Глава 10

Zechariah 10:1. Ask the Lord for rain in the early and late seasons: the Lord create ghosts, and the winter rain will give them, to whomever there is grain in the village. He, says the Prophet, gives both wheat and wine, so that both young men are strengthened by wheat, and virgins draw joy from wine; because wine is mentioned here in the sense of joy. Therefore, knowing this, ask for both the former and the latter rain in due time from the One who is able to give them; because He is both the Giver of rain and the Creator of everything else that usually brings fear to people: “make lightning in the rain” (Ps. 134:7). The Prophet called this a ghost, as it strikes people; but through this earthly fruits are also born. Therefore, the true God both does and grants this. Zechariah 10:2. But those who prophesy the words of labor, and the enemies of the vision are false, and the dreams of lies are spoken of by the words of vain consolation: for this reason they died like sheep, and became embittered, before there was healing. Having brought out the entire crowd of the devil on Wednesday, he exposed the soothsayers from the astrologers and interpreters of dreams, and exposed their deceit and declared punishment for them. Zechariah 10:3. My wrath is upon the shepherds, and I will visit my lambs. For I delivered those who were in bad rulers into captivity; and I brought out the subordinates from there, and I deign to take My care of them. And the Lord God Almighty will visit His flock, the house of Judah, and I will make like His splendid horse in battle. And during the battle, says God, I will make them like a horse, which is proud of its beauty and strength, and fearlessly goes straight into the face of its enemies; and they will have no need for other help. Zechariah 10:4. For from him shun, and from him do, and from him his bow in the spirit of wrath: and from him shall come forth all that persecute in that. Zechariah 10:5. And they will be like warriors, trampling the dirt on the roads in battle, and they will take up arms, as the Lord is with them, and the horsemen of the horse will be ashamed. They will not use foreign weapons, they will not hire foreign troops, but they themselves will be the military commander and the leaders of the regiments; they themselves, fighting valiantly, will win the victory, and will trample the enemy squad like dust; because, just as dust yields to the foot of one who stands on it, so the enemies will turn their backs and, fleeing, will be defeated; for the Lord of all is the leader of this army. Zechariah 10:6. And I will strengthen the house of Judah, and I will save the house of Joseph, and I will bring home. Thus, having put to death all their enemies, I will make sure that they will inhabit their native land in peace. And showing the reason for this, he added: I have loved the most, and even if I had not turned them away. Symmachus translated this more clearly: “and they will be as if I had not driven them out.” For I will bring them to such a flourishing state that they will have no idea about their former captivity, seeing themselves in primitive prosperity. For I am the Lord their God, and I will hear. Zechariah 10:7. And they will be like the warriors of Ephraim, and their hearts will rejoice like wine: and their children will see them and be glad, and their hearts will rejoice in the Lord. For, as the Lord and their God, I will accept prayers, and make them overcomers, and cause them to live in all joy; like them, their children will live in all pleasure, glorified by Me, and magnified by My power. Zechariah 10:8. I will tell them, and I will receive them, and I will redeem them, and they will multiply like many. They will grow to a multitude, having received the blessing of multiple births, so that, not being able to fit into their own cities, they will move to other cities, and through them the possibility of salvation will be opened to others. For he understood this when he said: Zechariah 10:9. And all people and those far away will remember Me, and raise their children, because, seeing their zealous piety, they will take every care for them. Zechariah 10:10. And I will bring them back from the land of Egypt, and I will receive them from the Assyrians, and I will bring them into Gilead and into Lebanon, and not one will be left of them. I will return them both from Egypt and from the Assyrians, I will make them populate the native land, I will fill Gilead with them, I will give them land to live in all the way to Lebanon, and nothing will hinder them; because I will put to death all those who attempt to fight with them. For this is signified by the words: Zechariah 10:11. They will pass through the narrow sea and smite the waves in the sea, and all the depths of the river will dry up, because, beset by great disasters and almost despairing of salvation (this is what the Prophet calls the “narrow sea”), they struck the waves of the hostile, and, having destroyed the machinations of the enemies, made them dry up, like some deep rivers. And every insult of the Assyrians will be taken away, and the scepter of Egypt will be taken away. Zechariah 10:12. And I will strengthen them in the Lord God, and in His name they will praise the Lord. And the kingdom of Egypt will come to an end, and the pride of the Assyrians will fade away, and the Jews, who were formerly their slaves, with My help, will make them glorious and famous among everyone.