Bible Commentaries

ZECHARIAH CHAPTER 2

The vision of an angel sent to measure Jerusalem, and its flourishing state under God’s protection foretold, Zechariah 2:1-5. The people warned to quit Babylon before its fall, Zechariah 2:6-9. The promise of God’s presence, Zechariah 2:10-13.

I, Zechariah,

lifted up mine eyes again: this is the third emblem or vision he had seen. Looked very diligently and intently.

A man; one in form of a man; some say it was Christ, others say a type of Nehemiah; it was an emblem of some master-builder to be sure, and it is probable the prophet took him for no more than a man.

With a measuring line in his hand; he appeared ready and prepared to lay out the platform of Jerusalem for extent, form, and beauty,

ZECHARIAH CHAPTER 2

The vision of an angel sent to measure Jerusalem, and its flourishing state under God’s protection foretold, Zechariah 2:1-5. The people warned to quit Babylon before its fall, Zechariah 2:6-9. The promise of God’s presence, Zechariah 2:10-13.

I, Zechariah,

lifted up mine eyes again: this is the third emblem or vision he had seen. Looked very diligently and intently.

A man; one in form of a man; some say it was Christ, others say a type of Nehemiah; it was an emblem of some master-builder to be sure, and it is probable the prophet took him for no more than a man.

With a measuring line in his hand; he appeared ready and prepared to lay out the platform of Jerusalem for extent, form, and beauty,

Whither goest thou? it is evident the prophet did not in so bold a manner inquire before, which may possibly be for that he apprehended this man to be one lesser than an angel; nor doth he ask the meaning of this hieroglyphic, but, understanding what it meant, the prophet inquires only where the platform was to be laid.

To measure; to take the exact dimensions of it, that it may answer God’s promise, and be capable to receive its inhabitants.

Jerusalem; the city, which was to be built hereafter, but first the temple is to be built.

The angel that talked; the great and glorious Angel, i.e. Christ Jesus himself, which had so long talked with Zechariah.

Went forth, from the midst of the myrtle trees, where he was first seen: whither he is going is not said; perhaps to standby, direct, and encourage the person that was going to measure Jerusalem.

Another angel went out to meet him; a created angel, or a ministerial angel, as became his office, offers his service to Christ, who is Lord of angels.

And said unto him; or,

And he said; or, as the French, Lequel lui dit, Which said unto him: so it is plain that the Angel which now was going forth spake to that angel which came to meet him, or gave him orders what to do.

Run; since you came so seasonably, hasten with all diligence, and from me tell that young man, Zechariah.

Jerusalem, which hath so long lain in rubbish, which I once delighted in, which now seems desolate and hopeless,

shall be inhabited, filled with inhabitants,

as towns without walls; the suburbs of it shall be as towns unwalled for greatness of extent, and for safety and freedom from enemies and danger: their own multitudes of men shall be some safeguard to them; and they shall have my presence, a better safeguard.

Cattle, brought thither for sacred uses, for sacrifices.

What was promised or foretold in the former verse is ratified in this by an account how it should be performed.

For I, saith the Lord; that a thing so much above the hope of a present dejected people, so much too great for so weak and so few a people, might be believed and expected, God engageth he will perform the word.

A wall of fire; which cannot be scaled, it would consume them that attempt it; nor undermined. none could come so near it: such a wall as once was Elisha’s guard, 2 Kings 6:16,17, to which this place may possibly refer. Or it is an allusion to the manner of shepherds and travellers in those countries full of wild beasts, to make fires in the night to secure themselves.

Round about; no part shall be unguarded, or open to the enemy.

And will be the glory in the midst of her; my presence and favour shall make her glorious, Isaiah 4:5,6.

What was promised or foretold in the former verse is ratified in this by an account how it should be performed.

For I, saith the Lord; that a thing so much above the hope of a present dejected people, so much too great for so weak and so few a people, might be believed and expected, God engageth he will perform the word.

A wall of fire; which cannot be scaled, it would consume them that attempt it; nor undermined. none could come so near it: such a wall as once was Elisha’s guard, 2 Kings 6:16,17, to which this place may possibly refer. Or it is an allusion to the manner of shepherds and travellers in those countries full of wild beasts, to make fires in the night to secure themselves.

Round about; no part shall be unguarded, or open to the enemy.

And will be the glory in the midst of her; my presence and favour shall make her glorious, Isaiah 4:5,6.

Ho, ho: since Jerusalem shall be safe, rich, and glorious by the presence and blessings of her God, the prophet calls to the sleepy Jews, as men that need be awakened.

Come forth; set upon your journey for your own country and city, come out from your captive prisons.

And flee; make all the haste you possibly can, and flee as men do who are pursued with danger, as men that are earnestly bent to get out of harm’s way, as the manslayer to the city of refuge. The Hebrew hath only and flee, but our translators have by that guessed at what might fill up the expression, and read, come forth, &c.

From the land of the north; Babylon, which lay north to Canaan.

For I have spread you abroad as the four winds of the heaven: as I executed my threats in scattering you, so I will perform my promise, and gather you from all quarters of the world; arise, come away, therefore.

Deliver thyself: the proclamation for free return is published; up, then, and be gone.

O Zion; O ye people who should dwell in Zion, ye daughters of Zion.

Dwellest; keepest in Babylon when thou mightest go to Jerusalem.

