Matthew Poole and continuators on Zechariah 6

1 AND I turned , and lift up mine eyes , and looked, and behold, there came four chariots out from between two mountains, and the mountains were mountains of brass .

See chap. 5. ver. 1. let. b.

Ibid let. c. d.

The appearance or Emblem is plain enough, we can easily conceive that; but the things signified hereby are most difficultly found out, and perhaps not found when we think they are; here then, if any were, all are bound to write modestly, and all are bound to read carefully, and to judge candidly; whether by these Chariots are meant. 1. The various changes made by Wars in the Nations, the Chariots as some say were Chariots for War, and drawn by several coloured Horses, and thus Wars and Mutations thereby might be signified. 2. Or, the four Monarchies of different temper and carriage toward the Iews and others, whom they ruled as very many Learned Expositors think▪ Or, 3. The four Gospels, with the Apostles and Preachers of the Gospel sent by Christ as others. Or, 4. Angels who are sometimes stiled Chariots of God, and who are by the Prophets, Daniel, Ezekiel, Zechariah, and by the Apocalypses introduced as great Ministers and Servants of Christ in the Affairs of his Church, I determine not, though perhaps all these might fairly be woven into one web, in which Angels as employed in the Affairs of Church and Empire, act their part in the revolution and changes of things, be these of what temper soever they will in both, till the Gospel be preached▪ by the M[illegible: 3 letters]iah, and his Apostles.

Out of a deep, shady, and dark Valley which here is laid between two Mountains▪ so God's Judgments are a great deep, whilest his Righteousness is as the great Mountains, Psal. 36.6.

These Mountains appear to the Prophet very wonderful, for they were of Brass to denote the immoveable decrees of God, his steddy executions of his Councels, the insuperable restraints upon all Empires and Councels which God keeps within the Barriers of such impregnable Mountains, whence not one can start till he open the way, and possibly it may import the pressures, difficulties, and distresses of the times signified hereby.

2 In the first chariot were red horses, and in the second chariot black horses.

may signifie bloody times, a fiery execution of wrath, Rev. 6.4.

A time of Mortality, and wasting Diseases, Rev. 6.5.

There is no distinction made between Chariot and Chariot, nor any mention made of the drivers of these Chariots, though these are included in the Chariots. Now by the different colours of the Horses doth the Prophet distinguish the Chariots, and possibly that is all intended by the various colours, though generally Interpreters do guess by the colour of the Horses what should be the quality and temper of the times pointed at; of which a little,

3 And in the third chariot white horses, and in the fourth chariot grisled , and bay l horses.

Joyful and prosperous Affairs, see chap. 1. ver. 8. let. d.

State of Affairs mixt of good and bad, chap. 1.8. let. c.

Marginal references: Or, strong.

4 Then I answered and said unto the Angel that talked with me, what are these my lord?

Vide chap. 5. ver. 5. and chap. 1. ver. 19.

5 And the Angel answered and said unto me, These are the four spirits of the heavens which go forth from standing before the LORD of the whole earth .

Signifie or are the emblems of▪

Winds, Heb. to which the Empires are compared, Dan. 7.2. and for the bustlings of them may be well compared so, and forasmuch as they are raised by the Lord, and are under his command may properly enough be called winds of Heavens, which blow as God orders. Or, Spirits of, i. e. Angels of Heaven, who have as Ministers of the Divine Providence, a great share in the manage of affairs both of Church and States. Or, the impulses of Gods Spirit moving as he pleaseth in the Kingdoms of men, and in his Church. Indeed this is the great spring which moves Angels and sets them on work about what is to be done by them, either for or against States and Kingdoms, especially in reference to the Church of God.

Which as they Refide in heaven, till employ'd, so go thence when imploy'd, and observe the will of their God in Heaven and having done their work return thither again.

They stand as Servants attending the Will and Command of their Lord.

Their· God is Lord of all and their business to do his Will in all the Earth, not in one onely part, but every where, whithersoever they are sent.

Marginal references: Or, winds.; 1 King. 22.19. chap. 4.14, Luk. 1.19.

6 The black horses which are therein , go forth into the north-countrey , and the white go forth after them t: and the grisled go forth toward the south countrey .

The Angel signified by the black Horses, the Executioners of God's just displeasure against sinners.

In [illegible: 1 letter]he second Chariot, for nothing is said more of the first, (the red Horses) say some, because that bloody and cruel State was expired, but the sad things portended by the black Horse are to come next on the Scene.

