Chapter 9

9:1  The burden of the word of the LORD in the land of Hadrach, and Damascus shall be the rest thereof: when the eyes of man, as of all the tribes of Israel, shall be toward the LORD.

burden

(See Scofield "Isaiah 13:1") , note 1.

9:8  And I will encamp about mine house because of the army, because of him that passeth by, and because of him that returneth: and no oppressor shall pass through them any more: for now have I seen with mine eyes.

because of him

There seems to be a reference here to the advance and return of Alexander ( Zechariah 9:13 ) after the battle of Issus, who subdued the cities mentioned in Zechariah 9:1-6, and afterward returned to Greece without harming Jerusalem. But the greater meaning converges on the yet future last days (See Scofield "Acts 2:17") as the last clause of verse Zechariah 9:8 shows, for many oppressors have passed through Jerusalem since the days of Alexander.

9:9  Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion; shout, O daughter of Jerusalem: behold, thy King cometh unto thee: he is just, and having salvation; lowly, and riding upon an ass, and upon a colt the foal of an ass.

behold, thy King

The events following this manifestation of Christ as King are recorded in the Gospels. The real faith of the multitude who cried, "Hosanna" is given in Matthew 21:11 and so little was Jesus deceived by His apparent reception as King, that He wept over Jerusalem and announced its impending destruction (fulfilled A.D. 70; Luke 19:38-44 . The same multitude soon cried, "Crucify Him."

9:10  And I will cut off the chariot from Ephraim, and the horse from Jerusalem, and the battle bow shall be cut off: and he shall speak peace unto the heathen: and his dominion shall be from sea even to sea, and from the river even to the ends of the earth.

And I will cut off

Having introduced the King in Zechariah 9:9, ; Zechariah 9:10 and the verses which follow look forward to the end-time and kingdom. Except in verse 9, this present age is not seen in Zechariah.

9:11  As for thee also, by the blood of thy covenant I have sent forth thy prisoners out of the pit wherein is no water.

Marg

prisoners Cf. Isaiah 24:17-23 ; Zechariah 9:21 Zechariah 9:23 fix the time as the day of the LORD. Revelation 19:11-21 .

9:12  Turn you to the strong hold, ye prisoners of hope: even to day do I declare that I will render double unto thee;

Marg

strong hold See context, Zechariah 9:14 . Also, Jeremiah 16:19 .