Bible Commentary: Jonah 1 - Zechariah 14

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Bible Commentary for Jonah 1 thru Zechariah 14

Jonah Chapter 1

Jonah prophesied early in the reign of Jeroboam II so was a contemporary of both Amos and Hosea. (2 Kings 14:25). Scholars believe that Jonah’s mission to Nineveh may have occurred during a time when they were suffering from a temporary decline in their drive to being a world power because of internal dissention.

Jehovah spoke to Jonah and told him to go to Nineveh and preach His judgment message against them because of their wickedness so that they might have an opportunity to repent. But Jonah did not want to carry out this assignment so he decided to go to Tarshish. When he boarded a ship at Joppa and set sail for Tarshish, Jehovah caused such a violent storm that those aboard the ship thought that it was going to break up. So the threw the cargo overboard to try to save the ship. During this time Jonah had gone below deck and had fallen asleep. The captain woke him up and told him to join with the rest and pray to his god that he might save them.

Since it was unusual for such a storm to arise during sailing season, the crew concluded that one of the gods was venting his wrath on someone on board so they decided to cast lots to determine who the guilty party was. The lot fell to Jonah so they wanted to know who he was, where had he come from and what was his business. Jonah told them that he was a Hebrew and he worshipped the God who created the land and sea and he obviously told them that he was running away from his God. As the sea became more boisterous, they asked what should they do to him so that the sea would become calmer. Jonah told them to throw him overboard and the sea would calm down as it was because of him that the storm had come up. They did not want to do this because they believed that Jonah would die and they did not want to be responsible for his death.

But the sea only became rougher so they finally had to throw him overboard and the sea immediately became calm. They recognized then that Jonah’s God did control the sea and so they offered sacrifices and made vows to him. Jehovah had a fish swallow Jonah where he remained for three days and nights. (Matthew 12:40)

Jonah Chapter 2

Jonah then prayed to Jehovah from inside the fish. He thanked Him because He had heard his cry and had saved him from a watery grave. He believed that he had been banished by God and would never see His holy temple again. The sea surrounded him and seaweed wrapped around his head. He sank so far down that he believed that he saw the root of the mountains. But Jehovah saved him from the pit because he heard his prayer. Because Jehovah was able to bring about such a miracle, Jonah believed that anyone who worshipped lifeless idols may eventually lose their loyalty but Jonah would always offer praise and sacrifices to Jehovah because salvation belongs to him. Then Jehovah had the fish vomit Jonah onto dry land.

Jonah Chapter 3

Then Jehovah again told Jonah to go to Nineveh and proclaim his message to them. This time Jonah obeyed and went to Nineveh. He proclaimed to them as he came into the city that in forty days the city was going to be toppled. The people believed him and they put on sackcloth and declared a fast. The king also when he heard Jonah’s message got off of his throne, put on sackcloth and sat in the dust. He issued a proclamation that no one was to eat or drink anything and they should all put on sackcloth, even the beast of the field should be covered with sackcloth. They were to call on Jehovah with urgency and were to give up their bad ways and end all injustice against others. Then God might change his mind and not bring his fierce anger upon them. When Jehovah saw that they did turn from their bad ways, he relented and did not bring destruction upon them.

Jonah Chapter 4

Jonah was however became angry and in prayer to Jehovah said that he knew that Jehovah was compassionate and gracious, slow to anger and would relent from sending calamity if repentance was shown. He felt that he had wasted his time in announcing destruction that was not to come. So, he asked Jehovah to take his life because he would be better off dead than alive. Jehovah wanted to know what right had he to be angry.

Jonah then went out of the city and made himself a place to shade himself from the sun to wait to see what would happen to the city. Jonah obviously believed that the people of Nineveh were so wicked that they ought to be put to death in spite of the fact that they had repented of their sins. Jonah’s shelter was not very efficient so Jehovah made a vine grow overnight to provide a more comfortable place for him to sit. According to The Bible Knowledge Commentary, Volume I, page 1471, “The plant may have been a castor-bean plant, which grows rapidly in hot climates to a height of 12 feet and has large leaves. It easily withers if its stalk is injured. The fact that the plant grew overnight (cf. “at dawn the next day,” v.7 and note v. 10) shows that more than usual rapid growth was as much a miracle as God’s providing the fish for Jonah.”

Jonah was very happy about this vine, but the next day God caused a worm to chew the vine and it withered. Then He brought a scorching east wind that cause Jonah to swoon and again he wanted to die. Jehovah again asked if Jonah had any right to be angry over what happened to the vine. Jonah replies that he did have a right to be angry and Jehovah said the Jonah had concern for a vine that he neither tended nor caused to grow but which had provided physical comfort for him. Yet he was angry that Jehovah was concerned about the spiritual welfare of a city of people who needed His help. Jonah showed a real lack of concern for these people but Jehovah did not. The footnote for verse 11 in the NIV says this: “Jonah and his countrymen traditionally rejoiced in God’s special mercies to Israel but wished only his wrath on their enemies. God here rebukes such hardness and proclaims his own gracious benevolence.”

Micah Chapter 1

Micah prophesied during the reigns of Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, kings of Judah. He was a contemporary of Isaiah and Hosea. During Jeremiah’s time, the elders quoted from a prophecy of Micah (3:12) that was spoken early in the days of Hezekiah. (See Jeremiah 26:18) He predicted the fall of both Samaria as well as Jerusalem.

Micah advised the people of both Israel and Judah to give heed to his words because Jehovah had a legal case against them. Even at this very moment he has turned his full attention to the earth and is walking upon its heights. His legal case concerns the sins of Jacob or Israel and Judah. (See 2 Kings 15: 32 –16:19) Samaria would become a devastated place; her idols would be broken into pieces and her temple gifts that came from the wages of prostitutes would again be used as wages for prostitutes, this time by the invading army who would carry her wealth to their own pagan temples.

