John Trapp on Zechariah 8:13

Verſe 13. As ye were a curſe among the heathen] The people of Gods wrath, and of his curſe Eſay 34.5. ahhorred and accurſed by all nations Ier. 24.9. laſtly a proverb and a pattern for any fearfull imprecation Ezek. 14.8. as thoſe that had the bloody wailes of Gods viſible vengeance on their backs, and (Cain-like) had his manifeſt mark upon their perſons and proceedings. The Turks at this day ſo hate the Jews for crucifying Chriſt, that they uſe to ſay in deteſtation of thing, I would I might d[illegible: 1 letter]e a [illegible: 1 letter]ew then; Let me be a Jew if I cozen thee &c. Such a taunt and a curſe this wretched people are ſtill. As they curſe Chriſt and his followers continually every day, ſo it comes into their bowels like water, and like oyl into their bones. Pſal. 10[illegible: 1 letter].18.

O houſe of Judah, and houſe of Iſrael] i. e. Beſides the two tribes of Judah and Ben[illegible: 1 letter]amin, diverſe of the ten tribes that revolted (for religion ſake) unto Judah were carried captive with them, and afterwards returned out of captivity alſo in their company. To them therefore, as well as to the houſe of Judah is made the promiſe. Twelve thouſand of theſe ten tribes returning are found by computation in that [illegible: 1 word] ſet down Ezra. 3.64. as the Jew-Doctours have concluded. There are that underſtand the words of the general converſion of all the Jews in the time of the Goſpel; and this may very well be, for ought that I ſee to the contrary.

ſo will [illegible: 1 word] you] Leſt you ſhould ſay in the language of Aſhdod, 1 Sam. [illegible: 1 letter].9. It is a chance, I will do it ſaith God.

and ye ſhall be a bleſſing] Not onely a name and praiſe as Zeph. 3.20 but a form to be uſed in bleſſing of others: ſuch as was that Ruth 4 11, 12. And not altogether unlike is that prayer of David Pſal. 119.132. Look thou upon me and be merciful unto me, as thou uſeſt to do unto thoſe that love thy Name.

ſow not, but let your ha[illegible: 1 letter]ds be ſtrong] Be not diffident, but diligent in well doing: in due ſeaſon you ſhall reap,Gal. [illegible: 1 letter] [illegible: 1 letter]. if you faine not. See the Note on verſe 9. [illegible: 1 letter]aſe feare expectorates and unmans us: baniſh it therefore, or ye will be betrayed by it.