6:16,17; Isa 2:12-18. 3:4 These prophets were false prophets.
ZEPHANIAH 2:10 1228
says the LORD of hosts,
that said in her heart, "I am, and there is no one beside me." What a desolation she has become! A place for beasts to lie down! Everyone who passes by her will hiss,
the God of Israel, "surely Moab will become like Sodom, and the land of the children of Ammon
like Gomorrah, a place of weeds and salt pits,
and shake his fist.
and a permanent desolation. Those who are left of my people will
Woe to her who is filthy and polluted,
plunder them, and the remnant of my people will
to the oppressing city! 2 She has not obeyed God's voice;
she has not received correction; she has not trusted in the LORD; she has not drawn near to her God. 3 Her princes within her are roaring lions;
possess them. 10 This they will have for their pride, because they have insulted and exalted
themselves against the people
her judges are evening wolves; they leave no bone to gnaw to the morning. 4 Her prophets are light, treacherous persons.
of the LORD of hosts." 11 The LORD will be terrifying to them, for he will famish all the gods of the earth. And each people will worship him from
Her priests have defiled the sanctuary,
their own place, all the islands of
they have done violence to the law. 5 The just LORD is in her midst.
the nations.
He will do no evil. Each morning he brings his justice to light;
12 "You Ethiopians also will be slain by my sword."
13 And he will stretch out his hand against the north and destroy Assyria, and make Nineveh a desolation and as
he does not fail. But the unjust know no shame.
6 "I have cut off nations.
dry as a desert. 14 And flocks will lie down in the middle of her, and all the beasts of the country. Both the cormorant and the bittern will
Their towers are in ruins. I made their streets desolate so that
no one passes through them. Their cities are destroyed, so that
lodge on the tops of its pillars; their voice will sing through the windows. Desolation will be on the threshold;
there is no man, no inhabitant. 7 I said, 'If only you would fear me and
receive instruction,' so that their dwelling place would not
for he will lay bare the cedar work. 15 This is the rejoicing city that lived without a care,
be cut off, in all that I laid on them.
"Will possess them" – this will be fulfilled in the future, since it has not been fulfilled up to the present time. 2:10 "Pride" – Isa 16:6; Jer 49:16; Obad 3. See how God loathes pride – Prov 6:16,17; Isa 2:12-18. 2:11 "Each people will worship Him" – 3:9; Ps 86:9; Hab 2:14; Zech 14:9,16. A time is coming when there will not be idols and gods in any country and all peoples everywhere will worship only the true God. 2:12 Again God speaks. Note on "Ethiopia" – or "Cush" – at Isa 18:1.
– v 5. 3:1 "Oppressing city" – Jer 6:6; 22:3. 3:2 Jer 7:28; 22:21; Matt 7:21; Luke 6:46. 3:3 The weak and helpless were their prey. 3:4 These prophets were false prophets. Compare Jer 5:31; 14:14; 23:16,32. The work of the priests was to teach God's law and see that the people practiced it – Deut 31:9-13; 2 Chron 17:8,9; Jer 2:8; 23:11. 3:5 "Just" – or "righteous" – Ps 11:7; 89:14; Deut 32:4. "In her midst" – God's glory, His presence was in His temple in Jerusalem. From there He worked justice in the earth, rewarding the righteous and punishing the wicked.
"My sword" – an enemy nation. Compare Isa 10:5. 2:13-15 For other prophecies against Assyria and its capital Nineveh, see Isa 10:12-19; 19:23-25; Nahum chapters 1-3. Note on Assyria at 2 Kings 15:19. 2:14 "Cormorant and the bittern" – it is unclear exactly what birds are indicated by the Hebrew. 2:15 "I am" – compare Isa 47:10. 3:1-8 The prophet now speaks of Jerusalem – this is the only city of which it could be said that the LORD (Jehovah God) was in it
"Know no shame" – 2:1. 3:6 God speaks and gives an illustration of the justice He works in the earth. 3:7 "Dwelling place" – Jerusalem. God wished to spare His city – Ps 132:13; Matt 23:37-39. But He could not overlook the wickedness of the people.
"Rose early" – they were eager to get to their corrupted work. Verse 7 in Hebrew is obscure and difficult to translate.
