The Pulpit Commentary — Zechariah — Section 61

EXPOSITION. go forth, because for the snko of God's CHAPTER VI. kingdom and to promote its ohjects the Vers. 1-8.-§ 10. The eighth vision: the world-powers are destroyed (Knabenbauer) four cha,·iots. (Isa. !xvi. 15). The number" four" representa completeness; the judgment shall leave no Ver. 1.-1 turned, and lifted up mine eyes quarter unvisited. (see note on eh. v. 1). Four chariots. These Ver. 2.-Red horses (see note on eh. i. 8). are war-choriots. Tile angel explains, in The colours of the horses are significant, vers. 5, etc., what these chariots mean, how though the symbols are not undisputed. that they represent God's judgments on "Red" symbolizes bloo,lshed and war (Isa. sinners in oil the world, Though evil is !xiii. 2; Rev. vi. 4); "black,'' sorrow and removed from the Church, God's vengeance mourning (I.a. 1. 3 ; J er. iv. 28; Rev. vi. 5); pursues it wherever it is located. If we "wl.iite,'' victory and joy (Eccles. ix. S; compare this vision with the first ( eh. i. Rev. vi. 2; xix. 11). What the Mlour of 8-11), we shall see that the quiet there the horses in the fourth chariot rneans is ~poken of is here broken, and that the Vt:,ry doubtful (see below on ver. 3). shaking of the nations, which is to ac- Ver. 3.-Grieled and bay; rather,speckled. company Messiah's advent (Hag. ii. 7), strong; Septuagint, 1,nra, 11'011d>..o, 1/nzpa(, h118 begun. That the four chal'iots are to "horses pied and dapple-grey." But ,i,apos be identified with the four powers of Daniel's is explained by the Scholiast in Aristopba.nea, visions (ii. and vii.)-the Babylonian, Medo- •Nub.,' 1225, as "swift;" and po,sibly the Persian, Macedonian, and Roman-is an LXX. used it in that sense here. The opinion that does not commend itself. These Vulgate bas fortes; Aqnila, ,capupai. One four kingdoms and their fate have been would have expected a colour to be named. already symbolized ia the horns of the but why these are specially mentioned as second vision (eh. i. 19-21), and it is most strong or active is seen in ver. 7. The worcl unlikely that they should be again introduced beruddim, " speckled,'' occurs only in Gen. under a different figure. 'fhis would mar xxxi. 10, 12, where it ho.s no symbolical the orderly development of the revelation. character. As it denotes a cornbiuation of And how could these kingdoms, such as colours, probably spots of white on a t.lark they were, be said to issue from the seat of ground, it may signify a quality of a mixed the theocracy o.nd to be o.ttentive to God's nature, thus indicating a visitation of wo.r commands? Further, how could the chariots o.ud pestilence, the sword and famine. symbolize the kingdoms which were to be Ver. 5.-The four spirits of tlle heavens. the objects of punishment, when o.t the same Both the Septuagint and Vulg11te render, time they m·e themselves the instruments •• the four winds of heo.,en;" and this is which inflict the chastisement? Neither doubtless correct. It was a familiar symbol does the angel's explo.nation suit this notion; to the Jews. The winds are often introduce,! for kingdoms o.re nowhere found under the in executing God's will on sinuers (comp. figure of winds, and such o. symbol would Ps. civ. 4; cxlviii. 8; Jer. xlix. 36; Dau. )1ave been unintelligible to the prophet vii. 2). Which go forth from standing without further elucidation. Two mountains. before the Lord (comp. Job i. G; ii. 1). The Hebrew has the article, "the two The winds are supposed to be God's serrnntR, mountains," two well-known mountains. waiting his pleasure to be sent forth on bi~ The scene of the vision is J erusalcm or errands. The Septuagint o.nd Vulgato its ueighhourhood; hence the two mounto.ins translate, "which go forth tu stau,I before mentioned o.re thoug!,t to be those of Zion or the Lord." This denote, merely tlieir usuul the temple-mount, o.nd Olives (comp. eh. obedience; but tho text implies that tlio xiv. 4; Joel iii. 16). It is impossible to prophet sees them ruo1·ing from their nsunl identify them; onrl probably nothing more is expectant Rttitude, and hustening forth to meant them that the chariots came forth from do God's commands. 11 defile hetwern the two mountains which Ver. 6.-The angel now (vers. 6, 7) indi- appeared in the visiou. Mountains of brass; cates the various dcstiuntinn, of the chariots. or, copper. These impregnable, undecaying except tho first with the reel horses. "'hy mount,lins represent tho immovable, invin- this is omitted has 11el'er been s:ttisfnctnri I·: cible nutnre ol' the tl,oucmcy nnd of God's explained. Some reganl ver. 7 ns gi,·iug decrees respecting it. From it the cho.riots tho destiuo.tion of this ohtuiot, by m1~ki 11g ~  68 THE BOOK OF ZECHARIAlI. [clt. VI. 1-15.