Minor Prophets · Chapter 9 of 14
Zechariah 9
An oracle announces judgment on Israel's neighboring cities and the coming of a very different king. While Tyre, Sidon, and the Philistine cities fall, God protects his house. Then Zion is called to rejoice greatly, for her King comes humble and riding on a donkey, bringing salvation and speaking peace to the nations, his dominion reaching to earth's ends. By the blood of the covenant, God frees prisoners of hope.
What happens in Zechariah 9
The burden of the LORD falls on the land of Hadrach and the surrounding nations. Damascus, Hamath, and the proud trading cities of Tyre and Sidon face judgment; Tyre's heaped silver and gold will not save her from fire. The Philistine cities of Ashkelon, Gaza, Ekron, and Ashdod will see it and fear, their kings perishing and their pride cut off. God will encamp around his house to guard it. Then Zion is called to rejoice greatly, for her King comes, righteous and bringing salvation, yet lowly and riding on a donkey, on a colt the foal of a donkey.
He will remove the chariot and battle bow, speak peace to the nations, and rule from sea to sea, to the ends of the earth. Because of the blood of the covenant, God releases prisoners from a waterless pit and calls these prisoners of hope to a stronghold, promising to restore double and save them like a flock.
Zechariah 9 in context
The chapter opens the second major section of Zechariah, moving from night visions to oracles about the future. The judgment on Israel's neighbors and the mention of Greece reflect the shifting powers of the ancient Near East. Set against these warlike kingdoms, the prophecy of a humble king on a donkey is deliberately striking.
In the ancient world a king came riding a donkey in peace rather than a warhorse, signaling that this ruler brings a kingdom unlike the empires around him.
Main themes of Zechariah 9
Zechariah 9 (KJV)
1The 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. 2And Hamath also shall border thereby; Tyrus, and Zidon, though it be very wise. 3And Tyrus did build herself a strong hold, and heaped up silver as the dust, and fine gold as the mire of the streets. 4Behold, the LORD will cast her out, and he will smite her power in the sea; and she shall be devoured with fire. 5Ashkelon 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. 6And a bastard shall dwell in Ashdod, and I will cut off the pride of the Philistines. 7And 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. 8And 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. 9Rejoice 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. 10And 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. 11As for thee also, by the blood of thy covenant I have sent forth thy prisoners out of the pit wherein is no water. 12Turn you to the strong hold, ye prisoners of hope: even to day do I declare that I will render double unto thee; 13When 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. 14And 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. 15The 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. 16And 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. 17For how great is his goodness, and how great is his beauty! corn shall make the young men cheerful, and new wine the maids.
Verses to carry from Zechariah 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 9:9
“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 9:10
“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 9:11
Messianic prophecy
How Zechariah 9 points to Jesus
This is among the clearest messianic prophecies in Zechariah, and the Gospels apply it directly to Jesus. When he entered Jerusalem on Palm Sunday riding a donkey's colt while crowds cried Hosanna, Matthew and John both cite this verse, telling us it happened so that this word would be fulfilled: your King comes to you, lowly, riding on a donkey. Jesus is the righteous, saving, humble King who refuses the sword, whose kingdom advances by peace rather than conquest, and whose dominion is meant to reach the ends of the earth.
The phrase the blood of the covenant, by which prisoners are freed, echoes in Jesus' own words at the last supper, this is my blood of the covenant, poured out for many. In him the humble King and the covenant blood that liberates prisoners of hope come together.
Questions about Zechariah 9
Why does the King come on a donkey rather than a warhorse?
The donkey signals the character of his reign. In the ancient world a king rode a warhorse into battle but a donkey in peace. Zion's King comes not to conquer by force but to bring salvation gently, cutting off the chariot and battle bow. The humble mount declares that his kingdom is unlike the proud, armed empires surrounding Israel. Jesus deliberately chose this entry, presenting himself as exactly this promised King of peace rather than a military liberator.
What is the blood of the covenant that frees the prisoners?
It points to the covenant God sealed with sacrificial blood, the ground on which he can release captives from the waterless pit. The prisoners are called prisoners of hope because this covenant blood guarantees their rescue. Jesus took up the phrase at the last supper, calling the cup his blood of the covenant poured out for many. Christians see the deepest fulfillment here: it is his blood that liberates those held captive to sin and death, turning them into prisoners of hope.
Reflection
The King you follow came lowly, on a donkey, refusing the sword and speaking peace. If you are a prisoner of hope, held by circumstances yet clinging to God's covenant, take heart: the same blood that frees captives has been poured out for you. Rejoice greatly; your humble King has come.
A prayer from Zechariah 9
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