CHAP. I.
LORD unto Zechariah, the son of Bere
The prophet expostulates with the Jews, and exhorts them to chiah, the son of Iddo, the prophet, saying,
repentance, 1-6. His vision of horses and their riders, 7-11. Comfortable promises to Jerusalem, 12-17. A vision of four horns and four carpenters, 18-21.
CHAP. I. V. 1. Marg. Ref . a, b.- Berechiah .] ( Note , Matt . 23:34-36.) It is the general opinion of expositors, that our Lord in the passage
2 The LORD hath been *sore displeased with your fathers.
b Ezra 5:1. Matt. 23:35. Luke Jer. 44:6. Lam. 1:12-15. 2. 11.51. 3-5. 3:42-45. 5:7. Ez. 22. 31. Dan. 9:11,12. Zeph. 2:1 -3. Matt. 23:30-32. Acts 7:52.
c Neh. 12:4,16.
d 2 Kings 22:16,17,19. 23:26. 2 Chr. 36:13-20. Ezra 9:6,7, 13. Neh. 9:26,27. Ps. 79:5,6.
* Heb. with displeasure.
and if the son of Jehoiada be meant, an alteration of the text in Matthew must be admitted, which is not advisable, unless absolutely unavoidable. Zechariah was a young man, when
referred to, means Zechariah, the son of Je- | he began to prophesy; (2:4.) he might live long
hoiada. ( Note , 2 Chr . 24:19-22.) Yet some reasons may be alleged, which at least render it probable, that the prophet Zechariah was intended. For why should "the son of Jehoiada" be called, "the son of Barachias?" Chrysostom indeed asserts that Jehoiada was also called Barachiah , which signifies one that blesses the LORD, as Jehoiada does one that confesses him; but there is not the smallest proof in scripture, that he was ever so called:
after the temple was finished, and after the death of Zerubbabel and Joshua.-Zechariah, of Iddo, is mentioned among the priests, in the days of Joiakim, the son of Joshua; ( Neh . 12:4, 16.) and tradition reports, that Zechariah was of the sacerdotal line. It is not peculiarly improbable, that the Jews, exasperated by his faithful expostulations, should murder him in the inner court of the temple: and the canon of scriptures, being previously closed, could not
3 Therefore say thou unto them, Thus to our doings, so hath he dealt with us.
saith the LORD of hosts, Turn ye unto me, saith the LORD of hosts; and I will turn unto you, saith the LORD of hosts.
4 Be ye not as your fathers, unto whom the former prophets have cried, saying, Thus saith the Lord of hosts; Turn ye now from your evil ways, and from your evil doings: but they did not hear, nor hearken unto me, saith the LORD.
5 Your fathers, where are they? and the prophets, do they live for ever?
6 But my words and my statutes, which I commanded my servants the prophets, did they not * take hold of your fathers? and they returned and said, Like as the LORD of hosts thought to do unto us, 4 according to our ways, and according
e Deut. 4:30,31. 30:2-10.11 18:11. Ez. 18:30-32. 33:11. Kings 8:47,43. 2 Chr. 15:4. Am. 5:13-15,24. Matt. 3:8- 30:6-9. Neh. 9:28. Is. 31:6. 10. Acts 3:19. 26:20. 55:6,7. Jer. 3:12-14,22. 4:1. 25:5. 35:15. Lam. 3.39-41. Ez. 33:11. Hos. 6:1. 14:1. Joel 2:12. Mal. 3:7. Luke 15. 18-20. Jam. 4:8-10.
f Jer. 12:15. 29:12-14.31:1820. Hos. 14:4. Mic. 7:19,20. Luke 15:21,22.
2 Chr. 29:6-10.30:7. 34:21. Ezra 9:7. Neh. 9:16. Ps. 78: 8. 106:6,7. Ez. 18:14-17.1 Pet. 1:18.
h 7.11-13. 2 Chr. 24:19-22. 36:15,16. Neh. 9:26,30. Is. 30: 9-11. Jer. 6:16,17. 13:16-18. 17:19-23, 25:3-7. 35:15. 36: 2,3,&c. 44:4,5. Ez. 3:7-9. Mic. 2:6. Acts 7:51,52. 1 Thes. 2:15,16.
