And if the family of Egypt go not up, and come not, that have no rain; there shall be the plague, wherewith the LORD will smite the heathen that come not up to keep the feast of tabernacles.
If the family of Egypt go not up, and come not, that have no rain, there shall be the plague - specified as Israel's ancient foe. Also, in the Persian times, wherein Zechariah lived, Egypt, by her perpetual efforts to throw off the Persian yoke, would naturally be in opposition to Judah, which was under Persia's protection. This would suggest the language and imagery under which this prophecy of events, still future now, is couched. If Egypt go not up, and so there be no rain on them (a judgment which Egypt would contemn, as depending on the Nile's overflow, not on rain), there shall be the plague, etc. Because the guilty are not affected by one judgment, let them not think to escape, because God has other judgments which shall plague them. Maurer translates, 'if Egypt go not up, upon them also there shall be none' (no rain). Psalms 105:32 mentions "rain" in Egypt. But it is not their main source of fertility.