1The fountain of purification for Jerusalem. 2The eradication of idolatry and false prophecy. 7The death of Christ, and the saving of a third part after a severe trial.
1IN 1that day there shall be 2a fountain 3opened 4to the house of David and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem 5for sin and for 6uncleanness.
1 Namely, when the Messiah shall have come.
2 Or, spring-vein, well-spring, that is, the grace of God, for the pardon of sin by the blood of Jesus Christ, wherein we are washed.
3 Namely, being, or becoming opened by the preaching of the Holy Gospel.
4 That is, for the believing children of God.
5 That is, for the washing away of sin and all defilements, contracted from and by sin.
6 The Hebrew word signifies properly the separation by reason of the monthly uncleanness, treated in Leviticus 12; 15.
2¶And it shall come to pass in that day, saith the LORD of hosts, that I will cut off 7the names of the 8idols out of the land, and they shall no more be remembered: and also I will cause 9the prophets and 10the unclean spirit 11to pass out of the land.
7 That is, all idolatry whatsoever, so that they shall not be named any more among you. Compare Psalm 16:4; Hosea 2:16.
8 Of the word idols see 1 Sam. 31:9.
9 Namely, the false prophets. Other, their prophets, namely, of the idols.
10 That is, the false teachers, teaching impure doctrines, through the inspiration of the unclean spirit, the devil. Compare 1 John 4:1, 2, 3.
11 Either by severe destruction, Deuteronomy 13, or by persuasion unto denial of the same.
3And it shall come to pass, that when any shall 12yet prophesy, 13then his father and his mother that begat him shall say unto him, 14Thou shalt not live; for thou speakest lies in the name of the LORD: and his father and his mother that begat him 15shall thrust him through when he 16prophesieth.
12 Namely, falsely, making God for a cloak of his lies; or, when anyone shall yet prophecy by the inspiration of the unclean spirit.
13 The meaning is: the faithful shall be in such a zeal that they shall not suffer nor endure a false prophet or a teacher, so that even his own parents and nearest relation shall refer him according to the law of God, Deut. 13:6, 8.
14 That is, thou art not worthy to live; thou shalt not be suffered to live any longer, but deservest to be put to death according to the law. Deut. 13:1, etc.
15 Being driven by a Divine zeal, they shall deliver him up to the judges to be punished according to the law. Yet some take here the Hebrew word to mean to punish, not only by words, but also by sore stripes.
16 Namely, falsely.
4And it shall come to pass in that day, that 17the prophets shall be 18ashamed every one of 19his vision, when he hath prophesied; neither shall they wear 20a rough garment to deceive:
17 Namely, those false prophets.
18 Being convinced of their false doctrine by the clear light of truth and by their own parents.
19 That is, his false prophecy.
20 Such as Elijah has done in former times, 2 Kings 1:8, and John the Baptist, Mat. 3:4. Compare Isa. 20:2. The false prophets imitated this to give to their words a greater appearance of holiness.
5But 21he shall say, I am no prophet, 22I am an husbandman; for 23man taught me to keep cattle from my youth.
21 That is, every one of these false prophets.
22 As if he said: I have forsaken that profession. I was brought up to husbandry from a child and I have returned to it again.
23 Or, they put me over the cattle, or to bring up the cattle, etc. Or, for, one taught me to deal with the cattle, etc.
6And one shall say unto him, 24What are these wounds in thine hands? Then he shall answer, Those with which I was wounded in the house 25of my friends.
24 That is, what signify these wounds? Hebr. strokes, that is, stripes, or scars of wounds, compare 1 Kings 18:28. In thine hands; understand hereby: and likewise further in thy body. Or thus: wherefore are these wounds in thine hands? Then he shall answer, because I was smitten, etc.
25 That is, of those who love me, namely, my parents or close friends, who, by sore stripes and chastisements whereof I still bear the marks, have diverted and kept me from speaking lies and from false prophesies. It is a common saying: Hard stripes leave good impressions, and: Hard knots require keen wedges.
7 ¶ 26Awake, O sword, against my shepherd, and against the 27man that is my fellow, saith the LORD of hosts: smitea the shepherd, and the sheep shall be scattered: and I will 28turn mine hand upon 29the little ones.
26 Since it is said in the previous verse, how a false prophet was treated by his own friends, the LORD, namely, God the Father, takes occasion thereby to foretell how Christ, His beloved Son, and the Chief Shepherd, shall be smitten and put to death, as if He also Himself were a false prophet. Yet this would not happen accidentally, but according to Divine appointment. Compare Mat. 26:31; John chapters 14, 16, 18; Acts 2:23; 4:28.
27 Namely, My only begotten Son, co-essential with Me.
a Mat. 26:31; Mark 14:27.
28 Namely, to gather them and to strengthen their faith. Of this phrase see Ezek. 38 on verse 12. Other, and I will turn my hand against the little ones; implying, that they shall suffer persecution as well as their shepherds.
29 By the little ones are here to be understood, the disciples of Christ, who were but simple men of small account and regard, of whom Christ said to those who took Him, if therefore ye seek me, let these go their way, John 18:8. And after they were scattered, the LORD gathered them again. Yet we may well also understand here by these little ones the elect children of God, who are small and little in the eyes of the world. See Mat. 18:10, 14.
8And it shall come to pass, that in all the land, saith the LORD, 30two parts therein shall be cut off and 31die; but 32the third shall be left therein.
30 Hebr. the mouth of two, as Deut. 21:17, that is, the two parts. The sense is: the far greater part of men would be cast away and remain in their state of sin and unbelief and perish; the smaller part shall be saved. Mat. 7:13; Luke 8:5, etc.
31 Compare as much as the word concerns Gen. 6:17; Num. 17:12, 13.
32 Namely, whom I shall spare and save by grace.
9And I will bring 33the third part 34through the fire, and will refine them as silver is refined, and will try them asb gold is tried: 35theyc shall call on my name, and I will hear them: I will say, Itdis my people: and they shall say, The LORD is my God.
33 Namely, the third part, which are My chosen ones.
34 Understand here the fire of persecution and of the cross. See Isa. 1:25; 48:10; 1 Peter 1:7.
b 1 Peter 1:6, 7.
35 The third part. The sense is: Every one of the chosen ones, whom I shall likewise have refined, shall call upon My Name, etc.
c Psalm 50:15; 91:15.
d Psalm 144:15; John 20:28.