Bible Commentaries
Zechariah 12

Verse 1

burden = oracle. Compare Zechariah 9:1 , and the Structure on p. 1280.

the LORD. Hebrew. Jehovah . App-4 .

for = upon: i.e. concerning Israel's affliction and final deliverance.

saith the LORD = [is] Jehovah's oracle.

Which stretcheth forth , &c. The omnipotence of Jehovah is the guarantee that His word will be carried out. Compare lsa. Zec 42:5 ; Zec 44:24 ; Zec 45:12 , Zec 45:18 ; Zec 48:13 .

and layeth , &c. Compare Psalms 24:2 ; Psalms 102:25 ; Psalms 104:2-5 .Amos 4:8 , Amos 4:13 Note the Figure of speech Polysyndeton . App-6 .

formeth, &c. Reference to Pentateuch (Genesis 2:7 . Numbers 16:22 ). App-92 .

spirit . Hebrew. ruach . App-9 .

man. Hebrew. adam . App-14 .

Verse 2

Behold. Figure of speech Asterismos . App-6 .

people = peoples.

Verse 3

And = And it shall come to pass that in that day, &c.

a burdensome stone . A stone difficult to lift or to move; not a stone to throw. Occurs only here. burden, &c. i.e. seek to lift it.

cut in pieces = lacerated. Assyria, Persia, Rome, Greece, Egypt of old, and in later days Spain, Portugal. and Russia have been so lacerated on account of their treatment of the Jews.

Verse 4

astonishment = the panic. Compare Deuteronomy 28:28 .

open Mine eyes upon = regard with favour.

Verse 5

strength . See note on Zechariah 6:3 .

the Lord of hosts . See note on Zechariah 1:3 .

God. Hebrew. Elohim . App-4 .

Verse 6

hearth = chafing dish. Compare 2 Samuel 2:14 .

even in = as.

Verse 7

first. Some codices, with Septuagint, Syriac, and Vulgate, read "as at the first".

Verse 8

feeble = tottering.

Verse 9

come . Some codices read "come to make war".

Verse 10

look = look attentively with hope and concern; as in Genesis 19:17 , Genesis 19:26 . Quoted in Matthew 24:30 . John 19:37 . Compare the first occurance. (Genesis 15:5 ), and Ex, Zec 33:8 . This is the effect of the gift of the Spirit.

upon = unto.

Me , Western codices read "Me"; but the Eastern read "Him", with one early printed edition.

Whom they have pierced . See John 19:34 , John 19:37 . Revelation 1:7 .

pierced. H eb , da kar. Occurs eleven times, and always means thrust through. Compare Zechariah 13:8 .

Verse 11

shall there be a great mourning or, the wailing shall be great.

Hadadrimmon . Now Rummaneh, west of Esdraelon, near Megiddo, where king Josiah was slain, and where the mourning was unprecedented (2 Chronicles 35:22-25 ).

Verse 12

wives = women.

Nathan. See 2 Samuel 5:14 . All those names are mentioned in the genealogy of Luke 3:0 .

Verse 13

Shimei. See Numbers 3:18 .