Zacarias 10

ARC · Chapter 10/14

1Pedi ao Senhor chuva no tempo da serodia: o Senhor faz relampagos, e lhes dará chuveiro de agua, e herva no campo a cada um.

2Porque os teraphins teem fallado vaidade, e os adivinhos teem visto mentira, e fallam sonhos vãos; com vaidade consolam, por isso se foram como ovelhas, foram afflictos, porque não havia pastor.

3Contra os pastores se accendeu a minha ira, e visitarei os bodes; mas o Senhor dos Exercitos visitará o seu rebanho, a casa de Judah, e os fará ser como o cavallo da sua magestade na peleja.

4D'elle a pedra de esquina, d'elle a estaca, d'elle o arco de guerra, d'elle juntamente sairão todos os exactores.

5E serão como valentes que pelo lodo das ruas entram na peleja, e pelejarão; porque o Senhor estará com elles, e envergonharão aos que andam montados em cavallos.

6E fortalecerei a casa de Judah, e salvarei a casa de José, e tornarei a plantal-os, porque me apiedei d'elles: e serão como se os não tivera rejeitado; porque eu sou o Senhor seu Deus, e os ouvirei.

7E os de Ephraim serão como um valente, e o seu coração se alegrará como de vinho, e seus filhos o verão, e se alegrarão; o seu coração se regozijará no Senhor.

8Eu lhes assobiarei, e os ajuntarei, porque eu os tenho remido, e multiplicar-se-hão, assim como antes se tinham multiplicado.

9E eu os semearei por entre os povos, e lembrar-se-hão de mim em logares remotos; e viverão com seus filhos, e voltarão.

10Porque eu os farei voltar da terra do Egypto, e os congregarei da Assyria; e tral-os-hei á terra de Gilead e do Libano, e não se achará logar para elles.

11E elle passará o mar com angustia, e ferirá as ondas no mar, e todas as profundezas dos rios se seccarão: então será derribada a soberba da Assyria, e o sceptro do Egypto se retirará.

12E eu os fortalecerei no Senhor, e andarão no seu nome, diz o Senhor.

📖 Chapter study

Summary

God promises to care for His flock like a true shepherd, to strengthen Judah and Ephraim (the former Northern Kingdom), and to gather them from all the lands where they were scattered, with so many people that there will not be enough room.

Explanation

The chapter contrasts failed leaders ('the shepherds,' referring to corrupt rulers) and the vain divinations of idols with God's true shepherding, which strengthens His people 'as his goodly horse in the battle.' The promise to gather both Judah and Ephraim is significant because the Northern Kingdom (Ephraim/Israel) had been destroyed and scattered by Assyria centuries earlier, long before Judah's Babylonian exile — this prophecy widens the hope of restoration to include all of God's historically scattered people, not only the more recent exiles. The image of crossing the sea in distress and drying up its waves deliberately echoes the exodus from Egypt, suggesting a new and even greater act of deliverance. The application for today: God does not forget any part of His people, even those scattered for generations, and His plans of restoration are broader than we imagine.

Fun facts

  • The specific mention of gathering people 'out of the land of Egypt' and 'out of Assyria' (v.10) shows that the hope of restoration included both descendants of the Northern Kingdom, exiled by Assyria in 722 B.C., and any Israelites scattered in Egypt, historically joining together the two great dispersions of the people of Israel.
  • 'Teraphim' (v.2), mentioned as a source of vain divination, were small household idols used for divinatory consultations in the ancient Near East, a practice repeatedly condemned in the law of Moses.

Verse-by-verse explanation

  1. Zacarias 10:1The chapter opens with a practical call: ask the Lord for rain, not idols — He is the one who truly controls the weather and makes the crops grow.
  2. Zacarias 10:2Teraphim and diviners were popular ways of seeking guidance through household idols or divination practices; the text calls them sources of lies, in contrast to the true guidance that comes from God.
  3. Zacarias 10:3God's anger burns against the bad leaders ('shepherds' and 'he goats') who exploited the people, but He promises to personally care for His own flock, making Judah strong like a horse of battle.
  4. Zacarias 10:4'The corner,' 'the nail,' and 'the battle bow' are metaphors for leadership and stability, all coming out of Judah — a promise that the people's next leaders would have their origin and strength from God Himself.
  5. Zacarias 10:5Strengthened by God, the people will fight with courage even in hard conditions ('the mire of the streets'), shaming enemies who trusted only in their cavalry.
  6. Zacarias 10:6The promise to restore both 'the house of Judah' and 'the house of Joseph' (a name representing the old Northern Kingdom, divided centuries earlier) speaks of a hope for reunification between the two kingdoms that had once been split apart.
  7. Zacarias 10:7Ephraim, representing the old Northern Kingdom, is also included in the promise of joy — a heart that rejoices in the Lord, not only in military victories.
  8. Zacarias 10:8The image of God 'hissing' to gather His people is that of a shepherd calling a scattered flock back — a gesture of careful gathering, not of brute force.
  9. Zacarias 10:9Even scattered among other peoples, God's people will remember Him in distant lands and one day return with their children.
  10. Zacarias 10:10Bringing the people back 'out of Egypt' and 'out of Assyria' recalls Israel's two historic places of dispersion — echoing an image similar to birds returning to the nest, used earlier in Hosea.
  11. Zacarias 10:11The image of passing through the sea in affliction and drying up rivers recalls the exodus, showing that the same power that freed the people from Egypt will bring down the pride of Assyria and Egypt once again.
  12. Zacarias 10:12The chapter ends with the simplest promise of all: strengthened by God, the people will walk in His name, with a renewed identity.

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