CHAP. VII. V. 1. This transaction occurred above two years after the visions recorded in the foregoing chapters: but the prophet doubtless continued to instruct and exhort the people during that time, though none of his predictions were recorded.- "Chisleu," the "ninth month," answered to part of November and part of December. ( Marg . Ref .)
V. 2,3. The verb in the Hebrew is singular, "He had sent;" but our interpreters render it plurally, by an enallage of the number, which 'is frequent in the Hebrew; and the vulgar
5 Speak unto all the people of the land, and to the priests, saying, When ye fasted and mourned in the fifth and seventh month , even those seventy years, I did ye at all fast unto me, even to me?
6 And when ye did eat, and when ye did drink, did not ye eat for yourselves, and drink for yourselves ?
7 + Should ye not hear the words which the LORD hath mcried by the former prophets, when Jerusalem was inhabited and in prosperity, and the cities thereof round about her, when men inhabited the south and the plain?
ments, that they might spend the day in devotions; and they had persevered in it for many years: but must they still continue thus to employ and deny themselves? ( Marg . Ref . f. h.) V. 4-7. Whoever originally proposed the question before stated, it evidently concerned the whole nation; and therefore God sent his prophet to the people and priests on the oссаsion. The fasts, which they had observed, were not of divine appointment; though the observance of them would have been good, had they uprightly kept them. ( Note , 2,3.) But they were not truly humbled or sorry for those sins, which had provoked the wrath of God against them; and, while they wept as sufferers, they did not submit to his justice in their sufferings, or seek his mercy for their deliverance. They were not truly penitent; they did not forsake their sins; the glory and favor of God were not their grand object; their fast
'Latin interprets it to the same sense. According was the result of self-righteousness, or os'ing to this syntax, the words might be as well tentation; or a matter of custom, a form, a
'translated thus, "When Sharezer, and Regem'melech, and their men, had sent unto the house 'of God." These probably were men of some 'note among the Jews that still continued at 'Babylon.' Lowth . - Either the Jews in Chaldea, or those in Judah, sent the persons here mentioned, with their attendants, to the temple; both to offer prayers in their behalf, and to propose a question to the priests and prophets, concerning some fasts which they had been used to observe. ( Marg . and Marg . Ref . c, d.- Notes , 6:10,11. Ezra 6:6-12.-See on Note , Hag . 2:10-14, v . 11.) They kept an annual fast in the fourth month, in remembrance
compliance with human authority, out of regard to ease, interest, or reputation; and it bad no salutary effects upon their temper and conduct: so that they pleased themselves as really, when they wept and fasted, as when they ate and drank in a sensual and ungodly manner. ( Marg . and Marg . Ref . 1.- Notes , Io. 1:10-15. 58:3-7. Matt . 6:16--18. 23:5-7,14. Rom . 14:5-9. 1 Cor . 8:7-13, υυ . 8,13. 10:2933, v . 31.) But, whether they fasted or not, they ought certainly to have attended to the earnest calls of God, by the former prophets, to repentance and reformation. If their fathers had done this, their ancient prosperity would
of the breaking down of the wall of Jerusa-have been continued; and nothing but this
lem; (2 Kings 25:3,4.) another in the fifth month, in remembrance of the burning of the temple; (2 Kings 25:8,9.) another in the seventh month, on the day on which Gedaliah was slain; (2 Kings 25:25.) and another in the tenth month, because at that time the siege of the city was begun. (8:19. 2 Kings 25:1.) But the Jews now questioned, whether they ought to continue the observance of these fasts, ts, seeing the city and temple were both in part rebuilt and likely to be completed. They had wept for their sins, and separated themselves from food and ordinary recreations and employ-in mind of those exhortations, exhortations, the prophets VOL. IV.
109
could re-establish them in their former flourishing condition. ( Marg . and Marg . Ref . m. Notes , 8-10. 1:5,6.) 'From the eleventh year 'of Zedekiah, to the fourth year of Darius 'Hystaspis, are just seventy years. Did you 'fast upon religious motives, and for your bet'ter improvement at in the duties of repentance 'and amendment? "When ye did eat," t."... (Rom. '14:6.) ... ye sought your own pleasure and con'venience, not my glory! ... (1 Cor. 8:8.) Should ye not, &c. (7) Or " Are not these the 'words, &c." Marg . The prophet puts them [865
8 And the word of the Lord came unto Zechariah, saying,
9 Thus speaketh the LORD of hosts, • saying, Execute true judgment, and shew mercy and compassions every man to his brother:
10 And Poppress not the widow, nor the fatherless, the stranger, nor the poor; and let none of you imagine evil against his brother in your heart.
