Zechariah 12:11-13

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Zechariah 12:9-14

The day here spoken of is the day of Jerusalem's defence and deliverance, that glorious day when God will appear for the salvation of his people, which, if it do refer to the successes which the Jews had against their enemies in the time of the Maccabees, yet certainly looks further, to the gospel-day, to Christ's victories over the powers of darkness and the great salvation he has wrought for his chosen. Now we have here an account of two remarkable works designed in that day. I. A glorious... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Zechariah 12:11

In that day shall there be a great mourning in Jerusalem ,.... Great numbers being awakened, convinced, and converted, and brought to true repentance: as the mourning of Hadadrimmon in the valley of Megiddon . Lightfoot F9 Works, vol. 1. p. 46. thinks the prophet alludes to the two great and general lamentations of Israel; the one about the rock Rimmon, where a whole tribe was come to four hundred (it should be six hundred) men, Judges 20:47 and may be rendered, "the sad shout of... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Zechariah 12:12

And the land shall mourn ,.... That is, the inhabitants of it; not only Jerusalem, but the land of Judea, and the people in it everywhere: in the Talmud F15 T. Hieros. Succah, fol. 55. 2. it is said, this is the mourning of the Messiah, that is, on his account: every family apart ; though the mourning will be general and public, yet it will be not in a body of the whole people together, but separate and distinct: the family of the house of David apart, and their wives apart ;... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Zechariah 12:13

The family of the house of Levi apart, and their wives apart ,.... Because of the contempt of the priestly office of Christ, which theirs prefigured, and was abolished by him; because of their trampling upon his blood, righteousness, and sacrifice: the family of Shimei apart, and their wives apart ; not of Shimea the son of David, 1 Chronicles 3:5 as Jarchi thinks, for his family is comprehended in the family of David; nor of Shimei the son of Merari, and grandson of Levi, 1... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Zechariah 12:11

A great mourning - A universal repentance. As the mourning of Hadadrimmon - They shall mourn as deeply for the crucified Christ as their forefathers did for the death of Josiah, who was slain at Hadadrimmon in the valley of Megiddon. See 2 Chronicles 35:24 , 2 Chronicles 35:25 . read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Zechariah 12:12

Every family apart - The meaning of the word apart, which recurs here so often, may be this: Their sorrow shall be so deep and distressing, that every one will endeavor to avoid another, and vent his grief and distress of soul in private. And even husbands and wives shall separate from each other in this general mourning, as they were obliged to do by law in certain circumstances. See 1 Corinthians 7:5 ; (note), and the note there. read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Zechariah 12:11

Verse 11 The Prophet says nearly the same thing to the end of the chapter; but as the event was worthy of being commemorated, he embellishes it with many figurative terms. He then says, that the lamentation for the death of Christ would be like that after the death of Josiah; for they who would have Hadadrimmon to be a man’s name, have no reason for what they hold, and indulge themselves in mere conjecture. It is indeed agreed almost by all that Hadadrimmon was either a town connected with the... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Zechariah 12:12

Verse 12 Zechariah seems to have used more words than necessary to complete his subject; for he appears to be diffuse on a plain matter: but we ought to attend to its vast importance; for it seemed incredible, that any of that nation would repent, since they had almost all been given up to a reprobate mind. For who could have thought that there was any place for the favor of God, inasmuch as all, as far as they could, even from the least to the greatest, attempted to involve Christ in darkness?... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Zechariah 12:13

Verse 13 Now, why he names the house of Levi, and the house of Shimei, or of Simeon, and the house of David, and the house of Nathan, rather than the other tribes, is uncertain: yet it seems to me probable that by the family of David he means the whole tribe of Judah, and the same by the family of Nathan. As to the tribe of Levi it excelled in honor on account of the priesthood, but no honor belonged to Simeon. Why then are Issachar and Reuben the first-born, and the other tribes omitted here?... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Zechariah 12:9-14

Wonderful sorrow. "And it shall come to pass in that day, that I will seek to destroy all the nations," etc. There is much that is striking in the apparent connection of this passage with that before. Just when God shall be seen by his people to be "seeking" and bringing about (see Zechariah 12:9 ) the overthrow and destruction of their many enemies, they, on the other hand, will be seen to be overwhelmed with sorrow of heart. Their souls, as it were, will be plunged into darkness at the... read more

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