Zechariah 1
A Call to Return to the LORD
1In the eighth month of the second year of Darius,a the word of the LORD came to the prophet Zechariahb son of Berekiah,c the son of Iddo:d
2“The LORD was very angrye with your ancestors. 3Therefore tell the people: This is what the LORD Almighty says: ‘Returnf to me,’ declares the LORD Almighty, ‘and I will return to you,’g says the LORD Almighty. 4Do not be like your ancestors,h to whom the earlier prophetsi proclaimed: This is what the LORD Almighty says: ‘Turn from your evil waysj and your evil practices.’ But they would not listen or pay attention to me,k declares the LORD.l 5Where are your ancestors now? And the prophets, do they live forever? 6But did not my wordsm and my decrees, which I commanded my servants the prophets, overtake your ancestors?n
“Then they repented and said, ‘The LORD Almighty has done to us what our ways and practices deserve,o just as he determined to do.’ ”p
The Man Among the Myrtle Trees
7On the twenty-fourth day of the eleventh month, the month of Shebat, in the second year of Darius, the word of the LORD came to the prophet Zechariah son of Berekiah, the son of Iddo.q
8During the night I had a vision, and there before me was a man mounted on a redr horse. He was standing among the myrtle trees in a ravine. Behind him were red, brown and white horses.s
9I asked, “What are these, my lord?”
The angelt who was talking with me answered, “I will show you what they are.”u
10Then the man standing among the myrtle trees explained, “They are the ones the LORD has sent to go throughout the earth.”v
11And they reported to the angel of the LORDw who was standing among the myrtle trees, “We have gone throughout the earth and found the whole world at rest and in peace.”x
12Then the angel of the LORD said, “LORD Almighty, how longy will you withhold mercyz from Jerusalem and from the towns of Judah,a which you have been angry with these seventyb years?” 13So the LORD spokec kind and comforting wordsd to the angel who talked with me.e
14Then the angel who was speaking to me said, “Proclaim this word: This is what the LORD Almighty says: ‘I am very jealousf for Jerusalem and Zion, 15and I am very angry with the nations that feel secure.g I was only a little angry,h but they went too far with the punishment.’i
16“Therefore this is what the LORD says: ‘I will returnj to Jerusalem with mercy, and there my house will be rebuilt. And the measuring linek will be stretched out over Jerusalem,’ declares the LORD Almighty.l
17“Proclaim further: This is what the LORD Almighty says: ‘My towns will again overflow with prosperity, and the LORD will again comfortm Zion and choosen Jerusalem.’ ”o
Four Horns and Four Craftsmen
18Then I looked up, and there before me were four horns. 19I asked the angel who was speaking to me, “What are these?”
He answered me, “These are the hornsp that scattered Judah, Israel and Jerusalem.”
20Then the LORD showed me four craftsmen. 21I asked, “What are these coming to do?”
He answered, “These are the horns that scattered Judah so that no one could raise their head, but the craftsmen have come to terrify them and throw down these horns of the nations who lifted up their hornsq against the land of Judah to scatter its people.”,r
Zechariah 2
A Man With a Measuring Line
1Then I looked up, and there before me was a man with a measuring line in his hand. 2I asked, “Where are you going?”
He answered me, “To measure Jerusalem, to find out how wide and how long it is.”a
3While the angel who was speaking to me was leaving, another angel came to meet him 4and said to him: “Run, tell that young man, ‘Jerusalem will be a city without wallsb because of the great numberc of people and animals in it.d 5And I myself will be a walle of firef around it,’ declares the LORD, ‘and I will be its gloryg within.’h
6“Come! Come! Flee from the land of the north,” declares the LORD, “for I have scatteredi you to the four winds of heaven,”j declares the LORD.k
7“Come, Zion! Escape,l you who live in Daughter Babylon!”m 8For this is what the LORD Almighty says: “After the Glorious One has sent me against the nations that have plundered you—for whoever touches you touches the apple of his eyen— 9I will surely raise my hand against them so that their slaves will plunder them.,o Then you will know that the LORD Almighty has sent me.p
10“Shoutq and be glad, Daughter Zion.r For I am coming,s and I will live among you,”t declares the LORD.u 11“Many nations will be joined with the LORD in that day and will become my people.v I will live among you and you will know that the LORD Almighty has sent me to you.w 12The LORD will inheritx Judahy as his portion in the holy land and will again choosez Jerusalem. 13Be stilla before the LORD, all mankind, because he has roused himself from his holy dwelling.b”
Zechariah 3
Clean Garments for the High Priest
1Then he showed me Joshuaa the high priest standing before the angel of the LORD, and Satan,b standing at his right side to accuse him. 2The LORD said to Satan, “The LORD rebuke you,c Satan! The LORD, who has chosend Jerusalem, rebuke you! Is not this man a burning sticke snatched from the fire?”f
3Now Joshua was dressed in filthy clothes as he stood before the angel. 4The angel said to those who were standing before him, “Take off his filthy clothes.”
Then he said to Joshua, “See, I have taken away your sin,g and I will put fine garmentsh on you.”
5Then I said, “Put a clean turbani on his head.” So they put a clean turban on his head and clothed him, while the angel of the LORD stood by.
6The angel of the LORD gave this charge to Joshua: 7“This is what the LORD Almighty says: ‘If you will walk in obedience to me and keep my requirements,j then you will govern my housek and have chargel of my courts, and I will give you a place among these standing here.m
8“ ‘Listen, High Priestn Joshua, you and your associates seated before you, who are men symbolico of things to come: I am going to bring my servant, the Branch.p 9See, the stone I have set in front of Joshua!q There are seven eyes,r on that one stone,s and I will engrave an inscription on it,’ says the LORD Almighty, ‘and I will remove the sint of this land in a single day.
10“ ‘In that day each of you will invite your neighbor to situ under your vine and fig tree,v’ declares the LORD Almighty.”
Zechariah 4
The Gold Lampstand and the Two Olive Trees
1Then the angel who talked with me returned and wokea me up, like someone awakened from sleep.b 2He asked me, “What do you see?”c
I answered, “I see a solid gold lampstandd with a bowl at the top and seven lampse on it, with seven channels to the lamps. 3Also there are two olive treesf by it, one on the right of the bowl and the other on its left.” Photo
4I asked the angel who talked with me, “What are these, my lord?”
5He answered, “Do you not know what these are?”
“No, my lord,” I replied.g
6So he said to me, “This is the word of the LORD to Zerubbabel:h ‘Noti by might nor by power,j but by my Spirit,’k says the LORD Almighty.
7“What are you, mighty mountain? Before Zerubbabel you will become level ground.l Then he will bring out the capstonem to shoutsn of ‘God bless it! God bless it!’ ”
8Then the word of the LORD came to me: 9“The hands of Zerubbabel have laid the foundationo of this temple; his hands will also complete it.p Then you will know that the LORD Almighty has sent meq to you.
10“Who dares despise the dayr of small things,s since the seven eyest of the LORD that range throughout the earth will rejoice when they see the chosen capstone in the hand of Zerubbabel?”u
11Then I asked the angel, “What are these two olive treesv on the right and the left of the lampstand?”
12Again I asked him, “What are these two olive branches beside the two gold pipes that pour out golden oil?”
13He replied, “Do you not know what these are?”
“No, my lord,” I said.
14So he said, “These are the two who are anointedw to serve the Lord of all the earth.”
Zechariah 5
The Flying Scroll
1I looked again, and there before me was a flying scroll.a
2He asked me, “What do you see?”b
I answered, “I see a flying scroll, twenty cubits long and ten cubits wide.”
3And he said to me, “This is the cursec that is going out over the whole land; for according to what it says on one side, every thiefd will be banished, and according to what it says on the other, everyone who swears falselye will be banished. 4The LORD Almighty declares, ‘I will send it out, and it will enter the house of the thief and the house of anyone who swears falselyf by my name. It will remain in that house and destroy it completely, both its timbers and its stones.g’ ”
The Woman in a Basket
5Then the angel who was speaking to me came forward and said to me, “Look up and see what is appearing.”
6I asked, “What is it?”
He replied, “It is a basket.h” And he added, “This is the iniquity of the people throughout the land.”
7Then the cover of lead was raised, and there in the basket sat a woman! 8He said, “This is wickedness,” and he pushed her back into the basket and pushed its lead cover down on it.i
9Then I looked up—and there before me were two women, with the wind in their wings! They had wings like those of a stork,j and they lifted up the basket between heaven and earth.
