Matthew Henry on Zechariah 4:11–end
Enough is said to Zechariah to encourage him, and to enable him to encourage others, with reference to the good work of building the temple which they were now about, and that was the principal intention of the vision he saw; but still he is inquisitive about the particulars, which we will ascribe, not to any vain curiosity, but to the value he had for divine discoveries and the pleasure he took in acquainting himself with them. Those that know much of the things of God cannot but have a humble desire to know more. Now observe,
I. What his enquiry was. He understood the meaning of the candlestick with its lamps: It is Jerusalem, it is the temple, and their salvation that is to go forth as a…
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through--literally, "by the hand of," that is, by the agency of.
branches--literally, "ears"; so the olive branches are called, because as ears are full of grain, so the olive branches are full of olives.
golden oil--literally, "gold," that is, gold-like liquor.
out of themselves--Ordinances and ministers are channels of grace, not the grace itself. The supply comes not from a dead reservoir of oil, but through living olive trees (Psa 52:8; Rom 12:1) fed by God.
Adam Clarke on Zechariah 4:12
What be these two olive branches - That is, two boughs laden with branches of olive berries.
John Gill on Zechariah 4:12
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 Zechariah 4:14, are interpreted of the two anointed ones, or sons of oil, and may design the ministers of the word, if, by the "golden oil" after mentioned, is meant the Gospel; even a set of evangelical preachers in Gospel times, in the various periods of the church; Christ's faithful witnesses, who stand on each side of the bowl, and receive out of Christ's fulness gifts and grace to fit th…
