‘Come, Zion! Escape, you who dwell with the daughter of Babylon.’ For Yahweh of Armies says: ‘For honor he has sent me to the nations which plundered you; for he who touches you touches the apple of his eye. For, behold, I will shake my hand over them, and they will be a plunder to those who served them; and you will know that Yahweh of Armies has sent me.
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Zechariah 2:7-9 sits inside this longer paragraph.
Behold, the angel who talked with me went out, and another angel went out to meet him, 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. For I,’ says Yahweh, ‘will be to her a wall of fire around it, and I will be the glory in the middle of her. Come! Come! Flee from the land of the north,’ says Yahweh; ‘for I have spread you abroad as the four winds of the sky,’ says Yahweh. ‘Come, Zion! Escape, you who dwell with the daughter of Babylon.’ For Yahweh of Armies says: ‘For honor he has sent me to the nations which plundered you; for he who touches you touches the apple of his eye. For, behold, I will shake my hand over them, and they will be a plunder to those who served them; and you will know that Yahweh of Armies has sent me. Sing and rejoice, daughter of Zion; for, behold, I come, and I will dwell within you,’ says Yahweh. Many nations shall join themselves to Yahweh in that day, and shall be my people; and I will dwell among you, and you shall know that Yahweh of Armies has sent me to you. Yahweh will inherit Judah as his portion in the holy land, and will again choose Jerusalem. Be silent, all flesh, before Yahweh; for he has roused himself from his holy habitation!”
Parallel Translations
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‘Come, Zion! Escape, you who dwell with the daughter of Babylon.’
For Yahweh of Armies says: ‘For honor he has sent me to the nations which plundered you; for he who touches you touches the apple of his eye.
For, behold, I will shake my hand over them, and they will be a plunder to those who served them; and you will know that Yahweh of Armies has sent me.
-
Deliver thyself, O Zion, that dwellest with the daughter of Babylon.
For thus saith the LORD of hosts; After the glory hath he sent me unto the nations which spoiled you: for he that toucheth you toucheth the apple of his eye.
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.
Show all 3 translations
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(2-11) Ho, Zion, escape, thou that dwellest with the daughter of Babylon.'
(2-12) For thus saith the LORD of hosts who sent me after glory unto the nations which spoiled you: 'Surely, he that toucheth you toucheth the apple of his eye.
(2-13) For, behold, I will shake My hand over them, and they shall be a spoil to those that served them'; and ye shall know that the LORD of hosts hath sent me.
Cross-references (71)
- Psalms 17:8 (v8) Keep me as the apple of your eye. Hide me under the shadow of your wings,
- Deuteronomy 32:10 (v8) He found him in a desert land, in the waste howling wilderness. He surrounded him. He cared for him. He kept him as the apple of his eye.
- John 15:21-23 (v8) But they will do all these things to you for my name’s sake, because they don’t know him who sent me. If I had not come and spoken to them,…
- John 14:26 (v8) But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things, and will remind you of all that I said…
- Psalms 105:13-15 (v8) They went about from nation to nation, from one kingdom to another people. He allowed no one to do them wrong. Yes, he reproved kings for…
Show all 69 cross-references
- 2 Thessalonians 1:6 (v8) Since it is a righteous thing with God to repay affliction to those who afflict you,
- Matthew 25:40 (v8) “The King will answer them, ‘Most certainly I tell you, because you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.’
