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The Destroyers of Jerusalem Destroyed
Zechariah 14:1–15 describes a coming day of Yahweh with siege, upheaval, rescue, changed creation, and judgement. The passage speaks as prophecy and teaching, showing both the seriousness of Jerusalem’s danger and Yahweh’s final rule.
Understanding the passage
The setting of this message
This passage repeatedly says “in that day” and begins with Jerusalem under attack. It moves from plunder and captivity to Yahweh fighting, dramatic changes to the mountain and light, flowing waters, Yahweh’s kingship over all the earth, and judgement on those who fought against Jerusalem.
Zechariah 14:1–15Main takeaway
Zechariah 14:1–15 teaches that the day of Yahweh brings both severe judgement and the public reign of Yahweh over all the earth.
Explore the message
01A day of attack and lossThe passage opens with “a day of Yahweh” when Jerusalem’s plunder is divided inside the city itself.
Explanation
The passage opens with “a day of Yahweh” when Jerusalem’s plunder is divided inside the city itself. Yahweh says all nations will gather against Jerusalem. The city is taken, homes are looted, women are attacked, and many go into captivity, though some people remain in the city.
02Yahweh fights and makes a way to fleeAfter the nations attack, Yahweh goes out to fight them. His feet stand on the Mount of Olives, and the mountain splits to form a great valley.
Explanation
After the nations attack, Yahweh goes out to fight them. His feet stand on the Mount of Olives, and the mountain splits to form a great valley. The people are told they will flee through that valley. The passage compares this flight with fleeing an earthquake in Uzziah’s days.
03A unique day and living watersThe prophecy then describes unusual creation conditions. There is no ordinary light, cold, or frost, and the day is unique, known to Yahweh.
Explanation
The prophecy then describes unusual creation conditions. There is no ordinary light, cold, or frost, and the day is unique, known to Yahweh. Even at evening there will be light. Living waters flow out from Jerusalem to both eastern and western seas, continuing in summer and winter.
04Yahweh reigns and Jerusalem is secureAt the centre of the passage is Yahweh’s kingship: he will be King over all the earth, and his name will be one.
Explanation
At the centre of the passage is Yahweh’s kingship: he will be King over all the earth, and his name will be one. The land and city are described with place names and gates, showing Jerusalem established in its place. People live there, and the city dwells safely without curse.
05Judgement on those who fought JerusalemThe passage ends with a plague against the peoples who fought against Jerusalem and against the animals in their camps.
Explanation
The passage ends with a plague against the peoples who fought against Jerusalem and against the animals in their camps. It also speaks of panic from Yahweh so that enemies turn on one another. Judah fights at Jerusalem, and wealth from the surrounding nations is gathered in abundance.
Questions to explore
01What does the passage say happens before Yahweh fights for Jerusalem?
Look first at the details of plunder, capture, violence, captivity, and those who remain in the city before moving to Yahweh’s response.
02Which parts of the passage describe this day as unique rather than ordinary?
Notice the split mountain, the unusual light, and the waters flowing in both summer and winter.
03How does the passage connect Yahweh’s kingship with Jerusalem’s safety and the judgement of the nations?
Read the statements about Yahweh being King over all the earth alongside the safe dwelling of Jerusalem and the plague on those who fought her.
Read the Bible passage
World English Bible ClassicScripture quotation · Public domain
Zechariah 14:1–15
1Behold, a day of Yahweh comes, when your plunder will be divided within you.
2For I will gather all nations against Jerusalem to battle; and the city will be taken, the houses rifled, and the women ravished. Half of the city will go out into captivity, and the rest of the people will not be cut off from the city.
3Then Yahweh will go out and fight against those nations, as when he fought in the day of battle.
4His feet will stand in that day on the Mount of Olives, which is before Jerusalem on the east; and the Mount of Olives will be split in two from east to west, making a very great valley. Half of the mountain will move toward the north, and half of it toward the south.
5You shall flee by the valley of my mountains, for the valley of the mountains shall reach to Azel. Yes, you shall flee, just like you fled from before the earthquake in the days of Uzziah king of Judah. Yahweh my God will come, and all the holy ones with you.
6It will happen in that day that there will not be light, cold, or frost.
7It will be a unique day which is known to Yahweh—not day, and not night; but it will come to pass that at evening time there will be light.
8It will happen in that day that living waters will go out from Jerusalem, half of them toward the eastern sea, and half of them toward the western sea. It will be so in summer and in winter.
9Yahweh will be King over all the earth. In that day Yahweh will be one, and his name one.
10All the land will be made like the Arabah, from Geba to Rimmon south of Jerusalem; and she will be lifted up and will dwell in her place, from Benjamin’s gate to the place of the first gate, to the corner gate, and from the tower of Hananel to the king’s wine presses.
11Men will dwell therein, and there will be no more curse; but Jerusalem will dwell safely.
12This will be the plague with which Yahweh will strike all the peoples who have fought against Jerusalem: their flesh will consume away while they stand on their feet, and their eyes will consume away in their sockets, and their tongue will consume away in their mouth.
13It will happen in that day that a great panic from Yahweh will be among them; and they will each seize the hand of his neighbor, and his hand will rise up against the hand of his neighbor.
14Judah also will fight at Jerusalem; and the wealth of all the surrounding nations will be gathered together: gold, silver, and clothing, in great abundance.
15A plague like this will fall on the horse, on the mule, on the camel, on the donkey, and on all the animals that will be in those camps.