12:1 The burden of the word of the LORD for Israel, saith the LORD, which stretcheth forth the heavens, and layeth the foundation of the earth, and formeth the spirit of man within him.
[1] {burden} Zech. 12.-14. from one prophecy the general theme of which is the return of the Lord and the establishment of the kingdom. The order is: (1) The siege of Jerusalem preceding the battle of Armageddon (vs. 1-3); (2) the battle itself (vs. 4-9); (3) the "latter rain" in the pouring out of the Spirit and the personal revelation of Christ to the family of David and the remnant in Jerusalem, not merely as the glorious Deliverer, but as the One whom Israel pierced and has long rejected (v.10); (4) the godly sorrow which follows that revelation (vs. 11-14); (5) the cleansing fountain (Zech. 13.1) then to be effectually "opened" to Israel.
12:2 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.
12:3 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.
12:4 In that day, saith 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.
12:5 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.
12:6 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.
12:7 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.
12:8 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.
[2] {David} Kingdom in O.T., Summary: dominion over the earth before the call of Abraham dominion over creation was given to the first man and woman (Gen. 1.26, 28). Through the fall this dominion was lost, Satan becoming "prince of this world" # Mt 4:8-10 Joh
14:30after the flood, the principle of human government was established under the covenant with Noah ¯ See Note "Ge 9:1" Biblically this is still the charter of all Gentile government. the Theocracy in Israel. The call of Abraham involved, with much else, the creation of a distinctive people through whom great purposes of God toward the race might be worked out (see "Israel" # Ge 12:1-3 Ro 11:26 Among these purposes is the establishment of a universal kingdom. The order of the development of Divine rule in Israel is: the mediatorship of Moses # Ex 3:1-10 19:9 24:12 the leadership of Joshua # Jos 1:1-5 (3) The institution of Judges # Jud 2:16-18 (4) The popular rejection of the Theocracy, and choice of a king--Saul, #
1Sa 8:1-7 9:12-17the Davidic kingdom the divine choice of David # 1Sa 16:1-13 the giving of the Davidic Covenant # 2Sa 7:8-16 Ps
89:3,4,20,21,28-37the exposition of the David Covenant by the prophets isa 1.25, 26 to Zech. 12.6-8. See marg. Isa. 1.25,
"Kingdom" and refs.). The kingdom as described by theprophets is: davidic, to be established under an heir of David, who is to be born of a virgin, therefore truly man, but also
"Immanuel," "the mighty God, the everlasting Father, theprince of Peace" # Isa 7:13,14 9:6,7 11:1 Jer 23:5 Eze 34:23 37:24 Ho 3:4,5 a kingdom heavenly in origin, principle, and authority
# Da 2:34,35,44,45 but set up on the earth, with Jerusalemas the capital # Isa 2:2-4 4:3,5 24:23 33:20 62:1-7 Jer 23:5 31:38-40 # Joe 3:1,16,17 the kingdom is to be established first over regathered, restored, and converted Israel, and then to become universal # Ps 2:6-8 22:1-31 24:1-10 Isa 1:2,3
11:1,10-13 60:12 Jer 23:5-8 # Jer 30:7-11 Eze 20:33-40
37:21-25 Zec 9:10 14:16-19 the moral characteristics of the kingdom are to be righteousness and peace. The meek, not the proud, will inherit the earth; longevity will be greatly increased; the knowledge of the Lord will be universal; beast ferocity will be removed; absolute equity will be enforced; and outbreaking sin visited with instant judgment; while the enormous majority of earth's inhabitants will be saved # Isa 11:4,6-9 65:20 Ps 2:9 Isa 26:9 Zec 14:16-21 The N.T. # Re
20:1-5 adds a detail of immense significance--the removal ofsatan from the scene. It is impossible to conceive to what heights of spiritual, intellectual, and physical perfection humanity will attain in this, its coming age of righteousness and peace. # Isa 11:4-9 Ps 72:1-10 the kingdom is to be established by power, not persuasion, and is to follow divine judgment upon the Gentile world-powers # Ps 2:4-9 Isa 9:7 Da 2:35,44,45 7:26,27 Zec 14:1-19 ¯ See Note "Zec 6:11" the restoration of Israel and the establishment of the kingdom are connected with an advent of the Lord, yet future
# De 30:3-5 Ps 2:1-9 Zec 14:4the chastisement reserved for disobedience in the house of David # 2Sa 7:14 Ps 89:30-33 fell in the captivities and world-wide dispersion, since which time, though a remnant returned under prince Zerubbabel, Jerusalem has been under the overlordship of Gentile. But the Davidic covenant has not been abrogated # Ps 89:33-37 but is yet to be fulfilled. # Ac 15:14-17
12:9 And it shall come to pass in that day, [that] I will seek to destroy all the nations that come against Jerusalem. 12:10 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 mourneth for [his] only [son], and shall be in bitterness for him, as one that is in bitterness for [his] firstborn.
12:11 In that day shall there be a great mourning in Jerusalem, as the mourning of Hadadrimmon in the valley of Megiddon.
12:12 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;
12:13 The family of the house of Levi apart, and their wives apart; the family of Shimei apart, and their wives apart; 12:14 All the families that remain, every family apart, and their wives apart.
