Zech 12:8

Zec 12:8

In that day shall the LORD defend the inhabitants of Jerusalem; and ; and the house of David [shall be] as God, as the angel of the LORD before them.

This verse is thrilling!

In the previous 2 verses, the House of David
and the "Inhabitants of Jerusalem" are put
in their place by stating that they will not
usurp the glory of the house of Judah,
meaning Christ. It is further elucidated
how the natural house of David, or those
who dwell in Jerusalem, will not prevail
in glory.

So the next verse, we are told how God
will actually use the House of David
and the inhabitants of Jerusalem to
stun their enemies, like Moses in the
face of a stubborn and arrogant Pharaoh.

The illusion is clearly parallel to Moses'
feats. The "Angel of the LORD" is mentioned
as going before them as well. Who is the
Angel of the LORD? It is Jesus Christ.

When Zechariah wrote this messianic
prophecy, Jerusalem had no king, and
the time of Christ was hundreds of years
away. Yet, the hope in the Savior of
Jerusalem was planted hundreds of
years before by the prophets, including
Isaiah, Ezekiel and the minor prophets
who exhorted the nation to hold on to
their identity and hope in this miracle.

The first word that sticks out is
"defend" which in Hebrew is
"ganan"... This word is used 8 times
and is ALWAYS representative of
the LORD defending Jerusalem or
His people.

Lexicon Results for ganan (Strong's H1598)

Hebrew for H1598

גנן

Transliteration ganan		Pronunciation gä·nan' (Key)
Part of Speech verb		Root Word (Etymology) a primitive root
TWOT Reference 367

Outline of Biblical Usage

1) to defend, cover, surround

a) (Qal) to defend

b) (Hiphil) to defend

Authorized Version (KJV) Translation Count — Total: 8

AV — defend 8

Gesenius's Lexicon (Help)

Isa 31:5	As birds flying , so will the LORD of hosts defend galal Jerusalem ; defending also he will deliver [it; and] passing over he will preserve it.
Isa 37:35	For I will defend galal this city to save it for mine own sake, and for my servant David's sake.

These two verses written by Isaiah complement
Zechariah 12:8.

Another interesting word is "feeble"..."kashal".

.....he that is feeble among them
at that day shall be as David

Lexicon Results for kashal (Strong's H3782)

Hebrew for H3782

כשל

Transliteration kashal		Pronunciation kä·shal' (Key)
Part of Speech verb		Root Word (Etymology) a primitive root
TWOT Reference 1050

Outline of Biblical Usage

1) to stumble, stagger, totter

a) (Qal)

1) to stumble

2) to totter

b) (Niphal)

1) to stumble

2) to be tottering, be feeble

c) (Hiphil)

1) to cause to stumble, bring injury or ruin to, overthrow

2) to make feeble, make weak

d) (Hophal) to be made to stumble

e) (Piel) bereave

Authorized Version (KJV) Translation Count — Total: 65

AV — fall 27, stumble 19, cast down 4, feeble 4, overthrown 2, ruin 2, bereave + 07921 1, decayed 1, faileth 1, utterly 1, weak 1, variant 2

Gesenius's Lexicon (Help)

Click Here for the Rest of the Entry

"He that is feeble shall be as David," a reference
to the boy David who slew Goliath the Giant.
One characteristic that distinguished David was
his victorious prowess in war.

This word for feeble, (kashal) is generally used
for those who lack strength and agility when
needed for war, or when oppressed. In context,
it is used as a means to compare man's natural
strength to the supernatural strength endowed
by God, himself, to overcome.

In this verse, the world opposes little Jeruslaem,
yet, the house of David will stun the world with
the plagues that proceed from their directive
in the same manner as in the days of Moses
with Pharaoh, or King David against his
adversaries: Some parallel verses=

1Sa 2:4 The bows of the mighty men [are] broken,
and they that stumbled ^kashal are girded with strength .

2Ch 25:8 But if thou wilt go , do [it], be strong
for the battle : God shall make thee fall ^kashal
before the enemy : for God hath power to help ,
and to cast down .

Psa 105:37 He brought them forth also with silver
and gold: and [there was] not one feeble ^kashal [person]
among their tribes .

Pro 4:19 The way of the wicked [is] as darkness : t
hey know not at what they stumble ^kashal .

As we can see, kashal represents as much of a
spiritual infirmity as physical weakness.

The Angel of the LORD, Malek Yahovah,
is the same Lord who led Moses, as he led
the Israelites into the Promised Land, and
again the LORD himself, will deliver the
House of David in Jerusalem in the day
when all nations are poised to destroy
them.