Interpretive Commentary Assignment
OBST520: Old Testament Orientation II (D02)
April 30, 2023
Table Of Contents
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Introduction to Zechariah 12-14………………………………………………………………. 3
Historical Setting and Date…………………………………………………………………….. 3
Authorship and Audience……………………………………………………………………… 4
Major Theological Themes…………………………………………………………………… 4
Jerusalem’s Opponents Destroyed…………………………………………………………… 5
Jerusalem’s Deliverance………………………………………………………………………... 6
Day of Atonement…………………………………………………………………………….… 8
Cleasing From Sin………………………………………………………………………………. 8
Conclusion……………………………………………………………………………………... 12
Bibliography…………………………………………………………………………………… 13
Introduction to Zechariah 12-14
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Historical Setting and Date
Zechariah authored the book of Zechariah to give hope to God’s chosen people. They
received hope from God, revealing the future deliverance from the Messiah. The book of
Zechariah was written in two different periods. Zechariah One through Eight was written from
approximately 520 B.C. to 518 B.C, while Zechariah Nine through fourteen was written from
approximately 480 B.C. During this period, the Israelites were returning from their captivity in
Babylon. The exiles had returned from Babylon to complete the building of the temple. The
Jew's primary goal was to restore their nation to its pre-exile status.1 Although restoration
seemed simple based on the promises made by the prophets, they fell short of expectations on
multiple occasions.
In Zechariah 12-14, oracles began to prophesize God returning to his chosen people to
establish his kingdom. Zechariah 12 discusses how God will bring destruction to those who are
godless in Jerusalem. In chapter 12, many nations seek to overtake Jerusalem due to the Jews’
sin. Zechariah 13 mentions the return of God and what the Jews needed to do to receive the
desired blessing. The Jews must repent for their sins as God delivers them from their enemies.
Overall, chapter 13 discussed many actions the Jews must take to receive salvation from God.
First, they must cleanse themselves from their sinful desires, such as worshipping false prophets
and idols. These nations lacked the power of God and failed in the long run. Zechariah 14
discusses the conquences of those who oppose God’s authority. This chapter also explains the
Glory the Israelites will receive by giving total devotion to God. In return for their unconditional
devotion, the Israelites will have everything that belongs to them returned. Although the
1 Mark J. Boda, The Book of Zechariah (Grand Rapids, Michigan: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company,
2016), 369.
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Israelites have turned their back on God in the Past, God will continue to forgive, love, and
protect his chosen people.
Authorship and Audience
Zechariah authored the book of Zechariah to give hope to God’s chosen people. The book
of Zechariah is the eleventh book of the Minor Prophets and the thirty-eighth book of the Bible.2
Zechariah served multiple titles while in Babylon during their exile. As a Priest and Prophet,
Zechariah was a known leader during the exile. Although he was born during exile in Babylon,
he knew he would return to Jerusalem one day. Upon returning to Jerusalem, Zechariah
persuaded the people to restore the temple in Jerusalem.
Major Theological Themes
Zechariah 12-14 had many major theological themes, as most books in the Bible. The
four major theological themes mentioned in chapters 12-14 are the rise of the Messiah,
purification, forgiveness, and God overall. Zechariah prophesized the rise of the Messiah, which
he envisioned. Some did not highly accept Zechariah’s prophecy because of the current condition
the Jews were experiencing during that period. Zechariah also envisioned the Messiah's second
coming, where he would deliver his people from the wicked forces who opposed them.
Zechariah saw in a vision the Messiah's first coming to earth and His people’s rejection of Him.
Based on Zechariah’s prophecy, he will begin to purify and refine his people when the
Messiah arrives. This process requires us to remove all the wickedness they developed in exile.
Idoltry was a major sin God’s people must rid themselves of because Idol worship led to other
immoral acts that God despised.3 For God to successfully purify, they as God’s chosen people
must believe that he is their One and only savior. Worshipping many gods other than the one true
2 Andrew E. Hill, Haggai, Zechariah and Malachi an Introduction and Commentary (Downers Grove, Illinois: IVP
Academic, 2012), 225.
3 Richard D. Phillips, Zechariah (Phillipsburg, NJ: P & R Publishing, 2007), 121.
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God is the reason they were exiled in the first place. Giving themselves completely to God was
the only way they could transition to forgiveness. As many Bible leaders recognized, changing
your heart is the most expedient way to salvation and love from God. Zechariah encouraged the
people to accept that the Messiah is Lord overall. The Messiah will be their Lord and Savior,
who will defeat all of their enemies for what they have done to them for decades.
