RESTORATION OF GOD'S PEOPLE 1, 2. A warning to trust in God and not in sorcerers. 3-7. The Lord will cast out the evil guides of the people, and under new leaders Ephraim and Judah will be victorious. 8-12. Ephraim will be gathered, but Egypt and Assyria will be humbled. 1. The connexion with Ze... [ Continue Reading ]
IDOLS] 'teraphim,' household images, probably in human form: cp. 1 Samuel 13:16. They were used for purposes of divination, and were probably connected originally with ancestor worship. THEY WENT THEIR WAY] RV 'they' (i.e. the people) 'go their way,' as sheep when the pasture fails in one place go o... [ Continue Reading ]
SHEPHERDS] probably religious teachers are here meant: see Intro. PUNISHED THE GOATS] RV 'will punish the he-goats,' i.e. the false guides of the people: cp. Jeremiah 50:8. HATH MADE] RV 'shall make.' Evidently the word shepherd, closing Zechariah 10:2, suggests an attack on the worthless shepherds,... [ Continue Reading ]
OUT OF HIM] better, 'from him,' i.e. from Judah. CAME] better, 'shall come.' CORNER] i.e. cornerstone. NAIL] rather, 'tent-peg': something that will hold firm. OPPRESSOR] RV 'ruler,' i.e. one who keeps guard over workmen.... [ Continue Reading ]
HOUSE OF JOSEPH] i.e. Israel, as represented by Ephraim and Manasseh, the two leading tribes. BRING THEM AGAIN] may refer to the many Israelites in exile in Egypt (Zechariah 10:10) and elsewhere.... [ Continue Reading ]
I WILL HISS FOR THEM] i.e. whistle to attract them: cp. Isaiah 5:26. God will bring back Israel to their own land.... [ Continue Reading ]
I WILL SOW THEM] As it stands this seems to contradict what follows as well as what goes before. With a slight change of Heb. it is possible to render: 'I scattered them among the nations, but in far countries they remember me. And they will bring up their children and come back.'... [ Continue Reading ]
ASSYRIA] Asshur might here be used of the Seleucid dominions in Syria and Persia; see Intro.... [ Continue Reading ]
HE] i.e. Israel. There will be a new exodus for God's people. SEA WITH AFFLICTION] better, perhaps, 'the narrow sea,' i.e. the arm of the Red Sea through which, once before, they passed. THE RIVER] i.e. Nile. ASSYRIA and EGYPT are chosen as representing the great world forces which harassed God's pe... [ Continue Reading ]
THEM] i.e. Israel, to whose glorious restoration the thoughts of the prophet return. SHALL WALK UP AND DOWN IN HIS (i.e. the Lord's) NAME] LXX renders, 'In His name shall they boast themselves.'... [ Continue Reading ]