The Prophet Zechariah
⭑ Catholic Public Domain Version 2009 ⭑
- Chapter 14 -
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All Nations Will Worship the King
(Leviticus 23:33–44; Nehemiah 8:13–18)
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Footnotes
(a)14:2 The ‘Gentiles’ in the context of the Church today, refers to unbelievers, not to non-Jews. The ‘central part of the city’ could also be translated as ‘half of the city,’ (but half in the looser sense, not a literal one half).(Conte)
(b)14:2
I will gather, etc: This seems to be a prophecy of what was done by Antiochus.(Challoner)
(c)14:4 The ‘center’ could also be translated as ‘half.’ The ‘Meridian’ is often translated as ‘South,’ but this is a less accurate translation, because there is another word in Latin ‘Auster,’ that means ‘South.’ Words for direction, when used to refer to a region rather than a mere direction, are capitalized, e.g.: travel south for many days, and then you will enter the land of the South.(Conte)
(d)14:6
No light: Viz., in that dismal time of persecution of Antiochus, when it was neither day nor night: (ver. 7) because they neither had the comfortable light of the day, nor the repose of the night.(Challoner)
(e)14:7
In the time of the evening there shall be light: An unexpected light shall arise by the means of the Machabees, when things shall seem to be at the worst.(Challoner)
(f)14:8
Living waters: Viz., the gospel of Christ.(Challoner)
(g)14:10 The word ‘torcularia’ refers to a winepress or an oil press or a pressing room.(Conte)
(h)14:10
All the land shall return, etc: This, in some measure, was verified by the 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)
(i)14:12 Compare the verb ‘tabescet’ to the verb ‘contabescent;’ the latter has the prefix ‘con’ which intensifies the verb. Their flesh wastes away, but not completely. Their eyes and tongue completely waste away.(Conte)
(j)14:12
The flesh of every one shall consume, etc: Such judgments as these have often fallen upon the persecutors of God’s church, as appears by many instances in history.(Challoner)
(k)14:14
Even Juda, etc: The carnal Jews, and other false brothers, shall join in persecuting the church.(Challoner)
(l)14:15 The word ‘castris’ often has a military connotation, as in a military encampment. The ruin of beast of burden, in the modern context, probably refers to the ruin of machinery (the modern-day beasts of burden), including the machinery used by the military.(Conte)
(m)14:15
Shall be like this destruction: That is, the beasts shall be destroyed as well as the men: the common soldiers as well as their leaders.(Challoner)
(n)14:16
They that shall be left, etc: That is, many of them that persecuted the church shall be converted to its faith and communion.(Challoner)
(o)14:16
To keep the feast of tabernacles: This feast was kept by the Jews in memory of their sojourning forty years in the desert, in their way to the land of promise. And in the spiritual sense is duly kept by all such Christians as in their earthly pilgrimage are continually advancing toward their true home, the heavenly Jerusalem; by the help of the sacraments and sacrifice of the church. And they that neglect this must not look for the kind showers of divine grace, to give fruitfulness to their souls.(Challoner)
(p)14:20 The word ‘lebetes’ refers to a kettle or a cooking pot or a sink or a wash basin. Clearly, this word refers to common vessels, not to holy containers used on an altar. Yet even these will be considered holy.(Conte)
(q)14:20
That which is upon the bridle, etc: The golden ornaments of the bridles, etc., shall be turned into offerings in the house of God. And there shall be an abundance of caldrons and phials for the sacrifices of the temple; by which is meant, under a figure, the great resort there shall be to the temple, that is, to the church of Christ, and her sacrifice.(Challoner)
(r)14:21
The merchant shall be no more, etc: Or, as some render it, The Chanaanite shall be no more, etc., that is, the profane and unbelievers shall have no title to be in the house of the Lord. Or there shall be no occasion for buyers or sellers of oxen, or sheep, or doves, in the house of God, such as Jesus Christ cast out of the temple.(Challoner)