What emotions are expressed by the cities in Zechariah 9:5, and why? Setting the Scene Zechariah 9 opens with the LORD announcing judgment on Israel’s hostile neighbors. After foretelling Tyre’s downfall (9:3-4), the prophecy turns southward to the coastal Philistine cities, showing that God’s hand of justice is moving inexorably down the shoreline. Emotions Named in Zechariah 9:5 “Ashkelon will see and fear; Gaza will writhe in agony, and Ekron as well, for her hope will fail. Gaza will lose her king, and Ashkelon will be deserted.” • Ashkelon – fear • Gaza – agony (writhe in pain) • Ekron – despair (hope fails) Why Each City Feels What It Feels • They “see” the fall of Tyre (v. 4) and know the same God-directed conquest is coming for them. • The loss is personal: “Gaza will lose her king” (political collapse) and “Ashkelon will be deserted” (population collapse). • Their trust in walls, wealth, and pagan gods evaporates—“her hope will fail.” Historical Glimpse Alexander the Great swept through Phoenicia and Philistia in 332 BC. Tyre fell first, then Gaza after a brutal siege; Ashkelon submitted, and Ekron’s fortifications crumbled. The emotion-laden words of verse 5 fit the panic that spread ahead of his army. Supporting Prophecies • Zephaniah 2:4-7—“Gaza will be abandoned and Ashkelon left in ruins.” • Amos 1:6-8—“I will cut off the ruler from Ashkelon and him who holds the scepter from Ashdod.” • Isaiah 14:29-32—Philistia commanded to “wail” because disaster comes from the north. These texts echo the same fear, agony, and hopelessness foretold by Zechariah. Take-Home Reflections • God’s warnings are specific and certain; when His judgment moves, even fortified cities tremble (Deuteronomy 2:25). • Earthly security—kings, walls, commerce—melts when God overturns it (Psalm 33:10-11). • The emotions of Ashkelon, Gaza, and Ekron remind us that rejecting the LORD never ends in calm; only those who heed Him find true peace (Isaiah 26:3). |
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