Destruction of neighboring nations, the coming of Christ and the peace He will bring about
9
📚The burden 📖 of the wordof the LORD is against
the land of Hadrach,
and Damascus, its resting place
(for the eyes of men,
as of all the tribes of Israel
will be on the LORD);
2 📚And against Hamath
which is on its border,
and against Tyre and Sidon 📖,
though they are very wise,
9:2 Hamath was an important city in Syria. Zechariah is saying that the word of the Lord is against the whole country of Syria, that God will judge and punish it. Compare Isa 17:1, 3; Jer 49:23-27; Amos 1:3-5.⚜
3 📚And Tyre built a stronghold 📖
for herself, and heaped up
silver like dust,
and gold 📖 like the mire
of the streets.
4 📚“See, the Lord will cast her out
and he will strike her power
in the sea;
and she will be consumed by fire.
5 📚Ashkelon will see it,
and be afraid.
Gaza also will see it, and writhe
in anguish, and Ekron too;
for her expectation will be put
to shame, and the king will perish
from Gaza,
and Ashkelon will become uninhabited.
6 📚And a mixed race will dwell
in Ashdod, and I 📖 will cut off
the pride of the Philistines.
9:5-6 The cities mentioned here were all in the land of the Philistines along the coast of the Mediterranean Sea, west of Israel. For other prophecies about the Philistines see Isa 14:28-32; Jer 47:1-7; Ezek 25:15-17; Amos 1:6-8; Zeph 2:4-7.⚜
7 📚And I will take the blood 📖
out of his mouth,
and his abominations from between
his teeth. But he who remains,
will be for our God,
and he will be like a leader in Judah,
and Ekron like a Jebusite.
8 📚And I will camp around 📖 my house
because of an army,
because of him who comes
and goes back.
And no longer 📖 will an oppressor pass
through them any more,
for now have I seen with my eyes.
9 📚“Rejoice greatly, O daughter 📖 of Zion!
Shout 📖, O daughter of Jerusalem!
See, your King 📖 is coming to you.
He is just 📖 and has salvation 📖,
lowly and riding on a donkey,
and on a colt, the foal of a donkey.
9:9 Several hundred years later these words were literally fulfilled. See Matt 21:1-11; Mark 11:1-11; Luke 19:28-38; John 12:12-16.⚜
10 📚And I will cut off the chariot
from Ephraim, and the horse
from Jerusalem,
and the battle bow shall be removed.
And he will speak peace to the nations,
and his dominion will be
from sea to sea,
9:10 Verse 9 refers to the first coming of the Lord Jesus. This verse refers to His second coming. Compare Isa 2:4; 9:5-7; 11:1-10; Hos 2:18; Ps 72:8-11.⚜
and from the Euphrates River
to the ends of the earth.
Victory for the people of Israel
11 📚And as for you, because of the blood
of your covenant 📖
I will release your 📖 prisoners
from the waterless pit.
12 📚Return to the stronghold 📖,
you prisoners 📖 of hope 📖.
Today I declare that
I will restore double 📖 to you,
13 📚When I have bent Judah for me,
filled the bow with Ephraim 📖,
and raised up your sons, O Zion,
against your sons, O Greece 📖,
and made you like the sword
of a mighty man”.
14 📚And the LORD will be seen over them,
and his arrow will go forth
like lightning,
and the Lord God will blow the trumpet,
and will go with whirlwinds
from the south.
15 📚The LORD of hosts will defend them,
and they will destroy and subdue
with sling stones.
And they will drink, and roar
as from wine;
and they will be filled with blood
like bowls, and like the corners
of the altar.
9:14-15 God Himself will come and fight on the side of the people of Israel and protect them from their enemies. Compare Zech 12:2-9; 14:3; Joel 3:16.⚜
16 📚And the LORD their God will save them
in that day 📖 as the flock of his people;
for they will be like the stones
of a crown 📖,
lifted up like a banner over his land.
17 📚For how great is his goodness,
and how great is his beauty!
Grain will make the young men cheerful,
and new wine the maids.
9:17 A picture of the peace and prosperity that Israel will enjoy. Compare Isa 62:8-12; Jer 31:11-14; Hos 2:21-23; Joel 2:18-19, 24-27.⚜