Chapter 9 begins a new section in the book. Zechariah shifts from prose to poetry as he proclaims an oracle (מַשָּׂא—a prophetic discourse) about God’s future judgment on Israel’s neighbours and His redemption, regathering, and rule over His people, Israel (chapters 9-10). Several nations surrounding Israel, as well as some further away, will experience God’s judgment due to their pride (9:6), idolatry (“abominations”—9:7), and oppression of Israel (9:8).
The Lord declares He is “against the land of Hadrach and Damascus (nations to the north, modern day Syria). In much greater detail, the Lord announces His plans to humble “Tyre and Sidon” (modern day Lebanon). These two nations had built an economic empire, built on sea trade, that “heaped up silver like dust, and fine gold like the mud of the streets” (9:3). Still, the Lord promises to “strip” and “strike down” their “power on the sea”, reducing them to ashes through a devouring fire (9:4).
The Philistines (modern day Gaza) will see what happens to Tyre and Sidon and “writhe in anguish”, realizing their “hopes are confounded” (9:5). Key cities like Gaza, Ashkelon, Ashdod, and Ekron, will be leveled as their leaders (“king”) perish (9:5, 7). These cities will be left “uninhabited” (Ashkelon) or repopulated by others (Ashdod, Ekron). They will be placed under Israel’s control, becoming “like a clan in Judah” (9:7). The Lord will strike these nations to protect His people from attack: “Then I will encamp at my house as a guard, so that non shall march to and fro; no oppressor shall again march over them” (9:8).
In verse 9, the Lord calls Jerusalem to rejoice in the return of the king: “Behold, your king is coming to you; righteous and having salvation is he, humble and mounted on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey” (9:9). Since the fall of Jerusalem and exile of the survivors, Israel had been without a king; they had been ruled by foreign kings—Assyria, Babylon and Persia. Now, their king will ride into the city on the “foal of a donkey”, ushering in the Lord’s salvation.
The Lord will rescue His people from foreign domination, cutting off the “chariot”, “war horse”, and “battle bow” of the attackers (9:10). The Lord’s king will “speak peace to the nations” (9:10) and rule “from sea to sea, and from the River to the ends of the earth” (9:10). The Lord will accomplish all this for His people because of “the blood of my covenant with you” (9:11). He will rescue those imprisoned by foreign powers; these “prisoners of hope” will return to the safety of their own land as the Lord restores to them “double” for what they lost (9:12). The Lord will defeat foreign powers (“Greece”), using the “sons” of Zion as his bow, arrow, and sword (9:13).
When this deliverance happens (“Then”), the “Lord will appear over them”, coming in power to protect His people and defeat their foes (9:14-15). He will “go forth like lightning”, empowering the Israelite warriors to “roar as if drunk with wine” as they “devour” and “tread down” their adversaries (9:15). When this happens (“On that day”), the Lord will save Israel “as the flock of his people” (9:16). His people will “shine on his land” like “jewels of a crown” (9:16). They will display the “goodness” and “beauty” of the Lord as they “flourish” in their own homeland (9:17).
Knowing God: Understanding His Person and Ways
The Lord fulfills all His promises but not all at once. In this chapter the Lord declares His plans for the nation of Israel and their neighbours. Israel’s enemies will be devastated (Tyre and Sidon—9:3-4) or subjugated (Philistia—9:5-7). Israel will be elevated and empowered to defeat enemies near (Philistia—9:8) and far (Greece—9:13). Though they were currently without a monarch and ruled by foreign powers, the Lord promised to send His king to ride humbly into Jerusalem on a donkey (9:9). This king will “speak peace to the nations” and “his rule shall be from sea to sea, and from the River to the ends of the earth” (9:10). From our vantage point in history, we can see that part of this prophetic vision has been fulfilled: Jesus, the Lord’s King, has indeed ridden into Jerusalem on the foal of a donkey (Matt 21:4-5). Through His death and resurrection, Jesus has procured peace for people of all nations who trust in Him (Rom 5:1). The promises related to the judgment of Israel’s neighbours and the military victories of Israel’s armies have only been partially fulfilled. The full vision laid out in this chapter awaits the return of Christ to rule the nations (Rev 11:15-18; 19:11-21). The Lord’s prophetic proclamations will all be accomplished, but not all at the same time in history.
The Lord works through His people to accomplish His victories in battle. The Lord of hosts actively works in history to bring down nations and defend His people. As he accomplishes His will on the global stage, He works through His king and His people. The righteous king (Jesus) will rule and bring peace to the nations. The “sons of Zion” are pictured as His bow and arrows in the battle with opposing nations (9:13). Today, our fight is not with flesh and blood but with demonic powers in the heavenly realms (Eph 6:10-12). The Lord of hosts still works through His people to defeat the forces of evil and advance His global kingdom.
The Lord sees His people as jewels in His crown that display His goodness and beauty. In spite of their many failings, the Lord still prizes His people. He promises to “save” Israel “as the flock of his people” (9:16). “On that day”, they will “shine on His land” like “the jewels of a crown” to display His “goodness” and “beauty” (9:16-17). While this promise is for Israel, Gentile believers become “fellow heirs, members of the same, body, and partakers of the promise in Christ through the gospel” (Eph 3:6). All who belong to God through faith in Christ are prized as “jewels” in His crown, displaying His great goodness and beauty.
Joining God: Moving with God on Mission
We can rejoice in God’s humble, righteous, and ruling King—the Lord Jesus. The Lord’s people are called to “rejoice greatly” in the king the Lord is sending to bring salvation (9:9). This king is marked by both humility and victory; he rides into Zion on a donkey, yet rules over the nations from “sea to sea” (9:9). He brings salvation for His people and speaks peace to the nations (9:9-10). Five hundred years after this pronouncement by Zechariah, this king arrived in Jerusalem, riding on the foal of a donkey. Some understood who He was, greeting Him with joyful shouts of “Hosanna” (Matt 21:4-5). By His death and resurrection, Jesus brought salvation to all who receive Him with repentant faith. One day, He will come again to fulfill the prophecy of a global rule where righteousness and peace prevail. Where the people in Zechariah’s day anticipated the king’s arrival, we celebrate His first coming (and the salvation He provides) and anticipate His second coming.
Our hope for present and future blessing rests in Lord’s faithfulness to His covenant. Although Israel was often faithless, the Lord—who does not change—remained faithful to His covenant promises (see Mal 3:6; 2 Tim 2:19). Israel’s national future is secure because God keeps His covenant promises to His people: “As for you also, because of the blood of my covenant with you, I will set your prisoners free from the waterless pit” (9:11). The New Covenant, promised to Israel by Jeremiah (Jer 31:31), was instituted by Jesus and expanded to include Gentiles who put their faith in Christ (Luke 22:20; 24:46-48). The blood he shed on the cross was the “blood of the covenant”, insuring present and future blessings for all who trust in Him.
Rick and Linda Reed 