Commentary on the Old Testament Volume 2-4, Biblical commentary 7 · minor prophets · Zechariah · Chapter 4
CHAP. IV.
A Candlestick all of gold with a boul upon the top of it, and 7 lamps thereon, and 7 pipes on the 7 lamps, on the top thereof: Here is another vision further to V. 2.comfort and confirm both Zerubbabel the Prince and Joshua the high Priest against all attempts of Satan and his instruments seeking to hinder the building of the Temple, that they and all Gods faithfull people might go on therein with a good courage. A golden Candlestick with its 7 lamps is shewed unto him, and 7 pipes through which the oil was poured and did run into the lamps, as was in the Tabernacle of old by Gods appointment, Exod. 25. and now by the like appearing again it was shewed that the Temple should be fully built, forsomuch as the golden Candlestick and the lamps could not be therein setup, till all was fully finished.
By this Candlestick and the boul upon the top thereof appeared also two Olive trees, one on the right side, the other on the left: By the golden Candlestick V. 3.of old there were bouls and branches of Almonds standing up, here of Olives.
The signification of all which followeth v. 6. This is the word of the Lord to Zerubbabel, Not by might or by power, but by my spirit, saith the Lord. V. 7. What art V. 6. V. 7.thou, O Mountain? before Zerubbabel thou shalt become a plain, and he shall bring forth the head stone thereof with shoutings, crying, Grace, grace, unto it: that is, this vision sets forth the word of the Lord to Zerubbabel the Prince, that had begun to lay the foundation of the Lords house, and was now going on in this work; and what was his word? that no impediment, if it were as a great Mountain, should stand in his way, but become as a plain before him, being easily overcome. Yea, Satan himself who is said before to stand at Joshua his right hand to hinder him in this work, who was as a most huge Mountain in the way, at the Lords rebuke should vanish. And if it be demanded by what mighty power this should be effected, it is added, not by might or power, that is, humane power, but by the power of the Lord, and by his spirit moving the heart of Darius hereunto, at whose letters commanding that the Jews should goe on in this building all their enemies on this side the river, that before hindred them, were quaint, and durst not once stirre against them more, as is shewed Ezra 6. 13. but supplyed them with necessaries for the work: and he shall bring forth the head stone thereof, &c. Vulg. and he shall make grace equall to his grace, Hebr. foreign acclamations, grace, grace, to it, the meaning being then, there shall be acclamatious in token of rejoicing for this great and glorious work of Gods house finished, wishing abundance of grace and glory and renoune unto it.
And it is by Rabbi David, whom new writers follow, understood of the R. David.laying on of the last stone upon the Temple, the whole work being now finished by Zerubbabels godly care. But Jerome, whom the ancients follow, by the Hieron.head stone understand Christ, who Ps. 118. is said to be the head stone of the corner, saying, that hereby is meant, that Christ shall be revealed to the Jews towards the end of the world to be the Messiah, which was a thing before hid 2 Cor. 3.from them, as by a vail before their face, but then brought to light, and so the grace shewed to the Jews, shall equall that before shewed to to the Gentiles at the first going out of the Gospel. Some that follow this, seeing that the word here used signifieth not equality, but shoutings, and that in the plurall number, not in the singular, say that foreign signifieth to equalize, and if foreign be put for foreign as it is sometime done, the word may be rendred equality, and because herein must be a concurrence of abundance of grace, it is put in the plurall to shew this. Or yeilding, that the best reading is, shouting, Grace, grace, to it: the sense will be good if the former words be expounded of Christ brought forth to the Jews, for hereupon shall be great shoutings for joy, and crying, O the grace, the wonderfull grace in this stone towards us so desperate enemies to him so long a time. I think, that the literall Exposition is so to be followed, both in these and the words going before touching the Mountain being made a plain before Zerubbabel, meerly by virtue of the spirit, and not by humane power, as that we exclude not the mysticall, but take what is said to Zerubbabel so eminent a type of Christ, as mystically spoken of him, for it was the Zerubbabel, to whom it was said, not by might, but by my spirit, &c. for no humane power was used to subdue the Devil, and to make him of a Mountain to lye flat before him as a Plain, and when Zerubbabel laid the head stone of the Temple, Gods laying of Christ for a foundation stone of his Church was pointed at, and in his bringing it forth, Christs bringing to light to the Jews, as hath been said, whereupon so great rejoicing shall follow by shouting and singing of his wonderfull grace, for which the joy at Christs coming is said to be like the joy in harvest, or when men divide the spoils after Esay 9.victory.
