All the land will be made like the Arabah, from Geba to Rimmon south of Jerusalem; and she will be lifted up, and will dwell in her place, from Benjamin’s gate to the place of the first gate, to the corner gate, and from the tower of Hananel to the king’s wine presses.
Parallel Translations
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All the land will be made like the Arabah, from Geba to Rimmon south of Jerusalem; and she will be lifted up, and will dwell in her place, from Benjamin’s gate to the place of the first gate, to the corner gate, and from the tower of Hananel to the king’s wine presses.
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All the land shall be turned as a plain from Geba to Rimmon south of Jerusalem: and it shall be lifted up, and inhabited in her place, from Benjamin’s gate unto the place of the first gate, unto the corner gate, and from the tower of Hananeel unto the king’s winepresses.
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All the land shall be turned as the Arabah, from Geba to Rimmon south of Jerusalem; and she shall be lifted up, and inhabited in her place, from Benjamin's gate unto the place of the first gate, unto the corner gate, and from the tower of Hananel unto the king's winepresses.
Cross-references (23)
Passages linked to Zechariah 14:10 in the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge, ordered by reader-vote popularity; verse text shown in World English Bible.
- Joshua 15:32 Lebaoth, Shilhim, Ain, and Rimmon. All the cities are twenty-nine, with their villages.
- Zechariah 12:6 In that day I will make the chieftains of Judah like a pan of fire among wood, and like a flaming torch among sheaves; and they will devour all the surrounding peoples, on the right hand and on the left; and Jerusalem will yet again dwell in their own place, even in Jerusalem.
- 1 Kings 15:22 Then king Asa made a proclamation to all Judah. No one was exempted. They carried away the stones of Ramah, and its timber, with which Baasha had built; and king Asa used it to build Geba of Benjamin, and Mizpah.
- Jeremiah 30:18 Yahweh says: “Behold, I will reverse the captivity of Jacob’s tents, and have compassion on his dwelling places. The city will be built on its own hill, and the palace will be inhabited in its own place.
- Jeremiah 37:13 When he was in Benjamin’s gate, a captain of the guard was there, whose name was Irijah, the son of Shelemiah, the son of Hananiah; and he seized Jeremiah the prophet, saying, “You are defecting to the Chaldeans!”
- Judges 20:45 They turned and fled toward the wilderness to the rock of Rimmon. They gleaned five thousand men of them in the highways, and followed hard after them to Gidom, and struck two thousand men of them.
- Judges 20:47 But six hundred men turned and fled toward the wilderness to the rock of Rimmon, and stayed in the rock of Rimmon four months.
- Nehemiah 3:1 Then Eliashib the high priest rose up with his brothers the priests, and they built the sheep gate. They sanctified it, and set up its doors. They sanctified it even to the tower of Hammeah, to the tower of Hananel.
- Jeremiah 38:7 Now when Ebedmelech the Ethiopian, a eunuch, who was in the king’s house, heard that they had put Jeremiah in the dungeon (the king was then sitting in Benjamin’s gate),
- Zechariah 2:4 and said to him, “Run, speak to this young man, saying, ‘Jerusalem will be inhabited as villages without walls, because of the multitude of men and livestock in it.
- Joshua 21:17 Out of the tribe of Benjamin, Gibeon with its pasture lands, Geba with its pasture lands,
- Judges 21:13 The whole congregation sent and spoke to the children of Benjamin who were in the rock of Rimmon, and proclaimed peace to them.
- 1 Chronicles 4:32 Their villages were Etam, Ain, Rimmon, Tochen, and Ashan, five cities;
- 1 Chronicles 6:77 To the rest of the Levites, the sons of Merari, were given, out of the tribe of Zebulun, Rimmono with its pasture lands, Tabor with its pasture lands;
- 2 Chronicles 25:23 Joash king of Israel took Amaziah king of Judah, the son of Joash the son of Jehoahaz, at Beth Shemesh, and brought him to Jerusalem, and broke down the wall of Jerusalem from the gate of Ephraim to the corner gate, four hundred cubits.
- Nehemiah 12:39 and above the gate of Ephraim, and by the old gate, and by the fish gate, and the tower of Hananel, and the tower of Hammeah, even to the sheep gate: and they stood still in the gate of the guard.
- Isaiah 2:2 It shall happen in the latter days, that the mountain of Yahweh’s house shall be established on the top of the mountains, and shall be raised above the hills; and all nations shall flow to it.
- Isaiah 10:29 They have gone over the pass. They have taken up their lodging at Geba. Ramah trembles. Gibeah of Saul has fled.
- Isaiah 40:3-4 The voice of one who calls out, “Prepare the way of Yahweh in the wilderness! Make a level highway in the desert for our God. Every valley shall be exalted, and every mountain and hill shall be made low. The uneven shall be made level, and the rough places a plain.