Jerusalem’s Opponents Are Destroyed
Chapter 12 begins with the surrounding nations gathering against Jerusalem to attack.
Chapter 14 ends with the survivors from the opposing nations traveling to Jerusalem to worship
and acknowledge God as supreme.4 Zechariah 12:1 depicts the upcoming oracle as the trouble of
the word of the LORD regarding Israel. It is troubling because it troubles the prophet with a
sense of necessity to minister to God’s people. Zechariah 12: 1(English Standard Version) states,
“The oracle of the word of the Lord concerning Israel: Thus declares the Lord, who stretched out
the heavens and founded the earth and formed the spirit of man within him.” The oracle does not
only alarm the Israelites but also the Jews and Gentiles working together as one unit under
Christ. The oracle emits from God, and Zechariah will preach the word to his people. The topic
of the oracle will focus primarily on the Church’s upcoming spiritual warfare following the exile.
Zechariah 12:2 states,“Behold, I am about to make Jerusalem a cup of staggering to all
the surrounding peoples. The siege of Jerusalem will also be against Judah.” This verse acts as a
metaphor that describes the impact Jerusalem will have on all of those who opposed them.
Jerusalem was described as a cup of wine that entices its users to become drunken with God’s
judicial blindness. God’s judicial blindness will cause them to fall victim to God’s judgments.
In verse 3, imagery is used throughout the message the explain God’s intentions for those
surrounding Jerusalem. Zechariah 12:3 states, “ On that day I will make Jerusalem a heavy stone
4 Barry G. Webb, The Message of Zechariah : Your Kingdom Come (InterVarsity Press, 2003),155.
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for all the peoples. All who lift it will surely hurt themselves. And all the nations of the earth will
gather against it.” The prophecy also describes Jerusalem as an unmoveable rock. Those who try
to move this rock will not only become unsuccessful, but the rock will destroy them. This rock is
Jerusalem. God favors Jerusalem and those who believe in him.
Jerusalem Deliverance
In verse 4 of Zechariah 12, God continues to describe the destruction he will cause to
those who oppose his chosen people. Zechariah 12:4 states, “On that day, declares the Lord, I
will strike every horse with panic, and its rider with madness. But for the sake of the house of
Judah, I will keep my eyes open when I strike every horse of the peoples with blindness.” This
verse introduces the mercy that God has for Judah. Before the split between Israel and Judah,
they were in oneness. Like many great nations or, in this case, tribes, ego severed the connection
the tribes once had in the past. Although there was strife between the tribes, God continued to
have protective the tribe of Judah.
Verses 5 illustrate the joy and enthusiasm of the tribes of Judah. Zechariah 12:5 states,
“Then the clans of Judah shall say to themselves, The inhabitants of Jerusalem have strength
through the Lord of hosts, their God.” Judah are supportive of Jerusalem because they have favor
from God. This verse foreshadows how strong their relationship will become under Christ.
Zechariah 12:6 represents the great faith and efficiency of Judah. Zechariah 12:6 states,
“On that day I will make the clans of Judah like a blazing pot amid wood, like a flaming torch
among sheaves. And they shall devour all the surrounding peoples to the right and to the left,
while Jerusalem shall again be inhabited in its place, in Jerusalem.” The prophecy explains what
God means by allowing his chosen people to overcome all opposition they encounter. Israel and
its surrounding nations did not have the spiritual understanding to recognize the true significance
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of the prophecy. Believing in God allows one to repent and change previous behaviors so when
the war is over, and God secured the victory, they will fear no one.
Verse 12:7 changes the dynamic of how readers will view Judah. Zechariah 12:7 states,
“And the Lord will give salvation to the tents of Judah first, that the glory of the house of David
and the glory of the inhabitants of Jerusalem may not surpass that of Judah.” These tents refer to
the unprivileged, the insignificant, the castaways, and the inadequate and depressed people of all
nations. This special message from God offers redemption to the poor by informing them they
have favor with him. The passage may confuse many readers of the order in which God
bestowed his blessings. God has a way of humbling us to ensure we are all one in his eyes.
