Zechariah 10

Zechariah 10:1

ASk ye of the LORD] O ye Jews, which have now again settled your selves in the right way of serving God, since the reedifying of the Temple; do but make your prayers to him, and he will hear you.

rain in the time] See Deuteronomy 11:14. Under which blessing all others are understood.

bright clouds] Or, lightnings. Signes and forerunners of raine, Psalms 135:7. Jeremiah 10:13.

Zechariah 10:2

For the, &c.] The meaning is: Direct your prayers to God, who will really blesse you: and not to the idols, who have alwayes deceived you.

idols have spoken vanitie] Jeremiah 10:8. Habakkuk 2:18. Heb. teraphims.

they comfort in vain] Job 13:4.

were troubled] Or, answered that, &c.

there was no shepherd] Your Temporall and Ecclesiasticall governours have not performed their duties; but have been perverted, Jeremiah 23:11. Ezekiel 34:2.

Zechariah 10:3

punished] Heb. visited upon.

the goats] The cruel governours which did oppresse the poore sheep, Ezekiel 34:16-17. Others, the heads and great ones, upon whom God powred out his greatest vengeance, by means of the haldeans, Jeremiah 39:6.

for the LORD of hosts] Now that the Lord hath turned his favourable countenance towards his people, he hath endowed them with valour and strength: so that of sheep they are now become a great warre horse; with which the Lord will overcome and trample down his enemies. Which may in part be understood of the Maccabees victories: but most perfectly of the whole Churches victories over the world and the devill, Son 1:9.

Zechariah 10:4

Out] Or, From. On God dependeth all mans strength: whether it be to bear up themselves, as corner stones do bear up the building: or as nails do hold fast tents: or be it to defend themselves by open strength, which is meant by the bow.

oppressour together] All manner of oppression done by other men is also a part of Gods providnce.

Zechariah 10:5

in the mire of the streets] Psal 18. 42.

the riders on horses] Or, they shall make the riders on horses ashamed. The powerfull enemies, who are well appointed and provided for warre.

Zechariah 10:6

house of Joseph] Namely, the ten Tribes; the chiefe whereof wa Ephraim, descended from Joseph: that is to say, all true Israelites according to the spirit.

Zechariah 10:8

I will hisse for them] I will call them by my Gospel, as from afarre off, into my Church. See Isaiah 5:26. & Isaiah 7:18.

for I have redeemed them] Or, for I will redeem them.

Zechariah 10:9

I will sow them among the people] Scatter them abroad into exile and captivitie: where I will notwithstanding preserve them, and their posteritie not to let them perish utterly.

and turn again] Namely, from the spirituall Babylon, which is the world, and the kingdome of Satan, unto the true Jerusalem, and to the land of promise, which is the Church of Christ: as Hosea 1:11. whereof their return from Babylon was a type and a figure.

Zechariah 10:10

I will bring them again] Isaiah 11:11.

shall not be found for them] In which signification that word is found, Joshua 17:16. Numbers 11:22. Judges 21:14. A figurative amplification, for to set forth the innumerable multitude of the faithfull: as Isaiah 49:20.

Zechariah 10:11

he shall passe through the sea] He will miraculously deliver his Church. He alludeth to the deliverance of the people out of Egypt, when the Angel smote the flouds and rivers. See Isaiah 11:15.

the river shall drie up] Namely, Nils.

the pride of Assyria shall be brought down] To wit, all the enemies represented by these two nations, Seleucidae and Lagidae, which had most oppressed the Church.

Zechariah 10:12

and they shall walk] Mic. 4. 5.

up and down in his name] Attending upon him, his word, and service, which he hath manifested unto them.