Micah would, symbolically, mourn and go about naked and barefoot because this is what will happen to Samaria when the Assyrians overtake her and Judah was also in line for the same punishment. The news of this destruction was not to be told in Gath lest they gloat over them; those in Beth Ophrah (house of dust) were told to roll in the dust as an expression of their grief. Those in Shaphir (pleasant, fair) would become the opposite of their name, a town of shame and nakedness; those in Zaanan, which means ‘come out’ will do the opposite and would, because of fear, be afraid and would remain in their houses. Beth Ezel, which means ‘nearby house,’ would not be able to offer protection to anyone because they would be in mourning. Maroth or bitter would experience bitterness because there would be no help for them as Jehovah would allow disaster to come right up to the gates of Jerusalem. (2 Chronicles 32:9, 16-22)

The citizens of Lachish, one of Judah’s largest fortified cities, are told to harness their horses to their chariots if they wanted to escape the Assyrians because they would be the first in line to be captured. This city was located about thirty miles from Jerusalem. Lachish may have been one of the first cities in Judah to adopt the sins of Israel before they were introduced in Jerusalem. The town of Aczib, located near Lachish, would be of no help in staving off the conquering armies. Those living in Mareshah (conqueror) would themselves be caught by the Assyrian conqueror. All of the people living in these cities would shave their heads in mourning because they would all go into captivity.

Micah Chapter 2

Micah condemns the wealthy Israelites who plan and plot evil at night and get up in the morning and carry it out simply because they have the power to so. They defraud their fellowman of their fields and houses just to increase their wealth. Jehovah would put a yoke upon their necks and they would not be haughty anymore. The nations would utter a proverbial saying about them that the land that they stole from others had been divided and given to outsiders. They would never again own land in Israel.

The false prophets tried to stop Micah from speaking Jehovah’s words because they do not believe that disaster will overtake them as Jehovah would never do such a thing to them. Micah reminded them that Jehovah does good to those who are upright which they were not. Jehovah describes the people who steal from the unsuspecting as being like soldiers in battle who strip their enemies of their possessions thus they show no concern at all for them. They drive the women away from their homes and thus keep their children from receiving blessings from Jehovah. Jehovah will send these people away from the land because they have defiled it. They prefer prophets who agree to prophesy to them for the price of wine.

Micah now speaks of restoration for a remnant of the people. Jehovah will gather them together, as He would pasture sheep. He would send one called the ‘breaker’ who would open the way for their return and will go up before them with Jehovah at the head. This one who is the breaker is also the king of the nation.

Micah Chapter 3

Micah now speaks to the leader of the nation who should have been the ones who would know how to exercise justice and would love good rather than bad. But they were the ones who were treating the people with harshness, stripping off their skin, breaking their bones and chopping them up like meat prepared for the pot, treating them as though they were animals to be slaughter and eaten. The day will come when these leaders will cry out to Jehovah but He will not hear them because of all the evil that they have done. The prophets were leading the people astray by prophesying peace to them only if they paid them. But if they did not pay them, then the prophets would fight against them. Jehovah would bring doom upon them and would not forewarn them. They would become ashamed of their false visions and they will face disgrace as Jehovah will give them no answers.

But as far as Micah was concerned, he would continue, with Jehovah’s help, to declare to Israel her sins. He commands the leaders to hear his words as he proclaimed their wickedness to them. They despised justice, distorted all that was right, loved bloodshed and wickedness. The judges perverted justice by taking bribes, the priests charged the people to teach them and the prophets gave oracles for money and they said that Jehovah was with them and He would not bring disaster upon them. But Jehovah’s word to them was that Jerusalem would be plowed like a field and become a heap of ruins. (Jeremiah 26:17, 18)

Micah Chapter 4

Micah now writes about the day when Jehovah’s mountain will be raised above every other mountain or hill and people from every nation will stream to it. They will invite others to come up to the house of the God of Jacob where they will be taught Jehovah’s ways so that they may walk in His paths. He will send forth His law and nations will submit to His judgments. They will become peaceful and will not prepare for war. They will enjoy security and no one will cause them to fear. In that day, Jehovah will gather the lame, the exiles and those that He afflicted. He will make them into a strong nation and He will rule over them forever. Their former dominion will be restored and they will have a Davidic king to rule over them.

But at this time, Jerusalem is in agony because they will have to leave the city and go to Babylon where at a later time, Jehovah will redeem them from enemy hands. The enemy nations of Israel have a different plan for her but they do not know Jehovah and how He will use them to carry out His own purposes. Later, when Israel has been restored, Jehovah will give the power to break many nations into pieces and they will take their wealth and will devote it to Jehovah.

Micah Chapter 5

Micah predicts that a siege will be laid against Jerusalem that she will not be able to withstand and their king will be dealt a humiliating blow. This occurred when Nebuchadnezzar captured Zedekiah, killed his sons, blinded him and took him captive to Babylon. (2 Kings 25:7) Micah foretells a future ruler who would come from Bethlehem and whose activities were known from long ago. This verse is usually applied to Jesus but its main application is to the one who will be ruler over spiritual Israel, the modern-day servant. Verses 3-9 must also be applied in a modern-day setting. These verses speak of Israel being abandoned until such time that the one who is in labor gives birth and the brothers of the ruler return to Israel. Then Israel’s ruler will shepherd them in Jehovah’s name.

When the ‘Assyrians’ invade Israel, they will raise up eight rulers who will crush them and free Israel. The remnant of Jacob will become among the nations like refreshing dew or copious showers that Jehovah sends to the people. They will also be like a lion that causes devastation wherever he goes. They will triumph over all of their enemies. In that day, Jehovah will clean Israel of all of its idolatry and will destroy all of the strongholds that they had trusted in and he will take vengeance on those who have not obeyed Him.

