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Zechariah
Chapter Two
New King James Version (NKJV)
INTRODUCTION TO ZECHARIAH 2
This
chapter contains a prophecy of the church under the Gospel dispensation; of the
largeness and numbers of it; and of its protection and glory
through the
presence of God in it. In this vision a man is seen with a measuring line in
his hand
to measure Jerusalem with
Zechariah 2:1 upon
which an angel bids the angel that talked with the prophet to declare to him
the largeness
populousness
and safety of Jerusalem
Zechariah 2:3 then
follows an exhortation to the people of God to come out of Babylon
Zechariah 2:6 and
then a promise of the calling of the Gentiles
and of God's gracious
inhabitation in his church
which would be matter of joy to Zion; and of his
inheriting Judah
and choosing Jerusalem Zechariah 2:8 and
the chapter is concluded with an address to all mankind
to be silent before
the Lord
since he was raised up out of his habitation
Zechariah 2:13.
Zechariah 2:1 Then I raised my
eyes and looked
and behold
a man with a measuring line in his hand.
YLT
1And I lift up mine eyes
and look
and lo
a man
and in his hand a measuring line.
I lifted up mine eyes again
and looked
.... And saw a
third vision; which
as Kimchi owns
refers to the times of the Messiah; though
it might be of use to the Jews then present
to encourage them to expect the
rebuilding of Jerusalem
in a literal sense:
and behold a man with a measuring line in his hand: by whom is
meant
not Nehemiah
nor Zerubbabel; see Zechariah 4:10 who
were concerned in the building of Jerusalem; nor any mere man
nor even a
created angel; for
though he may be the same with the other angel
that did
not talk with the prophet
Zechariah 2:3 as
Kimchi observes; seeing he seems to be superior to him that did; yet not a
ministering spirit
but the Messiah
who in this book is often spoken of as a
man; See Gill on Zechariah 1:8 and
by "the measuring line in his hand" may be meant eternal
predestination
the Lamb's book of life
which is in his keeping; and is the
measure and rule by which he proceeds in the calling
justification
and
glorification of the firstborn
whose names are written in heaven; or the
Scriptures of truth
the measure and rule of doctrine
discipline
worship
and
conversation; and according to which Christ forms
constitutes
and regulates
Gospel churches; see Ezekiel 40:3.
Zechariah 2:2 2 So I
said
“Where are you going?” And he said to me
“To measure Jerusalem
to see
what is its width and what is its length.”
YLT
2And I say
`Whither are
thou going?' And he saith unto me
`To measure Jerusalem
to see how much [is]
its breadth
and how much its length.'
Then said I
Whither goest thou?.... As it showed great
freedom and boldness in the prophet to put such a question to the man with the
measuring reed
it was great condescension in him to return him an answer
as
follows:
and he said unto me
To measure Jerusalem; not literally
understood
which was not yet thoroughly built; but the Gospel church
often so
called; see Hebrews 12:22 and
this measuring of it denotes the conformity of it to the rule of God's word; a
profession of the true doctrines of it
and an observance of the ordinances of
it
as delivered in it; and an agreement of the walk
life
and conversation of
its members with it:
to see what is the breadth thereof
and what is the
length thereof; the length of the New Jerusalem is as large as the breadth; its
length
breadth
and height
are equal
Revelation 21:16.
Zechariah 2:3 3 And
there was the angel who talked with me
going out; and another angel was
coming out to meet him
YLT
3And lo
the messenger who
is speaking with me is going out
and another messenger is going out to meet
him
And
behold
the angel that talked with me went forth
.... See Zechariah 1:9 and
he "went forth" from the place where the prophet was
with whom he
had been conversing:
and another angel went out to meet him: the same that
was seen among the myrtle trees
Zechariah 1:8 and
here
with a measuring line in his hand
Zechariah 2:1.
Zechariah 2:4 4 who
said to him
“Run
speak to this young man
saying: ‘Jerusalem shall be
inhabited as towns without walls
because of the multitude of men and
livestock in it.
