---
title: "Clarke"
description: "Verse Zechariah 6:1. There came four chariots — Four monarchies or empires. This is supposed to mean the same with the vision of the four horns, in Zechar"
image: "/images/missing.jpg"
url: "https://realbiblebelievers.com/commentaries/clarkes-commentary/zechariah/6"
---

Verse [Zechariah 6:1](../../../kjv/zechariah/6/1). ***There came four chariots*** — Four monarchies or empires. This is supposed to mean the same with the vision of the *four* *horns*, in [Zechariah 1:18-21](../../../kjv/zechariah/1/18-21).
***Mountains of brass.*** — The strong barriers of God's purposes, which restrained those powers within the times and limits appointed by Jehovah.

Verse [Zechariah 6:2](../../../kjv/zechariah/6/2). ***In the first chariot*** were *red horses*] The empire of the Chaldeans, which overthrew the empire of the *Assyrians*.
***The second chariot black horses*** — The empire of the *Persians* founded by *Cyrus*, which destroyed the empire of the *Chaldeans*.

Verse [Zechariah 6:3](../../../kjv/zechariah/6/3). ***The third chariot white horses*** — The empire of the *Greeks*, founded by *Alexander the Great*, which destroyed the empire of the *Persians*.
***The fourth chariot grisled and bay horses.*** — That is *party-coloured horses*; or with horses, some *grisled* and some *bay*. The empire of the Romans or of the Greeks. The Greeks *divided* after the death of Alexander; one part pointing out the *Lagidae*, who attacked and subdued *Egypt*; and the other, the *Seleucidae*, who subdued Syria under Seleucus.

Verse [Zechariah 6:5](../../../kjv/zechariah/6/5). ***The four spirits of the heavens*** — Ministers of God's wrath against the sinful nations of the world.

Verse [Zechariah 6:6](../../../kjv/zechariah/6/6). ***The black horses*** — This refers to the *second chariot*; of the *first* the angel makes no mention, because the empire designed by it had ceased to exist. *This had red horses*, to show the *cruelty* of the Chaldeans towards the Jews, and the *carnage* they committed in the land of Judea.
***The black*** — *Cyrus*, at the head of the *Persians* and *Medes*, bringing devastation and death among the Chaldeans, called the *north* in many parts of Scripture.
***The white*** — *Alexander*, who was *splendid* in his victories, and *mild* towards all that he conquered.
***The grisled*** — The *Lagidae* or *Ptolemies*, who founded an empire in Egypt; of these some were *good*, some *bad*, some *despotic*, some *moderate*, some *cruel*, and some *mild*; represented by the *party-coloured horses*.

Verse [Zechariah 6:7](../../../kjv/zechariah/6/7). ***And the bay went forth*** — The *Seleucidae*, who conquered Syria and the upper provinces, and who wished to extend their conquests, and "sought to go, that they might walk to and fro throughout the earth," were of unbounded ambition, and sought *universal empire*; such as *Antiochus the Great*. "So they walked to and fro," did extend their conquests; and harassed many countries by their vexatious and almost continual wars. Some think the *Romans* are meant, who carried their conquests hither and thither, just as the Divine providence permitted them.

Verse [Zechariah 6:8](../../../kjv/zechariah/6/8). ***Have quieted my spirit in the north country.*** — They have fulfilled my judgments on *Assyria* and *Chaldea*. Nabopolassar and Cyrus first, against the Assyrians and Chaldeans; and Alexander next, against the Persians. On this vision Abp. *Newcome* remarks:-
The *black horses* seem to denote the *Persian* empire; which, by subduing the *Chaldeans*, and being about to inflict a second heavy chastisement on *Babylon, quieted God's spirit* with respect to *Chaldea*; a country always spoken of as lying to the *north* of the Jews.
The *white horses* seem to be the Macedonian empire; which, like the Persian, overcame *Chaldea*.
The *spotted bay horses* seem to be the *Roman* empire. This description suits it because it was governed by *kings, consuls,* *dictators*, and *emperors*. It penetrated *southward* to Egypt and Africa. The Roman empire is mentioned twice, [Zechariah 6:6-7](../../../kjv/zechariah/6/6-7), under each epithet given it, [Zechariah 6:3](../../../kjv/zechariah/6/3).

