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"The LORD will be seen over them"

Text: Zechariah 9:14

THE WAR AGAINST HELLENISTIC GREECE

After the death of Alexander the Great in BC 323, his kingdom was divided into four parts. Egypt (Ptolemy), the Seleucids, the Kingdom of Pergamon and Macedon (including Greece).

When the Seleucid Empire wanted to promote Hellenistic culture (which included idol worship), a local country priest called Mattathias revolted. His family were known as The Maccabees (The Hammer). Judas Maccabees, his grandson gathered many Jews who led a guerrilla warfare against the Seleucids.

Antiochus Epiphanes sent in a huge army (60,000 troops) to quell the rebellion of about 7000 priests and stalwarts who were determined to resist Hellenism). The Jews were hopelessly outnumbered. Prayer was made to the LORD and He answered.

“Then the LORD will be seen over them,
And His arrow will go forth like lightning.
The Lord GOD will blow the trumpet,
And go with whirlwinds from the south.”
Zechariah 9:14

1. “The LORD will be seen over them”

a) The Presence of God was obvious.

b) How else could the Maccabean guerrilla army have conquered the powerful Seleucid (Syrian) army?

2. The LORD God will blow the trumpet

a) The trumpet was used to rally people to defend the nation.

b) Many Jews responded.

i) The priestly family of Mattathias led the army.

ii) Judas Maccabees assumed leadership.

c) Description of the Maccabean Revolt

i) His arrow (Ephraim) went forth like lightning.

The Jews struck like lightning and defeated the Syrian forces.

ii) “Whirlwinds from the South”

Another way of describing the war against the Seleucid Empire.

iii) Guerrilla warfare of the Jews defeated the mighty Syrian forces that sought to enforce idolatrous Hellenistic practices in Jerusalem.