Page:Visions and Prophecies of Zechariah (Baron, David).djvu/138

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and travailing in pain together until now, shall at last be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God.

And when once Israel's sin and guilt shall be removed, their sorrows and suffering, too, shall end. The vision closes, therefore, with the beautiful picture of tranquillity and happy contentment depicted in the last verse, " In that day> saith Jehovah of hosts, ye shall call every man his neighbour under the vine and under the fig-tree"

1 close with the following quotation: " We are told in the Talmud (Yoma, vii. 4) that, when, on the great Day of Atonement, the high priest had performed the various duties of that solemn day, he was escorted home in a festive manner, and was accustomed to give a festal entertainment to his friends. The maidens and youths of the people went forth to their gardens and vineyards with songs and dances; social entertainments took place on all sides, and universal gladness closed the festival of that solemn day."

And thus, in the last verse of this chapter, a picture is given of a day of similar gladness and joy of heart, when, on account of sin pardoned, free access to God's throne granted, and the Deliverer having come anointed with the plentitude of the Spirit and sealed by God the Father, each true Israelite would invite his friends as joyful guests to partake of festal cheer under his own vine and fig-tree. The days of peace once more are seen. The glorious era of the earthly Solomon has indeed returned in greater splendour under the reign of the Prince of Peace.

"Paradise lost " has become " Paradise regained."

"THE BODY OF MOSES"

NOTE TO CHAPTER in

It has been a point much disputed whether the reference in the Epistle of Jude to Michael's contention with the devil about "the body of Moses," where the same formula ("the Lord rebuke thee") is used by the Archangel in silencing Satan as by the Angel of