Zechariah 9, YHWH Sounds a Trumpet

In the first half of the book of Zechariah, he relayed a total of nine visions given him by God. These were given at the end of the exile (about 519 BC) as the exiles headed back to Jerusalem. Now the last half of the book includes some prophecies probably made later in life. (Barker suggests this portion of the book was written just prior to 480 BC, almost four decades later.)

Zechariah 9:1-2a, Against Syria

A prophecy:

The word of the LORD is against the land of Hadrach 

and will rest upon Damascus-- 

for the eyes of men and all the tribes of Israel 

are on the LORD- 

and upon Hamath too, which borders on it, 

Zechariah now has some prophecies about neighboring kingdoms. To the northeast was Damascus. Hamath was north of Damascus; Hadrach was probably north of Damascus.

Much has been written about the opening word of this chapter. The Hebrew massa' roughly translates as "burden" and has been translated "oracle" or "prophecy." It opens both chapters 9 and 12 and appears to represent a "burden" that the prophet must communicate.

Zechariah 9:2b-4, Against Tyre and Sidon

and upon Tyre and Sidon, 

though they are very skillful.

Tyre has built herself a stronghold; 

she has heaped up silver like dust, 

and gold like the dirt of the streets. 

But the Lord will take away her possessions 

and destroy her power on the sea, 

and she will be consumed by fire.

On the Mediterranean coast, northwest of Israel, were Lebanon cities, Tyre and Sidon. They are identified here as being rich, with silver and gold, but they will eventually be destroyed and burned. The prophet, Ezekiel, also speaks against Tyre and Sidon, across three chapters in Ezekiel 26-28.

In the past, Israel's enemies (such as Assyria and Babylon) have attacked from the north. Here it is YHWH who moves down from the north.

Zechariah 9:5-6, Against Philistia

Ashkelon will see it and fear; 

Gaza will writhe in agony, 

and Ekron too, 

for her hope will wither. 

Gaza will lose her king 

and Ashkelon will be deserted.

Foreigners will occupy Ashdod, 

and I will cut off the pride of the Philistines. 

I will take the blood from their mouths,

the forbidden food from between their teeth. 

Those who are left will belong to our God 

and become leaders in Judah, 

and Ekron will be like the Jebusites. 

Philistine cities, Gaza, Ekron, Ashkelon and Ashdod (all west of Israel) will be conquered and consumed. (Ashkelon, now part of Israel, was a city on the coast, west of Jerusalem.) The survivors left in Gaza and the coast will turn over to God and become leaders. The town of Ekron (inland from the coast) will be like the Jebusites (the original settlers in Jerusalem) in being assimilated into the nation of Israel.

In Joshua 13:3 the Philistines are described as rulers of five cities (Gaza, Ashdod, Ashkelon, Gath and Ekron) and all five cities are mentioned in 1 Samuel 6:17. Sometime after that, Gath disappears from the historical accounts. The four remaining cities are mentioned here and also in similar prophecies in Jeremiah 25:20, Amos 1:6-8, and Zephaniah 2:4-7.

The judgment of these coastal cities moves from north to south, starting in Lebanon and ending in Philistia. Barker suggests that this follows Alexander the Great's campaign against the region in 332 BC. An account of Alexander's march through Lebanon and Palestine is recorded by Flavius Josephus in Chapter 8 of Book XI of his Antiquities. In that account, although Alexander conquers the enemies of Israel, he spares Jerusalem.

In New Testament times, Ashdod is called Azotus. The apostle Philip preaches there in Acts 8:40.

Zechariah 9:8, Never again

But I will defend my house against marauding forces. 

Never again will an oppressor overrun my people, 

for now I am keeping watch.

Despite the judgment on nearby kingdoms, Jerusalem and Israel will be protected. Although Alexander the Great spared Jerusalem in the fourth century BC, many commentators (including Barker) consider this chapter to be a prophecy about a future millennial kingdom.

Zechariah 9:9-10, A king on a lowly donkey

Rejoice greatly, O Daughter of Zion! 

Shout, Daughter of Jerusalem! 

See, your king comes to you, 

righteous and having salvation, 

gentle and riding on a donkey, 

on a colt, the foal of a donkey.

    I will take away the chariots from Ephraim 

and the war-horses from Jerusalem, 

and the battle bow will be broken. 

He will proclaim peace to the nations. 

His rule will extend from sea to sea 

and from the River to the ends of the earth.

These twelve lines form a triumphal poem. A king approaches Jerusalem. The king is gentle, humble, riding on a lowly donkey. The mechanism of war: chariots, war-horses, battle bows, are all broken and gone. Peace will rule from "sea to sea", throughout all the earth. ("Sea to sea", like "east to west", is a merism, indicating totality.)

Genesis 49:10-12 has a strange prophecy (by Jacob) about Judah. It includes a ruler who rides on a donkey.

Zechariah 9:11-13, Prisoners restored

    As for you, because of the blood of my covenant with you,

 I will free your prisoners from the waterless pit.

    Return to your fortress, O prisoners of hope; 

even now I announce that I will restore twice as much to you.

    I will bend Judah as I bend my bow 

and fill it with Ephraim. 

I will rouse your sons, O Zion, 

against your sons, O Greece, 

and make you like a warrior's sword.

Although blood has played a significant symbolic role in God's relationship with His people, whether with circumcision (see Exodus 4:24-26) or animal sacrifice, the phrase "blood of my covenant" is quite rare, only appearing elsewhere in Exodus 24:8 (says Baldwin.) where the phrase "blood of the covenant" is used. The phrase was used in the New Testament by Jesus, eg., Mark 14:23-25.

Israel will be restored, her imprisoned people set freed. Judah will be roused to defend its country. Here an enemy is named Greece (Hebrew Yavan.) Some see this as a prophecy about the upcoming invasion by Alexander the Great.

Zechariah 9:14-17, Lightning, thunder, trumpet blast

    Then the LORD will appear over them; 

his arrow will flash like lightning. 

The Sovereign LORD will sound the trumpet; 

he will march in the storms of the south,

    and the LORD Almighty will shield them. 

They will destroy and overcome with slingstones. 

They will drink and roar as with wine; 

they will be full like a bowl 

used for sprinkling the corners of the altar.

    The LORD their God will save them on that day 

as the flock of his people. 

They will sparkle in his land 

like jewels in a crown.

    How attractive and beautiful they will be! 

Grain will make the young men thrive, 

and new wine the young women.

In this future day, YHWH will appear with dramatic light and sound, with an arrow flashing like lightning and the sound of a trumpet and thunderstorm. This description echoes the appearance of YHWH at Mt. Sinai in Exodus 19:16-19.

"They" -- presumbably the people of Israel -- will have slingshots and will triumph in victory, celebrating as if filled with wine. A bowl will be full (of blood?) as used for sprinkling on the altar during sacrifices. (See Leviticus 4:3-7.) YHWH will save the nation, which will become jewels in His crown.

Prosperity, represented in parallel lines of good crops and good wine, will be in abundance.

First published December 19, 2025; updated December 19, 2025