Zechariah 8:9

“Thus saith the Lord of hosts, Let your hands be strong, etc.] In going on with the building of the temple, which was typical of the church of God, since so many great and good things were promised by the Lord, (<370204>Haggai 2:4): ye that hear in these days; such as Zerubbabel the ruler, Joshua the high priest, and the rest of the people of the land: these words by the mouth of the prophets; that is, these prophecies of future good things, which were delivered by Haggai, Zechariah, and Malachi; who were the prophets, which [were] in the day [that] the foundation of the house of the Lord of hosts was laid; which was in the second year of Darius, on the twenty fourth day of the ninth month,…”

“All adversities formerly attended them when neglecting to build the temple: but now God promises all blessings, as an encouragement to energy in the work. hands . . . strong--be of courageous mind (Sa2 16:21), not merely in building, but in general, as having such bright prospects (Zac 8:13, &c.). these days--the time that had elapsed between the prophet's having spoken "these words" and the time (Zac 8:10; compare Hag 2:15-19) when they set about in earnest restoring the temple. the prophets--Haggai and Zechariah himself (Ezr 5:1-2). The same prophets who promised prosperity at the foundation of the temple, now promised still greater blessings hereafter.”

“Let your hands be strong - The fulfillment of God’s former promises are the earnest of the future; His former providences, of those to come. Having then those great promises for the time to come, they were to be earnest in whatever meantime God gave them to do. He speaks to them, “as hearing in these days,” that is, that fourth year of Darius in which they apparently were, “these words from the mouth of the prophets, which were in the day when the foundation of the house of the Lord was laid, the temple, that it might be built.” Haggai was now gone to his rest. His voice had been silent for two years. But his words lived on. The fulfillment of what the prophets had then spoken in God’s Name,…”

“The prophets - Haggai and Zechariah. Zechariah 8:10”

“8:9-13 This section highlights the reversal of Jerusalem’s fortunes as the Temple was rebuilt (cp. 2 Chr 15:3-7). The exhortation to be strong (Zech 8:9, 13) is an inclusio (a set of rhetorical bookends) for the section. 8:9 Laying of the foundation refers to Zerubbabel’s and Jeshua’s initial work of rebuilding the Temple in 536 BC (Ezra 3:8-13). The Temple reconstruction project was quickly abandoned and was not resumed until the prophets Haggai and Zechariah prompted it sixteen years later (Ezra 5:1-2; Hag 1:1).”

“Let: Zac 8:13, Zac 8:18; Jos 1:6, Jos 1:8; Ch1 22:13, Ch1 28:20; Isa 35:4; Hag 2:4-9; Eph 6:10; Ti2 2:1 the prophets: Ezr 5:1, Ezr 5:2; Hag 1:1, Hag 1:12, Hag 2:21 Zechariah 8:10”

“After these promises the prophet admonishes the people to be of good courage, because the Lord will from henceforth bestow His blessing upon them. Zac 8:9. "Thus saith Jehovah of hosts, Let your hands be strong, ye that hear in these days these words from the mouth of the prophets, on the day that the foundation of the house of Jehovah of hosts was laid, the temple, that it may be built. Zac 8:10. For before those days there were no wages for the men, and no wages of cattle; and whoever went out and in had no peace because of the oppressor: and I drove all men, one against the other. Zac 8:11. But now I am not as in the former days to the remnant of this people, is the saying of Jehovah of…”