Verse 1
Keil gave this chapter the title of, "Complete Redemption of the People of God;"[1] and Gill entitled it, "Zion Triumphant through the Messiah."[2] The principal focus of this chapter is not the inter-testamental period at all, but the establishment of the kingdom, or church, of Jesus Christ our Lord. Assyria, Egypt, Judah, Ephraim, etc. are mentioned, but they are symbols of qualities reaching beyond the original meaning of those terms. At the time of Zechariah's prophecy, an entirely new set of world conditions prevailed. Assyria was no longer an enemy of God's people, nor was Egypt. Ephraim had been totally and utterly destroyed for ever, and only a remnant of Judah still existed.
To suppose that references in this chapter to the future prosperity of Judah and Ephraim are a prediction of the restoration of their outlawed and destroyed monarchy is ridiculous. The prophet of God had already promised the Jews that they would "sit still" for God many days, and that they would be without king, prince, sacrifice, etc., for "many days," a reference to the whole time between the Old Testament and the New Testament (Hosea 3:3,4), a period that was beginning when Zechariah prophesied. It is futile, therefore, to suppose that the Maccabees were any restoration of the monarchy; we do not believe that the Maccabees are in this prophecy at all, except indirectly.
No, the chapter deals with Christ and his kingdom in terminology related to the prior history of Israel.
"Ask ye of Jehovah rain in the time of the latter rain, even of Jehovah that maketh lightnings; and he will give them showers of rain, to every one grass in the field."
It had been the apostasy of Israel in their worship of Baal as the giver of rain and other agricultural blessings that had led to their ruin in the first place, a punishment just concluded by the return of a little remnant to Jerusalem; and this verse was a well-timed admonition for the returnees not to fall into their old errors.
It is nothing short of astounding that critics, fail to see how necessary, important, and appropriate it is that this verse should introduce another section dealing with the times of the Messiah, toward which the Jewish remnant so eagerly turned their eyes. Dentan stated that these two verses (Zechariah 10:1,2) are, "unrelated to the context in which they are now found."[3] "Spiritually, Israel had had her former rains; but a long and terrible drought had set in,"[4] and it was destined to continue for ages. How absolutely mandatory, therefore, it was that they should pray for the "latter rain." The fact of there being no mention of the other rains shows that this is to be understood spiritually.
The significant meaning of this verse is that, "The condition for obtaining the promised blessings (all of them) is that they are to be sought from the Lord, and not from idols."[5]
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