Verse [Zechariah 6:10](../../../kjv/zechariah/6/10). ***Take of*****them of*****the captivity*** — The names that follow were probably those to whom the silver and golden vessels of the temple were intrusted; and who might have had *bullion* of silver and gold, for particular purposes, about the ornaments of the temple.
***The house of Josiah*** — Probably an artificer in silver, gold, &c.

Verse [Zechariah 6:11](../../../kjv/zechariah/6/11). ***Make crowns*** — עטרות *ataroth*; but *seven* MSS. of *Kennicott's* and *De Rossi's*, and *one* ancient of my own, with the *Syriac* and *Chaldee*, have עטרת *atereth*, a *crown*, or *tiara*. And as *Joshua* the high priest is *alone* concerned here, I think *one crown* only is intended.

Verse [Zechariah 6:12](../../../kjv/zechariah/6/12). ***Behold the man whose name is The BRANCH!*** — I cannot think that *Zerubbabel* is here intended; indeed, he is not so much as mentioned in [Zechariah 3:8](../../../kjv/zechariah/3/8). *Joshua and his companions* are called אנשי מופת *anshey mopheth,* *figurative* or *typical men*; the crowning therefore of Joshua in this place, and calling him the BRANCH, was most probably in reference to that glorious person, the *Messiah*, of whom he was the *type* or *figure*. The *Chaldee* has, "whose name is my MESSIAH," or CHRIST.
***And he shall grow up out of his place*** — That is, out of David's root, tribe, and family.
***And he shall build the temple of the Lord.*** — This cannot refer to the building of the temple then in hand, for Zerubbabel was its builder: but to that temple, the Christian Church, that was typified by it; for Zerubbabel is not named here, and only *Joshua* or *Jesus* (the name is the same) is the person who is to be *crowned* and *to build this spiritual temple*.

Verse [Zechariah 6:13](../../../kjv/zechariah/6/13). ***Even he shall build the temple*** — *Joshua*, not *Zerubbabel*.
***He shall bear the glory*** — Have all the honour of it; for none can do this but himself. The *Messiah* is still intended.
***And shall sit and rule upon his throne*** — For the government of the Church shall be upon his shoulder.
***And he shall be a priest upon his throne*** — He shall, as the great *high priest*, offer the only *available offering* and *atonement*; and so he shall be both *king* and *priest*, a *royal king* and a *royal priest*; for even the *priest* is here stated to *sit upon his* *throne*.
***And the counsel of peace shall be between them both.*** — Whom? Zerubbabel and Joshua? Certainly not Zerubbabel, for he is not mentioned in all this prediction; but, as the *Messiah* is intended, the *counsel of peace*-the *purpose to establish peace* between heaven and earth, must be between the *Father* and the *Son*.

Verse [Zechariah 6:14](../../../kjv/zechariah/6/14). ***And the crowns shall be*** — One of my MSS. has אטרות *ataroth, crowns*, corrected into עטרת *atereth, crown*; and so the *Septuagint, Syriac*, and *Arabic*. The *Chaldee* has, "And praise shall be," &c. The meaning appears to be this, that the *crown* made for *Joshua* should be delivered to the persons mentioned here and in [Zechariah 6:10](../../../kjv/zechariah/6/10), to be laid up in the temple of the Lord, as a *memorial* of this typical transaction.

Verse 15. ***And they*****that are*****far off shall come*** — The Gentiles shall come to the Saviour of the world; and *build*-become a part of this new temple; for they, as *living stones*, shall become a holy temple, a habitation of God through the Spirit.
***Ye shall know that the Lord of hosts hath sent me*** — These predictions, relative to the *regal* and *sacerdotal offices* of the Messiah, shall be so circumstantially fulfilled, that ye, Jews, shall be obliged to acknowledge that the Lord of hosts hath sent me with this message.
***And*****this*****shall come to pass*** — Your own temple shall be rebuilt, and God shall dwell among you now, *if ye will diligently obey the* *voice of Jehovah your God*.

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