Zechariah 2
Big idea: A surveyor sets out to measure Jerusalem and is stopped: don't, because it will be too full for walls, and God will be a wall of fire around it. Then a call to the exiles still in Babylon to get out, and a promise that many nations will attach themselves to the same God.
The unwalled city with God at its centre is what makes the next vision necessary — if he is going to live in the middle of them, the priesthood has to be fit to stand there.
2:1–5 — A city without walls
A young man goes out with a measuring line to establish Jerusalem's dimensions, which is exactly what a rebuilding programme should do, and an angel runs after him to stop him. The reason is that the survey is too small: the city will be inhabited as villages without walls, because of the number of people and animals in it.
1 I lifted up my eyes, and saw, and behold, a man with a measuring line in his hand. 2 Then I asked, “Where are you going?” He said to me, “To measure Jerusalem, to see what is its width and what is its length.” 3 Behold, the angel who talked with me went out, and another angel went out to meet him, 4 and said to him, “Run, speak to this young man, saying, ‘Jerusalem will be inhabited as villages without walls, because of the multitude of men and livestock in it. 5 For I,’ says Yahweh, ‘will be to her a wall of fire around it, and I will be the glory in the middle of her.
2:6–13 — Many nations shall join themselves
The call is urgent and specific: get out of the north country, escape from Babylon — addressed to the exiles who had settled comfortably and not come back with Zerubbabel's group. The reason given is that God is about to shake his hand over the nations that plundered them, and the plunderers will be plundered.
6 Come! Come! Flee from the land of the north,’ says Yahweh; ‘for I have spread you abroad as the four winds of the sky,’ says Yahweh. 7 ‘Come, Zion! Escape, you who dwell with the daughter of Babylon.’ 8 For Yahweh of Armies says: ‘For honor he has sent me to the nations which plundered you; for he who touches you touches the apple of his eye. 9 For, behold, I will shake my hand over them, and they will be a plunder to those who served them; and you will know that Yahweh of Armies has sent me. 10 Sing and rejoice, daughter of Zion! For behold, I come and I will dwell within you,’ says Yahweh. 11 Many nations shall join themselves to Yahweh in that day, and shall be my people; and I will dwell among you, and you shall know that Yahweh of Armies has sent me to you. 12 Yahweh will inherit Judah as his portion in the holy land, and will again choose Jerusalem. 13 Be silent, all flesh, before Yahweh; for he has roused himself from his holy habitation!”
Scripture text: World English Bible (public domain).