Zechariah 12:1-4

The Pulpit Commentary - Zechariah 12:3

A burdensome stone. Jerusalem shall prove to all the nations that attack it a weight not only too heavy to lift, but one which, itself remaining unhurt, shall wound and injure those who attempt to carry it. Jerome supposes here an allusion to a custom in the towns of Palestine, which prevailed to his day (and, indeed, in Syria even now), of placing round stones of great weight at certain distances, by lifting which the youths tested their bodily strength. But we do not know that this custom... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Zechariah 12:4

I will smite every horse with astonishment ( consternation ). Cavalry represents the forces of the enemy. Astonishment, madness, and blindness are threatened against Israel in Deuteronomy 28:28 ; here they arc inflicted on the enemy. Madness . The riders should be so panic stricken that they knew not what they did, and shall turn their arms against each other ( Haggai 2:22 ). Open mine eyes upon the house of Judah; i.e. will regard with favour and protect ( Deuteronomy 11:12 ... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Zechariah 12:4-9

A good time for good people. "In that day, saith the Lord, I will smite every horse with astonishment, and his rider with madness: and I will open mine eyes upon the house of Judah, and will smite every horse of the people with blindness," etc. These words, which are confessedly difficult if not impossible to interpret correctly (for some say they are to be taken literally, others spiritually; some historically, others prophetically), may be fairly used to illustrate a good time for good... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Zechariah 12:1

The burden of the word of the Lord for - Rather, “upon (see at Nahum 1:1, p. 129) Israel.” If this prophecy is a continuation of the last, notwithstanding its fresh title, then “Israel” must be the Christian Church, formed of the true Israel which believed, and the Gentiles who were grafted into them. So Cyril; “Having spoken sufficiently of the Good Shepherd Christ, and of the foolish, most cruel shepherd who butchered the sheep, that is, antichrist, he seasonably makes mention of the... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Zechariah 12:2

I will make Jerusalem a cup of trembling - For encouragement, He promises the victory, and at first mentions the attack incidentally. Jerusalem is as a cup or basin, which its enemies take into their hands; a stone, which they put forth their strength to lift; but they themselves reel with the draught of God’s judgments which they would give to others, they are torn by the stone which they would lift to fling. The image of the “cup” is mostly of God’s displeasure, which is given to His own... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Zechariah 12:3

I will make Jerusalem a burdensome stone to all nations - What is “a stone to all nations?” It is not a rock or anything in its own nature immovable, but a “stone,” a thing rolled up and down, moved, lifted, displaced, piled on others, in every way at the service and command of people, to do with it what they willed. So they thought of that “stone cut out without hands” Daniel 2:45; that “tried stone and sure foundation, laid in Zion” Isaiah 28:16; that “stone” which, God said in Zechariah, “I... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Zechariah 12:4

In that day, saith the Lord, I will smite every horse with astonishment, stupefying - Zechariah revives the words concentrated by Moses, to express the stupefaction at their ills, which God would accumulate upon His people, if they perseveringly rebelled against Him. Each expresses the intensity of the visitation. “The horse and his rider” Deut. 27:28 had, through Moses’ song at the Red Sea, become the emblem of worldly power, overthrown. That song opens; “I will sing unto the Lord; for He hath... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Zechariah 12:1

Zechariah 12:1. The burden of the word of the Lord for Israel Or, toward Israel; that is, as some interpret it, the prophecy which containeth the words of the Lord to Israel. Saith the Lord, which stretcheth forth the heavens Who hath spread out the heavens to such a vast extent. And layeth the foundation of the earth Hath assigned to the earth a fixed place in the creation, or regulates all its motions by fixed laws, which cannot be altered by the power of any creature. And formeth... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Zechariah 12:2

Zechariah 12:2. Behold, I will make Jerusalem a cup of trembling “An inebriating and stupifying potion of the strongest liquor and drugs. Jerusalem shall strike the nations with dread and astonishment.” When they shall be in the siege “A future siege, after the final restoration of the Jews.” Newcome. See on Zechariah 14:3; Revelation 20:9. “It is not difficult to perceive,” says Blayney, “that the prophecies in this and the two following chapters relate to future times, and most probably... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Zechariah 12:3

Zechariah 12:3. I will make Jerusalem a burdensome stone Jerusalem is here compared to a stone of great weight, which, being too heavy for those who attempted to lift it up, or remove it, falls back upon them and crushes them to pieces. St. Jerome, in a note on the place, speaks of an exercise, which, he says, was common in Palestine, and throughout all Judea, in his days, in which the young men, who were ambitious to show their strength, used to lift up stones of enormous weight, as high... read more

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