1 The burden of the word of the Lord in the land of Hadrach, and Damascus shall bee the rest thereof: when the eyes of man, as of all the tribes of Israel shalbe toward the Lord.
2 And Hamath also shall border thereby; Tyrus and Zidon, though it be very wise.
3 And Tyrus did builde her selfe a strong hold, and heaped vp siluer as the dust, and fine golde as the myre of the streets.
4 Behold, the Lord wil cast her out, and he will smite her power in the sea, and she shalbe deuoured with fire.
5 Ashkelon shall see it, and feare, Gaza also shall see it and be very sorrowfull, and Ekron: for her expectation shalbe ashamed, and the king shall perish from Gaza, and Ashkelon shal not be inhabited.
6 And a bastard shall dwell in Ashdod, and I will cut off the pride of the Philistines.
7 And I wil take away his blood out of his mouth, and his abominations from betweene his teeth: but he that remaineth, euen hee shalbe for our God, and he shall be as a gouernour in Iudah, and Ekron as a Iebusite.
8 And I will encampe about mine house because of the armie, because of him that passeth by, and because of him that returneth: and no oppressour shall passe through them any more: for now haue I seene with mine eyes.
9 ¶ Reioyce greatly, O daughter of Zion; shout O daughter of Ierusalem: beholde, thy King commeth vnto thee: hee is iust, and hauing saluation, lowly, and riding vpon an asse, and vpon a colt, the foale of an asse.
10 And I wil cut off the charet from Ephraim, and the horse from Ierusalem: and the battell bow shalbe cut off, and he shall speake peace vnto the heathen, and his dominion shalbe from sea euen to sea, and from the Riuer, euen to the ends of the earth.
11 As for thee also, by the blood of thy Couenant, I haue sent foorth thy prisoners out of the pit, wherein is no water.
12 ¶ Turne ye to the strong hold, ye prisoners of hope, euen to day doe I declare that I will render double vnto thee:
13 When I haue bent Iudah for me, filled the bow with Ephraim, and raised vp thy sonnes O Zion, against thy sonnes, O Greece, and made thee as the sword of a mightie man.
14 And the Lord shalbe seene ouer them, and his arrow shall goe forth as the lightning: and the Lord God shall blow the trumpet, and shall goe with whirlewinds of the South.
15 The Lord of hostes shall defend them, and they shall deuoure, and subdue with sling stones, and they shal drinke and make a noise, as through wine, and they shall bee filled like bowles, and as the corners of the Altar.
16 And the Lord their God shall saue them in that day as the flock of his people, for they shall be as the stones of a crowne lifted vp as an ensigne vpon his land.
17 For how great is his goodnesse, and how great is his beautie? corne shal make the yong men cheerefull, and new wine the maides.
God's defence of his church. (1-8) Christ's coming and his kingdom. (9-11) Promises to the church. (12-17)1-8 Here are judgements foretold on several nations. While the Macedonians and Alexander's successors were in warfare in these countries, the Lord promised to protect his people. God's house lies in the midst of an enemy's country; his church is as a lily among thorns. God's power and goodness are seen in her special preservation. The Lord encamps about his church, and while armies of proud opposers shall pass by and return, his eyes watch over her, so that they cannot prevail, and shortly the time will come when no exactor shall pass by her any more.
9-17 The prophet breaks forth into a joyful representation of the coming of the Messiah, of whom the ancient Jews explained this prophecy. He took the character of their King, when he entered Jerusalem amidst the hosannas of the multitude. But his kingdom is a spiritual kingdom. It shall not be advanced by outward force or carnal weapons. His gospel shall be preached to the world, and be received among the heathen. A sinful state is a state of bondage; it is a pit, or dungeon, in which there is no water, no comfort; and we are all by nature prisoners in this pit. Through the precious blood of Christ, many prisoners of Satan have been set at liberty from the horrible pit in which they must otherwise have perished, without hope or comfort. While we admire Him, let us seek that his holiness and truth may be shown in our own spirits and conduct. These promises have accomplishment in the spiritual blessings of the gospel which we enjoy by Jesus Christ. As the deliverance of the Jews was typical of redemption by Christ, so this invitation speaks to all the language of the gospel call. Sinners are prisoners, but prisoners of hope; their case is sad, but not desperate; for there is hope in Israel concerning them. Christ is a Strong-hold, a strong Tower, in whom believers are safe from the fear of the wrath of God, the curse of the law, and the assaults of spiritual enemies. To him we must turn with lively faith; to him we must flee, and trust in his name under all trials and sufferings. It is here promised that the Lord would deliver his people. This passage also refers to the apostles, and the preachers of the gospel in the early ages. God was evidently with them; his words from their lips pierced the hearts and consciences of the hearers. They were wondrously defended in persecution, and were filled with the influences of the Holy Spirit. They were saved by the Good Shepherd as his flock, and honoured as jewels of his crown. The gifts, graces, and consolations of the Spirit, poured forth on the day of Pentecost, #Ac 2| and in succeeding times, are represented. Sharp have been, and still will be, the conflicts of Zion's sons, but their God will give them success. The more we are employed, and satisfied with his goodness, the more we shall admire the beauty revealed in the Redeemer. Whatever gifts God bestows on us, we must serve him cheerfully with them; and, when refreshed with blessings, we must say, How great is his goodness!
Commentary by Matthew Henry, 1710.