- Joel 3:2-8 (v8) I will gather all nations, and will bring them down into the valley of Jehoshaphat; and I will execute judgment on them there for my…
- Isaiah 48:20 (v7) Leave Babylon! Flee from the Chaldeans! With a voice of singing announce this, tell it even to the end of the earth: say, “Yahweh has…
- Jeremiah 50:17-18 (v8) “Israel is a hunted sheep. The lions have driven him away. First, the king of Assyria devoured him, and now at last Nebuchadnezzar king of…
- Obadiah 1:10-16 (v8) For the violence done to your brother Jacob, shame will cover you, and you will be cut off forever. In the day that you stood on the other…
- Habakkuk 2:8 (vv8–9) Because you have plundered many nations, all the remnant of the peoples will plunder you, because of men’s blood, and for the violence done…
- Genesis 20:6 (v8) God said to him in the dream, “Yes, I know that in the integrity of your heart you have done this, and I also withheld you from sinning…
- 2 Kings 24:2 (v8) Yahweh sent against him bands of the Chaldeans, and bands of the Syrians, and bands of the Moabites, and bands of the children of Ammon,…
- Isaiah 19:16 (v9) In that day the Egyptians will be like women. They will tremble and fear because of the shaking of Yahweh of Armies’s hand, which he shakes…
- Isaiah 48:15-16 (v8) I, even I, have spoken. Yes, I have called him. I have brought him and he shall make his way prosperous. “Come near to me and hear this:…
- Isaiah 60:7-14 (v8) All the flocks of Kedar will be gathered together to you. The rams of Nebaioth will serve you. They will be accepted as offerings on my…
- Ezekiel 25:6-7 (v8) For the Lord Yahweh says: “Because you have clapped your hands, stamped with the feet, and rejoiced with all the contempt of your soul…
- Ezekiel 25:12 (v8) “ ‘The Lord Yahweh says: “Because Edom has dealt against the house of Judah by taking vengeance, and has greatly offended, and taken…
- Ezekiel 25:15 (v8) “ ‘The Lord Yahweh says: “Because the Philistines have taken revenge, and have taken vengeance with contempt of soul to destroy with…
- Ezekiel 26:2 (v8) “Son of man, because Tyre has said against Jerusalem, ‘Aha! She is broken! She who was the gateway of the peoples has been returned to me.…
- Ezekiel 35:5 (v8) “ ‘ “Because you have had a perpetual hostility, and have given over the children of Israel to the power of the sword in the time of their…
- Amos 1:3-5 (v8) Yahweh says: “For three transgressions of Damascus, yes, for four, I will not turn away its punishment; because they have threshed Gilead…
- Amos 1:9 (v8) Yahweh says: “For three transgressions of Tyre, yes, for four, I will not turn away its punishment; because they delivered up the whole…
- Amos 1:11 (v8) Yahweh says: “For three transgressions of Edom, yes, for four, I will not turn away its punishment; because he pursued his brother with the…
- Amos 1:13 (v8) Yahweh says: “For three transgressions of the children of Ammon, yes, for four, I will not turn away its punishment; because they have…
- Micah 4:11 (v8) Now many nations have assembled against you, that say, “Let her be defiled, and let our eye gloat over Zion.”
- Micah 5:6 (v8) They will rule the land of Assyria with the sword, and the land of Nimrod in its gates. He will deliver us from the Assyrian, when he…
- Micah 7:10 (v8) Then my enemy will see it, and shame will cover her who said to me, where is Yahweh your God? Then my enemy will see me and will cover her…
- Zephaniah 2:8 (v8) I have heard the reproach of Moab, and the insults of the children of Ammon, with which they have reproached my people, and magnified…
- Malachi 3:1 (v8) “Behold, I send my messenger, and he will prepare the way before me; and the Lord, whom you seek, will suddenly come to his temple; and the…
- John 17:18 (v8) As you sent me into the world, even so I have sent them into the world.
- 1 John 4:9-10 (v8) By this God’s love was revealed in us, that God has sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. In this is…
- 1 John 4:14 (v8) We have seen and testify that the Father has sent the Son as the Savior of the world.
- Isaiah 14:2 (v9) The peoples will take them, and bring them to their place. The house of Israel will possess them in Yahweh’s land for servants and for…
- Ezekiel 39:10 (v9) so that they will take no wood out of the field, and not cut down any out of the forests; for they will make fires with the weapons. They…
- Zechariah 1:15-16 (v8) I am very angry with the nations that are at ease; for I was but a little displeased, but they added to the calamity.” Therefore Yahweh…
- Zechariah 2:4-5 (v8) and said to him, “Run, speak to this young man, saying, ‘Jerusalem will be inhabited as villages without walls, because of the multitude of…
- Zechariah 2:9 (v8) For, behold, I will shake my hand over them, and they will be a plunder to those who served them; and you will know that Yahweh of Armies…
- Zechariah 2:11 (v8) Many nations shall join themselves to Yahweh in that day, and shall be my people; and I will dwell among you, and you shall know that…
- Zechariah 4:9 (v9) “The hands of Zerubbabel have laid the foundation of this house. His hands shall also finish it; and you will know that Yahweh of Armies…
- Zechariah 6:15 (v9) Those who are far off shall come and build in Yahweh’s temple; and you shall know that Yahweh of Armies has sent me to you. This will…
- Genesis 19:17 (v7) It came to pass, when they had taken them out, that he said, “Escape for your life! Don’t look behind you, and don’t stay anywhere in the…
- Isaiah 11:15 (v9) Yahweh will utterly destroy the tongue of the Egyptian sea; and with his scorching wind he will wave his hand over the River, and will…
- Isaiah 13:2 (v9) Set up a banner on the bare mountain! Lift up your voice to them! Wave your hand, that they may go into the gates of the nobles.
