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Ver. 6. The black horses which are therein, &c.] These angels are appointed to several countries. The black horses to Babylon (which lay north from Judea) to inflict vengeance. The white horses are sent with them, to deliver the Church out of Babylon; and to bring their brethren for an offering unto the Lord, upon horses, and in chariots, and in litters, and upon mules, and upon swift beasts to God’s holy mountain Jerusalem, Isaiah 66:20. And the grizzled go forth toward the south country] To show that the punishments of Egypt and Arabia (which lay southward from Judea) should be somewhat mixed and mitigated; they should be in better case than Babylon; yet not so good as that the Jews should dream of a happy estate in those countries; but rather repair to Judea, and there keep them; since those that are out of God’s precincts are out of his protection, Psalms 91:9-12.
Ver. 7. And the bay went forth, &c.] Junius reads it, And the strong, or confirmed ones; that is, the angels, armed with power and authority from God for the execution of his will: Isaiah 10:34 “Lebanon shall fall by a mighty one,” that is, by an angel. 2 Thessalonians 1:7, they are called the angels of God’s power; and elsewhere, principalities and powers. And sought to go, that they might walk to and fro through the earth] Not only toward the south, as Zechariah 6:6. This doth not teach that the angels are more careful of this world than God is, of whom they desired it. But first, that they can do nothing without commission from him Secondly, that they are ever ready to offer their service and to yield obedience, upon the least intimation of the Divine pleasure.
Ver. 8. Then cried he upon me] That I might the better observe it, since he spake it with such great vehemence. Have pacified my spirit] i.e. Perfecerunt voluntatem meam, as the Chaldee here hath it, they have done my work thoroughly, to my great contentment. When the Church’s enemies are slaughtered God inviteth the birds and beasts to a feast, as it were for joy; and taketh as much delight in their just punishment as any man can do in a cup of generous wine; whence it is called the wine of God’s wrath, Revelation 14:10; see Deuteronomy 28:63.
Ver. 9. And the word of the Lord came unto me, saying]. This second part of the chapter is not a vision, but a sermon, or a historical prediction of what was really to be done. For as God’s Spirit was quieted, and, as it were, comforted, by the angels’ faithful execution of their offices; so he seeks, by this prophecy, to quiet and comfort the spirits of his people the Jews, that were returned out of Babylon. For these finding themselves beset with enemies and exigencies, might possibly despair of ever seeing the accomplishment of those promises and prophecies of the kingdom restored to the house of David, and of the great glory of the second temple above the first. To keep up their hearts, therefore, is this declaration made them of the kingdom and priesthood of Christ, under the typical coronation of Joshua the high priest.
Ver. 10. Take of them of the captivity] i.e. Of the returned captives, even of Heldai, of Tobijah, and of Jedaiah] Men famous in the congregation, men of renown, Numbers 16:2. That these four mentioned here (taking in Josiah, who is also called Hen, Zechariah 6:14), were ambassadors from the godly Jews in Babylon, and brought their gifts, as Junius thinketh, I cannot affirm; but that they were the same with Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, as the Jews and Jerome tell us, I do not believe. Josiah seemeth to be the host to the other three; as Gaius was to St Paul, and other good people; though some think, rather, he was either treasurer for the temple, or else a goldsmith, and one that could make crowns. Calvin conjectures from Zechariah 6:14 (where it is said, that the crown shall be to these men for a memorial), that being men of authority, they were deeply guilty of infidelity and impatience, because they saw not a present performance of the promises; they were discontented themselves, and discouraged others, “Ye have need of patience,” saith the apostle to those short spirited Hebrews, Hebrews 10:36, who found it more easy to suffer evil than to wait for the promised good. And come thou the same day] Either the same day these men came from Babylon, or the selfsame day that the Lord spake to the prophet, is he commanded to go, not to put it off a day longer; for the people needed a speedy and hasty comfort. No sooner had God prepared the people, but the thing was done suddenly, as 2 Chronicles 29:36. No sooner were they ripe, but he was ready. He is a God of judgment, a wise God, that knows when to deal forth his favours; as till then he waits to be gracious, Isaiah 30:18. His fingers itch to be doing good in his good pleasure to Zion; as the mother’s breasts ache when now it is time the child had suck. He exalteth the lowly, he filleth the hungry with good things. When once David is poor and needy God will make no tarriance, Psalms 40:17; when his soul is even as a weaned child, then he shall have the kingdom, Psalms 131:2.
Ver. 11. Make crowns] Two, saith Piscator; one of gold, for the kingly dignity, another of silver, for the priesthood. Three, saith a Lapide, who makes it a type, as of Christ s threefold office, so of the Pope’s triple crown; which latter relateth rather to Pride’s picture drawn by the old Romans, with three crowns on her head: on the first whereof was inscribed Transcendo; I pass on, on the second Non obedio; I disobey, the third Perturbo. I throw into confusion, Danaeus thinks it likely, by Zechariah 6:14, that here were four crowns made, according to the number of the four persons here mentioned, that brought in the gold and silver. Ribera will have it to be all but one crown made of both metals, and called crowns for the greatness of it; as wisdoms, for singular wisdom, Proverbs 1:20 marg; Behemoth, beasts, for a huge beast, Job 40:15. The verb singular, tihieh, Zechariah 6:14, seems most to favour this conceit of his. But in Hebrew the singular is often put for the plural (Chald. vertit Facies coronam magnam).
