Zechariah 14 Introduction

Structure and Formatting

This closing chapter is a prose oracle about the day of Yahweh: the nations attack Jerusalem (verses 1-8), Yahweh reigns as king (verses 9-11), he strikes the attackers (verses 12-15), and the survivors come to worship him (verses 16-21).

Religious and Cultural Concepts in This Chapter

The day of Yahweh

The repeated phrase “on that day” marks the time when Yahweh judges the nations and establishes his rule. See dayofthelord.

The Festival of Booths

This was a yearly Israelite festival during which people lived in temporary shelters. Here even the nations celebrate it.

Translation Issues in This Chapter

Shifts in person

Yahweh speaks of himself as “I” in verse 2 but is spoken of as “he” elsewhere, so translators may need to make the speaker explicit.