Zec 14:16-21 | TNotes | STEP | 14:16 enemies ... will ... worship the King: Another reversal will occur on the day of the Lord (cp. Phil 2:8-11 ). • The annual Festival of Shelters marked the beginning of the fall harvest season and commemorated Israel’s wilderness experience after the exodus from Egypt (see Exod 23:14-19 ; Lev 23:33-43 ; Num 29:12-40 ; Deut 16:13-17 ). The festival gave the worshiping community an opportunity to thank God for his provision. It encouraged social concern for the disadvantaged and reliance on God as pilgrims in this world. Thanksgiving will characterize worship in the messianic era (see Isa 51:3 ; Jer 33:11 ).

14:16 ^a enemies ... will ... worship the King: Another reversal will occur on the day of the Lord (cp. Phil 2:8-11 ^b).

• The annual Festival of Shelters marked the beginning of the fall harvest season and commemorated Israel’s wilderness experience after the exodus from Egypt (see Exod 23:14-19 ^c; Lev 23:33-43 ^d; Num 29:12-40 ^e; Deut 16:13-17 ^f). The festival gave the worshiping community an opportunity to thank God for his provision. It encouraged social concern for the disadvantaged and reliance on God as pilgrims in this world. Thanksgiving will characterize worship in the messianic era (see Isa 51:3 ^g; Jer 33:11 ^h).
14:17 ⁱ come to Jerusalem to worship: Jerusalem, with God’s Temple, is envisioned as the center of God’s universal kingdom (8:20-22 ^j; see Isa 56:6-7 ^k; 66:19-23 ^l; Mic 4:1 ^m; Hag 2:7 ⁿ; Rev 21:1-2 ^o, 10-27 ^p).

• no rain: This was one of the curses God pronounced against Israel for covenant disobedience (see Deut 28:22-24 ^q). That curse extended to all the nations, as God’s rule extends over all peoples (cp. Zech 10:1 ^r).
14:20 ^s Holy to the Lord: See study note on 3:5. The priesthood was set apart for the Lord, as was the nation of Israel (Exod 19:6 ^t; Lev 11:44-45 ^u). That identity will be fulfilled in the messianic kingdom (Rom 11:16-17 ^v; Eph 1:4 ^w; 5:27 ^x; 1 Pet 1:15-16 ^y). The inscription on the harness bells and the cooking pots shows how pervasive holiness will be in that day.
14:21 ^z every cooking pot: The holiness of God’s kingdom will transform even mundane utensils into sacred vessels like those used in the sacrificial ritual of the Temple, eliminating all Old Testament distinctions between the sacred and the profane.

• traders (literally Canaanites): Commercial activity was associated with the Canaanites (see Hos 12:7 ^aa; Zeph 1:11 ^ab). The expression might be a euphemism for idolaters or another way of saying that under God’s rule, traditional ethnic boundaries will be dissolved. The passage may anticipate the work of Jesus in cleansing the Jerusalem Temple as a prelude to the greater work of cleansing the heart of those who believe in him by the Holy Spirit (see John 2:13-16 ^ac; 1 Cor 6:11 ^ad; Titus 3:5 ^ae).