The second and final burden of Z’kharyah (chapters 12-14) presents the familiar theme of Isra’el’s ultimate deliverance and salvation. In contrast to the initial judgment, he now encourages God’s covenant people with a description of their restoration and blessing in the millennial kingdom, as true to His character and Z’kharyah’s name, “the Lord remembers.”

 Salvation of Yerushalayim

12 ¹ A prophecy, the word of Adonai concerning Isra’el—here is the message from Adonai, who stretched out the heavens, laid the foundation of the earth, and formed the spirit inside human beings:

The prophecy described a future siege against the nation, indicating that there would be significant devastation before there was repentance and conversion in Isra’el. Stretched … laid … formed means that God, who performed the work of creation, will ultimately do the work of consummation.

² “I will make Yerushalayim a cup that will stagger the surrounding peoples. Even Y’hudah will be caught up in the siege against Yerushalayim.

Yerushalayim will be the instrument of God’s judgment on the nations, a cup that will stagger, meaning a cup filled with intoxicating liquor whose consumption results in shame, disorientation, and destruction.

³ When that day comes, I will make Yerushalayim a heavy stone for all the peoples. All who try to lift it will hurt themselves, and all the earth’s nations will be massed against her. ⁴ When that day comes,” says Adonai, “I will strike all the horses with panic and their riders with madness; I will keep watch over Y’hudah, but I will strike blind all the horses of the peoples.

Horses, ancient symbols of strength, emphasize God’s superior power over Isra’el’s enemies. Confusion, madness, and blindness are noted as curses on Isra’el in Deuteronomy 28:28; here they are promised to Isra’el’s enemies.

⁵ The leaders of Y’hudah will say to themselves, ‘Those living in Yerushalayim are my strength through Adonai-Tzva’ot, their God.’

Knowing that God had chosen Yerushalayim as the city of His special affection will give confidence to leaders throughout the land. This verse has overtones of the Hebrews’ saving faith in that day, as they claim to trust in God.

⁶ When that day comes, I will make the leaders of Y’hudah like a blazing fire pan in a pile of wood, like a fiery torch among sheaves of grain; they will devour all the surrounding peoples, on the right and on the left. Yerushalayim will be inhabited in her own place, Yerushalayim. ⁷ Adonai will save the tents of Y’hudah first, so that the glory of the house of David and the glory of those living in Yerushalayim will not appear greater than that of Y’hudah. ⁸ When that day comes, Adonai will defend those living in Yerushalayim. On that day, even someone who stumbles will be like David, and the house of David will be like God, like the angel of Adonai before them. ⁹ “When that day comes, I will seek to destroy all nations attacking Yerushalayim.

When that day comes, I will make the leaders of Y’hudah like a devouring fire, burning everything they touch. Victory will come first to the inhabitants of outlying Y’hudah so that the men in Yerushalayim will not be exalted above them.

¹⁰ and I will pour out on the house of David and on those living in Yerushalayim a spirit of grace and prayer; and they will look to Me, whom they pierced.” They will mourn for him as one mourns for an only son; they will be in bitterness on his behalf like the bitterness for a firstborn son. ¹¹ When that day comes, there will be great mourning in Yerushalayim, mourning like that for Hadad-Rimmon in the Megiddo Valley. ¹² Then the land will mourn, each family by itself – the family of the house of David by itself, and their wives by themselves; the family of the house of Natan by itself, and their wives by themselves; ¹³ the family of the house of Levi by itself, and their wives by themselves; the family of the Shim‘i by itself, and their wives by themselves; ¹⁴ all the remaining families, each by itself, and their wives by themselves.

Mourning For One Pierced

The people will mourn bitterly when they look at the Messiah whom they had pierced. The One whom they pierced was the Lord Yeshua HaMashiach. Mourning for an only son was the deepest form of sorrow for an Isra’eli. The mourners will include the royal family, the prophets (Nathan), the priests (Levi), the teachers (Shim‘i ), and the people. Notice the repetition of the words by themselves (12–14); true confession requires us to be alone with God.

¹² Then the land will mourn, each family by itself – the family of the house of David by itself, and their wives by themselves; the family of the house of Natan by itself, and their wives by themselves; ¹³ the family of the house of Levi by itself, and their wives by themselves; the family of the Shim‘i by itself, and their wives by themselves; ¹⁴ all the remaining families, each by itself, and their wives by themselves. [1]

In your private moments at home, take time to reflect on personal areas in your life where you may be distancing yourself from God. Consider keeping a journal where you write down your feelings of sorrow over sin. Use this as a tool for confession, recognizing the weight of your actions and the love of the Messiah. By doing this regularly, you will cultivate a deeper understanding of His sacrifice and the joy of His forgiveness, moving from sorrow towards a more vibrant relationship with Him.

In our next post, we will pick up where we left off by exploring Z’kharyah.

Click here for the PDF version.

[1] Z’kharyah 12:1–14.