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Zechariah
Chapter Ten
New King James Version (NKJV)
INTRODUCTION TO ZECHARIAH 10
This
chapter is a prophecy of the conversion of the Jews in the latter day, when the
fulness of the Gentiles is brought in, spoken of in the preceding chapter Zechariah 9:1. It
begins with an exhortation to ask rain of the Lord; denounces wrath upon his
enemies; and consists of various promises to his people. The exhortation to ask
rain is in Zechariah 10:1 to
which encouragement is given from its being of the Lord, from his willingness
to grant it, and from the fruitfulness occasioned by it. The vanity of idols,
and idolaters, who can not give it, is exposed; and the distress and confusion
they were thrown into is observed, Zechariah 10:2. The
anger of the Lord against the principal of them is declared; and his gracious
visitation of the people of the Jews, whom he will honour and glorify, is taken
notice of, Zechariah 10:3 from
whom the Messiah sprung, than which a greater glory can not be enjoyed, Zechariah 10:4 and
then follow various promises, relating to them; as of victory over their
enemies, through the presence of the Lord with them, Zechariah 10:5 of
strength and salvation to them, as owing to his free grace and mercy, Zechariah 10:6 of
inward spiritual joy in them and theirs, Zechariah 10:7 of
their effectual calling and spiritual increase, in consequence of redeeming
grace, Zechariah 10:8 of
their having a name and a place in Gospel churches, where they will remember
the Lord, and live with their children, being converted, Zechariah 10:9
which conversion of theirs is represented in terms alluding to their
deliverance from Egypt and Babylon, Zechariah 10:10 and
the chapter is concluded with a promise of spiritual strength, so that they
shall continue in their profession of faith in Christ, and persevere therein to
the end, Zechariah 10:12.
Zechariah 10:1 Ask the Lord for rain In the time of the latter rain.[a] The Lord will make flashing clouds; He will give them showers of rain, Grass
in the field for everyone.
YLT
1They asked of Jehovah rain
in a time of latter rain, Jehovah is making lightnings, And rain [in] showers
He doth give to them. To each -- the herb in the field.
Ask ye of the Lord rain in the time of the latter rain,.... There was
the former and the latter rain, of which see Hosea 6:3. The
former rain was in autumn, a little before or about seed time; the latter was
in the spring, and a little before harvest, which is here referred to. So
HesiodF7Opera & Dies, l. 2. calls those rains the autumnal and
vernal rains; and between these two rains there was seldom any more. Jerom saysF8Comment.
in Amos iv. 7. fol. 39. F. that he never saw in the eastern countries,
especially in Judea, any rain at the end of the month of June, or in July; and now,
at Aleppo, a little more northerly, for three or four months after May, they
have scarce so much as any dew upon the ground, as Pemble on the place
observes. So Dr. Shaw saysF9Travels, p. 136, 137. Ed. 2. , little or
no rain falls in this climate (of Algiers and Tunis), during the summer season;
and in most parts of the Sahara, particularly in the Jereede, they have seldom
any rain at all. It was likewise the same in the holy land, Proverbs 26:1 where
rain is accounted an unusual thing in "harvest", 2 Samuel 21:10
where it is also mentioned, "from harvest till rain dropped on them";
i.e. their rainy season fell out, as in Barbary, in the autumnal and winter
months.
"The
first rains (he observes) fall here some years in September, in others a month
later; after which the Arabs break up their ground, in order to sow wheat, and
plant beans: this commonly falls out about the middle of October.'
If
the latter rains fall as usual in the middle of April, (in the holy land we
find they were a month sooner, Joel 2:23.) the
crop is reckoned secure; the harvest coming on in the latter end of May, or in
the beginning of June, according to the heat and quality of the preceding
seasons: wherefore, since there was so little rain fell in these countries, and
particularly in Judea; if these former and latter rains failed, a scarcity
followed; for, for want of the former rain, the earth was hard, and not easily
ploughed up; and for want of the latter the grain withered away in the blade, and
did not ear, at least did not produce ears plump and good; so that these rains
were great temporal blessings, and to be asked for, as they were by the Jews,
when they were wanted; and for which they appointed fastsF11Misn.
