Zechariah 2:9

Zec 2:9 For, behold, I will shake mine hand upon them, and they shall be a spoil to their servants: and ye shall know that the LORD of hosts hath sent me.

Ver. 9. For, behold, I will shake mine hand upon them] Kings, they say, have long hands; and can easily reach those that are far distant. This is much more true of the King immortal; who can quickly crumble to crackle the mightiest monarchs; he cuts off the spirit of princes, Psa 76:12, he slips them off (so the Hebrew there imports), as one would slip off a flower between one’s fingers, or as one should slip off a bunch of grapes. If the Lord do no more but arise, his enemies shall be scattered, Psa 68:1. If he do but show himself in the field (as Xerxes used to pitch his tent on high, and stand looking on his army when in fight), the Philistines will be heard to cry out, "God is come into the camp. Woe unto us! who shall deliver us out of the hands of these mighty Gods?" 1Sa 4:8. But if he once shake his hand (that mighty hand, as St James calleth it, that spanneth the heavens and shaketh the foundations of the earth), how much more if he smite with the hand and stamp with the foot (as the prophet in another case, Eze 6:11; and as Pompey vainly vaunted, that with a stamp on the ground of Italy he could raise an army), the sinners against Zion are soon afraid; fearfulness surpriseth the hypocrites. Woe unto us, say they, for we are spoiled, Isa 33:14 Jer 4:13. The very shaking of his hand at them shall make their hearts ache, shake, and fall asunder in their bosoms, as drops of water.

And they shall be a spoil to their servants] i.e. To the Jews, whom they lately spoiled and enslaved. This was fulfilled in Esther’s days; and afterwards in the time of the Maccabees. Besides what is yet expected to be done by the nation of the Jews; when, at their glorious conversion, Christ shall dwell among them, Zec 2:10, and the multitude of nations shall join themselves to Christ, Zec 2:11, the Jews inhabiting in their own land, Zec 2:12, to the silencing, amusing, and amazing of all flesh, Zec 2:13; while the enemies of the Church by them subdued, Zec 10:11, and possessed, Isa 14:2 Oba 1:17; Oba 1:19, shall willingly, or perforce, come under Christ’s obedience. The conversion of the Gentiles (saith a learned author) is many times intimated by the Israelites mastering of them, spoiling them, possessing them for servants and for handmaids, as Isa 14:2 Amo 9:11 Oba 1:19, and here, which is not meant so much of a temporal subduing as of a spiritual joining with them in seeking of the Lord; yet so as the chief sovereignty and stroke of keeping men within the lists of their subjection and obedience unto Christ, shall remain among the Jews (The Calling of the Jews, by Sir H. Finch). And so St James teacheth us to expound those phrases, Act 15:17, where that which Amos saith, that the Israelites may possess the remnant of Edom, James rendereth, that the residue of men may seek after the Lord. The enemy whom, indeed, the Jews shall spoil, root out, and destroy, after they have groaned long under his hard yoke and bondage, is Gog and Magog, that is to say, the Turk, Eze 38:1-23 Eze 39:1-29, with whom they shall have a marvellous conflict, as it may seem in their own country, Eze 39:2; Eze 39:4 Dan 11:44-45, and over whom they shall obtain a noble victory (God from heaven miraculously fighting for them, Eze 38:18-19, &c.; Zec 14:3-5) at, or near Jerusalem, Joe 3:2 Eze 39:16. This enemy is not always represented by one and the same name; but sometimes he is called Moab, Edom, Rabbah, Ashur, Javan; haply because those that inhabit the seat of these people shall join hands with the Turk, and fall in the same destruction. Sometimes he is called leviathan, from his quality; sometimes Gog and Magog, from his country; sometimes the king of the north, from his territory, Isa 27:1 Eze 38:2 Dan 11:40. But by all these names one and the same enemy is understood, which marvellously cleareth the place in Ezekiel, Eze 38:17, where the Lord by his prophet speaketh to Gog in this wise: "Art thou he of whom I have spoken in ancient time by my servants the prophets of Israel, which prophesied in these days and years?" He cannot mean himself, nor Daniel, which was but his contemporary, much less Zechariah, that came after; but he meaneth the ancient prophets long before, who spake of the same person, though not by the same name.

