Antiguo Testamento

Zechariah — Capítulo 9

The people of God who had returned to Judea from exile were being oppressed by neighboring nations. As a result, they were discouraged, and they let their Temple lie in ruins. Zechariah encouraged them with a vision of things to come. God continued to love Jerusalem and the land of Judah, and his unwavering plan was to live there again with his people and establish his rule over all the earth. …

Versión

Texto — Reina-Valera 1960

1La profecía de la palabra de Jehová está contra la tierra de Hadrac y sobre Damasco; porque a Jehová deben mirar los ojos de los hombres, y de todas las tribus de Israel.

2También Hamat será comprendida en el territorio de este; Tiro y Sidón, aunque sean muy sabias.

3Bien que Tiro se edificó fortaleza, y amontonó plata como polvo, y oro como lodo de las calles,

4he aquí, el Señor la empobrecerá, y herirá en el mar su poderío, y ella será consumida de fuego.

5Verá Ascalón, y temerá; Gaza también, y se dolerá en gran manera; asimismo Ecrón, porque su esperanza será confundida; y perecerá el rey de Gaza, y Ascalón no será habitada.

6Habitará en Asdod un extranjero, y pondré fin a la soberbia de los filisteos.

7Quitaré la sangre de su boca, y sus abominaciones de entre sus dientes, y quedará también un remanente para nuestro Dios, y serán como capitanes en Judá, y Ecrón será como el jebuseo.

8Entonces acamparé alrededor de mi casa como un guarda, para que ninguno vaya ni venga, y no pasará más sobre ellos el opresor; porque ahora miraré con mis ojos.

9Alégrate mucho, hija de Sion; da voces de júbilo, hija de Jerusalén; he aquí tu rey vendrá a ti, justo y salvador, humilde, y cabalgando sobre un asno, sobre un pollino hijo de asna.

10Y de Efraín destruiré los carros, y los caballos de Jerusalén, y los arcos de guerra serán quebrados; y hablará paz a las naciones, y su señorío será de mar a mar, y desde el río hasta los fines de la tierra.

11Y tú también por la sangre de tu pacto serás salva; yo he sacado tus presos de la cisterna en que no hay agua.

12Volveos a la fortaleza, oh prisioneros de esperanza; hoy también os anuncio que os restauraré el doble.

13Porque he entesado para mí a Judá como arco, e hice a Efraín su flecha, y despertaré a tus hijos, oh Sion, contra tus hijos, oh Grecia, y te pondré como espada de valiente.

14Y Jehová será visto sobre ellos, y su dardo saldrá como relámpago; y Jehová el Señor tocará trompeta, e irá entre torbellinos del austro.

15Jehová de los ejércitos los amparará, y ellos devorarán, y hollarán las piedras de la honda, y beberán, y harán estrépito como tomados de vino; y se llenarán como tazón, o como cuernos del altar.

16Y los salvará en aquel día Jehová su Dios como rebaño de su pueblo; porque como piedras de diadema serán enaltecidos en su tierra.

17Porque ¡cuánta es su bondad, y cuánta su hermosura! El trigo alegrará a los jóvenes, y el vino a las doncellas.

TYNDALE OPEN STUDY NOTES

Versículo 1

I. 9:1–14:21 The second part of Zechariah stands apart from the first in several ways. Zechariah 9–1…

9:1–14:21 The second part of Zechariah stands apart from the first in several ways. Zechariah 9–14 is distinctively apocalyptic, combining cryptic historical allusions with futuristic visions. The messages alternate between threats of judgment for other nations and promises of deliverance for Israel. The section contains no explicit references to Zechariah, but uses God’s direct speech. The messages probably date from a later period in Zechariah’s ministry. 9:1–11:17 This is the message: This is the superscription (introductory heading) for the entire section; it includes the technical term message (or oracle, burden), a prophetic pronouncement of judgment; the use of this word invests the message with divine authority. These prophecies can be related to events between Zechariah’s time and the coming of Christ. 9:1-8 This encouraging message told the Judeans that they had nothing to fear from their three most prominent neighbors—Syria (Aram), the Phoenicians (Tyre and Sidon), and the Philistines. All three were rivals of Judah; they were always trying to take commercial and territorial advantage. God said that their efforts would be in vain. 9:1 The land of Aram was a city-state on the northern boundary of Israel, on the caravan route connecting Mesopotamia to the Mediterranean coast. Aram was sometimes an ally and sometimes an enemy to Israel and Judah. • Damascus, the capital of Aram, was the northern boundary of the ideal Hebrew state (Ezek 47:16-18).

