Jamieson, Fausset & Brown

In the fourth year of King Darius, the word of the LORD came to Zechariah on the fourth day of the ninth month, the month of Chislev.

“Darius--two years after the previous prophecies (Zec 1:1, &c.). Chisleu--meaning "torpidity," the state in which nature is in November, answering to this month.”

by asking the priests of the house of the LORD of Hosts, as well as the prophets, “Should I weep and fast in the fifth month, as I have done…

“The tenth day of the fifth month was kept a fast, being the anniversary of the destruction of Jerusalem (Jer 52:12-14). They ask, Should the fast be continued, now that the temple and city are being restored?”

Are these not the words that the LORD proclaimed through the earlier prophets, when Jerusalem and its surrounding towns were populous and prosperous, and the Negev and the foothills were…

“Should ye not hear the words--rather, "Should ye not do the words," as their question naturally was as to what they should do (Zec 7:3); "hearing" is not mentioned till Zec 7:12.”

They made their hearts like flint and would not listen to the law or to the words that the LORD of Hosts had sent by His Spirit through the earlier…

“Lord . . . sent in Spirit by . . . prophets--that is, sent by the former prophets inspired with His Spirit. therefore . . . great wrath-- (2Ch 36:16).”

But I scattered them with a whirlwind among all the nations that they had not known, and the land was left desolate behind them so that no one could come…

“It was ordered remarkably by God's providence, that no occupants took possession of it, but that during the Jews' absence it was reserved for them against their return after seventy years. they laid . . . desolate--The Jews did so by their sins.”

This is what the LORD of Hosts says: “If this is impossible in the eyes of the remnant of this people in these days, should it also be impossible in…

“A great source of unbelief is, men "limit" God's power by their own (Ps 78:19, 20, 41). these days--"of small things" (Zec 4:10), when such great things promised seemed incredible.”

For this is what the LORD of Hosts says: “Just as I resolved to bring disaster upon you when your fathers provoked Me to anger, and I did not relent,”…

“The promised blessings are connected with obedience. God's covenanted grace will lead those truly blessed by it to holiness, not licentiousness. truth to . . .”

do not plot evil in your hearts against your neighbor, and do not love to swear falsely, for I hate all these things,” declares the LORD.

“The prophet answers the query (Zec 7:3) as to the fast in the fifth month, by a reply applying to all their fasts: these are to be turned into days of rejoicing.”

“This is what the LORD of Hosts says: The fasts of the fourth, the fifth, the seventh, and the tenth months will become times of joy and gladness, cheerful feasts…

“Zec 7:5). tenth--On the tenth month and tenth day, in the ninth year of Zedekiah, the siege began (Jer 52:4). therefore love the truth--or, "only love." English Version is better.”

This is what the LORD of Hosts says: “Peoples will yet come—the residents of many cities—

“But the full accomplishment of the conversion of the Gentiles foretold here is reserved till "Jerusalem" (Zec 8:22) becomes the center of Christianized Jewry (Ro 11:12, 15).”

and the residents of one city will go to another, saying: ‘Let us go at once to plead before the LORD and to seek the LORD of Hosts.

“To exhortation in general ("Let us go"), they add individual example ("I will go"). Or, the change from plural to singular implies that the general consent in religious earnestness leads each individual to decide for God. go speedily--literally, "go, going"; implying intense earnestness.”

This is what the LORD of Hosts says: “In those days ten men from the nations of every tongue will tightly grasp the robe of a Jew, saying, ‘Let us…

“God is with you--the effect produced on unbelievers in entering the assemblies of the Church (1Co 14:25). But primarily, that produced on the nations in witnessing the deliverance of the Jews by Cyrus.”

This is the burden of the word of the LORD against the land of Hadrach and Damascus its resting place—for the eyes of men and of all the tribes of…

“Typical of the effect of God's judgments hereafter on all men, and especially on the Jews in turning them to Him.”

and also against Hamath, which borders it, as well as Tyre and Sidon, though they are very shrewd.

“Hamath--a Syrian kingdom with a capital of the same name, north of Damascus. shall border thereby--shall be joined to Damascus in treatment, as it is in position; shall share in the burden of wrath of which Damascus is the resting-place. MAURER understands "which";”

Tyre has built herself a fortress; she has heaped up silver like dust, and gold like the dirt of the streets.

“As Isaiah's and Ezekiel's (Eze 27:1-36) prophecies were directed against Old Tyre on the mainland and were fulfilled by Nebuchadnezzar, so Zechariah's are against New Tyre, which was made seemingly impregnable by a double wall one hundred fifty feet high, as well as the sea…”

Ashkelon will see and fear; Gaza will writhe in agony, as will Ekron, for her hope will wither.

“In literal fulfilment of this prophecy, after a two month's siege, Gaza was taken by Alexander, ten thousand of its inhabitants slain, and the rest sold as slaves.”

But I will camp around My house because of an army, because of those who march to and fro, and never again will an oppressor overrun My people, for now…

“Eze 28:24). seen with mine eyes--namely, how Jerusalem has been oppressed by her foes [ROSENMULLER] (Ex 3:7; God is said now to have seen, because He now begins to bring the foe to judgment, and manifests to the world His sense of His people's wrongs.”

Rejoice greatly, O Daughter of Zion! Shout in triumph, O Daughter of Jerusalem!

“The Hebrew is reflexive in sense, "showing Himself a Saviour; . . . having salvation in Himself" for us. Endowed with a salvation which He bestows as a king. Compare Margin, "saving Himself."”

And I will cut off the chariot from Ephraim and the horse from Jerusalem, and the bow of war will be broken. Then He will proclaim peace to the nations.

“"Sea . . . sea," are the Red Sea and Mediterranean. The "river" is the Euphrates. Jerusalem and the Holy Land, extended to the limits promised to Abraham, are to be the center of His future dominion; whence it will extend to the remotest parts…”

The LORD of Hosts will shield them. They will destroy and conquer with slingstones; they will drink and roar as with wine.

“1Ch 12:2) [GROTIUS]. noise--the battle shout. through wine-- (Zec 10:7). The Spirit of God fills them with triumph (Eph 5:18). filled--with blood. like bowls--the bowls used to receive the blood of the sacrifices. as . . .”

Ask the LORD for rain in springtime; the LORD makes the storm clouds, and He will give everyone showers of rain and crops in the field.

“Though God has begun to bless us, we are not to relax our prayers. The former rain of conversion may have been given, but we must also ask for the latter rain of ripened sanctification.”

For idols speak deceit and diviners see illusions; they tell false dreams and offer empty comfort. Therefore the people wander like sheep, oppressed for lack of a shepherd.

“So now they are scattered, while they know not Messiah their shepherd; typified in the state of the disciples, when they had forsaken Jesus and fled (Mt 26:56; compare Zec 13:7).”

“My anger burns against the shepherds, and I will punish the leaders.

“The he-goats head the flock. They who are first in crime will be first in punishment. visited--in mercy (Lu 1:68).”

I will strengthen the house of Judah and save the house of Joseph.

“Prophecy ever hastens to the glorious final consummation under Messiah. bring them again to place them--namely, securely in their own land. The Hebrew verb is compounded of two, "I will bring again," and "I will place them" (Jer 32:37).”

I will whistle for them to gather, for I have redeemed them; and they will be as numerous as they once were.

“The multitudes mentioned by JOSEPHUS [Wars of the Jews, 3:2], as peopling Galilee two hundred years after this time, were a pledge of the future more perfect fulfilment of the prophecy. for I have redeemed them--namely, in My covenant purpose "redeemed" both temporally and spiritually.”