@Zec 2:1-13. THIRD VISION. The man with the measuring-line.
The city shall be fully restored and enlarged (@Zec 2:2-5). Recall of the exiles (@Zec 2:6,7). Jehovah will protect His people and make their foes a spoil unto them (@Zec 2:8,9). The nations shall be converted to Jehovah, as the result of His dwelling manifestly amidst His people (@Zec 2:10-13).
1. man with a measuring-line--the same image to represent the same future fact as in @Eze 40:3 41,42. The "man" is Messiah (see on Zec 1:8), who, by measuring Jerusalem, is denoted as the Author of its coming restoration. Thus the Jews are encouraged in Zechariah's time to proceed with the building. Still more so shall they be hereby encouraged in the future restoration.
2. To measure Jerusalem--(Compare @Re 11:1 21:15,16).
to see what is the breadth . . . what is the length--rather,
"what is to be the due breadth and length."
3. angel that talked with me . . . another angel--The interpreting
angel is met by another angel sent by the measuring Divine Angel to
"run" to Zechariah (@Zec 2:4). Those who perform God's will must not
merely creep, nor walk, but run with alacrity.
went forth--namely, from me (Zechariah).
went out--from the measuring angel.
4. this young man--So Zechariah is called as being still a youth when prophetically inspired
[GROTIUS]. Or, he is so called in respect to
his ministry or service (compare @Nu 11:27 Jos 1:1)
[VATABLUS]. Naturally the "angel that talked with" Zechariah is desired
to "speak to" him the further communications to be made from the Divine
Being.
towns without walls for the multitude . . . Cattle--So many shall be
its inhabitants that all could not be contained within the walls, but
shall spread out in the open country around (@Es 9:19); and so secure
shall they be as not to need to shelter themselves and their cattle
behind walls. So hereafter Judea is to be "the land of unwalled
villages" (@Eze 38:11). Spiritually, now the Church has extended
herself beyond the walls (@Eph 2:14,15) of Mosaic ordinances and has
spread from cities to country villages, whose inhabitants gave their
Latin name (pagani) to pagans, as being the last in parting with
heathenism.
5. I . . . wall of fire round--Compare @Zec 2:4. Yet as a city
needs some wall, I JEHOVAH will act as one of fire which none durst
approach (@Zec 9:8 Isa 26:1).
glory in the midst--not only a defense from foes outside, but a
glory within (@Isa 60:19 Re 21:23). The same combination of
"glory and defense" is found in @Isa 4:5, alluding to the pillar of
cloud and fire which defended and enlightened Israel in the desert.
Compare Elisha in Dothan (@2Ki 6:17). As God is to be her "glory,"
so she shall be His "glory" (@Isa 62:3).
6. flee from the land of the north--that is, from Babylon: a type of
the various Gentile lands, from which the Jews are to be recalled
hereafter; hence "the four winds of heaven" are specified, implying that
they are to return from all quarters (@De 28:64 Jer 16:15 Eze 17:21).
The reason why they should flee from Babylon is: (1) because of the
blessings promised to God's people in their own land; (2) because of the
evils about to fall on their foe (@Zec 2:7-9). Babylon was soon to
fall before Darius, and its inhabitants to endure fearful calamities
(@Isa 48:20 Jer 50:8 51:6,45). Many of the Jews in Zechariah's time
had not yet returned to Judea. Their tardiness was owing to (1)
unbelief; (2) their land had long lain waste, and was surrounded with
bitter foes; (3) they regarded suspiciously the liberty of return given
by Cyrus and Darius, as if these monarchs designed suddenly to crush
them; (4) their long stay in Babylon had obliterated the remembrance of
their own land; (5) the wealth and security there contrasted with Judea,
where their temple and city were in ruins. All this betrayed foul
ingratitude and disregard of God's extraordinary favor, which is
infinitely to be preferred to all the wealth of the world
[CALVIN and
PEMBELLUS].
for I have spread you abroad--The reasoning is: I who scattered you
from your land to all quarters, can also gather you again to it.
7. O Zion . . . daughter of Babylon--Thou whose only sure dwelling is
"Zion," inseparably connected with the temple, art altogether out of thy
place in "dwelling with the daughter of Babylon" (that is, Babylon and
her people, @Ps 137:8 Isa 1:8).
