Zechariah 10 Study Notes

10:6-9 Judah designates the southern two tribes, while the northern ten tribes can be referred to by Joseph, his son Ephraim, or Israel. When the chosen people were marched hundreds of miles into exile (Israel into Assyria and Judah into Babylonia), it seemed impossible that they could ever return (see note at 1:2). Once some exiles from Judah had returned, the lingering question concerned Israel. After almost two hundred years in Assyria, was restoration to their land even possible? The answer was yes. God would whistle and gather them and reverse his rejection of them (Ezk 37:15-28; Hs 1:10-11). There is no biblical evidence that this has been fulfilled yet. Today, after thousands of years and with the people now completely absorbed by intermarriage into other cultures, a return seems even more improbable (Zch 11:14). Interpreters are divided on how the ultimate fulfillment will come about and what it will look like.

10:10-12 Egypt and Assyria were representative of various nations where the chosen people went into captivity. Even though the promised land is expanded to include outlying regions (Gilead and Lebanon), even that will not be enough for the number of returnees.