Zechariah 2

I Zechariah. lift up mine eyes again This is the third Emblem, or Vision he had seen., and looked Very diligently, and intently. and behold a man One in form of a man, some say 'twas Christ, others say a Type of Nehemiah, it was an Emblem of some Master-builder to be sure, and its probable the Prophet took him for no more than a man. with a measuring line in his hand He appear'd ready and prepar'd to lay out the platform of Jerusalem for extent, form, and beauty..

Then said I, Whither goest thou It is evident, the Prophet did not in so bold a manner enquire before, which may possibly be for that he apprehended this man to be one lesser than an Angel; nor does he ask the meaning of this Hieroglyphick, but understanding what it meant, the Prophet enquires only where the platform was to be laid.? And he said unto me, To measure To take the exact dimensions of it, that it may answer Gods Promise, and be capable to receive its inhabitants. Jerusalem The city which was to be built hereafter, but first the Temple is to be built., to see what is the breadth thereof, and what is the length thereof.

And behold the angel that talked The great and glorious Angel, i. e· Christ Jesus himself, which had so long talked with Zechariah. with me, went forth From the midst of the Myrtle-trees, where he was first seen; whither he is going is not said, perhaps to stand by, direct, and encourage, the person that was going to measure Jerusalem., and another angel A created Angel, or a Ministerial Angel, as became his office, offers his service to Christ. went out to meet him Who is Lord of Angels..

And said Or, And he said. Or as the French, (lequel lui dit) which said unto him, so 'tis plain, that the Angel which now was going orth, spake to that Angel which came to meet him, or gave him orders what to do. unto him, Run Since you come so seasonably, hasten with all diligence and from me tell that young man, Zechariah., speak unto this young man, saying, Jerusalem Which has so long lain in rubbish, which I once delighted in, which now seems desolate, and hopeless. shall be inhabited Filled with inhabitants. as towns The Suburbs of it shall be as Towns unwalled for greatness of extent, and for safety, and freedom, from enemies and danger; Their own multitudes of men shall be some safeguard to them. And they shall have my presence, a better safeguard. without walls, for the multitude of men and cattel Brought thither for sacred uses, for sacrifices. therein.

For What was promis'd or foretold in the former Verse is ratified in this by an account how it should be performed. I, says the LORD That a thing so much above the hope of a present dejected people, so much too great for so weak, and so few a people, might be believed and expected, God engageth he will perform the word., will be unto her a wall of fire Which cannot be scaled, it would consume them that attempt it; nor undermined, none could come so near it. Such a wall as once was Elisha's Guard, 2 King. 6.16, 17. verses; to which this place may possibly refer. Or 'tis allusion to the manner of Shepherds and Travellers in those Countreys full of wild beasts to make fires in the night to secure themselves. round about No part shall be unguarded, or open to the Enemy., and will be the glory My Presence, and favour shall make her glorious, Isa. 4.5, 6. in the midst of her.

¶ Ho, ho Since Ierusalem shall be safe, rich and glorious by the presence and blessings of her God, the Prophet calls to the sleepy Jewes, as men that need be awakned., come forth Set upon your Journey for your own countrey and city, come out from your captive Prisons., and flee Make all the haste you possibly can, and flee as men do who are pursued with danger, as men that are earnestly bent to get out of harms way, as the man-slayer to the city of Refuge. Heb. has only And flee, but our Translators have by that guested at what might fill up the expression, and read, Come forth, &c. from the land of the north Babylon which lay North to Canaan., says the LORD: for I have spread you abroad as the four winds of the heaven As I executed my threats in scattering you, so I will perform my promise, and gather you from all quarters of the World; arise, come away therefore., says the LORD.

Deliver The Proclamation for free return is publish'd, up then and be gone. thy self, O Zion O ye people who should dwell in Sion, ye daughters of Sion., who dwellest Keepest in Babylon when thou mightest go to Jerusalem. with the daughter of Babylon Perhaps this intimates that which kept many Jews in Babylon, Wives or Mistresses..

