B1tbyloniR (comp..Ter. i. 14; iv. 6; xxiii. 8). The la.nguage is humrm. IsrRel is very We should hnYc called the Babylonie.ns an preoious to God; and they who vox and EMt<'rn peopk if we bad dwelt in PRleatine; harass him are RB they who hurt that but they Rlways invRded this lRnd from whioh God prizes inestimably, nnd which ll the north. nud the great carRvan route mere touoh offends aud injures. 1'ho word entn<'d the country from the same quarter, rendered "apple" is usually couaidored to so they wore deemed to be a. northern power. mean "aperture," or " gRte," the pupil being I have spread you abroad as the four 1V:ind1 the entrance to the visual orgnu; but Dr. (Ezek. xvii. 21). The Jews bad been dis- Wright regards it rather as n natural word pen;ed through all parts of the extensive of endearment, like the Lntin, pupa, Babylonian <'mpire, a.nd thRt with a violence pupiUa, indicating "a doll," "little runiden which is compared to the force of the com- of the eye." . Similar, though not identical, bined winds of heaven. Keil, Wright, and expressions occur in Dent. xxxii. 10; Prov. others regard the words as a promise of vii. 2; Ps. xvii. 8. future ext.ension only to be obtained by a Ver. 9.-I will shake mine hand upon return !0 the promised land, translating, (over) them. The angel reports Jehovo.h's "I will sprend you," the perfect of the message now in the first person, or speaks text being taken to express prophetio oer- as the representative of Jehovah. 'rhe tainty. But it is surely incongruous to action of shllking the hand over a nation is comfort the dispersed J ewe by the promise one of menace (Job xxxi. 21; Isa. xi. 15; of a still wider dispersion. Thie appears to xix. 16). Shall be a spoil to their servants; be as erroneous as the Septuagint rendering to their slaves, those who once served them. of the verb, uvvtifw, "I will gather." This was true only in a spiritual sense, Ver. 7.-Deliverthyself. Escape from the when the nations were won over to the true dan!!er. 0 Zion. The exiled Jews are thus fa.i.th (see ver. 11; and comp. Isa. xiv. 2; designated. Septuagint, Els ~u:,., u=tf,(,uB,, xli.x. 22, eto.; Ezek. xvi. 61). Septuagint, •· Go to Zion, and save yourselves." That .-o,s liouA,6ouuw ,.,/,-ois, "to them that serve dwellest (thou that dwell&t) with th&daughter them." Ye shall know, etc. ( eh. iv. 9; vi. of Babylon. The inhabitants of Babylon 15). When this comes to pass, the Israelites are called "the daughter of Babylon," in shall recognize and own the Divine mission analogy with the common phrases, " the of God's messenger. daughter of Zion," "the daughter of Ver. 10.-Bing and rejoice. The Jews Jerusalem" (comp. Jer. xlvi 19). There released from Babylon, and the whole Jewish is some reproach implied in the clause, a.a if nation, are bidden to exult in the promised these J ewe were content to dwell and remain protection and presence of the Lord. Lo, in tbiB heathen city. The immediate danger I oome; Septuagint, lliol, ,-ycl, lpxoµ.,,.1. So that menaced Babylon arose from two severe Christ is called, 6 ipx&,,.,vos, " he that rebellions, in the conrse of which the city com1:th" (Matt. xi. 3). I will dwell in the was twioe taken. The first revolt was headed midst of thee (eh.viii. 3; ix. 9). Not merely by Nidinta-Bel, B.C. 519, who was slain by the rebuilding of the temple is signified, and Darius at Babylon. The second took place the re-establishment of the ordained worship under .Anl.kha, B.c. 514; he was defeated by (though without the Shechinah), but rather a general of Darius, named Intapherues, the incarnation of Christ and his perpetual taken prisoner and crucified. A record presence in the Church. Ka..-u.u,c,,,.,tf,uw /11 of theBe occunences is fonnd in Darius's ,,_fr,, <Tau (Septuagint), which reoalls John inscription on the rock at Behistnn, trans- i. 14, "The Word was made flesh, and dwelt lated in • Records of the Past,' vol. i 'l'he ( lu,nfvr.,u,v) among us" l comp. Isa. xii. 6 : merciless Persians would doubtleBB treat the Ezek. xliii. 9 ; xlviii. 35 ; Mai. iii. l ). inLabitants of the captured city with their Ver. 11.-Many nations shall be joined wonted cruelty. (ahall join them,ewes) to the Lord; "shall Ver. 8.-After the glory ha.th he 1ent me. fly for refuge unto the Lord" (Beptuo.gint). After glory (there is no article in the original), My people; unto me for a people; Septua- i.e. to win honour, hath Jehor,a,h Bent me- gint, "shall be unto him for a people" the superior augel who speaks. As the (comp. eh. viii. 20). No mere conversion of words, "thUB saith the Lord," precede, we individuals among the heathen satisfies this should have expected, "have I sent thee," promise. Whole nations shall beoome the but such change of persons, and indirect Lord's people. That title shall be shared address, are common in Hebrew ( comp. with }sra.el by _counties~ m~titudes (comP., eh. xiv. 5). The angel is sent to get glory Isa. u. 2, 3; x1. 10; Micah 1v. 2; Zeph. 11. over the heathen by taking vengeance on 11). I will dwell, etc. The promise of them (comp. Exod. xiv. 18). SuchjudgmentB ver. 10 is repeated for assurance' sake. 11.r,;, often represented to be inflicted by The LXX. has, "And they shall dwell in angelic agency (Gen. xix. 13; 2 Kings the midst of thee." Thou 1halt know (o.s m. 35 ; Ezek. ix.). The apple of lliB e7e. ver. 9). OH, II, 1-13,] THE BOOK OF ZECHARIAH. 19
Ver. 12-Bhall inherit Judah, The Lord, so.lem" (comp. oh, i. 17). This points to though it is trno tho.t me.oy other nations Christ as King of tbe spiritual Zion. shnll be convorted, sho.ll take J ude.h (i.e. the Ver. 13.-Be silent; hush (comp. Hab. wholo JowiHh nation) ns his portion, in ac- ii. 20; Zeph. i. 7, e.nd notes there). In the cordance with Deut. xxxii. 9. In the holy expectation of these mighty events, men are land. This expression is not found elsewhere called upon to wait in awe a11d reverence. applied to Judroa, nor is it to be confined He ls raised up ; he hath arisen. JI,, had to that no.tion hero. Every lo.nd is holy seemed to sleep when he let hia pe0plc b" where the Lord dwells. The conversion of trodden down by the h6athen; hut now ile, the heathen should emanate from Judma e.s it were, waketh and cometh from heaven, (Luko xxiv, 47), o.nd spread through all the his holy habitation• (Deut. xxvi. 15), to world, o.nd thus the earth should be holy inflict the threatened judgment on the ground. Shall choose Jerusalem again; nations, and to succour his own peoplo Revised Version, "shall yet choose J eru- (comp. Ps. xliv. 23, etc.).