Zechariah 10

General context

The chapter opens with a command to ask rain of the Lord in the time of the latter rain, since he makes bright clouds and gives showers and grass to every one. The idols have spoken vanity, the diviners have seen a lie and told false dreams, and their comfort is empty, so the people went their way as a flock and were troubled because there was no shepherd. The Lord's anger was kindled against the shepherds and he punished the goats, having visited his flock the house of Judah and made them as his goodly horse in battle. Out of him came the corner, the nail, the battle bow and every oppressor together. They will be as mighty men treading down enemies in the mire of the streets, fighting because the Lord is with them, while riders on horses are confounded. The Lord says he will strengthen the house of Judah and save the house of Joseph, bring them again and place them, because he has mercy on them, so they will be as though he had not cast them off. Ephraim will be like a mighty man, hearts rejoicing as through wine, with children seeing it and glad. He will hiss for them and gather them because he has redeemed them, sow them among the people so that they remember him in far countries and turn again with their children. He will bring them out of Egypt and gather them from Assyria into Gilead and Lebanon, with no room left for them. He will pass through the sea, smite the waves, dry the deeps of the river, bring down the pride of Assyria and take away the sceptre of Egypt, and strengthen his people so they walk up and down in his name.

Cited passages: Zechariah 10:1, Zechariah 10:2, Zechariah 10:3, Zechariah 10:4, Zechariah 10:5, Zechariah 10:6, Zechariah 10:7, Zechariah 10:8, Zechariah 10:9, Zechariah 10:10, Zechariah 10:11, Zechariah 10:12

Zechariah 10 (KJV)

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Historical context

The chapter carries no date and names no ruler. The shepherds whose punishment is announced in verse 3 are not identified, and the text does not say whether they are rulers, priests or others; the same verse sets them beside goats and a flock. The subject of verse 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," has no stated antecedent in the verse, and the chapter does not say who "him" is. Judah, the house of Joseph and Ephraim are named as distinct groups, and Judah alone is called "his flock the house of Judah." Egypt and Assyria are named as the places from which people are brought and gathered, and Gilead and Lebanon as where they are brought, with no date, king or route given. The sea, the waves and "all the deeps of the river" in verse 11 are not attached to any named crossing. The diviners and idols of verse 2 are not located or named.

Cited passages: Zechariah 10:2, Zechariah 10:3, Zechariah 10:4, Zechariah 10:6, Zechariah 10:7, Zechariah 10:10, Zechariah 10:11, Zechariah 10:1, Zechariah 10:9

Literary context

The chapter begins with weather and ends with walking, and every image in between is either a flock or an army. Rain is asked from the Lord in verse 1 precisely where idols and diviners are shown giving nothing in verse 2, so the false comfort is answered by a thing that falls from the sky. The flock without a shepherd becomes a war horse in the space of one verse, and the four nouns of verse 4, corner, nail, battle bow and oppressor, arrive without explanation and without a named source. The middle of the chapter is a chain of first person promises, strengthen, save, bring again, place, hear, hiss, gather, sow, and the promises are stacked rather than argued. Verse 6 states the strangest of them, that they will be as though they had never been cast off, which does not undo the casting off but writes over it. The end pairs Assyria's pride with Egypt's sceptre and reduces both to a crossing already described in a single line, leaving the people's own walking as the last act.

Cited passages: Zechariah 10:1, Zechariah 10:2, Zechariah 10:3, Zechariah 10:4, Zechariah 10:5, Zechariah 10:6, Zechariah 10:8, Zechariah 10:9, Zechariah 10:11, Zechariah 10:12

Key moments

1. Ask ye of the Lord rain (Zechariah 10:1). The chapter opens by directing the request for rain to the Lord.
2. No shepherd (Zechariah 10:2). Idols and diviners give empty comfort and the flock is troubled.
3. Anger against the shepherds (Zechariah 10:3). The Lord punishes the shepherds and visits his flock the house of Judah.
4. As though not cast off (Zechariah 10:6). Judah and the house of Joseph are promised a return as if never rejected.
5. I will hiss for them (Zechariah 10:8). The Lord whistles for his redeemed people to gather them.
6. Out of Egypt and Assyria (Zechariah 10:10). They are brought from Egypt and Assyria into Gilead and Lebanon.
7. Pride and sceptre brought down (Zechariah 10:11). Assyria’s pride falls and Egypt’s sceptre departs.

For reflection

The people are promised they will be as though they had never been cast off, while the casting off is still named in the same verse. What does it mean to be restored without the record being erased?

People in this chapter

• Judah
• Joseph (OT)

Also indexed here:

• Ephraim