3. Is. 1:16-19. Jer. 7:3-7.
k Jer. 11:6-8. 13:9,10. 26:5. 36:23,24. 44:16,
1 Job 14:10-12. Ps. 90:10. Ec. 1:4. 9:1-3. 12:5,7. Acts 13; 36. Heb. 7:23,24. 9:27. 2 Pet. 3:2-4.
m Num. 23:19. 32:23. 2 Chr. 15. 44:28. Ez. 12:25-28. Dan.
36:17-21. Is. 44:26. Jer. 26:
9:11,12. Matt. 24:35.
Or, overtake. Deut. 28:15,45. Jer. 42:16. Am. 9:10. 1 Thes. 5:4.
n Job 6:29. Mal. 3:18. o Lam. 1:18. 2:17. 4:11,12. Ez. 37:11.
p Num. 33:56. Jer. 23:20. q Deut. 28:20. Is. 3:3-11. Jer. 4:4 18:8-11. Ez. 20:43. Hos. 9:15. Rom. 2:6-11.
record it, any more than the martyrdom of those who suffered under Antiochus Epiphanes. The silence of Josephus proves nothing: as he uniformly, when he can, passés over, or palliates, whatever he thinks dishonorable to his people. The transaction might, however, be well known in our Lord's time, by tradition or authentic history.
But especially let it be considered, how far it might have been previously expected, that the murder of one, who suffered before the persecuting reigns of Ahaz, Manasseh, and Jehoiakim, (during which more innocent blood was shed, and more prophets were slaughtered, than in all preceding ages,) should be mentioned as the last of the righteous persons, whose blood would be required of the generation which crucified the Messiah. - The blood shed after the death of Zechariah, son of Jehoiada, especially filled up the measure of national wickedness, and brought on Judah the Babylonish captivity: yet on this supposition it is wholly passed over by our Lord.
But if Zechariah the prophet were meant, and if he were murdered after the captivity, as the other Zechariah had been before; the whole appears natural, and probably he might be the last eminent person who thus suffered by the hand of the Jews.
V.2-4. Marg . and Marg . Ref . Notes , 7:8 -14. Deut . 4:29-31.30:1-10.2 Kings 23:26, 27. 2 Chr . 36:13-17. Ezra 9:7. Neh . 9:26-30. Is. 55:6. Jer. 6:16-21.7.3-7.25:3-7.35:1517. Ez . 18:30-32. Am . 4:12,13. Mic . 7:18-20. Jam . 4:7-10.
It was
V. 5, 6. "Your fathers are dead;" it is true, 'you say, and so are the prophets too. VOL. IV.
107
[Practical Observations.]
в. с. 519.
7T Upon the four and twentieth day of the eleventh month, which is [ the month Sebat, in the second year of Darius, came the word of the Lord unto Zechariah, the son of Berechiah, the son of Iddo, the prophet, saying,
8 I saw by night, and behold a Man " riding upon a red horse, and he stood
among the myrtle-trees that were in the bottom; and behind him were there red horses, t speckled, and white.
9 Then said I, O my Lord, what are these? And the Angel that talked with me, said unto me, I will shew thee what these be .
10 And a the Man that stood among the myrtle-trees answered and said, b These are they whom the LORD hath sent to walk to and fro through the earth.
11 And they answered the Angel of the LORD, that stood among the myrtletrees, and said, We have walked to and fro through the earth, earth sitteth still, and
r 1.
s Gen. 20:3. 1 Kings 3:5. Job 4:13. Dan. 2:19. 7:2,13.
t 13:7. Josh. 5:13. Ps. 45:8,4. Is. 63:1-4.
u 6:2. Rev. 6:4. 19:19-21.
x Cant. 2:16. 6:2. Is. 41:19. 55: 13.57:15. Rev. 2:1.
↑ Or, bay . 6:6,7.
y 19. 4:4,11. 6:4. Dan. 7:16. 8: 15. Rev. 7:13,14,
z 2:3. 4:5. 5:5. 6:4,5. Gen. 31:
and, behold, all the is at rest.
