Here the pronoun _them_, in evident contradistinction with _his people_, shews that two nations are spoken of; otherwise the passage might be rendered, _the Lord God, shall save as a flock, his people_. But the antithesis marked by the pronoun _them_, is rendered still more obvious, if possible, in the next line. _For the wall of separation is waving_ (or tottering) _over his land_. Such is the literal meaning of the Hebrew, when the words are taken in their primary and ordinary sense. Thus, אבני (or ינבא) in its usual sense means, _stones_, as the stones of a wall; but in a more remote and figurative sense, _precious stones_: נזר (or רזנ) in the primary sense, signifies, _to separate_, or, _separation_; occurring in this sense ten times at least in Numbers, ch. vi.; but in the secondary or more remote sense, _a diadem_, which separates or distinguishes the prince from the people: נסס (or ססנ) in the primary sense means to wave to and fro, as a flag, or as a wall before it is blown down by the wind; but, in a secondary sense it signifies, as some understand it here, to glitter or sparkle, as a diamond, when waved or moved. Thus we see the pains taken to avoid the plain and obvious sense of the passage; but the Hebrew scholar will judge for himself. The concluding verse, in which the prophet breaks forth into expressions of adoration and praise for the goodness of the Lord, well accords with this view of his bounty being unlimited, and extending to all his creatures alike. THE RABBI’S EXPOSITION AND REPLY, CHAPTER IX. As I conclude that the object of the Christian, who thinks he sees in this Prophecy a clear prediction of the coming of Jesus Christ, is to learn in what manner it is expounded by the Jews; it appears to me that the simplest way in which I can reply, will be to lay before him what I conceive to be the proper translation and interpretation. In doing this, it will be unnecessary to offer any further explanation or exposition, beyond what may be given in the form of comment on the translation; while he is at liberty to conclude with regard to those passages, where no comment or explanation is offered, not, assuredly, that I assent to _his_ interpretation, but merely that I acquiesce in the reasons he assigns for my dissent; or that his anticipation of my argument has rendered its repetition superfluous, as is the case in verses 9 and 10. The following is my mode of translating this chapter and expounding it:— Zechariah, Chapter IX. Verse 1. _The burden of the word of the Lord on the land of Hadrach, and Damascus, his residence; for to the Lord (will be) the eye of man, and (particularly that) of all the tribes of Israel._