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Commentary on the Book of Zechariah
by Yair Davidiy Mini-Article: THE BOW OF JUDAH AND THE ARROWS OF EPHRAIM Parallels in Prophecy between the Maccabees and Ephraim in the Future. The Righteousness of Judah Zechariah was apparently a priest (Cohan) but he does not concentrate on the Temple service. In his book he speaks mostly of Judah but there is much that is also pertinent to discovering the Identity of the Lost Ten Tribes (LTTs for short). [Zechariah 1:1] IN THE EIGHTH MONTH, IN THE SECOND YEAR OF DARIUS, CAME THE WORD OF THE LORD UNTO ZECHARIAH, THE SON OF BERECHIAH, THE SON OF IDDO THE PROPHET, SAYING, [Zechariah 1:2] THE LORD HATH BEEN SORE DISPLEASED WITH YOUR FATHERS. [Zechariah 1:3] THEREFORE SAY THOU UNTO THEM, THUS SAITH THE LORD OF HOSTS; TURN YE UNTO ME, SAITH THE LORD OF HOSTS, AND I WILL TURN UNTO YOU, SAITH THE LORD OF HOSTS. If we return to God then God will return to us. This is a promise. [Zechariah 1:4] BE YE NOT AS YOUR FATHERS, UNTO WHOM THE FORMER PROPHETS HAVE CRIED, SAYING, THUS SAITH THE LORD OF HOSTS; TURN YE NOW FROM YOUR EVIL WAYS, AND FROM YOUR EVIL DOINGS: BUT THEY DID NOT HEAR, NOR HEARKEN UNTO ME, SAITH THE LORD. [Zechariah 1:5] YOUR FATHERS, WHERE ARE THEY? AND THE PROPHETS, DO THEY LIVE FOR EVER? [Zechariah 1:6] BUT MY WORDS AND MY STATUTES, WHICH I COMMANDED MY SERVANTS THE PROPHETS, DID THEY NOT TAKE HOLD OF YOUR FATHERS? AND THEY RETURNED AND SAID, LIKE AS THE LORD OF HOSTS THOUGHT TO DO UNTO US, ACCORDING TO OUR WAYS, AND ACCORDING TO OUR DOINGS, SO HATH HE DEALT WITH US. [Zechariah 1:7] UPON THE FOUR AND TWENTIETH DAY OF THE ELEVENTH MONTH, WHICH IS THE MONTH SEBAT, IN THE SECOND YEAR OF DARIUS, CAME THE WORD OF THE LORD UNTO ZECHARIAH, THE SON OF BERECHIAH, THE SON OF IDDO THE PROPHET, SAYING, [Zechariah 1:8] I SAW BY NIGHT, AND BEHOLD A MAN RIDING UPON A RED HORSE, AND HE STOOD AMONG THE MYRTLE TREES THAT WERE IN THE BOTTOM; AND BEHIND HIM WERE THERE RED HORSES, SPECKLED, AND WHITE. [Zechariah 1:9] THEN SAID I, O MY LORD, WHAT ARE THESE? AND THE ANGEL THAT TALKED WITH ME SAID UNTO ME, I WILL SHEW THEE WHAT THESE BE. [Zechariah 1:10] AND THE MAN THAT STOOD AMONG THE MYRTLE TREES ANSWERED AND SAID, THESE ARE THEY WHOM THE LORD HATH SENT TO WALK TO AND FRO THROUGH THE EARTH. [Zechariah 1:11] AND THEY ANSWERED THE ANGEL OF THE LORD THAT STOOD AMONG THE MYRTLE TREES, AND SAID, WE HAVE WALKED TO AND FRO THROUGH THE EARTH, AND, BEHOLD, ALL THE EARTH SITTETH STILL, AND IS AT REST. [Zechariah 1:12] THEN THE ANGEL OF THE LORD ANSWERED AND SAID, O LORD OF HOSTS, HOW LONG WILT THOU NOT HAVE MERCY ON JERUSALEM AND ON THE CITIES OF JUDAH, AGAINST WHICH THOU HAST HAD INDIGNATION THESE THREESCORE AND TEN YEARS? [Zechariah 1:13] AND THE LORD ANSWERED THE ANGEL THAT TALKED WITH ME WITH GOOD WORDS AND COMFORTABLE WORDS. [Zechariah 1:14] SO THE ANGEL THAT COMMUNED WITH ME SAID UNTO ME, CRY THOU, SAYING, THUS SAITH THE LORD OF HOSTS; I AM JEALOUS FOR JERUSALEM AND FOR ZION WITH A GREAT JEALOUSY. God is concerned about Jerusalem. Anyone who tries to dispute Judah’s liberation of Jerusalem Must contend with the Almighty God of Israel. [Zechariah 1:15] AND I AM VERY SORE DISPLEASED WITH THE HEATHEN THAT ARE AT EASE: FOR I WAS BUT A LITTLE DISPLEASED, AND THEY HELPED FORWARD THE AFFLICTION. Note: “THEY HELPED FORWARD THE AFFLICTION” in Hebrew “azru [helped] leRa [to make worse]”. It means that because the Jews (Judah) had sinned God was angry at them and delivered them into non-Jewish hands as a punishment BUT the non-Jews took advantage of the situation and oppressed the Jews. Therefore God is angry at them. Extract from “The Tribes” (2nd Edition) chapter seven: JUDAH: THE LAWGIVER AND SUFFERING SERVANT In Scripture the Jews are represented by the terms Jerusalem, Zion, or Judah. Judah, Reuben, and the Tribes of Joseph (Ephraim and Manasseh) all in their own way could claim a degree of pre-eminence: "The sons of Reuben the firstborn of Israel (for he was the firstborn; but, for as much as he defiled his father's bed, his birthright was given unto the sons of Joseph the son of Israel and the genealogy is not to be reckoned after the birthright." "For JUDAH prevailed above his brethren, and of him came the chief ruler; but the birthright was Joseph's" (1-Chronicles 5;1 2). From the above it is understandable that a certain balance of deference was to be expected from amongst the leading tribes and when this was not achieved tensions were to result. This factor contributed to tension between the northern tribes headed by Joseph and the southern domain of Judah and so ultimately the two parts split away from each other. The modern day Jews descend from Judah, Simeon, Benjamin, Levi, and some portions of the other tribes. Historically JUDAH was the leading tribe in the south and it was around him that portions of the other tribes gathered and in Biblical terminology JUDAH represents all of the southern entity whose descendants remained faithful to the Law. "Ephraim compasseth me about with lies, and the house of Israel with deceit: but JUDAH yet ruleth with God, and is faithful with the saints". (Hosea 11; 12). "Ephraim is the strength of mine head; Judah is my LAWGIVER" (Psalms 60; 9, 108; 90). "The scepter shall not depart from Judah nor a lawgiver from between his feet." (Genesis 49; 10). In the last days the righteousness of the faith of Judah will be acknowledged: “In those days ten men out of all the languages of the nations, even shall take hold of the skirt of him that is a Jew, saying, We will go with you: for we have heard that God is with you" (Zechariah 8; 23). Historically, the Jews of Judah were often senselessly hated, persecuted, and despised. Isaiah had predicted this situation: "He is despised and rejected of men: a man of sorrows...he was despised and we esteemed him not...he hath borne our griefs and carried our sorrows yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God and afflicted..he opened not his mouth, as a lamb to the slaughter...the LORD hath laid upon him the iniquity of us all" (Isaiah ch.53). The Jew is the servant of God and the witness to Monotheism: "Ye are my witnesses and my servant whom I hath chosen. Before me there was no God formed NEITHER SHALL THERE BE AFTER ME" (Isaiah 42; 10). Because the Jew refused to acknowledge conventional lies and deny the Truth of the Biblical Promises and the Oneness of God, he was persecuted: "...For thy sake are we killed all the day long; we are counted as sheep for the slaughter" (Psalm 44; 22). Hatred for the Jews is termed "Antisemitism" though so called "Semitic" peoples (such as the Arabs) are often as "Antisemitic" (i.e. Jew-hating) as any others. Anti-semitism is a form of mental sickness that amongst more intelligent sufferers requires some modicum of rational justification. This justification is provided by faults, real or imagined, which reflect more on the haters than on the hated. Jewish behavior and attitudes very often are of necessity formed by reaction to the conditions imposed upon them in their host country. At all events, if the Jew or his immediate ancestors had not been faithful to the One True God he would not be now susceptible to victimization. The Bible repeats this essential truth and warns the nations: "He will avenge the blood of his servants" (Deuteronomy 32;43). "He that toucheth you, toucheth the apple of his eye" (Zechariah 2; 8): also understandable as meaning "He that touches you, touches the apple of His [i.e. God's] eye". "I am very sore displeased with the heathen...for I was but a little displeased, and they helped forward the affliction" ([Zechariaharia 1; 15). "The sons also of them that afflicted thee shall come bending unto thee" (Isaiah 60; 14). Judah was destined to maintain the LAW and as the JEWISH PEOPLE alone out of all the TRIBES) not to transgress the First and Second commandments. He was not to admit any other God but the ONE GOD OF ISRAEL and not to accept any intermediaries between the ONE GOD and themselves. Judah was destined to suffer largely due to the faults of others but in the end Judah will be rewarded and his oppressors punished. The persecutors of Judah will be forced to acknowledge their mistake: By harming Judah it was as if they had harmed the ONE GOD HIMSELF (Zechariah 2;8)! The Jewish people are an entity in its own right with its own internal characteristics. If the theory set forth in this present work is correct, and all the evidence strongly indicates that it is, it means that the JEWS and many of the peoples in northwest Europe are in a Biblical sense of the same stock and have a mutual destiny. The Lost Ten Tribes "from the north country, and from the coasts of the earth" (Jeremiah 31;8) are destined to re-unite with the Tribes of JUDAH: "They shall be no more two nations, neither shall they be divided into two kingdoms any more at all" (Ezekiel 37;22). The unity of origin and destined future union of the Jews with the Lost Ten Tribes of necessity indicates a need for the two bodies even now to evidence certain empathy towards each other. THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF JUDAH TO BE ACKNOWLEDGED BY THE OTHER TRIBES! When the Patriarch Israel was dying he blessed all of his sons. Concerning Judah he said: "Judah you are he whom thy brethren shall acknowledge the righteousness of: your hand shall be in the neck of your enemies; your father's children shall bow down to you" Genesis 49; 8. The words "shall acknowledge the righteousness of" in Hebrew are "Yoducha" and are translated in the KING JAMES as "shall praise" but in this case our translation is the more literal one. The Hebrew expression "Yoducha" even connotes "own up" or "acknowledge the righteousness of after a disagreement"! The brothers of Judah will acknowledge his righteousness!!!! [Zechariah 1:16] THEREFORE THUS SAITH THE LORD; I AM RETURNED TO JERUSALEM WITH MERCIES: MY HOUSE SHALL BE BUILT IN IT, SAITH THE LORD OF HOSTS, AND A LINE SHALL BE STRETCHED FORTH UPON JERUSALEM. MY HOUSE SHALL BE BUILT IN IT We will rebuild the Temple sooner or later. You