- Isaiah 52:11 (v7) Depart! Depart! Go out from there! Touch no unclean thing! Go out from among her! Cleanse yourselves, you who carry Yahweh’s vessels.
- Jeremiah 51:6 (v7) “Flee out of the middle of Babylon! Everyone save his own life! Don’t be cut off in her iniquity; for it is the time of Yahweh’s vengeance.…
- Jeremiah 51:34-35 (v8) “Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon has devoured me. He has crushed me. He has made me an empty vessel. He has, like a monster, swallowed…
- Matthew 25:45 (v8) “Then he will answer them, saying, ‘Most certainly I tell you, because you didn’t do it to one of the least of these, you didn’t do it to…
- John 14:23-24 (v8) Jesus answered him, “If a man loves me, he will keep my word. My Father will love him, and we will come to him, and make our home with him.…
- Acts 2:40 (v7) With many other words he testified, and exhorted them, saying, “Save yourselves from this crooked generation!”
- Revelation 18:4 (v7) I heard another voice from heaven, saying, “Come out of her, my people, that you have no participation in her sins, and that you don’t…
- Habakkuk 2:17 (vv8–9) For the violence done to Lebanon will overwhelm you, and the destruction of the animals, which made them afraid; because of men’s blood,…
- Numbers 16:34 (v7) All Israel that were around them fled at their cry; for they said, “Lest the earth swallow us up!”
- Isaiah 10:32 (v9) This very day he will halt at Nob. He shakes his hand at the mountain of the daughter of Zion, the hill of Jerusalem.
- Isaiah 33:1 (v9) Woe to you who destroy, but you weren’t destroyed, and who betray, but nobody betrayed you! When you have finished destroying, you will be…
- Isaiah 33:23 (v9) Your rigging is untied. They couldn’t strengthen the foot of their mast. They couldn’t spread the sail. Then the prey of a great plunder…
- Isaiah 52:2 (v7) Shake yourself from the dust! Arise, sit up, Jerusalem! Release yourself from the bonds of your neck, captive daughter of Zion!
- Jeremiah 27:7 (v9) All the nations will serve him, his son, and his son’s son, until the time of his own land comes. Then many nations and great kings will…
- Jeremiah 28:9 (v9) The prophet who prophesies of peace, when the word of the prophet happens, then the prophet will be known, that Yahweh has truly sent him.”
- Jeremiah 50:8 (v7) “Flee out of the middle of Babylon! Go out of the land of the Chaldeans, and be as the male goats before the flocks.
- Jeremiah 51:45 (v7) “My people, go away from the middle of her, and each of you save yourselves from Yahweh’s fierce anger.
- Micah 4:10 (v7) Be in pain, and labor to give birth, daughter of Zion, like a woman in travail; for now you will go out of the city, and will dwell in the…
- Zephaniah 2:9 (v9) Therefore as I live, says Yahweh of Armies, the God of Israel, surely Moab will be as Sodom, and the children of Ammon as Gomorrah, a…
- Zechariah 2:8 (v9) For Yahweh of Armies says: ‘For honor he has sent me to the nations which plundered you; for he who touches you touches the apple of his…
- John 13:19 (v9) From now on, I tell you before it happens, that when it happens, you may believe that I am he.
- John 16:4 (v9) But I have told you these things, so that when the time comes, you may remember that I told you about them. I didn’t tell you these things…
- Acts 9:4 (v8) He fell on the earth, and heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?”
- Numbers 16:26 (v7) He spoke to the congregation, saying, “Depart, please, from the tents of these wicked men, and touch nothing of theirs, lest you be…
69 distinct cross-references across this passage (71 total citations).
