The previous Chapters were about the present conditions at the start of the temple building and the final status after the complete restoration of Israel.
Now follows some of the events that are going to happen in between those eras. It is clearly also written down for us, because some of the prophecies to follow are literally fulfilled. This is proof to us that indeed Zecharyah is a true prophet and that which is not fulfilled, shall also come to pass.
Zecharyah has written this part of the book some time after the first part of the book, probably when he was already an old man. Some people state that Zecharyah has not written this, but Yeshua or His Talmedin never disputed the authorship. So why should we dispute it?
Verse 1.
Bearing (the) word of Yahuweh to country Hadrakh and Dameseq his resting place, because to Yahuweh eye mankind and all inhabitants Yisrael.
Mankind and all Israel are watching Yahuweh. We have to ask ourselves when will this be or when has this been?
During the conquest of Alexander the great, 3426-3429 (334-331BCE), Israel might have been watching Yahuweh and some of mankind as well. The predictions that follow, fit into this time. However I feel that they also might refer to a time still to come.
We have to keep in mind that the following Towns are in what now is called Syria and Lebanon and according to Ezekiel 47:13-20 will be given to Israel at the restoration.
Hadrakh is only mentioned once in the Tanakh. It is referred to in old Assyrian writings, as Hatarrica and was located at the River Orontes South of Hamath and North of Damascus.
Map Syria Map Lebanon
Zecharyah might have had the whole countryside North of Israel in mind, with Damascus as the point of focus, where the word of Yahuweh was directed.
Also the borders of Hadrakh seem to be given here as Hamath in the North and Tyre and Sidon in the West in the following verse.
Verse 2.
And also Chamat to border to it, Tzor and Tziydon because (they have) wisdom plenty.
Remember that I am writing down the Hebrew sentence order and put in between parentheses what is implied by the Hebrew Grammar but not actually as words appear in the text. Also the names in the texts are the Hebrew notation.
Verse 3.
And build Tzor fortress to itself and piled up silver as dust and gold like clay (of the) streets.
The Hebrew of this verse is in a poetical form, otherwise it would have said: "And decisions like mud streets."
Verse 4.
Take notice, Adonay brings to ruin and subjugate to the sea her wealth and she by fire to be consumed.
Read also Isaiah 23 and Ezekiel 27. Tyre was besieged by Nebuchadnezzar for thirteen years, but as far is known, he never conquered it. However, Alexander the great destroyed it in 3428 (332BCE).
Verse 5.
To see Ashqlon and be afraid and Azah to writhe a lot and Ekron because shall dry up her confidence and be exterminated king from Azah and assqlon not occupied.
Alexander the Great was hampered by Tyre when he went south to conquer Egypt and therefore He had to destroy it first. But also Ashkelon, Gaza and Ashdod, Philistine cities, where in his path and this prophecy was clearly fulfilled by Alexander when he overpowered them on route to Egypt.
Verse 6.
And shall dwell a mixed population in Ashdod and I will cut off arrogance
Phlishtiym.
This prophecy also was literally fulfilled, because after Alexander conquered the area, he did as was his custom and mingled people from other regions among the survivors of the cities he over powered.
Verse 7.
And I shall remove his blood from his mouth and his abomination from between his teeth and the survivor even he to our Elohiem (rulers) also to be as Friend, to Yehudah and Ekron like a Jebusiy.
The Philistines were eating sacrificial food, with its blood, which was detestable to Yahuweh. The survivors were made to give up this practice.
This left over mixed population then was accepted as belonging to Israel as again shall be the case, after the restoration of Israel, Ezek. 47:22-23. We must also take in concideration that 'Elohiem' could also mean 'rulers.'and is most likely meant here in the context. "Like Jebusiy" means like one living in the midsts of Israel. Like the Jebusites did till David conquered Yerushalayim
These mixed people dwelt among the Israelites from the time of Alexander the Great, until the Israelites were dispersed after the destruction of the Temple in 3830 (70CE).
However, this prophecy and others also might have some implications as to the future.
