Zechariah 14WEB
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Zechariah14

World English Bible · Public Domain

1Behold, a day of Yahweh comes, when your plunder will be divided within you.

2For I will gather all nations against Jerusalem to battle; and the city will be taken, the houses rifled, and the women ravished. Half of the city will go out into captivity, and the rest of the people will not be cut off from the city.

3Then Yahweh will go out and fight against those nations, as when he fought in the day of battle.

4His feet will stand in that day on the Mount of Olives, which is before Jerusalem on the east; and the Mount of Olives will be split in two from east to west, making a very great valley. Half of the mountain will move toward the north, and half of it toward the south.

5You shall flee by the valley of my mountains, for the valley of the mountains shall reach to Azel. Yes, you shall flee, just like you fled from before the earthquake in the days of Uzziah king of Judah. Yahweh my God will come, and all the holy ones with you.

6It will happen in that day that there will not be light, cold, or frost.

7It will be a unique day which is known to Yahweh—not day, and not night; but it will come to pass that at evening time there will be light.

8It will happen in that day that living waters will go out from Jerusalem, half of them toward the eastern sea, and half of them toward the western sea. It will be so in summer and in winter.

9Yahweh will be King over all the earth. In that day Yahweh will be one, and his name one.

10All the land will be made like the Arabah, from Geba to Rimmon south of Jerusalem; and she will be lifted up and will dwell in her place, from Benjamin’s gate to the place of the first gate, to the corner gate, and from the tower of Hananel to the king’s wine presses.

11Men will dwell therein, and there will be no more curse; but Jerusalem will dwell safely.

12This will be the plague with which Yahweh will strike all the peoples who have fought against Jerusalem: their flesh will consume away while they stand on their feet, and their eyes will consume away in their sockets, and their tongue will consume away in their mouth.

13It will happen in that day that a great panic from Yahweh will be among them; and they will each seize the hand of his neighbor, and his hand will rise up against the hand of his neighbor.

14Judah also will fight at Jerusalem; and the wealth of all the surrounding nations will be gathered together: gold, silver, and clothing, in great abundance.

15A plague like this will fall on the horse, on the mule, on the camel, on the donkey, and on all the animals that will be in those camps.

16It will happen that everyone who is left of all the nations that came against Jerusalem will go up from year to year to worship the King, Yahweh of Armies, and to keep the feast of booths.

17It will be that whoever of all the families of the earth doesn’t go up to Jerusalem to worship the King, Yahweh of Armies, on them there will be no rain.

18If the family of Egypt doesn’t go up and doesn’t come, neither will it rain on them. This will be the plague with which Yahweh will strike the nations that don’t go up to keep the feast of booths.

19This will be the punishment of Egypt and the punishment of all the nations that don’t go up to keep the feast of booths.

20In that day there will be inscribed on the bells of the horses, “HOLY TO YAHWEH”; and the pots in Yahweh’s house will be like the bowls before the altar.

21Yes, every pot in Jerusalem and in Judah will be holy to Yahweh of Armies; and all those who sacrifice will come and take of them, and cook in them. In that day there will no longer be a Canaanite in the house of Yahweh of Armies.

Study Guide

Public-domain commentary and original-language notes for Zechariah 14.

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Chapter Summary

In this chapter: The sufferings of Jerusalem. (1–7). Encouraging prospects, and the destruction of her enemies. (8–15). The holiness of the latter days. (16–21).

vv1-7

The Lord Jesus often stood upon the Mount of Olives when on earth. He ascended from thence to heaven, and then desolations and distresses came upon the Jewish nation. Such is the view taken of this figuratively; but many consider it as a notice of events yet unfulfilled, and that it relates to troubles of which we cannot now form a full idea. Every believer, being related to God as his God, may triumph in the expectation of Christ's coming in power, and speak of it with pleasure. During a long season, the state of the church would be deformed by sin; there would be a mixture of truth and error, of happiness and misery. Such is the experience of God's people, a mingled state of grace and corruption. But, when the season is at the worst, and most unpromising, the Lord will turn darkness into light; deliverance comes when God's people have done looking for it.

