Zechariah 8

Zechariah 8:1-23 . CONTINUATION OF THE SUBJECT IN THE SEVENTH CHAPTER. After urging them to obedience by the fate of their fathers, he urges them to it by promises of coming prosperity.

2. jealous for Zion--( Zechariah 1:14 ).
with great fury--against her oppressors.

3. I am returned--that is, I am determined to return. My decree to that effect is gone forth.
Jerusalem . . . city of truth--that is, faithful to her God, who is the God of truth ( Isaiah 1:21 Isaiah 1:26 , John 17:17 ). Never yet fully fulfilled, therefore still to be so.
the mountain of the Lord--( Isaiah 2:2 Isaiah 2:3 ).
holy mountain--( Jeremiah 31:23 ).

4. So tranquil and prosperous shall the nation be that wars shall no longer prematurely cut off the people: men and women shall reach advanced ages. The promise of long life was esteemed one of the greatest blessings in the Jewish theocracy with its temporal rewards of obedience ( Exodus 20:12 , Deuteronomy 4:40 ). Hence this is a leading feature in millennial blessedness ( Isaiah 65:20 Isaiah 65:22 ).
for very age--literally, "for multitude of days."

5. boys and girls playing--implying security and a numerous progeny, accounted a leading blessing among the Jews. Contrast Jeremiah 6:11 , 9:21 .

6. However impossible these things just promised by Me seem to you, they are not so with God. The "remnant" that had returned from the captivity, beholding the city desolate and the walls and houses in ruins, could hardly believe what God promised. The expression "remnant" glances at their ingratitude in rating so low God's power, though they had experienced it so "marvellously" displayed in their restoration. A great source of unbelief is, men "limit" God's power by their own ( Psalms 78:19 Psalms 78:20 Psalms 78:41 ).
these days--"of small things" ( Zechariah 4:10 ), when such great things promised seemed incredible. MAURER, after JEROME, translates, "in those days"; that is, if the thing which I promised to do in those days, seems "marvellous," &c.

7. save my people from . . . east . . . west--that is, from every region (compare Psalms 50:1 ; the "West" is literally, "the going down of the sun") to which they are scattered; they are now found especially in countries west of Jerusalem. The dispersion under Nebuchadnezzar was only to the east, namely, to Babylonia. The restoration, including a spiritual return to God ( Zechariah 8:8 ), here foretold, must therefore be still future ( Isaiah 11:11 Isaiah 11:12 , Isaiah 43:5 Isaiah 43:6 , Ezekiel 37:21 , Amos 9:14 Amos 9:15 ; also Zechariah 13:9 , Jeremiah 30:22 , Jeremiah 31:1 Jeremiah 31:33 ).

8. in truth--in good faith, both on their side and Mine: God being faithful to His everlasting covenant and enabling them by His Spirit to be faithful to Him.