Zechariah 9:8 NIV

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Zechariah 9:8

Zechariah 9:8. I will encamp about my house About this temple, and my church, of which this temple is an emblem, that I may defend it from all its enemies. Because of the army The Persian and Grecian army marching to and fro through Judea. The Hebrew is literally, I will encamp about my house as a garrison, the word מצבה , here used, meaning properly a military guard set to keep watch and ward against any hostile approach. “The purport of this passage is, that, while these revolutions... read more

Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - Zechariah 9:1-17

9:1-14:21 THE TRIUMPH OF THE MESSIAHIsrael always looked forward to a messianic day of glory and power. The people longed for the day when all enemies would be destroyed, and righteousness would be established in the land under the rule of the Messiah. The nation’s re-establishment under Zerubbabel and Joshua was a foretaste of that great day. Israel could expect to see its former enemies conquered and full independence restored in its land.This in fact happened. The years 334-326 BC saw the... read more

E.W. Bullinger

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - Zechariah 9:8

because of = against. passeth by. returneth : i.e. marcheth to and fro. and: or, so that. oppressor. Hebrew. nagas = to press hard, as a task-master (Exodus 5:6 ), or as a foreign oppressor (Isaiah 9:4 ; Isaiah 14:2 , Isaiah 14:4 ), or as an exactor (2 Kings 23:35 ). seen . Supply the Ellipsis: "seen [the affliction of My People] with Mine eyes". read more

James Burton Coffman

Coffman Commentaries on the Bible - Zechariah 9:8

"And I will encamp about my house against the army, that none pass through or return; and no oppressor shall pass through them any more: for now have I seen with mine eyes.""My house ..." This prophecy was necessitated by the fact of a great world revolution taking place under Alexander the Great. The Medo-Persian power would vanish; but this prophecy assured God's people that world changes would not destroy them:"`My house' does not refer to the temple, but to Israel, his family. Egypt,... read more

Thomas Coke

Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible - Zechariah 9:8

Zechariah 9:8. And I will encamp, &c.— And I will inclose my house with a garrison, that none may pass by or repass; for no oppressor shall pass through them any longer, since now I look with mine eyes. This alludes to the Maccabees, who were defenders of the house of God against Antiochus Epiphanes. They were as a wall of brass round about the temple of the sanctuary. From their days, God preserved the temple against the profanation of strangers till after the death of the Lord Jesus... read more

Robert Jamieson; A. R. Fausset; David Brown

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - Zechariah 9:8

8. encamp about— ( :-). mine house—namely, the Jewish people (Zechariah 3:7; Hosea 8:1) [MAURER]. Or, the temple: reassuring the Jews engaged in building, who might otherwise fear their work would be undone by the conqueror [MOORE]. The Jews were, in agreement with this prophecy, uninjured by Alexander, though he punished the Samaritans. Typical of their final deliverance from every foe. passeth by . . . returneth—Alexander, when advancing against Jerusalem, was arrested by a dream, so that... read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Zechariah 9:1-8

The destruction of nations and the preservation of Zion 9:1-8The first four verses of this poem deal with the north and the last four with the south. The first two verses and the last two speak of salvation, and the middle four speak of judgment. The passage begins and ends with a reference to eyes, the eyes of men (Zechariah 9:1) and the eye of God (Zechariah 9:8). read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Zechariah 9:8

The Lord promised to protect His people and land as with a band of soldiers since enemies would oppose them. "House" is probably a metonym for the whole land including its people. No enemy would oppress them ever again because the Lord had seen the plight of His people and would defend them (cf. Zechariah 4:10; Exodus 3:7; Psalms 32:8). This promise of no more oppression anticipates the second advent of Messiah."For their preservation at the time of Alexander and for their future deliverance... read more

John Dummelow

John Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible - Zechariah 9:1-17

Judgments on the Nations. The Prince of Peace1-8. A judgment is about to fall on Damascus, Hamath, Tyre, Sidon, and the cities of the Philistines. A remnant from Philistia will acknowledge God. God will encamp around His sanctuary. 9, 10. The coming of Messiah and His kingdom of peace. 11-17. Hope for Israel. God will enable her to contend successfully with Greece. He will aid and bless her.1. Burden] oracle, or prophecy: see Jeremiah 23:33-40. In the land] RV ’upon the land.’Hadrach] not... read more

Charles John Ellicott

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers - Zechariah 9:8

(8) Amid all these dangers, Israel is promised, under Divine protection, a certain immunity.Because of the army.—This is the meaning of the word as pointed in the Hebrew text, but some, altering the vocalisation, would render it “as a garrison;” and others, as LXX., “a column.”Him that passeth . . . returneth.—Pusey refers these words directly to “Alexander, who passed by with his army on the way to Egypt, and returned, having founded Alexandria,” but this appears to us to be too special an... read more