1229 ZEPHANIAH 3:20
But they rose early and corrupted all
and no one will make them afraid."
their deeds. 8 Therefore wait for me, says the LORD,
14 Sing, O daughter of Zion! Shout, O Israel! Be glad and rejoice with all your
until the day that I rise up for plunder. For my decision is to gather the
heart, O daughter of Jerusalem! 15 The LORD has taken away judgments on you, he has cast out your enemy. The king of Israel, the LORD, is in your midst. You will see no more disaster.
nations, to assemble the kingdoms, to pour out on them my indignation,
all my fierce anger. For the whole earth will be devoured
by the fire of my jealousy. 9 For then I will restore to the people a
16 In that day it will be said to Jerusalem, "Do not fear," and to Zion, "Do not let your hands hang limply." 17 The LORD your God in your midst is mighty. He will save you, he will rejoice over you with joy, he will rest in his love, he will rejoice over you with singing.
pure language, that they may all call on the name of
the LORD, to serve him with one consent. 10 From beyond the rivers of Ethiopia my worshippers, the daughter of my dispersed,
will bring my offering. 11 In that day you will not be put to shame for any of your deeds,
18 "I will gather those among you who grieve for the appointed assembly, to whom the scorning of it was a burden. 19 See, at that time I will deal with all who trouble you, and I will save the lame, and gather those who were driven out; and I will see that they get praise
by which you have transgressed
against me, for then I will take away from your
midst those who rejoice in your pride, and you will no longer be haughty on
my holy mountain. 12 I will also leave a humble and lowly people in your midst, and they will trust in the name of the LORD. 13 The remnant of Israel will do no evil or speak lies, nor will a deceitful tongue be found in
and fame in every land where they
have been put to shame. 20 At that time I will bring you back, at the time that I gather you. For I will give you a name and praise
among all the peoples of the earth, when I restore you from captivity
their mouth. They will feed their flocks and lie down,
before your eyes, says the LORD.
3:8 "Wait for me" – God would deal with them as they deserved.
"The king of Israel" – Ezek 37:26-28; Zech 14:16; Isa 44:6. Notice the words "no more" – words as yet unfulfilled. 3:16 "In that day" – vs 9,11. "Limply" – Isa 35:3,4; Heb 12:12. 3:17 A great verse showing the joy and satisfaction God has in His people. This will be true in the future of Jerusalem and its people. It is true now of believers in Christ.
"Anger" – Num 25:3; Ps 90:7-11. "Devoured" – 1:2,3,18; Isa 24:1-13. 3:9 Though God will cause great calamities and devastations on the earth there will be nations left for Him to purify. And He will do so and the world will be united in worship of the true God – 2:11; Zech 14:9. 3:10 "My dispersed" – Deut 4:27; 28:64; Jer 9:16.
"He will save" – Isa 46:13; 51:5; 63:1; Rom 1:16; Heb 7:25.
"Offering" – Isa 11:11,12; 60:7. 3:11-13 "You" – God speaks to Jerusalem. This condition of the people of Israel has not appeared from that day to this. So its fulfilment awaits the future. 3:13 "Remnant" – 2:7. 3:14,15 Compare Isa 12:1,6; 40:1,2; 51:11. God speaks of something still in the future as if it had already taken place. See Isa 46:10.
"Rejoice" – Ps 147:11; Isa 62:4; Eph 1:3-6. "Love" – Isa 40:1; Hos 14:4; Rom 5:5; 1 John 4:16-18. "Singing" – God sings over His redeemed people as parents sing to an infant safe in their arms. 3:18 God speaks and comforts His people. 3:19 "All who trouble you" – enemy nations. 3:20 Jer 29:14; Ezek 37:12,21-28; Amos 9:14,15. "You from captivity" – or "your well-being."
"Daughter of Zion" – note at Ps 9:14; etc.
HAGGAI
Author:
The prophet Haggai is referred to in Ezra 5:1,2; 6:14, but we know almost nothing about him. He was a contemporary of Zechariah.
Date:
About 520 BC, during the second year of the reign of king Darius.
Theme:
In his second year as king of Persia Cyrus permitted the Jews to return to Jerusalem (538 BC). Under the leadership of Zerubbabel they began the construction of the temple, but after completing the foundation they stopped the work. Haggai encouraged them to work and finish the temple, warning them of loss if they did not and promising God's blessing if they did.
