זכריה, פרק ט׳, פסוק ט״ו

On the day of a great final war, the surviving Israelites will experience ultimate divine protection and complete victory over their enemies. This triumph unfolds not merely as a military success, but as a sacred event where the defeat of the opposing forces takes on the solemn nature of a Temple sacrifice.

God will spread His protection over the small, weak group of fighters, keeping them safe from harm during the clash [רד״ק, אברבנאל]. Commentators differ on how this victory will actually be achieved. Most explain that the Israelites will engage in active combat, forcefully overpowering their foes and seizing their wealth [רש״י, מצודת ציון, רד״ק]. A contrasting perspective suggests the triumph will be entirely miraculous. In this view, the Israelites will not need to fight at all; they will simply sit and eat while God personally decides the battle and strikes down their enemies [מלבי״ם].

The opposing forces, particularly the highly trained Greek army, are viewed with deep contempt. They are likened to ordinary slingstones, treated as common, worthless rocks tossed to the ground. This stands in sharp contrast to the Israelites, who are destined to be compared to precious jewels set in a royal crown [רד״ק, מצודת דוד]. Another interpretation suggests that the enemy's fortresses will simply fail to protect them from the barrage of stones launched by the Israelites [אבן עזרא].

Following the victory, the survivors will be overwhelmed with emotion. They will shout with joy and celebration, acting like people flushed with wine [רש״י, ביאור שטיינזלץ]. A fiercer interpretation presents a much harsher reality, suggesting the warriors will symbolically drink the blood of their enemies and roar in triumph [רד״ק, מצודת דוד, אברבנאל].

The aftermath of the battle borrows heavily from the daily service in the Temple, specifically referencing the bowls used to collect sacrificial blood and the corners of the altar where that blood is splashed [מצודת ציון, ביאור שטיינזלץ]. The primary approach among commentators views this as a vivid, graphic metaphor. The victors will be covered in the blood of the fallen, just as the Temple vessels and altar corners are saturated with the blood of offerings [מצודת דוד, רד״ק, אבן עזרא, אברבנאל]. This striking imagery emphasizes that the defeat of these enemies is as pleasing to God as a dedicated sacrifice [מלבי״ם]. Conversely, a gentler interpretation maintains that the imagery does not refer to blood at all, but rather to profound abundance. The Israelites will be filled with goodness and blessing, much like the generous amounts of wine poured out upon the altar [רש״י].