With the daughter of Babylon: perhaps this intimates that which kept many Jews in Babylon, wives or mistresses.

Some refer this to what went before, as a reason why the Jews should return, for God hath commanded it. I think it is an encouragement to the Jews to return, because God had promised to make them a glory, and now assures them that he will take a very particular care of them, therefore sends his Son, as a Judge or Vindex against the nations that had spoiled the Jews; or God sends his Son to them to inform them that it is their interest to unite with the Jews, and become the people of God, and be partakers of the glory and safety of God’s Israel; however, to let them understand that it will be dangerous to do violence to Israel, as it would be dangerous to any one to violate what is most dear to him that can destroy the offender; to tell them Israel is the apple of God’s eye.

I will shake, or lift up, mine hand, my power and strength, upon them; against the nation and kingdom that doth violence to the people who are my glory, and I am theirs, saith the Lord.

They, those people who comply not with him whom God sendeth,

shall be a spoil, shall be overthrown and spoiled, and become a prey, unto their servants; the Jews, who were first spoiled by and then made servants to the nations who conquered, captivated, and hardly used the Jews; and indeed this was fulfilled in Esther’s days, and in the Maccabees’ times.

And ye, either Jews, or heathen, or both, shall know, be convinced and own it,

that the Lord of hosts, the great and faithful God,

hath sent me, hath commissioned Christ to inform them, who are to make their choice what to do herein.

I will shake, or lift up, mine hand, my power and strength, upon them; against the nation and kingdom that doth violence to the people who are my glory, and I am theirs, saith the Lord.

They, those people who comply not with him whom God sendeth,

shall be a spoil, shall be overthrown and spoiled, and become a prey, unto their servants; the Jews, who were first spoiled by and then made servants to the nations who conquered, captivated, and hardly used the Jews; and indeed this was fulfilled in Esther’s days, and in the Maccabees’ times.

And ye, either Jews, or heathen, or both, shall know, be convinced and own it,

that the Lord of hosts, the great and faithful God,

hath sent me, hath commissioned Christ to inform them, who are to make their choice what to do herein.

Sing and rejoice: now Christ calls them to rejoice in the goodness showed to them, and to sing forth the praises of him who showed it.

O daughter of Zion; the whole nation of the Jews, the peculiar, redeemed, and restored people of God; they that had been in great and long captivity.

I come, to execute judgments on thine adversaries, to complete thy deliverance and salvation; I come as foretold and promised, in the dispensations of Providence among the nations, in the performance of promises to you my people.

I will dwell in the midst of thee; pitch my tabernacle, nay, build my habitation and house, and reside in it, give you my ordinances, my blessing, and my presence. This was fulfilled in part presently, and so through near five hundred years till Christ came, and ever since to his gospel church.

Many nations, and great, Heb; it implieth both multitudes and greatness of nations; or, heathen and Gentiles, as the word beareth.

Shall be joined to the Lord; become proselytes, inquire for, adhere to, and worship the God of Israel.

In that day; when God shall lift up his hand for his people against their enemies, as Esther 8:17; when Christ shall be come in the flesh, and Shall take down the partition wall.

Shall be my people; covenant people, to love, fear, worship, and obey Christ.

I will dwell in the midst of thee: see Zechariah 2:10.

Thou shalt know: see Zechariah 2:9,

The Lord of hosts, the sovereign Lawgiver, and Almighty Ruler of heaven and earth, hath sent me, the Messiah, and Zechariah his servant, unto thee, Jew and Gentile.

The Lord; Jehovah, the God of Abraham and of his seed, who had cast off Judah, and seemed to quit his claim in his ancient inheritance, by a disseisin of seventy years.

Shall inherit; claim, recover, possess, and delight in, as a man doth in his paternal inheritance.

Judah; all his Israel; this tribe mentioned, but all the rest included.

His portion; his treasure and peculiar people, his lot and part.

In the holy land, Heb. upon; holy, not by any inherent holiness, but holy and selected, and set apart for a holy people consecrated to God.

Shall choose Jerusalem again; the Lord will, as of old, choose Jerusalem for his seat.

Be silent; murmur not, you that love not Zion; dispute not, you that, think these promises are too good, too great; but, in silence, reverence and adore God in all his excellences and ways; wait, and expect the accomplishment of all by him who never utters more than he can and will do for his people. O all flesh; both Jew and Gentile; you are weak, short-sighted, and worthless; you are flesh, be silent and wait.

Before the Lord; the wise, mighty, gracious, and faithful One; who never suffered a word of his to fall unfulfilled, nor will let any of these promises to fail.

He is raised up: he speaks to our capacity; God is said to be raised in allusion to men who get up, or rise up, and set about what they will do; so here God is on this work already.

Out of his holy habitation; either heaven, or his temple.

Be silent; murmur not, you that love not Zion; dispute not, you that, think these promises are too good, too great; but, in silence, reverence and adore God in all his excellences and ways; wait, and expect the accomplishment of all by him who never utters more than he can and will do for his people. O all flesh; both Jew and Gentile; you are weak, short-sighted, and worthless; you are flesh, be silent and wait.

Before the Lord; the wise, mighty, gracious, and faithful One; who never suffered a word of his to fall unfulfilled, nor will let any of these promises to fail.

He is raised up: he speaks to our capacity; God is said to be raised in allusion to men who get up, or rise up, and set about what they will do; so here God is on this work already.

Out of his holy habitation; either heaven, or his temple.