Micah Chapter 6

Jehovah has a legal case against His people; He is bringing charges against them. They are going to be given the chance to defend themselves, to plead their case. Jehovah asks them how had He burdened them such that they have reacted to Him as they have. He redeemed them from Egypt sending Moses, Aaron and Miriam to lead them. He did not allow Balaam to curse them as Balak, king of Moab, wanted him to do. They are reminded of Jehovah’s righteous acts that he performed for them when they crossed the Jordan River, defeated Jericho and arrived at Gilgal, the place where he removed the reproach of Egypt from them. (See Joshua chapters 3-5)

How should Israel respond to the righteous acts of Jehovah, Micah asks? Will Jehovah be pleased with burnt offerings of year-old calves, thousands of rams, myriad barrels of oil? Will they need to offer their first-born to atone for their sin? No, Micah tells them that Jehovah requires that they exercise justice, love mercy and walk humbly with their God.

Jehovah asks Israel why are they still using the short ephah and dishonest scales to cheat the people with? Why are his leaders still violent and the people liars? Destruction has already begun in Israel where the greed of the rich will not be satisfied. They will continue to plant and store up but to no avail as Jehovah will give what they possess to someone else.

Micah Chapter 7

Israel describes her misery as being like one who waits to gather summer fruit at the time of the gleaning when most of the produce has been harvested and find nothing. Her people love to shed blood, the rulers demand gifts, judges love bribes and the powerful pervert justice to get what they want. Honest people do not exist in the land. Even the ones who appear to be upright and respectable are like briers and thorn bushes. It is the time for Jehovah to act. Confusion will be the order of the day and the people will not trust one another. They will have to be careful of what they say even to their closest companions. Sons will be against their fathers, daughters against their mothers, daughter-in-law against mother-in-law as a person’s enemies will be those of his own household.

Micah now speaks for the godly remnant in Israel. They will continue to wait for Jehovah to hear them. Their enemy is told not to gloat over them because they recognize that they have sinned against Jehovah and they will have to bear His wrath. But they will be restored as Jehovah will vindicate them. Her enemy will see this and will become ashamed of their accusations against the remnant. Then she will see when Jehovah brings her enemy to their end. The time will then come to rebuild Israel’s walls and extend her boundaries so that her people will come from Egypt and Assyria and from all parts of the earth. The rest of the earth will become a desolated waste.

Jehovah will again bless Israel as He did in previous times. The nations shall see this and will become ashamed of the opposition they showed to God’s people. They will close their mouths and their ears will be stopped up. They will lick dust like the serpent and they will turn to Jehovah in dread and will be fearful of Israel. Jehovah is not like any god because He forgives the sins of His people and shows them mercy. He will tread their sins and iniquities underfoot. He will show loyalty to Abraham and faithfulness to Jacob.

Nahum Chapter 1

Nahum’s prophecy concerns Jehovah’s judgments on Nineveh, the capital city of Assyria. Nineveh fell to the Babylonians in 612 BCE so Nahum prophesied before this year. He would have been a contemporary of Zephaniah and Jeremiah who prophesied during the reign of Josiah.

Nahum described Jehovah as the God who acts in behalf of His people in that He takes vengeance upon those who oppose Him. He is slow to anger but He will punish the guilty. When He appears, the whole earth trembles and no one can endure His wrath. But He is a refuge for those who trust in him. No matter what His adversaries plot against Him, they will have only one opportunity to carry it out because He will cause them to become confused as one who is drunk and they will be consumed like dry straw.

An unnamed Assyrian ruler has arisen in Nineveh and he plots evil against Jehovah and counsels wickedness. To him, Jehovah says that no matter how many are his allies, they will all be destroyed. Jehovah had allowed Israel to be afflicted, but He would break the Assyrian yoke off their necks. The Assyrians royal dynasty will die out and the idolatrous worship that they promoted will be destroyed. But to Judah a declaration of peace will be proclaimed. (Isaiah 52:7) They will celebrate their festivals and fulfill their vows to Jehovah. No nation will ever invade their land again because they will have all been destroyed.

Nahum Chapter 2

Nineveh is called on to prepare to defend themselves because an attack upon her was imminent. The Babylonians, Medes and Scythians were gathering against her. A parenthetical statement is inserted here where Jehovah speaks about a restoration of Jacob or Israel to the splendor they enjoyed before they were laid waste by the nations. The scene returns to the invading army whose soldiers are clothed in scarlet and their shields are red in color. The metal wheels on the chariots flash as their horses rush back and forth through the streets thus resembling flaming torches.

The commander sends his troops to the city walls and puts the protective shield in place so that the wall can be breached. Jehovah had decreed that the city will be carried into exile. As the enemy troops advance into the city they will plunder all the treasures of Assyria because there is much there. Assyria is now described as a place where lions once lived and fed their young in security but was no longer in existence. This is because Jehovah had called for her destruction and it had been accomplished.

Nahum Chapter 3

Nineveh is described as a city of blood, plunder and victims. All of this has been done so as to satisfy the wanton lust of a harlot that enslaved nations by her witchcraft and prostitution. Jehovah was against her and He would expose her nakedness and shame before the nations. She will be treated with contempt and no one will mourn for her. She had considered herself better than the nations that she had defeated. She had strong allies such as Egypt, Cush, Put and Libya but these could not help her when she was captured and taken into exile and her infants dashed to pieces and her nobles put in chains. All of her fortified cities would easily fall to the invaders, her troops are as helpless as women and her gates were easily opened by the enemy.

Nineveh is again encouraged to prepare to defend herself by having plenty of water available and shoring up her walls to withstand the attack. But it will be to no avail as her city would be burned with fire and her people killed by the sword. Her land was overrun with merchants because of her vast trading but they too would loot her and leave her devastated. Even those who guarded the city would leave their post and disappear, as would her officials. Her king will find that he was unable to hold the empire together, his nobles were of no help and now they are dead and her people are scattered and would never be re-gathered again. The news of her fall will be received with joy by all the nations who had been a victim of her cruelty. Assyrian has been described as “one of the cruelest, vilest, most powerful, and most idolatrous empires in the world.” – The Bible History Commentary, Volume I, Page 1494.

