Zechariah 4:1-14 - Sutcliffe's Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

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Bible Comments

Zechariah 4:1. The angel that talked with me came again. This was Michael the archangel, who had before appeared to the prophet, as mentioned in Zechariah 1:8-9.

Zechariah 4:2. A candlestick and seven lamps. The bowl was full of oil; the branches were tubes, as described in Exodus 37:17. These were the joyful illuminations of the sanctuary, and spiritually designated the sevenfold operations, or gifts and graces of the Holy Spirit, whose temple is full of light, glory, and grace.

Zechariah 4:6. Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, saith the Lord of hosts. The prophets preached, and the Lord so stirred up the people that the great mountain of opposition in the carnal jews, who said the time is not yet come to build, and the threats of war without, from the Persian governors, could not oppose the good and glorious work of restoring the temple, and preparing a house for the Lord. In like manner Christ sent out his apostles, without power, to build his spiritual temple, and fill the earth with his glory. Yet, though a great mountain of guilt, of unbelief, of fear, of carnal propensities, of persecuting relatives, and wicked men, may stand in the way of conversion, they shall all be applained by the powerful workings of the Holy Spirit.

Zechariah 4:14. These are the two anointed ones. The holy oil was poured on the head of the priest, and on the prince. God gave his Spirit to them, with an unction from heaven. Long life also was promised to the prince, even for forty nine years and upwards, to finish the temple. Surely this proves the truth of prophecy, and the care of heaven over the church. The Lord's two witnesses, prophesying in sackcloth, symbolize with these two anointed ones. Revelation 11:3.

REFLECTIONS.

The preseding chapter was full of consolation to the priest; this is full of comfort to the prince. The vision of the golden candlestick and the two olivetrees implied, that Jerusalem and the temple should be restored by the divine assistance, and by the care of Joshua the highpriest, and of Zerubbabel the governor, who are here called the two olivetrees, and the two sons of oil, or the two anointed of the Lord.

Related Commentaries of Zechariah 4:1

Zechariah 4:1-14

1 And the angel that talked with me came again, and waked me, as a man that is wakened out of his sleep,

2 And said unto me, What seest thou? And I said, I have looked, and behold a candlestick all of gold, with a bowla upon the top of it, and his seven lamps thereon, and seven pipes to the seven lamps, which are upon the top thereof:

3 And two olive trees by it, one upon the right side of the bowl, and the other upon the left side thereof.

4 So I answered and spake to the angel that talked with me, saying, What are these, my lord?

5 Then the angel that talked with me answered and said unto me, Knowest thou not what these be? And I said, No, my lord.

6 Then he answered and spake unto me, saying, This is the word of the LORD unto Zerubbabel, saying, Not by might,b nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the LORD of hosts.

7 Who art thou, O great mountain? before Zerubbabel thou shalt become a plain: and he shall bring forth the headstone thereof with shoutings, crying, Grace, grace unto it.

8 Moreover the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,

9 The hands of Zerubbabel have laid the foundation of this house; his hands shall also finish it; and thou shalt know that the LORD of hosts hath sent me unto you.

10 For who hath despised the day of small things? for they shall rejoice, and shall see the plummet in the hand of Zerubbabel with those seven; they are the eyes of the LORD, which run to and fro through the whole earth.

11 Then answered I, and said unto him, What are these two olive trees upon the right side of the candlestick and upon the left side thereof?

12 And I answered again, and said unto him, What be these two olive branches which throughc the two golden pipes empty the golden oil out of themselves?

13 And he answered me and said, Knowest thou not what these be? And I said, No, my lord.

14 Then said he, These are the two anointedd ones, that stand by the Lord of the whole earth.