Here begins the second division of the prophecy in which there are two messages. The first the prophet described as "the burden of the word of the Lord upon the land of Hadrach"; it deals with the rejection of the anointed King. In the first movement the prophet announced the coming of the King. He foretold the preservation of the city of Jerusalem in the days when Syria, Phoenicia, and Philistia would be overcome by the enemy, who, acting under Jehovah, would thus execute His judgments on them.
This prophecy was in large measure fulfilled by the coming of Alexander the Great. He captured Damascus and Sidon, and, after a siege of seven months, Tyre itself. He then marched against Gaza and razed it to the ground. In the course of this campaign he passed Jerusalem more than once, but never attacked it, Thus, according to the prophecy of Zechariah, the city was preserved for the coming of the true King. That coming he then foretold, calling on Zion and Jerusalem to rejoice, declaring the character of the King, and announcing His complete victory.
The prophet proceeded to describe the King's program. He foretold Zion's coming triumph against Greece under the direct guidance and by the might of Jehovah. This prophecy was fulfilled in the victory of Judas Maccabaeus over Antiochus Epiphanes.