Zechariah 10:2

“For the idols have spoken vanity, etc.] The vanities of the Gentiles cannot give rain; if they promise it, they speak vain things; God only can give it, and therefore it must, be asked of him, (<241422>Jeremiah 14:22). The word for idols is “teraphim”, the same as in (<013119>Genesis 31:19 <280304>Hosea 3:4) and here signifies worshippers of idols, as the Targum interprets it; and may be understood of the idolatrous Papists who worship idols of gold, silver, brass, and wood, (<660920>Revelation 9:20,21) and who speak lies in hypocrisy, great swelling words of vanity, and even blasphemy against God, his name, his tabernacle, and them that dwell in heaven, (<540401>1 Timothy 4:1,2…”

“idols--literally, "the teraphim," the household gods, consulted in divination (see on Hos 3:4). Derived by GESENIUS from an Arabic root, "comfort," indicating them as the givers of comfort. Or an Ethiopian root, "relics." Herein Zechariah shows that the Jews by their own idolatry had stayed the grace of God heretofore, which otherwise would have given them all those blessings, temporal and spiritual, which they are now (Zac 10:1) urged to "ask" for. diviners--who gave responses to consulters of the teraphim: opposed to Jehovah and His true prophets. seen a lie--pretending to see what they saw not in giving responses. comfort in vain--literally, "give vapor for comfort"; that is, give…”

“For the teraphim have spoken vanity - Rather, “spake vanity.” He appeals to their former experience. Their father had sought of idols, not of God; therefore they went into captivity. The “teraphim” were used as instruments of divination. They are united with the “ephod,” as forbidden, over against the allowed, means of enquiry as to the future, in Hosea, “without an ephod and without teraphim” Hosea 3:4; they were united in the mingled worship of Micah Judges 17:5; Judges 18:14, Judges 18:17-18, Judges 18:20; Josiah “put” them “away” together with the “workers with familiar spirits and the wizards” 2 Kings 23:24, to which are added, “the idols.” It was probably, a superstition of Eastern…”

“Vanity - Their predictions were vain. They went - They went into captivity. Troubled - Oppressed and afflicted. No shepherd - No ecclesiastical or civil governors, that would faithfully do their duty. Zechariah 10:3”

“10:2 Household gods might refer to ancestor statues used in rituals of necromancy (conjuring up the spirits of the dead); consultation with the dead was a widespread practice in the ancient world, but God’s law made it taboo for the Hebrews (see Lev 20:27; Deut 18:10-11).”

“the idols: Heb. the teraphims, Gen 31:19; Jdg 18:14; Isa 44:9, Isa 46:5; Jer 10:8, Jer 14:22; Hos 3:4; Hab 2:18 the diviners: Jer 23:25-27, Jer 27:9, Jer 29:8, Jer 29:21, Jer 29:22; Lam 2:14; Eze 13:6-16, Eze 13:22, Eze 13:23, Eze 21:29; Mic 3:6-11 they comfort: Job 13:4, Job 21:34; Jer 6:14, Jer 8:11, Jer 14:13, Jer 23:17, Jer 28:4-6, Jer 28:15, Jer 37:19 therefore: Jer 13:17-20, Jer 50:17, Jer 51:23; Mic 2:12 troubled, because there: or, answered that there, Num 27:17; Kg1 22:17; Eze 34:5, Eze 34:8; Mat 9:36 Zechariah 10:3”