Zechariah 6

1 And I was converted, and raised mine eyes, and saw, and lo! four [four-]horsed carts going out of the middle of twain hills, and the hills were hills of brass. (And I turned, and raised up my eyes, and saw, and lo! four four-horsed carts, or four chariots, going out from the midst of, or between, two bronze hills.)

2 In the first four-horsed cart were red horses, and in the second four-horsed cart were black horses; (The first four-horsed cart, or chariot, had red horses, and the second four-horsed cart, or chariot, had black horses;)

3 and in the third four-horsed cart were white horses, and in the fourth four-horsed cart were diverse horses, and strong. (and the third four-horsed cart, or chariot, had white horses, and the fourth four-horsed cart, or chariot, had dappled horses.)

4 And I answered, and said to the angel that spake in me, What be these things, my lord? (And I said to the angel, who spoke to me, What be these things, my lord?)

5 And the angel answered, and said to me, These be four winds of heaven, which go out, that they stand before the lordshipper of all earth. (And the angel answered, and said to me, These be the four winds of the heavens, which go out from before the Lord, who ruleth over all the earth.)

6 In which were black horses, they went out into the land of the north; and the white went out after them; and the diverse went out into the land of the south. (The cart, or the chariot, which had the black horses went out to the land of the north; and that which had the white horses went out to the west; and that which had the dappled horses went out to the land of the south.)

7 Forsooth they that were strongest went out, and sought for to go, and run about by all earth. And he said, Go ye, and walk ye through the earth. And they walked through the earth. (And the chariot with the red horses went out to the east; and they all sought to go, and to run about through all the earth. And he said, Go ye, and run ye through all the earth. And so they ran through all the earth.)

8 And he called me, and spake to me, and said, Lo! they that go out into the land of the north, made my spirit for to rest in the land of the north.

9 And the word of the Lord was made to me, and said,

10 Take thou of them that (be) of the transmigration, either captivity, of Heldai, and of Tobijah, and of Jedaiah; and thou shalt come in that day, and shalt enter into the house of Josiah, son of Zephaniah, that came from Babylon. (Take thou the gifts from those who be of the exiles, or of the captives, yea, from Heldai, and from Tobijah, and from Jedaiah; and thou shalt go on that day, and shalt enter into the house of Josiah, the son of Zephaniah, who came from Babylon.)

11 And thou shalt take gold and silver, and shalt make crowns, and put on the head of Joshua, the great priest, the son of Josedech; (And thou shalt take that gold and that silver, and thou shalt make a crown, and put it on the head of Joshua, the son of Josedech, the High Priest;)

12 and shalt speak to him, and say, The Lord of hosts saith these things, saying, Lo! a man, Coming forth, either Born, is his name, and under him it shall spring. And he shall build a temple to the Lord, (and shalt speak to him, and say, The Lord of hosts saith these things, saying, Lo! a man whose name is The Branch shall come forth, and shall spring up. And he shall rebuild the Temple of the Lord,)

13 and he shall make a temple to the Lord; and he shall bear glory, and shall sit, and shall be lord on his seat; and the priest shall be on his seat, and counsel of peace shall be betwixt them twain. (yea, he shall build the Temple of the Lord; and he shall bear glory, and shall sit, and shall be lord, or shall rule, upon his throne; and the priest shall be beside his throne, and a concord of peace shall be between these two.)

14 And crowns shall be to Helem, and to Tobijah, and to Jedaiah, and to Hen, the son of Zephaniah, (as) a memorial in the temple of the Lord. (And the crown shall be in the charge, or under the care, of Heldai, and Tobijah, and Jedaiah, and Josiah, the son of Zephaniah, as a memorial in the Temple of the Lord.)

15 And they that be far, shall come, and build in the temple of the Lord; and ye shall know, that the Lord of hosts sent me to you. Soothly this thing shall be, if by hearing ye shall hear the voice of your Lord God. (And they who be far, shall come, and help to rebuild the Temple of the Lord; and then ye shall know, that the Lord of hosts hath sent me to you. Truly this shall be, if by hearing ye shall obey the voice of the Lord your God.)

