Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Zechariah 14:12
And this shall be the plague wherewith the LORD will smite all the people that have fought against Jerusalem; Their flesh shall consume away while they stand upon their feet, and their eyes shall consume away in their holes, and their tongue shall consume away in their mouth.
12. the people ] Lit. peoples, as R. V., i.e. nations.
their flesh ] Lit. his flesh, i.e. the flesh of each one of them; and so, his eyes, his tongue; though, to show that the plague is at once individual and universal, it is at the end of the verse, “in their mouth”.
while they stand upon their feet ] Lit. and he standing upon his feet. The plague comes upon them in a moment, as they stand in serried ranks before the holy city. “Appalling, horrible picture! standing on their feet, yet their flesh mouldering away, as in a graveyard, their sightless balls decaying in their holes, the tongue putrefying in their mouth, a disgust to themselves and to others.” Pusey.
holes ] sockets, R. V.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
12 15. The Destruction of Hostile Nations
The deliverance and prosperity of Jerusalem shall be accomplished by a terrible plague sent upon those who fought against her, Zec 14:12; and by a panic which shall cause them to slay one another, Zec 14:13, and also by the courage and prowess of Judah. The wealth of their enemies shall be the spoil of the Jews, Zec 14:14; while the consuming pestilence shall extend to all the cattle in the hostile camp, Zec 14:15.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Again, upon the restoration of His people follows the destruction of His enemies. It shall, first and chiefly, be Gods doing, not mans. This shall be the plague. The word is used of direct infliction by pestilence, wherewith the Lord shall smite all the people (peoples) that fought against Jerusalem. The awful description is of living corpses. Lap.: The enemies of Jerusalem shall waste, not with fever or disease, but by a plague from God, so that, being sound, standing, living, in well-being, they should waste and consume away, as Isaiah speaks of the carcasses of the men, that have transgressed against Me; for their worm shall not die – and they shall be an abhorring unto all flesh Isa 66:24.
Their flesh shall consume away – Rather, wasting away the flesh of each one. It is the act of God, in His individual justice to each one of all those multitudes gathered against Him. One by one, their eyes, of which they said, let our eye look on Zion Mic 4:11, that is, with joy at its desolation, shall consume away in their holes, and their tongue, wherewith they blasphemed God, shall consume away in their mouths (compare Psa 12:3; Isa 36:15, Isa 36:18; Isa 37:3-4, Isa 37:17, Isa 37:23, Isa 37:29). Appalling, horrible, picture! standing on their feet, yet their flesh mouldering away as in a grave-yard, their sightless balls decaying in their holes, the tongue putrefying in their mouth, a disgust to themselves and to others! Yet what, compared to the horrible inward decay of sin, whereby men have a name that they live and are dead? Rev 3:1. Jerome: Let us read Ecclesiastical histories, what Valerian, Decius, Diocletian, Maximian, what the savagest of all, Maximin, and lately Julian suffered, and then we shall prove by deeds, that the truth of prophecy was fulfilled in the letter also.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Zec 14:12-14
And this shall be the plague
The punishment of Gods enemies
This is a figurative description of the punishment of sin.
The first element of the punishment is corruption, which is set forth by the terrible image of a living death, a fearful anomalous state, in which the mouldy rottenness of death is combined in horrible union with the vivid, conscious sensibility of life. The soul of the sinner, in its future consciousness of sin, shall feel its loathsome corruption as vividly as now it would feel the slow putrefaction of the body that rotten piecemeal to the grave. The second element is–mutual hate and contention (Zec 14:13). The image is that of a panic-struck army, in which man clutches and strikes in frantic fury his nearest neighbour. Hell shall be hate, in its fiercest and hatefullest forms. Sin is now the cause of all the quarrels on earth; it shall be the cause of endless quarrels in hell. The third element is–loss of the blessings previously enjoyed (Zec 14:14). This is represented by the image of spoil. The wealth of the nations that besieged Jerusalem shall be taken by Judah and Jerusalem, which are here combined in the triumph, as they were combined in the struggle described in chap. 12. A fourth element is–the infectious nature of sin. It defiles all that it touches. It has defiled the earth and all it contains, so that it must be burned up; and it will hereafter transform the dwelling place of its possessors into a hell, and their companions into fiends, and make it necessary that the very instruments of enjoyment they have possessed in life should be taken from them and destroyed. Learn that the most fearful punishment of sinners is simply to leave them to themselves. Sin is but hell in embryo, hell is but sin in development. (T. V. Moore, D. D.)