Habakkuk Chapter 1

Habakkuk was contemporary with Jeremiah during the reign of Jehoiakim and probably received his vision before the battle at Carchemish in 605 BCE. He did not prophesy to the people as did Jeremiah but he was concerned about their wickedness and what Jehovah would do about it.

Habakkuk complained to Jehovah that He was not listening to his cry for help. He constantly had to face destruction, violence, conflict and strife. God’s law was being neglected and justice was ignored. The wicked were more powerful than the righteous so justice was always being perverted. Jehovah answered him by telling him that He was going to do something that even Habakkuk would not believe even if it were told to him. (Acts 13:41) He would raise up the Babylonians, a ruthless people, who were sweeping across the earth taking lands not their own. They were feared by other nations and they listen to no law other than their own. They rode swift horses that were as fierce as wolves and their army moved as quickly as swooping eagles eager to devour. They have no regard for anyone nor do the fortified cities of other nations prove a problem for them. After capturing a city they move on to the next one relying only on their strength. Their military might had become their god. (Daniel 4:28-30)

Habakkuk was surprised that Jehovah would use the Babylonians to execute judgment upon His people. He did not understand why Jehovah would use a nation more wicked than His people to do this. It appeared that this action would be a perversion of justice, which he did not believe that Jehovah would do. Judah was like fish in the sea that have no ruler and their enemy catches them in a net and pulls them ashore and rejoices over his catch. Then he offers a sacrifice to his god, his military might, which also enables him to live in luxury. Habakkuk wanted to know how long would Babylon be allowed to continue overrunning nations without mercy. Habakkuk would act as a watchman and would stand at his post and wait to see what answer Jehovah would give him.

Habakkuk Chapter 2

Then Jehovah answered him and told him to write the vision down on a tablet. It should be written such that the facts are plainly stated so that whoever reads it may run. The vision is for an appointed time and it will come true. So it is to written down in order to preserve it so it can be read at the appropriate time. It may appear to be delaying, but the prophet should wait because the vision was sure to be fulfilled. Scholars believe that the vision has to do with Jehovah’s judgment upon Babylon. The Babylonian king is arrogant and his desires are not in harmony with Jehovah but the righteous will live by his faith. He is arrogant, greedy and ambitious but is never satisfied so he continues to take people captive.

These captive nations will pronounce a taunt against the king of Babylon saying: “Woe to the one who makes himself wealthy by means extortion.” He will not continue because people will rise and come against him until he becomes their victim. He has plundered many nations and those who are left will plunder him. They will also say to him: “Woe to him who builds up his realm by unjust gain thinking that it will be secure from ruin by these means.” He had ruined many people so his own house would suffer ruin with even the stone walls and beams of wood crying out. They will also say to him: “Woe to him who builds a city with bloodshed establishing the town by means of criminal activity.” Babylon had been built using the people it had enslaved. It used tyranny, oppression and bloodshed to accomplish this. Jehovah said that all of the labor of these people would have been done in vain because the city would be burned with fire. The only lasting building work that would be done was the filling of the earth with the knowledge of the glory of Jehovah.

The taunt continues. The people will say to Babylon: “Woe to him who gives drink to his neighbors getting them drunk so that he can gaze on their naked bodies.” The king will himself be given strong drink and he will be exposed. The cup that hold the drink will come from Jehovah’s hand and he will experience the degradation that he has inflicted upon others. Just as he had shed the blood of others, his own blood will be shed. The taunt ends with the condemnation of the idols of Babylon. Whoever trusts in them is trusting in the work of their own hand. Woe to anyone who says to a piece of wood ‘come to life’ or to stone ‘wake up.’ Neither can offer any guidance because it has no breath in it. But the living God, Jehovah, is in His holy temple and all the earth is commanded to be silent before him.

Habakkuk Chapter 3

Habakkuk offers a prayer to Jehovah in which he acknowledges His awesome deeds and saving acts. He asks that He would again intervene in behalf of His people and to show mercy to those who experienced His wrath. When Jehovah came from Mount Paran, a reference to the time when he was leading Israel to the land of Canaan, His praise filled the earth and His radiance was like the sunrise. In His right hand His power was hidden. Plague and pestilence attended Him as He used these against Egypt. The earth, the mountains and hills may be symbolic of grandeur but when Jehovah came to save His people they are said to suffer turmoil and the surrounding nations suffer distress as they saw what happened to Egypt. He split the Red Sea in His wrath so that His people could cross.

He performed many acts of judgments against the leaders of the Egypt bringing plague after plague against them until they were stripped bare. He pierced the head of the Egyptians when they tried to bring Israel back to Egypt after they left by causing the waters of the sea to return on the heads of the Egyptians. Recalling these events caused Habakkuk to be in awe and he was willing to wait patiently for Babylon to be destroyed. No matter how bad conditions became, he would continue to rejoice in Jehovah because Jehovah is his strength and He gives him stability.

Zephaniah Chapter 1

Zephaniah was a great great-grandson of Hezekiah, king of Judah, who prophesied during the days of Josiah. It is not certain whether he began his prophesying after Josiah began his religious revival or just before when the people of Judah were still carrying on pagan worship.

Zephaniah begins his prophecy with a warning of coming destruction upon the whole world then he focuses his attention on Jehovah’s judgment message against Judah. Jehovah was going to stretch out his hand against Judah and Jerusalem to wipe out every vestige of Baal worship, which includes the names of these gods and the idolatrous priest who minister at their altars. It would also include those who worship the heavenly bodies, those who try to combine the worship both Molech with that of Jehovah and those who neither seek nor inquire of Jehovah. Jehovah’s day is near in which he has prepared a great sacrifice where the offerings would be the disobedient people of Judah. He would punish the princes of Judah because they have chosen to wear clothing that the nations around them were wearing indicating that they had begun accepting the moral values of these people. He would punish those who were plundering goods and bringing these to the house of their gods as an offering to them.

