View Zechariah 9 in the note window.
A prophecy against the Syrians and others, ver. 1 - 7.
God will protect his people, ver. 8.
A prophecy of the Messiah, ver. 9, 10.
Of the deliverance and victories of the Jews, ver. 11 - 17.
1: Hadrach - This is the name of a city in Celosyria, and here
signifies the country also. It was not far from Damascus. The
rest thereof - This burden shall lie long as well as heavy on Damascus.
Towards the Lord - For as all men's appeals in cases of wrong are to
heaven, so they who have been wronged by Syrian injustice, look to
heaven for right.
2: Hamath - A principal town of Syria. Shall border - Shall be
so near the storm, that they shall not quite escape. Very wise - Each
of them are subtle, and think by craft to save themselves, but God
derides their wisdom.
4: Cast her out - Of her inheritance, as the word properly means.
5: Her expectation - Her hope that Tyre would break
Alexander's power, or hold out against it.
Ashamed - Turned into shame and confusion. The king - The government
shall be overthrown. Shall not be inhabited - For many years.
6: A bastard - Strangers, who have no right of inheritance.
7: Take away his blood - Though proud and warlike nations have
delighted to shed blood, and, as it were, to eat the blood of their
enemies, yet God will overthrow their power, and take the prey out
of their mouth. Abominations - Their abominable sacrifices which they
offered and feasted on. God will punish their idolatries, and by
destroying the cities of those abominations, will remove them for
ever. The remnant - That small select number who escape the sword,
shall be the Lord's peculiar ones. As a governor - For the honour
which shall be given them. As a Jebusite - The city is put for the
people, and this one city and people for all the other: all the
remaining Philistines shall be as Jebusites, servants to the people
of God.
8: I will encamp - To defend it from all its enemies.
Mine house - This temple, but as it is an emblem of the church.
The army - Of the Persian and the Grecian army, whose march lay
through Judea.
9: Thy king - The Messiah. He is just - The righteous one, who
cometh to fulfil all righteousness. Having salvation - To bestow on
all that believe in him.
10: I will cut off - When the Messiah comes and sets up his kingdom,
he will need no external force. Neither chariot, bow nor sword, brought
salvation to him, neither shall they be mentioned in the day of his
conquest. The heathen - The Heathens through him shall be reconciled
unto God, and one another, (Eph 2:17).
From the river - From Euphrates to the utmost end of Canaan, to the
Mediterranean sea; a type of all the world, which was in due time to be
the inheritance of Christ.
11: As for thee - Oh Jerusalem; these words are Christ's words to
her. By the blood - By my blood, in which thy covenant as confirmed;
'tis God's covenant as made by him, 'tis Zion's covenant as made for
her, 'tis Christ's also as made in him. Sent forth - I have delivered
the Jews out of Babylon: compared to a pit in which no water was,
wherein the Jews must have perished, had not God visited them.
12: Turn ye - The prophet exhorts the Jews to hasten to
Christ, who is the salvation and high tower of the church.
Prisoners of hope - Captives, yet not without hope. Even to - day - In
this day of lowest distress. Double - Twice as much good as thou
hast suffered evil.
13: When I have bent Judah - In the day's when Judah shall be
in my hand as a strong bow, already bent. Ephraim - Ephraim, the
remainder of the ten tribes (which returned with Judah) shall be
for a supply of warriors; as the quiver filled is a supply of
arrows to the bow - man. O Greece - Against the Grecians or Ionians,
who had oppressed the Jews, and bought them for slaves, against
whom the Jews took arms, under the conduct of the Maccabees, to
whom Christ made good much of this promise.
14: Shall be seen - Shall manifestly appear for them.
His arrow - His judgments, swift, irresistible, and sudden.
As the lightning - Which breaks forth with violence, and runs from
east to west in a moment. The Lord God - Their God, the God of
Israel, shall give the alarm to them, and sound the call to bring
them together. Of the south - In which the mightiest whirlwinds are
raised; some think the prophet alludes to the tempest at the delivery
of the law.
15: Devour - Destroy their enemies. With sling - stones - As
David did Goliath. Shall drink - In their festivals, when they
offer sacrifices of thanksgiving for their victories.
Make a noise - Shout with shouts of triumph, as men do whose hearts
are glad with success, and cheared with wine. Shall fill - With the
blood of the sacrifices they offer.
16: As the flock - As a shepherd saves his flock. As the stones
of a crown - Precious in my sight. As an ensign - Or trophy.
17: His goodness - Infinite goodness is the fountain of all the good
done for this people. His beauty - How wonderful the beauty of Divine
Providence in Israel's deliverance and salvation? Corn - Plentiful
harvests shall make the young men chearful in sowing, reaping, and
eating the fruits thereof. New wine - There shall be such plenty of
wine, that all, young and old, shall be cheared with it.
