Verses 17-19
As punishment for not making the pilgrimage to attend this feast, the Lord would withhold (cf. Psalms 2:8-12; Revelation 2:27; Revelation 12:5; Revelation 19:15). This was also a curse for covenant disobedience under the Mosaic Law (Deuteronomy 28:22-24). For example, if people from Egypt did not go up to Jerusalem, the Lord would withhold rain from Egypt. This would be His punishment on any nation that did not participate (cf. Zechariah 9:11 to Zechariah 10:1). Rain is a figure for spiritual blessing (cf. Ezekiel 34:26), but both literal and spiritual blessing are probably in view here.
"Egypt was an exception among the nations because it depended for water not on rainfall but on the Nile. As Egypt had experienced plagues at the time of the Exodus, and through them had been brought to acknowledge God’s sovereignty, so plague was a fitting symbol of disaster in the new era." [Note: Baldwin, p. 207. Cf. Feinberg, "Zechariah," p. 911.]
"Zechariah portrays the Messiah as the complete and perfect King by applying all six royal functions [of ancient Near Eastern kingship] to him . . . : (1) mediating Servant (Zechariah 3:8); (2) Priest (Zechariah 6:13); (3) Judge (Zechariah 14:16-19); (4) Warrior (Zechariah 10:4; Zechariah 14:3-4); (5) Shepherd (Zechariah 11:8-9; Zechariah 13:7); and (6) ’Peace’-bringing King (Zechariah 3:10; Zechariah 9:9-10)." [Note: Barker, p. 664.]
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