[1] I lifted up mine eyes again, and looked, and behold a man with a measuring line in his hand.
With a line — Ready and prepared to lay out the platform of Jerusalem.
Verse 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.
To measure — To take the exact dimensions of it, that it may answer God's promise, and be capable to receive its inhabitants.
Jerusalem — The city which was to be built hereafter.
Verse 3
[3] And, behold, the angel that talked with me went forth, and another angel went out to meet him,
The angel — Christ, who had so long talked with Zechariah.
Went forth — From the midst of the myrtle-trees.
Verse 4
[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:
And he said — Christ to that angel who came to meet him.
Run — Hasten and tell Zechariah.
As towns — The suburbs of it shall be as towns unwalled, for extent and for safety.
Verse 5
[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.
The glory — My presence and favour shall make her glorious.
Verse 6
[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 — Ye sleepy Jews.
Come forth — Come out from your prisons.
Flee — Make all the haste you can.
From the land — Babylon, which lay north of Canaan.
For I have spread you abroad — As I executed my threats in scattering you, so I will perform my promise, and gather you.
Verse 7
[7] Deliver thyself, O Zion, that dwellest with the daughter of Babylon.
Deliver thyself — Accept of thy deliverance.
Verse 8
[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.
After the glory — After that he is become your glory, I am to avenge you of your enemies.
Verse 9
[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.
Upon them — Against the nation that doth violence to my people.
Unto their servants — Unto the Jews, who were first spoiled by, and then made servants to them.
Hath sent me — To inform them of my father's will.
Verse 10
[10] Sing and rejoice, O daughter of Zion: for, lo, I come, and I will dwell in the midst of thee, saith the LORD.
I come — To execute judgments on thine adversaries, and to compleat thy deliverance and salvation.
I will dwell — This was fulfilled in part to the Jews, but more fully to the gospel church.
Verse 11
[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.
Shall be joined — Shall worship the God of Israel.
In that day — When Christ shall come in the flesh, and take down the partition wall.
Sent me — The Messiah.
Verse 12
[12] And the LORD shall inherit Judah his portion in the holy land, and shall choose Jerusalem again.
Shall inherit — Claim, recover, possess, and delight in, as a man doth in his paternal inheritance.
Verse 13
[13] Be silent, O all flesh, before the LORD: for he is raised up out of his holy habitation.
Be silent — Reverence and adore God, and expect the accomplishment of his word.
All flesh — Both Jew and Gentile.
He is raised up — God is on this work already, and he will not sit down again, 'till he has accomplished his whole work.
Zechariah 2 Bible Commentary
John Wesley’s Explanatory Notes
Verse 1
[1] I lifted up mine eyes again, and looked, and behold a man with a measuring line in his hand.
With a line — Ready and prepared to lay out the platform of Jerusalem.
Verse 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.
To measure — To take the exact dimensions of it, that it may answer God's promise, and be capable to receive its inhabitants.
Jerusalem — The city which was to be built hereafter.
Verse 3
[3] And, behold, the angel that talked with me went forth, and another angel went out to meet him,
The angel — Christ, who had so long talked with Zechariah.
Went forth — From the midst of the myrtle-trees.
Verse 4
[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:
And he said — Christ to that angel who came to meet him.
Run — Hasten and tell Zechariah.
As towns — The suburbs of it shall be as towns unwalled, for extent and for safety.
Verse 5
[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.
The glory — My presence and favour shall make her glorious.
Verse 6
[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 — Ye sleepy Jews.
Come forth — Come out from your prisons.
Flee — Make all the haste you can.
From the land — Babylon, which lay north of Canaan.
For I have spread you abroad — As I executed my threats in scattering you, so I will perform my promise, and gather you.
Verse 7
[7] Deliver thyself, O Zion, that dwellest with the daughter of Babylon.
Deliver thyself — Accept of thy deliverance.
Verse 8
[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.
After the glory — After that he is become your glory, I am to avenge you of your enemies.
Verse 9
[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.
Upon them — Against the nation that doth violence to my people.
Unto their servants — Unto the Jews, who were first spoiled by, and then made servants to them.
Hath sent me — To inform them of my father's will.
Verse 10
[10] Sing and rejoice, O daughter of Zion: for, lo, I come, and I will dwell in the midst of thee, saith the LORD.
I come — To execute judgments on thine adversaries, and to compleat thy deliverance and salvation.
I will dwell — This was fulfilled in part to the Jews, but more fully to the gospel church.
Verse 11
[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.
Shall be joined — Shall worship the God of Israel.
In that day — When Christ shall come in the flesh, and take down the partition wall.
Sent me — The Messiah.
Verse 12
[12] And the LORD shall inherit Judah his portion in the holy land, and shall choose Jerusalem again.
Shall inherit — Claim, recover, possess, and delight in, as a man doth in his paternal inheritance.
Verse 13
[13] Be silent, O all flesh, before the LORD: for he is raised up out of his holy habitation.
Be silent — Reverence and adore God, and expect the accomplishment of his word.
All flesh — Both Jew and Gentile.
He is raised up — God is on this work already, and he will not sit down again, 'till he has accomplished his whole work.