geneva - Zechariah:1-5

geneva@Zechariah:1:1 @ In the eighth month, in the second year of (note:)Who was the son of Histaspis.(:note) Darius, came the word of the LORD unto This was not the Zechariah, of which mention is made in (2Ch_24:20), but he had the same name, and is called the son of Berechiah, as he was, because he came of those progenitors, as of Joiada or Berechiah, and Iddo. Zechariah, the son of Berechiah, the son of Iddo the prophet, saying, The Argument - Two months after Haggai had begun to prophesy, Zechariah was also sent of the Lord to help him in the labour, and to confirm the same doctrine. First therefore, he puts them in remembrance for what reason God had so severely punished their fathers: and yet comforts them if they will truly repent, and not abuse this great benefit of God in their deliverance which was a figure of that true deliverance, that all the faithful should have from death and sin, by Christ. But because they remained still in their wickedness, and lack of desire to set forth God's glory, and were not yet made better by their long banishment, he rebukes them most sharply: yet for the comfort of the repentant, he ever mixes the promise of grace, that they might by this means be prepared to receive Christ, in whom all should be sanctified to the Lord.

geneva@Zechariah:1:2 @ The LORD hath been (note:)He speaks this to make them afraid of God's judgments, so that they should not provoke him as their fathers had done, whom he so grievously punished.(:note) sore displeased with your fathers.

geneva@Zechariah:1:3 @ Therefore say thou unto them, Thus saith the LORD of hosts; (note:)Let your fruits declare that you are God's people, and that he has wrought in you by his Spirit, and mortified you: for otherwise man has no power to return to God, but God must convert him; (Jer_31:18; Lam_5:21) {{See Isa_31:6}}(:note) Turn ye unto me, saith the LORD of hosts, and I will turn unto you, saith the LORD of hosts.

geneva@Zechariah:1:4 @ Be ye not as your fathers, vnto whome the former prophets haue cried, saying, Thus sayth the Lord of hostes, Turne you nowe from your euill wayes, and from your wicked workes: but they would not heare, nor hearken vnto me, saith the Lorde.

geneva@Zechariah:1:5 @ Your fathers, where (note:)Though your fathers are dead, yet God's judgments in punishing them ought still to be before your eyes: and though the prophets are dead, yet their doctrine remains for ever; (2Pe_1:15).(:note) [are] they? and the prophets, do they live for ever?

geneva@Zechariah:1:6 @ But my words and my statutes, which I commanded my servants the prophets, did they not take hold of (note:)Seeing you saw the force of my doctrine in punishing your fathers, why do you not fear the threatenings contained in the same, and declared by my Prophets?(:note) your fathers? and As men astonished with my judgments, and not that they were touched with true repentance. they returned and said, Like as the LORD of hosts thought to do unto us, according to our ways, and according to our doings, so hath he dealt with us.

geneva@Zechariah:1:7 @ Upon the four and twentieth day of the eleventh month, which [is] the month (note:)Which includes part of January and part of February.(:note) Sebat, in the second year of Darius, came the word of the LORD unto Zechariah, the son of Berechiah, the son of Iddo the prophet, saying,

geneva@Zechariah:1:8 @ I (note:)This vision signifies the restoration of the Church: but as yet it would not appear to man's eyes, which is here meant by the night, by the bottom, and by the myrtle trees, which are black, and give a dark shadow. Yet he compares God to a King who has his posts and messengers abroad, by whom he still works his purpose and brings his matters to pass.(:note) saw by night, and behold Who was the chief among the rest of the horsemen. a man riding upon a red horse, and he stood among the myrtle trees that [were] in the bottom; and behind him [were there] These signify the various offices of God's angels, by whom God sometimes punishes, and sometimes comforts, and brings forth his works in various ways. red horses, speckled, and white.

geneva@Zechariah:1:9 @ Then sayd I, O my Lorde, what are these? And the Angel that talked with me, sayde vnto me, I wil shew thee what these be.

geneva@Zechariah:1:10 @ And the man that stood among the mirre trees, answered, and sayd, These are they whome the Lord hath sent to go through the world.

geneva@Zechariah:1:11 @ And they answered the Angel of the Lord, that stood among the mirre trees, and sayd, We haue gone thorowe the world: and beholde, all the world sitteth still, and is at rest.

