Zechariah 9

THE burden i. e. The heavy, sad, and grievous, the menacing prediction of future Evils coming upon a people, so burden in prophetick stile, Isa. 13.1, and 15.1. Nah. 1.1. Hab. 1.1 signifieth. of the word In which from Gods own mouth Zechariah threatneth. This might be read in Apposition thus, The burden, the word, for when the word of the Lord threatneth sad Afflictions, they will come as a heavy burden, they cannot decline without Repentance, nor shake off by their own strength. of the LORD O Hosts, the God of Israel, who determins what he will do against Israels Enemies, and none can altar his purpose. in Or, on, against, Heb. the land of Hadrach Not Messiah's Land as some, nor the Land of an Idol. called Hadrach, i. e. the Sun as others, nor yet the Land or Countreys that lye round about Iudea, as others, or yet is Arabia here meant as others, but 'tis the name both of a City in Caelosy ia, and here signifieth the Country also, this Town was not far from Damascus, and about 25 miles distant from Bosira, a Sea Town of Phaenicia, which is not far from Byblos, now called Gible, or Gibelletto, says my Author, no farther mention is made of it in Scripture. It was likely an Enemy to the Iews, and had sin'd therein, and now must account for it, and be punished., and Damascus Chief City of that part of Syria, and whether Abel were slain there, or no, or whether that Murther gave it the Name, or whether the Etymology be rightly given (Dam.) blood, (Sack.) a bag. I say not. But 'twas no friend to God's people, Isa. 7. and here 'tis threatned among other their Enemies, the Countrey is intended here as well as the City. shall be the rest thereof This burden shall ly long as well as heavy on Damascus.: when Rather, For, Heb. the eyes Eye, Heb. as we read it, it is of some difficult interpretation, but more easie if read, as it may be thus, For unto the Lord is the eye of man, and of the Tribes of Israel, i. e. unto the Lord it belongeth to look to, and by his providence to dispose of all men as well as of Israel, and all mens appeals in cases of wrong are to Heaven, so they who have been wrong'd by Syrian injustice look to Heaven for right, and to be avenged, and God will do it. of man, as of all the tribes of Israel shall be towards the LORD.

And Hamath A principal noted Town of Syria, once called Epiphania, it was near Neighbour to the Iews, for 'twas a boundary of the Land of Promise. also shall border Shall be so near to this storm which cometh, that they shall be the worse for it. The Country call'd by this Name, in which Riblah was, and where the barbarous murther of many Nobles of the Iews, the murther of Zedekiah's Children, and his Eyes were put out; all which cruelty, and such like Hamath must suffer, for now God rides his Circuit, and udgeth. thereby, Tyrus A famous Mart as ever the World had, on which Ezekiel bestows his 26, 27, and 28 chap. which see., and Zidon Another M rt, and on the same Sea, more antient than Tyrus, and as much an Enemy to the Iews, threatned as here; so by Ezek. chap. 28. Tyrus ver. 3. Zidon ver. 21. which see., though it be very wise Each of them, i. e. the People, the Governours, and Counsell rs of both these Cities are subtle, and think by Craft to save themselves, but this shall not be, God derides their Wisdom, Ezek. 28.3..

And Tyrus Which was naturally a strong hold, scituate on a great rock in the Sea. did build her self a strong hold Fortified her self mightily, and then thought her self impregnable., and heaped Gather'd Treasure, and laid it up, so that there was no end of it. up silver as the dust 'Tis a proverbial speech, and speaks the very rich stores of their Gold and Silver, by which they might buy their peace, or maintain their War: So that here is Wisdom, Strength, and Treasure, the Master sinews of War, yet all these cannot profit them in the day of their calamities approaching., and fine gold as the mire 'Tis a proverbial speech, and speaks the very rich stores of their Gold and Silver, by which they might buy their peace, or maintain their War: So that here is Wisdom, Strength, and Treasure, the Master sinews of War, yet all these cannot profit them in the day of their calamities approaching. of the streets.

Behold Observe it, for I tell you truth, though strange, 'twill be so., the LORD will cast her out The Lord will do this, he will eject and cast her out of her Inheritance, as the word in the Heb. and he will inherit her, as the word also bears. God will do both, he will selfe into his hand by some or other, and so put them out of all. Her Fortifications shall not be able to secure her Possession., and he will smite her power in the sea The Lord declares how he will do what he threatens against Tyrus, where their strength lieth, he will break them, take away their shipping, and then both Treasures will waste Trade will fail, and Auxiliaries will not be gotten., and she Tyrus, probably Zidon with her. shall be devoured with fire That is, by the Enemy in the siege, or at the taking of her. All which was done about An. M. 3672. one hundred eighty five years after this Prophesie, when Alexander Magnus master'd Tyrus at Sea with a fleet of 190, or 200 Ships, took the City, slew many Thousands of them, and as Curtius reports, burnt the City..

