Zechariah 8:16,17 - Joseph Benson’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

These are the things that ye shall do, &c. But these my promises of good to you are conditional, and the performance of them will depend upon your observing the laws of justice and righteousness; Speak ye every man the truth to his neighbour Let no one deceive another by guile or falsehood. Execute the judgment of truth True judgment; and peace in your gates Use all means to restore and establish peace among you. Or, Let those who have the administration of justice committed to their charge endeavour to search out the truth from the witnesses, in the trials which come before them; and decide according to the law, and do all in their power to uphold truth and integrity, and maintain the public peace. The judges, it is to be remembered, used to execute their office at the gates of each city, and therefore it is said here, Execute judgments, &c., in your gates. Let none of you imagine evil in your hearts See note on Zechariah 7:10. And love no false oath See note on Zechariah 5:3-4. For all these are things which I hate God, as he essentially, by his nature, loves that which is good and excellent, so must he hate that which is the contrary.