John Calvin Commentary Zechariah 8:4

"Thus saith Jehovah of hosts: There shall yet old men and old women dwell in the streets of Jerusalem, every man with his staff in his hand for very age." — Zechariah 8:4 (ASV)

He confirms what we have already stated: that the Jews would be safe under the hand and protection of God, as He would dwell among them. He identified the cause of a safe and quiet state as the presence of God. For even when we have peace with the whole world, we may still disturb one another, unless the God of peace restrains us, since mutual and internal discord can harass us, even if we are spared by external enemies. Therefore, it is necessary, in the first place, that the God of peace and salvation should dwell in our midst. But when we have the presence of God, then full security comes.

Suitably, then, the Prophet now says that old men and old women the midst of Jerusalem would yet dwell. For since the time the Jews had returned, they had been harassed, as we know, by continual wars. It could hardly be expected that they could live long in a state of incessant troubles while new fears were daily disturbing them.

Since they were thus in incessant and endless dangers, the Prophet gives them relief and promises that they would yet have a quiet habitation, so that both men and women would live to extreme old age. Hence he says, There shall yet dwell, etc.

Then he adds, a staff shall be to man for his age, or, on account of a multitude of days. Indeed, this seems to have been said with no great propriety, for it would have been much better if vigor had been given them, so that men did not fail through old age.

Hence, the weakness mentioned here seems to have been a sign of God’s curse rather than of His favor; and on this account the Lord promises by Isaiah that old men would be vigorous and strong (Isaiah 65:20), so that they would not feel the disadvantage of age.

But the design of Zechariah, as we have already reminded you, was different here. For many, by their daily complaints, depressed the minds of the godly, declaring that they were deceived and saying that Jerusalem would not long stand, as they were surrounded by so many enemies. Hence, Zechariah shows that the Jews would be in no danger of falling by the hand of enemies, as they would live securely without any external disturbances. For we know that many old men, half alive through age and supporting themselves by a staff, cannot be seen anywhere except in a state of peace and quietness, undisturbed by enemies.

We now, then, perceive the Prophet's design, which was to show that Jerusalem would be tranquil and in peace, and that this would be the fruit of God’s presence; for its citizens would die from old age, and not through the violence of external enemies.