SEV Biblia, Chapter 11:1
¶ Oh Líbano, abre tus puertas, y queme fuego tus cedros.
Clarke's Bible Commentary - Zechariah 11:1
Verse 1. Open thy doors, O Lebanon] I will give Mr. Joseph Mede's note upon this verse:- "That which moveth me more than the rest, is in chap. 11., which contains a prophecy of the destruction of Jerusalem, and a description of the wickedness of the inhabitants, for which God would give them to the sword, and have no more pity upon them. It is expounded of the destruction by Titus; but methinks such a prophecy was nothing seasonable for Zachary's time, (when the city yet for a great part lay in her ruins, and the temple had not yet recovered hers,) nor agreeable to the scope. Zachary's commission, who, together with his colleague Haggai, was sent to encourage the people, lately returned from captivity, to build their temple, and to instaurate their commonwealth. Was this a fit time to foretell the destruction of both, while they were yet but a-building? And by Zachary too, who was to encourage them? Would not this better befit the desolation by Nebuchadnezzar?" I really think so. See Mr. J. Mede's lxi. Epistle. Lebanon signifies the temple, because built of materials principally brought from that place.
John Gill's Bible Commentary
Ver. 1. Open thy doors, O Lebanon , etc.] By which may be meant, either the temple of Jerusalem, which was built of the cedars of Lebanon; “the gates of which are said to open of themselves forty years before the destruction of Jerusalem, when Jochanan ben Zaccai, who lived at the same time, rebuked them, saying, O temple, temple, wherefore dost thou frighten thyself? I know thine end is to be destroyed; for so prophesied Zechariah, the son of Iddo, concerning thee, “open thy doors, O Lebanon”.”
So Lebanon, in ( Zechariah 10:10), is interpreted of the sanctuary, both by the Targum and by Jarchi; or else it may be understood of Jerusalem, and of the whole land of Judea, because it was situated by it; it was the border of it on the north side. That the fire may devour thy cedars ; of which the temple was built, and the houses of Jerusalem, which were consumed by fire; unless the fortresses of the land are meant. So the Targum paraphrases it, “and the fire shall consume your fortresses.”
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 1-3 - In figurative expressions, that destruction of Jerusalem, and of the Jewish church and nation, is foretold, which our Lord Jesus, when the time was at hand, prophesied plainly and expressly. How can the fi trees stand, if the cedars fall? The falls of the wise and good int sin, and the falls of the rich and great into trouble, are loud alarm to those every way their inferiors. It is sad with a people, when thos who should be as shepherds to them, are as young lions. The pride of Jordan was the thickets on the banks; and when the river overflowed the banks, the lions came up from them roaring. Thus the doom of Jerusale may alarm other churches.
Original Hebrew
פתח 6605 לבנון 3844 דלתיך 1817 ותאכל 398 אשׁ 784 בארזיך׃ 730
