Scripture Daily

Context No. 660 of 4322 · Zechariah

Context · Reflection

Zechariah 9:1-17: in context

1A revelation. The LORD’s word is against the land of Hadrach, and will rest upon Damascus— for the eye of man and of all the tribes of Israel is toward the LORD— 2and Hamath, also, which borders on it, Tyre and Sidon, because they are very wise. 3Tyre built herself a stronghold, and heaped up silver like the dust, and fine gold like the mire of the streets. 4Behold, the Lord will dispossess her, and he will strike her power in the sea; and she will be devoured with fire. 5Ashkelon will see it, and fear; Gaza also, and will writhe in agony; as will Ekron, for her expectation will be disappointed; and the king will perish from Gaza, and Ashkelon will not be inhabited. 6Foreigners will dwell in Ashdod, and I will cut off the pride of the Philistines. 7I will take away his blood out of his mouth, and his abominations from between his teeth; and he also will be a remnant for our God; and he will be as a chieftain in Judah, and Ekron as a Jebusite. 8I will encamp around my house against the army, that no one pass through or return; and no oppressor will pass through them any more: for now I have seen with my eyes. 9Rejoice greatly, daughter of Zion! Shout, daughter of Jerusalem! Behold, your King comes to you! He is righteous, and having salvation; lowly, and riding on a donkey, even on a colt, the foal of a donkey. 10I will cut off the chariot from Ephraim and the horse from Jerusalem. The battle bow will be cut off; and he will speak peace to the nations. His dominion will be from sea to sea, and from the River to the ends of the earth. 11As for you also, because of the blood of your covenant, I have set free your prisoners from the pit in which is no water. 12Turn to the stronghold, you prisoners of hope! Even today I declare that I will restore double to you. 13For indeed I bend Judah as a bow for me. I have loaded the bow with Ephraim. I will stir up your sons, Zion, against your sons, Greece, and will make you like the sword of a mighty man. 14The LORD will be seen over them. His arrow will flash like lightning. The Lord GOD will blow the trumpet, and will go with whirlwinds of the south. 15The LORD of Armies will defend them. They will destroy and overcome with sling stones. They will drink, and roar as through wine. They will be filled like bowls, like the corners of the altar. 16The LORD their God will save them in that day as the flock of his people; for they are like the jewels of a crown, lifted on high over his land. 17For how great is his goodness, and how great is his beauty! Grain will make the young men flourish, and new wine the virgins.

Zechariah is a prophet of the years after the exile, when the temple is being rebuilt. Chapter 9 opens as an oracle of judgment marching down the coast, against Hadrach and Damascus, against Tyre that heaped up silver like dust, against the Philistine cities of Gaza and Ashkelon and Ekron. Then, without transition, the tone breaks open. Rejoice greatly, daughter of Zion. Your king is coming to you.

And the king does not come as the war-cities did. He is righteous and brings salvation, but he is lowly, and he rides a donkey, the colt of a donkey, not a warhorse. The next line says why the donkey. He will cut off the chariot from Ephraim and the horse from Jerusalem and break the battle bow, and he will speak peace to the nations, and his rule will run from sea to sea. His strength is measured by the weapons he takes away. The Gospels saw this king ride into Jerusalem on a donkey in the last week of Jesus's life (Matthew 21).

The promised king proves himself by disarming, and arrives on the animal of peace. What kind of arrival am I still watching for, that I would miss the one who comes with no weapon at all?

Sources