CHAPTER XIV _The commencement of this chapter relates to the destruction of_ _Jerusalem by the Romans, and to the calamities consequent on_ _that event. From this great Jewish tragedy the prophet_ _immediately passes to the utter extermination of the enemies of_ _Christianity in the latter days... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Zechariah 14:2. _I WILL GATHER ALL NATIONS_] The _Romans_, whose armies were composed of all the nations of the world. In this verse there is a pitiful account given of the _horrible outrages_ which should be committed during the siege of Jerusalem, and at its capture. _THE RESIDUE OF THE PEO... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Zechariah 14:3. _THEN SHALL THE LORD GO FORTH, AND FIGHT AGAINST THOSE_ _NATIONS_] Against the Romans, by means of the northern nations; who shall destroy the whole empire of this once mistress of the world. But this is an obscure place.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Zechariah 14:4. _AND HIS FEET SHALL STAND_] He shall appear in full possession of the place, as a mighty conqueror. _AND THE MOUNT OF OLIVES SHALL CLEAVE_] God shall display his miraculous power as fully in the final restoration of the Jews, as he did when he divided the Red Sea that their f... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Zechariah 14:5. _YE SHALL FLEE_ TO _THE VALLEY_] Some think this refers to the valley through which _Zedekiah_ and others endeavoured to escape when Nebuchadnezzar pressed the siege of Jerusalem: but it appears to speak only of the _Jewish wars_ of the _Romans_. _AZAL_] This, as a _place_, is... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Zechariah 14:6. _THE LIGHT SHALL NOT BE CLEAR_, NOR _DARK_] Metaphorically, there will be a _mixture_ of _justice_ and _mercy_ in all this; or a _bright light and darkness_. _Mercy_ shall triumph over _judgment_. There shall be _darkness_-distress, c. but there shall be more _light_-joy and pr... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Zechariah 14:7. _AT EVENING TIME IT SHALL BE LIGHT._] At the _close_ of this awful visitation, there shall be _light_. The light of the glorious Gospel shall go forth from Jerusalem; and next, from the Roman empire to every part of the earth.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Zechariah 14:8. _LIVING WATERS SHALL GO OUT_] There shall be a wide diffusion of Divine knowledge, and of the plan of human salvation, which shall go out by apostles and preachers, first from Jerusalem, then to Syria, Asia Minor, Greece, Italy, the isles of the sea, Britain, c. _THE FORMER SE... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Zechariah 14:9. _AND THE LORD SHALL BE KING_] When this universal diffusion of Divine knowledge shall take place. Wherever it goes, the _laws of God_ shall be _acknowledged_; and, consequently, he shall be King over the whole earth. _ONE LORD, AND HIS NAME ONE._] There shall be in those bless... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Zechariah 14:10. _ALL THE LAND SHALL BE TURNED AS A PLAIN_] Or rather, "He shall encompass the whole land as a plain." He shall cast his defence all around it; from _Geba_, in Benjamin, north of Jerusalem, (Joshua 21:17,) to _Rimmon_ in Judah, to the _south of Jerusalem_, Joshua 15:32. _IT SH... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Zechariah 14:11. _THERE SHALL BE NO MORE UTTER DESTRUCTION_] After this final restoration of Jerusalem it shall never more be destroyed; but as this was the _first city_ of the living God upon earth, so shall it be _the last_; it shall be _safely inhabited_. It shall see war no more.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Zechariah 14:12. _AND THIS SHALL BE THE PLAGUE_] All her enemies shall be destroyed. _THEIR FLESH SHALL CONSUME AWAY_] These are the effects of _famine_ which are described in this verse.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Zechariah 14:13. _A GREAT TUMULT FROM THE LORD_] Among those enemies of his Church, who shall engage and destroy each other.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Zechariah 14:14. _AND JUDAH ALSO SHALL FIGHT_] They shall have little else to do than take the spoil, _the wealth of all the heathen_ _round about_; gold, silver, and apparel.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Zechariah 14:15. _SO SHALL BE THE PLAGUE OF THE HORSE, AND THE MULE_] There shall be plagues on the _substance_ of the enemies of the Church, as there were on the _cattle_ and _goods_ of the _Egyptians_.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Zechariah 14:16. _SHALL EVEN GO UP FROM YEAR TO YEAR_] The Jews had _three_ grand original festivals, which characterized different epochs in their history, viz.: - 1. The _feast_ of the _passover_, in commemoration of their departure from Egypt. 2. The _feast_ of _pentecost_, in commemorati... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Zechariah 14:17. _UPON THEM SHALL BE NO RAIN._] Those who do not worship God shall not have his blessing; and those who do not attend _Divine ordinances_ cannot have the graces and blessings which God usually dispenses by them. On such slothful, idle Christians, _there shall be no rain_!... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Zechariah 14:18. _IF THE FAMILY OF EGYPT_] This may allude to those Jews who, flying from the persecution of _Antiochus Epiphanes_, settled in Egypt, and built a temple at _Heliopolis_, under the direction of _Onias_, son of the high priest. _Joseph_. Antiq. lib. xiii., c. 6, and WAR, lib. vii... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Zechariah 14:19. _THIS SHALL BE THE PUNISHMENT - OF ALL NATIONS THAT COME_ _NOT UP_] God will have his public worship _established_ everywhere, and those who do not worship him shall lie under his curse.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Zechariah 14:20. _UPON THE BELLS OF THE HORSES_] They appear, formerly, to have had bells on horses, camels, c., as we have now, to amuse the animals, and encourage them in their work. In some very fine Asiatic paintings now before me, I see _bells_ both on _horses,_ _mules_, and _camels_ litt... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Zechariah 14:21. _YEA, EVERY POT IN JERUSALEM_] "The utensils of the Jews shall be treated as _holy_, and the worshippers shall use them reverently. The idea of _preparing food_ in them (_they that - seethe_ _therein_) is taken from the custom of feasting after sacrifice. And no _trafficker_... [ Continue Reading ]