Exposition of Zechariah 1-9, Chapter 5
CHAP. V.
THen I turned me, and lifted up mine eyes, and looked, and behold, a flying Booke.
2 And hee ſaid unto mee, what ſeest thou? And I anſwered, I ſee a flying Booke: the length thereof is twentie Cubites, and the breadth thereof ten Cubites.
3 Then ſaid he unto me, This is the Curſe that goeth foorth over the whole Earth: for every one that ſtealeth, ſhall be cut off as well on this ſide, as on that: and every one that ſweareth, ſhall be cut off as well on this ſide, as on that.
4 I will bring it foorth, ſayth the Lord of Hoſtes, and it ſhall enter into the houſe of the Thiefe, and into the houſe of him that falſely ſweareth by my Name: and it ſhall remaine in the middes of his houſe, and ſhall conſume it, with the Timber thereof, and Stones thereof.
5 Then the Angel that talked with me, went foorth, and ſaid unto me, Lift up now thine eyes, and ſee, what is this that goeth foorth.
6 And I ſaid, What is it? And hee ſaid, This is an Ephah, that goeth foorth. Hee ſaid moreover, This is the ſight of them, thorow all the Earth.
7 And behold, there was lift up a Talent of Lead: and this is a Woman that ſitteth in the middes of the Ephah.
8 And hee ſaid, This is Wickedneſſe, and hee caſt it into the middes of the Ephah, and hee cast the weight of Lead upon the mouth thereof.
9 Then lift I up mine eyes, and looked: and behold, there came out two women, and the winde was in their wings (for they had wings like the wings of a Storke) and they lift up the Ephah betweene the Earth and the Heaven.
10 Then ſaid I to the Angel that talked with me, Whither doe theſe beare the Ephah?
11 And he ſaid unto me, To build it an Houſe in the Land of Shinar, and it ſhall be eſtabliſhed and ſet there upon her owne place.
Viſion 6. THe former Viſions, were Revelations of Gods favour and merciemercy to this People: this, and the next, are denunciations of Iudgement. For, albeit God, for his MercieMercy and Elections ſake, did purpoſe to eſtabliſh his Church amongſt this People, and to reſtore their State againe; yet he gives them to underſtand, that hee favours not the finnes and corruptions wherewith they were then infected, but would ſeverely puniſh them for the preſent; and, if they grew more ranke and ripe in Rebellion, would utterly ſubvert them, when they had fulfilled the Meaſure of their Iniquitie. This, I take it, is the Scope of theſe two Viſions, in this fift Chapter. Let us conſider them ſeverally. For the former, we have its,
1. Deſcription: There is preſented to the Prophets view a flying Rowle, of a great length and breadth; which hee, turning himſelfe about, firſt ſees, Verſe 1. and then more exactly obſerves the faſhion of it, Verſe 2 [And he ſaid, &c. I ſee a flying Rowle] foreign Volumen, the Booke of the Law, wherein the Curſe and puniſhment of ſinnes was ſet downe. Which Booke was not written as ours are, in ſeverall Leaves, but according to the*Pſal. 40.7. Ier. 36.2. Luk. 4.17. foreign. Ezek. — 9, 10. Cuſtomes of thoſe Times, in one large Scrowle of*Ergo Aquila and Theod. render it foreign. Parchment, or other matter, which was rowled up together, like the Webbe upon the Pinne. The Seventie turne it foreign, Falx, a Sythe; miſtaking it, for foreign [Flying] foreign Targum foreign it appeared in the Ayre unfolded and ſpread abroad, fleeting along ſwiftly, like a Bird readie to ſeize on her prey. [The length thereof is twentie Cubites, the breadth thereof ten Cubites] A large Rowle, ten Yards long, and five broad: but it is to ſhew, the Law hath Curſes and Puniſhments enow for every ſinne and ſinner: there is no eſcaping, it is long enough and broad enough to meet with tranſgreſſors everie way. Some underſtand this, of the meaſure God keepes, in puniſhing proportionably to the ſinne. Verſe 2.