Taanith, c. 1. sect. 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7. , and were emblems of spiritual
blessings here designed; for rain here is not to be literally understood, but
mystically and spiritually; and designs either the love and favour of God, and
the comfortable discoveries of it; see Proverbs 16:15
which may be compared to rain in its original; it is from above, from on high,
it comes from heaven; it is not owing to anything in man, but to the will of
God; and is distinguishing, as rain falls on one city, and not on another; in
its objects, undeserving persons, as rain is sent on the just and unjust; in
its manner of communication, it tarries not for the will and works of men; it
comes at times in great abundance, and the discoveries of it are to be asked
for; in its effects, it softens and melts the heart into evangelical
repentance; it cools and extinguishes the flaming wrath of a fiery law in the
conscience; it refreshes and revives the drooping spirit, and makes the barren
soul fruitful: or the blessings of grace in general may be meant; these are
from above, depend on the will of God; are to be sought after, and asked for;
are free grace gifts; are given largely and plentifully, and make fruitful: or
the coming of Christ in the flesh in particular is intended; see Hosea 6:3 who came
down from heaven; is a free gift of God to men, was sought after, and greatly
desired, and to be desired, by the Old Testament saints, and very grateful to
such when he came. This may also be applied to his spiritual coming in his
power and kingdom in the latter day, which is to be earnestly wished and prayed
for, Psalm 72:7 or else
the Gospel may be designed; see Deuteronomy 32:2
this is of God, and from above; comes and falls upon the sons of men, according
to divine direction; softens hard hearts, when it becomes effectual; comforts
the souls of God's people; is a blessing to be desired, and asked for; and will
be enjoyed in great plenty in the latter day:
so the Lord shall make
bright clouds; by which may be meant the ministers of the Gospel, who are of
God's making, and not man's: these may be compared to "clouds" for
their number, especially as they will be in the latter day; and for their
moving to and fro, to communicate spiritual knowledge: and to
"bright" ones, such as from whence lightning springs, thunderclouds,
full of water; (the same word is used for lightning, Job 38:25;) because
full of Gospel truths, and because of that clear light they diffuse to others:
and give them showers of rain: productive, under a
divine influence, of large conversions among Jews and Gentiles:
to everyone grass in the field: on whom these showers
fall with efficacy, and a divine blessing; everyone of these have a spiritual
knowledge of Christ, faith in him, repentance towards God, food and fulness of
it; and are filled with the fruits of righteousness, or good works, to the glory
of God; see Isaiah 55:10. The
Targum is,
"that
he may give to them (the children of men) corn to eat, and grass to the beasts
in the field;'
taking
the words literally.
Zechariah 10:2 2 For
the idols[b] speak
delusion; The diviners envision lies, And tell false dreams; They comfort in
vain. Therefore the people wend their way like sheep; They are in
trouble because there is no shepherd.
YLT
2Because the teraphim did
speak iniquity, And the diviners have seen a falsehood, And dreams of the
vanity they speak, [With] vanity they give comfort, Therefore they have
journeyed as a flock, They are afflicted, for there is no shepherd.
For the idols have spoken vanity,.... The vanities of the
Gentiles cannot give rain; if they promise it, they speak vain things; God only
can give it, and therefore it must, be asked of him, Jeremiah 14:22. The
word for idols is "teraphim", the same as in Genesis 31:19 and
here signifies worshippers of idols, as the Targum interprets it; and may be
understood of the idolatrous Papists who worship idols of gold, silver, brass,
and wood, Revelation 9:20 and
who speak lies in hypocrisy, great swelling words of vanity, and even blasphemy
against God, his name, his tabernacle, and them that dwell in heaven, 1 Timothy 4:1.
