Observations Upon the Old Testament, Commentary · Zechariah – Malachi
Zechariah.
ZECHAIAH; Prophesies likewise in the reigne of Darius; in his
II. yeare
8th. monethmonth, chap. I. 1.
11th. monethmonth, 24 day, ch. I. 7.
IV. year, 9. monethmonth, 4. day, ch. VII. 1.
He Prophesied likewise, with Haggai, to Zerubbabel, and Ioshua for the Building of the Temple, Ezra. V. 1. Adding the Promise of the Branch. And he being the sonne of Barachiah, ch. I. 1, 7. And living after the second Temple was builded, at the later end of the Old Testament, He may seeme rather to be meant by our Saviour, Matth. XXIII. 35. though his Death be not recorded before; then that Zechariah flaine by Ioash, 2 Chron. XXIV. 21. as the Great Annotations on 2 Chron. XXIV. 20. would have it.
There were seventy years, from Iehojakim his fourth year, to Darius the Mede: and from Iehojacin, to Cyrus his Monarchy: and from Zedekiah's eleventh year, to the second of Darius Histaspis: and from the murder of Cedaliah, to the fourth of Darious, chap. I. 7, 12. and VII. 1, 5. Thus the best Chronologers do agree.
The Man and Angel, for he is called both that talked with the Prophet, and is mentioned, chap. I. 8,—14, 19. And againe, that Commands the Angel that met him to runne, and speak to the Prophet, chap. II. verse 3, 4. And againe, is mentioned, chap. III. 1,—6. and chap. IV. 1,—5. and chap. V. 5, 10. and chap. VI. 4. is the Son of Man, the Angel of the Covenant Jesus Christ. And so againe, The Branch, and Stone is Christ, chap. III. 8, 9.
The four Hornes, are Principaly the Chaldeans; And the four Carpenters, the Medes and Persians chap. I. 18, 20.
The Candlestick, with the seven Lamps of it; alluding to the Candlestick in the Temple; Represents the Church, shining forth to the world in the light of Faith, and Life; of Profession, and Conversation, Matth. V. 15, 16. Phil. II. 15. The two Olive trees, and Branches, that through the two golden Pipes empty the golden Oile, out of themselves into the Bowle, and thence to be conveyed by the seven Pipes, to the seven Lamps of the Candlestick, may seeme best to signifie the manifold Gifts and Graces of God▪ and of Christ, flowing duplicate page duplicate page duplicate page duplicate page duplicate page duplicate page duplicate page duplicate page from Him, by the Spirit; and the mystical power of communicating the same, sundry wayes, and by sundry meanes, to the Church, and to the chief anointed Rulers of it; for the plentiful use, and good of it. Chap. IV.
Chap. VIII. 19. The Fast of the
IV. MonethMonth, ninth day, was for the taking of Jerusalem, Jer. XXXIX. 2 and LII. 6, 7. 2 Kings XXV. 3.
V. MonethMonth, tenth day, was for the burning of the Temple, and Citie, by Nebuzaradan, 2 Kings XXV. 8. Jer. LII. 12, 13.
VII. MonethMonth, for the murder of Gedaliah, Jer. XLI. 1, &c.
X. MonethMonth, tenth day, was for the first day of laying the Siege against Jerusalem, Jer. LII. 4. 2 Kings XXV. 1.
Of Swearing see my Notes on Gen. chapter V verse 3, 4. XXIV. 3.
pleasant land] Heb. chapter VII verse 14 Land of Desire, or Delight. So, Psal. CVI. 24. Jer. III. 19. Hephzi-bah, Beulah, Esa…, LXII. 4. the glory of all lands, which God spied out for them, Ezek. XX. 6.
Is cited in Mat. chapter IX verse 9 XXI. 5. Mar. XI. 2,—7. Luke XIX. 30,—37. John XII. 15. Where Christ rides, not one while upon the Asse, another while upon the Colt; but upon the Colt only, Mar. XI. 7. Luke XIX. 30,—35. Even upon the Colt, the foale of an Asse; as the same particle is used, Mark X. 45. And a Speech not unlike is that, Matth. XXVII. 44.
