 16.) and it is a saying recorded by the oldest writers among the Jews, that the Messias should be higher than the angels; a doctrine often delivered by St. Paul, Eph. i. 21. Phil. ii. 10. Hcb. i. 4. Vcr. 11. Then answered I, and said unto him.] The verb anah is not only used of answering to a question, but likewise signifies to begin or continue a discourse: (see Job iii. 2.) and so the word answer is used, Matt. xi. 25. Vcr. 12. What be these two olive-branches?] Young olives. (Sec ver. 3.) Which through the golden pipes empty the golden oil, &c] There were two greater pipes in the candlestick through which the oil was conveyed into the five lesser. (Sec vcr. 3.) Vcr. 14. These are the two anointed ones, that stand by [or, before] the Lord of the whole earth.] These signify the kingdom and tho priesthood, as they arc exercised at present by Zerubbabel and Joshua (and belong to their respective families), who having finished tho temple, and restored the public worship of God, will constantly* attend upon his uicjiiiz&u uy iviicrosoTi vcy CHAP. V.]’ UPON ZECHARIAH. service,, and take care that it be duly performed there. The candlestick represented the Jewish church and temple, (ver. 2.) and these two, Zerubbabel and Joshua,’ supply the place of the two olive-trees, that feed it with oil and keep it bright and burning. To stand before the Lord, (for so the words should be rendered, as they are vi. 5.) and to minister to him, are the same. (See Deut. x.8. 1 Kings xvii. 1.)