A shift in topics in the prophesies of Zechariah...
The rest of the chapter are, apparently, a different tone and topic—from the Temple to the nations. A Ryrie footnote states that some people feel the differences are so great, it shouldn't be attributed to the same authorship. However, painters' styles change, other craftsmen change styles, and an author can change with topic and time, especially considering that the author is receiving prophesy from the Lord (who does not change, but may have a variety of messages to convey.)
These prophesies seem to be more about the near fulfillment and final fulfillment of the Lord judging and redeeming the nations. The first verse has an odd verbiage:
The burden of the word of the Lord is against the land of Hadrach, with Damascus as its resting place (for the eyes of men, especially of all the tribes of Israel, are toward the Lord), Zechariah 9:1
"The burden of the word of the Lord..." is unclear to me. Here's what Gemini AI had to say when I asked about it:
- "In the Old Testament—particularly in prophetic books like Zechariah, Isaiah, Jeremiah, and Malachi—the phrase "The burden of the word of the Lord" (Hebrew: Massa Debar-YHWH) is a technical prophetic term. The Hebrew word translated as "burden" is מַשָּׂא (massa), which comes from the root verb nasa, meaning "to lift, carry, or bear."
- A Heavy Message / Oracle: In prophetic literature, massa refers to an oracle, heavy declaration, or message of judgment. It is a divine message that weighs heavily upon the prophet who must carry and deliver it.
- A Weight on the Recipients: It also refers to a word of judgment that will "weigh heavily" or press down upon the nations or people against whom it is pronounced.
So, God, via Zechariah, is starting the message announcing a sever judgement coming against the nations that had historically been persecuting Israel. All the eyes of men are on the Jews and the judgment will rest on Damascus.
A bit of a spoiler alert, Ryrie summarizes the next passage as the near term fulfillment of the march of Alexander the Great: through Syria, the Phoenicia, and finally Philistine, but avoiding Jerusalem.
- Verse 2 includes the beginning of the judgement as Hadrach; then starts the specifics about Tyre and Sidon—long time frien-emies of Israel. Love, hate, share, and fight. God gives them credit for being wise, building a foirtress, and piling up silver and gold. She will be dispossessed, stripped of wealth, and burned.
- Verse 5 starts Ashkelon (a major port city on the Mediterranean coast in modern-day Israel) seeing Trye and Sidon going down and being afraid, along with Gaza and Ekron (Philistines).
- A mongrel race will dwell in Ashdod (Philistines). God promises to crush their pride and blood. But He will leave a remnant.
But I will camp around My house because of an army,
Because of him who passes by and returns;
And no oppressor will pass over them anymore,
For now I have seen with My eyes. Zechariah 9:8
Israel was protected in the near term of Alexander the Great and will be also in the final judgement of the nations.
Here we go, people...Here's your coming Messiah! Shout for joy as he rides in on a donkey...
Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion!
Shout in triumph, O daughter of Jerusalem!
Behold, your king is coming to you;
He is just and endowed with salvation,
Humble, and mounted on a donkey,
Even on a colt, the foal of a donkey. Zechariah 9:9
While near term and final prophesies can have the same, general interpretations, we know things don't play out the exact same way.
- In the near term, in order to fulfill the mystery and keep the eternal enemy of soul in the dark...the King rode into town on a donkey.
- Jews had this hint that the first step in redeeming the Jews was going to be humble, not militaristic.
- But I understand their hope for the judgement to come like a storm.
- Alexander came like a chaotic frenzy. Jesus came humbly on a donkey. Jesus is coming back on a horse with a sword in His mouth!
I will cut off the chariot from Ephraim
And the horse from Jerusalem;
And the bow of war will be cut off.
And He will speak peace to the nations;
And His dominion will be from sea to sea,
And from the River to the ends of the earth. Zechariah 9:10
True peace. For everyone. No more war or weapons of war. Every.Where.
Verse 9 speaks to the near term Jews and promises to set the captives free from Babylon because of His Covenant. He encourages the prisoners to return to the stronghold of Jerusalem, instead of staying in the comfortable prison of Babylon. And Can't we all relate to that. The enemy offers us comforts to lull us to asleep and away from God's protection and provision for us.
The rest of Chapter 9, verses 13-17 describe the Jews overcoming the Greeks in war. In the near term, this is the Maccabees crushing Antiochus Epiphanes. In the final fulfillment, Jesus and His army ride in and crush Babylon and the ultimate equivalent of Antiochus Epiphanes, the anti-Christ.
"His arrow will go forth light lighting." What a contrast to the humble donkey ride.
The Lord will save them and they will flourish.
Come, Lord Jesus, Come!
Amen.