54 lines
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54 lines
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<title>Blue Letter Bible: Text Commentaries</title>
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PriorBook = 'Haggai';
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PriorChapter = 'Zechariah 12';
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Title = 'The Book of Zechariah';
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SubTitle1 = 'Commentary by A. R. FAUSSET';
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SubTitle3 = 'CHAPTER 13';
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<p id="Chapter13" align="center">Commentary by A. R. FAUSSET<br>CHAPTER 13
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<p id="Zec13_1"><a onclick="return mV('Zec',13,'1-9');">Zec 13:1-9</a>. CLEANSING OF THE JEWS FROM SIN; ABOLITION OF IDOLATRY; THE SHEPHERD SMITTEN; THE PEOPLE OF THE LAND CUT OFF, EXCEPT A THIRD PART REFINED BY TRIALS.
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<p><b>1.</b> Connected with the close of the twelfth chapter. The mourning penitents are here comforted.
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<br><br><b>fountain opened</b>—It has been long opened, but then first it shall be so "<i>to the house of David,</i>" etc. (representing all Israel) after their long and weary wanderings. Like Hagar in the wilderness they remain ignorant of the refreshment near them, until God "<i>opens</i> their eyes" (<a onclick="return mV('Gen',21,19);">Gen 21:19</a>) [MOORE]. It is not the fountain, but their eyes that need to be opened. It shall be a "fountain" ever flowing; not a laver needing constantly to be replenished with water, such as stood between the tabernacle and altar (<a onclick="return mV('Exd',30,18);">Exd 30:18</a>).
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<br><br><b>for sin...uncleanness</b>—that is, judicial guilt and moral impurity. Thus justification and sanctification are implied in this verse as both flowing from the blood of Christ, not from ceremonial sacrifices (<a onclick="return mV('1Cr',1,30);">1Cr 1:30</a>; <a href= "#" onclick="return mV('Hbr',9,13,14);">Hbr 9:13-14</a>; <a onclick="return mV('1Jo',1,7);">1Jo 1:7</a>; compare <a onclick="return mV('Eze',36,25);">Eze 36:25</a>). <i>Sin</i> in <i>Hebrew</i> is literally <i>a missing the mark</i> or <i>way.</i>
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<p id="Zec13_2"><b>2.</b> Consequences of pardon; not indolence, but the extirpation of sin.
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<br><br><b>names of...idols</b>—Their very names were not to be mentioned; thus the Jews, instead of Mephibaal, said Mephibosheth (<i>Bosheth</i> meaning a contemptible thing) (<a onclick="return mV('Exd',23,13);">Exd 23:13</a>; <a onclick="return mV('Deu',12,3);">Deu 12:3</a>; <a onclick="return mV('Psa',16,4);">Psa 16:4</a>).
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<br><br><b>out of the land</b>—Judea's two great sins, idolatry and false prophecy, have long since ceased. But these are types of all sin (for example, covetousness, <a onclick="return mV('Eph',5,5);">Eph 5:5</a>, a besetting sin of the Jews now). Idolatry, combined with the "spirit" of "Satan," is again to be incarnated in "the man of sin," who is to arise in Judea (<a onclick="return mV('2Th',2,'3-12');">2Th 2:3-12</a>), and is to be "consumed with the Spirit of the Lord's mouth." Compare as to Antichrist's papal precursor, "seducing spirits...doctrines of devils," etc., <a onclick="return mV('1Ti',4,'1-3');">1Ti 4:1-3</a>; <a onclick="return mV('2Pe',2,1);">2Pe 2:1</a>.
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<br><br><b>the unclean spirit</b>—<i>Hebrew, spirit of uncleanness</i> (compare <a onclick="return mV('Rev',16,13);">Rev 16:13</a>); opposed to "the Spirit of holiness" (<a onclick="return mV('Rom',1,4);">Rom 1:4</a>), "spirit of error" (<a onclick="return mV('1Jo',4,6);">1Jo 4:6</a>). One assuming to be divinely inspired, but in league with Satan.
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<p id="Zec13_3"><b>3.</b> The form of phraseology here is drawn from <a onclick="return mV('Deu',13,'6-10');">Deu 13:6-10</a>; <a onclick="return mV('Deu',18,20);">18:20</a>. The substantial truth expressed is that false prophecy shall be utterly abolished. If it were possible for it again to start up, the very parents of the false prophet would not let parental affection interfere, but would be the first to thrust him through. Love to Christ must be paramount to the tenderest of natural ties (<a onclick="return mV('Mat',10,37);">Mat 10:37</a>). Much as the godly love their children, they love God and His honor more.
