Zechariah Chapter 12

From The Open Bible Project

12:1 An oracle. The word of Yahweh concerning Israel. Yahweh, who stretches out the heavens, and lays the foundation of the earth, and forms the spirit of man within him says:

• (a) That is, the ten tribes, which neglected God’s benefit in delivering their brethren, and had rather remain in captivity, than to return home when God called them.

12:2 "Behold, I will make Jerusalem a cup of reeling to all the surrounding peoples, and on Judah also will it be in the siege against Jerusalem.

• (b) Jerusalem will be defended against all her enemies: so will God defend all Judah also, and will destroy the enemies.

12:3 It will happen in that day, that I will make Jerusalem a burdensome stone for all the peoples. All who burden themselves with it will be severely wounded, and all the nations of the earth will be gathered together against it.

12:4 In that day," says Yahweh, "I will strike every horse with terror, and his rider with madness; and I will open my eyes on the house of Judah, and will strike every horse of the peoples with blindness.

12:5 The chieftains of Judah will say in their heart, 'The inhabitants of Jerusalem are my strength in Yahweh of Armies their God.'

• (c) Every captain, that had many under him before, will now think that the small power of Jerusalem will be sufficient to defend them against all enemies, because the Lord is among them.

12:6 In that day I will make the chieftains of Judah like a pan of fire among wood, and like a flaming torch among sheaves; and they will devour all the surrounding peoples, on the right hand and on the left; and Jerusalem will yet again dwell in their own place, even in Jerusalem.

12:7 Yahweh also will save the tents of Judah first, that the glory of the house of David and the glory of the inhabitants of Jerusalem not be magnified above Judah.

• (d) The people who are now as it were dispersed by the fields, and lie open to their enemies, will be preserved by my power just as if they were under their kings (which is meant by the house of David), or in their defended cities.

12:8 In that day Yahweh will defend the inhabitants of Jerusalem. He who is feeble among them at that day will be like David, and the house of David will be like God, like the angel of Yahweh before them.

12:9 It will happen in that day, that I will seek to destroy all the nations that come against Jerusalem.

12:10 I will pour on the house of David, and on the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the spirit of grace and of supplication; and they will look to [6] me [See Zechariah Footnotes 6] whom they have pierced; and they shall mourn for him, as one mourns for his only son, and will grieve bitterly for him, as one grieves for his firstborn.

• (e) They will have the feeling of my grace by faith, and know that I have compassion on them.
• (f) That is, whom they have continually vexed with their obstinacy, and grieved my Spirit. In (John 19:37) it is referred to Christ’s body, whereas here it is referred to the Spirit of God.
• (g) They will turn to God by true repentance, whom before they had so grievously offended by their ingratitude.

12:11 In that day there will be a great mourning in Jerusalem, like the mourning of Hadadrimmon in the valley of Megiddon.

• (h) They will exceedingly lament and repent for their offences against God.
• (i) Which was the name of a town and place near to Megiddo, where Josiah was slain; (2 Chronicles 35:22).

12:12 The land will mourn, every family apart; the family of the house of David apart, and their wives apart; the family of the house of Nathan apart, and their wives apart;

• (k) That is, in all places where the Jews will remain.
• (l) Signifying, that this mourning or repentance would not be a vain ceremony: but every one touched with his own griefs will lament.
• (m) Under these certain families he includes all the tribes, and shows that both the kings and the priests had by their sins pierced Christ.

12:13 the family of the house of Levi apart, and their wives apart; the family of the Shimeites apart, and their wives apart;

• (n) Also called Simeon.

12:14 all the families who remain, every family apart, and their wives apart.

• (o) That is, who were elect by grace, and preserved from the common destruction.