2. clothed with linen--
(Da 10:5; 12:6, 7).
His clothing marked his office as distinct from that of the six
officers of vengeance; "linen" characterized the high priest
(Le 16:4);
emblematic of purity. The same garment is assigned to the angel of the
Lord (for whom Michael is but another name) by the contemporary prophet
Daniel
(Da 10:5; 12:6, 7).
Therefore the intercessory High Priest in heaven must be meant
(Zec 1:12).
The six with Him are His subordinates; therefore He is said to be
"among them," literally, "in the midst of them," as their recognized
Lord
(Heb 1:6).
He appears as a "man," implying His incarnation; as "one" (compare
1Ti 2:5).
Salvation is peculiarly assigned to Him, and so He bears the "inkhorn"
in order to "mark" His elect
(Eze 9:4;
compare
Ex 12:7;
Re 7:3; 9:4; 13:16, 17; 20:4),
and to write their names in His book of life
(Re 13:8).
As Oriental scribes suspend their inkhorn at their side in the present
day, and as a "scribe of the host is found in Assyrian inscriptions
accompanying the host" to number the heads of the slain, so He stands
ready for the work before Him. "The higher gate" was probably where now
the gate of Damascus is. The six with Him make up the sacred and
perfect number, seven
(Zec 3:9;
Re 5:6).
The executors of judgment on the wicked, in Scripture teaching, are
good, not bad, angels; the bad have permitted to them the trial of the
pious
(Job 1:12;
2Co 12:7).
The judgment is executed by Him
(Eze 10:2, 7;
Joh 5:22, 27)
through the six
(Mt 13:41; 25:31);
so
beautifully does the Old Testament harmonize with the New Testament. The
seven come "from the way of the north"; for it was there the idolatries
were seen, and from the same quarter must proceed the judgment (Babylon
lying northeast of Judea). So
Mt 24:28.
stood--the attitude of waiting reverently for Jehovah's commands.
brazen altar--the altar of burnt offerings, not the altar of incense,
which was of gold. They "stood" there to imply reverent obedience;
for there God gave His answers to prayer
[CALVIN]; also as being about
to slay victims to God's justice, they stand where sacrifices are
usually slain [GROTIUS],
(Eze 39:17;
Isa 34:6;
Jer 12:3; 46:10).
JFB.
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