Old Testament Commentary - Zechariah 2

by Don R. Hender

To fully understand and appreciate this vision of Zechariah, one needs to obtain the full and correct meanings of such concepts as Zion and Jerusalem, for such are not merely the names of localities but designations as to a particular grouping of the Lord's people. In particular in association with the concept of Zion, it is well to gain a full and complete understanding with respect to what is meant by the phrase 'Mount Zion'. First we will turn to the 'concept' of Jerusalem beyond it being merely the name given to that particular location in the land of Judaea.
The city of the Jebusites when Joshua, who was named after the name known to be Jesus of the Messiah to come, that city was the ancient sight of the city of Melchizedek the great high priest to whom Abraham paid his tithes unto the Lord. The name associated with that city then was that of 'Salem' or the more ancient rendering of 'Shalam' (shaw-lam' - Strong's number 7999). Beyond the simple meaning of 'peace', this more ancient term meant literally to be in a covenant of peace with the Lord. That is to be 'of the covenant'. Such were the people of Melchizedek. They were a covenant city unto the Lord and as the inference of the JST of the bible sets forth, they were like the city of Enoch which was taken up and translated into a state of acceptance unto God. Of course the simpler meaning of the name 'Salem' is that of peace and it to was associated with the 'Prince of Peace' or 'King of Righteousness' who was Melchizedek being the 'King or Prince of Salem'. This name of Melchizedek was itself another name given to the man Melchizedek which was in fact one of the names of our God Jehovah. That is discussed further elsewhere.
After Melchizedek and his city was taken up to God, a fame went about the land and one particular semitic family branch of the Amorites known as the Jebusites came to covent the site of Salem as there own and they associated their worship of God, corrupt as it was with that city. They even named there associated god 'Shalem' or 'Salem' after the name of the 'covenant of peace' which is to say the 'God of the Covenenat'. Of course their beliefs had fallen into the realm of paganism as they were not in fact a righteous people of the Lord as they pretended and coveted themselves to be. From this associated name of 'Shalem' the name of the city of the Jebusites was known to historians, who fail to consider Melchizedek and his people as the origin people of the city, as 'Urusalem' or 'Founded by God' or simpley the 'City of God'.
When King David finally took the city, which was in fact a city stipulated by Joshua to be a city in the boundry of the lands of the tribe of Benjamin, King David, at least in his time, the name of the city became 'Jerusalem' which when the Hebrew is understood incorporates the name of God, Jehovah into the first of the name. That is 'Y@' (HWHY or Jehu) - 'uru' (founded) - 'salem' (shalem - covenant of peace), or 'Jehovah Established Covenant of Peace'. And the 'hill' or 'height' of the city was presumably the site of the worship of God from the time of Melchizedek in righteousness, by the Jebusites in their paganism to the intent of King David fulfilled by his son Solomon in building the Temple or House of the Lord upon that deemed holy site.
This brings us to the greater concept of Zion and the phases 'Mount Zion' as well as the solidification of a number of various concepts into one in Jerusalem. One of the 'traditional' asspects of Jerusalem is that it is associated with the 'Mountain of the Lord' and this to the extent that some even attribute to Jerusalem and the temple mount there as being the same upon which Abraham did offer up Issac unto the Lord. But this in all logic could not have been as Melchizedek and Abraham were contemporary and it was Melchizedek and his city Salem which occupied the site of Jerusalem's hill. In point of fact the site where Abraham does take to offer up Isaac is that land which is located in the beautiful plain of Moreh or Moriah amid the 'mountains of Ephraim' close to the two hills, Ebal and Gerizim. This 'plain' or 'oak' of Moreh/Moriah is clearly associated with Shechem and it is at this location where the mountain upon which Abarham proceeded to offer Isaac in sacrifice unto God is located (Genesis 12:6 and Abraham 2:18-20). This is the 'Mountian of the Lord' where Abraham came when he first entered into the Land and received the land as his God given right. It is here where is located Jacob's well and where the Samaritan women contended with the Lord that the site of the worship of God was located rather than Jerusalem (John 4:1-42). As with the moving of the temple of God to the hill of Jerusalem, many then contrived that the hill of Jerusalem was that upon which Abraham did offer up Isaac, it being the 'Mountian of the Lord'. This is not supported by Biblical reference but is merely in the association of the 'Mountain of God' being the place of 'Sacrifice unto God', which the temple as well as the tabernacle of God is. Thus in this respect the 'Mountain of the Lord' is not confined to Jerusalem.
