Richard Challoner

Little days: That is, these small and feeble beginnings of the temple of God.-- Ibid.

The seven eyes: The providence of God, that oversees and orders all things.

Two sons of oil: That is, the two anointed ones of the Lord; viz., Jesus the high priest, and Zorobabel the prince.

A volume: That is, a parchment, according to the form of the ancient books, which, from being rolled up, were called volumes.

This is their eye: This is what they fix their eye upon: or this is a resemblance and figure of them, viz., of sinners.

The land of Sennaar: Where Babel or Babylon was built, Gen. 11., where note, that Babylon in holy writ is often taken for the city of the devil: that is, for the whole congregation of the wicked: as Jerusalem is taken for the city and people of God.

Four chariots: The four great empires of the Chaldeans, Persians, Grecians, and Romans. Or perhaps by the fourth chariot are represented the kings of Egypt and of Asia, the descendants of Ptolemeus and Seleucus.

The land of the south: Egypt, which lay to the south of Jerusalem, and was occupied first by Ptolemeus, and then by the Romans.

The land of the north: So Babylon is called; because it lay to the north in respect of Jerusalem. The black horses, that is, the Medes and Persians: and after them Alexander and his Greeks, signified by the white horses, went thither because they conquered Babylon, executed upon it the judgments of God, which is signified, ver. 8, by the expression of quieting his spirit.-- Ibid.

Between them both: That is, he shall unite in himself the two offices or dignities of king and priest.

The fifth month: They fasted on the tenth day of the fifth month; because on that day the temple was burnt. Therefore they inquire whether they are to continue the fast, after the temple is rebuilt. See this query answered in the 19 th verse of the following chapter.

The fast of the fourth month: They fasted, on the ninth day of the fourth month, because on that day Nabuchodonosor took Jerusalem, Jer. 52. 6. On the tenth day of the fifth month, because on that day the temple was burnt, Jer. 52. 12. On the third day of the seventh month, for the murder of Godolias, Jer. 41. 2. And on the tenth day of the tenth month, because on that day the Chaldeans began to besiege Jerusalem, 4 Kings 25. 1. All these fasts, if they will be obedient for the future, shall be changed, as is here promised, into joyful solemnities.

Ten men: Many of the Gentiles became proselytes to the Jewish religion before Christ: but many more were converted to Christ by the apostles and other preachers of the Jewish nation.

Hadrach: Syria.

His blood: It is spoken of the Philistines, and particularly of Azotus, (where the temple of Dagon was,) and contains a prophecy of the conversion of that people from their bloody sacrifices and abominations to the worship of the true God.

That serve me in war: Viz., the Machabees.

Thy sons, O Sion: Viz., the apostles, who, in the spiritual way, conquered the Greeks, and subdued them to Christ.

Holy stones: The apostles, who shall be as pillars and monuments in the church.

The corn: His most excellent gift is the blessed Eucharist, called here The corn, that is, the bread of the elect, and the wine springing forth virgins; that is, maketh virgins to bud, or spring forth, as it were, like flowers among thorns; because it has a wonderful efficacy to give and preserve purity.

Thy cedars: Thy princes and chief men.