Cross-references from openbible.info (CC BY 4.0)
Explain this passage (16 sources)
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John Calvin 1540 · Public Domain On vv7–9 The Prophet repeats the same thing, though briefly, and…
The Prophet repeats the same thing, though briefly, and in other words: but while he briefly touches on what he meant to say, he confirms and renders more plain the contents of the former verse. He shows that it was a very great disgrace that Babylon should become as it were the grave of Sion; for God had chosen that mount as the place where he was to be worshipped. Babylon, we know, was a filthy cavern, accursed by God. It was therefore to subvert, as it were, the order of nature, for the Jews to bury, so to speak, the holy mount of God in that infernal region. This mode of speaking appears on the first view somewhat harsh, but it is yet most suitable; for by Sion the Prophet means the Jews, who were still dispersed in Chaldea. The temple had not indeed been moved from its place, but only burnt and destroyed by the Chaldeans, and there was no other temple built among the Babylonians. What then does the Prophet mean by saying, O Sion, who dwellest with the daughter of Babylon, return to thine own place? He even reminds the Jews that they were bound, as it were, to the temple; for it was a sacred and an indissoluble bond of mutual union between God and them. (1 Kings 6:13.) For when God proposed that a temple should be built for him on mount Sion, he at the same time added,
“I will dwell among you; this is my rest.” (Psalm 132:14.)
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Since the Jews, then, became united to their God, the temple ass introduced as a pledge of this sacred union. Thus justly and fitly does the Prophet give the name of Sion to the Jews; for they were, as it has been said, tied as it were to the temple, except they meant to deny God. Hence he says, “Is it right that you should dwell among the Chaldeans? for ye are as it were the stones of God’s temple. There is therefore for you no fixed and permanent abode except on mount Sion, as you are in a sense that very mount itself.” Therefore he says, “Sion, hasten and return to thine own place; for it is strange and preposterous that thou shouldest dwell with the daughter of Babylon.”
In short, the Prophet shows that God’s favor ought not to have been rejected, when he stretched forth his hand, and gave them a free liberty to return. As then God thus appeared as the deliverer of his people, the Jews ought not to have remained exiles, but immediately to ascend to Jerusalem, that they might again worship God. And why did the Prophet mention this? that the Jews might know that they had nothing to fear, though surrounded with dangers; that though Satan suggested many perils, many difficulties, many troubles, yet the grace of God would not be defective, or evanescent, or fallacious, but that he would complete his work, and not disappoint those to whom he had once testified, that there would be to them again a quiet habitation in the land of Judah. It now follows —
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 On vv7–9 By fleeing from Babylon, and coming to the Church.
By fleeing from Babylon, and coming to the Church.
Geneva Bible (1599) marginal notes — public domain.
John Trapp 1656 · Public Domain On vv7–9 Zec 2:7 Deliver thyself, O Zion, that dwellest [with]…
Zec 2:7 Deliver thyself, O Zion, that dwellest [with] the daughter of Babylon.
Ver. 7. Deliver thyself, O Zion, that dwellest with the daughter of Babylon] q.d. Is Babylon a fit place for thee to abide in? what comfort canst thou take in such lewd company? Save thyself from this untoward generation, Act 2:40 "Flee out of the midst of Babylon, and deliver every man his soul: be not cut off in her iniquity; for this is the time of the Lord’s vengeance; he will render unto her a recompense," Jer 51:6-7. Shortly after this exhortation to the sons of Zion Babylon revolted from the Persians, and was taken and sacked by Darius in the fourth year of his reign (that is, two years after this prophecy was uttered) by the help of his friend Zopyrus. Two things should prevail with the people of God to shun the society of the ungodly. 1. Infection of sin, which is more contagious and catching than the plague. Though Lot learned not the evil manners of Sodom, yet his daughters did. 2. Infliction of punishment, Zec 9:2; Zec 9:4. Hamath lay so nigh Damascus in places that she fared the worse for her neighbourhood. See for both these, Rev 18:4, and say, if at any time forced to be in bad company, "Oh that I had wings of a dove: for then would I flee away, and be at rest," Psa 55:6. Or, if this "Oh" will not set thee at liberty, take up that "Woe" to express thy misery, "Woe is me that I sojourn in Meshech."
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 On vv7–9 Deliver thyself: the proclamation for free return is published;…
Deliver thyself: the proclamation for free return is published; up, then, and be gone.
O Zion; O ye people who should dwell in Zion, ye daughters of Zion.
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Dwellest; keepest in Babylon when thou mightest go to Jerusalem.