The elements by which the Divine government punishes sin
I. Physical diseases. And this shall be the plague wherewith the Lord shall smite all the people that have fought against Jerusalem. Their flesh shall consume away while they stand upon their feet, and their eyes shall consume away in their holes, and their tongue shall consume away in their mouth. This description of the plague-stricken people, says a modern author, is shocking, but it is not more than what actually occurs. See Defoes Plague of London. Kingsley says, What so terrible as war? I will tell you what is ten times and ten thousand times more terrible than war, and that is outraged nature. Nature, insidious, inexpensive, silent, sends no roar of cannon, no glitter of arms to do her work: she gives no warning note of preparation Man has his courtesies of war and his chivalries of war, he does not strike the unarmed man, he spares the woman and the child. But nature . . . spares neither woman or child;. . .silently she strikes the sleeping child with as little remorse as she would strike the strong man with the musket or the pick axe in his hand. One could scarcely imagine a more revolting condition of humanity than is here presented, a living skeleton, nearly all the flesh gone, the eyes all but blotted out, the tongue withered. Physical disease has ever been one of the instruments by which God has punished men in this world, pestilences, plagues, epidemics, and so on. But it is not merely a plague amongst the people, but also amongst the cattle, as we see in Zec 14:15.
II. Mutual animosity. And it shall come to pass in that day, that a great tumult from the Lord shall be among them, and they shall lay hold everyone on the hand of his neighbour. The idea is, perhaps, that God would permit such circumstances to spring up amongst them as would generate in their minds mutual misunderstandings, malignities, quarrellings, and battlings. They shall lay hold every one on the hand of his neighbour. Every mans sword shall be against his brother. Sin punishes sin, bad passions not only work misery but are in themselves miseries. Another element of punishment here is–
III. Temporal losses. And Judah also shall fight at Jerusalem. Not against Jerusalem. And the wealth of all the heathen round about shall be gathered together, gold and silver, and apparel in abundance. Earthly property, men in their unrenewed state have always valued as the highest good. To attain it they devote all their powers with an unquenchable enthusiasm, and to hold it they are ever on the alert, and their grasp is unrelaxable and firm. To have it snatched from them is among their greatest calamities, and how often this occurs in society! (Homilist.)
Fuente: Biblical Illustrator Edited by Joseph S. Exell
Verse 12. And this shall be the plague] All her enemies shall be destroyed.
Their flesh shall consume away] These are the effects of famine which are described in this verse.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
That have fought against; maliciously to destroy, and waste, and extirpate Jerusalem; the ringleaders, especially such as Antiochus, Herod, &c.
Their flesh shall consume away; when they are fat, fleshy, and strong, their flesh or strength shall utterly perish.
While they stand on their feet; either in arms ready to fight, or so suddenly they shall not have time to sit down; a very sudden death is threatened to them.
Their eyes shall consume away in their holes; a dreadful and exemplary blindness shall seize them.
Their tongue shall consume away in their mouth; in which member, by strange judgments on them, some persecutors also have felt Gods hand.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
12. Punishment on the foe, thelast Antichristian confederacy (Isa 59:18;Isa 66:24; Eze 38:1-39;Rev 19:17-21). A livingdeath: the corruption (Ga6:8) of death combined in ghastly union with the conscioussensibility of life. Sin will be felt by the sinner in all itsloathsomeness, inseparably clinging to him as a festering, putridbody.
