Zechariah 12:1

The burden of the word of the LORD for Israel, saith the LORD, which stretcheth forth the heavens, and layeth the foundation of the earth, and formeth the spirit of man within him. THE BURDEN weighty prophecy [ masaa' (H4853)], fraught with destruction to Israel's foes; the expression may also refer to the distresses of Israel implied as about to precede the deliverance. OF THE WORD OF THE LORD FOR ISRAEL - concerning Israel (Maurer). THE LORD, WHICH STRETCHETH FORTH THE HEAVENS - present: now; not merely 'hath stretched forth,' as if God only created and then left the universe to itself (John 5:17, "My Father worketh hitherto, and I work"). To remove all doubts of unbelief as to the possibility of Israel's deliverance, God...

The inscription seems not to agree with what follows, for he does not denounce any evil on the chosen people in this chapter, but, on the contrary, comforts the miserable, and promises that God would provide for the safety of his Church. Since then Zechariah speaks only of God’s favor and aid, he seems to have mentioned _burden _here improperly or unreasonably; for משא, _mesha_, we know, is rightly to be taken for a threatening prophecy. It might indeed be said, that he promises that God would so deliver his Church as to teach it at the same time that it would be subject to many evils and trials: but I rather think that the Prophet’s design was different, even to show that the Israelites, who had preferred exile to God’s favor, would be punished for their sloth and ingratitude, because it was through their own fault that they were not again united in one body, and that they did not right...

1-8 Here is a Divine prediction, which will be a heavy burden to all the enemies of the church. But it is for Israel; for their comfort and benefit. It is promised that God will make foolish the counsels, and weaken the courage of the enemies of the church. The exact meaning is not clear; but God often begins by calling the poor and despised; and in that day even the feeblest will resemble David, and be as eminent in courage and every thing good. Desirable indeed is it that the examples and labours of Christians should render them as fire among wood, as a torch in a sheaf, to kindle the flame of Divine love, to spread religion on the right hand and on the left....

CHAPTER XII _The first part of this chapter, with several passages in_ chap xiv., _relates to an invasion that shall be made on the_ _inhabitants of Judea and Jerusalem in the latter ages of the_ _world, some time after the restoration and settlement of the_ _Jews in their own land. It also describes, in very magnificent_ _terms, the signal interposition of God in their favour. From_ _this the prophet proceeds in the latter part of the chapter,_ 10-14, _to describe the spiritual mercies of God to converting_ his people; and gives a very pathetic and affecting account

THE BURDEN OF THE WORD OF THE LORD FOR - Rather, “upon (see at Nahum 1:1, p. 129) Israel.” If this prophecy is a continuation of the last, notwithstanding its fresh title, then “Israel” must be the Christian Church, formed of the true Israel which believed, and the Gentiles who were grafted into them. So Cyril; “Having spoken sufficiently of the Good Shepherd Christ, and of the foolish, most cruel shepherd who butchered the sheep, that is, antichrist, he seasonably makes mention of the persecutions which would from time to time arise against Israel; not the Israel according to the flesh, but the spiritual, that Jerusalem which is indeed holy, “the Church of the Living God” 1 Timothy 3:15. For as we say, that “he” is spiritually a Jew, who hath the “circumcision in the heart,”...

EXPOSITION VERSE 1-14:21 B. THE SECOND BURDEN. ZECHARIAH 12:1 § 1. The prophet proceeds to announce Israel's conflict with heathen powers. _Hostile nations gather together against Jerusalem, but shall themselves be overthrown; for the people and their leaders, trusting in the Lord, overcome all opposition._ ZECHARIAH 12:1 THE BURDEN OF THE WORD OF THE LORD FOR (_concerning_) ISRAEL. This is the title of the second oracle, corresponding to that at the head of Zechariah 9:1. Though the literal Israel has been rejected, a

THE BURDEN OF THE WORD OF THE LORD FOR ISRAEL,.... And against their enemies; for the good of the church of God, for its joy, comfort, and salvation; or, "concerning Israel" x; what shall befall them in the latter day, as the destruction of antichrist, prophesied of in the preceding chapter Zechariah 11:1; and what is hereafter said may be believed that it shall be accomplished. The Lord is described in the greatness of his power, speaking as follows: SAITH THE LORD, WHICH STRETCHETH FORTH THE HEAVENS: as a curtain, Psalms 104:2 the expanse or firmament of heaven, which is stretched out as a canopy over all the earth around: AND LAYETH THE FOUNDATION OF THE EARTH; firm and sure, though upon the seas and floods, yea, upon nothing,...

Zechariah 12:1. _The burden of the word of the LORD for Israel, saith the LORD, which stretcheth forth the heavens, and layeth the foundation of the earth, and formeth the spirit of man within him. Behold, I will make Jerusalem a cup of trembling unto all the people round about, when they shall be in the siege both against Judah and against Jerusalem. And in that day will I make Jerusalem a burdensome stone for all people: all that burden themselves with it shall be cut in pieces, though all the people of the earth be gathered together against it. In that day saith the LORD; I will smite every horse with astonishment, and his rider with madness; and I will open mine eyes upon the house of Judah, and will smite every horse of the people with blindness._ When God comes to defend his own, then, however despised the people may be, however despised Israel may be, God will make it

BURDEN Zechariah 12-14, from one prophecy, the general theme of which is the return of the Lord and the establishment of the kingdom. The order is: (1) The siege of Jerusalem preceding the battle of Armageddon (Zechariah 12:1); (2) the battle itself (Zechariah 12:4); (3) the "latter rain" in the pouring out of the Spirit and the personal revelation of Christ to the family of David and the remnant in Jerusalem, not merely as the glorious Deliverer, but as the One whom Israel pierced and has long rejected (Zechariah 12:10); (4) the godly sorrow which follows that revelation ...

II. THE SECOND BURDEN OF ZECHARIAH (12-14) CHAPTER 12 _ 1. Jerusalem's conflict and victory (Zechariah 12:1) _ 2. The vision of the pierced One and its results (Zechariah 12:10) Zechariah 12:1. The second burden begins with this chapter. It is wholly unfulfilled with the exception of the prophecy at the end of chapter 13 concerning the Shepherd who was smitten. The great future events recorded in these closing Chapter s of Zechariah are the following: The victory of Jerusalem, the overthrow of the hostile nations from the west (the nations which constitute the revived Roman Empire), the outpouring of the Spirit upon the remnant, the appearing and the vision of the Pierced O