Chapter 12 concludes with the mourning of those negatively impacted by God. Zechariah
12:8 states, “On that day the Lord will protect the inhabitants of Jerusalem, so that the feeblest
among them on that day shall be like David, and the house of David shall be like God, like the
angel of the Lord, going before them.” This powerful verse informs God’s chosen people on how
significant they will become soon. God will shield everyone of the nation. With God’s help, his
chosen people will become as powerful as David. Zechariah 12:9 states, “And on that day I will
seek to destroy all the nations that come against Jerusalem.” God warns that the initial nation
will come to Jerusalem to attack. Due to their disobedience, God will destroy them.
Day Of Atonement
Repentance is vital in the last few verses of the chapter. God is seeking atonement from
those that oppose him. Jerusalem has received favor from God, and they must set aside their past
wicked ways. This change requires them to worship the one and true God. God also requires that
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those in Jerusalem change their ways to accept the blessing that is coming their way in the future.
God wants them to weep like a parent weeps for their firstborn (Zec., 10). On the day of
atonement, the sorrow in Jerusalem will spread across all nations. This day will bring mourning
to each nation. The family of David, Nathan, Levi, and Shimeites will all mourn alone (Zec. 11-
14).
Cleansing From Sin
Chapter 13 initiates the redemption of the inhabitants of Jerusalem. This chapter focuses
on cleaning the inhabitants of Jerusalem from their sins. God’s chosen people had lived a life of
sin for a long time when they all began to worship false gods (Zec. 13:1). The sanctification of
the people will come about in these following stages: God will destroy those who oppose his
chosen people, God will eliminate all false idols and prophets, and the remnants will repent and
serve God.5 The additional events are that the House of David is open to every believer in
Jerusalem.6
Zechariah 13:2-5 states:
And on that day, declares the Lord of hosts, I will cut off the names of the idols from the
land, so that they shall be remembered no more. And also I will remove from the land the
prophets and the spirit of uncleanness. And if anyone again prophesies, his father and
mother who bore him will say to him, ‘You shall not live, for you speak lies in the name
of the Lord.’ And his father and mother who bore him shall pierce him through when he
prophesies. On that day every prophet will be ashamed of his vision when he prophesies.
He will not put on a hairy cloak in order to deceive, but he will say, ‘I am no prophet, I
am a worker of the soil, for a man sold me in my youth.’
5 Julia M. O’Brien, Abingdon Old Testament Commentaries: Nahum, Habakkuk, Zephaniah, Haggai, Zechariah,
Malachi (Abingdon Press, 2004), 179.
6 Didymus, Commentary on Zechariah (Catholic University of America Press, 2005), 307.
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As previously mentioned, the Israelites worshiped many idols that other sinners created. One of
the greatest sins a person can commit is idolizing false Gods Exodus 20:3 states, “You shall have
no other gods before me.” In verse three, the source of punishment moves from the divine to the
human, but for the same violation, people operate as false prophets.7 The book of Zechariah is
not the first time the Israelites have accepted idols of God. Each time they accepted false Gods,
destruction followed shortly after. God commanded his chosen people to discard all false gods
and prophets so that lies could not travel throughout the land.
Zechariah 13:6-7 states:
And if one asks him, ‘What are these wounds on your back?’he will say, ‘The wounds I
received in the house of my friends.’“Awake, O sword, against my shepherd against the
man who stands next to me,” declares the Lord of hosts. “Strike the shepherd, and the
sheep will be scattered; I will turn my hand against the little ones.
These verses call for the time to rally around Christ. Those who considered themselves prophets
but did not receive their words from God shall be punished. Those who follow false prophets
shall receive the same punishment. False prophets have sinned in God's eyes by using his name
in vain for their benefit. The lies and false idolatry have led them to destruction.
Zechariah 13:8-9 states:
In the whole land, declares the Lord, two thirds shall be cut off and perish, and one third
shall be left alive. And I will put this third into the fire, and refine them as one refines
silver, and test them as gold is tested They will call upon my name, and I will answer
them I will say, ‘They are my people’ and they will say, “The Lord is my God.’”
7 David L. Petersen, Zechariah 9-14 and Malachi (1995) : A Commentary (Presbyterian Publishing Corporation,
1995), 126.
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The entire land will receive great punishment. The Great Tribulations will present itself, the
righteous will live, and the wick will perish. When God arrives, most people will perish because
of their actions made on behalf of false Gods. The dependence on idols means nothing once God
comes with his wrath.
Zechariah 14:1-3 states:
Behold, a day is coming for the Lord, when the spoil taken from you will be divided in
your midst. For I will gather all the nations against Jerusalem to battle, and the city shall
be taken and the houses plundered and the women raped. Half of the city shall go out into
exile, but the rest of the people shall not be cut off from the city. Then the Lord will go
out and fight against those nations as when he fights on a day of battle.