The original palasheth or palisthiy were invaders from Captor (Crete).This pure arrogant Philistine race (the invaders) has indeed disappeared to day from the region. People who call themselves Palestinians, but are a mixed bag of Arabs from all over the Middle East, inhabit what is called to day the Gaza strip. They have drifted into the area over the centuries and especially in the times that the Jews were expelled from the area, to live up to their original name of "Invaders."
Amos prophesied about Yahuweh's judgement over the Philistines because they have been Israel's enemies, Amos 1:6-8.
Some years later Zephaniah also prophesied against them, Zeph.2:4-7. However, the context of this prophecy indicates that this is after the great day of the lord Zeph.1:14-18, at the restoration of Israel in the end times.
According to Ezekiel 47:20 the Gaza strip shall be part of the land given to Israel. Therefore the present mixed race that occupies it, and again is Israel's enemy, shall have to submit themselves or be destroyed.
Verse 8.
But I shall encamp by My house because of host, since (they) pass over and return. Then not pass over on them again oppressor, because now I see according to My eyes.
Indeed, Yahuweh protected His house, because Alexander did not bother Yerushalaim when he went to Egypt and neither when he came back. Israel was left alone and allowed to worship Yahuweh.
Later, they submitted themselves voluntarily to the Ptolemies and were allowed to govern themselves.
But there were still oppressors, because Antiochus IV oppressed them and took over the temple in the year 3600 (160 BCE). This resulted in the Maccabean revolt. Some years after this in 3716 (44BCE), Pompey captured Yehudah and Israel became part of the Roman Empire.
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Therefore the prophecy leaps now over the times and looks at the era when no more oppressors shall bother Israel and Yerushalaim, because according to his eyes, which can see things we cannot see, He sees what is going to happen in the future.
Verse 9.
Rejoice greatly daughter of Tziyon shout in applause daughter of Yerushalaim. See here your king, coming to you righteous and being deliverance. He humble and riding upon donkey and upon a male donkey son of a female donkey.
This is, as we know now, an interlude and shows the entry of the Moshiya (deliverer) at His first coming.
A conquering king in front of his army would ride on a horse, a king amidst his people would ride on a donkey. Son of a female donkey indicates that it is a foal, still taking his mothers milk, which normally would not leave his mother or his mother him.
This event recorded in Matt.21:1-9, Mark 11:1-10, Luke 19:28-38, John 12:12-16, closes the sixty ninth week of Daniel 9:24-27.
Notice in these Scriptures that the people accepted Him as the promised King and Moshiya, which is deliverer, because they shouted "Hosiyah na" (transliterated in the Greek as Hosanna) which means, "deliver now?" or "deliver please?" Compare Psalm 118:25.The following prophecies jump more then two thousand years, to the seventieth week of Daniel 9:24-27.
Verse 10.
Then I destroy chariot out of Eprayim and horses out of Yerushalaim and be cut of bow (of) war and speak shalom to the nations and His dominion from sea to sea and from river to end of Earth.
Yahuweh shall take away all implements of war and therefore war, from Israel. And He, the deliverer from the previous verse, shall command the nations to make peace and He shall rule over the whole Earth, which in the days of Zecharyah was seen as being their area between the seas and from the river, plus the rest of the world, compare Psalm 72:8.
This clearly indicates the Millennium kingdom, which we find described on many pages of the Tanakh and on which Zecharyah later on shall remark.
Verse 11.
Also you by the blood of your covenant I shall return your prisoners from cistern no water in it.
The Hebrew grammar is using the female plural form, indicating that it concerns people from the nation.
Cisterns are water holes dug in the ground and coated with lime or are natural hollows in the rocks. When there is no water in them they are useless for their intended purposes. But they could be used to keep prisoners.
We should look in the context for an explanation for their employ in this message. People are prisoners of the property, which they required and of the community they build. This property and community, keeps you attached, or a prisoner, to a strange country. This property and/or community are like a waterless cistern. It is not giving you what you really need for sustenance, it is useless, but keeps you.