geneva@Zechariah:1:12 @ Then the (note:)That is, Christ the mediator prayed for the salvation of his Church, which was now troubled, when all the countries about them were at rest.(:note) angel of the LORD answered and said, O LORD of hosts, how long wilt thou not have mercy on Jerusalem and on the cities of Judah, against which thou hast had indignation these threescore and ten years?

geneva@Zechariah:1:13 @ And the Lorde answered the Angel that talked with me, with good wordes and comfortable wordes.

geneva@Zechariah:1:14 @ So the angel that talked with me said to me, Cry thou, saying, Thus saith the LORD of hosts; I am (note:)Though for a time God defers his help and comfort from his Church, yet this declares that he still loves them most dearly, as a most merciful father his children, or a husband his wife, and when it is expedient for them, his help is ever ready.(:note) jealous for Jerusalem and for Zion with a great jealousy.

geneva@Zechariah:1:15 @ And I am very greatly displeased with the nations [that are] at ease: for I was but (note:)In destroying the reprobate, I showed myself but a little angry toward my Church, but the enemy would have destroyed them also, and did not consider the goal of my chastisements.(:note) a little displeased, and they helped forward the affliction.

geneva@Zechariah:1:16 @ Therefore thus saith the LORD; I have returned to Jerusalem with mercies: my house shall be built in it, saith the LORD of hosts, and a line (note:)To measure out the buildings.(:note) shall be stretched forth upon Jerusalem.

geneva@Zechariah:1:17 @ Cry yet, saying, Thus saith the LORD of hosts; My cities through prosperity shall yet (note:)The abundance will be so great, that the places of storage will not be able to contain these blessings that God will send, but will even break because of fullness.(:note) be spread abroad; and the LORD shall yet comfort Zion, and shall yet choose Jerusalem.

geneva@Zechariah:1:18 @ Then I lifted up my eyes, and saw, and behold (note:)Which signifies all the enemies of the Church: east, west, north, and south.(:note) four horns.

geneva@Zechariah:1:19 @ And I said vnto the Angel that talked with me, What be these? And hee answered me, These are the hornes which haue scattered Iudah, Israel, and Ierusalem.

geneva@Zechariah:1:20 @ And the LORD showed me four (note:)These craftsmen or smiths are God's instruments, who with their mallets and hammers break these hard and strong horns which would overthrow the Church, and declare that no enemies' horn is so strong, but God has a hammer to break it in pieces.(:note) craftsmen.

geneva@Zechariah:1:21 @ Then said I, What come these to doe? And he answered, and said, These are the hornes, which haue scattered Iudah, so that a man durst not lift vp his head: but these are come to fray them, and to cast out the hornes of the Gentiles, which lift vp their horne ouer the land of Iudah, to scatter it.

geneva@Zechariah:2:1 @ I lifted up my eyes again, and looked, and behold a (note:)This is the angel who was Christ: for in respect of his office he is often called an angel, but in respect of his eternal essence, is God, and so called.(:note) man with a measuring line in his hand.

geneva@Zechariah:2:2 @ Then saide I, Whither goest thou? And he saide vnto me, To measure Ierusalem, that I may see what is the breadth thereof, and what is the length thereof.

geneva@Zechariah:2:3 @ And beholde, the Angel that talked with me, went foorth: and another Angel went out to meete him,

geneva@Zechariah:2:4 @ And said to him, Run, speak to this (note:)Meaning himself, Zechariah.(:note) young man, saying, Signifying the spiritual Jerusalem and Church under Christ, which would be extended by the Gospel through all the world, and would need no material walls, nor trust in any worldly strength, but would be safely preserved and dwell in peace among all their enemies. Jerusalem shall be inhabited [as] towns without walls for the multitude of men and cattle in it:

geneva@Zechariah:2:5 @ For I, saith the LORD, will be to her a wall of (note:)To defend my Church, to strike fear in the enemies, and to destroy them if they approach near.(:note) fire on every side, and will In me they will have their full felicity and glory. be the glory in the midst of her.

geneva@Zechariah:2:6 @ Ho, ho, [come (note:)He calls to those who partly for fear, and partly for their own case, remained still in captivity, and so preferred their own personal benefits to the benefits of God promised in his Church.(:note) forth], and flee from the land of the north, saith the LORD: for I have spread you abroad as the four As it was I that scattered you, so I have power to restore you. winds of the heaven, saith the LORD.

