The Book of Zechariah A Commentary - Part II

Chapter 8 – God promises complete restoration of the nation. He will once again be their God and they his people. All nations will seek the Lord in the last days. Israel will be so godly that ten pagan men will cling to a one Hebrew, because they’ll know that God is with them and will follow them resulting in mass salvation, vs 23.

Chapter 9 – The first eight verses deal with the defeat of Israel’s by God’s servant Alexander The Great. Verse 9 deals with Messiah’s first advent fulfilled in Matthew 21:1-5 and John 12:12-16 – the triumphal entry on a donkey. The remainder of the chapter deals with the future salvation of his people, and future prosperity that is everlasting, vs 16-17.

Chapter 10 – The prophet predicts the restoration of the entire nation of Israel – the northern and southern kingdoms. God made a covenant with Abraham which is an everlasting covenant. The Lord will mightily prosper his people by giving them rain in abundance, vs. 1.

God will punish those who worship idols and prophesy lies to the people; leading them astray. The people have been victims of false leadership, vs 2-3.

God will return and restore his people back to Israel as if he never scattered them. They will dwell together with their children. All these blessings are yet future.

Chapter 11 – This chapter unlike the previous two deals with the destruction of Israel. This event was yet future during Zechariah’s time. Most likely this was the destruction of Jerusalem by the Romans in 70 A.D.

Zechariah is portraying a good shepherd who cares for and feeds the flock – especially the poor (symbolically portraying how the poor heard Jesus gladly Matthew 10:5;Mark 12:37) ; unlike the owners who only fatten them for slaughter so that they can sell their flesh and pretentiously bless God, and say, “I’m rich”! In the same way, God like those shepherds who slaughtered the sheep, will break his covenant with Israel because of their sin of the rejection of the Messiah, vs 4-7.

The prophet continues his prophetic dramatic role by portraying the traitor, namely Judas Iscariot who was paid thirty pieces of silver to betray Jesus. The valuation of Jesus was the amount paid to an owner who’s slave was killed by an ox (Exodus 21:32). The haters of Jesus regarded the savior of the world to that of mere slave proving their disdain and hatred for him.

The Lord commanded Zechariah to throw the silver on the temple floor so that a potter’s field could be purchased. This was fulfilled in Matthew 26:14-16; 27:3-10.

Lastly, the prophet plays the role of a foolish or worthless shepherd who destroys all; not caring for anyone. It is believed that this is reference to the infamous Antichrist, vs 15-17.

Chapter 12 – The prophet declares that the Lord will confound the nations that will attack Jerusalem in the end times; he will destroy the surrounding nations vs, 4,9. God will restore and protect his people.

The Spirit of grace and supplication will be poured on the house of David and descendants. They’ll recognize their Messiah and for him and one mourns for him as one would mourn for a firstborn son.

Verse ten says that, “they’ll look upon me whom they’ve pierced”, making reference to a crucified and risen savior.

Chapter 13 – The Lord is commanding all to repent of sin and come clean, vs. 1. The Lord will remove all idols and false prophets from the land. Anyone who continues to prophesy falsely, his parents will kill him, vs 2-4. Never lie in the name of  the Lord.

Verse 7 deals with Jesus as he refers to himself as the Shepherd being “struck” when he was arrested. 

Zechariah by the Holy Spirit prophesied this event over 500 years in advance (New testament fulfillment, Matthew 26:31).

Chapter 14  - This chapter deals with specifically the Great Tribulation, the coming of Jesus Christ to subdue his enemies (Revelation 19:11-16), and finally the 1,000 millennial reign of peace. At this point, the Messiah will sit on the throne of his father David forever (Daniel 2:44).

                       **This concludes the oracles and visions of Zechariah the prophet**