Verses 1–8
ZECHARIAH - CHAPTER 10
ISRAEL’S FUTURE STRENGTH
Verses 1-8:
Help For Judah And Ephraim
Verse 1 calls upon the people of God to pray for rain, to ask of Him rain, in the time of latter rains, in February or March, Hosea 6:3; Joel 2:23-32; Zechariah 12. This has both a physical and spiritual implication. Rain seasons, as of old, will be restored to Palestine, but the power of the Spirit is also to be restored to her, in her return and obedience to Him; He can and will give rain on being asked, Jeremiah 10:13; Jeremiah 14:22. There is then a promise that God will form bright clouds (clouds with lightning) to give one grass in the field, meaning both corn for men and grass for cattle, Job 37:6.
Verse 2 asserts that the household gods have spoken vanity, or living prophets who claimed to receive messages from the idols, lied and deceived, as purported diviners, pretending to have visions and tell dreams received from the dumb, blind, and deaf idols in their homes. Rachel stole such an idol from Laban, Genesis 31:18; 1 Samuel 19:13. Such idolatry stayed from them the grace of God. In them the people found neither comfort nor help, but offended God, Job 13:4; Job 16:2; Job 21:34. Thus Israel and Judah were led away into captivity, as wandering, troubled lost sheep, without a shepherd a prey to every injury of wild beasts. The false prophets they trusted were not shepherds, Ezekiel 34:5. They were as the disciples of our Lord who forsook Him and fled, Matthew 26:56; Zechariah 13:7.
Verse 3 recounts that the Lord’s anger was kindled (inflamed) against the shepherds, who turned hirelings, John 10:12-13. These were the civil rulers of Judah and Israel who aided and promoted idolatry. So He punished the goats, alluding to the headstrong leaders who sanctioned idolatry and its accompanying lusts, Isaiah 15:9, Ezekiel 34:17; Daniel 8:5; Matthew 25:33. The first in crime shall be the first in punishment. The Lord has now visited the house of Judah, and made them strong, as a good horse in battle, Revelation 16:14; Revelation 19:17; Exodus 4:31; 1 Peter 2:12; Luke 1:68; Zechariah 9:13; Song of Solomon 1:9. They are now His flock.
Verse 4 affirms for the third time, for emphasis, that out of Him (the Lord) came the cornerstone, the Messiah, Isaiah 28:16. And out of Him came the nail or peg; In the oriental tent the nail-peg had hung upon it the most valuable of the furniture, Ezra 9:8; Isaiah 22:23. Upon the Messiah was hung all the true glory and hope of the house of Israel. The nail also was a symbol of sure or secure abode, Exodus 9:8; Judges 4:21; Isaiah 22:23. Out of Him also came the battle bow, or battle strength, Judah shall not need marshal armies of soldiers for protection when He comes, is the idea, Zechariah 9:13; Psalms 45:4-5; Revelation 6:2. Out of Him shall come the end of the oppressor, power to oppress every foe of truth and right.
Verse 5 prophesies that they of Judah, in that day of the Lord, shall, with Him as captain, cause the riders of enemy horses to be confounded. They of Judah, forbidden of the Lord to use horses in battle, Deuteronomy 17:16, shall tread the foe and their horses under foot; the cavalry was the chief power of the Syro-Grecian army. The foe will be trodden under foot of the Lord’s foot-cavalry in that day, is the Divine pledge, Psalms 20:7; Ezekiel 33:4; Daniel 2:40; Daniel 11:40.
Verse 6 records a pledge from the Lord that He will strengthen the house of Judah and save the house of Joseph He further assures Israel that He will bring them again, from dispersion and captivity, to a place or locate them in Zion, their own city and land. They shall then be as if never cast off, and the Lord will then be attentive to hear their prayers, for His name and covenant’s sake. Revelation 19:11-21; Zechariah 9:13-15; Zechariah 12:2-6; Zechariah 14:14-21.
Verse 7 foretells that Ephraim’s people shall be like a mighty (powerful) man, and their hearts shall rejoice, and cause their children to rejoice with emotional ecstasy, as one half-imbibed with wine, Psalms 78:65-66. But it shall be in the Lord, 1 Corinthians 15:58; Ephesians 5:18.
Verse 8 recounts a further pledge of the Lord that He will "hiss" for them, because He has redeemed them, and they shall increase as they have in former days of blessings and prosperity. As a goose hisses when danger approaches her goslings, and to drive away the predator, so the Lord will hiss against Israel’s enemies, And as the bee-keeper whistles to call the hive together for his care, so will the Lord call His people to Him, Isaiah 5:26; Isaiah 7:18; Isaiah 11:11-12; Isaiah 27:12; Matthew 11:28; Revelation 22:17.