2<\/strong>. fir tree<\/em> ] or cypress.<\/strong> It is uncertain what tree is meant. See Dict. of Bible<\/em>, Art. “Cypress.”<\/p>\n for the cedar is fallen<\/em> ] Grand trees as were the firs, or cypresses, the cedars were grander still. The fall therefore of the latter might well make the former howl in despair at their own assured fate. “Nam si cedris haud parcitur, aliis arboribus, qu minoris quam ill pretii sunt, multo minus parcetur.” Rosenm.<\/p>\n the mighty<\/em> ] i.e. the mighty trees<\/em>, “prstantes scil. arbores, cedri,” Rosenm., who compares, “a goodly<\/em> cedar,” Eze 17:23<\/span>, where the Heb. word is the same. Possibly, however (especially as the clause is additional or parenthetical and mars the symmetry of the parallelism), it is thrown in to suggest the figurative or allegorical reference to the rulers and chiefs of Israel which lies behind and goes together with the literal reference. The goodly ones<\/em>, R. V.<\/p>\n Bashan<\/em> ] Compare the association of “Gilead and Lebanon,” chap. Zec 10:10<\/span>. “From the heights of Lebanon the destructive storm sweeps down on the land of Bashan, and the oaks, the pride of the land (with their kindly shade from the burning heat), are likewise felled by the enemy to meet the wants of the invading army, and to construct his means of offence and defence.” Wright.<\/p>\n forest of the vintage<\/em> ] Rather, inaccessible forest.<\/p>\n Howl, O cypress, for the cedar is fallen – <\/B>Jerusalem or the temple having been likened to Lebanon and its cedars, the prophet carries on the image, speaking of the priests princes and people, under the title of firs, cypresses and oaks, trees inferior, but magnificent. He shows that it is imagery, by ascribing to them the feelings of people. The more glorious and stately, the cedars, were destroyed. Woe then to the rest, the cypress; as our Lord says, If they do these things in the green tree, what shall be done, in the dry? Luk 23:31<\/span>, and Peter, If the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear? 1Pe 4:18<\/span>.<\/P> For the defensed forest is come down – <\/B>That which was closed and inaccessible to the enemy. All which was high and lifted up was brought low, came down, even to the ground .<\/P> <\/p>\n Verse 2<\/span>. Howl, fir tree<\/B><\/I>] This seems to point out the fall and destruction of all the mighty men.<\/P> <\/p>\n Howl, fir tree; either mean men, or houses and towns built with firs. <\/P> For the cedar is fallen; the greater and better escape not, much less shall the meaner and worse. <\/P> Because the mighty is spoiled; howl because the mighty men, cities, fortresses, and munitions are taken, sacked, and ruined; or else held by enemies, which is worse, and of defences and safety to us, are become our greatest annoyances and dangers. <\/P> Oaks of Bashan; oaks either literally, as they were used in that country, for building palaces, cities, towns, and fortresses; or else figuratively, the great men of that country, a land very fruitful and pleasant, of which Nah 1:4<\/span>. <\/P> The forest of the vintage; either all strong places which were for guarding and defending the vineyards; or Jerusalem itself, compared to a forest in regard of the many and tall houses in it; this best pleaseth most interpreters. In short, all are called to weep, and cry, and howl for the miseries that will come upon all sorts, high and low, on-them and theirs. <\/P> Is come down; is laid desolate. <\/P> <\/p>\n 2. fir tree . . . cedar<\/B>ifeven the cedars<\/I> (the highest in the state) are not spared, howmuch less the fir trees<\/I> (the lowest)! <\/P> forest of . . . vintage<\/B>Asthe vines are stripped of their grapes in the vintage (compare Joe3:13<\/span>), so the forest of Lebanon “is come down,”stripped of all its beauty. Rather, “the fortified<\/I>“or “inaccessible forest<\/I>” [MAURER];that is, Jerusalem dense with houses as a thick forest is with trees,and “fortified” with a wall around. Compare Mic3:12<\/span>, where its desolate state is described as a forest.<\/P><\/p>\n Howl, fir tree; for the cedar is fallen<\/strong>,…. By which are designed the princes, nobles, and magistrates of the land: so the Targum interprets them of kings and princes; see Na 2:3<\/span>:<\/p>\n because all the mighty are spoiled<\/strong>; which is an explanation of the figurative expressions in the former clause, and in the following; and designs rich men, as the Targum paraphrases it, who at this time would be spoiled of their wealth and substance.<\/p>\n Howl, O ye oaks of Bashan<\/strong>; which the Targum interprets of governors of provinces; and men of power and authority are doubtless intended; see Isa 2:13<\/span>:<\/p>\n for the forest of the vintage is come down<\/strong>; or rather, “the fortified forest”; meaning the city of Jerusalem, which was a fortified place, and like a forest full of trees, for number of inhabitants, but now cut down and destroyed; see Isa 10:16<\/span>.