This passage explains in gruesome detail the results of their disobedience toward God. Chapter
four refers to God's judgment and is distinctive in mentioning the eye.8
Chapter 14 breaks down the punishments the wicked receive for going against God. Although
the punishments were unsettling, choosing to worship false gods was a worse action. When the
wicked disrespected God, they thought they must answer to the Israelites. They were sadly
misled because they had to face God.
Zechariah 14:16-21 states:
Then everyone who survives of all the nations that have come against Jerusalem shall go
up year after year to worship the King, the Lord of hosts, and to keep the Feast of Booths.
And if any of the families of the earth do not go up to Jerusalem to worship the King, the
Lord of hosts, there will be no rain on them. And if the family of Egypt does not go up
8 Mike Butterworth, Structure and the Book of Zechariah (Bloomsbury Publishing Plc, 2009), 258.
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and present themselves, then on them there shall be no rain; there shall be the plague with
which the Lord afflicts the nations that do not go up to keep the Feast of Booths. This
shall be the punishment to Egypt and the punishment to all the nations that do not go up
to keep the Feast of Booths……. And every pot in Jerusalem and Judah shall be holy to
the Lord of hosts, so that all who sacrifice may come and take of them and boil the meat
of the sacrifice in them. And there shall no longer be a trader in the house of the Lord of
hosts on that day.
Zechariah 14:16 shows God’s overwhelming force against sinful nations. Even with God’s
powerful force, he allowed the existence of a few survivors. The earlier verses portray the
nations utter defeat, which does not hint at the vast numbers who will survive to worship God.9
Although God can destroy any nation in a blink of an eye, he does not initiate double jeopardy
for those who survive his wrath. Instead, God requires the survivors to believe and worship him.
This is an excellent opportunity to follow the one true God. It is rare in life that the losing team
receives mercy after displaying evil actions. Lucky for them, God shows mercy to those even
when they do not deserve it.
Conclusion
There are many enduring theological truths found in Zechariah 12-14. It is required to
acknowledge the component of truth shown in modern interpretations of Zechariah 12-14. The
repetition of the phrase “in that day,” that’s stated 17 times in these chapters, provokes eagerness
for the Day of the Lord, concluding in Israel’s repentance and the conception of God’s universal
9 George Klein, Zechariah : An Exegetical and Theological Exposition of Holy Scripture (B&H Publishing Group,
2008), 135.
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kingdom.10 Current Theologian believe that the prophecies mentioned in the Old Testament
correlate to the coming of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. The Israelites must prepare
themselves for the arrival of God (Mk.13:33). God’s chosen people were not aware of his arrival,
but they were warned to change their wicked ways. In Zechariah 14, the Israelites received a
message letting them know that God would bring them back to their rightful place in the world
(Jn. 14:3). God made an effort to remove all obstacles that would hinder his chosen people from
reclaiming their land. All tribes that favored God would receive the blessing of salvation
(Rev.7:9–10). The only task that was required of them was to believe in God and change their
hearts.
Bibliography
Boda, Mark J. The Book of Zechariah. Grand Rapids. Michigan: William B. Eerdmans
Publishing Company, 2016.
Butterworth, Mike. Structure and the Book of Zechariah. Bloomsbury Publishing Plc, 2009.
Didymus, the Blind. Commentary on Zechariah. Catholic University of America Press, 2005.
Hill, Andrew E. Haggai, Zechariah and Malachi an Introduction and Commentary. Downers
Grove, Illinois: IVP Academic, 2012.
Klein, George. Zechariah : An Exegetical and Theological Exposition of Holy Scripture. B&H
Publishing Group, 2008.
Laney, Carl. Zechariah- Everyman's Bible Commentary. Moody Publishers. 1984.
10 Carl Laney, Zechariah- Everyman's Bible Commentary (Moody Publishers, 1984), 196.
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O’Brien, Julia M. Nahum, Habakkuk, Zephaniah, Haggai, Zechariah, Malachi. Nashville:
Abingdon Press, 2004.
Petersen, David L. Zechariah 9-14 and Malachi (1995) : A Commentary. Presbyterian
Publishing Corporation, 1995
Phillips, Richard D. Zechariah. Phillipsburg. NJ: P & R Publishing, 2007.
Webb, Barry G. The Message of Zechariah : Your Kingdom Come. InterVarsity Press, 2003.
