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Ver. 3. Mine anger was kindled against the shepherds] Pastores Impostores; the greedy priests and false prophets, main causes of the captivity; because through their default there was no knowledge nor fear of God in the land, Isaiah 5:13 Ho 4:6,7 Jer 23:1 Eze 34:1. And I punished the goats] The grandees and governors, temporal and ecclesiastical, see Ezekiel 34:17. They should have been as the he goats before the flock, Jeremiah 50:8, worthy guides to God. But they were goats in another sense, unruly, and nasty, and lascivious (as those two filthy fellows, for instance, whom for their adultery the King of Babylon roasted in the fire, Jeremiah 29:22), and such as begat kids of their own kind, men of their own make, and went before them in wickedness, as the goats lead the flocks. For the Lord of hosts] Better to read it, but the Lord of hosts, &c. And this is spoken for the comfort of those that called upon God, and abhorred idols, and idol shepherds, that were in special covenant with him, and therefore owned by him, as his flock, or peculiar charge. Now to such he promiseth to feed them as his sheep, and to furnish them as his horse for service, his goodly war horse, mainly respected by his master, as Bucephalus was by Alexander. This may in part be understood of the Maccabees’ victories; but principally of the apostles, those white horses, upon which they rode through the world, conquering and to conquer, Revelation 6:2. St Paul is fitly compared to that war horse in Job 39:20, whose neck is clothed with thunder, and the glory of his nostrils is terrible. He mocketh at fear, and turneth not back from the sword. He goeth on to meet the armed man, and swalloweth the ground with fierceness and rage.
Ver. 4. Out of him came forth the corner] Angulus, not Angelus, as some Vulgate Latin translations have it: and a Lapide justly finds fault with it. A like fault Surius and Caranza (his fellow popel ings) are content to wink at, nay, to defend in the Laodicean Council, because it makes for their angel worship. For whereas the Council truly saith, ου δει χριστιανους αγγελους ονομαζειν, Christians must not pray to angels. They make the words to be Non oportet Christianos ad angulos congregationes facere. Christians ought not to hold their meetings in corners; and they make the title say the same thing. But is this fair dealing thus to falsify antiquity for their own ends, and to maintain their own errors? As for the text, Out of him came forth, &c.] That is, Out of Judah shall be had all things necessary, both at home (and here the prophet proceeds from the foundation to the nails, or fastening of the house together) and abroad; both for the mastering of the enemy by the battle bow, &c., and the making of him tributary: for Out of him shall come every exactor] sc. Of homage and tribute, as the fruit of their victory. Danaeus senseth it thus. Out of Judah shall go every oppressor which did vex his people before, God driving him forth.
Ver. 5. And they shall be as mighty men] Or, as giants, as Gabriels, they shall be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might, they shall do worthily in Ephratas, and be famous in Bethlehem, Ruth 4:11 “their bow shall abide in strength, and the arms of their hands be made strong, by the hands of the mighty God of Jacob: from thence is the shepherd, the stone of Israel,” Genesis 49:24. If it could be said of Mithridates, a mere atheist, that he never wanted any courage nor counsel; how much more of God’s warriors, such as Judas Maccabeus, especially Messiah, the Prince, who treads down his enemies as the mire of the streets, setting his feet in their necks and making them to be found liars unto him, that is, to yield him at least a forced and feigned subjection. And they shall fight because the Lord is with them] This is enough to make them fight up to the knees in blood, that they have God to stand by them; not only as a spectator, or Agonotheta (though that is somewhat; dogs and other baser creatures will fight lustily when their masters are by, and do set them on), but as a Captain of the Lord’s hosts, as Christ is called, and a coadjutor, a champion, man of war, Exodus 15:3. Yea, he alone is whole army of men, he is Van and Rear both Isaiah 52:12. The shields of the earth belong to him, the militia of the world is his, Psalms 47:9, he hath magnleh cheloth and matteh cheloth as the Rabbis well observe, armies both above and beneath, as his horse and foot to fight for his people. And the riders on horses shall be confounded] As they were in the conquest of Canaan, where the enemies had horses and chariots, when the Israelites had neither, as Origen observeth and as they were all in David’s wars, and the rest of the victorious kings of Israel, who, according to the law, Deuteronomy 17:16, made no use of horses (but said, A horse is but a vain thing for battle, &c. God takes no delight in the strength of a horse), and ever fought on foot with singular success. So did the Maccabees, Zisca, and after him the Bohemians, the English in France at the battle of Spurs (so the battle of Terwin was called in Henry VIII’s time, from the French fleeing away to save their lives).
