1Dostal jsem slovo Hospodina zástupů: 2„Tak praví Hospodin zástupů: Horlím pro Sion velikou horlivostí; horlivostí pro něj jen hořím! 3Tak praví Hospodin: Vrátím se na Sion a budu bydlet uprostřed Jeruzaléma. Jeruzalém bude nazýván Městem pravdy a hora Hospodina zástupů Horou svatosti. 4Tak praví Hospodin zástupů: V ulicích Jeruzaléma budou znovu sedávat starci a stařenky, každý s holí v ruce, jak budou staří. 5Ulice toho města budou plné chlapců a děvčat, kteří si tam budou hrát. 6Tak praví Hospodin zástupů: Zdá-li se to pozůstatku tohoto lidu v těchto dnech nemožné, musí to být nemožné i pro mě? praví Hospodin zástupů. 7Tak praví Hospodin zástupů: Hle, zachráním svůj lid ze země na východě i ze země, kde zapadá slunce. 8Přivedu je zpět a budou bydlet v Jeruzalémě; budou mým lidem a já budu jejich Bohem věrně a spravedlivě. 9Tak praví Hospodin zástupů: Vzchopte se, ať je chrám dostavěn – vy, kdo v těchto dnech slyšíte tato slova z úst proroků, a to už ode dne, kdy byly položeny základy domu Hospodina zástupů. 10Ano, lidé i zvířata dosud pracovali bez odměny a kvůli nepřátelům nemohl nikdo v klidu přicházet ani odcházet, neboť jsem posílal všechny proti všem. 11Teď už ale nebudu s pozůstatkem tohoto lidu nakládat tak jako dříve, praví Hospodin zástupů. 12Setbě se bude dařit, réva vydá své ovoce, země vydá úrodu a nebe vydá rosu. To všechno dám pozůstatku tohoto lidu za dědictví. 13Jako jste byli mezi národy kletbou, dome judský a dome izraelský, tak také budete požehnáním, až vás zachráním. Nebojte se a vzchopte se! 14Tak praví Hospodin zástupů: Jako jsem se rozhodl naložit s vámi zle, když mě vaši otcové rozhněvali, a neslitoval jsem se, praví Hospodin zástupů, 15právě tak jsem v těchto dnech rozhodnut zahrnout Jeruzalém a dům Judy dobrem. Nebojte se. 16Toto dělejte: Mluvte mezi sebou pravdu a ve svých branách vynášejte soud pravdy a pokoje. 17Nikdo nevymýšlejte, jak ublížit svým bližním, a nelibujte si v křivé přísaze. To všechno totiž nenávidím, praví Hospodin.“ 18Dostal jsem slovo Hospodina zástupů: 19„Tak praví Hospodin zástupů: Půst ve čtvrtém, pátém, sedmém i desátém měsíci se pro dům Judy stanou šťastnými slavnostmi radosti a veselí. Jen ale milujte pravdu a pokoj! 20Tak praví Hospodin zástupů: Ještě sem budou přicházet národy a obyvatelé mnoha měst. 21Z jednoho města půjdou k druhému se slovy: ‚Pojďme prosit Hospodina o přízeň, pojďme hledat Hospodina zástupů! I já půjdu!‘ 22Tak budou přicházet veliké kmeny a mocné národy, aby v Jeruzalémě hledaly Hospodina zástupů a prosily Hospodina o přízeň. 23Tak praví Hospodin zástupů: V těch dnech se deset mužů mluvících jazyky všelijakých národů chytí cípu roucha jednoho Žida se slovy: ‚Půjdeme s vámi. Slyšeli jsme, že s vámi je Bůh!‘“
Jamieson Fausset Brown Bible Commentary 2 CONTINUATION OF THE SUBJECT IN THE SEVENTH CHAPTER. After urging them to obedience by the fate of their fathers, he urges them to it by promises of coming prosperity. (Zec. 8:1-23)
jealous for Zion-- (
Зах 1:14).
with great fury--against her oppressors.
3 I am returned--that is, I am determined to return. My decree to that effect is gone forth.
Jerusalem . . . city of truth--that is, faithful to her God, who is the God of truth (
Ис 1:21,
Ис 1:26;
Ин 17:17). Never yet fully fulfilled, therefore still to be so.
the mountain of the Lord-- (
Ис 2:2-
Ис 2:3).
holy mountain-- (
Иер 31:23).
4 So tranquil and prosperous shall the nation be that wars shall no longer prematurely cut off the people: men and women shall reach advanced ages. The promise of long life was esteemed one of the greatest blessings in the Jewish theocracy with its temporal rewards of obedience (
Исх 20:12;
Втор 4:40). Hence this is a leading feature in millennial blessedness (
Ис 65:20,
Ис 65:22).
for very age--literally, "for multitude of days."
