
Text -- Zechariah 12:5 (NET)




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collapse allCommentary -- Word/Phrase Notes (per phrase)
Wesley -> Zec 12:5
Wesley: Zec 12:5 - -- Though but few, and poor, yet they shall be my strength. Not in their own power, but in the power of the Almighty Lord of all.
Though but few, and poor, yet they shall be my strength. Not in their own power, but in the power of the Almighty Lord of all.
When they see the foe divinely smitten with "madness."

JFB: Zec 12:5 - -- Here distinguished as the country and the metropolis. Judah recognizes her "strength" to be "Jerusalem and its inhabitants" as the instrument, and "Je...
Here distinguished as the country and the metropolis. Judah recognizes her "strength" to be "Jerusalem and its inhabitants" as the instrument, and "Jehovah of hosts their God" (dwelling especially there) as the author of all power (Joe 3:16). My strength is the inhabitants of Jerusalem, who have the Lord their God as their help. The repulse of the foe by the metropolis shall assure the Jews of the country that the same divine aid shall save them.
Clarke -> Zec 12:5
Clarke: Zec 12:5 - -- The governors of Judah - This supposes a union between the two kingdoms of Israel and Judah.
The governors of Judah - This supposes a union between the two kingdoms of Israel and Judah.
Calvin -> Zec 12:5
Calvin: Zec 12:5 - -- He still continues the same subject — that however small and feeble the flock of God would be, it would yet have sufficient strength; for the Lord ...
He still continues the same subject — that however small and feeble the flock of God would be, it would yet have sufficient strength; for the Lord would stand on the side of those who fled to him. Though then Jerusalem was not as yet filled with citizens, and though there was but one city, yet Zechariah testifies that its strength would be invincible; but he speaks of the chiefs of Judah comparatively. Formerly, we know, it had a great number of men, and great armies were raised from that one tribe and the half tribe of Benjamin. Though then there were formerly many provinces, though the country was full of populous towns, yet almost Jerusalem alone had then begun to be inhabited: but the Prophet says here, that though the whole Church was gathered within the narrow bounds of one city, it would yet have sufficient strength to resist all the attacks of enemies.
Say then shall the chiefs of Judah; that is, though formerly the governors or commanders of thousands had forces in their several towns, yet now all would look to one city; for the land was nearly forsaken and without inhabitants; at the same time they were to entertain hope, for their strength was to be in the Lord. Some insert a conjunction, “Strength will be to me and to the citizens of Jerusalem;” but they pervert the meaning; for the Prophet meant to say in one sentence what I have stated — that the eyes of all would be directed to one city only, and that yet there would be sufficient ground for hope and confidence, for they would become strong, not in themselves, but in their God.
There is a change of number, when he says, a strength to me, for he had spoken of chiefs; it ought then to have been
TSK -> Zec 12:5
TSK: Zec 12:5 - -- the governors : Zec 12:6; Jdg 5:9; Isa 1:10,Isa 1:23, Isa 1:26, Isa 29:10, Isa 32:1, Isa 60:17; Jer 30:21, Jer 33:26; Eze 45:8, Eze 45:9
The inhabitan...
the governors : Zec 12:6; Jdg 5:9; Isa 1:10,Isa 1:23, Isa 1:26, Isa 29:10, Isa 32:1, Isa 60:17; Jer 30:21, Jer 33:26; Eze 45:8, Eze 45:9
The inhabitants : etc. or, There is strength to me, and to the inhabitants, etc. Zec 10:6, Zec 10:12; Psa 18:32, Psa 18:39, Psa 20:6, Psa 20:7, Psa 46:1, Psa 68:34, Psa 68:35, Psa 118:10-14, Psa 144:1; Isa 28:6, Isa 41:10-16; Joe 3:16; 2Co 12:9, 2Co 12:10