YLT
4and he saith unto him
`Run
speak unto this young man
saying: Unwalled villages inhabit doth
Jerusalem
From the abundance of man and beast in her midst.
And said unto him
.... That is
the other angel said to the
angel that had been talking with the prophet
Run
speak to this young man: meaning Zechariah
who
was either young in years
as Samuel and Jeremiah were when they prophesied; or
he was a servant of a prophet older than he
and therefore so called
as
Joshua
Moses's minister
was
Numbers 11:28 as
Kimchi observes:
saying
Jerusalem shall be inhabited as towns without walls; this shows
that this is not to be understood of Jerusalem in a literal sense
for that was
not inhabited as a town without a wall; its wall was built in Nehemiah's time
and remained until the city was destroyed by Vespasian; yea
it had a treble
wall
as Josephus saysF2De Bello Jud. l. 5. c. 4. sect. 2. ; but of
the church of Christ in Gospel times; and denotes both the safety and security
of it; see Ezekiel 38:11 and
the populousness of it; and especially as it will be in the latter day
when
both Jews and Gentiles are called
and brought into it; which sense is
confirmed by what follows:
for the multitude of men and cattle therein; the Jews
being meant by "men"; see Ezekiel 34:31 and
the Gentiles by "cattle"
to which they used to be compared by the
former: this will be fulfilled when the nation of the Jews will be born at
once
and all Israel will be saved
and the fulness of the Gentiles shall be
brought in; for the number of the spiritual Israel
the sons of the living God
both Jews and Gentiles
shall be as the sand of the sea
which cannot be
measured
Hosea 1:10 and when
there will be such a large increase of converts; and such flockings to Zion
to
the spiritual Jerusalem
the church of God
that the place will be too small
for them
Isaiah 49:19
whereas
when Jerusalem in a literal sense was rebuilt
after the Babylonian
captivity
there was a want of persons to inhabit it
and lots were cast for
one out of ten to dwell in it; and they were glad of others that offered
themselves willingly to be inhabitants of it
Nehemiah 11:1 for
there was but a small number that returned from Babylon to repeople the city of
Jerusalem
and the whole country of Judea; no more came from thence but forty
two thousand
three hundred
and threescore
besides men and maid servants
which amounted to seven or eight thousand more
Ezra 2:64 Nehemiah 7:66 which
were but a few to fill such a country
and so many cities and towns that were
in it
besides Jerusalem; and yet JosephusF3Antiqu. l. 11. c. 3.
sect. 10. affirms
that the number of those of the tribes of Judah and
Benjamin
that came up from thence
and were above twelve years of age
were
four millions
six hundred
and twenty eight thousand; in which he is followed
by ZonarasF4Apud Hudson in ib.
and it is admitted and approved of
by Sanctius on the place; which is not only contrary to the accounts of Ezra
and Nehemiah
but is incredible; that such a number that went into captivity
which was not very large
should
under all the distresses and oppressions they
laboured
in seventy years time so multiply
and that two tribes only
as to be
almost eight times more than all the twelve tribes were at their coming out of
Egypt; a number large enough to have overrun the Babylonian monarchy; and too
many to be supported in so small a country as the land of Canaan: wherefore
upon the whole
it must be best to interpret this of spiritual and mystical
Jerusalem
and of the populousness of the church of Christ in the latter day.
Zechariah 2:5 5 For
I
’ says the Lord
‘will be a wall of fire all around her
and I will be the glory in
her midst.’”
YLT
5And I -- I am to her -- an
affirmation of Jehovah
A wall of fire round about
And for honour I am in her
midst.
For I
saith the Lord
will be unto her a wall of fire round about
..... So that
she needs no other wall to secure her
the power of God encompassing her about
as the mountains did Jerusalem
Psalm 125:2 and he
being as a wall of fire to terrify and destroy her enemies; for our God is a
consuming fire
Hebrews 12:29.
