Zechariah 14:18-21

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Zechariah 14:16-21

Three things are here foretold:? I. That a gospel-way of worship being set up in the church there shall be a great resort to it and a general attendance upon it. Those that were left of the enemies of religion shall be so sensible of the mercy of God to them in their narrow escape that they shall apply themselves to the worship of the God of Israel, and pay their homage to him, Zech. 14:16. Those that were not consumed shall be converted, and this makes their deliverance a mercy indeed, a... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Zechariah 14:18

And if the family of Egypt go not up, and come not ,.... To Jerusalem, the church of God; do not go thither to worship the Lord, attend his ordinances, and keep them in their purity; nor walk as becomes the people of God: by "the family of Egypt" are meant the Papists, so called for their tyranny, cruelty, and idolatry, Revelation 11:8 , that have no rain ; have not the pure word of God, and the ordinances thereof, only the traditions of men; yea, the doctrines of devils, and lies... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Zechariah 14:19

This shall be the punishment of Egypt ,.... Or "sin" F4 חטאת "peccatum", V. L. , as in the original text: rightly is the word rendered "punishment", as it is by the Targum: and the punishment of all nations that come not up to keep the feast of tabernacles ; which will be one and the same; they shall have no rain, or what answers to it; they shall all have a famine; or it will be different, Egypt shall be punished with a consumption of their flesh, and the other nations with want... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Zechariah 14:20

In that day ,.... After the destruction of antichrist and all the antichristian party, and a new state of things will take place, either the spiritual or personal reign of Christ: shall there be upon the bells of the horses, HOLINESS TO THE LORD ; as was upon the mitre of the high priest, Exodus 28:36 to which there seems to be an allusion here: or, "upon the trappings of the horses" F5 על מצלות "in phaleris", Tigurine version. , as the Targum renders it; and this intends... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Zechariah 14:21

Yea, every pot in Jerusalem and in Judah shall be holiness unto the Lord of hosts ,.... Such will be the number of sacrifices and sacrificers, that the pots in the Lord's house will not be sufficient; wherefore every pot, in city or country, shall be sanctified and devoted to holy uses: and all they that sacrifice shall come and take of them, and seethe therein ; this denotes, as before, the general holiness of the professors of religion in those times; and that there will be no... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Zechariah 14:18

If the family of Egypt - This may allude to those Jews who, flying from the persecution of Antiochus Epiphanes, settled in Egypt, and built a temple at Heliopolis, under the direction of Onias, son of the high priest. Josephus Antiq. lib. xiii., c. 6, and War, lib. vii., c. 36. If these do not rejoin their brethren, they shall have no rain, no interest in the favor of God. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Zechariah 14:19

This shall be the punishment - of all nations that come not up - God will have his public worship established everywhere, and those who do not worship him shall lie under his curse. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Zechariah 14:20

Upon the bells of the horses - They appear, formerly, to have had bells on horses, camels, etc., as we have now, to amuse the animals, and encourage them in their work. In some very fine Asiatic paintings now before me, I see bells both on horses, mules, and camels; little bells tied to their legs, and larger ones about their necks, particularly in the representation of a caravan passing through the valley of serpents, in the island of Serendib, now Ceylon. The margin reads bridles. ... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Zechariah 14:21

Yea, every pot in Jerusalem - "The utensils of the Jews shall be treated as holy, and the worshippers shall use them reverently. The idea of preparing food in them (they that - seethe therein) is taken from the custom of feasting after sacrifice. And no trafficker (see Ezekiel 18:4 ;) shall pollute the house of God, as was the custom when our blessed Lord cleansed the temple." - See Newcome. This is what is called the Canaanite in the house of God. The Canaanite is the merchant; and where... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Zechariah 14:18

Verse 18 But Zechariah speaks expressly of the Egyptians: and we indeed know that they were most inveterate enemies to true religion; and he might have also mentioned the Assyrians and the Chaldeans; but as the Egyptians were nearer and more contiguous to the holy land, their hatred towards the Jews was more virulent. This is the reason why Zechariah speaks of them particularly. It may at the same time appear strange that he threatens them with want of rain; for we know that Egypt expects no... read more

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