Zechariah 14 Study Notes

14:1-21 The book of Zechariah ends in classic prophetic fashion. The nations attack Jerusalem, God intervenes and blesses Jerusalem miraculously, God announces curses for Jerusalem’s enemies, and the peoples of the world go up to Jerusalem to worship. Everything from cooking pots to horses’ bells is set apart as Holy to the Lord, a privilege previously extended only to the temple and priests (Ex 28:36-38) but actually intended for the entire nation of Israel (Ex 19:6). For the prophet’s audience, this would have been unimaginable, yet invigorating.

14:2-5 The venue for God’s great triumph is the city of Jerusalem under severe duress, not only being plundered but with the enemy dividing up belongings in the presence of the inhabitants (vv. 1-2). Yet the victory involved a huge valley providing a miraculous way of escape. On God as Divine Warrior, see note at 9:10-15. Holy ones refers to angelic forces from heaven (Ps 89:5,7; Jd 14).

14:6-7 The otherworldliness of these events is underscored by the absence of ways to keep track of time.

14:8 Since water was a premium in Palestine, and Jerusalem was not near a river, the picture of a year-round source of living water flowing from the city with sufficient quantity to reach the Dead Sea and the Mediterranean Sea was inspiring. It would require supernatural redesign of the geography of the region. “Living water” refers to fresh spring water as opposed to water stored in cisterns.

14:9 The Lord alone, and his name alone is the starting point for true faith, the opposite of idolatry (Dt 6:4).

14:10 Isaiah envisioned Jerusalem to be on the highest mountain of the world, with people streaming to it from all over the earth (Is 2:2-3; cp. Mc 4:1-2). Here the picture is of people coming to Jerusalem for the Festival of Shelters (Tabernacles, Dt 16:13-15).

14:11 Never again signifies God’s protection (see note at 9:8).

14:12-13 The judgment of these verses recalls that inflicted on the army of Sennacherib during the reign of Hezekiah (2Kg 19:35).

14:14-15 These verses are a reversal of vv. 1-2 (cp. Hg 2:7-8).

14:16-19 Along with the promises of God’s blessings comes a reminder that humans may choose a path that will lead them away from what God offers. Rain will not fall on them is standard language of judgment.

14:20-21 The holiness once residing in the temple will be transferred to the entire city of Jerusalem. Canaanite was a pejorative term since the Israelites considered the Canaanites vile and morally reprehensible. But the Israelites had become “Canaanites” by their disobedience. The announcement that there would be no Canaanite in the temple signified the purity of God’s chosen people.