1Again the Word of Jehovah of Hosts came, saying, 2Thus says Jehovah of Hosts: I was jealous for Zion with great jealousy, and I was jealous for her with great fury. 3Thus says Jehovah: I have returned to Zion, and will dwell in the midst of Jerusalem. And Jerusalem shall be called a City of Truth, and the mountain of Jehovah of Hosts, the Holy Mountain. 4Thus says Jehovah of Hosts: There shall yet be old men and old women sitting in the streets of Jerusalem; and each man with his staff in his hand because of great age. 5And the streets of the city shall be full of boys and girls playing in its streets. 6Thus says Jehovah of Hosts: If it is marvelous in the eyes of the remnant of this people in these days, will it also be marvelous in My eyes? says Jehovah of Hosts. 7Thus says Jehovah of Hosts: Behold, I will save My people from the land of the rising sun and from the land of the sunset. 8And I will bring them, and they shall live in the midst of Jerusalem. And they shall be My people, and I will be their God, in truth and in righteousness. 9Thus says Jehovah of Hosts: Let your hands become strong, you who hear in these days these words by the mouth of the prophets, that in the day the foundation of the house of Jehovah of Hosts is laid, the temple is to be built. 10For before these days there were no wages for man, nor any payment for animal; and there was no peace for those who went out or came in because of the enemy. For I sent every man, a man against his neighbor. 11But now I will not be to the remnant of this people as in former days, says Jehovah of Hosts. 12For there shall be peace for the seed: the vine shall give its fruit, and the ground shall give its fruit, and the heavens shall give their dew; and I will cause the remnant of this people to possess all these. 13And it shall come to pass, that as you were a curse among the nations, O house of Judah and house of Israel, so I will save you, and you shall be a blessing. Do not fear; let your hands become strong. 14For thus says Jehovah of Hosts, As I purposed to punish you when your fathers provoked Me to wrath, says Jehovah of Hosts, and I did not show compassion, 15so again I have purposed in these days to do good to Jerusalem, and the house of Judah. Do not fear. 16These are the things that you shall do. Every man speak the truth with his neighbor. Judge truth, justice and peace in your gates, 17and let none of you devise evil in your heart against his neighbor, and do not love a false oath. For all these things I hate, says Jehovah. 18And the Word of Jehovah of Hosts came unto me, saying, 19Thus says Jehovah of Hosts: The fast of the fourth month, and the fast of the fifth, and the fast of the seventh, and the fast of the tenth, shall be for joy and gladness and cheerful feasts to the house of Judah. Therefore, love truth and peace. 20Thus says Jehovah of Hosts: There shall yet come people, and the inhabitants of many cities. 21And those living in one city shall go to another, saying, Let us proceed and go make supplication before Jehovah, and seek Jehovah of Hosts; I will go also. 22And many people and strong nations shall come to seek Jehovah of Hosts in Jerusalem, and to make supplication before Jehovah. 23Thus says Jehovah of Hosts: In those days ten men out of all languages of the nations shall take hold and grasp the sleeve of a man who is a Jew, saying, Let us go with you, for we have heard that God is with you.
Jamieson Fausset Brown Bible Commentary 2 CONTINUATION OF THE SUBJECT IN THE SEVENTH CHAPTER. After urging them to obedience by the fate of their fathers, he urges them to it by promises of coming prosperity. (Zec. 8:1-23)
jealous for Zion-- (
Zech 1:14).
with great fury--against her oppressors.
3 I am returned--that is, I am determined to return. My decree to that effect is gone forth.
Jerusalem . . . city of truth--that is, faithful to her God, who is the God of truth (
Isa 1:21,
Isa 1:26;
John 17:17). Never yet fully fulfilled, therefore still to be so.
the mountain of the Lord-- (
Isa 2:2-
Isa 2:3).
holy mountain-- (
Jer 31:23).
4 So tranquil and prosperous shall the nation be that wars shall no longer prematurely cut off the people: men and women shall reach advanced ages. The promise of long life was esteemed one of the greatest blessings in the Jewish theocracy with its temporal rewards of obedience (
Exod 20:12;
Deut 4:40). Hence this is a leading feature in millennial blessedness (
Isa 65:20,
Isa 65:22).
for very age--literally, "for multitude of days."
5 boys and girls playing--implying security and a numerous progeny, accounted a leading blessing among the Jews. Contrast
Jer 6:11;
Jer 9:21.
