The Pulpit Commentary — Zechariah — Section 8

EXPOSITION. CHAPTER I. (see note A in the appendix to Archdeacon Perowne's edition of this prophet). Its con- Ver. 1-ch. vi. 15.-Part I. A SERIES OF stant repetition, as in Haggai, gives a cer- EIGHT VISIONS, AND A 8YMBOLIOA.L ACTION, tain heaviness to the prophet's style. Tum (return) ye unto me. He calls tbe people Ver. 1.-§ 1. Title of the book, and author. to repentance, partly, iloubtless, with a view The eighth month. This was called Bul to their taking an active p1rt in rebuilding before the Captivity (1 Kings vi. 38), and the temple, thUB carrying on the exhorta- afterwards Marchesvan (Jo3ephus, 'Ant.,' tions of Haggai, but also with reference to i. 3. 3); it answered to parts or October and their general indevotion and laxity which November, and was a time of rain. Haggai Ezra afterward~ had to reprove (see Ezra. had first prophesied two months earlier. ix. 2). Saith the Lord of hosts; literally, The second year of Darius. Being now (it is) the utterance of Jehovah of hosts. This under foreign rule, the prophet uses the is a more threatening form tha.n the mere regnal years of the king to whom his "saith " in the other two places in this people were subject (see note ou Hag. i. 1). verse. And I will turn (return) unto yon Son of Berechiah (see Introduction, § II.). (Mal. iii. 7). God promises his fa,onr on The prophet, This appellation belongs to their repentance and better conduct ; as "Zechariah," as the LXX. and Vulgate Haggai had been commissione<l. to proclaim take it. A co=a shonld be inserted after a return of fruitful seasons as soon as thA "lddo " here and in ver. 7. Saying. The people obeyed his word and attended dili- visions virtually spoke to him, communicated gently to the work before them (Hag. ii. L9). to llim the Lord's will ; but first he has to They were called now to attend to tbe pnre deliver the following warning. worship of the Lord, as the sole condition of Vers. 2-6.-§ 2. The prophet admonishes prosperity (comp. 2 Chron. m. 6; Jas. iv. the people not to follow their fOTejathers' evil 8). It has been well observed that when it ezample, but to turn to the Lord with all is said, " Turn ye unto me," etc., we are re- minded of our free-will; and when we cry, their heart. " Turn us, good Lord, and we shall be Ver. 2.-Hath been sore displeased; lite- turned," we acknowledge the need of Gvd's rally, displeased with displeasure, whioh the preventing grace. versions render, &ip-ylo·811 op-y¾,v µ.e-yd>..11v: Ver. 4.-The former prophets have cried. iratus iracundia ( cf. ver. 15). Not only Omit "have." The prophets referred to are events connected with their earlier llistory those before the Captivity, both those whose proved that God had been incensed with writings are extant, as Hosea, Joel, Amos, their forefathers, but the ruin of their king- eto., and those whose names are mentioned dom, and the late Captivity, and the desola- in the historical books, e.g. Nathan. Gad, tion around them, were evidence of the Sheme.iah, Azariah, Hane.ni, Elijah, Elisha., same sad truth. Micaiah (Pusey). (See similar complaints Ver. 3.-Se.y thou unto them. The pro- in 2 Kings xvii. 13; 2 Chron. x.xxvi. 15, etc.; phet shows why he has reminded them of Jer. xxv. 3-8, whioh last passage seems to their forefathers' sins and punishment. Se.ith have been in Zechariah's mind.) the Lord of hosts. The ex~ression recurs Ver. 5.-To compel them to listen to the three times in this verse; 1t denotes the warning, he asks them, Your fa.then, where almightiness and infinite resources of God are they l What becamo of those who pa.id ZECHARIAH, ll  2 THE BOOK OF ZECHARIAH. [err. 1. 1-21,