Zechariah 9:2

2 Doom is certain for Hamath, near Damascus, and for the cities of Tyre and Sidon, though they are so clever.

Zechariah 9:2 Meaning and Commentary

Zechariah 9:2

And Hamath also shall border thereby
By the land of Hadrach, or by Damascus; and that it was near Damascus is clear from ( Isaiah 10:9 ) ( Jeremiah 49:23 ) it is called Hamath the great in ( Amos 6:2 ) and according to Jerom ^F4, is the same with Antioch, which he says was so called by some; and the Targum of Jonathan ben Uzziel on ( Numbers 13:21 ) , renders Hamath by Antioch: and, if so, here was the Lord's rest likewise; here the Gospel was preached, and many converted, and a church, consisting of Jews and Gentiles, was formed; and here the disciples were first called Christians, ( Acts 11:26 ) . Tyrus and Zidon;
these were famous cities of Phoenicia; upon the borders of these our Lord himself was, ( Matthew 15:21 ) of the conversion of the inhabitants of these places the psalmist prophecies, ( Psalms 45:12 ) here likewise the Lord had his resting place; we read of the disciples here, ( Acts 21:3 Acts 21:4 ) ( 27:3 ) : though it be very wise;
particularly Tyre, which was famous for wisdom, ( Ezekiel 28:3 Ezekiel 28:4 ) which the Lord confounded by the preaching of the Gospel, and by the foolishness of that saved them that believe. Kimchi refers this to the times of the Messiah; his note is, she shall not trust in her wisdom in the time of the Messiah: so Ben Melech.

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FOOTNOTES:

F4 Comment. in Amos, fol. 44. C. & Quaest. Hebr. in Genesim, fol. 67. B. So Cyril. in Amos, p. 312.

Zechariah 9:2 In-Context

1 This is the message from the LORD against the land of Aram and the city of Damascus, for the eyes of humanity, including all the tribes of Israel, are on the LORD .

2 Doom is certain for Hamath, near Damascus, and for the cities of Tyre and Sidon, though they are so clever.

3 Tyre has built a strong fortress and has made silver and gold as plentiful as dust in the streets!

4 But now the Lord will strip away Tyre’s possessions and hurl its fortifications into the sea, and it will be burned to the ground.

5 The city of Ashkelon will see Tyre fall and will be filled with fear. Gaza will shake with terror, as will Ekron, for their hopes will be dashed. Gaza’s king will be killed, and Ashkelon will be deserted.