The Pulpit Commentary — Zechariah — Section 11

(1 Kings xii. 7); and these are oomfortable by returning immigrRnb!, but increasod in wordB (Isa. )vii. 18), n messe.ge ealculated extent and number by reason of the enlarged to bring comfort t-0 the people's deeponding population. So Josephus tells us that in h<"arts. What the mesBBge is is given in later times JerueRlem had outgrown its the following vel'Ses (14-17). walls, and thnt the fourth quarter, Dezetha, Ver. 14.---Cry thou (Isa. xl. 6). The pro- was added (' Boll. Jud.,' v. 4. 2). But it phet hue t{) publish two things: (1) God's seems beet to translate the chmse thus : love for his people, however humiliated and "My cities shall yet overflow with pros- miserable tlieir present position might be; perity." Vulgate, .A.dhuo aJ!luent civitate, and _(2) the promise of ooming prosperity. I mem bonie; LXX., "En B,o:xu6fi,rwro., ..-&>.. .. s am Jea.lous. The term implies ardent love, iv cl:-ya6oi's. Shall yet oomtort Zion, for all which cannot bea.r itself to be slighted, or her afflictions. Shall yet ohoose .Jerusalem the object of its affection to be injured (oh. ii. 12 (16, Hebrew]; iii. 2). God will (comp. oh. viii. 2, and note there; Numb. show that the election of Israel remains un- xxv. 11, 18; Joel ii. 18). For .Jerusalem, impe.ired and secure (comp. 2 Kings xxi. 7: 11.6 the ea.pita! of the kingdom; 6Ild for Zion, 2 Chron. vi. 5). The partial fulfilment of a.s the seat of wol'Sbip. the items of this prophecy are to be found Yer. 15.-The heathen; the natwna, who in the rebuilding of the temple, the restora- were God's instruments in punishing Israel. tion of J eruso.lem by Nehemiah, and the That are at ease. Living in proud security prosperity of Judah under the Asmonea.n nnd self-enjoyment (lea. xxxii. 9, 11; Amos princes. A hint of further blessings is given vi. l; comp. ver. 11). SeptW!.gint, .,.,. truv£- in the fine.I clause, but their nature is not .,,.,.,6,µ.,va., "which join in attacking her; '' expressly mentioned. Yulgate, opulentas, "wealthy," their riches giving them self-confidence. I wa.e bnt Vere. 18-21.-§ 4. The second tJieion: a little displeased. God had been angry the four home and the four craftsmen. with bis people, it is true, but only in Ver. 18.-I lifted up mine eyes, and saw. measure, chastising them, like a parent, for This vision ie closely connected with the their good. Others take "a little " (parum, former. The prophet had been told that cl>..l-yo;) to mean "for a little time," in allusion the hostile nations should be punished and to the seventy yee.rs' captivity. And they scattered; he now is shown this threat helped forward the a.111iotion; or, in the being executed. Four horna, belonging to LXX., <ruv,..-,/6EJ1To ,ls 1e1uca, "helped for four beasts but dimly seen or wholly in- evil;" Vulgate, adj111r,erunt in malitm. They visible. Horns are symbols of strength and exceeded their po.rt as mere instruments in power (eomp. Ps. lxxv. 4, 5; Do.n. viii. 8; God's hands, and wished to destroy Israel Amoe vi. 13). Here they meo.n powers altogether, or to oppress them beyond the hostile to Israel, and the number "four " purpoaed period of their chastisement. A (the symbol of eompleteuess) points to the similar complaint is ma.de against the four winds from which they come, i.e. from Aeeyrians (Isa. L 5, etc.) and the Baby- every side. In the Hebrew eh. ii. begins lonians (Isa. xl vii 6). at this vel'Se. Ver. 16.-Therefore. Because God loved Ver. 19.-Which have scattered, etc. his people e.nd was incensed with the Some see here e.n allusion to the prophecy heathen. I am returned; I return. Ac- of Daniel concerning the Babylo:o.ie.ns, cording to the promise in ver. 3 (see note Medo-Persie.ns, Me.cedonians, and Romans. on eh. viii. 3). A line shall be stretched Against this view it is urged that the pro- forth. A measuring-line shall now be used phet is speaking of past events, not of e. fo.r- to mark out the city for rebuilding (Job disto.nt future. Others take the four horns xxxviii. 5). The first proofofGod's renewed to represent Assyria, Egypt, Bahylon, an<l mercv would be seen in the restoration of Medo-Persie., all of which had scattered the temple, the symbol of the theocracy, Israel But it is well. to lay no special and in the revive.I of the city, the type of stress on such explo.no.tions of symbolical n.e.tional life. The " line " had been used language, which are at best mere conjec- for purposes of destruction (2 Kings xxi tures, liable to be overthrown by a new 13; Isa. xxxiv. 11; Lam. ii. 8). theory. The word "scattered," which Ver.17.-fJry yet, saying. This introduces Jerome renders 'l!entilatJerunt, means pro- the second part of the prophet's message. perly, as Wright observes," to winnow," to The LXX. begins the verse with the words, separate and scatter by means of the wind. " And the o.ngel that epake in me said unto The perfect tense of this verb must not be ~-" My cities through prosperity 1hall pressed eo as to exclude all notion of coming yet be spread abroad. " Yet," in this verse, events. The prophets see at one glance is better rendered again. God ce.lls the cities pe.st o.nd future, e.nd combine in one expres- his, to show his love for Judah; and he pro- sion far-distant occurrences. Doubtless lniaes that they shall not only be reocoupied Zechariab's vision has some relation to orr. r. 1-21.] THE BOOK OF ZECHARIAH, 5