Garner-Howes Baptist Commentary

ZECHARIAH - CHAPTER 9

THE BURDEN ON CITIES OF PALESTINE

Verses 1-8:

The Burdened Cities Named

Verse 1 describes the burden or wrath of the Lord against Hadrach, a part of Syria near Damascus. And Damascus is named at the city on which the "burden" or weight of God’s wrath shall rest, until Syria is completely prostrate, Amos 1:3. It shall be a time when the eyes of men in general, and all Israel especially, shall be turned toward Jehovah, as described 2 Chronicles 20:12; Psalms 123:2; Isaiah 17:7-8; Isaiah 45:20; Isaiah 45:22; Isaiah 52:10; Jeremiah 32:20.

Verse 2 lists three further cities, Hamath that borders near Hadrach, adjoining Damascus, Jeremiah 49:23; and Tyrus and Zidon as cities that are receivers of God’s burden of wrath, Amos 1:9; Obadiah 1:10. Though Zidon was very wise as the older city, in her own eyes, building a strong hold and heaping up gold and silver, Ezekiel 28:3-5; Ezekiel 28:12; Ezekiel 28:17. Yet with all her wisdom she could not avert her doom under Alexander, Jeremiah ch. 33.

Verse 3 declared that Tyrus too built herself a stronghold and heaped up or accumulated silver as the dust, and fine gold as the mire of streets, so plentiful and abundant. The new Tyre was located some 700 paces from the shore on an island from old Tyre or Zidon, Ezekiel 28:3-17. It had a seemingly impregnable double wall 150 feet high around it, as well as the sea. Yet she was not so secure that the burden of God’s wrath would not fall upon her.

Verse 4 asserts however that the Lord will cast her out, dispossess, smite, or destroy her power in the sea, both her fortifications and her fleets at sea, Ezekiel 26:4; Ezekiel 26:12; Ezekiel 27:27. Alexander conquered her, after a 7 month siege, by laying a road from the shore to the island, slew 8,000 of the people with the sword, took 13,000 as slaves, crucified 2,000 and burned the city with fire as here foretold, Ezekiel 26:17; Ezekiel 28:2.

Verse 5 declares that Ashkelon should see Tyre’s fall and fear, Zephaniah 2:4; and Gaza should behold it in sorrow, with awe, Acts 8:26 And Ekron, the farthest north of the Palestine cities, for her expectation, or belief in Tyre, should see her fall and be ashamed, put to shame and fear. It is then asserted that the king of Gaza should perish as Alexander the Great swept down through Palestine. After a 2 month seige of Gaza 10,000 of its people were slain and the rest sold for slaves. Only Gath, the inland city, from the army’s march, was left out.

Verse 6 foretold that a bastard, a foreigner, not the rightful heir, a vile and low person, should dwell in or inhabit Ashdod, another city with the burden of God’s wrath. Because of such, the speech of the people were unintelligible to the Jews, Nehemiah 13:24. The people of Ashdod became a distinct people who joined with the Arabians against Judah, Nehemiah 4:7.

Verse 7 warns that the Lord will rescue His people out of the bloody hands of their enemies, the Philistines. Taking blood out of the mouth, which heathen often drank, of the ruler of Ashdod, alludes to blood, as forbidden as food, Genesis 9:4; Leviticus 7:26; Acts 15:20. In a similar sense, He would take His people from the bloody jaws of the Philistines who were an abomination to Him, because of their idolatry, Numbers 25; Numbers 2; Acts 15:29; 1 Corinthians 10:19. He who remains in the land shall be converted to the Lord, even the stranger, and Philistines, Isaiah 56:3; Isaiah 56:8; Luke 4:17; Acts 21:3-4. The ruler of that city, in that day, shall be as a governor in Judah, with dignity. And Ekron shall be governed by one accepted of the Lord as a Jebusite, who originally ruled in Jerusalem, and who were conquered and incorporated with the Jews under David, 2 Samuel 24:16; 1 Kings 9:20-21.

Verse 8 is a pledge that the Lord will camp about (protect) His house of the Jews, because of the army, to see that His people complete the rebuilding of the temple, because of those who came and went, Psalms 34:7; Who watched for the outcome of the temple construction. They are assured the oppressor will pass through them to destroy them no more, alluding to the time of the kingdom age, for He had seen His people’s labors, with His own eyes, Isaiah 60:8; Ezekiel 28:24; Exodus 3:7; Exodus 2:25.

Verse 9:

Christ Presented As King At His First Coming

Verse 9 calls upon Judah, the daughter of Zion and Jerusalem, to rejoice greatly, expansively within, and shout out loudly an expression of that joy all over Jerusalem; Because her promised King was coming and she should announce His coming everywhere, Genesis 49:10; Psalms 2:11; Isaiah 9:7; See also Matthew 21:5; John 12:15. This was the cry of the people on our Lord’s triumphal march into Jerusalem, as His crucifixion approached, Psalms 2:6; Psalms 45:1; Psalms 110:1-4; Luke 19:38; John 12:12-15; Mark 11:1-10. He is declared to be just, or righteous, the Righteous One, who came to make man righteous by blotting out sin for every man, 2 Corinthians 5:21. As the one having, holding, or possessing salvation, Isaiah 45:21; Isaiah 53:11; Jeremiah 23:5-6. He came to bring it to men, as the lowly, humble prince of peace, Isaiah 9:6; Isaiah 45:21-22; Acts 22:14; 1 Peter 3:18. He came riding a donkey, as an expression of His humility in service, to all men, to save at His first advent, not to reign. He came to atone for the "donkey sin", stubbornness in every man, that men might be saved and ride a white horse, (not an ass) with Him at His second coming, Revelation 19:11; Revelation 19:14.