Ashkelon Threatned by Zephaniah, chap. 2. ver. 4. which threat was executed by the Babylonians soon after the Iews Captivity, when Nebuchadnezzar wasted the Sea-coast, and besieged and took Tyrus, but this threat of Zechariah was fully executed by Alexander Mag. as is most likely. shall see it As Cities see the fall of Neighbouring Cities, they shall have the news of it, and know it, perhaps some Ashkelonites may be there and see the s ege and tell it., and fear As men that have no power to defend themselves, nor means left of flying from the Enemy.: Gaza Another strong Town, a Principality of the Philistins, Enemy to Israel, which in Nebuchadnezzars time suffered with Tyrus, Z ph. 2.4. let. u. and shall again to suffer in Alexander's time, as here foretold also shall see it, and be very sorrowful At the news of Tyrus fall shall take a fright, and fall into sorrows of a travelling Woman, as the word imports., and Ekron A City famous for Idolatry, see Zeph. 2.4. let. d. Shall as much fear and grieve as Ashkelon or Gaza.: for her expectation Her hope that Tyrus would break Alexander's Power, or hold out against it, and be a refuge to her Citizens, who could not hope to withstand the Conquerour. shall be ashamed Turned into shame and confusion., and th king shall perish The Government be overthrown, and perhaps this literally was fulfilled when Alexander Mag. took Gaza after two Moneths siege, and two slight wounds received, and finding Betis the King, or Roytelet advanced to that dignity by Darius, thought good to put him to a cruel Death, as Curtius. l. 4. from Gaza, and Ashkelon shall not be inhabited i. e. For some years it shall be as waste, or, as 'twas, laid by the Babylonian according to Zeph. 2.4..

And a bastard Some say Alexander Mag. was by Olympia's confession declared to be a Bastard, and that he is here pointed at; but I think rather strangers, who have no right of Inheritance, yet did dwell here are, meant, call'd Bastards, because not the rightful Heirs, but Intruders. shall dwell in Ashdod Azotus now a strong Town, a City of the Philistines, but still of the same temper with the rest against the Iews, and now as before, Zeph. 2.4. must suffer with them., and I will cut off the pride of the Philistines In these strong Cities did the Philistines glory, and boast themselves as having been too hard for the Iews even at their first coming to Canaan, who could not take their Cities from them, but now the fatal change is foretold, God will cut off this pride of theirs as he did in the times of the Graecians, the Seleucidae, and the Maccabees..

And I will take away his blood out of his mouth Though proud and warlike Nations have delighted to shed blood, nay, (if some judge aright) to eat the blood of their slain Enemies, yet now God will restrain, nay, overthrow their power, and take the prey out of their mouth, they shall neither breathe out slaughter, nor act it with their hands., and his abominations from between his teeth This may possibly be explanatory of the former, but I think it rather is meant of their abominable Sacrifices which they offered and feasted on, so the word in Deut. 7.27. with 26. 1 Kings 11.5, 7. 2 Kings 23.13. and by Hos. 9.10. God will punish for these sins, Idolatries, and by his destroying the People and Cities of those abominations will remove them for ever.: but he that remaineth, even he shall be for our God; and he shall be as a Governour The remnant, even that, (so it might be read) if so read, it points out that small select number who escape the Sword, and are reserved to be for God, to Worship, Obey, Honour, and Love him; such a remnant as Isa. 4 3. or as Isa. 17.6. or Isa. 24.6. Those few Iews whom God preserved from the rage and cruelty of these bloody Idolaters, shall be the Lords peculiar ones. For respect and honour which shall be given to them, 'tis not said they shall be Governours, but they shall be as like Governours. in Judah, and Ekron as a Jebusite The City for the People, and this one City and People for all the other: All the Philistines shall be as Iebusites, Servants to the people of God, or slain..