can count on it. There will be a New Temple of the Living God of Israel soon (we hope) in Jerusalem. The old temple is still being destroyed. The Arabs are systematically excavating deep down and removing all traces of Jewish presence on the Temple Mount. They deny that the Temple Mount ever belonged to Judah. They will be punished and so will all those who support them and prevent us from rebuilding The Holy Temple. [Zechariah 1:17] CRY YET, SAYING, THUS SAITH THE LORD OF HOSTS; MY CITIES THROUGH PROSPERITY SHALL YET BE SPREAD ABROAD; AND THE LORD SHALL YET COMFORT ZION, AND SHALL YET CHOOSE JERUSALEM. According to some sources “Zion” is a code name for Joseph but this is a somewhat esoteric issue that we may return to later. At the moment we are moving according to the simple superficial meaning of the text. “Jerusalem” and “Zion” in most cases at the simple level are synonymous with Judah. [Zechariah 1:18] THEN LIFTED I UP MINE EYES, AND SAW, AND BEHOLD FOUR HORNS. [Zechariah 1:19] AND I SAID UNTO THE ANGEL THAT TALKED WITH ME, WHAT BE THESE? AND HE ANSWERED ME, THESE ARE THE HORNS WHICH HAVE SCATTERED JUDAH, ISRAEL, AND JERUSALEM. Note: “JUDAH, ISRAEL (i.e. the LTTs) , AND JERUSALEM. [Zechariah 1:20] AND THE LORD SHEWED ME FOUR CARPENTERS. [Zechariah 1:21] THEN SAID I, WHAT COME THESE TO DO? AND HE SPAKE, SAYING, THESE ARE THE HORNS WHICH HAVE SCATTERED JUDAH, SO THAT NO MAN DID LIFT UP HIS HEAD: BUT THESE ARE COME TO FRAY THEM, TO CAST OUT THE HORNS OF THE GENTILES, WHICH LIFTED UP THEIR HORN OVER THE LAND OF JUDAH TO SCATTER IT. Zechariah 1 no.2 [Zechariah 1:1] IN THE EIGHTH MONTH, IN THE SECOND YEAR OF DARIUS, CAME THE WORD OF THE LORD UNTO Zechariah, THE SON OF BERECHIAH, THE SON OF IDDO THE PROPHET, SAYING, [Zechariah 1:2] THE LORD HATH BEEN SORE DISPLEASED WITH YOUR FATHERS. [Zechariah 1:3] THEREFORE SAY THOU UNTO THEM, THUS SAITH THE LORD OF HOSTS; TURN YE UNTO ME, SAITH THE LORD OF HOSTS, AND I WILL TURN UNTO YOU, SAITH THE LORD OF HOSTS. [Zechariah 1:4] BE YE NOT AS YOUR FATHERS, UNTO WHOM THE FORMER PROPHETS HAVE CRIED, SAYING, THUS SAITH THE LORD OF HOSTS; TURN YE NOW FROM YOUR EVIL WAYS, AND FROM YOUR EVIL DOINGS: BUT THEY DID NOT HEAR, NOR HEARKEN UNTO ME, SAITH THE LORD. [Zechariah 1:5] YOUR FATHERS, WHERE ARE THEY? AND THE PROPHETS, DO THEY LIVE FOR EVER? [Zechariah 1:6] BUT MY WORDS AND MY STATUTES, WHICH I COMMANDED MY SERVANTS THE PROPHETS, DID THEY NOT TAKE HOLD OF YOUR FATHERS? AND THEY RETURNED AND SAID, LIKE AS THE LORD OF HOSTS THOUGHT TO DO UNTO US, ACCORDING TO OUR WAYS, AND ACCORDING TO OUR DOINGS, SO HATH HE DEALT WITH US. [Zechariah 1:7] UPON THE FOUR AND TWENTIETH DAY OF THE ELEVENTH MONTH, WHICH IS THE MONTH SEBAT, IN THE SECOND YEAR OF DARIUS, CAME THE WORD OF THE LORD UNTO Zechariah, THE SON OF BERECHIAH, THE SON OF IDDO THE PROPHET, SAYING, [Zechariah 1:8] I SAW BY NIGHT, AND BEHOLD A MAN RIDING UPON A RED HORSE, AND HE STOOD AMONG THE MYRTLE TREES THAT WERE IN THE BOTTOM; AND BEHIND HIM WERE THERE RED HORSES, SPECKLED, AND WHITE. [Zechariah 1:9] THEN SAID I, O MY LORD, WHAT ARE THESE? AND THE ANGEL THAT TALKED WITH ME SAID UNTO ME, I WILL SHEW THEE WHAT THESE BE. [Zechariah 1:10] AND THE MAN THAT STOOD AMONG THE MYRTLE TREES ANSWERED AND SAID, THESE ARE THEY WHOM THE LORD HATH SENT TO WALK TO AND FRO THROUGH THE EARTH. [Zechariah 1:11] AND THEY ANSWERED THE ANGEL OF THE LORD THAT STOOD AMONG THE MYRTLE TREES, AND SAID, WE HAVE WALKED TO AND FRO THROUGH THE EARTH, AND, BEHOLD, ALL THE EARTH SITTETH STILL, AND IS AT REST. [Zechariah 1:12] THEN THE ANGEL OF THE LORD ANSWERED AND SAID, O LORD OF HOSTS, HOW LONG WILT THOU NOT HAVE MERCY ON JERUSALEM AND ON THE CITIES OF JUDAH, AGAINST WHICH THOU HAST HAD INDIGNATION THESE THREESCORE AND TEN YEARS? [Zechariah 1:13] AND THE LORD ANSWERED THE ANGEL THAT TALKED WITH ME WITH GOOD WORDS AND COMFORTABLE WORDS. [Zechariah 1:14] SO THE ANGEL THAT COMMUNED WITH ME SAID UNTO ME, CRY THOU, SAYING, THUS SAITH THE LORD OF HOSTS; I AM JEALOUS FOR JERUSALEM AND FOR ZION WITH A GREAT JEALOUSY. [Zechariah 1:15] AND I AM VERY SORE DISPLEASED WITH THE HEATHEN THAT ARE AT EASE: FOR I WAS BUT A LITTLE DISPLEASED, AND THEY HELPED FORWARD THE AFFLICTION. [Zechariah 1:16] THEREFORE THUS SAITH THE LORD; I AM RETURNED TO JERUSALEM WITH MERCIES: MY HOUSE SHALL BE BUILT IN IT, SAITH THE LORD OF HOSTS, AND A LINE SHALL BE STRETCHED FORTH UPON JERUSALEM. “MY HOUSE SHALL BE BUILT IN IT”. The Temple will be rebuilt. It is hoped that a future series of articles dealing with the future Temple will appear in the magazine BRIT-AM. <<If the nations of the world would only have known how much they benefited from the Temple they would have surrounded it with camps of soldiers and fortresses [kastrios] in order to protect it. They were benefiting from it more than Israel, as Solomon requested in his prayer (1-Kings 8;41), "Concerning a stranger that is not of your people Israel...when he shall come and pray towards this house...do according to all that the stranger calls to you for...>> (Midrash Numbers Rabah 1:4). With the help of the Almighty we will rebuild the Temple and those who sought to prevent us from doing so will be punished along with the wicked. [Zechariah 1:17] CRY YET, SAYING, THUS SAITH THE LORD OF HOSTS; MY CITIES THROUGH PROSPERITY SHALL YET BE SPREAD ABROAD; AND THE LORD SHALL YET COMFORT ZION, AND SHALL YET CHOOSE JERUSALEM. Jerusalem is the chosen city and capital of all Israel. It one day will be the capital city of the whole world but it still belongs only to Judah and Israel – and not to the Arabs, or the Vatican, or anybody else. Anybody who says otherwise is uttering “a terminological inexactitude.” [Zechariah 1:18] THEN LIFTED I UP MINE EYES, AND SAW, AND BEHOLD FOUR HORNS. [Zechariah 1:19] AND I SAID UNTO THE ANGEL THAT TALKED WITH ME, WHAT BE THESE? AND HE ANSWERED ME, THESE ARE THE HORNS WHICH HAVE SCATTERED JUDAH, ISRAEL, AND JERUSALEM. <“ISRAEL” :the People of Israel meaning the Ten Tribes who were exiled first by the king of Assyria and Jerusalem later by Titus..> Mean Loaz (R”M Dito) [Zechariah 1:20] AND THE LORD SHEWED ME FOUR CARPENTERS. [Zechariah 1:21] THEN SAID I, WHAT COME THESE TO DO? AND HE SPAKE, SAYING, THESE ARE THE HORNS WHICH HAVE SCATTERED JUDAH, SO THAT NO MAN DID LIFT UP HIS HEAD: BUT THESE ARE COME TO FRAY THEM, TO CAST OUT THE HORNS OF THE GENTILES, WHICH LIFTED UP THEIR HORN OVER THE LAND OF JUDAH TO SCATTER IT. Four “Carpenters” against four horns. The horns represent the Kingdoms of the world. According to the Abarbanel (1437-1509) they represent the final progressive divisions of the Roman Empire. Abarbanel traces these progressions from Rome to Byzantine to Charlemagne’s Empire which Abarbanel sees as having been centered on France and from there to Germany which became the center of the Holy Roman Empire.. He implies that the final powers of opposition to God in the Last days will be centered on Germany. Abarbanel (on Zechariah chapter two) quotes from a tradition of the Jews of Germany that the Messiah will come from the Jews there or will go there when he first reveals himself since in that place will be concentrated the forces of antagonism. The Abarbanel was correct in many matters, he knew his sources and was often inspired but he never claimed to be a Prophet. He would have been the first to recognize the existence of other opinions in contradiction to his own. The Talmud (Succah 52;b) says that the “Four carpenters” who will come to save Israel and Judah are The Messiah Son of David, the Messiah Son of Joseph (future redeemer and head of the Lost Ten Tribes), Eliyahu, and the Righteous Priest. The impression is that: The Messiah Son of David means the future religious leader and eventual supreme ruler of all Israel. The “Messiah” of tradition. The Messiah Son of Joseph means the future head of the Ten Tribes and also represents responsibility for rebuilding the physical and military infrastructure of restored Israel. Eliyahu brings Israel back to their roots and arouses awareness of Tribal Identity amongst all Israel (“the heart of the children to their fathers” Malachi 4;6). We are still waiting for him. The Righteous Priest (“Cohen” = Priest in Hebrew) is a figure of Melchizedek (Genesis 14;18) and therefore perhaps a leader of the righteous amongst non-Israelite peoples. Zechariah 2 [Zechariah 2:1] I LIFTED UP MINE EYES AGAIN, AND LOOKED, AND BEHOLD A MAN WITH A MEASURING LINE IN HIS HAND. [Zechariah 2:2] THEN SAID I, WHITHER GOEST THOU? AND HE SAID UNTO ME, TO MEASURE JERUSALEM, TO SEE WHAT IS THE BREADTH THEREOF, AND WHAT IS THE LENGTH THEREOF. [Zechariah 2:3] AND, BEHOLD, THE ANGEL THAT TALKED WITH ME WENT FORTH, AND ANOTHER ANGEL WENT OUT TO MEET HIM, [Zechariah 2:4] AND SAID UNTO HIM, RUN, SPEAK TO THIS YOUNG MAN, SAYING, JERUSALEM SHALL BE INHABITED AS TOWNS WITHOUT WALLS FOR THE MULTITUDE OF MEN AND CATTLE THEREIN: “JERUSALEM SHALL BE INHABITED AS TOWNS WITHOUT WALLS”: The traditional Commentary “Meam Loaz” says on this verse: “When they were allowed to return from Babylon the Ten Tribes did not return only some of Judah and Benjamin and a minority of them. Most remained in their places of exile. In the future however all the tribes that were exiled to the north, and are still hidden in the north, will return.” [Mean Loaz (R”M Ditho)]. [Zechariah 2:5] FOR I, SAITH THE LORD, WILL BE UNTO HER A WALL OF FIRE ROUND ABOUT, AND WILL BE THE GLORY IN THE MIDST OF HER. [Zechariah 2:6] HO, HO, COME FORTH, AND FLEE FROM THE LAND OF THE NORTH, SAITH THE LORD: FOR I HAVE SPREAD YOU ABROAD AS THE FOUR WINDS OF THE HEAVEN, SAITH THE LORD. [Zechariah 2:7] DELIVER THYSELF, O ZION, THAT DWELLEST WITH THE DAUGHTER OF BABYLON. [Zechariah 2:8] FOR THUS SAITH THE LORD OF HOSTS; AFTER THE GLORY HATH HE SENT ME UNTO THE NATIONS WHICH SPOILED YOU: FOR HE THAT TOUCHETH YOU TOUCHETH THE APPLE OF HIS EYE. This means that anybody who persecutes the Jews is considered by God as if they attempted to harm the very eye of God Himself! [Zechariah 2:9] FOR, BEHOLD, I WILL SHAKE MINE HAND UPON THEM, AND THEY SHALL BE A SPOIL TO THEIR SERVANTS: AND YE SHALL KNOW