Charles Ellicott Commentary Zechariah 12:1

"The burden of the word of Jehovah concerning Israel. [Thus] saith Jehovah, who stretcheth forth the heavens, and layeth the foundation of the earth, and formeth the spirit of man within him:" — Zechariah 12:1 (ASV)

The opening of this chapter is similar to that of Zechariah 9:0, and marks the beginning of the second half of these latter prophecies. This prophecy, as far as Zechariah 12:9, seems to recur to the same events as were foretold in Zechariah 9:10: namely, the successful contests of the Maccabean period.

Israel. — Compare Malachi 1:5 and following, and all the tribes of Israel (Zechariah 9:1). Elsewhere, in Zechariah 9-11 , the terms used are Ephraim (Zechariah 9:10; Zechariah 9:13; Zechariah 10:7) and Joseph (Zechariah 10:6), as well as Judah (Zechariah 9:8; Zechariah 9:13; Zechariah 10:3; Zechariah 10:6). These and similar terms were interchangeable after the captivity and refer, with a few exceptions, to the nation of the Jews in general. With this verse compare Isaiah 42:5; Amos 4:13.