[They were at present but a small " remnant," and under circumstances that were very discouraging. They had long been afflicted, both by God and man. Previous to their cap- tivity, the judgments of God had been so heavily inflicted on them, that scarcely an old man was to be found among them ; and nothing but want and misery was to be seen in the streets3: but now peace and plenty should be restored to themb. In a moral view, also, there should be a great and general improve- ment, insomuch that their city, which had been the seat of the most abominable idolatries, should be called "A city of truth ;" and the mountain where their temple was rebuilding, " The holy mountain."]
But it had respect to the Jewish nation in days that are yet future —
[Of this there is abundant evidence : for Judah alone re- turned from captivity; whereas the chapter before us speaks of " Israel and Judah." Moreover, the Jews after their return never displayed any great piety ; whereas they were, in this prophecy, designated as a holy people. They were also to "be a blessing among the heathen, as before they had been a curse c." But never, at any period, were they so execrated amongst the heathen, as since their dispersion by the Romans : nor, with the exception of the Saviour and his Apostles, have they ever been such a blessing to the world, as they will be at a future period, when they shall rise up as missionaries in all the countries where they have been scattered, and be the means of converting the whole Gentile world to the faith of Christ d. Nor can the concluding part of this chapter be referred to any events that have hitherto taken place in the world. The time is yet to come, when " many people and strong nations shall come to seek the Lord of Hosts in Jeru- salem ;" and when " ten men out of all languages of the nations shall take hold of the skirt of him that is a Jew, say- ing, We will go with you, for we have heard that God is with youe."
What then are the things here predicted ? First, the return of the Jews to their own land. And this is an event which
shall certainly be accomplished in due seasonf Next
it declares their conversion to the Lord Jesus Christ as their Messiah, and their instrumentality in converting the heathen world. This also shall be accomplished at the appointed timeg ]
a ver. 10. b ver. 11, 12. c ver. 13. d Mic. v. 7.
e ver. 20 — 23. f Isai. xxvii. 13. Jer. xxx. 3, 18, 19. s Hos. iii. 5. Isai. lxvi. 19, 20. Rom. xi. 12, 15.