In this chapter are contained the vision of a golden candlestick, and of two olive trees by it, and the explanation thereof. The preparation to this vision, which is the awaking of the prophet, as of a man out of sleep, is in Zech. 4:1. The vision of the candlestick, and olive trees, is in Zech.

And the angel that talked with me See (Zech. 1:9, Zech. 1:13) : came again, and waked me, as a man that is wakened out of his sleep; into which he fell, after he had had the former vision; see .

And said unto me, What seest thou? &c.] That is, after he was awake, and had looked about him: And I said, I have looked, and behold a candlestick all of gold; such an one as was in the tabernacle of Moses, only with this difference; that had no bowl on the top, nor seven pipes to it, nor two olive…

And the two olive trees by it Which are explained in, (See Gill on Zech. 4:14): one upon the right side of the bowl, and the other upon the left side thereof; in they are said to be on the right and left sides of the bowl or candlestick, which is the same; for the situation of them was alike, with…

So I answered, and spake to the angel that talked with me, &c.] The same that awoke him out of sleep, and asked him what he saw: saying, What are these, my lord? that is, what do they signify? what do they represent? or what are they emblems of? for he knew what they were; that they were a…

Then the angel that talked with me answered and said unto me Either to upbraid him with his ignorance and stupidity; or rather to quicken his attention, and that of others, to the interpretation of it he was about to give him: Knowest thou not what these be? art thou ignorant of the design of them?…

Then he answered, and spake unto me, saying In great condescension, in order to instruct him into the true meaning of the vision: This is the word of the Lord unto Zerubbabel; this signifies what was said by the Lord to Zerubbabel, by some one of the prophets sent unto him: saying, Not by might,…

Who art thou, O great mountain? &c.] This is said in reference to those who opposed the building of the temple, as Sanballat, and others; or the Persian monarchy, and Babylon the capital of it; a mountain being a symbol of a kingdom, or capital city; so Babylon is called, hence the Targum…

Moreover, the word of the Lord came unto me, saying. ] As follows; which is a confirmation of the angel’s interpretation of the vision.

The hands of Zerubbabel have laid the foundation of this house The temple at Jerusalem, which was laid, or however renewed, after it had been long neglected, even the four and twentieth day of the ninth month, two months before this vision and prophecy, compared with : his hands shall also finish…

For who hath despised the day of small things? &c.] This literally refers to the building of the second temple, which was contemptible to the enemies of Judah, Sanballat, and others; and little in the eyes of many of the Jews themselves, who had seen the former temple; yet not in the eyes of the…

Then answered I, and said unto him To the angel that talked with him, (Zech. 4:1, Zech. 4:4, Zech. 4:5) : What are these two olive trees upon the right side of the candlestick, and upon the left side thereof? in they are said to be on each side of the bowl.

And I answered again, and said unto him Before he could have an answer to the former question, he puts the following, as being of the same import: What be these two olive branches; which grew upon the olive trees, and were nearest to the candlestick, and the pipes that were to the lamps: these, in…

And he answered me, and said That is, the angel answered to the prophet’s questions: Knowest thou not what these be? And I said, No, my lord; (See Gill on Zech. 4:5).

Then said he, These are the two anointed ones Or “sons of oil” [[18]]. Some think the gifts and graces of the Spirit are meant, which come from the God of all grace, remain with Christ, are given freely by him to the sons of God, and are always for the service of the church, and sufficient for it;…