CHAPTER 9 Dec. 24 
Condemnation on the Enemies of God’s People 
An oracle. The word of Yahweh is against the land of Hadrach, and will rest upon Damascus; for the eye of man and of all the tribes of Israel is toward Yahweh; 2and Hamath, also, which borders on it; Tyre and Sidon, because they are very wise. 3Tyre built herself a stronghold, and heaped up silver like the dust, and fine gold like the mire of the streets. 4Behold, the Lord will dispossess her, and He will strike her power in the sea; and she will be devoured with fire. 5Ashkelon will see it, and fear; Gaza also, and will writhe in agony; as will Ekron, for her expectation will be disappointed; and the king will perish from Gaza, and Ashkelon will not be inhabited. 6Foreigners will dwell in Ashdod, and I will cut off the pride of the Philistines. 7I will take away his blood out of his mouth, and his abominations from between his teeth; and he also will be a remnant for our God; and he will be as a chieftain in Judah, and Ekron as a Jebusite. 8I will encamp around My house against the army, so that none pass through or return; and no oppressor will pass through them any more: for now I have seen with My eyes. 
The Coming of the King 
9Rejoice greatly, daughter of Zion! Shout, daughter of Jerusalem! Behold, your King comes to you! He is righteous, and having salvation; humble, and riding on a donkey, even on a colt, the foal of a donkey. 10I will cut off the chariot from Ephraim, and the horse from Jerusalem; and the battle bow will be cut off; and he will speak peace to the nations: and his dominion will be from sea to sea, and from the River to the ends of the earth. 11As for you also, because of the blood of your covenant, I have set free your prisoners from the pit in which is no water. 12Turn to the stronghold, you prisoners of hope! Even today I declare that I will restore double to you. 13For indeed I bend Judah as a bow for Myself. I have filled the bow with Ephraim; and I will stir up your sons, Zion, against your sons, Greece, and will make you like the sword of a mighty man. 
The Lord Will Appear 
14Yahweh will be seen over them; and His arrow will go flashing like lightning; and the Lord Yahweh will blow the trumpet, and will go with whirlwinds of the south. 15Yahweh of Armies will defend them; and they will destroy and overcome with sling stones; and they will drink, and roar as through wine; and they will be filled like bowls, like the corners of the altar. 16Yahweh their God will save them in that day as the flock of His people; for they are like the jewels of a crown, lifted on high over His land. 17For how great is His goodness, and how great is His beauty! Grain will make the young men flourish, and new wine the virgins.

Commentary

9:1 Note the mutuality between God and His people- our eyes look to Him, and His eyes look to us (:8). And in that catching of the eye, that flash moment when the God who is in search of man meets the man who is in search of God, there is the energy of the Spirit. 
9:7 He will be- Note how often God states that the intended result of His judgment of Israel’s enemies is that they will join the people of God. 
9:9 The concept of a humble King was a contradiction in terms- a King was supposed to be proud and displaying his power, riding on a fine horse rather than a young ass. Jesus fulfilled this prophecy by entering Jerusalem sitting on a young donkey which hadn’t been broken in (Lk. 19:30). It would’ve stopped and started and wandered rather than striding purposefully. It’s rather like a new victorious president entering his capital city in a spluttering old car, rather than in a fleet of shining, powerful, quietly purring Mercedes. The point was that in God’s Kingdom, true greatness is in humility. The mighty horse and chariot which human strength prefers is to be brought to nothing (:10; 10:5).