Zechariah 8

12. seed . . . prosperous--that is, shall not fair to yield abundantly ( Hosea 2:21 Hosea 2:22 , Haggai 2:19 ). Contrast with this verse Haggai 1:6 Haggai 1:9-11 , 2:16 .
dew--especially beneficial in hot countries where rain is rare.

13. a curse--As the heathen have made you another name for "a curse," wishing to their foes as bad a lot as yours ( Jeremiah 24:9 , 29:18 ); so your name shall be a formula of blessing, so that men shall say to their friend, May thy lot be as happy as that of Judah ( Genesis 48:20 ). Including also the idea of the Jews being a source of blessing to the Gentile nations ( Micah 5:7 , Zephaniah 3:20 ). The distinct mention of "Judah" and "Israel" proves that the prophecy has not yet had its full accomplishment, as Israel (the ten tribes) has never yet been restored, though individuals of Israel returned with Judah.

14. I thought--I determined.
you--that is, your fathers, with whom ye are one; the Jewish Church of all ages being regarded as an organic whole (compare Haggai 2:5 , Matthew 23:31 Matthew 23:32 ).
repented not--I changed not My purpose, because they changed not their mind ( 2 Chronicles 36:16 ). With the froward God shows Himself froward ( Psalms 18:26 ). If the threatened punishment has been so unchangeably inflicted, much more will God surely give the promised blessing, which is so much more consonant to His nature ( Jeremiah 31:28 ).

16, 17. The promised blessings are connected with obedience. God's covenanted grace will lead those truly blessed by it to holiness, not licentiousness.
truth to . . . neighbour--not that the truth should not be spoken to foreigners too; but He makes it an aggravation of their sin, that they spared not even their brethren. Besides, and above all outward ordinances ( Zechariah 7:3 ), God requires truth and justice.
judgment of . . . peace--Equitable decisions tend to allay feuds and produce peace.
gates--the place where courts of judicature in the East were held.

17. all these . . . I hate--therefore ye too ought to hate them. Religion consists in conformity to God's nature, that we should love what God loves and hate what God hates.

18, 19. The prophet answers the query ( Zechariah 7:3 ) as to the fast in the fifth month, by a reply applying to all their fasts: these are to be turned into days of rejoicing. So Jesus replied to His disciples when similarly consulting Him as to why fasting was not imposed by Him, as it was by John the Baptist. When the Sun of righteousness shines, tears are dried up ( Matthew 9:15 ). So hereafter ( Isaiah 35:10 ).

19. fast of . . . fourth month--On the fourth month of the eleventh year of Zedekiah's reign, on the ninth day, Jerusalem was taken ( Jeremiah 39:2 , Jeremiah 52:6 Jeremiah 52:7 ). It was therefore made a fast day.
tenth--On the tenth month and tenth day, in the ninth year of Zedekiah, the siege began ( Jeremiah 52:4 ).
therefore love the truth--or, "only love." English Version is better. God's blessing covenanted to Israel is not made to depend on Israel's goodness: but Israel's goodness should follow as the consequence of God's gracious promises ( Zechariah 8:16 Zechariah 8:17 , Zechariah 7:9 Zechariah 7:10 ). God will bless, but not those who harden themselves in sin.

20. ( Isaiah 2:3 , Micah 4:2 ).
Thus saith the Lord of hosts--a preface needed to assure the Jews, now disheartened by the perils surrounding them, and by the humble aspect of the temple. "Unlikely as what follows may seem to you, Jehovah of hosts, boundless in resources, saith it, therefore it shall be so." Just before Christ's coming, a feeling grew up among the heathen of the unsatisfactoriness of their systems of religion and philosophy; this disposed them favorably towards the religion of the Jew, so that proselytes embraced the worship of Jehovah from various parts of Asia; these again were predisposed to embrace Christianity when it was preached to them ( Acts 2:9-12 Acts 2:41 ). But the full accomplishment of the conversion of the Gentiles foretold here is reserved till "Jerusalem" ( Zechariah 8:22 ) becomes the center of Christianized Jewry ( Romans 11:12 Romans 11:15 ).

21. Let us . . . I--manifesting zeal and love: converted themselves, they seek the conversion of others ( Solomon 1:4 ). To exhortation in general ("Let us go"), they add individual example ("I will go"). Or, the change from plural to singular implies that the general consent in religious earnestness leads each individual to decide for God.
go speedily--literally, "go, going"; implying intense earnestness.
pray--Hebrew, "entreat the face" ( Zechariah 7:2 ); entreat His favor and grace.

22. many . . . strong nations . . . in Jerusalem--In contrast to the few and weak Jews now building the temple and city, then such shall be their influence that many and strong nations shall come to worship Jehovah their God in Jerusalem ( Isaiah 60:3 , 66:23 ).

23. ten--a definite number for an indefinite. So in Leviticus 22:26 , Numbers 14:22 .
of all languages of the nations--that is, of nations of all languages (compare Isaiah 66:18 , Revelation 7:9 ).
take hold of the skirt--a gesture of suppliant entreaty as to a superior. Compare Isaiah 3:6 , 4:1 , on a different occasion. The Gentiles shall eagerly seek to share the religious privileges of the Jew. The skirt with a fringe and blue ribbon upon it ( Numbers 15:38 , Deuteronomy 22:12 ) was a distinguishing badge of a Jew.
God is with you--the effect produced on unbelievers in entering the assemblies of the Church ( 1 Corinthians 14:25 ). But primarily, that produced on the nations in witnessing the deliverance of the Jews by Cyrus. Finally, that to be produced on the nations by the future grand interposition of Messiah in behalf of His people.