Zechariah 12

(1) God will Defend Jerusalem

This is the Existing One’s burdensome message about Israel. The Existing One stretches out the universe, lays the earth’s foundation, and forms people’s spirits inside of them—and here’s what He says:

“I’m gonna have Jerusalem be like a cup that makes everyone stagger. When Jerusalem is under siege, Judah will also be under siege, and when that time comes, I’ll have Jerusalem be like a heavy rock that weighs everyone down. Anyone who tries to lift it will be severely injured. The rest of the world’s countries will gather against them. When that day comes, I’ll strike all of the other countries’ horses with confusion and their riders with madness. But while I’m striking their horses with blindness, I’ll keep watch over Judah’s house. Judah’s clans will see this and think to themselves, ‘Jerusalem’s people are the reason why we’re strong, thanks to their God, the Existing One of all creation.’

(6) Judah will Consume their Enemies

“When that day comes, I’ll have Judah’s clans be like a pot of fire in the middle of a pile of firewood—or a flaming torch in the middle of a bunch of fallen grain. They’ll consume everyone around them, left and right. And while that’s happening, Jerusalem’s inhabitants will just continue living in their places like normal.

“I’ll save Judah’s tents first (before Jerusalem’s) so that their glory is magnified more than that of David’s family and Jerusalem. When that time comes, the Existing One will defend the people living in Jerusalem. Jerusalem’s weakest inhabitants will be like David, while David’s family will be like God, or the Existing One’s messenger. When that time comes, My mission will be to destroy all the countries that oppose Jerusalem.

(10) God’s People will Mourn after Piercing Him

“I’ll pour out a spirit of favor on David’s family and Jerusalem’s inhabitants. That way, after they pierce Me, they’ll look at Me and mourn for Me as if they were grieving an only son. They’ll cry bitterly over me as if they were crying over a firstborn son. There will be so much mourning in Jerusalem on that day. It will be like how Hadadrimmon mourned in the field of Megiddo [referencing the mourning when King Josiah died]. The whole region will mourn, every family of their own accord, including David’s family, Nathans, Levi’s, and the Shimeites, along with all their wives—yes: all the families that remain.