Zechariah 9:14-15

14. Jehovah himself will take a hand in the conflict.

Shall be seen Better, manifests himself.

Over them Over the sons of Zion; he comes from heaven and fights for them (Psalms 24:8; Habakkuk 3:11). The imagery of the description is borrowed from the thunderstorm (compare Psalms 18:7-15).

His arrow Compare Zechariah 9:13.

As the lightning Lightning flashes are called the arrows of Jehovah (Psalms 18:14); here his arrow Ephraim (Zechariah 9:13) is likened, in speed and destructiveness, to lightning.

Trumpet Better, horn (see on Hosea 5:8). Jehovah gives the signal to advance; then he himself rushes, at the head of his forces, against the enemy.

With whirlwinds of the south Instead of with we should perhaps read like, which involves the interchange of two similar letters, that are confused in other places in the Old Testament. The storms coming from the south, from across the broad desert, are peculiarly severe (compare Isaiah 21:1; Job 37:9). Some have thought that there is here an allusion to the south (Sinai) as the original dwelling place of Jehovah, from which he was thought to proceed to assist his people (see on Habakkuk 3:3; compare Judges 5:4-5).

Zechariah 9:15 contains a vivid description of the bloody conflict. The sons of Zion need have no fear, for Jehovah will be their shield.

Devour,… drink Like wild beasts they will fall upon their enemies to consume their flesh and drink their blood. A picture of utter destruction (compare Numbers 23:24).

Subdue with sling stones R.V., “tread down the sling stones.” A.V. follows LXX. in taking sling stones as an instrumental accusative; they will subdue the enemies by the use of sling stones. However, the Revisers are probably correct in taking sling stones as the object. They may be regarded as representing all the missiles and weapons that are hurled by the enemies; these the sons of Zion will disregard entirely and trample under foot, and thus they will subdue the enemy and make a complete end of him (compare Job 41:28). Drink is separated from devour, so as to bring it into close connection with the next clause, with which it is logically connected.

Make a noise as through wine They roar, as if they were intoxicated, in wild excitement over the wonderful triumph. The close connection of this clause with the preceding would be brought out more clearly if it were rendered as a circumstantial clause, “They shall drink, while making a noise as through wine.”

And they shall be filled like bowls The bowls in which the blood of the sacrificial victims was caught (Exodus 38:3; Numbers 4:14). As these are filled with the blood of sacrificial animals, so the Jews will be filled with the blood of their enemies.

As the corners of the altar The reference is not to the putting of blood on the horns (Exodus 29:12), but to the sprinkling of blood against the altar (Leviticus 1:5; Leviticus 1:11). According to rabbinical tradition this was done in such a manner that the four sides were covered with two sprinklings. In order to do this the bowls containing the blood had to be swung against two opposite corners with considerable force; therefore the corners and the space on either side of them were covered most thickly. To be covered with blood is a symbol of triumph (Isaiah 63:1-3).