Albert Barnes Commentary Zechariah 14:20

Albert Barnes Commentary

Zechariah 14:20

1798–1870
Presbyterian
Albert Barnes
Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes Commentary

Zechariah 14:20

1798–1870
Presbyterian
SCRIPTURE

"In that day shall there be upon the bells of the horses, HOLY UNTO JEHOVAH; and the pots in Jehovah`s house shall be like the bowls before the altar." — Zechariah 14:20 (ASV)

In that day there shall be upon the bells of the horses, Holiness unto the Lord – He does not say only that they should be consecrated to God, as Isaiah says of Tyre, “Her merchandise and her hire shall be holiness to the Lord” (Isaiah 23:18); he says that “the bells of the horses,” things simply secular, should bear the same inscription as the plate on the high priest’s forehead. Perhaps the comparison was suggested by the bells on the high priest’s dress; not only the plate on his forehead, but bells (not like his, which were part of his sacred dress), bells, altogether secular, should be inscribed with the very same title by which he himself was dedicated to God.

Holiness to the Lord – He does not bring down what is sacred to a level with common things, but he uplifts ordinary things, that they too, should be sacred, as Paul says, “whether ye eat or drink or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God” (1 Corinthians 10:31).

And the pots of the Lord’s house shall be like bowls before the altar – The pots are mentioned, together with other vessels of the Lord’s house (Ezekiel 38:3; 1 Kings 7:45; 2 Kings 25:14; 2 Chronicles 4:11, 16; Jeremiah 52:18–19), but not in regard to any sacred use. They were used, with other vessels, for dressing the victims (2 Chronicles 35:13) for the partakers of the sacrifices. These were to be sacred, like those made for the most sacred use of all, “the bowls for sprinkling,” from which, that sacrificial blood was taken, which was to make the typical atonement.