In this final chapter, Zechariah uses metaphors from Jewish history to depict the continued cleansing of God’s people as they struggled throughout history. These are the struggles that will take place in the new Jerusalem, that is, the church, which Christ established at His coming.
A day of the Lord is coming against Jerusalem, Zechariah 14:1. The word ‘day’, Zechariah 14:1, used here is the Hebrew word ‘yom’. The defeat that’s mentioned here sets the stage for the deliverance of the remnant of the faithful in Zechariah 14:3-5. Note that these verses are referring to physical Jerusalem.
Notice that God will ‘gather all the nations to Jerusalem to fight against it’, Zechariah 14:2. These are the things that took place in 70 A.D. when the Romans destroyed Jerusalem.
When Jesus spoke of the destruction of Jerusalem, He showed that the remnant would be saved by fleeing from Jerusalem and running to the mountains, Matthew 24:15-18. This means that God is going to use these wicked nations to bring about His will of repentance in His people, Joel 3:2-9 / Joel 3:11.
Zechariah says that many will fall away from the faith when times get hard but God’s remnant, ‘the rest of the people’, Zechariah 14:2, will remain faithful to Him throughout their lives, Acts 14:22 / Galatians 4:29 / 2 Timothy 2:3.
Daniel wrote that these attacks were started by the ‘little horn’ of the fourth world kingdom, which is Rome and the saints were given into his hand, Daniel 7:21. This persecution by the Roman Empire against the church lasted for almost two centuries, Revelation 13:7.
Despite this persecution, a remnant of the church would always survive, as a remnant of Israel survived the captivities, Micah 5:3 / Zephaniah 2:9 / Matthew 24:15-18 / Luke 21:20-24.
Kercheville, in his commentary, says the following.
‘Are these verses referring to the spiritual Jerusalem, the people of God, or are these verses referring to physical Jerusalem, the Jews who were in Jerusalem? Because of the details found in Zechariah 14:2, I believe that this judgment is against physical Jerusalem. The details of the description given concern not only the people, but the city itself. Zechariah 14:2 tells us that the city shall be taken and the houses will be plundered. In a graphic description, we also see in Zechariah 14:2 that the women would be ravished, or raped. These are powerful, graphic images of what would take place in the Roman assault upon the city of Jerusalem in 70 A.D. I do not see nor understand how these graphic images can be spiritualized and then applied to the people of God.’
Whenever any nation goes against God’s people, God will always fight for His people, Zechariah 14:3 / Habakkuk 3:13 / Micah 1:3-4 / Isaiah 42:13.
Box, in his commentary, says the following.
‘The Lord would fight against the Roman nation. He would later judge Rome and destroy that wicked nation and give victory to His people. This is the theme of the Book of Revelation. Luke described the destruction of Jerusalem, saying, ‘Men’s hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken. And then shall they see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory,’ Luke 21:26-27. God’s judgment is always tempered with the idea of redemption. Matthew 24, and Luke 21, should be studied in careful detail along with Zechariah 14, as the words and thoughts are so similar.’
Notice the continued use of the phrase, ‘on that day’, Zechariah 14:4. The Mount of Olives is on the east of Jerusalem, Zechariah 14:4. This is used figuratively to speak of God standing and watching over the new Jerusalem so that He can protect her from all enemies, Isaiah 40:4 / Zechariah 4:7.
Clarke, in his commentary, says the following.
‘It was from this mountain that our Lord beheld Jerusalem, and predicted its future destruction, Luke 19:41, with Matthew 24:23, and it was from this mountain that he ascended to heaven, Acts 1:12, utterly leaving an ungrateful and condemned city.’
Notice the mountain is divided, half is moved toward the north and half toward the south, providing a great valley for the people to flee for safety, Zechariah 14:4 / 1 Corinthians 10:13 / 2 Peter 2:9.
The two halves of the divided mountain became the mountains that provide the valley of escape. No one knows where Azel, Zechariah 14:5, is located, although some believe it’s referring to Beth Ezel mentioned by Micah, Micah 1:11.
The earthquake which happened in the days of Uzziah must have been traumatic, as it’s used here to jolt their memories, Zechariah 14:5 / Amos 1:1. David often speaks about how earthquakes are a demonstration of God’s anger against His people or a nation, 2 Samuel 22:8 / Psalm 18:6-7.
