Zechariah 8 - ESV - Bible Reading / Study Notes

Zechariah 8

The Coming Peace and Prosperity of Zion

8:1 And the word of the LORD of hosts came, saying, 2 “Thus says the LORD of hosts: I am jealous for Zion with great jealousy, and I am jealous for her with great wrath. 3 Thus says the LORD: I have returned to Zion and will dwell in the midst of Jerusalem, and Jerusalem shall be called the faithful city, and the mountain of the LORD of hosts, the holy mountain. 4 Thus says the LORD of hosts: Old men and old women shall again sit in the streets of Jerusalem, each with staff in hand because of great age. 5 And the streets of the city shall be full of boys and girls playing in its streets. 6 Thus says the LORD of hosts: If it is marvelous in the sight of the remnant of this people in those days, should it also be marvelous in my sight, declares the LORD of hosts? 7 Thus says the LORD of hosts: Behold, I will save my people from the east country and from the west country, 8 and I will bring them to dwell in the midst of Jerusalem. And they shall be my people, and I will be their God, in faithfulness and in righteousness.”

9 Thus says the LORD of hosts: “Let your hands be strong, you who in these days have been hearing these words from the mouth of the prophets who were present on the day that the foundation of the house of the LORD of hosts was laid, that the temple might be built. 10 For before those days there was no wage for man or any wage for beast, neither was there any safety from the foe for him who went out or came in, for I set every man against his neighbor. 11 But now I will not deal with the remnant of this people as in the former days, declares the LORD of hosts. 12 For there shall be a sowing of peace. The vine shall give its fruit, and the ground shall give its produce, and the heavens shall give their dew. And I will cause the remnant of this people to possess all these things. 13 And as you have been a byword of cursing among the nations, O house of Judah and house of Israel, so will I save you, and you shall be a blessing. Fear not, but let your hands be strong.”

14 For thus says the LORD of hosts: “As I purposed to bring disaster to you when your fathers provoked me to wrath, and I did not relent, says the LORD of hosts, 15 so again have I purposed in these days to bring good to Jerusalem and to the house of Judah; fear not. 16 These are the things that you shall do: Speak the truth to one another; render in your gates judgments that are true and make for peace; 17 do not devise evil in your hearts against one another, and love no false oath, for all these things I hate, declares the LORD.”

18 And the word of the LORD of hosts came to me, saying, 19 “Thus says the LORD of hosts: The fast of the fourth month and the fast of the fifth and the fast of the seventh and the fast of the tenth shall be to the house of Judah seasons of joy and gladness and cheerful feasts. Therefore love truth and peace.

20 “Thus says the LORD of hosts: Peoples shall yet come, even the inhabitants of many cities. 21 The inhabitants of one city shall go to another, saying, ‘Let us go at once to entreat the favor of the LORD and to seek the LORD of hosts; I myself am going.’ 22 Many peoples and strong nations shall come to seek the LORD of hosts in Jerusalem and to entreat the favor of the LORD. 23 Thus says the LORD of hosts: In those days ten men from the nations of every tongue shall take hold of the robe of a Jew, saying, ‘Let us go with you, for we have heard that God is with you.’”

Commentary

v1-2: The Lord's jealousy for Jerusalem, see 1.14; 2 Chr 6.24-25, where Solomon prays that, the people having been exiled, might return to the land. Zechariah lives in the times when the promises of God have been fulfilled; but he also looks further ahead.

God's calling of Israel is irrevocable, Rom 11.29; He loved them because He loved them.

v3: The Lord will return to Zion and will dwell in its midst; it will become the City of Truth, the mountain of the Lord of Hosts, His Holy Mountain.

v4-8: Peace and security for the people, regathered from the nations. The returns under Zerubbabel and Ezra were from the east, not the west, and thus Zechariah is foretelling a future regathering.

There will be a new relationship with God, a new kingdom of truth and righteousness, which will be "marvellous to Me," says the Lord.

v9-10: Encouragement for the people, "let your hands be strong," see Hag 2.4. With these words, and similar, from the prophets, the people could continue their work; Ezra 5.1-2; 6.14.

v11: Things will be different in the future. The events at the time of Ezra and Haggai and Zechariah are marvellous to those experiencing them, but God has much greater things planned.

v12-13: The blessing upon Israel, see Hag 2.19l fruitfulness in the land; contrast v10 and Hag 1.6. There will be an overflow of blessing also, Rom 11.12. Judah and Israel will be restored.

v14-15: "I am determined to do good," says the Lord in His unconditional promise; contrasted with His earlier determination to "bring disaster" upon them. Just as promised disaster happened, so great good will happen.

v16-17: The people's responsibility to do good;

speak the truth to each other;
render true and sound judgment in your courts;
do not plot evil against your neighbour;
do not love to swear falsely.

See also 7.9-10; the Lord hates certain things, and He expects the same of His people.

18-19: Answering the question of 7.3; more feasts, in four months, not just two. There will be joy and gladness, as they love truth and peace. Beyond the Leviticus feasts and fasts, other fasts were added, to recall Nebuchadnezzar's capture of Jerusalem (4th month), the destruction of the temple (5th month), and possibly the slaughter of Gedaliah Jer 41 (7th month).

v20-23: Blessing on the whole earth, Rom 11.26-27, through the restored people of Israel and Judah. There will be the clear testimony; God is with you.