Zechariah 9:1,2 - Coke's Commentary on the Holy Bible

The burden, &c.— Houbigant renders these verses, The burden, &c. against the land of Hadrach, and against Damascus, which is opposite to it. For the Lord beholdeth all men, as well as the tribes of Israel; Zechariah 9:2. Hamath also, its neighbour, and Tyre and Zidon, because it is very wise. But Dr. Blayney translates the latter part of the first verse, When toward JEHOVAH shall be the eyes of men, observing—I cannot conceive how the original word can be made out to signify "the eyes of Jehovah over man," as represented by Houbigant and the ancient versions. The order of the words in the Hebrew, אדם עין ליהוה כי ki laiehovah ain adam, leads directly to our present English Translation, "when the eyes of man, as of all the tribes of Israel, shall be toward Jehovah." And this plainly implies that a time would come, when men, and the tribes of Israel in particular, should turn their eyes toward Jehovah, and look up to him, either in hopes of deriving some blessing from him, or in gratitude for mercies received from him. See Blayney, to whom I acknowledge myself indebted for much assistance in my Commentary on Zechariah. This chapter begins a new prophesy against Syria and the Philistines, against Tyre and Sidon, which were to be subjected by Alexander the Great. The prophet afterwards speaks of the coming of the Messiah. Hadrach was some part of Syria, not far from Damascus.