Zec 10:4-12 | TNotes | STEP | Summary for Zech 10:4-12: 10:4-12 A true shepherd is promised. 10:4 A cornerstone is the first-laid foundation stone upon which a building’s superstructure rests (see Job 38:6 ; Ps 118:22 ; Isa 28:16 ; Eph 2:20 ). • Just as a tent peg anchors a tent to the ground, so Judah will provide the future leaders needed to stabilize the Hebrew nation. • Many understand cornerstone, tent peg, and bow for battle as titles for the Messiah (cp. Isa 22:20-23 ; Zech 9:13 ).

Summary for Zech 10:4-12: 10:4-12 ^a A true shepherd is promised. 10:4 ^b A cornerstone is the first-laid foundation stone upon which a building’s superstructure rests (see Job 38:6 ^c; Ps 118:22 ^d; Isa 28:16 ^e; Eph 2:20 ^f).

• Just as a tent peg anchors a tent to the ground, so Judah will provide the future leaders needed to stabilize the Hebrew nation.

• Many understand cornerstone, tent peg, and bow for battle as titles for the Messiah (cp. Isa 22:20-23 ^g; Zech 9:13 ^h).
10:6 ⁱ save: This Hebrew word is also used for the exodus from Egypt (see Exod 14:30 ^j). Salvation and victory come from God (Ps 3:8 ^k; Isa 63:1 ^l).

• God saves and restores his people Israel because of his compassion (see Exod 33:19 ^m; Pss 103:13 ⁿ; 111:4 ^o; Lam 3:32 ^p).
10:8 ^q When I whistle to them: Shepherds in biblical times herded their flocks by whistling or piping to them (see Judg 5:16 ^r).

• Redeemed can also mean “ransomed”—buying slaves out of their servitude or indentured status (see Deut 15:15 ^s; 24:18 ^t).

• numerous as ... before: The proliferation of the Hebrew people was one of God’s covenant promises to Abraham (Gen 12:1-3 ^u; 22:17 ^v; 32:12 ^w).
10:10 ^x The Lord had previously whistled for the armies of Egypt and Assyria to come against King Ahaz of Judah because of his unbelief (Isa 7:18 ^y). The two nations were especially symbolic of the slavery and exile endured by the Hebrews.

• Gilead is a fertile region east of the Jordan River and south of the Sea of Galilee that is suitable for grain growing and pasturing; it was settled by the tribes of Manasseh and Gad.

• Lebanon sometimes defined the northern edge of the Promised Land (see Deut 11:24 ^z; Josh 1:4 ^aa). God’s restoration and resettlement of the Hebrews would be so complete that even the fringe areas of Israelite territory would teem with people.
10:11 ^ab When the Hebrews returned to the land of Israel from exile in Babylon, they had to ford the Euphrates River; this is likened to a second exodus from Egypt (see Isa 43:2-6 ^ac, 16-17 ^ad).
10:12 ^ae This verse repeats the earlier promise that God would strengthen his people (10:6 ^af; see Isa 41:8-10 ^ag; cp. Pss 18:1 ^ah; 22:19 ^ai; 28:8 ^aj; 29:11 ^ak).