1 In the eighth month, in the second year of Who was the son of Histaspis. Darius, came the word of the LORD unto This was not the Zechariah, of which mention is made in (2Ch_24:20), but he had the same name, and is called the son of Berechiah, as he was, because he came of those progenitors, as of Joiada or Berechiah, and Iddo. Zechariah, the son of Berechiah, the son of Iddo the prophet, saying, The Argument - Two months after Haggai had begun to prophesy, Zechariah was also sent of the Lord to help him in the labour, and to confirm the same doctrine. First therefore, he puts them in remembrance for what reason God had so severely punished their fathers: and yet comforts them if they will truly repent, and not abuse this great benefit of God in their deliverance which was a figure of that true deliverance, that all the faithful should have from death and sin, by Christ. But because they remained still in their wickedness, and lack of desire to set forth God's glory, and were not yet made better by their long banishment, he rebukes them most sharply: yet for the comfort of the repentant, he ever mixes the promise of grace, that they might by this means be prepared to receive Christ, in whom all should be sanctified to the Lord.
2 The LORD hath been He speaks this to make them afraid of God's judgments, so that they should not provoke him as their fathers had done, whom he so grievously punished. sore displeased with your fathers.
3 Therefore say thou unto them, Thus saith the LORD of hosts; Let your fruits declare that you are God's people, and that he has wrought in you by his Spirit, and mortified you: for otherwise man has no power to return to God, but God must convert him; (Jer_31:18; Lam_5:21) {{See Isa_31:6}} 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, vnto whome the former prophets haue cried, saying, Thus sayth the Lord of hostes, Turne you nowe from your euill wayes, and from your wicked workes: but they would not heare, nor hearken vnto me, saith the Lorde.
5 Your fathers, where Though your fathers are dead, yet God's judgments in punishing them ought still to be before your eyes: and though the prophets are dead, yet their doctrine remains for ever; (2Pe_1:15). [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 Seeing you saw the force of my doctrine in punishing your fathers, why do you not fear the threatenings contained in the same, and declared by my Prophets? your fathers? and As men astonished with my judgments, and not that they were touched with true repentance. they returned and said, Like as the LORD of hosts thought to do unto us, according to our ways, and according to our doings, so hath he dealt with us.
7 Upon the four and twentieth day of the eleventh month, which [is] the month Which includes part of January and part of February. 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 This vision signifies the restoration of the Church: but as yet it would not appear to man's eyes, which is here meant by the night, by the bottom, and by the myrtle trees, which are black, and give a dark shadow. Yet he compares God to a King who has his posts and messengers abroad, by whom he still works his purpose and brings his matters to pass. saw by night, and behold Who was the chief among the rest of the horsemen. a man riding upon a red horse, and he stood among the myrtle trees that [were] in the bottom; and behind him [were there] These signify the various offices of God's angels, by whom God sometimes punishes, and sometimes comforts, and brings forth his works in various ways. red horses, speckled, and white.
9 Then sayd I, O my Lorde, what are these? And the Angel that talked with me, sayde vnto me, I wil shew thee what these be.
10 And the man that stood among the mirre trees, answered, and sayd, These are they whome the Lord hath sent to go through the world.
11 And they answered the Angel of the Lord, that stood among the mirre trees, and sayd, We haue gone thorowe the world: and beholde, all the world sitteth still, and is at rest.
12 Then the That is, Christ the mediator prayed for the salvation of his Church, which was now troubled, when all the countries about them were at rest. angel of the LORD answered and said, O LORD of hosts, how long wilt thou not have mercy on Jerusalem and on the cities of Judah, against which thou hast had indignation these threescore and ten years?
13 And the Lorde answered the Angel that talked with me, with good wordes and comfortable wordes.
14 So the angel that talked with me said to me, Cry thou, saying, Thus saith the LORD of hosts; I am Though for a time God defers his help and comfort from his Church, yet this declares that he still loves them most dearly, as a most merciful father his children, or a husband his wife, and when it is expedient for them, his help is ever ready. jealous for Jerusalem and for Zion with a great jealousy.
15 And I am very greatly displeased with the nations [that are] at ease: for I was but In destroying the reprobate, I showed myself but a little angry toward my Church, but the enemy would have destroyed them also, and did not consider the goal of my chastisements. a little displeased, and they helped forward the affliction.
16 Therefore thus saith the LORD; I have returned to Jerusalem with mercies: my house shall be built in it, saith the LORD of hosts, and a line To measure out the buildings. shall be stretched forth upon Jerusalem.
17 Cry yet, saying, Thus saith the LORD of hosts; My cities through prosperity shall yet The abundance will be so great, that the places of storage will not be able to contain these blessings that God will send, but will even break because of fullness. be spread abroad; and the LORD shall yet comfort Zion, and shall yet choose Jerusalem.
18 Then I lifted up my eyes, and saw, and behold Which signifies all the enemies of the Church: east, west, north, and south. four horns.
19 And I said vnto the Angel that talked with me, What be these? And hee answered me, These are the hornes which haue scattered Iudah, Israel, and Ierusalem.
20 And the LORD showed me four These craftsmen or smiths are God's instruments, who with their mallets and hammers break these hard and strong horns which would overthrow the Church, and declare that no enemies' horn is so strong, but God has a hammer to break it in pieces. craftsmen.
21 Then said I, What come these to doe? And he answered, and said, These are the hornes, which haue scattered Iudah, so that a man durst not lift vp his head: but these are come to fray them, and to cast out the hornes of the Gentiles, which lift vp their horne ouer the land of Iudah, to scatter it.
1 I lifted up my eyes again, and looked, and behold a This is the angel who was Christ: for in respect of his office he is often called an angel, but in respect of his eternal essence, is God, and so called. man with a measuring line in his hand.
2 Then saide I, Whither goest thou? And he saide vnto me, To measure Ierusalem, that I may see what is the breadth thereof, and what is the length thereof.
3 And beholde, the Angel that talked with me, went foorth: and another Angel went out to meete him,
4 And said to him, Run, speak to this Meaning himself, Zechariah. young man, saying, Signifying the spiritual Jerusalem and Church under Christ, which would be extended by the Gospel through all the world, and would need no material walls, nor trust in any worldly strength, but would be safely preserved and dwell in peace among all their enemies. Jerusalem shall be inhabited [as] towns without walls for the multitude of men and cattle in it:
5 For I, saith the LORD, will be to her a wall of To defend my Church, to strike fear in the enemies, and to destroy them if they approach near. fire on every side, and will In me they will have their full felicity and glory. be the glory in the midst of her.
