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John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Zechariah 9:6

Verse 6 In this verse the Prophet denounces a similar ruin on Azotus, and the whole land of the Philistines, or on the whole land of Palestine. For what interpreters say, that the Jews would dwell at Azotus as strangers, that is, though they had previously been counted aliens, is to reach neither heaven nor earth. The Prophet on the contrary means, that after the destruction of these cities, if any inhabitants remained, they would be like strangers, without any certain habitation. The Prophet... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Zechariah 9:7

Verse 7 Interpreters do also pervert the whole of this verse; and as to the following verse, that is, the next, they do nothing else but lead the readers far astray from its real meaning. God says now, that he will take away blood from the mouth of enemies; as though he had said, “I will check their savage disposition, that they may not thus swallow down the blood of my people.” For here is not described any change, as though they were to become a different people, as though the Syrians, the... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Zechariah 9:8

Verse 8 He concludes what he had been speaking of, — that God would be the guardian of his chosen people, so as to repel on every side the violent assaults of enemies. It is then the same as though he had said, “though the Church is not strongly fortified, it shall yet be impregnable, for God’s protection is of more value than all human strength, than all aids and helps.” God then compares himself here to a moat and a bulwark, and other kinds of fortresses, I will be, he says, a camp to my... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Zechariah 9:1-6

A visitation of judgment. "The burden of the word of the Lord in the land of Hadrach," etc. Whatever view is taken of the exact time of the fulfilment of the glorious promises with which the last chapter concludes, it was necessarily a time still future when those promises were uttered. Other things of a very different nature were first to occur. On some of these, accordingly, as constituting a kind of "burden" ( Zechariah 9:1 ) on some of the lands and people contiguous to Israel, the... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Zechariah 9:1-8

§ 1. To prepare the land for Israel, and to prove God's care for his people, the neighbouring heathen shall be chastised, while Israel shall dwell in safety and independence. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Zechariah 9:1-8

God's judgments. I. THE DARK SIDE . "Burden." Word of ill omen to God's enemies. God's eye is on all. Storm gathering. Will soon burst in fury, just, universal, overwhelming. None so small as to be overlooked. None so great as to secure immunity. The wisdom of the wise, the resources of the rich, and the fame of ancient days will prove as vanity. II. THE BRIGHT SIDE . Eye of kindness. Hand of gracious interposition. Incorporation of Jews and Gentiles in one glorious Church.... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Zechariah 9:1-8

The dark and the bright side of God's revelation to mankind. "The burden of the word of the Lord," etc. This chapter begins that portion of the book whose genuineness, though denied by some, is accepted by most unbiassed expositors. As it is our main purpose, in preparing these sketches, to use the statements, whether prosaic or poetic, prophetic or historic, to illustrate truths of universal application, it comes not within our purpose to discuss the questions of genuineness,... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Zechariah 9:5

Ashkelon shall see it. The ruin of so mighty a city as Tyre naturally filled neighbouring people with dismay. The prophet directs his attention to Philistia, and threatens its chief cities. The cities are enumerated in the same order as in Jeremiah 25:20 . Gath is omitted, as in Amos 1:6-8 and Zephaniah 2:4 :. It seems never to have recovered its destruction by Uzziah ( 2 Chronicles 26:6 ). (For Ashkelon, Gaza, and Ekron, see note on Amos 1:6 .) Her expectation shall be ashamed. ... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Zechariah 9:6

A Bastard. The word ( mamzer ) occurs in Deuteronomy 23:2 (3, Hebrew), where it may possibly mean "a stranger." It is generally considered to signify one whose birth has a blemish in it—one born of incest or adultery. In Deuteronomy the LXX . renders, ἐκ πόρης , "one of harlot birth;" here, ἀλλογενής , "foreigner." The Vulgate has separator, which is explained as meaning either the Lord, who as Judge divides the just from the unjust, or the Conqueror, who divides the spoil... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Zechariah 9:7

Personifying Philistia, the prophet declares that she shall cease to practise idolatry, and shall be incorporated in Israel. I will take away his blood out of his mouth. This refers to the practice of drinking the blood of sacrifices as an act of worship, or of eating the victims with the blood—a practice strictly forbidden to the Israelites (see Le 3:17; 7:26; 17:10, 12; and comp. Genesis 9:4 ). Abominations . Sacrifices offered to idols, and afterwards eaten. The two clauses intimate... read more

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