Isaiah speaks about how God will punish His people because of their sin using an earthquake, Isaiah 5:25 / Isaiah 29:6. Jeremiah also speaks about how God will bring judgment upon the nations because of their sin using an earthquake, Jeremiah 10:10.
Nahum, Nahum 1:5, Habakkuk, Habakkuk 3:6, and Zechariah, Zechariah 14:5, all speak about how God will bring judgment upon the nations because of their sin, using an earthquake.
Jesus Himself speaks of an earthquake which would happen when God was going to bring judgment upon Jerusalem and the temple in A.D. 70, Matthew 24:7.
John, in his vision, speaks about how God will bring judgment against Rome and unbelievers, Revelation 6:12-14 / Revelation 8:5 / Revelation 11:19 / Revelation 11:13 / Revelation 16:18.
He says, ‘the LORD my God will come,’ Zechariah 14:5. This is the coming of the Lord in judgment on the persecutors of His people and He will come with His holy ones, Zechariah 14:5 / Matthew 25:31.
The coming would mean disaster for the unbelieving persecutors of God’s people but deliverance for the saints, Matthew 24:1-35 / Acts 8:1-4 / Revelation 19:11-21. Jerusalem was destroyed by the Romans, but the Gospel will triumph over all the enemies of the Lord.
Coffman, in his commentary, says the following.
‘To make the connection between this passage and Matthew 24, even more certain, it should be recalled that when Jesus spoke the remarkable words recorded in Matthew 24, that he did so sitting upon the mount of Olives, the very mountain so prominent in this passage, Matthew 24:3, add that to the fact of this passage in Zechariah’s being one of only two places where the mountain is mentioned in the Old Testament, the other being Ezekiel 11:23, and named only in this place. From all this, it is clear enough that Jesus interpreted this passage as teaching the same thing that he taught in Matthew 24.’
The time when there will be no light will be a time of great distress for God’s people, Zechariah 14:6 / Isaiah 13:10 / Joel 2:2 / Joel 2:10 / Matthew 24:29 / Revelation 6:12-13.
However, in the evening there will be light, Zechariah 14:7. This implies hope, even in times of despair. God will always look after His people; they will never cease to exist, Psalm 36:9 / John 14:18 / Hebrews 13:5.
Notice it will be a unique day, a day known only to the LORD, Zechariah 14:7. God alone knows all the details concerning this special day. He knows when it will begin and how it will manifest itself, Acts 1:7.
Poole, in his commentary, says the following.
‘The Lord knows when it shall begin, how long it shall last, and how and when it shall, not as other days, end in a night, but end in glorious light; till then it is enough for us that our God knows this day that is mixed of trouble and of peace.’
When the Messiah arrives the living waters of salvation will flow from Jerusalem, Zechariah 14:8 / Ezekiel 47:1-12 / Ezekiel 47:2 / Joel 3:18 / John 4:14. All life flows from the throne of God and of the Lamb, Revelation 22:1 / Revelation 22:4.
All who belong to God have access to the river of the water of life because it flows through the middle of the city, Revelation 22:1 / Ezekiel 47:1-2 / Ezekiel 47:8-9 / Zechariah 14:1 / Zechariah 14:8 / Joel 3:18.
Despite all the troubles and persecution, God’s people will face, the living waters of our Saviour would always bring forth a continuation of the body of believers, John 7:37-39 / 2 Timothy 4:2.
The deity of Christ is depicted in the fact that Zechariah states that ‘the LORD shall be King over all the earth’, Zechariah 14:9 / Psalm 47:3 / Psalm 47:8 / Isaiah 9:6-7. Jesus declared that He was One with the Father in purpose and mission, John 17:21.
Jesus is now King of kings and Lord of lords, 1 Timothy 6:15, and He’s now reigning over all things for the sake of the church, Zechariah 9:9-10 / Ephesians 1:20-23.
He will reign as King until He has subjected all enemies, the last of which is death, 1 Corinthians 15:26-28. He reigns, therefore, throughout this time when enemies attack His people, Romans 5:17.