6 Ho, ho, [come He calls to those who partly for fear, and partly for their own case, remained still in captivity, and so preferred their own personal benefits to the benefits of God promised in his Church. forth], and flee from the land of the north, saith the LORD: for I have spread you abroad as the four As it was I that scattered you, so I have power to restore you. winds of the heaven, saith the LORD.
7 By fleeing from Babylon, and coming to the Church.Deliver thyself, O Zion, that dwellest [with] the daughter of Babylon.
8 For thus saith the LORD of hosts; After the Seeing that God had begun to show his grace among you by delivering you, he continues the same still toward you, and therefore sends me his angel and his Christ to defend you from your enemies, so that they will not hurt you, neither along the way nor at home. glory hath he sent me to the nations which wasted you: for he that toucheth you toucheth the You are so dear to God, that he can no more allow your enemies to hurt you, than a man can endure to be thrust in the eye; (Psa_17:8). apple of his eye.
9 For, behold, I will shake my hand Upon the heathen your enemies. upon them, and They will be your servants, as you have been theirs. they shall be a spoil to their servants: and ye shall know that the LORD of hosts hath This must necessarily be understood of Christ, who being God equal with his Father, was sent, as he was Mediator to dwell in his Church and to govern them. sent me.
10 Reioyce, and be glad, O daughter Zion: for loe, I come, and will dwell in the middes of thee, saith the Lord.
11 And many nations shall be ioyned to the Lord in that day, and shalbe my people: and I will dwell in the middes of thee, and thou shalt knowe that the Lord of hostes hath sent me vnto thee.
12 And the Lord shall inherite Iudah his portion in the holy lande, and shall chuse Ierusalem againe.
13 Let all flesh be still before the Lord: for he is raised vp out of his holy place.
1 And he showed me Joshua the high priest He prayed to Christ the Mediator for the state of the Church. standing before the angel of the LORD, and Which declares that the faithful do not only war with flesh and blood, but with Satan himself, and spiritual wickedness; (Eph_6:12). Satan standing at his right hand to resist him.
2 And the That is, Christ speaks to God as the mediator of his Church, that he would rebuke Satan: and here he shows himself to be the continual preserver of his Church. LORD said to Satan, The LORD rebuke thee, O Satan; even the LORD that hath chosen Jerusalem rebuke thee: [is] not this a Meaning that Joshua was wonderfully preserved in the captivity, and now Satan sought to afflict and trouble him when he was doing his office. brand plucked out of the fire?
3 Now Joshua was clothed with With regard to the glorious garments and precious stones that the priests wore before the captivity: and by this contemptible state the Prophet signifies, that these small beginnings would be made excellent when Christ will make the full restitution of his Church. filthy garments, and stood before the angel.
4 And he answered and spoke to those that stood before him, saying, Take away the {{See Zec_3:3}} filthy garments from him. And to him he said, Behold, I have He shows of what apparel he speaks, which is, when our filthy sins are taken away, and we are clothed with God's mercies, which refers to the spiritual restitution. caused thy iniquity to pass from thee, and I will clothe thee with change of raiment.
5 And I said, Let them The Prophet prays that besides the raiment, the Priest might also have attire for his head accordingly, that is, that the dignity of the priesthood might be perfect: and this was fulfilled in Christ, who was both Priest and King. And here all those are condemned, that can content themselves with any average reformation in religion, seeing the Prophet desires the perfection, and obtains it. set a clean mitre upon his head. So they set a clean mitre upon his head, and clothed him with garments. And the angel of the LORD stood by.
6 And the Angel of the Lorde testified vnto Iehoshua, saying,
7 Thus saith the LORD of hosts; If thou wilt walk in my ways, and if thou wilt keep my charge, then thou shalt also That is, have rule and government in my Church, as your predecessors have had. judge my house, and shalt also keep my By which he means to have the whole charge and ministry of the Church. courts, and I will give thee places to walk among That is, the angels, who represented the whole number of the faithful: signifying that all the godly would willingly receive him. these that stand by.
8 Hear now, O Joshua the high priest, thou, and thy fellows that sit before thee: for they Because they follow my word, they are condemned in the world, and esteemed as monsters. {{See Isa_8:18}} [are] men wondered at: for, behold, I will bring forth my servant the That is, Christ, who did so humble himself, that he not only became the servant of God, but also the servant of men: and therefore in him they should have comfort, even though in the world they are condemned; (Isa_11:1) (Jer_23:5; Jer_33:14-15). BRANCH.
9 For behold the He shows that the ministers cannot build before God lay the first stone, which is Christ, who is full of eyes, both because he gives light to all others, and that all ought to seek light from him; (Zec_4:10). stone that I have laid before Joshua; upon one stone [shall be] seven eyes: behold, I That is, I will make perfect in all points, as a thing done by the hand of God. will engrave the engraving of it, saith the LORD of hosts, and I will Though I have punished this land for a time, yet I will even now be pacified, and punish their sins no more. remove the iniquity of that land in one day.
10 In that day, saith the LORD of hosts, shall ye call every man his neighbour under the You will then live in peace and quietness, that is, in the kingdom of Christ; (Isa_2:2; Mic_4:4; Hag_2:9). vine and under the fig tree.
1 And the Angel that talked with mee, came againe and waked mee, as a man that is raysed out of his sleepe,
2 And said to me, What seest thou? And I said, I have looked, and behold a Which was ever in the midst of the temple, signifying that the graces of God's Spirit would shine, here in most abundance, and in all perfection. lamp stand all [of] gold, with a bowl upon the top of it, and its seven lamps, and seven Which conveyed the oil that dropped from the trees into the lamps, so that the light never went out: and this vision was to strengthen and encourage the faithful that God had sufficient power in himself to continue his graces, and to bring his promise to pass even though he had no help from man. pipes to the seven lamps, which [were] upon the top of it:
3 And two oliue trees ouer it, one vpon the right side of the bowle, and the other vpon the left side thereof.
4 So I answered, and spake to the Angel that talked with me, saying, What are these, my Lord?
5 Then the Angel that talked with mee, answered and said vnto me, Knowest thou not what these be? And I said, No, my Lord.
6 Then he answered and spoke to me, saying, This [is] the word of the LORD to Who was a figure of Christ, and therefore this doctrine was directed to all the Church who are his body and members. Zerubbabel, saying, Not by He shows that God's power alone is sufficient to preserve his Church, even though he does not use man's help to do it. might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the LORD of hosts.