When Jehovah executes His judgments upon the people, there will be wailing from one end of the city to the other because all that they possessed would be taken away from them. Jehovah would make a thorough search of Jerusalem using lamps so as not to miss anyone that was under judgment including those who had become indifferent, and like wine left on the dregs, had become so polluted that they could not be stomached. All of their wealth would be taken away, their homes demolished and they would not get to enjoy the work of their hands.

Zephaniah warned them that Jehovah’s day was very near and it would be a day of bitterness, wrath anguish, distress, darkness, gloom, a day of trumpets and battle cries against their cities. Because of their great sin Jehovah will bring such distress on them that they would stagger like blind men and their blood and entrails would be poured in the dust. Their silver and gold would not be able to save them when Jehovah expresses his wrath against them.

Zephaniah Chapter 2

Jehovah shows his mercy when He encourages His people to take the time to give attention to his warning message. Before that day arrives they have the opportunity to humble themselves, at least those who take Zephaniah seriously, to seek Jehovah, to seek righteousness because they might possibly be sheltered on that day of Jehovah’s anger.

Zephaniah records Jehovah’s judgment message against Judah’s neighbors. He begins with Philistia. All of her cities would be emptied of people, the area along the seacoast would become a place where shepherds would pasture their flock. In time, it would become a possession of the remnant of Judah when Jehovah restores them. Moab and Ammon come under Jehovah’s judgment because they taunted and insulted His people threatening to take over their land. But these nations would become like Sodom and Gomorrah, desolated wastelands and salt pits. Their lands would eventually be occupied by the restored remnant. Their gods would be shown to be nothing and they will have to acknowledge Jehovah as the true God. Jehovah’s sword will also reach those who live in Cush or the upper Nile region.

Assyria also comes under Jehovah’s judgment and Nineveh would become a desolate waste where all types of desert creatures would live. Nineveh was a city that had many irrigation canals to keep it well watered. (Nahum 2:6) Once the water was drained from these canals, the ground would become dry as a desert. Nineveh was described as a carefree city because the Ninevites believed that it was impregnable and there was no one equal to her. But she will now become a ruin and a den for wild beast.

Zephaniah Chapter 3

Jerusalem is a rebellious and defiled city who does not accept correction from Jehovah. Her leaders are like lions and wolves that devour at night and leave nothing till morning. Her prophets were unfaithful and arrogant and her priests were guilty of profaning the temple and violating the law. But Jehovah is not responsible for their condition because He is righteous and no wrong can ever be attributed to Him. He always exercises justice when He deals with His people but they show no shame for their wickedness.

As an example of Jehovah’s judgments, He destroyed nations leaving none of their inhabitants alive. He hoped that His people would take note of this and accept His discipline so that the same thing would not happen to them. But they did not want this; they wanted to continue in their corrupt activities. Therefore, they should wait for the day that He acts. He would gather nations and kingdoms and pour out all His fierce anger upon them.

After His judgments have been poured out, He will give the people a new language of truth so that they may all call upon Him in unison, all those who have been scattered, that they may bring Him acceptable offerings. He will not cause them to be ashamed because of the wrongs they did as He will have remove the haughty ones from His holy mountain and He would leave only those who are meek and humble who trust in His name. They will speak no lies nor will they be deceitful and they will dwell in security.

Zion is told to rejoice and be glad because Jehovah has ended their punishment and is with them so that they will have no reason to be afraid again. Jerusalem is told not to be discouraged because Jehovah has taken delight in them and will rejoice over them with a shout of joy as on a day of the festival. He will deal with all that have oppressed them and will gather the lame and the outcast and will change their shame into praise. They will be given honor and praise before all of the peoples of the earth when Jehovah restores them to their land.

Haggai Chapter 1

Haggai was one of the prophets that Jehovah used to stir his people to action after they were released from Babylon and were given the responsibility to rebuild the temple. He began his ministry in the second year of Darius, king of Persia. It had been seventeen years since they had laid the foundation of the temple but they had not completed it.

Haggai’s message is directed to Zerubbabel, governor of Judah, and to Joshua, the high priest. Jehovah reminds them that the people had concluded that there was no urgency to get Jehovah’s house built. Jehovah’s asked them through Haggai if it was more important that they build their own houses while His house remained in ruins. They needed to give consideration to the fact that they had planted a lot of seed but the harvest was small. They never had enough to drink nor did their clothes keep them warm. Their wages were not enough to take care of their necessities.

Again they were told to think about what they were doing. If they were to get the timber to build His house, then He would be honored. The reason that they had so little was because they had ignored the building of His house and had spent all of their time in their own pursuits. So He had caused the heavens to withhold the rain and the earth did not produce its crop. The leaders and the people after hearing these words from Haggai began to fear Jehovah and they obeyed His voice. Haggai then gave them encouraging words from Jehovah. He told them that Jehovah was with them. So they began the work of building the temple on the twenty- fourth day of the sixth month in the second year of Darius.

Haggai Chapter 2

In the seventh month on the twenty-first day, Jehovah had Haggai speak to the people and He told them to ask if anyone there had seen the original temple in its glory. To them this present house must have seemed like nothing. But they were encouraged to be strong and continue the work because Jehovah would continue to be with them. Jehovah then said to them that He was going to shake the heavens and the earth, the sea and dry land and the nations and He would bring the desirable things from them to fill that house with glory since the silver and the gold belonged to Him. The present house that they were building would have greater glory than the former one did.

On the twenty-fourth day of the ninth month, the word of Jehovah came to Haggai and He told him to ask the priests a question concerning the law. He asked: If a priest carried consecrated meat in the fold of his garment and that fold touched some other food item, would that item become consecrated? The priests answered, “No.” Then Haggai asked them: If a person who had become defiled by a dead body touches some food item, would it become defiled? They answered that it would become defiled. Haggai then told them that this was the way that Jehovah viewed the people, whatever they offered at the altar was defiled.

The people were now to think about what their situation was previous to their beginning the temple rebuilding. When they came to their silos and wine vats for grain and wine, they found that there was not enough there for their needs. Even though Jehovah brought blight, mildew and hail upon them, they still did not recognize that it was Jehovah who was plaguing them so that they would turn to Him. But now that they had put Jehovah’s house first, He would bless them.

