Bible Commentaries
Clarke's Commentary
Verse
CHAPTER VIII
In this chapter God promises the continuance of his favour to those who are returned from the captivity; so that upon the removal of his judgments, the fasts they had observed during the captivity may now be converted to so many occasions of rejoicing.
He likewise promises in due time a general restoration of his people, and the enlargement of the Church by the accession of the Gentiles, 1-20.
The conclusion of the chapter intimates farther that the Jews, after their restoration, will be instrumental in converting many other nations, 21-23.
Compare Romans 11:15-16.
Verse 2
Verse Zechariah 8:2. I was jealous — Some refer this to the Jews themselves. They were as the spouse of Jehovah: but they were unfaithful, and God punished them as an injured husband might be expected to punish an unfaithful wife. Others apply it to the enemies of the Jews. Though I gave them a commission to afflict you, yet they exceeded their commission: I will therefore deal with them in fury - in vindictive justice.
Verse 3
Verse Zechariah 8:3. I am returned unto Zion — I have restored her from her captivity. I will dwell among them. The temple shall be rebuilt, and so shall Jerusalem; and instead of being false, unholy, and profligate, it shall be the city of truth, and my holy mountain. TRUTH shall dwell in it.
Verse 4
Verse Zechariah 8:4. There shall yet old men and old women — In those happy times the followers of God shall live out all their days, and the hoary head be always found in the way of righteousness.
Verse 5
Verse Zechariah 8:5. The streets of the city shall be full of boys and girls — The progeny shall be numerous, healthy, and happy. Their innocent gambols and useful exercises shall be a means of health, and a proof of happiness. To be healthy, children must have exercise. But they cannot take exercise, except in the way of play and diversion: ergo, such playfulness cannot be sinful. Let them be kept from evil words, lying, swearing, and scurrility; and all the rest may be innocent.
Verse 6
Verse Zechariah 8:6. If it be marvellous — You may think that this is impossible, considering your present low condition: but suppose it be impossible in your eyes, should it be so in mine! saith the Lord of hosts.
Verse 7
Verse Zechariah 8:7. I will save my people from the east country, and from the west — From every land in which any of them may be found. But these promises principally regard the Christian Church, or the bringing in the Jews with the fulness of the Gentiles.
Verse 9
Verse Zechariah 8:9. By the mouth of the prophets — The day or time of the foundation was about two years before, as this discourse of the prophet was in the fourth year of Darius. After this God raised up prophets among them.
Verse 10
Verse Zechariah 8:10. For before these days there was no hire for man — Previously to this, ye had no prosperity; ye had nothing but civil divisions and domestic broils. I abandoned you to your own spirits, and to your own ways.
Verse 12
Verse Zechariah 8:12. For the seed shall be prosperous — Ye shall be a holy and peaceable people; and God will pour down his blessing on yourselves, your fields, and your vineyards.
Verse 13
Verse Zechariah 8:13. As ye were a curse — Instead of being execrated among the people, ye shall be blessed; instead of being reproached, ye shall be commended. Ye shall be a blessing to all the nations round about. All these promises we may expect to be completely fulfilled when the Jews acknowledge their Messiah.
O house of Judah, and house of Israel — The restoration shall be complete, when both Israel and Judah are brought back.
Verse 16
Verse Zechariah 8:16. Speak ye every man the truth — See Zechariah 7:9-10.
Verse 19
Verse Zechariah 8:19. The fast of the fourth month] To commemorate the taking of Jerusalem; 2 Kings 25:3; Jeremiah 39:2; Jeremiah 52:6-7.
The fast of the fifth — In memory of the ruin of the temple, 2 Kings 25:8; Jeremiah 52:12-13.
The fast of the seventh — For the murder of Gedaliah, Jeremiah 41:1-17.
The fast of the tenth — In commemoration of the siege of Jerusalem, which began on the tenth day of the tenth month; 2 Kings 25:1; Jeremiah 52:4; Ezekiel 24:1-2; and see on Zechariah 7:3; Zechariah 7:5.
Cheerful feasts — Ye shall find all your evils so completely redressed, that these mournful fasts shall be turned into joyful feasts.
Verse 20
Verse Zechariah 8:20. There shall come people — Similar promises to those in Isaiah 2:3 and in Micah 4:1-2. Many Gentiles, as well as Jews, will then be found devoting themselves to the Lord.