7 Who [art] thou, O He compares the power of the adversaries to a great mountain, who thought the Jews were nothing with regard to them, and would have hindered Zerubbabel, who represented Christ, whom the enemies daily labour to stop in the building of his spiritual Temple, but all in vain. great mountain? before Zerubbabel [thou shalt become] a plain: and Though the enemies think to stop this building, yet Zerubbabel will lay the highest stone of it, and bring it to perfection, so that all the godly will rejoice, and pray to God that he would continue his grace and favour toward the Temple. he shall bring forth its headstone [with] shoutings, [crying], Grace, grace to it.
8 Moreouer, the word of the Lord came vnto me, saying,
9 The hands of Zerubbabel have laid the foundation of this house; his hands shall also finish it; and Meaning, the Prophet, that I am Christ sent from my Father for the building and preservation of my spiritual temple. thou shalt know that the LORD of hosts hath sent me to you.
10 For who hath despised the day of Signifying that all were discouraged at the small and poor beginnings of the temple. small things? for they shall rejoice, and shall see the By which he signifies the plummet and line, that is, that Zerubbabel who represented Christ, would go forward with his building to the joy and comfort of the godly, though the world was against him, and though his own for a while were discouraged, because they do not see things pleasant to the eye. plummet in the hand of Zerubbabel [with] those seven; That is, God has seven eyes: meaning, a continual providence, so that neither Satan nor any power in the world, can go about to bring anything to pass to hinder his work; (Zec_5:9). they [are] the eyes of the LORD, which run to and fro through the whole earth.
11 Then answered I, and said vnto him, What are these two oliue trees vpon the right and vpon the left side thereof?
12 And I spake moreouer, and said vnto him, What bee these two oliue branches, which thorowe the two golden pipes emptie themselues into the golde?
13 And hee answered me, and saide, Knowest thou not what these bee? And I sayde, No, my Lorde.
14 Then said he, These [are] the two Which were always green and full of oil, so that still they poured forth oil into the lamps: signifying, that God will continually maintain and preserve his Church, and endue it still with abundance and perfection of grace. anointed ones, that stand by the Lord of the whole earth.
1 Then I turned me, and lifted vp mine eyes and looked, and beholde, a flying booke.
2 And he said to me, What seest thou? And I answered, I see a flying Because the Jews had provoked God's plagues by condemning his word, and casting off all judgment and equity, he shows that God's curses written in this book had justly happened both to them and their fathers. But now if they would repent, God would send the same among the Chaldeans and their former enemies. scroll; its length [is] twenty cubits, and its breadth ten cubits.
3 Then said he to me, This [is] the curse that goeth forth over the face of the whole earth: for every one that That is, does any injury toward his neighbour. stealeth shall be cut off [as] on this Meaning, wherever he is in the world. side according to it; and every one that He that transgresses the first table of the ten commandments, and does not serve God correctly but abuses his name. sweareth shall be cut off [as] on that side according to it.
4 I will bring it forth, saith the Lord of hosts, and it shall enter into the house of the thiefe, and into the house of him, that falsely sweareth by my Name: and it shall remaine in the middes of his house, and shall consume it, with the timber thereof, and stones thereof.
5 Then the Angel that talked with me, went foorth, and said vnto me, Lift vp now thine eyes, and see what is this that goeth foorth.
6 And I said, What [is] it? And he said, This [is] an Which was a measure in dry things, containing about five gallons. ephah that goeth forth. He said moreover, This [is] their That is, all the wickedness of the ungodly is in God's sight, which he keeps in a measure, and can shut it or open it at his pleasure. resemblance through all the earth.
7 And, behold, there was lifted up a To cover the measure. talent of lead: and this [is] a Which represents iniquity, as in the next verse. woman that sitteth in the midst of the ephah.
8 And he said, This [is] Signifying that Satan would not have such power against the Jews to tempt them, as he had in times past, but that God would shut up iniquity in a measure as in a prison. wickedness. And he cast it into the midst of the ephah; and he cast the weight of lead upon its mouth.
9 Then I lifted up my eyes, and looked, and, behold, there came out two Which declared that God would execute his judgment by the means of the weak and infirm. women, and the wind [was] in their wings; for they had wings like the wings of a stork: and they lifted up the ephah between the earth and the heaven.
10 Then saide I to the Angel that talked with me, Whither doe these beare the Ephah?
11 And he said to me, To build for it an house in the land of To remove the iniquity and affliction that came from Judah because of the judgment, to place it forever in Babylon. Shinar: and it shall be established, and set there upon her own base.
1 And I turned, and lifted up my eyes, and looked, and, behold, there came four By chariots here, as by horses before, he means the swift messengers of God to execute and declare his will. chariots out from between By the mountains he means the external counsel and providence of God, by which he has from before all eternity declared what will come to pass, and that which neither Satan nor all the world can alter. two mountains; and the mountains [were] mountains of brass.
2 In the first chariot [were] Which signifies the great cruelty and persecution that the Church had endured under different enemies. red horses; and in the second chariot Signifying that they had endured great afflictions under the Babylonians. black horses;
3 And in the third chariot These represented their state under the Persians, who restored them to their liberty. white horses; and in the fourth chariot Which signified that God would sometimes give his Church rest, and pour his plagues upon their enemies, as he did in destroying Nineveh and Babylon, and other of their enemies. spotted and bay horses.
4 Then I answered, and saide vnto the Angell that talked with mee, What are these, my Lorde?
5 And the angel answered and said to me, These [are] the four Meaning, all the actions and motions of God's Spirit, whom according to his unchangeable counsel he causes to appear through all the world. spirits of the heavens, which go forth from standing before the Lord of all the earth.
6 The black horses which [are] in it go forth into the north country; and the white go forth after them; and the spotted go forth toward the That is, towards Egypt, and other countries there about. south country.
7 And the That is, those of different colours, which ask permission, to signify that Satan has no power to hurt or afflict, until God gives it to him; (Job_1:12). bay went forth, and sought to go that they might walk to and fro through the earth: and he said, Go from here, walk to and fro through the earth. So they walked to and fro through the earth.
8 Then he cried upon me, and spoke to me, saying, Behold, these that go toward the north country have quieted my By punishing the Chaldeans my anger ceased, and you were delivered. spirit in the north country.