2. Expoſition of the Viſion, briefly delivered in theſe words, [Then he ſaid unto me, This is the Curſe,] id eſt, the Puniſhment threatened by the Law. For the Curſe of the Law, is the Puniſhment it denounceth againſt offendors [that goeth foorth] is to be executed [over the face of the whole Earth] eyther upon the whole Land of Iſrael, or more generally, upon the whole World: The Gentiles, that ſinne without the Law, being yet lyable to the Puniſhments of the Law. This Curſe is particularly amplified,
1. By inſtance of ſome ſpeciall ſinnes; againſt which, the Curſe is particularly threatened. Many other foule Enormities there were in the Iewiſh State at this time; as, Marriage of ſtrange Wives, unlawfull and cruell Divorces of their Wives,*Molachie per tutum. Sabbath-breaking, and open contempt of Gods Worſhip;*Nehem. 5. Crueltie and unmercifulneſſe towards their poore Brethren, &c. but two onelyonly are named, though foule and groſſe ones.
1. Theeverie, and Sacriledge: For this kinde of Robbing I take to be principally meant heere, whereof alſo Malachie complayneth, Chap. 3.8. and Nehemiah, Chap. 13.10. though all kinde of unjuſt defrauding be not to be excluded. [For everie one that ſtealeth, ſhall be cut off] foreign excindetur, vacuus erit, ſive everſus; as, Eſ. 3.26. Ionathan, foreign Percuſſus, Caeſus: and the Seventie, foreign, [as on this ſide, according to it] foreign There may bee given two interpretations of this Phraſe: eyther thus; The Theefe ſhall bee cut off, foreign id eſt, from hence, out of this place, out of Ieruſalem; God will not ſpare his owne People, if they ſinne more than others: Or thus, taking in the next Clauſe; The Theefe ſhall be cut off, *So foreign Hinc inde. Exod. 17.12.foreign on this ſide, and the Swearer foreign on that ſide, id est, one as well as another, all ſhall be puniſhed foreign according to it, viz. the Volume, and Curſe therein deſcribed. This latter ſenſe and conſtruction I rather follow: For, as touching Kimhi's interpretation, That the Rowle was written on the one ſide againſt the Theefe, on the other againſt the Swearer, &c. it is a Rabbinicall Toy. The Tranſlation of learned Iunius in this place, ſounds ſomewhat harſh, [Quia quiſquis furatur foreign ex hoc [Populo] ut illa, innocentem ſe aſſerit, &c.] Who ſo ſteales amongſt this People,The French reade it almoſt the ſame way, but yet to better ſenſe, [Car qui conque d'c… tre ce peuple-ci d…ſ…obbe, eſt auſsi net qu'…lle, &c.] id eſt, Whoſo among this People, ſtealeth, is even as innocent as that or they, viz. the Gentiles dwelling in other parts of the World: taking foreign paſsively in Niphal, and in its uſuall ſignification. Et de hoc quaere. counts himſelfe guiltleſſe, as that, viz. as other Nations, who defend and juſtifie their ſinnes. Which rendering ſeemes not juſtifiable, neyther by the ſcope of the Text, nor by the Times; which, though they were corrupt, yet wee cannot thinke were come to that height in ſinning, as to count Sacriledge and Perjurie no ſinnes: Neyther did the Gentiles ſo eſteeme of them.
2. Perjurie and falſe Swearing, [and hee that ſweareth] viz. falſely, by the Name of God, as Verſe ſequ. [ſhall bee cut off, &c.] as before. Verſe. 3.
2. By the Author and Executor of this Curſe, viz. God himſelfe, [I will bring it foorth, ſayth the Lord of Hoſtes] God will ſee his owne Law executed.
3. By the Manner of inflicting this Puniſhment: which hath three degrees.
1. [It ſhall enter into the houſe of the Theefe and Swearer,] It ſhall inevitably ſeize upon them; even there, where they thinke themſelves moſt ſecure.
2. [And it ſhall remaine in the middest of his houſe,] He ſhall neyther keepe it out, nor drive it out, ſo long as the ſinne remaines unrepented, and unreformed; Gods judgement, that hath ſeized on his Perſon, or Family, ſhall abide upon him and them.
3. [And ſhall conſume it, Vid. Chryſoſt. Ho…n. 15. ad Pop. Antioch.with the Timber thereof, and Stones thereof.] Shall bring to utter ruine them and their whole Eſtates, which they have got together by Rapine, Sacriledge, and Perjurie. Verſe 4.