11 But they refused to hearken, and pulled away the shoulder, s and stopped their ears, that they should not hear.
• See on 7.-8:16,17. Lev. 19: | 1 Cor. 6:10. Jam. 5:4.
15,35-37. Deut. 10:18,19, 15:
7-14.16:18-20. Ps. 82:2-4. Prov. 21:3. Is. 58:6-10. Jer. 7:5-7. Ez. 45:9. Hos. 10:12, 13. Am. 5:24. Mic. 6:8. Matt. 23:23. Luke 11:42. Jam. 2:13 -17.
Heb. Judge judgment of truth. Jer. 21:12. marg . John 7:51.
p Ex. 22:21-24. 23:9. Deut. 24:14-18. 27:19. Ps. 72:4. Prov. 22:22,23. 23:10,11. Is. 1: 16,17,23. Jer. 5:28. 22:15-17. Ez. 22:7,12,29. Am. 4:1, 5:11, 12. Mic. 2:1-3.3:1-4. Zeph 3:1-3. Mal. 3:5. Matt. 23:14.
q Ps. 21:11. 36:4. 140:2. Prov.
3:29. 6:18. Jer. 11:19,20. 18: 18. Mic. 2:1. Mark 7:21-23. Jam. 1:14,15. John 3:15. r 1:4. Ex. 10:3. 2 Kings 17:13 -15. 2 Chr. 33:10. Neh. 9: 17,26. Prov. 1:24-32. Is. 1: 19,20. Jer. 6:16,17, 7:24. 13: 10. 26:5,6. 35:15. 36:31. 44: 16. Ez. 3:7. Dan. 9:5. Zeph. 3:2. Acts 7:51. Heb. 12:25.
Heb. gave a backsliding shoulder. Neh. 9:29. Jer. 8: 5. Hos. 4:16. Heb. 10:38,39. s Ps. 58:4,5. Acts 7:57.
Heb. made heavy. 13. 6:10.
'before the captivity gave them; that they may lay them to heart, and not be guilty of the saine sins, for fear of incurring the same pen- 'alties.' Lowth . - 'When ye offered sacrifices, 'after which ye feasted, did ye not, in this re- 'ligious act, regard yourselves more than me? '... Did not the former prophets make like dec- 'larations, co concerning ning the inefficacy of your 'external observances? Did they not insist on 'the superior excellence of moral duties?" Bp . Newcombe . He sheweth that they did not 'fast of a sincere heart, but for hypocrisy; 'because they lacked those offices, (duties of charity,) 'which should have declared that 'they were godly.' ( Matt . 23:23.)
V. 8-10. ( Marg . and Marg . Ref . Notes , 8: 16,17,19. Ex . 22:21-24. Deut . 16:18 16:18,19. 2 Chr . 19:5-11. Ps . 82:2—4. Prov . 22:22,23 . Is . 1:1620. 10:1-4. Jer . 7:5–7.21:11,12. 22:13-19, υυ . 15,16. Міс . 2:1-3. 6:6-8. Zeph . 3:1-4.) I often 'put your fathers in mind, that judgment and 'mercy were more acceptable to me than fast'ing, or any external performances: ( Is . 58:6,7. 'Jer. 7:22-24.) and I repeat the same admo'nition to you of the present age.' Lowth .
V. 11, 12. Marg . and Marg . Ref . - Notes , 2 Kings 17:12–15. 2 Chr . 36:13-16. Neh . 9:20, 26-30. Ps. 58:3--5. Is. 6:9,10. Ez . 3:4-11. Acts 7:51-53.- Pulled , &c. (11) As oxen that are not willing to draw in the yoke.
An adamant-stone. (12) 'Bochart shews, 'that the word means a hard stone used to pol'ish gems.' Bp . Newcombe .
V. 13. The people cried for temporal deliverance, when the sentence (as to the destruction of the city and the captivity,) had become irreversible; and therefore God would not bear them: but if any of them, even at that time, cried to him for spiritual salvation in humble faith, he certainly answered them. ( Marg . Ref . Notes, Prov. 1:24-31. 21:13. 28:9. Is . 50:1-3, v. 2. Jer. 11:11,12. Luke 13:22-30, vv . 25-27.) V. 14. Scattered them as with a whirlwind .] 'This sublime metaphor is expressed by a sin'gle word, in the original.' Bp . Newcombe."The land of desire is for a desola ion." The contrast is striking. ( Marg . Ref . )
12 Yea, they made their hearts as an adamant stone, lest they should hear the law, and the words which the LORD of hosts hath sent in his Spirit by the former prophets: therefore came a great wrath from the LORD of hosts.