9 And the worde of the Lord came vnto me, saying,
10 Take of [them of] the captivity, [even] of Heldai, of Tobijah, and of Jedaiah, who are come from Babylon, and come thou the same day, and go into the house of To receive from him and the other three, money to make the two crowns: who were men of great authority among the Jews, and doubted of the restitution of the kingdom, and of the priesthood, and hurt others by their example. Josiah the son of Zephaniah;
11 Then take silver and gold, and make crowns, and set [them] upon the Because this could not be attributed to any one according to the Law, therefore it follows that Joshua must represent the Messiah, who was both Priest and King. head of Joshua the son of Josedech, the high priest;
12 And speak to him, saying, Thus speaketh the LORD of hosts, saying, Behold the man whose name [is] The Meaning Christ, of whom Joshua was the figure: for in Greek they were both called Jesus. BRANCH; and he shall grow That is, of himself without the help of man. up out of his place, and he shall Which declares that no one could build this temple of which Haggai speaks, but only Christ: and therefore it was spiritual, and not material; (Hag_2:9). build the temple of the LORD:
13 Even he shall build the temple of the LORD; and he shall bear the Of which Joshua had but a shadow. glory, and shall sit and rule upon his throne; and he shall be a priest upon his throne: and the counsel of peace shall be between The two offices of the kingdom and priesthood, will be joined together in such a way, that they will no longer be separated. them both.
14 And the crowns shall be to Who was also called Heldai. Helem, and to Tobijah, and to Jedaiah, and to He was also called Joshias. Hen the son of Zephaniah, for a That they may acknowledge their infirmity, who thought that all things would be restored immediately: and of this their infidelity these two crowns will remain as tokens; (Act_1:6). memorial in the temple of the LORD.
15 And they [that are] That is, the Gentiles by the preaching of the Gospel, will help toward the building of the spiritual temple. far off shall come and build in the temple of the LORD, and ye shall know that the LORD of hosts hath sent me to you. And [this] shall come to pass, if ye will diligently If you will believe and remain in the obedience of faith. obey the voice of the LORD your God.
1 And it came to pass in the fourth year of king Darius, [that] the word of the LORD came to Zechariah in the fourth [day] of the ninth month, [even] in Which contained part of November and part of December. Chisleu;
2 When That is, the rest of the people that yet remained in Chaldea, sent to the Church at Jerusalem for the resolution of these questions, because these feasts were consented upon by the agreement of the whole Church, the one in the month that the temple was destroyed, and the other when Gedaliah was slain; (Jer_41:2). they had sent to the house of God Sherezer and Regemmelech, and their men, to pray before the LORD,
3 [And] to speak to the priests who [were] in the house of the LORD of hosts, and to the prophets, saying, Should I By weeping and mourning are shown what exercises they used in their fasting. weep in the fifth month, That is, prepare myself with all devotion to his fast. separating myself, as I have done these so many Which had been since the time the temple was destroyed. years?
4 Then came the word of the Lord of hostes vnto me, saying,
5 Speak to all the people of the land, and to the For there were both of the people, and of the priests, those who doubted with regard to this controversy, besides those who as yet remained in Chaldea, and argue about it, as of one of the chief points of their religion. priests, saying, When ye fasted and mourned in the fifth and seventh [month], even those seventy years, did ye at all fast to me, For they thought they had gained favour with God because of this fast, which they invented by themselves: and though fasting of itself is good, yet because they thought it a service toward God, and trusted in it, it is here reproved. [even] to me?
6 And when ye ate, and when ye drank, did ye not eat Did you not eat and drink for your own benefit and necessity, and so likewise you abstained according to your own imaginings, and not after the command and direction of my Law. [for yourselves], and drink [for yourselves]?
7 [Should ye] not [hear] the words which the LORD By this he condemns their hypocrisy, who thought by their fasting to please God, and by such things as they invented, and in the meantime would not serve him as he had commanded. hath cried by the former prophets, when Jerusalem was inhabited and in prosperity, and her cities around her, when [men] inhabited the south and the plain?
8 And the worde of the Lord came vnto Zechariah, saying,
9 Thus speaketh the LORD of hosts, saying, He shows that they did not fast with a sincere heart, but because of hypocrisy, and that it was not done from a pure religion, because they lacked these offices of charity which should have declared that they were godly; (Mat_23:23). Execute true judgment, and show mercy and compassions every man to his brother:
10 And oppresse not the widowe, nor the fatherles, the stranger nor the poore, & let none of you imagine euil against his brother in your heart.
11 But they refused to hearken, and And would not carry the Lord's burden, which was sweet and easy, but would bear their own, which was heavy and grievous to the flesh, thinking to gain merit by it: which metaphor is taken from oxen, which shrink at the yoke; (Neh_9:29). withdrew the shoulder, and stopped their ears, that they should not hear.
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 Which declares that they did not only rebel against the Prophets, but against the Spirit of God that spoke in them. spirit by the former prophets: therefore came a great wrath from the LORD of hosts.
13 Therefore it is come to passe, that as he cried, and they would not heare, so they cried, and I would not heare, sayth the Lord of hostes.
14 But I scattered them with a whirlwind among all the nations whom they knew not. Thus the land was desolate That is, after they were taken captive. after them, that no man passed through nor returned: for they laid the pleasant land By their sins by which they provoked God's anger. desolate.
1 Againe the worde of the Lord of hostes came to me, saying,
2 Thus saith the LORD of hosts; I was I loved my city with a singular love, so that I could not endure that any should do her any injury. jealous for Zion with great jealousy, and I was jealous for her with great fury.
3 Thus saith the LORD; I have returned to Zion, and will dwell in the midst of Jerusalem: and Jerusalem shall be called a Because she will be faithful and loyal toward me her husband. city of truth; and the mountain of the LORD of hosts the holy mountain.
4 Thus saith the LORD of hosts; There shall yet old Though their enemies did greatly molest and trouble them, yet God would come and dwell among them, and so preserve them as long as nature would allow them to live, and increase their children in great abundance. men and old women dwell in the streets of Jerusalem, and every man with his staff in his hand for very age.
5 And the streetes of the citie shalbe full of boyes and girles, playing in the streetes thereof.
6 Thus saith the LORD of hosts; If it is He shows in what our faith consists, that is, to believe that God can perform that which he has promised, though it seem ever so impossible to man; (Gen_13:14; Rom_4:20). marvellous in the eyes of the remnant of this people in these days, should it also be marvellous in my eyes? saith the LORD of hosts.
7 Thus sayth the Lord of hostes, Beholde, I will deliuer my people from the East countrey, and from the West countrey.
8 And I will bring them, and they shall So that their return will not be in vain: for God will accomplish his promise, and their prosperity will be sure and stable. dwell in the midst of Jerusalem: and they shall be my people, and I will be their God, in truth and in righteousness.
