still in the far land of the Captivity), the Angel of the Covenant was in their midst, identified with them, and pleading their cause (i. 8-12). Jehovah Himself, far from being indifferent to their sorrows and sufferings, is very angry with the nations who are helping forward the affliction (i. 14, 15), and wishes it to be proclaimed that he that toucheth them " toucheth the apple of His eye " (ii. 8). These Gentile world-powers " who lift up their horn " to scatter and oppress " Judah, Israel, and Jerusalem," would be broken and cast out (i. 18-21); the beloved city should be rebuilt on a much grander scale, and according to plans and measurements devised by God Himself, Who would henceforth be her Light and her Defence " a wall of fire round about, and the glory in the midst of her " (ii. 1-5).
And not only Jerusalem, but the whole land, shall experience the blessed effects of Jehovah's " return to His people with mercies," and its cities shall spread abroad and overflow with material prosperity and with the multitude of men and cattle which shall be found therein (ii. 4).
"The name of the city from that day shall be Jehovah Shammah; and thus the first cycle in this series of visions ends with the joyous proclamation: " Sing and rejoice, O daughter of Zion: for, lo, I come, and I will dwell in the midst of thee, saith the Lord " (ii. i o).
And the blessed consequence of Israel's return to the land, and of the return to the glory of Jehovah, for ever more to dwell in the midst of His people, will be that the original purpose of God in the call and election of Abraham and his seed namely, that in and through them all the families of the earth should be blessed shall be fulfilled.
"And many nations shall join themselves to the Lord in that day, and shall be My people, and I will dwell in the midst of thee, and thou shalt know that Jehovah of hosts hath sent Me unto thee " (ii. 1 1 ).
But (as shown in the exposition on chap, iii.) the ques tion might have suggested itself to the prophet: How can these things be? Has riot Israel, by his grievous sins and moral defilement, for ever forfeited his place, and made
