Zechariah 5

Zec 5:1-4.

SIXTH

VISION.

THE

FLYING

ROLL.

The fraudulent and perjuring transgressors of the law shall be

extirpated from Judea.

1. flying roll--of papyrus, or dressed skins, used for writing on

when paper was not known. It was inscribed with the words of the curse

(De 27:15-26; 28:15-68).

Being written implied that its contents were beyond all escape or

repeal

(Eze 2:9).

Its "flying" shows that its curses were ready swiftly to visit the

transgressors. It was unrolled, or else its dimensions could not have

been seen

(Zec 5:2).

Being open to all, none could say in excuse he knew not the law and the

curses of disobedience. As the previous visions intimated God's favor in

restoring the Jewish state, so this vision announces judgment,

intimating that God, notwithstanding His favor, did not approve of their

sins. Being written on both sides, "on this and on that side"

(Zec 5:3)

[VATABLUS] connects it with the two tables of the law

(Ex 32:15),

and implies its comprehensiveness. One side denounced "him that

sweareth falsely

(Zec 5:4)

table, duty to God; the other side denounced theft,

according to the eighth commandment, which is in the second

table, duty to one's neighbor.

2. length . . . twenty cubits . . . breadth

. . . ten cubits--thirty feet by fifteen, the dimensions

of the temple porch

(1Ki 6:3),

where the law was usually read, showing that it was divinely

authoritative in the theocracy. Its large size implies the great number

of the curses contained. The Hebrew for "roll" or "volume" is

used of the law

(Ps 40:7).

3. curse . . . earth--

(Mal 4:6).

The Gentiles are amenable to the curse of the law, as they have its

substance, so far as they have not seared and corrupted conscience,

written on their hearts

(Ro 2:15).

cut off--literally, "cleared away."

as on this side . . . as on that side--both sides of the roll

[VATABLUS]. From this place . . . from this place (repeated twice, as

"the house" is repeated in

Zec 5:4)

[MAURER]; so "hence" is used,

Ge 37:17

(or, "on this and on that side," that is, on every side)

[HENDERSON]. None can escape, sin where he may:

for God from one side to the other shall call all without exception to

judgment [CALVIN]. God will not spare even "this

place," Jerusalem, when it sins [PEMBELLUS].

English Version seems to take VATABLUS'

view.

according to it--according as it is written.

4. The "theft" immediately meant is similar sacrilege to that

complained of in

Ne 13:10;

Mal 3:8.

They robbed God by neglecting to give Him His due in building His

house, while they built their own houses, forswearing their obligations

to Him; therefore, the "houses" they build shall be "consumed" with

God's "curse." Probably literal theft and perjury accompanied their

virtual theft and perjury as to the temple of God

(Mal 3:5).

Stealing and perjury go together; for the covetous and fraudulent

perjure themselves by God's name without scruple (see

Pr 30:9).

enter . . . the house--In vain they guard and shut

themselves up who incur the curse; it will inevitably enter even when

they think themselves most secure.

consume . . . timber . . . stones--not

leaving a vestige of it. So the "stones" and "timber" of the house of a

leper (type of the sinner) were to be utterly removed

(Le 14:15;

compare

1Ki 18:38).

Zec 5:5-11.

SEVENTH

VISION.

THE

WOMAN IN THE

EPHAH.

Wickedness and idolatry removed from the Holy Land to Babylon, there

to mingle with their kindred elements.

The ephah is the Hebrew dry measure containing about a bushel,

or seven and a half gallons. Alluding to the previous vision as to

theft and perjury: the ephah which, by falsification of the measure,

they made the instrument of defrauding, shall be made the instrument of

their punishment [GROTIUS]. Compare "this is their

resemblance"

(Zec 5:6),

that is, this is a representation of what the Jews have done, and what

they shall suffer. Their total dispersion ("the land of Shinar" being

the emblem of the various Gentile lands of their present dispersion) is

herein fortetold, when the measure (to which the ephah alludes)

of their sins should be full. The former vision denounces judgment on

individuals; this one, on the whole state: but enigmatically, not to

discourage their present building [PEMBELLUS].

Rather, the vision is consolatory after the preceding one [CALVIN]. Idolatry and its kindred sins, covetousness and

fraud (denounced in the vision of the roll), shall be removed far out

of the Holy Land to their own congenial soil, never to return (so

Zec 3:9;

Isa 27:9; 52:1; 60:21;

Jer 50:20;

Zep 3:13).

For more than two thousand years, ever since the Babylonian exile, the

Jews have been free from idolatry; but the full accomplishment

of the prophecy is yet future, when all sin shall be purged from

Israel on their return to Palestine, and conversion to Christ.

5. went forth--The interpreting angel had withdrawn after the vision

of the roll to receive a fresh revelation from the Divine Angel to

communicate to the prophet.

6. This is their resemblance--literally, "eye" (compare

Eze 1:4, 5, 16).

HENGSTENBERG translates, "Their (the people's)

eye" was all directed to evil. But English Version is better.

"This is the appearance (that is, an image) of the Jews in all the

land" (not as English Version, "in all the earth"),

that is, of the wicked Jews.

This--Here used of what was within the ephah, not the

ephah itself.

7. lifted up--The cover is lifted off the ephah to let the prophet see

the female personification of "wickedness" within, about to be removed

from Judea. The cover being "of lead," implies that the "woman" cannot

escape from the ponderous load which presses her down.

talent--literally, "a round piece": hence a talent, a weight of one

hundred twenty-five pounds troy.

woman--for comparison of "wickedness" to a woman,

Pr 2:16; 5:3, 4.

In personifying abstract terms, the feminine is used, as the idea of

giving birth to life is associated with woman.

8. wickedness--literally, "the wickedness": implying wickedness

in its peculiar development. Compare "the man of sin,"

2Th 2:3.

cast it--that is, her, Wickedness, who had moved more freely while

the heavy lid was partially lifted off.

weight--literally, "stone," that is, round mass.

9. The agents to carry away the "woman" are, consistently with the

image, "women." God makes the wicked themselves the agents of punishing

and removing wickedness. "Two" are employed, as one is not enough to

carry such a load

[MAURER]. Or, the Assyrians and Babylonians, who

carried away idolatry in the persons, respectively, of Israel and Judah

[HENDERSON]. As two "anointed ones"

(Zec 4:14)

stand by the Lord as His ministers, so two winged women execute

His purpose here in removing the embodiment of "wickedness": answering

to the "mystery of iniquity" (the Septuagint here in Zechariah

uses the same words as Paul and "the man of sin," whom the Lord shall

destroy with the spirit of His mouth and the brightness of His coming,

2Th 2:3, 7, 8).

Their "wings" express velocity. The "stork" has long and wide wings,

for which reason it is specified; also it is a migratory bird. The

"wind" helps the rapid motion of the wings. The being "lifted up

between heaven and earth" implies open execution of the judgment before

the eyes of all. As the "woman" here is removed to Babylon as her own

dwelling, so the woman in the Apocalypse of St. John is Babylon

(Re 17:3-5).

11. To build . . . house in . . . Shinar--Babylonia

(Ge 10:10),

the capital of the God-opposed world kingdoms, and so representing in

general the seat of irreligion. As the "building of houses" in Babylon

(Jer 29:5, 28)

building of an house for "wickedness" there implies its permanent stay.

set . . . upon her own base--fixed there as in its proper place.

"Wickedness" being cast out of Judah, shall for ever dwell with the

antichristian apostates (of whom Babylon is the type), who shall reap

the fruit of it, which they deserve.