Zec 8:6-15 | TNotes | STEP | 8:6 The Old Testament portrays God as able to do the impossible and the miraculous—nothing is too hard for the God who made the heavens and the earth (Gen 18:14 ; Jer 32:17 , 27 ; see also Matt 19:26 ).

8:6 ^a The Old Testament portrays God as able to do the impossible and the miraculous—nothing is too hard for the God who made the heavens and the earth (Gen 18:14 ^b; Jer 32:17 ^c, 27 ^d; see also Matt 19:26 ^e).
8:7 ^f from the east and from the west: This is an idiom meaning from all the regions to which the Hebrews were dispersed (compare Isa 43:5-6 ^g).
8:8 ^h They will be my people, and I will be ... their God: This adoption formula depicts the intimate bond between Israel and God in covenant relationship (see Exod 19:5-6 ⁱ; Jer 30:22 ^j; 31:33 ^k; Ezek 34:30-31 ^l; Hos 2:23 ^m).
Summary for Zech 8:9-13: 8:9-13 ⁿ This section highlights the reversal of Jerusalem’s fortunes as the Temple was rebuilt (cp. 2 Chr 15:3-7 ^o). The exhortation to be strong (Zech 8:9 ^p, 13 ^q) is an inclusio (a set of rhetorical bookends) for the section. 8:9 ^r Laying of the foundation refers to Zerubbabel’s and Jeshua’s initial work of rebuilding the Temple in 536 BC (Ezra 3:8-13 ^s). The Temple reconstruction project was quickly abandoned and was not resumed until the prophets Haggai and Zechariah prompted it sixteen years later (Ezra 5:1-2 ^t; Hag 1:1 ^u).
8:10 ^v enemies: The neighboring peoples opposed the rebuilding of the Temple (Ezra 4 ^w). Later, enemies opposed Nehemiah’s rebuilding of the wall around Jerusalem (Neh 4 ^x).
8:12 ^y Peace (Hebrew shalom) is an important theme underlying Zechariah’s message (8:10 ^z, 12 ^aa, 16 ^ab, 19 ^ac). God’s presence in the rebuilt Temple would bring peace to Judah (see Hag 2:6-9 ^ad). Zechariah uses the agricultural cycle to represent God’s blessing (see Hag 2:18-19 ^ae), which would reverse the drought conditions that Haggai described (Hag 1:10 ^af).

• The small community that returned to Judah from exile was called the remnant. Theologically, the remnant is a bridge between God’s punishment and his promised restoration (see Hag 1:12 ^ag, 14 ^ah).
Summary for Zech 8:14-15: 8:14-15 ^ai determined: The repetition of this word emphasizes God’s sovereignty in judging Israel’s sin and then in blessing them.