Ver. 12. And spake unto him, saying, Thus speaketh the Lord of hosts, saying] That is, confidently and constantly affirm and aver it; that, notwithstanding all unlikelihood and unbelief on the people’s part, Almighty God will surely bring it to pass; this heap of words importeth so much; for “do ye think the Scripture speaketh in vain?” saith St James, not without some holy indignation, James 4:5. Behold the man whose name is The Branch] The man Christ Jesus, who was made of the seed of David according to the flesh, Romans 1:3; and as a Branch grew out of his roots, Isaiah 11:1. [See Trapp on “Zec 3:4”] Joshua, that he might not be exalted above measure with the abundance of this new honour, or think of himself more highly than he ought to think, 2 Corinthians 12:7 Ro 12:3, is given to understand that he is crowned for no other cause than this, that the Jews might understand that there should One arise that should be both a king and a priest also for ever, after the order of Melchisedec; and his name should be the Branch, not only because when he was a child he grew in age and in wisdom, and in grace with God and men (which is Vatablus’ reason), but because he is the root, fountain, and foundation of all the faithful, who do grow up and increase in him, with the increase of God: hence it followeth, He shall grow up out of his place, and shall build the temple of God] That is, the Church, which at all times hath been gathered together by Christ, through the preaching of the gospel. And he shall grow up out of his place] Or he (the Branch) shall branch up de sub se, from under himself; he shall be born of himself, as it were, of poor parentage; for this Branch grew out of the root of Jesse, when that goodly family was sunk so low, as from David the king to Joseph the carpenter. He that writeth the life of King Edward VI saith of his tutors, Dr Cox and Mr John Cheek, that they were men of mean birth; but so well esteemed for virtue and learning, that they might well be said to be born of themselves (Sir John Heywood). And he shall build the temple of the Lord] i.e. The spiritual temple, that temple, the Church, the glory whereof was far greater than the glory of the former, Haggai 2:9. [See Trapp on “Hag 2:9”] And this he should do in the quality of a king, and with royal magnificence. “Ye also, as lively stones, elect and precious, are built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood,” &c., 1 Peter 2:5.
Ver. 13. Even he shall build the temple of the Lord] The same again, for greater assurance; as Pharaoh’s dream was doubled. Or, Even he shall build it, that is, he shall both begin and finish it (it is the same word again, but in the future tense). Christ is called the author and finisher of our faith, Hebrews 12:2. And he shall bear the glory] Jesus shall, not thou, Joshua (in Greek Jesus), though now thou bear the crown. All thy glory is but figurative of his. Thus saith the Lord, Remove the diadem (or mitre), take off the crown: this shall not be the same. I will overturn, overturn, overturn it, and it shall be no more, until he come whose right it is, and I will give it him, that is, Christ, the king and priest of his Church. Particularly for his kingly office, he shall sit and rule upon his throne, as a sovereign Lord of all. And for his priestly office, He shall be a priest upon his throne likewise] For the Church also hath her throne and jurisdiction, though distinct and severed from the civil. And the counsel of peace shall be between them both] i.e. There shall be no clashing between these two offices in Christ; as there was sometimes between the kings and the priests of former ages, but they should, as it were, take sweet counsel together for the good of the Church; Christ having purchased all peace to his people by his priesthood, and maintaining and defending it by his kingdom.
Ver. 14. And the crowns shall be to Helem…for a memorial] Or monument of their incredulity, saith Calvin, and for their full conviction. [See Trapp on “Zec 6:10”] Or their liberality, say others, and peradventure with some inscription or remembrance of their names (here recorded) for honour’s sake. But best of all those that say these duties were for a memorial in the temple of the Messiah that was shortly to be expected, and was presently promised. The poor Jews at this day are said to have a crown hanging in their synagogues, against the coming of their long-looked-for Messiah. And that he comes not all this while they say it is for their sins, which are many and bony, or might y (σοφον φαρμακον). But now seeing he stays so long, he shall be, say they, a forerunner of the end of the world, and shall gather by his power all nations into one fold, according to that which here followeth.
Ver. 15. And they that are far off] This was fulfilled in the conversion of the Gentiles, who, together with the Christian Jews, grew up into a holy temple in the Lord, Ephesians 2:19, &c. It was also in some sense fulfilled in Cyrus, Darius, Artaxerxes, Herod, who were at great charge for the temple work. See Ezra 7:15,16, the king and his council, the Babylonians and Jews, make a contribution to the work. And ye shall know] sc. By the event, and by your own experience. If you will diligently obey the voice] That is, If by faith ye receive Christ held forth in the promise: and then persist in the obedience of faith unto the end.