A man with a measuring-line in his hand - Probably a representation of Nehemiah, who got a commission from Artaxerxes Longimanus to build up the walls of Jerusalem; for hitherto it had remained without being enclosed.
A man with a measuring line in his hand - Probably the Angel of the Lord, of whom Ezekiel has a like vision. Jerome: “He who before, when he lift up his eyes, had seen in the four horns things mournful, now again lifts up his eves to see a man, of whom it is written, “Behold a man whose name is the Branch” Zechariah 6:12; of whom we read above, “Behold a man riding upon a red horse, and he stood among the myrtle trees, which were in the bottom” Zechariah 1:8. Of whom too the Father saith; He builded My city, “whose builder and maker is God” Hebrews 11:10. He too is seen by Ezekiel in a description like this, “a man whose appearance was like the appearance of brass” Ezekiel 40:3, that is, “burnished and shining as fire, with a line of flax in his hand and a measuring reed” Ezekiel 1:7. The office also seems to be one of authority, not to measure the actual length and breadth of Jerusalem, but to lay down what it should be, (Cyril), “to mark it out broad and very long.”
Zechariah then saw the powers that had “scattered Judah, Israel, and Jerusalem,” symbolized by four horns. Immediately afterward he saw four carpenters, representing the agencies used by the Lord in restoring His people and the house of His worship. See verses 18-21. PK 581.1
“I lifted up mine eyes again,” Zechariah said, “and looked, and behold a man with a measuring line in his hand. Then said I, Whither goest thou? And he said unto me, To measure Jerusalem, to see what is the breadth thereof, and what is the length thereof. And, behold, the angel that talked with me went forth, and another angel went out to meet him, and said unto him, Run, speak to this young man, saying, Jerusalem shall be inhabited as towns without walls for the multitude of men and cattle therein: for I, saith the Lord, will be unto her a wall of fire round about, and will be the glory in the midst of her.” Zechariah 2:1-5. PK 581.2
God had commanded that Jerusalem be rebuilt; the vision of the measuring of the city was an assurance that He would give comfort and strength to His afflicted ones, and fulfill to them the promises of His everlasting covenant. His protecting care, He declared, would be like “a wall of fire round about;” and through them His glory would be revealed to all the sons of men. That which He was accomplishing for His people was to be known in all the earth. “Cry out and shout, thou inhabitant of Zion: for great is the Holy One of Israel in the midst of thee.” Isaiah 12:6. PK 581.3
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