Verse 21
Verse Zechariah 8:21. I will go also. — This is the answer of the person invited. It is a good work. We must have God for our friend. We cannot expect this unless we seek him: and as we know not what an hour may bring forth, let us go speedily.
Verse 22
Verse Zechariah 8:22. And strong nations — This may refer to the conversion of the Mohammedan tribes; especially to those in the vicinity of Palestine. Perhaps even the Egyptians, inhabitants of Arabia Petraea, of Syria, &c.
Verse 23
Verse Zechariah 8:23. Ten men - shall take hold of the skirt of him that is a Jew — The converts from among the Gentiles shall be to the Jews as ten to one. But ten may here signify a great number, without comparison. And from this scripture it appears as if the Jews, converted to God, should be the instruments of converting many Gentiles. See on Isaiah 3:6. Catching hold of the skirt is a gesture naturally used to entreat assistance and protection. This and the three foregoing verses, says Abp. Newcome, refer to the great accession of converts which the Jewish Church received between the captivity and the coming of Christ; to the number of Christian disciples which the Jewish preachers made, and to the future conversions of which the restoration of the Jews will be an eminent cause.
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KEITH HUNT'S COMMENTS WITH THE——
New Living Translation
Zechariah 8
Promised Blessings for Jerusalem
1 Then another message came to me from the Lord of Heaven's Armies: 2 "This is what the Lord of Heaven's Armies says: My love for Mount Zion is passionate and strong; I am consumed with passion for Jerusalem!
3 "And now the Lord says: I am returning to Mount Zion, and I will live in Jerusalem. Then Jerusalem will be called the Faithful City; the mountain of the Lord of Heaven's Armies will be called the Holy Mountain.
[PROMISE FOR THE FUTURE, AS GIVEN IN MANY OTHER PROPHETIC BOOKS WE HAVE SEEN. GOD VIA CHRIST JESUS THE MESSIAH WILL LIVE LITERALY IN THE LITERAL CITY OF JERUSALEM, THE NEW AGE TO COME, THE MILLENIUM AGE— REVELATION 20—Keith Hunt]
4 "This is what the Lord of Heaven's Armies says: Once again old men and women will walk Jerusalem's streets with their canes and will sit together in the city squares. 5 And the streets of the city will be filled with boys and girls at play.
6 "This is what the Lord of Heaven's Armies says: All this may seem impossible to you now, a small remnant of God's people. But is it impossible for me? says the Lord of Heaven's Armies.
[WHEN ALL OF OSRAEL IS IN CAPTIVITY AT THE END OF THIS AGE, SUCH LANGUAGE MAY SEEM SILLY AND IMPOSSIBLE. BUT IT WILL SURELY COME TO PASS AS GOD PROMISES— Keith Hunt]
7 "This is what the Lord of Heaven's Armies says: You can be sure that I will rescue my people from the east and from the west. 8 I will bring them home again to live safely in Jerusalem. They will be my people, and I will be faithful and just toward them as their God.
[GOD HAS PROMISED IT TO BE SO. IT IS SO WRITTEN IN MANY OTHER PROPHETIC BOOKS SUCH AS ISAIAH, EZEKIEL ETC.
WHEN JESUS MESSIAH COMES ISRAEL, ALL 12 TRIBES, ARE IN CAPTIVITY AND SCATTERED. THEY WILL BE BROUGHT HOME BY CHRIST HIMSELF, RESTORED TO THE PROMISED HOLY LAND, FROM THE EAST AND FROM THE WEST, WHEREVER THEY ARE.
AT THAT TIME THEY WILL KNOW THEY ARE GOD'S PHYSICAL PEOPLE, AND HE WILL BE FAITHFUL AND JUST; THEY WILL FINALLY BE THE PEOPLE GOD CHOSE THEM FOR, SEE DEUT. 4— Keith Hunt]
PROPHECY NOW GOES BACK TO ZECH'S TIME
9 "This is what the Lord of Heaven's Armies says: Be strong and finish the task! Ever since the laying of the foundation of the Temple of the Lord of Heaven's Armies, you have heard what the prophets have been saying about completing the building. 10 Before the work on the Temple began, there were no jobs and no money to hire people or animals. No traveler was safe from the enemy, for there were enemies on all sides. I had turned everyone against each other.
11 "But now I will not treat the remnant of my people as I treated them before, says the Lord of Heaven's Armies.12 For I am planting seeds of peace and prosperity among you. The grapevines will be heavy with fruit. The earth will produce its crops, and the heavens will release the dew.