10“Where are they taking the basket?” I asked the angel who was speaking to me.
11He replied, “To the country of Babylonia,k to build a housel for it. When the house is ready, the basket will be set there in its place.”m
Zechariah 6
Four Chariots
1I looked up again, and there before me were four chariotsa coming out from between two mountains—mountains of bronze. 2The first chariot had red horses, the second black,b 3the third white,c and the fourth dappled—all of them powerful. 4I asked the angel who was speaking to me, “What are these, my lord?”
5The angel answered me, “These are the four spirits,d of heaven, going out from standing in the presence of the Lord of the whole world.e 6The one with the black horses is going toward the north country, the one with the white horses toward the west, and the one with the dappled horses toward the south.”
7When the powerful horses went out, they were straining to go throughout the earth.f And he said, “Go throughout the earth!” So they went throughout the earth.
8Then he called to me, “Look, those going toward the north country have given my Spirit restg in the land of the north.”h
A Crown for Joshua
9The word of the LORD came to me: 10“Take silver and gold from the exiles Heldai, Tobijah and Jedaiah, who have arrived from Babylon.i Go the same day to the house of Josiah son of Zephaniah. 11Take the silver and gold and make a crown,j and set it on the head of the high priest, Joshuak son of Jozadak.,l 12Tell him this is what the LORD Almighty says: ‘Here is the man whose name is the Branch,m and he will branch out from his place and build the temple of the LORD.n 13It is he who will build the temple of the LORD, and he will be clothed with majesty and will sit and rule on his throne. And he will be a priesto on his throne. And there will be harmony between the two.’ 14The crown will be given to Heldai, Tobijah, Jedaiah and Hen son of Zephaniah as a memorialp in the temple of the LORD. 15Those who are far away will come and help to build the temple of the LORD,q and you will know that the LORD Almighty has sent me to you.r This will happen if you diligently obeys the LORD your God.”
Zechariah 7
Justice and Mercy, Not Fasting
1In the fourth year of King Darius, the word of the LORD came to Zechariaha on the fourth day of the ninth month, the month of Kislev.b 2The people of Bethel had sent Sharezer and Regem-Melek, together with their men, to entreatc the LORDd 3by asking the priests of the house of the LORD Almighty and the prophets, “Should I mourne and fast in the fifthf month, as I have done for so many years?”
4Then the word of the LORD Almighty came to me: 5“Ask all the people of the land and the priests, ‘When you fastedg and mourned in the fifth and seventhh months for the past seventy years,i was it really for me that you fasted? 6And when you were eating and drinking, were you not just feasting for yourselves?j 7Are these not the words the LORD proclaimed through the earlier prophetsk when Jerusalem and its surrounding towns were at restl and prosperous, and the Negev and the western foothillsm were settled?’ ”n
8And the word of the LORD came again to Zechariah: 9“This is what the LORD Almighty said: ‘Administer true justice;o show mercy and compassion to one another.p 10Do not oppress the widowq or the fatherless, the foreignerr or the poor.s Do not plot evil against each other.’t
11“But they refused to pay attention; stubbornlyu they turned their backsv and covered their ears.w 12They made their hearts as hard as flintx and would not listen to the law or to the words that the LORD Almighty had sent by his Spirit through the earlier prophets.y So the LORD Almighty was very angry.z
13“ ‘When I called, they did not listen;a so when they called, I would not listen,’b says the LORD Almighty.c 14‘I scatteredd them with a whirlwinde among all the nations, where they were strangers. The land they left behind them was so desolate that no one traveled through it.f This is how they made the pleasant land desolate.g’ ”
Zechariah 8
The LORD Promises to Bless Jerusalem
1The word of the LORD Almighty came to me.
2This is what the LORD Almighty says: “I am very jealousa for Zion; I am burning with jealousy for her.”
3This is what the LORD says: “I will returnb to Zionc and dwell in Jerusalem.d Then Jerusalem will be called the Faithful City,e and the mountainf of the LORD Almighty will be called the Holy Mountain.g”
4This is what the LORD Almighty says: “Once again men and women of ripe old age will sit in the streets of Jerusalem,h each of them with cane in hand because of their age. 5The city streets will be filled with boys and girls playing there.i”
6This is what the LORD Almighty says: “It may seem marvelous to the remnant of this people at that time,j but will it seem marvelous to me?k” declares the LORD Almighty.
7This is what the LORD Almighty says: “I will save my people from the countries of the east and the west.l 8I will bring them backm to liven in Jerusalem; they will be my people,o and I will be faithful and righteous to them as their God.p”
9This is what the LORD Almighty says: “Now hear these words, ‘Let your hands be strongq so that the temple may be built.’ This is also what the prophetsr said who were present when the foundations was laid for the house of the LORD Almighty. 10Before that time there were no wagest for people or hire for animals. No one could go about their business safelyu because of their enemies, since I had turned everyone against their neighbor. 11But now I will not deal with the remnant of this people as I did in the past,”v declares the LORD Almighty.
12“The seed will grow well, the vine will yield its fruit,w the ground will produce its crops,x and the heavens will drop their dew.y I will give all these things as an inheritancez to the remnant of this people.a 13Just as you, Judah and Israel, have been a curse,b among the nations, so I will savec you, and you will be a blessing.,d Do not be afraid,e but let your hands be strong.f”
14This is what the LORD Almighty says: “Just as I had determined to bring disasterg on you and showed no pity when your ancestors angered me,” says the LORD Almighty, 15“so now I have determined to do goodh again to Jerusalem and Judah.i Do not be afraid. 16These are the things you are to do: Speak the truthj to each other, and render true and sound judgmentk in your courts;l 17do not plot evilm against each other, and do not love to swear falsely.n I hate all this,” declares the LORD.
18The word of the LORD Almighty came to me.
19This is what the LORD Almighty says: “The fasts of the fourth,o fifth,p seventhq and tenthr months will become joyfuls and glad occasions and happy festivals for Judah. Therefore love trutht and peace.”
20This is what the LORD Almighty says: “Many peoples and the inhabitants of many cities will yet come, 21and the inhabitants of one city will go to another and say, ‘Let us go at once to entreatu the LORD and seekv the LORD Almighty. I myself am going.’ 22And many peoples and powerful nations will come to Jerusalem to seek the LORD Almighty and to entreat him.”w
23This is what the LORD Almighty says: “In those days ten people from all languages and nations will take firm hold of one Jew by the hem of his robe and say, ‘Let us go with you, because we have heard that God is with you.’ ”x
Zechariah 9
Judgment on Israel’s Enemies
1A prophecy:a
The word of the LORD is against the land of Hadrak
and will come to rest on Damascusb—
for the eyes of all people and all the tribes of Israel
are on the LORD—
2and on Hamathc too, which borders on it,
and on Tyred and Sidon,e though they are very skillful.
3Tyre has built herself a stronghold;
she has heaped up silver like dust,
and gold like the dirt of the streets.f
4But the Lord will take away her possessions
and destroyg her power on the sea,
and she will be consumed by fire.h
5Ashkeloni will see it and fear;
Gaza will writhe in agony,
and Ekron too, for her hope will wither.
Gaza will lose her king
and Ashkelon will be deserted.
6A mongrel people will occupy Ashdod,
and I will put an endj to the pride of the Philistines.
7I will take the blood from their mouths,
the forbidden food from between their teeth.
Those who are left will belong to our Godk
and become a clan in Judah,
and Ekron will be like the Jebusites.l
8But I will encampm at my temple
to guard it against marauding forces.n
Never again will an oppressor overrun my people,
for now I am keeping watch.o
The Coming of Zion’s King
9Rejoice greatly, Daughter Zion!p
Shout,q Daughter Jerusalem!
See, your king comes to you,r
righteous and victorious,s
lowly and riding on a donkey,t
on a colt, the foal of a donkey.u
10I will take away the chariots from Ephraim
and the warhorses from Jerusalem,
and the battle bow will be broken.v
He will proclaim peacew to the nations.
His rule will extend from sea to sea
and from the River to the ends of the earth.x
11As for you, because of the blood of my covenanty with you,
I will free your prisonersz from the waterless pit.a
12Return to your fortress,b you prisoners of hope;
even now I announce that I will restore twicec as much to you.
