Zechariah 9: 1 – 17
The Righteous King
1 The burden of the word of the LORD against the land of Hadrach, and Damascus its resting place (For the eyes of men and all the tribes of Israel are on the LORD); 2 Also against Hamath, which borders on it, and against Tyre and Sidon, though they are very wise. 3 For Tyre built herself a tower, heaped up silver like the dust, and gold like the mire of the streets. 4 Behold, the Lord will cast her out; He will destroy her power in the sea, and she will be devoured by fire. 5 Ashkelon shall see it and fear; Gaza also shall be very sorrowful; and Ekron, for He dried up her expectation. The king shall perish from Gaza, and Ashkelon shall not be inhabited. 6 “ A mixed race shall settle in Ashdod, and I will cut off the pride of the Philistines. 7 I will take away the blood from his mouth, and the abominations from between his teeth. But he who remains, even he shall be for our God, and shall be like a leader in Judah, and Ekron like a Jebusite. 8 I will camp around My house because of the army, because of him who passes by and him who returns. No more shall an oppressor pass through them, for now I have seen with My eyes. 9 “ Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! Shout, O daughter of Jerusalem! Behold, your King is coming to you; He is just and having salvation, lowly and riding on a donkey, a colt, the foal of a donkey. 10 I will cut off the chariot from Ephraim and the horse from Jerusalem; the battle bow shall be cut off. He shall speak peace to the nations; His dominion shall be ‘from sea to sea, and from the River to the ends of the earth.’11 “ As for you also, because of the blood of your covenant, I will set your prisoners free from the waterless pit. 12 Return to the stronghold, you prisoners of hope. Even today I declare that I will restore double to you. 13 For I have bent Judah, My bow, fitted 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 Then the LORD will be seen over them, and His arrow will go forth like lightning. The Lord GOD will blow the trumpet, and go with whirlwinds from the south. 15 The LORD of hosts will defend them; they shall devour and subdue with slingstones. They shall drink and roar as if with wine; They shall be filled with blood like basins, like the corners of the altar. 16 The LORD their God will save them in that day, as the flock of His people. For they shall be like the jewels of a crown, lifted like a banner over His land— 17 For how great is its goodness and how great its beauty! Grain shall make the young men thrive, and new wine the young women.’
Zechariah served the Lord our God for over 50 years. The incidents and prophecy that occurred in chapters 1 through 8 happened early in his ministry. Now many years have passed. The Temple was completed however; the spiritual revival that it should have caused the people did not come about. So, our Precious Ruler directed His prophet to encourage the faithful by describing action that God would do for Israel and against her enemies.
1 The burden of the word of the LORD against the land of Hadrach, and Damascus its resting place (For the eyes of men and all the tribes of Israel are on the LORD); 2 Also against Hamath, which borders on it, and against Tyre and Sidon, though they are very wise. 3 For Tyre built herself a tower, heaped up silver like the dust, and gold like the mire of the streets. 4 Behold, the Lord will cast her out; He will destroy her power in the sea, and she will be devoured by fire. 5 Ashkelon shall see it and fear; Gaza also shall be very sorrowful; and Ekron, for He dried up her expectation. The king shall perish from Gaza, and Ashkelon shall not be inhabited. 6 “ A mixed race shall settle in Ashdod, and I will cut off the pride of the Philistines. 7 I will take away the blood from his mouth, and the abominations from between his teeth. But he who remains, even he shall be for our God, and shall be like a leader in Judah, and Ekron like a Jebusite. 8 I will camp around My house because of the army, because of him who passes by and him who returns. No more shall an oppressor pass through them, for now I have seen with My eyes.
The nations around Israel have continually been harassing the people. So, our Lord pronounces a ‘burden’ of vengeance against them. This oracle declares a heavy load or weighty judgment. The places mentioned are today located in Syria.
