This chapter is a prophecy of the conversion of the Jews in the latter day, when the fulness of the Gentiles is brought in, spoken of in the preceding chapter Zech. 9:1–17.

Ask ye of the Lord rain in the time of the latter rain There was the former and the latter rain, of which see . The former rain was in autumn, a little before or about seed time; the latter was in the spring, and a little before harvest, which is here referred to.

For the idols have spoken vanity The vanities of the Gentiles cannot give rain; if they promise it, they speak vain things; God only can give it, and therefore it must, be asked of him, .

Mine anger was kindled against the shepherds The Targum interprets it of “kings”; as the “goats” of “princes”, in the next clause; by whom, according to Jarchi, Aben Ezra, Kimchi, and Abarbinel, are meant the kings of Greece; but rather the antichristian kings are designed, the kings of the earth,…

Out of him came forth the corner Or “cornerstone”; by which is meant a king or ruler, as the Targum, Jarchi, and Kimchi; and is no other than the King Messiah, who was to come out of Judah, and did spring from that tribe, and this is a reason why God will visit the house of Judah, or the Jews, in…

And they shall be as mighty men That is, the converted Jews shall be such; they shall be strong in faith, giving glory to the Messiah; they shall be strong in the grace that is in him; they shall be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might; his strength shall be made perfect in their…

And I wilt strengthen the house of Judah Both with internal and external strength, so that they shall be able to stand their ground against enemies of every sort: and I will save the house of Joseph: the ten tribes, such of them that shall be found, for all Israel shall be saved, not only…

And they of Ephraim shall be like a mighty man What remain, and shall be found of the ten tribes, shall be as is said of Judah, or the Jews of the two tribes, : and their heart shall rejoice as through wine: they shall be filled with inward and spiritual joy, through the love of God shed abroad in…

I will hiss for them Or “whistle for them” [[14]]; the word signifies, as Kimchi and Ben Melech observe, the motion of the lips with the voice, and is a sign of calling; and so the Targum renders it, I will cry or call for them; and it denotes the call of them by the Gospel, which is the voice of…

And I will sow them among the people, The people of God in the Gentile world: this is to be understood of the conversion of the Jews, when they will become the good seed that hear the word, and understand it, and bring forth fruit; and of their being known, acknowledged, and reckoned among the…

I will bring them again also out of the land of Egypt, &c.] The Targum paraphrases it, “and as I brought them out of the land of Egypt, so will gather their captivity out of Assyria;” suggesting there would be a likeness between the one and the other.

And he shall pass through the sea with affliction Either the people of the Jews, as Israel of old did, when they came out of Egypt, to which the allusion is; or the wind shall pass through the sea, as Aben Ezra supplies it, and it shall become dry; that is, the river of Egypt: or “affliction”…

And I will strengthen them in the Lord Not the Egyptians and Assyrians, but the Jews, as in , the Targum is, “I will strengthen them in the word of the Lord;” in the Messiah, by his power, and in the grace that is in him; and their faith and hope in him, and love to him: or “by” [[18]] him; so…