13I will bend Judah as I bend my bowd
and fill it with Ephraim.e
I will rouse your sons, Zion,
against your sons, Greece,f
and make you like a warrior’s sword.g
The LORD Will Appear
14Then the LORD will appear over them;h
his arrow will flash like lightning.i
The Sovereign LORD will sound the trumpet;j
he will march in the stormsk of the south,
15and the LORD Almighty will shieldl them.
They will destroy
and overcome with slingstones.m
They will drink and roar as with wine;n
they will be full like a bowlo
used for sprinkling the cornersp of the altar.
16The LORD their God will save his people on that dayq
as a shepherd saves his flock.
They will sparkle in his land
like jewels in a crown.r
17How attractive and beautiful they will be!
Grain will make the young men thrive,
and new wine the young women.
Zechariah 10
The LORD Will Care for Judah
1Ask the LORD for rain in the springtime;
it is the LORD who sends the thunderstorms.
He gives showers of raina to all people,
and plants of the fieldb to everyone.
2The idolsc speak deceitfully,
divinersd see visions that lie;
they tell dreamse that are false,
they give comfort in vain.f
Therefore the people wander like sheep
oppressed for lack of a shepherd.g
3“My anger burns against the shepherds,
and I will punish the leaders;h
for the LORD Almighty will care
for his flock, the people of Judah,
and make them like a proud horse in battle.i
4From Judah will come the cornerstone,j
from him the tent peg,k
from him the battle bow,l
from him every ruler.
5Together they will be like warriors in battle
trampling their enemy into the mud of the streets.m
They will fight because the LORD is with them,
and they will put the enemy horsemen to shame.n
6“I will strengtheno Judah
and save the tribes of Joseph.
I will restore them
because I have compassionp on them.q
They will be as though
I had not rejected them,
for I am the LORD their God
and I will answerr them.
7The Ephraimites will become like warriors,
and their hearts will be glad as with wine.s
Their children will see it and be joyful;
their hearts will rejoicet in the LORD.
8I will signalu for them
and gather them in.
Surely I will redeem them;
they will be as numerousv as before.
9Though I scatter them among the peoples,
yet in distant lands they will remember me.w
They and their children will survive,
and they will return.
10I will bring them back from Egypt
and gather them from Assyria.x
I will bring them to Gileady and Lebanon,
and there will not be roomz enough for them.
11They will pass through the sea of trouble;
the surging sea will be subdued
and all the depths of the Nile will dry up.a
Assyria’s prideb will be brought down
and Egypt’s scepterc will pass away.d
12I will strengthene them in the LORD
and in his name they will live securely,f”
declares the LORD.
Zechariah 11
1Open your doors, Lebanon,a
so that fireb may devour your cedars!
2Wail, you juniper, for the cedar has fallen;
the stately trees are ruined!
Wail, oaksc of Bashan;
the dense forestd has been cut down!e
3Listen to the wail of the shepherds;
their rich pastures are destroyed!
Listen to the roar of the lions;f
the lush thicket of the Jordan is ruined!g
Two Shepherds
4This is what the LORD my God says: “Shepherd the flock marked for slaughter.h 5Their buyers slaughter them and go unpunished. Those who sell them say, ‘Praise the LORD, I am rich!’ Their own shepherds do not spare them.i 6For I will no longer have pity on the people of the land,” declares the LORD. “I will give everyone into the hands of their neighborsj and their king. They will devastate the land, and I will not rescue anyone from their hands.”k
7So I shepherded the flock marked for slaughter,l particularly the oppressed of the flock. Then I took two staffs and called one Favor and the other Union, and I shepherded the flock. 8In one month I got rid of the three shepherds.
The flock detestedm me, and I grew weary of them 9and said, “I will not be your shepherd. Let the dying die, and the perishing perish.n Let those who are left eato one another’s flesh.”
10Then I took my staff called Favorp and broke it, revokingq the covenant I had made with all the nations. 11It was revoked on that day, and so the oppressed of the flock who were watching me knew it was the word of the LORD.
12I told them, “If you think it best, give me my pay; but if not, keep it.” So they paid me thirty pieces of silver.r
13And the LORD said to me, “Throw it to the potter”—the handsome price at which they valued me! So I took the thirty pieces of silvers and threw them to the potter at the house of the LORD.t
14Then I broke my second staff called Union, breaking the family bond between Judah and Israel.
15Then the LORD said to me, “Take again the equipment of a foolish shepherd. 16For I am going to raise up a shepherd over the land who will not care for the lost, or seek the young, or heal the injured, or feed the healthy, but will eat the meat of the choice sheep, tearing off their hooves.
17“Woe to the worthless shepherd,u
who deserts the flock!
May the sword strike his armv and his right eye!
May his arm be completely withered,
his right eye totally blinded!”w
Zechariah 12
Jerusalem’s Enemies to Be Destroyed
1A prophecy:a The word of the LORD concerning Israel.
The LORD, who stretches out the heavens,b who lays the foundation of the earth,c and who forms the human spirit within a person,d declares: 2“I am going to make Jerusalem a cupe that sends all the surrounding peoples reeling.f Judahg will be besieged as well as Jerusalem. 3On that day, when all the nationsh of the earth are gathered against her, I will make Jerusalem an immovable rocki for all the nations. All who try to move it will injurej themselves. 4On that day I will strike every horse with panic and its rider with madness,” declares the LORD. “I will keep a watchful eye over Judah, but I will blind all the horses of the nations.k 5Then the clans of Judah will say in their hearts, ‘The people of Jerusalem are strong,l because the LORD Almighty is their God.’
6“On that day I will make the clans of Judah like a firepotm in a woodpile, like a flaming torch among sheaves. They will consumen all the surrounding peoples right and left, but Jerusalem will remain intacto in her place.
7“The LORD will save the dwellings of Judah first, so that the honor of the house of David and of Jerusalem’s inhabitants may not be greater than that of Judah.p 8On that day the LORD will shieldq those who live in Jerusalem, so that the feeblestr among them will be like David, and the house of David will be like God,s like the angel of the LORD going beforet them. 9On that day I will set out to destroy all the nationsu that attack Jerusalem.v
Mourning for the One They Pierced
10“And I will pour out on the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem a spirit,w of grace and supplication.x They will look on me, the one they have pierced,y and they will mourn for him as one mourns for an only child,z and grieve bitterly for him as one grieves for a firstborn son.a 11On that day the weepingb in Jerusalem will be as great as the weeping of Hadad Rimmon in the plain of Megiddo.c 12The land will mourn,d each clan by itself, with their wives by themselves: the clan of the house of David and their wives, the clan of the house of Nathan and their wives, 13the clan of the house of Levi and their wives, the clan of Shimei and their wives, 14and all the rest of the clans and their wives.e
Zechariah 13
Cleansing From Sin
1“On that day a fountaina will be opened to the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, to cleanseb them from sin and impurity.
2“On that day, I will banish the names of the idolsc from the land, and they will be remembered no more,”d declares the LORD Almighty. “I will remove both the prophetse and the spirit of impurity from the land. 3And if anyone still prophesies, their father and mother, to whom they were born, will say to them, ‘You must die, because you have told liesf in the LORD’s name.’ Then their own parents will stab the one who prophesies.g
4“On that day every prophet will be ashamedh of their prophetic vision. They will not put on a prophet’s garmenti of hairj in order to deceive.k 5Each will say, ‘I am not a prophet. I am a farmer; the land has been my livelihood since my youth.’l 6If someone asks, ‘What are these wounds on your body?’ they will answer, ‘The wounds I was given at the house of my friends.’
The Shepherd Struck, the Sheep Scattered
7“Awake, sword,m against my shepherd,n
against the man who is close to me!”
declares the LORD Almighty.
“Strike the shepherd,
and the sheep will be scattered,o
and I will turn my hand against the little ones.
8In the whole land,” declares the LORD,
“two-thirds will be struck down and perish;
yet one-third will be left in it.p
9This third I will put into the fire;q
I will refine them like silverr
and test them like gold.s
They will callt on my nameu
and I will answerv them;
I will say, ‘They are my people,’w
and they will say, ‘The LORD is our God.x’ ”
Zechariah 14
The LORD Comes and Reigns
1A day of the LORDa is coming, Jerusalem, when your possessionsb will be plundered and divided up within your very walls.