- Jeremiah 31:38-40 “Behold, the days come,” says Yahweh, “that the city will be built to Yahweh from the tower of Hananel to the gate of the corner. The measuring line will go out further straight onward to the hill Gareb, and will turn toward Goah. The whole valley of the dead bodies and of the ashes, and all the fields to the brook Kidron, to the corner of the horse gate toward the east, will be holy to Yahweh. It will not be plucked up or thrown down any more forever.”
- Amos 9:11 In that day I will raise up the tent of David who is fallen, and close up its breaches, and I will raise up its ruins, and I will build it as in the days of old;
- Zechariah 4:6-7 Then he answered and spoke to me, saying, “This is Yahweh’s word to Zerubbabel, saying, ‘Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit,’ says Yahweh of Armies. Who are you, great mountain? Before Zerubbabel you are a plain; and he will bring out the capstone with shouts of ‘Grace, grace, to it!’ ”
- Luke 3:4-6 As it is written in the book of the words of Isaiah the prophet, “The voice of one crying in the wilderness, ‘Make ready the way of the Lord. Make his paths straight. Every valley will be filled. Every mountain and hill will be brought low. The crooked will become straight, and the rough ways smooth. All flesh will see God’s salvation.’ ”
Cross-references from openbible.info (CC BY 4.0)
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John Calvin 1540 · Public Domain The Prophet in this verse promises two things, —…
The Prophet in this verse promises two things, — that the city would be in a very prominent place, so as to be seen at a distance, and also, that it would be a secure and peaceable habitation.
With regard to the former part he says, Turned shall be the whole land into a plain We indeed know that Jerusalem was situated with mountains around it, its foundations, as it is said in Psalm 87:1, were on the holy mountains. As then the country was uneven on account of its many hills, the Prophet says, that it would become a wide plain, so that travelling would not be rough and difficult as before; and further, that Jerusalem would not be low in a deep place, but would be on a plain, which would not prevent it from being seen from whatever quarter the visitants might come. The whole land, he says, shall be a plain from Geba to Rimmon. As we do not fully know what sort of country that was, nor where Geba and Rimmon were, I shall not speak here particularly on every word; but it is enough for us to understand the design of what is said, which was to show — that steep places would become level ground, so that Jerusalem might be seen from far, and that the surface being level there would be no mountains to impede a distant view.
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Then follows the second clause, Inhabited shall be Jerusalem in its own place; that is, though it was formerly pulled down, and now lies as it were dilapidated, and the buildings already begun are very imperfect, yet it shall on itself be inhabited, it shall have the same limits, the same boundaries: in short, the Prophet means, that the size of the city would be the same as it was formerly.
Zechariah, we know, performed the office of a teacher, when the Jews began, not without great hindrances, to build the city. They were not able at first to take in the whole compass; indeed they thought this impracticable, until they were encouraged by Ezra and Nehemiah, as we learn from the books of both. Since then the city they began to build was confined in its limits, Zechariah says, that there was no reason to despair, for in a short time it would again attain its ancient splendor, and be extended to all its gates, as it is afterwards stated. And a description of the ancient city, when destroyed, is no doubt given here when he says,
From the gate of Benjamin to the place of the first gate, (he mentions the place of the gate, for there was then no gate, as that part of the city remained as yet desolate,) to the gate of the corners, from the citadel of Hananeel to the wine-vats of the king. Though we know not fully now how far the ancient Jerusalem extended, or what was its exact situation, it is yet certain that the Prophet meant that such would be the greatness and magnificence of the city, that its condition would fully equal its ancient splendor which then had disappeared. The city, as it is well known, had been very large; though writers do not agree on the subject, yet it is commonly admitted, that it included 30 stadia. This was certainly no common size; and hence the Prophet states what all thought to be incredible, that though the extent of the city was small, it would yet become a new Jerusalem, not inferior to the former either in largeness or in magnificence, or in any other respect. But we must defer what remains till tomorrow.
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.
Geneva Bible translators 1599 · Public Domain This new Jerusalem shall be seen through all the…
This new Jerusalem shall be seen through all the world, and shall excel the first in excellency, wealth, and greatness.
Geneva Bible (1599) marginal notes — public domain.
John Trapp 1656 · Public Domain Zec 14:10 All the land shall be turned as…
Zec 14:10 All the land shall be turned as a plain from Geba to Rimmon south of Jerusalem: and it shall be lifted up, and inhabited in her place, from Benjamin’s gate unto the place of the first gate, unto the corner gate, and [from] the tower of Hananeel unto the king’s winepresses.
