Chapter 5

1 By the flying roll is shewed the curse of thieves and swearers. 5 By a woman pressed in an ephah, the final damnation of Babylon.

1. I turned. In the sixth vision (vs. 1–4), by means of a flying roll, Zechariah is shown how God will deal with those in Israel who refuse the “change of raiment” (ch. 3:4) and who rebel against the leadership of His Spirit (ch. 4:6). See on ch. 1:8.

Flying. Probably intended to signify that it was accomplishing its work.

Roll. For a description of ancient writing materials see Vol. I, p. 31. The roll, or scroll, that Zechariah saw was probably made of leather. Inasmuch as the roll is declared to be “the curse,” it is assumed that it contained writing.

2. He said. That is, the interpreting angel.

The length. Inasmuch as Zechariah was able to estimate the dimensions, the roll must have appeared entirely open. By modern measure the roll was about 17 by 34 ft. Inasmuch as these dimensions agree with those of the holy place of the tabernacle (see on Ex. 26:1), and with those of the porch of Solomon’s Temple (1 Kings 6:3), some have sought to show a connection between the “flying roll” and the sanctuary. However, even though the curse sprang from the transgression of the tables of stone containing the Ten Commandments found in the tabernacle and in the Temple of Solomon, there is no way of proving that such a connection was to be represented by the foregoing similarity in dimensions. The roll was of unusual dimensions and contained a very large writing area. The dimensions were therefore probably noted to show the magnitude of the curse.

3. Stealeth. Stealing represents offenses against men, and swearing falsely, offense against God (see on Matt. 5:33–37). These two evils may have been widely practiced among the Jews who returned from the Exile, and were thus singled out as examples of a general declension of morality.

Cut off. In order to accomplish God’s purposes it was necessary that Israel of the restoration be pure. The vision of Joshua’s change of raiment (ch. 3) pointed to the divine provisions for dealing with sin. Pardon would be granted to every repentant soul. Those who accepted the provisions would be clothed with the perfect righteousness of Christ. However, in order to appropriate the robe of Christ’s righteousness, men would be required to forsake their evil deeds (see COL 316). Those who refused would be visited by the curse pronounced by the flying roll.

4. Enter into. There would be no escape for the sinner. The curse would enter the house of the thief and the perjurer and “remain” in the abode of the transgressor till it had accomplished its purpose, including the destruction of the occupants of the house.

5. What is this. The seventh vision (vs. 5–11) symbolizes the removal of iniquity from the land. See on ch. 1:8.

6. Ephah. A dry measure, equivalent to 5.81 U.S. gal. (22 liters). Since a vessel of this size was not large enough to contain a woman (v. 7), some have suggested that shape rather than volume was the intent of the description.

Resemblance. Literally, “eye.” A change of one letter in the Hebrew gives the translation “iniquity,” the reading found in the LXX and adopted by the RSV.

7. Talent. Heb. kikkar, literally, “a round disk”; here used to describe the leaden circular cover of the ephah. When this cover was lifted Zechariah saw a woman sitting in the ephah.

8. Wickedness. This woman personified the iniquity of backslidden Israel, which God was seeking to remove. The vision is thus related to the preceding one (see on vs. 1–4). Some, in fact, consider the two visions as one. However, they are actually two representations.

Cast it. Better, “cast her.” Apparently in the representation the woman attempted to leave the ephah when the lid was lifted, but the angel flung her back into it.

Weight of lead. That is, the leaden cover. The cover was doubtless weighted for the purpose of keeping the woman confined in the ephah.

9. Two women. Why women with the wings of a stork are chosen to represent the agency by which the iniquity will be removed, the angel does not disclose, and it is probably idle to speculate (see on ch. 1:8).

11. Shinar. Babylonia (see on Dan. 1:2). Babylon is thus represented as the place where iniquity dwells. Those who had left Babylon should have left their iniquities there. However, even now, there was provision for sin (see Zech. 3:1–5; see on ch. 5:3). Even as God’s chosen people were to be gathered out of Babylon, those among His people who refused to have their character transformed were to be gathered out of Israel and removed to Babylon.

Ellen G. White comments

1–4Ed 144