11. Dan. 8:16. 9:22,23. 10:11 -14. Rev. 17:1,7. 19:9,10. 22: 8-16.
a 8,11. 13:7. Gen. 32:24-31. Hos. 12:3-5.
b 11. 4:10. 6:5-8. Job 2:1,2. Ez. 1:5-14. Heb. 1:14.
c 8,10. Ps. 68:17. 103:20,21. Matt. 13:41,49, 24:30,31. 25:
31. 2 Thes. 1:7. Rev. 1:1.
d 6:7. Dan. 10.20.
e 15. 1 Thes. 5:3.
'not for them to live here for ever. But though 'my prophets died; yet the words, both of coun'sels and menaces, which they delivered to 'your fathers, live still. Your fathers freely 'confessed, to God's glory and to their own 'shame; Right, so as God threatened to deal 'with us according to our doings, even so hath 'he done; we are sinful and miserable, and he is just.' Bp . Hall .-'As men astonished with 'my judgments, ... not touched with true re'pentance.'-It must be supposed, that some were merely nerely astonished, and others truly penitent. ( Marg . Ref. Notes , Is . 64:5-8. Lam . 2:17. 4:11,12. Ez . 14:22,23. 37:11. Dan . 9:713.)
Take hold. (6) "Overtake." Marg . 'As an 'enemy does one that he pursues. Bp . New combe. (Notes, Num . 23:19-21.32:23. Deut . 28: 15. Am . 9:7-10. Mal . 3:13-18. Matt . 24:35.)
V. 7. Sebat is the Chaldee or Syriac name of the eleventh month, which contained part of our January and part of February. Tables . V. 8-11. The prophet saw in a vision, by night, (as denoting perhaps the afflicted state of the Jews at that time,) "a Man," one in human form, even the Son of God who afterwards became Man for our salvation; and he sat like a warrior upon a red horse, as about to execute vengeance on the enemies of his people. He was stationed "in the bottom," or in a low valley (denoting both the humility and low estate of the church) "among myrtle-trees," an apt emblem of true believers: ( Note , Is . 55: 12,13.) and behind him were other horses with riders upon them. These seem to have been emblematic of holy angels, as ministers of [849
12 T Then the Angel of the LORD the heathen that are at ease; for I was but answered and said, O LORD of hosts, & how a little displeased, and they helped forlong wilt thou not have mercy on Jerusalem || ward the affliction.
and on the cities of Judah, against which
thou hast had indignation these threescore and ten years?
13 And the Lord answered the Angel that talked with me, with good words and comfortable words.
14 So the Angel that communed with me said unto me, Cry thou, saying, Thus saith the Lord of hosts; m I am jealous for Jerusalem, and for Zion, with a great jeal
ousy :
15 And I am very sore displeased with
f 8,10,11. Ex. 23:20-23. Is. 63: 9. Heb. 7:25.
g Ps. 74:10. 79:5. 102:13. Is. 64: 9-12. Rev. 6:10.
h 7:5. 2 Chr. 36:21. Jer. 25-11, 12. 29.10. Dan. 9:2.
i 14-16. 2:4-12. 8:2-8,19. Is. 40:1,2. Jer. 30:10-22. 31: 3,&c. Am. 9:11-15. Zeph. 3:
14-20.
k 9,13. 2:3,4. 4:1. 117. Is. 40:1,6.
16 Therefore thus saith the LORD, I am returned to Jerusalem with mercies: 'my house shall be built in it, saith the LORD of hosts, and a line shall be stretched forth upon Jerusalem.
17 Cry yet, saying, Thus saith the LORD of hosts; 'My cities through prosperity shall yet be spread abroad; and "the LORD shall yet comfort Zion, and shall yet choose Jerusalem.
o Is. 54:8. Heb. 12:6,7.
p Ps. 69:26. 83:2-5. 137:7. Is. 10:5-7. 47:6. Jer. 51:24,34, 35. Ez. 25:3-7,12-17.26:2. 29:6,7. 35:8-9. 36:4,5. Am. 1:3-6,9-13. Ob. 10-16.
m 8:2. Is. 9:7. 37:32. 42:13. 59: 9 2:10,11. 8:3. Is. 12:1. 54:8
17. 63:15. Hos. 11:8. Joel 2: 18. Nah. 1:2.
n 2,11. 19. 47:7-9. Jer. 48:11 -13. Am. 6:1. Rev. 18:7,8.
