Zechariah 2:1

I lifted up mine eyes again, and looked,.... And saw a third vision; which, as Kimchi owns, refers to the times of the Messiah; though it might be of use to the Jews then present, to encourage them

I lifted up mine eyes again, and looked, and behold a man with a measuring line in his hand. The man with the measuring line.-The city shall be fully restored and enlarged (Zechariah 2:2-5).

CHAPTER 2 The vision of an angel sent to measure Jerusalem, and its flourishing state under God’ s protection foretold, . The people warned to quit Babylon before its fall, . The promise of God’ s presence, . I, Zechariah, lifted up mine eyes again: this is the third emblem or vision he had seen. Looked very diligently and intently. A man; one in form of a man; some say it was Christ, others say a type of Nehemiah; it was an emblem of some master-builder to be sure, and it is probable the prophet took him for no more than a man. With a measuring line in his hand; he appeared ready and prepared to lay out the platform of Jerusalem for extent, form, and beauty, CHAPTER 2 With a measuring line in his hand; he appeared ready and prepared to lay out the platform of Jerusalem for extent, form, and beauty,

Zechariah 2:1 I lifted up mine eyes again, and looked, and behold a man with a measuring line in his hand.Ver. 1. I lifted up mine eyes again, and looked] i.e. I looked wistfully, not sluggishly, as between sleeping and waking, as Zechariah 4:1. I saw further by the spirit than common sense could have carried me. I beheld Jerusalem in her future glory, I looked intently, I took aim, not by the things which are seen, but by the things which are not seen, 2 Corinthians 4:18 Hebrews 11:27 Galatians 4:26. And behold a man] The man Christ Jesus, as his mother is called a virgin, Isaiah 7:14, the virgin, that famous virgin that conceived and bare a son, that got a man from the Lord, Genesis 4:1. This man (called before and after an angel, as appearing in human shape) is here seen and set forth as an architect or master builder, going to take the plot of his Church, see Revelation 21:15; and observe, by the way, how in that book the Holy Ghost borrows the allegories and elegancies of the Old Testament to set out the story of the New in succeeding ages.

II. THIRD VISION.—THE MAN WITH THE LINE. (1-5) This vision is a prophetic realisation of the fulfilment of the promise (Zechariah 1:16): “A line shall be stretched forth upon Jerusalem.”

CHAPTER II The vision with which this chapter opens, portended great increase and prosperity to Jerusalem. Accordingly Josephus tells us, (Wars v. iv. 2,) that "the city, overflowing with inhabitants, extended beyond its walls," as predicted in the fourth verse, and acquired much glory during the time of the Maccabees; although these promises, and particularly the sublime image in the fifth verse, has certainly a still more pointed reference to the glory and prosperity of the Christian Church in the latter days, 1-5. See Revelation 21:1-27; Revelation 22:1-21. In consequence of these promises, the Jews, still inhabiting Babylon and the regions round about, are called upon to hasten home, that they might not be involved in the fate of their enemies, who were destined to fall a prey to the nations which they had formerly subdued; God's great love anti zeal for his people moving him to glorify them by humbling all their adversaries, 6-9. The most gracious promises of God's presence with his Church, and her consequent increase and prosperity, set forth in the remaining verses, 10-13, were to a certain extent fulfilled in the great number of proselytes made to Judaism after the return from the captivity; but shall be more fully accomplished after the restoration of the Jews to the favour of God under the Gospel. "For if the casting away of the natural Israel be the reconciling of the world, what shall the receiving of them be but life from the dead?" NOTES ON CHAP II Verse 1. A man with a measuring - line in his hand.] Probably a representation of Nehemiah, who got a commission from Artaxerxes Longimanus to build up the walls of Jerusalem; for hitherto it had remained without being enclosed.

Ch. Zechariah 2:1. a man] Probably an angel in human form, called a “young man,” Zechariah 2:4, where see note a measuring line] The word is not the same as in Zechariah 1:16; but the promise there is taken up here, and its literal fulfilment, which the action of the man with the line seemed about to secure, is merged in a greater blessing. In Ezekiel 40:3, Revelation 11:1; Revelation 21:15, a reed is used, in addition to, or instead of, a line as here.

A man with a measuring line in his hand - Probably the Angel of the Lord, of whom Ezekiel has a like vision.

1, 2. A man with a measuring line — An expansion of the promise in Zechariah 1:16. The man is distinct from the interpreting angel; he is left undefined, because his personality is unimportant; his act alone is of significance.