Albert Barnes Commentary Zechariah 12:6

"In that day will I make the chieftains of Judah like a pan of fire among wood, and like a flaming torch among sheaves; and they shall devour all the peoples round about, on the right hand and on the left; and [they of] Jerusalem shall yet again dwell in their own place, even in Jerusalem." — Zechariah 12:6 (ASV)

I will make the governors of Judah like a hearth—or “cauldron” of fire, large, broad, deep, and full of fire, among the wood that is prepared for burning, and like a torch of fire in a sheaf. The fire could not kindle the wood or the sheaf by itself, unless applied to it. All is by God’s agency: “I will make.”

Ribera: “He foretells the increase of the Church, which by such persecutions will not be diminished, but will be marvelously increased. The preachers of the Church will raise up all the peoples all around, will destroy all unbelief, and will kindle the hearts of hearers with the fire of the divine word.” “On the right hand and on the left.” Ribera: “He indicates the strength and success of the preachers, whom no one can resist nor hinder,” as our Lord says, “I will give you a mouth and wisdom, which all your adversaries shall not be able to gainsay nor resist” (Luke 21:15).

And Jerusalem shall again—Rather, “yet, be inhabited.” “Yet” is a sort of burden in Zechariah’s prophecies. Osorius: “They at once burned up by the flame all the defilement of vices, and kindled the minds of people with the torch of divine love; at once consumed the enemy and cast a heavenly fire into the human heart: ‘yet;’ despite all appearances, of all that is against her. ‘She will yet dwell in her own place in Jerusalem;’ for, however the waves of this world chafe and lash themselves into foam against her, they break themselves, not her; as soon as they have reached their utmost height, they fall back; if they toss themselves, and, for a moment, hide her light, they fall down on all sides, and the ray shines out, steady as before; for she is ‘founded on a rock,’ against which ‘the gates of hell’ should not ‘prevail’ (Matthew 16:18).”