1.
The burden of the word of the LORD for Israel, saith the LORD, which stretcheth forth the heavens, and layeth the foundation of the earth, and formeth the spirit of man within him.
burden = oracle. Compare Zechariah 9:1 , and the Structure on p. 1280.
the LORD. Hebrew. Jehovah . App-4 .
for = upon: i.e. concerning Israel's affliction and final deliverance.
saith the LORD = [is] Jehovah's oracle.
Which stretcheth forth , &c. The omnipotence of Jehovah is the guarantee that His word will be carried out. Compare lsa. Zec 42:5 ; Zec 44:24 ; Zec 45:12 , Zec 45:18 ; Zec 48:13 .
and layeth , &c. Compare Psalms 24:2 ; Psalms 102:25 ; Psalms 104:2-5 .Amos 4:8 , Amos 4:13 Note the Figure of speech Polysyndeton . App-6 .
formeth, &c. Reference to Pentateuch (Genesis 2:7 . Numbers 16:22 ). App-92 .
spirit . Hebrew. ruach . App-9 .
man. Hebrew. adam . App-14 .
2.
Behold, I will make Jerusalem a cup of trembling unto all the people round about, when they shall be in the siege both against Judah and against Jerusalem.
Behold. Figure of speech Asterismos . App-6 .
people = peoples.
3.
And in that day will I make Jerusalem a burdensome stone for all people: all that burden themselves with it shall be cut in pieces, though all the people of the earth be gathered together against it.
And = And it shall come to pass that in that day, &c.
a burdensome stone . A stone difficult to lift or to move; not a stone to throw. Occurs only here. burden, &c. i.e. seek to lift it.
cut in pieces = lacerated. Assyria, Persia, Rome, Greece, Egypt of old, and in later days Spain, Portugal. and Russia have been so lacerated on account of their treatment of the Jews.
4.
In that day, saith the LORD, I will smite every horse with astonishment, and his rider with madness: and I will open mine eyes upon the house of Judah, and will smite every horse of the people with blindness.
astonishment = the panic. Compare Deuteronomy 28:28 .
open Mine eyes upon = regard with favour.
5.
And the governors of Judah shall say in their heart, The inhabitants of Jerusalem shall be my strength in the LORD of hosts their God.
strength . See note on Zechariah 6:3 .
the Lord of hosts . See note on Zechariah 1:3 .
God. Hebrew. Elohim . App-4 .
6.
In that day will I make the governors of Judah like an hearth of fire among the wood, and like a torch of fire in a sheaf; and they shall devour all the people round about, on the right hand and on the left: and Jerusalem shall be inhabited again in her own place, even in Jerusalem.
hearth = chafing dish. Compare 2 Samuel 2:14 .
even in = as.
7.
The LORD also shall save the tents of Judah first, that the glory of the house of David and the glory of the inhabitants of Jerusalem do not magnify themselves against Judah.
first. Some codices, with Septuagint, Syriac, and Vulgate, read "as at the first".
8.
In that day shall the LORD defend the inhabitants of Jerusalem; and he that is feeble among them at that day shall be as David; and the house of David shall be as God, as the angel of the LORD before them.
feeble = tottering.
9.
And it shall come to pass in that day, that I will seek to destroy all the nations that come against Jerusalem.
come . Some codices read "come to make war".
10.
And I will pour upon the house of David, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the spirit of grace and of supplications: and they shall look upon me whom they have pierced, and they shall mourn for him, as one mourneth for his only son, and shall be in bitterness for him, as one that is in bitterness for his firstborn.
look = look attentively with hope and concern; as in Genesis 19:17 , Genesis 19:26 . Quoted in Matthew 24:30 . John 19:37 . Compare the first occurance. (Genesis 15:5 ), and Ex, Zec 33:8 . This is the effect of the gift of the Spirit.
upon = unto.
Me , Western codices read "Me"; but the Eastern read "Him", with one early printed edition.
Whom they have pierced . See John 19:34 , John 19:37 . Revelation 1:7 .
pierced. H eb , da kar. Occurs eleven times, and always means thrust through. Compare Zechariah 13:8 .
11.
In that day shall there be a great mourning in Jerusalem, as the mourning of Hadadrimmon in the valley of Megiddon.
shall there be a great mourning or, the wailing shall be great.
Hadadrimmon . Now Rummaneh, west of Esdraelon, near Megiddo, where king Josiah was slain, and where the mourning was unprecedented (2 Chronicles 35:22-25 ).
12.
And the land shall mourn, every family apart; the family of the house of David apart, and their wives apart; the family of the house of Nathan apart, and their wives apart;
wives = women.
Nathan. See 2 Samuel 5:14 . All those names are mentioned in the genealogy of Luke 3 .
13.
The family of the house of Levi apart, and their wives apart; the family of Shimei apart, and their wives apart;
Shimei. See Numbers 3:18 .
14.
All the families that remain, every family apart, and their wives apart.