A wonderful siege.
"The burden of the word of the Lord for Israel, saith the Lord," etc. These three concluding chapters seem to refer to one principal topic ("the burden of the Lord for Israel," Zechariah 12:1) and to one principal time (see the thirteen times repeated expression, "in that day"). The general preface or introduction to the special succession of wonders which they announce to us is contained in Zechariah 12:1, setting forth, as it does, the wonder working nature of the God who foretells them, in regard
See somewhat similar preface to a somewhat similar announcement of wonderful doings in Revelation 21:5. After this introduction, in Revelation 21:2-4, we have described to us, as the opening wonder of all, a certain future wonderful "siege." In which description we may notice three principal things, viz.
I. ITS MANY ENEMIES. Herein, evidently, is to be one leading peculiarity of this "siege" of Jerusalem. It is not only to be a complete investment, "all the people" being "round about" (Revelation 21:2; see also Luke 19:43), but it is also to be an investment by an exceedingly large assemblage of "peoples … gathered together" from all parts of the world. Considering, indeed, the frequent use in these verses (some six times in all) of the expressions "all" and "every," and the apparent definiteness of comprehension of the language in the end of Revelation 21:3, we seem justified in believing that every separate Gentile nation or people will be employed in this siege. All the rest of the world against Jerusalem. Such is what we seem to see here. Such is what we seem to see also in such passages as Ezekiel 38:1-16 (where note special mention, as in Ezekiel 38:4 here, of "horses" and "horsemen"); Joel 3:9-17; Revelation 16:14 16; Revelation 20:8, Revelation 20:9. Whether or not we consider all these passages to refer to exactly the same times and events, at any rate they illustrate, if they do not apply to, the universal league described here.
II. ITS ONE DEFENDER. With all the rest of mankind against the people of Jerusalem, there can be no man, of course, on their side. But they are not to be on that account without a defender. On the contrary, they will have the best of all, even Jehovah himself. Five times over, and in two separate ways he gives them to understand this. He declares:
1. That he will give heed to their case. "I will open mine eyes upon the house of Judah" (see Psalms 33:18; Psalms 34:15; Deuteronomy 11:12; 1 Kings 9:3; Daniel 9:18; and Zechariah 9:8 above).
2. That he will give help in their need. He will give help by "making" Jerusalem (Revelation 20:2, Revelation 20:3) that which it requires to be "made" in this time of extremity. Be will give help also by "smiting" those many enemies (Revelation 20:4) who are leagued together for their destruction, and who, therefore, require to he "smitten" on their behalf; and what, of its kind, could be more satisfactory than this double assistance? this weakening of their enemies? this concurrent strengthening of themselves?
III. ITS COMPLETE DEFENCE. This twofold assistance was sufficient in degree as well as satisfactory in nature. What it proposed to do, that it did. In particular, God, in this manner:
1. Bewildered the minds of all the enemies of Jerusalem. He made Jerusalem, to these enemies, such a cup of trembling and of stupor and slumber that they were not able, and did not dare, in many respects, to attack them. Completely as they seemed, by being "round about" the city, to have it in their power, they were like men appalled and stupefied, and left it alone (comp. Genesis 35:5).
2. Also, when these enemies did find themselves able to devise measures against Jerusalem, God crushed their efforts. They were as men trying their strength by endeavouring to lift a heavy stone from the ground, the only result being to crush themselves by its weight. So would Jerusalem be made to do thus to its foes—to all its foes, however numerous. It would not only bruise, but destroy them, as though the sword had "cut" them "in pieces."
3. Besides which, so we may perhaps understand Revelation 20:4, God would himself overwhelm their spirits. Having failed so fatally in their efforts, those who survived, and their agents also, in utter panic, folly, and ignorance, would be so far from being able to do further injury that they would themselves be in need of defence. So surpassingly well can that one Defender do for those that are his.
We learn something here, in conclusion:
1. As to the possibilities of the future. Who can say that such a gigantic conspiracy of evil against a literally restored and renovated Jerusalem, and such a triumphant delivery from it, may not mark the end of this age? Certainly far greater things, both in the way of manifested evil and good, than have ever been witnessed hitherto, may yet be seen on this earth.
2. As to the true character of the present. This last conflict will be but the fully developed result of a long previous conflict of a similar kind. Compare the conspiracy and deliverance in long ago days described in Psalms 83:1-18. (compare also, on the one side, Acts 28:22; and on the other, Matthew 28:20).