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<p id="Zec13_4"><b>4. prophets...ashamed</b>—of the false prophecies which they have uttered in times past, and which the event has confuted.
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<br><br><b>rough garment</b>—sackcloth. The badge of a prophet (<a onclick="return mV('2Ki',1,8);">2Ki 1:8</a>; <a onclick="return mV('Isa',20,2);">Isa 20:2</a>), to mark their frugality alike in food and attire (<a onclick="return mV('Mat',3,4);">Mat 3:4</a>); also, to be consonant to the mournful warnings which they delivered. It is not the dress that is here condemned, but the purpose for which it was worn, namely, to conceal wolves under sheep's clothing [CALVIN]. The monkish hair-shirt of Popery, worn to inspire the multitude with the impression of superior sanctity, shall be then cast aside.
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<p id="Zec13_5"><b>5, 6.</b> The detection of one of the false prophets dramatically represented. He is seized by some zealous vindicator of the law, and in fear cries out, "I am no prophet."
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<br><br><b>man</b>—that is, one.
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<br><br><b>taught me to keep cattle</b>—As "keeping cattle" is not the same as to be "an husbandman," translate rather, "Has used (or 'appropriated') me as a servant," namely, <i>in husbandry</i> [MAURER]. However, husbandry and keeping cattle might be regarded as jointly the occupation of the person questioned: then <a onclick="return mV('Amo',7,14);">Amo 7:14</a>, "herdman," will accord with <i>English Version.</i> A <i>Hebrew</i> kindred word means "cattle." Both occupations, the respondent replies, are inconsistent with my being a "prophet."
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<p id="Zec13_6"><b>6. wounds in thine hand</b>—The interrogator still suspects him: "If so, if you have never pretended to be a prophet, whence come those wounds?" The <i>Hebrew</i> is literally, "<i>between</i> thine hands." The hands were naturally held up to ward off the blows, and so were "thrust through" (<a onclick="return mV('Zec',13,3);">Zec 13:3</a>) "between" the bones of the hand. <i>Stoning</i> was the usual punishment; "thrusting through" was also a fit retribution on one who tried to "thrust Israel away" from the Lord (<a onclick="return mV('Deu',13,10);">Deu 13:10</a>); and perfects the type of Messiah, condemned as a false prophet, and pierced with "wounds <i>between</i> His hands." Thus the transition to the direct prophecy of Him (<a onclick="return mV('Zec',13,7);">Zec 13:7</a>) is natural, which it would not be if He were not indirectly and in type alluded to.
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<br><br><b>wounded in...house of my friends</b>—an implied admission that he had pretended to prophecy, and that his friends had wounded him for it in zeal for God (<a onclick="return mV('Zec',13,3);">Zec 13:3</a>). The Holy Spirit in Zechariah alludes indirectly to Messiah, the Antitype, wounded by those whom He came to befriend, who ought to have been His "friends," who were His kinsmen (compare <a onclick="return mV('Zec',13,3);">Zec 13:3</a>, as to the false prophet's friends, with <a onclick="return mV('Mar',3,21);">Mar 3:21</a>, "His friends," <i>Margin,</i> "kinsmen"; <a onclick="return mV('Jhn',7,5);">Jhn 7:5</a>; "His own," <a onclick="return mV('Jhn',1,11);">Jhn 1:11</a> ; <i>the Jews,</i> "of whom as concerning the flesh He came," <a onclick="return mV('Rom',9,5);">Rom 9:5</a>), but who wounded Him by the agency of the Romans (<a onclick="return mV('Zec',12,10);">Zec 12:10</a>).
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<p id="Zec13_7"><b>7.</b> Expounded by Christ as referring to Himself (<a onclick="return mV('Mat',26,31,32);">Mat 26:31-32</a>). Thus it is a resumption of the prophecy of His betrayal (<a onclick="return mV('Zec',11,4,10,13,14);">Zec 11:4, 10, 13-14</a>), and the subsequent punishment of the Jews. It explains the mystery why He, who came to be a blessing, was cut off while bestowing the blessing. God regards sin in such a fearful light that He spared not His own co-equal Son in the one Godhead, when that Son bore the sinner's guilt.
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<br><br><b>Awake</b>—Compare a similar address to the sword of justice personified (<a onclick="return mV('Jer',46,6,7);">Jer 46:6-7</a>). For "smite" (imperative), <a onclick="return mV('Mat',26,31);">Mat 26:31</a> has "I will smite." The act of the sword, it is thus implied, is GOD'S act. So the prophecy in <a onclick="return mV('Isa',6,9);">Isa 6:9</a>, "Hear ye," is imperative; the fulfilment as declared by Jesus is future (<a onclick="return mV('Mat',13,14);">Mat 13:14</a>), "ye shall hear."