THAT THE LORD OF HOSTS HATH SENT ME. Retribution is coming. [Zechariah 2:10] SING AND REJOICE, O DAUGHTER OF ZION: FOR, LO, I COME, AND I WILL DWELL IN THE MIDST OF THEE, SAITH THE LORD. [Zechariah 2:11] AND MANY NATIONS SHALL BE JOINED TO THE LORD IN THAT DAY, AND SHALL BE MY PEOPLE: AND I WILL DWELL IN THE MIDST OF THEE, AND THOU SHALT KNOW THAT THE LORD OF HOSTS HATH SENT ME UNTO THEE. [Zechariah 2:12] AND THE LORD SHALL INHERIT JUDAH HIS PORTION IN THE HOLY LAND, AND SHALL CHOOSE JERUSALEM AGAIN. Note: “ JUDAH HIS PORTION IN THE HOLY LAND” – the return of the Jews to the Holy Land is the will of God. Anybody who tries to undermine or weaken this return will have to give an account for it before the Almighty! [Zechariah 2:13] BE SILENT, O ALL FLESH, BEFORE THE LORD: FOR HE IS RAISED UP OUT OF HIS HOLY HABITATION. Zechariah-3 [Zechariah 3:1] AND HE SHEWED ME JOSHUA THE HIGH PRIEST STANDING BEFORE THE ANGEL OF THE LORD, AND SATAN STANDING AT HIS RIGHT HAND TO RESIST HIM. [Zechariah 3:2] AND THE LORD SAID UNTO SATAN, THE LORD REBUKE THEE, O SATAN; EVEN THE LORD THAT HATH CHOSEN JERUSALEM REBUKE THEE: IS NOT THIS A BRAND PLUCKED OUT OF THE FIRE? [Zechariah 3:3] NOW JOSHUA WAS CLOTHED WITH FILTHY GARMENTS, AND STOOD BEFORE THE ANGEL. [Zechariah 3:4] AND HE ANSWERED AND SPAKE UNTO THOSE THAT STOOD BEFORE HIM, SAYING, TAKE AWAY THE FILTHY GARMENTS FROM HIM. AND UNTO HIM HE SAID, BEHOLD, I HAVE CAUSED THINE INIQUITY TO PASS FROM THEE, AND I WILL CLOTHE THEE WITH CHANGE OF RAIMENT. [Zechariah 3:5] AND I SAID, LET THEM SET A FAIR MITRE UPON HIS HEAD. SO THEY SET A FAIR MITRE UPON HIS HEAD, AND CLOTHED HIM WITH GARMENTS. AND THE ANGEL OF THE LORD STOOD BY. [Zechariah 3:6] AND THE ANGEL OF THE LORD PROTESTED UNTO JOSHUA, SAYING, [Zechariah 3:7] THUS SAITH THE LORD OF HOSTS; IF THOU WILT WALK IN MY WAYS, AND IF THOU WILT KEEP MY CHARGE, THEN THOU SHALT ALSO JUDGE MY HOUSE, AND SHALT ALSO KEEP MY COURTS, AND I WILL GIVE THEE PLACES TO WALK AMONG THESE THAT STAND BY. "TO WALK AMONG THESE THAT STAND BY" : Among the angels. Through the Temple Service contact with Heaven is obtainable! Cf. Malachi 2;7 [Zechariah 3:8] HEAR NOW, O JOSHUA THE HIGH PRIEST, THOU, AND THY FELLOWS THAT SIT BEFORE THEE: FOR THEY ARE MEN WONDERED AT: FOR, BEHOLD, I WILL BRING FORTH MY SERVANT THE BRANCH. [Zechariah 3:9] FOR BEHOLD THE STONE THAT I HAVE LAID BEFORE JOSHUA; UPON ONE STONE SHALL BE SEVEN EYES: BEHOLD, I WILL ENGRAVE THE GRAVING THEREOF, SAITH THE LORD OF HOSTS, AND I WILL REMOVE THE INIQUITY OF THAT LAND IN ONE DAY. [Zechariah 3:10] IN THAT DAY, SAITH THE LORD OF HOSTS, SHALL YE CALL EVERY MAN HIS NEIGHBOUR UNDER THE VINE AND UNDER THE FIG TREE. Zechariah 4 [Zechariah 4:1] AND THE ANGEL THAT TALKED WITH ME CAME AGAIN, AND WAKED ME, AS A MAN THAT IS WAKENED OUT OF HIS SLEEP. [Zechariah 4:2] AND SAID UNTO ME, WHAT SEEST THOU? AND I SAID, I HAVE LOOKED, AND BEHOLD A CANDLESTICK ALL OF GOLD, WITH A BOWL UPON THE TOP OF IT, AND HIS SEVEN LAMPS THEREON, AND SEVEN PIPES TO THE SEVEN LAMPS, WHICH ARE UPON THE TOP THEREOF: [Zechariah 4:3] AND TWO OLIVE TREES BY IT, ONE UPON THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE BOWL, AND THE OTHER UPON THE LEFT SIDE THEREOF. [Zechariah 4:4] SO I ANSWERED AND SPAKE TO THE ANGEL THAT TALKED WITH ME, SAYING, WHAT ARE THESE, MY LORD? [Zechariah 4:5] THEN THE ANGEL THAT TALKED WITH ME ANSWERED AND SAID UNTO ME, KNOWEST THOU NOT WHAT THESE BE? AND I SAID, NO, MY LORD. [Zechariah 4:6] THEN HE ANSWERED AND SPAKE UNTO ME, SAYING, THIS IS THE WORD OF THE LORD UNTO ZERUBBABEL, SAYING, NOT BY MIGHT, NOR BY POWER, BUT BY MY SPIRIT, SAITH THE LORD OF HOSTS. [Zechariah 4:7] WHO ART THOU, O GREAT MOUNTAIN? BEFORE ZERUBBABEL THOU SHALT BECOME A PLAIN: AND HE SHALL BRING FORTH THE HEADSTONE THEREOF WITH SHOUTINGS, CRYING, GRACE, GRACE UNTO IT. [Zechariah 4:8] MOREOVER THE WORD OF THE LORD CAME UNTO ME, SAYING, [Zechariah 4:9] THE HANDS OF ZERUBBABEL HAVE LAID THE FOUNDATION OF THIS HOUSE; HIS HANDS SHALL ALSO FINISH IT; AND THOU SHALT KNOW THAT THE LORD OF HOSTS HATH SENT ME UNTO YOU. [Zechariah 4:10] FOR WHO HATH DESPISED THE DAY OF SMALL THINGS? FOR THEY SHALL REJOICE, AND SHALL SEE THE PLUMMET IN THE HAND OF ZERUBBABEL WITH THOSE SEVEN; THEY ARE THE EYES OF THE LORD, WHICH RUN TO AND FRO THROUGH THE WHOLE EARTH. [Zechariah 4:11] THEN ANSWERED I, AND SAID UNTO HIM, WHAT ARE THESE TWO OLIVE TREES UPON THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE CANDLESTICK AND UPON THE LEFT SIDE THEREOF? [Zechariah 4:12] AND I ANSWERED AGAIN, AND SAID UNTO HIM, WHAT BE THESE TWO OLIVE BRANCHES WHICH THROUGH THE TWO GOLDEN PIPES EMPTY THE GOLDEN OIL OUT OF THEMSELVES? [Zechariah 4:13] AND HE ANSWERED ME AND SAID, KNOWEST THOU NOT WHAT THESE BE? AND I SAID, NO, MY LORD. [Zechariah 4:14] THEN SAID HE, THESE ARE THE TWO ANOINTED ONES, THAT STAND BY THE LORD OF THE WHOLE EARTH. THE TWO ANOINTED ONES were understood to be High Priest and the Anoinited Prince of the House of David. Both of these were anointed with sanctified olive oil. Kings who were not of the House of David are usually held to have been anointed not with olive oil but with “Afarsimon” (?) (“Persimon”?) oil For which Israel was famous. In Hebrew “anointed” is Mashiach commonly translated as Messiah. In the Last Days the House of Judah (the Jews) will be led by a Messiah of the House of David and the Lost Ten Tribes by a Messiah son of Joseph. After that they will unite. In the 3rd (coming) issue of BRIT-AM there is an article about the Messiah son of Joseph and the Lost Ten Tribes. Attributes pertained to the Messiah son of Joseph help us confirm which peoples the Lost Ten Tribes today must be identified with. [Zechariahariah 5 [Zechariah 5:1] THEN I TURNED, AND LIFTED UP MINE EYES, AND LOOKED, AND BEHOLD A FLYING ROLL. [Zechariah 5:2] AND HE SAID UNTO ME, WHAT SEEST THOU? AND I ANSWERED, I SEE A FLYING ROLL; THE LENGTH THEREOF IS TWENTY CUBITS, AND THE BREADTH THEREOF TEN CUBITS. [Zechariah 5:3] THEN SAID HE UNTO ME, THIS IS THE CURSE THAT GOETH FORTH OVER THE FACE OF THE WHOLE EARTH: FOR EVERY ONE THAT STEALETH SHALL BE CUT OFF AS ON THIS SIDE ACCORDING TO IT; AND EVERY ONE THAT SWEARETH SHALL BE CUT OFF AS ON THAT SIDE ACCORDING TO IT. [Zechariah 5:4] I WILL BRING IT FORTH, SAITH THE LORD OF HOSTS, AND IT SHALL ENTER INTO THE HOUSE OF THE THIEF, AND INTO THE HOUSE OF HIM THAT SWEARETH FALSELY BY MY NAME: AND IT SHALL REMAIN IN THE MIDST OF HIS HOUSE, AND SHALL CONSUME IT WITH THE TIMBER THEREOF AND THE STONES THEREOF. [Zechariah 5:5] THEN THE ANGEL THAT TALKED WITH ME WENT FORTH, AND SAID UNTO ME, LIFT UP NOW THINE EYES, AND SEE WHAT IS THIS THAT GOETH FORTH. [Zechariah 5:6] AND I SAID, WHAT IS IT? AND HE SAID, THIS IS AN EPHAH THAT GOETH FORTH. HE SAID MOREOVER, THIS IS THEIR RESEMBLANCE THROUGH ALL THE EARTH. “Ephah” is a kind of basket. [Zechariah 5:7] AND, BEHOLD, THERE WAS LIFTED UP A TALENT OF LEAD: AND THIS IS A WOMAN THAT SITTETH IN THE MIDST OF THE EPHAH. [Zechariah 5:8] AND HE SAID, THIS IS WICKEDNESS. AND HE CAST IT INTO THE MIDST OF THE EPHAH; AND HE CAST THE WEIGHT OF LEAD UPON THE MOUTH THEREOF. [Zechariah 5:9] THEN LIFTED I UP MINE EYES, AND LOOKED, AND, BEHOLD, THERE CAME OUT TWO WOMEN, AND THE WIND WAS IN THEIR WINGS; FOR THEY HAD WINGS LIKE THE WINGS OF A STORK: AND THEY LIFTED UP THE EPHAH BETWEEN THE EARTH AND THE HEAVEN. [Zechariah 5:10] THEN SAID I TO THE ANGEL THAT TALKED WITH ME, WHITHER DO THESE BEAR THE EPHAH? [Zechariah 5:11] AND HE SAID UNTO ME, TO BUILD IT AN HOUSE IN THE LAND OF SHINAR: AND IT SHALL BE ESTABLISHED, AND SET THERE UPON HER OWN BASE. Zechariah-6 [Zechariah 6:1] AND I TURNED, AND LIFTED UP MINE EYES, AND LOOKED, AND, BEHOLD, THERE CAME FOUR CHARIOTS OUT FROM BETWEEN TWO MOUNTAINS; AND THE MOUNTAINS WERE MOUNTAINS OF BRASS. [Zechariah 6:2] IN THE FIRST CHARIOT WERE RED HORSES; AND IN THE SECOND CHARIOT BLACK HORSES; [Zechariah 6:3] AND IN THE THIRD CHARIOT WHITE HORSES; AND IN THE FOURTH CHARIOT GRISLED AND BAY HORSES. [Zechariah 6:4] THEN I ANSWERED AND SAID UNTO THE ANGEL THAT TALKED WITH ME, WHAT ARE THESE, MY LORD? [Zechariah 6:5] AND THE ANGEL ANSWERED AND SAID UNTO ME, THESE ARE THE FOUR SPIRITS OF THE HEAVENS, WHICH GO FORTH FROM STANDING BEFORE THE LORD OF ALL THE EARTH. [Zechariah 6:6] THE BLACK HORSES WHICH ARE THEREIN GO FORTH INTO THE NORTH COUNTRY; AND THE WHITE GO FORTH AFTER THEM; AND THE GRISLED GO FORTH TOWARD THE SOUTH COUNTRY. [Zechariah 6:7] AND THE BAY WENT FORTH, AND SOUGHT TO GO THAT THEY MIGHT WALK TO AND FRO THROUGH THE EARTH: AND HE SAID, GET YOU HENCE, WALK TO AND FRO THROUGH THE EARTH. SO THEY WALKED TO AND FRO THROUGH THE EARTH. [Zechariah 6:8] THEN CRIED HE UPON ME, AND SPAKE UNTO ME, SAYING, BEHOLD, THESE THAT GO TOWARD THE NORTH COUNTRY HAVE QUIETED MY SPIRIT IN THE NORTH COUNTRY. [Zechariah 6:9] AND THE WORD OF THE LORD CAME UNTO ME, SAYING, [Zechariah 6:10] TAKE OF THEM OF THE CAPTIVITY, EVEN OF HELDAI, OF TOBIJAH, AND OF JEDAIAH, WHICH ARE COME FROM BABYLON, AND COME THOU THE SAME DAY, AND GO INTO THE HOUSE OF JOSIAH THE SON OF ZEPHANIAH; [Zechariah 6:11] THEN TAKE SILVER AND GOLD, AND MAKE CROWNS, AND SET THEM UPON THE HEAD OF JOSHUA THE SON OF JOSEDECH, THE HIGH PRIEST; [Zechariah 6:12] AND SPEAK UNTO HIM, SAYING, THUS SPEAKETH THE LORD OF HOSTS, SAYING, BEHOLD THE MAN WHOSE NAME IS THE BRANCH; AND HE SHALL GROW UP OUT OF HIS PLACE, AND HE SHALL BUILD THE TEMPLE OF THE LORD: [Zechariah 6:13] EVEN HE SHALL BUILD THE TEMPLE OF THE LORD; AND HE SHALL BEAR THE GLORY, AND SHALL SIT AND RULE UPON HIS THRONE; AND HE SHALL BE A PRIEST UPON HIS THRONE: AND THE COUNSEL OF PEACE SHALL BE BETWEEN THEM BOTH. [Zechariah 6:14] AND THE CROWNS SHALL BE TO HELEM, AND TO TOBIJAH, AND TO JEDAIAH, AND TO HEN THE SON OF ZEPHANIAH, FOR A MEMORIAL IN THE TEMPLE OF THE LORD. [Zechariah 6:15] AND THEY THAT ARE FAR OFF SHALL COME AND BUILD IN THE TEMPLE OF THE LORD, AND YE SHALL KNOW THAT THE LORD OF HOSTS HATH SENT ME UNTO YOU. AND THIS SHALL COME TO PASS, IF YE WILL DILIGENTLY OBEY THE VOICE OF THE LORD YOUR GOD. The northern ten tribes of Israel were exiled by the Assyrians around 730-720 BCE. Later in ca. 580 BCE the First Temple was destroyed and the Jews of the southern kingdom of Judah were also exiled by the Babylonians. The Persians conquered the Babylonians and gave the Jews of Judah permission to return and rebuild the temple. About 40,000 Jews did return and did rebuild the Temple. Later other Jews joined them though most remained in their places of exile. None of the Ten Tribes had ever returned. Zechariah was amongst those who returned at first from Babylonian. His book speaks of events connected with the early period of rebuilding BUT here and there it diverges and speaks of the future. OR it uses contemporary events as symbolic of the future. Abarbanel (1437-1509) said that the Jewish exiles in Babylon did not show sufficient respect for the Second Temple for seven reasons: 1. They knew that the Presence of God would be less apparent there than it formerly had been. 2. They were not sure whether the re-settlement in the land of Judah would last. 3. “There was not a complete ingathering of the exiles there. Not of the Ten Tribes who had been exiled and did not return and neither of the exiled of Judah who had gone off and been scattered to Egypt, Amon, Moab, Greece, France, Spain, and the other lands of the west. 4. The land had deteriorated. 