Zechariah 12:9

12:9 So on that day I will set out to destroy all the nations ¹  that come against Jerusalem.”

Zechariah 12:11

12:11 On that day the lamentation in Jerusalem will be as great as the lamentation at Hadad-Rimmon ²  in the plain of Megiddo. ³ 

Zechariah 13:1

The Refinement of Judah

13:1 “In that day there will be a fountain opened up for the dynasty ⁴  of David and the people of Jerusalem ⁵  to cleanse them from sin and impurity. ⁶ 

Zechariah 14:3

14:3 Then the Lord will go to battle ⁷  and fight against those nations, just as he fought battles in ancient days. ⁸ 

[12:9]  ¹ tn Or “peoples.”

[12:11]  ² tn “Hadad-Rimmon” is a compound of the names of two Canaanite deities, the gods of storm and thunder respectively. The grammar (a subjective genitive) allows, and the problem of comparing Israel’s grief at God’s “wounding” with pagan mourning seems to demand, that this be viewed as a place name, perhaps where Judah lamented the death of good king Josiah (cf. 2 Chr 35:25). However, some translations render this as “for” (NRSV, NCV, TEV, CEV), suggesting a person, while others translate as “of” (KJV, NAB, NASB, NIV, NLT) which is ambiguous.

[12:11]  ³ map For location see Map1 D4; Map2 C1; Map4 C2; Map5 F2; Map7 B1.

[13:1]  ³ tn Heb “house” (so NIV, NRSV), referring to dynastic descendants.

[13:1]  ⁴ map For location see Map5 B1; Map6 F3; Map7 E2; Map8 F2; Map10 B3; JP1 F4; JP2 F4; JP3 F4; JP4 F4.

[13:1]  ⁵ tn Heb “for sin and for impurity.” The purpose implied here has been stated explicitly in the translation for clarity.

[14:3]  ⁴ sn The statement the Lord will go to battle introduces the conflict known elsewhere as the “battle of Armageddon,” a battle in which the Lord delivers his people and establishes his millennial reign (cf. Joel 3:12, 15-16; Ezek 38–39; Rev 16:12-21; 19:19-21).

[14:3]  ⁵ tn Heb “as he fights on a day of battle” (similar NASB, NIV, NRSV).