Matthew Poole and continuators on Zechariah 13

1 IN that day there shall be a fountain opened to the house of David, and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem for sin, and for uncleanness .

When the Lamb of God shall be offered up a Sacrifice for mankind, and the Gospel shall be preached in which the glad Tydings of our Redemption are publisht.

By water, and Ceremonial washings was legal pollution in many cases purged away, and much of the legal Service stood in divers washings, but all these were Shadows and Types, here is that they typified. The matchless healing, and purging Fountain, i. e. The Blood of Christ here is the true Siloam which never fail'd to heal any that rightly used it, 'tis Christ.

The Spouse is to Christ a Fountain sealed, but Christ is to sinners a Fountain opened; under the Law he was as the waters of the Temple, for the Iew; but now he is opened to us Gentiles, free to all, and of easie access, and of Soveraign vertue to heal.

He was every where nearest to them, and though his own Kindred did some of them slight him, and not believe in him, yet some others did, and it may intimate to us the first tender of Grace made to his own, to whom he came, though they received him not; or the Royal Family some of them will be benefitted by it, and all of them need it; no outward priviledge can secure us against poyson of sin, Grace alone, this Fountain only can purge it away in great, and noble; or mean, and base.

To all the Iews before the Gentiles, To you first saith the Apostle, God hath sent his Son, but in that 'tis opened, 'tis to us Gentiles also. Ierusalem as Image of the whole Church, takes in the Gentiles, so Inhabitants of Ierusalem are all to whom the Gospel is preached, all penit[illegible: 1 letter]nts.

Marginal references: [illegible: 1 paragraph]; For purging away of all manner of sins and uncleannesses of which men repent, and from which they depart, according to that Prov. 20.9. 1 Ioh. 1.9.

2 ¶ And it shall come to pass in that day , saith the LORD of hosts, that I will cut off the names of the idols out of the land , and they shall no more be remembred : and also I will cause the prophets , and the unclean spirit i to pass out of the land .

Vid. ver. 1. let. a.

Utterly destroy Idols and Idolatry, Satan fell from Heaven like Lightning, as Christ tells us when the Gospel was preacht by those he sent, and 'tis known the Birth of Christ silenced the Devil, that he could no more give answer to those that enquired at his Oracles, the light of the Gospel is such, that none of the Idols can bear it. The Devil put it into the heads of the Romans to keep Christ from being received by publick allowance for a God, because he would turn out all the rest of them.

With veneration, sacrifices, gifts, erecting of Temples, depending on, or consulting with them; they shall be remembred and abhorred, whereas before they were remembred and ador'd.

Either those that being Priests to Idols, did consult with them, and pretend to foretel future events, or more likely the false Prophets among the Iews, who are Prophets as Idols are Gods. i. e. The Devil which sets the false Prophets on work, Christ cast many out of persons possessed, and by his Doctrine still doth cast out Satan.

Marginal references: Exod. 23.13. Psal. 16.4. Ezek. 30.1[illegible: 1 letter]. Hos. 2.17.; Mat. 12.43. Mar. 1.29.

3 And it shall come to pass, that when any shall yet prophesie , then his father and his mother that begat him , shall say unto him , Thou shalt not live : for thou speakest lies in the Name of the LORD : and his father, and his mother that begat him, shall thrust him through when he prophesieth.

Whosoever he be that shall pretend hereafter to prophesie through the instigation of that unclean Spirit, for it can be from no other, when the Lord shall have fully revealed his mind to us.

His dearest friends, they who are by nature nearest to him who begat him.

Shall discourse him, and inform him what the Law of Moses directeth in this case.

Which I take to be not the sentence condemnatory, for being private persons, they could not condemn him; but it is a repetition of the Law which saith, such shall not live, and then it amounts to this, a false Prophet ought not to live, Deut. 13.6, 8. what then dost thou do to break this Law, and endanger thy Life? Thou oughtest to dye for this by the Law; the Father and Mother thus should admonish and shew the matter of Law and danger, but not judicially pass sentence▪ and determin what shall be done.

Thou fallest under that Law, Deut. 13.6.

Or, wound, chastise with stripes that may leave their marks behind them, or rather shall sharply reprove him, and with cutting words terrifie him from the like practice: You read of words that are piercing words, Prov. 12.18. words that run through as a Sword, and the Chaldee Paraphrast on this of our Prophet allows the Father and Mother to deal sharply with their Son, they shall rebuke cuttingly; besides, if 'twere to be understood of killing, the Law directs to stone such a one, Deut. 13.10. not to run him through with Lance or Sword.

