Page:Visions and Prophecies of Zechariah (Baron, David).djvu/270

 here it stands for " a great and complete multitude." The unusual Hebrew phrase, mikol leshonoth haggoyim " of all the languages of the nations" is an echo of Isa. Ixvi. 18, where we read that " all nations and tongues " (or " languages " haggoyim vehallesJionoth) shall be gathered to see God's glory in Jerusalem. They shall lay hold on the khenaph, which is the corner of the long flowing garment worn in the East. Among the Jews, to each of the four kenaphayim of the outer garment of white, the rpiPif (tsitsitJi, " fringes," or tassels (of blue) were attached; and some writers have supposed that this is what is referred to, since it was the distinctly visible sign of " a man, a Jew." It is spoken of as being laid (or caught) hold of, first with a view to detain the Jew, so as to beg his permission to accompany him. But it has the sense of keeping firm hold, expressive of the earnest determination of the Gentile seekers of Jehovah to accompany the Jew, who is himself represented as travelling towards Zion, with his face turned thither ward. Like Ruth, the Moabitess, to her Jewish mother-inlaw, so the Gentile converts to the God of Israel shall say:

"Entreat us not to leave Thee, or to return from following after Thee: for whither Thou goest we will go: . . . Thy people shalt be our people, and Thy God our God" " We will go with you, for we have heard that Jehovah is with you."

It is because the Jew shall then not only " believe in one God " (which is their boast now), but shall be so one with God that for a Gentile convert to call himself by the name of Jacob will be equivalent to saying, " I am the Lord's "; and to surname himself " by the name of Israel," equal to " subscribing with his hand unto Jehovah " (Isa. xliv. 1 5). It is because the glorious hope and promise contained in the Name " Immanuel " shall then be fulfilled in a literal and personal sense to Israel nationally, and Jehovah Himself, the Holy One of Israel, in the Person of their Messiah Jesus, shall dwell in the midst of them; and because, finally, Qodesh / Yehovah " Holiness (or holy; unto Jehovah " shall then be written upon their foreheads. yea, upon all that they possess, that the