ESV Global Study Bible :: Footnotes for Zechariah 12

12:1–14:21 The Second Oracle: The People and Their Leaders. In this last section of the book, hope for Judah is tied to the “house of David.” The future of Jerusalem is described in various ways, each beginning with the phrase “on that day” (17 times in these three chapters). The description of divine deliverance (12:1–9) is followed by its impact on different groups within the community (12:10–13:9). Chapter 14 describes the “day of the Lord,” a familiar idea throughout the Minor Prophets (see note on Amos 5:18–20).

Zech. 12:1–13:6 Not only will God protect his people, he will lead them to true repentance and will cleanse them from their sin and idolatry.

Zech. 12:1–9 In time God will punish the nations that seek to harm Judah, and will elevate the house of David.

Zech. 12:1 The phrase The oracle of the word of the Lord begins a new section (see note on 9:1–8) that describes Israel’s complete restoration and renewal. As Creator, the Lord’s promises of judgment and redemption are sure because he is able to re-create a new society out of the existing chaos (compare Gen. 1:1–2).

Zech. 12:2 Jerusalem will be God’s instrument of judgment on the nations. It will be an intoxicating cup of staggering. Drinking it will result in shame, disorientation, and destruction (compare Jer. 25:15–29).

Zech. 12:3 The phrase On that day begins a series of nine such statements. See note on Amos 5:18–20. Jerusalem will become a heavy stone that will hurt the nations that try to move it.

Zech. 12:4 When the nations of the earth gather against Jerusalem, the Lord will strike their elite cavalry troops with blindness and panic (compare Deut. 28:28). As for the house of Judah, the Lord says, I will keep my eyes open to guard and protect them.

Zech. 12:5–6 The clans of Judah recognize that Jerusalem’s strength comes only from the Lord of hosts (see note on Amos 3:13). He uses them as a blazing fire or a flaming torch to destroy the nations around them (Zech. 12:6).

Zech. 12:7 The Abrahamic covenant will be fulfilled (see Gen. 12:1–3). This will result in glory for Jerusalem and all of Judah but destruction for the nations that oppose them. Salvation will come to the tents of Judah first, even before Jerusalem. Either the soldiers in tents or the poor living in tents outside Jerusalem will experience the Lord’s deliverance first. Therefore those in Jerusalem must not become proud over their privileged location.

Zech. 12:8 All of Jerusalem’s inhabitants will be raised to the highest human glory, like David (1 Sam. 13:14). David’s line will attain an even greater glory. On that day the descendant of David will lead the people into battle as the angel of the Lord did in days of old (see Josh. 5:14).

Zech. 12:9 The Lord will bring judgment on all the nations that come against Jerusalem. The fate of “all the nations,” first introduced in v. 3, is settled.

Zech. 12:10–14 These verses focus primarily on the house of David and Jerusalem. The “pouring out” of the spirit (that is, God’s Spirit; v. 10; see Ezek. 39:29; Joel 2:28–29), will result in grace and pleas for mercy (Zech. 12:10). This implies both forgiveness from the Lord and repentance from the people. They will mourn because of the one whom they have pierced (that is, stabbed to death; see Num. 25:8). The mourning will be like that for a firstborn son, the one on whom all the family’s future hopes rested. John 19:37 sees this prophecy fulfilled in Jesus.