Zechariah 9: Israel’s Enemies Judged

Theology and Politics from a Conservative, Biblical Perspective

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Zechariah 9 is broken into three parts:

1. Zechariah 9:1-8 – Israel’s Enemies Judged
2. Zechariah 9:9-10 – Israel’s Coming King
3. Zechariah 9:11-17 – God saves His People

The first four verses (9:1-4) of this Hebrew poem deal with the North. The last four verses (9:5-8) deal with the South. The first two verses (9:1-2) and the last two (9:7-8) refer to salvation. The middle four (9:3-6) speak of judgment.

We learn that the Lord has sent a “burden” (Hebrew massa) to the prophet Zechariah. The burden announces judgment and blessing and concerns the lands of (going north to south):

• Hadrach (near Hamath)
• Hamath
• Damascus
• Tyre and Sidon

Ultimately, this looks to a time when the entire world (but especially the Israelites), would be looking toward Yahweh for help. This occurred partially during the time of Alexander the Great as he quickly expanded his Grecian Empire throughout the then known world.

Zechariah 9:5 tells us Philistine cities south along Mediterranean would see Tyre’s fate and would fear because of Alexander. God was using Alexander as His arm of judgment and Alexander ultimately destroyed the Philistine people. Today, Gaza is where the Philistines lived generations ago. This area of the world has never been held by Arab nations.

In verse 7, God promised to remove the pagan blood from their mouths because drinking blood and eating unclean foods was part of Philistine culture. The judgment in view against Philistines was punishment for their idolatry. However, some remaining Philistines would turn to God and become like Israelites (proselytes).

Zechariah 9:8 tells us the Lord promised to protect His own (to camp around His “house” or the Land). No enemy would ever again oppress or oppose Israel. Clearly, this ultimately looks forward to the physical return of Jesus, Israel’s Messiah because Israel has never been in this position throughout her history.

Alexander swiftly marched through and defeated the Persians (333 BC), and he then moved onto Egypt, destroying Syrian cities on his way. What is interesting though is that he refused to destroy Jerusalem as he passed through that region on his way to Egypt. Obviously, God was in control through Alexander the Great.

Zechariah 9:9-10 highlight the first and second comings of Messiah. The way it is written, it appears as though both verses were intended to occur during His first coming. However, because Jesus was rejected by religious leaders of Israel, verse 10 has not yet been fulfilled. It has been put off and a GAP has existed between these two verses since Jesus’ life, death, resurrection and ascension to now. Jesus fulfilled verse 9 by riding into Jerusalem on the colt, a foal of a donkey just before His crucifixion.

Upon His second coming, His physical return, He will deal with all nations in judgment and create true, lasting peace on earth. He will then establish His righteous rule over the entire earth and will be supreme and only Ruler during that time (Millennium).

The entire age of the church fits between Zechariah 9:9 and 9:10, just as it does between Isaiah 9:6 and 7 and after the comma in Isaiah 61:2 (Feinberg). We are still in that gap today.

We have pictured for us:

1. the Agent of peace
2. the method of peace, and
3. the kingdom of peace

In both verses 9 and 10, Messiah contrasts with Alexander the Great, the king who initially fulfilled verses 1 through 8.

In verses 11-17, God’s final deliverance and blessing of Israel will happen when Messiah returns. God will, with finality, save His people (the final Jewish remnant). Jesus will destroy all of Israel’s enemies upon His return through judgment and then He will also judge all nations (Matthew 24:31-46).

God uses the imagery of the “waterless pit” in verse 11 to create the imagery of Joseph being extricated from the dry pit when he was sold by his own brothers.

God calls Israel to return to their “stronghold,” which is God Himself (verse 12). God will then use Israel as a weapon to subdue Gentile nations (vv12-14). These verses were partially fulfilled when Jews overthrew Greeks during Maccabean Revolts in 2nd Century BC. Final fulfillment will be at Jesus’ second coming.

Verses 16-17 speaks of God’s victory in Jesus in saving His people – Israel (with the final remnant as noted above). This final remnant will go into the Millennial Kingdom and enjoy to the full the original promises God made to Abraham in Genesis 12:1-3. The Lord will forever protect Israel from all enemies. Revelation 21-22 crafts the picture of what the world will be like during this time after Jesus returns.

During the time just prior to this, during the Millennium, Satan will be bound in the Bottomless Pit for the 1,000 years. Life on earth will be nearly perfect but not quite due to sin nature still within some humans who have not died. This will be dealt with when Satan is released for a short time following his imprisonment in the Bottomless Pit when he is able to amass a good amount of humanity (fallen) against Jesus. Jesus will destroy this revolt with little effort.

Following this final revolt (Armageddon), Jesus will create new heavens and earth and from that point onward, what began in the Garden of Eden will continue as if this evil fallen world had never existed. Only those who know Jesus as Savior will live in that future world. Without sin natures, sin will be impossible to commit. All life will bless the Creator forever and ever.

Hard to imagine, isn’t it? Yet, this is what the Bible tells us will be what we believers will experience once God’s will for this earth and people fully play out.

Do you know Him? If not, what are you waiting for?

Theology and Politics from a Conservative, Biblical Perspective

Source: https://studygrowknowblog.com/2025/02/03/zechariah-9-israels-enemies-judged/