And ye shall know that the Lord of hosts hath sent me] You shall subscribe to the truth of these promises, which now you can very hardly be brought to believe; when God shall have fulfilled with his hand that which he hath spoken with his mouth, as Solomon’s phrase is, 1Ki 8:15.

John Trapp, A Commentary or Exposition upon All the Books of the Old and New Testament (1647–1656) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

2:9 their own slaves will plunder them: At the Exodus, the Egyptians paid the Israelites to leave their land (see Exod 11:2-3; 12:35-36).

Tyndale Open Study Notes — © Tyndale Open Resources, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Text via the HelloAO Bible API.

Upon the heathen your enemies.

This must necessarily be understood of Christ, who being God equal with his Father, was sent as he was Mediator to dwell in his Church and to govern them.

They shall be your servants, as you have been theirs.

Geneva Bible (1599) marginal notes — public domain. Text via Bolls.life.

shake . . . hand--A mere wave of God's hand can prostrate all foes (compare Rut 1:13; Job 31:21; Isa 11:15; Isa 19:16; Act 13:11).

a spoil to their servants--to the Jews whom they had once as their slaves (compare Isa 14:2). As the Jews' state between the return from Babylon and Christ's coming was checkered with much adversity, this prophecy can only have its fulfilment under Christ.

sent me-- (Isa 48:16; Isa 61:1; Joh 10:36).

Jamieson, Fausset & Brown — Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.

Verse 9. I will shake mine hand upon them] I will threaten first, and then stretch out my hand of judgment against them.

A spoil to their servants] To those whom they had formerly subjected to their sway. As the Babylonians to the Medes and Persians; and so of the rest in the subversion of empires.

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible (1810–1826) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.

Christ continues to relate the commands of the Father: for he speaks in his person, when he says, Behold, I shake my hand over them, that is, enemies; and they shall be a prey to their own servants. He means, that however numerous and strong the enemies would be who would seek to injure the Jews, they would yet be safe; for they would be protected by the hand of God, and not only so, but that whatever their enemies would attempt to do would be in vain, for the Lord would degrade them, and render them a prey to the Jews themselves: for by servants he doubtless means the Jews, who, for a time, had been oppressed by the tyranny of their enemies.

It is certain that this prophecy was not fulfilled at the time when the Jews thought that they were in a flourishing state, and enjoying prosperity; for their condition was even then very wretched and degrading. For whence had they their kings? Certainly not from the tribe of Judah; and we all know how tyrannically they were governed, and also that the kingdom was filled with many abominable sins and cruelties. They were become parricides almost all; and whosoever will read their history will find, that brethren were oppressed by brethren, and that even parents were cruelly and wickedly treated. In short, not to say of other things, nothing could have been more abominable than the family of Herod. We cannot then apply this prophecy to that time which intervened between the return from the Babylonian exile, and the coming of Christ. It is then only under the kingdom of Christ that God accomplished what is here said, — that enemies became a prey to his spiritual people, that is, when they were subdued and brought under the yoke of Christ, for as we have said elsewhere, the government of the Church is vested in its Head. Hence where Christ shines, there the Church, which is his body, is said to reign; for Christ’s will is, that he should have nothing apart from his members.

We now see the intention of the Prophet: he wished to dispel the fear of the Jews, that they might not hesitate to return to their country; for not only a way was opened for them, but confirmed also and certain was their happiness under God’s protection; as he had not in vain begun a glorious work, but fully purposed to carry it on to the end.