The 'Mountain of the Lord' or 'Mount Zion' is also associated with the House of the Lord or the Temple of God. In the days of Moses the Lord's house, temple or tabernacle was portable. It traveled with and where the 'covenant people of the Lord' would go. When the Children of Israel entered the land under Joshua, that tabernacle was establish by Joshua at a more permenant location at Shiloh 9^_1/4 miles north from Bethel and 11^_1/2 miles south of Shechem in the hills or mountianous land also held by the Ephraimites. During the greater part of the period of the Judges Shiloh continued to be the religious center of the nation of Israel and going up to the House of the Lord, the Mountain of the Lord was to go up to Shiloh not Jerusalem. And it is 'Shiloh' which is associated with Christ and his second coming. The temple or tabernacle of the Lord would not be moved out of Ephraim until by the design of King David and the actual Temple not until after the days of King David when David's son Solomon proceeded to build the Temple of the Lord in Jerusalem according to his father's design.
Thus it is seen that the 'Mountain of the Lord' is not a 'fixed' local but has also been moved according to where it is that the Lord is worshipped. Even Mt. Sinai which is stated to be the mountain of the Lord where Moses did worship God was clearly not in Jerusalem. Thus the 'Mountain of God' is not a fixed place but rather to be associated with where man does so worship God in holiness. Thus it is that 'Zion' is neither a fixed placed though often associated with Jerusalem and the temple mount of the Lord at Jerusalem. It too is a 'portible' concept which moves with the Lord's covenant people to where it is that they do worship their God in holiness. Enoch built a city that was called his temple on Mount Zion. Today the Latter-day Sainst have again established Zion, the Covenant People of the Lord. And where they do worship the Lord God in holiness is also today called Zion. And the city of the 'New' 'Jerusalem', that is the 'New' Covenant' of the Lord, that city of Zion of the Latter-days central to the restoration of the gospel is to be built in Jackson County, Missouri and until it is, Zion and 'Mount Zion' is where ever the covenant people of the Lord do gather to worship him in all holiness in the various Houses of the Lord, God's Temples accross all the nations of the earth. This further establishes that 'Jerusalem' as 'Jehovah's Established Covenant of Peace' in association with 'Zion' the place where those of the Covenant do worship their God, is a concept associated with God's Covenant People and not just one such fixed location upon the earth. Jerusalem is 'God's City', 'God's People' where ever they are so located. And 'Mount Zion' or 'Zion' is also so rightly associated with where it is that God's Covenant People do worship the Lord in all righteousness and holiness in the House of the Lord, the Temple and/or Tabernacle of God and it is not a fixed location either in that respect.
And thus we come to the final asspect of understanding and that is found in the term 'Aliyah' which means 'to ascend' in that of 'growing in the knowledge and understanding of God by climbing a spiritual ladder to God'. This is the concept of Jacob's ladder to heaven. It is the straight and narrow path or way which leads one to God. And as God's covenant people desire to follow the ways and influences of God, they spiritually assend into heaven. Thus when one ascends up to Mount Zion, or ascends unto the 'Mountian of the Lord', it is such as of that bright and glorious goal in the distance travled toward of Eternal Life. And this ascending to 'Mount Zion' is done by a growing in the knowledgge and understanding of God ia a step-by-step progression, line upon line and precept upon precept. Even the burnt offering, 'olah', ih Hebrew, means 'to ascend' and by that offering the process of freely coming unto the Lord with a joyful heart is represented. Thus it is tha the concepts of Jerusalem, that is Jehovah's Established Coveant of Peace and that of 'Zion' and 'Mount Zion' is being the 'Mountain and House of the Lord' are lost when the greater conceptualization is so diminished to include only the geographical concept of a fixed location. It is one thing to name a place, a city after a greater concept which is found in God. It is another to have lost what that greater concept is by such limited association with it in term of being but a place name.
When the prophet Zechariah sees tha visions of God given him, the names such as Jerusalem take upon themselves the greater conceptual meaning beyond that of a mere eartly fixed location. Jerusalem is that concept which identifies the 'Covenant People of God', 'Jehovah's Followers'. When we read here is Zeachariah's visions such a name as Jerusalem, we are to understand in the greater eternal sense of meaning that which is being spoken of. And it is not just the concept of the single earthly city of the Jews upon the hill where David built his throne. It is the eternal and universal concept of the conceptually all encompassing city and people of the Lord with whom the Lord Establishes His great congregation of His Followers which extend to all of mankind where ever their location may be who have come unto the Covenant of Peace and are of the People of the Lord who have prevailed with God, becoming that universal people of Israel of the whole world.

