Zechariah 2:13

2:10-13 Here is a prediction of the coming of Christ in human nature. Many nations in that day would renounce idolatry, and God will own those for his people who join him with purpose of heart. Glorious times are foretold as a prophecy of our Lord's coming and kingdom. God is about to do something unexpected, and very surprising, and to plead his people's cause, which had long seemed neglected. Silently submit to his holy will, and patiently wait the event; assured that God will complete all his work. He will ere long come to judgment, to complete the salvation of his people, and to punish the inhabitants of the earth for their sins.

Be silent, O all flesh, before the Lord,.... Be filled with fear, awe, and astonishment, at the wonderful work of God; the destruction of antichrist; the conversion of the Jews, and the calling of the Gentiles: let them not open their mouths, or dare to say one word against it. The Targum interprets the words of the wicked, and paraphrases them thus, "let all the wicked be consumed before the Lord;'' see Psalm 104:35 and it seems to design the rest of the people, who will not be converted; called flesh, being not only frail and mortal, but corrupt and sinful; and so not able to contend with God, who is mighty in strength, and glorious in holiness, and a God doing wonders. A like phrase is in Habakkuk 2:20, for he is raised up out of his holy habitation: which is heaven, Isaiah 63:15 where he seemed to have been as it were asleep for many hundreds of years, even during the reign of antichrist; but now he will be as a man awaked out of his sleep, and will arise to take vengeance on his and his church's enemies, and to help them, and make them happy and glorious.

Be silent; murmur not, you that love not Zion; dispute not, you that, think these promises are too good, too great; but, in silence, reverence and adore God in all his excellences and ways; wait, and expect the accomplishment of all by him who never utters more than he can and will do for his people. O all flesh; both Jew and Gentile; you are weak, short-sighted, and worthless; you are flesh, be silent and wait. Before the Lord; the wise, mighty, gracious, and faithful One; who never suffered a word of his to fall unfulfilled, nor will let any of these promises to fail. He is raised up: he speaks to our capacity; God is said to be raised in allusion to men who get up, or rise up, and set about what they will do; so here God is on this work already. Out of his holy habitation; either heaven, or his temple. Be silent; murmur not, you that love not Zion; dispute not, you that, think these promises are too good, too great; but, in silence, reverence and adore God in all his excellences and ways; wait, and expect the accomplishment of all by him who never utters more than he can and will do for his people. O all flesh; both Jew and Gentile; you are weak, short-sighted, and worthless; you are flesh, be silent and wait. Before the Lord; the wise, mighty, gracious, and faithful One; who never suffered a word of his to fall unfulfilled, nor will let any of these promises to fail.

13 . be silent ] Comp. Habakkuk 2:20 ; Zephaniah 1:7 . raised up ] waked up . R. V. his holy habitation ] From heaven, “the habitation of His holiness” ( Deuteronomy 26:15 ; Jeremiah 25:30 ), where He had seemed to dwell, far off from the affairs of earth, Jehovah should arise, or awake, and come forth to judgment, to succour His people and discomfit His enemies. Let all flesh be hushed before Him in awful silence. The Fourth Vision. Joshua the High Priest before the Angel of Jehovah , Zechariah 3:1-10 . The former visions had foretold that the “rest” of the nations should be disturbed ( Zechariah 1:8-17 ), that the enemies of Israel should be “cast out” ( Zechariah 1:18-21 ), and that Jerusalem should become the habitation of Jehovah ( Zechariah 2:1-13 ). But in order to the fulfilment of these promises, there must be a moral and spiritual reformation of the people. With this the next vision is concerned. Judgment begins at the house of God (comp. Malachi 3:3 ). The prophet sees Joshua the High Priest, the representative not only of the whole priesthood, but also of the entire nation, standing before the Angel of the Lord. At his right hand stands the Adversary, to play an adversary’s part against him ( Zechariah 2:1 ). But before the charge can be preferred, Jehovah Himself interposes and rebukes the Adversary. Would the same hand, He asks, that had plucked from the fire the brand, charred, blackened and half-consumed already, cast it back again into the flames?

