Now we turn our attention to other nations.
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.
2 And Hamath also shall border thereby; Tyrus, and Zidon, though it be very wise.
3 And Tyrus did build herself a strong hold, and heaped up silver as the dust, and fine gold as the mire of the streets.
Tyrus is a city-state located on an island just off the coast of Israel. Because she was so hard to reach (and thus plunder) and she was so good at sea trade, she was exceedingly rich.
4 Behold, the LORD will cast her out, and He will smite her power in the sea; and she shall be devoured with fire.
Fulfilled by Alexander the Great. He had his soldiers dump dirt into the sea until they built a causeway to the island. Then they simply marched out and conquered her.
5 Ashkelon shall see it, and fear; Gaza also shall see it, and be very sorrowful, and Ekron; for her expectation shall be ashamed; and the king shall perish from Gaza, and Ashkelon shall not be inhabited.
6 And a bastard shall dwell in Ashdod, and I will cut off the pride of the Philistines.
7 And I will take away his blood out of his mouth, and his abominations from between his teeth: but he that remains, even he, shall be for our God, and he shall be as a governor in Judah, and Ekron as a Jebusite.
These cities are all major cities of Philistia. God had them wiped off the face of the earth and their land was occupied by mixed-race people that eventually came under the control of Judah.
8 And I will encamp about mine house because of the army, because of him that passes by, and because of him that returns: and no oppressor shall pass through them any more: for now have I seen with Mine eyes.
God protected Jerusalem from Alexander the Great by making Alexander actually like the people of Judah. They treated him more like a liberator than a conqueror and he didn’t cause them any problems. In fact, for the remainder of Judah’s history, she was never again sent into captivity, though she was a tributary to several countries.
9 Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion; shout, O daughter of Jerusalem: behold, thy King comes unto thee: He is just, and having salvation; lowly, and riding upon an ass, and upon a colt the foal of an ass.
This, of course, is talking about Jesus. He didn’t enter the city on a fine steed, as Alexander did. He rode in on a young donkey. He was a humble and just man.
10 And I will cut off the chariot from Ephraim, and the horse from Jerusalem, and the battle bow shall be cut off: and he shall speak peace unto the heathen: and his dominion shall be from sea even to sea, and from the river even to the ends of the earth.
This King Jesus will be a man of peace to everyone and He will rule the world.
Not only will Jesus be born during the Pax Romania (The Great Roman Peace), war will no more be God’s way of promoting His kingdom.
11 As for thee also, by the blood of thy covenant I have sent forth thy prisoners out of the pit wherein is no water.
God turns His attention back to Zechariah’s current audience.
12 Turn you to the strong hold, ye prisoners of hope: even today do I declare that I will render double unto thee;
God not only promises to restore what they have lost in the wars, but to give them twice that.
13 When I have bent Judah for Me, filled the bow with Ephraim, and raised up thy sons, O Zion, against thy sons, O Greece, and made thee as the sword of a mighty man.
God is still promising protection. Not only did Alexander not loot Jerusalem, a century later the Maccabees will drive the Seleucids (heirs to a big chunk of Alexander’s Greek Empire) out of the country.
14 And the LORD shall be seen over them, and His arrow shall go forth as the lightning: and the LORD God shall blow the trumpet, and shall go with whirlwinds of the south.
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.
The Maccabees had inferior weapons but still won because of God’s help.
16 And the LORD their God shall save them in that day as the flock of His people: for they shall be as the stones of a crown, lifted up as an ensign upon His land.
17 For how great is His goodness, and how great is His beauty! Corn shall make the young men cheerful, and new wine the maids.