NOTES for Zec 9:9-10

This passage is probably, the most known of the book of the prophet Zechariah. We all read these words: " thy King cometh unto thee: he is just, and having salvation; lowly". But have we read further? What are the consequences for the coming of this King? The Lord says that He shall cut off chariots and horses, the battle bow shall be cut off... The time of the peace will come - a peace, where weapons will no more be needed. And the Lord does not simply suggest putting aside the weapon - no, He destroys all the instruments of violence. In His Kingdom there shall be nobody to defend from. His peace is stronger than hostility, and His coming in itself break the usual scheme "attack-defense". Yes, He deprives from the possibility of attacking and defending - and teaches to accept and love.

The image of the Messiah was sometimes differently perceived by various prophets. To one He revealed Himself as a just King, to another - as a genuine high Priest, for example, He appeared to Isaiah of Babylon in the image of a servant, Who couldn’t count on any earthly power. Zechariah sees Him entering the holy city on an ass. Approximately in the same way as Jesus entered in Jerusalem shortly before the end of His earthly way.

And this image, it is necessary to recognize it, is closer to the image of a servant, than to the image of a king or high priest. Of course, like that, on an ass, could sometimes enter into the city a domestic servant. But not only he: asses (more exactly mules) at all the times in Palestine (as, indeed, everywhere in the Middle East) were one of the cheapest means of transport. Wealthy merchants transporting big quantity of goods, in the time of Zechariah used camels.

Official personalities, beginning from the very kings and ending by not even senior officials moved on horses, on horseback or in chariots. And simple people went on resistant, reliable, unpretentious and less expensive mules. And the Messiah, such as Zechariah saw Him, enters the city exactly that way. He is not a great king or conqueror, not a high priest; He is indeed a simple Man, not a senior. But this does not prevent Him from being the Messiah.

In the time of Zechariah, when the Messiah was expected in particular as a King, when were already ready two golden crowns, one for the Messiah expected from day to day, and the second for the high priest, who should anoint Him for the kingdom, - at such times, the warning or the reminder that the Messiah will enter the city, not on a white horse, but on an ass, was not out of place. Just as in the time of the earthly ministry of the Savior.