Scriptural Text [& Editorial] Commentary & Explanation Footnotes ~ References ~ JST

            CHAPTER 2
In the last days Judah shall gather to Jerusalem—They shall come from the land of the north—The Lord shall dwell among them.
In the last days Israel will be gathered, not only Judah but all will be drawn to Jerusalem, the 'righteous city' or 'the city of righteousness' of the Lord—Israel will be 'brought' from the land of the north^a, from 'Babylon' as Zion and many nations will be joined to the LORD and the Lord shall dwell amoung us. ^a the land of the north (see verse 6) Much is made about 'Hebrew north', that it is actually to the northwest. But there is nothing in the Bible which supports this. The scattering of the ten tribes was to Ninava of Assyria and Damascus too was more to the northeast than west. The north of the Bible ought to be also considered to be the north of the Book of Mormon, but many limited geography theorists persist in making north west, south east, east north and west south under the presumption that to the Hebrews it was such. There is no such substantiation to this in scripture, particularly in the Bible itself.

Third Vision
The Measurer

1 I lifted up mine eyes again, and looked, and behold a man with a measuring ^aline in his hand.
2 Then said I, Whither goest thou? And he said unto me, To measure Jerusalem, to see what is the breadth thereof, and what is the length thereof.
1^a Ezra 5:1
3^a D&C 88:63; TG Repentance
      3 Ne. 10:6

3 And, behold, the angel that talked with me went forth, and another angel went out to meet him,
4 And said unto him, Run, speak to this young man, saying, Jerusalem shall be ^ainhabited as towns without walls for the multitude of men and cattle therein^a:
5 For I, saith the LORD, will be unto her a wall of ^afire round about, and will be the ^bglory in the midst of her.
4^a Jeruslem shall be inhabited as towns without walls for the multitude of men and cattle therein As well established in the preceding introduction to this chapter, explaining the greater conceptual meaning of 'Jerusalem' being the 'City and the People of God', what is being spoken of here is not just the single pinpoint location of the city of David in Judah. It is the concept of the covenant people of the Lord expanding to the fill the whole of the earth. And all who are of that Covenant of Peace in the Lord is they who are a part of the greater vast concept of Jerusalem, 'Jehovah's Established Covenant of Peace'. Then truely peace shall fill the world and all to be founded in God, every nation, every town and every people without walls between them. This is the greater image of Jerusalem being spoken of here in this and other vision of Zechariah from God. 1^a Ezra 5:1
3^a D&C 88:63; TG Repentance
      3 Ne. 10:6

6 ¶ Ho, ho, come forth, and flee from the land of the ^anorth, saith the LORD: for I have ^bspread you abroad as the ^cfour winds of the heaven, saith the LORD.
7 ^aDeliver thyself, O Zion, that dwellest with the daughter of Babylon.
1^a Ezra 5:1
3^a D&C 88:63; TG Repentance
      3 Ne. 10:6

8 For thus saith the LORD of hosts; After the glory hath he sent me unto the nations which spoiled you: for he that toucheth you toucheth the apple of his eye.
9 For, behold, I will shake mine hand upon them, and they shall be a spoil to their servants: and ye shall know that the LORD of hosts hath sent me.

10 ¶ Sing and rejoice, O daughter of Zion: for, lo, I come, and I will ^adwell in the midst of thee, saith the LORD.
11 And many ^anations shall be joined to the LORD in that day^a, and shall be my people: and I will dwell in the ^bmidst of thee, and thou shalt know that the LORD of hosts hath sent me unto thee.
11^a many nations shall be joined to the LORD in that day 'That day' is this day, the latter days. The restored gospel has gone forth into many nations and many nations of the earth are considered to be Christian nations. It is no longer merely 'Israel' or 'Judah' which is unto the LORD. In fact the Jewish concept of God which has been developed has prohibited them from generally acceptiong Jesus Christ the Lord as the Son of God, for they have been persistant in their false claim that there be no Son of God, only God.