With the daughter of Babylon: perhaps this intimates that which kept many Jews in Babylon, wives or mistresses.
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 On vv7–9 Deliver thyself, O Zion,.... Or make thy escape, you…
Deliver thyself, O Zion,.... Or make thy escape, you that belong to Mount Zion, the city of the living God, and ought to have your abode there, and not in Babylon: flee from thence,
that dwelleth with the daughter of Babylon; in any of the antichristian states, who are the daughters of Babylon, the mother of harlots, Rev 17:5 so it may be rendered, "that inhabits the daughter of Babylon" (k); dwells in any of the cities, towns, and villages, belonging to it.
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(k) , , Sept.; "habitatrix filiae Babel", Pagninus, Montanus, Drusius; "vel inhabitans filiam Babel", De Dieu.
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 On vv7–9 Deliver thyself - Accept of thy deliverance.
Deliver thyself - Accept of thy deliverance.
John Wesley, Explanatory Notes Upon the Whole Bible (1754–1765) — public domain. Text via the GEBible commentary corpus.
Adam Clarke 1810 · Public Domain On vv8–9 Verse 8. After the glory] After your glorious deliverance…
Verse 8. After the glory] After your glorious deliverance from the different places of your dispersion; He hath sent me unto the nations which spoiled you, that they may fall under grievous calamities, and be punished in their turn. On Babylon a great calamity fell, when besieged and taken by the Persians.
The following note I received from a sensible and pious correspondent: -
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Zec 2:5. "For I, saith the Lord, will be unto her a wall of fire round about, and will be the glory in the midst of her.
Zec 2:8. "For thus saith the Lord of hosts, who hath sent me, the future glory (or the glory which is to come) unto the nations which spoiled you; for he that toucheth you toucheth the apple of his eye. 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. Sing and rejoice, O daughter of Zion; for lo, I come, and I will dwell in the midst of thee, saith the Lord. And many nations shall be joined to the Lord in that day, and shall be my people; and I will dwell in the midst of thee, and thou shalt know that the Lord of hosts hath sent me unto thee. And the Lord shall inherit Judah his portion in the holy land, and shall choose Jerusalem again.
"If in the eighth verse אחר כבוד may be rendered the future, or the glory that is to come, it will harmonize with the context as a prophecy of the Messiah, whereas in our English translation the words after the glory are unintelligible. And so the Seventy.
"It is evident the person speaking is distinguished from the Lord of hosts, as being sent by him; yet this person sent is also called Jehovah; and the nations who shall be joined to Jehovah in that day are called his people; and he (the person sent) will dwell in the midst of thee, (i.e., Zion,) and shall inherit Judah his portion, c.
"In confirmation of my view of the eighth verse, I think Ex 33:18-23 may be compared with it. Moses besought God that he would show him his glory upon which it was said to him, "Whilst my glory passeth by,' I will put thee in a cleft of the rock, and will cover thee with my hand whilst I pass by; and I will take away my hand, and thou shalt see my אחר achar. Now as this was a fulfilment of Moses's request, who entreated to behold the glory, it follows that this אחר was the Divine glory, which alone he was capable of seeing.
"'No man hath seen God at any time, the only begotten Son, (the Lord Jesus Christ,) which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him.'" - M. A. B.
Toucheth the apple of his eye.] בבבת עינו bebabath eyno, the babet of his eye. This is a remarkable expression. Any person, by looking into the eye of another, will see his own image perfectly expressed, though in extreme minature, in the pupil. Does our English word babbet or baby come from this? And does not the expression mean that the eye of God is ever on his follower, and that his person is ever impressed on the eye, the notice, attention, providence, and mercy of God?
Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible (1810–1826) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.
Albert Barnes 1834 · Public Domain On vv7–9 Dwellest with the daughter of Babylon - The unusual…
Dwellest with the daughter of Babylon - The unusual idiom is perhaps chosen as expressive of God’s tenderness, even to the people who were to be destroyed, from which Israel was to escape.
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 On vv8–9 Glory. After restoring you to your own country, and…
Glory. After restoring you to your own country, and rebuilding your cities, I will punish your enemies. (Calmet) --- After they have enjoyed prosperity, they shall feel the reverse. Hebrew Cabod, (Haydock) means also "a burden."