Jehovah again spoke to Haggai on the twenty-fourth day of the ninth month. He told him to tell Zerubbabel that He would shake the heavens and the earth and would overturn royal thrones and shatter foreign kingdoms, overthrow chariots and their drivers and would cause horses and their riders to be killed by the sword of his brother. On that day Jehovah will make Zerubbabel like His signet ring because he was His chosen one. According to the NIV Bible Commentary, Volume I, page 1513, the “signet ring corresponded to the crown, the throne, or the scepter.” Further this same publication says this: “So Zerubbabel represents the resumption of the messianic line interrupted by the Exile, which had been ushered in by the unfortunate reign of three of Josiah’s sons.” (See Jeremiah 22:24, 25) This, of course, pointed to a future fulfillment of these words, a messianic one, as Zerubbabel could not assume the throne of David because they were under Persian rule.

Zechariah Chapter 1

Zechariah was the son of the high priest Berekiah and grandson of Iddo. He was probably born in Babylon and returned to Palestine with the rest of the exiles. He began his prophesying two months after Haggai did and possibly continued down to the reign of Artaxerxes I, king of Persia.

In the eighth month of the second year of Darius, Jehovah spoke to Zechariah. He had been very angry with the forefathers of Judah and had sent them into exile. He now told Zechariah to tell the people not to be disobedient to Him as their forefather had been but to turn away from their evil ways. He had sent his prophets to them but they refused to listen so that His words that the prophets had spoken to them had been fulfilled upon them. The people then repented because of Zechariah’s words and acknowledged that Jehovah had acted against their forefathers in accordance with what they deserved. Both Haggai and Zechariah were successful in getting the people to start the work of rebuilding the temple. (Ezra 5:1, 2)

In the eleventh month on the twenty-fourth day in the second year of Darius, Zechariah was given eight visions from Jehovah. In the first vision, he saw a man on a red horse standing in a ravine among myrtle trees along with red, brown and white horses. Zechariah asked the rider on the red horse, referred to as the ‘angel of the LORD,’ who the others were. He told him that they were the ones who had been sent throughout the earth to patrol it. They had reported back to the man on the red horse that the whole world was at peace with no war occurring anywhere.

Then the ‘angel of the LORD’ spoke to Jehovah and asked Him how long would He withhold His mercy from Judah since He had been angry with them for the past seventy years. Jehovah answered Him with words of comfort and the angel related to Zechariah what He had said. Jehovah was very zealous for Jerusalem but now His anger had turned against the nations who had pillaged Jerusalem beyond what He had intended. Jehovah would again show mercy to Jerusalem, they would rebuild His house and her towns will again be prosperous and Jehovah will comfort them by fulfilling His promises to them.

In the second vision, Zechariah saw four horns that the angel explained were the ones who had scattered Judah, Jerusalem and Israel. These probably represented the Gentile nations that had taken them into captivity since horns are sometimes used to represent rulers. Then he was shown four craftsmen and was told that these would strike down the four horns or nations that had scattered God’s people. These craftsmen would be used to deliver Israel from their enemies.

Zechariah Chapter 2

In the third vision, Zechariah saw a man with a measuring line who was about to measure Jerusalem. Another angel came and told Zechariah that Jerusalem would be a city that would be so populous that is would be as though it had no walls although Jehovah said that he would its wall outside and its glory inside. (Revelation 21:23) He then told him that he needed to escape from a world wide Babylon because He has scattered them to the ‘four winds of heaven.’ Jehovah says that He will plunder those nations that had plundered Israel because she is to Jehovah as the ‘apple of His eye,’ that is, a most precious possession to Him. Here Zechariah pictures the one that Jehovah will use to bring judgment against the nations and this would convince Israel that Jehovah had sent him. When they are restored, Jehovah will live among them and many nations will join Israel and will become His people. Judah will become Jehovah’s portion and He will again choose Jerusalem as His city. Jehovah has aroused himself; all nations should stand in awe of Him.

Zechariah Chapter 3

In the fourth vision, Zechariah sees high priest, Joshua, standing before the ‘angel of Jehovah’ and Satan is standing next to him accusing him. But Satan is rebuked for his accusations and Jehovah has extended His loving kindness to Joshua by saving him because He has chosen Jerusalem. Joshua is dressed in filthy clothes and the angel of Jehovah tells those who are standing there to take the filthy clothes off of Joshua which represented his spiritual condition. Then his sins were forgiven and he would be clothed in rich or festal garments and a clean turban would be put on his head.

The angel of Jehovah told Joshua that if he would keep Jehovah’s requirements and walk in his ways, he would be given charge of His house and his courts and He would be given a place among those who had been used to clean him up. Joshua and his fellow priest were symbolic of future things and the future removal of sin from Israel would be in connection with the one called ‘Branch.’ A stone with seven eyes on it and having the inscription on it would be set before Joshua. Jehovah would remove the sin of the land in one day and each would invite the others to join them in their spiritual paradise.

Zechariah Chapter 4

In Zechariah’s fifth vision, the angel of Jehovah showed him a solid gold lampstand that a had a bowl on top of it with seven lights on it and seven channels going to the lights. There were two olive trees on either side of the lampstand. When Zechariah asked about this, he was told that Jehovah would instill power into Zerubbabel by means of His spirit and any mountainous object that stood in the way of the temple being completed would be leveled. When the temple was completed and the capstone put on it, the people would shout “God bless it.”

Jehovah then assured Zechariah that Zerubbabel having laid the foundation would also be the one who would complete the temple. Although this temple seemed significant to those who had seen the first temple but there would be rejoicing when Zerubbabel completes the work. Zechariah asks the angel what the two olive trees were that were standing on either side of the lampstand. The angel told him that these were the two anointed ones who serve the Lord of the whole earth.

