A great tumult from the Lord ( Zechariah 12:4 ). A general panic or confusion sent by the Lord, such as befell the Midianites ( 7:22 ) and the Philistines (l Samuel Zechariah 14:20 ), which ends in mutual slaughter. They shall lay hold every one, etc. In this general panic each shall seize his neighbour's hand in fierce contention. The next clause gives the same meaning (comp. Zechariah 11:6 ). read more
Again, upon the restoration of His people follows the destruction of His enemies. It shall, first and chiefly, be God’s doing, not man’s. “This shall be the plague.” The word is used of direct infliction by pestilence, “wherewith the Lord shall smite all the people (peoples) that fought against Jerusalem.” The awful description is of living corpses. Lap.: “The enemies of Jerusalem shall waste, not with fever or disease, but by a plague from God, so that, being sound, standing, living, in... read more
A great tumult - And panic fear, such as God said He would send upon the Canaanites before Israel Deuteronomy 7:23, or on Israel itself, if disobedient Deuteronomy 28:20; or which fell on the Philistines after Jonathan’s capture of the garrison at Michmash, when every man’s “sword was against his fellow” . There is no real unity, except in God; elsewhere, since each seeks his own, all must be impregnated with mutual suspicion, ready at any moment to be fanned into a flame; as when, at the... read more
Zechariah 14:12-13. And this shall be the plague, &c. Those that do not die in battle, nor fall by the hand of their brethren, shall be destroyed by famine, or consumption. Their flesh shall consume away while they stand upon their feet They shall be miserably emaciated, even while they stand in arms ready to fight; or so suddenly, that they shall hardly have time to lie or sit down. And their eyes shall consume away in their holes A dreadful and exemplary blindness shall seize... read more
The Messiah’s kingdom (14:1-21)In the final section of his book, Zechariah outlines briefly the worldwide triumph of the Messiah. Since those for whom he writes are familiar only with the region around Palestine, he limits the geographical details to that area. Other pictures are likewise taken from the way of life familiar to the Jews.The scene opens with the enemies of God mistakenly thinking that at last they have conquered his people (Jerusalem). Confident that they have achieved victory,... read more
And this shall be, &c. The subject now returns to the smiting of the nations. See the Structure, C, p. 1294 people = peoples. read more
tumult = panic, every one . Heb . 'ish, App-14 . read more
"And this shall be the plague wherewith Jehovah will smite all the peoples that have warred against Jerusalem: their flesh shall consume away while they stand upon their feet, and their eyes shall consume away in their sockets, and their tongue shall consume away in their mouth."This horrible plague was prophesied as the fate of all who "warred against Jerusalem," these being the enemies of God. The New Testament does nothing to soften the dreadful picture of what shall eventually befall all... read more
"And it shall come to pass in that day, that a great tumult from Jehovah shall be among them; and they shall lay hold every one on the hand of his neighbor, and his hand shall rise up against the hand of his neighbor."Both the previous verse and this one are descriptive of the ultimate and final apostasy of the whole human race which shall issue in the eternal judgment, being preceded by a time of anarchy, chaos, and universal destruction, in which the "cities of the nations" shall fall.... read more
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The Pulpit Commentary - Zechariah 14:12-21
A regenerate world. "And this shall be the plague wherewith the Lord will smite all the people that have fought against Jerusalem," etc. A regenerate man is not a man without disposition to sin, but a man in whose case that disposition is habitually overcome. In that regenerate world partially described in the previous verses, something very similar is to hold good. All the elements of evil are not then altogether to cease; but there shall be in operation then a new principle of action,... read more