Future Deliverance

Verses 10-17:

For Judah, Ephraim, And The World-Wide Kingdom

Verse 10 announces that God will cut off the chariot, the horse, and the battle bow from Ephraim, representing the ten northern tribes, and from Jerusalem, representing Benjamin and Judah, before and in their dispersion. Both kingdoms are yet to be restored as the Prince of Peace comes to end war and restore peace to all the earth, even to the heathen, Isaiah 2:4; Hosea 2:18; Micah 5:10; Matthew 8:8. And His dominion or rule of jurisdiction shall be that promised to Abraham and his seed, Genesis 15:18; Exodus 23:31; Psalms 57:8; Psalms 72:8. It was from the river Euphrates to the river of Egypt, from the Red Sea to the Mediterranean Sea, 1 Kings 4:21.

Verse 11 addresses the daughter of Zion, people of Jerusalem, pledging that He would also, by the blood seal of His covenant, upon the honor of His integrity, bring back her exiled prisoner people from foreign captivity and dispersion, Genesis 37:24; Jeremiah 38:6. That covenant was given on Sinai, and satisfied by the blood of sacrifices, Exodus 24:8; Hebrews 9:18-20. God announced that their pit or dungeon-prisoners would be released, as set forth Genesis 27:24; Jeremiah 38:6; Isaiah 61:1; Luke 4:16-20; Joh 8;32; Acts 26:18; Romans 6:10-22.

Verse 12 calls upon the Jews to turn to the Messiah, their stronghold for security, Jeremiah 16:19; Psalms 46:1; Psalms 46:5; Psalms 49:9; Proverbs 17:10. They are addressed as "prisoners of Hope," who in afflictions, may and should lay hold on the Redeemer, their Hope, in spite of oppressions, Job 13:15; Psalms 42:5; Psalms 42:11. With unbelievers there is no hope, Jeremiah 2:25; Jeremiah 18:12. Double hope or security was promised to the obedient, Isaiah 61:7; Hebrews 6:18-20.

Verse 13 explains that this liberation from bondage, and the pit or dungeon, shall be complete when God has: 1) Bent Judah for Himself, 2) Filled the bowl with Ephraim, and 3) Raised up the heirs of Zion against and over the heirs of Greece, the Grecian armies, and 4) Made Jerusalem as the sword of a mighty man. These things God had purposed to do for His people in time, which required a time for fulfillment, Greece had bought Jewish slaves, and held them under foreign oppressive wars against them, but God warns that one day the sons of Ephraim and Judah would fill God’s bow, like arrows, against them, to conquer or overcome the Grecians, Joel 3:6-7.

Verse 14 announces that the Lord shall be seen over or above them in manifesting His power on behalf of the Jews, as He appeared in a cloud over the Israelites, against the Egyptians, Exodus 14:9; Exodus 14:24. His arrow or judgment shall go forth like lightning, in judgment destruction, against the foe of His people, Psalms 18:14. And the Lord shall blow the trumpet, the exciting bugle call to battle, for the destruction against His enemies with a fury, of the furious, tornado like storms from the south, Isaiah 21:1; Hosea 13:5. This seems to allude to His miracles at Sinai when God came from Teman, Hebrews 3:3.

Verse 15 pledges that the Lord Himself will defend them, the daughters of Zion, in Jerusalem. And God’s covenant people shall devour the flesh of their foes and drink the blood of their enemies, a figurative expression of utterly destroying them, like a lion devouring its prey, Numbers 23:24. It is also an image of the sacrifice that was partly eaten and the blood poured as a libation offering, Jeremiah 46:10; Jeremiah 43:1. They would tread under foot the sling stones hurled at them by their foes, which fell harmlessly at their feet, Job 41:28. They shall be triumphant, as David had been with the sling, before the giant Goliath, Judges 20:16; 1 Chronicles 12:2. And they shall be happy as those filled with wine, as they have full victory, like bowls filled with blood, to be taken from horns of the altar, for sacrifice, Ephesians 5:18; Acts 2:13; Acts 2:18; Exodus 29; Exodus 12.

Verse 16 pledges that the Lord will save (deliver) them in that day of battle and conflict, as the flock of His people, even as a true shepherd protects and delivers his flock from ravenous beasts of prey, Ezekiel 37:23; Psalms 77:10. He further discloses that His people shall be raised up or exalted, as the brilliant stones of a crown, and as an ensign of royalty, in contrast with the sling-stone of enemies, that they shall tread under foot, Isaiah 62:3; Malachi 3:17; Isaiah 11; Isaiah 10, 12; Isaiah 62:10.

Verse 17 exclaims with rapturous joy, "How great is his goodness and his beauty!" which Jehovah God bestows upon His people, Psalms 31:19; Jeremiah 31:12. Corn and new wine shall be in the land, to make young men cheerful, and young maids glad, are expressions of peace and prosperity, brought by the Lord of the earth. Their every need is abundantly met in Him, when He is put first in life, Deuteronomy 33:28; Psalms 4:8; Matthew 6:33; Ephesians 3:20.