Contents:
The excuses the people gave for not finishing
the work, the loss their indifference brought .......................................... 1:2-11 The people listen and show reverence for God ................................................ 1:12 God's promise, beginning the work again ......................................................... 1:13-15 God encourages the leaders .......................................................................... 2:1-5 God will shake all nations,
but bring great glory to His temple ........................................................ 2:6-9 Sinful efforts produce uncleanness ................................................................. 2:10-14 The produce of the people had vanished ........................................................ 2:15-19 God's judgment on the nations ...................................................................... 2:20-22 A blessed promise to Zerubbabel.................................................................... 2:23
1231 HAGGAI 1:14
In the second year of Darius the king, in the sixth month, on the first day of the month, the word of the LORD came by Haggai the prophet to Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and to Joshua the son of Johozadak, the high priest, saying,
and I will be glorified, says the LORD. 9 You looked for much, and, see, it came to little. And when you brought it home, I blew on it. Why? says the LORD of hosts. Because of my house, which lies in ruins, while every one of you runs to his own house. 10 Therefore the heavens above you withhold the dew, and the earth withholds her fruit. 11 And I called for a drought on the land, and on the mountains, and on the grain, and on the new wine, and on the oil, and on all that the ground produces, and on men, and on cattle, and on all the labour of your hands."
2 "This is what the LORD of hosts has spoken, saying: This people say, 'The time has not come, the time for building the LORD's house.'"
3 Then the word of the LORD came by Haggai the prophet, saying, 4 "Is it time for you yourselves to live in your paneled houses, and this house lie in ruins?
12 Then Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, and Joshua the son of Jehozadak, the high priest, with all the rest of the people, obeyed the voice of the LORD their God, and the words of Haggai the prophet, because the LORD their God had sent him, and the people feared the LORD.
5 "Now therefore thus says the LORD of hosts: Consider your ways. 6 You have sown much, but have harvested little. You eat, but do not have enough. You drink, but never have your fill. You clothe yourselves, but no one is warm. And the wage earner earns wages to put into a bag with holes.
13 Then Haggai, the LORD's messenger, spoke the LORD's message to the people, saying, "I am with you, says the LORD." 14 And the LORD stirred up the spirit of Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and the spirit of Joshua the
7 "Thus says the LORD of hosts: Consider your ways. 8 Go up to the mountain, and bring timber and build the house, and I will take pleasure in it,
1:1 "Darius" – Ezra 4:24. The second year of his reign was in 520 BC. This Darius was not the same as the Darius of Daniel chapter 6.
going for nothing. All this was God's punishment for their sin of forgetting His work (compare Deut 28:38-40; Lev 26:18-20). 1:7,8 He wants them to realize the cause of their poverty and do something about it. If they would try to please God He would please them. If they would honor Him He would honor them (v 13; 2:19; 1 Sam 2:30; Isa 58:13,14; John 12:26; 2 Cor 9:6-8). We have no right to expect God's blessings if we care nothing for His pleasure and honor, and think only of our own. 1:9 "I blew on it" – that is, blew it away. Because of their selfish, thoughtless ways God arranged conditions so that they would not prosper. 1:10,11 It is the one true God who gives rain, and sometimes He withholds it as a punishment for people's sins. Compare Lev 26:4,19; Deut 28:22-24; 1 Kings 17:1; Jer 14:1,22. 1:12 "Remnant" – those who had returned from captivity in Babylon. They were a small number compared to the many people who had once lived in Judah.
"Word of the LORD came" – Jer 1:2; Hos 1:1; Joel 1:1.
"Zerubbabel" – Ezra 2:2; 3:2; 4:2; 5:2; Neh 7:7; 12:1; Zech 4:6-10. He was governor of Judah after the Jews returned from captivity in Babylon.
"Joshua" – Zech 3:1-9. "Priest" – notes at Ex 28:1. 1:2 "LORD of hosts" – note at 1 Sam 1:3. "Has spoken, saying" – the prophets knew they had a message from God and they spoke in His name with His authority.
