ZECHARIAH—NOTE ON ZECHARIAH 14:1 Terrible times are yet in store for the people of Jerusalem, but God will visit them and make Jerusalem secure and prominent. ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getElementsByTagName("img"); for (var i=0, len=images.length, img; i [ Continue Reading ]
ZECHARIAH—NOTE ON ZECHARIAH 14:4 In a future time that Zechariah does not identify, enemies will divide Judah’s possessions before her very eyes. Jerusalem will again be captured and will endure great hardship (vv. Zechariah 14:1). Yet at the height of her distress, the Lord will go out once more as... [ Continue Reading ]
ZECHARIAH—NOTE ON ZECHARIAH 14:5 This valley will provide an escape route for Jerusalem’s inhabitants to AZAL, an unknown location. It will also provide a road for the Divine Warrior to return to his city. He will be accompanied by ALL THE HOLY ONES, which are either his angelic army or the exiles... [ Continue Reading ]
ZECHARIAH—NOTE ON ZECHARIAH 14:6 ON THAT DAY. It is difficult to determine what period of time is indicated by this chapter’s remarkable prophecies (see 1 Peter 1:10). ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getElementsByTagName("img"); for (var i=0, len=images.length, img; i [ Continue Reading ]
ZECHARIAH—NOTE ON ZECHARIAH 14:7 The natural order’s transformation at the Lord’s coming continues. That day will be like the first day of history (literally, “day one,” see esv footnote), a UNIQUE DAY, WHICH IS KNOWN TO THE LORD. Just as on the first day, before light and darkness had been separate... [ Continue Reading ]
ZECHARIAH—NOTE ON ZECHARIAH 14:8 The LIVING WATERS that FLOW from JERUSALEM will reach the Dead Sea and the Mediterranean. Life-giving rivers are a common feature in descriptions of sanctuaries (see Genesis 2:10; Psalms 46:4; Ezekiel 47:1; Joel 3:18;... [ Continue Reading ]
ZECHARIAH—NOTE ON ZECHARIAH 14:9 THE LORD WILL BE KING OVER ALL THE EARTH. This far exceeds the idea of a Messiah who will deliver Israel, for this predicts a worldwide earthly reign of the Lord himself. THE LORD WILL BE ONE echoes the fundamental confession of the OT, “Hear, O Israel: The LORD our... [ Continue Reading ]
ZECHARIAH—NOTE ON ZECHARIAH 14:10 The territory of Judah will be turned into a flat PLAIN so that Jerusalem can tower over its surrounding countryside (compare Isaiah 2:2). ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getElementsByTagName("img"); for (var i=0, len=images.length, img; i [ Continue Reading ]
ZECHARIAH—NOTE ON ZECHARIAH 14:11 JERUSALEM will be fully INHABITED and secure, without fear of a further DECREE OF UTTER DESTRUCTION from the Lord because of its sins. ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getElementsByTagName("img"); for (var i=0, len=images.length, img; i [ Continue Reading ]
ZECHARIAH—NOTE ON ZECHARIAH 14:12 After the nations have suffered a gruesome defeat, they will dedicate themselves to worshiping the true God in Jerusalem. ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getElementsByTagName("img"); for (var i=0, len=images.length, img; i [ Continue Reading ]
ZECHARIAH—NOTE ON ZECHARIAH 14:16 THE NATIONS that once came up AGAINST JERUSALEM for war will now come to the city for the three annual festivals, especially the FEAST OF BOOTHS in the fall. Like Ezekiel before him (Ezekiel 46:9), Zechariah writes of ongoing festival worship in a renewed Israel, bu... [ Continue Reading ]
ZECHARIAH—NOTE ON ZECHARIAH 14:17 AND IF ANY OF THE FAMILIES OF THE EARTH DO NOT GO UP. This requirement will be enforced by the threat of a lack of RAIN, which will cripple their harvests. ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getElementsByTagName("img"); for (var i=0, len=images.length, img; i [ Continue Reading ]
ZECHARIAH—NOTE ON ZECHARIAH 14:20 Holiness will affect everything within Jerusalem, down to the most humble objects. Even the BELLS OF THE HORSES will now be inscribed with the phrase HOLY TO THE LORD, which was previously inscribed on a plate on the high priest’s turban (Exodus 28:36). The whole ci... [ Continue Reading ]
ZECHARIAH—NOTE ON ZECHARIAH 14:21 ON THAT DAY there will no longer be a TRADER (or a “Canaanite”; see esv footnote) in the Lord’s HOUSE. No longer will Gentiles enter the temple for business reasons, thus defiling the holiness of the Lord’s house (see Ezekiel 44:9). The temple will finally become a... [ Continue Reading ]