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
And this shall be the plagues,…. This respects one or more, or all, of the seven plagues, which will be inflicted on the antichristian states, mentioned in Re 15:1:
wherewith the Lord will smite all the people that have fought against Jerusalem; who have been the enemies and persecutors of his church; and with which plague or plagues they shall be utterly consumed and destroyed:
their flesh shall consume away while they stand upon their feet; antichrist will be consumed with the breath of Christ’s mouth; the flesh of the whore of Rome, which is her substance, shall be eaten and devoured by the kings of the earth; and her destruction will be in a moment, suddenly, and at unawares, as is here suggested; see 2Th 2:8:
and their eyes shall consume away in their holes; the right eye of the idol shepherd shall be utterly dried up, and the kingdom of the beast will be full of darkness, Zec 11:17:
and their tongues shall consume away in their mouth; with which antichrist and his followers have blasphemed the name of God, his tabernacle, and his saints; and which they will gnaw for pain, when the plagues of God are inflicted on them, Re 13:5.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
Punishment of the hostile nations. – Zec 14:12. “And this will be the stroke wherewith Jehovah will smite all the nations which have made war upon Jerusalem: its flesh will rot while it stands upon its feet, and its eyes will rot in their sockets, and its tongue will rot in their mouth. Zec 14:13. And it will come to pass in that day, the confusion from Jehovah will be great among them, and they will lay hold of one another’s hand, and his hand will rise up against the hand of his neighbour. Zec 14:14. And Judah will also fight at Jerusalem, and the riches of all nations will be gathered together round about, gold and silver and clothes in great abundance. Zec 14:15. And so will be the stroke of the horse, of the mule, of the camel, and of the ass, and of all the cattle, that shall be in the same tents, like this stroke.” To the description of the salvation there is appended here as the obverse side the execution of the punishment upon the foe, which was only indicated in Zec 14:3. The nations which made war against Jerusalem shall be destroyed partly by the rotting away of their bodies even while they are alive (Zec 14:12), partly by mutual destruction(Zec 14:13), and partly by Judah’s fighting against them (Zec 14:14). To express the idea of their utter destruction, all the different kinds of plagues and strokes by which nations can be destroyed are grouped together. In the first rank we have two extraordinary strokes inflicted upon them by God. Maggephah always denotes a plague or punishment sent by God (Exo 9:14; Num 14:37; 1Sa 6:4). , the inf. abs. hiphil in the place of the finite verb: “He (Jehovah) makes its flesh rot while it stands upon its feet,” i.e., He causes putrefaction to take place even while the body is alive. The singular suffixes are to be taken distributively: the flesh of every nation or every foe. To strengthen the threat there is added the rotting of the eyes which spied out the nakednesses of the city of God, and of the tongue which blasphemed God and His people (cf. Isa 37:6). The other kind of destruction is effected by a panic terror, through which the foes are thrown into confusion, so that they turn their weapons against one another and destroy one another, – an occurrence of which several examples are furnished by the Israelitish history (compare Jdg 7:22; 1Sa 14:20, and especially that in 2Ch 20:23, in the reign of Jehoshaphat, to which the description given by our prophet refers). The grasp of the other’s hand is a hostile one in this case, the object being to seize him, and, having lifted his hand, to strike him dead. Zec 14:14 is translated by Luther and many others, after the Targum and Vulgate, “Judah will fight against Jerusalem,” on the ground that generally signifies “to fight against a person.” But this by no means suits the context here, since those who fight against Jerusalem are “all the heathen” (Zec 14:2), and nothing is said about any opposition between Jerusalem and Judah. is used here in a local sense, as in Exo 17:8, with , and the thought is this: Not only will Jehovah smite the enemies miraculously with plagues and confusion, but Judah will also take part in the conflict against them, and fight against them in Jerusalem, which they have taken. Judah denotes the whole of the covenant nation, and not merely the inhabitants of the country in distinction from the inhabitants of the capital. Thus will Judah seize as booty the costly possessions of the heathen, and thereby visit the heathen with ample retribution for the plundering of Jerusalem (Zec 14:2). And the destruction of the enemy will be so complete, that even their beasts of burden, and those used in warfare, and all their cattle, will be destroyed by the same plague as the men; just as in the case of the ban, not only the men, but also their cattle, were put to death (cf. Jos 7:24). Moreover, there is hardly any need for the express remark, that this description is only a rhetorically individualizing amplification of the thought that the enemies of the kingdom of God are to be utterly destroyed – namely, those who do not give up their hostility and turn unto God. For the verses which follow show very clearly that it is only to these that the threat of punishment refers.
Fuente: Keil & Delitzsch Commentary on the Old Testament
The Prophet adds, that though there would not be wanting many ungodly men, who should distress the Church, and attempt many things for its destruction, yet God would be a defender and would inflict punishment, which would exhibit a clear and decided proof of that paternal favor which he manifests towards his Church. But these things do not seem to harmonise — that the people should dwell safely at Jerusalem, and yet that there would be enemies violently disturbing the city: but by saying, that they should dwell safely, he means not that there would be none anxious to do them harm; but that trusting in God’s protection they would continue safe in the greatest dangers, as they would feel persuaded that God, who promised to stand on their side, would be stronger than all. The habitation of the godly would then be secure, not because they dreaded no attacks of enemies, but because they firmly believed that they would be preserved by a power from above, though the devil excited many people on all sides against them, and also prepared and suborned many wicked men to contrive their ruin.