Versículo 2

II. 9:2 Hamath, a fortress city on one of the southern trade routes from Asia Minor, was on the north…

9:2 Hamath, a fortress city on one of the southern trade routes from Asia Minor, was on the northern boundary of Israel (see Num 13:21; Josh 13:5). • The twin port cities of Tyre and Sidon were independent Phoenician kingdoms located on the Mediterranean coast north of Israel (modern-day Lebanon); they are often paired in biblical texts (e.g., Ezra 3:7; Joel 3:4; Luke 10:13-14). The cities were legendary for their maritime trade wealth, but Old Testament prophets condemned their pride and oppressive policies and predicted their destruction (Isa 23; Ezek 26:3-14; Amos 1:9-10).

Versículo 3

III. 9:3-4 Strong fortress (Hebrew matsor) is a pun on the name of the city of Tyre (Hebrew tsor). Thi…

9:3-4 Strong fortress (Hebrew matsor) is a pun on the name of the city of Tyre (Hebrew tsor). This famed island fortress (Isa 23:4; Ezek 26:5) was captured and destroyed by Alexander the Great in 332 BC.

Versículo 5

IV. 9:5-6 Ashkelon . . . Gaza . . . Ekron . . . Ashdod: These Philistine cities, located on the coast…

9:5-6 Ashkelon . . . Gaza . . . Ekron . . . Ashdod: These Philistine cities, located on the coastal plain of Israel, were defeated by David (2 Sam 5:17-25) but later regained some autonomy. The prophets Amos and Zephaniah pronounced similar judgments against the same four cities (Amos 1:6-8; Zeph 2:4-7).

Versículo 6

V. 9:6 Foreigners: This Hebrew word occurs elsewhere only in Deut 23:2, where it refers to illegitim…

9:6 Foreigners: This Hebrew word occurs elsewhere only in Deut 23:2, where it refers to illegitimate children. Zechariah uses it to signify the Philistines’ eventual loss of political and social identity.

Versículo 7

VI. 9:7 bloody meat: The Philistines ate meat that had not been drained of blood and was therefore un…

9:7 bloody meat: The Philistines ate meat that had not been drained of blood and was therefore unclean (Gen 9:4; Lev 3:17; Acts 15:20). • Detestable sacrifices suggests eating unclean foods (see Lev 11:2-23). • the surviving Philistines will worship our God: This anticipates Philip’s ministry in the cities of the Philistine coastal plain (Acts 8:40). • The Jebusites were a Canaanite group (see Gen 10:16; 1 Chr 1:14) living in and around Jerusalem. The city of Jebus (Jerusalem) was sacked and burned during the days of the judges (Judg 1:8); it was later recaptured by David, who made it the capital of his kingdom (2 Sam 5:6-10). The Jebusites were absorbed by the Israelites through intermarriage during David’s reign (see 2 Sam 5:13).

Versículo 9

VII. 9:9-17 The second message of Zechariah’s first oracle (chs 9–11) presents the juxtaposition of wa…

9:9-17 The second message of Zechariah’s first oracle (chs 9–11) presents the juxtaposition of warfare and peace that has defined human history. Judah’s coming deliverer-king will be victorious in battle, yet righteous and humble (9:9), and he will bring peace to the nations in his universal reign (9:10). 9:9 Your king refers to a future king from David’s line, described earlier as the Branch (3:8; 6:12-13). • The donkey was a humble animal, and riding on a donkey signaled that its rider came in peace (see Matt 21:5; John 12:15).

