Zechariah 1

IN the eighth moneth Called both Maris uan, and Bul, by Hebr. and answers to part of our October and November. Two Moneths after Haggai began to encourage the Iews to build the Temple., in the second year of Darius Son of Hystaspes, and the third Persian Monarch. vid. Hag. 1. ver. 1. let. a. and again chap. 1. ver. 15. let. f. at large., came the word of the LORD Here is his Warrant, and Divine Call, the Lord communicated to him what he was to communicate to others. unto Zechariah His Name bespeaks him a remembrancer of God, or it may speak God remembring him, and the rest of this people. the son The Iews call'd the Descendents in right line Sons, though they were Grand-Sons, or great Grand-Sons; and in this sense s me say Zechariah is the Son of Baruch, and the Son of Iddo. This Zechariah is not he that is mentioned 2 Chron. 24.20. this is too early by many years, nor is this Zechariah the Father of Iohn Baptist, this is a much too late, but most likely 'tis that Zechariah whom the Iews slew between the Temple and the Altar, Matth. 23.35. of Barachiah This Name is expresly mentioned Mat. 23. and his time exactly suits the time, pointed at by the Evangelist., the son of Iddo One of this name you have 2 Chron. 9.29. but this is too old to be this in the Text, or there will be found (as Wolphius in Ezram notes) 450 years distance between Iddo the Seer, and this Iddo mentioned in the Text. the prophet Whether Zechariah, or Iddo, I determine not., saying,

The LORD The Holy, the Mighty one, your God, the just Governour of the World. has been sore displeased So long provoked, that his displeasure at last enkindled within his Breast, and broke out into that flame which has consumed your Land, City, and Temple. with your fathers All that were Progenitors, ore-Fathers to the return'd Captives, from their entrance into Canaan, but specially since the Apostacy in Ierob am's time, for many hundred years your Predecessours have provoked God by their notorious sins, even to the days of their Captivity..

Therefore And, Heb. say Command, and Require. thou unto them Of the Captivity who are returned to their own land., Thus says the LORD of hosts In my Name, by the Authority I have over them as Lord of Hosts, require they hear, and obey., Turn ye unto me Repent ye of all your sins, leave them, set your hearts on my Law to obey it, on my Worship to give me it, on my Temple to reedifie it., says the LORD of hosts Who can punish your refusal, who can protect you in your return, and reward your Obedience, and I will turn unto you with blessings, with all blessings, which my presence brings to a repenting people. It was woe with you, and your Fathers, when I departed from them, but it shall be as well with them, when I return unto them., says the LORD of hosts That you may be assured hereof, I promise it to you, and will be engaged to perform, as Lord of hosts, as having all things at my disposal..

Be ye You who have seen the sorrows of a long Captivity, who are wonderfully brought back, who are under the teachings of Rod and Staff. not as your fathers, to whom the former All the former Prophets, 2 Chron. 36.15, 16. prophets have cryed Preached earnestly, frequently, and compassionately., saying, Thus says the LORD of hosts, turn ye now from your evil wayes Now to day, yet before 'tis too late: O! turn from vitious, sinful courses and wayes; from your Atheism, Idolatry, Murthers, Oppressions, and Adulteries., and from your evil doings It is repeated that it might be more impressive upon them. The Prophets importunately intreated them to cease from evil, Isa. 1.16. and 31.6. Ier. 3.12. Ezek. 18.30. and Hos. 14.1.: but they did not hear They did not, because they would not, they regarded not what I said by my Prophets, neither could they be persuaded to it., nor hearken unto me This obstinate disobedience is twice together charged on them, to make their sin appear in its greatness., says the LORD.

Your fathers: where are they But where are your disobedient Fathers? Are they not buried in a strange Land? Did they not die of those Diseases? Were they not consumed with Famine, and the Sword, as was menaced against them?? and the prophets Some apply this to the false Prophets who promised peace, but where are they now? But 'tis better understood of the true Prophets, who died as others; they do not, nor must live always to warn you., do they live c for ever?

But my words The dreadful Menaces which I spake by my Prophets., and my statutes The d creed Judgments which my provoked Justice resolved to execute on them, which I commanded which by my Prophets as my Heraulds I proclaimed, and published. my servants the prophets, did they not take hold Overtake as a pursuing Enemy overtakes, and se eth on his Enemy, and spoileth him; have not my Judgments thus taken hold both on your Fathers, and on you? of your fathers? and they returned and said By this it should seem that Zechariah gave them time to consider what answer to give., Like as the LORD of hosts thought to do unto us according to our wayes, and according to our doings, so has he dealt with us It is true as God said he would do, so he has done against us, our Fathers, our Families, our Ci ies and Temples. God's words have not failed they dyed not, though our Fathers did: This may be an abstract of their Repentance..

