TTIE
PULPIT COMMEN'r ARY, J<:J)JTF.D BY rJUI:
VERY REV. H. D. M. SPENCE, D.D., DEAN OM' OLOUOltllTlCll;
AND llY TIJE
REV. JOSEPH S. EXELL, M.A.
ZEOHA.RIAI-I. ~xpos{tion BY REV. W. J. DEANE, M.A., Rl!:OTOB OJ' ASHEN.
~omflrtfc!5 BY REV. W. S. LEWIS. M.A.
~omflfes b)l Watious ~utbors. REV. W. FORSYTH, D.D. REV. D. THOM.AS. D. D.
NEW EDl'l'lON.
FUNK & WAGNALLS COMPANY LONDON AND NEW YORK 1906 THE BOOK OF ZECHARIAH.
INTRODUCTION.
§ I. SUBJECT OF THE BooK. THE prophecy of Zechariah (at least that contained in the first eight chapters) continues and supplements that of his contemporary Haggai. These two prophets were raised up and inspired to animate the flagging energies of the Jews, who, on their return from Babylon (B.C. 536), had begun to rebuild the temple, but were soon disheartened, and at length, owing to opposition of neighbours and adverse circumstances, ceased alto- gether from the work. Now after sixteen years' intermission, encouraged by tho accession of Darius Hystaspes, who looked with favourable eyes on their undertaking, the Jews had an opportunity of resuming their operations. Almost simultaneously with Haggai, Zechariah comes forth to enforce the same lesson, urging them to restore the house of the Lord, and inspiring them with hopes of a glorious future. The _rest of the pro- l ? ~ i f they belong to the same age and author, without special mention of the return from the Captivity, reach to far distant time; they are supposed to speak of the preservation of the temple under Alexander the Great, of the victories of the Maccabees; they certainly speak of the _!«;lj~t½>n ..Qf __ Ch_rjs_t; they speak of the repentance of the J"ews for this rejection, and the final conversion of them and of the Gentiles. The temple was finished in the sixth year of Darius (B.c. 515) ; and the latter part of Zechariah's prophecies may have been spoken after that event, and possibly many years subsequent. The book consists of three parts. The first, after a brief prelude, describes certain visions revealed to the prophet, and ends with a sym- bolical action typifying the completion and glory of the new temple. The second part comprises an answer to certain questions about the observance of fasts, and a comfortable assurance of the future happiness of Jerusalem. In the final portion the prophet foretells the struggle of God's people againi.t the powers of the world," and Messiah's victory, and anno'.lnces the ii lNTRODUUTION TO
conversion of Israel, the destruction of the enemies of the theooraoy, and the final exaltation of God's kingdom. The following is a brief analysis of the book, considered as one harmo- niom, v.hole, applying to the condition of the ohosen people, their dangers and errors, their connect.ion with the powers of the world, God's purposes towards them, and the future that awaits the Church. The first part, con- sisting of eh. i.-vi., oommencee with an introduction, giving the title, date, and author's name, followed by a warning from the past and a call to repentance and renewed energy. Then the prophet desoribee eight visions which ea.me to him on the same night, descriptive of events near at hand and far distant, the interpretation of which is imparted by an angel. In the first vision ( eh. i. 7-17) the prophet sees, in a myrtle grove, a rider upon a red horse with attendants. These announce that the whole earth ie quiet as yet, unshaken by the storm that is to fall upon it; but God assures the angel that the temple shall be completed, the oitiee of Judah restored, and Zion comforted. To confirm and explain this promise a second vision is granted (eh. i. 18-21). Fom horns, symbols of hostile powers, are destroyed by four craftsmen (" carpenters," Authorized Version). All impediments being thus removed, the various steps to the restoration of the theocracy are revealed. The prophet is shown, in the third vision ( eh. ii. 1-13), a man with a measuring-line, who is checked in marking out the ground-plan of Jerusalem by·an intimation that the city of the future shall be too large to be compassed by any wall, so abundant will be its popula- tion, but that God himself will be her defence and her glory. At this prospect, and at the thought of the affiliation of many heathen nations, Zion is bidden to exult. But the restoration of the material temple would be of no avail without a holy priesthood to minister therein; so the fourth vision (eh. iii 1-10) exhibits Joshua the high priest engaged in some official duty clad in filthy garments, not in the spotless garb required. But he is pardoned and purified, invested with robes of honour, and reinstalled in hie office; and he is promised the Divine protection, and receives an announce- ment of the advent of Messiah, "The Branch,'' of whom his office is typical. The spiritual support of the theocracy is next displayed by the vision (the fifth) of the golden candlestick of the holy place (oh. iv. 1--14), which is fed by two olive trees, representing the agencies which convey God's grace to the Chmch. Zerubbabel is taught to rely upon this, for by it he shall bring his work to completion. The people and the land are now to be sanctified; accordingly, the sixth vision (ob. v. 1-4) repre- sents a huge roll, on which is inscribed the curse against the evil, flying rapidly through the air in token of the speed with whioh its mission shall be executed. God thus reveals his wrath against sinners in the land. Similarly, in the seventh vision ( eh. v. 6-11 ), the unclean thing, represented by a woman, is caught and confined in an ephah, pressed down by a sheet of lead, and transported out of the Holy Land unto Babylon, the proper home of all that is wicked. The tinal vision, tho THE BOOK OF ZECHARIAH. iii