The Pulpit Commentary — Zechariah — Section 24

identiflco.tion or the "young me.n" of veY. 4. she.II be a.a open villages in a ple.in c,:,untry. 'l'hoee who, as 'fheodoret, Hitzig, f3chegg, The word pe,-azoth isueed in Ezek. xxxviii.11, 'frochon, Wright, Perowne, eto., conei<ler meaning "nnwe.lle<I villRges," where men him to be tho me.n with the measuring-line cl welt "without walls, having neither bins of ver. 1, clo not exple.in why the message nor g1ttes." So Eetb. ix. 19, where it should be gi van to him ineteo.d of to the means, "country towns," in contrast to the prophet who had asked for information. metropolis, which was walled and fortified. N 01· is it o.t all certain that the measurer is The idea. in the text is that J erusBlem in meant to be regarded ne he.ving made e. the future shall be so extended that we.lie Jnistake in e.ttempting to define the limits she.II no longer contRin its inhabitants, but of what wne pro.ctir,a,lly unlimited-viz. they shall spread themselves in the open the restored Jeruee.lem-and was stopped country on every side. It is certain that accordingly in hie proceedings. It seems the city did gree.tly increase in after-time, preferable, with Jerome, Cornelius ll. Lapide, if we may believe Aristeas's account in hie Pusey, Keil, Knabenbauer, etc., to regard famous letter to his brother Philocrates; and the "young me.n" as Zeche.riah himself. the annunciation of this prosperity would Then the vision is thus presented: The be a comfort to the prophet (comp. Jose- prophet sees e. man with a measuring-line; phus,' Bell. J ud.,' v. 4. 2). But no material he asks whither he is going, and is e.newered increase of this nature satisfies the prophecy, that he was going forth to meaenre Jeruealem. which can only have its fulfilment in the Upon this the interpreting e.ngel leaves the epiritnal J emsalem, whose Builder is Christ, prophet's side to receive the explanation of in whose light the nations of them that the man's proceedings, and is met by a a.re saved shall w1tlk (Rev. xxi. 24; see superior angel, who bids him hasten to tell lea. xlix. 18, etc. ; Ii v. 2, 3). Thie open the prophet the mee.ning of the vision. A condition implies not only extent, but man. Probe.bly e.n e.ngel in human form, peace and safety also. The reason of this as eh. i. 8. A mee.suri.ng-line. This is not quiet secnrity is given in the next verse. t~ same word as the.t in eh. i. 16; but Septuagint, KaTaJCdp,rws ,caT0<1<116tJO'eTai 'Iepov- the• idea there proposed is taken up here, O'all.'I,µ. "Jemsalem she.II be e.bundantly in- and its fulfilment is set forth (comp. Ezek. habited." :xl. 3; Rev. xi. 1; :xxi. 15, 16). Ver. 5.-A wall of fire. She will not need Ver. 2.-What is the breadth thereof. we.Ila. God will be her protection, not only The man measures to see what she.11 be the defending her from attack, but consuming dimensions of the restored city, for from the enemy who may presume to e.ssanlt her ver. 12 it is e.pparent the.t the building is (comp. Deut. iv. 24; Ps. lxviii. 2). The not yet completed, nor a.re we to think tbe.t glory i els llo{uv io-oµa, (Septuagint). God the rebuilding of the material ruined we.Ila will me.ke his glory conspicuous by the is meant. mighty deeds he will do in Jerusalem and Ver. 3.-Went forth. The interpreting the providentie.l ea.re he will take of her. angel leaves the prophet, and goes away to He shall he known to be dwelling there, as meet another angel who adve.nces from the he revealed his presence by the pillar of fire opposite side. Septue.gint, el0'.-111cE1, "stood." and the Shechinah (comp. Isa. Ix. 1, 2, 19). Another angel went out; went forth, the Ver. 6.-The superior angel of ver. 4 word being the same a.a before. This latter continues to speak. He calls on e.11 the angel, sent by God with e. revelation, is Hebrews still in dispersion to come and superior to the interpreter, e.s the le.tter aha.re this glorious state and escape the receives the message from him to deliver punishment which we.s about to fall upon to the prophet, the hostile kingdom. The exaltation of Ver. 4.-And said unto him; i.e. the Jerusalem is connected with the downfall second angel said to the interpreter. Run, of her enemies. Ho, ho, come fortb, and He was to hasten and deliver the messe.ge, flee; Hebrew, "Ho, ho I e.nd flee," or, "flee bece.use it was e. joyful one and oaloulated thou" (comp. Isa. xlviii. 20; Jar. Ii. 6, to allay the prophet's solicitude. This young 45.) A great number of the exiles had re- me.n. The Prophet Zechariah. The term mained in Be.bylonia., having established applied to him is thought to show that he ihemselves there, according to the injunction was still young when the vision e.ppeo.red; in Jer. xx.ix. 5, etc., and grown rich. These but the word is used also for minister, or people had refused to exchange their present servant, or disciple, without necessarily prosperity for the doubtful future offered by defining the e.ge. Others, not so suitably, e. return to their desolate native le.nd. But consider the.t the mee.suring angel is meant, they a.re now called upon to "flee" from who is thus stopped in his intention of the danger that menaced the country of munsuring Jerusalem, as being ignorant of their adoption. Babylon is said to have God's counsels. Jerusalem shall be in- been twice taken in the reign of Darius (see he.bited as towns without wallB. J eruse.lem note on ver. 7). The le.nd of the north; i.e. ZEOHARIAH, C 18 THE BOOK OF ZECHARIAH, [OH, I[, 1-13,