Chapter 2

1 God, in the care of Jerusalem, sendeth to measure it. 6 The redemption of Zion. 10 The promise of God’s presence.

1. Behold a man. The third vision shows the triumph of God’s plan. The glorious prospect here presented would have been realized by Israel if the people had fully cooperated with the program of Heaven. The man with the measuring line is not identified, nor is it necessary to the understanding of the vision that he be.

2. To measure Jerusalem. The symbolical act gave assurance that Jerusalem would be rebuilt.

3. Another angel. There are thus four characters in the symbolic vision, the man with the measuring line, the prophet, and two angels.

4. This young man. Regarding the identity of this young man two views have been held: (1) That he is the man with the measuring line (v. 1). According to this view the fact that the young man is on his way to measure the city implies that he is gong to circumscribe its limits. He is to be interrupted and told that the new city is not to be circumscribed, that it is going to overflow its former boundaries and be like an unwalled city. (2) That he is Zechariah. This conclusion is probably based on the idea that the message delivered to the “young man” was really intended for Zechariah. However, regardless of who received the message in the symbolic vision, the relating of the vision would later convey the divine message to those for whom it was intended.

The word translated “this” (hallaz) may also be translated “that,” as in 2 Kings 4:25; 23:17. The pronoun is therefore of no help in identifying the “young man.”

5. Wall of fire. No material walls are needed, inasmuch as God Himself will be the city’s protection (see Ps. 125:2).

6. Come forth. Compare Jer. 51:6, 45. This was a new call to those Jews who had not returned to Jerusalem under the decree of Cyrus (Ezra 1:1–4), to come to Zion, to “flee from” the troublous times that lay ahead in the Persian realm. There were still many Jewish exiles in Babylon, not a few of whom were living in ease and wealth. Their prosperity caused them to shrink from the uncertain future that the return to Jerusalem seemed to offer.

Land of the north. Babylon is often so designated in the OT because the invaders from that country entered Palestine from the north (see on Jer. 1:14, 15; 4:6).

7. Deliver thyself, O Zion. Or, “escape to Zion” (RSV). It was God’s purpose to visit judgments upon those nations that held His people captive. See on v. 6.

Daughter of Babylon. The same phrase appears in Ps. 137:8. Compare the expression “daughter of Zion” (Isa. 52:2; Lam. 4:22; Zech. 2:10).

8. After the glory. The meaning of this phrase is obscure. The reading “after his glory sent me” (RSV) is obtained by altering the Hebrew text. According to the altered text a vision of the divine glory commissioned the prophet.

Apple. Heb. babah. The word occurs only here and probably signified the eyeball. The eye is extremely sensitive to harm and of inestimable value to its owner. Every blow that strikes the saints strikes their Lord (see Isa. 63:9; Acts. 9:1–5; cf. Matt. 10:40; 25:34–46).

9. Shake. Heb. nuph, “to move to and fro.” The waving of the hand signifies the exercise of power (see Isa. 11:15; 19:16). The Lord pledges to turn the tables so as to make those whom Israel has served a spoil to His people.

Hath sent me. The credentials of the true prophet are the fulfillment of his predictions (see Deut. 18:21, 22).

10. Rejoice. In view of the glorious prospect, Zion is called upon to rejoice. If the people had heeded the messages of its prophets, the city would have “stood forth in the pride of prosperity, the queen of kingdoms” (DA 577). God would have dwelt in the midst of her and Jerusalem would have become the world’s diadem of glory. With the failure of Israel and the accomplishment of God’s purposes in the spiritual seed, the Christian church (see Vol. IV, pp. 36, 37), the ground of rejoicing is now the New Jerusalem “coming down from God out of heaven” (Rev. 21:2).

11. Shall be joined. Compare Isa. 14:1; Micah 4:2. God purposed that men from all nations, observing the prosperity of Israel and the advantages of serving the true God, would thereby be led to join themselves to the Lord (see pp. 28, 29). But Israel after the Exile, as had Israel before the Exile, refused to heed the light sent from Heaven. God has now commissioned the Christian church to preach the gospel in all the world, so that “many” from all lands may believe and be saved (see Matt. 24:14; 28:19, 20; Mark 16:15, 16; Acts 1:8; Rev. 14:6–12).

13. Be silent. In anticipation of these mighty and glorious events the world is charged to wait in becoming awe and reverence (see Ps. 76:8, 9). The assurance is given that God will rouse Himself from His state of apparent inactivity to punish the wicked an to save His people (see Ps. 44:23–26).

Ellen G. White comments

1–5PK 581

6–9PK 599

89        COL 166; Ed 257; GC 626; PK 545