2I will gather all the nationsc to Jerusalem to fight against it;d the city will be captured, the houses ransacked, and the women raped.e Half of the city will go into exile, but the rest of the people will not be taken from the city.f 3Then the LORD will go out and fightg against those nations, as he fights on a day of battle.h 4On that day his feet will stand on the Mount of Olives,i east of Jerusalem, and the Mount of Olives will be splitj in two from east to west, forming a great valley, with half of the mountain moving north and half moving south. 5You will flee by my mountain valley, for it will extend to Azel. You will flee as you fled from the earthquake,k in the days of Uzziah king of Judah. Then the LORD my God will come,l and all the holy ones with him.m
6On that day there will be neither sunlightn nor cold, frosty darkness. 7It will be a uniqueo day—a day known only to the LORD—with no distinction between day and night.p When evening comes, there will be light.q
8On that day living waterr will flows out from Jerusalem, half of it eastt to the Dead Sea and half of it west to the Mediterranean Sea, in summer and in winter.u
9The LORD will be kingv over the whole earth.w On that day there will be one LORD, and his name the only name.x
10The whole land, from Gebay to Rimmon,z south of Jerusalem, will become like the Arabah. But Jerusalem will be raised upa high from the Benjamin Gateb to the site of the First Gate, to the Corner Gate,c and from the Tower of Hananeld to the royal winepresses, and will remain in its place.e 11It will be inhabited;f never again will it be destroyed. Jerusalem will be secure.g
12This is the plague with which the LORD will strikeh all the nations that fought against Jerusalem: Their flesh will rot while they are still standing on their feet, their eyes will rot in their sockets, and their tongues will rot in their mouths.i 13On that day people will be stricken by the LORD with great panic.j They will seize each other by the hand and attack one another.k 14Judahl too will fight at Jerusalem. The wealth of all the surrounding nations will be collectedm—great quantities of gold and silver and clothing. 15A similar plaguen will strike the horses and mules, the camels and donkeys, and all the animals in those camps.
16Then the survivorso from all the nations that have attacked Jerusalem will go up year after year to worshipp the King,q the LORD Almighty, and to celebrate the Festival of Tabernacles.r 17If any of the peoples of the earth do not go up to Jerusalem to worships the King, the LORD Almighty, they will have no rain.t 18If the Egyptian people do not go up and take part, they will have no rain. The LORD will bring on them the plagueu he inflicts on the nations that do not go up to celebrate the Festival of Tabernacles.v 19This will be the punishment of Egypt and the punishment of all the nations that do not go up to celebrate the Festival of Tabernacles.w
20On that day HOLY TO THE LORDx will be inscribed on the bells of the horses, and the cooking potsy in the LORD’s house will be like the sacred bowlsz in front of the altar. 21Every pot in Jerusalem and Judah will be holya to the LORD Almighty, and all who come to sacrifice will take some of the pots and cook in them. And on that dayb there will no longer be a Canaanite,c in the housed of the LORD Almighty.e
1 1:21 In Hebrew texts 1:18-21 is numbered 2:1-4.
1 In Hebrew texts 2:1-13 is numbered 2:5-17.
2 2:8,9 Or says after . . . eye: 9“I . . . plunder them.”
1 3:1 Hebrew satan means adversary.
2 4:14 Or two who bring oil and
1 5:2 That is, about 30 feet long and 15 feet wide or about 9 meters long and 4.5 meters wide
2 6:6 Or horses after them
4 6:11 Hebrew Jehozadak, a variant of Jozadak
6 6:14 Syriac; Hebrew Helem
7 6:14 Or and the gracious one, the
1 8:13 That is, your name has been used in cursing (see Jer. 29:22); or, you have been regarded as under a curse.
2 8:13 Or and your name will be used in blessings (see Gen. 48:20); or and you will be seen as blessed
1 9:1 Or Damascus. / For the eye of the LORD is on all people, / as well as on the tribes of Israel,
2 9:10 That is, the Euphrates
1 10:4,5 Or ruler, all of them together. / 5They
1 13:5 Or farmer; a man sold me in my youth
2 13:6 Or wounds between your hands
1 14:5 Or 5My mountain valley will be blocked and will extend to Azel. It will be blocked as it was blocked because of the earthquake
2 14:18 Or part, then the LORD
1:2 very angry with your ancestors. The Lord was angry because of the covenant-breaking sins of the Jews’ preexilic ancestors, resulting in the destruction of Jerusalem and the temple in 586 bc, followed by exile to Babylonia (2Ch 36:15–21).
1:3 the LORD Almighty. See note on 1Sa 1:3. Return to me . . . and I will return to you. Cf. 7:13; 8:3; Mal 3:7. If the people of Zechariah’s day would change their course and go in the opposite direction from that of their ancestors (v. 4), the Lord would return to them with blessing instead of with a curse (see v. 16; see also Jer 18:7–10 and note).
1:5 do they live forever? No, but God’s words through them live on to be fulfilled (v. 6).
1:8 During the night. Zechariah had all eight visions (1:7—6:8) in one night. vision. Not a dream (see 4:1; see also Pr 29:18; Isa 1:1; Ob 1 and notes). The visions were given to Zechariah while he was awake. man mounted on. Later identified as the angel of the Lord (v. 11). He must not be confused with the interpreting angel, who is mentioned in vv. 9,13–14,19; 2:3; 4:1, 4–5; 5:5,10; 6:4–5.
1:9 angel. See note on v. 8.
1:11 angel of the LORD. See 3:1; see also note on Ge 16:7. at rest. Cf. 6:8. While the Persian Empire as a whole was secure and at ease by this time (v. 15; cf. Introduction: Background and note on Ezr 4:24), the Jews in Judah were oppressed and still under foreign domination (v. 12).
1:14 jealous. See 8:2. Through the use of such language the Lord’s love for Judah is shown (see note on Ex 20:5; cf. Jas 4:4). The key idea is that of God avenging Judah for the violations against them (v. 15; see Dt 32:35, 41; Jer 50:15; 51:6,11).
1:15 nations that feel secure. A security that will be completely undone (see Isa 32:9–13; Hag 2:6–7 and notes). went too far with the punishment. God was angry with Israel and used the Assyrians (see Isa 10:5 and note) and Babylonians (see Isa 47:6; Jer 25:9 and notes) to punish his people, but these enemies went too far by trying to destroy Israel as a people (cf. 2Ki 10:11 and note).
1:17 comfort. See v. 13 and note. choose Jerusalem. See 2:12; 3:2.
1:18–21 The second vision. The nations that devastated Israel (v. 19) will in turn be destroyed by other nations.
1:20 four craftsmen. Could be understood figuratively or literally. If the number is to be understood literally, perhaps the reference is to Egypt, Babylonia, Persia and Greece. What is clear is that all Israel’s enemies will ultimately be defeated (v. 21). craftsmen. Probably metalsmiths (1Ki 22:11).
1:21 terrify them. Contrast vv. 11 (“at rest and in peace”) and 15 (“feel secure”; see note there).
2:1–13 The third vision. There will be full restoration and blessing for the covenant people, temple and city.
2:4 young man. Evidently Zechariah. without walls. The city’s population will overflow to the point that it will be as though it had no walls (see 10:8,10; see also note on Isa 49:19–20).
2:7 Zion. Jerusalem’s exiles in Babylon. Escape . . . Babylon. Cf. Rev 18:2–4. Daughter Babylon. A personification of Babylon (see note on 2Ki 19:21).
2:8 me. See also v. 9; probably the angel of the Lord (see 1:8 and note). apple of his eye. See note on Dt 32:10.
2:12 holy land. See Ps 78:54. The land was rendered holy chiefly because it was the site of the earthly throne and sanctuary of the holy King, who dwelt there among his covenant people (see note on Ex 3:5). choose Jerusalem. See 1:17; 3:2.
2:13 Be still before the LORD. See Hab 2:20 and note. roused himself. To judge and to redeem (cf. v. 9).
3:1–10 The fourth vision. Israel will be cleansed and restored as a priestly nation (see Ex 19:6 and note).
3:4 those who were standing before him. Probably angels (see also v. 7). Take off his filthy clothes. Thus temporarily depriving him of his priestly office. The act is here symbolic also of the removal of sin (see note on v. 9; cf. Isa 64:6).
3:5 Put a clean turban on his head. Thus reinstating him into his high-priestly function so that Israel once again has a divinely authorized priestly mediator. On the front of the turban were the words “HOLY TO THE LORD” (Ex 28:36–37; 39:30–31; see Zec 14:20 and note).
3:7 If Joshua and his priestly associates are faithful, they will be co-workers with the angels in carrying out God’s purposes for Zion and Israel (cf. Jer 31:22 and note). these standing here. See note on v. 4.
