Adam Clarke's
Bible Commentary in 8 Volumes
Volume
4
The Book of the Prophet Zechariah
Chapter
9
|
Notes on Chapter 9
Verse 1. The burden of
the word of the Lord— The oracle
contained in
the word which Jehovah now speaks.
This is a prophecy against Syria, the Philistines, Tyre, and
Sidon, which
were to be subdued by Alexander the Great. After this the
prophet speaks
gloriously concerning the coming of Christ, and redemption by
him.
Most learned men are of opinion that this and the succeeding
chapters are
not the work of Zechariah, but rather of Jeremiah; Hosea, or
some one
before the captivity. It is certain that chap. 11:12, 13, is
quoted Matthew
27:9, 10, as the language of Jeremiah the prophet. The first
eight chapters
appear by the introductory parts to be the prophecies of
Zechariah: they
stand in connection with each other, are pertinent to the time
when they
were delivered, are uniform in style and manner, and constitute
a regular
whole; but the six last chapters are not expressly assigned to
Zechariah,
and are unconnected with those that precede: — the three first
of them are
unsuitable in many parts to the time when Zechariah lived; all
of them
have a more adorned and poetical turn of composition than the
eight first
chapters, and they manifestly break the unity of the prophetical
book.
I conclude, from internal marks, that these three chapters, (9.,
10., 11.,)
were written much earlier than the time of Jeremiah, and before
the
captivity of the ten tribes. They seem to suit Hosea’s age and
manner; but
whoever wrote them, their Divine authority is established by the
two
quotations from them, chap. 9:9; 11:12, 13. See below.
The twelfth, thirteenth, and fourteenth chapters form a distinct
prophecy,
and were written after the death of Josiah, chap. 12:11; but
whether before
or after the captivity, and by what prophet, is uncertain,
although I incline
to think that the author lived before the destruction of
Jerusalem by the
Babylonians. See on chap. 13:2-6. They are twice quoted in the
New
Testament, chap. 12:10; 13:7. — Newcome.
My own opinion is, that these chapters form not only a distinct
work, but
belong to a different author. If they do not belong to Jeremiah,
they form a
thirteenth book in the minor prophets, but the inspired writer
is unknown.
The land of Hadrach— The valley of Damascus, or a place
near to
Damascus. Alexander the Great gained possession of Damascus, and
took
all its treasures; but it was without blood; the city was
betrayed to him.
Damascus shall be the rest thereof— The principal part
of this calamity
shall fall on this city. God’s anger rests on those whom he
punishes,
Ezekiel 5:13; 16:42; 24:13. And his rod, or his arm, rests upon
his
enemies, Psalm 125:3; Isaiah 30:23. See Newcome.
When the eye of man— Newcome translates thus:
“For the eye of Jehovah is over man, And over all the tribes of
Israel.”
This is an easy sense, and is followed by the versions.
These prophecies are more suitable to the days of Jeremiah than
to those
of Zechariah; for there is no evidence-although Alexander did
take
Damascus, but without bloodshed-that it was destroyed from the
times of
Zechariah to the advent of our Lord. And as Tyre and Sidon were
lately
destroyed by Nebuchadnezzar, it is not likely that they could
soon
undergo another devastation.
Her expectation shalt be ashamed— The expectation of
being succoured
by Tyre.
And Ekron as a Jebusite.— As an inhabitant of Jerusalem.
Many of the
Philistines became proselytes to Judiasm; and particularly the
cities of
Gaza, and Ashdod. See Josephus Antiq. lib. xlii., c. 15, s.
4.
Behold, thy
King cometh— Not Zerubbabel, for he was never king; nor
have they had a king, except Jesus the Christ, from the days of
Zedekiah
to the present time.
He is just— The righteous One, and the Fountain of
righteousness.
Having salvation— He alone can save from sin, Satan,
death, and hell.
Lowly— Without worldly pomp or splendor; for neither his
kingdom, nor
that of his followers, is of this world.
Riding upon an ass— God had commanded the kings of
Israel not to
multiply horses. The kings who broke this command were miserable
themselves, and scourgers to their people. Jesus came to fulfill
the law.
Had he in his title of king rode upon a horse, it would have
been a breach
of a positive command of God; therefore, he rode upon an ass,
and thus
fulfilled the prophecy, and kept the precept unbroken. Hence it
is
immediately added:—
I have sent forth thy prisoners— Those who were under
the arrest of
God’s judgments; the human race, fast bound in sin and misery,
and who
by the pitifulness of his tender mercy were loosed, he dying in
their stead.
I will render double unto thee— Give thee an abundance
of peace and
salvation.
His arrow shall go forth as the lightning— They shall be
conquered in a
way that will show that God fights for his followers.
The description here is very sublime; we have a good imitation
of it in
Nonnus:—
kai tote gaian apasan epeklusen uetiov zeuv, puknwsav nefeessin
olon
polonù ouranih gar brontaioiv patagoisi diov mukhsato salpigx. N
“When heaven’s dread trumpet, sounding from on high, Breaks
forth in
thunders through the darken’d sky; The pregnant clouds to floods
of rain
give birth. And stormy Jove o’erwhelms the solid earth.” J. B.
B. C.
In these two verses there is a fine image, and an allusion to a
particular
fact, which have escaped the notice of every oommelltator. I
must repeat
the verses: 13: When I have bent Judah for me, filled the bow
with
Ephraim, and raised up thy sons, O Zion, against thy sons, O
Greece, and
made thee as the sword of a mighty man. 14: And the L
Volat illud, et incandescit eundo,
Et quos non habuit, sub nubibus invenit ignes.
“It flies apace; and, heating, mounts on high,
Glows in its course, and burns along the sky.”
Subdue with sling-stones—
This was an ancient and powerful instrument
in the hands of the Hebrews. See the note on Judges 20:16.
They shall drink— After the victory gained as above, thy
people shall
hold a feast, and drink and be filled with wine. There is no
intimation here
that they shall drink the blood of their enemies, as some
barbarous nations
were accustomed to do. When they have gained the victory, they
shall
banquet abundantly on the spoils taken from the enemy.
As the corners of the altar.— They shall pour out
libations of wine at the
foot of the altar, as the priests were accustomed to pour out
the blood of
the victims.
As the stones of a crown—
And how great is his beauty!— His comeliness, holiness,
and purity, put
in and upon them.
Corn shall make the young men cheerful— They shall be
gladdened and
strengthened by plenty of food; and they shall speak aloud of
God’s
mercies in their harvest home.
And new wine the maids.— Who shall prepare the wine from
an abundant
vintage. |