¶ Upon the four and twentieth day of the eleventh moneth, which is the moneth Sebat Which answers to part of our Ianuary., in the second year of Darius Vid. Hag 1.1. let. a. b. and ver. 15. let. f., came the word of the LORD See ver. 1. let. c. unto Zechariah, the son of Barachiah, the son of Iddo the prophet Vid. ver. 1. let. d. e. f. g. The first Sermon Zechariah preacht, was three Moneths before this, and that Sermon was reproof, which probably had good effect, as ver. 6. let. k. l., saying,

I saw In a Vision God communicates his Word, Mind, or Will to the Prophet. by night Either litera ly, it was by night that Zechariah had this Vision, or with this it may note the obscurity and misteriousness of the Vi on, for it may be emblematical, as the Myrtles, and the bottom are., and behold Mark well what I saw, as now I relate it to you. a man One in a humane shape, Christ Jesus in shape of a Man, so he appeared to Ezek. 1.26. and 40.3. and to Daniel, chap. 7.13. riding In a posture of readiness, speed and resolution to help his people, and to appear for them in some tokens of greatness and majesty, Psal. 45.4. upon a red horse Both the Beast is noted, Horse, bold, strong, speedy, and gallant; and the colour is noted also in the same colour he appeared to Isaiah, chap. 63. ver. 1, 2, 3. and Revel. 6.4. This colour is a symbol of his coming to avenge his own just quarrel, and the uniust dealings of his, and his peoples Enemies., and he stood among the myrtle trees he posteth himself in a convenient place to observe and be ready, (as needful) among humble, verdant, fragrant, pleasant, and much valued Trees, emblem of the flourishing, fruitful, and excell nt Saints, and Servants of God. that were in the bottom This bottom or low Valley in which the Myr les grew, (proba ly on some Rivers bank) is an emblem of the Church in a low, mourning, afflicted State, then 'tis most verdant, and fragrant these Trees; or as Spices bruised in a Mortar.: and behind him Christ was beseems a Captain, in the head, the rest as his Souldiers or Sevan s are behind attending on him. were there red horses Horses of the same colour, not without their riders, though they are not exprest, but 'tis a Synechdoche, Horses, and Horse-men are both intended, and these are Angel, ver. 10. now the colour of these Horses is 1. Red, denoting probably the bloody condition of States and K ngdoms by Wars one against another, either when God punisheth his Church, or when he avengeth himself, and his Church on his Enemies, and hers, which will appear on a survey of the times past, when Assyrian, Babylonian, Persian, Gr cia or Roman Empires, did successively by Wars do Gods w rk, his strange work, &c. Isa. chap. 10. and chap. 14., speckled A mixt colour, made up partly of white, red and black, as some guess, an Emblem of Affairs of different complexion, not all prosperous, nor all unprosperous; not all dark, nor all light, as the day the Prophet describes neither day nor night, such times did the Iews know, during the 70 Prophetick weeks, from the beginning of them, to the Messiah's coming. and white An Emblem of the best days and State the Church should be in, so Revel. 19.11.14. and the Empire too with it..

Then So soon as he had seen and observed, said I Zechariah,, O my lord This was Christ the Lord of Hosts., what are these What is the me n ng of these Appearances or Visions?? And the angel Christ, the Angel of the Covenant, so I take this Angel that promiseth to inform the Prophet to be the same that appears as a Man on the Red Horse among the Myrtles. that talked with me, said unto me, I will show thee what these be.

And the man that stood among the myrtle-trees Vid. ver. 8. let. t. u. x. y., answered Gave answer to what I asked., and said, these Horsemen. are they whom the LORD has sent A periphrasis of Angels, who are Servants, and Ministers of the Divine Providence in the Government of the World. to walk to, and fro through God is pleas'd a ter the manner of men to speak of his managing the affairs of the World; men must employ others, because they need them, God will employ Angels, though he needs them not. the earth The Empires which his Churches were either help'd or injur'd by; These were partly by the Pride of their Emperours, partly by the flattery of their Servants and Ministers, and partly by the Ignorance of the World at that time in matters of Geography thought to be the whole Earth; and the Scripture sometimes useth phrases, used and well known among men, though there be some impropriety in them..