And should He, who had delivered the remnant of His people from the furnace of Babylon, now listen to the charges of the accuser and yield them again to destruction? ( Zechariah 2:2 .) Doubtless, matter of accusation is not wanting. The very garb of Joshua testifies against him. Instead of the pure white linen in which the High Priest should have been arrayed, he is “clothed with filthy garments” ( Zechariah 2:3 ). But this obstacle shall by an act of mere grace be removed. The angel attendants are commanded to take away his filthy garments; while their action is interpreted to him by the assurance that his iniquity is put away, and the promise of pure raiment is given him ( Zechariah 2:4 ). At the instance of the prophet, who would fain see God’s High Priest arrayed in the complete attire of his office, a fair mitre is added. The angel of Jehovah stands by to seal by his presence and approval the transaction ( Zechariah 2:5 ). Nor does he quit the scene till he has revealed to Joshua the full dignity of the priesthood to which he is now restored. As exercised by himself and his successors, it shall, while it moves in the ways of holy obedience in the restored Temple on earth, move also in spirit among the heavenly ministrations of angels ( Zechariah 2:6-7 ).

13. Be silent, O all flesh—(Hab 2:20). "Let all in silent awe and reverence await the Lord's coming interposition in behalf of His people!" The address is both to the Gentile foes, who prided themselves on their power as if irresistible, and to the unbelieving Jews, who distrusted God's promises as incredible. Three reasons why they must be silent are implied: (1) they are but "flesh," weak and ignorant; (2) He is Jehovah, all-wise and all-powerful; (3) He is already "raised up out of His place," and who can stand before Him? [Pembellus], (Ps 76:8, 9). he is raised up out of his holy habitation—that is, out of heaven (De 26:15; 2Ch 30:27; Isa 63:15), to judge and avenge His people (Isa 26:21); or, "out of His holy" temple, contemptible and incomplete as it looked then when Zechariah urged them to rebuild it [Calvin]. But the call to all to "be silent" is rather when God has come forth from heaven where so long He has dwelt unseen, and is about to inflict vengeance on the foe, before taking up His dwelling in Zion and the temple. However, Ps 50:1, 2 ("Out of Zion"), Ps 50:3 (compare Hab 2:3), Ps 50:4, favors Calvin's view. God is now "silent" while the Gentile foe speaks arrogance against His people; but "our God shall come and no longer keep silence"; then in turn must all flesh "be silent" before Him.

Verse 13. - Be silent; hush (comp. Habakkuk 2:20 ; Zephaniah 1:7 , and notes there). In the expectation of these mighty events, men are called upon to wait in awe and reverence. He is raised up; he hath arisen. He had seemed to sleep when he let his people be trodden down by the heathen; but now he, as it were, waketh and cometh from heaven, his holy habitation ( Deuteronomy 26:15 ), to inflict the threatened judgment on the nations, and to succour his own people (comp. Psalm 44:23 , etc.). Zechariah 2:13

Be silent - Literally, "hush all flesh, before the Lord" (see at Habakkuk 2:20 , p. 207); man in his weakness Genesis 6:3 ; 2 Chronicles 32:8 ; Job 10:4 ; Psalm 56:4 ; Psalm 78:39 ; Isaiah 31:3 ; Jeremiah 17:5 , "flesh and blood" in the language of the New Testament Matthew 16:17 ; 1 Corinthians 15:50 ; Galatians 1:16 , before God his Maker. "All flesh," the whole human race Genesis 6:12 ; Psalm 65:3 ; Psalm 145:21 ; Isaiah 40:5-6 ; Isaiah 49:26 ; Isaiah 66:23 ; Joel 3:1 ; Ezekiel 21:4 , Ezekiel 21:9-10 , is to be hushed before God, because His judgments, as His mercies, are over all. For God ariseth - God seemeth to be quiescent, as it were, when He bears with us; to arise, when He puts forth His power, either for us, when we pray, "Lord, awake to help me" (Psalm 59:4, add Psalm 7:7; Psalm 44:24); or in displeasure. His "holy habitation" is alike the tabernacle 1 Samuel 2:29, 1 Samuel 2:32; Psalm 26:9; Psalm 68:6, temple 2 Chronicles 36:15, heaven Deuteronomy 26:15; Jeremiah 25:30; 2 Chronicles 30:27, since His presence is in all.