"This people" – people of Judah. "For building" – the Jews had laid the foundation of the temple sixteen years before, but had not continued the work – Ezra 3:8-10; 4:1-5,24. 1:3,4 They had built good houses for themselves but left God's house a ruin (it had been destroyed about seventy years before – 1 Kings 25:8-15). Like so many Christians today the people put themselves first and neglected God's work. They had time for themselves, but not for Him. 1:5 "Consider" – v 7; 2:15,18; Lam 3:40; 2 Cor 13:5; 1 Pet 1:13. God wanted His people to think about their condition and understand the reason why certain things were happening. By understanding our own ways we can understand something of God's ways with us (compare Ps 18:25,26; Lev 26:23,24). 1:6 This was the result of their self-centered ways. They got little from their hard labor and were sinking into poverty. Their purses had "holes" – as fast as they earned money they had to spend it and it seemed to be
"Obeyed" – Deut 6:3,24; 11:13-15; 28:1-6; John 14:15. "Feared the LORD" – notes at Gen 20:11; Ps 34:11-14; 111:10; Prov 1:7. 1:13 "LORD's messenger" – this is what a prophet was. He got a message from God and delivered it to the people.
"I am with you" – because of their obedience and reverence He would bless and prosper them. The promise of the Lord's presence has been enough in all ages to spur God's people on to great efforts and accomplishments – Ex 33:14; Josh 1:5; Jud 6:16; 1 Chron 28:20; Jer 1:8; Matt 28:20. 1:14 "Stirred up" – compare Ezra 1:1,5; Phil 2:13.
HAGGAI 1:15 1232
son of Jehozadak, the high priest, and the spirit of all the rest of the people; and they came to work on the house of the LORD of hosts, their God, 15 on the twenty-fourth day of the sixth month, in the second year of Darius the king.
earth and the sea and the dry land, 7 and I will shake all nations, and the desire of all nations will come, and I will fill this house with glory, says the LORD of hosts. 8 The silver is mine, and the gold is mine, says the LORD of hosts. 9 The glory of this latter house will be greater than that of the former, says the LORD of hosts. And in this place I will give peace, says the LORD of hosts."
In the seventh month, on the twenty-first day of the month, the word of the LORD came by the prophet Haggai, saying, 2 "Speak now to Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and to Joshua the son of Jehozadak, the high priest, and to the rest of the people, saying, 3 who is left among you who saw this house in its former glory? And how do you see it now? In comparison with that is it not in your eyes as nothing? 4 Yet now be strong, O Zerubbabel, says the LORD, and be strong, O Joshua, son of Jehozadak, the high priest, and be strong, all you people of the land, says the LORD, and work, for I am with you, says the LORD of hosts, 5 in accordance with the word that I covenanted with you when you came out of Egypt; for my Spirit remains among you. Do not fear.
10 In the twenty-fourth day of the ninth month, in the second year of Darius, the word of the LORD came by Haggai the prophet, saying, 11 "Thus says the LORD of hosts: Now ask the priests concerning the law, and say, 12 If someone carries consecrated meat in the fold of his garment, and with the fold touches bread, or stew, or wine, or oil, or any meat, will it become consecrated?"
And the priests answered and said, "No." 13 Then Haggai said, "If someone who is unclean by touching a dead body touches any of those, will it become unclean?"
And the priests answered and said, "It will become unclean."
14 Then answered Haggai, and said, "So is this people, and so is this nation before me, says the
6 "For thus says the LORD of hosts: Once more, in a little while, I will shake the heavens and the
2:1-3 Some of the people had been living when Solomon's temple was destroyed by the Babylonian army many years before this – Ezra 3:12. That temple was very magnificent. See 1 Kings 6:1– 37; 7:13-51. The temple they were now building was small and plain by comparison. But see Zech 4:10. 2:4 "Be strong" – Josh 1:6-9; 23:6; Jud 5:21; Ps 27:14; 31:24; Dan 10:19; Eph 6:10. "Work" – Eccl 9:10; John 6:37; 9:4; 1 Cor 15:58. "With you" – 1:13. 2:5 His covenant was that they would be His people and He would dwell in their midst – Ex 29:44-46.
it may be significant that God speaks of silver and gold in the next verse. Compare Isa 60:5.
"Glory" – Ex 40:34,35; 1 Kings 8:10,11. If God's glory is in a building it needs no other magnificence; if it is not there no magnificence will mean anything. 2:8 Compare Ps 50:10-12. God is well able to provide His people with all they need for any work He calls them to do – 2 Cor 9:8. 2:9 The glory of Solomon's temple was coming to an end when Judah was conquered and exiled. The temple had become a place of idolatry and God abandoned it – Ezekiel chapters 8-11. Now the people had left idols and false gods and God would fill the new temple with His glory. Though there would not be in the new one as much physical splendor as in the old one there would be more of God's glory.
