The Pulpit Commentary — Zechariah — Section 79

t-er C'ontnine the seC'ond haU of the Lord's Lord alludes to the games of chlldron in Rnewer conoeming fasting, merging into the ruarket-ple.ces as a familinr incident lu proph,-cy. his days (Matt. :li. 16, 17; comp. Jer. vi. Ver. 2.-Thn& ■e.ith the Lord of hoat1. 11). TLis formula OOl'-urs ten times in this Ver. 6.-In these days; rather, in those chapter, thus enforcing the truth that all days. If whnt is promised in vors. 8-5 the promises mR<le to Zion come from the seems incredible to those who shall soe tha Lord himself, and Rre thcrC'fore sure to be fulfilment. The remnant. The returned fulfillC'd. I was jealous; I am jealous, ns Jews and their posterity (Hog. i. 12-14). l'-li. i. 14 (where see note). With great fury. Should it also be marvellous in mine eyes 1 Agniust Iler enemies (ob. i. 15). "Zelus" Certainly not. Nothing is impossible with is defined by Albertus Magnus: "nmor boni God. <'um indignatione contrarii." One ~ide of Ver. 7.-God promises to bring his dis- God's love for Zion is shown in the punish- persed people home again-a promise only ment of her enemies. Knabenbauer likens yet partially fulfilled. My people, A title this zeal or jealousy of God to the pillar of of honour (Hos. ii. 28). From the east fire at the Exodus-light and protection to country, and from the west country, Two the Israelites, darkness e.nd destruction to regions o.re named, symbols of the whole the Egyptians (Exod. xiv. 20). world (comp. Ps. l. l; Mai. i. 11). Th_e re- Ver.3.-I am returned (eh. i. 16); I return. turn of the captives from Babylon was a 'When Jerusalem was taken and given over to prelude of the future restoration of the dis- the enemy, God seemed to have deserted her persed, when all Israel shall be saved (Rom. (Ezek. :i.. 18; :ri. 23); but now the restora- xi. 26). (See a similar promise, Isa. xliii. tion of the e:i.iles, the rebuilding of the 5, 6 ; comp. John xi. 52.) temple, the voiotl of prophecy, ehowed that Ver. 8.-In the midst of Jerusalem. As the Lord had returned, and that now he the centre of worship (see eh. ii. 4, and note will dwell in the midst of .Jerusalem (eh. there). In truth and in righteousness. ii. 10). A oity of truth; city of truth; no The words belong to both parts of the pre- longer full of lies and treachery and in.fi. ceding clause: God will deal truly and delity. God dwelling therein, it shall be righteously with them, but they must deal " the faithful city " (ha. i. 26), in which all truly and righteously with him. If they that is true and real shall flourish ( comp. are faithful to their obligations, God would ver. 16; Zeph. tii. 13). The holy mountain. be unto them all that he had promised to be. The bill whereon the temple is built shall be called the holy mountain, because the Vere. 9-17.-§ 5. The people areezhorted Lord dwelt in the sanctnary. The prophecy to be of good cheer, for God will henceforth in this and the following verses received a git!e them his blessing, which, however, waa partial fulfilment in the days between conditional on their obedience. Zerubbabel and Christ; but there is a further accomplishment in store. Ver. 9.-Let your hands be strong (comp. Ver. 4.-Thereshs.ll yet old men ... dwell Hag. ii. 15-19). Be of good courage for (sit), etc. A picture of happy security and the work before you (Judg. vii. 11; Isa. plenty, in vivid contrast to the desolation :ux-.. 3; Ezek. xxii. 14). By (from) the deplored in Lam. ii.; v. In the days of the mouth of the prophets, which were. Who Maccabeee it is noted, among other tokens came forward as prophets. These prophets, of peace and prosperity, that "the ancient who prophesied after the foundations of men sat all in the streets, communing to- the temple were laid, were Haggai and gether of good things " (1 Mace. xiv. 9). For Zecha.riah; they are thus distinguished very age; Hebrew, for mul,Utu,d,e of days. from the pre-exilian seers mentioned in People shall reach the utmost limits of eh. vii. 7. The same prophets who encour- human life. .According to the old Law, aged you in your work at first are they length of de.ye was the reward of obedience who have spoken to you words of promise (Gen. xv. 15; Exod. x:x. 12; Dent. iv. 40), in these days. That the temple might and an early death was inflicted as o. be built; Revised Version, even the templs punishment of sin (Deut. xx viii. 20 ; Ps. Ii v. that it might be built. This could not be 23; lxxvili. 33). Such promises a.re made predicated of the first foundation, which abo in Messianic times (Isa. lxv. 20), though wa.s followed by a long period of inaction in a different 8ense. (Ezra iv. 24), only terminated by the Yer. 5.-Full of boys and girls. Jerusa- vigorous exhortations of the prophets, which lem and the other cities had long been led to a resumption of the work that might strangers to any such happy sight. Large be called a second foundation of the temple. i11cr1,ase of population is a bkesing often Ver.10.-The prophet reminds the people p1r,wised in the latter days (Hos. i. 10; of the sad condition of affairs during the llicab ii. 12). Perowne remarks that our cessation of the good work, 11.ud liow things OH, VIII, 1-23.] THE BOOK OF ZECHARIAH. 77