Richard Challoner

ZACHARIAS began to prophesy in the same year as Aggeus, and upon the same occasion. His prophecy is full of mysterious figures and promises of blessings, partly relating to the synagogue, and partly to the church of Christ.

A man: An angel in the shape of a man. It was probably Michael, the guardian angel of the church of God.

These are they: The guardian angels of provinces and nations.

The seventieth year: Viz., from the beginning of the siege of Jerusalem, in the ninth year of king Sedecias, to the second year of king Darius. These seventy years of the desolation of Jerusalem and the cities of Juda, are different from the seventy years of captivity foretold by Jeremias; which began in the fourth year of Joakim, and ended in the first year of king Cyrus.

Four horns: The four horns represent the empires, or kingdoms, that persecute and oppress the kingdom of God.

Four smiths: The four smiths, or carpenters (for faber may signify either) represent those whom God makes his instruments in bringing to nothing the power of persecutors.

Jerusalem shall be inhabited without walls: This must be understood of the spiritual Jerusalem, the church of Christ.

Jesus: Alias, Josue, the son of Josedec, the high priest of that time.

With filthy garments: Negligences and sins.

I will give thee: Angels to attend and assist thee.

Portending men: That is, men, who by words and actions are to foreshew wonders that are to come.-- Ibid.

My servant the Orient: Christ, who according to his humanity is the servant of God, is called the Orient from his rising like the sun in the east to enlighten the world.

One day: Viz., the day of the passion of Christ, the source of all our good: when this precious stone shall be graved, that is, cut and pierced, with whips, thorns, nails, and spear.

The stone: Another emblem of Christ, the rock, foundation, and corner stone of his church.-- Ibid.

Seven eyes: The manifold providence of Christ over his church, or the seven gifts of the spirit of God.-- Ibid.

A candlestick: The temple of God that was then in building; and in a more sublime sense, the church of Christ.

To Zorobabel: This vision was in favour of Zorobabel: to assure him of success in the building of the temple, which he had begun, signified by the candlestick; the lamp of which, without any other industry, was supplied with oil, dropping from the two olive trees, and distributed by the seven funnels or pipes, to maintain the seven lights.

Great mountain: So he calls the opposition made by the enemies of God's people; which nevertheless, without an army or might on their side, was quashed by divine providence.-- Ibid.

Shall give equal grace: Shall add grace to grace, or beauty to beauty.

The tin plummet: Literally, the stone of tin. He means the builder's plummet, which Zorobabel shall hold in his hand for the finishing the building.-- Ibid.