6 However impossible these things just promised by Me seem to you, they are not so with God. The "remnant" that had returned from the captivity, beholding the city desolate and the walls and houses in ruins, could hardly believe what God promised. The expression "remnant" glances at their ingratitude in rating so low God's power, though they had experienced it so "marvellously" displayed in their restoration. A great source of unbelief is, men "limit" God's power by their own (
Ps 78:19-
Ps 78:20,
Ps 78:41).
these days--"of small things" (
Zech 4:10), when such great things promised seemed incredible. MAURER, after JEROME, translates, "in those days"; that is, if the thing which I promised to do in those days, seems "marvellous," &c.
7 save my people from . . . east . . . west--that is, from every region (compare
Ps 50:1; the "West" is literally, "the going down of the sun") to which they are scattered; they are now found especially in countries west of Jerusalem. The dispersion under Nebuchadnezzar was only to the east, namely, to Babylonia. The restoration, including a spiritual return to God (
Zech 8:8), here foretold, must therefore be still future (
Isa 11:11-
Isa 11:12;
Isa 43:5-
Isa 43:6;
Ezek 37:21;
Amos 9:14-
Amos 9:15; also
Zech 13:9;
Jer 30:22;
Jer 31:1,
Jer 31:33).
8 in truth--in good faith, both on their side and Mine: God being faithful to His everlasting covenant and enabling them by His Spirit to be faithful to Him.
9 All adversities formerly attended them when neglecting to build the temple: but now God promises all blessings, as an encouragement to energy in the work.
hands . . . strong--be of courageous mind (
2Sam 16:21), not merely in building, but in general, as having such bright prospects (
Zech 8:13, &c.).
these days--the time that had elapsed between the prophet's having spoken "these words" and the time (
Zech 8:10; compare
Hag 2:15-
Hag 2:19) when they set about in earnest restoring the temple.
the prophets--Haggai and Zechariah himself (
Ezra 5:1-
Ezra 5:2). The same prophets who promised prosperity at the foundation of the temple, now promised still greater blessings hereafter.
10 before these days--before the time in which ye again proceeded with the building of the temple (
Zech 8:9), namely, at the time that the temple lay neglected.
no hire for man . . . beast--that is, no produce of the field to repay the labor of man and beast on it (
Hag 1:6,
Hag 1:9-
Hag 1:10;
Hag 2:16).
neither . . . peace to him that went out or came in-- (
2Chr 15:5). No one could in safety do his business at home or abroad, in the city or in the country, whether going or returning.
because of the affliction--so sorely pressed were they by the foe outside. MAURER translates, "Because of the foe" (
Ezra 4:1).
every one against . . . neighbour--There was internal discord, as well as foes from without.
11 "But now that the temple has been built, I will not do as I had formerly done to those who returned from Babylon" [JEROME]. Henceforth I will bless you.
12 seed . . . prosperous--that is, shall not fair to yield abundantly (
Hos 2:21-
Hos 2:22;
Hag 2:19). Contrast with this verse
Hag 1:6,
Hag 1:9-
Hag 1:11;
Hag 2:16.
dew--especially beneficial in hot countries where rain is rare.
13 a curse--As the heathen have made you another name for "a curse," wishing to their foes as bad a lot as yours (
Jer 24:9;
Jer 29:18); so your name shall be a formula of blessing, so that men shall say to their friend, May thy lot be as happy as that of Judah (
Gen 48:20). Including also the idea of the Jews being a source of blessing to the Gentile nations (
Mic 5:7;
Zeph 3:20). The distinct mention of "Judah" and "Israel" proves that the prophecy has not yet had its full accomplishment, as Israel (the ten tribes) has never yet been restored, though individuals of Israel returned with Judah.
14 I thought--I determined.
you--that is, your fathers, with whom ye are one; the Jewish Church of all ages being regarded as an organic whole (compare
Hag 2:5;
Matt 23:31-
Matt 23:32).
repented not--I changed not My purpose, because they changed not their mind (
2Chr 36:16). With the froward God shows Himself froward (
Ps 18:26). If the threatened punishment has been so unchangeably inflicted, much more will God surely give the promised blessing, which is so much more consonant to His nature (
Jer 31:28).
16 The promised blessings are connected with obedience. God's covenanted grace will lead those truly blessed by it to holiness, not licentiousness.
truth to . . . neighbour--not that the truth should not be spoken to foreigners too; but He makes it an aggravation of their sin, that they spared not even their brethren. Besides, and above all outward ordinances (
Zech 7:3), God requires truth and justice.
judgment of . . . peace--Equitable decisions tend to allay feuds and produce peace.
gates--the place where courts of judicature in the East were held.
