_I was jealous for Zion with great jealousy_ With great care that she should not, as formerly, sin against my love and her own welfare, and with a great desire to do her good, and rescue her from her enemies. Jealousy is properly the passion of a lover, or husband, made up of love, care, and anger,... [ Continue Reading ]
_I am returned unto Zion_ “I have punished her infidelities with all the rigour of despised and abused love; but, though sensible of her fault, my tenderness has continued, and my love is rekindled for her, upon her change in conduct, and return in true repentance to me. I have received her, restore... [ Continue Reading ]
_There shall yet old men, &c., dwell in Jerusalem_ Namely, both at this time and afterward. Formerly war, or famine, or pestilence, or wasting diseases cut off men and women before they grew to old age; but now it shall be otherwise: I will bless the people with a state of peace, and with health and... [ Continue Reading ]
_If it be marvellous_ If these things promised appear difficult, and in a manner impossible; _in the eyes of the remnant of this people_ In the judgment and opinion, or rather to the unbelief, of this people, who are few in number, exceedingly poor, and perpetually surrounded with dangers; _in these... [ Continue Reading ]
_And I will bring them_ Though many things interpose to hinder, none shall prevent their returning; I will lead the way, guard them in it, supply their necessities, give strength to the weak and support to the dejected, and bring them safe to the end of their journey. _And they shall dwell in the mi... [ Continue Reading ]
_Let your hands be strong_ Be of good courage, and go on with resolution and perseverance in the work you have begun, the rebuilding of the temple, since you have received such assurances from God's prophets, even from the very first of your entering upon it, that he would prosper you in it, enable... [ Continue Reading ]
_But now I will not be as in the former days_ But now, seeing that ye have proceeded in rebuilding my temple, I will order, by my divine providence, that things shall happen otherwise to you than they did before, or that your affairs shall be more prosperous. _For the seed shall be prosperous_ This... [ Continue Reading ]
_As I thought to punish you_ As my wisdom saw it to be fit and necessary to punish your nation; and I accordingly did punish it, when your fathers transgressed my laws in such a manner that my justice and wisdom could no longer suffer it; _So again_, &c. So now my wisdom sees it to be fit, since you... [ Continue Reading ]
_These are the things that ye shall do_, &c. But these my promises of good to you are conditional, and the performance of them will depend upon your observing the laws of justice and righteousness; _Speak ye every man the truth to his neighbour_ Let no one deceive another by guile or falsehood. _Exe... [ Continue Reading ]
_The fast of the fourth month and of the fifth_, &c. See the note on Zechariah 7:5. The siege of Jerusalem was begun in the tenth month, and in the fourth of the year following the city was taken. God here informs the people, by his prophet, in answer to the question proposed, chap. Zechariah 7:3, t... [ Continue Reading ]
_It shall yet come to pass_, &c. The design of this and the three following verses is evidently to show the high degree of estimation in which Jerusalem and the Jews would _hereafter_ be held, by foreign nations, _when_ those among them, who were piously disposed to worship Jehovah the true God, wou... [ Continue Reading ]
_In those days ten men_ That is, many men, a definite number being put for an indefinite. _Out of all languages of the nations_ From many different and remote countries, no nation being any longer excluded; _shall take hold of the skirt of him that is a Jew_ Christians are sometimes called by the na... [ Continue Reading ]