Zec 13:8-9 | TNotes | STEP | 13:8 Two-thirds ... one-third: The divine judgment would be catastrophic, but God would preserve a remnant and forgive their sin (see Isa 65:9 ; Jer 50:20 ; Ezek 5:2-12 ; Rev 9:15-18 ).

13:8 ^a Two-thirds ... one-third: The divine judgment would be catastrophic, but God would preserve a remnant and forgive their sin (see Isa 65:9 ^b; Jer 50:20 ^c; Ezek 5:2-12 ^d; Rev 9:15-18 ^e).
13:9 ^f Fire is a metaphor for God’s judgment (see Isa 66:15 ^g; Jer 4:4 ^h; Ezek 36:5 ⁱ; Amos 5:6 ^j). God’s fire may either destroy the wicked or, as here, test and purify the righteous.

• refine them ... like gold: God is the divine metallurgist, using fire to burn the dross out of metal (Isa 1:25 ^k; Mal 3:2-3 ^l).

• These are my people ... The Lord is our God: The declarations of loyalty by God and Israel restore their broken covenant relationship (Zech 11:10 ^m, 14 ⁿ; see Exod 19:5 ^o; Jer 30:22 ^p; 31:33 ^q; Hos 2:23 ^r).