He says, Behold, I shake my hand. The shaking of the hand shows that God has no need of many forces to put to flight his enemies, nor of a large expedition; for as soon as he raises up his hand, he lays them all prostrate. In short, the Prophet reminds us, that God has hands which extend far, for he can by mere shaking conquer all enemies, however distant they may be. And then we see that the facility with which God executes his purpose was mentioned, in order that the Jews might feel assured, that as soon as it would please God to put forth his strength, he would have no difficulty; for by the single motion of his finger he could destroy all the enemies who might rise up against them.

He afterwards adds, And ye shall know that Jehovah of hosts has sent me. To consider this as an address to the faithful, may not seem suitable; for faith is connected with knowledge, as we are taught by John,

“We know that we are the children of God,” (1 John 3:2;)

for the certainty which rests on God’s word exceeds all knowledge. Why then does the Prophet say, And we shall know that Jehovah has sent me? for the faithful ought to have been previously certain respecting the mission of Christ; otherwise an approach to God was closed up; for an access, we know, to his favor is opened by faith. The Jews must have then been assured from the beginning respecting the mission of Christ. But it is to be observed, that there are two kinds of knowledge, — the knowledge of faith, and what they call experimental knowledge. The knowledge of faith is that by which the godly feel assured that God is true — that what he has promised is indubitable; and this knowledge at the same time penetrates beyond the world, and goes far above the heavens, that it may know hidden things; for our salvation is concealed; things seen, says the Apostle, are not hoped for. (Romans 8:24.) It is then no wonder that the Prophet says, that the faithful shall then know that Christ has been sent by the Father, that is, by actual experience, or in reality: Ye shall then know that Jehovah has sent me. He afterwards adds —

John Calvin's Commentaries (1540-1563) — public domain. Text from the Calvin Translation Society English edition (1840s-50s) via the Christian Classics Ethereal Library (ccel.org). Calvin's coverage is partial (roughly two-thirds of the Bible); uncommented books and verses are honest gaps, never fabricated. The 19th-century editor's footnotes and remarks are omitted so the notes are faithfully Calvin's own voice.

(9) The troubles which overtook Babylon shortly after this time are sufficiently borne witness to by the inscription executed by Darius in the fifth year of his reign (Sir W. Rawlinson) on the great rock of Behistun, near the western frontier of Media. Thereon are recorded two great insurrections in Babylonia, and that Babylon itself was twice taken, once by Darius in person, and again by his general, Intaphres (Records of the Past, Vol. I., pp. 118-125). On the latter occasion, “says Darius the king, I made a decree that Arakha and his principal followers should be put to death in Babylon.”

A Bible Commentary for English Readers, edited by Charles John Ellicott (1878–1897) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

9. shake mine hand] Job_31:21; Isa_19:16.

a spoil to their servants] They “which spoiled you,” Zec_2:8, shall be themselves “a spoil,” and that to those whom they held in servitude, those that served them R. V.

hath sent me] The divine mission of the angel who foretells these things shall be attested by the event. Comp. Zec_2:11, Zec_4:9, Zec_6:15.

The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges (gen. ed. J. J. S. Perowne; Cambridge University Press, 1878–1918) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

For, behold, I will shake mine hand upon them,.... The nations; either the Babylonian, or the antichristian states; meaning, that he would exert his power, and inflict punishment on them, and utterly destroy them; which would be done by the bare shaking of his hand:

and they shall be a spoil to their servants; as the Babylonians were to the Persians; not through Cyrus, which had been done; but through Darius, who took Babylon, after a siege of twenty months, and put great numbers to death; and all became a spoil to the Persians, who had been their servants: or the ten kings, that gave their kingdoms to the beast, and were subject to him; but now shall hate the whore, and eat her flesh; and all her riches and revenues shall be a spoil unto them, and be divided among them, Rev 17:12,

and ye shall know that the Lord of hosts hath sent me; either the Prophet Zechariah, that he was a true prophet, and had his mission from the Lord of hosts, as will appear by the accomplishment of these prophecies; or rather Christ, sent by God the Father; and who will be known and owned by the Jews, as well as by the Gentiles, to be the sent of God, when they shall be converted, and antichrist shall be destroyed. Kimchi refers this, and the following verse Zac 2:10, to the times of the Messiah.