For Some refer this to what went before, as a reason why the Jewes should return, for God has commanded it. I think 'tis an encouragement to the Jewes to return, because God had promised to make them a glory, and now assures them that he will take a very particular care of them, therefore sends his Son, as a Judge, or Vindex, against the Nations that had spoiled the Jewes, or God sends his Son to them to inform them that 'tis their interest to unite with the Jewes, and become the people of God, and be partakers of the Glory, and safety of Gods Israel. However to let them understand that 'twill be dangerous to do violence to Israel, as it would be dangerous to any one to violate what is most dear to him that can destroy the offender; to tell them Israel is the Apple of Gods Eye. thus says the LORD of hosts, After the glory has he sent me to the nations which spoiled you: for he that toucheth you, toucheth the apple of his eye.

For behold, I will shake Or lift up. mine hand My power and strength. upon them Against the Nation and Kingdom that does violence to the people, who are my glory, and I am theirs, says the Lord., and they Those people who comply not with him whom God sendeth. shall be a spoil Shall be overthrown and spoiled, and become a prey. unto their servants The Jewes who were first spoiled by, and then made servants to the Nations who conquer'd, captivated and hardly used the Jewes, and indeed this fulfill'd in Esthers days, and in the Maccabees times., and ye Either Jewes, or Heathen, or both. shall know Be convinced and own it. that the LORD of hosts The great and faithful God. has sent me Has commissioned Christ to inform them who are to make their choice what to do herein..

¶ Sing and rejoyce Now Christ calls them to Rejoice in the goodness showed to them, and to sing forth the Praises of him who showed it., O daughter of Zion The whole Nation of the Jewes, the peculiar, redeemed and restored people of God. They that had been in great and long captivity., for lo, I come To execute Judgments on thine Adversaries, to complete thy deliverance and salvation, I come as foretold and promised, in the dispensations of Providence among the Nations, in the performance of Promises to you my people., and I will dwell Pitch my Tabernacle, nay, build my Habitation, and House, and reside in it, give you my Ordinances, my Blessing, and my Presence. This was fulfill'd in part presently, and so through near 500 years, till Christ came, and ever since to his Gospel Church. in the midst of thee, says the LORD.

And many And great Heb. implieth both multitudes, and greatness of Nations; or Heathen, and Gentiles; as the word beareth. nations shall be joined to the LORD Become proselytes, enquire for, adhere to, and worship the God of Israel. in that day When God shall lift up his hand for his people against their Enemies, as Esther 8.17. when Christ shall be come in the Flesh, and shall take down the partition wall., and shall be my people Covenant-people, to love fear, worship, and obey Christ.: and I will dwell in the midst of thee See ver. 10. let. a., and thou shalt know See ver. 9. let. s. that the LORD of hosts The Sovereign Law-giver, and Almighty Ruler of Heaven and Earth. has sent me The Messiah, and Zechariah his Servant. unto thee Jew and Gentile..

And the LORD Jehovah, the God of Abraham, and of his seed, who had cast off Judah, and seem'd to quit his claim in his antient inheritance, by a disseism of 70 years. shall inherit Claim, recover, possess and delight, as a man does in his paternal inheritance, Judah All his Israel, this Tribe mentioned, but all the rest included. his portion His Treasure and peculiar people; his lot and part. in the holy land Upon, Heb. holy, not by any inherent holiness, but holy and selected, and set apart for a holy people consecrated to God., and shall choose Jerusalem again The Lord will as of old choose Ierusalem for his seat..

Be silent Murmur not, you that love not Zion; dispute not, you that think these promises are too good, too great; but in silence, Reverence, and adore God in all his Excellencies and wayes; wait, and expect the accomplishment of all, by him who never utters more than he can and will do for his People., O all flesh Both Iew and Gentile; you are weak, short fighted, and worthless; you are flesh, be silent and wait., before the LORD The Wise, Mighty, Gracious, and Faithful one; who never suffer'd a word of his to fall unfulfill'd, nor will let any of these promises to fail.: for he is raised up He speaks to our capacity, God is said to be raised in allusion to men who get up, or rise up, and set about what they will do; so here God is on this work already. out of his holy habitation Either Heaven, or his Temple..