Tyre and Sidon were very prideful. For 13 years Nebuchadnessar tried to conquer this island nation and was unsuccessful. Then our Lord raised up Alexander the Great and he brought these nations down in just a few months. There was a historian by the name of Josephus who wrote about this action in book 11 chapter 8 of his writings, ‘3. About this time it was that Darius heard how Alexander had passed over the Hellespont, and had beaten his lieutenants in the battle at Granicum, and was proceeding further; whereupon he gathered together an army of horse and foot, and determined that he would meet the Macedonians before they should assault and conquer all Asia. So he passed over the river Euphrates, and came over Taurus, the Cilician mountain, and at Issus of Cilicia he waited for the enemy, as ready there to give him battle. Upon which Sanballat was glad that Darius was come down; and told Manasseh that he would suddenly perform his promises to him, and this as soon as ever Darius should come back, after he had beaten his enemies; for not he only, but all those that were in Asia also, were persuaded that the Macedonians would not so much as come to a battle with the Persians, on account of their multitude. But the event proved otherwise than they expected; for the king joined battle with the Macedonians, and was beaten, and lost a great part of his army. His mother also, and his wife and children, were taken captives, and he fled into Persia. So Alexander came into Syria, and took Damascus; and when he had obtained Sidon, he besieged Tyre, when he sent all epistle to the Jewish high priest, to send him some auxiliaries, and to supply his army with provisions; and that what presents he formerly sent to Darius, he would now send to him, and choose the friendship of the Macedonians, and that he should never repent of so doing. But the high priest answered the messengers, that he had given his oath to Darius not to bear arms against him; and he said that he would not transgress this while Darius was in the land of the living. Upon hearing this answer, Alexander was very angry; and though he determined not to leave Tyre, which was just ready to be taken, yet as soon as he had taken it, he threatened that he would make an expedition against the Jewish high priest, and through him teach all men to whom they must keep their oaths. So when he had, with a good deal of pains during the siege, taken Tyre, and had settled its affairs, he came to the city of Gaza, and besieged both the city and him that was governor of the garrison, whose name was Babemeses. 4. But Sanballat thought he had now gotten a proper opportunity to make his attempt, so he renounced Darius, and taking with him seven thousand of his own subjects, he came to Alexander; and finding him beginning the siege of Tyre, he said to him, that he delivered up to him these men, who came out of places under his dominion, and did gladly accept of him for his lord instead of Darius. So when Alexander had received him kindly, Sanballat thereupon took courage, and spake to him about his present affair. He told him that he had a son-in-law, Manasseh, who was brother to the high priest Jaddua; and that there were many others of his own nation, now with him, that were desirous to have a temple in the places subject to him; that it would be for the king’s advantage to have the strength of the Jews divided into two parts, lest when the nation is of one mind, and united, upon any attempt for innovation, it prove troublesome to kings, as it had formerly proved to the kings of Assyria. Whereupon Alexander gave Sanballat leave so to do, who used the utmost diligence, and built the temple, and made Manasseh the priest, and deemed it a great reward that his daughter’s children should have that dignity; but when the seven months of the siege of Tyre were over, and the two months of the siege of Gaza, Sanballat died. Now Alexander, when he had taken Gaza, made haste to go up to Jerusalem; and Jaddua the high priest, when he heard that, was in an agony, and under terror, as not knowing how he should meet the Macedonians, since the king was displeased at his foregoing disobedience. He therefore ordained that the people should make supplications, and should join with him in offering sacrifice to God, whom he besought to protect that nation, and to deliver them from the perils that were coming upon them; whereupon God warned him in a dream, which came upon him after he had offered sacrifice, that he should take courage, and adorn the city, and open the gates; that the rest should appear in white garments, but that he and the priests should meet the king in the habits proper to their order, without the dread of any ill consequences, which the providence of God would prevent. Upon which, when he rose from his sleep, he greatly rejoiced, and declared to all the warning he had received from God. According to which dream he acted entirely, and so waited for the coming of the king. 5. And when he understood that he was not far from the city, he went out in procession, with the priests and the multitude of the citizens. The procession was venerable, and the manner of it different from that of other nations. It reached to a place called Sapha, which name, translated into Greek, signifies a prospect, for you have thence a prospect both of Jerusalem and of the temple. And when the Phoenicians and the Chaldeans that followed him thought they should have liberty to plunder the city, and torment the high priest to death, which the king’s displeasure fairly promised them, the very reverse of it happened; for Alexander, when he saw the multitude at a distance, in white garments, while the priests stood clothed with fine linen, and the high priest in purple and scarlet clothing, with his mitre on his head, having the golden plate whereon the name of