"My Spirit" – Ex 31:3; Num 11:16,17,25; Ps 51:11; 106:33; Isa 63:11-14.
"Do not fear" – if God is with us there can be nothing to fear. If He is not with us there is good reason to fear many things. 2:6 "Heavens and the earth" – Heb 12:26 refers to these words and puts their fulfillment in the future. At the second coming of Christ there will be a great shaking of heaven and earth and all the nations of earth – Rev 6:12-17; 16:14-21. 2:7 "All nations" – God can and does do what He wills among all the nations of the earth. He can and does use them all for His glory and the good of His people. Compare Dan 4:34,35.
"This place" – Jerusalem. "Peace" – Isa 60:17; Luke 1:79; 2:14; John 14:27; Col 1:20. 2:10-14 Two months had passed since the previous message (v 1). This new message was this: because of their disobedience, thoughtlessness and carelessness in God's work the people were unclean. Being in the holy land and in the holy city and planning to build God's holy temple did not make them holy. Holiness cannot be transmitted like that. Holiness is a matter of the heart, of the character, of the behavior, and results from obedience to God (compare Rom 6:22). And those without true holiness defile everything they touch. 2:12 "Consecrated meat" was meat brought as an offering to God. 2:13 Lev 5:2; Num 19:11-13,22.
"Desire of all nations" – some scholars think this refers to the Messiah, the Lord Jesus Christ. It may be so but we cannot be sure. Actually all nations do not desire Him, but some from among all nations do. The same Hebrew word translated here "desired" can also mean material things which men value. This may be the meaning here and
1233 HAGGAI 2:23
LORD, and so is every work of their hands, and what they offer there is unclean.
and the pomegranate, and the olive tree have not yielded fruit. From this day on I will bless you. "
15 "And now, carefully consider from this day onward. Before a stone was laid on stone in the temple of the LORD, 16 from the time of those days, when someone came to a heap of twenty bushels, there were only ten; when someone came to the wine vat to draw fifty measures out of the vat, there were only twenty. 17 I struck you with blight and mildew and with hail on all the labours of your hands. Yet you did not turn to me, says the LORD. 18 Consider now from this day onward. Consider things from the twenty-fourth day of the ninth month, from the day that the foundation of the LORD's temple was laid. 19 Is the seed still in the barn? And as yet the vine, and the fig tree,
20 And again the word of the LORD came to Haggai on the twenty-fourth day of the month, saying, 21 "Speak to Zerubbabel, governor of Judah, saying, I will shake the heavens and the earth. 22 And I will overthrow the throne of kingdoms, and destroy the strength of the kingdoms of the nations. And I will overthrow the chariots and those who ride in them, and the horses and their riders will come down, each one by the sword of his brother.
23 "In that day, says the LORD of hosts, I will take you, O Zerubbabel, my servant, the son of Shealtiel, says the LORD, and will make you like my signet ring; for I have chosen you, says the LORD of hosts."
2:15 1:5. 2:16,17 1:6,9. "Did not turn to me" – Isa 9:13; Jer 3:10; Amos 4:6-9. 2:18,19 "I will bless you" – compare Mal 3:10; Ps 128:1,2; Joel 2:13,14. Because the people began to believe the prophet and to obey and honor God, He promises them there would be a great and sudden change in their condition. Instead of punishing them He would bless them, starting immediately. And He wanted them to mark down the date of this change and the reason for it, so that they might learn His ways with them. 2:20-23 On the same day that God sent a
message to the people he sent a personal message of encouragement to the leader of the people. 2:21 "Shake" – 2:6. 2:22 Zerubbabel had nothing to fear from enemies either far or near. The Commander of the armies of heaven and the Controller of all earth's armies was in charge of events. Compare Ex 15:1,4,19,21; Josh 21:43,44; Jud 7:22; Ezek 38:21; Dan 2:34,35,44,45; 4:35. 2:23 "Signet ring" – Ex 3:10; 8:8. In those days this was a sign of authority. God would execute His decisions through Zerubbabel.
ZECHARIAH
Author:
Zechariah was a contemporary of Haggai, the grandson of a priest named Iddo, and so a priest himself. In the Old Testament 29 men are named Zechariah, but the prophet who wrote this book is the one who lived in the days of Ezra and Nehemiah and is referred to in their books.
