INTRODUCTION TO ZECHARIAH 12 This chapter contains a prophecy of the defence, protection, and salvation of the church of God; and of the effusion of the Spirit; and of the conversion of the Jews in the latter day. It begins with a title and preface, describing the power of God, from the creation of... [ Continue Reading ]
THE BURDEN OF THE WORD OF THE LORD FOR ISRAEL,.... And against their enemies; for the good of the church of God, for its joy, comfort, and salvation; or, "concerning Israel" x; what shall befall them in the latter day, as the destruction of antichrist, prophesied of in the preceding chapter Zecharia... [ Continue Reading ]
BEHOLD, I WILL MAKE JERUSALEM A CUP OF TREMBLING UNTO ALL THE PEOPLE ROUND ABOUT,.... The Targum renders it, "a vessel full of inebriating liquor;'' which intoxicates and makes giddy, and causes to tremble, stagger, and fall like a drunken man. The phrase denotes the punishment inflicted by the Lo... [ Continue Reading ]
AND IN THAT DAY WILL I MAKE JERUSALEM A BURDENSOME STONE FOR ALL PEOPLE,.... The Targum renders it "a stone of offence"; at which they shall stumble and fall; but it seems to design the immovableness of the state and condition of Jerusalem, that those who attempt to remove her out of her place, or t... [ Continue Reading ]
IN THAT DAY, SAITH THE LORD, I WILL SMITE EVERY HORSE WITH ASTONISHMENT, AND HIS RIDER WITH MADNESS,.... The meaning is, the enemies of God's people shall be astonished at the failure of their attempts, and be filled with fury and madness because they cannot accomplish their designs; and shall be at... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THE GOVERNORS OF JUDAH SHALL SAY IN THEIR HEART,.... The governors of the rest of the cities in Judea, besides Jerusalem, when they shall observe the armies of the people, their horses and their riders, smitten by the Lord, as above, shall take heart, and be of good courage: and secretly say wit... [ Continue Reading ]
IN THAT DAY WILL I MAKE THE GOVERNORS OF JUDAH LIKE A HEARTH OF FIRE AMONG THE WOOD,.... As a large hearth of fire, with wood all about it, devours and consumes it; so shall the governors of Judah be to the nations that shall come up against Jerusalem. The Targum renders it, "as a garment of fire a... [ Continue Reading ]
THE LORD ALSO SHALL SAVE THE TENTS OF JUDAH FIRST,.... That is, the Jews, who will be in other parts of the land encamped in tents, to defend themselves against their enemies; these will be saved out of the hands of them, before the inhabitants of Jerusalem will be saved; and in such a manner, that... [ Continue Reading ]
IN THAT DAY SHALL THE LORD DEFEND THE INHABITANTS OF JERUSALEM,.... As with a shield against their enemies; and such is the Lord to all his people; he is their shield to protect them; he keeps and guards them by his power; he encompasses them about with his favour, as with a shield; and gives unto t... [ Continue Reading ]
AND IT SHALL COME TO PASS IN THAT DAY,.... So often mentioned in this chapter; by which is meant the latter part of the Gospel dispensation, the spiritual reign of Christ: [THAT] I WILL SEEK TO DESTROY ALL THE NATIONS THAT COME AGAINST JERUSALEM; and shall destroy them. The whole of this paragraph... [ Continue Reading ]
AND I WILL POUR OUT UPON THE HOUSE OF DAVID, AND UPON THE INHABITANTS OF JERUSALEM,.... The Jews that belong to the family of Christ, and to the heavenly Jerusalem, the church of the firstborn, whose names are written in heaven: THE SPIRIT OF GRACE AND OF SUPPLICATIONS; by which is meant the Holy S... [ Continue Reading ]
IN THAT DAY SHALL THERE BE A GREAT MOURNING IN JERUSALEM,.... Great numbers being awakened, convinced, and converted, and brought to true repentance: AS THE MOURNING OF HADADRIMMON IN THE VALLEY OF MEGIDDON. Lightfoot i thinks the prophet alludes to the two great and general lamentations of Israel;... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THE LAND SHALL MOURN,.... That is, the inhabitants of it; not only Jerusalem, but the land of Judea, and the people in it everywhere: in the Talmud o it is said, this is the mourning of the Messiah, that is, on his account: EVERY FAMILY APART; though the mourning will be general and public, yet... [ Continue Reading ]
THE FAMILY OF THE HOUSE OF LEVI APART, AND THEIR WIVES APART,.... Because of the contempt of the priestly office of Christ, which theirs prefigured, and was abolished by him; because of their trampling upon his blood, righteousness, and sacrifice: THE FAMILY OF SHIMEI APART, AND THEIR WIVES APART;... [ Continue Reading ]
ALL THE FAMILIES THAT REMAIN,.... That will be in being in those times; EVERY FAMILY APART, AND THEIR WIVES APART; for the whole nation shall be born at once, and converted, and all Israel shall be saved, Isaiah 66:8.... [ Continue Reading ]