9 Thus saith the LORD of hosts; Let your Let neither respect of your personal benefits, neither counsel of others, nor fear of enemies, discourage you in the going forward with the building of the temple, but be steadfast and obey the Prophets, who encourage you to that. hands be strong, ye that hear in these days these words by the mouth of the prophets, who [were] in the day [when] the foundation of the house of the LORD of hosts was laid, that the temple might be built.
10 For before these days there was no hire for For God cursed your work, so that neither man nor beast had profit from their labours. man, nor any hire for beast; neither [was there any] peace to him that went out or came in because of the affliction: for I set all men every one against his neighbour.
11 But nowe, I wil not intreate the residue of this people as aforetime, saith the Lord of hostes.
12 For the seede shall be prosperous: the vine shall giue her fruite, and the ground shal giue her increase, and the heauens shall giue their dewe, and I will cause the remnant of this people to possesse all these things.
13 And it shal come to passe, that as ye were a curse among the heathen, O house of Iudah, and house of Israel, so wil I deliuer you, & ye shalbe a blessing: feare not, but let your hands be strong.
14 For thus saith the LORD of hosts; As I thought to punish Read (Eze_18:20). you, when your fathers provoked me to wrath, saith the LORD of hosts, and I repented not:
15 So again have I thought in these days Which declares that man cannot turn to God until he changes man's heart by his Spirit, and so begin to do good to them, which is to pardon his sins and to give him his graces. to do good to Jerusalem and to the house of Judah: fear ye not.
16 These are ye things that ye shall doe. Speake ye euery man the trueth vnto his neighbour: execute iudgement truly & vprightly in your gates,
17 And let none of you imagine euill in your hearts against his neighbour, and loue no false othe: for all these are the things that I hate, saith the Lorde.
18 And the worde of the Lord of hostes came vnto me, saying,
19 Thus saith the LORD of hosts; The fast of the fourth [month], and the fast of the fifth, and the fast of the seventh, and the fast of the Which fast was appointed when the city was besieged, and was the first fast of these four. And here the prophet shows that if the Jews will repent, and turn wholly to God, they will have no more occasion to fast, or to show signs of heaviness, for God will send them joy and gladness. tenth, shall be to the house of Judah joy and gladness, and cheerful feasts; therefore love the truth and peace.
20 Thus saith the LORD of hosts; [It shall] yet [come to pass], that there shall come He declares the great zeal that God would give the Gentiles to come to his Church, and to unite with the Jews in his true religion, which would be in the kingdom of Christ. people, and the inhabitants of many cities:
21 And they that dwell in one citie, shal go to another, saying, Vp, let vs go & pray before the Lord, and seeke the Lord of hostes: I wil go also.
22 Yea, great people and mightie nations shal come to seeke the Lorde of hostes in Ierusalem, and to pray before the Lord.
23 Thus sayth the Lord of hostes, In those dayes shall ten men take holde out of all languages of the nations, euen take holde of the skirt of him that is a Iewe, and say, We will go with you: for we haue heard that God is with you.
1 The burden of the word of the LORD in the land of By which he means Syria. Hadrach, and Damascus [shall be] the God's anger will remain upon their chief city, and not spare even as much as that. rest of it: when the When the Jews will convert and repent, then God will destroy their enemies. eyes of man, as of all the tribes of Israel, [shall be] toward the LORD.
2 And Hamath also shall border That is, by Damascus: meaning, that Harnath or Antiochia would be under the same rod and plague. by it; Tyre, and Zidon, though it be He secretly shows the cause of their destruction, because they deceived all others by their craft and subtilty, which they cloaked with this name of wisdom. very wise.
3 For Tyrus did build her selfe a strong holde, and heaped vp siluer as the dust, and golde as the myre of the streetes.
4 Behold, the LORD will cast her out, and he will smite her Though those of Tyre think themselves invincible by reason of the sea that surrounds them, yet they will not escape God's judgments. power in the sea; and she shall be devoured with fire.
5 Ashkelon shall see it, and feare, and Azzah also shalbe very sorowfull, and Ekron: for her countenance shalbe ashamed, & the King shal perish fro Azzah, & Ashkelon shal not be inhabited.
6 And a Meaning, that all would be destroyed, save a very few, that would remain as strangers. bastard shall dwell in Ashdod, and I will cut off the pride of the Philistines.
7 And I will take away his blood out of his mouth, and his abominations from between his He promises to deliver the Jews when he will take vengeance on their enemies for their cruelty, and the wrongs they did to them. teeth: but he that remaineth, even he, [shall be] for our God, and he shall be as a governor in Judah, and As the Jebusites had been destroyed, so would Ekron and all the Philistines. Ekron as a Jebusite.
8 And I will encamp about He shows that God's power alone will be sufficient to defend his Church against all adversaries, be they ever so cruel, or assert their power ever so often. my house because of the army, because of him that passeth by, and because of him that returneth: and no oppressor shall pass through them any more: for now That is, God has now seen the great injuries and afflictions with which they have been afflicted by their enemies. have I seen with my eyes.
9 Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion; shout, O daughter of Jerusalem: behold, thy King cometh to thee: That is, he has righteousness and salvation in himself for the use and benefit of his Church. he [is] just, and having salvation; lowly, and riding upon a Which declares that they should not look for such a king as would be glorious in the eyes of man, but should be poor, and yet in himself have all power to deliver his own: and this is meant of Christ, as in (Mat_21:5). donkey, and upon a colt the foal of a donkey.
10 And I will cut off the No power of man or creature will be able to stop this kingdom of Christ, and he will peaceably govern them by his word. chariot from Ephraim, and the horse from Jerusalem, and the battle bow shall be cut off: and he shall speak peace to the nations: and his dominion [shall be] from That is, from the Red Sea, to the Sea called Syriacum: and by these places which the Jews knew, he meant an infinite space and area over the whole world. sea to sea, and from the That is, from the Euphrates. river to the ends of the earth.
11 Meaning Jerusalem, or the Church which is saved by the blood of Christ, of which the blood of the sacrifices was a figure. And it is here called the covenant of the Church, because God made it with his Church: and left it with them because of the love that he had for them.As for thee also, by the blood of thy covenant I have sent forth thy God shows that he will deliver his Church out of all dangers, no matter how great they may seem. prisoners out of the pit in which [is] no water.
