Zechariah 14:11

Utter destruction] RV 'curse,' or 'ban.' Jerusalem had hitherto seemed under a curse. Now all this would pass away.

12. The ban in most awful form would turn rather upon the nations who assail Jerusalem. Such hatred of the heathen is characteristic of Jewish apocalypse, and arose in great measure from the cruelties and indignities suffered by the Jews in post-exilic times.

13, 14. A panic will fall on the enemies of Jerusalem, and all their spoil will be left a prey to the Jews. But many think that these two vv. should stand nearer the beginning of the chapter If we take Zechariah 14:15 after Zechariah 14:12 a much better sense is secured.

16. Some take this v. as pointing to a late date, when the Jews of the dispersion went up to the feasts: cp. the Pilgrim Psalms, especially Psalms 122. The feast of tabernacles] was especially a thanksgiving for the harvest. So the nations which do not keep that feast at Jerusalem will be punished by lack of rain (Zechariah 14:17), and consequent failure of harvest.