Zechariah

Ask GOD for rainIn the season of late rain.aseason of late rain Septuagint reads “in its season / The early rain and the late.” Cf. Deut. 11.14. It is GOD who causes storms—bstorms Meaning of Heb. uncertain. providing rainstorms for them,Grass in the fields for everyone.cfor them, / Grass in the fields for everyone Emendation yields “[producing] food for men, / Grass in the fields for cattle.” Cf. Deut. 11.14–15.

For the oracle idolsdoracle idols Figurines, apparently with a human form, used as a medium for divination in household settings; cf. 1 Sam. 15.23; Ezek. 21.26. spoke delusion,The augurs predicted falsely;And dreamers speak liesAnd console with illusions.That is why My people have strayedestrayed Meaning of Heb. uncertain. like a flock,They sufferfsuffer Meaning of Heb. uncertain. for lack of a shepherd.

My anger is roused against the shepherds,And I will punish the he-goats.ghe-goats I.e., oppressive leaders; cf. Ezek. 34.17ff. For GOD of Hosts has taken thoughtIn behalf of the flock, the House of Judah;They will be made like majestic chargers in battle.

From them shall come cornerstones,From them tent pegs,hcornerstones, / From them tent pegs Emendation yields “shields and bucklers.” From them bows of combat,And every captain shall also arise from them.

And together they shall be like warriors in battle,Tramping in the dirt of the streets;They shall fight, for GOD shall be with them,And they shall put cavalry to shame.

I will give victory to the House of Judah,And triumph to the House of Joseph.I will restore them, for I have pardoned them,And they shall be as though I had never disowned them;For I the ETERNAL One am their God,And I will answer their prayers.

Ephraim shall be like a warrior,And theyiEphraim shall be like a warrior, / And they Emendation yields “And when Ephraim is victorious, / They…” shall exult as with wine;Their children shall see it and rejoice,They shall exult in GOD.

I will whistle to them and gather them,For I will redeem them;They shall increase and continue increasing.jand continue increasing Meaning of Heb. uncertain.

For though I sowed them among the nations,In the distant places they shall remember Me,They shall escape with their children and shall return.

I will bring them back from the land of EgyptAnd gather them from Assyria;And I will bring them to the lands of Gilead and Lebanon,And even they shall not suffice for them.

A hemmed-in force shall pass over the seaAnd shall stir up waves in the sea;kA hemmed-in force … waves in the sea Meaning of Heb. uncertain. And all the deeps of the Nile shall dry up.Down shall come the pride of Assyria,And the scepter of Egypt shall pass away.

But I will make Judah and EphraimlJudah and Ephraim Heb. “them”; cf. vv. 6–7. mighty through GOD,And they shall march proudlymmarch proudly Meaning of Heb. uncertain. Emendation yields “have glory”; cf. Isa. 45.25. in MynMy Heb. 3rd person. name—declares GOD.