5. The descendants of Judah and Israel were everywhere held in contempt. 6. The non-Israelite Cutheans [i.e. “Samaritans”] controlled much of the Land. 7. There was no king over them of the House of David. Zerubabel indeed was descended from David and he had been given authority over then BUT they knew he would have to shortly return to Babylon. Malbim (1809-1879): “AND THEY THAT ARE FAR OFF SHALL COME” [Zechariah 6:15]. ..these are those of Israel who are now far away and did not return at the time of the Second Temple.They will be aroused and will go up in one mass AND BUILD IN THE TEMPLE OF THE LORD. Then YE SHALL KNOW THAT THE LORD OF HOSTS HATH SENT ME UNTO YOU. This will happen when the goals that God sent me to prophesy about will be fulfilled. This however is dependent upon your actions , IF YE WILL DILIGENTLY OBEY THE VOICE OF THE LORD YOUR GOD. Then the goals will be realized immediately [if you better your deeds] and those who are far away will come back and the outcasts of Israel will be ingathered. They will rebuild the Temple of God and the glory of the past will return. Note: “outcasts of Israel” (cf. Isaiah 11;12) are explained to be the Lost Ten Tribes as distinct from the scattered of Judah who will also be ingathered. The Malbim himself frequently emphasizes the importance of the LTTs in the future redemption. Settlement in the Land requires KEEPING THE LAW. The LTTs will return to keep the Law. An attempt will be made to discuss these two issues quite thoroughly in future issues of BRIT-AM. Zechariah-7 [Zechariah 7:1] AND IT CAME TO PASS IN THE FOURTH YEAR OF KING DARIUS, THAT THE WORD OF THE LORD CAME UNTO ZECHARIAH IN THE FOURTH DAY OF THE NINTH MONTH, EVEN IN CHISLEU; [Zechariah 7:2] WHEN THEY HAD SENT UNTO THE HOUSE OF GOD SHEREZER AND REGEMMELECH, AND THEIR MEN, TO PRAY BEFORE THE LORD, [Zechariah 7:3] AND TO SPEAK UNTO THE PRIESTS WHICH WERE IN THE HOUSE OF THE LORD OF HOSTS, AND TO THE PROPHETS, SAYING, SHOULD I WEEP IN THE FIFTH MONTH, SEPARATING MYSELF, AS I HAVE DONE THESE SO MANY YEARS? [Zechariah 7:4] THEN CAME THE WORD OF THE LORD OF HOSTS UNTO ME, SAYING, [Zechariah 7:5] SPEAK UNTO ALL THE PEOPLE OF THE LAND, AND TO THE PRIESTS, SAYING, WHEN YE FASTED AND MOURNED IN THE FIFTH AND SEVENTH MONTH, EVEN THOSE SEVENTY YEARS, DID YE AT ALL FAST UNTO ME, EVEN TO ME? [Zechariah 7:6] AND WHEN YE DID EAT, AND WHEN YE DID DRINK, DID NOT YE EAT FOR YOURSELVES, AND DRINK FOR YOURSELVES? [Zechariah 7:7] SHOULD YE NOT HEAR THE WORDS WHICH THE LORD HATH CRIED BY THE FORMER PROPHETS, WHEN JERUSALEM WAS INHABITED AND IN PROSPERITY, AND THE CITIES THEREOF ROUND ABOUT HER, WHEN MEN INHABITED THE SOUTH AND THE PLAIN? [Zechariah 7:8] AND THE WORD OF THE LORD CAME UNTO ZECHARIAH, SAYING, [Zechariah 7:9] THUS SPEAKETH THE LORD OF HOSTS, SAYING, EXECUTE TRUE JUDGMENT, AND SHEW MERCY AND COMPASSIONS EVERY MAN TO HIS BROTHER: [Zechariah 7:10] AND OPPRESS NOT THE WIDOW, NOR THE FATHERLESS, THE STRANGER, NOR THE POOR; AND LET NONE OF YOU IMAGINE EVIL AGAINST HIS BROTHER IN YOUR HEART. [Zechariah 7:11] BUT THEY REFUSED TO HEARKEN, AND PULLED AWAY THE SHOULDER, AND STOPPED THEIR EARS, THAT THEY SHOULD NOT HEAR. [Zechariah 7:12] YEA, THEY MADE THEIR HEARTS AS AN ADAMANT STONE, LEST THEY SHOULD HEAR THE LAW, AND THE WORDS WHICH THE LORD OF HOSTS HATH SENT IN HIS SPIRIT BY THE FORMER PROPHETS: THEREFORE CAME A GREAT WRATH FROM THE LORD OF HOSTS. [Zechariah 7:13] THEREFORE IT IS COME TO PASS, THAT AS HE CRIED, AND THEY WOULD NOT HEAR; SO THEY CRIED, AND I WOULD NOT HEAR, SAITH THE LORD OF HOSTS: [Zechariah 7:14] BUT I SCATTERED THEM WITH A WHIRLWIND AMONG ALL THE NATIONS WHOM THEY KNEW NOT. THUS THE LAND WAS DESOLATE AFTER THEM, THAT NO MAN PASSED THROUGH NOR RETURNED: FOR THEY LAID THE PLEASANT LAND DESOLATE “FOR THEY LAID THE PLEASANT LAND DESOLATE”: Because the Jews sinned the land was destroyed. And so was the Temple. God is angry at them not only for sinning but also for causing Him To destroy the land and the Temple and to exile His people. Now too, we are sinning and the Land is in danger of being destroyed. The USA helped Israel survive. It was a consistent ally and a true friend. Sometimes it was the only friend. My last posting described how the USA probably saved Israel From Russian invasion in the 6-day War. See the posting “historical interest” Also in the Yom Kippur War President Nixon probably saved Israel from a similar fate. At the same time the USA is at least at present partly responsible for installing the present Anti-Jewish government Israeli government headed by Barak (written some time between 2000-2001] against the democratic wishes of the majority of the Jewish People in Israel. The US Ambassador called “Indyke” actively and openly works against the Jewish presence in the Land of Israel. We had the best and bravest army in the world and they made us run away against our will from the worst evildoers that could be imagined. [Referring to the Israeli retreat from Lebanon in 2000]. From evil nasty nobodies with nazi-like ideologies and mindsets. A lot of our advantage in the past lay in the fear they had of us and our record for invincibility. This was broken for nothing. It was taken away out of sheer evil and stupidity. The present administration is an active enemy of the Jewish people. It is forcing us to act against the needs of our own survival. Every day we are being humiliated and seeing our soldiers and civilians shot and wounded by perverted infantiles. Nothing is being done about it. The will to do anything is being eroded systematically. Zechariah reminds us that such attitudes should not be. God will be angry if Israel is harmed even though our own sins may bring the harm to us if we do not repent. The agents of that harm will also bear responsibility. [Zechariah 8:1] AGAIN THE WORD OF THE LORD OF HOSTS CAME TO ME, SAYING, [Zechariah 8:2] THUS SAITH THE LORD OF HOSTS; I WAS JEALOUS FOR ZION WITH GREAT JEALOUSY, AND I WAS JEALOUS FOR HER WITH GREAT FURY. [Zechariah 8:3] THUS SAITH THE LORD; I AM RETURNED UNTO ZION, AND WILL DWELL IN THE MIDST OF JERUSALEM: AND JERUSALEM SHALL BE CALLED A CITY OF TRUTH; AND THE MOUNTAIN OF THE LORD OF HOSTS THE HOLY MOUNTAIN. [Zechariah 8:4] THUS SAITH THE LORD OF HOSTS; THERE SHALL YET OLD MEN AND OLD WOMEN DWELL IN THE STREETS OF JERUSALEM, AND EVERY MAN WITH HIS STAFF IN HIS HAND FOR VERY AGE. [Zechariah 8:5] AND THE STREETS OF THE CITY SHALL BE FULL OF BOYS AND GIRLS PLAYING IN THE STREETS THEREOF. [Zechariah 8:6] THUS SAITH THE LORD OF HOSTS; IF IT BE MARVELOUS IN THE EYES OF THE REMNANT OF THIS PEOPLE IN THESE DAYS, SHOULD IT ALSO BE MARVELOUS IN MINE EYES? SAITH THE LORD OF HOSTS. [Zechariah 8:7] THUS SAITH THE LORD OF HOSTS; BEHOLD, I WILL SAVE MY PEOPLE FROM THE EAST COUNTRY, AND FROM THE WEST COUNTRY; [Zechariah 8:8] AND I WILL BRING THEM, AND THEY SHALL DWELL IN THE MIDST OF JERUSALEM: AND THEY SHALL BE MY PEOPLE, AND I WILL BE THEIR GOD, IN TRUTH AND IN RIGHTEOUSNESS. [Zechariah 8:9] THUS SAITH THE LORD OF HOSTS; LET YOUR HANDS BE STRONG, YE THAT HEAR IN THESE DAYS THESE WORDS BY THE MOUTH OF THE PROPHETS, WHICH WERE IN THE DAY THAT THE FOUNDATION OF THE HOUSE OF THE LORD OF HOSTS WAS LAID, THAT THE TEMPLE MIGHT BE BUILT. [Zechariah 8:10] FOR BEFORE THESE DAYS THERE WAS NO HIRE FOR MAN, NOR ANY HIRE FOR BEAST; NEITHER WAS THERE ANY PEACE TO HIM THAT WENT OUT OR CAME IN BECAUSE OF THE AFFLICTION: FOR I SET ALL MEN EVERY ONE AGAINST HIS NEIGHBOUR. [Zechariah 8:11] BUT NOW I WILL NOT BE UNTO THE RESIDUE OF THIS PEOPLE AS IN THE FORMER DAYS, SAITH THE LORD OF HOSTS. [Zechariah 8:12] FOR THE SEED SHALL BE PROSPEROUS; THE VINE SHALL GIVE HER FRUIT, AND THE GROUND SHALL GIVE HER INCREASE, AND THE HEAVENS SHALL GIVE THEIR DEW; AND I WILL CAUSE THE REMNANT OF THIS PEOPLE TO POSSESS ALL THESE THINGS. [Zechariah 8:13] AND IT SHALL COME TO PASS, THAT AS YE WERE A CURSE AMONG THE HEATHEN, O HOUSE OF JUDAH, AND HOUSE OF ISRAEL; SO WILL I SAVE YOU, AND YE SHALL BE A BLESSING: FEAR NOT, BUT LET YOUR HANDS BE STRONG. “AS YE WERE A CURSE AMONG THE HEATHEN, O HOUSE OF JUDAH, AND HOUSE OF ISRAEL”: Usually when Judah and “Israel” are mentioned together in juxtaposition then “Judah” refers to the Jews and “Israel” to the Lost Ten Tribes. In this case however “Israel” probably refers to that section of the other tribes who were not exiled with the LTTs but remained attached to Judah or rejoined Judah (such as the Israelite Khazars and other righteous converts did) at a later date. [Zechariah 8:14] FOR THUS SAITH THE LORD OF HOSTS; AS I THOUGHT TO PUNISH YOU, WHEN YOUR FATHERS PROVOKED ME TO WRATH, SAITH THE LORD OF HOSTS, AND I REPENTED NOT: [Zechariah 8:15] SO AGAIN HAVE I THOUGHT IN THESE DAYS TO DO WELL UNTO JERUSALEM AND TO THE HOUSE OF JUDAH: FEAR YE NOT. [Zechariah 8:16] THESE ARE THE THINGS THAT YE SHALL DO; SPEAK YE EVERY MAN THE TRUTH TO HIS NEIGHBOUR; EXECUTE THE