Drusius thinks it is a metaphor taken from travellers in some countries
who
kindle fires about their tents
to keep off lions
and other beasts of prey;
and observes of lions particularly
that they are exceedingly terrified by
fire; for which he refers to John Leo in his description of Africa; and Pliny
makesF5Nat. Hist. l. 8. c. 16. mention of several things that are
terrifying to them
but especially fires
he says; and so Dr. ShawF6Travels
tom. 1. par. 3. c. 2. p. 172.
of late
speaking of the lions in Barbary
remarks
fire is what they are the most afraid of; yet
notwithstanding all the
precautions of the Arabs in this respect
with others he takes notice of
it
frequently happens that these ravenous beasts
outbraving all those terrors
will leap into the midst of an enclosure or fold
and drag from thence a sheep
or a goat; and TavernierF7Travels through India
in Harris's Voyages
and Travels
vol. 1. p. 848. tells a story
by which he thinks it appears to be
a vulgar error that lions will not come near the fire; though the relation
itself shows it to be not only a received opinion
but a common custom to light
fires in the night
to preserve from lions: his story is
"a
party of Dutch soldiers
under the command of a serjeant
far advanced in the
country (about the Cape of Good Hope)
and night coming on
they made a great
fire
as well to keep themselves from the lions
as to warm themselves
and so
lay down to sleep round about it; being asleep
a lion seized one of the
soldier's arms
which with difficulty was got out
after the lion was shot;'
but
this seems to be the case
when these creatures are dreadfully hunger bitten;
however
be it as it will
God is the sure and safe protection of his people;
who went before the people of Israel in a pillar of a cloud by day
and in a
pillar of fire by night
when they passed through a terrible wilderness
in
which were beasts of prey; and surrounded Elisha with horses and chariots of
fire
when the king of Syria sent a large host to take him; so that he could
say
to encourage his servant
"they that be for us are more than they
that be with them"
2 Kings 6:15 who
seem to be angels; and the JewsF8Pesikta Rabbati apud Yalkut in loc.
here interpret it of the family of God
his angels
made a wall to Jerusalem to
preserve it; the cherubim and a flaming sword
set to keep the garden of Eden
were
according to LactantiusF9Institut. Divin. l. 2. c. 13.
a
wall of fire about it; for (he says)
when God cast man out of paradise
he
walled it about with fire: but that was that man might not enter in; but here
he himself is a wall of fire
that his people may be safe; hence they have no
reason to fear the wrath of their enemies
the most fierce and furious
savage
and cruel
comparable to lions
bears
&c.; for
if God is for them
on
their side
and on all sides of them
who can be against them to any purpose?
The Targum paraphrases it
"my
Word shall be unto her
saith the Lord
as a wall of fire encompassing her
round about:'
and will be the glory in the midst of her: appear
glorious in her
be glorified in her
and by her
and be her glory
and make
her glorious; as the Lord does by granting his gracious presence with his
church and people
in his word and ordinances; see Isaiah 4:1 Isaiah 60:13.
Zechariah 2:6 6 “Up
up! Flee from the land of the north
” says the Lord; “for I
have spread you abroad like the four winds of heaven
” says the Lord.
YLT
6Ho
ho
and flee from the
land of the north
An affirmation of Jehovah
For
as the four winds of the
heavens
I have spread you abroad
An affirmation of Jehovah.
Ho
ho
.... This word expresses a call and proclamation; and is doubled
as Kimchi observes
to confirm it; and so the Targum paraphrases it
"proclaim
to the dispersed:'
come forth
and flee from
the land of the north
saith the Lord; that is
from Babylon
which lay north of Judea; see Jeremiah 1:13 Jeremiah 3:12 where
many of the Jews continued
and did not return with the rest when they came up
out of the captivity; and are therefore called to come forth from thence in
haste; and figuratively designs
either the people of God that are among the
men of the world
and are called to separate from them
and have no fellowship
with there; or such as will be in mystical Babylon
a little before its
destruction; and will be called out of it
lest they partake of her plagues;
see Revelation 18:4
for I have spread you abroad as the four winds of the heaven
saith the Lord; meaning either the dispersion of the Jews in Babylon
and other
countries; or of the people of God
being scattered up and down in the
jurisdiction of Rome Papal; or the sense is
that it was his will and purpose
when they were come out of Babylon
that they should be spread in the several
parts of the world
to support the cause of Christ
and strengthen his
interest.
