How is Zorobabel encouraged?

Atlas of Saints · Chapter summary

The candlestick vision assures temple completion through God’s spirit.

Chapter breakdown

The heading names the golden candlestick, seven lamps and two olives. The angel wakes Zacharias like a sleeping man. He sees a gold candlestick, lamp on top, seven lights and seven funnels, with an olive tree on either side. The edition explains the temple then being built and, in a higher sense, Christ’s church. Asked the meaning, Zacharias admits he does not know. The angel gives God’s word to Zorobabel: not army or might but his spirit. The edition explains assurance of temple-building success through oil dropping from olives and distributed by pipes without other industry.

The great mountain becomes a plain before Zorobabel, who brings out the chief stone and gives equal grace. The edition interprets enemy opposition overcome by providence and grace added to grace or beauty to beauty. God’s word promises that Zorobabel’s hands, which laid foundations, will finish the house, confirming the mission. Little days are not to be despised; rejoicing accompanies the tin plummet in his hand and seven eyes running through earth. The note explains small beginnings, the builder’s plummet, literally stone of tin, and providence overseeing all things. Zacharias again asks about the olives and branches beside golden beaks and funnels. He again admits ignorance; the two sons of oil stand before the Lord of earth, identified by the edition as Jesus the high priest and Zorobabel the prince. Neither shouting at the stone nor a universal civic leadership doctrine is supplied.

The story inside

The chief stone receives grace. Little days are explained as small beginnings. The sons of oil are identified in the note.

Lessons worth keeping

1
The chief stone receives grace.
2
Little days are explained as small beginnings.
3
The sons of oil are identified in the note.

Test your recall

What does the tin plummet mean?

Source edition and notes

Douay–Rheims, revised by Richard Challoner (1749–1752). Project Gutenberg no. 1581. Locators refer to lines in the admitted pg1581.txt edition. Source notes may include Challoner commentary.

Lines 103272–103281
4:2. And he said to me: What seest thou? And I said: I have looked, and behold a candlestick all of gold, and its lamp upon the top of it: and the seven lights thereof upon it: and seven funnels for the lights that were upon the top thereof. A candlestick, etc.... The temple of God that was then in building; and in a more sublime sense, the church of Christ. 4:3. And two olive trees over it: one upon the right side of the lamp, and the other upon the left side thereof.
Lines 103289–103306
4:6. And he answered, and spoke to me, saying: This is the word of the Lord to Zorobabel, saying: Not with an army, nor by might, but by my spirit, saith the Lord of hosts. To Zorobabel.... This vision was in favour of Zorobabel: to assure him of success in the building of the temple, which he had begun, signified by the candlestick; the lamp of which, without any other industry, was supplied with oil, dropping from the two olive trees, and distributed by the seven funnels or pipes, to maintain the seven lights. 4:7. Who art thou, O great mountain, before Zorobabel? thou shalt become a plain: and he shall bring out the chief stone, and shall give equal grace to the grace thereof. Great mountain.... So he calls the opposition made by the enemies of God’s people; which nevertheless, without an army or might on their side, was quashed by divine providence.—Ibid. Shall give equal grace, etc.... Shall add grace to grace, or beauty to beauty.
Lines 103310–103322
4:9. The hands of Zorobabel have laid the foundations of this house, and his hands shall finish it: and you shall know that the Lord of hosts hath sent me to you. 4:10. For who hath despised little days? and they shall rejoice, and shall see the tin plummet in the hand of Zorobabel. These are the seven eyes of the Lord, that run to and fro through the whole earth. Little days.... That is, these small and feeble beginnings of the temple of God.—Ibid. The tin plummet.... Literally, the stone of tin. He means the builder’s plummet, which Zorobabel shall hold in his hand for the finishing the building.—Ibid. The seven eyes.... The providence of God, that oversees and orders all things.
Lines 103324–103338
4:11. And I answered, and said to him: What are these two olive trees upon the right side of the candlestick, and upon the left side thereof? 4:12. And I answered again, and said to him: What are the two olive branches, that are by the two golden beaks, in which are the funnels of gold? 4:13. And he spoke to me, saying: Knowest thou not what these are? And I said: No, my lord. 4:14. And he said: These are two sons of oil who stand before the Lord of the whole earth. Two sons of oil.... That is, the two anointed ones of the Lord; viz., Jesus the high priest, and Zorobabel the prince.