John Calvin Commentary Zechariah 12:3

"And it shall come to pass in that day, that I will make Jerusalem a burdensome stone for all the peoples; all that burden themselves with it shall be sore wounded; and all the nations of the earth shall be gathered together against it." — Zechariah 12:3 (ASV)

Zechariah adds another metaphor here, which is very fitting. For when the ungodly made war against the holy city, their object was not merely to reduce it to subjection, or to impose a tribute or a tax, or simply to rule over it—what then? The object was to cut it off entirely and obliterate its name.

Since such cruelty would incite enemies to attack the holy city, the Prophet here intervenes and declares that it would be a most burdensome stone to them. He thus compares the enemies of Jerusalem to a man who attempts to lift a stone when he is too weak to do so.

He then injures his own strength; for when a man tries to do what is too much for him, he loosens some of his joints or breaks his sinews. The Prophet means, therefore, that though many nations conspired against Jerusalem and made every effort to overthrow it, they would eventually find it to be a weight far too heavy for them. They would therefore break or lacerate their own arms, for their sinews would be broken by over-exertion.

Some explain the last clause more weakly, as “In tearing he will be torn,” meaning that when anyone picks up a rough stone, he tears his own hands.

But I have no doubt the Prophet meant to convey something more serious, and each clause would thus correspond much better. For, as we have said, the object of the ungodly was to remove Jerusalem, so as not to leave a stone upon a stone. But God declares here that it would be too heavy a burden, so that they would find their own strength broken in recklessly attempting to remove what could not be moved from its place.

Now the reason for this prophecy is that God was the founder of Jerusalem, as it is said.

Its foundations are in the holy mountains, love does the Lord the gates of Sion,
(Psalms 87:1–2).

And again it is said:

Jehovah in the midst of her, she shall not be moved.
(Psalms 46:5).

We must also remember what we observed in the last verse. For though the heavens are in continual motion, they still retain their positions and do not fall into disorder. Even if the heavens and the earth were blended together, Jerusalem—founded by God’s hand, exempt from the common lot of humanity, and whose condition was special—would still remain firm and unchangeable.

Therefore, we see why the Prophet says that there would be no other outcome for the ungodly, while attempting to overthrow Jerusalem, than to wound and tear themselves.

He then adds, And assemble against them shall all nations. This, as we have said, was added to show that even though enemies flocked together from every quarter, God would still be superior to them. This clause, then, contains an amplification to encourage the faithful to continue in their hope with invincible constancy, even when they saw themselves surrounded by hosts of enemies.