Zechariah 10

Notes

Ver. 1-4. But though the Lord has promised plenty, ye must supplicate him for rains to effect it. Indulge yourselves therefore no more in idolatry and divination, which have so disappointed your fathers, and occasioned their miserable captivity, and my wrathful destruction of their princes and priests. I have now recovered you from your captivity, and made you strong and courageous, and have joined you together as a body civil and ecclesiastic, and enabled you to defend yourselves, and even harass your enemies; and quickly I will send you the Messiah, to found, fasten together, and defend his gospel church and destroy opposition. 5-12. Not only shall the Jews under the Maccabees valiantly defend themselves, and even enlarge their power, but especially in the beginning of the millennium they shall be wonderfully assisted by God; and after long and marvellous preservation and increase in their miserable dispersion, they and the ten tribes shall, with great joy, be brought back to Canaan, and there serve the Lord; while the Assyrians, Egyptians, and Turks, who had formerly murdered and oppressed them, shall be debased and ruined. And in like manner shall God, by his lively and animated gospel ministers, call and persuade Gentile nations to Christ, mercifully recover them from their long-continued idolatries and delusions, render them his peculiar people, strengthen and comfort them by the influence of his Spirit, and graciously call them into the church, and thereby render her exceedingly extensive and numerous; and shall remove all obstacles, whether heathenish or antichristian, out of their way, and render them strong and active, because of their faith in Jesus Christ.

Ver. 2. Flock. Were driven into captivity as sheep without a shepherd. C.

Ver. 3. I punished the goats. The allusion seems to be to the custom of eastern shepherds who teach goats, as being bolder and more active, to go at the head of their flocks. C.

Ver. 4. Oppressor is rendered 'exactor,' and taken in a good sense, Is.60.17; the modern term would most probably be 'financier.' C.

Ver. 6. Having been literally 'cast off,' it follows, by every law of interpretation, that the Jews will be as literally 'brought again to their place.' See ver. 10. C.

Ver. 8. I will hiss for them. The allusion is to a peculiar whistle by which the eastern shepherd collects his flock. See and comp. Is.5.26 with 7.18. C.

Ver. 10. In interpreting this prophecy it must be kept in mind that it was written after the Jews had returned from Babylon. It cannot, therefore, refer to that event; nor indeed could the sweeping statement in the close of this verse, 'and place shall not be found for them,' be regarded as at all applicable to the state of the country after the return from exile. Some other period must have been in the prophet's eye; and I cannot but think that period is still future. P.

Ver. 11. And he shall pass; the leader of the house of Judah, ver. 4.—Deeps of the river; the national resources of Assyria represented by the Euphrates, and of Egypt represented by the Nile. See Col.2.6. C.

Reflections.—In our prayers we must follow the promises and attend the providences of God, requesting mercies both suitable and seasonable. And in this let us look to God only. Wandering after strange gods will but expose us to disappointment and trouble. Whether things distress or comfort us, it is God who directs them. All the power that is either for us or against us is of him. His people become powerful and courageous when he affords them his assistance and presence. By him all enemies are easily overcome and obstacles removed. At his effectual call multitudes gather into his church from places the most distant. Marvellous then are her comforts, numbers, power, and preservation; and courageous, upright, and evangelical the walk of her members. Nothing is wanting where Jehovah is our strength, our song, and our salvation.