geneva@Zechariah:2:7 @

geneva@Zechariah:2:8 @ For thus saith the LORD of hosts; After the (note:)Seeing that God had begun to show his grace among you by delivering you, he continues the same still toward you, and therefore sends me his angel and his Christ to defend you from your enemies, so that they will not hurt you, neither along the way nor at home.(:note) glory hath he sent me to the nations which wasted you: for he that toucheth you toucheth the You are so dear to God, that he can no more allow your enemies to hurt you, than a man can endure to be thrust in the eye; (Psa_17:8). apple of his eye.

geneva@Zechariah:2:9 @ For, behold, I will shake my hand (note:)Upon the heathen your enemies.(:note) upon them, and They will be your servants, as you have been theirs. they shall be a spoil to their servants: and ye shall know that the LORD of hosts hath This must necessarily be understood of Christ, who being God equal with his Father, was sent, as he was Mediator to dwell in his Church and to govern them. sent me.

geneva@Zechariah:2:10 @ Reioyce, and be glad, O daughter Zion: for loe, I come, and will dwell in the middes of thee, saith the Lord.

geneva@Zechariah:2:11 @ And many nations shall be ioyned to the Lord in that day, and shalbe my people: and I will dwell in the middes of thee, and thou shalt knowe that the Lord of hostes hath sent me vnto thee.

geneva@Zechariah:2:12 @ And the Lord shall inherite Iudah his portion in the holy lande, and shall chuse Ierusalem againe.

geneva@Zechariah:2:13 @ Let all flesh be still before the Lord: for he is raised vp out of his holy place.

geneva@Zechariah:3:1 @ And he showed me Joshua the high priest (note:)He prayed to Christ the Mediator for the state of the Church.(:note) standing before the angel of the LORD, and Which declares that the faithful do not only war with flesh and blood, but with Satan himself, and spiritual wickedness; (Eph_6:12). Satan standing at his right hand to resist him.

geneva@Zechariah:3:2 @ And the (note:)That is, Christ speaks to God as the mediator of his Church, that he would rebuke Satan: and here he shows himself to be the continual preserver of his Church.(:note) LORD said to Satan, The LORD rebuke thee, O Satan; even the LORD that hath chosen Jerusalem rebuke thee: [is] not this a Meaning that Joshua was wonderfully preserved in the captivity, and now Satan sought to afflict and trouble him when he was doing his office. brand plucked out of the fire?

geneva@Zechariah:3:3 @ Now Joshua was clothed with (note:)With regard to the glorious garments and precious stones that the priests wore before the captivity: and by this contemptible state the Prophet signifies, that these small beginnings would be made excellent when Christ will make the full restitution of his Church.(:note) filthy garments, and stood before the angel.

geneva@Zechariah:3:4 @ And he answered and spoke to those that stood before him, saying, Take away the (note:){{See Zec_3:3}}(:note) filthy garments from him. And to him he said, Behold, I have He shows of what apparel he speaks, which is, when our filthy sins are taken away, and we are clothed with God's mercies, which refers to the spiritual restitution. caused thy iniquity to pass from thee, and I will clothe thee with change of raiment.

geneva@Zechariah:3:5 @ And I said, Let them (note:)The Prophet prays that besides the raiment, the Priest might also have attire for his head accordingly, that is, that the dignity of the priesthood might be perfect: and this was fulfilled in Christ, who was both Priest and King. And here all those are condemned, that can content themselves with any average reformation in religion, seeing the Prophet desires the perfection, and obtains it.(:note) set a clean mitre upon his head. So they set a clean mitre upon his head, and clothed him with garments. And the angel of the LORD stood by.

geneva@Zechariah:3:6 @ And the Angel of the Lorde testified vnto Iehoshua, saying,

geneva@Zechariah:3:7 @ Thus saith the LORD of hosts; If thou wilt walk in my ways, and if thou wilt keep my charge, then thou shalt also (note:)That is, have rule and government in my Church, as your predecessors have had.(:note) judge my house, and shalt also keep my By which he means to have the whole charge and ministry of the Church. courts, and I will give thee places to walk among That is, the angels, who represented the whole number of the faithful: signifying that all the godly would willingly receive him. these that stand by.