4 And it shall come to pass in that day that the prophets shall be ashamed every one of his vision: when he hath prophesied; neither shall they wear a rough garment to deceive .

By this means it will come to pass, such sharp reproofs, such impartial threats, such convincing arguments will have a good effect.

These Prophets will see their Errour, and be ashamed, and give over what they blush at, and is their shame.

Such Garments the true Prophets were wont to wear, and these cheats had used them for a cover to their jugling Hypocrisie; but when throughly convinced, none shall need pull, they will themselves cast off those Garments.

By first seeming to be more holy and strict than they are; and next on such ill grounded opinion of the holiness of their persons draw them into their Opinions, Religion, and Practice. 'Tis an excellent work of the Grace of God to recover deceivers, and to make them turn off the deceiver, and deal plainly and faithfully with others, and themselves.

Marginal references: 2 King.1.8.; Heb. a garment of hair.; Heb. to lie.

5 But he shall say, I am no prophet, I am an husbandman: for man taught me to keep cattel from my youth.

This verse is this reclaimed man's recantation, or renunciation of his former course, and his solemn promise to take up his own Calling, and become a plain honest man, and live upon his Labour, to which he was trained up from his youth, and is sorry he ever left it.

6 And one shall say unto him, What are these wounds in thine hands? Then he shall answer , Those with which I was wounded in the house of my friends .

This verse continueth the account of the reclaimed Prophet, and supposeth what is usual that some will enquire what the meaning of the marks or impressions on his hands, whether they were not such as appropriated him to an Idol, or declared him a profest Diviner.

plainly and fully no such as you imagine.

But the [illegible: 2 letters]ars of the wounds my stubbornness deserved, and the love of my friends gave me under a severe Discipline, to recover me from ruining my self and others by Impostures, and Lies.

7 ¶ Awake , O sword , against my shepherd , and against the man that is my fellow , saith the LORD of hosts: smite the shepherd , and the sheep shall be scattered and I will turn mine hand upon the little ones .

'Tis God's Commission, or rather prediction, the Imperative put for the future.

i. e. Afflictions, Persecutions, and the Cross.

Who is my faithful shepherd, and will lay down his life for my sheep.

Who became man, that he might be my Servant and die,

or my equal who was ever with me, and my delights, Prov. 8.30. Man my fellow speaks Christ man with us, and God with his Father, God-man in one person.

This great and good shepherd shall be smitten, i. e. die for my sheep, and before he dieth, shall suffer much for them.

As affrighted, destitute of one to look after them, and which must be partakers in sufferings with their shepherd.

God will, say some, turn his hand against the little ones, smite them too; but, others say, this turning the hand is in favour, and for protection, 'tis a hand turned over them, as if he would keep the blow off them, while others fitter to bear it do suffer.

New, and therefore weak Converts and Disciples.

Many words are spent by Interpreters to shew what they think to be the connexion of the words; it is easier to say what are the contents and design of them. It is possible they are subjoined to the former to vindicate Christ from the suspicion of an Impostor, though he was wounded, for this his Father did foretel by Zechariah 490 years more or less beforehand, so that these wounds are not marks of an Impostor, but testimonies of his Truth, and that he is the Messiah.

Marginal references: Joh. 1[illegible: 1 letter].30. & 14.10, 11. Phil. 2.6.; Math. 26.31. Mark 14.27.

8 And it shall come to pass, that in all the land , saith the LORD, two parts therein shall be cut off, and die, but the third shall be left therein .

Of Iudea, or the whole World.

Not precisely two, but more largely the greater part by far.

A Temporal Death, by the Sword of Titus, or an eternal death under unbelief and rejecting Christ.

i. e. A remnant, the lesser part, yet as many as are chosen.

Shall escape or be preserved and saved.

This ver. may be a prediction of the great slaughter Titus made among the Iews, and also an Emblem of the multitudes of them that perish, and paucity of them that are saved.

9 And I will bring the third part through the fire , and will refine them as silver is refined , and will try them as gold is tried: they shall call on my name , and I will hear them: I will say, It is my people; and they shall say, The LORD is my God.

That part that is preserved shall be brought into afflictions hot as fire.

These Afflictions shall purifie them, and so better them as Silver and Gold are bettered by the Furnace, made fitter to be Vessels of honour.

Pray to me and own me for their God.

I will answer them, and own them for my People, my purified People, &c.

Marginal references: 1 Pet. 1.6, 7.; Psal. 50.15.; Psal. 144.15.