Zacharias Chapter 4

The vision of the golden candlestick and seven lamps, and of the two
olive trees.

4:1. And the angel that spoke in me came again: and he waked me, as a
man that is wakened out of his sleep.

4:2. And he said to me: What seest thou? And I said: I have looked, and
behold a candlestick all of gold, and its lamp upon the top of it: and
the seven lights thereof upon it: and seven funnels for the lights that
were upon the top thereof.

A candlestick, etc... The temple of God that was then in building; and
in a more sublime sense, the church of Christ.

4:3. And two olive trees over it: one upon the right side of the lamp,
and the other upon the left side thereof.

4:4. And I answered, and said to the angel that spoke in me, saying:
What are these things, my lord?

4:5. And the angel that spoke in me answered, and said to me: Knowest
thou not what these things are? And I said: No, my lord.

4:6. And he answered, and spoke to me, saying: This is the word of the
Lord to Zorobabel, saying: Not with an army, nor by might, but by my
spirit, saith the Lord of hosts.

To Zorobabel... This vision was in favour of Zorobabel: to assure him of
success in the building of the temple, which he had begun, signified by
the candlestick; the lamp of which, without any other industry, was
supplied with oil, dropping from the two olive trees, and distributed by
the seven funnels or pipes, to maintain the seven lights.

4:7. Who art thou, O great mountain, before Zorobabel? thou shalt become
a plain: and he shall bring out the chief stone, and shall give equal
grace to the grace thereof.

Great mountain... So he calls the opposition made by the enemies of
God's people; which nevertheless, without an army or might on their
side, was quashed by divine providence.-Ibid. Shall give equal grace,
etc... Shall add grace to grace, or beauty to beauty.

4:8. And the word of the Lord came to me, saying:

4:9. The hands of Zorobabel have laid the foundations of this house, and
his hands shall finish it: and you shall know that the Lord of hosts
hath sent me to you.

4:10. For who hath despised little days? and they shall rejoice, and
shall see the tin plummet in the hand of Zorobabel. These are the seven
eyes of the Lord, that run to and fro through the whole earth.

Little days... That is, these small and feeble beginnings of the temple
of God.-Ibid. The tin plummet... Literally, the stone of tin. He means
the build