12 Turn ye to the That is, into the holy land where the city and the temple are, where God will defend you. strong hold, ye Meaning the faithful, who seemed to be in danger of their enemies on every side, and yet lived in hope that God would restore them to liberty. prisoners of hope: even to day do I declare [that] I will render That is, double benefits and prosperity, in respect of that which your fathers enjoyed from David's time to the captivity. double to thee;
13 When I have bent Judah for me, filled the I will make Judah and Ephraim, that is, my whole Church, victorious against all enemies, which he here means by the Greeks. bow with Ephraim, and raised up thy sons, O Zion, against thy sons, O Greece, and made thee as the sword of a mighty man.
14 And the Lord shalbe seene ouer them, and his arrowe shal go forth as the lightning: and the Lord God shal blowe the trumpet, and shal come forth with the whirlewindes of the South.
15 The LORD of hosts shall defend them; and they shall devour, He promises that the Jews will destroy their enemies, and have abundance and excess of all things, as there is abundance on the altar when the sacrifice is offered. And these things are not to move them to excess, but to sobriety, and a thankful remembrance of God's great liberality. and subdue the sling stones; and they shall drink, [and] make a noise as through wine; and they shall be filled like bowls, [and] as the corners of the altar.
16 And the LORD their God shall save them in that day as the flock of his people: for they [shall be as] the The faithful will be preserved, and reverenced by all, that their very enemies will be compelled to esteem them: for God's glory will shine in them, as Josephus declares of Alexander the great when he met Jadi the high priest. stones of a crown, lifted up as an ensign upon his land.
17 For howe great is his goodnesse! and howe great is his beautie! corne shall make the yong men cherefull, and newe wine the maides.
1 Ask ye of the The Prophet reproves the Jews, because by their own infidelity they turn away God's promised graces, and so famine came by God's just judgment. Therefore to avoid this plague, he exhorts them to turn to God, and to pray in faith to him, and so he will give them abundance. LORD rain in the time of the latter rain; [so] the LORD shall make bright clouds, and give them showers of rain, to every one grass in the field.
2 For the He calls to remembrance God's punishments in times past, because they trusted not in him, but in their idols and sorcerers who always deceived them. idols have spoken vanity, and the diviners have seen a lie, and have told false dreams; they comfort in vain: therefore That is, the Jews went into captivity. they went their way as a flock, they were troubled, because [there was] no shepherd.
3 My anger was kindled against the shepherds, and I punished the Meaning, the cruel governors who did oppress the poor sheep; (Eze_34:16-17). goats: for the LORD of hosts hath visited his flock the house of Judah, and hath made them as He will be merciful to his Church, and cherish them as a king or prince does his best horse, which will be for his own use in war. his majestic horse in the battle.
4 Out Out of Judah will the chief governor proceed, who will be as a corner to uphold the building, and as a nail to fasten it together. of him came forth the corner, out of him the nail, out of him the battle bow, out of him every Over their enemies. oppressor together.
5 And they shalbe as the mightie men, which treade downe their enemies in the mire of the streetes in the battell, and they shall fight, because the Lorde is with them, and the riders on horses shall be confounded.
6 And I will strengthen the house of Judah, and I will save the That is, the ten tribes, which would be united under Christ to the rest of the Church. house of Joseph, and I will bring them again to place them; for I have mercy upon them: and they shall be as though I had not cast them off: for I [am] the LORD their God, and will hear them.
7 And they of Ephraim shall be as a gyant, and their heart shall reioyce as thorowe wine: yea, their children shall see it, and be glad: and their heart shall reioyce in the Lord.
8 I will By which he declares the power of God, who needs no great preparation when he will deliver his own: for with a gesture or hiss he can call them suddenly from all places. hiss for them, and gather them; for I have redeemed them: and they shall increase as they have increased.
9 And I will Though they will yet be scattered and seem to be lost, yet it will be profitable to them: for there they will come to the knowledge of my name, which was accomplished under the Gospel, among whom it was first preached. sow them among the people: and they shall remember me in far countries; and they shall live with their children, and Not that they would return into their country, but be gathered and joined in one faith by the doctrine of the Gospel. turn again.
10 I will bring them againe also out of the land of Egypt, and gather them out of Asshur: and I will bring them into the land of Gilead, and Lebanon, and place shall not be found for them.
11 And he He alludes to the deliverance of the people out of Egypt, when the angel smote the floods and rivers. shall pass through the sea with affliction, and shall smite the waves in the sea, and all the deeps of the river shall dry up: and the pride of Assyria shall be brought down, and the sceptre of Egypt shall depart.
12 And I will strengthen them in the Lorde, and they shall walke in his Name, sayth the Lorde.
1 Open thy doors, O Because the Jews thought themselves so strong by reason of this mountain, that no enemy could come to hurt them, the Prophet shows that when God sends the enemies, it will show itself ready to receive them. Lebanon, that the fire may devour thy cedars.
2 Wail, Showing that if the strong men were destroyed, the weaker were not able to resist. fir tree; for the cedar is fallen; because the mighty are laid waste: wail, O ye oaks of Bashan; for the forest of the Seeing that Lebanon was destroyed, which was the strongest fortress, the weaker places could not hope to hold out. vintage is come down.
3 [There is] a voice of the wailing of the shepherds; for their That is, the fame of Judah and Israel would perish. glory is destroyed: a voice of the roaring of young lions; for the pride of Jordan is laid waste.
4 Thus saith the LORD my God; Feed the flock of the Which being now destined to be slain, were delivered as out of the lion's mouth. slaughter;
5 Whose possessors slay them, and hold themselves Their governors destroy them without any remorse of conscience, or yet thinking that they do evil. not guilty: and they that sell them say, He notes the hypocrites, who always have the name of God in their mouths, though in their life and doings they deny God, attributing their gain to God's blessings, which comes from the wealth of their brethren. Blessed [be] the LORD; for I am rich: and their own shepherds pity them not.
6 For I will no more pity the inhabitants of the land, saith the LORD: but, lo, I will cause one to destroy another. I will deliver the men every one into his neighbour's hand, and into the hand of his Their governors will execute cruelty over them. king: and they shall smite the land, and out of their hand I will not deliver [them].
7 And I will feed the flock of slaughter, [even] you, That is, the small remnant, whom he though worthy to show mercy to. O poor of the flock. And I took to me God shows his great benefits toward his people to convince them of greater ingratitude, who would neither be ruled by his most beautiful order of government, neither continue in the bands of brotherly unity, and therefore he breaks both the one and the other. Some read «Destroyers» instead of «Bands», but in (Zec_11:14) the second reading is confirmed. two staffs; the one I called Beauty, and the other I called Bands; and I fed the flock.