Zechariah Chapter 5

In the sixth vision, Zechariah saw a flying scroll thirty feet long and fifteen feet wide, and had writings on both sides, which the angel identified as a curse that was going out over the whole land. Jehovah would send it out to the house of the thief and the house of those that swears falsely in His name. It would destroy these houses completely. In the seventh vision the angel told Zechariah to identify what was appearing before him. He could not, so the angel told him that it was a measuring basket and it represented the sin of the people in the land. The cover was raised and a woman was seen sitting in the basket. She is identified as wickedness and the cover was hurriedly put back on top of the basket. Two women with wings of a stork came and lifted the basket up between the heaven and earth. Zechariah asked where they were taking the basket and the angel told him that a house would be built for her in Babylonia and when it was ready she would be placed there.

Zechariah Chapter 6

In the eighth vision Zechariah saw four chariots coming from between two bronze mountains. The first chariot had red horses, the second black ones, the third white ones and the fourth dappled ones. The angel told him that these four chariots represented the four winds of heaven that stand in the presence of the Lord of the whole world. These horses were being sent throughout the earth, the chariot with the black horses was being sent to the north, the one with the white horses was sent to the west and the one with the dappled horses was going towards the south. Nothing is said about the chariot with the red horses being sent out though they may have gone to the east as it is the only direction not mentioned here. The angel stated that God’s spirit was at rest in the North Country.

Zechariah was told to take the silver and gold that Heldai, Tobijah and Jedaiah had been brought from Babylon and use it to make a crown and put it upon the head of Joshua, the high priest. This act was symbolic so he was to told that he represented the man that would be known as ‘Branch.’ This one would build a temple for Jehovah and he would be a priest that would sit on the throne. The crown would be kept in the temple in the care of the men who had brought the gold and silver for use in the temple.

Zechariah Chapter 7

In the fourth year of Darius on the fourth day of the ninth month, Jehovah spoke to Zechariah. The people of Bethel had sent two men to the priest to inquire of Jehovah. They wanted to know if they should continue to fast in the fifth month as they had done for many years. Jehovah told Zechariah to ask the people if their fasts for the past seventy years had been done for him or was it just a formality and if their feasting was not for themselves and not for Him. The prophets had condemned the people before the exile for just such conduct.

They had been warned that they needed to administer justice be merciful and compassionate towards one another. They were not to oppress the widows, the orphans, the alien or the poor nor think evil of each other. But they did not pay attention but continued in their own ways. Their hearts became hard as flint and they did not pay attention to the words of the prophets that Jehovah had sent to them. So when trouble came upon them, Jehovah refused to listen to them. He scattered them among the nations and the land became a desolate waste. It was because of their disobedience that their pleasant land was desolated.

Zechariah Chapter 8

Jehovah promises to bless Jerusalem because he was jealous for Jerusalem. He promises to dwell in her and she will be called the City of Truth and Mount Zion will be called the Holy Mountain. Men and women will sit in her city squares and children will play in her streets. At that time this promise may have seem to be too good to be true, but Jehovah reminds them that He is certainly capable of carrying out all that He promises. He will bring His people from the east and west and will settle them in Jerusalem and He will be faithful to them as their God.

Those who heard the words of the prophets Haggai and Zechariah and had seen the foundations of the new temple laid were encouraged to be strong and take the lead in making sure that the structure was completed. There had been no blessing from Jehovah when the people were slack about this work but if they complete the temple building, He would deal with them differently. Their seed would grow and produce crop, the vines would be fruitful and the heavens would give its rain. They would no longer be an object of cursing among the nations but they would be a blessing. Just as Jehovah had been determined to bring disaster upon their forefathers, He will be determined to do good for these people. The stipulations that they needed to meet were outlined for them. They should be truthful with each other, render justice in the courts, avoid doing evil against their neighbors and they were to be honest in all their dealings. They were to avoid all of the things that Jehovah hated.

In the future, their fasts would no longer be occasions for solemnity but would become occasions for festivity. The fast of the fourth month recalled the day that Nebuchadnezzar breached the walls of Jerusalem. The fast in the fifth month recalled the burning of the temple and other buildings; the one observed in the seventh month marked the day Gedaliah was assassinated. The fast in the tenth month marked the day that Nebuchadnezzar began the siege of Jerusalem. (2 Kings 25:1, 3, 4, 8-10, 25)

Zechariah now spoke about a time when peoples from other cities would say to each other that they should all go to Jerusalem to seek Jehovah and to entreat His favor. Then ten men out of all the language groups would take hold of the skirt of a man who is a Jew and will say to him that they will go with him because they have heard that Jehovah is with him.

Zechariah Chapter 9

Zechariah pronounces judgment against Israel’s enemies. Judgment would begin in the lands that are north of Israel, Hadrach, Damascus in Aram, Hamath, Tyre and Sidon. Many scholars believe that this is the route taken by Alexander the Great when he began his conquest of the Middle East. Tyre is condemned because she heaped up silver and gold like dirt in the street and had built an island fortress that she considered a stronghold that could not be breached. Jehovah would bring her down destroying her power and taking away all of her possessions. The Philistines cities of Ashkelon, Gaza, Ekron and Ashdod will also be left desolated. Jehovah would cleanse those who remained of their idolatrous practice of eating blood and unclean food and they will belong to Him. They will become leaders in Judah and will be absorbed into Israel as the Jebusites had been. Jehovah would defend Jerusalem against marauding forces and they would never overrun His people again. Historians know that although Alexander the Great with his army passed Jerusalem several times but never laid siege to it.

Jerusalem is told to rejoice and shout because her king was coming to her riding on the foal of a donkey. Riding on a donkey rather than on a war stallion signaled that he was coming to them in peace. This prophecy had an initial fulfillment in Jesus’ ministry as shown at Matthew 21:4, 5 and John 12:15. At this time, Jehovah would remove all the weaponry of war as this king would bring peace to the nation and his rule will extend to the ends of the earth. (Psalms 72:8) On the basis of the covenant with Israel, Jehovah will restore all those held prisoner and would give them twice as much as they lost.