Also notice that on that day there will be ‘one Lord’, Zechariah 14:9, which is another obvious reference to Jesus, Ephesians 4:4-6. The city of God would be exalted above all the surrounding territory of the enemy, Zechariah 14:10 / Isaiah 2:2-4 / Micah 4:1-4.
Box, in his commentary, says the following concerning Zechariah 14:3-9.
‘Zechariah 14 does not and could not have reference to a millennial reign of Christ upon the earth. The second coming of the Lord will end all earthly life as this world will be burned up, 2 Peter 3:10. Zechariah 14 cannot refer to the literal return of Christ. In the events of Zechariah 14, some would flee to the valley of the mountains. When Christ comes again, the wicked will be destroyed with an eternal hell of fire, 2 Thessalonians 1:7-9. The righteousness will be ‘caught up in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air,’ 1 Thessalonians 4:17. Who else could this be that could flee to the mountains? The conclusion must be that this cannot refer to the second coming of Christ. The fight that the Lord would bring against these people would be with the ‘sword of the Spirit’, Ephesians 6:7. Jesus will come back in the last day to receive His own, but not to set up a kingdom. His kingdom is the church, and it already exists. When the gospel was preached, and later when Jerusalem was destroyed, it caused a spiritual commotion like the physical things described here. The Gospel light or the living water would go forth from Jerusalem in summer and winter, Zechariah 14:8. Summer and winter will end when the Lord returns, Genesis 8:22. Therefore, the events of Zechariah 14 would be concluded then, not just begin with the Lord’s return.’
Barnes, in his commentary, says the following about these Gates, Zechariah 14:10.
‘Benjamin‘s gate must obviously be a gate to the north, and doubtless the same as ‘the gate of Ephraim’, the way to Ephraim lying through Benjamin. This too has probably reference to the prophecy of Jeremiah, that ‘the city shall be built to the Lord from the tower of Hananel unto the gate of the corner,’ Jeremiah 31:38. ‘Jehoash, king of Israel, broke down the wall of Jerusalem from the gate of Ephraim to the corner gate, four hundred cubits,’ 2 Kings 14:13 / 2 Chronicles 25:23, after the war with Amaziah. Zechariah seems to speak of Jerusalem as it existed in his time. For the tower of Hananel, Nehemiah 3:1 still existed, the ‘first gate’ was probably destroyed, since he speaks not of it, but of its ‘place’, the gate of Benjamin and the corner-gate probably still existed, since Nehemiah, Nehemiah 3:1 / Nehemiah 3:3 / Nehemiah 3:6 / Nehemiah 3:13-15, mentions the building of the sheep-gate, the fish-gate, the old gate, or gate of the old city, the valley-gate, the dung-gate, the gate of the fountain; but not these.’
The point is that the walls of the city would extend in every direction, hence providing protection for everyone within, Zechariah 14:11. The spiritual Jerusalem would be exalted above the mountains of other nations and so, offer spiritual safety to all who would come within her walls, Isaiah 2:2-4.
Coffman, in his commentary, says the following.
‘Under the figure taken from a period of Jerusalem’s former security, before its devastation by the Babylonians, the safety and security of God’s church throughout the ages are indicated. There would appear to be no promise of any kind that literal Jerusalem shall ever be lifted up in the whole world.’
Zechariah paints a very graphic picture of the living dead, Ephesians 2:1-3 / Revelation 3:1, because of their attacks against the people of God, Zechariah 14:12. God is going to send a plague upon those who have looked and spoken of ways to destroy the Lord’s church.
Their flesh would rot as they struggled against God’s people, Psalm 12:3 / Isaiah 36:15 / Isaiah 36:18 / Isaiah 37:3-4 / Isaiah 37:17 / Isaiah 37:23 / Isaiah 37:29. Every part of their bodies that was used in opposition to the saints of God would rot away while they persecuted the church.
Box, in his commentary, says the following concerning Zechariah 14:12-19.