Ver. 10. All the land shall be turned as a plain] Or, shall be compassed about as a plain, ut aequore plano, so the Tigurine translation. God shall enlarge the bounds of his Church; he shall lay all level, that people may come in amain from all parts. Every valley shall be filled, and every mountain and hill brought low; and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough ways smooth, Luk 3:5 "The wilderness and the solitary place shall be glad for them; and the desert shall rejoice, and blossom as the rose. It shall blossom abundantly, and rejoice even with joy and singing: the glory of Lebanon shall be given unto it, the excellence of Carmel and Sharon, they shall see the glory of the Lord, and the excellence of our God," Isa 35:1-2. The prophet here showeth that all the land shall be inhabited, from one end unto another; from Geba, the northern confines, to Rimmon, the southborder, Jos 15:32; Jos 15:57. And from Benjamin’s gate unto the place of the first (or old) gate, Neh 3:6, which stood westward, unto the corner gate, {see 2Ch 26:9; 2Ch 25:28} or the gate that looketh eastward. The limits of the Church shall be greatly enlarged; the rough and rugged mountains being made as the smooth and pleasant champaigns. The faithful shall pass from Geba to Rimmon, from the mountains of myrrh and hills of frankincense, Son 4:6, to the pomegranates, for so Rimmon signifieth, and from the plenty of that fruit there this place seemeth to have taken its name (Masius in Jos 19:18); that is, from humiliation and supplication for pardon and power against corruption, to love and good works, looking up and pressing hard toward, the high prize proposed unto them; as the many grains within the case of the pomegranate do point, and, as it were, all look up together, unto the crown or circle that is without, upon the head of it.
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To the king’s winepresses] Which were on the west side, where the former two half-compasses did meet to make up a whole compass. Certain it is, that Jerusalem was a very large and spacious city, comprehending almost four miles, at least, say those that have written of it. There was in it the upper and the nether town, whence it is called, Je-rushalaiim in the dual. There was afterwards the old town and the new, called Boretha, or Caenopolis. But, Eze 40:41-49, God showeth the prophet a new temple, larger than all the old Jerusalem put all together; and a new Jerusalem, larger than all the land of Canaan; by these very dimensions showing that these things cannot be understood but spiritually. And the new Jerusalem in the Revelation, as it lieth foursquare, looking every way to the four corners of the earth (like as Constantinople doth, which is, therefore, said to be a city fatally founded to command), so the measure of it is twelve thousand furlongs, Rev 21:16; which, according to some, make no less than 1500 miles.
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.
Matthew Poole 1685 · Public Domain All the land; the whole land of Judea, here,…
All the land; the whole land of Judea, here, is type of the whole earth, seat of the catholic church, filled with the knowledge of God. and abounding in multitudes of converts.
Shall be turned as a plain; all high, uneven places, all high thoughts and imaginations, all rocky and barren ground, changed into fruitful vineyards. So the church of Christ shall be fruitful, humble, and lovely. as pastures rich in sheep, and rich for sheep.
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From Geba, the north boundary of the land, to Rimmon, the south boundary of Judea.
Jerusalem; which taken here not literally, but mystically, is the church of Christ in gospel days; and by the repair of all parts of this Jerusalem, as were described, is shadowed out the full and complete building of the church on all sides, north, south, west, and east.
It shall be lifted up; raised out of the dust and rubbish to which enemies had brought her, through God’s permission; but never should be able to keep her in that low state, since God was resolved to raise her.
And inhabited in her place: still it is emblematical of the Christian church.
Benjamin’s gate north-east,
corner-gate north-west,
Hananeel’s tower south, wine-presses north; that is, in brief, completely round the city.
Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible (1683–1685) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.
John Gill 1763 · Public Domain All the land shall be turned as a plain,....…
All the land shall be turned as a plain,.... That is, all the land of Israel round about Jerusalem, which was encompassed with mountains, Psa 125:2 but now these mountains shall become a plain, that that may be seen; since it follows,
from Geba to Rimmon south of Jerusalem; Geba was a city in the tribe of Benjamin, on the northern border of the land, Jos 21:17 and Rimmon was in the tribe of Judah, given to Simeon on the southern part, Jos 15:32 so that from Geba to Rimmon was the same as from Geba to Beersheba, which was in the same tribe, Kg2 23:8 and, according to the Jewish writers, the south of Jerusalem was a plain; wherefore the meaning seems to be, that the whole land, from Geba to Rimmon, should be like that. Jerom makes mention of a village called Remmon in his time, fifteen miles to the north of Jerusalem, which cannot be the place here meant, and yet speaks of it as in the tribe of Simeon or Judah; and afterwards takes notice of another village called Remmus in Daroma, or the south (m); to me it seems that Geba and Rimmon were places near one to another, and both in the tribe of Benjamin; see Sa1 14:2 where the word rendered "pomegranate" is Rimmon, and is the proper name of a place, according to some; the same with that in Jdg 20:47 where was a rock called the rock Rimmon; and Jonathan ben Uzziel, on Sa1 14:2 renders it, "the plain of the pomegranate"; or rather the plain of Rimmon: and the Jews make mention in their Talmud (n) of the valley of Rimmon, where seven elders met to intercalate the year; and here, they say, was a marble rock, in which everyone fastened a nail, and therefore it is called the rock of nails. Now the sense seems to be, that all the land of Israel should become a plain, like the valley that was between Geba and Rimmon. Jarchi interprets it of the whole world. And this will be literally true of the new earth, in the thousand years' reign, which will be without hills mountains, and seas, Rev 21:1. It may be mystically understood of the spiritual reign of Christ, when the whole world will become Christian; when Jews and Gentiles, and even the kings of the earth, shall bow the knee to Christ, and be subject to him.
