Zacarias 12

¹ The burden of the word of the LORD forThat is, the ten tribes, which neglected God's benefit in delivering their brethren, and had rather remain in captivity, than to return home when God called them.Israel, saith the LORD, who stretcheth forth the heavens, and layeth the foundation of the earth, and formeth the spirit of man within him.

² Behold, I will make Jerusalem aJerusalem will be defended against all her enemies: so will God defend all Judah also, and will destroy the enemies.cup of trembling to all the people around, when they shall be in the siege both against Judah [and] against Jerusalem.

³ And in that day will I make Ierusalem an heauie stone for all people: all that lift it vp, shall be torne, though all the people of the earth be gathered together against it.

⁴ In that day, sayeth the Lorde, I will smite euery horse with stonishment, and his rider with madnesse, and I will open mine eyes vpon the house of Iudah, and will smite euery horse of the people with blindnesse.

⁵ And the governors of Judah shall say in their heart, TheEvery captain, that had many under him before, will now think that the small power of Jerusalem will be sufficient to defend them against all enemies, because the Lord is among them.inhabitants of Jerusalem [shall be] my strength in the LORD of hosts their God.

⁶ In that day will I make the princes of Iudah like coles of fire among the wood, and like a fire brand in the sheafe, and they shall deuoure all the people round about on the right hand, and on the left: and Ierusalem shall be inhabited againe in her owne place, euen in Ierusalem.

⁷ The LORD also shall save theThe people who are now as it were dispersed by the fields, and lie open to their enemies, will be preserved by my power just as if they were under their kings (which is meant by the house of David), or in their defended cities.tents of Judah first, that the glory of the house of David and the glory of the inhabitants of Jerusalem may not magnify [themselves] against Judah.

⁸ In that day shall the Lord defende the inhabitants of Ierusalem, & he that is feeble among them, in that day shall be as Dauid: and the house of Dauid shall be as Gods house, and as the Angel of the Lord before them.

⁹ And in that day will I seeke to destroy all the nations that come against Ierusalem.

¹⁰ And I will pour upon the house of David, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the spirit ofThey will have the feeling of my grace by faith, and know that I have compassion on them.grace and of supplications: and they shall look upon me whom they haveThat is, whom they have continually vexed with their obstinacy, and grieved my Spirit. In (Joh_19:37) it is referred to Christ's body, whereas here it is referred to the Spirit of God.pierced, and they shall mourn forThey will turn to God by true repentance, whom before they had so grievously offended by their ingratitude.him, as one mourneth for [his] only [son], and shall be in bitterness for him, as one that is in bitterness for [his] firstborn.

¹¹ In that day shall there be a great mourning in Jerusalem, as theThey will exceedingly lament and repent for their offences against God.mourning ofWhich was the name of a town and place near to Megiddo, where Josiah was slain; (2Ch_35:22).Hadadrimmon in the valley of Megiddon.

¹² And theThat is, in all places where the Jews will remain.land shall mourn, every familySignifying, that this mourning or repentance would not be a vain ceremony: but every one touched with his own griefs will lament.apart; the family of theUnder these certain families he includes all the tribes, and shows that both the kings and the priests had by their sins pierced Christ.house of David apart, and their wives apart; the family of the house of Nathan apart, and their wives apart;

¹³ The family of the house of Levi apart, and their wives apart; the family ofAlso called Simeon.Shimei apart, and their wives apart;

¹⁴ All the families thatThat is, who were elect by grace, and preserved from the common destruction.remain, every family apart, and their wives apart.