Date:
Zechariah began his ministry in 520 BC, and wrote this book sometime after that.
Themes:
Rebuking the people for their sins; encouraging the construction of the temple; God's judgment on the nations; future trouble and then blessing for Israel; both the first and second comings of Christ (3:8; 6:12,13; 9:9; 14:3,4).
Contents:
The first exhortation to the people ................................................................. 1:2-6 Eight visions ................................................................................................ 1:7 - 6:8
A man and horses among the myrtle trees ................................................ 1:8-17 Four horns ........................................................................................... 1:18-21 A man with a line in his hand ................................................................... 2:1-13 Changes for the high priest Joshua ......................................................... 3:1-10 Prophecy concerning Christ the Branch ............................................ 3:8-10 The golden lampstand and the olive trees................................................. 4:1-14 The flying scroll ..................................................................................... 5:1-4 The woman sitting in a basket ................................................................. 5:5-11 Four chariots ........................................................................................ 6:1-8 A crown for the high priest, Christ's coming ..................................................... 6:9-15 True religion contrasted with mere ceremonies,
and the result of disobedience to God................................................. 7:1-14 God's decision to bring about well-being among
the people, and the way they should behave ...................................... 8:1-17 Fast days to become joyful festivals ............................................................... 8:18-23 Destruction of neighboring nations, the coming of
Christ and the peace he will bring about.............................................. 9:1-10 Victory for the people of Israel ...................................................................... 9:11-17 God will rescue His people from false gods
and deceitful leaders and give joy ...................................................... 10:1-8 God will gather His scattered people ............................................................... 10:9-12 Shepherds with no concern for the good of the flock ........................................ 11:1-11 Prophecy about 30 pieces of silver ................................................................. 11:12-14 The shepherd who will persecute the flock ...................................................... 11:15-17 Jerusalem the centre of trouble in the
last days, its deliverance .................................................................. 12:1-9 Israel's repentance and lament about Christ .................................................... 12:10-13 The cleansing of Israel .................................................................................. 13:1-5 Wounds in the hands .................................................................................... 13:6,7 The refining of the remnant of Israel .............................................................. 13:8,9 The Day of the LORD, the establishment of
God's kingdom on the earth ............................................................... 14:1-11 War at the end of this age ............................................................................ 14:12-15 The future glory of Jerusalem ........................................................................ 14:20-21
1235 ZECHARIAH 1:13
In the eighth month, in the second year of Darius, the word of the LORD came to the prophet Zechariah, the son of Berechiah, the son of Iddo, saying,
prophet Zechariah, the son of Berechiah, the son of Iddo, as follows:
8 I saw a vision at night, and a man appeared riding on a red horse, and he stood among the myrtle trees in a hollow, and behind him there were red, sorrel, and white horses.
2 "The LORD was very angry with your fathers. 3 Therefore say to them, Thus says the LORD of hosts: Turn to me, says the LORD of hosts, and I will turn to you, says the LORD of hosts. 4 Do not be like your fathers, to whom the former prophets cried out, saying, 'Thus says the LORD of hosts: Turn now from your evil ways, and from your evil deeds.' But they would not hear, or listen to me, says the LORD. 5 Your fathers, where are they? And the prophets, do they live forever? 6 But my words and my statutes, which I commanded my servants the prophets, did they not overtake your fathers?
9 Then I said, "My lord, what are these?" And the angel who talked with me said to me, "I will show you what these are. "
10 And the man who stood among the myrtle trees answered and said, "These are those whom the LORD has sent to go throughout the earth."
11 And they answered the angel of the LORD who stood among the myrtle trees, and said, "We have gone throughout the earth, and have seen that all the earth is quiet and peaceful."
12 Then the angel of the LORD answered and said, "O LORD of hosts, how long will you have no mercy on Jerusalem and on the cities of Judah, against which you have been angry these seventy years?" 13 And the LORD answered the angel who talked with me with good words, comforting words.
"And they returned and said, 'The LORD of hosts has dealt with us in accordance with our ways and our deeds, just as he determined to do to us.'"
7 On the twenty-fourth day of the eleventh month, which is the month Sebat, in the second year of Darius, the word of the LORD came to the
1:1 "Darius" – Hag 1:1; Ezra 4:24. Zechariah and Haggai were contemporaries.
night. Giving visions is one way God used to reveal His truth and His messages to the prophets. See Gen 15:1; Isa 1:1; Dan 2:19; Acts 9:10; 10:3. 1:8 "A man" – it seems this "man" is "the angel of the LORD" (v 11), none other than the Son of God Himself. Note on this angel at Gen 16:7.
