Annotations upon all the books of the Old and New Testament wherein the text is explained, doubts resolved, Scriptures parallelled and various readings observed / by the joynt-labour of certain learned divines, thereunto appointed, and therein employed, as is expressed in the preface.

CHAP. VI.

Vers. 1. FOure chariots] Whereby are signified, as it were, foure squadrons of Angels, which execute Gods judgements upon the Churches enemies. See Chap. 1. 8.

between two mountains] By the bras••n mountaines he mean∣eth the eternall counsell and providence of God, whereby he hath from before all eternitie decreed what shall come to passe; and that which neither Satan nor all the world can alter. Others by two mountains understand heaven, the high and firme ha∣bitation of Angels, opened, and as it were cleft, to give way for the coming out of these spirits.

V. 2. red horses] A signe of execution of wrath, Chap. 1. 8. Rev. 6. 4.

black horses] A sign of execution of death, Rev. 6. 5.

V. 3. white horses] See upon Chap. 1. 8.

bay horses] Or, strong. Heb. strong, or strengthened. To wit, by God, for the execution of his will; and so may be as a com∣mon Epithet to all these horses, as is perceived by the eighth verse.

V. 5. the foure spirits] Or, winds. Foure principall Angels, as it were, commanders of squadrons, who are sent from God into all the quarters of the world, and from thence repaire againe into his presence.

from standing before the Lord] Who stand in the presence of God, waiting his commands, ready to go forth in the speedy execution of his eternall counsels and decrees: as is most plain, Job 1. 6. & 2. 1. 1 King. 22. 19. Dan. 7. 10. and above, Zach. 1. 10. Matth. 18. 10. Heb. 1. 14.

V. 6. go forth into the north-countrey] Signifying the grievous executions of Gods judgements done upon the Babylonians, Northward to Judea, vers. 8.

and the white go forth after them] The Angels of safety and of peace, which did accompany the destroyers of Babylon, to de∣liver my Church which was there.

and the grisled go forth toward the south countrey] Signifying▪ that the punishment of Egypt, south to Judea, should be tem∣pered with some mercy, which should not be done to the Baby∣lonians.

V. 7. the bay went forth] Or, these strong.

and sought to go] To make, as it were, a generall visita∣tion

of the world, and to punish other people, which have not any communion with the Church.

he said] The Sonne of God, head of Angels, Chap. 1. 8.

V. 8. have quieted my spirit] By punishing the Chaldeans, mine anger ceased, and you were delivered. Others, have per∣fectly executed their charge, and given me satisfaction.

V. 10. Take of them of the captivitie] The aime of all this action, is to shew, that as Joshua and Zerubbabel, restorers of the Church which was at that time, were each one, for their severall part, in their severall office, figures of the Messias: So Christ should for ever enjoy the two offices of King and Priest, which he shall enter into possession of by his death, and passion.

Heldai] It is not certainly known who these were: but it is very likely they were some heads of the people, who were in∣duced by Zachariah to make this offering of gold and silver, which was bestowed in making these crowns, which were to re∣main in the Temple for a remembrance of this solemn promise which God had made.

go into the house of Josiah] To have from him a part of this offering.

V. 11. Then take] Or, even take.

crowns] Two, to signifie the two foresaid offices.

head of Joshua] Because this could not be attributed to any one according to the law, therefore it followeth that Zerubba∣bel and Joshua must represent the Messiah, who was both King, and Priest.

V. 12. Behold the man] Christ, who shall appear in the flesh, at the appointed time, shall be verified that which is shewn and confirmed unto thee by this action.

BRANCH] Chap. 3. 8.

grow up out of his place] Or, branch up from under him. Like a plant, that sprouts up, and grows by vertue of its living root: even so shall Christ, by vertue of himself, without any humane m••ans, advance his kingdome. Or, he shall grow up from un∣der himself: that is to say, by secret wayes, without any hu∣mane shew▪ as Isa. 11. 1.

temple of the LORD] Namely, the universall Church, ga∣thered together, united and built up by him alone, Heb. 3. 3.

V. 13. shall build the temple of the LORD] In the quali∣tie of a king, even as those temporall Commanders, Moses, Solomon, and Z••rubbabel were chosen by God, to oversee the building of the Tabernacle, and the Temple.

shall bear the glory] Namely, the royall glory.

upon his throne] In the heavenly glory, where he shall eter∣nally execute the other part, to wit, his priesthood, in making intercession for his Church, Heb. 9. 24.

and he shall be a priest upon his throne] Psal. 110. 4. Heb. 3. 1. Or, there shall be.

counsel of peace] These two offices and properties shall for ever be united together in Christ, and shall perfectly agree one with the other, though they seem to be very different: the one being to execute justice in commanding and punishing; the o∣ther of mercy, to expiate and pardon, that he may be obeyed when he commands, Psal. 130. 4. having put men into Gods favour, to make them receive the spirit, which inclineth them to a voluntary obedience.

V. 14. Helem] It is likely that Helem and Hen were the same as were called Heldai and Josiah, vers. 10.

a memoriall] For a publique monument and remembrance; either of their liberalitie and pietie in offering gold and silver unto Christ; or of their incredulitie and hardnesse of heart, who would not beleeve the promises without such a visible as∣surance; or of the typicall coronation of Joshua, that the crowns, as they were set upon his head for to signifie the Mes∣siah, so should they be hung up in the Temple for a monument, to put all spectators in mind of what was promised, and to be expected shortly: Or, as Junius, to be a testimonie and con∣firmation of Gods favourable acceptance of all such as should come from a farre to worship in the Temple, and joyn them∣selves to the people of God; whether from Babylon, as these Jews here named, or elsewhere from among the Gentiles, as is inferred in the next verse.

V. 6. they that are farre off shall come] That is, the Gentiles, who were now farre from the knowledge and covenant of God, Isa. 57. 19. Ephes. 2. 17.

built in the Temple of the LORD] They shall cooperate to the reestablishing of the Church, and advancement of Christs kingdome. See Isa. 60. 10.

And this shall come to passe] You shall in effect find, to your owne deliverance, the truth and power of Gods promises, which I his Sonne do propound to you by my Prophets.