---
title: "Clarke"
description: "Verse Zechariah 12:1. The burden of the word of the Lord — This is a new prophecy. It is directed both to Israel and Judah, though Israel alone is mention"
image: "/images/missing.jpg"
url: "https://realbiblebelievers.com/commentaries/clarkes-commentary/zechariah/12"
---

Verse [Zechariah 12:1](../../../kjv/zechariah/12/1). ***The burden of the word of the Lord*** — This is a new prophecy. It is directed both to *Israel* and *Judah*, though *Israel* alone is mentioned in this verse.
***Which stretcheth forth the heavens*** — See on [Isaiah 42:5](../../../kjv/isaiah/42/5).
***Formeth the spirit of man within him.*** — Then it is not the *same* *substance* with his body. It is a SPIRIT within HIM.

Verse [Zechariah 12:2](../../../kjv/zechariah/12/2). ***Jerusalem a cup of trembling*** — The Babylonians, who captivated and ruined the Jews, shall in their turn be ruined.
I incline to think that what is spoken in this chapter about the *Jews* and *Jerusalem*, belongs to the "glory of the latter times."
***Shall be in the siege*** — This may refer to some war against the Church of Christ, such as that mentioned [Revelation 20:9](../../../kjv/revelation/20/9).

Verse [Zechariah 12:3](../../../kjv/zechariah/12/3). ***A burdensome stone*** — Probably referring to that *stone* which was thrown on the breast of a *culprit* adjudged to lose his life by *stoning*, by which the whole region of the thorax, *heart,* *lungs, liver*, &c., was broken to pieces.

Verse [Zechariah 12:4](../../../kjv/zechariah/12/4). ***I will smite every horse*** — Some apply this to the *wars* of the *Maccabees* with the *Syrians*; but it is more likely to be a prophecy not yet accomplished. The terms are too strong for such petty and evanescent victories as those of the Maccabees.

Verse [Zechariah 12:5](../../../kjv/zechariah/12/5). ***The governors of Judah*** — This supposes a *union* between the two kingdoms of Israel and Judah.

Verse [Zechariah 12:6](../../../kjv/zechariah/12/6). ***Jerusalem shall be inhabited again*** — This seems to refer to the future conversion of the Jews, and their "return to their own land."

Verse [Zechariah 12:7](../../../kjv/zechariah/12/7). ***The Lord also shall save the tents of Judah first*** — This, I suppose, refers to the same thing. The Gospel of Christ shall go from the *least* to the *greatest*. *Eminent men* are not the *first* that are called; the *poor* have the Gospel preached to them. And this is done in the wise providence of God, that the "glory of the house of David," c., that secular influence may appear to have no hand in the matter and that God does not send his Gospel to a *great man*, because he is *such*.

Verse [Zechariah 12:8](../../../kjv/zechariah/12/8). ***He that is feeble among them - shall be as David*** — Here is a marked *difference* between *Judaism* and *Christianity*. So clear, full, and efficient shall be the salvation of believers under the *Gospel*, that the *feeblest* among them shall be as strong, as full of courage, and as successful as David when he went against Goliath. The least in the kingdom of heaven was greater than John the Baptist.
***And the house of David - as the angel of the Lord*** — The *family*, the *Church* of the *true David*, the *Lord Jesus*, shall be as the *angel* of the Lord; shall *stand in the Divine presence* like *Gabriel*; for Christ hath said, "Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God." So "we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed from glory into glory, as by the Spirit of the Lord." Thus the house of David, the *true Christians*, shall here walk *with, after*, and *before* God.

Verse [Zechariah 12:9](../../../kjv/zechariah/12/9). ***I will seek to destroy all the nations*** — When this time shall arrive, all nations that "will not receive the faith of our Lord Jesus" shall be destroyed, when the longsuffering of God shall no longer wait upon them. This seems to belong to a period yet very remote.

Verse [Zechariah 12:10](../../../kjv/zechariah/12/10). ***I will pour upon the house of David*** — This is the *way* in which the *Jews* themselves shall be brought into the *Christian* *Church*.
1. "They shall have the spirit of grace," God will show them that he yet bears *favour* to them.
2. They shall be excited to *fervent* and continual *prayer* for the restoration of the Divine favour.
3. Christ shall be preached unto them; and they shall *look* *upon* and believe in him *whom they pierced*, whom they crucified at Jerusalem.
4. This shall produce deep and sincere repentance; they shall *mourn*, and be in bitterness of soul, to think that they had crucified the Lord of life and glory, and so long continued to contradict and blaspheme, since that time.

Verse [Zechariah 12:11](../../../kjv/zechariah/12/11). ***A great mourning*** — A universal repentance.
***As the mourning of Hadadrimmon*** — They shall mourn as deeply for the crucified Christ as their forefathers did for the death of Josiah, who was slain at Hadadrimmon in the valley of Megiddon. See [2 Chronicles 35:24-25](../../../kjv/2-chronicles/35/24-25).

Verse [Zechariah 12:12](../../../kjv/zechariah/12/12). ***Every family apart*** — The meaning of the word *apart*, which recurs here so often, may be this: Their sorrow shall be so deep and distressing, that every one will endeavour to avoid another, and vent his grief and distress of soul in *private*. And even *husbands* and *wives* shall separate from each other in this general mourning, as they were obliged to do by law in certain circumstances. See [1 Corinthians 7:5](../../../kjv/1-corinthians/7/5), and the note there.

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