| Geneva Study Bible And I will encamp about {k} my house because of the army, because of him that passeth by, and because of him that returneth: and no oppressor shall pass through them any more: for now {l} have I seen with my eyes. (k) He shows that God's power alone will be sufficient to defend his Church against all adversaries, be they ever so cruel, or assert their power ever so often. (l) That is, God has now seen the great injuries and afflictions with which they have been afflicted by their enemies. Wesley's Notes 9:8 I will encamp - To defend it from all its enemies. Mine house - This temple, but as it is an emblem of the church. The army - Of the Persian and the Grecian army, whose march lay through Judea. Scofield Reference Notes [1] because of him There seems to be a reference here to the advance and return of Alexander (Zech 9:13) after the battle of Issus, who subdued the cities mentioned in Zech 9:1-6, and afterward returned to Greece without harming Jerusalem. But the greater meaning converges on the yet future last days See Scofield Note: "Acts 2:17" as the last clause of verse Zech 9:8 shows, for many oppressors have passed through Jerusalem since the days of Alexander. Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary 8. encamp about-(Ps 34:7). mine house-namely, the Jewish people (Zec 3:7; Ho 8:1) [Maurer]. Or, the temple: reassuring the Jews engaged in building, who might otherwise fear their work would be undone by the conqueror [Moore]. The Jews were, in agreement with this prophecy, uninjured by Alexander, though he punished the Samaritans. Typical of their final deliverance from every foe. passeth by . returneth-Alexander, when advancing against Jerusalem, was arrested by a dream, so that neither in "passing by" to Egypt, nor in "returning," did he injure the Jews, but conferred on them great privileges. no oppressor . pass through . any more-The prophet passes from the immediate future to the final deliverance to come (Isa 60:18; Eze 28:24). seen with mine eyes-namely, how Jerusalem has been oppressed by her foes [Rosenmuller] (Ex 3:7; 2:25). God is said now to have seen, because He now begins to bring the foe to judgment, and manifests to the world His sense of His people's wrongs. Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary 9:1-8 Here are judgements foretold on several nations. While the Macedonians and Alexander's successors were in warfare in these countries, the Lord promised to protect his people. God's house lies in the midst of an enemy's country; his church is as a lily among thorns. God's power and goodness are seen in her special preservation. The Lord encamps about his church, and while armies of proud opposers shall pass by and return, his eyes watch over her, so that they cannot prevail, and shortly the time will come when no exactor shall pass by her any more. | 
