Bible Commentary (1871–1879 Edition)
Tlie Vuion of Ike Flying Eoll, ZECHARIAII V, VI. and thai of the Woman in Ike Ephah, suffer. Their total dispersion (" the land of Shinar" being
14. anoint ad ones lit., son* of oil {Margin , Isaiiili 5. 1). Joshua thp hili priest, and Zerubbabel the civil ruler, must first be anointed with grace themselves, so as to be tlie emblem of tlie various Gentile lands of tlieir present dispersion) is lierein foretold, when the measure (to which tlie ephah alludes) of their sins should be full. The former vision denounces Judgment on in<iividuals ; this one, on tfte instruments of furnishing it to others (of. 1 Jolin 2.
20. 27). CHAPTER V. .
tlie whole state : butenigiiiiitically, not todiscourage their present building. [Pembellus.] Rather, the vision is consolatory after the preceding one. [Calvin.] Idolatry and
Ver. 1-4. Sixth Vision. The Flying Roll. Thefraudulent and perjuring transgressors of the latu shall be extirpated from Judea. 1. flying roll—of papyru.s, or dressed .sliins, used for writing on when paper was not known. It was Inscribed with the words of the curse (Deuteronomy 27.
its kindred sins, covet onsness and fraud (denounced in th» vision of the roll), shall bo removed far out of the Holy Land to their own congenial soil, never to return (so ch. 3.
9; Isaiah 27. 9; .52. 1; 60. 21; Jeremiah 50.20; Zephaniah 3.13). For more tlian 2000 years, ever since tlie Babylonian exile, the Jews have been free from idolatry ; but the full accomplishment of the prophecy is yet future, when all sin shall be purged from Israel on their return to Palestine, and conversion to Christ. 5. went forth—The interpreting angel had withdrawn after the vision of tlie roll to receive a fresh revelation from the Divine Angel to communicate to the prophet. 6. This is tlieir resemblance lit., eye
15-26; 28. 15-68). Being written implied that its contents were beyond all escape or repeal (Ezekiel 2. 9). Its " flying" shows that its curses were ready swiftly to visit the transgressors. It was unrolled, or else its dimensions could not have been seen (v. 2). Being open to all, none could say in excuse he knew not the law and the cur.ses of disobedience. As the previous visions intimated God's favour In restoring the Jewish state, so this vision denounces judgment, intimating that God, notwithstanding His favour, did not approve of tlieir sins. Being written on both sides, "on this and on that side" (v. 3) [Vatablus] connects it with the two tables of the law (Exo<lns .32. 1.5), and implies its comprehensiveness. One side denounced " him that sweareth falsely (v. 4) by God's name," according to tlie third commandment of the first table, duty to God; the other side denounced theft, according to the eighth commandment, which is in the second table, duty to one's neighbour. 3. length . . . twenty cubits . . . breadtli . . . ten cubits—thirty feet by fifteen, the dimensions of the temple porch (1 Kings 6. 3), where the law was usually read, showing that it was divinely authoritative in the theocracy. Its large size implies tlie great number of the curses contained. Tlie Hebreiv for "roll" or " volume" is used of the law (Psalm 40. 7). 3. cui-se . . . earth —(Malachi 4. 6.) The Gentiles are amenaljle to the curse of the law, as they have its substance, so far as they have
(cf. Ezekiel 1. 4,5, 16). Hengstenberq translates, "Their (the people's) eye" was all directed to evil. But English Version is better. " This is the appearance (i. e., an image of) of the Jews in all the land" (not an English Veision, "in all the earth"), i. e., of the wicked Jews. This—Here used of what was uJiZftm the ephah, not the ephah itselt 7. lifted up—the cover is lilted oft" the ephali to let the prophet see tlie female personification of "wickedness" within, about to be removed from Judea. The cover being " of lead," implies that the " woman " cannot escape from the ponderous load which presses her down, talent lit., a round piece ; hence a talent, a weight of 12.5 pounds troy, woman—cf. for comparison of " wickedness " to a woman. Proverbs 2. 16; 5. 3, 4. In personifying abstract terms, the feminine is used, as the idea of giving birth to life is associated with woman. 8. wickedness lit., tlie wickedness: implying wickedness in its peculiar development.