geneva@Zechariah:3:8 @ Hear now, O Joshua the high priest, thou, and thy fellows that sit before thee: for they (note:)Because they follow my word, they are condemned in the world, and esteemed as monsters. {{See Isa_8:18}}(:note) [are] men wondered at: for, behold, I will bring forth my servant the That is, Christ, who did so humble himself, that he not only became the servant of God, but also the servant of men: and therefore in him they should have comfort, even though in the world they are condemned; (Isa_11:1) (Jer_23:5; Jer_33:14-15). BRANCH.

geneva@Zechariah:3:9 @ For behold the (note:)He shows that the ministers cannot build before God lay the first stone, which is Christ, who is full of eyes, both because he gives light to all others, and that all ought to seek light from him; (Zec_4:10).(:note) stone that I have laid before Joshua; upon one stone [shall be] seven eyes: behold, I That is, I will make perfect in all points, as a thing done by the hand of God. will engrave the engraving of it, saith the LORD of hosts, and I will Though I have punished this land for a time, yet I will even now be pacified, and punish their sins no more. remove the iniquity of that land in one day.

geneva@Zechariah:3:10 @ In that day, saith the LORD of hosts, shall ye call every man his neighbour under the (note:)You will then live in peace and quietness, that is, in the kingdom of Christ; (Isa_2:2; Mic_4:4; Hag_2:9).(:note) vine and under the fig tree.

geneva@Zechariah:4:1 @ And the Angel that talked with mee, came againe and waked mee, as a man that is raysed out of his sleepe,

geneva@Zechariah:4:2 @ And said to me, What seest thou? And I said, I have looked, and behold a (note:)Which was ever in the midst of the temple, signifying that the graces of God's Spirit would shine, here in most abundance, and in all perfection.(:note) lamp stand all [of] gold, with a bowl upon the top of it, and its seven lamps, and seven Which conveyed the oil that dropped from the trees into the lamps, so that the light never went out: and this vision was to strengthen and encourage the faithful that God had sufficient power in himself to continue his graces, and to bring his promise to pass even though he had no help from man. pipes to the seven lamps, which [were] upon the top of it:

geneva@Zechariah:4:3 @ And two oliue trees ouer it, one vpon the right side of the bowle, and the other vpon the left side thereof.

geneva@Zechariah:4:4 @ So I answered, and spake to the Angel that talked with me, saying, What are these, my Lord?

geneva@Zechariah:4:5 @ Then the Angel that talked with mee, answered and said vnto me, Knowest thou not what these be? And I said, No, my Lord.

geneva@Zechariah:4:6 @ Then he answered and spoke to me, saying, This [is] the word of the LORD to (note:)Who was a figure of Christ, and therefore this doctrine was directed to all the Church who are his body and members.(:note) Zerubbabel, saying, Not by He shows that God's power alone is sufficient to preserve his Church, even though he does not use man's help to do it. might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the LORD of hosts.

geneva@Zechariah:4:7 @ Who [art] thou, O (note:)He compares the power of the adversaries to a great mountain, who thought the Jews were nothing with regard to them, and would have hindered Zerubbabel, who represented Christ, whom the enemies daily labour to stop in the building of his spiritual Temple, but all in vain.(:note) great mountain? before Zerubbabel [thou shalt become] a plain: and Though the enemies think to stop this building, yet Zerubbabel will lay the highest stone of it, and bring it to perfection, so that all the godly will rejoice, and pray to God that he would continue his grace and favour toward the Temple. he shall bring forth its headstone [with] shoutings, [crying], Grace, grace to it.

geneva@Zechariah:4:8 @ Moreouer, the word of the Lord came vnto me, saying,

geneva@Zechariah:4:9 @ The hands of Zerubbabel have laid the foundation of this house; his hands shall also finish it; and (note:)Meaning, the Prophet, that I am Christ sent from my Father for the building and preservation of my spiritual temple.(:note) thou shalt know that the LORD of hosts hath sent me to you.

geneva@Zechariah:4:10 @ For who hath despised the day of (note:)Signifying that all were discouraged at the small and poor beginnings of the temple.(:note) small things? for they shall rejoice, and shall see the By which he signifies the plummet and line, that is, that Zerubbabel who represented Christ, would go forward with his building to the joy and comfort of the godly, though the world was against him, and though his own for a while were discouraged, because they do not see things pleasant to the eye. plummet in the hand of Zerubbabel [with] those seven; That is, God has seven eyes: meaning, a continual providence, so that neither Satan nor any power in the world, can go about to bring anything to pass to hinder his work; (Zec_5:9). they [are] the eyes of the LORD, which run to and fro through the whole earth.

