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Nazarene Commentary 2000©

21^st Century Paraphrase of the Hebrew Scriptures© –
21^st Century Version of the Christian Scriptures© [NCMM]

THE PROPHET ZECHARIAH

CHAPTER TWO:
JERUSALEM MEASURED

Summary

Zechariah’s third vision of the angelic measuring of Jerusalem in preparation of all the returning Jews liberated from the four winds. YHWH will become glorious within Jerusalem. Speaking for YHWH the angel calls for Zion to escape from Babylon, and the spoiling of Babylon is declared. YHWH promises to come and rise in Jerusalem along with peoples from many nations.

Zechariah 2:1-6 – Measuring Jerusalem for Rehabitation

ZC2:1 Next I started to look upward – and behold! – look! 49 there was a human being with a measuring string in his hand! 50 [Revelation 11:1]

49	Next I started to look upward – and behold! – look!: Or, ASV: And I lifted up mine eyes, and saw, and, behold. This is Zechariah’s third vision on this date.

50

There was a human being with a measuring string in his hand: Or, LXX: a man [ANER], and in his hand a measuring line [GEOMETRICON]. The language is echoed in Revelation 11:1ff. Note the LXX Greek GEOMETRICON [English = geometry]. Return to Zechariah 1:16. It should be kept in mind that two angels will be involved in this vision and at least one of them speaks as YHWH Himself.

ZC2:2 I asked him: “Where are you going?” In response he said: “To measure Jerusalem [Revelation 11:1] and check her breadth and length.” 51 [Revelation 21:15]

51

To measure Jerusalem and check her breadth and length: Or, JPS: To take the measure of Jerusalem, to see how wide and how long it is; LXX: To measure Jerusalem, to see what is the breadth of it, and what is the length of it. The language is similar to Revelation 21:15. [Jeremiah 31:39; Ezekiel 45:6] The purpose of the visionary measurement is explained in verse 4 – the increase of population.

ZC2:3 Then, behold, the angel communicating with me departed, and then there was another angel coming to meet him. ZC2:4 Then he told him: “Quickly now, go and tell that young man over there, 52 ‘Jerusalem will become inhabited like towns without walls because the populous and their animals will be so numerous. 53

52	Quickly now, go and tell that young man over there: Or, ASV: Run, speak to this young man; JPS: Go quickly and say to this young man. Likely the “young man” is the other angel to whom YHWH is now speaking.

53

Jerusalem will become inhabited like towns without walls because the populous and their animals will be so numerous: Or, BAS: Jerusalem shall be inhabited without walls for the multitude of men and cattle therein; LXX: Jerusalem shall be fully inhabited by reason of the abundance of men and cattle in the midst of her. Compare Zechariah 12:6. [Jeremiah 30:18; Ezekiel 36:10] In ancient times cities were often fortresses or castles surrounded by fortified walls to protect their citizenry. Jerusalem is to spread out beyond the boundaries of her walls.

ZC2:5 Then I will become, declares Y^eH^oW^aH, like an encircling wall of fire – something glorious is what I will become within her. 54 [Revelation 21:23; 22:3]

54	Like an encircling wall of fire – something glorious is what I will become within her: Or, JPS: a wall of fire round about her, and I will be the glory inside her. The language is echoed in Revelation 21:23; 22:3. [Isaiah 12:6; 60:19; Haggai 2:9]

ZC2:6 Y^eH^oW^aH proclaims: Away! Away! All you northern peoples! 55 Y^eH^oW^aH declares, I have scattered all of you people toward the four winds of the heavens. 56 [Revelation 7:1]

55	Away! Away! All you northern peoples: Or, ASV: Ho, ho, flee from the land of the north; JPS: go in flight from the land of the north. [Isaiah 11:12, 16; Jeremiah 1:14] That is, God’s people captive in Babylon.

56

I have scattered all of you people toward the four winds of the heavens: Or, ASV: I have spread you abroad as the four winds of the heavens; JPS: sent you far and wide to the four winds of heaven; LXX: I will gather you from the four winds of heaven. That is, the four directions of the compass. The LXX Greek is TESSARON ANEMON TOU OURANOU. If one combines Matthew 24:31 with Revelation 7:1 a similar phrase is constructed – TOUS TESSARAS ANEMOUS TES GES… AP HARKON OURANON. There will be a final regathering of God’s People. See notes on 2 Thessalonians 2:1. [Daniel 7:2; 8:8; 11:4]

Zechariah 2:7-9 – Zion Called to Escape Babylon

ZC2:7 “Pay attention, Zion! Escape, all of you dwelling with the daughter of Babylon! 57

57

Pay attention, Zion! Escape, all of you dwelling with the daughter of Babylon: Or, ASV: Ho Zion, escape, thou that dwellest with the daughter of Babylon; JPS: go in flight from danger, you who are living with the daughter of Babylon; LXX: deliver yourselves. There is likely an echo here in Revelation 18:4. The escape or rescue of the end-time Saints out of Babylon is by miraculous deliverance, not personal effort. [Daniel 12:2]

ZC2:8 For, Y^eH^oW^aH of [celestial] armies declares, because of His glory He has sent me to the national groups plundering you. 58 For a certainty the person touching you people touches My very eye. 59

58

Because of His glory He has sent me to the national groups plundering you: Or, ASV: After glory hath he sent me unto the nations which plundered you; BAS: sent me after glory unto the nations which spoiled you; JPS: In the way of glory he has sent me to the nations which have taken your goods; NJB: since the Glory commissioned me; TAN: footnote: whose Presence sent me. Likely one of the angels. Return to Zechariah 2:5.

