CHAPTER VII _Some Jews being sent from those who remained at Babylon to_ _inquire of the priests and prophets at Jerusalem whether they_ _were still bound to observe those fasts which had been_ _appointed on occasion of the destruction of Jerusalem, and kept_ _during the captivity, the prophet... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Zechariah 7:2. _WHEN THEY HAD SENT - SHEREZER AND REGEM-MELECH_] To inquire whether the fasts should be continued, which they had hitherto observed on account of their ruined temple; and the reason why they inquired was, that they were rebuilding that temple, and were likely to bring it to a j... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Zechariah 7:5. _WHEN YE FASTED AND MOURNED IN THE FIFTH _- MONTH] This they did in the remembrance of the _burning of the temple_, on the _tenth_ day of that month; and on the _seventh month_, on the _third_ of which month they observed a fast for the murder of Gedaliah, and the dispersion of... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Zechariah 7:6. _AND WHEN YE DID EAT_] They had not observed those fasts as they should have done. They deplored the loss of their temple, and its riches, c., but they did not _humble themselves_ because of those iniquities which had brought the _displeasure_ of God upon them, their temple, and... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Zechariah 7:7. _THE WORDS WHICH THE LORD HATH CRIED BY THE FORMER_ _PROPHETS_] נביאים הראשנים _nebiim harishonim_, is the title which the Jews give to _Joshua, Judges_, the two books of _Samuel_, and the two books of _Kings_. The _latter prophets_, נביאים אחרונים nebiim acharonim, are _Isaiah... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Zechariah 7:9. _EXECUTE TRUE JUDGMENT_] See the parallel texts in the margin. (Isaiah 58:6; Jeremiah 7:23; Micah 6:8)... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Zechariah 7:10. _EVIL AGAINST HIS BROTHER IN YOUR HEART._] Do not indulge an _unfavourable opinion_ of another: do not _envy_ him; do not _harbour_ an _unbrotherly feeling_ towards him.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Zechariah 7:11. _PULLED AWAY THE SHOULDER_] From under the yoke of the law, like an unbroken or restive bullock in the plough.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Zechariah 7:12. _MADE THEIR HEARTS AS AN ADAMANT STONE_] שמיר _shamir_ may mean the _granite_. This is the hardest stone with which the common people could be acquainted. Perhaps the _corundum_, of which _emery_ is a species, may be intended. _Bochart_ thinks it means a stone used in _polishin... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Zechariah 7:14. _I SCATTERED THEM WITH A WHIRLWIND_] This refers to the swift victories and cruel conduct of the Chaldeans towards the Jews; they came upon them like a _whirlwind_; they were tossed to and fro, and up and down, everywhere scattered and confounded.... [ Continue Reading ]