Zechariah 8:1-17

Obedience and Feasting

1 The word of the Lord of Hosts came:

2 "The Lord of Hosts says this: I am extremely jealous^[a] for Zion; I am jealous for her with great wrath."

3 The Lord says this: "I will return to Zion and live in Jerusalem. Then Jerusalem will be called the Faithful City,^[b] the mountain of the Lord of Hosts, and the Holy Mountain."

4 The Lord of Hosts says this: "Old men and women will again sit along the streets of Jerusalem, each with a staff in hand because of advanced age.

5 The streets of the city will be filled with boys and girls playing in them."

6 The Lord of Hosts says this: "Though it may seem incredible to the remnant of this people in those days, should it also seem incredible to Me?"-the declaration of the Lord of Hosts.

7 The Lord of Hosts says this: "I will save My people from the land of the east and the land of the west.

8 I will bring them [back]^[c] to live in Jerusalem. They will be My people, and I will be their faithful and righteous God."^[d]

9 The Lord of Hosts says this: "Let your hands be strong, you who now hear these words that the prophets spoke when the foundations were laid for the rebuilding of the temple, the house of the Lord of Hosts.

10 For prior to those days neither man nor beast had wages. There was no safety from the enemy for anyone who came or went, for I turned everyone against his neighbor.

11 But now, I will not treat the remnant of this people as in the former days"-the declaration of the Lord of Hosts.

12 "For they will sow in peace: the vine will yield its fruit, the land will yield its produce, and the skies will yield their dew. I will give the remnant of this people all these things as an inheritance.^[e]

13 As you have been a curse among the nations,^[f] house of Judah and house of Israel, so I will save you, and you will be a blessing.^[g] Don't be afraid; let your hands be strong."

14 For the Lord of Hosts says this: "As I resolved to treat you badly when your fathers provoked Me to anger, and would not relent," says the Lord of Hosts,

15 "so I have resolved again in these days to do what is good to Jerusalem and the house of Judah.^[h] Don't be afraid.

16 These are the things you must do: Speak truth to one another; render honest and peaceful judgments in your gates.

17 Do not plot evil^[i] in your hearts against your neighbor,^[j] and do not love perjury,^[k] for I hate all this"- the Lord's declaration.

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Zechariah 8:1-17 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO ZECHARIAH 8

This chapter contains promises of various blessings to the people of the Jews; and exhortations to each of the duties incumbent on them; and is concluded with a prophecy of the calling of the Gentiles. The cause of all the blessings promised is the love of God to them, signified by zeal, or jealousy for them, Zec 8:1,2. The blessings promised are the Lord's return to dwell in Jerusalem, and the integrity and holiness of that city, Zec 8:3. The long life of the inhabitants of it, and the plenty of children that should be born in it, Zec 8:4,5 and, however wonderful and incredible this might seem to some, it was not to the Lord, who was determined to bring his people that were in various distant countries to Jerusalem, and settle them there; and renew and reestablish his covenant with them, Zec 8:6-8 wherefore the Lord encourages them to go on in rebuilding the temple, Zec 8:9 and promises them that things would be better with them than in times past; that whereas there had been nothing but penury, affliction, and distress, now there should be great affluence and prosperity, Zec 8:10-12 and though before they were a curse among the nations, now they should be a blessing; and though their fathers were punished, they should be dealt well with, Zec 8:13-15 and then they are exhorted to the discharge of several duties mentioned, to which they are induced by the Lord's hatred of that which is evil, and by his turning their fasts into cheerful feasts. Zec 8:16-19 to which is added a prophecy of the calling and conversion of the Gentiles, which would make for the glory of the Jewish church; who are described by their numbers, being many people, and the inhabitants of many cities; by their association together, to pray to the Lord, and worship him; by their coming up to Jerusalem for that purpose; and by their junction with the Jews, to which they will be encouraged by having heard that God is with them, Zec 8:20-23.

Taken from John Gill's Exposition of the Bible

Footnotes 11

[a]. Zch 1:14
[b]. Isa 1:26
[c]. Isa 11:11-12; Mc 2:12-13
[d]. Gn 17:7-8; Dt 26:17-18; Rv 21:3
[e]. Dt 31:7; Jos 1:6; Isa 49:8
[f]. Dt 21:23; 2 Kg 22:19
[g]. Gn 12:2-3
[h]. Dt 8:16; Jr 32:40-41; Ezk 36:11
[i]. Mc 2:1
[j]. Dt 10:12-22; Mt 22:39
[k]. Lv 5:4; Nm 30:2; Jr 5:2