--- title: "Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible · Volume 2: Lamentations to Revelation" author: "Adam Clarke" languages: [en] shelf: "Commentaries" section: 150 of 769 url: https://scriptura.si/works/adam-clarke-commentary-volume-2-lamentations-to-revelation/150/ cite: "Adam Clarke, Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible · Volume 2: Lamentations to Revelation, section 150. Scriptura (scriptura.si), https://scriptura.si/works/adam-clarke-commentary-volume-2-lamentations-to-revelation/150/" --- # Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible · Volume 2: Lamentations to Revelation *Adam Clarke* Clarke's learned notes on the Hebrew and Greek, verse by verse, from Genesis to Revelation: volume 2 of 2. ## 150. Zechariah · 12 of 13 Source: https://scriptura.si/works/adam-clarke-commentary-volume-2-lamentations-to-revelation/150/ · cite a paragraph as https://scriptura.si/works/adam-clarke-commentary-volume-2-lamentations-to-revelation/150/#p-N [¶0] Of Scythia, o'er the lots presides; [¶1] Ruthless to each his share assigns, [¶2] And the contested realm divides: [¶3] To each allots no wider a domain [¶4] Than, on the cold earth as they lie, [¶5] Their breathless bodies occupy, [¶6] Regardless of an ampler reign: [¶7] Such narrow compass does the sword - [¶8] A cruel umpire - their high claims afford." [¶9] Potter. [¶10] The man that is my Fellow - ועל גבר עמיתי veal geber amithi, "upon the strong man," or "the hero that is with Me;" my neighbor. "The Word was God, and the Word was With God;" [Joh 1:1]. "I and my Father are One;" [Joh 10:30]. [¶11] Smite the Shepherd, and the sheep shall be scattered - This is quoted by our Lord, [Mat 26:31], in relation to his disciples, who should be scattered on his crucifixion: and they were so; for every one, giving up all for lost, went to his own house. [¶12] And I will turn mine hand upon the little ones - I will take care of the little flock, and preserve them from Jewish malice and Gentile persecution. And so this little flock was most wondrously preserved, and has been increasing from year to year from that time to the present day. ### Verse 8 [¶14] Two parts therein shall be cut off - In the war with the Romans. [¶15] But the third shall be left - Those who believe on the Lord Jesus Christ shall be preserved alive; and not one of these perished in the siege, or afterwards, by those wars. ### Verse 9 [¶17] I will bring the third part through the fire - The Christian Church shall endure a great fight of afflictions, by which they shall be refined - not consumed. [¶18] They shall call on my name - In this way shall they offer all their prayers and supplications to God. [¶19] I will say, It is my people - The Church that I have chosen in the place of the Jews who have filled up the measure of their iniquity. [¶20] And they shall say, The Lord is my God - And thus communion shall be established between me and them for ever. Thus there shall be a general restoration. ### Introduction [¶22] The commencement of this chapter relates to the destruction of Jerusalem by the Romans, and to the calamities consequent on that event. From this great Jewish tragedy the prophet immediately passes to the utter extermination of the enemies of Christianity in the latter days. God will display his power in behalf of his people in a manner so astonishing and miraculous, that even they themselves, and much more their enemies, shall be struck with terror, [Zac 14:4], [Zac 14:5]. The national prosperity of the Jews shall then be permanent and unmixed, [Zac 14:6], [Zac 14:7]; and these people shall be made the instruments of converting many to the faith of the Messiah, [Zac 14:8], [Zac 14:9]. The great increase and prosperity of the Christian Church, the New Jerusalem, is then described in terms accommodated to Jewish ideas; and the most signal vengeance denounced against all her enemies, [Zac 14:10-19]. From that happy period God's name will be honored in every thing, and his worship every where most reverently observe, [Zac 14:20], [Zac 14:21]. ### Verse 1 [¶24] Behold, the day of the Lord cometh - This appears to be a prediction of that war in which Jerusalem was finally destroyed, and the Jews scattered all over the face of the earth; and of the effects produced by it. ### Verse 2 [¶26] I will gather all nations - The Romans, whose armies were composed of all the nations of the world. In this verse there is a pitiful account given of the horrible outrages which should be committed during the siege of Jerusalem, and at its capture. [¶27] The residue of the people shad not be cut off - Many were preserved for slaves, and for exhibition in the provincial theatres. ### Verse 3 [¶29] Then shall the Lord go forth, and fight against those nations - Against the Romans, by means of the northern nations; who shall destroy the whole empire of this once mistress of the world. But this is an obscure place. ### Verse 4 [¶31] And his feet shall stand - He shall appear in full possession of the place, as a mighty conqueror. [¶32] And the mount of Olives shall cleave - God shall display his miraculous power as fully in the final restoration of the Jews, as he did when he divided the Red Sea that their forefathers might pass through dry-shod. Some refer this to the destruction of the city by the Romans. It was on the mount of Olives that Titus posted his army to batter Jerusalem. Here the tenth legion that came to him from Jericho was placed. Joseph. De Bello, lib. 6 c. 3. It was from this mountain that our Lord beheld Jerusalem, and predicted its future destruction, [Luk 19:41], with [Mat 24:23]; and it was from this mountain that he ascended to heaven, ([Act 1:12]), utterly leaving an ungrateful and condemned city. [¶33] And half of the mountain shall remove - I really think that these words refer to the lines of circumvallation, to intrenchments, redoubts, etc., which the Romans made while carrying on the siege of this city; and particularly the lines or trenches which the army made on Mount Olivet itself. ### Verse 5 [¶35] Ye shall flee to the valley - Some think this refers to the valley through which Zedekiah and others endeavored to escape when Nebuchadnezzar pressed the siege of Jerusalem: but it appears to speak only of the Jewish wars of the Romans. [¶36] Azal - This, as a place, is not known. If a place, it was most probably near to Jerusalem; and had its name from that circumstance. ### Verse 6 [¶38] The light shall not be clear, nor dark - Metaphorically, there will be a mixture of justice and mercy in all this; or a bright light and darkness. Mercy shall triumph over judgment. There shall be darkness - distress, etc.; but there shall be more light - joy and prosperity - than darkness. ### Verse 7 [¶40] At evening time it shall be light - At the close of this awful visitation, there shall be light. The light of the glorious Gospel shall go forth from Jerusalem; and next, from the Roman empire to every part of the earth. ### Verse 8 [¶42] Living waters shall go out - There shall be a wide diffusion of Divine knowledge, and of the plan of human salvation, which shall go out by apostles and preachers, first from Jerusalem, then to Syria, Asia Minor, Greece, Italy, the isles of the sea, Britain, etc. [¶43] The former sea, and - the hinder sea - The Dead Sea and the Mediterranean; see on [Joe 2:20] (note). These are metaphors. [¶44] In summer - In time of drought; or in the countries where there was no knowledge of God, there shall these waters flow. The stream shall never cease; it shall run in summer as well as winter. These are living waters - perennial, incessant, and waters that shall preserve life. See [Joh 7:37].