JUDGMENT OF TRUTH AND PEACE IN YOUR GATES: [Zechariah 8:17] AND LET NONE OF YOU IMAGINE EVIL IN YOUR HEARTS AGAINST HIS NEIGHBOUR; AND LOVE NO FALSE OATH: FOR ALL THESE ARE THINGS THAT I HATE, SAITH THE LORD. [Zechariah 8:18] AND THE WORD OF THE LORD OF HOSTS CAME UNTO ME, SAYING, [Zechariah 8:19] THUS SAITH THE LORD OF HOSTS; THE FAST OF THE FOURTH MONTH, AND THE FAST OF THE FIFTH, AND THE FAST OF THE SEVENTH, AND THE FAST OF THE TENTH, SHALL BE TO THE HOUSE OF JUDAH JOY AND GLADNESS, AND CHEERFUL FEASTS; THEREFORE LOVE THE TRUTH AND PEACE. These four fasts are the four days of mourning associated with the destruction of the Temple. When the Temple is rebuilt they will become feast days. These fasts are still kept by the present-day Jews who are descended from Judah. [Zechariah 8:20] THUS SAITH THE LORD OF HOSTS; IT SHALL YET COME TO PASS, THAT THERE SHALL COME PEOPLE, AND THE INHABITANTS OF MANY CITIES: [Zechariah 8:21] AND THE INHABITANTS OF ONE CITY SHALL GO TO ANOTHER, SAYING, LET US GO SPEEDILY TO PRAY BEFORE THE LORD, AND TO SEEK THE LORD OF HOSTS: I WILL GO ALSO. [Zechariah 8:22] YEA, MANY PEOPLE AND STRONG NATIONS SHALL COME TO SEEK THE LORD OF HOSTS IN JERUSALEM, AND TO PRAY BEFORE THE LORD. [Zechariah 8:23] THUS SAITH THE LORD OF HOSTS; IN THOSE DAYS IT SHALL COME TO PASS, THAT TEN MEN SHALL TAKE HOLD OUT OF ALL LANGUAGES OF THE NATIONS, EVEN SHALL TAKE HOLD OF THE SKIRT OF HIM THAT IS A JEW, SAYING, WE WILL GO WITH YOU: FOR WE HAVE HEARD THAT GOD IS WITH YOU. These “TEN MEN” probably represent all (or many of) the peoples of the world since it says “ OUT OF ALL LANGUAGES OF THE NATIONS”, Even so they may also represent the Lost TEN Tribes who will also wish to re-attach themselves to JUDAH, i.e. to someone “THAT IS A JEW, SAYING, WE WILL GO WITH YOU: FOR WE HAVE HEARD THAT GOD IS WITH YOU”. “ARE THE JEWS JEWISH?” Zechariah-8 no.2 There exist some so called “Identity” movements who do not really believe in “Identity” nor do they really believe in the Bible though they sometimes pretend to. These groups claim that the present-day Jews are not descended from Judah-but rather from Edomites or other people. They claim that the “true” descendants of Judah are the Germans! There are also Negro groups who say the same thing but in this case they state that the true Israelites are the black peoples! Both these groups are stupid but they do have some influence some times. Also otherwise quite well-meaning sensible people have sometimes gotten mixed up in them. In the case of the white “German”-oriented groups they have sometimes been a menace to us, misled otherwise good people, and also misled the public at large as to thinking that they represent “Identity Identity”. In Proverbs it says: “Answer not a fool according to his folly, lest thou also be like him. “Answer a fool according to his folly, lest he be wise in his own deceit” (Proverbs 26;4-5). In other words we do not have to reply to the claims of every misguided or deranged person. Nevertheless in some cases we should know enough to reply to them if necessary. Sometimes these people can push their opinion quite forcefully at an inopportune moment and it helps to have a ready answer. This chapter of Zechariah provides it! Zechariah says that the Jews of Judah prior to their final redemption will have endured a long history Of having been persecuted and treated with contempt. “AS YE WERE A CURSE AMONG THE HEATHEN, O HOUSE OF JUDAH, AND HOUSE OF ISRAEL” (Zechariah 8;13). That their religion will have been unique to them and that only at the latter days will it be acknowledged: [Zechariah 8:23] TEN MEN SHALL TAKE HOLD OUT OF ALL LANGUAGES OF THE NATIONS, EVEN SHALL TAKE HOLD OF THE SKIRT OF HIM THAT IS A JEW, SAYING, WE WILL GO WITH YOU: FOR WE HAVE HEARD THAT GOD IS WITH YOU. And that the days of mourning and fasting that they practiced will become feast days: [Zechariah 8:19] THE FAST OF THE FOURTH MONTH, - Tammuz. AND THE FAST OF THE FIFTH, - Av AND THE FAST OF THE SEVENTH, - Tishrei (Gedaliah) AND THE FAST OF THE TENTH, - Tebeth (Tevet). SHALL BE TO THE HOUSE OF JUDAH JOY AND GLADNESS, AND CHEERFUL FEASTS; THEREFORE LOVE THE TRUTH AND PEACE. Only the Jews were treated with contempt and persecuted throughout much of their history in exile. Only they kept the fast days listed by Zechariah. Only they kept the uniqueness of their belief which in the Last days will be acknowledged by everyone. If someone does not want to belief in the Bible, or to deny Bible truth, that is their problem but let them come out and say so openly. Scripture itself provides the answer to every question, great or small, profound or foolish, that anybody Can ever come up with. Zechariah-9 [Zechariah 9:1] THE BURDEN OF THE WORD OF THE LORD IN THE LAND OF HADRACH, AND DAMASCUS SHALL BE THE REST THEREOF: WHEN THE EYES OF MAN, AS OF ALL THE TRIBES OF ISRAEL, SHALL BE TOWARD THE LORD. The future borders of Israel shall reach beyond the Euphrates. As explained in “Lost Israelite Identity” The Biblical Damascus actually stood on the Euphrates. Hadrach was the center of Lias which land the Tribe of Dan once conquered (Judges chapter 18, see “Lost Israelite Identity” by Yair Davidy). [Zechariah 9:2] AND HAMATH ALSO SHALL BORDER THEREBY; TYRUS, AND ZIDON, THOUGH IT BE VERY WISE. [Zechariah 9:3] AND TYRUS DID BUILD HERSELF A STRONG HOLD, AND HEAPED UP SILVER AS THE DUST, AND FINE GOLD AS THE MIRE OF THE STREETS. Tyrus is Tyre the major Phoenecian city. Consider this extract from Abrabanel and aptly the principle mentioned to other passages: “Tyre that was adjacent to Israel has already been destroyed a long time ago…after it was destroyed…Venice was built by descendants of Tyre…all the descriptions and occupations that the Prophets applied to Tyre pertain to Venice that was built up from the people of Tyre in the image and form of Tyre after it having been destroyed”. Abarbanel wrote in the 1490s. Today his words may well be applicable to Japan. Tyre was a Phoenecian city populated by Canaanites and Edomites and Japan does have a Canaanite and Edomite components in its population. [Zechariah 9:4] BEHOLD, THE LORD WILL CAST HER OUT, AND HE WILL SMITE HER POWER IN THE SEA; AND SHE SHALL BE DEVOURED WITH FIRE. [Zechariah 9:5] ASHKELON SHALL SEE IT, AND FEAR; GAZA ALSO SHALL SEE IT, AND BE VERY SORROWFUL, AND EKRON; FOR HER EXPECTATION SHALL BE ASHAMED; AND THE KING SHALL PERISH FROM GAZA, AND ASHKELON SHALL NOT BE INHABITED. [Zechariah 9:6] AND A BASTARD SHALL DWELL IN ASHDOD, AND I WILL CUT OFF THE PRIDE OF THE PHILISTINES. [Zechariah 9:7] AND I WILL TAKE AWAY HIS BLOOD OUT OF HIS MOUTH, AND HIS ABOMINATIONS FROM BETWEEN HIS TEETH: BUT HE THAT REMAINETH, EVEN HE, SHALL BE FOR OUR GOD, AND HE SHALL BE AS A GOVERNOR IN JUDAH, AND EKRON AS A JEBUSITE. [Zechariah 9:8] AND I WILL ENCAMP ABOUT MINE HOUSE BECAUSE OF THE ARMY, BECAUSE OF HIM THAT PASSETH BY, AND BECAUSE OF HIM THAT RETURNETH: AND NO OPPRESSOR SHALL PASS THROUGH THEM ANY MORE: FOR NOW HAVE I SEEN WITH MINE EYES. [Zechariah 9:9] REJOICE GREATLY, O DAUGHTER OF ZION; SHOUT, O DAUGHTER OF JERUSALEM: BEHOLD, THY KING COMETH UNTO THEE: HE IS JUST, AND HAVING SALVATION; LOWLY, AND RIDING UPON AN ASS, AND UPON A COLT THE FOAL OF AN ASS. [Zechariah 9:10] AND I WILL CUT OFF THE CHARIOT FROM EPHRAIM, AND THE HORSE FROM JERUSALEM, AND THE BATTLE BOW SHALL BE CUT OFF: AND HE SHALL SPEAK PEACE UNTO THE HEATHEN: AND HIS DOMINION SHALL BE FROM SEA EVEN TO SEA, AND FROM THE RIVER EVEN TO THE ENDS OF THE EARTH. [Zechariah 9:11] AS FOR THEE ALSO, BY THE BLOOD OF THY COVENANT I HAVE SENT FORTH THY PRISONERS OUT OF THE PIT WHEREIN IS NO WATER. [Zechariah 9:12] TURN YOU TO THE STRONG HOLD, YE PRISONERS OF HOPE: EVEN TO DAY DO I DECLARE THAT I WILL RENDER DOUBLE UNTO THEE; [Zechariah 9:13] WHEN I HAVE BENT JUDAH FOR ME, FILLED THE BOW WITH EPHRAIM, AND RAISED UP THY SONS, O ZION, AGAINST THY SONS, O GREECE, AND MADE THEE AS THE SWORD OF A MIGHTY MAN. Some Commentators saw this prophecy as pertaining both to the days of the Maccabees and to the last days. The word translated as “Greece” here is “Yavan”. In 18the century Rabbinic literature the Cossacks of the Ukraine and Russia were sometimes referred to as “Yavan” perhaps because they were distinguished as belonging to the Greek branch of the Catholic Church. Others have identified Yavan with Japan. A similarity between the early Minoan Greeks and some of the Japanese does exist.
[Zechariah 9:14] AND THE LORD SHALL BE SEEN OVER THEM, AND HIS ARROW SHALL GO FORTH AS THE LIGHTNING: AND THE LORD GOD SHALL BLOW THE TRUMPET, AND SHALL GO WITH WHIRLWINDS OF THE SOUTH. [Zechariah 9:15] THE LORD OF HOSTS SHALL DEFEND THEM; AND THEY SHALL DEVOUR, AND SUBDUE WITH SLING STONES; AND THEY SHALL DRINK, AND MAKE A NOISE AS THROUGH WINE; AND THEY SHALL BE FILLED LIKE BOWLS, AND AS THE CORNERS OF THE ALTAR. God will save both Judah (the Jews) and Ephraim meaning the Lost Ten Tribes in general. [Zechariah 9:16] AND THE LORD THEIR GOD SHALL SAVE THEM IN THAT DAY AS THE FLOCK OF HIS PEOPLE: FOR THEY SHALL BE AS THE STONES OF A CROWN, LIFTED UP AS AN ENSIGN UPON HIS LAND. [Zechariah 9:17] FOR HOW GREAT IS HIS GOODNESS, AND HOW GREAT IS HIS BEAUTY! CORN SHALL MAKE THE YOUNG MEN CHEERFUL, AND NEW WINE THE MAIDS. [Zechariah 10:1] ASK YE OF THE LORD RAIN IN THE TIME OF THE LATTER RAIN; SO THE LORD SHALL MAKE BRIGHT CLOUDS, AND GIVE THEM SHOWERS OF RAIN, TO EVERY ONE GRASS IN THE FIELD. [Zechariah 10:2] FOR THE IDOLS HAVE SPOKEN VANITY, AND THE DIVINERS HAVE SEEN A LIE, AND HAVE TOLD FALSE DREAMS; THEY COMFORT IN VAIN: THEREFORE THEY WENT THEIR WAY AS A FLOCK, THEY WERE TROUBLED, BECAUSE THERE WAS NO SHEPHERD. [Zechariah 10:3] MINE ANGER WAS KINDLED AGAINST THE SHEPHERDS, AND I PUNISHED THE GOATS: FOR THE LORD OF HOSTS HATH VISITED HIS FLOCK THE HOUSE OF JUDAH, AND HATH MADE THEM AS HIS GOODLY HORSE IN THE BATTLE. [Zechariah 10:4] OUT OF HIM CAME FORTH THE CORNER, OUT OF HIM THE NAIL, OUT OF HIM THE BATTLE BOW, OUT OF HIM EVERY OPPRESSOR TOGETHER. [Zechariah 10:5] AND THEY SHALL BE AS MIGHTY MEN, WHICH TREAD DOWN THEIR ENEMIES IN THE MIRE OF THE STREETS IN THE BATTLE: