Zechariah 14:1-15
Summary for Zech 14:1-21: 14:1-21 a Zechariah closes with visions of judgment, salvation, and God’s universal kingdom. In the future, Israel would be besieged, teetering on the verge of total destruction, when the Lord himself would intervene and rescue his people (14:3-4 b) and punish their enemies with a terrible plague (14:12 c). Israel would be restored as God’s people, and Jerusalem would be exalted as the center of civilization (14:16-17 d). God’s rule would be established over all the earth (14:9 e), and the created order would be transformed (14:6-10 f). Fittingly, God’s holiness would be the pervasive characteristic of his rule over all the earth (14:20-21 g). Zechariah’s message stimulates the people of God to hope in the Sovereign King of Israel, who will bring justice and restoration. 14:1 h The day of the Lord will bring judgment and deliverance and will reverse the fortunes of many (see Amos 5:18 i; cp. Matt 19:28-30 j; Luke 13:23-30 k).14:2 l The rest is the remnant of Israel that survived the sack of Jerusalem (see 13:8 m).
14:3 n fought in times past: An example would be the exodus from Egypt (Exod 14–15 o; see Isa 42:13 p).
14:4 q Jesus ascended into heaven from the Mount of Olives, and the angels’ message to Jesus’ disciples (Acts 1:11-12 r) implied that he would return in a similar fashion.
• Zechariah envisions an earthquake that will split apart the Mount of Olives and create a valley running east and west through the fissure. This valley will become an escape route for Hebrews fleeing Jerusalem during the assault by the nations (Zech 14:5 s). This event is probably connected to the return of Jesus at the end of the age (see Matt 24 t; Rev 6:12 u; 11:13 v; 16:18 w).
14:5 x Some identify Azal (Hebrew ’atsal) as a district on the northeast side of Jerusalem inhabited by descendants of Azel (1 Chr 8:37-39 y; 9:43-44 z). Others emend the Hebrew to ’etsel, “alongside” or “the side [of it].”
• The date of the earthquake in the days of King Uzziah is unknown, but Amos began his ministry two years before it (Amos 1:1 aa).
• The holy ones are probably the multitude of angels that worship God and serve as his army (see Ps 89:5 ab, 7 ac).
14:7 ad continuous day: The day of the Lord will bring fundamental changes to the created order (see Isa 60:19-22 ae; Rev 21:22-25 af). This promise emphasizes that the sun and moon are created by God and are not eternal deities—light does not originate with them.
14:8 ag The life-giving waters ... from Jerusalem symbolize God’s life-giving presence among his people (see Ezek 47:1-12 ah; Joel 3:18 ai; John 7:37-39 aj; Rev 22:1-2 ak).
• half toward the Dead Sea and half toward the Mediterranean: Divine blessings will extend both east and west, flowing continuously. They will never stop bringing healing (see Isa 30:23-26 al).
14:9 am the Lord will be king: Zechariah envisions the ultimate fulfillment of many psalms (see Pss 47–48 an, 93 ao, 97-99 ap).
• there will be one Lord: This promise reaffirms Israel’s creed (Deut 6:4 aq) and signals a final end of all idolatry.
14:10 ar The towns Geba and Rimmon represent the north–south extent of the district including Jerusalem.
14:12 as As divine Judge, God strikes those who rebel against him with a sudden and deadly plague (see Exod 9:14 at; Num 14:36-37 au; 2 Sam 24:10-25 av; Jer 14:11-12 aw).
14:13 ax The day of the Lord will bring terror to God’s enemies (12:4 ay; see Isa 22:5 az).
14:14 ba The day of the Lord is characterized by reversal: The capture of the wealth of the nations overturns the looting of Jerusalem announced earlier (14:1 bb).
• great quantities of gold and silver: The Lord’s Temple will receive “the treasures of all the nations” (Hag 2:7-8 bc).
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