Zechariah 8:9-17

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

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Zechariah 8:9

Thus saith the Lord of hosts, Let your hands be strong ,.... In going on with the building of the temple, which was typical of the church of God, since so many great and good things were promised by the Lord, Haggai 2:4 , ye that hear in these days ; such as Zerubbabel the ruler, Joshua the high priest, and the rest of the people of the land: these words by the mouth of the prophets ; that is, these prophecies of future good things, which were delivered by Haggai, Zechariah, and... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Zechariah 8:10

For before these days ,.... That the temple began to be built: there was no hire for men, nor any hire for beasts ; that turned to any account; the wages earned by the one, and with the other, were as if they were put into a bag with holes, did not prosper with them, or do them any service, Haggai 1:6 , neither was there any peace to him that went out or came in, because of the affliction ; there was no safety in passing to and fro, nor any peaceable enjoyment of what a man had,... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Zechariah 8:11

But now I will not be unto the residue of this people ,.... The remnant brought out of captivity, settled in the land, and now rebuilding the temple: as in the former days, saith the Lord of hosts ; when they neglected the house of the Lord, caring only for their own cieled houses, Haggai 1:2 . read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Zechariah 8:12

For the seed shall be prosperous ,.... Being cast into the earth, it shall spring up again, and produce a large increase; whereas before, though they sowed much, it came to little, Haggai 1:6 , the vine shall give her fruit ; be loaded with clusters, and produce large quantities of wine; whereas before there was a drought upon the new wine; and where there were wont to be had fifty vessels out of the press, there were but twenty, Haggai 1:11 , and the ground shall give her... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Zechariah 8:13

And it shall come to pass, that as ye were a curse among the heathen ,.... Reproached, vilified, and called accursed by them; see Jeremiah 24:9 as true Christians, and real believers in Christ, are by the men of this world, 1 Corinthians 4:12 , O house of Judah, and house of Israel ; both being carried captive at different times, and were typical of the true and Spiritual Israel of God: so will I save you, and ye shall be a blessing ; be blessed in themselves with the above... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Zechariah 8:14

For thus saith the Lord of hosts ,.... In order to assure them of the truth of what he promised, he observes the fulfilment of what he had threatened, he being as true and faithful in the one as in the other: As I thought to punish you : determined to do it, by suffering them to be carried captive: when your fathers provoked me to wrath, saith the Lord of hosts ; by their immorality, idolatry, and contempt of his prophets: and I repented not ; the Targum adds, "of my word"; of... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Zechariah 8:15

So again ,.... Or "so I am returned" F14 כן שבתי "sic conversus sum", Pagninus, Montanus, Calvin; "ita conversus", Junius & Tremellius, Piscator; "reversus sum", Burkius. , as in Zechariah 8:3 , have I thought in these days to do well unto Jerusalem, and to the house of Judah ; by bestowing the above mentioned blessings on them; and as Jehovah has thought, so it comes to pass, and as he has purposed, so it stands; whatever he determines shall be, as for evil, so for good,... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Zechariah 8:16

These are the things that ye shall do ,.... Which were duties incumbent on them, and which it became them to perform, under a sense of the favours bestowed on them, to show their gratitude to God, and that they might glorify him: Speak ye every man the truth to his neighbour ; not using deceit, prevarication, and lying, Ephesians 4:25 and it becomes every man under the Gospel dispensation, according to the gift he has received, to speak, publish, and declare the truth of the Gospel,... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Zechariah 8:17

And let none of you imagine evil in your hearts against his neighbour ,.... See Gill on Zechariah 7:10 hatred without a cause was a governing vice under the second temple, and Jarchi says was the cause of the destruction of it; see John 15:25 , and love no false oath ; whereby the character and property of a fellow creature are hurt; nor any vain one, which the Jews were addicted to, Matthew 5:34 , for all these are things that I hate, saith the Lord ; as being contrary to... read more

Group of Brands