Zechariah 2:5

2:5 But I (the Lord says) will be a wall of fire surrounding Jerusalem ¹  and the source of glory in her midst.’”

Zechariah 9:8

9:8 Then I will surround my temple ²  to protect it like a guard ³  from anyone crossing back and forth; so no one will cross over against them anymore as an oppressor, for now I myself have seen it.

Zechariah 9:15-16

9:15 The Lord who rules over all will guard them, and they will prevail and overcome with sling stones. Then they will drink, and will become noisy like drunkards, ⁴  full like the sacrificial basin or like the corners of the altar. ⁵  9:16 On that day the Lord their God will deliver them as the flock of his people, for they are the precious stones of a crown sparkling over his land.

Joel 3:16-17

3:16 The Lord roars from Zion;

from Jerusalem ⁶  his voice bellows out. ⁷ 

The heavens ⁸  and the earth shake.

But the Lord is a refuge for his people;

he is a stronghold for the citizens ⁹  of Israel.

The Lord’s Presence in Zion

3:17 You will be convinced ¹⁰  that I the Lord am your God,

dwelling on Zion, my holy mountain.

Jerusalem ¹¹  will be holy –

conquering armies ¹²  will no longer pass through it.

¹ tn Heb “her”; the referent (Jerusalem) has been specified in the translation for clarity.

² tn Heb “house” (so NAB, NIV, NRSV).

³ tn Though a hapax legomenon, the מִצָּבָה (mitsavah) of the MT (from נָצַב, natsav, “take a stand”) is preferable to the suggestion מַצֵּבָה (matsevah, “pillar”) or even מִצָּבָא (mitsava’, “from” or “against the army”). The context favors the idea of the Lord as a protector.

⁴ tn Heb “they will drink and roar as with wine”; the LXX (followed here by NAB, NRSV) reads “they will drink blood like wine” (referring to a figurative “drinking” of the blood of their enemies).

⁵ sn The whole setting is eschatological as the intensely figurative language shows. The message is that the Lord will assume his triumphant reign over all the earth and will use his own redeemed and renewed people Israel to accomplish that work. The imagery of v. 15 is the eating and drinking of the flesh and blood of God’s enemies, that is, Israel’s complete mastery of them. Like those who drink too much wine, the Lord’s warriors will be satiated with the blood of their foes and will exult as though drunk.

⁶ map For location see Map5-B1; Map6-F3; Map7-E2; Map8-F2; Map10-B3; JP1-F4; JP2-F4; JP3-F4; JP4-F4.

⁷ tn Heb “he sounds forth his voice.”

⁸ tn Or “the sky.” See the note on “sky” in 2:30.

⁹ tn Heb “sons.”

¹⁰ tn Heb “know.”

¹¹ map For location see Map5-B1; Map6-F3; Map7-E2; Map8-F2; Map10-B3; JP1-F4; JP2-F4; JP3-F4; JP4-F4.

¹² tn Heb “strangers” or “foreigners.” In context, this refers to invasions by conquering armies.