First light on a stony road winding down an olive-terraced slope toward a small city on the opposite ridge, its walls broken, a plain stone temple on the height.

Your King comes

Zechariah 9

What kind of king are you waiting for?

17 verses≈ 4 minBSB

Images are artistic interpretations.

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Where we are

1:1–6Return to MeA call to turn, in Darius’s second year
1:7–6:8Eight night visionsHorses, horns, a lampstand, a scroll, a basket, chariots
6:9–15The Branch crownedA crown for Joshua, and the Branch who builds
7–8Fasts to feastsJustice and mercy, and joy in Zion
9–11Your King comesThe King on a donkey, and the Shepherd rejectedChapter 9
12–14On that dayThe pierced One, the fountain, the LORD King

The Burden against Israel’s Enemies

Zechariah

Zechariah

This is the burden of the word of the LORD

against the land of Hadrach

and Damascus its resting place—

for the eyes of men

and of all the tribes of Israel

are upon the LORD—

and also against Hamath,

which borders it,

as well as Tyre and Sidon,

though they are very shrewd.

Tap to go deeper: meaning, history and related Scripture

Stylised map · locations approximate

On the map

From Hadrach to Gaza

The burden runs south from Hadrach in the far north of Syria, past Hamath and Damascus, down the Phoenician coast to Sidon and Tyre, through the Philistine towns to Gaza. Then it stops at Jerusalem, where the LORD keeps watch (9:8). Hadrach’s site is probable, not certain.

Zechariah

Inside a stone storehouse on Tyre’s sea wall: heaps of rough silver lumps and rings and small gold bars on reed mats, bales of purple wool, a doorway open on the harbor and one ship.

Tyre has built herself a fortress;

she has heaped up silver like dust,

and gold like the dirt of the streets.

Zechariah

Behold, the Lord will impoverish her

and cast her wealth into the sea,

and she will be consumed by fire.

Zechariah

Zechariah

Ashkelon will see and fear;

Gaza will writhe in agony,

as will Ekron,

for her hope will wither.

There will cease to be a king in Gaza,

and Ashkelon will be uninhabited.

God

A mixed race will occupy Ashdod,

and I will cut off the pride of the Philistines.

God

I will remove the blood from their mouths

and the abominations from between their teeth.

Then they too will become a remnant for our God;

they will become like a clan in Judah,

and Ekron will be like the Jebusites.

God

Night over a small, poor Jerusalem: a plain stone temple quiet on the height, the city’s lamps out, dark hills ringing it under a vast field of stars, a soft still light low over the court.

But I will camp around My house because of an army,

because of those who march to and fro,

and never again will an oppressor overrun My people,

for now I keep watch with My own eyes.

Zion’s Coming King

God

Rejoice greatly, O Daughter of Zion!

Shout in triumph, O Daughter of Jerusalem!

Zechariah 9:9

God

God

See, your King comes to you,

righteous and victorious,

humble and riding on a donkey,

on a colt, the foal of a donkey.

God

Morning in an empty field below a town wall: two light war chariots overturned and broken, a wheel off, a pole snapped, weeds already in the ruts, no one there.

And I will cut off the chariot from Ephraim

and the horse from Jerusalem,

and the bow of war will be broken.

God

Then He will proclaim peace to the nations.

His dominion will extend from sea to sea,

and from the Euphrates

to the ends of the earth.

God

Looking up from the dry floor of a rock-cut cistern: cracked mud below, the narrow round mouth a disc of morning sky, a rope let down over the rim.

As for you,

because of the blood of My covenant,

I will release your prisoners

from the waterless pit.

God

For I will bend Judah as My bow

and fit it with Ephraim.

I will rouse your sons, O Zion,

against the sons of Greece.

I will make you like the sword

of a mighty man.

Question

Quick question

Read 9:9 again, slowly, before you answer.

Which day in the Gospels does 9:9 describe?

The LORD Will Save His People

Zechariah

Dusk over bare southern ridges: a storm driving up out of the desert, lightning forking from black cloud to a far summit, dust lifting on the wind.

Then the LORD will appear over them,

and His arrow will go forth like lightning.

The Lord GOD will sound the ram’s horn

and advance in the whirlwinds of the south.

Zechariah

The LORD of Hosts will shield them.

They will destroy and conquer with slingstones;

they will drink and roar as with wine.

And they will be filled like sprinkling bowls,

drenched like the corners of the altar.

Zechariah

Zechariah

On that day the LORD their God will save them

as the flock of His people;

for like jewels in a crown

they will sparkle over His land.

Zechariah

Golden morning harvest on Judean terraces: young men carrying sheaves of barley on their shoulders, young women carrying baskets of grapes toward a rock-cut winepress, laughing.

How lovely they will be,

and how beautiful!

Grain will make the young men flourish,

and new wine, the young women.

0:08

Narrated by Bob Souer · BSB audio, public domain

Pray

King Jesus, You came to Your city humble, on a donkey, bringing peace. Lift me out of every dry pit and make me a prisoner of hope. Rule my life, and rule from sea to sea. Amen.

You’ve experienced

Zechariah 9

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A verse to carry with you

See, your King comes to you, righteous and victorious, humble and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey.

Zechariah 9:9

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