The Prophets and the Unclean Spirit
By Arthur L. Manous
“And it shall come to pass in that day, saith the Lord of Hosts, that I will cut off the names of the idols out of the land, and they shall no more be remembered: and also I will cause the prophets and the unclean spirit to pass out of the land.” Zech. 13:2. WITHOUT attempting to locate any specific time that may or may not be intended by the term, “in that day,” it is the writer’s desire to ascertain something, if possible, as to what we are to understand by the “prophets and the unclean spirit,” and especially the latter. Touching this interesting point, Henry Cowles, D.D. (1803-1881), says: “The ‘prophets’ named here in connection with idols before and ‘the unclean spirit’ after, must be false prophets, called prophets only because they falsely and foully assumed this name. . . . The reference to an ‘unclean spirit’ recognizes satanic agency.” (“The Minor Prophets, with Notes,” by Rev. Henry Cowles, New York, 1867.) Others translate that part of the verse containing the terms “prophets” and “unclean spirit” as follows: (a) “And the prophets also, and the impure spirit, will I cause to pass out of the land.” (“A New Translation of the Hebrew Prophets,” by George R. Noyes, D.D., Boston, 1890.) (b) “And I will remove their preachers, and their foul spirit, from the country.” (“The Holy Bible in Modern English,” by Ferrar Fenton, F.R.A.S., M.C.A.A., London, cir. 1903.) (c) “And I will cut off the false prophets and the evil spirit from the land.” (“The Septuagint Version of the Old Testament, with an English Translation,” London and New York, cir. 1844.) WHO IS THIS “UNCLEAN,” “IMPURE,” “FOUL,” AND “EVIL SPIRIT” SAID TO BE?
Adam Clarke, LL.D. (cir. 1762-1832), expresses his opinion as follows: “‘And the unclean spirit’—that which leads to impurity, the spirit of divination; the lust of the flesh, and of the eye, and the pride of life. Satan shall have neither a being in, nor power over, the hearts of sincere believers in Christ.” (“Commentary,” New York, 1858 edition.) Mr. Matthew Poole (1624-1679) expresses himself on this point thus:7 “‘The unclean spirit,’ that is, the devil, which sets the false prophets on work. Christ cast many out of persons possessed, and by His doctrine still doth cast out Satan.” (“Annotations upon the Holy Bible,” by Matthew Poole, New York, 1880 edition.) Mr. Matthew Henry (1662-1714) has given his opinion on this point thus: “‘I will cause the prophets and the unclean spirit,’ that is, the prophets that are under the influence of the unclean spirit, to ‘pass out of the land.’ The devil is an unclean spirit; sin and uncleanness are from him; he hath his prophets, that serve his interest and receive their instructions from him.” (“A Commentary on the Old and New Testaments,” by Matthew Henry, Louisville, Kentucky, date not given.) Mr. Ebenezer Henderson, D.D. (1784-1858), gives his opinion in the following very interesting note: “By . . . the spirit of impurity, is meant a person pretending to inspiration, and in league with Satan, the god of this world, to whom in contradistinction to . . . the spirit of holiness, the designation may well be applied. Compare . . . Acts 16:16; . . . 1 John 4:6; . . . and especially . . . Rev. 16:13.” (“The Book of the Twelve Minor Prophets, Translated from the Original Hebrew, with a Commentary,” by E. Henderson, D.D., London, 1845.) Now, dear reader, who do you think this “unclean,” “impure,” “foul,” and “evil spirit” of Zech. 13:2 is? Do you, too, think it is the devil? One of the texts referred to in the last quotation says: “And I saw,” says the revelator, “three unclean spirits like frogs come out of the mouth of the dragon, and out of the mouth of the beast, and out of the mouth of the false prophet. For they are the spirits of devils [Greek, demons], working miracles, which go forth unto the kings of the earth and of the whole world, to gather them to the battle of that great day of God Almighty.” Rev. 16:13, 14. May the dear Lord deliver both the reader and the writer from this satanic influence, and the “hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth,” is the writer’s humble prayer.