Zechariah 1:16-21

The Pulpit Commentary - Zechariah 1:12-16

A vision of mercy. "Then the angel of the Lord answered and said," etc. In the last portion ( Zechariah 1:7-11 ) we saw Christ, or the Angel-Jehovah, presented to us as a King, exercising visitatorial powers. In the present we seem to read of him under those two other principal aspects in which he is revealed to his people, viz. I. INTERCESSION . We find this to be: 1 . Exceedingly apposite. Much had already been done for the remnant of the Captivity; but much also remained.... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Zechariah 1:16

Therefore . Because God loved his people and was incensed with the heathen. I am returned; I return. According to the promise in Zechariah 1:3 (see note on Zechariah 8:3 ). A line shall be stretched forth. A measuring line shall now be used to mark out the city for rebuilding ( Job 38:5 ). The first proof of God's renewed mercy would be seen in the restoration of the temple, the symbol of the theocracy, and in the revival of the city, the type of national life. The "line" had... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Zechariah 1:17

Cry yet, saying. This introduces the second part of the prophet's message. The LXX . begins the verse with the words, "And the angel that spake in me said unto me." My cities through prosperity shall yet be spread abroad. "Yet," in this verse, is better rendered again. God calls the cities his, to show his love for Judah; and he promises that they shall not only be reoccupied by returning immigrants, but increased in extent and number by reason of the enlarged population. So Josephus... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Zechariah 1:18

I lifted up mine eyes, and saw. This vision is closely connected with the former. The prophet had been told that the hostile nations should be punished and scattered; he now is shown this threat being executed. Four horns, belching to four beasts but dimly seen or wholly invisible. Horns are symbols of strength and power (comp. Psalms 75:4 , Psalms 75:5 ; Daniel 8:3 ; Amos 6:13 ). Here they mean powers hostile to Israel, and the number "four" (the symbol of completeness) points to... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Zechariah 1:18-21

§ 4. The second vision. the four horns and the four craftsmen. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Zechariah 1:18-21

A vision of help. "Then lifted I up mine eyes, and saw," etc. In these verses, and some that follow, certain detached portions of the previous general prophecy seem to be set before us again in greater amplitude and detail—like maps of England, France, and so on, in an atlas, following the general but smaller-scaled map of the whole "quarter" of Europe. In the verses now especially before us, it is the previous message concerning the enemies of God's people ( Zechariah 1:14 , Zechariah... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Zechariah 1:18-21

The dark and the bright side of things. Prophet depressed. Heart failing for fear. Roused. Vision twofold. Like the mystic pillar of the wilderness, it is dark and lowering towards God's enemies, but bright and cheering towards his friends. I. THE POWERS OF EVIL . Beasts dimly seen. "Horses" indicate the strength and malice of the world powers. The results are terrible. The unity of Israel is broken. Strength dissipated in party conflicts. Gored and tossed and sore oppressed by... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Zechariah 1:18-21

Second vision: four horns and four carpenters. "Then lifted I up mine eyes, and saw, and behold four horns. And I said unto the angel that talked with me, What be these? And he answered me, These are the horns which have scattered Judah, Israel, and Jerusalem," etc. This is the second vision that the prophet had that night. The "horn" in the Bible is a symbol of power ( Amos 6:13 ). The horns here represent possibly those worldly kingdoms which had been, or were to be, opposed to the... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Zechariah 1:19

Which have scattered, etc. Some see here an allusion to the prophecy of Daniel concerning the Babylonians, Medo-Persians, Macedonians, and Romans. Against this view it is urged that the prophet is speaking of past events, not of a far distant future. Others Lake the four horns to represent Assyria, Egypt, Babylon, and Medo-Persia, all of which had scattered Israel. But it is well to lay no special stress on such explanations of symbolical language, which are at best mere conjectures, liable... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Zechariah 1:20

Four carpenters; craftsmen; Revised Version, smiths, in which case "the horns" would be made of iron. The word is applied to workers in wood, stone, and metal; therefore an ambiguous rendering seems most suitable here. LXX ; τέκτονας ; Vulgate, fabros. They represent the human agencies employed by God to overthrow the powers hostile to the Church. Their number is the same as that of the "horns," thus showing their adequacy for the work which they have to execute. It is quite... read more

Grupo de Marcas