After the glory--After restoring the "glory"
(@Zec 2:5 Isa 4:5 Ro 9:4) of Jehovah's presence to Jerusalem, He
(God the Father) hath commissioned ME
(God the Son, @Isa 48:16, the
Divine Angel: God thus being at once the Sender and the Sent) to visit
in wrath "the nations which spoiled you." Messiah's twofold office from
the Father is: (1) to glorify His Church; (2) to punish its foes
(@2Th 1:7-10). Both offices manifest His glory (@Pr 16:4).
toucheth . . . the apple of his eye--namely, of Jehovah's eye
(@De 32:10 Ps 17:8 Pr 7:2). The pupil, or aperture, through which
rays pass to the retina, is the tenderest part of the eye; the member
which we most sedulously guard from hurt as being the dearest of our
members; the one which feels most acutely the slightest injury, and the
loss of which is irreparable.
9. shake . . . hand--A mere wave of God's hand can prostrate all foes
(compare @Ru 1:13 Job 31:21 Isa 11:15 19:16 Ac 13:11).
a spoil to their servants--to the Jews whom they had once as their
slaves (compare @Isa 14:2). As the Jews' state between the return
from Babylon and Christ's coming was checkered with much adversity, this
prophecy can only have its fulfilment under Christ.
sent me--(@Isa 48:16 61:1 Joh 10:36).
10. I will dwell in . . . midst of thee--primarily at Messiah's first advent (@Ps 40:7 Joh 1:14 Col 2:9 1Ti 3:16); more fully at His second advent (@Isa 40:10). So @Zec 9:9, where see on Zec 9:9 (@Isa 12:6 Eze 37:27 Zep 3:14). Meanwhile God dwells spiritually in His people (@2Co 6:16).
11. many nations . . . joined to the Lord in that day--The result of
the Jews' exile in Babylon was that, at their subsequent return, through
the diffusion of knowledge of their religion, many Gentiles became
proselytes, worshipping in the court of the Gentiles (@1Ki 8:41).
Cyrus, Darius, Alexander, Ptolemy Philadelphus, Augustus, and Tiberius,
paid respect to the temple by sending offerings [GROTIUS]. But all this
is but a shadow of the future conversion of the Gentiles which shall
result from Jehovah dwelling in Jerusalem (@Ps 102:15,16 Php 2:10,11).
sent me unto thee--"unto thee" is here added to the same formula
(@Zec 2:9). Zion first shall "know (generally) that Jehovah of hosts
hath sent" Messiah, by the judgments inflicted by Him on her foes.
Subsequently, she shall know experimentally the particular sending of
Messiah unto her. Jehovah here says, "I will dwell," and then that
JEHOVAH of hosts sent Him; therefore Jehovah the Sender and Jehovah the
Sent must be One.
12. Judah his portion in the holy land--Lest the joining of the Gentile
"nations to Jehovah" (@Zec 2:11) should lead the Jews to fear that
their peculiar relation to Him (@De 4:20 9:29 32:9) as "His
inheritance" should cease, this verse is added to assure them of His
making them so hereafter "again."
choose Jerusalem again--The course of God's grace was interrupted for
a time, but His covenant was not set aside (@Ro 11:28,29); the election
was once for all, and therefore shall hold good for ever.
13. Be silent, O all flesh--(@Hab 2:20). "Let all in silent awe
and reverence await the Lord's coming interposition in behalf of His
people!" The address is both to the Gentile foes, who prided themselves
on their power as if irresistible, and to the unbelieving Jews, who
distrusted God's promises as incredible. Three reasons why they must be
silent are implied: (1) they are but "flesh," weak and ignorant; (2) He
is JEHOVAH, all-wise and all-powerful; (3) He is already "raised up out
of His place," and who can stand before Him?
[PEMBELLUS], (@Ps 76:8,9).
he is raised up out of his holy habitation--that is, out of heaven (@De 26:15 2Ch 30:27 Isa 63:15), to judge and avenge His people
(@Isa 26:21); or, "out of His holy" temple, contemptible and
incomplete as it looked then when Zechariah urged them to rebuild it
[CALVIN]. But the call to all to "be silent" is rather when God has come
forth from heaven where so long He has dwelt unseen, and is about to
inflict vengeance on the foe, before taking up His dwelling in Zion
and the temple. However, @Ps 50:1,2 ("Out of Zion"), @Ps 50:3
(compare @Hab 2:3), @Ps 50:4, favors
CALVIN'S view. God is now
"silent" while the Gentile foe speaks arrogance against His people; but
"our God shall come and no longer keep silence"; then in turn must
all flesh "be silent" before Him.