What is the meaning of Zechariah 14:15? And a similar plague “ And a similar plague …” (Zechariah 14:15) links directly to verse 12, where “this will be the plague with which the LORD will strike all the peoples who have waged war against Jerusalem.” • The Lord is not finished after judging the soldiers; what He did to human attackers He now does to their resources. • Scripture routinely shows God duplicating judgment so the lesson is unmistakable—think of the successive plagues in Egypt (Exodus 9:3-6) or the bowls in Revelation (Revelation 16:2-4). • The word “similar” signals perfect fairness: no corner of the enemy’s strength escapes His reach (Deuteronomy 7:9-10; Nahum 1:9). Will strike The verb points to sudden, decisive action. • When God “strikes,” nothing can shield the target (Isaiah 31:8; Acts 12:23). • This is not random calamity but deliberate, covenant-keeping justice. Zechariah earlier portrayed God as a warrior who “will go out and fight against those nations” (Zechariah 14:3). • The certainty of the blow encourages God’s people; the same “mighty hand” that rescues them also removes every threat (Exodus 13:14; Psalm 136:10-12). The horses and mules, camels and donkeys These animals represent military mobility, supply lines, and economic wealth. • Horses—symbols of war power (Psalm 20:7; Zechariah 12:4). • Mules—royal transport in Israel’s own history (1 Kings 1:33). • Camels—long-distance freight carriers, crucial for desert campaigns (Judges 6:5). • Donkeys—everyday beasts of burden, the army’s work trucks (Genesis 42:26). By smiting the animals, God cripples every tactical advantage. The invaders who trusted in “chariots and horses” (Psalm 20:7) discover that those very assets dissolve under His hand. And all the animals The list ends with a sweep: “and all the animals.” Nothing is too great or too small to be touched. • Comprehensive judgment echoes the livestock plague in Egypt where “all the livestock of the Egyptians died” (Exodus 9:6). • God’s reach extends beyond conscious rebels to every instrument they employ (Proverbs 21:31). • The breadth also magnifies His mercy toward Jerusalem; the Lord removes every possibility of a renewed siege (2 Chron 20:29). In those camps The location narrows the judgment to “those camps”—the staging areas of the hostile nations. • God strikes the enemy where they feel most secure, just as the Angel of the LORD struck 185,000 in the Assyrian camp (2 Kings 19:35). • The plague never spills indiscriminately into Jerusalem; divine wrath is targeted, preserving the righteous (Isaiah 4:3-6; Psalm 91:7-8). • The camps’ ruin clears the way for the nations that survive to come up later and worship the King during the Feast of Booths (Zechariah 14:16). summary Zechariah 14:15 shows God finishing what He starts. The same plague that devastates the invading armies now wipes out every animal they depended on, ensuring total, unmistakable victory for Jerusalem. The judgment is certain, comprehensive, and localized—demonstrating that the Lord alone is sovereign over war, resources, and outcomes, and that any power raised against Him will ultimately collapse. |
    |