3:9 stone. Probably another figure of the Messiah (see Ps 118:22; Isa 8:14; 28:16 and notes; Da 2:35,45). seven eyes. Perhaps symbolic of infinite intelligence (omniscience). See note on 4:10. I will remove the sin of this land. The symbolic act of v. 4 is now explained. “Land” stands for the people of Israel. For the cleansing spoken of here, see also 12:10—13:1; cf. Ro 11:26–27 and notes. in a single day. Ultimately Good Friday, though some believe that the reference also includes Christ’s second coming. Cf. Isa 66:8.
3:10 that day. See 2:11 and note. sit under your vine and fig tree. A proverbial picture of peace, security and contentment (see Mic 4:4 and note; cf. 2Ki 18:31).
4:1–14 The fifth vision. The Jews are encouraged to rebuild the temple by being reminded of their divine resources. The light from the lampstand in the tabernacle/temple represents the reflection of God’s glory in the consecration and holy service of God’s people (see note on Ex 25:37)—made possible only by the power of God’s Spirit (see v. 6; symbolized by the oil, v. 12). This enabling power will equip and sustain Governor Zerubbabel in the rebuilding of the temple (vv. 6–10). And in the performance of their offices, Zerubbabel and Joshua (as representatives of the royal and priestly mediatorial offices) will be channels for the Spirit’s enablement to God’s people (vv. 11–14).
4:2 What do you see? See 5:2; see also Jer 1:11 and note. The vision here was probably of seven lamps arranged around a large bowl that served as a bountiful reservoir of oil. The “seven channels to the lamps” conveyed the oil from the bowl to the lamps. But the text is also open to a different interpretation, namely, that the “channels” are “lips” or “spouts” that held the wicks of these oil lamps and that each of these lamps had seven of them (thus a total of 49 flames; see note on Ex 25:37). See photo. In any event, the bowl represents an abundant supply of oil, symbolizing the fullness of God’s power through his Spirit (v. 6), and the “seven . . . seven” represents the abundant light shining from the lamps (seven being the number of fullness). Cf. Rev 1:4 and note.
4:3 two olive trees. Cf. Rev 11:4 and note. The two olive trees stand for the priestly and royal offices and symbolize a continuing supply of oil. The two olive branches (v. 12) stand for Joshua the priest (ch. 3) and Zerubbabel from the royal house of David (ch. 4; cf. v. 14). These two leaders were to do God’s work (e.g., on the temple and in the lives of the people) in the power of his Spirit (v. 6). The Qumran community that produced the Dead Sea Scrolls (see article) looked forward to the coming of two Messiahs (the “Messiah of Aaron” and the “Messiah of Israel” [i.e., of the house of David]). But the embodiment of the priestly and royal lines and their functions in one individual points ultimately to the Messianic King-Priest and his offices and functions (see 6:13 and note).
4:4 these. The two olive trees of v. 3, as v. 11 makes clear. The answer to the question is postponed until v. 14.
4:6 Not by might nor by power. Zerubbabel does not possess the royal might and power that David and Solomon had enjoyed, and in any event such worldly power is inadequate for the purpose of rebuilding the Lord’s temple. by my Spirit. Interprets the symbolism of the oil (v. 12). The angel encouraged Zerubbabel to complete the rebuilding of the temple (vv. 7–10) and assured him of the Spirit’s enablement (see Hag 2:5 and note).
4:7 mountain . . . level ground. Faith in the power of God’s Spirit (v. 6) can overcome mountainous obstacles. The figurative mountain probably included opposition (Ezr 4:1–5,24) and the people’s unwillingness to persevere (cf. Hag 1:14; 2:1–5). Cf. the same or similar imagery in Isa 40:4; 41:15; 49:11; Mt 17:20; 21:21; 1Co 13:2; 2Co 10:4. capstone. The final stone to be put in place (see Ps 118:22 and note), marking the completion of the restoration temple by Zerubbabel (v. 9). God bless it! God bless it! Repeated for emphasis (see 3:2; see also note on Isa 40:1). The phrase probably means something like “May all divine favor rest on it.”
4:10 day of small things. Some thought the work on the temple was insignificant (see Ezr 3:12; Hag 2:3 and note), but God was in the rebuilding program and, by his Spirit (v. 6), would enable Zerubbabel to finish it. seven eyes. See note on 3:9. God oversees the whole earth and is therefore in control of the situation in Judah (cf. 2Ch 16:9). chosen capstone. See NIV text note (“plumb line”), but the main NIV text is preferable contextually (v. 7).
4:14 The meaning of the vision is now explained. two . . . anointed. Zerubbabel, from the royal line of David, and Joshua, the priest. The oil (v. 12) used in anointing symbolizes the Holy Spirit (v. 6). The combination of ruler and priest points ultimately to the Messianic King-Priest (cf. 6:13; Ps 110; Heb 7). Lord of all the earth. See 6:5; the master of the circumstances in which Zerubbabel and the people found themselves.
5:1–4 The sixth vision. Lawbreakers are condemned by the law they have broken; sinners will be purged from the land.
5:2 He. The interpreting angel (v. 5; 4:11). What do you see? See 4:2 and note. twenty . . . ten. Unusually large (especially in its width), for all to see (see NIV text note). Such a bold, clear message of judgment against sin should spur the people on to repentance and righteousness.
5:3 curse. See Dt 27:26 and note. on one side . . . on the other. Like the two tablets of the law (see Ex 32:15 and note), the scroll is inscribed on both sides (see Eze 2:10 and note). thief. One who breaks the eighth commandment (Ex 20:15). everyone who swears falsely. See 8:17. Such a person violates the third commandment (compare v. 4 with Ex 20:7). Although theft and perjury may have been the most common forms of lawbreaking at the time, they are probably intended as representative sins. The people of Judah had been guilty of infractions against the whole law (see Jas 2:10 and note).
5:4 The LORD Almighty. See note on 1Sa 1:3. it will enter . . . and destroy. “It” refers to the curse (v. 3). God’s word, whether promise (ch. 4) or judgment (as here), always accomplishes its purpose (cf. Ps 147:15; Isa 55:10–11; see Heb 4:12–13 and notes).
5:5–11 The seventh vision. Not only must flagrant, persistent sinners be removed from the land (vv. 1–4), but the whole sinful system will be removed—apparently to a more fitting place (Babylonia; see v. 11).
5:6 basket. Hebrew “ephah.” A normal ephah-sized container would not be large enough to hold a person. This one was undoubtedly enlarged (like the flying scroll of vv. 1–2) for the purpose of the vision. iniquity. See v. 8 (“wickedness”).
5:8 wickedness. A general word denoting moral, religious and civil evil—frequently used as an antonym of righteousness (e.g., Pr 13:6; Eze 33:12). The whole evil system was to be destroyed (cf. 2Th 2:6–8).
5:9 two women. Divinely chosen agents, in contrast to the woman representing wickedness (v. 7). wind. Also an instrument of God (see Ps 104:3–4 and note). The removal of wickedness would be the work of God alone.
5:11 Babylonia. See Ge 10:10 and NIV text note; 11:2 and NIV text note; Rev 17–18. Babylonia, a land of idolatry, was an appropriate locale for wickedness—but not Israel, where God chose to dwell with his people. Only after being purged of its evil would the promised land truly be the “holy land” (2:12; cf. 2Co 7:1).
6:1–8 The eighth and last vision. It corresponds to the first (1:7–17), though there are differences in details, such as in the order and colors of the horses. As in the first vision, the Lord is depicted as the one who controls the events of history (see Introduction: Literary Forms and Themes). He will conquer the nations that oppress Israel.
6:2–3 red . . . black . . . white . . . dappled. The horses may signify various divine judgments on the earth (see note on v. 8; see also Rev 6:1–8 and note on 6:2).
6:4 these. The chariots, with the horses harnessed to them.
6:5 four spirits. See note on v. 1. Lord of the whole world. See note on 4:14.
6:8 north country. Primarily Babylonia, but also the direction from which most of Israel’s foes invaded them (see note on 2:6). my Spirit. If the alternative translation in the NIV text note (“spirit”) is taken, the meaning is that the angelic beings dispatched to the north have triumphed and thus have pacified or appeased God’s spirit (i.e., his anger; cf. Ecc 10:4, where the same Hebrew word is translated “anger”). See 1:15, where God’s displeasure was aroused against oppressive nations.