Zechariah 2:7 7 “Up
Zion! Escape
you who dwell with the daughter of Babylon.”
YLT
7Ho
Zion
be delivered who
art dwelling [with] the daughter of Babylon.
Deliver thyself
O Zion
.... Or make thy escape
you that belong to Mount Zion
the city of the living God
and ought to have
your abode there
and not in Babylon: flee from thence
that dwelleth with the daughter of Babylon; in any of the
antichristian states
who are the daughters of Babylon
the mother of harlots
Revelation 17:5 so
it may be rendered
"that inhabits the daughter of Babylon"F11יושבת בת בבל
οι κατοικουντες θυγατερα βαβυλωνος
Sept.; "habitatrix filiae Babel"
Pagninus
Montanus
Drusius; "vel
inhabitans filiam Babel"
De Dieu. ; dwells in any of the cities
towns
and villages
belonging to it.
Zechariah 2:8 8 For
thus says the Lord of hosts: “He sent Me after glory
to the nations which plunder
you; for he who touches you touches the apple of His eye.
YLT
8For thus said Jehovah of
Hosts: After honour He hath sent me unto the nations who are spoiling you
For
he who is coming against you
Is coming against the daughter of His eye.
For thus saith the Lord of hosts
.... Christ
who is the
true Jehovah
and Lord of armies
as appears from his being sent in the next
clause:
After the glory; which is promised
Zechariah 2:5 so
the Targum and Kimchi; or
"afterwards" shall be "the
glory"F12אחר כבוד
"tandem erit gloria
aut postea erit gloria"
De Dieu. ; or a
glorious time and state; that is
after God's people are brought out of
mystical Babylon
when the Jews shall be converted
and the fulness of the
Gentiles shall be brought in
then will be the latter day glory; and at the
same time will be the fall and destruction of antichrist
and of the
antichristian states
as follows:
hath he sent me unto the nations which spoiled you; the Chaldeans
and Babylonians
who spoiled and carried captive the Jews; or the antichristian
nations
which persecuted and wasted the people of God
the followers of the
Lamb; but now Christ will be sent
and will come in a spiritual manner
and
take vengeance on them; he will destroy antichrist with the breath of his
mouth
and with the brightness of his coming; with the sharp sword going out of
his mouth
Revelation 19:15
for he that toucheth you toucheth the apple of his eye; either his
own eye
he hurts himself; or the eye of the Lord of hosts; "of mine
eye"
as some read itF13So in Siphre apud Galatin. de Arean.
Cathol. Ver. l. 1. c. 8.
as the Vulgate Latin version; which shows how near
and dear the Lord's people are to him. The pupil or apple of the eye is a
little aperture or perforation in the middle of the tunic or coat of the eye
called the uvea and iris
about which the iris forms a ring; and through this
little opening the rays of light pass to the crystalline humour
to be formed
on the retina or net
at the bottom of the eye. It is a very weak and tender
part
and easily hurt with the least thing; and fitly describes the feeble
state of Christ's people; and how soon and easily they may be disturbed
distressed
and hurt by their enemies: and as this is a principal part of the
eye
and a part of a man's self
dear and valuable to him; so are the Lord's
people parts
as it were
of himself; they are members of his body
closely
united to him; and whatever injury is done to them he reckons as done to
himself: "Saul
Saul
why persecutest thou me?" Acts 9:5 and being
highly esteemed by him
and having the strongest affection for them
he resents
every affront given them
and will punish all that hurt them; and exceeding
careful is he of them
to keep and preserve them from being hurt: "he kept
him as the apple of his eye"
Deuteronomy 32:10
which
being such an useful and tender part as it is
it is wonderfully
provided for by nature against all events; besides the orbit in which it is
placed; and the eyebrows
which prevent many nuisances; and the eyelids
which
cover and defend it in sleep; and the fringes of hair on them
which break the
too violent impressions of light
and keep off motes and flies; there are no
less
than six tunics or coats about itF14Vid. Chamber's Dictionary
in the word "Eye".
