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| 1 In the eighth month, in the second year of Darius, hath a word of Jehovah been unto Zechariah, son of Berechiah, son of Iddo, the prophet, saying: |
Darius – Darius Hystaspes. R2521:2
Zechariah – Was a prophet and a priest; returned from Babylonian captivity under governor Zerubbabel as a young man. R2521:2
He was the successor of Haggai. His career began in the second year of Darius Hystaspes and continued two years. Part of his mission was to encourage the Jews who labored in the construction of the Temple. R2521:2
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| 2 'Jehovah was wroth against your fathers wrath! |
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| 3 And thou hast said unto them, Thus said Jehovah of Hosts, turn back unto Me, An affirmation of Jehovah of Hosts, And I turn back unto you, said Jehovah of Hosts. |
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| 4 Ye shall not be as your fathers, To whom the former prophets called, saying: Thus said Jehovah of Hosts, Turn back I pray you, From your evil ways and from your evil doings, And they did not hearken, Nor attend to Me an affirmation of Jehovah. |
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| 5 Your fathers where [are] they And the prophets to the age do they live |
Do they live forever? – Are they immortal, as claimed by many? R802:2*
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| 6 Only, My words, and My statutes, That I commanded My servants the prophets, Have they not overtaken your fathers, And they turn back and say: As Jehovah of Hosts designed to do to us, According to our ways, and according to our doings, So He hath done to us ' |
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| 7 On the twenty and fourth day of the eleventh month, (it [is] the month of Sebat,) in the second year of Darius, hath a word of Jehovah been unto Zechariah, son of Berechiah, son of Iddo, the prophet, saying: |
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| 8 I have seen by night, and lo, one riding on a red horse, and he is standing between the myrtles that [are] in the shade, and behind him [are] horses, red, bay, and white. |
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A man riding – ? This could be our Lord or one of the Apostles (Paul?) or it could even be John the Baptist.
Upon a red horse – Red - Ashes of the red heifer. Possibly a picture of the ancient worthies. Since horses picture doctrines the thought here is one who rides the doctrines that were in effect during the Jewish age. Red is also a picture of blood and could thus be a reference to the ransom.
Behind him – i.e., in the past from where this man among the myrtle trees is at the time of this vision's setting.
[horses] Red – Jewish age doctrines which eventually produce the ancient worthies - ashes of the red heifer.
Speckled – Strong's 8320, "bright red (as piercing to the sight)" - Ancient worthies? |
| 9 And I say, 'What [are] these, my lord ' And the messenger who is speaking with me saith unto me, 'I I do shew thee what these [are].' |
The angel – Materialized angels can eat, drink and perform all the functions of the natural being of the earthly plane of existence. Q744:3
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| 10 And the one who is standing between the myrtles doth answer and say, 'These [are] they whom Jehovah hath sent to walk up and down in the land.' |
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| 11 And they answer the messenger of Jehovah who is standing between the myrtles, and say, 'We have walked up and down in the land, and lo, all the land is sitting still, and at rest.' |
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| 12 And the messenger of Jehovah answereth and saith, 'Jehovah of Hosts! till when dost Thou not pity Jerusalem, and the cities of Judah, that Thou hast abhorred these seventy years ' |
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| 13 And Jehovah answereth the messenger, who is speaking with me, good words, comfortable words. |
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| 14 And the messenger who is speaking with me, saith unto me, 'Call, saying: Thus said Jehovah of Hosts: I have been zealous for Jerusalem, and for Zion [with] great zeal. |
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| 15 And [with] great wrath I am wroth against the nations who are at ease, For I was a little wroth, and they assisted for evil. |
The affliction – Rendered "evil" in "I create evil." (Isa. 45:7) A125
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| 16 Therefore, thus said Jehovah: I have turned to Jerusalem with mercies, My house is built in it, An affirmation of Jehovah of Hosts, And a line is stretched over Jerusalem. |
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| 17 Again call, saying: Thus said Jehovah of Hosts, Again do my cities overflow from good, And Jehovah hath again comforted Zion, And He hath fixed again on Jerusalem.' |
Choose Jerusalem – Promises to the natural seed. R11:5
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| 18 And I lift up mine eyes, and look, and lo, four horns. |
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| 19 And I say unto the messenger who is speaking with me, 'What [are] these ' And he saith unto me, 'These [are] the horns that have scattered Judah, Israel, and Jerusalem.' |
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The horns – Powers. These four are the four universal empires of Babylon, Medo-Persia, Greece and Rome.
Which have scattered – These were the instruments used by God to scatter His People (first natural Israel, then spiritual Israel) to the four winds (in all directions.) |
| 20 And Jehovah doth shew me four artizans. |
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Four carpenters – Builders. In this case, they built the four universal empires. This view is supported by the next verse. |
| 21 And I say, 'What [are] these coming in to do ' And He speaketh, saying: 'These [are] the horns that have scattered Judah, so that no one hath lifted up his head, and these come in to trouble them, to cast down the horns of the nations who are lifting up a horn against the land of Judah to scatter it.' |
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These – The four carpenters.
Are the horns – The four powers.
Of the Gentiles – This might as well read - "These are the Four Universal Gentile Empires which rule during the Times of the Gentiles."
Which have scattered – Same comment as vs. 19.
We suggest the following as the understanding of verses 18-21:[18] Then lifted I [the John class] up mine eyes, and saw, and behold four horns [powers]. [19] And I said unto the angel [7th angel, messenger] that talked with me [the John class], What be these? And he answered me, These are the horns [Gentile powers] which have scattered Judah, Israel, and Jerusalem. [20] And the LORD showed me four carpenters [builders]. [21] Then said I, What come these to do? And he spake, saying, These [the four horns of vss. 18-19, the "universal" Gentile empires] are the horns [powers] which have scattered Judah, so that no man did lift up his head: but these [four carpenters, builders] are come to fray them [to cause them to shudder with terror (Strong's)], to cast out the horns [4 universal empires, powers] of the Gentiles, which lifted up their horn over the land of Judah to scatter it. |