And to this power it behaves us to raise up our thoughts when various enemies rage against us, so that we may dwell in safety and wait with quiet minds until God shall deliver us; for our safety is concealed under the faithful protection of God, which is only made known to us by the word and promises. Let us, however, bear in mind what the Prophet teaches us here — that when God gives loose reins to enemies, his vengeance is near, so that he will visit with punishment all those wrongs and injuries which we patiently endure.
This, he says, shall be the plague with which Jehovah shall smite all people. He mentions all people again, lest a multitude of enemies should terrify the faithful, when they found themselves unequal to them, and almost overwhelmed by their vast number; they were not to doubt but that the hand of God would prevail. Then he adds, His flesh shall consume away, or melt away: there is a change of number, but the sense is not obscured; for he says, This shall be the plague with which Jehovah shall smite all people; his flesh shall melt away, as though he was speaking of one man; and then he immediately adds, while he shall stand on his feet; and his eyes shall melt away, and his tongue in their mouth (192) We see how the Prophet changes the number three times; but there is in the subject itself nothing ambiguous. He means that it would be nothing to God, when resolved to punish the adversaries of his Church, whether they were many or few; for he can easily destroy them all, as though he had to do only with one man. But it seems also that Zechariah had another thing in view — that as God’s vengeance would regard each individual, no one of them would be safe, and that thus the vengeance of God would be universal, without any exception, and executed on all armies and on each individual.
We must now notice the kind of punishment which is here described — that God would destroy them all without the hand or the aid of men: his flesh, he says, shall melt away, or dissolve. In this case divine vengeance is more clearly seen, that is, then enemies, though no one fights with them, yet of themselves consume away: and then he adds, when they shall stand on their feet; and yet their flesh shall melt away. The Prophet no doubt alludes to the curses of the law, among which this is especially to be observed — that God in various ways consumes the wicked, so that they melt away when no cause appears. (Deu 28:21.)
The meaning then is, that God has various means by which he can reduce to nothing our enemies, though they may seek aid on every side. We are therefore taught by these words to cast all our cares on God; for when our enemies seem to be placed beyond the chance of danger, and confidently boast that nothing adverse can happen to them, yet in God’s hand is their death and life, so that they can be consumed by his breath only. There is then no reason for us to depend on earthly means, when we seek to be certain respecting the destruction of our enemies; for God can inwardly consume them; though they may seem to stand whole and sound, yet they will be dissolved, so that even their eyes shall melt away in their cavities, that is, they shall fail without any external force. We indeed know that eyes are well protected; being covered with their defences, they seem to be beyond the reach of harm. But the Prophet intimates that the hidden vengeance of God can penetrate into the bowels and marrow; in short, that there is nothing so safe that it can escape the vengeance of God. The tongue also, he says, shall melt away, or dissolve (it is the same verb) in their mouth. He afterwards adds —
(192) The way to account for this is, that the words, [ את-כל-העמים ], at the beginning of the verse, are to be rendered, “every one of the peoples,” or, “each of the nations.” Then the singular number here refers to “every one,” or “each” nation of the nations. — Ed.
Fuente: Calvin’s Complete Commentary
(12, 13) In the description of the plague, and confusion, and rout with which the hostile nations are to be smitten, the prophet had in mind several historical events: e.g., Exo. 9:14; Psa. 37:36; 1Sa. 5:9; 1Sa. 14:20; Isa. 22:5.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
Destruction of the hostile nations, 12-15.
While Jerusalem and the Jews will be exalted and glorified, Jehovah will utterly destroy all the nations that have dared to lift their hands against the holy city. Some will be destroyed by pestilence (Zec 14:12; Zec 14:15), some will be slain in the confusion that is produced among the hostile armies at the blows of Jehovah (Zec 14:13), some will be cut off by the inhabitants of Judah, who then will be enriched by the spoil. Zec 14:15 forms the natural continuation of Zec 14:12; therefore several recent commentators consider Zec 14:13-14 a later insertion. If they are original, a more logical order would be Zec 14:12; Zec 14:15; Zec 14:13-14. A disastrous pestilence strikes the camp (Zec 14:12; Zec 14:15), which produces panic and confusion (Zec 14:13); when this is seen by the Jews they rush against the enemies, cut them down, and take to themselves their possessions (Zec 14:14).
