Bible Commentaries
Zechariah 14

Verse 1

Behold. Figure of speech Asterismos. App-6 .

the day of the LORD. See note on Isaiah 2:11 , Isaiah 2:12 ; Isaiah 13:6 .

the LORD . Hebrew. Jehovah. App-4 .

thy, (feminine). Referring to Jerusalem.

Verse 2

I will gather , &c. Referring to the yet future and final siege of Jerusalem. See App-53 .

battle = war. Not the same word as in Zechariah 14:3 ,

Verse 3

as = just as,

fought . Compare Joshua 10:14 .

battle = close conflict. Not the same word as in Zechariah 14:2 . Hebrew. kerab. First occurance. 2 Samuel 17:11 .

Verse 4

upon the mount of Olives. This precludes the possibility of any reference to what is past. No amount of "poetical imagery" can rob this plain statement of the yet future literal interpretation of this prophecy.

valley. Between the northern and southern half of Olivet. See App-88 .

Verse 5

the mountains = My mountains. So called because of the physical change which HE will yet bring about, in the two new mounts formed out of one.

Azal. A new place, yet to have this name, at one extremity of the valley.

the earthquake. Referred to in Amos 1:0 .

saints = holy ones: i.e. angels; as in Job 5:1 , &c. Figure of speech Hysteresis . App-6 .

God. Hebrew. Elohim . App-4 .

and. Some codices, with Aramaean, Septuagint, Syriac, and Vulgate, read this "and" in the text.

the. Some codices with Aramaean and Syriac, read "his".

saints = holy ones: i.e. angels; as in Job 5:1 .Jude 1:14 , Compare Deuteronomy 33:2 , Deuteronomy 33:3 .

Thee . Some codices with Aramaean and Syriac, read "him". This takes us on to the Second Advent. No "flight to Pella" can be accepted as a fulfilment, in any sense.

Verse 6

clear = light.

dark = dense.

Verse 7

one day = one [continuous] day, or one day by itself, unique. Compare Psalms 118:21 ,

known to the LORD . This forbids our assumptions, and should restrain our curiosity.

not day, nor night . Answering to "not bright, nor dense" in Zechariah 14:6 .

Verse 8

living waters = fresh, running, or perennial waters. These are the waters of Ezekiel 47:0 .

former = eastern: i.e. the Dead Sea.

hinder = western: i.e. Mediterranean Sea.

summer . Not dried up by heat.

winter. Not congealed by frost.

Verse 9

King over all the earth. Compare Zechariah 4:14 ; Zechariah 6:5 .Revelation 11:15 .

one. Hebrew. 'ehad . See note on Deuteronomy 6:4 .

Verse 10

a = the.

Gebe. Now Jeb'a, six miles north of Jerusalem.

Rimmon . Now Khan Umm er Rumamin (Nehemiah 11:29 ).

inhabited = be inhabited.

Benjamin's gate . See Jeremiah 20:2 ; Jer 20:37 . Is; Zec 38:6 .

corner gate . Compare 2 Chronicles 26:9 .

tower . Jeremiah 31:38 . See App-59 .

Verse 11

destruction . Compare Malachi 4:6 , i.e. Anathema.

Shall be , &c. = shall abide in security. Reference to Pentateuch (Leviticus 26:5 .) App-92 . Compare Jeremiah 23:6 . Ezekiel 28:26 ; Ezekiel 34:25 , Ezekiel 34:28 , &c.

Verse 12

And this shall be, &c. The subject now returns to the smiting of the nations. See the Structure, C, p. 1294

people = peoples.

Verse 13

tumult = panic,

every one . Heb . 'ish, App-14 .

Verse 14

heathen = nations.

Verse 15

tents = camps.

as = like. Some codices read "with".

Verse 16

the King. As in Zechariah 14:2 . Jehovah will then be the universal Sovereign.

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

the feast of tabernacles. Reference to Pentateuch (Leviticus 23:34 , Leviticus 23:43 .Deuteronomy 16:16; Deuteronomy 16:16 ), App-92 .

Verse 17

rain = the [periodic] rain.

Verse 18

that have no rain. This react with Zechariah 14:17 makes no sense. Modern critics (with Revised Version margin) at once say "the text is probably corrupt". The Ellipsis must be supplied by repeating the words from the end of Zechariah 14:17 thus "if . . . come not, [not upon them shall be no rain, but] upon them there shall be the plague" as aforesaid in Zechariah 14:12 ). Egypt has no rain; hence this elliptical expression, Reference to Pant. (Deuteronomy 11:10 ). App-92 .

the . Some codices, with five early printed editions (one Rabbinic, in margin), Sept Syriac, and Vulgate, read "all the".

heathen = nations. Some codices read "peoples".

Verse 19

punishment. Hebrew sin (chata, App-44 .) Put by Figure of speech Metonymy (of Cause), App-6 , for the punishment brought down by it.

Verse 20

be upon = he [inscribed] upon.

HOLINESS UNTO THE LORD. Reference to Pentateuch (Exodus 28:36 ; Exodus 39:30 ). App-92 . For the large type see App-48 .

Verse 21

seethe = boil. Reference to Pentateuch (Leviticus 6:28 ). App-92 . Compare 1 Samuel 2:13 . 2 Chronicles 35:13 .Ezekiel 46:20 , Ezekiel 46:24 .

the = a.

Canaanite . This is the word which, divided into two in Zechariah 11:7 , Zechariah 11:11 , is rendered "the poor of the flock". As one word it means merchant, or trafficker; but it is also used as typical of what is unclean. Compare Zephaniah 1:11 .Matthew 21:12 .