6:9–15 The two central visions (the fourth and fifth) were concerned with the high priest and the governor (in the Davidic line); see Introduction: Literary Forms and Themes. Zechariah now relates the message of those two visions to the Messianic King-Priest.
6:11 crown. The Hebrew for this word is not the same as that used for the high priest’s turban but refers to an ornate crown (cf. Rev 19:12). The royal crowning of the high priest foreshadows the goal and consummation of prophecy—the crowning and reign of the Messianic King-Priest (see vv. 12–13; cf. Ps 110:4; Heb 7:1–3).
6:12 Here is the man. Cf. Pilate’s introduction of Jesus in Jn 19:5. Branch. See note on 3:8. According to the Aramaic Targum (a paraphrase), the Jerusalem Talmud (a collection of religious instruction) and the Midrash (practical exposition), Jews early on regarded this verse as Messianic. branch out. The NIV here reflects the wordplay in the Hebrew text. temple. Cf. Isa 2:2–3; Eze 40–43; Hag 2:6–9.
6:13 clothed with. See note on Ps 109:29. his throne. See 2Sa 7:11, 16; Isa 9:7; Lk 1:32 and notes. priest on his throne. The coming Davidic King will also be a priest. two. Probably the royal and priestly offices. Such a combination was not normally possible in Israel. For this reason, the sect of Qumran (see article) expected two Messianic figures—a high-priestly Messiah and a Davidic one (see note on 4:3). But the two offices and functions would in fact be united in the one person of Jesus the Messiah (cf. Ps 110; Heb 7).
6:14 Hen. Means “gracious one” (see NIV text note), perhaps another name for Josiah—to honor him for his hospitality (v. 10).
7:3 prophets. Including Zechariah. I. The people of Bethel collectively. fast in the fifth month. See note on 8:19. so many years. “The past seventy years” (v. 5).
7:4–7 A rebuke for selfish and insincere fasting on the part of the people and the priests.
7:5 fasted . . . fifth and seventh. See note on 8:19. seventy years. See 1:12 and note. Since these fasts commemorated events related to the destruction of Jerusalem and the temple (see note on 8:19), the 70 years here are to be reckoned from 586 bc. Strictly speaking, 68 years had transpired; 70 is thus a round number, though the completion of the temple in 516 would mark 70 years (see note on Jer 25:11–12; see also article).
7:7,12 earlier prophets. See note on 1:4.
7:9–10 Four tests of faithful covenant living, consisting of a series of social, moral and ethical commands.
7:11 they. The preexilic ancestors, as the reference to the “earlier prophets” in v. 12 shows. stubbornly they turned their backs. See Dt 9:6, 13,27. covered their ears. See Ps 58:4; Isa 6:10 and notes; cf. Isa 33:15.
8:1–23 Ten promises of blessing, each beginning with “This is what the LORD (Almighty) says” (vv. 2,3,4,6,7, 9,14,19,20,23).
8:9 hands be strong. See v. 13. The Hebrew for this expression is translated “be encouraged” in Jdg 7:11. prophets. Including Haggai (1:1) and Zechariah (1:1; see Ezr 5:1–2).
8:10 Before that time. Before the temple foundation was laid (v. 9). no wages. See Hag 1:6–11; 2:15–19. their enemies. For example, the Samaritans (Ezr 4:1–5).
8:11 But now. The reasons for discouragement have passed; God will now provide the grounds for encouragement.
8:14–17 Verses 14–15 specify God’s part in the people’s restoration to favor and blessing; vv. 16–17 delineate their part.
8:16–17 See 7:9–10. Such moral and ethical behavior sums up the character of those who are in covenant relationship with the Lord.
8:17 swear falsely. Perjure oneself (see note on 5:3). I hate all this. Pr 6:16–19 lists seven things the Lord hates, three of which relate directly to vv. 16–17 here: “a lying tongue,” “a heart that devises wicked schemes” and “a false witness who pours out lies.”
8:23 ten. One way of indicating a large or complete number in Hebrew (see Ge 31:7 and note; Lev 26:26; Nu 14:22 and note; 1Sa 1:8; Ne 4:12). Jew. A shortened form of “Judahite” (an inhabitant of the kingdom of Judah, where a remnant of Israelites was still living). Strictly speaking, the term “Jew” is properly applied only to the OT people of God and their descendants from the time of the Babylonian exile on. we have heard that God is with you. True godliness attracts others to the Lord (see Ge 21:22; 26:28; 30:27; see also notes on Ge 39:2–6; 1Co 14:24).
9:1–8 Probably a prophetic description of the Lord’s march south to Jerusalem, destroying—as Divine Warrior—the traditional enemies of Israel. As history shows, the agent of his judgment in this case was Alexander the Great (333–332 bc; see article).
9:2 on Hamath too. Judgment will rest on Hamath, just as on Hadrak and Damascus. Hamath is modern Hama (see Isa 10:9 and note). it. Damascus. Tyre and Sidon. Phoenician (modern Lebanese) coastal cities (see notes on Isa 23:1; 23:2,4,12). Their judgment (vv. 3–4) is also foretold in Isa 23; Eze 26:3–14; 28:5, 20–24; Am 1:9–10.
9:3 stronghold. The Hebrew term is a wordplay for “Tyre” (meaning “rock”). The stronghold was Tyre’s island fortress (Isa 23:4; Eze 26:5). It fell (v. 4) to Alexander in July, 332 bc, after a siege of seven months (see note on Eze 26:1—28:19). silver like dust . . . gold like the dirt. Cf. 1Ki 10:21,27. Tyre was a center of trade and commerce, and its wealth was proverbial (Isa 23:2–3, 8,18; Eze 26:12; 27:3–27,33; 28:4–5,7,12–14,16–18).
9:4 her power on the sea. Tyre’s exploitation of commercial sea lanes in the Mediterranean was the source of much of Tyre’s wealth.
9:5–7 The Philistine cities were greatly alarmed at Alexander’s steady advance.
9:6 mongrel people. A pejorative term for people of mixed nationality (cf. Ne 13:23–34). Ashdod. The fourth remaining city in the Philistine group (see notes on v. 5; Am 1:8). I. God. Philistines. See note on Ge 10:14. At one time their control of Canaan was so extensive that the land was eventually named after them (“Palestine”).
9:7 blood. Of idolatrous sacrifices. forbidden food. Ceremonially unclean food. Jebusites. These ancient inhabitants of Jerusalem (see notes on Ge 10:16; 2Sa 5:6) were absorbed into Judah (e.g., Araunah in 2Sa 24:16–24). So would it be with a remnant of the Philistines.
9:8 encamp at my temple to guard it against marauding forces. See 2:5. Alexander spared the temple and the city of Jerusalem (see Josephus, Antiquities, 11.8.4–5). oppressor. The Hebrew for this word is translated “slave driver” in Ex 3:7; 5:6,10 and elsewhere; thus it echoes the Egyptian bondage motif. keeping watch. See Ex 3:7; Ps 32:8; 121.
9:9 Quoted in the NT as Messianic and as referring ultimately to Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem as King (Mt 21:5; Jn 12:15). Verses 9–10 are also regarded as Messianic by Jewish exegetical traditions. Daughter Zion . . . Daughter Jerusalem. A personification of Jerusalem (see note on 2Ki 19:21). your king. The Davidic Messianic King. righteous. Conforming to the divine standard of morality and ethics, particularly as revealed in the Mosaic legislation; a characteristic of the ideal king (see 2Sa 23:3–4 and note on 23:3; Ps 4:1 and note; 72:1–3; Isa 9:7 and note; 53:11; Jer 23:6 and note). lowly. Or “humble” (cf. Isa 53:2–3, 7; Mt 11:29). riding on a donkey. A suitable choice, since the donkey was a lowly animal of peace (contrast the warhorse of v. 10), as well as a princely mount (Jdg 10:4; 12:14; 2Sa 16:2) before the horse came into common use (see photo). The royal mount used by David and his sons was the mule (see 2Sa 13:29 and note).
9:10 take away the chariots . . . warhorses . . . battle bow. A similar era of disarmament is foreseen in Isa 2:4; 9:5–7; 11:1–10; Mic 5:10–11. Ephraim. See note on v. 13. peace to the nations. In sharp contrast to Alexander’s empire, which was founded on bloodshed, the Messianic King will establish a universal and eternal kingdom of peace as the ultimate fulfillment of the Abrahamic covenant (cf. 14:16; see Ge 12:2–3 and note, but cf. Rev 19:11 and note). from sea to sea. Variously explained as “from the Nile to the Euphrates,” “from the Mediterranean to the Red Sea” or “from the Mediterranean to the Dead Sea.” Determining which it refers to is not crucial because the phrase is used to indicate totality or universality, as is true also of “from the River to the ends of the earth.” The point is that the Davidic Messiah’s rule will be universal (see Ps 22:27–28 and notes; 72:8–11 and note on 72:8; Isa 11:9; 45:22; 52:10; 66:18).
