Question 1

What does it mean to flee from the land of the north in this passage?

Accepted Answer

“Flee from the land of the north” speaks first about the Jews who were still living in Babylon and the surrounding lands after God had opened the way for them to return home. Many stayed where they were because life felt easier and safer there. God calls them to leave that place and come back to Zion, to live again as His gathered people. In a wider sense, this also pictures God calling His people in every age to turn away from worldly security that pulls them from Him and to come back to His ways and His presence.

Question 2

Who is Zion that is told to deliver herself from the daughter of Babylon?

Accepted Answer

Zion here means God’s people, especially those who belonged in Jerusalem but were still living among the Babylonians. They are called “Zion” because their true home and identity are tied to God’s city and God’s worship, not to Babylon’s lifestyle or gods. When God says, “Deliver thyself, O Zion, that dwellest with the daughter of Babylon,” He is telling His people to get up, leave that foreign way of life, and join again with His gathered people, both for their safety and to live out who they really are in His sight.

Question 3

What does it mean that whoever touches God’s people touches the apple of his eye?

Accepted Answer

Calling God’s people “the apple of his eye” is a very tender picture. The “apple” is the pupil, the most sensitive part of the eye that a person protects without thinking. God is saying that His people are that dear and that guarded to Him. Anyone who harms them is like someone poking God in the eye. It shows how closely He identifies with His people, how deeply He cares, and how sure His response will be against those who hurt them. This gives comfort to believers who feel small or attacked.

Question 4

How will God judge the nations that spoiled His people in this passage?

Accepted Answer

God says He will “shake” His hand over the nations that plundered His people, and that they will become “a spoil to their servants.” This means the roles will be reversed. Those who once ruled over God’s people and took from them will themselves be brought low and handed over. God’s lifting or shaking of His hand is a sign of His active power, not just words. When this happens, His people will see clearly that it was the Lord of hosts who acted for them, and they will know that He truly sent His servant to defend and restore them.

Question 5

What does it mean when God says, "Lo, I come, and I will dwell in the midst of thee"?

Accepted Answer

When God says, “Lo, I come, and I will dwell in the midst of thee,” He is promising more than just help from afar. He is saying He Himself will be present among His people. For those who first heard this, it pointed to God returning to be with them in Jerusalem in a real and lasting way after the exile. It also looks ahead to God’s deeper presence with His people through His promised Messiah. The stress is on closeness, shared life, and joy. God is not distant; He chooses to live right in the middle of His people’s life together.

Question 6

What is the meaning of many nations being joined to the Lord and becoming His people?

Accepted Answer

The words “many nations shall be joined to the Lord in that day, and shall be my people” show that God’s plan is not limited to one ethnic group. He promises that people from many nations will turn to Him, trust Him, and be counted as His own people. This points ahead to the way God gathers both Jews and non‑Jews into one people who belong to Him. The key idea is that those who join themselves to the Lord share in His presence and promises, not by birth or geography, but by turning to Him in faith and obedience.

Question 7

What does it mean that the Lord will inherit Judah his portion in the holy land and choose Jerusalem again?

Accepted Answer

When the passage says the Lord will “inherit Judah his portion in the holy land” and “choose Jerusalem again,” it means God is renewing His claim and care over His people and their land. An inheritance is something treasured and possessed. God is saying that Judah is like His special share and that He is not done with them, even after their sin and exile. Choosing Jerusalem again shows that He will restore His relationship with the city where He set His name, and that His plans for them are not cancelled but restarted in grace.

Question 8

Why are all flesh told to be silent before the Lord at the end of this passage?

Accepted Answer

“Be silent, O all flesh, before the Lord” is a call for everyone to stop arguing, boasting, or doubting and to stand in awe of God. He has risen from His holy dwelling to act for His people and to judge the nations. When God moves like this, the right response is quiet respect, not human pride or noisy plans. The phrase “all flesh” reminds us that every person is weak and limited compared to Him. This silence is not empty; it is worshipful, making room to see and honor what God Himself is doing.

Question 9

How can this passage about leaving Babylon and God dwelling among His people apply to my life today?

Accepted Answer

This passage invites you to ask where you might be “dwelling with the daughter of Babylon” in your own choices, staying in patterns or comforts that pull you from God. God’s call, “Deliver thyself, O Zion,” encourages you to respond and move toward Him, even when that feels risky. His promise to guard His people as the apple of His eye and to live in their midst reminds you that obeying Him is not about losing safety but entering true security and joy. You can take courage that He sees, cares, and will not forget those who trust Him.

Question 10

Who is speaking in this passage, and who is being spoken to?

Accepted Answer

In this passage, the Lord of hosts is speaking through His prophet. He addresses Zion, meaning His covenant people who belong in Jerusalem, but who are still scattered and living among the “daughter of Babylon.” He also speaks about the nations that harmed His people and about many nations that will later be joined to Him. In the final verse, His words reach even wider, calling “all flesh” to be silent before Him. So the message begins with the exiles but stretches out to every nation and every person who hears about His actions.

Zechariah 2:6

¶ Ho, ho, come forth, and flee from the land of the north, saith the Lord: for I have spread you abroad as the four winds of the heaven, saith the Lord.

The Redemption of Zion

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Zechariah 2:6

¶ Ho, ho, come forth, and flee from the land of the north, saith the Lord: for I have spread you abroad as the four winds of the heaven, saith the Lord.

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The Redemption of Zion

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