Zechariah

CHAPTER 9

Restoration of the Land of Israel^*

and Damascus is its destination,

For the cities of Aram are the LORD’s,

as are all the tribes of Israel.

Tyre too, and Sidon, no matter how clever they be.

and heaped up silver like dust,

and gold like the mud of the streets.

and cast its wealth into the sea,

and it will be devoured by fire.

Gaza too will be in great anguish;

Ekron also, for its hope will wither.

The king will disappear from Gaza,

Ashkelon will not be inhabited,

I will destroy the pride of the Philistines

their disgusting meat from between their teeth.

They will become merely a remnant for our God,^a

and will be like a clan in Judah;

Ekron will be like the Jebusites.^*

a garrison against invaders;

No oppressor will overrun them again,

for now I have seen their affliction.

The King’s Entry into Jerusalem^*

Shout for joy, O daughter Jerusalem!

Behold: your king^* is coming to you,

a just savior is he,

Humble, and riding on a donkey,

on a colt, the foal of a donkey.^b

and the horse from Jerusalem;

The warrior’s bow will be banished,

and he will proclaim peace to the nations.^d

His dominion will be from sea to sea,

and from the River^* to the ends of the earth.^e

Restoration of the People

I have freed your prisoners from a waterless pit.

O prisoners of hope;

This very day, I announce

I am restoring double to you.

I have set Ephraim as its arrow;

I will arouse your sons, O Zion,

against your sons, O Yavan,^*

and I will use you as a warrior’s sword.

God’s arrow will shoot forth as lightning;

The Lord GOD will sound the ram’s horn,

and come in a storm from the south.^g

they will devour and conquer with sling stones,

they will drink and become heated as with wine;

they will be full like bowls—like the corners of the altar.^h

the people, like a flock on that day;ⁱ

For like gemstones of a crown^*

they will shine on the land.

Grain will make the young men flourish,

and new wine the young women.^j

* [9:1–8] The opening verses of Second Zechariah delineate the ideal boundaries of a restored Israel. Echoing the ideas of Haggai and First Zechariah (chaps. 1–8), the prophet reiterates the notion that the rebuilt Temple will bring about peace. The areas to be returned to Israel include Syria (Aram), with the cities of Hadrach and Damascus; Phoenicia, with the cities of Tyre and Sidon; and Philistia, with the cities of Ashkelon, Gaza, Ekron, and Ashdod.

* [9:1] An oracle: this designation also introduces Zec 12:1 and Mal 1:1, suggesting a connection among the three units. The term functions as both a title to the larger literary unit (Zec 9–11) and a part of the message of the opening oracular statement.

* [9:7] The Jebusites: the pre-Israelite inhabitants of Jerusalem, conquered by David and incorporated into Israel.

* [9:9–10] These two verses form the centerpiece of chap. 9. The restoration of a royal figure connects the first part of the chapter (vv. 1–8), which depicts the restored land of Israel, with the second part (vv. 11–17), which concerns the restoration of the people Israel.

* [9:9] Your king: a just savior, a figure of humble demeanor, but riding on a donkey like royalty in the ancient Near East (Gn 49:11; Jgs 5:10; 10:4). The announcement of the coming of such a king marks a departure from the view of the royal figure as a conquering warrior. This depiction is in keeping with the tone of First Zechariah (3:8; 4:6–10; 6:12) but contrasts with Haggai (2:20–23). New Testament authors apply this prophecy to Jesus’ triumphant entry into Jerusalem (Mt 21:4–5; Jn 12:14–15).

* [9:10] The River: probably the Euphrates; see note on Ps 72:8.

* [9:11] The blood of your covenant: the covenant between the Lord and Israel sealed with sacrificial blood (Ex 24:8).

* [9:12] Fortress: the Hebrew word for “fortress” (bissaron) plays upon the Hebrew word for Zion (siyyon). Those who return to Zion will be protected by the Lord. O prisoners of hope: imagery of exile, conveying a sense that the future in Israel will be better.

* [9:13] Your sons, O Yavan: the reference is to the Greeks and their struggle with the Persians for control of Syria-Palestine and the eastern Mediterranean in the mid-fifth century B.C.

* [9:16] Like gemstones of a crown: imagery reminiscent of First Zechariah (3:9; 4:7, 10; 6:11, 14) and evocative of the Temple and the priestly headgear (cf. Ex 29:6 and Lv 8:9).

a. [9:7] Is 4:3.

b. [9:9] Is 9:6; 62:11; Jer 23:5; Mt 21:5; Jn 12:15.

c. [9:10] Mi 5:9.

d. [9:10] Is 2:4; 11:6; Hos 2:20; Eph 2:17.

e. [9:10] Ps 72:8.

f. [9:11] Ex 24:4–8; Mt 26:28; Heb 13:20.

g. [9:14] Dt 33:2; Ps 18:14; Hb 3:4.

h. [9:15] Ex 27:3; 38:3; Nm 4:14.

i. [9:16] Ez 34:11.

j. [9:17] Jer 31:12–13.