God was engraved, he approached by himself, and adored that name, and first saluted the high priest. The Jews also did all together, with one voice, salute Alexander, and encompass him about; whereupon the kings of Syria and the rest were surprised at what Alexander had done, and supposed him disordered in his mind. However, Parmenio alone went up to him, and asked him how it came to pass that, when all others adored him, he should adore the high priest of the Jews? To whom he replied, "I did not adore him, but that God who hath honored him with his high priesthood; for I saw this very person in a dream, in this very habit, when I was at Dios in Macedonia, who, when I was considering with myself how I might obtain the dominion of Asia, exhorted me to make no delay, but boldly to pass over the sea thither, for that he would conduct my army, and would give me the dominion over the Persians; whence it is that, having seen no other in that habit, and now seeing this person in it, and remembering that vision, and the exhortation which I had in my dream, I believe that I bring this army under the Divine conduct, and shall therewith conquer Darius, and destroy the power of the Persians, and that all things will succeed according to what is in my own mind." And when he had said this to Parmenio, and had given the high priest his right hand, the priests ran along by him, and he came into the city. And when he went up into the temple, he offered sacrifice to God, according to the high priest’s direction, and magnificently treated both the high priest and the priests. And when the Book of Daniel was showed him (23) wherein Daniel declared that one of the Greeks should destroy the empire of the Persians, he supposed that himself was the person intended. And as he was then glad, he dismissed the multitude for the present; but the next day he called them to him, and bid them ask what favors they pleased of him; whereupon the high priest desired that they might enjoy the laws of their forefathers, and might pay no tribute on the seventh year. He granted all they desired. And when they entreared him that he would permit the Jews in Babylon and Media to enjoy their own laws also, he willingly promised to do hereafter what they desired. And when he said to the multitude, that if any of them would enlist themselves in his army, on this condition, that they should continue under the laws of their forefathers, and live according to them, he was willing to take them with him, many were ready to accompany him in his wars. 6. So when Alexander had thus settled matters at Jerusalem, he led his army into the neighboring cities; and when all the inhabitants to whom he came received him with great kindness, the Samaritans, who had then Shechem for their metropolis, (a city situate at Mount Gerizzim, and inhabited by apostates of the Jewish nation,) seeing that Alexander had so greatly honored the Jews, determined to profess themselves Jews; for such is the disposition of the Samaritans, as we have already elsewhere declared, that when the Jews are in adversity, they deny that they are of kin to them, and then they confess the truth; but when they perceive that some good fortune hath befallen them, they immediately pretend to have communion with them, saying that they belong to them, and derive their genealogy from the posterity of Joseph, Ephraim, and Manasseh. Accordingly, they made their address to the king with splendor, and showed great alacrity in meeting him at a little distance from Jerusalem. And when Alexander had commended them, the Shechemites approached to him, taking with them the troops that Sanballat had sent him, and they desired that he would come to their city, and do honor to their temple also; to whom he promised, that when he returned he would come to them. And when they petitioned that he would remit the tribute of the seventh year to them, because they did but sow thereon, he asked who they were that made such a petition; and when they said that they were Hebrews, but had the name of Sidonians, living at Shechem, he asked them again whether they were Jews; and when they said they were not Jews, "It was to the Jews," said he, "that I granted that privilege; however, when I return, and am thoroughly informed by you of this matter, I will do what I shall think proper." And in this manner he took leave of the Shechenlites; but ordered that the troops of Sanballat should follow him into Egypt, because there he designed to give them lands, which he did a little after in Thebais, when he ordered them to guard that country.’
The complete destruction of Tyre by Alexander The Great illustrates how everything can come under God’s judgment and be eliminated. Zechariah mentions also four Philistine cities, ‘ You can imagine the people of these cities concern. Their were not only suffering from anxiety waiting for the all out attack of Alexander’s army, but were struck with intense fear. 5 Ashkelon shall see it and fear; Gaza also shall be very sorrowful; and Ekron, for He dried up her expectation. The king shall perish from Gaza, and Ashkelon shall not be inhabited. 6 “ A mixed race shall settle in Ashdod, and I will cut off the pride of the Philistines.’ The consequences were that Alexander the Great destroyed the cities of Askelon, Gaza, and Ekron. Ashdod was overtaken by foreigners [a mixed race shall settle].
This judgment would cut off the Philistine pride once and for all. Let me ask you a question, ‘do you know of any Philistines living today?’ Now don’t say Palestinians because they were not Philistine’s. This judgment was leveled because of religious defilement and abominable practices, ‘I will take away the blood from his mouth, and the abominations from between his teeth.’ The removal of blood from his mouth and abominations refer to the ending of idolatrous practices.
