1.
I lifted up mine eyes again, and looked, and behold a man with a measuring line in his hand.
behold Figure of speech Asterismos App-6 .
man Hebrew. 'ish App-14 . Either the same or another angel.
a measuring line. See note on Zechariah 1:16 and Compare Zechariah 2:2
2.
Then said I, Whither goest thou? And he said unto me, To measure Jerusalem, to see what is the breadth thereof, and what is the length thereof.
Jerusalem. With 'eth . See note on Zechariah 1:19 .
3.
And, behold, the angel that talked with me went forth, and another angel went out to meet him,
angel. See note on Zechariah 1:9 .
went forth: or, came forward.
4.
And said unto him, Run, speak to this young man, saying, Jerusalem shall be inhabited as towns without walls for the multitude of men and cattle therein:
this young man: i.e. the man of Zechariah 2:1 .
saying. Supply the logical Ellipsis ( App-8 ), "saying [Stop! ]", for the reason given implies that measuring will be useless, owing to the overflow of inhabitants.
without walls. Compare Isaiah 33:20 ; Isaiah 54:2 .Ezekiel 38:11 .
men. Hebrew. 'adam . App-14 .
5.
For I, saith the LORD, will be unto her a wall of fire round about, and will be the glory in the midst of her.
saith the LORD = [is] Jehovah's oracle. App-4 .
wall of fire. Like the watch-fires seen round Bedaween camps, which have no walls. Compare Isaiah 26:1 ; Isaiah 33:21 ; Isaiah 60:18 .
in the midst. Compare verses: Zechariah 2:10 , Zechariah 2:11 ("J")
6.
Ho, ho, come forth, and flee from the land of the north, saith the LORD: for I have spread you abroad as the four winds of the heaven, saith the LORD.
Ho, ho. Figure of speech Epixeuxis ( App-6 ), for emphasis. come forth: or, supply the Ellipsis "[escape]".
I have spread. Reference to Pentateuch (Deuteronomy 4:27 ; Deuteronomy 28:64
spread = scattered.
as . Some codices, with five early printed editions, and Syriac, read "by", or "throughout". Vulgate reads "into".
winds. Hebrew. ruach. App-9 .
7.
Deliver thyself, O Zion, that dwellest with the daughter of Babylon.
Deliver. Hebrew Ho!
Rescue , &c., as in Zechariah 2:6
8.
For thus saith the LORD of hosts; After the glory hath he sent me unto the nations which spoiled you: for he that toucheth you toucheth the apple of his eye.
the LORD of hosts. See note on Zechariah 1:3 .
After the glory = For His own glory.
he that, &c. Reference to Pentateuch (Deuteronomy 32:10 ). App-92 .
His eye . The primitive text read "Mine eye"; but the Sopherim say ( App-33 ) that they altered this to "His", regarding it as derogatory to Jehovah to rend aloud such pronounced anthropomorphic expressions.
9.
For, behold, I will shake mine hand upon them, and they shall be a spoil to their servants: and ye shall know that the LORD of hosts hath sent me.
their servants = their own slaves.
10.
Sing and rejoice, O daughter of Zion: for, lo, I come, and I will dwell in the midst of thee, saith the LORD.
lo. Figure of speech Asterismos. App-6 .
I will dwell , &c. Reference to Pentateuch (Ex. Zec 29:45 , Zec 29:46 . Leviticus 26:11 , Leviticus 26:12 ). App-92 .
11.
And many nations shall be joined to the LORD in that day, and shall be my people: and I will dwell in the midst of thee, and thou shalt know that the LORD of hosts hath sent me unto thee.
many nations , &c. Reference to Pentateuch (Exodus 12:49 . Numbers 9:14 ). App-92 .
12.
And the LORD shall inherit Judah his portion in the holy land, and shall choose Jerusalem again.
shall inherit . . . His portion. Reference to Pentateuch (Deuteronomy 32:9 ). App-92 .
holy . See note on Exodus 3:5 .
again = yet; as in Zechariah 1:17 . Not make a new choice, but demonstrate again His old choice in actual experience.
13.
Be silent, O all flesh, before the LORD: for he is raised up out of his holy habitation.
Be silent , &c. Compare Habakkuk 2:20 . Zephaniah 1:7 .
is raised up = hath roused Himself up. Compare Psalms 78:65 .
His holy habitation. Reference to Pentateuch (Deuteronomy 26:15 )