Zechariah 9:8

And I will encamp about mine house because of the army, because of him that passeth by, and because of him that returneth: and no oppressor shall pass through them any more: for now have I seen with mine eyes. AND I WILL ENCAMP ABOUT - (). MINE HOUSE BECAUSE OF THE ARMY - namely, the Jewish congregation and people (; ) (Maurer). Or, the temple: re-assuring the Jews engaged in building, who might otherwise fear their work would be undone by the conqueror (Moore). The former view is better. The Jews were, in agreement with this prophecy, uninjured by Alexander, though he punished the Samaritans. Typical of their final deliverance from every foe. Because of him that passeth by, a...

He concludes what he had been speaking of, — that God would be the guardian of his chosen people, so as to repel on every side the violent assaults of enemies. It is then the same as though he had said, “though the Church is not strongly fortified, it shall yet be impregnable, for God’s protection is of more value than all human strength, than all aids and helps.” God then compares himself here to a moat and a bulwark, and other kinds of fortresses, _I will be_, he says, _a camp to my house_. He mentions here house rather than city, that the Jews might feel confident that there was sufficient help in God alone, though they might dwell in a private house or in a cottage. “My Church, though it be a small house, will I yet surround with my defences, so as to render it safe from all harm.” He says, _from the army_; and then, _from him that passes through, and from him that returns_. He place...

1-8 Here are judgements foretold on several nations. While the Macedonians and Alexander's successors were in warfare in these countries, the Lord promised to protect his people. God's house lies in the midst of an enemy's country; his church is as a lily among thorns. God's power and goodness are seen in her special preservation. The Lord encamps about his church, and while armies of proud opposers shall pass by and return, his eyes watch over her, so that they cannot prevail, and shortly the time will come when no exactor shall pass by her any more....

Verse Zechariah 9:8. _I WILL ENCAMP ABOUT MINE HOUSE_] This may apply to the conquests in Palestine by _Alexander_, who, coming with great wrath against Jerusalem, was met by _Jaddua_ the high priest and his fellows in their sacred robes, who made intercession for the city and the temple; and, in consequence, Alexander spared _both_, which he had previously purposed to destroy. He showed the Jews also much favour, and remitted the tax every _seventh year_, because the _law_ on that year forbade them to _cultivate_ their ground. See this extraordinary account in _Joseph_. Antiq. lib. xi., c. 8, s. 5. Bishop _Newcome_ translates: "I will encamp about my house with an army, so that none shall pass through or return....

AND I WILL ENCAMP ABOUT MY HOUSE - (for my house’s sake) because of the army “Because,” it is added in explanation, “of him that passeth by and of him that returneth;” Alexander, who passed by with his army, on his way to Egypt, and “returned,” having founded Alexandria. It was a most eventful march; one of the most eventful in the history of mankind. The destruction of the Persian empire, for which it prepared, was in itself of little moment; Alexander’s own empire was very brief. As Daniel had foretold, he came, cast down Persia “to the ground, waxed very great, and when he was strong, the great horn was broken” Daniel 8:7. But with the marvelous perception which characterized him, he saw and impressed upon his successors the dependibleness of the Jewish people. When he came into Judaea, he sent to the high priest for aid again

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

AND I WILL ENCAMP ABOUT MY HOUSE, BECAUSE OF THE ARMY,.... Of profane and wicked men, persecutors and heretics, who rose up in great numbers in the first ages of Christianity against the church, the house of God, where he dwells, which consisted of persons called from among the Gentiles as before; in order to protect and defend them from that great company which opposed them, the Lord encamped about them, partly by his angels, Psalms 34:7 and partly by his ministers, set for the defence of the Gospel; but chiefly by his own power and presence, who is as a fire round about them. The Targum is, "and I will cause my glorious Shechinah to dwell in the house of my sanctuary, and the strength of the arm of my power shall be as a wall of fire round about it.'' BECAUSE OF HIM THAT PASSETH BY, AND BECAUSE OF HIM THAT RETURNETH; either that his people might pass and repas

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

BECAUSE OF HIM There seems to be a reference here to the advance and return of Alexander (Zechariah 9:13) after the battle of Issus, who subdued the cities mentioned in (Zechariah 9:1); and afterward returned to Greece without harming Jerusalem. But the greater meaning converges on the yet future last days (_ See Scofield) - (Acts 2:17) _ as the last clause of verse (Zechariah 9:8) shows, for many oppressors have passed through Jerusalem since the days of Alexander....

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