Zechariah 6 Commentary

Chapter 6

The vision of the chariots. (1-8) Joshua, the high priest, crowned as a type of Christ. (9-15)

Verses 1-8 This vision may represent the ways of Providence in the government of this lower world. Whatever the providences of God about us are, as to public or private affairs, we should see them all as coming from between the mountains of brass, the immoveable counsels and decrees of God; and therefore reckon it as much our folly to quarrel with them, as it is our duty to submit to them. His providences move swiftly and strongly as chariots, but all are directed and governed by his infinite wisdom and sovereign will. The red horses signify war and bloodshed. The black, signify the dismal consequences of war, famines, pestilences, and desolations. The white, signify the return of comfort, peace, and prosperity. The mixed colour, signify events of different complexions, a day of prosperity and a day of adversity. The angels go forth as messengers of God's counsels, and ministers of his justice and mercy. And the secret motions and impulses upon the spirits of men, by which the designs of Providence are carried on, are these four spirits of the heavens, which go forth from God, and fulfil what the God of the spirits of all flesh appoints. All the events which take place in the world spring from the unchangeable counsels of the Lord, which are formed in unerring wisdom, perfect justice, truth, and goodness; and from history it is found that events happened about the period when this vision was sent to the prophet, which seem referred to therein.

Verses 9-15 Some Jews from Babylon brought an offering to the house of God. Those who cannot forward a good work by their persons, must, as they are able, forward it by their purses: if some find hands, let others fill them. Crowns are to be made, and put upon the head of Joshua. The sign was used, to make the promise more noticed, that God will, in the fulness of time, raise up a great High Priest, like Joshua, who is but the figure of one that is to come. Christ is not only the Foundation, but the Founder of this temple, by his Spirit and grace. Glory is a burden, but not too heavy for Him to bear who upholds all things. The cross was His glory, and he bore that; so is the crown an exceeding weight of glory, and he bears that. The counsel of peace should be between the priest and the throne, between the priestly and kingly offices of Jesus Christ. The peace and welfare of the gospel church, and of all believers, shall be wrought, though not by two several persons, yet by two several offices meeting in one; Christ, purchasing all peace by his priesthood, maintaining and defending it by his kingdom. The crowns used in this solemnity must be kept in the temple, as evidence of this promise of the Messiah. Let us not think of separating what God has joined in his counsel of peace. We cannot come to God by Christ as our Priest, if we refuse to have him rule over us as our King. We have no real ground to think our peace is made with God, unless we try to keep his commandments.

Chapter Summary

INTRODUCTION TO ZECHARIAH 6

This chapter contains a vision of four chariots, and the explanation of it; and an order to make crowns of gold and silver for certain uses mentioned; and a famous prophecy concerning the Messiah as the builder of the temple, the church. The chariots are described by their number, four; by the place, the mountains, from whence they came out; and by the different colour of the horses in each of them, Zec 6:1-3 upon the prophets inquiry what these were, an explanation is given of them; and they are said to be the four spirits of the heavens; and are described by their situation, standing before the Lord of the whole earth; by their mission from him; by each of the places to which they were sent; and by their success, or by the good effects produced, at least by some of them, Zec 6:4-8 then follows the order to make the crowns; and it is declared what they should be made of, gold and silver; from whom they were to be had, and who were to be concerned herein; and what was to be done with them; they were to be put upon the head of Joshua the high priest, Zec 6:9-11 who, being an eminent type of Christ, a prophecy concerning him is ordered to be delivered to him; who is described by his name, the man, the Branch; by the place he should grow up from; by the work he should do, building the temple of the Lord; by the glory he should have on account of it; and by the offices of King, Priest, and Prophet, he should execute, Zec 6:12,13 and after this was done, then the crowns were to be laid up in the temple of the Lord for a memorial, by the four men above mentioned, Zec 6:14 and though the Messiah is the chief builder of the temple, the church, yet it is suggested that others, and even Gentiles, should come and build in it; and which when done, it would be evident that the prophet had his mission to the Jews of the Lord; and the chapter is closed with a promise of the accomplishment of all this, should they diligently hearken to the voice of the Lord, Zec 6:15.