as so many preservatives of it: now
as the God
of nature has taken so much care of this useful member of the human body
how
much more careful and tender must we suppose the God of grace
and our merciful
Redeemer and High Priest
to be over his dear people
parts of himself
redeemed by his blood
and designed and prepared for eternal glory and happiness;
and how daring must such be who offer the least violence unto them; nor must
they expect to escape his wrath and vengeance
that seek their hurt
and give
them disturbance; see Psalm 17:8 and as
this may respect the Jews called out of Babylon in the two preceding verses Zechariah 2:6
it
may be concluded that they were obedient to the divine call
though it is not
recorded; it being not likely that God
who had so great a regard for them
would suffer them to continue there to their destruction; for it was about two
years after this prophecy
in the fourth year of Darius
or the beginning of
the fifth
that Babylon revolted from him
and was besieged twenty months by
him
before he took it; and which he did at last by the stratagem of Zopyrus
one of his generals
when he beat down its walls and gates
and put to death three
thousand of the inhabitants that were most guiltyF15Vid. Prideaux's
Connexion
par. 1. B. 3. p. 188
189. ; but
before this
it is reasonable to
suppose that the people of God
so dear unto him as is expressed
were called
out from hence; as those of his people
equally dear to him
will be called out
of mystical Babylon before its destruction; see Revelation 18:4.
Zechariah 2:9 9 For
surely I will shake My hand against them
and they shall become spoil for their
servants. Then you will know that the Lord of hosts
has sent Me.
YLT
9For lo
I am waving my hand
against them
And they have been a spoil to their servants. And ye have known
that Jehovah of Hosts hath sent me.
For
behold
I will shake mine hand upon them
.... The
nations; either the Babylonian
or the antichristian states; meaning
that he
would exert his power
and inflict punishment on them
and utterly destroy
them; which would be done by the bare shaking of his hand:
and they shall be a spoil to their servants; as the
Babylonians were to the Persians; not through Cyrus
which had been done; but
through Darius
who took Babylon
after a siege of twenty months
and put great
numbers to death; and all became a spoil to the Persians
who had been their
servants: or the ten kings
that gave their kingdoms to the beast
and were
subject to him; but now shall hate the whore
and eat her flesh; and all her
riches and revenues shall be a spoil unto them
and be divided among them
Revelation 17:12
and ye shall know that the Lord of hosts hath sent me; either the
Prophet Zechariah
that he was a true prophet
and had his mission from the
Lord of hosts
as will appear by the accomplishment of these prophecies; or
rather Christ
sent by God the Father; and who will be known and owned by the
Jews
as well as by the Gentiles
to be the sent of God
when they shall be
converted
and antichrist shall be destroyed. Kimchi refers this
and the
following verse Zechariah 2:10
to
the times of the Messiah.
Zechariah 2:10 10 “Sing
and rejoice
O daughter of Zion! For behold
I am coming and I will dwell in
your midst
” says the Lord.
YLT
10Singe
and rejoice
O
daughter of Zion
For lo
I am coming
and have dwelt in thy midst
An
affirmation of Jehovah.
