Bible Commentaries

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; 47:4.

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).