9:11 blood of my covenant with you. Probably the Sinaitic covenant (Ex 24:3–8). prisoners. Perhaps those still in Babylonia, the land of exile. waterless pit. Cf. Ge 37:24; Jer 38:6.
9:12 fortress. Either (1) Jerusalem (Zion) and environs or (2) God himself (cf. 2:5). hope. In the future delivering King (vv. 9–10). twice as much. Full or complete restoration (Isa 61:7).
9:13 See note on 10:4. The Lord compares himself to a warrior who uses Judah as his bow and Ephraim (the northern kingdom) as his arrow. your sons, Zion. The Maccabees (see note on Da 11:34; see also article). your sons, Greece. The Seleucids of Syria (after the breakup of Alexander’s empire).
9:15 The Apocryphal book 1 Maccabees (3:16–24; 4:6–16; 7:40–50) records a partial fulfillment of this verse. slingstones. Hurled at defenders on the city wall and onto the inhabitants inside (see photo). bowl used for sprinkling. See Ex 27:1–3 and note on 27:3; Lev 4:6–7.
10:1 it is the LORD who . . . gives showers . . . plants. The Lord, not the Canaanite god Baal, is the one who controls the weather and the rain, giving life and fertility to the land (see Jer 14:22; Hos 2:8 and note; 6:3; Joel 2:21–27; Am 5:8; Mt 5:45). Therefore God’s people are to pray to and trust in him.
10:2 idols. Household gods (see Ge 31:19 and note). They were used for divination during the period of the judges (see Jdg 17:5 and note; 18:14–20). diviners. Included among false prophets, they were the occult counterpart to true prophets. See Jer 27:9–10 and note on 27:9. Resorting to such sources for information and guidance is expressly forbidden in Dt 18:9–14 because God provided true prophets (and ultimately the Messianic Prophet) for that purpose (see Dt 13:1–5 and notes; 18:15–22 and note on 18:15; Isa 8:19–20 and notes; Jn 4:25; 6:14 and note; Ac 3:22–26 and note; see also note on Ge 30:27). they give comfort in vain. For example, when they wrongly promise rain, fruitful seasons, fertility, prosperity, peace and blessing. people wander like sheep. See Isa 53:6 and note. lack of a shepherd. Spiritual leadership is missing (cf. Mk 6:34). “Shepherd” is primarily a royal motif, whether referring to human kings (see Isa 44:28; Jer 2:8 and notes), to God as King (see Ps 23:1 and note) or to the Messianic, Davidic King (Eze 34:23–24; Jn 10:11–16; Heb 13:20; 1Pe 5:4; Rev 7:17).
10:3 I will punish the leaders. Cf. Eze 34:1–10. like a proud horse. Triumphant.
10:5 they. Judah (v. 4), i.e., its people. the LORD is with them. See Jos 1:5; Jer 1:8 and note. put the enemy horsemen to shame. Partly fulfilled in the Maccabean victories (during the period between the OT and the NT; see article).
10:6 Judah . . . Joseph. The people of the southern and northern kingdoms will be reunited (see note on 8:13).
10:8 signal. Or “whistle,” a continuation of the shepherd metaphor (vv. 2–3; see Jdg 5:16). redeem. The Hebrew for this word is often used of ransoming from slavery or captivity (Isa 35:10; Mic 6:4; cf. 1Pe 1:18–19). as numerous as before. See Ex 1:6–20 and note on 1:7.
10:9 they will remember me. According to the meaning of Zechariah’s name, “the LORD remembers” (his covenant people and promises). Now they will remember him.
10:11 pass through the sea of trouble. As at the Red Sea (see Ex 14:22 and note).
11:1–3 Some interpret this brief poem as a taunt song related to the lament that will be sung over the destruction of the nations’ power and arrogance (ch. 10), represented by the cedar, the pine and the oak (vv. 1–2). Their kings are represented by the shepherds and the lions (v. 3). Understood in this way, vv. 1–3 would provide the conclusion to the preceding section. Other interpreters, however, without denying the presence of figurative language, regard the piece as describing the devastation of Syro-Palestine due to the rejection of the Messianic Good Shepherd (vv. 4–14). Verses 1–3 would then furnish the introduction to the next section. The geography of the text—Lebanon, Bashan and Jordan—would seem to favor this interpretation. Part of the fulfillment would be the destruction and further subjugation of the area by the Romans, including the fall of Jerusalem in ad 70 and of Masada in 73. Understood in this way, the passage is in sharp contrast with ch. 10 and its prediction of Israel’s full deliverance and restoration to the covenant land. Now the scene is one of desolation for the land (vv. 1–3), followed by the threat of judgment and disaster for both land and people (vv. 4–6).
11:2 Bashan. See note on Isa 2:13. The Israelites took this region from the Amorite king Og at the time of the conquest of Canaan (Nu 21:33–35). It was allotted to the half-tribe of Manasseh (Jos 13:29–30; 17:5). dense forest. Of Lebanon.
11:3 If the language is figurative, the shepherds and lions represent the rulers or leaders of the Jews (see v. 5; 10:3; cf. Jer 25:34–36). lush thicket of the Jordan. Where the lions had their lairs.
11:4–14 The reason for the judgment on Israel in vv. 1–3 is now given, namely, the people’s rejection of the Messianic Shepherd-King. Just as the Servant in the “servant songs” (see note on Isa 42:1–4) is rejected, so here the Good Shepherd (a royal figure) is rejected. The same Messianic King is in view in both instances.
11:5 buyers. The sheep (the Jews) are bought as slaves by outsiders. Part of the fulfillment came in ad 70 and the following years. Those who sell them. “Their own shepherds (rulers or leaders).”
11:6 land. Israel. king. Perhaps the Roman emperor (cf. Jn 19:15). They. Includes the Romans prophetically.
11:7 I. Zechariah, as a type (foreshadowing) of the Messianic Shepherd-King. called one Favor. To ensure divine favor on the flock. Union. See Eze 37:15–28 and note on 37:16. Such unity would be the result of the gracious leadership of the Good Shepherd. (For the significance of the subsequent breaking of the two staffs, see vv. 10,14 and notes.)
11:8 got rid of the three shepherds. Although the three cannot be specifically identified, the Good Shepherd will dispose of all such unfit leaders. I grew weary of them. Cf. Isa 1:13–14.
11:9 Let the dying die. The Good Shepherd terminates his providential care of the sheep. eat one another’s flesh. According to Josephus, this actually happened during the Roman siege of Jerusalem in ad 70 (see Jer 19:9 and note).
11:10 covenant. Apparently a covenant of security and restraint, by which the Shepherd had been keeping the nations from attacking his people (cf. Eze 34:25; Hos 2:18). Now, however, the nations will be permitted to overrun them.
11:11 the oppressed of the flock. Probably the faithful few, who recognize the authoritative word of the Lord (see also v. 7).
11:12 give me my pay. Refers to the severance of the relationship. keep it. A more emphatic way of ending the relationship. thirty pieces of silver. The price of a slave among the Israelites in ancient times (see notes on Ex 21:32; Mt 26:15).
11:13 handsome price. Irony and sarcasm. threw them to the potter at the house of the LORD. For the NT use of vv. 12–13, see Mt 26:14–15; 27:3–10 and note on 27:9.
11:14 broke my second staff called Union. Signifying the dissolution of the covenant nation, particularly of the unity between the south and the north. The breaking up of the nation into parties hostile to each other was characteristic of later Jewish history; it greatly hindered the popular cause in the war against Rome (cf. Jn 11:48).
11:15 again. See v. 7. foolish shepherd. With the Shepherd of the Lord’s choice removed from the scene, a foolish and worthless (v. 17) shepherd replaces him. A selfish, greedy, corrupt leader will arise and afflict the flock (the people of Israel).
11:16 seek the young. Cf. Ge 33:13; Isa 40:11. tearing off their hooves. Apparently in a greedy search for the last edible piece.
