Zechariah 9:7

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Zechariah 9:1-8

After the precious promises we had in the foregoing chapter of favour to God's people, their persecutors, who hated them, come to be reckoned with, those particularly that bordered close upon them. I. The Syrians had been bad neighbours to Israel, and God had a controversy with them. The word of the Lord shall be a burden in the land of Hadrach, that is, of Syria, but it does not appear why it was so called. That that kingdom is meant is plain, because Damascus, the metropolis of that kingdom,... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Zechariah 9:7

And I will take away his blood out of his mouth ,.... The Septuagint, Syriac, and Arabic versions, read "their blood"; not the blood of the bastard, but of the Philistines. The Targum is, "I will destroy them that eat blood"; the meaning may be, that they shall no more thirst after blood, nor drink it; nor breathe out threatenings and slaughter against the saints, or persecute the people of God: or that they should no more offer the blood of their sacrifices upon the altars to their deities,... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Zechariah 9:7

I will take away his blood out of his mouth - The Philistines, when incorporated with the Israelites, shall abstain from blood, and every thing that is abominable. And Ekron as a Jebusite - As an inhabitant of Jerusalem. Many of the Philistines became proselytes to Judiasm; and particularly the cities of Gaza, and Ashdod. See Josephus Antiq. lib. xlii., c. 15, s. 4. read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Zechariah 9:7

Verse 7 Interpreters do also pervert the whole of this verse; and as to the following verse, that is, the next, they do nothing else but lead the readers far astray from its real meaning. God says now, that he will take away blood from the mouth of enemies; as though he had said, “I will check their savage disposition, that they may not thus swallow down the blood of my people.” For here is not described any change, as though they were to become a different people, as though the Syrians, the... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Zechariah 9:1-8

§ 1. To prepare the land for Israel, and to prove God's care for his people, the neighbouring heathen shall be chastised, while Israel shall dwell in safety and independence. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Zechariah 9:1-8

God's judgments. I. THE DARK SIDE . "Burden." Word of ill omen to God's enemies. God's eye is on all. Storm gathering. Will soon burst in fury, just, universal, overwhelming. None so small as to be overlooked. None so great as to secure immunity. The wisdom of the wise, the resources of the rich, and the fame of ancient days will prove as vanity. II. THE BRIGHT SIDE . Eye of kindness. Hand of gracious interposition. Incorporation of Jews and Gentiles in one glorious Church.... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Zechariah 9:1-8

The dark and the bright side of God's revelation to mankind. "The burden of the word of the Lord," etc. This chapter begins that portion of the book whose genuineness, though denied by some, is accepted by most unbiassed expositors. As it is our main purpose, in preparing these sketches, to use the statements, whether prosaic or poetic, prophetic or historic, to illustrate truths of universal application, it comes not within our purpose to discuss the questions of genuineness,... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Zechariah 9:7

Personifying Philistia, the prophet declares that she shall cease to practise idolatry, and shall be incorporated in Israel. I will take away his blood out of his mouth. This refers to the practice of drinking the blood of sacrifices as an act of worship, or of eating the victims with the blood—a practice strictly forbidden to the Israelites (see Le 3:17; 7:26; 17:10, 12; and comp. Genesis 9:4 ). Abominations . Sacrifices offered to idols, and afterwards eaten. The two clauses intimate... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Zechariah 9:7-8

A visitation of mercy. "And I will take away his blood out of his mouth, and his abominations from between his teeth," etc. The key to this passage seems to be in its very last words (comp. Exodus 3:7 and end of Exodus 3:6 ). In the preceding verses we saw how God "visited" the nations bordering on Israel with a "visitation of judgment." Here we seem to read how he visits his own people with a "visitation of mercy," He does so, apparently, in two principal ways, viz. I. IN ... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Zechariah 9:7

And I will take away his blood out of his mouth - The “abominations” being idol-sacrifices , the “bloods” will also be, the blood mingled with the wine of sacrifices, of which David says, “Their drink-offerings of blood will I not offer” Psalms 16:4; and Ezekiel unites the offences, “Ye eat With the blood, and lift up your eyes toward your idols, and shed blood” Ezekiel 33:25.But he that remaineth - Better, “And he too” shall remain over to our God.” Of the Philistines too, as of Israel, “a... read more

Group of Brands