[SO GOD WOULD DO WITH THE PEOPLE FROM THE BABYLON CAPTIVITY— Keith Hunt]
Once more I will cause the remnant in Judah and Israel to inherit these blessings. 13 Among the other nations, Judah and Israel became symbols of a cursed nation. But no longer! Now I will rescue you and make you both a symbol and a source of blessing. So don't be afraid. Be strong, and get on with rebuilding the Temple!
[A PAST FULFILMENT OF ZECH'S TIME, BUT NOTICE THE MAIN FUTURE FULFILMENT. IT IS ISRAEL AND JUDAH, THE PAST ONE WAS JUST JUDAH. THE FUTURE ONE BOTH ISRAEL AND JUDAH. IT IS JUDAH AND ISRAEL AS CURSED PEOPLE, AN END TIME FULFILMENT. THE FUTURE IS A RESCUE , BOTH A SYMBOL AND SOURSE OF BLESSINGS. THE OLD PROPHECY BLENDS IN WITH THE END TIME PROPHECY, THAT IS WHY THE REBUILDING OF THE TEMPLE IS BROUGHT BACK…THE OLD MIXED WITH THE NEW FUTURE PROPHECY. SO IT IS THAT BOTH THE OLD AND NEW COME TOGETHER IN ONE SENTENCE OR ONE PARAGRAPH— Keith Hunt]
14 "For this is what the Lord of Heaven's Armies says: I was determined to punish you when your ancestors angered me, and I did not change my mind, says the Lord of Heaven's Armies. 15 But now I am determined to bless Jerusalem and the people of Judah. So don't be afraid. 16 But this is what you must do: Tell the truth to each other. Render verdicts in your courts that are just and that lead to peace. 17 Don't scheme against each other. Stop your love of telling lies that you swear are the truth. I hate all these things, says the Lord."
[GOD WILL WANT THIS FROM JUDAH AS HE BRINGS THEM BACK TO THE HOLY LAND AND JERUSALEM; A NEW ATTITUDE OF MIND. OF COURSE IT WILL APPLY TO THE OTHER TEN TRIBES ALSO, BUT AS THE JEWS HAVE LIVED A LONG TIME IN JUDAH AND JERUSALEM, BEFORE THE END TIMES COME, THEY ARE MENTIONED FOR THEY STAND FOR ALL ISRAEL— Keith Hunt]
18 Here is another message that came to me from the Lord of Heaven's Armies. 19 "This is what the Lord of Heaven's Armies says: The traditional fasts and times of mourning you have kept in early summer, midsummer, autumn, and winter are now ended. They will become festivals of joy and celebration for the people of Judah. So love truth and peace.
[THOSE FASTS WILL BE FEASTS FOR JUDAH. WILL THEY APPLY TO OTHER ISRAEL TRIBES, WE SHALL WAIT AND SEE— Keith Hunt]
20 "This is what the Lord of Heaven's Armies says: People from nations and cities around the world will travel to Jerusalem. 21 The people of one city will say to the people of another, ‘Come with us to Jerusalem to ask the Lord to bless us. Let's worship the Lord of Heaven's Armies. I'm determined to go.' 22 Many peoples and powerful nations will come to Jerusalem to seek the Lord of Heaven's Armies and to ask for his blessing.
[PEOPLE FLOODING TO GO TO JERUSALEM AND SEEKING THE LORD FOR BLESSINGS— AN END TIME NEW AGE PROPHECY— Keith Hunt]
23 "This is what the Lord of Heaven's Armies says: In those days ten men from different nations and languages of the world will clutch at the sleeve of one Jew. And they will say, ‘Please let us walk with you, for we have heard that God is with you.'"
[YES, O YES, IT IS AN END TIME PROPHECY; WE ARE INTO THE NEW AGE, THE 1,000 YEAR AGE OF REVELATION 20.
EVENTUALLY FOR EVERY JEW THERE WILL BE 10 GENTILES, WANTING TO GO WHERE GOD VIA CHRIST, NOW LIVES.
IT WILL BE SUPER WONDERFUL, THAT GOD WILL DWELL AGAIN WITH MAN; THERE WILL BE ABUNDANT BLESSINGS FOR THE WHOLE WORLD, FOR MANKIND AND FOR ANIMALS.
READ AGAIN ISAIAH 11!
PRAISE THE LORD FOR HE IS GOOD!
Keith Hunt
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