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John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Zechariah 14:13

Verse 13 The Prophet seems again to be inconsistent with himself; for after having declared that God would be the defender of his people, so as to destroy and consume all people for their sake, he now adds that there would be intestine discords, by which the Jews would wilfully consume one another; while yet there is nothing more improbable than that the people, who live under God’s protection, should so divide themselves into factions, as to perish miserably without any outward enemy. But... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Zechariah 14:14

Verse 14 Zechariah speaks here no doubt on the same subject; for he adds, that there would be an intestine war between the country and the city, though they were but one body, and since their return they were under the same Divine banner: God had indeed been their leader in their journey, and was in short the only remaining glory of the people. It was then something horribly monstrous, that Judah should join himself to enemies in order to destroy the city: yet the Prophet says that this evil,... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Zechariah 14:15

Verse 15 Zechariah in this verse raises up the minds of the godly, so that they might know that their energies would effect nothing, but that after having tried every thing they would be put to flight by the power of God. And hence appears more evident what has been twice repeated, — that the Prophet does not simply denounce calamities to terrify the Jews, but to animate them to constancy, that they might boldly exult, even when nearly overwhelmed by a vast heap of evils. The meaning then is,... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Zechariah 14:12

This shall be the plague. These are the instruments which the Lord uses when he fights against the nations (not the people , as in the Authorized Version), Zechariah 14:3 . The plague, or smiting ( maggephah ), is some contagions affliction sent by God, as in Exodus 9:14 ; Numbers 14:37 ; 1 Samuel 6:4 . Their . It is, in the Hebrew, "his flesh, his feet," etc; to show that the general plague extends to every individual. In the last clause the plural is used, "their mouth."... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Zechariah 14:12-15

§ 8. Having noted the blessings on the true Israelites, the prophet gives further details concerning the destruction of the enemies: they shall perish by plague, by mutual slaughter, by the sword of Judah. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Zechariah 14:12-15

The elements by which the Divine government punishes sin. "And this shall be the plague," etc. In the third verse of this chapter we are told that "the Lord shall go forth and fight against those nations," that is, against those nations comprehended in the armies which destroyed Jerusalem; and we have elsewhere endeavoured to illustrate how God punishes bad men by bad men. This passage is a further illustration of the idea. There are three elements of punishment which Jehovah is... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Zechariah 14:12-21

A regenerate world. "And this shall be the plague wherewith the Lord will smite all the people that have fought against Jerusalem," etc. A regenerate man is not a man without disposition to sin, but a man in whose case that disposition is habitually overcome. In that regenerate world partially described in the previous verses, something very similar is to hold good. All the elements of evil are not then altogether to cease; but there shall be in operation then a new principle of action,... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Zechariah 14:13

A great tumult from the Lord ( Zechariah 12:4 ). A general panic or confusion sent by the Lord, such as befell the Midianites ( 7:22 ) and the Philistines (l Samuel Zechariah 14:20 ), which ends in mutual slaughter. They shall lay hold every one, etc. In this general panic each shall seize his neighbour's hand in fierce contention. The next clause gives the same meaning (comp. Zechariah 11:6 ). read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Zechariah 14:14

Judah also shall fight at Jerusalem. The adversus Jerusalem of the Vulgate and some Jewish interpreters is a mistake, and introduces a wholly irrelevant idea. The meaning is that the Judaeans outside of Jerusalem, the nation at large, rallying to the attack, shall fall on the enemy, now thinned by pestilence and internecine conflicts within the walls of the city, and prevail against them (comp. Zechariah 12:6 ). Septuagint, ἰούδας παρατάξεται ἐν ἱερουσαλήμ , " Judah shall... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Zechariah 14:15

So shall be the plague of the horse, etc. As was the plague that came on men ( Zechariah 14:12 ), so shall be tide plague that falls on their beasts and cattle. The brute animals suffer for their owners' sin according to the ban under the old Law ( Deuteronomy 13:15 ; comp. Numbers 16:32 , Numbers 16:33 ; Joshua 7:24 , Joshua 7:25 ). Tents ; camps; Septuagint, παρεμβολαῖς . The verse illustrates the utter destruction which shall befall the enemies of God's Church. read more

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