Zechariah 8

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Zechariah 8

The work of ministers is rightly to divide the word of truth and to give every one his portion. So the prophet is here instructed to do, in the further answer he gives to the case of conscience proposed about continuing the public fasts. His answer, in the foregoing chapter, is by way of reproof to those that were disobedient and would not obey the truth. But here he is ordered to change his voice, and to speak by way of encouragement to the willing and obedient. Here are two words from the... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Zechariah 8:1-8

The prophet, in his foregoing discourses, had left his hearers under a high charge of guilt and a deep sense of wrath; he had left them in a melancholy view of the desolations of their pleasant land, which was the effect of their fathers? disobedience; but because he designed to bring them to repentance, not to drive them to despair, he here sets before them the great things God had in store for them, encouraging them hereby to hope that their case of conscience would shortly determine itself... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Zechariah 8:9-17

God, by the prophet, here gives further assurances of the mercy he had in store for Judah and Jerusalem. Here is line upon line for their comfort, as before there was for their conviction. These verses contain strong encouragements with reference to the difficulties they now laboured under. And we may observe, I. Who they were to whom these encouragements did belong?to those who, in obedience to the call of God by his prophets, applied in good earnest to the building of the temple (Zech. 8:9):... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Zechariah 8:18-23

These verses contain two precious promises, for the further encouragement of those pious Jews that were hearty in building the temple. I. That a happy period should be put to their fasts, and there should be no more occasion for them, but they should be converted into thanksgiving days, Zech. 8:19. This is a direct answer to the enquiry concerning their fasts, Zech. 7:3. Those of them that fasted in hypocrisy had their doom in the foregoing chapter, but those that in sincerity humbled... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Zechariah 8

INTRODUCTION TO ZECHARIAH 8 This chapter contains promises of various blessings to the people of the Jews; and exhortations to each of the duties incumbent on them; and is concluded with a prophecy of the calling of the Gentiles. The cause of all the blessings promised is the love of God to them, signified by zeal, or jealousy for them, Zechariah 8:1 . The blessings promised are the Lord's return to dwell in Jerusalem, and the integrity and holiness of that city, Zechariah 8:3 . The... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Zechariah 8:1

Again the word of the Lord of hosts came to me saying. The phrase, "to me", is wanting in the Hebrew text; and is the only place it is wanting in, as the Masora observes; though undoubtedly it is to be understood; and therefore is rightly supplied, as it is by the Targum, "with me". Mention being made in the latter part of the preceding chapter Zechariah 7:8 of the desolations of the earth, comfort is here administered, as Aben Ezra notes. read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Zechariah 8:2

Thus saith the Lord of hosts ,.... This prophecy, according to Kimchi and Ben Melech, respects time to come; the days of the Messiah, in the war of Gog and Magog, when they shall come up against Jerusalem, and the Lord shall pour out his great wrath upon them; and it seems right to interpret it, not only literally of Jerusalem, but spiritually of the church in Gospel times: I was jealous for Zion with great jealousy ; the Arabic version reads, "for Jerusalem, and for Zion"; as in ... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Zechariah 8:3

Thus saith the Lord, I am returned to Zion ,.... The temple being now building, and almost finished, and the worship of God restored in it. The Targum renders it, "I will return to Zion"; and it may refer to the time of Christ's incarnation, when the Redeemer came to Zion, Isaiah 59:20 or to the time of the conversion of the Jews in the latter day, of both which it is true; see Romans 11:26 , and will dwell in the midst of Jerusalem : or "cause my Shechinah to dwell there", as the... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Zechariah 8:4

Thus saith the Lord of hosts ,.... These words are used at every consolatory promise given, as Kimchi observes, for the confirmation of it: there shall yet old men and old women dwell in the streets of Jerusalem ; signifying that the inhabitants should be very healthful; no sweeping disease or calamity should be among them, but they should live to a good old age, as follows: and every man with his staff in his hand for very age ; or "because of multitude of days" F9 מרב ימים ... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Zechariah 8:5

And the streets of the city shall be full of boys and girls ,.... Denoting a large increase of inhabitants, in a literal sense; and may spiritually signify the large numbers of converts, of new born babes, who are regenerated by the grace and Spirit of God, and are accounted of by the Lord for a generation: playing the streets thereof ; being in health and rigour, and in great security. The Targum renders it, "singing" or "praising in the spacious places thereof"; singing the praises of... read more

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