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 builder’s plummet, which Zorobabel shall hold in his hand for the finishing the building.—Ibid. The seven eyes.... The providence of God, that oversees and orders all things.
4:11. And I answered, and said to him: What are these two olive trees upon the right side of the candlestick, and upon the left side thereof?
4:12. And I answered again, and said to him: What are the two olive branches, that are by the two golden beaks, in which are the funnels of gold?
4:13. And he spoke to me, saying: Knowest thou not what these are? And I said: No, my lord.
4:14. And he said: These are two sons of oil who stand before the Lord of the whole earth.