Bible Commentaries
Zechariah 10

Verses 1-12

Zec 10:1-12

Properly placed Trust (Zechariah 10:1-7)

“Ask ye of Jehovah rain in the time of the latter rain, even of Jehovah that makes lightnings; and he will give them showers of rain, to every one grass in the field. For the teraphim have spoken vanity, and the diviners have seen a lie; and they have told false dreams, they comfort in vain: therefore they go their way like sheep, they are afflicted, because there is no shepherd” (Zechariah 10:1-2).

Zechariah calls upon Zion to pray to God for their every need and as they obey Him He will give them their needs. Zechariah warns Zion of putting their trust in the idolatry of teraphim (images of wood and stone), diviners that have seen a lie, and those who lay claims to having divine dreams when they are indeed false. Said entities offer false hope and comfort (cf. Jeremiah 23:13-14).

“Mine anger is kindled against the shepherds, and I will punish the he-goats; for Jehovah of hosts hath visited his flock, the house of Judah, and will make them as his goodly horse in the battle” (Zechariah 10:3).

The shepherds or he-goats are the kings of wicked nations that are opposed to Zion. The Lord will oppose these nations with Zion (the house of Judah). Recall that the Lord referred to Zion as His bow, arrow, and sword at Zechariah 9:13-14. Now the Lord depicts Zion as his battle horse. It seems to me that Zechariah has under consideration a spiritual battle between the forces of evil and good that John spoke of in Revelation 17:12-14).

“From him shall come forth the corner-stone, from him the nail, from him the battle bow, from him every ruler together. And they shall be as mighty men, treading down their enemies in the mire of the streets in the battle; and they shall fight, because Jehovah is with them; and the riders on horses shall be confounded” (Zechariah 10:4-5).

The apostle Paul refers to Jesus as the chief corner stone in which the kingdom of God is founded upon at Ephesians 2:20. The saints of God (Zion) shall be equipped with the power of Christ to forgive sins and they shall thereby utterly defeat all the forces of darkness by the Lord’s power (Romans 1:16).

“And I will strengthen the house of Judah, and I will save the house of Joseph, and I will bring them back; for I have mercy upon them; and they shall be as though I had not cast them off: for I am Jehovah their God, and I will hear them. And they of Ephraim shall be like a mighty man, and their heart shall rejoice as through wine; yea, their children shall see it, and rejoice; their hearts shall be glad in Jehovah” (Zechariah 10:6-7).

Jehovah assures the remnant from the house of Ephraim (Israel; the Northern Kingdom) that they too shall be victorious as their brothers from Judah. Under the Messianic kingdom Zion would be as one and all shall gain victory over the foes of this world.

Jehovah will bless Judah and Israel (Zechariah 10:8-12)

“I will hiss for them, and gather them; for I have redeemed them; and they shall increase as they have increased. And I will sow them among the peoples; and they shall remember me in far countries; and they shall live with their children, and shall return” (Zechariah 10:8-9).

Jehovah will “hiss” or call His people and the true Zion shall faithfully respond unto redemption (cf. Joel 2:32). The called and redeemed shall be planted among the peoples of the world and they shall multiply through the nations desire to have the blessings God’s people have (cf. Zechariah 8:23).

“I will bring them again also out of the land of Egypt, and gather them out of Assyria; and I will bring them into the land of Gilead and Lebanon; and place shall not be found for them. And he will pass through the sea of affliction, and will smite the waves in the sea, and all the depths of the Nile shall dry up; and the pride of Assyria shall be brought down, and the scepter of Egypt shall depart. And I will strengthen them in Jehovah; and they shall walk up and down in his name, saith Jehovah” (Zechariah 10:10-12).

The Lord shall bring the captives of sin out of their bondage likened unto the days of Egypt and Assyria. The true Zion shall be redeemed and free from sin in Gilead and Lebanon. So many peoples shall be redeemed that there shall no space be found for them. All powers opposed to God and His people shall be defeated (i.e., Egypt and Assyria’s pride stand figuratively for all who would oppose the Lord).