Ver. 6. And I will strengthen the house of Judah] Robustos, ac quasi Gabrieles efficiam (a Lapide). See Zechariah 12:8 Isa 10:34 Zec 10:5. The saints shall be strengthened with all might according to his glorious power, Colossians 1:11, at the resurrection especially when Christ shall change their vile bodies, and make them like unto his glorious body, in strength, agility, beauty. The bodies of the saints, saith Luther, shall have that power as to toss the greatest mountains in the world like a ball. Anselm saith, such as they shall be able to shake the whole earth at their pleasure Our Saviour saith that they shall be as the angels of God, Luke 20:36, more like spirits, than bodies, while they are here. In quiet and confidence is their strength, Isaiah 30:15; and again in the same chapter, Zechariah 10:7, their strength is to sit still. They expected much strength from Egypt; but the prophet tells them that by sitting still and waiting for the salvation of God by faith they shall have an Egypt; and better, out of weakness they should be made strong, wax valiant in fight, turn to flight the armies of the aliens, Hebrews 11:34, as the Maccabees did, and as Michael and his angels, Revelation 12:7-9, the noble army of the apostles, who were more than conquerors; and martyrs, who tired their tormentors and laughed at their cruelty the valour of the patients, the savageness of the persecutors strove together; till both exceeding nature and belief, bred wonder and astonishment in beholders and readers. These were those lion-like men of the tribe of Judah that took the kingdom by violence. Judah, which signifieth the confessor, had the kingdom, as Levi had the priesthood, both forfeited by Reuben, who was weak as water, Genesis 49:4. And I will save the house of Joseph] That is, Ephraim, put for the ten tribes, whom God here promiseth to save, not to bring back, [See Geneva on “Zec 10:9”] But others there are that gather from these words and those that follow that God will not only preserve them, but reduce and re-settle them in their own country, yea, and multiply them so abundantly, as that their country shall not be able to hold them, Zechariah 10:10. Whence cometh Asshur’s and Egypt’s subjection to Christ; that is, all the tract of the east and of the south, Zechariah 10:11, and their perpetual establishment in the faith. And I will bring them again to place them] I will place them in their houses, as Hosea 11:11. The Sept. render it, I will cause them to dwell. The Chaldee, I will gather together their captivity. Some special mercy is assured them by this special word of a mixed conjugation, compos, בו שׁ et ב שׁ י םיחכ שׁ וה. For I have mercy upon them] Here is a double cause alleged, of these so great and gracious promises; and both excluding works. First, God’s mere mercy. Secondly, his election of grace, for “I am the Lord their God.” This latter is the cause of the former; for God chose his people for his love, and then loveth them for his choice. The effects of which love are here set down: 1. That he heareth their prayers, “I will hear them.” 2. That he re-accepteth and restoreth them in Christ, as if they had never offended against him, “They shall be as though I had not cast them off.” That was a cutting speech, and far worse than their captivity, Jeremiah 16:13, when God not only threateneth to cast them out of their country into a strange land, but that there “he would show them no favour.” Here he promiseth to pity them; and then they must needs think deliverance was at next door by. And they shall be as though I had not cast them off] And this the sooner and the rather because they called them outcasts, saying, “This is Zion, whom no man seeketh after,” Jeremiah 30:17. The Jewish nation, saith Cicero, show how God regards them that have been so often overcome, viz. by Nebuchadnezzar, Pompey, &c. God therefore promiseth to provide for his own great name, by being fully reconciled to his poor people, whom the world looked upon as abjects. For I am the Lord their God] And if I should not see to their safety, it would much reflect upon me. This David well knew; and therefore prays thus, “I am thine, Lord, save me,” Psalms 119:94. And will hear them, or, I will speak with them] Speak to their hearts. It is no more, saith one, than if a man were in a fair dining room with much good company, and there is some special friend whom he loveth dearly that calleth him aside to speak in private of business that nearly concerneth him; and though he go into a worse room, yet he is well enough pleased. So if God, in loss of friends, houses, country, comforts whatsoever, will speak with us, will answer us, the loss will be easily made up. Philip, Landgrave of Hesse, being a long time prisoner under Charles V, was demanded what upheld him all that time? He answered, that he had felt the favour of God, and the Divine consolations of the martyrs. There are Divine comforts that are felt only under the cross. I will bring her into the wilderness, and there speak to her heart, Hosea 2:14. Israel was never so royally provided for with manna, quails, and other cares as when they were in the wilderness. The cross is anointed with comfort, which makes it not only light, but sweet; not only not troublesome and importable, but desirable and delightful, saith Bernard. Thy presence, O Lord, made the very gridiron sweet to Laurence, saith another. How easily can God make up our losses and breaches?