<\/p>\n He then adds, Howl thou, fir-tree, for the cedar has fallen. No doubt the Prophet by naming Lebanon, mentioning a part for the whole, meant the whole of Judea: and it appears evident from the context that the most remarkable places are here mentioned; but yet the Prophet’s design was to show, that God would punish the whole people, so as not to spare Jerusalem or any other place. And then by the fir-trees and cedars he meant whatever then excelled in Judea or in other places; and for this reason he compares them to the cedars of Lebanon, as though he had said, “There is no reason for the fir-trees to regard themselves as beyond the reach of danger; for if he spares not the cedars what will become of the fir-trees, which possess no such stateliness and grandeur?” <\/p>\n We now then perceive the Prophet’s meaning as to the trees: but he includes, as I have said, under one kind, whatever was valuable in Judea; and this we learn more clearly from what follows: for he adds, Fallen have, or laid waste have been, the strong (130) Some read in the neuter gender, “Laid waste have been splendid things;” but I am inclined to regard persons as intended. The Prophet then now simply declares, that the vengeance of God was nigh all the great ones, whom dignity sheltered, so that they thought themselves in no danger. And for the same purpose he adds, Howl, ye oaks of Bashan. He joins, as we see, Bashan to Lebanon; there is then no reason for allegorising only one of the words, when they are both connected. And he says, For fallen has the fortified forest. Either this may be applied to Lebanon, or the Prophet may be viewed as saying in general, that there was no place so difficult of access, which would not be penetrated into, when the Lord should give liberty to enemies to destroy all things. Though then the density of trees protected these mountains, yet the Prophet says that nothing would obstruct God’s vengeance from penetrating into the inmost recesses of strongholds. <\/p>\n (130) The word means illustrious, stately, magnificent, glorious. It may apply to the cedars, or to the rulers or chief men, represented by the cedars, which is most probable: they are afterwards called shepherds and lions. — Ed. <\/p>\n Zec 11:2<\/span><\/em><\/strong>. <\/strong>Howl, fir-tree<\/em><\/strong><\/strong> O fir-tree; because the cedar is fallen, because,<\/em> &c. Howl, O ye oaks of Bashan, because the defenced forest is overthrown. <\/em>Houbigant. When any apologue or fable became celebrated for the art and beauty of its composition, or for some extraordinary efficacy in its application, it was soon converted and worn into a proverb. We have a fine instance of this in the message of Jehovah to Amaziah, 2Ki 14:9-10<\/span> where we see plainly that Jotham’s satiric apologue of the thistle and cedar was then become a proverb. Of the like kind is this of the prophet, Howl, O fir-tree, &c. to denote the danger of the lower people, when their superiors cannot withstand the tempest. See Div. Leg. b. 4: sect. 4. <\/p>\n Zec 11:2 Howl, fir tree; for the cedar is fallen; because the mighty are spoiled: howl, O ye oaks of Bashan; for the forest of the vintage is come down.<\/p>\n Ver. 2. Howl, fir tree<\/strong> ] That is, ye of lower rank, or ye meaner cities, those daughters of Jerusalem, that felt the Roman’s force; howl, take up a loud outcry, a doleful ditty, after the manner of those that are carried captive by the enemy, Psa 137:3<\/span> . For there they that carried us away captive required of us a song; and they that wasted us, qui contumulabant nos,<\/em> that threw us on heaps (so Tremellius rendereth it, confer Isa 25:2 ), or those that made us howl, ululatores nostri<\/em> (so Schindler), required of us mirth. <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Because all the mighty are spoiled<\/strong> ] The magnificos, the men of power, as they are called, Psa 76:5<\/span> , stout-hearted and every way able for strength, courage, and riches; which often take away the life of the owners, Pro 1:19<\/span> , and expose them to spoil; as every man desireth to lop the tree that hath thick and large boughs and branches. <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Howl, O ye oaks of Bashan<\/strong> ] Og’s country, who only remained of the remnant of giants, Deu 3:11<\/span> . The Jews fable that he escaped in the flood by riding astride on the ark. By the oaks of his country understand the strong and eminent. The Chaldee rendereth it, Satrapae provinciarum,<\/em> ye provincial governors. <\/p>\n <\/p>\n For the forest of the vintage<\/strong> ] Or, the defenced forest, viz. of Lebanon, i.e.<\/em> Jerusalem, that seemed impregnable, but at length came down, ruit alto a culmine,<\/em> as a cedar that is felled by a mighty one, Isa 10:34<\/span> . Death hewed its way through a wood or forest of men in a minute of time from the mouth of a murdering piece, or some such warlike engine. When the sword is once sharpened it makes a sore slaughter; “it contemneth the rod,” Eze 21:10<\/span> ; q.d.