7 Deliver H4422 thyself, O H1945 Zion, H6726 that dwellest H3427 with the daughter H1323 of Babylon. H894
Go ye forth H3318 of Babylon, H894 flee H1272 ye from the Chaldeans, H3778 with a voice H6963 of singing H7440 declare H5046 ye, tell H8085 this, utter H3318 it even to the end H7097 of the earth; H776 say H559 ye, The LORD H3068 hath redeemed H1350 his servant H5650 Jacob. H3290
Depart H5493 ye, depart H5493 ye, go ye out H3318 from thence, touch H5060 no unclean H2931 thing; go ye out H3318 of the midst H8432 of her; be ye clean, H1305 that bear H5375 the vessels H3627 of the LORD. H3068
And it came to pass, when they had brought them forth H3318 abroad, H2351 that he said, H559 Escape H4422 for H5921 thy life; H5315 look H5027 not behind thee, H310 neither stay H5975 thou in all the plain; H3603 escape H4422 to the mountain, H2022 lest thou be consumed. H5595
Shake H5287 thyself from the dust; H6083 arise, H6965 and sit down, H3427 O Jerusalem: H3389 loose H6605 thyself from the bands H4147 of thy neck, H6677 O captive H7628 daughter H1323 of Zion. H6726
Be in pain, H2342 and labour to bring forth, H1518 O daughter H1323 of Zion, H6726 like a woman in travail: H3205 for now shalt thou go forth H3318 out of the city, H7151 and thou shalt dwell H7931 in the field, H7704 and thou shalt go H935 even to Babylon; H894 there shalt thou be delivered; H5337 there the LORD H3068 shall redeem H1350 thee from the hand H3709 of thine enemies. H341
And G5037 with many G4119 other G2087 words G3056 did he testify G1263 and G2532 exhort, G3870 saying, G3004 Save yourselves G4982 from G575 this G5026 untoward G4646 generation. G1074
And G2532 I heard G191 another G243 voice G5456 from G1537 heaven, G3772 saying, G3004 Come G1831 out of G1537 her, G846 my G3450 people, G2992 that G3363 ye be G4790 not G3363 partakers G4790 of her G846 sins, G266 and G2532 that G3363 ye receive G2983 not G3363 of G1537 her G846 plagues. G4127
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Matthew Henry Commentary » Commentary on Zechariah 2
Commentary on Zechariah 2 Matthew Henry Commentary
Chapter 2
In this chapter we have,
Zec 2:1-5
This prophet was ordered, in God's name, to assure the people (ch. 1:16) that a line should be stretched forth upon Jerusalem. Now here we have that promise illustrated and confirmed, that the prophet might deliver that part of his message to the people with the more clearness and assurance.
Zec 2:6-9
One would have thought that Cyrus's proclamation, which gave liberty to the captive Jews to return to their own land, would suffice to bring them all back, and that, as when Pharaoh gave them leave to quit Egypt and their house of bondage there, they would not leave a hoof behind; but it seems it had not that effect. There were about 40,000 whose spirits God stirred up to go, and they went; but many, perhaps the greater part, staid behind. The land of their captivity was to most of them the land of their nativity; they had taken root there, had gained a settlement, and many of them a very comfortable one; some perhaps had got estates and preferments there, and they did not think they could better themselves by returning to their own land. Patria est ubicunque bene est-My country is every spot where I feel myself happy. They had no great affection to their own land, and apprehended the difficulties in their way to it insuperable. This proceeded from a bad cause-a distrust of the power and promise of God, a love of ease and worldly wealth, and an indifference to the religion of their country and to the God of Israel himself; and it had a bad effect, for it was a tacit censure of those as foolish, rash, and given to change, that did return, and a weakening of their hands in the work of God. Such as these could not sing (Ps. 137) in their captivity, for they had forgotten thee, O Jerusalem! and were so far from preferring thee before their chief joy that they preferred any joy before thee. Here is therefore another proclamation issued out by the God of Israel, strictly charging and commanding all his free-born subjects, wherever they were dispersed, speedily to return into their own land and render themselves at their respective posts there. They are loudly summoned (v. 6): Ho! ho! come forth, and flee from the land of the north, saith the Lord. This fitly follows upon the promise of the rebuilding and enlarging of Jerusalem. If God will build it for them and their comfort, they must come and inhabit it for him and his glory, and not continue sneaking in Babylon. Note, The promises and privileges with which God's people are blessed should engage us, whatever it cost us, to join ourselves to them and cast in our lot among them. When Zion is enlarged, to make room for all God's Israel, it is the greatest madness imaginable for any of them to stay in Babylon. The captivity of a sinful state is by no means to be continued in, though a man be ever so easy upon temporal accounts. No: Come forth and flee with all speed, and lose no time. Escape for thy life; look not behind thee. To induce them to hasten their return, let them consider,
Zec 2:10-13
Here is,