Ver. 7. And they of Ephraim shall be as a mighty man] The same again, and in the same words, for more assurance; because the return of the ten tribes might seem a thing more incredible, Erant enim quasi putridum cadaver, saith Calvin here: they were as rotten carcases, and they had obiter in passing only heard of these promises; as if some grain of seed should be dropped by the highwayside: for they were now as aliens from the commonwealth of Israel. And their heart shall rejoice as through wine] Which naturally exhilarateth, Psalms 104:15, and is called by Plato one of the mitigators. (μαλακτικα) of human misery. See Proverbs 31:6. [See Trapp on “Pr 31:6”] Some nations use to drink wine freely before they enter the battle, to make them undaunted. Some think here may be an allusion to such a custom. I should rather understand it of that generous wine of the Spirit, Ephesians 5:18. Yea, their children shall see it] Therefore they were not to antedate the promises, but to wait the accomplishment which should certainly be, if not to them, yet to theirs after them, even a full restoration in due season.
Ver. 8. I will hiss for them and gather them] As a shepherd hisseth or whistleth for his flock. See Judges 5:16, where it should not be translated the bleatings of the flocks, but the hissings or whistlings of the shepherds to their flocks, when they would get them together. God, who hath all creatures at his beck and call, can easily bring back his banished, gather together his dispersed with a turn of a hand, Zechariah 13:7, with a blast of his mouth, as here; as if any offer to oppose him herein, he can blow them to destruction, Job 4:9. He can frown them to death, Psalms 80:16. He can crush them between his fingers, as men do a moth, Psalms 39:11, and crumble them to crattle, Psalms 146:4 “Like sheep they are laid in the grave; death shall feed on them; and the upright shall have dominion over them in the morning; and their beauty shall consume in the grave from their dwelling,” Psalms 49:14. For I have redeemed them] I have in part, and that is a pledge of the whole; my hands also shall finish it, as Zechariah 4:9. God doth not his work to the halves, neither must we; but if he shall be All in All unto us, we must be altogether his, Song of Solomon 2:16. His is a covenant of mercy, ours of obedience; which must be therefore full and final, as Christ hath obtained for us an entire and everlasting redemption, Hebrews 9:12. And they shall increase as they have increased] By virtue of that promise to Abraham, Genesis 13:16. I will multiply thy seed as the dust of the earth, and Genesis 15:5, as the stars of heaven. This promise was not presently fulfilled; for when they came into Egypt they were but seventy souls of them. But under the Egyptian servitude they increased abundantly, Exodus 1:7, they spawned (as the word signifies), and bred swiftly; so that they went thence 600,000 strong, Exodus 12:37; so that they soon became a mighty and populous nation, Deuteronomy 26:5. Judea was not moer than 200 miles long and 50 miles broad, not near the half of England by much; yet what huge armies had they, when the two tribes and the other ten met in the field, one against another! And even at this day (whatever is become of the ten tribes, whether they are in China or America) the Jews are a very great and numerous people. It is thought that there is not any one nation under heaven so great in number as that is, if the dispersed Jews might all be gathered together into one place. And who knows what we may (some of us) yet live to see? The late Clavis Apocalyptica promiseth great matters to occur within these three or four years.
Ver. 9. And I will sow them among the people] Scatter them indeed, but for an excellent purpose, that they may bring forth fruit to God; and be a blessed means of bringing in the fulness of the Gentiles’ harvest. Some kind of the knowledge of God was diffused by the Jews wherever they came, and when at length the gospel was preached by the apostles, they first dealt with the Jews (who had their synagogues in all places) as it was necessary, Acts 13:46 that as they had been the only people of God, so now they might be the first invited guests. This invitation when they put from them and so judged themselves unworthy of eternal life, what remained but that the halt and the blind Gentiles should be fetched in from the highways and hedges, that so God s house might be full. So then their dispersion was a semination; and their exile opened a gate for the gospel. Hence a lso it is called διασπορα, a dissemination or scattering; as when a man soweth seed abroad, 1 Peter 1:1 Jas 1:1. And they shall remember me in far countries] Saint Paul testifieth that the twelve tribes instantly served God day and night, Acts 26:7, a great deal better, doubtless, than they do at this day; being as reverend in their synagogues as grammar boys are at school when their master is absent, saith an eyewitness. And they shall live with their children, and turn again] They or their posterity shall. God’s promises bear a long date many times, and the believing Hebrews are told that they had need of patience or tolerance (υπομονη), that, after they had done the will of God and suffered it too, if need be, they might receive the promise, Hebrews 10:36. And they are further exhorted to run with patience the race that is set before them, Hebrews 12:1, wherein he that believeth maketh not haste, but can want and wait for what he wisheth, till God please: being desirous rather that God may be glorified than himself gratified, if both may not stand together.