Viſion 7. Not to reckon up the divers Conjectures of Interpreters, touching the Scope of this Viſion; that which I take to be moſt plaine, and directly intended, is, The extirpation and finall diſperſion of the Iewes out of their owne Land, when the Meaſure of their Iniquities and Rebellions ſhould come to the full. The former, threatened Puniſhment to particular Perſons; this, to the whole State. The Viſion is obſcure and darke: yet all Circumſtances pondered, that appeares to be the drift of it. Which, it ſeemes, is purpoſely ſet out in hard and myſterious Figures, leſt the plaine denunciation of the ſecond overthrow of Temple and State, might diſcourage them too much, to goe forward in the preſent reſtauration of both. Let us come to the Viſion it ſelfe: which is deſcribed by its parts and ſeverall interpretations, joyned thereto.
1. Of the Ephah. The Prophet, admoniſhed by the Angell, lookes, and ſees ſomewhat mooving, but knowes not what it is, Verſ. 5, 6. Whereupon the Angell tells him,
1. What it is: [And he ſaid, This is an Ephah, that goeth foorth:] An Ephah; properly the greateſt drie Meaſure among the Iewes, containing ten Homers, Exod. 16. vlt. And generally, for any Meaſure whatſoever, Deut. 25.14. It may here bee taken eyther way. [goeth foorth] appeareth to moove forwards.
2. What is meant by it: [Hee ſaid moreover, This is their reſemblance thorowout all the Earth,] foreign A Clauſe that much troubles Interpreters: who yet, for the moſt and beſt part, underſtand this, Oculus earum, paſſively for the Eye of Gods Providence and Knowledge,So Calv Piſe. Iunius, and the French, [Ceſt Coe… q… j'ay ſur eux…t…te … and our old Tranſlators, to the ſame ſenſe. whereby he takes an exact account of all Wickedneſſe committed: and, however wicked men would ſinne without meaſure, preſcribes unto all, Limits and Bounds, beyond which they ſhall not paſſe; whereunto when they are come, they ſhall be ſurely puniſhed. So the interpretation ſhall be thus: [This] viz. Ephah, [is their Eye] id eſt, the Meaſure of their Iniquitie, determined upon the Iewes, by the all-knowing and all-diſpoſing Providence of God, whoſe Eyes are upon them [in all the Earth] in every Coaſt and Quarter obſerving their doings, and how every ones ſinnes fill up the common Meaſure. This interpretation, though it containe no abſurditie, and is conſonant to other*Gen. 15.16. Matth. 23.32. Eſa. 1.4. 1. Pet. 3.20. cum Gen. 6.3. Scriptures; teaching us, that God long expects a ſinner, or ſinfull States amendment, proceeding not to Puniſhment, till Iniquitie come to its full Ripeneſſe: yet me thinkes, in this place, it ſounds ſcarce full enough. And our laſt Tranſlators give occaſion to looke further: who render foreign [their Reſemblance] taking foreign in that ſignification which is not uſuall, viz. for an outward ſhape, colour, appearance, or likeneſſe of any*as Lev. 13.55. Ezek. 1.27. foreign thing. But how was the Ephah a reſemblance of the Iewes? Haply thus: The Ephah is an Inſtrument uſed in Buying and Selling; and ſo may by a Synecdoche ſpeciet, ſignifie all manner of unrighteous dealing, which the Iewes commonly uſed throughout that whole Countrey. Some likelyhood there is for this, if wee have relation to the former Viſion, touching their The everie and Perjurie. And becauſe the Targum thus paraphraſes it, foreign id eſt, Theſe are the People which bought and ſold by falſe Meaſures. But yet this ſatisfies not. Ergo quaere.
2. Of a Talent of Lead, [And behold, there was lift up a Talent of Lead] foreign which we take eyther properly for a Talent, which weighed 3000.*Exod. 38.25, 26. Shekels, or 125. pound; or more generally, for a Piece or Maſſe of Lead, made broad and flat, to cover the Ephah. This Weight of Lead was lift up, and hung over the Ephah.