AND THEY SHALL FIGHT, BECAUSE THE LORD IS WITH THEM, AND THE RIDERS ON HORSES SHALL BE CONFOUNDED. [Zechariah 10:6] AND I WILL STRENGTHEN THE HOUSE OF JUDAH, AND I WILL SAVE THE HOUSE OF JOSEPH, AND I WILL BRING THEM AGAIN TO PLACE THEM; FOR I HAVE MERCY UPON THEM: AND THEY SHALL BE AS THOUGH I HAD NOT CAST THEM OFF: FOR I AM THE LORD THEIR GOD, AND WILL HEAR THEM . This is the re-union of the Lost Ten Tribes with Judah. Joseph and Judah will re-unite. [Zechariah 10:7] AND THEY OF EPHRAIM SHALL BE LIKE A MIGHTY MAN, AND THEIR HEART SHALL REJOICE AS THROUGH WINE: YEA, THEIR CHILDREN SHALL SEE IT, AND BE GLAD; THEIR HEART SHALL REJOICE IN THE LORD. [Zechariah 10:8] I WILL HISS FOR THEM, AND GATHER THEM; FOR I HAVE REDEEMED THEM: AND THEY SHALL INCREASE AS THEY HAVE INCREASED. [Zechariah 10:9] AND I WILL SOW THEM AMONG THE PEOPLE: AND THEY SHALL REMEMBER ME IN FAR COUNTRIES; AND THEY SHALL LIVE WITH THEIR CHILDREN, AND TURN AGAIN. [Zechariah 10:10] I WILL BRING THEM AGAIN ALSO OUT OF THE LAND OF EGYPT, AND GATHER THEM OUT OF ASSYRIA; AND I WILL BRING THEM INTO THE LAND OF GILEAD AND LEBANON; AND PLACE SHALL NOT BE FOUND FOR THEM. Egypt and Assyria could apply to areas in Europe, as we have explained elsewhere. The exiles of Israel will leave these areas. Gilead means Syria and Lebanon means Lebanon. These areas will be re-populated by the Lost Ten Tribes represented by “Ephraim”. [Zechariah 10:11] AND HE SHALL PASS THROUGH THE SEA WITH AFFLICTION, AND SHALL SMITE THE WAVES IN THE SEA, AND ALL THE DEEPS OF THE RIVER SHALL DRY UP: AND THE PRIDE OF ASSYRIA SHALL BE BROUGHT DOWN, AND THE SCEPTRE OF EGYPT SHALL DEPART AWAY. Extract from “Ephraim,” chapter six. * Jerome on Zechariah 10;11:"And he shall pass through the sea..." : "The Hebrews say that the Assyrians and Chaldeans took the Jews into captivity not only to Persia and Media but also to the Bosporus and the north; and at the end of days God in his mercy will call them back from there:" By "Jews" taken into captivity by the Assyrians Jerome is actually referring to Israelites from the northern Ten Tribes even though strictly speaking these were not "Jews" which appellation refers to Judaeans from the southern kingdom dominated by Judah. An Israeli scholar Chaim Bar Deroma (1958) wrote a very well researched work concerning the real borders of the Promised land. He brings evidence that the ancient Israelites once controlled much of the Middle East. He also incidentally discusses many geographical points and difficulties in Jewish sources. In his opinion4 the DAPHNE referred to in the Midrash as a place to which the Lost Ten Tribes were taken or went is the port of Dephenus Portas (i.e. "Port of Dephen") also known as DEFEN and as DAPHNE. "Defen" stood on the Asiatic side of the Bosporus straits opposite European Byzantium, i.e.Istanbul in present day Turkey. The Bosporus Straits were spoken of by Jerome who translated the Bible into Latin and consulted with Jewish sages. They reported to Jerome the tradition that Israelites exiled by the Assyrians had reached the Bosporus Straits and passed over them to the north into Europe*a. At all events within fifty years of the north Israelites' exile the Bosporus had become a Cimmmerian centre5 and was to remain so for about 150 years. Welsh tradition6 claimed that their ancestors the Cymry (i.e. "Cimmeri") led by Hu Gadarn of the Sons of Don had come across the "Lazy Sea" (i.e.Mediterranean) to the British isles from Defrobane which they said was just opposite Byzantium. In other words Defrobane stood on the Asiatic side of the Bosporus in the place where the port of Defen was reported to be. Defrobane may be some kind of linguistic derivation of Daphne. The British Welsh who came from DEFROBANE opposite Byzantium called themselves Cymry and the Scandinavian peoples contained an underlying ethnic stratum from the similarly named CIMBRI of Celtic culture. In Scandinavian mythology one version (reported by Saxo Grammaticus7) concerning the origins of their ancestral gods said that they too came from the area of Byzantium, and that one of their ancestors ruled over a city in the nearby Hellespont called Dana8! In Celtic Britain the region of southern Wales, Devon, and Cornwall was referred to as Defenia9 and from this name comes the modern day appellation of "Devon"! This region of Defenia on Ptolemy's map of Britain is called Damnonia which is similar to the ethnic name Damnonii in Scotland within whose region was the northern Don River. There was another Don River in Scotland further south and to the east upon his banks stood the city of Danum. Defenia (Damnonia) in the south was also known as Daunonia10 and as Dannonia11. Defenia also encompassed or adjoined the Deni. Hu Gadarn who led the Cymry over the seas to Britain was descended from the Children of Don12 who parallel the Tribe of Dana in Irish legend13. All these names, DON, Dana, Dannonia, Danum, etc., relate to the Israelite Tribe of DAN! In the LAND OF ISRAEL the Tribe of DAN was divided into several sections one of which (perhaps the most important, certainly the most emphasized) was in the northern Galilee. This was the centre of DAN where King Jeroboam ben Nebat set up one of the golden calfs he expected the northern Israelites to worship: "Whereupon the king took counsel, and made two calves of gold....And he set the one in Beth-el and the other put he in Dan" (1 Kings 12;28 29). The site of the golden cow in Dan in the Galilee says Josephus was also known as DAPHNE!!!: "...Daphne, a delightful spot with springs which feed the so called little Jordan, beneath the temple of the golden cow, and speed it on its way to the greater river" (Josephus, Wars 4;1;1). [Zechariah 10:12] AND I WILL STRENGTHEN THEM IN THE LORD; AND THEY SHALL WALK UP AND DOWN IN HIS NAME, SAITH THE LORD. Zechariah –11 [Zechariah 11:1] OPEN THY DOORS, O LEBANON, THAT THE FIRE MAY DEVOUR THY CEDARS. “Lebanon” is often taken to represent the Temple. It could also represent Britain. The name “Albion” (i.e. Britain) is derived from “Labanon”. [Zechariah 11:2] HOWL, FIR TREE; FOR THE CEDAR IS FALLEN; BECAUSE THE MIGHTY ARE SPOILED: HOWL, O YE OAKS OF BASHAN; FOR THE FOREST OF THE VINTAGE IS COME DOWN. Bashan could represent Scandinavia which in ancient times was called Basallia meaning Bashan or the USA since the Bashan was a center of Menasseh east of the Jordan. [Zechariah 11:3] THERE IS A VOICE OF THE HOWLING OF THE SHEPHERDS; FOR THEIR GLORY IS SPOILED: A VOICE OF THE ROARING OF YOUNG LIONS; FOR THE PRIDE OF JORDAN IS SPOILED. [Zechariah 11:4] THUS SAITH THE LORD MY GOD; FEED THE FLOCK OF THE SLAUGHTER; [Zechariah 11:5] WHOSE POSSESSORS SLAY THEM, AND HOLD THEMSELVES NOT GUILTY: AND THEY THAT SELL THEM SAY, BLESSED BE THE LORD; FOR I AM RICH: AND THEIR OWN SHEPHERDS PITY THEM NOT. [Zechariah 11:6] FOR I WILL NO MORE PITY THE INHABITANTS OF THE LAND, SAITH THE LORD: BUT, LO, I WILL DELIVER THE MEN EVERY ONE INTO HIS NEIGHBOUR'S HAND, AND INTO THE HAND OF HIS KING: AND THEY SHALL SMITE THE LAND, AND OUT OF THEIR HAND I WILL NOT DELIVER THEM. [Zechariah 11:7] AND I WILL FEED THE FLOCK OF SLAUGHTER, EVEN YOU, O POOR OF THE FLOCK. AND I TOOK UNTO ME TWO STAVES; THE ONE I CALLED BEAUTY, AND THE OTHER I CALLED BANDS; AND I FED THE FLOCK. [Zechariah 11:8] THREE SHEPHERDS ALSO I CUT OFF IN ONE MONTH; AND MY SOUL LOTHED THEM, AND THEIR SOUL ALSO ABHORRED ME. [Zechariah 11:9] THEN SAID I, I WILL NOT FEED YOU: THAT THAT DIETH, LET IT DIE; AND THAT THAT IS TO BE CUT OFF, LET IT BE CUT OFF; AND LET THE REST EAT EVERY ONE THE FLESH OF ANOTHER. [Zechariah 11:10] AND I TOOK MY STAFF, EVEN BEAUTY, AND CUT IT ASUNDER, THAT I MIGHT BREAK MY COVENANT WHICH I HAD MADE WITH ALL THE PEOPLE. [Zechariah 11:11] AND IT WAS BROKEN IN THAT DAY: AND SO THE POOR OF THE FLOCK THAT WAITED UPON ME KNEW THAT IT WAS THE WORD OF THE LORD. [Zechariah 11:12] AND I SAID UNTO THEM, IF YE THINK GOOD, GIVE ME MY PRICE; AND IF NOT, FORBEAR. SO THEY WEIGHED FOR MY PRICE THIRTY PIECES OF SILVER. [Zechariah 11:13] AND THE LORD SAID UNTO ME, CAST IT UNTO THE POTTER: A GOODLY PRICE THAT I WAS PRISED AT OF THEM. AND I TOOK THE THIRTY PIECES OF SILVER, AND CAST THEM TO THE POTTER IN THE HOUSE OF THE LORD. [Zechariah 11:14] THEN I CUT ASUNDER MINE OTHER STAFF, EVEN BANDS, THAT I MIGHT BREAK THE BROTHERHOOD BETWEEN JUDAH AND ISRAEL. [Zechariah 11:15] AND THE LORD SAID UNTO ME, TAKE UNTO THEE YET THE INSTRUMENTS OF A FOOLISH SHEPHERD. [Zechariah 11:16] FOR, LO, I WILL RAISE UP A SHEPHERD IN THE LAND, WHICH SHALL NOT VISIT THOSE THAT BE CUT OFF, NEITHER SHALL SEEK THE YOUNG ONE, NOR HEAL THAT THAT IS BROKEN, NOR FEED THAT THAT STANDETH STILL: BUT HE SHALL EAT THE FLESH OF THE FAT, AND TEAR THEIR CLAWS IN PIECES. [Zechariah 11:17] WOE TO THE IDOL SHEPHERD THAT LEAVETH THE FLOCK! THE SWORD SHALL BE UPON HIS ARM, AND UPON HIS RIGHT EYE: HIS ARM SHALL BE CLEAN DRIED UP, AND HIS RIGHT EYE SHALL BE UTTERLY DARKENED. Zechariah-12 The following comments have been culled from various sources, e.g. Radak, Abarbanel, Malbim, Rashi, Eben Ezra, Targum Yehonatan, Talmud, Daat Mikra, MeAm Loaz, etc. At some stage we hope to issue an explanatory list of biographical sketches explaining who (or what) were responsible for the above Commentatories. These are all traditional sources. It is however a standing principle that no-one really knows for sure How prophecies will actually be fulfilled until they are. Also this is our own understanding of the simple meaning and of the gist of the Commentaries. Other researchers could well reach different conclusions. I am just going to give you some ideas about what some of the suggestions are. Our main purpose here is finding sources to help us identify the LTTs with modern peoples. There is not too much of that here on the surface level. I would therefore prefer NOT to answer questions on this posting. [Zechariah 12:1] THE BURDEN OF THE WORD OF THE LORD FOR ISRAEL, SAITH THE LORD, WHICH STRETCHETH FORTH THE HEAVENS, AND LAYETH THE FOUNDATION OF THE EARTH, AND FORMETH THE SPIRIT OF MAN WITHIN HIM. Israel is linked with the foundation of the heaven and earth since