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Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Zechariah 6:7

And the bay went forth - The Seleucidae, who conquered Syria and the upper provinces, and who wished to extend their conquests, and "sought to go, that they might walk to and fro throughout the earth," were of unbounded ambition, and sought universal empire; such as Antiochus the Great. "So they walked to and fro," did extend their conquests; and harassed many countries by their vexatious and almost continual wars. Some think the Romans are meant, who carried their conquests hither and... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Zechariah 6:8

Have quieted my spirit in the north country - They have fulfilled my judgments on Assyria and Chaldea. Nabopolassar and Cyrus first, against the Assyrians and Chaldeans; and Alexander next, against the Persians. On this vision Abp. Newcome remarks: - The black horses seem to denote the Persian empire; which, by subduing the Chaldeans, and being about to inflict a second heavy chastisement on Babylon, quieted God's spirit with respect to Chaldea; a country always spoken of as lying to the... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Zechariah 6:10

Take of them of the captivity - The names that follow were probably those to whom the silver and golden vessels of the temple were intrusted; and who might have had bullion of silver and gold, for particular purposes, about the ornaments of the temple. The house of Josiah - Probably an artificer in silver, gold, etc. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Zechariah 6:11

Make crowns - עטרות ataroth ; but seven MSS. of Kennicott's and De Rossi's, and one ancient of my own, with the Syriac and Chaldee, have עטרת atereth , a crown, or tiara. And as Joshua the high priest is alone concerned here, I think one crown only is intended. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Zechariah 6:12

Behold the man whose name is The Branch! - I cannot think that Zerubbabel is here intended; indeed, he is not so much as mentioned in Zechariah 3:8 . Joshua and his companions are called מופת אנשי anshey mopheth , figurative or typical men; the crowning therefore of Joshua in this place, and calling him the Branch, was most probably in reference to that glorious person, the Messiah, of whom he was the type or figure. The Chaldee has, "whose name is my Messiah," or Christ. And he... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Zechariah 6:13

Even he shall build the temple - Joshua, not Zerubbabel. He shall bear the glory - Have all the honor of it; for none can do this but himself. The Messiah is still intended. And shall sit and rule upon his throne - For the government of the Church shall be upon his shoulder. And he shall be a priest upon his throne - He shall, as the great high priest, offer the only available offering and atonement; and so he shall be both king and priest, a royal king and a royal priest; for... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Zechariah 6:14

And the crowns shall be - One of my MSS. has אטרות ataroth , crowns, corrected into עטרת atereth , crown; and so the Septuagint, Syriac, and Arabic. The Chaldee has, "And praise shall be," etc. The meaning appears to be this, that the crown made for Joshua should be delivered to the persons mentioned here and in Zechariah 6:10 , to be laid up in the temple of the Lord, as a memorial of this typical transaction. read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Zechariah 6:7

Verse 7 But he says, that being not satisfied with the land of the south, they asked of God permission to go to and fro through the whole world. And though neither the devil nor the wicked regard God’s bidding, but are led, without knowing and against their will, wherever God drives them; yet the Prophet says, that they asked; for they could not overstep the limits prescribed to them. Though Satan asked, as to Job, to be allowed to do this and that, we are not yet too curiously to inquire... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Zechariah 6:8

Verse 8 From this verse we learn that the chief object of the vision was — that the Jews might know that the dreadful tumults in Chaldea, which had in part happened, and were yet to take place, were not excited without a design, but that all things were regulated by God’s hidden counsel, and also that God had so disturbed and embarrassed the state of that empire, that the end of it might be looked for. There is therefore no reason for any one too anxiously to labor to understand the import of... read more

John Calvin

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

Verse 9 This vision was given to Zechariah that he might inspire weak minds with better hope; for the Jews found that they were hardly pressed on every side by their neighbors, inasmuch as enemies rose up against them before and behind, so that there was no end to their troubles. Hence they who had returned from exile thought themselves wretched in such a state of things. They might indeed have lived in quietness among the Babylonians, and they had become accustomed to that kind of life, so... read more

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