And I will encamp Pitcht, not the Tents of Travellers and Shepherds, but of an Army, God in the midst of his own Hosts, and Angels among them, Guardians too. about mine house This material Temple, but as 'tis an Emblem of the Church., because of the army Of the Persian and Graecian Army, whose march lay either through or near to Iudaea, and Ierusalem., because of him that passeth by, and because of him that returneth Armies are very troublesom, costly, and dangerous in all their marches, the people of God, his City, and Temple shall be as Garrison'd and Fortified, as if secur'd by an host, God will have Angels pitch their Tents round about those that fear the Lord. Iudea was a thorough fare to the Aegyptian and Syrian Armies, to the Graecian and Persian, an unadvised attempt to stop Pharaoh Necho in his passage through once, cost Iosiah his Life, but God will be a guard to his people, whilest their Enemies are moving. All this was accomplished in the times of Alexander and his Successors, in midst of whose Wars, though the Iews suffered somewhat, yet they were mightily defended by their God.; and no oppressiour shall pass through them any more: for now have I seen with mine eyes. As formerly, when they had ingress, egress, regress at their pleasure, as if Lords of the Soil, and of the People too. I ever saw it, but now I manifest that I take notice of it purposely to redress it: I see how vilely they use my people, they shall do so no more. I Behold, as Psal. 10.14. mischief and spite to require it.

¶ Rejoice greatly The Prophet calls for such a joy as expresseth it self in outward gesture, as indeed the Daughters of Zion did in their Hosannahs, when this had its accomplishment., O daughter of Zion Ierusalems Inhabitants, or the Church.; Shout Proclaim aloud your joy at the news I now tell you., O daughter of Jerusalem Before it was Daughter of Zion, now it is Daughter of Ierusalem, both the Church and State among the Iews had great cause to triumph at this.: behold, thy King The Redeemer, Expected, Promised Messiah, Son of David, the only restorer of your lapsed State. cometh unto thee Christ cometh to thee, to redeem and save thee; he cometh for thee, as well as to thee.: he is just The righteous one, who cometh to fulfil all righteousness, and to be our righteousness., and having salvation Designs to save, and has that in his eye, that he can save, 'tis in his power: He can save us as he did save himself, by raising himself from the Dead.; lowly Low and mean of State, and meek or lowly of mind., and riding upon an ass A Beast of no state or price, an emblem of his outward state., and upon a colt, the foal of an ass In this some footsteps of Sovereignty appeared in the colts taking, and bearing him quietly, Luk. 15.35..

And I will cut off the chariot from Ephraim When the Messiah comes and sets up his Kingdom, he will need no external force, he will do that by the power of his Spirit; Chariots of War are for other kind of Kings and Kingdoms, but in promoting of his own Kingdom, he will make no use of such force,, and the horse from Jerusalem Either literal, or typical., and the battel bow Another Instrument of war, but not useful to the Prince of Peace, neither bow, nor Sword brought Salvation to him, nor shall they be mentioned in the day of his conquest. shall be cut off, and he shall speak peace unto the heathen Make peace for them, and then publish it to them; that on the Cross, this in the Gospel; the Gentiles shall through him be reconciled unto God, and one another, Ephes. 2.17., and his dominion How mean soever on the Ass, yet has a large Dominion, is King of the Universe. shall be from sea even to sea t, and from the river Euphrates utmost bound East, even to the ends of the earth to the utmost end of Canaan, toward the Mediterran an Sea; a Type of all the world to be the Inheritance of Christ. These things promised here are of Spiritual Nature, and be blessings of a Spiritual Kingdom.. From the Red S a, and from the Arabian Gulf, to the Syrian Sea.

As for thee Oh Zion, and Ierusalem, thou Iewish Church, these words are Christ's words to her, not the Prophets words to Christ, though Papists would have it so, to countenance a Limbus Patrum. also, by the blood By my blood, says Christ,, of thy covenant in which thy Covenant is confirmed; 'tis God's Covenant as made by him, 'tis Zions Covenant as made for her, 'tis Christ's also as made in him. I have se nt forth thy prisoners I have delivered and released, Cyrus indeed by his Edict sent the Iews home, but in this he was Christ's Servant, and Christ was mindful of the Covenant, and to perform this, brought them up. out of the pit wherein is no water Babylon, compared to a Pit in which no water was, wherein the Iews must have perished, had not mercy from Christ visited them; here no Limbus Patrum, though some say so among the Popish Commentators..

¶ Turn ye The Prophet exhorts the Iews, both those in Babylon still, and those already in Canaan, to hasten up to the strong hold to Ierusalem say some, which had been a strong hold, and which was now to be built again, as the high places of the Earth; or to Christ, who is the Salvation and High Tower of his Church., ye prisoners of hope Captives in Babylon, et under a promise from God, and under an Edict from Cyrus that you shall return, this gives you hope, this maketh you Prisoners of Expectation.: even to day In this day of lowest distress, I declare, &c. do I declare that I will render double Either more than thy Fathers ever received, or double, that is, twice as much good enioyed, as ever was thy evil suffered, as Isa. 40.2. unto thee.

