Hebrew-English Text
I. Summary
God will rebuild Jerusalem and the people will prosper with religious fervor.
II. Photo
Jerusalem will flourish: “Thus said the Lord of Hosts: There shall yet be old men and women in the squares of Jerusalem, each with staff in hand because of their great age.” (v. 4)
III. Select Verses
2-3: Thus said the LORD of Hosts: I am very jealous for Zion, I am fiercely jealous for her. Thus said the LORD: I have returned to Zion, and I will dwell in Jerusalem. Jerusalem will be called the City of Faithfulness, and the mount of the LORD of Hosts the Holy Mount.
4-5: Thus said the LORD of Hosts: There shall yet be old men and women in the squares of Jerusalem, each with staff in hand because of their great age. And the squares of the city shall be crowded with boys and girls playing in the squares.
7-8: Thus said the LORD of Hosts: I will rescue My people from the lands of the east and from the lands of the west, and I will bring them home to dwell in Jerusalem. They shall be My people, and I will be their God — in truth and sincerity.
19: Thus said the LORD of Hosts: The fast of the fourth month, the fast of the fifth month, the fast of the seventh month, and the fast of the tenth month shall become occasions for joy and gladness, happy festivals for the House of Judah; but you must love honesty and integrity.
23: Thus said the LORD of Hosts: In those days, ten men from nations of every tongue will take hold — they will take hold of every Jew by a corner of his cloak and say, “Let us go with you, for we have heard that God is with you.”
IV. Outline
1. Introduction
2. God’s passion for Zion
3. God will rebuild Jerusalem
4-5. Jerusalem will be filled with young and old
6. God argues his point
7-8. God will gather in the exiles
9-13. God encourages the people and recommits himself
14-15. God’s pledge to change his ways
16-17. Condition: the people are to act uprightly
18-19. The fast days will become joyous
20-22. Repopulation and commitment to God
23. Judeans will be seeked by foreigners
V. Comment
No comment today. Stay tuned.
VI. Works Used
(see “Commentaries” page)
Collins, John J. “Introduction to the Hebrew Bible,” (Minneapolis: Fortress Press, 2004).
Smith, Ralph L. “Micah – Malachi” World Biblical Commentary v. 32 (Word Books: 1984).
Photo taken from http://www.positivelife.ie/dev/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/Happy-Old-People.jpg
