Book of Zechariah

Compiled by WD Kemner January 2024

 

 

CHAPTER 10

His warriors in battle

 

 

Zechariah 10:1

 

Ask ye of the LORD rain in the time of the latter rain; so the LORD shall make bright clouds, and give them showers of rain, to every one grass in the field.

 

 

 

“…rain IN THE TIME of THE LATTER RAIN…”

 

Remember the RULE that there were no chapter and verse divisions in the original texts when written.  Adding this passage to the end of chapter 9 makes this clearer.  At the end of that chapter, the writer was discussing END TIMES events.  As a reader, do not change it, unless writer tells you otherwise.

 

Other passages of scripture that use this term:

 

“latter rain”

 

Deuteronomy 11:14; Job 29:23; Proverbs 16:15; Jeremiah 3:3; Joel 2:23; James 5:7

 

We see it used in regard to crops. The early, former and latter rains. The verse in James puts it into perspective of awaiting the coming of the Lord as the farmer eagerly awaits the latter rain.

 

The Lord will provide the rain and each and every promise of His will be handed out.

 

 

Zechariah 10:2

 

For the idols have spoken vanity, and the diviners have seen a lie, and have told false dreams; they comfort in vain: therefore they went their way as a flock, they were troubled, because there was no shepherd.

 

 

 

Idol worship was the down fall of God’s people.  Those that practiced the sorcery and evil led the people into the false promises of the devil.  The Jewish people had their own ideas on how things should be done and that idea was not God’s way.

 

 

There was no “shepherd”.  A shepherd leads and protects the flock from harm.  The leadership (shepherd) in power consisted of one evil king after another.

 

 

Zechariah 10:3

 

Mine anger was kindled against the shepherds, and I punished the goats: for the LORD of hosts hath visited his flock the house of Judah, and hath made them as his goodly horse in the battle.

 

 

 

The nation was so far down the path that there was no point of return without sending them into captivity.  There are the sheep and then there are the Goats.  This description used throughout scripture.  The goats were punished and dealt with.  The Jewish nation now becomes a mighty war horse for the King!

 

 

Zechariah 10:4

 

Out of him came forth the corner, out of him the nail, out of him the battle bow, out of him every oppressor together.

 

 

 

“Out of him…” – Out of who?  Who was being talked about? From previous verse.  From the Lord came the corner, the nail, and the battle bow.

 

Every oppressor was brought into line.  Has this occurred yet? It will at His return, which is what the chapter was discussing.

 

 

Zechariah 10:5-7

 

And they shall be as mighty men, which tread down their enemies in the mire of the streets in the battle: and they shall fight, because the LORD is with them, and the riders on horses shall be confounded.

 

And I will strengthen the house of Judah, and I will save the house of Joseph, and I will bring them again to place them; for I have mercy upon them: and they shall be as though I had not cast them off: for I am the LORD their God, and will hear them.

 

And they of Ephraim shall be like a mighty man, and their heart shall rejoice as through wine: yea, their children shall see it, and be glad; their heart shall rejoice in the LORD.

 

 

 

The mighty army of Israel is awakened.  Like the days of Joshua, who will be able to stand in front of the advancing army of the God of Israel?

 

 

Zechariah 10:8-10

 

I will hiss for them, and gather them; for I have redeemed them: and they shall increase as they have increased. And I will sow them among the people: and they shall remember me in far countries; and they shall live with their children, and turn again.

 

I will bring them again also out of the land of Egypt, and gather them out of Assyria; and I will bring them into the land of Gilead and Lebanon; and place shall not be found for them.

 

 

 

Regathering of the Jewish people from all over the globe to once again the Land of Promise.

 

 

Zechariah 10:11a

 

And he shall pass through the sea with affliction, and shall smite the waves in the sea, and all the deeps of the river shall dry up:

 

 

 

Who is the “he”? (Back to verse 4).  Nothing will have the power to stand in the way of the Lord.  He commands the waves and the seas.

 

 

Zechariah 10:11b-12

 

…and the pride of Assyria shall be brought down, and the sceptre of Egypt shall depart away.

 

And I will strengthen them in the LORD; and they shall walk up and down in his name, saith the LORD.

 

 

 

Just a few decades earlier the last of the “political” structure of what had been the Assyrian Empire had been lost to the Babylonians and Median Empires.

 

Egypt was once the “power” of the region.  To this point Egypt had been allowed to remain because of the one time sanctuary it provided the infant Jesus.

 

In Daniel Chapter 11 a conflict is described between the King of the North (Anti-christ) and the King of the South. In this conflict as the Anti-christ maneuvers through the area, Egypt is defeated by the Anti-christ and the “spoils” are removed Daniel 11:42-43.

 

All those nations that derived their heritage from Assyria will now see themselves falling to the military might of the Anti-christ. He himself to see it all lost.

 

This will be the dawn of the Kingdom of God on earth.

 

“…I will strengthen them…” – the Jewish people who were being discussed in previous verses.