Yahuweh says by the blood of your covenant. He is pointing to the blood that had to be sprinkled on the Ark of the Covenant as a remembrance of the covenant Yahuweh had made with them.
Yahuweh is saying that the people shall be returned under the covenant, which He made with them. In other words, when you stay where you are you are not under the covenant.
It also points to the Renewed covenant for which the blood of one of them, Yeshua Ben David, had to be shed.
This covenant shall replace the old covenant only after the restoration of Israel, see Jeremiah 31 and pay good attention to verse 33, which says after those days and from the context we learn that those days are at the end times, with the inauguration of the restoration and the begin of the Millennium kingdom of peace.
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Verse 12.
Turn back to the stronghold prisoners the hopeful even to day preacher (I am preaching) double restoring to you.
The stronghold is Yerushalaim as the centre of nation Israel. The prisoners are those who are kept outside Yerushalaim by their property and community.
When they are hopeful, in other words trusting on the promises, then to them shall be restored double of what they leave behind.
"Even to day Preacher," indicates that Yahuweh is preaching to us about the restoration at any given time.
This had practical applications in the days of Zecharyah. Because many people where still kept prisoner by their own local wealth. In the Diaspora of those days, they would not leave behind the things which they had built for themselves and together with others.
It is also applicable to the Jews in diaspore to day. However, Yahuweh says trust My promises and you get double back from what you leave behind.
Now most returned Jews and especially the Messianic Jews could not say to day that they got double back from what they left behind. But when we continue we will see that this again applies to the times after the total restoration of Israel, so be hopeful.
Verse 13.
Since I have bended to me Yehudah (as a) bow, I confirmed Ephrayim and I roused your sons Tziyon against your sons Javan and established you as sword mighty man.
This says that Yahuweh is going to make Israel a fighting force that will be set against the sons of Javan who are established as a strong opponent.
The sons of Javan we find explained in Genesis 10:5; 1Chro.1:7, as the nations of the coastlands around the Mediterranean. Java was also the area with the big merchant towns which whom Israel traded. The sons of Javan was therefore later used to indicate merchants as in Joel 3:6
Although from the use of Javan in Daniel 8:21; 10:20; 11:2 we could say it is Greece, it is save to assume that what we now call the Western world, could be meant by the Sons of Javan.
From the context of the following verses it becomes apparent that not the war of the Maccabean revolt was meant, but the final war against the nations before the restoration.
Of course Israel might have found solace in this text in their war against the Greek Antiochus Ephiphanes, but it should be a much greater moral boost to present Israel.
Verse 14.
Then Yahuweh upon them to be seen and proceed as lightning His arrow. Then Adonai Yahuweh on shophar give a blow and march in the stormy south winds.
Blowing the shophar has always been associated with the coming of the Moshiyach, the deliverer.
This is commemorated at the feast of trumpets and also mentioned in Joel 2:1; Isa.27:13 and 1Thess. 4:16.
The southerly wind would bring heath, strong southerly storms not only bring heath but also dust from the Arab peninsula. No one would think of marching into a wind like this. Therefore this text indicates that nothing can keep Yahuweh back.
Verse 15.
Yahuweh Tzevaot to defend on behalf of them and they devour and they subdue sling stones and they drink and be boisterous as from wine and filled like bowl like corners altar.
This simply says that Yahuweh fight for them and they ignore projectiles directed at them and they be totally filled with courage.
Verse 16.
Then deliver them Yahuweh their Elohiem in the day that, as flock His people, like stones of a crown the ones for all to see over His Land.
That this does not apply to the Maccabean victory is clear because this situation has not been reached yet. Therefore it again points to times still in the future.
Verse 17.
For what his goodness? And what his beauty? Corn for the young men and new wine to make to flourish virgins.
This indicates a peaceful happy and well cared for people as the flock of Yahuweh.
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We have seen in this Chapter that Yahuweh uses the conditions of the times close at hand, to show that He is in control in the near future but also in the far off future. He shows us that His people should concentrate on Yerushalaim as the centre of the future kingdom of peace. People should leave the wealth that keeps them prisoners in other countries and return under the covenant to the designated country.