We see here that there will be a remnant of Palestinians who convert to Judaism. - ‘But he who remains, even he shall be for our God, and shall be like a leader in Judah, and Ekron like a Jebusite.’ Jubusites were the old inhabitants of Jebus which was conquered by king David that became Jerusalem. These inhabitants were assimilated into the Jewish nation. Even today if you look at the nation of Israel, you will see that people from different nationalities are allowed to become part of the nation.
There are three things I see in verse 8 that I want to point out – ‘8 I will camp around My house because of the army, because of him who passes by and him who returns. No more shall an oppressor pass through them, for now I have seen with My eyes.’ First of all, our Lord is giving His people some strong relief from the constant oppression from their enemies. He will Himself be their watchman or guard. He will camp out around the Temple. This is a serious response on His part for He lets the people know that He has seen their enemies constantly trampling through His city. Enough is enough. His eyes shall be vigilant to spot any foreign intruder.
Secondly, this promise would seem as not being true because in centuries to come, the Syrians under Antiochus Epiphanies IV, along with the Romans later on, would come and trample the city. This promise therefore was conditional upon the people’s obedience.
The day would come thirdly in the future when our Holy Jehovah Mekkaddishkem – The Lord Who Sanctifies, will totally take over and ashore the people this peace and protection as the prophet Joel tell us in chapter 3, 17 “ So you shall know that I am the LORD your God, dwelling in Zion My holy mountain. Then Jerusalem shall be holy, and no aliens shall ever pass through her again.”
9 “ Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! Shout, O daughter of Jerusalem! Behold, your King is coming to you; He is just and having salvation, lowly and riding on a donkey, a colt, the foal of a donkey.
The peace and protection will begin by our Lord setting up the right King to govern, His King, our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Our Jehovah Elyon – The Lord Most High Is going to give the people His promised Messiah. In this the people should greatly rejoice, ‘9 “ Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! Shout, O daughter of Jerusalem! Behold, your King is coming to you.’ He Is not coming as a conquering warrior at first but Is lowly, ‘He is just and having salvation, lowly and riding on a donkey, a colt, the foal of a donkey.’ He brings something better. He brings salvation and deliverance. In the previous verses we have seen our Lord’s opinion of Tyre, whose main sin was pride. Our Holy Father’s response in defiance of pride is the Messiah’s lowliness.
This prophecy was given over 500 years before it happened. We see its fulfillment in the Gospel of Matthew chapter 21, ‘ 1 Now when they drew near Jerusalem, and came to Bethphage, at the Mount of Olives, then Jesus sent two disciples, 2 saying to them, “Go into the village opposite you, and immediately you will find a donkey tied, and a colt with her. Loose them and bring them to Me. 3 And if anyone says anything to you, you shall say, ‘The Lord has need of them,’ and immediately he will send them.” 4 All this was done that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying: 5 “ Tell the daughter of Zion, ‘ Behold, your King is coming to you, lowly, and sitting on a donkey, a colt, the foal of a donkey.’” 6 So the disciples went and did as Jesus commanded them. 7 They brought the donkey and the colt, laid their clothes on them, and set Him on them. 8 And a very great multitude spread their clothes on the road; others cut down branches from the trees and spread them on the road. 9 Then the multitudes who went before and those who followed cried out, saying: “ Hosanna to the Son of David! ‘ Blessed is He who comes in the name of the LORD!’ Hosanna in the highest!” 10 And when He had come into Jerusalem, all the city was moved, saying, “Who is this?” 11 So the multitudes said, “This is Jesus, the prophet from Nazareth of Galilee.”
10 I will cut off the chariot from Ephraim and the horse from Jerusalem; the battle bow shall be cut off. He shall speak peace to the nations; His dominion shall be ‘from sea to sea, and from the River to the ends of the earth.’
The coming King will not rule by military control,’10 I will cut off the chariot from Ephraim and the horse from Jerusalem; the battle bow shall be cut off.’ These will not be required. He will exercise worldwide control through speaking words of peace that will affect the whole world, ‘He shall speak peace to the nations; His dominion shall be ‘from sea to sea, and from the River to the ends of the earth.’
In verse 9 we see our Lord’s first coming being fulfilled. Verse 10 will be fulfilled with the second coming of our Lord. He will ride back to earth as a conquering warrior riding on a white horse as the book of Revelation chapter 19 teaches us, ‘Now I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse. And He who sat on him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and makes war.’ At that time all the nations will be honor the Lord as the Supreme Ruler. He will govern the whole earth out of Jerusalem.
