Chapter 2
<*><*><*><*><*><*>Zechariah Chapter 2 verse 1 is in most translations Chapter 1 verse 18.<*><*><*><*><*><*>
In this section Zecharyah still narrate his vision, but now his attention is drawn to an other phenomenon. An other view from outside the Earth about happenings on the Earth.
Verse 1(18)
And I lifted up my eyes and observed and saw four horns.
Horns are the Biblical symbols of power and dominion. A male animal uses the power of his horns to establish himself as the one having dominion.
Verse 2(19)
And I said to the representative the (one) talking to me: "What these?" and he said to me: "These the horns that dispersed Yehudah, Yisrael and Yerushalaim."
The horns represent the nations that were used by Yahuweh to disperse Israel, but they went further then Yahuweh purposed and they try to annihilate Israel. That is why Yahuweh is very angry with them according to Zech. 1:15.
Since the context of the visions is about what is still going to happen to Israel up to its final restoration, it is speculation trying to predict the nations involved
Verse 3(20)
And showed me Yahuweh four skilful destroyers.
The Hebrew word 'charash' comes from engraver but is used to mean being skilful and the context has to indicate which skill is intended and in this case it is destroying. Compare Ezek 21:31.
Verse 4(21)
And (I) said: "What these coming to accomplish?" and said (Yahuweh) saying: "These horns who dispersed Yehudah so that man will not lift up his head, and (therefore) come these to drive in terror them, to throw down the horns, the nations the (ones) lifting up horn against land Yehudah to disperse."
The four skilful destroyers are symbolical powers that will take care of the nations that were and are, against Yehudah. Compare Isaiah 10:5-34.
Might it be possible, foreknowing that at some time all Israelites will be called Jews, the expression Yehudah is used?
In verse 2 , dealing with things that had occurred even before Zecharyah's time, Yehudah, Israel and Jerusalem were separately mentioned. However, in this verse, we are also looking in the Yet future when there is no distinct individual consortium of Israelis, although they will be known by their tribes.
We know that there are at the present time many nations that are trying to eliminate Israel and the rest of the world seem to be on their side. None of them has been really thrown down yet.
Some of the nations from Zecharyah's time might have disappeared but they have emerged again in one or other form.
From here on the vision changes to show that Yahuweh is on Israel's side and what the yet glorious future is going to be.
Verse 5 (2:1)
And I lifted up my eyes and observed and saw (a) man and in his hand line (for) measuring.
In 1:16 the word qavah was used that commonly erroneously is translated line in that verse, however here is the word chebel used, which correctly is translated line.
Verse 6 (2)
And (I) said: "where you going?" and said to me: "To measure Yerushalaim to see to what width and to what length"
As a primary to renovation or other major works, an object is first measured.
This vision therefore indicates that major works are about to happen to Yerushalaim.
Verse 7 -8 (3-4)
And see the representative the (one) talking to me went out and representative an other, went out to meet him. And (he) said to him: "Run and speak to the young man, this one and say: " (as an) open region to be inhabited Yerushalaim, abundant people and animals in its midst!""
From the context we learn that the second representative (Malach) is a messenger from Yahuweh. His message is that which follows.
There will be no protecting walls around Yerushalaim in the future because Yahuweh Himself shall protect it.
This again shows that this all about the future, because from that time and up to now, Yerushalaim has been attacked and occupied many times. Her walls did not really protect her at all on these occasions.
Verse 9 (5)
"And I will be to her, declares Yahuweh, (a) wall (of) fire round about her and to glory (I) will be in its midst!"
The Hebrew for glory, 'kabowd', can also be used for , splendour, abundance and riches.
I think that all those expressions would be valid for the presence of Yahuweh in the future of Israel.
Verse 10 (6)
"Woe woe and flee from (the) land North declares Yahuweh, since according four winds (of) the heavens I have spread out you!" Declares Yahuweh.
Yahuweh tells them to return and many have understood that He was talking about the ones not yet returned from the Babylonian exile.
However, they were never dispersed to the four compass points, which is what is meant here.
After 3830 (CE70) they were actually dispersed all over the world and the bulk of them went North.
Yahuweh therefore is talking about the situation just before and in our time.This is a challenge of Yahuweh to all believing Jews who at the present are not living in Israel.
Verse 11 (7)
"Woe Tziyon you escape dweller daughter- Babel (Babylon)!"
We have to look closely at this piece of Hebrew grammar to find out what is meant.
'You escape' is in the imperative, which means it is an order. 'Dweller' is present tense, singular female, which ties it in with 'daughter-Babylon.'
Babylon is not only a place but also a metaphor for occult related idolatry, because Babylon was the original source of this kind of false worship.
We can therefore say that daughter-Babylon is some one, or the system, of occult idolatry. The text, could therefore say that this system dwells on Tziyon and that Tziyon should escape this system.
When we look at it objectively, we must admit that at the present there is in Tziyon a lot of adulterated worship.
