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Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Zechariah 1:7-17

We not come to visions and revelations of the Lord; for in that way God chose to speak by Zechariah, to awaken the people's attention, and to engage their humble reverence of the word and their humble enquiries into it, and to fix it the more in their minds and memories. Most of the following visions seem designed for the comfort of the Jews, now newly returned out of captivity, and their encouragement to go on with the building of the temple. The scope of this vision (which is as an... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Zechariah 1:12

Then the Angel of the Lord answered and said ,.... The same that was among the myrtle trees in the bottom, Zechariah 1:8 , O Lord of hosts, how long wilt thou not have mercy on Jerusalem, and on the cities of Judah ; which were fallen to ruin, and had lain waste for many years. These words are expressive of the intercession of Christ on the behalf of the people of the Jews, his professing people, both with respect to their temporal and spiritual good: against which thou hast had... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Zechariah 1:13

And the Lord answered the angel that talked with me ,.... See Zechariah 1:9 what was the effect of Christ's intercession for the people of the Jews, was communicated to a ministering angel, and by him to the Prophet Zechariah: with good words, and comfortable words ; such as would be for the good and comfort of God's people, as follows; see Isaiah 40:1 . read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Zechariah 1:14

So the angel that communed with me ,.... Having an order from the other Angel, or the Lord of hosts: said unto me, Cry thou ; proclaim, publish, declare in the hearing of the people, for their comfort and encouragement. The Targum renders it, "prophesy": saying, Thus saith the Lord of hosts, I am jealous for Jerusalem, and for Zion, with a great jealousy ; which is expressive of his conjugal affection for his church and people, his zeal for their good, and his indignation at their... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Zechariah 1:15

And I am very sore displeased with the heathen that are at ease ,.... The Chaldeans and Persians, and other nations, enemies of the Jews, who were now free from war, and enjoyed great prosperity, when the state and condition of the Jews was very low and discouraging: for I was but a little displeased : that is, with his people the Jews, for their ingratitude, idolatry, and immorality; and which displeasure he showed by suffering them to be carried into captivity; see Isaiah 54:8 , ... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Zechariah 1:16

Therefore thus saith the Lord, I am returned to Jerusalem with mercies ,.... Having returned the people of the Jews from their captivity to Jerusalem, in which he had shown abundant mercy to them: my house shall be built in it, saith the Lord of hosts ; meaning the temple where he dwelt and was worshipped; the foundation of which had been laid two months before this prophecy was delivered, Haggai 2:18 and which should be raised up and finished, notwithstanding all the opposition of the... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Zechariah 1:17

Cry yet, saying ,.... That is, "prophesy again", as the Targum paraphrases it; publish and declare openly before all: Thus saith the Lord of hosts, My cities through prosperity shall yet be spread abroad ; or, according to the Targum, "the cities of my people shall be yet filled with good"; and so the Septuagint and Vulgate Latin versions, "my cities shall yet flow with good things"; with all temporal prosperity and happiness; which was fulfilled in the times of Nehemiah, Zerubbabel, and... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Zechariah 1:12

Then the angel of the Lord - He who was among the myrtles - the Lord Jesus. O Lord of hosts, how long - Jesus Christ was not only the "Lamb slain from the foundation of the world," but was always the sole Mediator and intercessor between God and man. These threescore and ten years? - This cannot mean the duration of the captivity for that was nearly twenty years past. It must mean simply the time that had elapsed from the destruction of the temple to the time in which the angel... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Zechariah 1:13

The Lord answered the angel - And the angel told the prophet that the answer was gracious and comfortable. This answer is given in the next verse. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Zechariah 1:14

I am jealous for Jerusalem - I have for them a strong affection; and indignation against their enemies. read more

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