‘Again, in this portion of Zechariah 14, it becomes obvious that the reference cannot be the Lord’s second coming. Here, the Lord is pictured as in their midst with dead bodies at His feet. However, at the second coming, ‘All that are in the graves shall hear his voice and shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation,’ John 5:28-29. But some say at that time animals will again be sacrificed, and the Feast of Tabernacles will again be kept. The events of the Feast of Tabernacles are described in Numbers 29:12-38. During the Feast of Tabernacles, a goat was offered as a sin offering. We know that Jesus is our sin offering. Shall we go back to offering a goat as our sin offering and reject the sacrifice of Jesus? With the death of Jesus, the Old Testament Law was abolished completely and forever, Colossians 2:14. After the captivity in Babylon, Jerusalem was resettled, and it became the beginning place for the kingdom of Christ. Isaiah 2:3 said, ‘And many people shall go and say, Come ye, and let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths: for out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem.’ God’s truth will be victorious over all error. Neither great beasts of service nor anything else would prevent the spread of the glorious gospel of Jesus Christ. Many who at first opposed Christianity would be converted, and they would look to Jerusalem for the model of true worship. If anyone refuses the gospel that issued forth from Jerusalem, they will be rejected by the Lord.’
On that day of the wicked man’s spiritual death, they will turn on each other with little respect; however, not only will they be against each other, but God’s elect will be against them as well, Zechariah 14:13.
This turning against each other has plagued many an empire, including the Jews themselves, Micah 7:2-6. Centuries later, historians tell us that the city of Rome and the Roman Empire also fell because of power struggles within A.D. 476.
Notice that Judah will also fight at Jerusalem, Zechariah 14:14. This means there would be a united stand within the spiritual Jerusalem against the onslaught of all enemies. The church would draw from the wealth of the nations, Zechariah 14:14, so that they could make their stand against anyone who opposed them.
Even though God’s people were surrounded by great armies with great animals of war, the animals would all perish because of the plague, Zechariah 14:15. All things, even animals that are used as weapons to oppose the Lord’s Kingdom, will be overthrown.
During any onslaught against the church, there would be those who would fall but there would always be those who would survive and remain faithful, Zechariah 14:16.
They would go up to worship the King as the Jews and celebrate the Festival of Tabernacles, Zechariah 14:16. This was the annual feast of the Jews when all went before the Lord for a festive time of rejoicing, Leviticus 23:39-44.
Notice that figuratively speaking, Zechariah says ‘all the nations’, that is, both Jews and Gentiles would go before the Lord with rejoicing and celebration, Zechariah 14:16. In other words, some of the ungodly who waged war against God and His kingdom will see the error of their ways and turn to God.
The result of not going before the Lord would be that there would be drought, Zechariah 14:17-18, meaning no blessing from the Lord, Haggai 1:7-11 / Matthew 5:44. The Lord would inflict judgment upon those who would work against His eternal plan through the church, Zechariah 14:19 / Isaiah 60:12 / Micah 5:15.
At this point, Zechariah finishes his argument against those Jews who were being discouraged from building God’s temple. These Jews were commanded to start building again, but they had become seriously discouraged, and so God assures them of the great importance in the grand scheme to redeem man, in the building of the temple, Zechariah 4:10.
Zechariah now turns to the true nature of the new Jerusalem. All the horses and instruments of war are cut off from the city, and there will be no war within the city, for all would be holy to the Lord, Zechariah 14:20 / Exodus 28:36-38 / Isaiah 2:1-4 / 1 Corinthians 10:31.
Barnes, in his commentary, says the following concerning the pots.
‘The pots are mentioned, together with other vessels of the Lord‘s house, Ezekiel 38:3 / 1 Kings 7:45 / 2 Kings 25:14 / 2 Chronicles 4:11 / 2 Chronicles 4:16 / Jeremiah 52:18-19, but not in regard to any sacred use. They were used, with other vessels, for dressing the victims, 2 Chronicles 35:13, for the partakers of the sacrifices. These were to be sacred, like those made for the most sacred use of all, ‘the bowls for sprinkling,’ whence that sacrificial blood was taken, which was to make the typical atonement.’
Everything which was unclean, that is, the Canaanites, would be thrown out, Zechariah 14:21 / Revelation 21:27 / Revelation 22:15. On that day, that is, the time period when Jesus reigns as King in the kingdom of God, all within the gates shall be made clean through the blood of Christ.
There shall be no unclean or sinful person within the church of Jesus Christ. The Lord’s church would now become a place of peace, filled with those who serve and sacrifice to the Lord, Romans 12:1-2.