The Pulpit Commentary — Zechariah — Section 43

EXPOSITION. is not the same as that in the second edifice OHAPTER IV. (comp. Josephus, 'Ant.,' xiv. 4. 4). The Vera. 1-14.-§ 7. The fifth 11iBion: the candelabrum in the vision differed from the golden candlesticle. original one in three particulars : it had e. central reservoir; it had also seven pipes; Ver. 1.-The angel that talked with me. e.nd it was supplied with oil by two olive The interpreting angel is meant. Came trees. With a (its) bowl upon the top of it. again, and waked me. It is thought that The "bowl" (gullah) is a reservoir for oil the 11,ngel, who is said (eh. ii. 3) to have placed at the top of the candelabrum ; and gone forth, now rejoined the prophet and from it tubes led the oil for the supply of renewed his colloquy with him. But the the lamps. In the tabernacle each lamp expreosion in the text is probably only was separate, and trimmed a.ad filled by the equivalent to "aroused me again" (comp. ministering priest.a; the mystic lamps needed Gen. xxvi. 18; 2 Kings i, 11, 13, etc.). no human agency to keep them supplied. Absorbed in awe and wonder at the con~ They were fed by the "bowl." The word templation of the preceding vision, the is trausla.ted in the Septuagint, 7'.aµ:1ni1i,ov: prophet had fallen into e. state of exhaustion in the Vulge.te, lampas; hence some ha.ve and torpor, as Daniel &lept after his great supposed that, besides the seven lamps, visions (Dan. viii. 18 ; x. 8, 9), and the there wee another large light in the centre; ap(!stles were heavy with sleep on the but the Greek and Latin rendering is Mount of Transfiguration (Luke ix. 32). mistaken, the word meaning " a fountain" From this mental pro9tration the angel (Josh. xv.19), or "e. ball" (1 Kings vii. 41), arouses him to renewed attention. Or what or "a round bowl" (Eccles. xii. 6). And is meant may be that the change wrought seven pipes to the seven lamps, which are on tl10 faculties by the Divine influence was upon the top thereof. The Hebrew is, as great as that between natural sleeping literally rendered, seven and seven pipes to and waking. • the lamps which are upon its top. The Ver. 2.-What seest thon t The angel LXX. translates, Kai i,n-a. l1rripvrrrpt1i« To,, docs not show the vision to the prophet, but 7'. 6xvois Tois lmivo, alrrijs, "And seven vessels makes him describe it, and then explains for the lamps which are upon it;" so the its import. This vision of the candlestick, Vulgate, Septem infusoria lucernis, qute er.__,it with its seven lamps fed by two olive trees, super caput ejus. These versions imply signifies that the work of rebuilding the that there was one supply pipe to each of temple, and preparing the way for the the lamps, which seems most natural. In Church of the true Israel, was to be accom- this case, the tirst "seven" in the text must plished by relying, not on human resources, be an interpolation. Co=entators who but on Divine aid. Thus were Zerubbabel regard the present reading as correct have and his people roused to perseverance and taken various ways in explaining it. Some energy in their good work, of which the multiply the number into itself, and make final success is assured. I have looked; the pipes forty-uine; but this is unwarranted i~pa,ca (Septuagint), " I have seen." A by Hebrew usage (Hendersou). Others add oandlestiok all of gold. The candelabrum the numbers together, making fourteen; but as described differs in some particulars here a.gain the copulative vau, which implies from tho.t in the tabernaole, though the di,ersity, is an objection. The Revised same word, menorath, is used in both cases Version hns, " There are seven pi pea to each (Exod. xxv. 31; xxxvii. 17, etc.). In of the ll\mps," taking the wordsdi~tributi vely; Solomon's temple there were teu candelabra but the number of tubes seems here to be (1 Kings vii. 49), which were carried ·away unnecessarily largo. Dr. Wright considers to Bo.bylon when Jerusalem was tnken th11,t there were two pipes to e,\ch lamp, one (Jor. Iii. 19). The single co.mlelnbrum of set connecting euch to the centml bowl, and Zerubbo.bel's temple is mentioned in 1 Maco. one connecting the severe.I lomps together. i. 21 ; iv. 49, 50, The one sculptured on the One, however, does not sco of what particular orch of Titus mo.y be a truthful representa- use the second sot is. Dr. Wright, p. tH, tion of that in Herod's temple, but probably givrs II drawing of the candelabrum with 40 THE BOOK OF ZE~HARIABi1 [OR, IV, 1-H.