ing we attach to the word '-rendered " of my friends," in the Authorised Version, but which might more properly be translated "my lover." Now Hengstenberg and others understood the "lovers" to signify idols, and regard the answer as a humble confession on the part of the false prophet who is thus detected, either that his wounds were received during some idolatrous rites, or, though self-inflicted, he was only the instrument-the real authors of the wounds beings his "lovers," namely, the idols whom he worshipped. But I agree with Koehler, Keil, Dr. Wright, and others, that, though it be true that the special conjugation of this verb (piel) is used in other cases of dishonourable love, and might therefore be figuratively used of idolatry and idols, "there is nothing in the form of the verb to render that meaning necessary. Intensity of love is all that is expressed in the word; and the expression might, as far as the form is concerned, be used with reference to parents or any friends, whether good or bad." It is very probable, therefore, that far from being a humble confession of his guilt, "this answer is also nothing but an evasion, and that he simply pretends that the marks were scars left by the chastisements which he received when a boy in the house of either loving parents, or some other loving relations or friends." 1 This seems to me more in accord with the context, and illustrates the general statement that the false prophets would in that day themselves be ashamed of their former evil profession, and when detected would stop short of no falsehood in order to avert or dispel suspicion. 1 Keil. Kimchi explains as follows: "He shall say these wounds are not on account of prophecy, but my friends wounded and chastised me because I was abandoned, and was not industrious in cultivating the land in my youth; and they beat me that I should cease from the profligacy of young men, and should set to my work. And the reason of the wounds being in the hands is, that they used to bind his hands and feet that he should not go out." Awake, O sword, against My Shepherd, and against the man that is My Fellow, saith Jehovah of hosts: smite the Shepherd, and the sheep shall be scattered; and I will turn My hand upon the little ones. And it shall come to pass, that in all the land, saith Jehovah, two parts therein shall be cut off and die; but the third shall be left therein. And I will bring the third part into the fire, and will refine them as silver is refined, and will try them as gold is tried : they shall call on My Name, and I will hear them: I will say, It is My people ; and they shall say, Jehovah is my God. W CHAPTER XIX INTRODUCTORY ITH the 7th verse begins a new section in this last great prophecy (chaps. xii.-xiv.), which has for its main theme the judgment by means of which Israel will be finally purged and transformed into the holy people of Jehovah. It is in the first instance an expansion and enlargement of what has gone before. But, whereas the preceding section (xii. I-xiii, 6) announces how the Lord will protect Israel and Jerusalem against the pressure of the world-powers, how He will smite their enemies, and not only endow His people with miraculous power which ensures their victory, but also by pouring out His spirit of grace and of supplications upon them, lead them to a knowledge of the guilt they have incurred by putting the Messiah to death, and to repentance and renovation of life; the second half (xiii. 7– xiv. 21) depicts the judgment which will fall on Jerusalem itself, by means of which the ungodly shall be cut off, and the righteous remnant and the land itself be purified and made fit to be the centre of God's kingdom on the earth. This second half is divided again into two parts, the former of which (chap. xiii. 7-9) gives a summary of the contents, whilst the latter (chap. xiv.) expands it into fuller detail,1 THE EXPOSITION From the false prophet "wounded in the house of his friends," or "lovers," upon whom his attention had been fixed in the verses immediately preceding, the Spirit of God abruptly turns the prophetic gaze of Zechariah on to 1 Condensed from the valuable remarks of Keil. |