Zechariah 4

The angel who talked with me came again and wakened me, as a man who is wakened out of his sleep.

ExplanationCommentary

EXPLANATION

Verse 1. Again. He had been with Jesus. Calmet. 3. Calmet.

He said to me, “What do you see?” I said, “I have seen, and behold, a lamp stand all of gold, with its bowl on the top of it, and its seven lamps on it; there are seven pipes to each of the lamps which are on the top of it;

ExplanationCommentary

EXPLANATION

Verse 2. A candlestick, and so forth The temple of God that was then in building; and in a more sublime sense, the Church of Christ. Challoner.—Some, with the Jews, apply this to the synagogue: but most explain it of the Church, the lamp denoting Christ, and the seven lights all his pastors; the two olives, Enoch and Elias. Revelation 11. Worthington.—The angel explains the latter of Jesus and Zorobabel. verse 14. The lights are the same with the angels, (verse 10) and eyes, (Calmet. 3:9) subservient to these great men. Perhaps no candlestick of this description ever existed, though it alludes to that of Moses in some respects. Exodus 37. Calmet.—Lamp. Hebrew gullah, ( Bible.) a round vessel for oil. Menochius.—It was filled from the two olive-trees, and supplied the seven lights by tubes. Bible.

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3

and two olive trees by it, one on the right side of the bowl, and the other on the left side of it.”

4

I answered and spoke to the angel who talked with me, saying, “What are these, my lord?”

5

Then the angel who talked with me answered me, “Don’t you know what these are?” I said, “No, my lord.”

ExplanationCommentary

EXPLANATION

Verse 5. Are? Thou art a prophet, and art thou ignorant? Menochius.

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6

Then he answered and spoke to me, saying, “This is the LORD’s word to Zerubbabel, saying, ‘Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit,’ says the LORD of Armies.

ExplanationCommentary

EXPLANATION

Verse 6. To Zorobabel. This vision was in favour of Zorobabel, to assure him of success in the building of the temple, which he had begun, signified by the candlestick; the lamp of which, without any other industry, was supplied with oil dropping from the two olive-trees, and distributed by the seven funnels or pipes, to maintain the seven lights. Challoner.—Zorobabel might thus be comforted with the assurance that God would protect his Church. Worthington.—Spirit, represented by the eyes. The Messias would receive the fulness of this spirit. Isaiah 11:2.

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7

Who are you, great mountain? Before Zerubbabel you are a plain; and he will bring out the capstone with shouts of ‘Grace, grace, to it!’”

ExplanationCommentary

EXPLANATION

Verse 7. Great mountain. So he calls the opposition made by the enemies of God’s people; which, nevertheless, without any army or might on their side, was quashed by divine Providence. Challoner.—It may also mean Sion covered with ruins.—Chief; either the first or the last stone. Calmet.—Equal grace. Shall add grace to grace, or beauty to beauty. Challoner.—He shall greatly adorn it. Hebrew “when they shall lift it (the stone) up, they will exclaim: Let it be agreeable and loved.” Calmet.—Prot. “He shall bring forth the head-stone thereof with shouting, crying: Grace, grace unto it.” The people filled the air with their cries, when the temple was founded fourteen years before. Bible.—This second attempt shall be more successful. The temple was finished in four years. 1 Ezra 5:16. and 6:16. Calmet.

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8

Moreover the LORD’s word came to me, saying,

9

“The hands of Zerubbabel have laid the foundation of this house. His hands shall also finish it; and you will know that the LORD of Armies has sent me to you.

10

Indeed, who despises the day of small things? For these seven shall rejoice, and shall see the plumb line in the hand of Zerubbabel. These are the LORD’s eyes, which run back and forth through the whole earth.”

ExplanationCommentary

EXPLANATION

Verse 10. Little days. That is, these small and feeble beginnings of the temple of God. Challoner.—Ye of little faith shall rejoice when you shall behold Zorobabel surmounting all difficulties. Calmet.—Plummet. Lit. “the stone of tin.” He means the builder’s plummet, which Zorobabel shall hold in his hand for the finishing the building. Challoner.—The Hebrew style all weights stones, Deuteronomy 25:13. Calmet.—Eyes. The providence of God, that oversees and orders all things; ( Challoner.) or the assistance of the seven chief angels. Tobit 12:15. Revelation 1:4. Calmet.

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11

Then I asked him, “What are these two olive trees on the right side of the lamp stand and on the left side of it?”

12

I asked him the second time, “What are these two olive branches, which are beside the two golden spouts that pour the golden oil out of themselves?”

ExplanationCommentary

EXPLANATION

Verse 12. Branches: the divine and human nature in Christ. Worthington.—They are the same with the two trees, verse 11. Calmet.

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13

He answered me, “Don’t you know what these are?” I said, “No, my lord.”

14

Then he said, “These are the two anointed ones who stand by the Lord of the whole earth.”

ExplanationCommentary

EXPLANATION

Verse 14. Two sons of oil. That is, the two anointed ones of the Lord; that is Jesus, the high priest, and Zorobabel, the prince. Challoner.—The Hebrews have hot many adjectives. Thus they say, the son of perdition, for the lost son. Septuagint “sons of fatness.” Aq. and Th. “of splendour;” two illustrious personages. Bible.—One was head in religious, the other in civil matters. Calmet.—Both were appointed by God, and co-operated for the welfare of the people, as the church and state ought to act for the common good, and assist each other. Bible.—Jesus and Zorobabel were to repair the damage done by the Chaldeans. They were assisted by the seven administering spirits. Hebrews 1:14. Calmet.

EXPLANATION

The word translated “Lord” is “Adonai.”

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