Book of Zechariah
Compiled by WD Kemner January 2024
CHAPTER 9
END TIMES Prophesy
Judgment upon neighbors.
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Zechariah 9:1 |
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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.
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Hadrach – This is the only place it is used in the Bible. The words origin is uncertain. It was often used in reference to a Syrian deity. Why Zechariah used it instead of the word Syria is unknown, but it is Syria that is intended because of the reference to Damascus. The burden of God’s word and judgment will be upon them.
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Zechariah 9:2a |
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And Hamath also shall border thereby;
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Hamath = a country to the north of Damascus bordering Syria. It is mentioned often in the Old Testament including Ezekiel 47 and 48.
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Zechariah 9:2b-4 |
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Tyrus, and Zidon, though it be very wise. And Tyrus did build herself a strong hold, and heaped up silver as the dust, and fine gold as the mire of the streets. Behold, the Lord (# 136) will cast her out, and he will smite her power in the sea; and she shall be devoured with fire.
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The city of Tyre/Tyrus and Zidon
Ezekiel was to prophesy against Tyre the judgment of God – Ezekiel 26-29.
Jesus commented on them in Matthew 11:21.
The prophet Joel 3:3-9 had a similar warning from God.
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Zechariah 9:5 |
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Ashkelon shall see it, and fear; Gaza also shall see it, and be very sorrowful, and Ekron; for her expectation shall be ashamed; and the king shall perish from Gaza, and Ashkelon shall not be inhabited.
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Ashkelon, Ekron, Gaza, Ashdod = locations in Palestine
Strangers would inhabit the land of the Philistines.
The king would die and there would be no successor.
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Zechariah 9:6-7a |
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And a bastard shall dwell in Ashdod, and I will cut off the pride of the Philistines. And I will take away his blood out of his mouth, and his abominations from between his teeth:
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Strangers shall inherit, who legitimately have no more right to the land than a bastard child does to the inheritance of the birth children. All the strength and wealth that the Philistines were proud of; would be cut-off. Blood out of his mouth is idol worship and eating of the idol sacrifice.
A century later, Alexander the Great would come through and wreck havoc on these nations destroying most. There is also an interesting note that, Alexander’s mother Olympia was accused of Adultery at his birth and she credited the birth to the Greek god.
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Zechariah 9:7b-8 |
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but he that remaineth, even he, shall be for our God, and he shall be as a governor in Judah, and Ekron as a Jebusite. 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.
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Those that are left in the land will be for the God of the Jews. God will no longer allow the enemy to have control over His House.
Has this promise been fulfilled yet?
In the centuries since this was written, Jerusalem has been occupied and re-occupied repeatedly. This promise is for the End Times and is not applicable for those that state it was only for a time and that it occurred with Alexander who had a liking for the Jews, or that it occurred after the Maccabean revolt.
When this does occur, it will be a permanent state of being. Joel 3:21 describes this as occurring AFTER the Second Coming which is what the Prophet Zechariah now turns to.
Second Coming and War with the forces of Anti-christ
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Zechariah 9:9 |
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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.
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Quoted at its fulfillment in Matthew 21:4 when Jesus rode a donkey into Jerusalem.
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Zechariah 9:10 |
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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.
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Ephraim was a reference to the 10 tribes of Israel. Ezekiel called them Ephraim in Ezekiel 37:15.
Why the reference to the division by Zechariah? This is written shortly after the return from captivity. Was it difficult at that point to see them as unified?
When God returns there will no longer be a need for the weapons of war. He will bring peace to the ends of the world. He will only speak peace. All will be his domain.
Battle Bow = all weapons of warfare.
Chariots were used by the Israelites. Solomon is recorded in 1 Kings 10:26 as having 1400 chariots.
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Zechariah 9:11 |
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As for thee also, by the blood of thy covenant I have sent forth thy prisoners out of the pit wherein is no water.
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The covenant extended back to Abraham and the shedding of blood. Those of His people that are still prisoners (captive in other lands) shall be free once and for all.
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Zechariah 9:12-13 |
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Turn you to the strong hold, ye prisoners of hope: even to day do I declare that I will render double unto thee; When I have bent Judah for me, filled the bow with Ephraim, and raised up thy sons, O Zion, against thy sons, O Greece, and made thee as the sword of a mighty man.
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God is their strong hold. They need to turn to Him for their relief and freedom. Hope in the return of the Messiah. God will provide for them and raise them up.
This will happen when God has FINALLY “bent Judah (House of Judah)”. Convinced them to follow Him. They will be His army against the Anti-christ.
Anti-christ is often referred to as “Greece”. He will come out of the territory once held by Alexander and thus the reference to “Greece”.
See the study on End Times for more details.
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Zechariah 9:14 |
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And the LORD shall be seen over them, and his arrow shall go forth as the lightning: and the Lord (#136) GOD shall blow the trumpet, and shall go with whirlwinds of the south.
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God WILL BE SEEN fighting for His people. When he blows that trumpet. It is the end.
Time for his wrath upon the evil in the world. At this point, Revelation 16:17-21 is occurring. The last vial, Judgment upon the kingdoms of the world and the Antichrist.
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Zechariah 9:15-17 |
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The LORD of hosts shall defend them; and they shall devour, and subdue with sling stones; and they shall drink, and make a noise as through wine; and they shall be filled like bowls, and as the corners of the altar.
And the LORD their God shall save them in that day as the flock of his people: for they shall be as the stones of a crown, lifted up as an ensign upon his land. For how great is his goodness, and how great is his beauty! corn shall make the young men cheerful, and new wine the maids.
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Israel will be the victor in this war with evil.