In the book of Zechariah, Zechariah said to the people of Israel, “Behold, the day of the LORD comes, and your spoil shall be divided in the midst of you”, and in chapter fourteen and verse two of Zechariah, Zechariah shared how Jehovah God said, “I will gather all nations against Jerusalem to battle” where we read,
For I will gather all nations against Jerusalem to battle;
and the city shall be taken, and the houses rifled, and the women ravished;
and half of the city shall go forth into captivity, and the residue of the people shall not be cut off for the city.
The verse reads, “For I will gather all nations against Jerusalem to battle;” Zechariah began with the words, “for I will gather all nations” or “because, since and on account that I, Jehovah God, shall assemble and collect each, every, the whole and everyone of the heathen, non-Hebrew and foreign people groups” “against Jerusalem” which means “in opposition to Jerusalem whose name means teaching of peace and is the chief city of Palestine and capital of the united kingdom and the nation of Judah after the split” “to battle” or “to fighting and war”. Zechariah shared how Jehovah God said He would assemble in battle each and every foreign people group who opposed “Jerusalem”.
The verse continues, “and the city shall be taken, and the houses rifled, and the women ravished;” Zechariah added the words, “and the city” or “and the guarded place of waking, encampment or town” “shall be taken” which means “will exist as captured, seized and caught”, “and the houses rifled” or “and the households, dwelling places, habitations and shelters plundered”, “and the women ravished” which means “and the female human beings lain with for sexual connection”. Zechariah shared how Jehovah God said the “habitation” of “Jerusalem” would be captured, the dwelling places plundered and the female human beings raped.
Finally the verse says, “and half of the city shall go forth into captivity, and the residue of the people shall not be cut off for the city.” Zechariah concluded the verse with the words, “and half of the city” which means “and one-half of the guarded place of waking, encampment or town” “shall go forth into captivity” or “will depart, proceed and be lead into exile”, “And the residue of the people” which means “and the remainder, excess and rest of the human beings both male and female” “shall not be cut off” or “will in no way or manner exist as eliminated, killed and destroyed” “for the city”which means “on behalf of the guarded place of waking, encampment or town”. Zechariah ended this verse by sharing how Jehovah God said the one-half of the residents of “Jerusalem” would depart into exile while the remainder of them would not be eliminated or destroyed.
When we think through the words in this verse, we learn through Zechariah how Jehovah God would assemble every people group and “nation” to rise up in war against “Jerusalem”, and “Jerusalem” will be captured, the homes plundered and the “women” sexually assaulted. One-half of the people located within “Jerusalem” will be lead into exile, and the remainder of them will in no way be eliminated and destroyed while they remain among the ruins. God's plan for Israel and “Jerusalem” was being fulfilled, and although all the “nations” of the world rise up in opposition to “Jerusalem”, none will be able to defeat Jehovah God. God loves all people, and His desire is to have a personal relationship with us through His Son Jesus who came into the world to die on the cross for the sins of all mankind. When we yield to Him, He will forgive our sins, grant us everlasting life and help us by His Holy Spirit to know His purpose for“Jerusalem” that shall be performed according to His perfect purpose and will.
Next time Zechariah shared how Jehovah God says, “the LORD shall go forth, and fight against those nations”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.
Until tomorrow…there is more…
See more devotionals on the website "thewordfortodaywithray.com" or look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore. All references are from "Strongs Concordance".
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