Sing and rejoice
O daughter of Zion
.... Or
"congregation of Zion"
as the Targum paraphrases it; the Jewish
church
great numbers of that people being converted
and in a church state; or
the whole Christian church at this time
consisting of Jews and Gentiles
who
are called upon to rejoice and sing at the destruction of antichrist; see Revelation 18:20
and because of the presence of God in the midst of them
as follows:
for
lo
I come; not in the flesh: this is not to be
understood of the incarnation of Christ; or of his coming in human nature to
dwell in the land of Judea; but of his spiritual coming in the latter day
to
set up his kingdom in the world
in a more visible and glorious manner:
and I will dwell in the midst of thee
saith the Lord; the presence
of Christ in his churches
and with his people
in attendance on his word and
ordinances
will be very manifest and constant in the latter day.
Zechariah 2:11 11 “Many
nations shall be joined to the Lord in that
day
and they shall become My people. And I will dwell in your midst. Then you
will know that the Lord of hosts has sent Me to you.
YLT
11And joined have been many
nations unto Jehovah in that day
And they have been to Me for a people
And I
have dwelt in thy midst
And thou hast known that Jehovah of Hosts hath sent me
unto thee.
And many nations shall be joined to the Lord in that day
.... The
Gospel will be preached in all nations
and multitudes will be converted
and
embrace and profess the Christian religion
and join themselves to the churches
of Christ
which
in the New Testament
is expressed by being joined to the
Lord
Acts 5:13 see Jeremiah 50:5
and shall be my people; shall appear to be so
who before were not the people of God; did not profess themselves
and were not
known to be
the people of God
though they secretly were in the counsel and
covenant of God; but now
being called by grace
they become openly and
manifestly his people
1 Peter 2:10
and I will dwell in the midst of thee; in the
church
consisting of people of many nations
as well as of Jews:
and thou shall know that the Lord of hosts hath sent me unto thee; to the Jews
as well as to the Gentiles; See Gill on Zechariah 2:9.
Zechariah 2:12 12 And
the Lord will take possession of Judah as His inheritance in the Holy Land
and will again choose Jerusalem.
YLT
12And Jehovah hath inherited
Judah
His portion on the holy ground
And He hath fixed again on Jerusalem.
And the Lord shall inherit Judah his portion in the holy land
.... The
Lord's people is his portion
and the lot of his inheritance; whom he has
chosen
and calls as such
whether they be Jews or Gentiles; but here it seems
to mean the believing Jews; who
it is very likely
upon their conversion
will
be returned to their own land
here called "the holy land"; because
formerly here the Lord's holy people dwelt
his holy sanctuary was
and his
holy worship and ordinances were attended on; and where now he will possess and
enjoy his people
and favour them with communion with himself:
and shall choose Jerusalem again; after long trodden down
of the Gentiles; as it formerly was a place of divine worship
so it shall be
again; and which will be performed in it in a more spiritual and evangelical
manner than ever; or it may respect the people of the Jews
who
being called
by grace
this will be a kind of a renovation of their election
and an
evidence of it; see Romans 11:26.
Zechariah 2:13 13 Be
silent
all flesh
before the Lord
for He is
aroused from His holy habitation!”
YLT
13Hush
all flesh
because of
Jehovah
For He hath been roused up from His holy habitation!'
Be silent
O all flesh
before the Lord
.... Be filled
with fear
awe
and astonishment
at the wonderful work of God; the destruction
of antichrist; the conversion of the Jews
and the calling of the Gentiles: let
them not open their mouths
or dare to say one word against it. The Targum
interprets the words of the wicked
and paraphrases them thus
"let
all the wicked be consumed before the Lord;'
see
Psalm 104:35 and it
seems to design the rest of the people
who will not be converted; called
flesh
being not only frail and mortal
but corrupt and sinful; and so not able
to contend with God
who is mighty in strength
and glorious in holiness
and a
God doing wonders. A like phrase is in Habakkuk 2:20
for he is raised up out of his holy habitation: which is
heaven
Isaiah 63:15 where
he seemed to have been as it were asleep for many hundreds of years
even
during the reign of antichrist; but now he will be as a man awaked out of his
sleep
and will arise to take vengeance on his and his church's enemies
and to
help them
and make them happy and glorious.
──《John Gill’s
Exposition of the Bible》