Zechariah 1:17

“Cry yet, saying, etc.] That is, “prophesy again”, as the Targum paraphrases it; publish and declare openly before all: Thus saith the Lord of hosts, My cities through prosperity shall yet be spread abroad; or, according to the Targum, “the cities of my people shall be yet filled with good”; and so the Septuagint and Vulgate Latin versions, “my cities shall yet flow with good things”; with all temporal prosperity and happiness; which was fulfilled in the times of Nehemiah, Zerubbabel, and the Maccabees; and especially in the times of the Messiah, when, in a spiritual sense, they were filled with good; with him who is goodness itself, and with all blessings of grace in him; and with the good…”

“yet--though heretofore lying in abject prostration. My cities--not only Jerusalem, but the subordinate cities of Judah. God claims them all as peculiarly His, and therefore will restore them. through prosperity . . . spread abroad--or overflow; metaphor from an overflowing vessel or fountain (compare Pro 5:16) [PEMBELLUS]. Abundance of fruits of the earth, corn and wine, and a large increase of citizens, are meant; also spiritual prosperity. comfort Zion-- (Isa 40:1-2; Isa 51:3). choose-- (Zac 2:12; Zac 3:2; Isa 14:1). Here meaning, "show by acts of loving-kindness that He has chosen." His immutable choice from everlasting is the fountain whence flow all such particular acts of love.”

“Cry yet - A further promise; not only should Jerusalem be rebuilt, but should as we say, overflow with good ; and God, who had seemed to cast off His people, should yet comfort her, and should show in act that He had chosen her. “love.” In all the cases, which Gesenius cites as meaning “love” Genesis 6:2; 1 Samuel 20:30; 2 Samuel 15:15; Proverbs 1:29; Proverbs 3:31; Isaiah 1:29, the sense would be injured by rendering, “loved”) Zechariah thrice repeats the promise, given through Isaiah Isaiah 14:1 to Jerusalem, before her wasting by the Chaldaeans, reminding the people thereby, that the restoration, in the dawn whereof they lived, had been promised two centuries before. Yet, against all…”

“Through prosperity - Through increase of families, they shall send forth colonies, and plant new cities, and thro' increase of wealth, and cattle, be able to build their cities, and stock their colonies. Zechariah 1:18”

“1:17 The repetition of again (four times in Hebrew) emphasizes the certainty of God’s intention to restore Jerusalem.”

“My cities: Neh 11:3, Neh 11:20; Psa 69:35; Isa 44:26, Isa 61:4-6; Jer 31:23, Jer 31:24, Jer 32:43, Jer 32:44; Jer 33:13; Eze 36:10, Eze 36:11, Eze 36:33; Amo 9:14; Oba 1:20 prosperity: Heb. good the Lord shall: Isa 40:1, Isa 40:2, Isa 49:13, Isa 51:3, Isa 51:12, Isa 52:9, Isa 54:8, Isa 66:13; Jer 31:13; Zep 3:15-17 choose: Zac 2:12, Zac 3:2; Ch2 6:6; Psa 132:13, Psa 132:14; Isa 14:1, Isa 41:8, Isa 41:9; Rom 11:28, Rom 11:29; Eph 1:4 Zechariah 1:18”