Jarchi on 2 Kings 23:24,
says, the teraphim are images that speak by sorcerers or sorceries; and to such
evils the followers of the man of sin are addicted, Revelation 9:21 and
the JewsF12Targum Jon. in Gen. xxxi. 19. R. Eliezer Pirke, c. 36.
fol. 40. 1. have a notion that those images were so formed, that they were
capable of speaking and talking with men; see Hosea 3:4 they seem
to confound them with the "talisman":
and the diviners have seen a lie; delivered it out, and
others believed it, being given up to judicial blindness, because they received
not the love of the truth, 2 Thessalonians 2:10.
The Targum is,
"the
diviners prophesy falsehood;'
or
preach false doctrine, as the Romish clergy do, who are meant by the diviners:
and have told false dreams; about transubstantiation,
purgatory, &c. which are visionary things; false doctrines are compared to
dreams, Jeremiah 23:25,
they comfort in vain; by works of
supererogation, by selling pardons, and praying souls out of purgatory:
therefore they went their way as a flock; as a flock of
sheep straying from the fold. The Targum is,
"they
are scattered as sheep are scattered;'
that
is, the Jews, being hardened against the Christian religion, by the idolatry,
lies, and dreams of the Papists, wander about in their mistakes and errors
concerning the Messiah; which is their case to this day, and will be until the
man of sin is destroyed:
they were troubled, because there was no shepherd; or, "no
king", as the Targum paraphrases it; that is, the King Messiah, according
to them, is not yet come; which is their affliction and trouble, that they are
as sheep without a shepherd: or, "they answered", that there "is
no shepherd"F13יענו כי אין רעה
"testificati sunt nullum fuisse pastorem", Junius & Tremellius,
Heb.; "responderunt", Piscator; "respondebunt quod non sit
pastor", Burkius. ; they replied to the diviners, the tellers of false
dreams and idolaters, and affirmed that the Messiah is not come, and that the
pope of Rome is not the shepherd and bishop of souls.
Zechariah 10:3 3 “My
anger is kindled against the shepherds, And I will punish the goatherds. For
the Lord of hosts will visit His flock, The house of Judah, And will make
them as His royal horse in the battle.
YLT
3Against the shepherds did
Mine anger burn, And against the he-goats I lay a charge, For inspected hath
Jehovah of Hosts His flock, the house of Judah, And set them as His beauteous
horse in battle.
Mine anger was kindled against the shepherds,.... The
Targum interprets it of "kings"; as the "goats" of
"princes", in the next clause; by whom, according to Jarchi, Aben
Ezra, Kimchi, and Abarbinel, are meant the kings of Greece; but rather the
antichristian kings are designed, the kings of the earth, who have committed
fornication with the whore of Rome, which is the cause of the anger of the Lord
being kindled: or else ecclesiastical rulers are meant, the Romish clergy, the
chief of them, as cardinals, archbishops, bishops, &c. who may fitly be
represented by the shepherds of Israel in the times of the prophets for their
name, professing to be of Israel, or to be Christians; and by them for their
ignorance, covetousness, luxury, disregard to the flock, tyranny and cruelty
over it, and murder of it; see Isaiah 56:10,
against these the fire of God's wrath will be kindled, and with it will they be
destroyed:
and I punished the goats; not the Seleucidae, as
the above Jewish writers; though they may with propriety be so called, since
they were the successors of Alexander, signified by the he goat in Daniel 8:5 rather
the monks and friars, comparable to these for their filthiness and uncleanness;
and because they pretend to be guides of the people, and to go before them, and
yet use them ill, and push them with their horns of power; wherefore God will
punish them, and kill those children of Jezebel with death, Revelation 2:22,
for the Lord of hosts hath visited his flock, the house of Judah; by sending
the Gospel to them, and his Spirit with it, to make it effectual to their
conversion; which will be at the time that the antichristian hierarchy will be
destroyed; then the Lord's flock, who have gone astray, shall be returned to
the true Shepherd and Bishop of souls, and shall seek the Lord their God, and
David their King, and shall be saved by him: a gracious visitation this will
be!
and hath made them as his goodly horse in the battle; this denotes
that the Jews, when converted, will be bold in their God; valiant for the truth
on earth; courageously fight the good fight of faith, and be victorious over
their enemies; and that they will be in great honour and esteem among the
saints, though so mean and justly despicable now: the sense is, that as the
horse shows its strength and courage in battle, so should they; see Job 39:19.