Cf. ''the man of sin," 2Thessaloniaus 2. 3. cast it i. e., her. Wickedness, who had moved more freely whilst the heavy not seared and corrupted conscience, written on their hearts (Romans 2. 15). cut oft—lit., cleared away, as on this side ... as on that side — both sides of the roll. [Vatablus.] From this place . . . from this place (repeated twice, as " the house" is repeated in v. 4) [Maurer]; so "lience" is used, Genesis 37. 17 (or, "on this and on that side," i.e., on every side). [Henderson.] None can escape, sin wliere he may: for God from one side to the other shall call all without exception to judgment. [Calvin.] God will not spare even " tliis place" Jerusalem when it sins. [Pembellus.] English Version seems to take Vatablus' view, according to it—according as it lid was partially lifted off. weiglit lit., stone, i. e., round mass. 9. The agents to carry away the "woman" are, consistently with tlie image, "women." God makes t\\o wicked themselves the agents of punishing and removing wickedness. "Two" are employed, as one is not enough to carry such a load. [Maurkr.] Or, tlie Assyrians and Babylonians, who carried away idolatry in the persons, respectively, of Israel and Judali. [Henderson.] As two "anointed ones" (ch. 4. 14) stand by the Lord as His ministers, so two winged women execute His purposes here in removing the embodiment of "wickedness:" answering to the " mystery of iniquity " (tlie LXX. here in Zeehariah use the same words as St. Paul and "the man of sin," whom tiie Lord shall destroy with the spirit of His mouth and the brightness of His coming, 2 Thessalonians
Is written. 4. Tlie "theft" immediately meant is similar sacrilege to that complained of, Nehemiah 13. 10 ; JIalachi
8. 8. They robbed God by neglecting to give Him His due in building His house, whilst they built their own houses, forswearing their obligations to Him; therefore, the "houses" they build shall be "consumed" with Sod's "curse." Probably literal theft and perjury accompanied their virtual theft and perjury as to the temple of God (Malachi 3. 5). Stealing and perjury go together ; for the covetous and fraudulent perjure themselves by God's name without scruple (see Proverbs 30. 9). enter . . . the house—In vain they guard and shut themselves up who incur the curse; it will Inevitably enter even when they think themselves most secure, consume . . . timi>cr
2.3,7,8). Their "wings" express velocity. The "stork" has long and wide wings, for which reason it is specified; also it is a migratory bird. Tlie "wind" helps the rapid motion of the wings. The being " lifted up between heaven and earth " implies open execution of the judgment before the eyes of all. As the "woman" here is removed to Babylon as her own dwelling, so the woman In the Apocalypse of St. John is Babylon (Revelation 17. 3-5). 11. To build . . . house In . . . Shinar—Babylonia (Genesis
10. 10), the capital of the God-opposed worldkingdonis, and so representing in general the seat of irreligion. As the "building of houses" in Babylon (Jeremiah 29. 5, 28) by the .Tews themselves expressed their long exile there, so the building of an house for "wickedness " there Implies its permanent stay, set . . . upon lier own base fixed there as in its proper place. "Wickedness" being cast out of Judah, shall for ever dwell with the Anticbrlstian apostjxtes (of whom Babylon is the type), wiio 8ta«Il reap the fruit of it, wliicli they deserve.
. . . stones—not leaving a vestige of it. So the "stones" and " timber" of the house of a leper (type of the sinner) was to be utterly removed (Leviticus 14. 45; cf. 1 Kings
5-11. Seventh Vision. The Woman in the Ephah. Wickedness and idolatry removed from the Holy Land to Babylon, there to mingle with their kindred elements. The Hebrew dry measure containing about a bushel, or seven and a half gallons. Alluding to the previous vision as to thelt and perjury: the ephah which, by falsification of the measure, tliey made the instrument of defrauding, shall be made tlie instrument of their punlsliment. [Grotiuh.]
CHAPTER VI.
Ver. 1-8. Eighth Vision. Thk Four Chariots. I. four chariota—Symbolizing tlie various dUpenBatlana o#
Cf. "this is their resemblance" (v. 6), i.e., this is a representation of wliattlxe. Jews have done, and wliat tliey shall