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And it shall be lifted up, and inhabited in her place; that is, Jerusalem, which shall appear very high, all the land round about being a plain; and, being rebuilt, shall be inhabited on the same spot of ground it formerly was: or the church may be meant, which in the latter day will be greatly exalted, and will be filled with, and inhabited by, some of all the nations of the world, Isa 2:2,
from Benjamin's gate unto the place of the first gate; not that called the high gate of Benjamin, and which was near the temple, Jer 20:2 and seems to be one of its gates; and such an one there was, which in Arabic was called "Bab Alasbat", the gate of the tribes, where was the pool of the blood of the sacrifices; and is said to be not far from another gate, called the gate of mercy (o); but this is that which led out of the city, and was one of its gates towards the land of Benjamin, from whence it had its name, and through which Jeremiah attempted to go when he was stopped by the captain of the ward, Jer 37:13 this, according to Grotius, was on the north of Jerusalem: Mr. Fuller (p) places it more rightly in the northeast part of it, as does Adrichomius (q), who wrongly confounds it with the corner gate later mentioned, which is here manifestly distinguished from it; and which mistake also Schindler (r) gives into, and likewise Arias Montanus (s) and others. "The first gate" is the same with "the old gate" in Neh 3:6.
Unto the corner gate; the gate of Benjamin, and the gate of Ephraim, are the same, as is thought by Grotius; the distance between that gate and the corner gate was four hundred cubits, Kg2 14:13,
and from the tower of Hananeel unto the king's winepresses; mention is made of the tower of Hananeel in Neh 3:1 it was to the south of Jerusalem; and is called in the Targum the tower of Pikkus: "the king's winepresses" doubtless were where his vineyards were; King Solomon had a vineyard at Baalhamon, Sol 8:11. Grotius says the place where these winepresses were was at Sion, in the inmost part of the city; and so Adrichomius (t) places them in Mount Sion; though Kimchi speaks of them as without the city; and Jarchi makes mention of an Agadah, or exposition, which interprets them of the great ocean, which reaches from Jerusalem to the end of the world, the lakes which the King of kings has made. Very probably these places lay east, west, north, and south; and so denote the amplitude of the city, and the largeness and extensiveness of the church of Christ, signified thereby; see Eze 48:1.
(m) De locis Heb. fol. 94. A. C. (n) T. Hieros. Chagiga, fol. 78. 4. (o) Cippi Hebr. p. 22. Geograph. Nub. p. 114. (p) Pisgah-Sight of Palestine, B. 3. c. 3. sect. 15. p. 322. (q) Theatrum Terrae Sanct. p. 167. (r) Lexic. Pentaglott. col. 1912. (s) Nehemias, sive de Antiqu. Jerus. situ. (t) Theatrum Terrae Sanct. Jerusalem, No. 25. p. 152.
John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible (1746–1763) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.
John Wesley 1765 · Public Domain All the land - The whole land of Judea,…
All the land - The whole land of Judea, a type of the whole earth, shall be filled with the knowledge of God. As a plain - All high, uneven places, all rocky and barren grounds, shall be changed into fruitful vineyards. So the church of Christ shall be fruitful, humble and lovely. Geba - The north boundary of the land. Rimmon - The south boundary of Judea. Jerusalem - Which taken mystically, is the church of Christ, and by the repair of all to this Jerusalem, is shadowed out of the compleat building of the church on all sides, north, south, west and east. Lifted up - Raised out of the dust. Benjamin's gate - Benjamin's gate northeast, corner-gate northwest; Hananiel's tower south, wine-presses north; that is in brief, compleatly around the city.
John Wesley, Explanatory Notes Upon the Whole Bible (1754–1765) — public domain. Text via the GEBible commentary corpus.
Adam Clarke 1810 · Public Domain Verse 10. All the land shall be turned as…
Verse 10. All the land shall be turned as a plain] Or rather, "He shall encompass the whole land as a plain." He shall cast his defence all around it; from Geba, in Benjamin, north of Jerusalem, (Jos 21:17,) to Rimmon in Judah, to the south of Jerusalem, Jos 15:32.
It shall be lifted up] The city shall be exalted.