17 all these . . . I hate--therefore ye too ought to hate them. Religion consists in conformity to God's nature, that we should love what God loves and hate what God hates.
18 The prophet answers the query (
Zech 7:3) as to the fast in the fifth month, by a reply applying to all their fasts: these are to be turned into days of rejoicing. So Jesus replied to His disciples when similarly consulting Him as to why fasting was not imposed by Him, as it was by John the Baptist. When the Sun of righteousness shines, tears are dried up (
Matt 9:15). So hereafter (
Isa 35:10).
19 fast of . . . fourth month--On the fourth month of the eleventh year of Zedekiah's reign, on the ninth day, Jerusalem was taken (
Jer 39:2;
Jer 52:6-
Jer 52:7). It was therefore made a fast day.
fifth . . . seventh--(See on
Zech 7:3;
Zech 7:5).
tenth--On the tenth month and tenth day, in the ninth year of Zedekiah, the siege began (
Jer 52:4).
therefore love the truth--or, "only love." English Version is better. God's blessing covenanted to Israel is not made to depend on Israel's goodness: but Israel's goodness should follow as the consequence of God's gracious promises (
Zech 8:16-
Zech 8:17;
Zech 7:9-
Zech 7:10). God will bless, but not those who harden themselves in sin.
20 (
Isa 2:3;
Mic 4:2).
Thus saith the Lord of hosts--a preface needed to assure the Jews, now disheartened by the perils surrounding them, and by the humble aspect of the temple. "Unlikely as what follows may seem to you, Jehovah of hosts, boundless in resources, saith it, therefore it shall be so." Just before Christ's coming, a feeling grew up among the heathen of the unsatisfactoriness of their systems of religion and philosophy; this disposed them favorably towards the religion of the Jew, so that proselytes embraced the worship of Jehovah from various parts of Asia; these again were predisposed to embrace Christianity when it was preached to them (
Acts 2:9-
Acts 2:12,
Acts 2:41). But the full accomplishment of the conversion of the Gentiles foretold here is reserved till "Jerusalem" (
Zech 8:22) becomes the center of Christianized Jewry (
Rom 11:12,
Rom 11:15).
21 Let us . . . I--manifesting zeal and love: converted themselves, they seek the conversion of others (
Song 1:4). To exhortation in general ("Let us go"), they add individual example ("I will go"). Or, the change from plural to singular implies that the general consent in religious earnestness leads each individual to decide for God.
go speedily--literally, "go, going"; implying intense earnestness.
pray--Hebrew, "entreat the face" (
Zech 7:2); entreat His favor and grace.
22 many . . . strong nations . . . in Jerusalem--In contrast to the few and weak Jews now building the temple and city, then such shall be their influence that many and strong nations shall come to worship Jehovah their God in Jerusalem (
Isa 60:3;
Isa 66:23).
23 ten--a definite number for an indefinite. So in
Lev 22:26;
Num 14:22.
of all languages of the nations--that is, of nations of all languages (compare
Isa 66:18;
Rev 7:9).
take hold of the skirt--a gesture of suppliant entreaty as to a superior. Compare
Isa 3:6;
Isa 4:1, on a different occasion. The Gentiles shall eagerly seek to share the religious privileges of the Jew. The skirt with a fringe and blue ribbon upon it (
Num 15:38;
Deut 22:12) was a distinguishing badge of a Jew.
God is with you--the effect produced on unbelievers in entering the assemblies of the Church (
1Cor 14:25). But primarily, that produced on the nations in witnessing the deliverance of the Jews by Cyrus. Finally, that to be produced on the nations by the future grand interposition of Messiah in behalf of His people.
Written long after the previous portions of the book, whence arise the various features which have been made grounds for attacking their authenticity, notwithstanding the testimony of the Septuagint and of the compilers of the Jewish canon in their favor. See Introduction.
ALEXANDER'S CONQUESTS IN SYRIA (
Zech 9:1-
Zech 9:8). GOD'S PEOPLE SAFE BECAUSE HER COMETH LOWLY, BUT A SAVIOUR (
Zech 9:9-
Zech 9:10). THE MACCABEAN DELIVERANCE A TYPE THEREOF (
Zech 9:11-
Zech 9:17).