Zechariah 10:4 4 From
him comes the cornerstone, From him the tent peg, From him the battle bow, From
him every ruler[c] together.
YLT
4From him [is] a
corner-stone, From him a nail, from him a battle-bow, From him goeth forth
every exactor together.
Out of him came forth the corner,.... Or
"cornerstone"; by which is meant a king or ruler, as the Targum,
Jarchi, and Kimchi; and is no other than the King Messiah, who was to come out
of Judah, and did spring from that tribe, 1 Chronicles 5:2
and this is a reason why God will visit the house of Judah, or the Jews, in the
latter day, because the Messiah was promised and sent unto them, salvation was
of them, though they rejected him; but the Lord will have mercy on them; the
Redeemer shall come to Zion in a spiritual manner, and turn away iniquity from
them, and then all Israel shall be saved by him. The epithet of a
"corner" stone well agrees with him, that being not only the
ornament, but the strength and support of the building, which knits, cements,
and keeps the whole together: Christ is a beautiful and precious cornerstone,
which gives glory and lustre to the church, and is the support, yea, the
foundation of it; and who joins and unites together men and angels; Jews and
Gentiles; Old and New Testament saints; saints above and below; saints in all
ages and places, and of all nations and denominations; and is the Head of the
corner, being superior to men and angels, to the kings of the earth, and to the
church of God; see Ephesians 2:20.
Out of him the nail; the Targum is, "out
of him his Messiah"; which shows that this text was formerly understood of
Christ by the Jews; Jarchi and Kimchi interpret it of a prince and governor; so
Eliakim the governor is said to be "as a nail in a sure place", Isaiah 22:23 who
was a type of Christ; and this agrees with Christ himself. The allusion is
either to a nail, by which the timber in the building is compacted together,
and the whole is strengthened, as the church is by Christ: or to a nail to
which the cords of tents are fastened, as those of shepherds, travellers, or
soldiers; the church is as such a tent; Christ is the nail to which its cords
are fastened, which denotes the stability and security of it: or to a nail
fixed in a wall, on which things are hung; on Christ are hung all the vessels
of mercy; the covenant of grace, and all its promises and blessings; and all
the glory of his Father's house, of his building, the temple, and of the
salvation of his people, is to be hung on him.
Out of him the battle bow; or "warrior",
as Jarchi interprets it; the Lord is a man of war; Christ makes war in
righteousness; the armies of heaven follow him; he is at the head of them, and
fights the battles of his people, and is victorious, and makes them more than
conquerors; their spiritual armour is from him, and they are armed by him, Revelation 19:11
out of him every oppressor together: or "exactor"F14נזגש "exactor", Montanus, Vatablus, Tigurine
version, Junius & Tremellius, Calvin, Drusius, De Dieu, Cocceius, Burkius.
; which is used in a good sense, Isaiah 60:17 as it
must be here, since all the rest of the epithets are; and may design the
apostles of Christ, who preached the doctrines of grace and righteousness, and
required of men the obedience of faith; and these came out of Judah and
Jerusalem, and went into all the world, demanding faith in and obedience to the
Son of God.
Zechariah 10:5 5 They
shall be like mighty men, Who tread down their enemies In the mire of
the streets in the battle. They shall fight because the Lord is with them, And the riders on horses shall be put to shame.
YLT
5And they have been as
heroes, Treading in mire of out-places in battle, And they have fought, for
Jehovah [is] with them, And have put to shame riders of horses.