Jehovah would give them victory over all of their enemies. He Himself will march out before them and shield them. They will be filled with joy as Jehovah gives them the victory. They will sparkle like jewels in a crown when He saves them.

Zechariah Chapter 10

Israel is to trust in Jehovah and He is the one that they should petition for showers of rain to grow their crops. Those who depend on idols become like sheep without a shepherd. Jehovah will punish those shepherds that do not care for the sheep and He will take care of them Himself. Judah will produce a ruler that will lead the nation to victory. Jehovah will save both Judah and Joseph (Israel) reuniting them because of His compassion and it will be as though they were never rejected.

Ephraim (Israel) will become mighty and will rejoice along with their children. When Jehovah gathers them from the places that He scattered them back to their land, they will be as numerous as before and the land will not be able to hold them all. He will bring them back from Egypt and Assyria passing through a sea not of water but of trouble. Egypt’s main river, the Nile, will dry up; her scepter or ruling authority will be taken away and the pride of the Assyrians will be brought down. Jehovah will strengthen His people and they will walk in His name.

Zechariah Chapter 11

Zechariah is told by Jehovah to become a shepherd for a flock that is meant for the slaughter. Their current shepherds are accused of slaughtering them and then selling them for profit. Jehovah allowed this because He was going to withdraw His loving kindness from them so He would not rescue them. Then Zechariah began to shepherd the flock. He took two staffs, one he called Favor and the other Union and he used them to shepherd them. In one month, Zechariah got rid of three shepherds.

The flock did not want Zechariah to shepherd them so he said that he would continue to do so. He would let them continue to be oppressed because it was what they wanted. He then broke the staff called Favor, which represented the revocation of the covenant. The afflicted that saw this knew that it was from Jehovah. He then asked them for his pay and they gave him thirty pieces of silver that Jehovah told him to throw to the potter inside the temple. See Matthew 26:14-16 and 27:3-5 for the 1st century fulfillment of these words. Zechariah then broke the second staff called Union, which indicated a break in the brotherhood. Jehovah then told Zechariah to take up the implements of a worthless shepherd because He was going to raise up a foolish shepherd who would not show any concern at all for the flock. His interest would be in himself only. Jehovah pronounced his condemnation on this worthless shepherd.

Zechariah Chapter 12

Jehovah declared that He was going to make Jerusalem a cup that would cause reeling to all the peoples and he would make her an immovable stone that would cause all those who tried to lift her to injure themselves. On that day Jehovah will cause every horse to panic and their riders will go mad but He will keep His eye on Judah while blinding the horses of the peoples. The sheiks of Judah will then conclude that the inhabitants of Judah will be a strength to them by means of Jehovah their God.

On that day, Jehovah will make the leaders of Judah like a firepot among the grain and they will consume all the surrounding peoples but Jerusalem will continue to be inhabited. Jehovah will save Judah first so that the honor of the house of David would not overshadow Judah’s honor. Jehovah will be a shield to the inhabitants of Jerusalem such that even the weakest of them will have the strength of David and the house of David will be given superhuman strength. Jehovah will destroy all the nations that come up against Jerusalem.

Jehovah will show the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem compassion and when they realize what they have done in piercing Jehovah’s anointed one, they will mourn as one would for an only begotten son. Each clan will mourn by itself and their wives will mourn together. Their mourning will be as intense as that done for King Josiah when Pharaoh Neco II killed him at Hadad Rimmon in Megiddo. (2 Chronicles 35:23-25)

Zechariah Chapter 13

On that day Jehovah will make ‘living waters’ available to the house of David in order that they may be cleansed from their sin and impurities. He will cause the names of their idols to disappear from the land and he will also cleanse the land of its impurity and its prophets. Anyone who prophesied after this will be put to death by his own parents. On that day all the prophets will be ashamed of their deception and they will no longer put on their prophetic garments but will claim to be farmers. They will claim that the wounds that they have on their bodies were done when they were at the homes of their friends.

A sword is to come against Jehovah’s shepherd and when this happens all of the sheep will scatter and Jehovah will turn his hand against those that are insignificant. Jesus applied this verse to himself and his disciples at Matthew 26: 31. At that time two-thirds will be taken from the land and one-third will be left in it. The one-third will be refined like silver and gold. Afterwards, they will call on Jehovah’s name He will answer them and acknowledge that they are His people and He is their God.

Zechariah Chapter 14

Jehovah will gather all the nations against Jerusalem to fight against it and to capture it. Their houses will be ransacked and their women will be raped. Half of the people will be taken captive and the other left will be left in the city. Afterwards, Jehovah will fight against these nations. He will stand on the Mount of Olives splitting it into two parts causing a valley to form. The people will use this valley as a means of escape as it will extend to Azel, a place that is unknown today. This day will be a unique day, a day without day or night. When the evening comes there will be light. Living waters will flow from Jerusalem in summer and winter with half of it going to the Dead Sea and half to the Mediterranean Sea. At this time Jehovah will be ruling over the whole earth and His name will be universally recognized as the only name to be used.

The land around Jerusalem will be leveled and Jerusalem will be raised up so that it will be more visible. It will enjoy security and will never be destroyed again. Those who fought against Jerusalem will be struck with a plague that will cause their eyes to rot in their sockets and their tongues to rot in their mouth. Jehovah will cause panic among the people and they will attack each other. All of their wealth will be collected together and their animals will be struck by a plague so that they cannot use them to escape.

Those who survive these plagues will then go up to Jerusalem to worship Jehovah and to celebrate the Feast of Tabernacles. If they do not do this, Jehovah will inflict them with plagues. On that day the expression ‘Holy to Jehovah’ will characterize the public, religious, and private lives of all that worship Jehovah. On that day no trader or dishonest merchants will be found in the house of Jehovah.



NOTE: Bible translations used in this commentary are The New American Standard Bible (NASB), The New International Version (NIV) and the New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)

***©2005 by YORWW Congregation