Babylon, the whole Kingdom of Babylon, which lay so much North from Iudea, and because the Metropolis lay North, the whole Kingdom is called the North Countrey, which must feel the effects of these black Horses, which was executed by the hands of the Medes and Persians assisted by that Squadron of Angels which appeared in the second place.

Ministers of Goodness, Mercy, and Kindness went after the black, and their business was, say some, to dispose Affairs for the benefit and joy of God's people in Babylon, whether these were sent to preserve them, to conduct them, and bring them back, and here was great work in this, for many staid behind till Ezra, and Nehemiah's time,

The Angels signified by these, and whose business as some guess, lay in managing the Roman power, which was a mixture of many different people, and which were sometimes favourable, sometimes fierce and severe to those they had to do with.

Egypt and Arabia, which lay South of Iudea, and which the Romans did, though late, subdue, it may perhaps point at their invading Africa too, whose punishments were mixed somewhat with Kindness and Mercy more than the Punishments of Babylon were.

7 And the bay went forth , and sought to go, that they might walk to and fro through the earth : and he said , Get ye hence , walk to and fro through the earth. So they walked to and fro through the earth.

From the place where the Prophet saw them at first standing as at the starting place,

Either asked Commission, or waited for it,

They had a larger Commission say some▪ the whole Earth or a particular Commission to keep their rounds in the Land of Iudea, and to take care of their affairs for the comfort of that people.

Christ who hath all power in Heaven and on Earth,

Stay no longer here▪ hasten to your charge, as you have desired, so do.

They obey immediately and do his Commands. These Bay horses are here represented as attempting, or making essay which at first seems to take little effect though at last by a full Commission empowred they do succeed in the attempt. This might give ground to suppose here is some Kingdom aimed at, which made some attempts to enlarge it self through all the Earth but failed in its attempt, which no wonder since the Angels which were to assist were not Commissioned to walk through the whole Earth, and they keeping to their commission gave no farther help for want of whi[illegible: 1 letter]h the design failed. How far this may concern Goths and Vandals, or any more late Empires and Kingdoms, I have neither skill nor will farther to enquire. Nor yet to enquire whether these Bay horses were not emblems of Angels employed by the Lord, in the Government of the rest of the Kingdoms of the World remote from Iudaea, but not remote from Gods Wise and Sovereign Providence governing all the Earth. The known Empires here are supposed to have been managed by particular Angels represented according to the analogy between the colours of the Horses and the complexion of the Kingdoms. And it may seem likely that the rest of the World was not le[illegible: 1 letter]t without some to have care of them.

8 Then cried he upon me and spake unto me, saying, Behold, these that go toward the north countrey have quieted my spirit in the north countrey.

When the Prophet had been informed about the former vision.

The Angel that talked with the Prophet, i. e. The Lord Christ spake aloud, and called to him.

Or are gone, for he speaks of what was already past, 'tis likely he meaneth the Red horses.

Into Babylon.

Either by doing what I appointed them against the cruel Chaldeans in revenge of my peoples injuries, or bringing my people back out of Babylon into Canaan.

9 ¶ And the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,

It appears not that this next thing hath any necessary connexion to that which the Prophet last saw.

The direction or command for the Prophet to do something out of hand.

10 Take of them of the captivity, even of Heldai, of Tobijah, and of Jedaiah, which are come from Babylon, and come thou the same day , and go into the house of Josiah, the son of Zephaniah.

Gold and Silver, of those that are come out of Babylon ▪ lately, to make their Oblation to the Lord, or to bring the Oblation of them, who yet were in Babylon, but remembred Ierusalem and the Temple.

Go fetch them if they lodge elsewhere, and bring them in thy company.

The same day in which they come, or else in the same day that I speak unto thee, delay not.

Some say he was a Goldsmith, others, that he was Treasurer for the Temple, and that these persons before named had brought a rich present to him for the Temple, and the service of the Lord.

11 Then take silver and gold , and make crownes , and set them upon the head of Joshua , the son of Josedech the high priest.

This reiterating the command, both confirms and explains the former command.

Two, the one of Silver, the other of Gold.

Put both of them, i. e. one after the other.

Who now in this circumstance stands a Type of Christ, King and Priest for ever for his people, and this extraordinary Act was to represent something extraordinary in the Messiah.

Marginal references: chap. 3.5.

12 And speak unto him , saying, Thus speaketh the LORD of hosts, saying, Behold the man whose name is the BRANCH , and he shall grow up out of his place , and he shall build the temple of the LORD.