And they shall be as mighty men,.... That is,
the converted Jews shall be such; they shall be strong in faith, giving glory
to the Messiah; they shall be strong in the grace that is in him; they shall be
strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might; his strength shall be made
perfect in their weakness:
which tread down their enemies in the mire of the streets
in the battle; being victorious over sin, Satan, and the world, through Christ,
in whom they will believe:
and they shall fight; against all their inward
and outward enemies, the good fight of faith, with great valour and courage:
because the Lord is with them; who is the
Lord of hosts or armies; his presence gives boldness and intrepidity; for, if
he is for them, who can be against them? the battle is theirs, success is
certain:
and the riders on horses shall be confounded; such that
come up against them on them, and trust in them, shall be beaten by them, and
so made ashamed; and the flesh, both of the horses and their riders, shall be
the food of the fowls of the air, Revelation 19:18
perhaps the Turkish cavalry is meant, who may attempt to hinder the settlement
of the Jews in their own land; the armies of the Turks consisting greatly of
horsemen, Revelation 9:16.
Zechariah 10:6 6 “I
will strengthen the house of Judah, And I will save the house of Joseph. I will
bring them back, Because I have mercy on them. They shall be as though I had
not cast them aside; For I am the Lord their God,
And I will hear them.
YLT
6And I have made mighty the
house of Judah, And the house of Joseph I do save, And I have caused them to
dwell, for I have loved them, And they have been as [if] I had not cast them
off, For I [am] Jehovah their God, And I answer them.
And I wilt strengthen the house of Judah,.... Both with
internal and external strength, so that they shall be able to stand their
ground against enemies of every sort:
and I will save the house of Joseph: the ten tribes, such of
them that shall be found, for all Israel shall be saved, Romans 11:26 not
only temporally, but spiritually, with an everlasting salvation:
and I will bring them again to place them; there is but
one word in the original text; it is composed of two words, as Kimchi observes,
of שוב, "to return", and ישב, "to sit" or "dwell"F15והושבותים "et reverti et habitare faciam",
Burkius. , quietly, constantly, and at ease; and our version takes in both
senses: the meaning is, that these people should be returned from the state and
condition and from each of the places they are in, and be settled either in
their own land, or in Gospel churches, under a Gospel ministry, enjoying Gospel
ordinances, or in both:
for I have mercy upon them; which is the spring and
source of all the above benefits promised, or that are after mentioned; even of
the covenant and its blessings; the mission of Christ, and salvation by him;
regeneration, pardon, and eternal life; hence they that had a
"loammi" upon them, and were not the people of God, now will be his
people; and those who had not obtained mercy shall obtain it, even those that
were concluded in unbelief:
and they shall be as though I had not cast them off; or rejected
them from being his people; which was done when the natural branches, the Jews,
were broken off, and the Gentiles of the wild olive tree were grafted in; when
their civil and church state were dissolved, and their city and temple
destroyed:
for I am the Lord their God; covenant interest always
remains, and is the source of all the blessings of grace, and will be of the
conversion of the Jews, Romans 11:26,
and will hear them; when, the Spirit of grace and supplication
being poured upon them, they shall cry unto the Lord, and look to him for
salvation. The Targum is,
"and
I will receive their prayer.'
Zechariah 10:7 7 Those
of Ephraim shall be like a mighty man, And their heart shall rejoice as if
with wine. Yes, their children shall see it and be glad; Their heart
shall rejoice in the Lord.
YLT
7And Ephraim hath been as a
hero, And rejoiced hath their heart as wine, And their sons see, and they have
rejoiced, Rejoice doth their heart in Jehovah.