5 boys and girls playing--implying security and a numerous progeny, accounted a leading blessing among the Jews. Contrast
Иер 6:11;
Иер 9:21.
6 However impossible these things just promised by Me seem to you, they are not so with God. The "remnant" that had returned from the captivity, beholding the city desolate and the walls and houses in ruins, could hardly believe what God promised. The expression "remnant" glances at their ingratitude in rating so low God's power, though they had experienced it so "marvellously" displayed in their restoration. A great source of unbelief is, men "limit" God's power by their own (
Псал 78:19-
Псал 78:20,
Псал 78:41).
these days--"of small things" (
Зах 4:10), when such great things promised seemed incredible. MAURER, after JEROME, translates, "in those days"; that is, if the thing which I promised to do in those days, seems "marvellous," &c.
7 save my people from . . . east . . . west--that is, from every region (compare
Псал 50:1; the "West" is literally, "the going down of the sun") to which they are scattered; they are now found especially in countries west of Jerusalem. The dispersion under Nebuchadnezzar was only to the east, namely, to Babylonia. The restoration, including a spiritual return to God (
Зах 8:8), here foretold, must therefore be still future (
Ис 11:11-
Ис 11:12;
Ис 43:5-
Ис 43:6;
Иез 37:21;
Амос 9:14-
Амос 9:15; also
Зах 13:9;
Иер 30:22;
Иер 31:1,
Иер 31:33).
8 in truth--in good faith, both on their side and Mine: God being faithful to His everlasting covenant and enabling them by His Spirit to be faithful to Him.
9 All adversities formerly attended them when neglecting to build the temple: but now God promises all blessings, as an encouragement to energy in the work.
hands . . . strong--be of courageous mind (
2Цар 16:21), not merely in building, but in general, as having such bright prospects (
Зах 8:13, &c.).
these days--the time that had elapsed between the prophet's having spoken "these words" and the time (
Зах 8:10; compare
Агг 2:15-
Агг 2:19) when they set about in earnest restoring the temple.
the prophets--Haggai and Zechariah himself (
Езд 5:1-
Езд 5:2). The same prophets who promised prosperity at the foundation of the temple, now promised still greater blessings hereafter.
10 before these days--before the time in which ye again proceeded with the building of the temple (
Зах 8:9), namely, at the time that the temple lay neglected.
no hire for man . . . beast--that is, no produce of the field to repay the labor of man and beast on it (
Агг 1:6,
Агг 1:9-
Агг 1:10;
Агг 2:16).
neither . . . peace to him that went out or came in-- (
2Пар 15:5). No one could in safety do his business at home or abroad, in the city or in the country, whether going or returning.
because of the affliction--so sorely pressed were they by the foe outside. MAURER translates, "Because of the foe" (
Езд 4:1).
every one against . . . neighbour--There was internal discord, as well as foes from without.
11 "But now that the temple has been built, I will not do as I had formerly done to those who returned from Babylon" [JEROME]. Henceforth I will bless you.
12 seed . . . prosperous--that is, shall not fair to yield abundantly (
Ос 2:21-
Ос 2:22;
Агг 2:19). Contrast with this verse
Агг 1:6,
Агг 1:9-
Агг 1:11;
Агг 2:16.
dew--especially beneficial in hot countries where rain is rare.
13 a curse--As the heathen have made you another name for "a curse," wishing to their foes as bad a lot as yours (
Иер 24:9;
Иер 29:18); so your name shall be a formula of blessing, so that men shall say to their friend, May thy lot be as happy as that of Judah (
Быт 48:20). Including also the idea of the Jews being a source of blessing to the Gentile nations (
Мих 5:7;
Соф 3:20). The distinct mention of "Judah" and "Israel" proves that the prophecy has not yet had its full accomplishment, as Israel (the ten tribes) has never yet been restored, though individuals of Israel returned with Judah.
14 I thought--I determined.
you--that is, your fathers, with whom ye are one; the Jewish Church of all ages being regarded as an organic whole (compare
Агг 2:5;
Мф 23:31-
Мф 23:32).
repented not--I changed not My purpose, because they changed not their mind (
2Пар 36:16). With the froward God shows Himself froward (
Псал 18:26). If the threatened punishment has been so unchangeably inflicted, much more will God surely give the promised blessing, which is so much more consonant to His nature (
Иер 31:28).