Ioshua but in hearing of others, and in the name of the Lord·

Consider throughly the import and meaning of this unusual Ceremony.

Thou Ioshua art the Type or Figure, but he that is the man signified by thee, is that great person God hath promised, and you do expect, and who shall come.

Whom you know by the name of the Branch, who was called so long since, Messiah Ben David; This wonderful person is the man that is crowned, as King and Priest by Proxy, or in Effigy: Thou O Ioshua art the Pourtrait he is the Branch it self, chap. 3.8.

Though you may perhaps suspect the Root dry or dead, yet assuredly 'tis not, the Branch will spring up, Messiah King and Priest shall be born in due time.

Of the same Tribe and Family, and in the same place, foretold.

He it is, though uns[illegible: 1 letter]en, that stands by you, that build the Material Temple: N[illegible: 1 letter]ther Zerubbabel nor Ioshua, nor all the Iewes, could do any thing without Christ in the present building, which is yet far inferiour to the Spiritual Temple, which Christ will build, beautifie and preserve, and dwell in for ever.

Marginal references: Or, branch up [illegible: 1 letter]rom und[illegible: 1 letter]r him.

13 Even he shall build ▪ the temple of the LORD , and he shall bear the glory , and he shall sit , and rule upon his throne , and he shall be a priest upon his throne, and the counsel of peace shall be between them both .

The promise is repeated to settle the Iewes in the assured expectation of the thing.

Your Material Temple as Type, and the Spiritual Temple as Antitype.

Of both Kingly Office, and Priestly, the glory of both those Crowns shall abide on him, the only person worthy of i[illegible: 1 letter].

Which speaks both his Royal Magnificence, and the Perpetuity of it.

Though he shall have many Attendants and Offic[illegible: 1 letter]rs, yet he shall Rule, give Lawes, distribute Rewards and punish Of[illegible: 1 letter]enders,

His by Birth, by Donation, by Purchase, and by Conquest, his most undoubtedly by best Right.

The great High Priest, to offer the great Sacrifice to God, to make reconciliation, to intercede for his People; This is that meant by the crowns set on thy head, O Ioshua.

The peace made for Gods People shall rest upon these two, the Kingly and Priestly Office of Christ, by his Priestly Office he shall make their peace with God, by his Kingly Office he shall deliver them from Spiritual enemies; by Priestly Operation he shall expiate our sin, by the power of his Kingly Office he shall extirpate sin; as Priest he makes, as King maintains Peace; Purchase as a Priest, Protect as a King.

Marginal references: [illegible: 1 span] He[illegible: 1 letter]. 3▪

14 And the crowns shall be to Helem , and to Tobijah, and to Jedaiah, and to Hen the son of Zephaniah, for a memorial in the temple of the LORD.

Those two crowns before mentioned, made of the Gold and Silver brought from Babylon, verse 11.

These Persons we know no more of with any certainty, but their names.

Of their incredulity say some, of their liberality say others, but these crowns were certainly to be memorials of the Mess[illegible: 1 letter]ahs certain and speedy coming, and to be reserved in the Temple, as a Memorial of this solemn Typical inauguration of Io[illegible: 1 letter]h[illegible: 2 letters], or Messiah in him.

15 And they that are far off shall come and build in the temple of the LORD, and ye shall know that the LORD of hosts hath sent me unto you . And this shall come to pass , if ye will diligently obey the voice of the LORD your God.

Such Jews as do now abide in Baby[illegible: 3 letters] ▪ and Persia, or other remote parts. 'Tis also the character of the Gentiles, Acts 2.42. Eph. 2.13, 14.

The Jews did so with their gifts, came to Ierusalem and built with their brethren, the Gentiles are come in and build the spiritual Temple.

The accomplishment of this shall prove my words to be Gods word, and that I am sent of him.

The literal part shall come to pass in your day, if you will obey the voice of the Lord your God speaking by me. The mystical part shall come to passe also, and, if you will believe and obey, the Gentiles shall come in and be your Brethren, make up one Church with you, and help to build the Temple, the spiritual Temple. But if you obey not you shall be cast out and the Gentiles be taken in to be Gods people, and to build his Temple.

This verse hath certainly a double reference one to the Jews, and the building of the material Temple, which is the literal and historical sense, the other mystical, and refers to the bringing in of the Gentiles.

Marginal references: chap▪ [illegible: 1 span]