And they of Ephraim shall be like a mighty man,.... What
remain, and shall be found of the ten tribes, shall be as is said of Judah, or
the Jews of the two tribes, Zechariah 10:5,
and their heart shall rejoice as through wine: they shall be
filled with inward and spiritual joy, through the love of God shed abroad in
their heart; and through the Gospel of Christ having a place there; and through
the blessings of divine grace, those streams of love, and which flow in the
Gospel, and make glad the hearts of God's people; all which are comparable to
wine:
yea, their children shall see it, and be glad; they shall
see the strength, victory, and salvation of their fathers, and the joy they
shall be possessed of, and join with them in it, having a share in the same
blessings they are partakers of:
their heart shall rejoice in the Lord; in the person
and offices of Christ, who will now be known by the spiritual seed and
offspring of the church, and in the great salvation wrought out by him, and in
all the blessings of grace that accompany it. The Targum is,
"their
heart shall rejoice in the word of the Lord;'
the
essential Word, the Son of God.
Zechariah 10:8 8 I
will whistle for them and gather them, For I will redeem them; And they shall
increase as they once increased.
YLT
8I hist for them, and I
gather them, For I have redeemed them, And they have multiplied as they did
multiply.
I will hiss for them,.... Or "whistle for
them"F16אשרקה "sibilabo",
i. e. "fistula pastorali", Grotius, Burkius. ; the word signifies, as
Kimchi and Ben Melech observe, the motion of the lips with the voice, and is a
sign of calling; and so the Targum renders it, I will cry or call for them; and
it denotes the call of them by the Gospel, which is the voice of Christ, which
is soft, sweet, and melodious; is a sound of love, grace, and mercy; of peace,
pardon, life, and salvation: the allusion seems to be to the shepherd gathering
his sheep together with his pipe or whistle, and which was a reed; and so may
denote the weakness of the instrument, the ministry of the word in itself,
which is made the power of God unto salvation:
and gather them; from the places where they are scattered,
into their land; or, by effectual calling, out from the state and condition in
which they are, and from among the men of the world, to the Lord himself, as
their Redeemer and Saviour; and to him for pardon and righteousness; and into
his churches, and communion with him there: Kimchi observes, that some interpret
this verse of future time; and Jarchi says it relates to it; and in the TalmudF17T.
Bab. Cholin, fol. 63. 1. it is applied to the times of the Messiah; where they
speak of a bird called "racham", which we translate the gier eagle, Deuteronomy 14:17
and they say it is so called, because, when that comes, mercies come into the
world, which this word signifies. R. Bibi bar Abi says, when it sits, it makes
a whistling or hissing, from whence it is called "sarakrak", a word
derived from what is here used; and when it sits on the ground, and hisses or
whistles, the Messiah will come, as it is said, "I will hiss for
them", &c.; the gloss is, when it stands not, but sits and chirps, it
is a sign of good news. The design, seems to be to show, that the Messiah's
coming is owing mercy, and would be good news, which the Gospel publishes.
For I have redeemed them; from sin, Satan, the
law, death, and hell, and every enemy, by his precious blood, and the sacrifice
of himself when here on earth; and this is the foundation of the effectual
calling of any and every sinner; and will be the reason of the conversion and
ingathering of the Jews in the latter day; they being a people redeemed and
purchased by the blood of Christ, Isaiah 43:1,
and they shall increase as they have increased; either when
in Egypt, or in the days of Solomon; their number shall be as the sand of the
sea, Hosea 1:10 a nation
shall be born at once; they shall be multiplied, and not be few, and glorified,
and not be small; yea, the place shall be too strait for them to dwell in, Jeremiah 31:18.
Zechariah 10:9 9 “I
will sow them among the peoples, And they shall remember Me in far countries; They
shall live, together with their children, And they shall return.
YLT
9And I sow them among
peoples, And in far-off places they remember Me, And they have lived with their
sons, And they have turned back.
