Zechariah 9:1-10

Prophecies against Neighboring Nations

1 The burden of the word of the LORD is against the land of Hadrach, with ¹Damascus as its resting place (for the eyes of men, especially of all the tribes of Israel, are toward the LORD ),

2 And ²Hamath also, which borders on it; ³Tyre and ⁴Sidon, though they are ⁵very wise.

3 For Tyre built herself a ⁶fortress And ⁷piled up silver like dust, And ⁸gold like the mire of the streets.

4 Behold, the Lord will ⁹dispossess her And cast her wealth into the sea; And she will be ¹⁰consumed with fire.

5 Ashkelon will see it and be afraid. Gaza too will writhe in great pain; Also Ekron, for her expectation has been confounded. Moreover, the king will perish from Gaza, And Ashkelon will not be inhabited.

6 And a mongrel race will dwell in ¹¹Ashdod, And I will cut off the pride of the Philistines.

7 And I will remove their blood from their mouth And their detestable things from between their teeth. Then they also will be a remnant for our God, And be like a clan in Judah, And Ekron like a Jebusite.

8 But I will camp around My house because of an army, Because of ¹²him who passes by and returns; And ¹³no oppressor will pass over them anymore, For now I have seen with My eyes.

9 ¹⁴Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! Shout in triumph, O daughter of Jerusalem! Behold, your ¹⁵king is coming to you; He is ¹⁶just and ¹⁷endowed with salvation, ¹⁸Humble, and mounted on a donkey, Even on a ¹⁹colt, the foal of a donkey.

10 I will ²⁰cut off the chariot from Ephraim And the ²¹horse from Jerusalem; And the ²²bow of war will be cut off. And He will speak ²³peace to the nations; And His ²⁴dominion will be from sea to sea, And from the River to the ends of the earth.

Zechariah 9:1-10 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO ZECHARIAH 9

This chapter treats of the conversion of the Gentiles, before spoken of in general, now particularly named; of the coming of Christ into the world, and the advantages of it to his church; of the preaching of the Gospel by the apostles, and of their protection, encouragement, and success. The Gentiles converted are first the Syrians that dwelt in Hadrach, Damascus, and Hamath, the Lord's eye being upon them, Zec 9:1 next the Phoenicians, the inhabitants of Tyre and Zidon, who had a vain opinion of their wisdom, and trusted in their riches, Zec 9:2-4 and then the Philistines, the inhabitants of Ashkelon, Gaza, Ekron, and Ashdod, guilty of pride, murder, idolatry, and other abominations, Zec 9:5-7 when the church and people of God should be safely protected, Zec 9:8 to whom, for their joy and comfort, is given forth a prophecy concerning the coming of the Messiah; who is described by his character as a King, just, having salvation, lowly, and riding on an ass; by the peaceableness of his kingdom; by the various offices he executes; the prophetic office, speaking peace to the Heathen; the kingly office, his dominion being very large; and his priestly office, in the effusion of his blood, by which the covenant is confirmed, his people delivered out of distress, and encouraged to flee to him as their stronghold, where they find plenty and protection, Zec 9:9-12 next the apostles are represented as military men, accoutered with the bow and the sword of the mighty, Zec 9:13 whose success is owing to the Lord's appearance over them, and the efficacy of his grace and Spirit attending the word, Zec 9:14 who are protected and encouraged in it by the Lord, and honoured on account of it, Zec 9:15,16 and the chapter is concluded with an exclamation, wondering at the grace and glory of Christ, and expressing the satisfying provisions of his house, Zec 9:17.

Cross References

• 1. Isaiah 17:1; Jeremiah 49:23-27; Amos 1:3-5
• 2. Jeremiah 49:23
• 3. Ezek 28:2-5, 12
• 4. Ezekiel 28:21
• 5. Ezek 28:2-5, 12
• 6. Joshua 19:29; 2 Samuel 24:7
• 7. Job 27:16; Ezekiel 27:33; Ezekiel 28:4, 5
• 8. 1 Kings 10:21, 27
• 9. Ezekiel 26:3-5
• 10. Ezekiel 28:18
• 11. Amos 1:8; Zephaniah 2:4
• 12. Isaiah 52:1
• 13. Isaiah 54:14; Isaiah 60:18
• 14. Zephaniah 3:14, 15; Zechariah 2:10
• 15. Psalms 110:1; Isaiah 9:6, 7; Jeremiah 23:5, 6; Matthew 21:5; John 12:15
• 16. Zephaniah 3:5
• 17. Isaiah 43:3, 11
• 18. Isaiah 57:15
• 19. Judges 10:4; Isaiah 30:6
• 20. Hosea 1:7
• 21. Micah 5:10
• 22. Hosea 2:18
• 23. Isaiah 57:19; Micah 4:2-4
• 24. Psalms 72:8; Isaiah 60:12

Footnotes

• [a]. Or "oracle"
• [b]. Or "because"
• [c]. I.e. they think they are
• [d]. Lit "bastard will"
• [e]. Or "chief"
• [f]. Or "as a guard, so that none will go back and forth"
• [g]. Or "vindicated and victorious"
• [h]. Lit "son of a female donkey"
• [i]. I.e. Euphrates