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 On vv7, 9 O Zion . . . daughter of Babylon--Thou whose…
O Zion . . . daughter of Babylon--Thou whose only sure dwelling is "Zion," inseparably connected with the temple, art altogether out of thy place in "dwelling with the daughter of Babylon" (that is, Babylon and her people, Psa 137:8; Isa 1:8).
After the glory--After restoring the "glory" (Zac 2:5; Isa 4:5; Rom 9:4) of Jehovah's presence to Jerusalem, He (God the Father) hath commissioned ME (God the Son, Isa 48:16, the Divine Angel: God thus being at once the Sender and the Sent) to visit in wrath "the nations which spoiled you." Messiah's twofold office from the Father is: (1) to glorify His Church; (2) to punish its foes (Th2 1:7-10). Both offices manifest His glory (Pro 16:4).
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toucheth . . . the apple of his eye--namely, of Jehovah's eye (Deu 32:10; Psa 17:8; Pro 7:2). The pupil, or aperture, through which rays pass to the retina, is the tenderest part of the eye; the member which we most sedulously guard from hurt as being the dearest of our members; the one which feels most acutely the slightest injury, and the loss of which is irreparable.
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown — Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.
The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges 1878 · Public Domain On vv7–9 7. Deliver thyself] Lit. “Ho, Zion, deliver thyself: thou…
7. Deliver thyself] Lit. “Ho, Zion, deliver thyself: thou that dwellest with, &c.” The reason for this urgent call to escape, viz. the impending judgment upon Babylon, follows immediately, Zec_2:8-9. In like manner Jeremiah (Jer_50:8; Jer_50:10; Jer_51:6; Jer_51:45), and before him Isaiah (Jer_48:14; Jer_48:20), connects the punishment of Babylon with the escape of Israel. The immediate reference of those prophecies is to the taking of Babylon by Cyrus, which preceded and led to the return from the 70 years’ captivity. But the prophecies reach on, in the largeness of their terms, to the final and utter destruction of Babylon, and include such later calls to escape as that of Zechariah here. The immediate reference here would appear to be to one or both of those occasions in the reign of Darius, on which Babylon “had risen against the Persians and made an effort to regain its independence”. “What these dangers were may be seen from the great inscription of Darius cut into the rock at Behistun, and supposed by Sir H. Rawlinson to have been executed in the fifth year of the reign of Darius (two or three years after this prophecy was uttered). That inscription records two great rebellions in Babylonia, and two captures of the city of Babylon, one effected by Darius in person, the other by one of his generals. The Jews in Babylon who did not listen to the prophetic warning suffered no doubt severely in the confusions of that period; while those who returned to Palestine, and obeyed the command to flee out of Babylon, delivered their souls, that is their lives, and were not cut off in her iniquity.” Rev. C. H. H. Wright, Bampton Lectures, 1878.
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 On vv7–9 (7) Daughter of Babylon means inhabitants of Babylon, as…
(7) Daughter of Babylon means inhabitants of Babylon, as (Zec_2:10) “daughter of Zion” means inhabitants of Zion. (With the whole passage comp. Isa_48:20; Jer_51:6; Jer_51:9; Jer_51:45.) LXX. for “O Zion,” εὶς Σιῶν—comp. a somewhat similar mistake in Eze_21:15 (Zec_2:10, LXX.).
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 On vv7–9 Deliver thyself. Escape from the danger. O Zion. The…
Deliver thyself. Escape from the danger. O Zion. The exiled Jews are thus designated. Septuagint, Eiv Siwzesye "Go to Zion, and save yourselves." That dwellest (thou that dwellest) with the daughter of Babylon. The inhabitants of Babylon are called "the daughter of Babylon," in analogy with the common phrases, "the daughter of Zion," "the daughter of Jerusalem". (comp. Jer_46:19) There is soma reproach implied in the clause, as if these Jews were content to dwell and remain in this heathen city. The immediate danger that menaced Babylon arose from two severe rebellions, in the course of which the city was twice taken. The first revolt was headed by Nidinta-Bel, B.C. 519, who was slain by Darius at Babylon. The second took place under Arakha, B.C. 514; he was defeated by a general of Darius, named Intaphernes, taken prisoner and crucified. A record of these occurrences is found in Darius"s inscription on the rock at Behlstun, translated in "Records of the Past," vol. 1. The merciless Persians would doubtless treat the inhabitants of the captured city with their wonted cruelty.