When I have bent Judah for me In the days when Iudah shall have recovered strength and courage, and be in my hand as a strong bow, ready bent., filled the bow with Ephraim Ephraim the remainder of the ten Tribes (which return'd with Iudah) shall be for supply of Warriours; as the Quiver filled, is supply of Arrows to the Bow-man., and raised up thy sons, O Zion Explicatory to the former., against thy sons, O Greece Against the Graecians, or nians, the sons of Iavan, who had formerly oppressed the Iews, and bought them for Slaves, and did again oppress them in the Reigns of the Seluc dae, and the Lagidae, against whom the Iews took Arms and Courage under the Conduct of the Maccabees, to whom Christ made good much of this promise,, and made thee O Zion or Ierusalem, you O Iews! as the sword of a mighty man A sharp Sword of a mighty man, or Giant, who cuts down all that stands in his way, as the Maccabees did..

And the LORD The Almighty God, the God of Israel. Lord of Hosts shall be seen over them shall manifestly appear for them by his works of Power against their Enemies,, and his arrow Alluding to Warriours that then used the Bow; God's Judgments which slew his Churches Enemies, were swift, irresistible and sudden in striking and killing them. shall go forth as the lightning Which breaks forth with violence, and runs from East to West in a moment, which is very terrible many times.: and the Lord GOD Their God, the God of Israel. shall blow the trumpet Give the Alarm to them to provide for the War, sound the Call to bring them together, and the March also for their moving, and sound the Charge too, God will infuse new courage, and give Directions, and shall go in the head of them as Captain General. with whirlwinds With fury and strength like that of Whirlwinds of the south In which the mightiest Whirlwinds are raised; or Whirlwinds of Teman, some think the Prophet alludes to the Tempest about Sinai, at the delivery of the Law when, all Israel and Moses too quaked for fear, Deut. 5.23, 24, 25. ye quaked exceedingly, and desire to see no more such ight..

The LORD of hosts shall defend them In the most dangerous attempts the Iews under their Captains in the Wars against the Graecians, were preserved to a miracle according to this promise., and they shall devour A few of them destroy many of their Enemies:, and subdue with sling-stones As we read this passage, it seems to refer to the slaughter of Goliah with a sling, by David a stripling; so weak means in the hand, and under the blessing of the great God, shall do mighty things: others read the words, they shall subdue the sling-stones, that is, conquer the Gr ians, who in their Wars used the sling, and that with great dexterity and success., and they shall drink In their Festivals, when they offered Sacrifices of thanksgiving for their Victories., and make a noise Shout with shouts of Triumph, as through wine Make a great noise, as men do whose hearts are glad with success, and chear'd with Wine., and they shall be filled like bowls Rather they shall fill, i. e. with the blood of the Sacrifices they offer both the bowles and corners of the Altars, all shall be full of the blood of Eucharistical Sacrifices., and as the corners of the altar.

And the LORD their God As in Covenant with them, not only as Lord of Hosts by his power, but as their God in mercy and faithfulness. shall save them Fully deliver them, i. e. the sons of Zion in that day in the day of their contest, and wars with the sons of Iavan. as the flock of his people As a shepherd saves his flock, as David saved his. for they shall be as the stones of a crown Or, seeing that they are precious; and of value with me as the stones of a Royal Crown, or as the stones of Trophey set up in memory of some Noble atchievement., lifted up, as an ensign upon his land Which ars as an Ensign lifted up, to which who so repair, may give thanks, and rejoice in their deliverance, a form of which, for ought I know, may follow..

For how great is his goodness, Infinite Goodness is the fountain of all that good done for this people, the Prophet admires it, and suggests what is fit to be done by those that come and view those stones set up for Trophies., and how great is his beauty How wonderful the beauty of Divine Providence in all the great effects of it in Israels deliverance and salvation.? corn shall make the young men cheerful Plentiful Harvests shall make the young men cheerful in sowing, reaping, labouring in Harvest work, as well as in eating the Fruits thereof., and new wine the maids Such plenty of Wine, that all young and old shall be cheared with it. And now these are the sweet Fruits of Temporal Salvation, but the Fruits of Spiritual shadowed out by these, are much more glorious, refreshing, and worth our praise and wonder..