And I will sow them among the people, The people of
God in the Gentile world: this is to be understood of the conversion of the
Jews, when they will become the good seed that hear the word, and understand
it, and bring forth fruit; and of their being known, acknowledged, and reckoned
among the people of God, who now are not; and of their being planted in Gospel
churches, where the word is truly preached; the ordinances are faithfully
administered; the Lord grants his presence, and saints have communion one with
another; to be in such a fruitful soil, and in such sacred enclosures, fenced
by the power and grace of God, is a great happiness:
and they shall remember me in far countries; they shall
call to mind what their ancestors did to Christ, and mourn on account of a
pierced Saviour; they shall remember him in the ordinance of the supper, being
in a Gospel church state; they shall remember what he did and suffered for
them, and his love to them in all, and that with faith, affection, and
thankfulness:
and they shall live with their children; a very happy,
comfortable, temporal life; and they shall live a spiritual life; a life of
faith on Christ; of communion with him, and of holiness from him, and to his
glory: and their children also shall live the same life, being regenerated and
quickened by the same grace; these are the church's children:
and turn again; that is, when they shall turn again, either
to the Lord, shall be converted unto him; or return to their own land.
Zechariah 10:10 10 I
will also bring them back from the land of Egypt, And gather them from Assyria.
I will bring them into the land of Gilead and Lebanon, Until no more room
is found for them.
YLT
10And I have brought them
back from the land of Egypt, And from Asshur I do gather them, And unto the
land of Gilead and Lebanon I do bring them in, And there is not found for them
[space].
I will bring them again also out of the land of Egypt,.... The
Targum paraphrases it,
"and
as I brought them out of the land of Egypt, so will gather their captivity out
of Assyria;'
suggesting
there would be a likeness between the one and the other. Egypt may denote the
state of distance and bondage in which all men are by nature; and the Jews, at
their conversion, will be brought out of it, into the glorious liberty of the children
of God, by the mighty arm of the Lord, according to his purposes and promises.
Moreover, as Cocceius observes, Egypt may signify Rome, or the Romish
jurisdiction, which is spiritually called Egypt and Sodom, Revelation 11:8 for
darkness, idolatry, tyranny, and cruelty; and out of which the Jews, as many of
them as are there, will be brought at the time of their conversion:
and gather them out of Assyria; which may design the
Turkish or Persian dominions, or both, as the above commentator suggests; from
whence the Jews, as many as are in those parts, will be brought into their own
land, as follows; see Isaiah 11:11,
and I will bring them into the land of Gilead and Lebanon; Gilead was a
land of pasture, and signifies "a heap of testimonies"; and may
mystically intend the Scriptures, which testify of Christ, and direct to green
pastures, beside the still waters: and Lebanon, that goodly mountain, and hill
of frankincense, and where cedars grew, may design the church, whither the
converted Jews will be brought, and worship before it, Revelation 3:9 or
both may literally be understood, which they shall return unto; Gilead being,
as Kimchi observes, beyond Jordan eastward; and Lebanon, comprehending the
whole land of Israel, on this side of it:
and place shall not be found for them; they will be
so numerous; see Isaiah 49:20 the
Targum is,
"and
I will bring them to the land of Gilead and the sanctuary, and it shall not be
sufficient for them;'
that
is, to hold them. The Septuagint render it, "and not one of them shall be
left": all Israel shall now be converted and saved, though their number
will be as the sand of the sea, Hosea 1:10.
Zechariah 10:11 11 He
shall pass through the sea with affliction, And strike the waves of the sea: All
the depths of the River[d] shall dry
up. Then the pride of Assyria shall be brought down, And the scepter of Egypt
shall depart.
YLT
11And He hath passed over
through the sea, And hath pressed and smitten billows in the sea, And dried up
have been all depths of a flood, And brought down hath been the excellency of
Asshur, And the rod of Egypt doth turn aside.
