Scofield Reference Notes In the eighth month, in the second year of Darius, came the word of the LORD unto Zechariah, the son of Berechiah, the son of Iddo the prophet, saying, SCOFIELD REFERENCE NOTES (Old Scofield 1917 Edition)
Book Introduction The Book of Zechariah Zechariah, like Haggai, was a prophet to the remnant which returned after the 70 years. There is much of symbol in Zechariah, but these difficult passages are readily interpreted in the light of the whole body of related prophecy. The great Messianic passages are, upon comparison with the other prophecies of the kingdom, perfectly clear. Both advents of Christ are in Zechariah's prophecy Zech 9:9 Mt 21:1-11 Zech 14:3,4. More than Haggai or Malachi, Zechariah gives the mind of God about the Gentile world-powers surrounding the restored remnant. He has given them their authority Dan 2:27-40 and will hold them to account; the test, as always, being their treatment of Israel. See Scofield Note: "Gen 15:18" note 3, clause 6; Zech 2:8. Zechariah, therefore, falls into three broad divisions: I. Symbolic visions in the light of the Messianic hope, 1.1-6.15. II. The mission from Babylon, 7., 8. III. Messiah in rejection and afterwards in power, 9.-14. Margin eighth month i.e. November. The LORD hath been sore displeased with your fathers.
Therefore say thou unto them, Thus saith the LORD of hosts; Turn ye unto me, saith the LORD of hosts, and I will turn unto you, saith the LORD of hosts.
Be ye not as your fathers, unto whom the former prophets have cried, saying, Thus saith the LORD of hosts; Turn ye now from your evil ways, and from your evil doings: but they did not hear, nor hearken unto me, saith the LORD.
Your fathers, where are they? and the prophets, do they live for ever?
But my words and my statutes, which I commanded my servants the prophets, did they not take hold of your fathers? and they returned and said, Like as the LORD of hosts thought to do unto us, according to our ways, and according to our doings, so hath he dealt with us.
Upon the four and twentieth day of the eleventh month, which is the month Sebat, in the second year of Darius, came the word of the LORD unto Zechariah, the son of Berechiah, the son of Iddo the prophet, saying, Margin Sebat
Eleventh month i.e. February. 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; and behind him were there red horses, speckled, and white. [1] I saw
The "man" (Zech 1:8) is the "my lord," "the angel that talked with me" (Zech 1:9), and "the angel of the Lord" (Zech 1:10,11). The "man" "stood among the myrtle trees" (Zech 1:8). The prophet addresses him as "my lord" (cf) Gen 19:2 but when the "man" answers he perceives that he has addressed an angel--"the angel that talked with me" (Zech 1:9). In Zech 1:10 the being of the vision is again "the man that stood among the myrtle trees." In Zech 1:11 he is called "the angel of the Lord," and to him the (riders on the) "red horses, speckled with white" say: "We have walked to and fro," etc. Then (Zech 1:12) "the angel of the Lord" (i.e. the "man," "my lord," "the angel that talked with me") intercedes for the land against a world at ease. The date of the intercession was at the end of the 70 years' captivity of Judah. Zech 1:9-12. Taken as a whole Zech 1:8-17 Zechariah's first vision reveals Judah in dispersion; Jerusalem under adverse possession; and the Gentile nations at rest about it. This condition still continues, and Jehovah's answer to the intercession of the angel sweeps on to the end-time of Gentile domination, when "the Lord shall yet comfort Zion," etc. (Zech 1:16,17). Isa 40:1-5. See "Kingdom (O.T.)" See Scofield Note: "Gen 1:26" See Scofield Note: "Zech 12:8". Margin red horse Cf. Rev 6:4. The whole Gentile period is characterized by the red horse, i.e. "sword." Dan 9:26 Mt 24:6,7. Then said I, O my lord, what are these? And the angel that talked with me said unto me, I will shew thee what these be. Margin angel
See Scofield Note: "Heb 1:4". And the man that stood among the myrtle trees answered and said, These are they whom the LORD hath sent to walk to and fro through the earth.
And they answered the angel of the LORD that stood among the myrtle trees, and said, We have walked to and fro through the earth, and, behold, all the earth sitteth still, and is at rest. Margin angel
See Scofield Note: "Heb 1:4" Then the angel of the LORD answered and said, O LORD of hosts, how long wilt thou not have mercy on Jerusalem and on the cities of Judah, against which thou hast had indignation these threescore and ten years? Margin angel
See Scofield Note: "Heb 1:4" And the LORD answered the angel that talked with me with good words and comfortable words. Margin angel
See Scofield Note: "Heb 1:4" So the angel that communed with me said unto me, Cry thou, saying, Thus saith the LORD of hosts; I am jealous for Jerusalem and for Zion with a great jealousy. Margin angel
See Scofield Note: "Heb 1:4" And I am very sore displeased with the heathen that are at ease: for I was but a little displeased, and they helped forward the affliction.
Therefore thus saith the LORD; I am returned to Jerusalem with mercies: my house shall be built in it, saith the LORD of hosts, and a line shall be stretched forth upon Jerusalem.
Cry yet, saying, Thus saith the LORD of hosts; My cities through prosperity shall yet be spread abroad; and the LORD shall yet comfort Zion, and shall yet choose Jerusalem.
Then lifted I up mine eyes, and saw, and behold four horns. [1] horn
A "horn" is the symbol of a Gentile king Dan 7:24 Rev 17:12 and the vision is of the four world empires Dan 2:36-44 7:3-7 which have "scattered Judah, Israel, and Jerusalem" (v.19) And I said unto the angel that talked with me, What be these? And he answered me, These are the horns which have scattered Judah, Israel, and Jerusalem. Margin angel
See Scofield Note: "Heb 1:4" And the LORD shewed me four carpenters. [2] And the Lord
The word charash, trans. "carpenter," is lit. carver, engraver. Zech 1:21 makes it plain that, whatever the four carvers may be, they are used to "fray," or carve away (Heb. charad) in the sense of diminishing, enfeebling, the great Gentile world-powers. They may stand for Jehovah's "four sore judgments," the sword, famine, evil beasts, and pestilence Ezek 14:21 the four horses of Rev. 6. Then said I, What come these to do? And he spake, saying, These are the horns which have scattered Judah, so that no man did lift up his head: but these are come to fray them, to cast out the horns of the Gentiles, which lifted up their horn over the land of Judah to scatter it. Scofield Reference Notes by Cyrus Ingerson Scofield [1917] Bible Hub |
    |