And the angel that talked with me ,.... See Zechariah 1:9 , came again, and waked me, as a man that is wakened out of his sleep ; into which he fell, after he had had the former vision; see Daniel 8:18 . read more
The angel - came again, and waked me - Abp. Newcome considers this vision as represented on the same night, Zechariah 1:8 , with the preceding ones. See the latter part of Zechariah 1:10 , compared with Zechariah 3:9 . After some interval the prophet, overpowered with the vision which had been presented to him, was awakened from his prophetic trance as from a sleep. read more
Verse 1 Another vision is narrated here, — that a candlestick was shown to the Prophet, on which there were seven lights. He says that the candlestick was formed all of gold: and he says that to the seven lamps there were as many cruses, (infusoria — pourers,) or, as some think, there were seven cruses to each lamp: but the former view is what I mostly approve, that is, that every lamp had its own cruse. He further says, that there were two olive-trees, one on the right, the other on the left... read more
The angel that talked with me. The interpreting angel is meant. Came again, and waked me. It is thought that the angel, who is said ( Zechariah 2:3 ) to have gone forth, now rejoined the prophet and renewed his colloquy with him. But the expression in the text is probably only equivalent to "aroused me again" (comp. Genesis 26:18 ; 2 Kings 1:11 , 2 Kings 1:13 , etc.). Absorbed in awe and wonder at the contemplation of the preceding vision, the prophet had fallen into a state of... read more
The Church revived. "And the angel that talked with me came again, and waked me," etc. The imagery of these verses is twofold; but their subject seems one. By the "candlestick" expressly mentioned in Zechariah 4:2 (comp. Revelation 1:13 ; Revelation 2:1 ; also Matthew 5:14 , Matthew 5:15 ; Philippians 2:15 ), and by the temple tacitly referred to in Zechariah 4:7 , we understand, spiritually, the same thing, viz. in the first instance certainly the Jewish Church of that time.... read more
The Church in three aspects. I. SYMBOLICALLY REPRESENTED . ( Zechariah 4:2 , Zechariah 4:3 .) Candelabrum. II. DEVOUTLY CONTEMPLATED . ( Zechariah 4:5 .) Humble, earnest, reverent inquiry. III. DIVINELY INTERPRETED . 1 . The unity of the Church. 2 . The spiritual use of the Church. 3 . The Divine care of the Church. 4 . The future glory of the Church. The Church should be: read more
Man as a student of the Divine revelation and a doer of Divine work. "And the angel that talked with me," etc. "It is needful to keep in mind that all these successive scenes were presented to the mind of the prophet in vision; and that each vision was distinct, forming a whole of itself, independently of the scenery of those which preceded it, although not so as to preclude connection in the lessons taught, and occasional reference (such as we shall find in the one now before us) to the... read more
§ 7. The fifth vision: the golden candlestick. read more
The angel came again - The angel (as before Zechariah 2:3) had gone forth to receive some fresh instruction from a higher angel or from God.And awakened me - As a man is awakened out of sleep. Zechariah, overwhelmed by the greatness of the visions, must have sunk down in a sort of stupor, as after the vision of the ram and he-goat, as Gabriel was speaking with him, Daniel says, “I was in a deep sleep on my face toward the ground, and he touched me and set me upright” Daniel 8:18; and again at... read more
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Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Zechariah 4:1-10
Here is, I. The prophet prepared to receive the discovery that was to be made to him: The angel that talked with him came and waked him, Zech. 4:1. It seems, though he was in conference with an angel, and about matters of great and public concern, yet he grew dull and fell asleep, as it should seem, while the angel was yet talking with him. Thus the disciples, when they saw Christ transfigured, were heavy with sleep, Luke 9:32. The prophet's spirit, no doubt, was willing to attend to that... read more