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And inhabited in her place] Jerusalem, shall be rebuilt in the very place in which it originally stood. From Benjamin's gate, which was probably on the north side of Jerusalem, unto the place of the first gate, supposed to be that called the old gate, Ne 3:6; Ne 12:39, placed by Lightfoot towards the southwest.
Unto the corner gate] See 2Kg 14:13.
The tower of Hananeel] This tower and the corner gate seem to be placed as two extremities of the city.
Unto the king's wine-presses] Near to the king's gardens, southward.-See Newcome.
Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible (1810–1826) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.
Joseph Benson 1811 · Public Domain Zec 14:10-11. All the land — The whole land…
Zec 14:10-11. All the land — The whole land of Judea, a type of the whole earth, the seat of the universal church, filled with the knowledge of God, and abounding with multitudes of converts: shall be turned as a plain — All high, uneven places, all rocky and barren grounds, shall be changed into fruitful vineyards. So the church of Christ shall be fruitful, humble, and lovely. From Geba — The north boundary of the land; to Rimmon — The south boundary. And it — That is, Jerusalem; shall be lifted up — Raised out of the dust, to which its enemies had brought it, through God’s permission. Jerusalem, taken mystically, is the church of Christ in gospel days; and by the repair of all parts of this Jerusalem, as here described, is shadowed out the complete building of the church on all sides, north, south, east, west. From Benjamin’s gate — That is, this gate was probably to the north of Jerusalem; unto the place of the first gate — Or, as Newcome reads it, the former gate, supposed to be that called the old gate, Neh 3:6; Neh 12:39, placed by Lightfoot toward the south- west. Unto the corner-gate — See 2Ki 14:13. And from the tower of Hananeel — Placed by Cocceius eastward; who observes, that the tower and corner-gate seem mentioned as two extremities of the city. Unto the king’s wine-presses — Near the king’s garden southward. So Cocceius. “These points are given, no doubt, to signify that Jerusalem shall again occupy as much space as ever it did in its most flourishing times. The same intention appears Jer 31:38-40. Both these places may derive some illustration from comparing them together, and at the same time inspecting the plan of Jerusalem in the Ancient Universal History, vol. 1. b. 1., which seems to have been laid down pretty accurately, according to the circuit of the walls made by the two companies, Neh 12:40, and the information collected from other parts of Scripture.” — Blayney. And men shall dwell in it — Many, for number; eminent, for worth. And there shall be no more utter destruction — They that dwell in it shall dwell securely, and there shall be none to make them afraid. There may be afflictions, but there shall be no more of that utter destruction that formerly laid both town and country waste. There shall be no more curse, as the latter part of the sentence may be translated. In the new state of things, here foretold, the curse which sin brought into the world shall be, at least in a great measure, if not entirely, removed. Similar words, recorded Rev 22:3, seem to be taken from this place. But Jerusalem shall safely be inhabited — A promise often repeated by the prophets. See Jer 23:6, and the note there.
Joseph Benson's Commentary on the Old and New Testaments (1811–1818) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
Albert Barnes 1834 · Public Domain All the land shall be turned as a plain…
All the land shall be turned as a plain from Rimmon to Gebah - Kimchi: “All the land, which is round about Jerusalem, which is now mountains, as is said, “The mountains are round about Jerusalem” Psa 125:2, shall be level as a plain, but Jerusalem itself shall be exalted, and high above all the earth.” The dignity of the Church, as “a city set upon a hill, which cannot be hid” Mat 5:14, is symbolized here by the sinking of all around and its own uprising; as in Micah and Isaiah, “The mountain of the Lord’s house shall be established on the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills” Isa 2:2; Mic 4:1. Gebah, literally, hill,” now, “Jeva,” was a frontier-garrison, held once by the Philistines 1Sa 14:5, and fortified by Asa 1Ki 15:22, in the northern boundary of Benjamin , together with Michmash (1 Sam. loc. cit.) (now Mukhmas), commanding an important pass, by which Jerusalem was approached Isa 10:28-29. “Rimmon, south of Jerusalem” is mentioned in Joshua among the southern towns of Judah Jos 15:32, given to Simeon Jos 19:7; 1Ch 4:32. Both survived the Captivity . They mark then the north and south of the kingdom of Judah, a long mountain chain, which is pictured as sinking down into a plain, that Jerusalem alone might be exalted.
From Benjamin’s gate unto the place of the first gate - Benjamin’s gate must obviously be a gate to the north, and doubtless the same as “the gate of Ephraim” , the way to Ephraim lying through Benjamin. This too has probably reference to the prophecy of Jeremiah, that “the city shall be built to the Lord from the tower of Hananeel unto the gate of the corner” Jer 31:38. “Jehoash, king of Israel, broke down the wall of Jerusalem from the gate of Ephraim to the corner-gate, four hundred cubits” 2Ki 14:13; 2Ch 25:23, after the war with Amaziah. Zechariah seems to speak of Jerusalem, as it existed in his time. For the tower of Hananeel Neh 3:1 still existed; the “first gate” was probably destroyed, since he speaks not of it, but of its “place;” the gate of Benjamin and the corner-gate probably still existed, since Nehemiah Neh 3:1, Neh 3:3, Neh 3:6, Neh 3:13-15 mentions the building of the sheep-gate, the fish-gate, the old gate, or gate of the old city, the valley-gate, the dung-gate, the gate of the fountain; but not these.