For who hath despised the day of small things they shall rejoice and see the plummet in V. 10.the hand of Zerubbabel with those seven, they are the eyes of the Lord which run to and fro through the whole earth: Having plainly set forth Zerubbabel finishing the house, as he had long before begun in the time of Cyrus, so now he falleth upon Ezra 3.them, that seeing the foundation then laid despised it as nothing in comparison of the former Temple, and saith, that the faithfull shall rejoice seeing the plummet in Zerubbabels hand, that is, the measuring line and plummet, intimating a progresse in this work till the full finishing of it. Then in the next words he openeth the mystery of the 7 lamps, saying, these 7 they are the eyes of the Lord, and not with these 7, as in N. Tr. the meaning is, they figure out the eyes said likewise to be seven upon one stone, ch. 3. which are, as was shewed before out of Rev. 5. ascribed to Christ the Lamb, and set forth the manifold graces of the Spirit in him; and they are said to run to and fro through the world, as denoting the going out of the Apostles furnished with these graces as eys giving light to them and to the whole body of the Church in all Countries and Nations, and sometime returning to Jerusalem and then hastening forth again. Calvin by these 7 eyes understands nothing else but Calvin.such perfection of sight in the Lord, seeing all things before, behinde and on either side, past and to come, that nothing can lye hid from him, and therefore if there be any impediment in the way to hinder the going forward of his Temples building he saw it, and would provide against it, and what he spake of the bringing it to perfection, he would see that undoubtedly it should be fulfilled that the faithfull who see and know but little, and so cannot foresee dangers Note. to come to prevent them, might confidently rely upon his providence in all things, who hath eyes enough for himself and them also, and trust in him for the accomplishment of any thing by him promised, and wicked enemies might fear, as not being unseen in any attempt against his Church, or in any other evill way, which I must needs say, is a very pious Exposition, and may be confirmed from 2 Chron. 16. 9. the eyes of the Lord run to and fro, &c. But because 7 eyes were spoken of before upon one stone, which is the Lord Christ, this is more properly to be applyed to him, and the proceedings of the Gospel through the gifts of the Spirit, wherewith he sent out his Ministers into all parts, yet I deny not, but that it was also spoken for the comfort of the faithfull then intending Gods building, wherein they found so many difficulties and dangers, and knew not more might occur.
These be the two anointed ones that stand by the Lord of the whole earth. After the mystery of the 7 lamps and the golden Candlestick opened, now is shewed V. 14.the mystery of the two Olive trees or branches, by anointed ones here spoken of, meaning Zorobabel and Joshua, and they are set forth by Olives yeilding oil, because the Prince or Magistrate used to be anointed to his supream office, and the high Priest to his. Now they are said to stand before the Lord of the whole earth to shew the Lords continuall care of them, that none in all the earth should hurt or hinder them from their work begun, as Esay 49. 16. it is said of Jerusalem, thy walls are continually before me. But according to some, here is a further aim at setting forth Enoch and Elias, whom they suppose to be the two witnesses spoken of Rev. 11. 3, 4. but that they are not, and who they are, I have there shewed at large, viz. Moses and Elias, or the Law and the Prophets, the one given by Moses, the other Books called the Prophets, set forth by Elias, who was the chief of them, and therefore they are spoken of as one, and generally all such inspired writings as set forth the truth of God, whether of the Old Testament or new, and all the faithfull preachers, who set forth nothing but the same, Gualter assenting to that which was first said touching Zorobabel and Joshua, saith, that all godly Magistrares and Ministers are also Gualter.hereby meant, who labour in the work of building the house of God, which is his Church in all times and ages, the one sort in teaching and doing other Ministeriall Offices, and the other in defending them and the whole Church, punishing evill doers and incouraging them that doe well, and providing for them that labour properly in this work. For if it had been meant only of Zorobabel and Joshua the present Prince and high Priest, the comfort had not been so great, but in saying, that they stand before the Lord of the whole earth, intimating hereby, that such shall never be wanting to his Church any where or at any time to the worlds end, he layeth a ground of continual comfort, and herein I subscribe unto him.