"Word of the LORD came" – Jer 1:2; Hos 1:1; Joel 1:1. "Iddo" – Ezra 5:1; 6:14; Neh 12:4,16. "Prophet" – Gen 20:7. 1:2 "Angry" – notes at Num 25:3; Ps 90:7-11. "Fathers" – Jer 7:18,20; 8:19; 11:17; 32:31-35. The people of Judah turned away from God, broke His covenant and worshiped other gods. So He brought against them the Babylonians who destroyed Jerusalem and took the people into exile – 2 Chron 36:15-21. Now a remnant of the people had returned and God speaks to them. 1:3 "LORD of hosts" – note at 1 Sam 1:3. "Turn to me" – Jer 4:1; Hosea 14:1; Mal 3:7; Jam 4:8. If they would do their part it is certain that God would do His part – Ex 34:6,7; Ezek 18:30-32. 1:4 "Former prophets" – Isaiah, Joel, Micah, Jeremiah, etc.
"Red horse" – the color red may signify bloodshed (Rev 6:4), white may signify victory and peace (compare Rev 19:11-15), and sorrel may signify a mixture of the two.
"Horses" – the meaning of these appears in v 10. They probably signify angels whom God sends on His work in the world (compare 2 Kings 6:17; Ps 78:49; 91:11,12; Dan 10:12,13,20; Heb 1:14; Rev 7:1; 12:7; 15:1). 1:9 The angel who was talking with Zechariah is not the same as the angel of the LORD (v 11). 1:10 "The earth" – Job 1:6,7. The angels go throughout the world to fulfill God's will. 1:11 Verse 8. The angel of the LORD was in authority over all the other angels and so they brought their reports to Him.
"Would not hear" – Jer 7:13,25; 11:7,8; 25:3-7. Any people, any individual who refuses to pay attention to what God says is heading for disaster. Compare Heb 12:25. 1:5,6 Men pass away like grass in a field but God's Word stands forever – Isa 40:68; 1 Pet 1:24,25. And the punishment that came on Israel and Judah was in fulfillment of that Word.
"Quiet and peaceful" – this was the state of the earth for a time after the Medes and Persians had conquered Babylonia and established their empire. 1:12 The Son of God prays to God the Father about the condition of Judah. Compare John 17:1; Rom 8:34; 1 Tim 2:5; Heb 7:25; 1 John 2:1. "Seventy years" – 2 Chron 36:21; Jer 25:11,12; 29:10; Dan 9:2. 1:13-17 God the Father listened to His Son and sent a comforting message to the people of Judah through His angel and His prophet. 1:13 "Angel" – v 9.
"Then they returned and said" – compare Dan 9:1-3; Jer 29:10-14; Ezra 9:3-5; 10:1.
"In accordance with our ways" – Ezra 9:7,13; Dan 9:11-14. "Determined to do" – Lev 26:27-33; Deut 28:45-52; Jer 23:20; 39:16. 1:7-17 This is the first of eight visions God gave Zechariah – v 18; 2:1; 3:1; 4:1; 5:1,5; 6:1. It seems they all came in one
ZECHARIAH 1:14 1236
14 So the angel who talked with me said to me, "Cry out, saying, 'Thus says the LORD of hosts: I am jealous for Jerusalem and for Zion with a great jealousy. 15 And I am very angry with the nations that are at ease. For I was only a little angry, and they helped forward the distress.
I lifted up my eyes again, and looked and saw a man with a measuring line in his hand. 2 Then I said, "Where are you going?" And he said to me, "To measure Jerusalem, to see what its width and length are. "
3 And, suddenly, the angel who talked with me went out, and another angel came out to meet him, 4 And said to him, "Run, speak to this young man, saying, 'Jerusalem will be inhabited like towns without walls because of the many men and cattle in it. 5 For I, says the LORD, will be a wall of fire all around her, and will be the glory in her midst.'"
16 "Therefore thus says the LORD: I am returning to Jerusalem with mercy. My house will be built in it, says the LORD of hosts, and a measuring line will be stretched out on Jerusalem.'