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
12. Plague Or, pestilence. A word always used of a plague or punishment sent directly by Jehovah. The nature of the disease is described in the rest of the verse.
Fought against Jerusalem See on Zec 14:1-2.
Their flesh shall consume away Literally (G.-K., 113y), he (Jehovah) will cause their flesh to rot.
While they stand upon their feet While they are still alive. To show further the terribleness of the plague the destruction of the eyes and tongue, important members of the human body, is specified. The prophet probably did not intend these expressions to be pressed too literally. He makes the description so vivid simply to indicate the awfulness of the calamity, whatever might be its exact character.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
The Remnant of the Nations Saved
v. 12. And this shall be the plague, v. 13. And it shall come to pass in that day that a great tumult, v. 14. And Judah also shall fight at Jerusalem, v. 15. And so shall be the plague of the horse, of the mule, of the camel, and of the ass, and of all the beasts that shall be in these tents, as this plague, v. 16. And it shall come to pass that every one that is left of all the nations which came against Jerusalem, v. 17. And it shall be that whoso will not come up of all the families of the earth unto Jerusalem to worship the King, the Lord of hosts, even upon them shall be no rain, v. 18. And if the family of Egypt, v. 19. This shall be the punishment of Egypt and the punishment of all nations that come not up to keep the Feast of Tabernacles. v. 20. In that day shall there be upon the bells of the horses, v. 21. Yea, every pot in Jerusalem and in Judah shall be holiness unto the Lord of hosts,
Fuente: The Popular Commentary on the Bible by Kretzmann
Zec 14:12 And this shall be the plague wherewith the LORD will smite all the people that have fought against Jerusalem; Their flesh shall consume away while they stand upon their feet, and their eyes shall consume away in their holes, and their tongue shall consume away in their mouth.
Ver. 12. And this shall be the plague wherewith the Lord will smite, &c. ] The precedent promises that were so great and glorious, the prophet doth now further enlarge and illustrate in the following verses; and, first, the conquest of the enemies, Zec 14:12-15 ; next, the profession of Christ among all nations of the world, Zec 14:16-19 ; and lastly, the sanctity of the Church, Zec 14:20-21 . The conquest of the enemies is set forth, first, by God’s strange judgments upon them, Zec 14:12 ; secondly, by the means, both they shall despatch one another; and Judah shall fight bravely against them, Zec 14:13-14 ; thirdly, their wealth and substance shall become a prey, Zec 14:14 ; fourthly, their horses of service, and all the beasts they bring with them, shall be as strangely plagued as the men themselves, Zec 14:15 .
That have fought against Jerusalem
Their flesh shall consume away while they stand upon their feet
And their eyes shall consume away in their holes
And their tongue shall consume away in their mouth
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: Zec 14:12-15
12Now this will be the plague with which the LORD will strike all the peoples who have gone to war against Jerusalem; their flesh will rot while they stand on their feet, and their eyes will rot in their sockets, and their tongue will rot in their mouth. 13It will come about in that day that a great panic from the LORD will fall on them; and they will seize one another’s hand, and the hand of one will be lifted against the hand of another. 14Judah also will fight at Jerusalem; and the wealth of all the surrounding nations will be gathered, gold and silver and garments in great abundance. 15So also like this plague will be the plague on the horse, the mule, the camel, the donkey and all the cattle that will be in those camps.
Zec 14:12 Now this will be the plague God will defeat the nations (cf. Zec 14:2-3) by a means (i.e., plague BDB 620) which He had employed earlier in His defense of Jerusalem against Sennacherib in 701 B.C. (cf. 2Ki 19:35; Isa 37:36). This may be a reference to Deu 28:20-24, which is now turned against Israel’s enemies (e.g., Deu 28:7; Psa 89:22-24).
the LORD will strike This VERB (BDB 619, KB 669, Qal IMPERFECT) is often used of God’s defense of His people (but there are exceptions, cf. Exo 21:22; Psa 91:12; Pro 3:23).
