Zech. 1:1—In the eighth month, in the second year of Darius, came the word of the Lord unto Zechariah.
REV. J. J. S. PEROWNE, B. D.—Zechariah was contemporary with Haggai; and both these prophets had the same great object before them, namely, the building of the second temple.—Smith's Dict., p. 3598.
The Myrtle Trees
Zech. 1:8.—I saw by night, and behold a man riding upon a red horse, and he stood among the myrtle trees that were in the bottom.
EMERSON.—One who has formed his ideas of the Oriental myrtle from the weak and unhealthy plants which spring in the gardens and hot-houses of the North, must have a faint conception of their real beauty. Even in Italy they are much superior to ours (in England), and I remember to have seen one at Florence whose stem was at least nine inches in diameter. But in Greece, and in the Levant, they are really magnificent. In the Morea I have traveled for hours through an uncultivated tract, whilst the groves of myrtle formed an almost continuous arbor above our heads, covered here and there with the delicate flowers, and exhaling at every motion the most delicious perfume, whilst its dark polished leaves combined coolness with beauty. It is such a scene as this that explains the phrase of Zechariah.—Letters from the Egæan.
Wall of Fire
Zech. 2:5.—For I, saith the Lord, will be unto her a wall of fire round about, and will be the glory in the midst of her.
CAMPBELL.—Travelers protect themselves in the night from the attacks of wild beasts by kindling fires around their camping-place. This was our constant practice in the wilds of Africa, when timber to burn could be obtained. While the fires kept burning we were in perfect safety, as no undomesticated animal, however ferocious, will approach near to fire. Something in its brightness seems to give alarm.—African Light.
CALLIMACHUS.—With Apollo Delos is strong and safe. What is a more firm rampart? Walls, indeed, and stones might fall under the violent blast of Strymonian Boreas, but the god is ever undisturbed.—Hymn in Delon., v. 24.
Filthy Garments Removed
Zech. 3:3, 4.—Now Joshua was clothed with filthy garments, and stood before the angel. And he answered and spake unto those that stood before him saving. Take away the filthy garments from him. And unto him he said, Behold, I have caused thine iniquity to pass from thee, and I will clothe thee with change of raiment.
REV. T. S. MILLINGTON.—Among the Romans it was common for those who lay under any stigma or accusation to appear in mean or filthy garments to take their trial: on being acquitted, these sordid vestments were taken from them, and their customary dress resuMed. The friends and relations of those who were accused sometimes did the same.—Test. of Heath., p. 459.
CICERO.—The Senate was in grief; the city wore an appearance of mourning, its garments having been changed in accordance with the public resolution of the Senate... when all suddenly the two consuls issue an edict that the senators are to return to their former dress. Whether that change of garment was assumed as a token of grief; or as a form of solicitation, whoever was so cruel before, as to forbid any one mourning for himself or entreating for others? What? Are not men accustomed of their own accord to change their garments on the occasion of danger to their friends?—Pro. Sext., c. 14.
QUINTILIAN.—I am sensible that a mean, careless, dirty dress, worn by an accused party and all his friends, have had wonderful effects in his favor.—Quintil., lib. vi., c. I.
The Stork
Zech. 5:9.—Then lifted I up mine eyes, and looked, and, behold, there came out two women, and the wind was in their wings; for they had wings like the wings of a stork: and they lifted up the epha between the earth and the heaven.
PROF. H. B. TRISTRAM, LL. D., F. R. S.—The black pinions of the stork suddenly expanded from their white body have a striking effect, having a spread of nearly seven feet: and the bird on the wing showing its long bright-red bill, and steering itself by its long red legs, stretched out far behind its tail, is a noble sight.—Nat. Hist. of Bible, p. 248.
Wealth of Tyre
Zech. 9:3.—And Tyrus did build herself a stronghold, and heaped up silver as the dust, and fine gold as the mire of the streets.
BISHOP NEWTON.—The situation of Tyrus was very strong, being on an island; and besides the sea to defend her, she was fortified with a wall of 150 feet in height, and of a proportional thickness. “She heaped up silver as the dust, and fine gold as the mire of the streets," being the most celebrated place in the world for trade and riches,” the mart of nations," conveying the commodities of the east to the west, and of the west to the east.—Disserts., p. 555.
Gaza and Askelon
Zech. 9:5.—And the king shall perish from Gaza, and Ashkelon shall not be inhabited.
