have been, and are^being, gathered into the fold of the One Great Shepherd. But this dispensation, according to the predictions of Christ and His apostles, instead of ending in the universal knowledge of God, and in peace and righteous ness among the nations, is to end in almost universal apostasy and failure, and in the greatest conflict among the nations that the world has yet known.
Beside this, what is here predicted is something which, as we have seen, is to take place subsequent to the restora tion and national conversion of Israel. Has that yet taken place? No; as we observed in the notes on chap, ii., it is only ignorance of God's plan and self-delusion which can boast of the gradual conversion of the world, and speak of " Christian nations " in this present dispensation. But when Jehovah will have mercy upon Jacob, and will yet choose Israel again and set them in their own land when, after the long centuries of darkness and unbelief the eyes of the blind shall be opened and Israel nationally is converted, and the heart of each of them is fired with that love and zeal which burned in the heart of Paul after the Lord revealed Himself to him, saying: " / am Jesus whom thou persecutest" then this prediction of Zechariah shall be fulfilled, and " many peoples and strong nations shall come and seek Jehovah of hosts in Jerusalem, and to entreat the face of Jehovah "; and the still more ancient promise shall be realised: " As truly as I live, saith Jehovah, all the earth shall be filled with tJie glory of Jehovah" " for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of Jehovah, as the waters cover the sea."[1]
All this is confirmed and brought to a climax in the last verse: " Thus saith Jehovah of hosts: In those days it shall come to pass that ten men out of all the languages of the nations sfiall take hold of the skirt of him that is a Jew, saying, We will go with you, for we have Iteard that Jehovah is with you."
Ten is used in Scripture for an indefinite number;[2]