11:17 worthless shepherd. See note on v. 15. This counterfeit shepherd may have found a partial historical fulfillment in such leaders as Simeon bar Kosiba or Kokhba (who led the Jewish revolt against the Romans in ad 132–135 and who was hailed as the Messiah by Rabbi Akiba). But it would seem that the final stage of the progressive fulfillment of this prophecy awaits the rise of the final antichrist (cf. Eze 34:2–4; Da 11:36–39; Jn 5:43; 2Th 2:3–10; Rev 13:1–8). deserts the flock. Contrast the Good Shepherd of Jn 10:11–16. May his arm be completely withered. May his power be paralyzed. his right eye totally blinded. This leader will be powerless to fight.
12:1—14:21 This second prophetic message in the second major division of the book revolves around two scenes: the final siege of Jerusalem and the Messiah’s return to defeat Israel’s enemies and establish his kingdom.
12:4 panic . . . madness . . . blind. Listed in Dt 28:28 among Israel’s curses for disobeying the stipulations of the covenant. Now these curses are turned against Israel’s enemies. watchful eye. See 9:8; Ps 32:8; 33:18; 121.
12:6 Like a fire destroying wood and sheaves of grain, Judah’s discerning leaders (v. 5) will consume their enemies (cf. Jdg 15:3–5; Mic 5:5–6; see note on Isa 1:31).
12:11 Hadad Rimmon. The name of either (1) a place near Megiddo, where the people mourned the death of King Josiah (2Ch 35:20–27; see v. 22 there for the plain of Megiddo and vv. 24–25 for the mourning); or (2) a Semitic storm god (see 2Ki 5:18 and note), whose name means “Hadad the thunderer” in Babylonian (as in the Gilgamesh Epic, 11:98; see chart; see also Eze 8:14 for an example of the practice of weeping for a Babylonian deity).
12:13 Shimei. Son of Gershon, the son of Levi (Nu 3:17–18,21). The repentance and mourning are led, then, by the civil (royal) and religious leaders.
13:2 names of the idols. The influence and fame, and even the very existence, of the idols. prophets. False prophecy was still a problem in the postexilic period (Ne 6:12–14) and would again be a problem in the future (Mt 24:4–5, 11,23–24; 2Th 2:2–4).
13:3 lies. False prophecies. parents will stab the one who prophesies. See Dt 13:3,6–10. The Hebrew for “stab” is the same as the verb for “pierced” in 12:10, perhaps indicating that the feelings and actions exhibited in piercing the Messiah will now be directed toward the false prophets.
13:4–6 Because of the stern measures just mentioned, a false prophet will be reluctant to identify himself as such and will be evasive in his responses to interrogation. To help conceal his true identity, he will not wear a “prophet’s garment of hair” (v. 4), such as Elijah wore (see 2Ki 1:8 and note). Instead, to avoid the death penalty (v. 3), he will deny being a prophet and will claim to have been a farmer since his youth (v. 5). And if a suspicious person notices marks on his body and inquires about them (v. 6), he will claim to have received them in a scuffle with friends (or perhaps as discipline from his parents during childhood). Apparently the accuser suspects that the false prophet’s wounds were self-inflicted to arouse his prophetic ecstasy in idolatrous rites (as in 1Ki 18:28; see Jer 16:6 and note; 48:37).
13:5 the land . . . my youth. If the alternative translation in the NIV text note is taken, the meaning is that someone sold him as a slave while he was still young.
13:6 Some take this verse as Messianic, but the interpretation given above seems preferable in this context (e.g., v. 5).
13:7 my shepherd. The royal (Messianic) Good Shepherd (cf. the true Shepherd of 11:4–14; contrast the foolish and worthless shepherd of 11:15–17). Strike the shepherd. In 11:17 it was the worthless shepherd who was to be struck; now it is the Good Shepherd (cf. also 12:10). sheep will be scattered. In partial fulfillment of the curses for covenant disobedience (see Dt 28:64 and note; 29:24–25). These two clauses are quoted by Jesus not long before his arrest (Mt 26:31; Mk 14:27) and applied to the scattering of the apostles (Mt 26:56; Mk 14:49–50), who in turn are probably typological of the dispersion of the Jews in ad 70 and subsequent years.
13:8–9 These verses depict a refining process for Israel (see note on Isa 48:10).
13:9 I will refine them. See Ps 12:6 and note. my people . . . our God. See note on 8:8. They will be restored to proper covenant relationship with the Lord (see also Eze 20:30–44).
14:2 all the nations . . . fight against it. See v. 12; see also note on 12:3.
14:3 the LORD will . . . fight against those nations. See Rev 16:16–21; 19:19–21. day of battle. Any occasion when the Lord supernaturally intervenes to deliver his people, such as at the Red Sea (see Ex 14:14 and note).
14:4 Mount of Olives. Called by this name elsewhere in the OT only in 2Sa 15:30. It faced the temple mount and, being about 2,700 feet high, rose about 200 feet above it. Cf. Eze 11:23. This prophecy is probably referred to in Ac 1:11–12.
14:5 Azel. The name of a place east of Jerusalem, marking the eastern end of the newly formed valley. earthquake in the days of Uzziah. Amos dates his prophecy by referring to it (see Am 1:1 and note). holy ones. May include both believers and angels. They will accompany our Lord when he comes (cf. Mt 25:31; 1Th 3:13; Jude 14; Rev 19:14).
14:7 unique day. Due to the topographical, cosmic and cataclysmic changes. See also Isa 60:19–20 and notes.
14:10 Geba. About six miles north-northeast of Jerusalem at the northern boundary of Judah (see 2Ki 23:8 and note). Rimmon. Also called En Rimmon (see Ne 11:29 and note), it was about 35 miles south-southwest of Jerusalem, where the hill country of Judah slopes away into the Negev. Arabah. See note on Dt 1:1. All the land around Jerusalem is to be leveled. Jerusalem will be raised up. See Isa 2:2–4 and note. The elevation may be both physical and in prominence. Benjamin Gate . . . First Gate . . . Tower of Hananel. All were probably at the northeastern part of the city wall (cf. Jer 31:38; 37:12–13; 38:7). Corner Gate. At the northwest corner (cf. Jer 31:38). royal winepresses. Just south of the city. Thus the whole city is included.
14:11 inhabited. See 2:4 and note. never again . . . destroyed. As at the time of the exile to Babylonia (see Isa 43:28 and note) and in ad 70. Jerusalem will be secure. See Jer 31:40; Am 9:11–15.
14:12 plague. See Isa 37:36 and note. nations that fought against Jerusalem. See v. 2; see also note on 12:3.
14:13 great panic . . . attack one another. See Jdg 7:22 and note.
14:14 gold and silver and clothing. The plunder of battle, thus reversing the situation in v. 1.
14:15 A similar plague will strike the beasts of burden, preventing the people from using them to escape.
14:16 See Isa 2:2–4 and note; 19:23–35; Mic 4:1–5. Festival of Tabernacles. See notes on Ex 23:16; Ps 81:3. Of the three great pilgrimage festivals (see Ex 23:14–17), perhaps Tabernacles was selected as the one for representatives of the various Gentile nations because it was the last and greatest festival of the Hebrew calendar, gathering up into itself the year’s worship (see note on Eze 45:25). It was to be a time of grateful rejoicing (see Lev 23:40; Dt 16:13–15; Ne 8:17 and note). Beginning with the period of Ezra and Nehemiah, the reading and teaching of “the Book of the Law of God” became an integral part of the festivities (Ne 8:18; cf. Isa 2:3). The festival seems to speak of the final, joyful regathering and restoration of Israel, as well as of the ingathering of the nations. See chart.
14:18 Egyptian people . . . will have no rain. See NIV text note. With either reading, the withholding of rain may still be included, for drought (v. 17) in the upper reaches of the Nile would cause the annual flooding of the Nile to fail.
14:20 HOLY TO THE LORD. Engraved on the gold plate worn on the high priest’s turban (Ex 28:36–38) as a reminder of his consecration to the Lord’s service (see note on 3:5). God’s original purpose for Israel (see Ex 19:6 and note) will be realized.
14:21 Every pot in Jerusalem . . . holy. See Joel 3:17 and note. Even common things become holy when they are used for God’s service. cook. Portions from the sacrifices. Canaanite. Represents anyone who is morally or spiritually unclean—anyone who is not included among the chosen people of God (cf. Isa 35:8; Eze 43:7; 44:9; Rev 21:27). But see NIV text note, which leads some to connect this prophecy with Jesus’ clearing of the temple (Mk 11:15–17).