“Thus saith the LORD of hosts; I was jealous for Zion with great jealousy, and I was jealous for her with great fury.”
Jealous for her, treating her as a spouse, (Calmet) and not neglecting her as one incorrigible. (Haydock)
“Thus saith the LORD; I am returned unto Zion, and will dwell in the midst of Jerusalem: and Jerusalem shall be called a city of truth; and the mountain of the LORD of hosts the holy mountain.”
Truth. Idols and infidelity shall reign there no more. The Jews were more faithful after the captivity. But the Church of Christ is alone perfectly chaste. (Calmet)
“Thus saith the LORD of hosts; If it be marvellous in the eyes of the remnant of this people in these days, should it also be marvellous in mine eyes? saith the LORD of hosts. marvellous: or, hard, or, difficult”
Days. If no prospect of such happiness now appear, is any thing difficult to Omnipotence? (Haydock) (Luke i. 37.)
“Thus saith the LORD of hosts; Behold, I will save my people from the east country, and from the west country; the west: Heb. the country of the going down of the sun”
Sun, from Chaldea and the islands. This chiefly regards the Christian Church. (Calmet) — Assyria and Chaldea lay to the north. The promises are too great for the synagogue. (Worthington)
“And I will bring them, and they shall dwell in the midst of Jerusalem: and they shall be my people, and I will be their God, in truth and in righteousness.”
Justice. I will fulfil my promises, if they adhere to virtue. (Calmet)
“For before these days there was no hire for man, nor any hire for beast; neither was there any peace to him that went out or came in because of the affliction: for I set all men every one against his neighbour. there was: or, the hire of man became nothing”
Hire, or “reward;” merces. (Haydock) — All their toils proved useless: (Calmet) the land would not yield her fruit. (Haydock) See Aggeus ii. 16. — The temple had now been building two years, and then God sent his prophets and many blessings. — Neighbour. Civil broils and the enemy rendered all wretched, 1 Esdras iv.
“And it shall come to pass, that as ye were a curse among the heathen, O house of Judah, and house of Israel; so will I save you, and ye shall be a blessing: fear not, but let your hands be strong.”
Blessing. As the nations could wish no greater curse than what you have experienced, so you shall now be regarded as a most happy people.
“These are the things that ye shall do; Speak ye every man the truth to his neighbour; execute the judgment of truth and peace in your gates: execute: Heb. judge truth, and the judgment of peace”
Of peace, or perfect. Shew no partiality.
“And let none of you imagine evil in your hearts against his neighbour; and love no false oath: for all these are things that I hate, saith the LORD.”
Friend means every neighbour, or all mankind, Luke x. 27, 36. Even thoughts must be guarded. (Calmet)
“Thus saith the LORD of hosts; The fast of the fourth month, and the fast of the fifth, and the fast of the seventh, and the fast of the tenth, shall be to the house of Judah joy and gladness, and cheerful feasts; therefore love the truth and peace. feasts: or, solemn, or, set times”
Fast. They fasted on the ninth day of the fourth month, because on that day Nabuchodonosor took Jerusalem, Jeremias lii. 6. On the tenth day of the fifth month, because on that day the temple was burnt, Jeremias lii. 12. On the third day of the seventh month, for the murder of Godolias, Jeremias xli. 2. And on the tenth day of the tenth month, because on that day the Chaldeans began to besiege Jerusalem, 4 Kings xxv. 1. All these fasts, if they will be obedient for the future, shall be changed (as is here promised) into joyful solemnities. (Challoner) — They had only inquired about the fasts of the fifth and seventh months but the two others were also to be omitted in times of joy. (Worthington) — The Jews still observe all four. (Basnage v. 16.) — They fast on the seventeenth of the fourth month, because the breach was then made in the walls, (Calmet) and Moses broke the tables of the law, according to the Jews, in St. Jerome. The ninth of the fifth month is also kept instead of the tenth, on which day the city was taken by the Chaldeans; (Calmet) and the Romans burnt the temple in the same month, as the Israelites had then formerly been sentenced to wander in the desert. (St. Jerome) — It would be difficult for the Jews to prove all these assertions.
“Yea, many people and strong nations shall come to seek the LORD of hosts in Jerusalem, and to pray before the LORD. to pray: Heb. to intreat the face of”
Lord. Many were converted in the days of Esther, (viii. 17.) and the Pharisees were eager to make proselytes in all parts, when Christ preached, Matthew xxiii. 15., and Acts ii. 11. Yet we must go to the Church to see this fully accomplished. (Calmet)
“Thus saith the LORD of hosts; In those days it shall come to pass, that ten men shall take hold out of all languages of the nations, even shall take hold of the skirt of him that is a Jew , saying, We will go with you: for we have heard that God is with you.”
Ten men, &c. Many of the Gentiles became proselytes to the Jewish religion before Christ; but many more were converted to Christ by the apostles and other preachers of the Jewish nation. (Challoner) — Skirt, or hem, by which the Jews were distinguished, Numbers xv. 38., and Matthew ix. 20. (Calmet)