59

For a certainty the person touching you people touches My very eye: Or, ASV: apple of his eye; JPS: for anyone touching you is touching what is most dear to him; LXX: for he that touches you is as one that touches the apple of his eye. The original reading in Hebrew was “My eye-ball” but was changed by the Jewish Copyists to “his eye.” See footnotes in TAN and RHM. Compare Deuteronomy 32:10 and Psalm 105:15. God holds His People dear as long as they remain obedient to Him.

ZC2:9 Now with a threatening gesture I raise My hand upon all of them. 60 Their own servants will plunder and pillage them. 61 Then all of you will realize that Y^eH^oW^aH of [celestial] armies has sent me. 62

60	Now with a threatening gesture I raise My hand upon all of them: Or, ASV: I will shake my hand over them; LXX: I bring my hand upon them. See Isaiah 10:32.

61	Their own servants will plunder and pillage them: Or, ASV: they shall be a spoil to those that served them; JPS: their goods will be taken by those who were their servants. See Isaiah 14:2.

62	Then all of you will realize that YeHoWaH of [celestial] armies has sent me: Or, ASV: and ye shall know that Jehovah of hosts hath sent me; JPS: you will see that the Lord of armies has sent me. Likely referring to the angel speaking for YHWH. [Jeremiah 28:9]

Zechariah 2:10-13 – YHWH Will Dwell among Them

ZC2:10 “O daughter of 63 Zion, raise your voice and rejoice. Y^eH^oW^aH declares, for here I am coming and I will make My dwelling right among you. 64 [Revelation 21:3]

63	Daughter of: Some render the figure of speech as “fair” or “beautiful.”

64

For here I am coming and I will make My dwelling right among you: Or, JPS: for I come, and I will make my resting-place [SHAKAN] among you; LXX: for, behold, I come [EGO ERCHOMAI], and will dwell [KATASKENOSO] in the midst of thee. The literal Greek is tent-down and follows the Hebrew “to settle down to abide.” [Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance #7931] Compare related words at Revelation 7:15 [SKENOSEI] and Revelation 21:3 [SKENOSEI].

ZC2:11 In that day many national groups will join themselves to Y^eH^oW^aH. 65 They will become My people, and I will dwell among them. [Revelation 21:3] Then all of you will realize that Y^eH^oW^aH of [celestial] armies has sent me to you.

65

In that day many national groups will join themselves to YeHoWaH: Or, ASV: many nations shall join themselves to Jehovah in that day; JPS: a number of nations will be joined to the Lord in that day; LXX: many nations [ETHNE] shall flee for refuge to the Lord in that day; NJB: nations will be converted to Yahweh. Compare Zechariah 8:23. [Psalm 22:27; Isaiah 2:2] For the ultimate fulfillment of this see notes on Ephesians chapter 2.

ZC2:12 For a certainty Y^eH^oW^aH will inherit Judah as His portion in the Holy Land, 66 yet once more deciding in favor of Jerusalem. 67

66

Inherit Judah as His portion in the Holy Land: Or, ASV: Jehovah shall inherit Judah as his portion in the holy land; JPS: Judah will be the Lord’s heritage in the holy land; LXX: his portion [KATAKLERENOSO] in the holy [HAGIAN]; RHM: soil of the sanctuary. The LXX Greek kataCLERenoso contains the root for the English “cleric, clergy. See notes on 1 Peter 5:3 [KLERON]. [Exodus 19:5; Deuteronomy 32:9; Psalm 135:4]

67	Yet once more deciding in favor of Jerusalem: Or, ASV: shall yet choose Jerusalem; BAS: shall choose Jerusalem again; JPS: and Jerusalem will again be his; LXX: he will yet choose Jerusalem. Return to Zechariah 1:17.

ZC2:13 Silence, all flesh, before Y^eH^oW^aH, 68 for He has triumphantly aroused Himself out of His Holy Residence. 69

68	Silence, all flesh, before YeHoWaH: Or, ASV: Be silent, all flesh, before Jehovah; JPS: Let all flesh be quiet and make no sound before the Lord; LXX: Let all flesh fear before [PROSOPOU] the Lord. Return to Zechariah 1:7. [Habakkuk 2:20]

69

He has triumphantly aroused Himself out of His Holy Residence: Or, ASV: for he is waked up out of his holy habitation; BAS: for He is aroused out of His holy habitation; JPS: for he is awake and has come from his holy resting-place; LXX: for he has risen up from his holy clouds. On God arousing Himself compare Psalm 78:65; is 26:21] God resides in the Celestial as His eternal dwelling. [2 Chronicles 6:18; 30:27; Psalm 68:5; Isaiah 57:15; 66:1]