<\/em> what does this silly rod do here? these lesser and lighter judgments? let me come, I will make work among them; down with these oaks, down with this defenced forest, &c.<\/p>\n fir = cypress. <\/p>\n for. If the cedar is fallen, how much more the cypress. <\/p>\n the. The 1611 edition of the Authorized Version reads “all the”. <\/p>\n mighty = honourable, or majestic ones. <\/p>\n forest of the vintage = the inaccessible forest. <\/p>\n Howl: Isa 2:12-17, Isa 10:33, Isa 10:34, Eze 31:2, Eze 31:3, Eze 31:17, Amo 6:1, Nah 3:8-19, Luk 23:31 <\/p>\n mighty: or, gallants <\/p>\n for: Isa 32:15-19, Eze 20:46 <\/p>\n forest of the vintage: or, defenced forest <\/p>\n Reciprocal: Isa 2:13 – General Isa 14:8 – General Isa 29:17 – the fruitful Isa 32:19 – on the Isa 37:24 – General Jer 22:23 – Lebanon Jer 46:22 – and come Eze 15:2 – among Eze 27:6 – the oaks Eze 30:2 – Howl Eze 30:9 – great Eze 31:9 – all the trees Eze 32:10 – and they Amo 9:1 – Smite Nah 2:3 – the fir trees Zep 1:11 – Howl Hag 1:8 – to Mat 23:38 – General Luk 13:35 – your Jam 5:1 – weep Rev 18:9 – shall bewail<\/p>\n THE LESSONS OF CALAMITY<\/p>\n Howl, fir tree; for the cedar is fallen.<\/p>\n Zec 11:2<\/p>\n Such words are universally applicable whenever calamity falls on those better or more exalted than ourselves; and such calamity may serve as a warning, teaching us to expect our own share of trouble.<\/p>\n I. If our blessed Saviour Himself be the first cedar tree on which we gaze, the cedar tree smitten of God and afflicted, we may set in contrast the holiness and the suffering of the Mediator.The holiness such that He did no sin, neither was guile found in His mouth; the suffering such that His visage was so marred more than any man, and His form more than the sons of men. What must sin be, what is hatefulness in Gods sight, if it were punished thus fearfully in the Person of Christ? Can you think that God will deal lightly with you, though He dealt thus sternly with His well-beloved Son, and that justice will not be rigid in exacting penalties from you, when it would not relax one tittle of its demands, though its Victim were the spotless, yea, even the Divine?<\/p>\n II. Not only was the Captain of our salvation made perfect through suffering, but the same discipline has been employed from the first in regard of all those whom God has conducted to glory.There has been no more observable feature of the Divine dealings, whether under the patriarchal, legal, or Christian dispensation, than this of the employment of afflictions as an instrument of purification. It has not been found that any amount of piety has secured its possessor against troubles; on the contrary, the evidence has seemed the other waypiety has appeared to expose men to additional and severe trials. The fact is indisputable, that through much tribulation we must enter the Kingdom of Heaven. And we do not see that any fact should be more startling to those who are living without God, and perhaps secretly hoping for immunity at the last. If they survey the dealings of their Maker with this earth, they cannot deny that the cedar has been bent and blighted by the hurricane, while comparatively a scene of calm has been around the fir; and from this they are bound to conclude the great fact of a judgment to come. Surely the blows which descend on the righteous should make the wicked start! As the cedar bends and shakes, the fir tree should tremble. If anything can fill the impenitent with fear it should be the observing how God deals with His own faithful servants. It is probable enough that the wicked may be disposed to congratulate themselves on their superior prosperityto look with pity, if not with contempt, on the righteous, as the God Whom they serve seems to reward them with nothing but trouble. That can only be through want of consideration. Let the wicked but ponder the facts of the case, and there is nothing which should so excite their dread of the future as the present misery which falls to the lot of the good.<\/p>\n Canon Melvill.<\/p>\n Zec 11:2. The fir and oak trees were more common than the cedar, but they are represented as howling over the falling of the lofty tree. If such an important plant as the cedar was doomed to humiliation, there was no prospect of the survival of these ordinary ones, hence they were induced to howl in dismay.