Albert Barnes' Notes on the Bible (1834–1885) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.
Haydock's Catholic Bible Commentary 1859 · Public Domain Return. This in some measure was verified by means…
Return. This in some measure was verified by means of the Machabees; but is rather to be taken in a spiritual sense, as relating to the propagation of the Church and kingdom of Christ, the true Jerusalem, which alone shall never fall under the anathema of destruction, or God’s curse. (Challoner) --- The limits of Jerusalem were never so extensive. --- Hill, or Gabaa to Remmon," or the pomegranate. The situation is not ascertained.
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).
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown 1871 · Public Domain turned--or, "changed round about": literally, "to make a circuit."…
turned--or, "changed round about": literally, "to make a circuit." The whole hilly land round Jerusalem, which would prevent the free passage of the living waters, shall be changed so as to be "as a (or the) plain" (Isa 40:4).
from Geba to Rimmon--Geba (Kg2 23:8) in Benjamin, the north border of Judah. Rimmon, in Simeon (Jos 15:32), the south border of Judah; not the Rimmon northeast of Michmash. "The plain from Geba to Rimmon" (that is, from one boundary to the other) is the Arabah or plain of the Jordan, extending from the Sea of Tiberias to the Elanitic Gulf of the Red Sea.
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it shall be lifted up--namely, Jerusalem shall be exalted, the hills all round being lowered (Mic 4:1).
inhabited in her place-- (Zac 12:6).
from Benjamin's gate--leading to the territory of Benjamin. The same as Ephraim's gate, the north boundary of the city (Kg2 14:13).
the first gate--west of the city [GROTIUS]. "The place of," &c. implies that the gate itself was then not in existence. "The old gate" (Neh 3:6).
the corner gate--east of the city [GROTIUS]. Or the "corner" joining the north and west parts of the wall [VILLALPANDUS]. GROTIUS thinks "corners" refers to the towers there built (compare Zep 3:6, Margin).
tower of Hananeel--south of the city, near the sheep gate (Neh 3:1; Neh 12:39; Jer 31:38) [GROTIUS].
king's wine-presses-- (Sol 8:11). In the interior of the city, at Zion [GROTIUS].
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown — Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.
Daniel D. Whedon 1874 · Public Domain 10. The presence of Jehovah will bring about a…
10. The presence of Jehovah will bring about a complete transformation of the land.
As a plain — R.V., “like the Arabah.” The word may be rendered as a proper name (R.V.; see on Amo_6:14), or as a common noun (A.V.). Probably the latter is to be preferred here. The whole country, with the exception of Jerusalem, will be made into a level plain. The Arabah is more than a thousand feet below the sea level immediately east of Jerusalem. The thought of fertility does not seem to be implied; as a matter of fact, the Arabah, with the exception of a few isolated tracts, is barren and unfruitful. The extent of the district to be thus transformed is indicated more definitely.
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From Geba — In the tribe of Benjamin (Jos_18:24), now Jeba, about five miles north of Jerusalem, at the time of Josiah and perhaps throughout a long period the northern boundary of Judah (2Ki_23:8).
Rimmon — Distinguished by the addition “south of Jerusalem” from a Rimmon in the north (Jos_19:13). The one mentioned here marks the southern border of Palestine (Jos_15:32; Jos_19:7); now Umm-er-Rummanin; it is located only a short distance north of Beer-sheba (2Ki_23:8). While this region, which is meant to include the whole of Judah, is leveled to a plain, Jerusalem will be elevated.
Lifted up — The city, which is built upon two mountain spurs, will retain its elevation, or will be raised even higher (see on Mic_4:1; compare Isa_2:2). The exalted position will proclaim it the center of the kingdom of God.
Shall be… inhabited in her place — Better, R.V., “shall dwell in her place”; that is, it will be established forever. As of the land, so of the city, its full extent is indicated. The localities mentioned cannot all be identified.
Benjamin’s gate — May be identical with gate of Ephraim (2Ki_14:13; Neh_8:16; Neh_12:39), in the north wall of the city, through which led the road to Ephraim and Benjamin (compare Jer_20:2).
The place of the first gate — This gate is otherwise unknown; some identify it with the corner gate mentioned immediately afterward; the latter is thought to stand in apposition to the former for the purpose of explaining an uncommon designation. This is improbable. Others identify it with the old gate (Neh_12:39), as marking the eastern end of the north wall. Much uncertainty remains.