Ver. 10. I will bring them again also out of the land of Egypt] Whither they fled for fear of the Babylonians, Jeremiah 44:12, and where it seems they became a mighty people, if that be true which Josephus writeth, viz. that Ptolemy Philadelphus sent back a hundred and twenty thousand of them into Judea, and by that royal beneficence obtained the seventy seniors to be sent by Eleazar, the high priest, for the translating of the Hebrew Bible into Greek. His successor, Ptolemy Lathurus, was nothing so courteous; for he slew thirty thousand of them with unheard of cruelty and made the living devour the dead. And gather them out of Assyria] Whither the ten tribes were carried captive, and scattered all abroad through the one hundred twenty and seven provinces, as Haman suggested to the king, Esther 3:8. And I will bring them into the land of Gilead and Lebanon] That is, into Judea (the bound whereof were Libanus and Gilead), a figure of the Church, that land of delights. See Song of Solomon 4:1,8. God’s Hephzibah, Isaiah 62:4. O praeclaram illam dieculam? when shall it once be? The comfort is, God can make a nation conceive and bring forth both in one day, Isaiah 66:8. O pray, pray, pray, as Psalms 14:7, and as the poor Jews pray at this day, “Let thy kingdom come speedily, and even in our days” (Bimherah bejamenu).
Ver. 11. And he shall pass through the sea, &c.] Who shall? The people, for want of room saith Junius; they shall enlarge their quarter into Egypt, Assyria and other nations subduing them to Christ. God shall (say others and I think better), he shall fright the sea, and miraculously deliver his people, as once he did at the Red Sea, which threatened to swallow them, but God made it to preserve them. He will remove all rubs and remoras, all obstacles and impediments; neither Egypt nor Assyria shall be able to hinder what God will have done. See Isaiah 11:15. The misunderstanding of this and the like texts to this might haply occasion that unhappiness that befell the Jews in Crete, A. D. 434. The devil, under the name of Moses (whom he impersonated), persuaded those poor creatures that he was sent from God, to bring them home again to their own country. This they soon believed (as they are wondrously apt to work themselves into the fool’s paradise of a sublime dotage), and, leaving all their goods to others, followed this seducer (who spent a whole year in travelling over the country for the purpose), together with their wives and children, to the top of a steep rock that hung over the sea. Thither when they were come, this mock-Moses commanded them to wrap their heads in their upper garments, and so to throw themselves from the rock toward the sea, assuring them of a safe passage. They readily obeyed him; and in that way perished a great many of them. And more had followed, but that (as God would have it) some Christian fishermen, being there at that instant, took up some of them as they were floating upon the waves and ready to perish; who afterwards returning to the rest of the Jews, told them how they had been cheated, and how narrowly they had escaped; whereupon they being all enraged (as they had reason), sought for this seducer to put him to death. But when he could not possibly be found anywhere, they soon concluded that it was the very devil, that old manslayer; and many of them, moved by this calamity, became Christians. The Jews generally believe that their Messiah when he cometh shall do such miracles as Moses wrought at the Red Sea. They tell us also that in the time of the Maccabees many Jews that had fled into Greece passed through the narrow sea of Propontis, that runs between Chalcedon and Constantinople, to go back into their own country. And all the deeps of the rivers shall dry up] As once Jordan did before Joshua and the people; and as, Revelation 16:12, Euphrates shall do before those kings of the east, which some make to be the eastern Jews; and the drying up of Euphrates to be the downfall of the Turkish empire. Event will be the best interpreter when all is done.
Ver. 12. And I will strengthen them in the Lord] That is, in Christ, the head of the Churches; “for by his own strength shall no man prevail,” saith holy Hannah, 1 Samuel 2:9, and “without me ye can do nothing,” saith Christ, the true vine, John 15:5, from whom we have both the bud of good desires, the blossom of good resolutions, and the fruit of good actions. Only we must fetch our strength by faith from Christ; and pray, as Isaiah 51:9 “Awake, awake, put on strength, O arm of the Lord.” And they shall walk in his name] i.e. In his strength and to his glory. See that sweet promise, Isaiah 40:29-31. [See Trapp on “Zec 10:6”]