¹tn Heb “the latter rain.” This expression refers to the last concentration of heavy rainfall in the spring of the year in Palestine, about March or April. Eschatologically (as here) the “latter rain” speaks of God’s outpouring of blessing in the end times (cf. Hos 6:3; Joel 2:21-25).
²tn The Hebrew word <yp!r*T= (t^erafim, “teraphim”) refers to small images used as means of divination and in other occult practices (cf. Gen 31:19, 34-35; 1 Sam 19:13, 16; Hos 3:4).
³sn Shepherd is a common OT metaphor for the king (see esp. Jer 2:8; 3:15; 10:21; 23:1-2; 50:6; Ezek 34).
⁴sn On the NT use of the image of the cornerstone, see Luke 20:17; Eph 2:20; 1 Pet 2:6.
⁵sn The metaphor of the wall peg (Heb. dt@y`, yated), together with the others in this list, describes the remarkable change that will take place at the inauguration of God’s eschatological kingdom. Israel, formerly sheep-like, will be turned into a mighty warhorse. The peg refers to a wall hook from which tools and weapons were suspended, but figuratively also to the promise of God upon which all of Israel’s hopes were hung (cf. Isa 22:15-25; Ezra 9:8).
<sup>6</sup>tn This is not the usual word to describe a king of Israel or Judah (such as El#m#, melekh, or ayc!n`, nasi’), but cg@on, noges, “dictator.” The author is asserting by this choice of wording that in the messianic age God’s rule will be by force.
⁷tn Heb “and the riders on horses will be put to shame.” The word “enemy” in the translation is supplied from context.
⁸tn Heb “the house.”
⁹tn Heb “the house of Joseph.”
sn Joseph is mentioned here instead of the usual Israel (but see 2 Sam 19:20; Ps 78:67; 80:1; 81:5; Ezek 37:16; Amos 5:6, 15; 6:6) because of the exodus motif that follows in vv. 8-11.
¹⁰tc The anomalous MT reading <yt!obv=ojw+ (v^ekhosh^evotim) should probably be <t!ob yv!h&w~ (vahashi votim), the Hiphil perfect consecutive of bWv (shuv), “return” (cf. Jer 12:15).
¹¹tn Or “scatter.”
¹²sn I will bring them back from Egypt…from Assyria. The gathering of God’s people to their land in eschatological times will be like a reenactment of the exodus, but this time they will come from all over the world (cf. Isa 40:3-5; 43:1-7, 14-21; 48:20-22; 51:9-11).
¹³tn Heb “he,” in which case the referent is the Lord. The LXX reads “they,” referring to the Israelites themselves.
¹⁴tn Heb “scepter,” referring by metonymy to the dominating rule of Egypt.
¹⁵tc Heb “I will strengthen them in the Lord.” Because of the perceived problem of the Lord saying he will strengthen the people “in the Lord,” both BHK and BHS suggest emending <yT!r+B^G] (gibbartim, “I will strengthen them”) to <t*r*b%G+ (gevuratam, “their strength”). This is wholly unnecessary, however, for the Lord frequently refers to himself in that manner (see Zech 2:11).
¹⁶tc The LXX and Syriac presuppose WlL*h^t=y] (yithallalu, “they will glory”) for WkL=h^t=y] (yithall^ekhu, “they will walk about”). Since walking about is a common idiom in Zechariah (cf. 1:10, 11; 6:7 [3x]) to speak of dominion and dominion is at the heart of the present passage, there is no reason to reject the MT reading.