these were created for Israel. [Zechariah 12:2] BEHOLD, I WILL MAKE JERUSALEM A CUP OF TREMBLING UNTO ALL THE PEOPLE ROUND ABOUT, WHEN THEY SHALL BE IN THE SIEGE BOTH AGAINST JUDAH AND AGAINST JERUSALEM. The Hebrew says “vegam al Yehudah yehi bematsor al Yerushalayim”. This is understandable as saying that Judah also will besiege Jerusalem. The Commentators explained this to mean that Jerusalem will be besieged by foreigners. These foreigners will force descendants of Judah amongst them to participate with them. These “Judaeans” will not necessarily be then aware of their ancestry and may be idol-worshipers. At all events at the siege they will realize their ancestry and wish to refrain from the siege and God will help them not to participate. They will then play a major role in defeating the enemy and their sense of belonging will be so strong that the Jews in Jerusalem will be unable to reproach them for having initially been with the adversaries. [Zechariah 12:3] AND IN THAT DAY WILL I MAKE JERUSALEM A BURDENSOME STONE FOR ALL PEOPLE: ALL THAT BURDEN THEMSELVES WITH IT SHALL BE CUT IN PIECES, THOUGH ALL THE PEOPLE OF THE EARTH BE GATHERED TOGETHER AGAINST IT. [Zechariah 12:4] IN THAT DAY, SAITH THE LORD, I WILL SMITE EVERY HORSE WITH ASTONISHMENT, AND HIS RIDER WITH MADNESS: AND I WILL OPEN MINE EYES UPON THE HOUSE OF JUDAH, AND WILL SMITE EVERY HORSE OF THE PEOPLE WITH BLINDNESS. “EVERY HORSE” all the prophets spoke in their own terms according to their own times. Sometimes an event in their own time or somewhat later served as a kind of model to explain what will happen in the End Times. “Horse” could mean tank or something similar. These are now partially controlled by computers. If the computers could be taken over? “AND I WILL OPEN MINE EYES UPON THE HOUSE OF JUDAH” meaning those of Judah forced to join the enemy will be preserved and not participate in a negative direction. [Zechariah 12:5] AND THE GOVERNORS OF JUDAH SHALL SAY IN THEIR HEART, THE INHABITANTS OF JERUSALEM SHALL BE MY STRENGTH IN THE LORD OF HOSTS THEIR GOD. [Zechariah 12:6] IN THAT DAY WILL I MAKE THE GOVERNORS OF JUDAH LIKE AN HEARTH OF FIRE AMONG THE WOOD, AND LIKE A TORCH OF FIRE IN A SHEAF; AND THEY SHALL DEVOUR ALL THE PEOPLE ROUND ABOUT, ON THE RIGHT HAND AND ON THE LEFT: AND JERUSALEM SHALL BE INHABITED AGAIN IN HER OWN PLACE, EVEN IN JERUSALEM. [Zechariah 12:7] THE LORD ALSO SHALL SAVE THE TENTS OF JUDAH FIRST, THAT THE GLORY OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID AND THE GLORY OF THE INHABITANTS OF JERUSALEM DO NOT MAGNIFY THEMSELVES AGAINST JUDAH. [Zechariah 12:8] IN THAT DAY SHALL THE LORD DEFEND THE INHABITANTS OF JERUSALEM; AND HE THAT IS FEEBLE AMONG THEM AT THAT DAY SHALL BE AS DAVID; AND THE HOUSE OF DAVID SHALL BE AS GOD, AS THE ANGEL OF THE LORD BEFORE THEM. [Zechariah 12:9] AND IT SHALL COME TO PASS IN THAT DAY, THAT I WILL SEEK TO DESTROY ALL THE NATIONS THAT COME AGAINST JERUSALEM. Malbim and others indicate that the Christians and Moslems will both be against the Jews and against each other as it was in the time of the Crusades. The Christians will use some type of super-weapon to burn up “Ishmael.” Other sources indicate that after being thoroughly beaten Ishmael leaves the Land of Israel alone, does repentance, And accepts subservience to Israel. Another source says that “Edom” (representing the Christians) also repents? [Zechariah 12:10] AND I WILL POUR UPON THE HOUSE OF DAVID, AND UPON THE INHABITANTS OF JERUSALEM, THE SPIRIT OF GRACE AND OF SUPPLICATIONS: AND THEY SHALL LOOK UPON ME WHOM THEY HAVE PIERCED, AND THEY SHALL MOURN FOR HIM, AS ONE MOURNETH FOR HIS ONLY SON, AND SHALL BE IN BITTERNESS FOR HIM, AS ONE THAT IS IN BITTERNESS FOR HIS FIRSTBORN. The Messiah son of Joseph may be killed by the enemy and this is who is being mourned over. Others say that those amongst the Jewish people who have suffered shall be mourned over. [Zechariah 12:11] IN THAT DAY SHALL THERE BE A GREAT MOURNING IN JERUSALEM, AS THE MOURNING OF HADADRIMMON IN THE VALLEY OF MEGIDDON. “HADADRIMMON IN THE VALLEY OF MEGIDDON” usually explained as referring to two separate events. The death of Ahab of Israel (1-Kings ch.22) and the death of King Josiah ben Amon of Judah (2-Kings 23;29-30). In both cases Judah and Israel had been allied together and had come to calamity. Josiah died fighting on behalf of his Scythian allies who belonged to the Lost Ten Tribes of Israel. [Zechariah 12:12] AND THE LAND SHALL MOURN, EVERY FAMILY APART; THE FAMILY OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID APART, AND THEIR WIVES APART; THE FAMILY OF THE HOUSE OF NATHAN APART, AND THEIR WIVES APART; Nathan may be a clan of the descendants of David or Alternatively Nathan may be another form of Jonathan and thus be part of Benjamin. [Zechariah 12:13] THE FAMILY OF THE HOUSE OF LEVI APART, AND THEIR WIVES APART; THE FAMILY OF SHIMEI APART, AND THEIR WIVES APART; [Zechariah 12:14] ALL THE FAMILIES THAT REMAIN, EVERY FAMILY APART, AND THEIR WIVES APART. Zechariah-13 [Zechariah 13:1] IN THAT DAY THERE SHALL BE A FOUNTAIN OPENED TO THE HOUSE OF DAVID AND TO THE INHABITANTS OF JERUSALEM FOR SIN AND FOR UNCLEANNESS. The fountain shall purify the people. Purification by water plays a very important function in the Mosaic Code. [Zechariah 13:2] AND IT SHALL COME TO PASS IN THAT DAY, SAITH THE LORD OF HOSTS, THAT I WILL CUT OFF THE NAMES OF THE IDOLS OUT OF THE LAND, AND THEY SHALL NO MORE BE REMEMBERED: AND ALSO I WILL CAUSE THE PROPHETS AND THE UNCLEAN SPIRIT TO PASS OUT OF THE LAND. No more false prophets or misguided spiritualistics. [Zechariah 13:3] AND IT SHALL COME TO PASS, THAT WHEN ANY SHALL YET PROPHESY, THEN HIS FATHER AND HIS MOTHER THAT BEGAT HIM SHALL SAY UNTO HIM, THOU SHALT NOT LIVE; FOR THOU SPEAKEST LIES IN THE NAME OF THE LORD: AND HIS FATHER AND HIS MOTHER THAT BEGAT HIM SHALL THRUST HIM THROUGH WHEN HE PROPHESIETH. [Zechariah 13:4] AND IT SHALL COME TO PASS IN THAT DAY, THAT THE PROPHETS SHALL BE ASHAMED EVERY ONE OF HIS VISION, WHEN HE HATH PROPHESIED; NEITHER SHALL THEY WEAR A ROUGH GARMENT TO DECEIVE: [Zechariah 13:5] BUT HE SHALL SAY, I AM NO PROPHET, I AM AN HUSBANDMAN; FOR MAN TAUGHT ME TO KEEP CATTLE FROM MY YOUTH. [Zechariah 13:6] AND ONE SHALL SAY UNTO HIM, WHAT ARE THESE WOUNDS IN THINE HANDS? THEN HE SHALL ANSWER, THOSE WITH WHICH I WAS WOUNDED IN THE HOUSE OF MY FRIENDS. [Zechariah 13:7] AWAKE, O SWORD, AGAINST MY SHEPHERD, AND AGAINST THE MAN THAT IS MY FELLOW, SAITH THE LORD OF HOSTS: SMITE THE SHEPHERD, AND THE SHEEP SHALL BE SCATTERED: AND I WILL TURN MINE HAND UPON THE LITTLE ONES. [Zechariah 13:8] AND IT SHALL COME TO PASS, THAT IN ALL THE LAND, SAITH THE LORD, TWO PARTS THEREIN SHALL BE CUT OFF AND DIE; BUT THE THIRD SHALL BE LEFT THEREIN. [Zechariah 13:9] AND I WILL BRING THE THIRD PART THROUGH THE FIRE, AND WILL REFINE THEM AS SILVER IS REFINED, AND WILL TRY THEM AS GOLD IS TRIED: THEY SHALL CALL ON MY NAME, AND I WILL HEAR THEM: I WILL SAY, IT IS MY PEOPLE: AND THEY SHALL SAY, THE LORD IS MY GOD. The general explanation suggested is that some calamity will occur. Two-thirds of the world’s people (including, by implication, two-thirds of the Israelites?) will perish. Part of the remaining third of non-Israelites and Israelites by descent will then accept the faith of Israel and identify as Israelites BUT then will come the troubles of Gog and Magog. There will be persecutions and the threat of extinction. Most of the non-Israelites who accepted the Israelite faith will back out and it will be mainly those of Israelite descent who remain attached to Israelite religion. Zechariah-14 This chapter appears like a jumble of prophecies pertaining to different time periods. Most say the subject concerns the final war of God and Magog against Jerusalem and Israel as described by Ezekiel. Zechariah however concentrates on Jerusalem and unlike Ezekiel does not Expressly refer to the LTTs. [Zechariah 14:1] BEHOLD, THE DAY OF THE LORD COMETH, AND THY SPOIL SHALL BE DIVIDED IN THE MIDST OF THEE. [Zechariah 14:2] FOR I WILL GATHER ALL NATIONS AGAINST JERUSALEM TO BATTLE; AND THE CITY SHALL BE TAKEN, AND THE HOUSES RIFLED, AND THE WOMEN RAVISHED; AND HALF OF THE CITY SHALL GO FORTH INTO CAPTIVITY, AND THE RESIDUE OF THE PEOPLE SHALL NOT BE CUT OFF FROM THE CITY. [Zechariah 14:3] THEN SHALL THE LORD GO FORTH, AND FIGHT AGAINST THOSE NATIONS, AS WHEN HE FOUGHT IN THE DAY OF BATTLE. [Zechariah 14:4] AND HIS FEET SHALL STAND IN THAT DAY UPON THE MOUNT OF OLIVES, WHICH IS BEFORE JERUSALEM ON THE EAST, AND THE MOUNT OF OLIVES SHALL CLEAVE IN THE MIDST THEREOF TOWARD THE EAST AND TOWARD THE WEST, AND THERE SHALL BE A VERY GREAT VALLEY; AND HALF OF THE MOUNTAIN SHALL REMOVE TOWARD THE NORTH, AND HALF OF IT TOWARD THE SOUTH. “AND HIS FEET SHALL STAND IN THAT DAY UPON THE MOUNT OF OLIVES” the word for HIS FEET in Hebrew is “raglav” and can also mean “his causes” and is explained as referring to the strong open intervention of the Almighty. [Zechariah 14:5] AND YE SHALL FLEE TO THE VALLEY OF THE MOUNTAINS; FOR THE VALLEY OF THE MOUNTAINS SHALL REACH UNTO AZAL: YEA, YE SHALL FLEE, LIKE AS YE FLED FROM BEFORE THE EARTHQUAKE IN THE DAYS OF UZZIAH KING OF JUDAH: AND THE LORD MY GOD SHALL COME, AND ALL THE SAINTS WITH THEE. [Zechariah 14:6] AND IT SHALL COME TO PASS IN THAT DAY, THAT THE LIGHT SHALL NOT BE CLEAR, NOR DARK: [Zechariah 14:7] BUT IT SHALL BE ONE DAY WHICH SHALL BE KNOWN TO THE LORD, NOT DAY, NOR NIGHT: BUT IT SHALL COME TO PASS, THAT AT EVENING TIME IT SHALL BE LIGHT. [Zechariah 14:8] AND IT SHALL BE IN THAT DAY, THAT LIVING WATERS SHALL GO OUT FROM JERUSALEM; HALF OF THEM TOWARD THE FORMER SEA, AND HALF OF THEM TOWARD THE HINDER SEA: IN SUMMER AND IN WINTER SHALL IT BE. [Zechariah 14:9] AND THE LORD SHALL BE KING OVER ALL THE EARTH: IN THAT DAY SHALL THERE BE ONE LORD, AND HIS NAME ONE. [Zechariah 14:10] ALL THE LAND SHALL BE TURNED AS A PLAIN FROM GEBA TO RIMMON SOUTH OF JERUSALEM: AND IT SHALL BE LIFTED UP, AND INHABITED IN HER PLACE, FROM BENJAMIN'S GATE UNTO THE PLACE OF THE FIRST GATE, UNTO THE CORNER GATE, AND FROM THE TOWER OF HANANEEL UNTO THE