1 The burden of the word of the LORD for Israel,…
“The burden”appears to mean “the coming events.”
… says the LORD, which stretches forth the heavens, and lays the foundation of the earth, and forms the spirit of man within him.
This message is from the Maker of the Universe.
2 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.
This is foretelling the siege of Antiochus Epiphanes IV in the mid 300’s BC.
3 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.
Antiochus had a large army and many allies from many different countries. But Jerusalem, led by the Maccabees, would be his last battle and would take many resources from him.
4 In that day, says 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.
God worked many miracles for the Maccabees so they could defeat Antiochus.
5 And the governors of Judah shall say in their heart, “The inhabitants of Jerusalem shall be my strength in the LORD of hosts their God.”
The Maccabees really believed God and trusted in Him to help them.
6 In that day will I make the governors of Judah like an hearth of fire among the wood, and like a torch of fire in a sheaf; and they shall devour all the people round about, on the right hand and on the left: and Jerusalem shall be inhabited again in her own place, even in Jerusalem.
The Jews were quite victorious. They drove Antiochus’ army out.
7 The LORD also shall save the tents of Judah first, that the glory of the house of David and the glory of the inhabitants of Jerusalem do not magnify themselves against Judah.
8 In that day shall the LORD defend the inhabitants of Jerusalem; and he that is feeble among them at that day shall be as David; and the house of David shall be as God, as the angel of the LORD before them.
Ultimately, the Jews won and restored their country. Antiochus himself God killed with a horrible bowl disease where he just rotted from the inside out.
9 And it shall come to pass in that day, that I will seek to destroy all the nations that come against Jerusalem.
No one else who attacked Judah was very successful as long as she was God’s people.
10 And I will pour upon the house of David, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the spirit of grace and of supplications: and they shall look upon Me whom they have pierced, and they shall mourn for Him, as one mourns for his only son, and shall be in bitterness for Him, as one that is in bitterness for his firstborn.
Salvation through Christ is the Spirit of grace and supplications. This is a promise of the Messiah.
Jesus was pierced and Matthew said this scripture applies to His crucifixion.
We are all responsible for Christ being pierced/crucified, since it was the sins of each of us that sent Him to the Cross. If we want to go to Heaven we must all “Look on Him whom we have pierced and mourn.” This is how you become a true Israelite.
11 In that day shall there be a great mourning in Jerusalem, as the mourning of Hadadrimmon in the valley of Megiddon.
“In that day” here is referring to AD 70, just a short time after Christ when the Roman army destroyed all of Judah.In 11 verses we have covered the 200's BC to AD 70.
Hadadrimmon was a pagan god and the valley of Megiddon is the sight of many battles including the one where Jaal put the tent stake through the head of Sisera and where Josiah tried to defeat Pharaoh Neco. We aren’t real sure exactly what Zechariah is referring to here, though.
12 And the land shall mourn, every family apart; the family of the house of David apart, and their wives apart; the family of the house of Nathan apart, and their wives apart;
Though the tragedy of the destruction of Judah was a national one, there would be no opportunity for national mourning ceremonies. All mourning will be done individually as each survivor is carried off into slavery.
13 The family of the house of Levi apart, and their wives apart; the family of Shimei apart, and their wives apart;
14 All the families that remain, every family apart, and their wives apart.