Zechariah 9:4

4 But God will certainly bankrupt her; he will dump all that wealth into the ocean and burn up what's left in a big fire.

Zechariah 9:4 Meaning and Commentary

Zechariah 9:4

Behold, the Lord will cast her out
Or "inherit her" {f}, or "them", as the Septuagint render the words; when, being converted, she would become the Lord's inheritance and possession, and her riches should be devoted to his service: and he will smite her power in the sea;
for Tyre was situated in the sea, at the entry of it, and was strong in it, ( Ezekiel 26:17 ) ( 27:3 ) . Kimchi interprets this of her humiliation and subjection in the days of the Messiah; and in a spiritual sense it has been verified in such who have been spoiled of their carnal strength, in which they trusted, and have laid down their weapons, and have submitted to the sceptre of Christ: and she shall be devoured with fire;
with the spirit of judgment, and of burning, which purges and removes the filth of sin; and with the fire of the word, which burns up and consumes its lusts; and with the flames of divine love, which make souls as a whole burnt offering to the Lord. This was literally accomplished in the burning of Tyre by Alexander F7, which injected fear and dread in cities near it, as follow:


FOOTNOTES:

F6 (hnvrwy) (klhronomhsei autouv) , Setp.; "possidebit eam", V. L. Munster, Castalio. So some in Vatablus.
F7 Curtius, l. 4. c. 4.

Zechariah 9:4 In-Context

2 That includes Hamath at the border, and Tyre and Sidon, clever as they think they are.
3 Tyre has put together quite a kingdom for herself; she has stacked up silver like cordwood, piled gold high as haystacks.
4 But God will certainly bankrupt her; he will dump all that wealth into the ocean and burn up what's left in a big fire.
5 Ashkelon will see it and panic, Gaza will wring its hands, Ekron will face a dead end. Gaza's king will die. Ashkelon will be emptied out,
6 And a villain will take over in Ashdod. "I'll take proud Philistia down a peg:
Published by permission. Originally published by NavPress in English as THE MESSAGE: The Bible in Contemporary Language copyright 2002 by Eugene Peterson. All rights reserved.