Behold, the day of the LORD cometh, and thy spoil shall be divided in the midst of thee.
Read it in contextThe Destroyers of Jerusalem Destroyed
Start reading at Zechariah 14:1 (Zechariah 14:1 to Zechariah 14:15).
An editorial reading unit, not a claim that the surrounding context stops here. Book background below applies to the shared passage; individual verses may need more specific explanation.
This opening unit introduces the chapter’s movement. The closing oracles move through mourning, cleansing, conflict, and the LORD's kingship; detailed fulfillments must be argued rather than assumed.
14:1Behold, the day of the LORD cometh, and thy spoil shall be divided in the midst of thee.
14:2For 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.
14:3Then shall the LORD go forth, and fight against those nations, as when he fought in the day of battle.
14:4And 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.
14:5And 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.
14:6And it shall come to pass in that day, that the light shall not be clear, nor dark:
14:7But 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.
14:8And 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.
14:9And the LORD shall be king over all the earth: in that day shall there be one LORD, and his name one.
14:10All 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.
14:11And men shall dwell in it, and there shall be no more utter destruction; but Jerusalem shall be safely inhabited.
14:12And 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.
14:13And 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.
14:14And 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.
14:15And 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.
Study content, not yet reviewed.
Who
Who wrote the book? Zechariah son of Berechiah, son of Iddo, is the named prophet and traditional author. The composition of the later portions is debated. Biblical references: Zechariah 1:1. stated in the text
Who was present or being addressed in this passage? In the surrounding chapter context (Zechariah 12:1–14:21): Judah, Jerusalem, the house of David, and the nations are addressed or portrayed in the prophetic account of conflict, cleansing, and the LORD's reign. stated in the text
Who was the book written to? The restored community of Judah and Jerusalem, with messages for its leaders and visions extending beyond that immediate community. Biblical references: Zechariah 1:3; Zechariah 4:9; Zechariah 7:5. stated in the text
What
What is the topic of this reading unit? The Destroyers of Jerusalem Destroyed. Read Zechariah 14:1 through Zechariah 14:15 as a connected unit. interpretation
How does it contribute to the book? This opening unit introduces the chapter’s movement. The closing oracles move through mourning, cleansing, conflict, and the LORD's kingship; detailed fulfillments must be argued rather than assumed. interpretation
When
When are the events or message set? The opening dates messages to Darius' reign; later oracles are not all introduced with the same level of dating. book background
Where
What is the book’s geographic setting? The returned community, Jerusalem, the temple, and symbolic visionary scenes are central, with wider nations and conflicts in view. book background
Where does the context start?
This passage sits in The Destroyers of Jerusalem Destroyed (Zechariah 14:1 to Zechariah 14:15).
Start reading at Zechariah 14:1. An editorial reading unit, not a claim that the surrounding context stops here. Book background below applies to the shared passage; individual verses may need more specific explanation.
How
How does this book connect with Jesus Christ? The Gospels explicitly connect the king riding on an ass with Jesus' entry into Jerusalem and cite other passages in the passion accounts. Additional identifications should still be marked as interpretation. See Zechariah 9:9, Matthew 21:4, Matthew 21:5, Zechariah 13:7, Matthew 26:31. interpretation
How should this book guide our response? Join worship with truth, mercy, and justice. Begin interpretation of a vision with its supplied explanation and avoid treating speculation about present events as the words of the prophecy. interpretation
Cited: Zechariah 14:1, Zechariah 14:15, Zechariah 9:9, Matthew 21:4, Matthew 21:5, Zechariah 13:7, Matthew 26:31
Who wrote it, and how we know
ZechariahNamed in Scripture
What Scripture saysThe book opens with the word of the LORD to Zechariah. Zechariah 1:1
Early traditionTradition names Zechariah.
What is debatedSome scholars propose a second author for chapters 9 through 14.
Cross references from CrossReferences-org (CC BY 4.0).
Macro-Structure
See how this passage fits the chapter and the book.
Macro-Structure of Zechariah 14
Prefilled outline, not yet reviewed.
Zechariah's dated opening belongs to the post-exilic setting under Darius. The book includes interpreted visions, exhortations, and later oracles. Retain explanations supplied by the text and label further symbolic connections as interpretation. Local headings and stanza divisions are editorial reading aids adapted from public-domain BSB headings; verse boundaries and Scripture links use the KJV. Connections describe the surrounding book movement.
Connection to the wholeThis opening unit introduces the chapter’s movement. The closing oracles move through mourning, cleansing, conflict, and the LORD's kingship; detailed fulfillments must be argued rather than assumed.
Connection to the wholeThis unit closes the chapter’s selected reading divisions. The closing oracles move through mourning, cleansing, conflict, and the LORD's kingship; detailed fulfillments must be argued rather than assumed.
interpretation
Suggested literary divisions. Headings summarize the passage; they are not part of the biblical text.
Macro-Structure of Zechariah
Prefilled outline, not yet reviewed.
Zechariah's dated opening belongs to the post-exilic setting under Darius. The book includes interpreted visions, exhortations, and later oracles. Retain explanations supplied by the text and label further symbolic connections as interpretation.
Connection to the wholeA sequence of visions and explanations addresses the community's situation and the LORD's purposes, followed by the symbolic crowning.
Connection to the wholeThe oracles present the coming king and conflicts involving the flock and shepherds, requiring careful attention to their changing images.
Connection to the wholeThe closing oracles move through mourning, cleansing, conflict, and the LORD's kingship; detailed fulfillments must be argued rather than assumed.
interpretation
Suggested literary divisions. Headings summarize the passage; they are not part of the biblical text.