John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible (1746–1763) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.

For behold I will shake My hand against them - As God promised of old against the enemies of His people , and they shall be a spoil to those who served them habitually.

And ye shall know that the Lord of hosts hath sent Me - Theodoret: “He was sent, not as God, but as Man. For as God He is equal to the Father. For He saith, “I am in the Father and the Father in Me, and, The Father who dwelleth in Me He doeth the works” Joh 14:10, and, “I and My Father are one” Joh 10:30, and “He who hath seen Me hath seen the Father” Joh 14:9. But He is sent, as man, fulfilling the dispensation for us, not lessening the divine nature. The prophet then intimated not the duality only, but the equality of the persons.”

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Bible (1834–1885) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.

Prey. Two years after this (Calmet) the Assyrians revolted, and seized Babylon. (Justin i.) --- They slew the useless women: but Zopyrus betrayed the place to Darius, who hung 3,000 of the principal inhabitants, and demolished the walls. (Herodotus iii. 150.; Usher, the year of the world 3489.)

George Leo Haydock (1774–1849), Haydock's Catholic Family Bible and Commentary, 1859 edition — public domain. Excludes Psalms (Douay-Rheims chapter numbering differs from Protestant) and Deuterocanonical books (Catholic canon only).

I will shake, or lift up, mine hand, my power and strength, upon them; against the nation and kingdom that doth violence to the people who are my glory, and I am theirs, saith the Lord.

They, those people who comply not with him whom God sendeth,

shall be a spoil, shall be overthrown and spoiled, and become a prey, unto their servants; the Jews, who were first spoiled by and then made servants to the nations who conquered, captivated, and hardly used the Jews; and indeed this was fulfilled in Esther’s days, and in the Maccabees’ times.

And ye, either Jews, or heathen, or both, shall know, be convinced and own it,

that the Lord of hosts, the great and faithful God,

hath sent me, hath commissioned Christ to inform them, who are to make their choice what to do herein.

Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible (1683–1685) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.

I will shake mine hand upon (over) them. The angel reports Jehovah"s message now in the first person, or speaks as the representative of Jehovah. The action of shaking the hand over a nation is one of menace. (Job_31:21 Isa_11:15 Isa_19:16) Shall be a spoil to their servants; to their slaves, those who once served them. This was true only in a spiritual sense, when the nations were won over to the true faith. (see ver. 11; and comp. Isa_14:2 Isa_49:22, etc.; Eze_16:61) Septuagint, toiv douleuousin autoiv , "to them that serve them." Ye shall know, etc. (Zec_4:9 Zec_6:15) When this comes to pass, the Israelites shall recognize and own the Divine mission of God"s messenger.

The Pulpit Commentary (1880–1919), ed. H.D.M. Spence-Jones & Joseph S. Exell — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

Upon them - Against the nation that doth violence to my people. Unto their servants - Unto the Jews, who were first spoiled by, and then made servants to them. Hath sent me - To inform them of my father's will.

John Wesley, Explanatory Notes Upon the Whole Bible (1754–1765) — public domain. Text via the GEBible commentary corpus.

But I will be for it as a shield, as though a wall of fire surrounds it. Also, My Shechinah shall dwell in its midst for your glory.

Rashi on the Tanakh — English translations: “The Judaica Press complete Tanach with Rashi, translated by A. J. Rosenberg” (CC BY 4.0); “Pentateuch with Rashi's commentary by M. Rosenbaum and A.M. Silbermann, 1929-1934” (public domain); “The Metsudah Tanach series, Lakewood, N.J” (CC BY 4.0); and “The Book of Joshua, Metsudah Publications, 1997” (CC BY 4.0). Text via Sefaria.