Chapter 1:
| Darby
| Geneva
| Gill
| Jamieson Faussett Brown
| Matthew Henry
| Matthew Henry Concise
| Wesley
| Index
| Bible Gateway |
Introduction 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 Haggai Malachi
Zechariah 1
Zechariah prophesies more particularly concerning the Messiah
than Haggai had done. In the five first verses of his prophecy, he
declares the scope of it. Thence to the sixth chapter he relates the
visions he saw, and the instructions he received by them. He
shews the Jews their present duty, chap. 7. and encourages them
to hope for God's favour, chap. 8. Thence to the end, he reproves
for sin, threatens the impenitent, and encourages them that feared
God with gracious promises.
A call to repentance, ver. 1-6. The vision of the horses, ver.7-11.
The prayer of the angel for Jerusalem answered, ver. 12-17. The
vision of the four carpenters, ver. 18-21
Verse 1. In the eighth month - Two months after Haggai began to
encourage the Jews to build the temple. Zechariah - Probably this
is that Zechariah whom the Jews slew between the temple and the
altar, Matt. xxiii, 35.
Verse 5. Where are they - But where are your disobedient fathers? Were
they not consumed with famine and sword, as I threatened them?
Do they live - The prophets died as others; they must not live
always to warn you.
Verse 6. My words - The dreadful menaces which I spake. My statutes -
The decreed judgments which I resolved to execute on them,
which by my prophets I proclaimed. Take hold - Overtake as a
pursuing enemy overtakes, and seizeth on his enemy. They
returned - By this it should seem that Zechariah gave them time to
consider what answer to give. So hath he dealt - It is true, as God
said he would do, so he hath done against us.
Verse 8. A man - Christ Jesus in the shape of a man. Riding - In a
posture of readiness. A red horse - This colour is a symbol of his
coming to avenge himself on his enemies. The myrtle-trees - He
posted himself in a convenient place to observe and be ready,
among verdant, fragrant trees, emblems of the saints of God. In
the bottom - This bottom or valley in which the myrtles grew, is
an emblem of the church in a low, afflicted state. Behind him -
Christ was, as becomes a captain, at the head, the rest, as his
soldiers, are behind attending on him. Red horses - Horses and
horsemen, and those are angels, ver. 10. And the colour of these
horses is red, probably denoting the bloody condition of states and
kingdoms, by wars one against another when God punisheth his
church, or when he avengeth himself. Speckled - Of a mixt
colour; perhaps an emblem of affairs, not all dark, nor all light,
such as those during the last seventy prophetic weeks. White - An
emblem of the best days of the church.
Verse 9. O my Lord - This was Christ, the Lord of hosts. What are these
- What is the meaning of these appearances. The angel - Christ,
the angel of the covenant.
Verse 10. These - Horsemen, are angels, who are ministers of the Divine
Providence in the government of the world.
Verse 11. Is at rest - All men sit still to take their ease. All is peaceable.
This was the state of the empire which at that time ruled all.
Verse 12. Angel of the Lord - The angel, the Lord Christ.
Verse 14. Cry thou - Now publish what thou hearest, and assure my poor
captive church, that God will do good for her.
Verse 15. A little displeased - With mine own people, that is, in
comparison of the anger I bear against the Heathen. Helped
forward - Attempted to destroy whom I would but correct.
Verse 16. A line - The builder's measuring line shall be stretched out, to
mark out the walls, gates, streets, and houses in Jerusalem.
Verse 17. Through prosperity - Through increase of families, they shall
send forth colonies, and plant new cities, and thro' increase of
wealth, and cattle, be able to build their cities, and stock their
colonies.
Verse 18. Four horns - Emblems of the enemies of the Jews.
Verse 19. The horns - Powers, states, and kingdoms, which have from
all sides pushed at, broken and tossed my people. Judah - The two
tribes. Israel - The ten tribes.
Verse 21. He - Christ. These - He first points to the four horns. But these
- These carpenters are emblems of those instruments God will
employ in breaking those destroyers. Who lift up - Who employed
their arms and strength against the kingdom of Judah, to drive
them out of God's inheritance.
Chapter 1:
| Darby
| Geneva
| Gill
| Jamieson Faussett Brown
| Matthew Henry
| Matthew Henry Concise
| Wesley
| Index
| Bible Gateway |
Introduction 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 Haggai Malachi
This version of Wesley's Notes on the Bible is a derivative of an electronic version, Copyright 1997, by Sulu D. Kelley. All rights reserved. Used by permission. It may not be modified or used commercially without permission of Wesleyan Heritage Publishing and Sulu Kelley. A special thanks to Mr. Kelley and Wesleyan Heritage Publishing for permission to create and post this version of Wesley's Notes on the Bible.
Genesis
Exodus
Leviticus
Numbers
Deuteronomy
Joshua
Judges
Ruth
1 Samuel
2 Samuel
1 Kings
2 Kings
1 Chronicles
2 Chronicles
Ezra
Nehemiah
Esther
Job
Psalm
Proverbs
Ecclesiastes
Song of Solomon
Isaiah
Jeremiah
Lamentations
Ezekiel
Daniel
Hosea
Joel
Amos
Obadiah
Jonah
Micah
Nahum
Habakkuk
Zephaniah
Haggai
Zechariah
Malachi
Matthew
Mark
Luke
John
Acts
Romans
1 Corinthians
2 Corinthians
Galatians
Ephesians
Philippians
Colossians
1 Thessalonians
2 Thessalonians
1 Timothy
2 Timothy
Titus
Philemon
Hebrews
James
1 Peter
2 Peter
1 John
2 John
3 John
Jude
Revelation