collapse allCommentary -- Word/Phrase Notes (per Verse)
Barnes -> Zec 12:5
Barnes: Zec 12:5 - -- And the princes of Judah - He pictures the onemindedness of the Church. No one shall assume anything to himself; each shall exalt the strength ...
And the princes of Judah - He pictures the onemindedness of the Church. No one shall assume anything to himself; each shall exalt the strength which the other was to him; but all, "in the Lord. The princes of Judah"shall say "in their heart,"not outwardly or politically, but in inward conviction, "strength to me"(all speak as one) "are the inhabitants of Jerusalem in the Lord of hosts their God."The highest in human estimation acknowledge that their strength is in those who are of no account in this world; as, in fact the hearts of the poor are evermore the strength of the Church; but that, "in the Lord of hosts;"in Him, in whose hands are the powers of heaven and earth, over against the petty turmoil on earth. God had chosen Jerusalem Zec 1:17; Zec 2:12; Zec 3:2; therefore she was invincible. "That most glorious prince of Judah, Paul, said, ‘ I can do all things in Christ who instrengtheneth me. ‘ "
Poole -> Zec 12:5
Poole: Zec 12:5 - -- The governors of Judah the counsellors and rulers at home, and the leaders and captains abroad, the Maccabees and others, every one for himself,
sha...
The governors of Judah the counsellors and rulers at home, and the leaders and captains abroad, the Maccabees and others, every one for himself,
shall say in their heart shall think, believe, and reckon upon it, and be hearty in it.
The inhabitants of Jerusalem though but few and poor, yet they shall be my strength: and these shall be ready and forward to go forth against their enemies, with a handful of men to encounter mighty and numerous armies, because their strength and help lieth in the name of the Lord of hosts; not in their own power, but in the power of the almighty sovereign Lord of all, who can save by few as by many. And because
their God he will give them victory.
The governors of Judah the counsellors and rulers at home, and the leaders and captains abroad, the Maccabees and others, every one for himself,
shall say in their heart shall think, believe, and reckon upon it, and be hearty in it.
The inhabitants of Jerusalem though but few and poor, yet they shall be my strength: and these shall be ready and forward to go forth against their enemies, with a handful of men to encounter mighty and numerous armies, because their strength and help lieth in the name of the Lord of hosts; not in their own power, but in the power of the almighty sovereign Lord of all, who can save by few as by many. And because
their God he will give them victory.
Haydock -> Zec 12:5
Haydock: Zec 12:5 - -- Let. Septuagint, "We shall find for us the inhabitants of Jerusalem, in the Lord Almighty, their God." (Haydock) ---
Judas always exhorted his men...
Let. Septuagint, "We shall find for us the inhabitants of Jerusalem, in the Lord Almighty, their God." (Haydock) ---
Judas always exhorted his men to trust in the Lord, 1 Machabees iii. 18. (Calmet) ---
Mocbai, the initials of "who is like thee among the strong, ( Alim ) O Lord," (Exodus xv. 11.; Haydock) is supposed to have been his motto, (Calmet) written on his banners; and some assert, that it occasioned the appellation of Machabees. (Haydock) ---
"Strengthen for me." (Aquila)
Gill -> Zec 12:5
Gill: Zec 12:5 - -- And the governors of Judah shall say in their heart,.... The governors of the rest of the cities in Judea, besides Jerusalem, when they shall observe ...
And the governors of Judah shall say in their heart,.... The governors of the rest of the cities in Judea, besides Jerusalem, when they shall observe the armies of the people, their horses and their riders, smitten by the Lord, as above, shall take heart, and be of good courage: and secretly say within themselves,
The inhabitants of Jerusalem shall be my strength in the Lord of hosts their God; that is, they, in the strength of the Lord, shall overcome their enemies, and so be the means of preserving and securing the other cities of Judah from destruction: the governors do not place their strength and confidence in the inhabitants of Jerusalem, but as they are strengthened in and by the Lord their God, from whom all strength, safety, and salvation come. In this and the following verse Zec 12:6, by "the governors of Judah" are not meant Judas Maccabeus, and his brethren, as some think; for though there are some things in the context that seem to agree with them, and they may be an emblem of the governors in the times referred to, for their courage, bravery, and success; yet the thread of history, and series of prophecy, will not admit such a sense.

expand allCommentary -- Verse Notes / Footnotes

expand allCommentary -- Verse Range Notes
TSK Synopsis -> Zec 12:1-14
TSK Synopsis: Zec 12:1-14 - --1 Jerusalem a cup of trembling to herself,3 and a burdensome stone to her adversaries.6 The victorious restoring of Judah.10 The repentance of Jerusal...
MHCC -> Zec 12:1-8
MHCC: Zec 12:1-8 - --Here is a Divine prediction, which will be a heavy burden to all the enemies of the church. But it is for Israel; for their comfort and benefit. It is...
Matthew Henry -> Zec 12:1-8
Matthew Henry: Zec 12:1-8 - -- Here is, I. The title of this charter of promises made to God's Israel; it is the burden of the word of the Lord, a divine prediction; it is of we...
Keil-Delitzsch -> Zec 12:5-7
Keil-Delitzsch: Zec 12:5-7 - --
Zec 12:5. "And the princes of Judah will say in their hearts, The inhabitants of Jerusalem are strength to me, in Jehovah of hosts their God. Zec 1...
Constable: Zec 9:1--14:21 - --V. Oracles about the Messiah and Israel's future chs. 9--14
This part of Zechariah contains two undated oracles ...

Constable: Zec 12:1--14:21 - --B. The burden concerning Israel: the advent and acceptance of Messiah chs. 12-14
This last section of th...

Constable: Zec 12:1-14 - --1. The repentance of Judah ch. 12
This chapter consist of two parts: Israel's deliverance (vv. 1...