3. Of a Woman ſitting in the Ephah, [And this is a Woman that ſitteth in the middest of the Ephah.] Verſe 7. What this Woman was, and wherefore the Talent of Lead ſerved, the Angell ſhewes in the next Verſe. [And he ſaid, This is Wickedneſſe] foreign Affliction, ſay ſome: who thereupon take the Scope of this Viſion to be the Tranſlation of the Iewes Afflictions, and Troubles, which they had long endured, from them unto their Enemies, eſpecially the Babylonians. But beſides, that the acception of foreign for Trouble and Diſquietneſſe, is very*Iob. 34.29. 1. Sam. 14.47. rare in the Scriptures, it agrees not well with all the Circumſtances of the Viſion. Wherefore take wee it in the ordinarie ſignification, for Wickedneſſe, Impietie, Sinfulneſſe; and then, this Woman is a Figure of the whole ſinfull Nation of the Iewes; whom God would puniſh, for their extreame Impieties and Corruptions. It is but curioſitie, to enquire, why Wickedneſſe, or a wicked People,The two ſtates of Iſrael and Iuda figured by two Women. Ezek. 23. is repreſented by a Woman. Sinne came by a Woman, Women are more ſinfull than Men; Sinne takes away the ſtrength of States, and makes them weake as Women: But theſe are but Gheſſes, not Reaſons. Let us ſee what is done to this Woman, [and hee caſt it into the middeſt of the Ephah] ſhee ſate upright in the Ephah, Verſe 7. Heere the Angell takes her and throwes her downe in it, taking away all power to reſiſt and defend her ſelfe; and then, [He caſt the Weight of Lead upon the Mouth thereof,] He covered the Ephah cloſe and ſure, with a broad Weight of Lead, which ſhee ſhould not bee able to remoove. Figuring the ſevere and heavie Iudgement of God upon this People: which, when they had filled up the Meaſure of their ſinnes, ſhould over-whelme them, and keepe them ſo faſt and ſure under, as they ſhould never be able to get free of it: like one cruſhed together in a narrow Veſſell.
4. Of two Women, which carryed away the Ephah with the Woman in it, and Talent upon it. Now, this fourth part of the Viſion declares what manner of Puniſhment God would lay upon this People; which is no leſſe, than their finall diſperſion, and ſcattering abroad from their owne Land; figured, by this carrying away of the Ephah into the Land of Shinar. Which is deſcribed to us,
1. By the Inſtruments that conveyed it away, two winged Women: [Then I lift up mine eyes, and looked, and behold, there came out two Women,] that is, ſayth Iunius, the Church of the Iewes, in reſpect of two ſeverall Times; firſt, under Ezra, who purged and reformed the Church, Ezra 9. & 10. ſecondly, under Nehemiah, who againe reformed the abuſes thereof, Nehem. 13. So, that in effect, the two Women heere, are Ezra and Nehemiah, the principall authors of Reformation, though they uſed the helpe alſo of the other Rulers. But, pace tanti viri, this expoſition ſeemes not allowable: Firſt, for that theſe were times of Reformation, wherein wee finde none throwne out of the Church, but upon Repentance and preſent amendment of that generall fault, viz. Marriage of ſtrange Wives, more firmely united thereto. But this Viſion ſeemes not to intimate any generall Reformation of Wickedneſſe, but a generall Puniſhment, for default of Repentance and amendment; as appeares by the order of the Viſion: the wicked Woman is caſt into the Ephah, covered with Lead, then carried away into another Countrey. Secondly, it ſtands not with the laſt Verſe; which moſt clearely ſhewes, that this wicked Woman ſhould beare the puniſhment of her Iniquitie, not at home in Iudaea, but in perpetuall Baniſhment in forraine Countreyes. And Iunius interpretation of this Baniſhment into Shinar, (to be the adjudging and enwrapping of the wicked Iewes at home, in the ſame*If by the ſame judgement he mean Perpetuall, it is true in ſome ſort, albeit thoſe in Babylon were not baniſhed as yet from the Iews Societie, but might returne home, if they would; yea, did once a yeere ordinarily come up to Ieruſalem. Condemnation with their wicked Brethren, reſiding in Babylon) is intricate, and falls ſhort of the full meaning of that Verſe, as wee ſhall ſee. Wherefore I conceive, that by theſe two Women is meant nothing elſe, but thoſe Inſtruments and Agents whom God would imploy in the ſpeedie execution of his Wrath upon the Iewiſh Nation; who are reſembled by Women: not for that God would bring it to paſſe by weake meanes (for that is not ſo, the Romans by ſtrong hand overthrowing the Iewes Common-wealth) but onelyonly to keepe proportion with the reſt of the Viſion, that the parties puniſhing might be correſpondent to the partie puniſhed: ſhee appeared like a Woman, and ſo did they. [And the wind was in their *foreign A Maſculine Article, referred to a Feminine Nowne foreign, but, as it were, intimating, that theſe Women were indeed types of Men.wings, for they had wings like the wings of a Storke.] This figures the ſwift and violent execution of Gods Iudgement on this Nation. The Women had wings, and thoſe large and great, like the wings of a Storke; and they were helped forward with the winde, which bore them up, and drove them on apace, like a Bird that flyes before the winde. All which ſets foorth the ſwift approach and ſpeedie execution of Gods Vengeance to be accompliſhed by the Romans, who with great celeritie and violence deſtroyed the Iewes State. Iunius and Piſcat. underſtand it of the ſwift and couragious proceeding of Ezra and Nehemiah againſt the Corruptions and Abuſes of their Times: And true it is, that firſt Reformation was ſpeedily performed, within the ſpace of two moneths, Ezra 10.16, 17. But I take the ſcope of the Viſion lookes not that way.