The Pulpit Commentary (1880–1919), ed. H.D.M. Spence-Jones & Joseph S. Exell — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
The Biblical Illustrator 1887 · Public Domain On vv7–8 Deliver thyself, O Zion, that dwellest with the daughter…
Zec_2:7
Deliver thyself, O Zion, that dwellest with the daughter Babylon
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Separation from the world, the duty and privilege of a Christian
Zechariah prophesied at Jerusalem after the return of the Jews from their captivity in Babylon; and one great object of his ministry was to stir them up to a more lively sense of the peculiar duties and privileges which their deliverance brought with it.
In the text he is addressing that part of the nation which were still remaining in the land of Chaldea. As their dispersion had been the effect of Gods righteous displeasure, so the way now opened for their return was no less clearly an evidence of His returning mercy and favour. But many were unwilling to return; the real cause of their so deciding was their indifference to religion, their distrust of Gods Word, and their backwardness to obey Him and to show themselves His servants. To them came the admonition of the text. Can we make application of this passage to present times, and point out its spiritual sense? The world is now, to Christians, what Babylon was then to the Jews. By the world, is meant this world, in respect to its moral state; to its habits, maxims, and practices; to its principles, fashions, and ways: the world as it is now corrupted through the depravity of man. By Christians is meant all who are so called; all who, by name and profession, are Christians. They are born and grow up in the midst of the worlds sin and iniquity. From their earliest infancy they are surrounded by its examples, exposed to its allurements, and made familiar with its practices. What they are taught to admire and covet most, are the things of the world. But they belong, not to the world, but to Christ. They are professedly the subjects of that spiritual kingdom which Christ has established in the world. They cannot possess and enjoy their privileges while living in the world. The Jews must return home to Judea before they could rejoice as Jews. And what must Christians do, if they would rejoice as Christians? They must arise, and turning their backs on the world, must comply with the proclamation of the Gospel. Come out and be separate. It is one part of the salvation of the Gospel, that it delivers us from this present evil world. If persons would sincerely come to Christ for deliverance, He would surely set them free. The persons with whom we would plead are those who, under the garb of a Christian profession, manifestly retain a worldly spirit, and by their conformity to the fashions and follies of the world, betray its influence over their hearts. Consider--
1. The inconsistency of such a state with your profession of Christianity.
2. The shamefulness of it.
3. The danger of your present state. If you walk not as a Christian now, you will never be owned as a Christian at last.
4. The happiness which will result from complying with the admonition in the text. (E. Cooper.)
The Biblical Illustrator, edited by Joseph S. Exell (c. 1880s–1900s) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
unfoldingWord translationNotes 2017 · CC BY-SA 4.0 On v8 General Information:
General Information:
Zechariah begins to speak and tells how Yahweh is sending him to judge the nations who have plundered Jerusalem.
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plundered you
The word "you" refers to Jerusalem.
for whoever touches you
The word "touches" refers to a touch meant to harm. AT: "for whoever harms you" (See: Assumed Knowledge and Implicit Information)
the apple of God's eye
The apple of an eye refers to the pupil of the eye, which is one of the most sensitive parts of the body. The idiom "apple of the eye" refers to something that is most valuable. Here it means that God greatly values Jerusalem. AT: "what is most valuable to God" (See: Idiom)
I myself will shake my hand over them
Raising one's hand against another person is a gesture of hostility. Here it is a symbolic action that means that God will attack those who harm Jerusalem. AT: "I myself will fight against them" or "I myself will attack them" (See: Symbolic Action)
they will be plunder for their slaves
The word "plunder" can be translated with a verb. AT: "their slaves will plunder them"
translationWords
Yahweh of hosts
honor
send
nation
God
hand
servant
know
unfoldingWord translationNotes — © Distant Shores Media and the Door43 World Missions Community, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Source: git.door43.org/Door43/en_tn.
Tyndale Open Study Notes 2022 · CC BY-SA 4.0 On vv8–9 2:8 Anyone who harms you harms my most precious…
2:8 Anyone who harms you harms my most precious possession (literally Anyone who touches you touches the pupil of his eye): This might refer to Israel as God’s elect; it might also mean that those who harmed Israel poked themselves in the eye by bringing God’s judgment upon themselves.
Tyndale Open Study Notes — © Tyndale Open Resources, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Text via the HelloAO Bible API.