Zechariah 12

Zechariah 12:1

BƲrden of the word of the LORD] The Prophecie uttered by Gods permission.

for Israel] Concerning the victories which God hath given unto his Church collected of Jewes and Gentiles, which by the Apostle is called the Israel of God, Galatians 6:16.

which stretcheth forth the heavens] Isaiah 42:5.

Zechariah 12:2

Jerusalem] My Church, being set upon by her enemies, shall be an occasion that I will strike them with amazement, so that they shall not be able to bring their designes to any happy end: but shall be the causes of their own ruine, Isaiah 51:17. 22. Jeremiah 51:7.

trembling] Or, slumber, or poison.

when they shall be, &c.] Or, and also against Judah shall he be which shall be in siege against Jerusalem.

in the siege] In the very instant that they were ready to do their best and last endevours.

Zechariah 12:3

a burdensome stone] The Ancients observe, that this is taken from an exercise or game which was very frequent in Judea: namely, to take up a great round stone, to trie ones strength, lifting it up from the ground; sometimes to their knees, sometimes to their navils, sometimes to their shoulders, and sometimes as high as their heads: at which sport sometimes they did grievously hurt themselves. The meaning is, the enemies of the Church shall strive, and endevour who shall be able to doe her most hurt: but the stoutest and valiantest of them all shall be overcome. See Matthew 21:44.

Zechariah 12:4

I will smite every horse] I will take away strength and understanding from mine enemies. See Psal. 76. 6, 7.

Zechariah 12:5

the governours of Judah shall say in their heart] All the governours of the Church shall hearten on the faithfull to fight this good fight of faith.

The inhabitants of Jerusalem shall be my strength] Or, There is strength to me and to the inhabitants, &c.

Zechariah 12:6

governours of Judah] The Apostles and Evangelists, by the preaching of the Gospel, shall inflame the whole world with persecutions and dissentions, Luke 12:49. by the which in the end the enemies shall come to ruine, and the Church shall be established, Obad. 18.

Zechariah 12:7

shall save the tents of Judah first] The meaning is, Christs salvation shall first be proffered to the poore and weak, like to the tents of those poore Jewes, which lived in the fields, and were not comparable to Jerusalem, which was a royall and strong citie, belonging to the house of David: That is to say, the Kings and great ones shall be last converted: as the event did verifie it under the Gospel: to shew the prerogative of mean ones with God. See James 2:5.

Zechariah 12:8

and he that is, &c.] The weak and feeble shall by Gods Spirit be strengthened, and confirmed in heroicall and divine vertues, as David was See Joel 3. 10.

feeble] Or, abject. Heb. fallen.

the house of David] Namely, the Princes of the bloud Royall, who were also chiefe officers of the Crowne: by which are meant the Apostles, to whom should be given so much grace, majestie, authoritie, strength, and truth, that they should be respected as Gods and Angels in the world, rather then men. See Galatians 4:14.

Zechariah 12:10

And] Joel 2. 28.

I will poure upon the house of David] A Prophecie of the last conversion of the Jews. Whereof see Matthew 23:39. Romans 11:26. 2 Corinthians 3:16.

the spirit of grace] The presence, the operation, and the gifts of Christs Spirit, which is given through grace: and is the seale and earnest of Gods grace in them: and doth alone produce in beleevers, holy and acceptable prayers, Romans 8:25-26.

they shall look upon me] That is, they shall turne to me by saith.

whom they have pierced] See Psalms 22:16. Matthew 27:35. John 19:34.

and they shall mourn for him] They shall be exceedingly grieved for the misdoings of their forefathers. See Jeremiah 3:21. Acts 2:37. And that they themselves had crucified him by their sinnes.

for his onely sonne] Jeremiah 6:26. Amos 8:10.

Zechariah 12:11

mourning in Jerusalem] Acts 2:37.

as the mouning of Hadadrimmon] It is likely that he hath relation to those solemn lamentations, which were appointed for Josias his death, who was slain in the field of Megiddo, 2 Chronicles 35:22. And it seemeth that Hadadrimmon was some citie or strong hold in the same field, made mention of onely, Zechariah 14:10.

Zechariah 12:12

the land shall mourn] That is, in all places where the Jews shall remain.

every family] Heb. families, families.

apart] Signifying that mourning or repentance should not be a vain ceremonie: but every one touched with his own grief shall lament.

the family of the house of David apart] Circumstances taken from the manner of publike mournings: in which they used to shut themselves up in their houses, with their families, and refrained the company of women, and all manner of delightfull conversation. See Numbers 20:29.

the house of Nathan apart] That is, of the stock which descended from David, from whom came Zerubbabel, who was nearest to the Crown after the line of Solomon was extinguished. See 2 Samuel 5:14. Luke 3:27. 31.

Zechariah 12:13

Shimei apart] It seemeth that it was some familie of the Levites, 1 Chron. 6. 17. & 23. 10. And the Prophet doth in this manner specifie these families, whereof some had held Temporall, some Ecclesiasticall offices: to shew, that as the Church and State were united, and joyned in persecuting of Christ, and in putting him to death; so they should joyntly repent for it.