geneva@Zechariah:4:11 @ Then answered I, and said vnto him, What are these two oliue trees vpon the right and vpon the left side thereof?

geneva@Zechariah:4:12 @ And I spake moreouer, and said vnto him, What bee these two oliue branches, which thorowe the two golden pipes emptie themselues into the golde?

geneva@Zechariah:4:13 @ And hee answered me, and saide, Knowest thou not what these bee? And I sayde, No, my Lorde.

geneva@Zechariah:4:14 @ Then said he, These [are] the two (note:)Which were always green and full of oil, so that still they poured forth oil into the lamps: signifying, that God will continually maintain and preserve his Church, and endue it still with abundance and perfection of grace.(:note) anointed ones, that stand by the Lord of the whole earth.

geneva@Zechariah:5:1 @ Then I turned me, and lifted vp mine eyes and looked, and beholde, a flying booke.

geneva@Zechariah:5:2 @ And he said to me, What seest thou? And I answered, I see a flying (note:)Because the Jews had provoked God's plagues by condemning his word, and casting off all judgment and equity, he shows that God's curses written in this book had justly happened both to them and their fathers. But now if they would repent, God would send the same among the Chaldeans and their former enemies.(:note) scroll; its length [is] twenty cubits, and its breadth ten cubits.

geneva@Zechariah:5:3 @ Then said he to me, This [is] the curse that goeth forth over the face of the whole earth: for every one that (note:)That is, does any injury toward his neighbour.(:note) stealeth shall be cut off [as] on this Meaning, wherever he is in the world. side according to it; and every one that He that transgresses the first table of the ten commandments, and does not serve God correctly but abuses his name. sweareth shall be cut off [as] on that side according to it.

geneva@Zechariah:5:4 @ I will bring it forth, saith the Lord of hosts, and it shall enter into the house of the thiefe, and into the house of him, that falsely sweareth by my Name: and it shall remaine in the middes of his house, and shall consume it, with the timber thereof, and stones thereof.

geneva@Zechariah:5:5 @ Then the Angel that talked with me, went foorth, and said vnto me, Lift vp now thine eyes, and see what is this that goeth foorth.

geneva@Zechariah:5:6 @ And I said, What [is] it? And he said, This [is] an (note:)Which was a measure in dry things, containing about five gallons.(:note) ephah that goeth forth. He said moreover, This [is] their That is, all the wickedness of the ungodly is in God's sight, which he keeps in a measure, and can shut it or open it at his pleasure. resemblance through all the earth.

geneva@Zechariah:5:7 @ And, behold, there was lifted up a (note:)To cover the measure.(:note) talent of lead: and this [is] a Which represents iniquity, as in the next verse. woman that sitteth in the midst of the ephah.

geneva@Zechariah:5:8 @ And he said, This [is] (note:)Signifying that Satan would not have such power against the Jews to tempt them, as he had in times past, but that God would shut up iniquity in a measure as in a prison.(:note) wickedness. And he cast it into the midst of the ephah; and he cast the weight of lead upon its mouth.

geneva@Zechariah:5:9 @ Then I lifted up my eyes, and looked, and, behold, there came out two (note:)Which declared that God would execute his judgment by the means of the weak and infirm.(:note) women, and the wind [was] in their wings; for they had wings like the wings of a stork: and they lifted up the ephah between the earth and the heaven.

geneva@Zechariah:5:10 @ Then saide I to the Angel that talked with me, Whither doe these beare the Ephah?

geneva@Zechariah:5:11 @ And he said to me, To build for it an house in the land of (note:)To remove the iniquity and affliction that came from Judah because of the judgment, to place it forever in Babylon.(:note) Shinar: and it shall be established, and set there upon her own base.

geneva@Zechariah:6:1 @ And I turned, and lifted up my eyes, and looked, and, behold, there came four (note:)By chariots here, as by horses before, he means the swift messengers of God to execute and declare his will.(:note) chariots out from between By the mountains he means the external counsel and providence of God, by which he has from before all eternity declared what will come to pass, and that which neither Satan nor all the world can alter. two mountains; and the mountains [were] mountains of brass.