His staffe of Beauty seemes to be his Loving, chapter XI verse 7, 16. Guiding, and Ruling them, by his Word, and Spirit.
His staffe of Bands, or Binders, his severe Ruling them by Punishments; as, Esay X. 5. The three Shepherds seeme to be the many evil Priests and Prophets; and haply those three Sects of Pharisees, Sadduces, and Essenes; or Priests, Scribes, and Lawyers, in the dayes of our Saviour. The Price, and Potter, are cited, and expounded, Mat. XXVI. 15. and chap. XXVII. 9, 10.
His breaking both the Staves, seemes to signifie the utter rejecting of Judah, and Israel; and the taking to him the Israel according to the Spirit, all true Believers. The foolish Shepherd signifies evil Pastors, and Governours, which God suffered to raise themselves to those Offices.
Cited and alledged, chapter XII verse 10 John XIX. 37. and Apoc. I. 7. where Saint John leaveth the LXX. Translation scoffed, or insulted; and sticks to the Hebrew Text, pierced.
The like is done by Matth. XXVI. 31. and Mark XIV. 27. in alledging that Text, Zech. XIII. 7.
a rough garment] Or garment of haire. chapter XIII verse 4 The true Prophets used such coursnesse of habit and attire; as Patterns for Penitents, to whom they preached Repentance, austerity of life, and contempt of the world. So Elias is called an hairy man; not in body, as Esau; but in his rough and hairy attire, and letherne girdle, 2 Kings I. 8. And so Iohn Baptist, the second Elias, answerable to him, had his raiment of Camels haire, not finely spun into Chamlet, or Grogran, but into rough sack-cloth, or hair-cloth, such as is mentioned, Apoc. VI. 12. And suitable to his letherne girdle, and course diet, Matth. III 4. And so those two witnesses did Prophesie cloathed in sackcloth, Apoc. XI. 3. And so Esay the Prophet used to go attired, Esay XX. 2.
Shewes that in Egypt there is no raine; chapter XIV verse 18 or in a manner none.
Malachi.
MALACHI; The last Prophet; and after the Temple was built; Contemporarie with Nehemiah, as may seeme by chap. II. 11. and chap. III. 8. compared with Neh. XIII. Or at least presently after him, in the later end of the reigne of Artaxerxes Longimanus; or, in the time of Ochus called Nothus. He ends the Old Testament; Reproving their Prophansing of Gods Worship in the Temple, chap. I. 7,—14. And other manifold Vices in their lives: Threatening them, both Priests, and People: and Exhorting to Repentance, chap. II. Promising, and Propheticaly telling them, of the sending of Elijah, the Messenger, and Harbinger; And of the sudden coming of the Lord of the Covenant, in whom they delight, to his Temple, chap. III. 1, &c. Meane while Referring them to the Law of Moses. In his Prophecie he prooceeds most Dialogisticaly.
Hence Saint Paul argueth directly, chapter I verse 2, 3. or ratione pari, by a Consequent at least, Rom. IX. 11, 12, 13. for the Freedome of Gods Will and Pleasure, in the free Election of some to Salvation; and the Preterition of others.
Seek the Law at his mouth] The Priests duty to teach it. chapter II verse 7 And so, Ier. II. 8. Deut. XXXIII. 10. Neh. VIII. 8. The Prophets so frequently mentioned in the practice of it, ordinarily were the Priests and Levites.
Against Polygamie, verse 15, 16. and Divorce; alledged and pleaded by our Saviout, Matth. XIX 3,—13.
Chap. III. 1. and ch. IV. v. 5, 6. mentioning the Messenger, Elijah, is expounded of Iohn Baptist, by Zacharias, Luke I. 76. and by Mark, ch. I. v. 2, 3, 4. and by our Saviour himself, Matth. XI. 10,—14.
dreadful day] chapter IV verse 5. 6. Of Ierusalems final destruction by Vespasian and Titus.
to the children] Or, rather with the children; turning and converting them both to Christ, by his preaching of Repentance, and Faith in Jesus; so preparing the way before him.
FINIS.
End of the text · John Richardson, Observations Upon the Old Testament (1655)