17 "Cry out again, saying, 'Thus says the LORD of hosts: My cities will again spread out through prosperity, and the LORD will again comfort Zion, and will again choose Jerusalem.'"
6 "Up, and away! Flee from the land of the north, says the LORD, for I have spread you out to the four winds of the heaven," says the LORD.
18 Then I lifted up my eyes, and looked and saw four horns. 19 And I said to the angel who talked with me, "What are these?"
7 "Up, O Zion! Escape, you who dwell with the daughter of Babylon." 8 For thus says the LORD of hosts: After glory he has sent me to the nations who have plundered you. For he who touches you touches the apple of his eye. 9 For, see, I will raise my hand over them, and they will become plunder to their servants. And you will know that the LORD of hosts has sent me.
And he answered me, "Those are the horns which scattered Judah, Israel, and Jerusalem."
20 And the LORD showed me four craftsmen. 21 Then I said, "What have those come to do?" And he spoke, saying, "These are the horns which scattered Judah, so that no one could lift up his head; but these have come to terrify them, to throw down the horns of the Gentiles, which lifted up their horn over the land of Judah to scatter it."
10 "Sing and rejoice, O daughter of Zion, for, see, I am coming, and I will dwell in your midst," says the LORD. 11 "And many nations will be 1:14 "Jealous" – 8:2; Ex 20:5; 34:14; Joel 2:18; James 4:5. Jealousy speaks of love. God's love for the people of Judah was very great, and therefore He was jealous of anything that might turn their hearts from Him, and was angry with any nation which injured them. 1:15 "Angry" – v 2. "Nations" – the nations felt secure apart from God and did many things to provoke Him to anger (compare Rom 1:1825). God's anger against them increased because of their treatment of the Jews. 1:16 "My house" – the temple. For the fulfillment of this see Ezra 6:14,15.
to contain the multitude who live there – 10:10; Isa 49:19,20. 2:5 "Wall of fire" – God Himself will protect the city, so physical walls will be unnecessary. Compare Ps 125:2.
"Glory" – Ex 40:34; 1 Kings 8:10,11; Ps 85:9; Isa 11:10; 24:23; 60:1-3; Rev 21:23. 2:6 "I have spread" – Deut 4:27; 28:64; 1 Kings 14:15; Jer 31:10; Ezek 20:34. "Four winds" – all corners of earth (Isa 11:10,11; 43:5,6; 49:12). 2:7 "Zion" – here means Jerusalem's people in exile. "Escape" is a way of saying God would bring their exile to an end (Isa 48:20).
"Measuring line" – here signifies either the rebuilding of Jerusalem or protection from enemies. See Jer 31:38-40. 1:17 "Comfort" – Isa 40:1. "Choose" – 2:12; 3:2; Isa 14:1. 1:18-21 A vision about the destruction of the nations which destroyed Israel and Judah. "Horns" signify authority and power (1 Sam 2:10; Ps 18:2; Dan 7:7,8; Luke 1:69; Rev 17:12). Here they symbolize the strong nations which scattered God's people, chief among which was Assyria and Babylonia. But "four" may indicate the "four corners" of the whole world. 1:20 "Craftsmen" – nations or other forces God would use to crush the nations signified by the horns. "Craftsmen" suggests something constructive rather than merely destructive. 2:1-13 This third vision has to do with the future greatness of Jerusalem and Judah. 2:4 "Young man" – possibly the man with a measuring line in v 1.
"Daughter" – 2 Kings 19:21; Ps 9:14; 45:12; 137:8. 2:8 "He has sent me" – this seems a clear reference to the Messiah, the Lord Jesus Christ (vs 9,11). He will deal with the nations which have plundered Israel. Compare Ps 2:8; Rev 19:15.
"Apple of his eye" – see Deut 32:10. Israel is very precious to God and aiming a blow at her is like aiming a blow at God Himself (compare Acts 9:4). 2:9 He will cause governments to fall and the oppressed to have the upper hand over their former rulers.
"Me" – the same person as in the previous verse. 2:10 "Sing and rejoice" – 9:9; Zeph 3:14. "I am coming" – 9:9 refers to Christ's first coming. This verse probably refers to His second coming.
"Dwell in your midst" – 8:3; 14:16; Ezek 37:27; 48:35. Note at Ex 25:8. 2:11 "Many nations" – 8:20-22; 14:16;
"Without walls" – Jerusalem will be such a great city that its old walls will not be able