Bible Commentaries
Zechariah 2

Verse 1

I lifted up mine eyes again, and looked, and behold a man with a measuring line in his hand.

With a line — Ready and prepared to lay out the platform of Jerusalem.

Verse 2

Then said I, Whither goest thou? And he said unto me, To measure Jerusalem, to see what is the breadth thereof, and what is the length thereof.

To measure — To take the exact dimensions of it, that it may answer God’s promise, and be capable to receive its inhabitants.

Jerusalem — The city which was to be built hereafter.

Verse 3

And, behold, the angel that talked with me went forth, and another angel went out to meet him,

The angel — Christ, who had so long talked with Zechariah.

Went forth — From the midst of the myrtle-trees.

Verse 4

And said unto him, Run, speak to this young man, saying, Jerusalem shall be inhabited as towns without walls for the multitude of men and cattle therein:

And he said — Christ to that angel who came to meet him.

Run — Hasten and tell Zechariah.

As towns — The suburbs of it shall be as towns unwalled, for extent and for safety.

Verse 5

For I, saith the LORD, will be unto her a wall of fire round about, and will be the glory in the midst of her.

The glory — My presence and favour shall make her glorious.

Verse 6

Ho, ho, come forth, and flee from the land of the north, saith the LORD: for I have spread you abroad as the four winds of the heaven, saith the LORD.

Ho, ho — Ye sleepy Jews.

Come forth — Come out from your prisons.

Flee — Make all the haste you can.

From the land — Babylon, which lay north of Canaan.

For I have spread you abroad — As I executed my threats in scattering you, so I will perform my promise, and gather you.

Verse 7

Deliver thyself, O Zion, that dwellest with the daughter of Babylon.

Deliver thyself — Accept of thy deliverance.

Verse 8

For thus saith the LORD of hosts; After the glory hath he sent me unto the nations which spoiled you: for he that toucheth you toucheth the apple of his eye.

After the glory — After that he is become your glory, I am to avenge you of your enemies.

Verse 9

For, behold, I will shake mine hand upon them, and they shall be a spoil to their servants: and ye shall know that the LORD of hosts hath sent me.

Upon them — Against the nation that doth violence to my people.

Unto their servants — Unto the Jews, who were first spoiled by, and then made servants to them.

Hath sent me — To inform them of my father’s will.

Verse 10

Sing and rejoice, O daughter of Zion: for, lo, I come, and I will dwell in the midst of thee, saith the LORD.

I come — To execute judgments on thine adversaries, and to compleat thy deliverance and salvation.

I will dwell — This was fulfilled in part to the Jews, but more fully to the gospel church.

Verse 11

And many nations shall be joined to the LORD in that day, and shall be my people: and I will dwell in the midst of thee, and thou shalt know that the LORD of hosts hath sent me unto thee.

Shall be joined — Shall worship the God of Israel.

In that day — When Christ shall come in the flesh, and take down the partition wall.

Sent me — The Messiah.

Verse 12

And the LORD shall inherit Judah his portion in the holy land, and shall choose Jerusalem again.

Shall inherit — Claim, recover, possess, and delight in, as a man doth in his paternal inheritance.

Verse 13

Be silent, O all flesh, before the LORD: for he is raised up out of his holy habitation.

Be silent — Reverence and adore God, and expect the accomplishment of his word.

All flesh — Both Jew and Gentile.

He is raised up — God is on this work already, and he will not sit down again, ’till he has accomplished his whole work.