Versículo 10

VIII. 9:10 As used here, Israel stands in contrast to Judah, the southern kingdom. The pairing of Israe…

9:10 As used here, Israel stands in contrast to Judah, the southern kingdom. The pairing of Israel and Jerusalem signifies a reunited Israel and the regaining of the covenant land. • The kingdoms of Assyria, Babylonia, Persia, and Israel were established by military conquest. By contrast, the kingdom of the Messiah will dismantle the machinery of war and eradicate all arsenals of weapons (see Isa 2:4; 9:5; Mic 5:10-11; Joel 3:10). • The Euphrates River was the northern boundary of the Promised Land (Gen 15:18). • the ends of the earth: The righteous king will establish universal peace.

Versículo 11

IX. 9:11 The covenant . . . sealed with blood probably refers to the blood sacrifice that sealed the …

9:11 The covenant . . . sealed with blood probably refers to the blood sacrifice that sealed the Mosaic covenant (Exod 24:8). • The prisoners were Jews still living as exiles in Mesopotamia after the Babylonian exile. The Jews who remained in Persia and Babylon were spiritual exiles because they lived outside the Promised Land of spiritual blessing and rest (see Deut 12:10). One of the Messiah’s defining activities would be to free prisoners (Isa 61:1; Luke 4:17-22; Rom 7:6; Eph 4:8).

Versículo 12

X. 9:12 Come back to the place of safety: This is a call for the Jews still in Babylon to return to …

9:12 Come back to the place of safety: This is a call for the Jews still in Babylon to return to the land of Judah.

Versículo 13

XI. 9:13 The Persians and the Greeks were engaged in a power struggle in Zechariah’s time. In the fut…

9:13 The Persians and the Greeks were engaged in a power struggle in Zechariah’s time. In the future, God would judge the Greeks (who could represent all Gentiles). Zechariah is possibly alluding to Daniel’s vision (Dan 8:21-22).

Versículo 14

XII. 9:14 appear above his people: Zechariah borrows the image of a winged sun disk that artists pictu…

9:14 appear above his people: Zechariah borrows the image of a winged sun disk that artists pictured as protectively hovering over the Persian king. The Lord will protect Israel, go before them in battle, and show them his power. • The ram’s horn issues a summons (Num 10:2-3, 7-10; Isa 27:13) and declares God’s presence and power (Exod 19:19; 20:18). • The whirlwind depicts God as a warrior of devastating power and unpredictable swiftness (Ps 77:18; Isa 21:1; 29:6; 66:15). References to lightning bring Mount Sinai to mind (Exod 19:16) and with it God’s covenant promises to Israel.

Versículo 15

XIII. 9:15 In ancient battles, great stones (literally sling-stones) were hurled at defenders on city w…

9:15 In ancient battles, great stones (literally sling-stones) were hurled at defenders on city walls and catapulted onto the inhabitants inside. The Maccabees’ triumph over the Hellenistic Seleucids in the 100s BC might have partially fulfilled Zechariah’s prophecy of Israel’s defeat of the Greeks (see 1 Maccabees 3:16-24; 4:6-16; 7:40-50). • They will be filled with blood . . . drenched with blood: When the Lord unleashes his armies against the Greeks, the amount of bloodshed will be vast. • like a bowl: Ceremonial sprinkling bowls filled with animal blood were used in the rituals of sacrifice. This image almost suggests that the vanquishing of the Lord’s enemies is in some sense an offering to him (see Exod 24:6; Lev 1:5; 16:18).

Versículo 16

XIV. 9:16 On that day: See study note on 3:10. • The Old Testament prophets portrayed the Messiah as a…

9:16 On that day: See study note on 3:10. • The Old Testament prophets portrayed the Messiah as a king and as a faithful shepherd (see Ezek 34:12, 16, 23; 37:24; John 10:1; Heb 13:20; 1 Pet 5:4).

Versículo 17

XV. 9:17 abundant grain . . . new wine: Agricultural prosperity was a tangible sign of God’s blessing…

9:17 abundant grain . . . new wine: Agricultural prosperity was a tangible sign of God’s blessing (see Joel 2:19; Amos 9:13; cp. Hag 1:11).

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Zechariah — Capítulo 9