vv8-15

Some consider that the progress of the gospel, beginning from Jerusalem, is referred to by the living waters flowing from that city. Neither shall the gospel and means of grace, nor the graces of the Spirit wrought in the hearts of believers by those means, ever fail, by reason either of the heat of persecution, or storms of temptation, or the blasts of any other affliction. Tremendous judgments appear to be foretold, to be sent upon those who should oppose the settlement of the Jews in their own land. How far they are to be understood literally, events alone can determine. The furious rage and malice which stir up men against each other, are faint shadows of the enmity which reigns among those who have perished in their sins. Even the inferior creatures often suffer for the sin of man, and in his plagues. Thus God will show his displeasure against sin.

vv16-21

As it is impossible for all nations literally to come to Jerusalem once a year, to keep a feast, it is evident that a figurative meaning must here be applied. Gospel worship is represented by the keeping of the feast of tabernacles. Every day of a Christian's life is a day of the feast of tabernacles; every Lord's day especially is the great day of the feast; therefore every day let us worship the Lord of hosts, and keep every Lord's day with peculiar solemnity. It is just for God to withhold the blessings of grace from those who do not attend the means of grace. It is a sin that is its own punishment; those who forsake the duty, forfeit the privilege of communion with God. A time of complete peace and purity of the church will arrive. Men will carry on their common affairs, and their sacred services, upon the same holy principles of faith, love and obedience. Real holiness shall be more diffused, because there shall be a more plentiful pouring forth of the Spirit of holiness than ever before. There shall be holiness even in common things. Every action and every enjoyment of the believer, should be so regulated according to the will of God, that it may be directed to his glory. Our whole lives should be as one constant sacrifice, or act of devotion; no selfish motive should prevail in any of our actions. But how far is the Christian church from this state of purity! Other times, however, are at hand, and the Lord will reform and enlarge his church, as he has promised. Yet in heaven alone will perfect holiness and happiness be found.

Cross References

Zechariah 14
v4Acts 1:11thematic

The Mount of Olives as the scene of both Christ's physical ascension and promised return.

Supported by JFB

v4Ezekiel 11:23thematic

Ezekiel's vision of the glory of the Lord departing from the city over the Mount of Olives.

Supported by JFB

v5Amos 1:1thematic

Explicit historical marker of the great earthquake during the reign of King Uzziah.

Supported by JFB

v2Joel 3:2thematic

Parallel prophecy of God gathering all nations to battle in the valley of decision.

Supported by Poole, JFB

v3Exodus 14:14thematic

God fighting for Israel against Egypt at the Red Sea, a pattern of His divine intervention.

Supported by Calvin, JFB

v8Ezekiel 47:1-12thematic

Vision of living, healing waters flowing eastward from the temple in Jerusalem.

Supported by JFB

v8Joel 3:18thematic

Prophetic parallel of a fountain flowing from the house of the Lord to water dry places.

Supported by JFB

v20Exodus 28:36allusion

The priestly inscription 'Holiness to the Lord' on the mitre, now extended to common horse bells.

v8Revelation 22:1thematic

The river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne.

Parallel topographical restoration landmarks of Jerusalem, including the tower of Hananeel.

v11Revelation 22:3thematic

There shall be 'no more curse' corresponding directly to 'no more utter destruction.'

v13Ezekiel 38:21thematic

God causes every man's sword to be against his brother among the invading hosts.

v13Judges 7:22thematic

Historical precedent of God defeating enemies by setting every man's sword against his fellow.

v16Leviticus 23:34typology

The Feast of Tabernacles, commemorating God's dwelling with man, celebrated by nations.

Supported by Henry

Contrasts Egypt's reliance on irrigation by foot with Israel's reliance on rain from heaven.

v21Revelation 21:27thematic

No defiled person or abomination can enter, corresponding to 'no more the Canaanite.'

v1Matthew 22:7thematic

Parable of the king sending armies to destroy those murderers and burn up their city.

Supported by Poole

The city having no need of sun or moon because God's glory provides light.

v9Daniel 2:44thematic

The God of heaven setting up a kingdom that will consume all other kingdoms.

v20Obadiah 1:17thematic

Upon Mount Zion there shall be deliverance, and there shall be holiness.