16 The promised blessings are connected with obedience. God's covenanted grace will lead those truly blessed by it to holiness, not licentiousness.
truth to . . . neighbour--not that the truth should not be spoken to foreigners too; but He makes it an aggravation of their sin, that they spared not even their brethren. Besides, and above all outward ordinances (
Зах 7:3), God requires truth and justice.
judgment of . . . peace--Equitable decisions tend to allay feuds and produce peace.
gates--the place where courts of judicature in the East were held.
17 all these . . . I hate--therefore ye too ought to hate them. Religion consists in conformity to God's nature, that we should love what God loves and hate what God hates.
18 The prophet answers the query (
Зах 7:3) as to the fast in the fifth month, by a reply applying to all their fasts: these are to be turned into days of rejoicing. So Jesus replied to His disciples when similarly consulting Him as to why fasting was not imposed by Him, as it was by John the Baptist. When the Sun of righteousness shines, tears are dried up (
Мф 9:15). So hereafter (
Ис 35:10).
19 fast of . . . fourth month--On the fourth month of the eleventh year of Zedekiah's reign, on the ninth day, Jerusalem was taken (
Иер 39:2;
Иер 52:6-
Иер 52:7). It was therefore made a fast day.
fifth . . . seventh--(See on
Зах 7:3;
Зах 7:5).
tenth--On the tenth month and tenth day, in the ninth year of Zedekiah, the siege began (
Иер 52:4).
therefore love the truth--or, "only love." English Version is better. God's blessing covenanted to Israel is not made to depend on Israel's goodness: but Israel's goodness should follow as the consequence of God's gracious promises (
Зах 8:16-
Зах 8:17;
Зах 7:9-
Зах 7:10). God will bless, but not those who harden themselves in sin.
20 (
Ис 2:3;
Мих 4:2).
Thus saith the Lord of hosts--a preface needed to assure the Jews, now disheartened by the perils surrounding them, and by the humble aspect of the temple. "Unlikely as what follows may seem to you, Jehovah of hosts, boundless in resources, saith it, therefore it shall be so." Just before Christ's coming, a feeling grew up among the heathen of the unsatisfactoriness of their systems of religion and philosophy; this disposed them favorably towards the religion of the Jew, so that proselytes embraced the worship of Jehovah from various parts of Asia; these again were predisposed to embrace Christianity when it was preached to them (
Деян 2:9-
Деян 2:12,
Деян 2:41). But the full accomplishment of the conversion of the Gentiles foretold here is reserved till "Jerusalem" (
Зах 8:22) becomes the center of Christianized Jewry (
Рим 11:12,
Рим 11:15).
21 Let us . . . I--manifesting zeal and love: converted themselves, they seek the conversion of others (
Песн 1:4). To exhortation in general ("Let us go"), they add individual example ("I will go"). Or, the change from plural to singular implies that the general consent in religious earnestness leads each individual to decide for God.
go speedily--literally, "go, going"; implying intense earnestness.
pray--Hebrew, "entreat the face" (
Зах 7:2); entreat His favor and grace.
22 many . . . strong nations . . . in Jerusalem--In contrast to the few and weak Jews now building the temple and city, then such shall be their influence that many and strong nations shall come to worship Jehovah their God in Jerusalem (
Ис 60:3;
Ис 66:23).
23 ten--a definite number for an indefinite. So in
Лев 22:26;
Чис 14:22.
of all languages of the nations--that is, of nations of all languages (compare
Ис 66:18;
Откр 7:9).
take hold of the skirt--a gesture of suppliant entreaty as to a superior. Compare
Ис 3:6;
Ис 4:1, on a different occasion. The Gentiles shall eagerly seek to share the religious privileges of the Jew. The skirt with a fringe and blue ribbon upon it (
Чис 15:38;
Втор 22:12) was a distinguishing badge of a Jew.
God is with you--the effect produced on unbelievers in entering the assemblies of the Church (
1Кор 14:25). But primarily, that produced on the nations in witnessing the deliverance of the Jews by Cyrus. Finally, that to be produced on the nations by the future grand interposition of Messiah in behalf of His people.
Written long after the previous portions of the book, whence arise the various features which have been made grounds for attacking their authenticity, notwithstanding the testimony of the Septuagint and of the compilers of the Jewish canon in their favor. See Introduction.
ALEXANDER'S CONQUESTS IN SYRIA (
Зах 9:1-
Зах 9:8). GOD'S PEOPLE SAFE BECAUSE HER COMETH LOWLY, BUT A SAVIOUR (
Зах 9:9-
Зах 9:10). THE MACCABEAN DELIVERANCE A TYPE THEREOF (
Зах 9:11-
Зах 9:17).