Providence under Christ, who waited on him, being ready to execute his commands: and the divers colors of their horses may denote the different dispensations of wrath or mercy, or both blended together, which they superintended. ( Marg . and Marg . Ref . u, x.- Notes , 6: 1-8. Rev. 6:1-8. 19:11-16.) When the prophet saw these things, he inquired of One, who cominuned with him, what they meant.
He is called "the Angel:" it is however evident, that he seems to have been the same, before and afterwards called "the Man;" for "the Man, who stood among the myrtle-trees, answered and said" that these were they, whom JEHOVAH had commissioned to go throughout the earth, and to examine the state of it. ( Marg . Ref . b-d.- Notes , 6:1-8, vv . 5,7. Job 1:7. 1 Pet . 5:8,9.) And immediately, the other angel, as having returned from executing this commission, shewed this Angel, that all the earth was still and at rest.
So that the person called the Man, (8,10.) is also spoken of, as "the Angel of the LORD." ( Marg . Ref . z, a. c. - Notes , 3:1-7. Gen. 16:7-11. 22:16–18. 32:24–30. 48:16. Ex . 3:2,6,14. 23:20–23. Is . 63:9. Hos . 12:3-6. Mal . 3:1-4, v. 1. John 8:54-59, v . 58. Acts 7:37-43, v . 38.)-The Persian king reigned peaceably over his extensive dominions. Even the Chaldeans at that time lived quietly under him, and other nations were remarkably at rest, whilst the church was in great affliction and abasement.-Having given this answer, they seem to have waited for another commission.
'The 'Man, or Angel, (11) ... denotes the Logos , or 'Son of God, appearing as the Captain of God's 'hosts or armies. ( Josh . 5:13,14.) ... They an'swer this Man, (8) or Angel, as if he were 'their Superior or Commander. Lowth . I 'had a vision by night; Christ, the Angel of the 'covenant, represented himself to me, as a Man 'riding on a red horse; ... and behind him were 'several angels, ready to attend his commands. '...
And the great Angel of the covenant,... (as 'taking the answer out of the mouth of that 'angel that spake to me,) answered and said, "These are ministering spirits, whom the Lord 'hath sent to take a view of all the parts of the 'world.' Bp . Hall . - 'The Persian empire, and 'the other nations connected with Judea, en'joyed peace at that time: but the state of the Jews was unsettled, ... which circumstance 'gives occasion to the following intercession.'
10. Jer. 31:22-25, 33:10-12. Ez. 37:24-28. 39:25-29.48: 35.
4:9. Ezra 6:14,15. 15. 44:26 -28. Hag. 1:14.
s 2:1,2. Job 38:5. Is. 34.11.
Jer. 31:39,40. Ez. 40:3. 47:3. t Neh. 11:3,20. Ps. 69:35. Is 44:26. 61:4-6. Jer. 31:23,34. 32:43,44. 33:13. Ez. 36:10,11, 33. Am. 9:14. Ob. 20. * Heb. good.
u Is. 40:1,2. 49:13. 51:3,12. 52: 9. 54:8. 66:13. Jer. 31:18,14, Zeph. 3:15-17.
x 2:12. 3:2. 2 Chr. 6:6. Ps. 132: 13,14. Is. 14:1. 41:8,9. Rom. 11:28,29. Eph. 1:4.
Bp . Newcombe.-'All the enemies of the Per'sian empire in general, and of the Jews in 'particular, are quiet: so this seems a proper 'time for setting forward the building of the 'temple, which hath been so long interrupted.' Lowth .
V. 12, 13. 'Christ, the Mediator, prayed for 'the salvation of his church, which was now 'troubled, when all the countries about were 'at rest.... Then Christ the Mediator of his 'church, answered and said, &c.' Bp . Hall . ( Note , 8-11.) The person, called "a Man" and "the Angel," was indeed the great Advocate and Intercessor of the church; and was introduced as pleading with the Father in behalf of Jerusalem and Judah, which had lain under his indignation for seventy years. ( Marg . Ref . g.- Notes , Ps . 74:9-11.79:1-5. 102:1322.