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<br><br><b>sword</b>—the symbol of judicial power, the highest exercise of which is to take away the life of the condemned (<a onclick="return mV('Psa',17,13);">Psa 17:13</a>; <a onclick="return mV('Rom',13,4);">Rom 13:4</a>). Not merely a show, or expression, of justice (as Socinians think) is distinctly implied here, but an actual execution of it on Messiah the shepherd, the substitute for the sheep, by God as judge. Yet God in this shows His love as gloriously as His justice. For God calls Messiah "<i>My</i> shepherd," that is, provided (<a onclick="return mV('Rev',13,8);">Rev 13:8</a>) for sinners by My love to them, and ever the object of My love, though judicially smitten (<a onclick="return mV('Isa',53,4);">Isa 53:4</a>) for their sins (<a onclick="return mV('Isa',42,1);">Isa 42:1</a>; <a onclick="return mV('Isa',59,16);">59:16</a>).
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<br><br><b>man that is my fellow</b>—literally, "the man of my union." The <i>Hebrew</i> for "man" is "a mighty man," one peculiarly man in his noblest ideal. "My fellow," that is, "my associate." "My equal" ([DE WETTE]; a remarkable admission from a Rationalist). "My nearest kinsman" [HENGSTENBERG], (<a onclick="return mV('Jhn',10,30);">Jhn 10:30</a>; <a onclick="return mV('Jhn',14,10,11);">14:10-11</a>; <a onclick="return mV('Phl',2,6);">Phl 2:6</a>).
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<br><br><b>sheep shall be scattered</b>—The scattering of Christ's disciples on His apprehension was the partial fulfilment (<a onclick="return mV('Mat',26,31);">Mat 26:31</a>), a pledge of the dispersion of the Jewish nation (once the Lord's <i>sheep,</i> <a onclick="return mV('Psa',100,3);">Psa 100:3</a>) consequent on their crucifixion of Him. The Jews, though "scattered," are still the Lord's "sheep," awaiting their being "gathered" by Him (<a onclick="return mV('Isa',40,9,11);">Isa 40:9, 11</a>).
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<br><br><b>I will turn...hand upon...little ones</b>—that is, I will interpose in favor of (compare the phrase in a good sense, <a onclick="return mV('Isa',1,25);">Isa 1:25</a>) "the little ones," namely, the humble followers of Christ from the Jewish Church, despised by the world: "the poor of the flock" (<a onclick="return mV('Zec',11,7,11);">Zec 11:7, 11</a>); comforted after His crucifixion at the resurrection (<a onclick="return mV('Jhn',20,'17-20');">Jhn 20:17-20</a>); saved again by a special interposition from the destruction of Jerusalem, having retired to Pella when Cestius Gallus so unaccountably withdrew from Jerusalem. Ever since there has been a Jewish "remnant" of "the little ones...according to the election of grace." The hand of Jehovah was laid in wrath on the Shepherd that His <i>hand might be turned</i> in grace <i>upon the little ones.</i>
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<p id="Zec13_8"><b>8, 9.</b> Two-thirds of the Jewish nation were to perish in the Roman wars, and a third to survive. Probably from the context (<a onclick="return mV('Zec',14,'2-9');">Zec 14:2-9</a>), which has never yet been fulfilled, the destruction of the two-thirds (literally, "the proportion of two," or "portion of two") and the saving of the remnant, the one-third, are still future, and to be fulfilled under Antichrist.
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<p id="Zec13_9"><b>9. through...fire</b>—of trial (<a onclick="return mV('Psa',66,10);">Psa 66:10</a>; <a onclick="return mV('Amo',4,11);">Amo 4:11</a>; <a onclick="return mV('1Cr',3,15);">1Cr 3:15</a>; <a onclick="return mV('1Pe',1,6,7);">1Pe 1:6-7</a>). It hence appears that the Jews' conversion is not to precede, but to follow, their external deliverance by the special interposition of Jehovah; which latter shall be the main cause of their conversion, combined with a preparatory inward shedding abroad in their hearts of the Holy Spirit (<a onclick="return mV('Zec',12,'10-14');">Zec 12:10-14</a>); and here, "they shall call on My name," in their trouble, which brings Jehovah to their help (<a onclick="return mV('Psa',50,15);">Psa 50:15</a> ).
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<br><br><b>my people</b>— (<a onclick="return mV('Jer',30,'18-22');">Jer 30:18-22</a>; <a onclick="return mV('Eze',11,19);">Eze 11:19-20</a>; <a onclick="return mV('Hsa',2,23);">Hsa 2:23</a>).
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