12 And the LORD shall inherit ^aJudah his portion in the holy land, and shall choose Jerusalem again.
13 Be silent, O all flesh, before the LORD: for he is raised up out of his holy ^ahabitation.

Scriptural Text [& Editorial]	Commentary & Explanation	Footnotes ~ References ~ JST
CHAPTER 2 In the last days Judah shall gather to Jerusalem—They shall come from the land of the north—The Lord shall dwell among them.	In the last days Israel will be gathered, not only Judah but all will be drawn to Jerusalem, the 'righteous city' or 'the city of righteousness' of the Lord—Israel will be 'brought' from the land of the north^a, from 'Babylon' as Zion and many nations will be joined to the LORD and the Lord shall dwell amoung us.	^a the land of the north (see verse 6) Much is made about 'Hebrew north', that it is actually to the northwest. But there is nothing in the Bible which supports this. The scattering of the ten tribes was to Ninava of Assyria and Damascus too was more to the northeast than west. The north of the Bible ought to be also considered to be the north of the Book of Mormon, but many limited geography theorists persist in making north west, south east, east north and west south under the presumption that to the Hebrews it was such. There is no such substantiation to this in scripture, particularly in the Bible itself.
Third Vision The Measurer
1 I lifted up mine eyes again, and looked, and behold a man with a measuring ^aline in his hand. 2 Then said I, Whither goest thou? And he said unto me, To measure Jerusalem, to see what is the breadth thereof, and what is the length thereof.		1^a Ezra 5:1 3^a D&C 88:63; TG Repentance 3 Ne. 10:6
3 And, behold, the angel that talked with me went forth, and another angel went out to meet him, 4 And said unto him, Run, speak to this young man, saying, Jerusalem shall be ^ainhabited as towns without walls for the multitude of men and cattle therein^a: 5 For I, saith the LORD, will be unto her a wall of ^afire round about, and will be the ^bglory in the midst of her.	4^a Jeruslem shall be inhabited as towns without walls for the multitude of men and cattle therein As well established in the preceding introduction to this chapter, explaining the greater conceptual meaning of 'Jerusalem' being the 'City and the People of God', what is being spoken of here is not just the single pinpoint location of the city of David in Judah. It is the concept of the covenant people of the Lord expanding to the fill the whole of the earth. And all who are of that Covenant of Peace in the Lord is they who are a part of the greater vast concept of Jerusalem, 'Jehovah's Established Covenant of Peace'. Then truely peace shall fill the world and all to be founded in God, every nation, every town and every people without walls between them. This is the greater image of Jerusalem being spoken of here in this and other vision of Zechariah from God.	1^a Ezra 5:1 3^a D&C 88:63; TG Repentance 3 Ne. 10:6
6 ¶ Ho, ho, come forth, and flee from the land of the ^anorth, saith the LORD: for I have ^bspread you abroad as the ^cfour winds of the heaven, saith the LORD. 7 ^aDeliver thyself, O Zion, that dwellest with the daughter of Babylon.		1^a Ezra 5:1 3^a D&C 88:63; TG Repentance 3 Ne. 10:6
8 For thus saith the LORD of hosts; After the glory hath he sent me unto the nations which spoiled you: for he that toucheth you toucheth the apple of his eye. 9 For, behold, I will shake mine hand upon them, and they shall be a spoil to their servants: and ye shall know that the LORD of hosts hath sent me.
10 ¶ Sing and rejoice, O daughter of Zion: for, lo, I come, and I will ^adwell in the midst of thee, saith the LORD. 11 And many ^anations shall be joined to the LORD in that day^a, and shall be my people: and I will dwell in the ^bmidst of thee, and thou shalt know that the LORD of hosts hath sent me unto thee.	11^a many nations shall be joined to the LORD in that day 'That day' is this day, the latter days. The restored gospel has gone forth into many nations and many nations of the earth are considered to be Christian nations. It is no longer merely 'Israel' or 'Judah' which is unto the LORD. In fact the Jewish concept of God which has been developed has prohibited them from generally acceptiong Jesus Christ the Lord as the Son of God, for they have been persistant in their false claim that there be no Son of God, only God.
12 And the LORD shall inherit ^aJudah his portion in the holy land, and shall choose Jerusalem again. 13 Be silent, O all flesh, before the LORD: for he is raised up out of his holy ^ahabitation.