11 “ As for you also, because of the blood of your covenant, I will set your prisoners free from the waterless pit. 12 Return to the stronghold, you prisoners of hope. Even today I declare that I will restore double to you. 13 For I have bent Judah, My bow, fitted 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.”
The people would pay strong attention to these words from the Lord, ‘11 “ As for you also, because of the blood of your covenant.’ Their hope is now brought from the future back to the present. The basis lies in the ‘blood’ of the covenant described to us in the book of Exodus chapter 24, 1 Now He said to Moses, “Come up to the LORD, you and Aaron, Nadab and Abihu, and seventy of the elders of Israel, and worship from afar. 2 And Moses alone shall come near the LORD, but they shall not come near; nor shall the people go up with him.”3 So Moses came and told the people all the words of the LORD and all the judgments. And all the people answered with one voice and said, “All the words which the LORD has said we will do.” 4 And Moses wrote all the words of the LORD. And he rose early in the morning, and built an altar at the foot of the mountain, and twelve pillars according to the twelve tribes of Israel. 5 Then he sent young men of the children of Israel, who offered burnt offerings and sacrificed peace offerings of oxen to the LORD. 6 And Moses took half the blood and put it in basins, and half the blood he sprinkled on the altar. 7 Then he took the Book of the Covenant and read in the hearing of the people. And they said, “All that the LORD has said we will do, and be obedient.” 8 And Moses took the blood, sprinkled it on the people, and said, “This is the blood of the covenant which the LORD has made with you according to all these words.”
With the new Temple being built again, this covenant was available again so that the Lord can have mercy on His people Covenants in the Old Testament were sealed in blood. Today we would sign a contract. In the heart of God He would have His son sign the contract with mankind. This contract would be signed, sealed, and delivered for mankind’s deliverance by the precious blood of the Lamb of God.
There were more Jews still around the world then and now. Our Lord depicts His people as having been prisoners kept in a waterless cistern, ‘I will set your prisoners free from the waterless pit.’ They have been seriously abused and deprived of hope but our Lord will turn their dark despair to blessings. He will double what they had lost.
‘Turn you to the stronghold’ refers to a inaccessible and fortified place where enemies cannot break through to. Our Precious Jehovah Jireh Is the Lord Who Provides. He Is a Mighty fortress to which we all need to turn to for protection and deliverance. Our Lord Jesus said in the Gospel of John chapter 8 verse 36, ‘So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.’
The statement ‘and raised up your sons, O Zion, against your sons, O Greece, and made you like the sword of a mighty man’, needs a comment. Javan was one of the sons of Japhet who fathered sons who settled in countries across the Mediterranean Sea. These countries are Spain, Cyprus, and Rhodes and all came under Grecian influence.
14 Then the LORD will be seen over them, and His arrow will go forth like lightning. The Lord GOD will blow the trumpet, and go with whirlwinds from the south. 15 The LORD of hosts will defend them; they shall devour and subdue with slingstones. They shall drink and roar as if with wine; They shall be filled with blood like basins, like the corners of the altar. 16 The LORD their God will save them in that day, as the flock of His people. For they shall be like the jewels of a crown, lifted like a banner over His land— 17 For how great is its goodness and how great its beauty! Grain shall make the young men thrive, and new wine the young women.’
Can the Lord Be seen in your life? Is it obvious to others that He Blesses and protects you? Has He come to your rescue in the past? I encourage you to submit yourself entirely into the Lord’s Hands. This verse has meant a lot to me in the past, perhaps this may be a verse that you understand and can rest assured in that our Lord Is your protector. Proverbs 11 says, ‘8 The righteous is delivered from trouble, and it comes to the wicked instead.’ Payday for the enemies of God’s children will come soon. We see the reference of wine and blood. Both are the same color. Our Lord Jesus Is coming back and He will tread down and utterly destroy the wicked. He has shed His blood but when He returns His garments will be stained with the blood of those He tramples under as we read in the book of Isaiah chapter 63 verse 3 teaches, “ I have trodden the winepress alone, And from the peoples no one was with Me. For I have trodden them in My anger, And trampled them in My fury; Their blood is sprinkled upon My garments, And I have stained all My robes.’
We look to You our Lord. Please come quickly.
