Rebbetzin Chava Kuperman
The last thing we should consider in the book of Zechariah is his prophecy about the days of Mashiach.
Chapter 8, verses 4 and 5: “...old men and old women will sit in the squares of Jerusalem, each with his staff in his hand, well into old age. And the city's squares will be filled with boys and girls playing in the squares…”.
Everything radiates peace and tranquility.
In verse 23 of chapter 8, we read: “Thus said the L-rd of Hosts: In those days, ten men from all the nations of different languages will take hold of the hem of a Jew's garment, saying: Let us go with you, for we have heard that G-d is with you.”
According to tradition, 10 people from each nation will “cling” to every Jew, holding on to each tassel of tzitzit: 10×70=700; 700×4=2800. In other words, 2800 non-Jews for every Jew!
There is a tradition that Jerusalem will extend as far as Damascus and, in the days of Mashiach, will be a place of rest — our place, where we are meant to be.
Mashiach will ride, seated “on a donkey and on a foal, the offspring of a female donkey” (chapter 9, verse 9).
In Hebrew, these three words are written differently, share no common root, and each has its own meaning:
A donkey (chamor) is a symbol of matter and everything material;
a female donkey (aton) is a symbol of income, prosperity, and high social standing (remember, Balaam rode a female donkey);
a foal (ayir) represents, to some extent, freedom from restraint and playfulness; wealthy young people rode them.
(Every donkey is the offspring of a female donkey. Yet when we look at a donkey, we usually seem to forget this).
It follows that Mashiach's arrival will bring the Jewish people to a position of prominence, prosperity, and complete freedom from restraint. Jerusalem, meanwhile, will extend all the way to Damascus in the days of Mashiach, the prophet tells us.
The entire chapter 14 of the book is devoted to the coming of Mashiach. We have a tradition that this will happen on Sukkot (verse 16), that there will be a war around Jerusalem (or in its vicinity), and that a severe earthquake will occur, causing the Mount of Olives to split in two, with one part shifting north and the other south, and everyone there fleeing into the valley that forms.
All the nations that went to war against us will suffer a terrible punishment: “And this will be the plague with which the L-rd will strike all the nations that fought against Jerusalem: each one's flesh will rot while he stands on his feet (theirs), and his (their) eyes will rot in their sockets, and his (their) tongue will rot in their mouths” (verses 12-13).
Only Jews will live in Jerusalem, while other nations will be able to come there to worship the Almighty.
to be continued