Zechariah 12:4

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. I WILL SMITE EVERY HORSE WITH ASTONISHMENT - the arm of attack especially formidable to Judah, who was unprovided with cavalry. So in the overthrow of Pharaoh (; , "The horse and his rider hath He (the Lord) thrown into the sea"). AND I WILL OPEN MINE EYES UPON THE HOUSE OF JUDAH - in order to watch over Judah's safety. Heretofore Yahweh seemed to have shut His eyes, as having no regard for her. AND WILL SMITE EVERY HORSE OF THE PEOPLE WITH BLINDNESS - so as to rush headlong on their own ruin (cf....

He pursues here the same subject, but in other words, — that multiplicity of means is in God’s hand, by which he can drive away and break down the fury of enemies. By the words _horse and its rider_, the Prophet, stating a part for the whole, means whatever is strong, and intimates that it can be easily overcome by divine power He says first, _I will smite every horse with stupor _(155) Military strength, we know, is in horses and horsemen; but he says that the horses would be stunned, and the horsemen seized as it were with madness, so that they would destroy themselves, and could do no harm to the Church. He then confirms what he said before — that though the whole world conspired against the Church, there would yet be sufficient power in God to repel and check all their assaults and he mentions stupor, madness, and blindness, that the faithful might know that God can by hidden means e...

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....

Verse Zechariah 12:4. _I WILL SMITE EVERY HORSE_] Some apply this to the _wars_ of the _Maccabees_ with the _Syrians_; but it is more likely to be a prophecy not yet accomplished. The terms are too strong for such petty and evanescent victories as those of the Maccabees....

IN THAT DAY, SAITH THE LORD, I WILL SMITE EVERY HORSE WITH ASTONISHMENT, STUPEFYING - Zechariah revives the words concentrated by Moses, to express the stupefaction at their ills, which God would accumulate upon His people, if they perseveringly rebelled against Him. Each expresses the intensity of the visitation. “The horse and his rider” Deut. 27:28 had, through Moses’ song at the Red Sea, become the emblem of worldly power, overthrown. That song opens; “I will sing unto the Lord; for He hath triumphed gloriously: the horse and his rider hath He cast into the sea” Exodus 15:1. The scared cavalry throws into confusion the ranks, of which it was the boast and strength. AND ON THE HOUSE OF JUDAH I WILL OPEN MY EYES - In pity and love and guidance, as the Psalmist says, “I will counsel, with Mine eye upon thee”...

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

IN THAT DAY, SAITH THE LORD, I WILL SMITE EVERY HORSE WITH ASTONISHMENT, AND HIS RIDER WITH MADNESS,.... The meaning is, the enemies of God's people shall be astonished at the failure of their attempts, and be filled with fury and madness because they cannot accomplish their designs; and shall be at their wits' end, not knowing what course to take: perhaps reference is had to the Turkish armies, that shall be brought against Jerusalem to recover it into their possession, which generally consist of a large cavalry; see Revelation 9:16: AND I WILL OPEN MINE EYES UPON THE HOUSE OF JUDAH; which phrase is sometimes used, as expressive of the wrath of God against his enemies, Amos 9:4 and, if the house of Judah signifies the same as Judah, joined with the nations of the earth in the siege,...

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

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

ASTONISHMENT. the panic. Compare Deuteronomy 28:28. OPEN MINE EYES UPON. regard with favour....