Is . 64:9-12.) This period, as it was dated from the first captivity in the fourth year of Jehoiakim, expired when Cyrus first issued his edict; but it was almost seventy years at this time from the final destruction of the city and temple: and just seventy years from the time, when Nebuchadnezzar laid siege to Jerusalem. ( Marg . Ref . h.)--The Lord answered with good and comfortable words, such as were gracious and encouraging to the prophet; assuring the Angel that his intercession was accepted, and mercy would be shewn to his people. ( Marg . Ref . i.- Notes , 14-16. Is . 40:1,2.
Jer . 31:3—14. Am . 9:11-15. Zeph . 3:14-20.)
V. 14-17. The Angel, who condescended to commune with the prophet, next commissioned him to proclaim good tidings to his people; and to assure them that the Lord of all the armies in heaven and earth, was "jealous with great jealousy," or zeal, for Jerusalem, as he had been against her. His love and eudeared relation to his people would not permit him to overlook the injuries done her. He was greatly displeased with the Chaldeans and others, who had reduced the Jews to deep and permanent distress: for he had been displeased a little with his people, and they had helped forward the affliction. The Jews had indeed deserved the heaviest indignation of God; nor could their enemies proceed farther than he intended: but they acted out of ambition, malice, and enmity against them; they took pleasure in their disgrace and misery; they used their power with cruelty and tyranny:
18 Then lifted I up mine eyes, and saw, and behold 2 four horns.
19 And I said unto the Angel that talked with me, a What be these? And he answered me, These are the horns which have scattered Judah, Israel, and Jerusalem.
y 2:1. 5:1,5,9. Josh. 5:13. Dan.
8:3.
z 2 Kings 15:29. 17:1-6. 18:9 -12. 24: 25: Dan. 2:37-43, 7:38. 8:3-14. 11:28-35.
a 9,21. 2.2. 4:11-14. Rev. 7: 13,14.
b 21. 8:14. Jer. 50:17,18. Dan. 12:7. Hab. 3:14.
and they intended to keep them perpetually in a state of abject bondage and captivity, and persisted in injuring them after the seventy years of their captivity. Therefore the Lord was highly displeased with them.-'God was 'displeased with the instruments of his ven'geance, for their extreme cruelty to the Jews; 'and with the nations, who insulted over them 'in their distress.' Bp Bp . Newcombe. ( Marg . Ref . m-p.- Notes , 8-11. 8:2. Ps . 137:7-9. Is . 10: 5-7.47:6-10. 54:6-10. Jer . 51:34-37. Lam . 4:21,22. Ez . 25:3-7,12. Am . 1:3-15.
Ob . 1016.)-At the same time, the Jews must be assured, that the Lord was actually reconciled to them, and was returned to dwell among them, with abundance of mercy: the temple would certainly be rebuilt; It; and the line stretched forth over every part of the city, to mark out the streets of it for building, that it might be restored to its ancient dimensions and prosperity.
Nay, the prophet was farther to proclaim, that through the prosperity, or good, ( marg .) intended them, the other parts of the land would be replenished with cities: for the Lord would comfort the inhabitants of Zion, and make effectual his choice of Jerusalem, as the centre of his worship, and the place of his peculiar and gracious residence. ( Marg . Ref . qt.- Notes , 2:1-5,10-13. 4:8-10. 8:3--5. Ezra 6:13-15. Neh . 11:7--9. Is . 44:25--28.
Jer . 31:23 -26,38--40. 33:10-13.) These predictions primarily related to the state of the Jews after the captivity: yet that was but a shadow of what shall take place in the church, after the termination of the oppression of the New Testament Babylon.
