Zechariah 9:15

The LORD of hosts shall defend them; and they shall devour, and subdue with sling stones; and they shall drink, and make a noise as through wine; and they shall be filled like bowls, and as the corners of the altar. AND THEY SHALL DEVOUR - God's covenant-people "shall devour" the flesh of their foes. AND THEY SHALL DRINK - the blood of their foes - i:e., utterly destroy them. Image (as Jeremiah 46:10) from a sacrifice, wherein part of the flesh was eaten, and the blood poured in libation. AND SUBDUE WITH SLING STONES, [ kaabªshuw (H3533) 'abneey (H68) qela` (H7050)] - or, ...

He expresses again the same thing in other words — that God would be like a shadow to his people, so that he would with an extended hand protect them from their enemies. Since the Jews might have justly felt a distrust in their own strength, the Prophet continually teaches them that their safety depended not on earthly aids, but that God alone was sufficient, for he could easily render them safe and secure. He also adds, that there would be to them plenty of bread and wine to satisfy them. He seems here indeed to promise too great an abundance, as by its abuse luxury came, for he says, that they would be satiated and be like the drunken; _they shall drink_, he says, _and shall make a noise as through wine_. Certainly those who drink wine moderately, do not make noise, but they are as composed and quiet after dinner as those who fast. Zechariah then seems here to make an unreasonable prom...

9-17 The prophet breaks forth into a joyful representation of the coming of the Messiah, of whom the ancient Jews explained this prophecy. He took the character of their King, when he entered Jerusalem amidst the hosannas of the multitude. But his kingdom is a spiritual kingdom. It shall not be advanced by outward force or carnal weapons. His gospel shall be preached to the world, and be received among the heathen. A sinful state is a state of bondage; it is a pit, or dungeon, in which there is no water, no comfort; and we are all by nature prisoners in this pit. Through the precious blood of Christ, many prisoners of Satan have been set at liberty from the horrible pit in which they must otherwise have perished, without hope or comfort. While we admire Him, let us seek that his holiness and truth may be shown in our own spirits and conduct. These promises have accomplishment in the spi...

Verse Zechariah 9:15. _THE LORD OF HOSTS SHALL DEFEND THEM_] He alone is the sure trust of his Church. _SUBDUE WITH SLING-STONES_] This was an ancient and powerful _instrument_ in the hands of the Hebrews. Judges 20:16. _THEY SHALL DRINK_] After the victory gained as above, thy people shall hold a _feast_, and _drink and be filled with wine_. There is no intimation here that they shall _drink the blood of their enemies_, as some barbarous nations were accustomed to do. When they have gained the victory, they shall banquet abundantly on the spoils taken from the enemy. _AS THE CORNERS OF THE ALTAR._] They shall pour out libations of wine at the foot of the altar, as the priests were accustomed t

THE LORD OF HOSTS, SHALL DEFEND THEM - As God says, “I will defend this city to save it, for Mine own sake and for My servant David’s sake” . The word is used by Isaiah only before Zechariah, and of the protection of Almighty God. The image of the complete protection on all sides stands first in God’s words to Abraham, “I am thy shield” Genesis 15:1; David thence says to God, “Thou, O Lord, art a shield around me” (Psalms 3:4, (Psalms 3:3 in English)). AND THEY SHALL DEVOUR, AND SUBDUE - Or more probably (as in the margin), “shall tread on, the stones of the sling,” as in the image of leviathan in Job, “The son of the bow will not make him flee; sling-stones are t

EXPOSITION VERSE 1-14:21 Part III. THE FUTURE OF THE POWERS OF THE WORLD AND OF THE KINGDOM OF GOD. VERSE 1-11:17 A. THE FIRST BURDEN. ZECHARIAH 9:1 § 1. _To prepare the land for Israel, and to prove God's care for his people, the neighbouring heathen shall be chastised, while Israel shall dwell in safety and independence._ ZECHARIAH 9:1 THE BURDEN (see not

THE LORD OF HOSTS SHALL DEFEND THEM,.... Against all their enemies; against Satan, and his temptations, and all the opposition made by him; against the world, and all the rage and reproach of men; this was remarkably verified in the apostles, who were preserved by the Lord amidst a thousand snares and dangers; and who was able to do it, being Jehovah, and the Lord of armies in heaven and in earth; he was as a shield unto them, as the word t used signifies; and to which he is often compared in Scripture. The Targum renders it, "the Lord of hosts shall have mercy on them;'' he encompassed them about with his favour as with a shield: AND THEY SHALL DEVOUR; or "eat" u; spiritual food; Christ the bread of life; whose flesh is meat indeed, and who is lived upon by faith; the blessings and promises of the everlasting covenant, of which the meek eat, and are satisfied; the Gospel and the trut...

As we read these ancient prophecies, we will not only notice how exactly they have been fulfilled, but we will also try to learn the lesson that they are intended to teach us. Zechariah 9:1. _The burden of the word of the LORD in the land of Hadrach, and Damascus shall be the rest thereof: when the eyes of man, as of all the tribes of Israel, shall be toward the LORD. And Hamath also shall border thereby, Tyrus, and Zidon, though it be very wise. And Tyrus did build herself a stronghold, and heaped up silver as the dust, and fine gold as the mire of the streets. Behold, the Lord will cast her out, and he will smite her power in the sea; and she shall be devoured with fire._ Alexander the Great besieged Tyre, and utterly overthrew it. The citizens thought that their «strong hold» was impregnable, but they had at last to surrender to the mighty monarch whose attacks t

II. THE TWO PROPHETIC BURDENS--THE GREAT PROPHECIES OF THE FUTURE I. The First Burden (9-11) CHAPTER 9 _ 1. The burden of the land of Hadrach (Zechariah 9:1) _ 2. Zion's King of Peace (Zechariah 9:9) 3. The near-event of the invasion by Antiochus Ephiphanes (Zechariah 9:13; Zechariah 10:1) Zechariah 9:1. The final section of Zechariah is of still greater interest. The Deliverer, King Messiah, is revealed in this section as suffering, rejected, pierced, slain. The great finale leads us up to the

An independent section belonging to the same period as Zechariah 9:11, of which it may be a later expansion. The imagery of Zechariah 9:14 is derived from older prophecy, _e.g._ Amos 1:14; Amos 2:2. By the whirlwinds of the south perhaps merely violent storms are intended, but there may be a reference to the Maccabean campaign against Edom which is probably referred to in Isaiah 63:1 *. Indeed this passage in its savagery strongly resembles that magnificent but terrible description. For devour read prevail (LXX) and for they shall drink. wine read they shall drink