Zec 14:13 a great panic from the LORD will fall on them This is another supernatural means whereby the army of the nations will fall. They will simply destroy themselves (cf. Exo 15:16; Exo 23:27; Jdg 7:22; 1Sa 14:15-20; 2Ch 20:22-23; Hag 2:22). Confusion (BDB 223) of the enemies of YHWH is part of the Day of the Lord (cf. Deu 7:23; Deu 28:20; Isa 22:5).
Zec 14:14 and Judah also will fight at Jerusalem The VERB (BDB 535, KB 526) is a Niphil IMPERFECT. The PREPOSITION at (i.e., place) is also used in the NIV, while the RSV changes it to against (cf. Vulgate, Targums). The same PRONOUN is translated against in Zec 14:3.
the wealth of all the surrounding nations will be gathered The VERB (BDB 62, KB 74) is a Pual PERFECT. See Zec 14:1.
Zec 14:15 This information seems out of place. It should go with the plague on humans mentioned in Zec 14:12. It seems to refer to the complete destruction of this invading army’s military capabilities.
Fuente: You Can Understand the Bible: Study Guide Commentary Series by Bob Utley
And this shall be, &c. The subject now returns to the smiting of the nations. See the Structure, C, p. 1294
people = peoples.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
the plague wherewith: Zec 14:3, Zec 12:9, Psa 110:5, Psa 110:6, Isa 34:1-17, Isa 66:15, Isa 66:16, Eze 38:18-22, Eze 39:4-6, Eze 39:17-20, Joe 3:1, Joe 3:2, Mic 4:11-13, Mic 5:8, Mic 5:9, Mic 7:16, Mic 7:17, Rev 16:1-21, Rev 19:17-21
Their flesh: Lev 26:18, Lev 26:21, Lev 26:24, Lev 26:28, Deu 28:59, 2Ch 21:15, 2Ch 21:18, 2Ch 21:19, Psa 90:11, Act 12:23, Rev 9:5, Rev 9:6, Rev 16:10, Rev 16:11, Rev 16:21, Rev 17:16, Rev 18:6-8
Reciprocal: Lev 26:16 – consume Deu 28:20 – vexation Isa 24:21 – the Lord Isa 29:7 – the multitude Isa 34:2 – the indignation Isa 49:25 – I will contend Isa 60:12 – General Isa 66:24 – and look Jer 50:11 – ye destroyers Jer 51:11 – the vengeance Eze 38:22 – I will plead Mic 4:3 – and rebuke Hab 2:8 – the violence Zec 14:15 – General Zec 14:21 – in the Mal 4:6 – and smite Luk 16:24 – and cool
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Zec 14:12. These afflictions are figurative terms for the humiliation and defeat of the enemies of the Gospel of Christ. It is similar in thought to the statements in the beginning of the chapter relative to the victory of truth over error.
Fuente: Combined Bible Commentary
Zec 14:12-13. And this shall be the plague, &c. Those that do not die in battle, nor fall by the hand of their brethren, shall be destroyed by famine, or consumption. Their flesh shall consume away while they stand upon their feet They shall be miserably emaciated, even while they stand in arms ready to fight; or so suddenly, that they shall hardly have time to lie or sit down. And their eyes shall consume away in their holes A dreadful and exemplary blindness shall seize them. A great tumult That is, confusion; from the Lord Hebrew, of the Lord, that is, one caused or permitted by him; shall be among them Shall take place and prevail, as a punishment of their hostility to Gods church. Those that are confederated and combined against God and his people, will be justly separated, and set against one another; and their tumults raised against God will be avenged in tumult among themselves. And they shall lay hold every one on the hand of his neighbour That is, they shall seek help from one another, but instead of helping they shall turn their arms against one another. And his hand shall rise up, &c. The sum of the verse is, that intestine divisions and hostilities shall be added to the foregoing divine judgments.
Fuente: Joseph Bensons Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
The destruction of Israel’s enemies 14:12-15
Chronologically these verses describe what will follow Zec 14:3.
Fuente: Expository Notes of Dr. Constable (Old and New Testaments)
The Lord would smite the nations that warred against Jerusalem (Zec 14:1-3) with a plague that would cause the people’s flesh to rot off them wherever they might be. They would not be able to see or speak (cf. Isa 37:36). One wonders if nuclear warfare may be involved.