V. 18--21. The prophet had, immediately after, a vision of "four horus," which the angel, answering his inquiries, shewed to represent those powers, that had scattered the Jews and desolated the city and land. And then "JEHOVAH," evidently the same with whom he coinmuned, "shewed him four carpenters," or smiths, ( workmen ,) who came to "fray," or terrify, drive away, or demolish "these horns of the Gentiles."--Some by the horns understand the four great monarchies, which had scattered or would scatter the church: and then the carpenters or workmen may mean in part the same powers.
The Persians cast out the Chaldeans; the Macedonians, the Persians: and the Romans, the Macedonians; and the Goths and other northern nations cast down the power of the Romans. Others understand by the four horns, the several kings of Assyria, Chaldea, and Persia, who had successively crushed Israel and Judah: and then they suppose Zerubbabel, Joshua, Ezra, and Nehemiah to be the four carpenters.
But perhaps the vision only meant in general, that enemies from the four winds had arisen, or would arise, against the Jews and the church; but that able instruments would be raised up to defeat their attempts, to deliver the people of God, and so
make his cause to prevail and prosper. And this may take in both the ministers of his word and those of his Providence. Some interpret the four horns to mean the Samaritans, Ammonites, Arabians, and Philistines, who harassed abiansa
Jews, that had returned from Babylon: but these nations had never "scattered Israel and Judah."-"Why four? To denote 'that these kingdoms had many enemies; en'emies on every side.' Bp . Newcombe . These 'signified all the enemies of the church, east, 'west, north, south. The carpenters, or smiths, 'are God's instruments, which with their mallets and hammers break these hard and strong 'horns; ... and declare that no enemies' horn is 'so strong, but God hath an hammer to break 'it to pieces.'- Carpenters . (20) 'Or smiths. 'These were to repair the destructions, which 'the horns had made.' Lowth. (Marg. Ref. Notes , 9:13-16. 10:4. 12:6-8. Dan . 7:4-8. 8:3 -7. Mic . 5:5-9.)
PRACTICAL OBSERVATIONS.
V. 1-6.
It conduces greatly to the conviction of the hearers, when several of the Lord's ministers testify the same truths: and those who profit by the means afforded them, shall have them continued and increased.-Humiliation for sin must precede the comfort of forgiveness: and therefore "the ministration of condemnation" should make way for "the ministration of righteousness, and of the Spirit." ( Note , 2 Cor. 3:7-11.)-All our sufferings arise from the just displeasure of God: and this must continue from generation to generation against our sinful race, except as any turn to him by repentance and faith.
His readiness to forgive, and to return in mercy to the humble supplicant, should encourage and induce us to repent; ( Note , Rom. 2:4-6.) and we should earnestly beg of him to "turn us that we may be turned." We must follow no examples further than they accord to the word of God: and therefore they, whose fathers have refused to hearken to the ministers of Christ, must by no means be like them: as the authority of parents will not bear men out in iniquity, idolatry, superstition, unbelief, or impenitence. For where are they now?
They are dead, their places know them no more, and their authority is terminated; "but the word of God endureth for ever:" they can do no more harm or good; but he ever liveth to save, or to destroy. And where are those who died in their sins? If they have ruined their own souls, is that a reason why their posterity should ruin theirs also?
How vain then is it for men to be satisfied with their notions or forins, merely because they "received them by tradition from their fathers," when they are contrary to the word of God! (Note. 1 Pet . 1:17-21, v . 18.) They, and the prophets. apostles, or ministers whose words they re[851
jected, are gone to receive their recompense: but though the prophets do not live here for
ever; yet their words of precept, promise, doc-designs, and to put them to confusion; whether
his worshippers, or to run down his truth, he will raise up able instruments to defeat their
persecuting tyrants are to be crushed, by powerful kings and their armies; or proud infidels and heresiarchs to be confuted and silenced, by his ministers, and the effectual preaching
NOTES.
trine, or prediction, remain perpetually in force, and are constantly taking effect, or re- ceiving their accomplishment: and the Lord continues to deal with men according to their doings, as tried by this standard. "Being || of his holy gospel.
dead they yet speak," and warn us to keep out of the reach of their threatenings; for they will surely overtake, and lay hold of us, except we trust in the promises and obey the com- mandments of God; as they have already taken hold of numbers, who too late found, and were forced to acknowledge, the truth of
them.
V. 7-21.