Matthew 21:5

“Tell ye the daughter of Zion, etc.] These words seem to be taken out of (<236211>Isaiah 62:11) where it is said, “say ye to the daughter of Zion, behold thy salvation cometh”, or “thy Saviour cometh”; meaning, without doubt, the Messiah: by the daughter of Zion is meant, not the city of Jerusalem, but the inhabitants thereof, the Jewish synagogue; or as the Targum renders it, ˆwyxd atçynk, “the congregation of Zion”, the people of the Jews; particularly the elect of God among them, those that embraced the true Messiah, and believed in him: behold, thy king cometh unto thee: this, and what follow, are cited from (<380909>Zechariah 9:9) and to be understood of the king Messiah, who, in a…”

“All this was done ... - The prophecy here quoted is found in Zechariah 9:9. It was always, by the Jews, applied to the Messiah. Daughter of Zion - That is, “Jerusalem.” “Zion” was one of the hills on which the city of Jerusalem was built. On this stood the city of David and some strong fortresses. The names “daughter and virgin” were given to it often, in accordance with the Oriental figurative manner of expression. See the notes at Isaiah 1:8. Compare Amos 5:2; Psalms 45:13; Psalms 137:8; Isaiah 47:1. It was given to them as an expression of their beauty or comeliness. Meek - See the notes at Matthew 5:5. The expression here rather denotes “peaceful, not warlike;” not with pomp, and state,…”

“The daughter of Sion - That is, the inhabitants of Jerusalem: the first words of the passage are cited from Isa 62:11; the rest from Zac 9:9. The ancient Jewish doctors were wont to apply these prophecies to the Messiah. On an ass - The Prince of Peace did not take a horse, a warlike animal. But he will ride on that by and by, Rev 19:11. In the patriarchal ages, illustrious persons thought it no disgrace to make use of this animal: but it by no means appears, that this opinion prevailed, or this custom continued, till the reign of Tiberias. Was it a mean attitude wherein our Lord then appeared? Mean even to contempt! I grant it: I glory in it: it is for the comfort of my soul for the honour…”

“the daughter: Psa 9:14; Isa 12:6, Isa 40:9, Isa 62:11; Zep 3:14, Zep 3:15; Mar 11:4-11 thy King: Mat 2:2, Mat 2:6; Gen 49:10; Num 24:19; Psa 2:6-12, 45:1-17, 72:1-20; Psa 110:1-4; Isa 9:6, Isa 9:7; Jer 23:5, Jer 23:6; Eze 34:24, Eze 37:24; Dan 2:44, Dan 2:45; Dan 7:13, Dan 7:14; Mic 5:2; Zac 6:12, Zac 6:13; Joh 1:49, Joh 19:15-22 meek: Mat 11:29, Mat 12:19, Mat 12:20; Co2 10:1; Phi 2:3-5 sitting: Deu 17:16; Jdg 5:10, Jdg 12:14; Sa2 16:2; Kg1 1:33, Kg1 10:26; Hos 1:7; Mic 5:10, Mic 5:11; Zac 9:10 Matthew 21:6”