RICHARDSON.—Askelon was one of the proudest satrapies of the lords of the Philistines; now there is not an inhabitant within its walls, and the prophecy of Zechariah is fulfilled; when the prophecy was uttered, both of these cities were in an equally flourishing condition, and nothing but the prescience of heaven could pronounce on which of the two, and in what manner, the vial of his wrath should be poured out. Gaza is truly without a king, the lofty towers of Askelon lie scattered on the ground, and the ruins within its walls do not shelter a human being. How is the wrath of man made to praise his Creator! Hath he said, and shall he not do it? The oracle was delivered by the mouth of his prophet more than 500 years before the Christian era, and we behold its accomplishment 1,800 years after that event, and see that the king has perished from Gaza, and that Askelon is not inhabited.—Univer. Hist., Vol. II., p. 204.
Messiah Entering Jerusalem
Zech. 9:9.—Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion; shout, O daughter of Jerusalem: behold, thy king cometh unto, thee: he is just and having salvation; lowly, and riding upon an ass, and upon a colt the foal of an ass.
MATTHEW.—And when they drew nigh unto Jerusalem, and were come to Bethphage, unto the Mount of Olives, then sent Jesus two disciples, saying unto them, Go into the village over against you, and straightway ye shall find an ass tied, and a colt with her; loose them and bring them unto me.... And the disciples went and did as Jesus commanded them, and brought the ass and the colt, and put on them their clothes, and they set him thereon. And a very great multitude spread their garments in the way; others cut down branches from the trees, and strewed them in the way. And the multitudes that went before, and that followed, cried, saying, Hosanna to the Son of David: Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord; Hosanna in the highest. And when he was come into Jerusalem, all the city was moved, saying, Who is this? —Matt., 21:1-10.
Staff of Office
Zech. 11:10.—And I took my staff, even Beauty, and cut it asunder, that I might break my covenant which I made with all the people.
PAXTON. —A trace of this ancient custom is still discernible in our own country: the lord steward of England, when he resigns his commission, breaks his wand of office, to denote the termination of his power.—Scrip. Illustrations.
Betray Al and Death of Messiah
Zech. 14:20.—So they weighed for my price thirty pieces of silver.
MATTHEW.—And he said unto them, What will ye give me, and I will deliver him unto you? And they covenanted with him for thirty pieces of silver.—Matt., 26:15.
Zech. 11:13.—And the Lord said unto me, Cast it unto the potter: a goodly price that I was prized at of them. And I took the thirty pieces of silver, and cast them to the potter in the house of the Lord.
MATTHEW.—Then Judas, which had betrayed him, repented himself, and brought again the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders, and he cast down the pieces of silver in the temple. And the chief priests took the silver pieces, and said, It is not lawful to put them into the treasury, because it is the price of blood. And they took counsel; and bought with them the potter's field, to bury strangers in.— Matt. 27:3, 5, 6, 7.
Zech. 12:10.-They shall look upon me whom they have pierced.
JOHN.—But one of the soldiers with a spear pierced his side.—John 19:31.
Zech. 13:1.—In that day there shall be a fountain opened to the house of David and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem for sin and for uncleanness.
REV. W. M. THOMSON, D. D.—This is a beautiful, and significant promise, which many actions and customs in this country (Palestine) may, shed light upon and render emphatic. I have repeatedly found, wells closed up tight and the mouth plastered over with mortar. Such wells are reserved until times of special need when all other sources of, supply have failed. —The Land and the Book, II., 400.
Zech. 13:7.—Awake, O sword, against my shepherd, and against' the man that is my Fellow, saith the Lord of hosts: smite the shepherd and the sheep shall be scattered.
MATTHEW.—And while he yet spake, lo Judas, one of the twelve, came, and with him a great multitude with swords and staves, from the chief priests and elders of the people.... Aid they laid hold on Jesus, and led him away to Caiaphas ... Then all the disciples forsook him and fled—Matt. 26: 47, 56, 57,
Bells on Horses
Zech. 14:20.—In that day shall there be on the bells of the horses, HOLINESS UNTO THE LORD.
AUSTEN H. LAYARD, D. C. L.—The first objects found in this chamber (at Nimroud) were two plain copper vessels about two and a half feet in diameter, and three feet deep.... These were filled with curious' relics. I first took-out a number of small bronze bells with iron tongues, and various small copper ornaments, some suspended to wires.... All the objects contained in these vessels, with the exception of the cups and dishes, were probably ornaments of horse and chariot furniture... The horses of the Assyrian cavalry, as well as those harnessed to chariots, are continually represented in the sculptures with bells round their necks, and in the Bible we find allusion to, this custom.—Nineveh and Babylon, p. 149-152.
DR. HENRY J. VAN-LENNEP.—It is the great ambition of the people, here in the East, to adorn all their animals about the neck, head, and haunches, with broad bands of leather, carefully embroidered with coarse beads, shells, or Colored wool; sometimes a sentence is worked upon the bands, and numerous bells of various size and tone are fastened upon them.—Bible Lands, p. 227.