We have to keep in mind that a lot of the Babylonian idol worship has infiltrated the Churches.
The so-called Holy places strongly resemble Pagan shrines and none of them has been authenticated or appointed by Yahuweh or by Yeshuah's Apostles.
In addition, some streams in Orthodox Judaism tend to incline to the occult and their original worship of Yahuweh has been adulterated by human philosophy.
It is therefore not likely that people remaining in Babylon are meant, as often is suggested. In that case, Babylon would have been used rather then the expression daughter -Babylon.
Verse 12 (8)
For thus says Yahuweh Tzevaot: "After honour I follow, to the nations, the ones spoiling you. Since the (ones) striking against you strike against apple (of) his eye!"
Yahweh's honour is violated and to get His honour restored, He goes to the nations that spoiled Israel.
We know that the second messenger of Yahuweh is telling the first one to relate all this, via Zecharyah, to the people.
Now when we read on we see that a lot of things are going to happen that have not happened yet. Therefore this applies to the present state because the nations are troubling Israel.
Verse 13 (9)
"Accordingly, behold me wielding my hand against them. And they be spoil to their servants and they know because Yahuweh Tzevaot had send me!"
So the people have to watch Yahuweh wielding His hands against them and when they see that they are becoming spoil to their servants, then they shall know that Yahuweh had sent the messenger.
Yahuweh then switches from the past and present, to the future in the following verse.
Verse 14 (10)
"Sing and rejoice Daughter_Tziyon accordingly behold me coming and I will settle down to abide in your midst!" Declares Yahuweh.
Why Daughters of Tziyon? Well one reason might be the curse that was pronounced on them at first, as we can read in Isaiah 3:16 - 4-1.
Instead of pleasure in their own beauty, they will now have the pleasure of Yahuweh living in their midst.
Another explanation could be that the villages around Tziyon are meant, because small villages were often called the daughters of the bigger or more important cities.
There are many prophesies that announce the return of Yahuweh to Yerushalaim, but Ezekiel saw the actual return in a vision, as recounted in Ezekiel 43:1-9.
We must also consider, that when Israel did not obey Yahuweh, He took away His presence from among them.
When Nebuchadnezzar destroyed the Temple, Yahuweh made the Ark of the Covenant disappear.
When the temple was rebuild after the exile, the Glory of Yahuweh, associated with the Ark, never dwelt in the Temple again.
To Daniel it was revealed that it would take seventy year weeks for Israel to be ready for the anointing of the holy place, Dan. 9:24.
By anointing is meant the return of the glory of Yahuweh to His temple.
Verse 15 (11)
"And shall join themselves nations many to Yahuweh in that day. And they shall be to me for a people and I will settle down to abide in your midst, and it be known Yahuweh Tzevaot send me to you"
The messenger is still relating what Yahuweh is declaring to the daughters of Tziyon (you is in the female gender) and he again confirms that Yahuweh has sent him with this message.
Prophesies are usually confirmed by other prophesies in the Tanakh. In relation to this I like to quote an other prophecy and this from Psalm 22:28-29 (27-28).
They shall remember and they shall return to Yahuweh, all the ends of the Earth and they shall bow down before you all the families (from the) nations.
Because to Yahuweh the kingdom and to reign among the nations.
A prophecy is considered to be correct and from Yahuweh when it, or part of it, has been literally fulfilled. Read the whole Psalm 22, which is a prophesy.
Now remember that Yeshuah when hanging on the stake quoted the first lines of this Psalm, Matthew 27:46. Many see this just as a cry from the heart of Yeshuah. However, there is much more to this. To test each others skill, Rabbis would quote a line of scripture, whereupon others quoted the whole Scripture.
Yeshuah therefore had a message to His accusers. By quoting the first line He actually quoted the whole Psalm, which is a prophecy. Yeshuah hereby brought this prophesy to notice and affirmed that part of the prophesy had been literally fulfilled by Him.
When the nations have seen the mighty deeds of Yahuweh of which some are later on narrated by Zecharyah, they join themselves to Yahuweh.
Already now, non-Jewish people from the nations are returning to the Jewish Biblical roots, which are Yahuweh and His Torah.Together with the Jewish Messianic believers they are forming the true remnant of believers.
Verse 16 (12)
"And shall take possession Yahuweh of Yehudah His portion, on ground the holy and chose again for Yerushalaim"This is a challenge of Yahuweh to all believing Jews who at the present are not living in Israel.
From Ezekiel 43:12 and 45:1-4 we can learn that indeed Ezekiel witnessed the designation of the holy portion of the ground in Judah.
Verse 17 (13)
"Hush all flesh because of Yahuweh because He is to be aroused from dwelling His holy"
All flesh is to be silent and watch with awe for Yahuweh to come from His holy dwelling place to fulfil what has been announced.
This chapter has been a general overview. In the next chapters we find more and more details revealed.<*><*><*><*><*><*>