Corner gate — Mentioned again in 2Ki_14:13; Jer_31:38; it was located at the west end of the northern wall. All three points seem to indicate the northern boundary of the city and its extent from east to west.
Tower of Hananeel — Probably in the northeast corner (Neh_3:1; Neh_12:39).
The king’s wine presses — The exact location of these is not known; it is probable, however, that they were near the king’s garden (Neh_3:15), which is to be sought near the palace in the southern part of the city. If so, this location would mark the southern boundary of the city. The localities named may have been of special prominence in the days of the author. The first three seem to indicate the extent of the city from east to west, the last two from north to south. Marti omits all but the first and the last, “from the Benjamin’s gate to the king’s winepresses,” which he thinks are to indicate the extent of Jerusalem from north to south.
Daniel D. Whedon (gen. ed.), Commentary on the Old and New Testaments (1874–1909) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges 1878 · Public Domain 10. turned as a plain] i.e. changed so as…
10. turned as a plain] i.e. changed so as to become as, or like, a plain. Some would render, as the Arabah (R. V.) or Jordan valley, a meaning which the word will bear. Dean Stanley writes, “As a general rule, Palestine is not merely a mountainous country, but a mass of mountains, rising from a level sea-coast on the west, and from a level desert on the east, only cut asunder by the valley of the Jordan from north to south, and by the valley of Jezreel from east to west. The result of this peculiarity is, that not merely the hill-tops, but the valleys and plains of the interior of Palestine, both east and west, are themselves so high above the level of the sea as to partake of all the main characteristics of mountainous history and scenery. Jerusalem is of nearly the same elevation as the highest ground in England, and most of the chief cities of Palestine are several hundred feet above the Mediterranean Sea.” (Sinai and Palestine, p. 129; see also p. 170.) The “plain,” therefore, which the prophet here pictures to himself, may be a table-mountain or elevated platform, all other hills and mountains sinking down to the present level of the “valleys and plains” of Palestine, and leaving Jerusalem standing aloft on this elevated base, the queen-like city and mistress of the world.
“See Salem built, the labour of a God!
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Bright as a sun the Sacred City shines;
All kingdoms and all princes of the earth
Flock to that light; the glory of all lands
Flows into her; unbounded is her joy,
And endless her increase.”
Geba] A town of Benjamin, Jos_21:17; 1Ch_6:60; Neh_11:31. It is spoken of, as it is here, as the northern boundary of the kingdom of Judah, in 2Ki_23:8. “Exactly in accordance with this (the mention of the position of Geba in 1Sa_13:3) is the position of the modern village of Jeba, which stands picturesquely on the top of its steep-terraced hill, on the very edge of the great Wady Suweinit.… Standing as it does on the south bank of this important wady—one of the most striking natural features of this part of the country—the mention of Geba as the northern boundary of the lower kingdom is very significant.” Bible Dict. Art. “Geba.”
Rimmon] A town in the south of Palestine, Jos_15:21; Jos_15:32, allotted to Simeon, Ib. Jos_19:1; Jos_19:7. Its site is now unknown.
it shall be lifted up] she shall be lifted up, R.V., i.e. Jerusalem, which has just been mentioned, shall retain its former elevation, when all the country round has sunk into a plain. “Humiliatis omnibus circumquaque montibus collibusque, urbs primaria Judæ totiusque orbis terrarum (Zec_14:9, cf. Mic_4:1), immota suo loco, elata et conspicua mansura dicitur.” Maurer.
from Benjamin’s gate] These limits cannot be defined with certainty; but it seems probable that “the gate of Benjamin” is identical with “the gate of Ephraim” (2Ki_14:13; Neh_8:16; Neh_12:39), a gate, that is, in the N. wall of the city, which led to the territory of Benjamin and then to that of Ephraim beyond, and which was therefore called indifferently by either name. If we suppose that this gate stood in the middle of the N. wall, we have the breadth of the restored city, measured from it, first westward to “the corner gate” (2Ki_14:13; 2Ch_25:23; Jer_31:38), which was at the N. W. corner of the wall, and then eastward to “the first gate” (the same perhaps as that called “the old gate,” Neh_12:39), which was at the N. E. corner. The length of the city is given, from the tower of Hananeel (Neh_3:1; Neh_12:39; Jer_31:38) in the N. to “the king’s winepresses” in the S. The site of these winepresses has not been discovered, but it is not improbable that they were in or near “the king’s garden” (Neh_3:15), at the S. E. extremity of the city.
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.
Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers 1878 · Public Domain (10) The land . . . from Geba to…
(10) The land . . . from Geba to Rimmon south of Jerusalem.—i.e., Judah, from north to south, as in 2Ki_23:8 it is said, “from Geba to Beersheba.” Geba, modern “Jeba,” is about three hours north of Jerusalem. Rimmon, south of Jerusalem, not Rimmon in Galilee, which was north of Nazareth (Jos_19:13), nor the rock of Rimmon, north of Jerusalem (Jdg_20:45), but Rimmon, modern Umm er Rummanin, four hours to north of Beersheba.
Shall be turned as a plain.—Better, as the plain, called in Hebrew the Hâ Arâbâh, and now in Arabic Al Ghor. It extends with some interruptions from the slopes of Hermon to the Elamitic gulf of the Red Sea.
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And it.—viz., Jerusalem. The idea of the lifting up of Jerusalem is suggested by its geographical position, situated, as it is, in a nest of mountains (Psa_125:2). The language is, of course, figurative, and denotes the religious prominence of Jerusalem. The very name of Jerusalem at the present time, Al Kuds, “the holy place,” is so far a testimony to the truth of the prophecy, in that the nations, by adopting this appellation (Jerusalem ha Kedoshah) from the Jews, acknowledge the holy city to have been the fountain-head of religious knowledge.
In her place.—Comp. Zec_12:6.
Benjamin’s gate was doubtless in the northern wall.
The place of the first gate was, perhaps, at the north-eastern corner, and “the corner gate” at the north-western corner (2Ki_14:13; Jer_31:38). Thus this description denotes the whole breadth of the city, from east to west.
The tower of Hananeel (Jer_31:38; Neh_3:1; Neh_12:39) was at the north corner of the city; and “the king’s wine-presses,” no doubt, in the king’s gardens, at the south end of the city (Neh_3:15); thus these latter are the northern and southern boundaries.
A Bible Commentary for English Readers, edited by Charles John Ellicott (1878–1897) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
The Pulpit Commentary 1880 · Public Domain All the land shall be turned as a plain.…
All the land shall be turned as a plain. To indicate the exaltation and stability of the centre of the new theocracy, the prophet announces that all the country round Jerusalem shall be turned into a plain, dominated by the metropolis, which stands sublime on a lofty mountain. The Revised Version renders, "shall be turned as the Arabah," i.e. as the Jordan ghor, a valley of abnormal fertility. From Geba to Rimmon south of Jerusalem; i.e. from the north of Judah to its southern boundary. Geba was a town and district on the edge of the great Wady Suweinit, five miles north of Jerusalem. It is identified with Jeba, (1Sa_13:3) and it formed the northern boundary of the kingdom of Judah. (Jos_18:24) Rimmon is described as "south of Jerusalem," to distinguish it from a town of the same name in Galilee, (Jos_19:13) and from the famous rock Rimmon, to which the Benjamites fled. (Jud_1:20:45, 47) It was situated in the territory of Simeon, (Jos_15:32 Jos_19:7) and has been identified with Umm-er-Rummamin, a town ten miles north of Beersheba. It shall be lifted up. Jerusalem shall remain exalted on its hill, while all the country around sinks into a plain a figure representing the spiritual exaltation of the new theocracy. Inhabited in her place; or, shall dwell in her place. Shall occupy her ancient limits, and abide there safely without fear. (comp. Jer_31:38-40 Eze_48:15, etc.) From Benjamin"s gate, etc. (Jer_37:13) It is difficult to define the given boundaries with certainty in every particular. Benjamin"s gate is the same as the gate of Ephraim, (2Ki_14:13 Neh_8:16) so called as leading to the territory of Benjamin, and beyond again to that of Ephraim. It was situated in the north or second wall. From this point the course of the wall is followed, first to the west, and then to the east. The first gate. This was in the eastern part at this wall, and is the same as "the old gate," or "gate of the old town," of Neh_12:39. The corner gate (2Ki_14:13 Jer_31:38) was at the northwest corner, west of the gate of Benjamin, at the angle where the first and second walls approached each other. These dimensions would give the breadth of the city from east to west. The tower of Hananeel (Ne 3) was at the northeast corner of the north wall, where the citadel Basis or Antonia afterwards stood. The king"s wine presses were probably near "the king"s garden", (Neh_3:15) at the southeast extremity of the city. They may have been cut out of the rock, as was often the case. This description gives the extent of the city from north to south. Thus Zechariah illustrates the growth and stability of the Church of God by the figure of the earthly city Jerusalem, firmly and orderly built, and inhabited by a teeming population, as the following verse shows. There is no ground for expecting the literal fulfilment of this prediction.
The Pulpit Commentary (1880–1919), ed. H.D.M. Spence-Jones & Joseph S. Exell — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
Tyndale Open Study Notes 2022 · CC BY-SA 4.0 14:10 The towns Geba and Rimmon represent the north–south…
14:10 The towns Geba and Rimmon represent the north–south extent of the district including Jerusalem.
Tyndale Open Study Notes — © Tyndale Open Resources, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Text via the HelloAO Bible API.