KING'S WINEPRESSES. [Zechariah 14:11] AND MEN SHALL DWELL IN IT, AND THERE SHALL BE NO MORE UTTER DESTRUCTION; BUT JERUSALEM SHALL BE SAFELY INHABITED. [Zechariah 14:12] AND THIS SHALL BE THE PLAGUE WHEREWITH THE LORD WILL SMITE ALL THE PEOPLE THAT HAVE FOUGHT AGAINST JERUSALEM; THEIR FLESH SHALL CONSUME AWAY WHILE THEY STAND UPON THEIR FEET, AND THEIR EYES SHALL CONSUME AWAY IN THEIR HOLES, AND THEIR TONGUE SHALL CONSUME AWAY IN THEIR MOUTH. This is similar to the effects of nuclear explosions. [Zechariah 14:13] AND IT SHALL COME TO PASS IN THAT DAY, THAT A GREAT TUMULT FROM THE LORD SHALL BE AMONG THEM; AND THEY SHALL LAY HOLD EVERY ONE ON THE HAND OF HIS NEIGHBOUR, AND HIS HAND SHALL RISE UP AGAINST THE HAND OF HIS NEIGHBOUR. [Zechariah 14:14] AND JUDAH ALSO SHALL FIGHT AT JERUSALEM; AND THE WEALTH OF ALL THE HEATHEN ROUND ABOUT SHALL BE GATHERED TOGETHER, GOLD, AND SILVER, AND APPAREL, IN GREAT ABUNDANCE. “AND JUDAH ALSO SHALL FIGHT AT JERUSALEM” : Some say that this refers to unknown Jews who will be forced to join the alien forces and besiege Jerusalem but then will realize their identity and change sides. I had difficulty with a lot of points in this chapter and will have to return to it later. [Zechariah 14:15] AND SO SHALL BE THE PLAGUE OF THE HORSE, OF THE MULE, OF THE CAMEL, AND OF THE ASS, AND OF ALL THE BEASTS THAT SHALL BE IN THESE TENTS, AS THIS PLAGUE. This could refer to war-equipment. “Radio-activity”? [Zechariah 14:16] AND IT SHALL COME TO PASS, THAT EVERY ONE THAT IS LEFT OF ALL THE NATIONS WHICH CAME AGAINST JERUSALEM SHALL EVEN GO UP FROM YEAR TO YEAR TO WORSHIP THE KING, THE LORD OF HOSTS, AND TO KEEP THE FEAST OF TABERNACLES. [Zechariah 14:17] AND IT SHALL BE, THAT WHOSO WILL NOT COME UP OF ALL THE FAMILIES OF THE EARTH UNTO JERUSALEM TO WORSHIP THE KING, THE LORD OF HOSTS, EVEN UPON THEM SHALL BE NO RAIN. [Zechariah 14:18] AND IF THE FAMILY OF EGYPT GO NOT UP, AND COME NOT, THAT HAVE NO RAIN; THERE SHALL BE THE PLAGUE, WHEREWITH THE LORD WILL SMITE THE HEATHEN THAT COME NOT UP TO KEEP THE FEAST OF TABERNACLES. [Zechariah 14:19] THIS SHALL BE THE PUNISHMENT OF EGYPT, AND THE PUNISHMENT OF ALL NATIONS THAT COME NOT UP TO KEEP THE FEAST OF TABERNACLES. In Hebrew “Egypt” is Mitsrayim. I have explained (in “Lost Israelite Identity”) how even in Biblical times “Mitsrayim” did not necessarily always refer to Egypt. In Prophecy it could refer to another nation. At one point I suggested Russia but could be mistaken. [Zechariah 14:20] IN THAT DAY SHALL THERE BE UPON THE BELLS OF THE HORSES, HOLINESS UNTO THE LORD; AND THE POTS IN THE LORD'S HOUSE SHALL BE LIKE THE BOWLS BEFORE THE ALTAR. [Zechariah 14:21] YEA, EVERY POT IN JERUSALEM AND IN JUDAH SHALL BE HOLINESS UNTO THE LORD OF HOSTS: AND ALL THEY THAT SACRIFICE SHALL COME AND TAKE OF THEM, AND SEETHE THEREIN: AND IN THAT DAY THERE SHALL BE NO MORE THE CANAANITE IN THE HOUSE OF THE LORD OF HOSTS. “BE NO MORE THE CANAANITE IN THE HOUSE OF THE LORD OF HOSTS” : Many of the Palestinians may be descended from Canaanites. At all events they will no longer be able to defile and desecrate the Hold Temple area in Jerusalem. Retribution will be exacted for the destruction they have caused and are causing at this very minute. This alone may be an indication that we are nearing the last times. The Arabs on the Temple Mount are engaged in activities whose intention and effects are the same as the destruction of the Temple in Roman times. They want to destroy the past in order to deny it. As if God never promised the Land of Israel to Israel and as if the Holy Temple never existed. Zechariah: The righteousness of the Jews (Judah) will be acknowledged. The final enemy will be centered on Germany. The Talmud (Succah 52;b) says that the “Four carpenters” who will come to save Israel and Judah are The Messiah Son of David, the Messiah Son of Joseph (future redeemer and head of the Lost Ten Tribes), Eliyahu, and the Righteous Priest. The impression is that: The Messiah Son of David means the future religious leader and eventual supreme ruler of all Israel. The “Messiah” of tradition. The Messiah Son of Joseph means the future head of the Ten Tribes and also represents responsibility for rebuilding the physical and military infrastructure of restored Israel. Eliyahu brings Israel back to their roots and arouses awareness of Tribal Identity amongst all Israel (“the heart of the children to their fathers” Malachi 4;6). We are still waiting for him. The Righteous Priest (“Cohen” = Priest in Hebrew) is a figure of Melchizedek (Genesis 14;18) and therefore perhaps a leader of the righteous amongst non-Israelite peoples. The Ten tribes will return. In the Last Days the House of Judah (the Jews) will be led by a Messiah of the House of David and the Lost Ten Tribes by a Messiah son of Joseph. After that they will unite. “ARE THE JEWS JEWISH?” Zechariah-8 no.2 There exist some so called “Identity” movements who do not really believe in “Identity” nor do they really believe in the Bible though they sometimes pretend to. These groups claim that the present-day Jews are not descended from Judah-but rather from Edomites or other people. They claim that the “true” descendants of Judah are the Germans! There are also Negro groups who say the same thing but in this case they state that the true Israelites are the black peoples! Both these groups are stupid but they do have some influence some times. Also otherwise quite well-meaning sensible people have sometimes gotten mixed up in them. In the case of the white “German”-oriented groups they have sometimes been a menace to us, misled otherwise good people, and also misled the public at large as to thinking that they represent “Identity Identity”. In Proverbs it says: “Answer not a fool according to his folly, lest thou also be like him. “Answer a fool according to his folly, lest he be wise in his own deceit” (Proverbs 26;4-5). In other words we do not have to reply to the claims of every misguided or deranged person. Nevertheless in some cases we should know enough to reply to them if necessary. Sometimes these people can push their opinion quite forcefully at an inopportune moment and it helps to have a ready answer. This chapter of Zechariah provides it! Zechariah says that the Jews of Judah prior to their final redemption will have endured a long history Of having been persecuted and treated with contempt. “AS YE WERE A CURSE AMONG THE HEATHEN, O HOUSE OF JUDAH, AND HOUSE OF ISRAEL” (Zechariah 8;13). That their religion will have been unique to them and that only at the latter days will it be acknowledged: [Zechariah 8:23] TEN MEN SHALL TAKE HOLD OUT OF ALL LANGUAGES OF THE NATIONS, EVEN SHALL TAKE HOLD OF THE SKIRT OF HIM THAT IS A JEW, SAYING, WE WILL GO WITH YOU: FOR WE HAVE HEARD THAT GOD IS WITH YOU. And that the days of mourning and fasting that they practiced will become feast days: [Zechariah 8:19] THE FAST OF THE FOURTH MONTH, - Tammuz. AND THE FAST OF THE FIFTH, - Av AND THE FAST OF THE SEVENTH, - Tishrei (Gedaliah) AND THE FAST OF THE TENTH, - Tebeth (Tevet). SHALL BE TO THE HOUSE OF JUDAH JOY AND GLADNESS, AND CHEERFUL FEASTS; THEREFORE LOVE THE TRUTH AND PEACE. Only the Jews were treated with contempt and persecuted throughout much of their history in exile. Only they kept the fast days listed by Zechariah. Only they kept the uniqueness of their belief which in the Last days will be acknowledged by everyone. If someone does not want to belief in the Bible, or to deny Bible truth, that is their problem but let them come out and say so openly. Scripture itself provides the answer to every question, great or small, profound or foolish, that anybody Can ever come up with. In history Cimmerian -LTTs crossed Bosphorus straits then moved to Britain. The general explanation suggested is that some calamity will occur. Two-thirds of the world’s people (including, by implication, two-thirds of the Israelites?) will perish. Part of the remaining third of non-Israelites and Israelites by descent will then accept the faith of Israel and identify as Israelites BUT then will come the troubles of Gog and Magog. There will be persecutions and the threat of extinction. Most of the non-Israelites who accepted the Israelite faith will back out and it will be mainly those of Israelite descent who remain attached to Israelite religion. ZECHARIAH Highlights: (1:15) helped forward affliction (2:8) apple of eye (Judah) (6:15) rebuilding of Temple, LTTs. (8:13) a curse(?) (8:19) 4 feasts (8:23) Ten Men take hold of garment (9:13) Judah and Ephraim versus Yavan. (10:6) Judah and Joseph re-unite (10:10) out of Egypt and Assyria to Gilead and Lebanon (10:11) through the sea: Jerome tradition. (13:8) 1/3 only remain? Zechariah: The righteousness of the Jews (Judah) will be acknowledged. The final enemy will be centered on Germany. The Talmud (Succah 52;b) says that the “Four carpenters” (1:20) who will come to save Israel and Judah are The Messiah Son of David, the Messiah Son of Joseph (future redeemer and head of the Lost Ten Tribes), Eliyahu, and the Righteous Priest. The impression is that: The Messiah Son of David means the future religious leader and eventual supreme ruler of all Israel. The “Messiah” of tradition. The Messiah Son of Joseph means the future head of the Ten Tribes and also represents responsibility for rebuilding the physical and military infrastructure of restored Israel. Eliyahu brings Israel back to their roots and arouses awareness of Tribal Identity amongst all Israel (“the heart of the children to their fathers” Malachi 4;6). We are still waiting for him. The Righteous Priest (“Cohen” = Priest in Hebrew) is a figure of Melchizedek (Genesis 14;18) and therefore perhaps a leader of the righteous amongst non-Israelite peoples. The Ten tribes will return. In the Last Days the House of Judah (the Jews) will be led by a Messiah of the House of David and the Lost Ten Tribes by a Messiah son of Joseph. After that they will unite. See Also: A Recall to Salvation. Highlights from the Book of Zechariah. To Rebuild the Temple. Zechariah and the Future Building. |