8 By which he shows his care and diligence that he would not allow them to have evil rulers, so that they would consider his great love.Three shepherds also I cut off in one month; and my soul lothed Meaning, the people, because they would not acknowledge these great benefits of God. them, and their soul also abhorred me.
9 Then said I, I will not feede you: that that dyeth, let it dye: and that that perisheth, let it perish: and let the remnant eate, euery one the flesh of his neighbour.
10 And I tooke my staffe, euen Beautie, and brake it, that I might disanull my couenant, which I had made with all people.
11 And it was broken in that day: and so the He shows that the least always profit by God's judgments. poor of the flock that waited upon me knew that it [was] the word of the LORD.
12 And I said to them, If ye think good, give [me] Besides their ingratitude, God accuses them of malice and wickedness, who did not only forget his benefits, but esteemed them as nothing. my price; and if not, forbear. So they weighed for my price thirty [pieces] of silver.
13 And the LORD said to me, Cast it to the Showing that it was too little to pay his wages with, which could hardly suffice to make a few tiles to cover the temple. potter: a glorious price that I was valued at by them. And I took the thirty [pieces] of silver, and cast them to the potter in the house of the LORD.
14 Then brake I mine other staffe, euen the Bandes, that I might dissolue the brotherhood betweene Iudah and Israel.
15 And the LORD said to me, Take to thee yet Signifying that they should have a certain type of regiment and outward show of government: but in effect it would be nothing, for they would be wolves, and devouring beasts instead of shepherds. the instruments of a foolish shepherd.
16 For, lo, I will raise up a shepherd in the land, [who] shall not visit those that are cut off, neither shall seek the young one, nor heal that which is broken, nor feed that which And is in health and sound. standeth still: but he shall eat the flesh of the fat, and tear their claws in pieces.
17 Woe to the idle shepherd that leaveth the flock! the sword [shall be] upon his By the arm he signifies strength, as he does wisdom and judgments by the eye: that is, the plague of God will take away both your strength and judgment. arm, and upon his right eye: his arm shall be wholly dried up, and his right eye shall be utterly darkened.
1 The burden of the word of the LORD for That is, the ten tribes, which neglected God's benefit in delivering their brethren, and had rather remain in captivity, than to return home when God called them. Israel, saith the LORD, who stretcheth forth the heavens, and layeth the foundation of the earth, and formeth the spirit of man within him.
2 Behold, I will make Jerusalem a Jerusalem will be defended against all her enemies: so will God defend all Judah also, and will destroy the enemies. cup of trembling to all the people around, when they shall be in the siege both against Judah [and] against Jerusalem.
3 And in that day will I make Ierusalem an heauie stone for all people: all that lift it vp, shall be torne, though all the people of the earth be gathered together against it.
4 In that day, sayeth the Lorde, I will smite euery horse with stonishment, and his rider with madnesse, and I will open mine eyes vpon the house of Iudah, and will smite euery horse of the people with blindnesse.
5 And the governors of Judah shall say in their heart, The Every captain, that had many under him before, will now think that the small power of Jerusalem will be sufficient to defend them against all enemies, because the Lord is among them. inhabitants of Jerusalem [shall be] my strength in the LORD of hosts their God.
6 In that day will I make the princes of Iudah like coles of fire among the wood, and like a fire brand in the sheafe, and they shall deuoure all the people round about on the right hand, and on the left: and Ierusalem shall be inhabited againe in her owne place, euen in Ierusalem.
7 The LORD also shall save the The people who are now as it were dispersed by the fields, and lie open to their enemies, will be preserved by my power just as if they were under their kings (which is meant by the house of David), or in their defended cities. tents of Judah first, that the glory of the house of David and the glory of the inhabitants of Jerusalem may not magnify [themselves] against Judah.
8 In that day shall the Lord defende the inhabitants of Ierusalem, & he that is feeble among them, in that day shall be as Dauid: and the house of Dauid shall be as Gods house, and as the Angel of the Lord before them.
9 And in that day will I seeke to destroy all the nations that come against Ierusalem.
10 And I will pour upon the house of David, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the spirit of They will have the feeling of my grace by faith, and know that I have compassion on them. grace and of supplications: and they shall look upon me whom they have That is, whom they have continually vexed with their obstinacy, and grieved my Spirit. In (Joh_19:37) it is referred to Christ's body, whereas here it is referred to the Spirit of God. pierced, and they shall mourn for They will turn to God by true repentance, whom before they had so grievously offended by their ingratitude. him, as one mourneth for [his] only [son], and shall be in bitterness for him, as one that is in bitterness for [his] firstborn.
11 In that day shall there be a great mourning in Jerusalem, as the They will exceedingly lament and repent for their offences against God. mourning of Which was the name of a town and place near to Megiddo, where Josiah was slain; (2Ch_35:22). Hadadrimmon in the valley of Megiddon.
12 And the That is, in all places where the Jews will remain. land shall mourn, every family Signifying, that this mourning or repentance would not be a vain ceremony: but every one touched with his own griefs will lament. apart; the family of the Under these certain families he includes all the tribes, and shows that both the kings and the priests had by their sins pierced Christ. house of David apart, and their wives apart; the family of the house of Nathan apart, and their wives apart;
13 The family of the house of Levi apart, and their wives apart; the family of Also called Simeon. Shimei apart, and their wives apart;
14 All the families that That is, who were elect by grace, and preserved from the common destruction. remain, every family apart, and their wives apart.
1 In that day there He shows what will be the fruit of their repentance, that is, remission of sins by the blood of Christ, which will be a continual running fountain, and purge them from all uncleanness. shall be a fountain opened to the house of David and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem for sin and for uncleanness.
2 And it shall come to pass in that day, saith the LORD of hosts, [that] I will cut off the He promises that God will also purge them from all superstition, and that their religion will be pure. names of the idols out of the land, and they shall no more be remembered: and also I will cause the Meaning, the false prophets and teachers, who are the corrupters of all religion, whom the Prophet here calls unclean spirits. prophets and the unclean spirit to pass out of the land.
3 And it shall come to pass, [that] when any shall yet That is, when they will prophesy lies, and make God, who is the author of truth, a cloak for them. prophesy, then his father and his mother that begat him shall say to him, Thou shalt not live; for thou speakest lies in the name of the LORD: and his father and his mother that begat him He shows what zeal the godly will have under the kingdom of Christ; (Deu_13:6, Deu_13:9). shall thrust him through when he prophesieth.