And they The ministerial Angels, signified by the horses and horsemen. answered the angel of the LORD Or rather the Angel, the Lord, the uncreated Angel, who sent them out, and receives account what they had done. that stood among the Myrtle trees s, and said, We have walked As men who would give an exact account, survey every part, so we have search'd all Nations, and Kingdoms; walk'd the length and breadth of them. to and fro through the earth The World, but chiefly through the Babylonish Empire, which accounts it self Lord of all the Earth., and behold 'Tis wonderful to be seen, and therefore we beseech thee, O Lord, to behold, and consider this. all the earth sitteth still As having ended their Toil, or weather'd the storm, composed their differences, and shea h'd their Swords, are full of peace, and sit still to take their case. and is at rest Either the same thing repeated, to heighten the quiet of these states, or to confirm the Truth of the thing, or to express the inward quiet of mind the people had with their outward quiet. The publick peaceable, and every ones mind satisfied, this is the state of the Earth, the Empire which at that time ruled all..

¶ Then When the surveying Angels had made their report of the Prosperity of the Heathen. the angel of the LORD The Angel, the Lord Christ, Mediator of the Church, and head of the Church. answered and said Prays as one interceding., O LORD of hosts Christ speaks to his Father, speaks as one much affected with the state of his afflicted Church., how long wilt thou not have mercy It is the expostulation that well befits a praying Soul, it is not the enquiry of a discontented mind, but the request of one longing for mercy. So David, Psal. 13.1, 2. and the souls under the Altar, Rev. 6.10. on Jerusalem Ierusalem, thy chosen Mountain, heir of Promises to be re-edified, and on Iudah's Cities too, of whose rebuilding, peace and pr sperity thou hast, O Lord, spoken great things, Ier. 30.31.32. and 33. Chapters, and Ezek. 36. and 37, &c. chapters., and on the cities of Judah, against which thou hast had indignation They have felt thine anger and hot displeasure, it was just, and is so still; but it is not to be perpetual; thine anger has smoaked against the sheep of thy Pasture. these threescore and ten years The term prefixt for the captivity is fully come, 'tis the seventieth year of thei miserable captivity; now show mercy, build Sion, and glorifie thy self in doing it, for the set time is come. It is now 70 years since thy Temple was burnt, and Ierusalem sack'd. And full 80 years since Ieconias with many of thy people were carried captive into Babylon, and somewhat more, since many were carried with Iehoiachim, from which to the second of Darius are much about eighty eight, or nine years.?

And the LORD God the Father. answered the angel Christ, the uncreated Angel, Lord of Angels and Redeemer of Israel. that talked Who had first talked by signs and Visions, and next by explaining the mind, and meaning of them, and answering the enquiries Zechariah made. with me, with good Suitable, and seasonable. words, and comfortable The words minister'd comfort to Ierusalem and the Captives, the words imported deliverance and blessings. words.

So i. e. When the Father had heard the Son and answered him; this is spoken to our apprehension, and so must be understood. the angel Of the Covenant, the Lord Christ. that communed with me Vid. ver. 13. let. k., said unto me, Cry thou Now publish what thou hearest, preach by commission from me, and assure my poor, captive, impoverish'd Church, that God, my God and her God, will do good for her., saying, Thus says the LORD of hosts Publish what God, Lord of hosts, and Father of his People, promised to do for them., I am jealous I have been jealous against, but now am jealous for Ierusalem; my love is now heightened to a very high degree of compassion for my People, and of Indignation against her Enemies and Oppressors. for Jerusalem The City called by my name., and for Zion Where my Temple stood; those Gates of Zion, which I loved more than all the dwellings of Iacob. with a great jealousie That Zeal I bear, and now will show for them is great, to a wonder; it is the Zeal of a God who infinitely loves and pitieth his people..

And I The Lord of hosts, God of Israel. am very sore displeased Exceedingly angry and will show it that they may see and feel it, my displeasure is grown up to the highest against them. with the heathen that are at ease Secure in their strength, sing a requiem to themselves and trouble to Israel. See ver. 11. let. y. z,: for I was but a little displeased With mine own people, i. e. in comparison with the anger I bear against the heathen, 'twas little, Psal. 137. tot., and they The Heathen, Babylonians. helped forward Attempted to destroy whom I would but correct, Isa. 10. & 14. I whipt to smart, you wounded to blood, I did wound to bind up, you did wound to kill, &c. It is an Anthropopath ia. the affliction It was more than they could do to provoke me more against them than their own sins did; but what I permitted for a while, they did, and added to the Affliction of Israel. I would prune, but they struck at the root..

