Zec 5:7-8, 11 | JFB | STEP | 7. lifted up —The cover is lifted off the ephah to let the prophet see the female personification of "wickedness" within, about to be removed from Judea. The cover being "of lead," implies that the "woman" cannot escape from the ponderous load which presses her down. talent —literally, "a round piece": hence a talent, a weight of one hundred twenty-five pounds troy. woman —for comparison of "wickedness" to a woman, . In personifying abstract terms, the feminine is used, as the idea of giving birth to life is associated with woman.

Zechariah 5:7-8

7. lifted up—The cover is lifted off the ephah to let the prophet see the female personification of "wickedness" within, about to be removed from Judea. The cover being "of lead," implies that the "woman" cannot escape from the ponderous load which presses her down.

talent—literally, "a round piece": hence a talent, a weight of one hundred twenty-five pounds troy.

woman—for comparison of "wickedness" to a woman, Pr 2:16; 5:3, 4. In personifying abstract terms, the feminine is used, as the idea of giving birth to life is associated with woman.

8. wickedness—literally, "the wickedness": implying wickedness in its peculiar development. Compare "the man of sin," 2Th 2:3.

cast it—that is, her, Wickedness, who had moved more freely while the heavy lid was partially lifted off.

weight—literally, "stone," that is, round mass.

Zechariah 5:11

11. To build . . . house in . . . Shinar—Babylonia (Ge 10:10), the capital of the God-opposed world kingdoms, and so representing in general the seat of irreligion. As the "building of houses" in Babylon (Jer 29:5, 28) by the Jews themselves expressed their long exile there, so the building of an house for "wickedness" there implies its permanent stay.

set . . . upon her own base—fixed there as in its proper place. "Wickedness" being cast out of Judah, shall for ever dwell with the antichristian apostates (of whom Babylon is the type), who shall reap the fruit of it, which they deserve.