Zechariah 12

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Zechariah 12

The apostle (Gal. 4:25, 26) distinguishes between ?Jerusalem which now is, and is in bondage with her children??the remaining carcase of the Jewish church that rejected Christ, and ?Jerusalem that is from above, that is free, and is the mother of us all??the Christian church, the spiritual Jerusalem, which God has chosen to put his name there; in the foregoing chapter we read the doom of the former, and left that carcase to be a prey to the eagles that should be gathered to it. Now, in this... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Zechariah 12:1-8

Here is, I. The title of this charter of promises made to God's Israel; it is the burden of the word of the Lord, a divine prediction; it is of weight in the delivery of it; it is to be pressed upon people, and will be very pressing in the accomplishment of it; it is a burden, a heavy burden, to all the church's enemies, like that talent of lead, Zech. 5:7, 8. But it is for Israel; it is for their comfort and benefit. As even the fiery law (Deut. 33:2), so the fiery prophecies and fiery... read more

Matthew Henry

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

INTRODUCTION TO ZECHARIAH 12 This chapter contains a prophecy of the defence, protection, and salvation of the church of God; and of the effusion of the Spirit; and of the conversion of the Jews in the latter day. It begins with a title and preface, describing the power of God, from the creation of the heavens and earth, and soul of man, Zechariah 12:1 then follows the subject matter of the prophecy, in a way of judgment upon the enemies of the people of God, and in a way of salvation to... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Zechariah 12:1

The burden of the word of the Lord for Israel ,.... And against their enemies; for the good of the church of God, for its joy, comfort, and salvation; or, "concerning Israel" F24 על "de", Piscator, Drusius; "super Israele", Cocceius, Burkius. ; what shall befall them in the latter day, as the destruction of antichrist, prophesied of in the preceding chapter Zechariah 11:1 ; and what is hereafter said may be believed that it shall be accomplished. The Lord is described in the... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Zechariah 12:2

Behold, I will make Jerusalem a cup of trembling unto all the people round about ,.... The Targum renders it, "a vessel full of inebriating liquor;' which intoxicates and makes giddy, and causes to tremble, stagger, and fall like a drunken man. The phrase denotes the punishment inflicted by the Lord upon the enemies of his church and people; see Isaiah 51:22 , when they shall be in the siege both against Judah and against Jerusalem ; not by Antiochus Epiphanes; nor by Titus... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Zechariah 12:3

And in that day will I make Jerusalem a burdensome stone for all people ,.... The Targum renders it "a stone of offence"; at which they shall stumble and fall; but it seems to design the immovableness of the state and condition of Jerusalem, that those who attempt to remove her out of her place, or to make any alteration in her happy circumstances, will not be able to do it, Psalm 125:1 . Jerom makes mention of a custom in the cities of Palestine, and which continued to his times... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Zechariah 12:4

In that day, saith the Lord, I will smite every horse with astonishment, and his rider with madness ,.... The meaning is, the enemies of God's people shall be astonished at the failure of their attempts, and be filled with fury and madness because they cannot accomplish their designs; and shall be at their wits' end, not knowing what course to take: perhaps reference is had to the Turkish armies, that shall be brought against Jerusalem to recover it into their possession, which generally... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Zechariah 12:5

And the governors of Judah shall say in their heart ,.... The governors of the rest of the cities in Judea, besides Jerusalem, when they shall observe the armies of the people, their horses and their riders, smitten by the Lord, as above, shall take heart, and be of good courage: and secretly say within themselves, The inhabitants of Jerusalem shall be my strength in the Lord of hosts their God ; that is, they, in the strength of the Lord, shall overcome their enemies, and so be the... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Zechariah 12:6

In that day will I make the governors of Judah like a hearth of fire among the wood ,.... As a large hearth of fire, with wood all about it, devours and consumes it; so shall the governors of Judah be to the nations that shall come up against Jerusalem. The Targum renders it, "as a garment of fire among wood:' and like a torch of fire in a sheaf ; of wheat, which presently destroys it; see Obadiah 1:18 , and they shall devour all the people round about, on the right hand and on... read more

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