Zechariah 2 summary

Zechariah 2 Summary: Surveyor, wall of fire, and LORD returns.

©Tod Kennedy, todkennedy.com; knowbelieveapply.com

Zechariah 2 Summary

In the third vision Zechariah depicts a surveyor measuring the size of Jerusalem. The message is that in the future Jerusalem will be larger and without walls because the LORD will be the wall of fire and dwell in her. The LORD further says that the Hebrew people, the apple of his eye, are to flee the Babylonians because He will plunder Babylon. In the future the LORD will restore Judah and Jerusalem. Then, even Gentile nations will follow the LORD.

Outline of Zechariah 2

Zechariah 2.1-5. Blessing for Israel. The surveyor measures Jerusalem. This is a step toward rebuilding the city.

Zechariah 2.6-9. Judgment for the nations. The LORD now tells the people to flee from the north, Babylon, because he will now judge Babylon.

Zechariah 2.10-12. Blessing on Israel. Many people will believe in the LORD.

Zechariah 2.13. Here we have a benediction and pronouncement to honor the LORD.

Summary Explanation of Zechariah 2

  1. Zechariah 2.1-5. Blessing for Israel. The surveyor measures Jerusalem. This is a step toward rebuilding the city. We learn that the LORD is planning on restoring his city. From the following verses we learn that Jerusalem will not need defensive fortifications because the LORD will protect her and be her glory. When? In the future.
    1. Zechariah 2.1-2. Zechariah saw a man, we do not know who he is, coming to measure the boundaries of Jerusalem.
    2. Zechariah 2.3-4. There are two angels. The first is the interpreting angel and the second is unknown. No walls will be needed. In the present time going down through Ezra and Nehemiah, the people did need to build walls. Jerusalem will dwell in open regions, rural country. This statement speaks of some future time. There will be a large population and thriving business (cattle within it).
    3. Zechariah 2.5. Why no need for walls? They surely needed walls in the sixth and fifth century. Ezra and Nehemiah had to rebuild the city, the walls, and the spiritual life. This does not sound like the fulfillment of these verses. This verse says the LORD will be the wall of fire around the city, and he will also be the glory within it. See Exodus 13.21-22 and Deuteronomy 1.33 where we see the LORD in fire guiding and protecting Israel. By Zechariah’s time the glory of the LORD had left, not to return in physical form until the Millennial Kingdom. Ezekiel recorded that the glory left during Ezekiel’s lifetime just before Nebuchadnezzer destroyed the temple. In Ezekiel 10.4, the glory went to the threshold of the temple; Ezekiel 10.18-19, the glory then moved to over the cherubim and then moved with the cherubim to the east gate of the temple; Ezekiel 11.25, the glory then moved to the Mt of Olives; Ezekiel 43.1-7, the glory of the LORD is not there now, but will return to the LORD’S house in the future, e.g. the millennial period. The only time this fits history will be the millennial city or the New Jerusalem (Revelation 21). The Hebrew “I” is emphatic, “I The LORD.” All of this has not yet been fulfilled.
  2. Zechariah 2.6-9. Judgment for the nations. The LORD now tells the people to flee from the north, Babylon, because he will now judge Babylon.
    1. Zechariah 2.6-7. The people of Judah were exiled to Babylon under Nebuchadnezzar (Nebuchadnezzar king 605-562). He conquered Jerusalem and Judah and took them into exile. Cyrus conquered Babylon in 539 BC and allowed the Jews to return. This was before Zechariah prophesied. Here we have both the immediate call to return blended with the future call for Israel to return in the distant future. This is the call is to return from dispersion to the promised land. The context indicates this call is more than to the current generation. It is to the distant future when the LORD regathers his people to Israel.
    2. Zechariah 2.8. “After glory” seems to indicate that God sent Zechariah (some say the LORD of Hosts) to pronounce or judge the nations that plundered Judah. The phrase has many different interpretations. Judah and all Israel are the pupil of the LORD’S eye. This is the very sensitive and valuable part of the body and the gate to knowledge which describes Israel. The meaning is that Israel is especially important to the Lord and through Israel the LORD will reveal his plan for history.
    3. Zechariah 2.9. Says that the LORD of Host has sent someone, probably Messiah, to judge Babylon.
  3. Zechariah 2.10-12. Blessing on Israel. Many people will believe in the LORD. See Zechariah 12.10. The LORD is coming. He will live with Israel. Israel will know that God has sent him (Messiah). This refers to his second coming. Note that Judah and Jerusalem will be the LORD’S portion. Jerusalem will be the most important city.
  4. Zechariah 2.13. Here we have a benediction and pronouncement to honor the LORD. He is active in the world. He pays attention to Israel.

So What Lessons

  1. Israel is very important to the LORD, “apple of his eye” (Zechariah 2.8, 12).
  2. In the future Jerusalem will live with expanded population, without the need for city walls because the LORD will be her protector, and live among his people (Zechariah 2.4-5, 8).
  3. The LORD will be active in history.
  4. Gentile nations will also join the LORD (Zechariah 2.11).