Albert Barnes Commentary Zechariah 10:9

"And I will sow them among the peoples; and they shall remember me in far countries; and they shall live with their children, and shall return." — Zechariah 10:9 (ASV)

And I will sow them among the nations - Such had been the prophecy of Hosea: I will sow her to Me in the earth, as the prelude of spiritual mercies, and I will have mercy on her that had not obtained mercy, and I will say to not-my-people, You are My people, and they shall say, My God. Hosea’s saying, I will sow her in the earth—that is, the whole earth, and that to Me—corresponds to and explains Zechariah’s brief saying, I will sow them among the nations. The sowing, which was future to Hosea, had begun, but the purpose of the sowing—the harvest—was wholly to come. Then it would be seen that they were indeed sown by God, and that great shall be the day of Jezreel. (Hosea 1:11; see vol. i. p. 25). And Jeremiah said, Behold the days come, says the Lord, that I will sow the house of Israel and the house of Judah with the seed of man, and with the seed of beast. (Jeremiah 31:27).

The word is used of sowing to multiply, never of mere scattering.

And they shall remember Me in far countries - So Ezekiel had said, And they that escape of you shall remember Me among the nations where they shall be carried captive—and they shall loathe themselves for the evils which they have committed in all their abominations, and they shall know that I am the Lord. (Ezekiel 6:9).

And shall live - As Ezekiel again says, You shall know that I am the Lord, when I open your graves, and bring you up out of your graves, O My people, and shall put My Spirit in you, and you shall live (Ezekiel 37:13–14). The phrase With their children signifies a continuous gift, as Ezekiel also says, they and their children, and their children’s children forever: and My servant David shall be their prince forever. (Ezekiel 37:25).

And turn again - This means to God, being converted, as Jeremiah had been instructed to exhort them: Go and proclaim these words toward the north (Jeremiah 3:12), the cities of the Medes where they were carried captive, and say, Return, you backsliding Israel, and I will not cause My anger to fall upon you;

He continued, Turn, O backsliding children—and I will take you, one of a city, and two of a family, and I will bring you to Zion, and I will give you pastors according to My heart. (Jeremiah 3:14–15).

And again, Return, you backsliding children; I will heal your backslidings. And they answer, Behold, we come to You; for You are the Lord our God. (Jeremiah 3:22).

So Isaiah had said, A remnant shall return, the remnant of Jacob, to the mighty God.

Dionysius: “They shall return by recollection of mind and unification and simplification of the affections toward God so as ultimately to intend that one thing, which alone is necessary.”