<\/p>\n Zec 11:2-3. Howl, fir-tree By the several sorts of trees here mentioned, seem to be meant the several orders and degrees of men, who should be sharers in the common destruction: see Isa 2:13; Isa 10:33-34; and the notes. The fir-tree seems to denote the lower people, who are bid to howl because even their superiors, signified by the cedar, could not withstand the storm. Howl, O ye oaks of Bashan O ye rich, great, and powerful people of the land; Bashan was famous for its stately oaks. For the forest of the vintage Or rather, a forest, the fenced one, is come down As the inhabitants are represented under the image of the trees, the city is aptly denoted by a forest; to which is added by way of distinction , the fenced one, the article being emphatic, and marking the extraordinary strength of its fortifications, or fence, which, however, proves insufficient for its security. There is a voice of the howling of the shepherds That is, of the princes and rulers of the people. For their glory is spoiled Their magnificent houses are destroyed. A voice of the roaring of young lions Those who are in the foregoing sentence called shepherds, are here called young lions, because they were devourers of the people by their extortions and oppressions. The pride of Jordan is spoiled By the pride of Jordan, those woods and thickets are primarily intended that rose proudly above the banks of that river, and greatly decorated the scene. But as those were the receptacles of lions, they are here, in a secondary and metaphorical sense, put for the residences of those princes and grandees, who are denominated lions in the preceding clause for the reason now mentioned.<\/p>\n 11:2 Wail, {b} fir tree; for the cedar is fallen; because the mighty are laid waste: wail, O ye oaks of Bashan; for the forest of the {c} vintage is come down.<\/p>\n (b) Showing that if the strong men were destroyed, the weaker were not able to resist.<\/p>\n (c) Seeing that Lebanon was destroyed, which was the strongest fortress, the weaker places could not hope to hold out.<\/p>\n Likewise the cypress (juniper, pine) and oaks of Bashan should wail because they too would perish in the coming devastation. Bashan was famous for its oak forests (cf. Isa 2:13; Eze 27:6). Earlier Zechariah combined Lebanon and Bashan to indicate the whole land (Zec 10:10). All these trees suggest the people of the land as well as the land itself. A judgment that would affect the whole land of Palestine and all its people, including its rulers, is in view.<\/p>\n "Perhaps next in prominence to shepherd as metaphor for king is that of a plant, especially a tree [cf. Jdg 9:7-15; Isa 10:33-34; Eze 31:3-18; Dan 4:10; Dan 4:23]." [Note: Merrill, p. 285.] <\/span><\/p>\n The cedar tree, in particular, is a metaphor for a king (cf. 2Ki 14:9; Isa 14:8; Eze 17:3; Amo 2:9).<\/p>\n Howl, fir tree; for the cedar is fallen; because the mighty are spoiled: howl, O ye oaks of Bashan; for the forest of the vintage is come down. 2. fir tree ] or cypress. It is uncertain what tree is meant. See Dict. of Bible, Art. “Cypress.” for the cedar is fallen ] Grand trees … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Zechariah 11:2”<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-23041","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-commentary"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.biblia.work\/bible-commentary\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/23041","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.biblia.work\/bible-commentary\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.biblia.work\/bible-commentary\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.biblia.work\/bible-commentary\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.biblia.work\/bible-commentary\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=23041"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.biblia.work\/bible-commentary\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/23041\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.biblia.work\/bible-commentary\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=23041"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.biblia.work\/bible-commentary\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=23041"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.biblia.work\/bible-commentary\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=23041"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges<\/b><\/i><\/h4>\n
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible<\/b><\/i><\/h4>\n
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible<\/b><\/i><\/h4>\n
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole<\/b><\/i><\/h4>\n
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible <\/b><\/i><\/h4>\n
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible<\/b><\/i><\/h4>\n
Fuente: Calvin’s Complete Commentary<\/b><\/i><\/h4>\n
Fuente: Commentary on the Holy Bible by Thomas Coke<\/b><\/i><\/h4>\n
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)<\/b><\/i><\/h4>\n
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics<\/b><\/i><\/h4>\n
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge<\/b><\/i><\/h4>\n
Fuente: Church Pulpit Commentary<\/b><\/i><\/h4>\n
Fuente: Combined Bible Commentary<\/b><\/i><\/h4>\n
Fuente: Joseph Bensons Commentary on the Old and New Testaments<\/b><\/i><\/h4>\n
Fuente: Geneva Bible Notes<\/b><\/i><\/h4>\n
Fuente: Expository Notes of Dr. Constable (Old and New Testaments)<\/b><\/i><\/h4>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"