2. The Manner of it: They tooke up the Ephah from the ground, and lifting it aloft in the Ayre, carryed it away betwixt them. [And they lift up the Ephah betweene the Earth and the Heaven,] id est, ſay Iunius and Piſcat. by the Sentence of Excommunication publiquely denounced, Ezra 10.8. for to that place, I ſuppoſe, they have reference. But, I take it, this lifting up betweene the Earth and Heaven, is onelyonly a meere circumſtance of the tranſportation of the Ephah. The Women that beare it away, had wings, and flye they did; wherefore it was neceſſarie they ſhould take up the Ephah, and mount with it aloft into the Ayre. That which is to be obſerved in it, is the manner of this Puniſhment, viz. it ſhould be a removall and deportation of them out of their owne Countrey. Which further appeares by the next Circumſtance.
3. The Place whither this Ephah was carried, and where it was left: Which, by occaſion of the Prophets Queſtion, Verſe 10. the Angell tells, Verſe 11. [And he ſaid unto me, To build it an Houſe] id eſt, to appoint it a place of continuall abode,Ier. 29.5.28. as in a ſettled Dwelling, [in the Land of Shinar,] id eſt, Babylon, or Meſopotamia and Chaldaea, Gen. 10.10. & 11.2. For, although the Iewes were by the Romans ſcattered into all parts of the World almoſt, yet they did and doe principally reſide in thoſe Eaſterne parts of*1. Pet. 1.1. Aſia the leſſe, Chaldaea, Meſopotamia, and Babylon. Wherefore this Land of Shinar is here ſpecially mentioned: firſt, becauſe it was the place of their former Captivitie; and the mentioning thereof, was*As ſaith Sanctius, Qui ex no…ris Argerij captivi ſuerunt, natali ſolo reſtituti, cum Argerium audinnt, vincula audium, &c. and Hoſ. 9.3. Captivitie is threatened to the ten Tribes, under the name of Returning into Aegypt, though they were captived, not into Aegypt, but Aſſyria. ſufficient to give them notice what they ſhould expect, even the ſame Condition of Baniſhment they were in before, in Shinar: ſecondly, becauſe their Brethren deſpiſing the merciemercy of their deliverance, ſtill remained there, in wilfull exile; with whom, thoſe at home are alſo doomed to perpetuall Baniſhment. And it is moſt probable, the remaining of thoſe Iewes in Babylon, was a great occaſion to draw thither a great number of theſe ſcattered Iewes; who, upon their flight and diſperſion, reſorted thither for entertainment, [and it ſhall be eſtabliſhed and ſet there upon her owne Baſe.] This ſignifies the perpetuitie and firme continuance of the Iewes Puniſhment: This wicked Woman had beene before carried Captive, but it was but for 70. yeeres: ſhee ſhould yet againe be carried away out of her owne Countrey, and be ſurely ſettled to abide for ever in the Land of her Baniſhment; like as a Houſe upon its Foundation, or Pillar, ſtrongly fixed upon a firme*foreign A place fitted for any thing, a Baſe: as of the Altar, Ezra 3.3. of the Lavers, 1. King. 7.27. Baſe; where it will ſtand ſure, long to remaine. Thus then, theſe wicked Iewes being compaſſed in with their Iniquities, and impriſoned under the heavie Burthen of Gods dreadfull Vengeance, ſhould by the inſtruments of Gods Iuſtice be driven out of their owne Countrey, and made to beare the puniſhment of their Rebellion in forraine Countreyes, whither they ſhould be baniſhed, from generation to generation: as wee ſee it fulfilled to this day, ſince their firſt overthrow of their State by T. Veſpaſianus; and their finall diſperſion, by Aelius Adrianus. And this I take to be the meaning of this place. There is to be noted in the Originall, a changing of the Gender foreign whereof the former may be referred to foreign of the Maſculine; the latter, to foreign of the Feminine Gender.