13 Therefore it is come to pass, that as he cried, and they would not hear; a so they cried, and I would not hear, saith the LORD of hosts:
14 But I scattered them with a whirlwind among all the nations whom they knew not. Thus the land was desolate after them, that no man passed through nor returned: for they laid the || pleasant land desolate.
t Job 9:4. Is. 48:4. Jer. 5:3. Ez. 2:4. 3:7-9. 11:19.
u Ps. 50:17. Is. 6:10. Matt. 13: 15. Mark 4:12. Luke 8:12. John 3:19,20. Acts 28:27. 2 Thes. 2:10-12.
x Neh. 9:30. Acts 7:51,52. Pet. 1:11,12. 2 Pet. 1:21. Heb. the hard of the , &c. 7. y 2 Chr. 36:16. Jer. 26:19. Dan. 9:12. 1 Thes. 2:15,16.
z Ps. 81:8-12. Prov. 1:24- 28. Is. 50:2. Jer. 6:16,17. Luke 13:34,35. 19:42-44.
a Prov. 21:13. 28:9. Is. 1:15. Jer. 11:11. 14:12. Ez. 14:3. 20:3. Mic. 3:4. Matt. 25:11, 12. Luke 13:25. Jam. 4:3.
b 2:6. 9:14. Lev. 26:33. Deut. 4:27. 28:64. Ps. 58:9. Is. 17: 13. 21:1. 66:15. Jer. 4:11,12. 23:19. 25:32,33. 30:23. Am. 1:14. Nah. 1:3. Hab. 3:14. c Deut. 28:33,49. Jer. 5:15. d 2 Chr. 36:21. Jer. 52:30. Dan. 9:16-18. Zeph. 3.6. || Heb. land of desire.
e Dan. 8:9.
PRACTICAL OBSERVATIONS.
If we earnestly desire to know the will of
God in doubtful cases, we must not only con- sult his word and ministers, but seek his direc- tion by fervent prayer.-Some duties are obli- gatory at all times, and others belong to special seasons.
It behoves those, who are sufering or trembling because of their sins, to weep and fast, and separate themselves from lawful pleas- ures, to attend to the great business of hum- bling themselves before God, and seeking for- giveness: and it is equally seasonable for those, who have experienced signal deliverances and special tokens of his reconciling love, to abound in praise and in every expression of grateful joy.
But most men rest in the outside of these religious exercises; and whether they fast and pray, or eat and drink, they do it to themselves, according to their own humor, or for their own honor, or interest, or quiet, in one way or other. Yet they are in general so pleased with their performances, that they think it a ground of murmuring and complaint, that God will not richly reward what they "did not at all to him," and what in fact he abhors, as the result of pride, selfishness, and hypoc- risy!
Nay, many who, with apparent conscien- tiousness tiousness inquire the truth and will of God, prove indisposed to embrace the one, or to practise the other. But the neglect of moral duties is as inconsistent with sincerity in re- ligious observances, as the neglect of religion is inconsistent with the practice of morality, from a single eye to the glory and will of God.
Our rule is, that "whether we eat or drink, or whatever we do, we do all to the glory of God;" and true Christians will aim to receive all with that thankfulness, and use all with that moderation, which may render even their meals honorable to his name: but they will be conscious, that they continually fall short of their rule, and need forgiveness in every thing.
What then must be the case with numbers, whose very religion is as selfish as their "ban- quetings and revellings?"-Wilful disobedience mars the prosperity of cities, and of apparently flourishing churches; and no mourning or fasting, under public or personal rebukes, will prove of real use, except the ground of the Lord's controversy be removed.
In this all his servants, in every age and under every dispensation, are agreed.-Except magistrates "execute true judgment," and private persons do justice and shew mercy and compassions to their brethren; except they cease to "oppress the widow, the fatherless, the strangers," and the poor of every name or nation; except men repress their resentments, and no longer "imagine evil against their brethren in their hearts;" they evidently refuse to hearken to the warnings of God's word, and to bear the yoke of his commandments; they increase the natural hardness of their stony hearts, by resisting convictions, and indulging their prejudices and passions, "lest they should hear the law and the words of the LORD by his Spirit in his prophets;" and they cannot expect that even their prayers will turn away the great wrath of God from them.
He indeed always readily hears the cry of the broken-hearted penitent: yet it will soon come to pass, in respect of all who die impenitent and unbelieving, that, "as he cried, and they would not hear, so they will cry and he will not hear" or help them. And then there will be no remedy, or refuge from those miseries, which here they despised and defied, but which they then will not be able to endure.
NOTES.