4 And it shall come to pass in that day, [that] the prophets shall God will make them ashamed of their errors and lies, and bring them to repentance, and they will no more wear prophet's apparel to make their doctrine seem more holy. be ashamed every one of his vision, when he hath prophesied; neither shall they wear a rough garment to deceive:
5 But he shall say, I [am] no They will confess their former ignorance, and be content to labour for their living. prophet, I [am] a farmer; for man taught me to keep cattle from my youth.
6 And [one] shall say to him, What [are] these By this he shows that though their parents and friends dealt more gently with them, and did not put them to death, yet they would so punish their children that became false prophets, that the marks and signs would remain forever. wounds in thy hands? Then he shall answer, [Those] with which I was wounded [in] the house of my friends.
7 Awake, O sword, against my The Prophet warns the Jews, that before this great comfort under Christ would come, there would be a horrible dissipation among the people: for their governors and pastors would be destroyed, and the people would be as scattered sheep. And the evangelist applies this to Christ, because he was the head of all pastors; (Mat_26:31). shepherd, and against the man [that is] my fellow, saith the LORD of hosts: smite the shepherd, and the sheep shall be scattered: and I will turn my hand upon the little ones.
8 And it shall come to pass, [that] in all the land, saith the LORD, The greatest part will have no portion of these blessings, and yet they that will enjoy them will be tried with great afflictions, so that is will be known that only God's power and his mercies preserve them. two parts in it shall be cut off [and] die; but the third shall be left in it.
9 And I will bring that third part thorowe the fire, and will fine them as the siluer is fined, and will trye them as golde is tryed: they shall call on my Name, and I will heare them: I will say, It is my people, and they shall say, The Lorde is my God.
1 Behold, the day of the LORD cometh, and thy spoil shall be He arms the godly against the great temptations that would come, before they enjoyed this prosperous estate promised under Christ, that when these dangers came, they might know that they were warned of them before. divided in the midst of thee.
2 For I will gather all nations against Ierusalem to battell, and the citie shall be taken, and the houses spoyled, and the women defiled, and halfe of the citie shall goe into captiuitie, and the residue of the people shall not be cut off from ye citie.
3 Then shall the LORD go forth, and fight against those nations, as when he As your fathers and you have had experience both at the Red Sea, and at all other times. fought in the day of battle.
4 And his feet shall stand in that day upon the By this manner of speech the Prophet shows God's power and care over his Church, and how he will as it were by a miracle save it. mount of Olives, which [is] before Jerusalem on the east, and the mount of Olives shall cleave in the midst of it toward the east and toward the west, [and there shall be] a very great So that out of all the parts of the world, they will see Jerusalem, which was before his with this mountain: and this he means of the spiritual Jerusalem the Church. valley; and half of the mountain shall remove toward the north, and half of it toward the south.
5 And ye shall flee [to] the He speaks of the hypocrites, who could not abide God's presence, but would flee into all places, where they might hide themselves among the mountains. valley of the mountains; for the valley of the mountains shall reach to Azal: yea, ye shall flee, as ye fled from before the Read (Amo_1:1). earthquake in the days of Uzziah king of Judah: and the LORD Because they did not credit the Prophet's words, he turns to God and comforts himself in that that he knew that these things would come, and says, «You, O God, with your angels will come to perform this great thing.» my God shall come, [and] all the saints with thee.
6 And in that day shall there bee no cleare light, but darke.
7 But it shall be one day which shall be known to the LORD, Signifying, that there would be great troubles in the Church, and that the time of it is in the Lord's hands, yet at length (which is here meant by the evening) God would send comfort. not day, nor night: but it shall come to pass, [that] at evening it shall be light.
8 And it shall be in that day, [that] living That is, the spiritual graces of God, which would always continue in most abundance. waters shall go out from Jerusalem; half of them toward the former sea, and half of them toward the hinder sea: in summer and in winter shall it be.
9 And the LORD shall be king over all the earth: in that day shall there be one All idolatry and superstition will be abolished, and there will be one God, one faith, and one religion. LORD, and his name one.
10 All the land shall be turned This new Jerusalem will be seen through all the world, and will excel the first in excellency, wealth, and greatness. as a plain from Geba to Rimmon south of Jerusalem: and it shall be lifted up, and inhabited in her place, from Benjamin's gate to the place of the first gate, to the corner gate, and [from] the tower of Hananeel to the king's winepresses.
11 And men shall dwell in it, and there shall bee no more destruction, but Ierusalem shall bee safely inhabited.
12 And this shall bee the plague, wherewith the Lorde will smite all people, that haue fought against Ierusalem: their flesh shall consume away, though they stand vpon their feete, and their eyes shall consume in their holes, and their tongue shall consume in their mouth.
13 And it shall come to pass in that day, [that] God will not only raise up war outside, but sedition at home to test them. a great tumult from the LORD shall be among them; and they shall lay hold every one on To hurt and oppress him. the hand of his neighbour, and his hand shall rise up against the hand of his neighbour.
14 And Judah also shall fight at Jerusalem; and the wealth of all the nations around shall be gathered together, The enemies are rich, and therefore will not come to entreat, but to destroy and shed blood. gold, and silver, and apparel, in great abundance.
15 And so shall be the plague of the horse, of the mule, of the camel, and of the donkey, and of all the beasts that shall be in these tents, as this As the men would be destroyed, (Zec_14:12). plague.
16 But it shall come to passe that euery one that is left of all the nations, which came against Ierusalem, shall goe vp from yere to yere to worship the King the Lord of hostes, and to keepe the feast of Tabernacles.
17 And who so will not come vp of all the families of the earth vnto Ierusalem to worship the King the Lorde of hostes, euen vpon them shall come no raine.
18 And if the family of By the Egyptians, who were the greatest enemies to true religion, he means all the Gentiles. Egypt shall not go up, and shall not come, that [have] no [rain]; there shall be the plague, with which the LORD will smite the nations that come not up to keep the feast of tabernacles.
19 This shall be the punishment of Egypt, and the punishment of all the nations that come not vp to keepe the feast of Tabernacles.
20 In that day there shall be upon the Signifying to whatever service they were put now (whether to labour, or to serve in war), they were now holy, because the Lord had sanctified them. bells of the horses, HOLINESS TO THE LORD; and the The one as precious as the other, because they will be sanctified. pots in the LORD'S house shall be like the bowls before the altar.
21 Yea, every pot in Jerusalem and in Judah shall be holiness to the LORD of hosts: and all they that sacrifice shall come and take of them, and boil in them: and in that day there shall be no more the But all will be pure and clean, and there will neither by hypocrites, nor any that will corrupt the true service of God. Canaanite in the house of the LORD of hosts.