Zechariah 10

A Pronouncement of Judgment on Leadership And Blessings for Israel 

Like the revelation in chapter 9, this chapter also has a near and a far fulfillment, the near being the revival of Israel’s power under Judas Maccabeus in the second century B.C. and the far being the return and reign of Messiah.               - Thomas Constable

Ask The Lord for Rain

Vs. 1 - Ask the Lord for rain in the season of spring rain

Vs. 2 - For the idols speak falsehood

Since rain is often a symbol of many types of blessing in the Old Testament, spiritual as well as physical blessing is probably in view here.                - Thomas Constable

Zechariah urged Israel to look to Yaweh for provision.  He alone could send the blessing they needed, the deliverance they desired. 

I Will Punish The Leaders

Vs. 2-3 - the people wander like sheep; they suffer affliction because there is no shepherd. My anger burns against the shepherds, so I will punish the leaders.

God promised to hold Israel’s deceptive leaders accountable for leading the people into idolatry.  In contrast to these unreliable leaders, God would strengthen His people.

I Will Strengthen My People

Defense

Vs. 3 - He will make them like his majestic steed in battle

Vs. 5 - They will fight because the Lord is with them, and they will put horsemen to shame.

Their leaders had weakened them, but God promised to defend His people by strengthening them for battle. 

Vs. 4 - The cornerstone, the tent peg, the battle bow, and every ruler—will go out from him together.

Some commentators find a Messianic component in these metaphors. 

Restoration

Vs. 6 - I will restore them because I have compassion on them

Vs. 8 - I will whistle and gather them because I have redeemed them; they will be as numerous as they once were.

Vs.10 - I will bring them back from the land of Egypt and gather them from Assyria.

God’s people experienced a season of independence after the Maccabean Revolt (164 BC) and a measure of regathering when Israel was once again recognized as a nation state (1947 AD), but the full scope of these promises has yet to be realized. 

The movement of people to the promised land will be like the migration from Egypt to Canaan in the time of Moses.          - Don Fleming

Yahweh would bring the Israelites back from the land of Egypt to Israel’s south, where they had been slaves, and from the land of Assyria to its north, where they had been exiles, namely, from all over the world.          - Thomas Constable