Chapter Note Matthew Henry Commentary (Complete)
Z E C H A R I A H.
CHAP. X.
The scope of this chapter is much the same with that of the foregoing chapter--to encourage the Jews that had returned with hopes that though they had been under divine rebukes for their negligence in rebuilding the temple, and were now surrounded with enemies and dangers, yet God would do them good, and make them prosperous at home and victorious abroad. Now, I. They are here directed to eye the great God in all events that concerned them, and, both in the evils they suffered and in the comforts they desired, to acknowledge his hand, Zechariah 10:1 - 4 . II. They are encouraged to expect strength and success from him in all their struggles with the enemies of their church and state, and to hope that the issue would be glorious at last, Zechariah 10:5 - 12 .
Book Note Matthew Henry Commentary (Complete)
AN
EXPOSITION,
W I T H P R A C T I C A L O B S E R V A T I O N S,
OF THE BOOK OF THE PROPHET
Z E C H A R I A H.
T HIS prophet was colleague with the prophet Haggai, and a worker together with him in forwarding the building of the second temple Ezra 5:1 ); for two are better than one. Christ sent forth his disciples two and two. Zechariah began to prophesy some time after Haggai. But he continued longer, soared higher in visions and revelations, wrote more, and prophesied more particularly concerning Christ, than Haggai had done; so the last shall be first: the last in time sometimes proves first in dignity. He begins with a plain practical sermon, expressive of that which was the scope of his prophesying, in the Zechariah 1:1 - 5 ; but afterwards, to the end of Zechariah 6:1 - 15Zechariah 6:1 - 15 , he relates the visions he saw, and the instructions he received immediately from heaven by them. At Zechariah 7:1 - 14Zechariah 7:1 - 14 , from an enquiry made by the Jews concerning fasting, he takes occasion to show them the duty of their present day, and to encourage them to hope for God's favour, to the end of Zechariah 8:1 - 23Zechariah 8:1 - 23 , after which there are two sermons, which are both called burdens of the word of the Lord (one begins with Zechariah 9:1 - 17Zechariah 9:1 - 17 , the other with Zechariah 12:1 - 14Zechariah 12:1 - 14 ), which probably were preached some time after; the scope of them is to reprove for sin, and threaten God's judgments against the impenitent, and to encourage those that feared God with assurances of the mercy God had in store for his church, and especially of the coming of the Messiah and the setting up of his kingdom in the world.