Zechariah 4:9

The hands of Zerubbabel have laid the foundation of this house; his hands shall also finish it; and thou shalt know that the LORD of hosts hath sent me unto you. THE HANDS OF ZERUBBABEL HAVE LAID THE FOUNDATION OF THIS HOUSE; HIS HANDS SHALL ALSO FINISH IT - (). This came to pass "on the third day of the month Adar," in the sixth year of Darius' reign. AND THOU SHALT KNOW THAT THE LORD OF HOSTS HATH SENT ME UNTO YOU - (). The Divine Angel announces that in what He has just spoken, He has been commissioned by God the Eather....

This is what the angel had in view in these words, _The hands of Zerubbabel have founded this house_. Of the foundation there was indeed no doubt; but many believed that the building would ever remain unfinished, for Satan had already by means of the most powerful enemies impeded its progress. As then despair had laid hold on the minds of almost all, the angel declares that Zerubbabel would gain his object in finishing the temple which he had begun. He afterwards adds, _Thou shalt know that God has sent me to you_. Of this knowledge we have spoken elsewhere. The meaning is, that the event would be a sure and suitable proof, that nothing had been rashly undertaken by them, but that the temple was built by God’s command, for his power would be evident in its completion. And he addresses the Prophet, who though he was fully persuaded of the event and of the fulfillment of this prophecy, yet...

8-10 The exact fulfilment of Scripture prophecies is a convincing proof of their Divine original. Though the instruments be weak and unlikely, yet God often chooses such, to bring about great things by them. Let not the dawning light be despised; it will shine more and more to the perfect day. Those who despaired of finishing the work, shall rejoice when they see Zerubbabel giving directions what to do, and taking care that the work be done. It is a comfort to us that the same all-wise, almighty Providence, which governs the earth, is in particular conversant about the church. All that have the plummet in their hands, must look up to the eyes of the Lord, have constant regard to Divine Providence, act in dependence on its guidance and submission to its disposals. Let us fix our faith on Christ, and view Him carrying on his work according to his own glorious plan, and daily bringing his s...

EXPOSITION ZECHARIAH 4:1 § 7. _The fifth vision: the golden candlestick._ ZECHARIAH 4:1 THE ANGEL THAT TALKED WITH ME. The interpreting angel is meant. CAME AGAIN, AND WAKED ME. It is thought that the angel, who is said (Zechariah 2:3) to have gone forth, now rejoined the prophet and renewed his colloquy with him. But the expression in the text is probably only equivalent to "aroused me again" (comp. Genesis 26:18; 2Ki 1:11, 2 King

THE HANDS OF ZERUBBABEL HAVE LAID THE FOUNDATION OF THIS HOUSE,.... The temple at Jerusalem, which was laid, or however renewed, after it had been long neglected, even the four and twentieth day of the ninth month, two months before this vision and prophecy, Haggai 2:18 compared with Zechariah 1:7: HIS HANDS SHALL ALSO FINISH IT: signified by bringing in the head or top stone, Zechariah 4:7 and so Christ our great Zerubbabel has laid the foundation of his church, which is no other than himself; and is a foundation firm and strong, sure and certain, immovable and everlasting; and his hands will finish the building of it, by bringing and laying every elect soul upon this foundation; which may be concluded fr

CHAPTER 4 _ 1. The fifth night vision (Zechariah 4:1) _ 2. The questions of the prophet answered (Zechariah 4:11) Zechariah 4:1. There was a rest for the prophet between the fourth and fifth night vision. He had fallen into a deep sleep. He may have been overcome by the grand and important visions, and is now awakened by the angel with the question, “What seest thou?” The new vision is a very striking one. A golden candlestick appears before the seer. An oil receiver is seen on top, from which the oil flows to the seven lamps of the candlestick through seven pipes. Two olive trees stand alongside of the candlestick and hang their fruit-laden branches over the golden bowl, filling it wit

THE HANDS, &c. Here is the explanation _of_ the vision. THOU SHALT KNOW. Some codices, with Aramaean, Syriac, and Vulgate, read "ye shall know"....

_thou shalt know_, &c. It is again asserted that the divine mission of the angel shall be proved by the accomplishment of that which he predicts. Comp. Zechariah 2:11; Deuteronomy 18:22....

CHAPTER XXXI A VISION OF A MENORAH AND OLIVE TREES ZECHARIAH, CHAPTER Zechariah 4:1-14 RX. And the angel that talked with me came again, and waked me, as a man that is wakened out of his sleep. And he said unto me, What seest thou? And I said, I have seen, and, behold, a candlestick all of gold, with its bowl upon the top of it, and its seven lamps thereon; there are seven pipes to each of the lamps, which are upon the top thereof; and two olive-trees by it, one upon the right side of the bowl, and the other upon the left side thereof. And I answered and spake to the angel that talked with me, saying, What are these, my lord? Then the angel that talked with me answered and said unto me, Knowest thou not what these are? And I said, No, my lord. Then he answered and spake unto me, saying, This is the word of Jehovah unto Zerubbabel, saying, Not by might, nor by power

THE FIFTH VISION The prophet's thoughts now turn to the civil ruler Zerubbabel. The purpose of the fifth vision is to encourage him in the difficult task of rebuilding the Temple, 1-5, 11-14. The golden candlestick (i.e. the returned exiles) receives its supply of oil (i.e. the divine grace) through two channels ('pipes,' Zechariah 4:12), viz. the spiritual and the temporal leaders, Joshua and Zerubbabel, through whose united efforts the prosperity of the nation would be accomplished. These are the two olive trees. 6-10 is an encouraging address to Zerubbabel; weak though he is, yet by the help of God's Holy Spirit he will finish the great work....