And he shall pass through the sea with affliction,.... Either
the people of the Jews, as Israel of old did, when they came out of Egypt, to
which the allusion is; or the wind shall pass through the sea, as Aben Ezra
supplies it, and it shall become dry; that is, the river of Egypt: or
"affliction"F18Pagninus, Montanus, Munster, Vatablus,
Calvin, Drusius, Cocceius. , as many supply it, shall pass through the sea; the
nations, which are many as the sea, as Kimchi interprets it; and so may design
that hour of temptation that shall come upon all the earth, Revelation 3:10 or
with which the kingdom of the beast, who rose up out of the sea, and consists
of many waters, people, tongues, and nations, will be afflicted, Revelation 13:1
which the Lord shall pass through and smite; or it may in general denote the
sea of this world, and the afflictions of it, which the Lord causes his people
to pass through, and brings them out of them:
and shall smite the waves in the sea: that is, the
Lord shall smite them; repress afflictions, which are like the proud waves, not
suffering them to proceed further than is for his glory and his people's good,
and remove all obstacles in their way; see Isaiah 11:15 or
destroy their enemies, which are like the proud waters, that otherwise would go
over their souls, and overwhelm them; and particularly the antichristian
states, at the pouring out of the vials, signified by the sea, and by fountains
and rivers, Revelation 16:3. Kimchi
explains it of the multitude of the people:
and all the deeps of the river shall dry up; not Nile, the
river of Egypt, as Jarchi and Aben EzraF19So Stockius, p. 891. , but
the river Euphrates; see Revelation 16:12
the drying up of which signifies the destruction of the Turkish empire; and the
Targum paraphrases it,
"all
the kings of the people shall be confounded:'
and the pride of Assyria shall be brought down; the pride of
the Ottoman empire, of which the old Assyria is a part, and which has been
large and powerful, that shall be destroyed; this will be at the passing away
of the second woe; and then quickly comes the third, which is as follows, Revelation 11:14,
and the sceptre of Egypt shall depart away; all rule and
government shall cease; see Genesis 49:10
meaning that the kingdom of the antichristian beast of Rome, called Egypt, Revelation 11:8
shall be at an end; which will be at the blowing of the seventh trumpet, and
upon and through the pouring out of the seven vials. So the Targum, the
dominion of the Egyptians shall be taken away; or its rod, with which it has
smote, hurt, and greatly oppressed and afflicted the saints; persecution shall
now cease; it will not be in the power of the Romish antichrist to persecute
any more.
Zechariah 10:12 12 “So
I will strengthen them in the Lord, And they
shall walk up and down in His name,” Says the Lord.
YLT
12And I have made them mighty
in Jehovah, And in His name they walk up and down, An affirmation of Jehovah!
And I will strengthen them in the Lord,.... Not the
Egyptians and Assyrians, but the Jews, as in Zechariah 10:5, the
Targum is,
"I
will strengthen them in the word of the Lord;'
in
the Messiah, by his power, and in the grace that is in him; and their faith and
hope in him, and love to him: or "by"F20ביהוה "per Jehovam", Piscator. him; so that,
through him strengthening them, they will be able to do all things; to exercise
grace; perform duty; withstand temptation; oppose indwelling sin; bear the
cross of Christ; endure afflictions; engage with all their spiritual enemies,
and conquer them: for the words may be rendered, "I will cause them to
prevail", or "overcome in the Lord"F21וגברתים "et faciam illos ut vincant", Cocceius. ;
all their enemies, temporal and spiritual; and even to be more than conquerors
through him that has loved them:
and they shall walk up and down in his name, saith the Lord; walk in him,
the way to the Father, to heaven and happiness; walk by faith on him, in his
strength, and in imitation of him; walk according to his Gospel, calling on his
name, professing and worshipping him; and walk in his church and ordinances,
agreeably to his will; see Micah 4:5. Kimchi
owns that this whole chapter belongs to the times of the Messiah, as well as
the former. The words may be considered as a testimony to the doctrine of the
Trinity; that I, Jehovah the Father, will strengthen them in Jehovah the Son;
and they shall walk up and down in the name of the Son of God, saith Jehovah
the Spirit. Moreover, as a promise of the saints' final perseverance, very
peremptorily expressed; I "will" strengthen them, and they
"shall" walk, &c.
──《John Gill’s
Exposition of the Bible》
New King James
Version (NKJV)