Therefore Because the Enemy has so barbarously and inhumanely added affliction to the afflicted, 'tis time to save and relieve., thus says the LORD, I am returned When I was departed, and had withdrawn my Presence, thus cruelly were my people handled; but now I will return, I will be with them, my presence shall restrain the violent, and protect the innocent. to Jerusalem with mercies With tender, abundant, and promised Mercies now they shall be comforted indeed.: my house The Temple of God, the Excellency of Iacob. shall be built in it Shall be finish'd, the impediments shall be removed, what glory I have promised by Haggai, chap. 2.9. I will put upon this house of mine in Ierusalem., says the LORD of hosts This confirms the promise, and establisheth our Faith, if we know the import hereof., and a line The builders measuring line shall be stretch'd out, to mark out Walls, Gates, Palaces, Streets, and Houses in Ierusalem, that they may be built again in beauty, and strength, with skill, and art; and shall be once more the glory of the Earth, and Joy of Israel. shall be stretched forth upon Jerusalem.

Cry yet The Prophets Commission is either enlarged, or more full instructions given to him, to raise the hope and stablish the Faith of the People of God., saying, Thus says the LORD of hosts, My cities Jerusalem, and the Cities of Judah are mine, says the Lord, and as mine I'le build, beautifie, enrich, fortifie, defend, and enlarge them. through prosperity Through increase of Families and Persons, they shall send forth Colonies, and plant new Towns and Cities, and through increase of Wealth, and Cattel be able to build their cities, and stock their Colonies. shall yet be spread abroad Swarm as Bees, and send out their young ones., and the LORD Their God. shall yet comfort Zion Zion his Church, with comforts fit for a Church., and shall yet choose Type of the civil State as here joyn'd with Zion; the Kingdom shall be blest in it self, and be a blessing to others, much like that Hos. 14.4, 5. all this an effect of my choosing it, and dwelling in it. Jerusalem.

¶ Then After I had seen those things, and heard those comfortable words, and received commission to publish all the good news I had heard. lift I up mine eyes He was so intent before, that he look'd on nothing else; now he lifts up his eyes., and saw Clearly, certainly, and distinctly., and behold four horns Emblems of the Enemies of the Jewes, for strength, fierceness, and pride, and for their number, from all parts of the World..

And I said unto the angel that talked with me The Prophet prays for Information from the Angel, from Christ, who is the best Teacher., What be these What may be the meaning of these horns, which I see, and know to be horns, and four in number.? And he answered me, These are the horns Powers, States and Kingdoms, which have from all sides push'd at, broken and tossed my people, sorely bruised some, and destroy'd others, these Horns are probably on the North, the Syrians, Assyrians, and Babylonians; on the East, the Moabites and Ammonites; on the South, Edomites and Egyptians; on the West the Philistines. All which had many a time spoiled the Jewes. which have scattered Judah The Two Tribes which were the Kingdom of Judah., Israel The Ten Tribes carried away by Salmaniser, or the Reliques of Israel, which adhered to the house of David., and Jerusalem.

And the LORD Jehovah, who before is the Angel, i. e. Christ, he is the Eternal one, the great God. showed Both proposed the thing to be seen, and gave eyes to see, and discern it. me four carpenters Known by their Garb and Tools to be Carpenters or Smiths, as the Hebrew bears it..

Then So soon as I could propose the question, immediately upon sight of the Carpenters. said I Zechariah., What come these to do He saw they were men, enquires not who they were, but what was their business, and design; perhaps 'tis fittest for us to rest also in the knowledge of what they are to do, and enquire no farther who they were.? and he The Lord Christ inform'd the Prophet. spake, saying, These Christ does in order to satisfie the enquiry first point to the four horns of which ver. 18, 19, as if he should have said look you there are four horns which have done mischief to Judah. are the horns which have scattered Judah, so that no man did lift up his head Kept them so under, none had either strength or courage to lift up the head, and thus these horns proudly and cruelly destroy'd my People.: but these These Carpenters or Smiths are Emblems of those Instruments God will employ in breaking these destroyers. Here are four carpenters to break the four Horns. are come to fray them To strike a fear into them first; these Kingdoms signified by horns, shall lose their courage., to cast out the horns Then their Authority, and power shall be cast out easily. of the Gentiles Heathen round about Judea. which lift up their horn Have employ'd their Arms and strength against. over the land The whole Kingdom of Judah, Gods people. of Judah to scatter it To drive them out of Gods inheritance. See ver. 19. let. d..