In that day the Lord would not only preserve His people from the attacks of their enemies, but He would also make them effective as they aggressively attacked them (cf. Judges 15:3-5; Esther 9:1-28). read more
Yahweh would defend the outlying areas of Judah first so the people from David’s line and the residents of Jerusalem would not conclude that they were more important in God’s sight (cf. Jeremiah 9:23-24; 1 Corinthians 1:29; 1 Corinthians 1:31; 1 Corinthians 12:22-26; 2 Corinthians 10:17). All the Jews would see that it was the Lord who was responsible for their deliverance. This would evidently end their fighting among themselves (cf. Zechariah 11:6). read more
As part of His defense of them, the Lord would strengthen the feeble among the people so they would be as strong as David, the mighty warrior. The Davidic rulers would also receive supernatural strength and would be like God, as the angel of the Lord who would go before them (cf. Exodus 14:19; Exodus 23:20; Exodus 32:34; Exodus 33:2; Exodus 33:14-15; Exodus 33:22; 1 Samuel 29:9; 2 Samuel 14:17; 2 Samuel 14:20; 2 Samuel 19:27). read more
In that day the Lord would set about destroying all Israel’s enemies, and He will be successful.". . . we place the entire passage in the time of the Great Tribulation and more specifically in the Battle of Armageddon, when the nations of the earth will make their last frantic effort to blot Israel out of existence, only to be met by the most crushing defeat at the hands of the Lord of hosts Himself." [Note: Feinberg, God Remembers, p. 228.] An amillennial explanation of the passage follows.".... read more
The Lord also promised to pour out on the Davidic rulers and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, representing all the Israelites, a spirit of remorse. Grace would be the motive for this outpouring, and supplication to God (for what the Jews had done to their Messiah) would be the result. This God-given conviction would cause them to mourn when they looked (in faith) to Him (better than on Him) whom they had formerly pierced (i.e., slain; cf. Numbers 21:9; Isaiah 45:22; Isaiah 53:5; John 3:14-15; John... read more
Israel’s national conversion 12:10-14The focus now changes from physical to spiritual deliverance (cf. Deuteronomy 30:1-10). read more
In that day there would be great mourning in Jerusalem and undoubtedly elsewhere throughout Israel. Zechariah compared this mourning to the mourning of Hadadrimmon in the plain of Megiddo, an event that scholars have had trouble identifying. Hadadrimmon is a compound of two Amorite or Canaanite divine names, Hadad being the storm god and Rimmon the thunder god. [Note: Merrill, p. 323.] Hadadrimmon may have been an important though presently unknown individual, a place near Megiddo (cf.... read more
All the Israelites would mourn; this would be a national repentance. The repeated phrases "every family by itself" and "their wives by themselves" solemnize the mourning and underline its genuineness."The wives are spoken of as mourning apart because in public lamentations the custom prevailed of separating into groups, also according to sex." [Note: Leupold, p. 241.] "The closest relationship is as nothing in [the] presence of sin and God as its judge. Each must be alone." [Note: Kelly, p.... read more
The Deliverance of JerusalemMany scholars believe that in Zechariah 12-14 (omitting Zechariah 13:7-9) we have a third separate prophecy, the oldest in the book of Zechariah, written subsequent to the death of king Josiah, 609 b.c. (cp. the mourning in the valley of Megiddon, Zechariah 12:11), but prior to the fall of the kingdom of Judah, 586 b.c. For this view there are some strong arguments—(a) frequent references to the House of David (Zechariah 12:7-8, Zechariah 12:10, Zechariah 12:12;... read more
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Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Zechariah 12:5
The leaders of Israel’s groups outside Jerusalem would realize that Yahweh Almighty, their God, was making the people of Jerusalem strong supporters of them. read more