God was in the business of miracles in this season. At least they were miracles according to the peoples of the land.
He said he was going to bring judgment on the nations and peoples, including places like Tyre. Tyre was invincible. They were on a small, tiny island off the coast. The Assyrians attempted to destroy them an after 5 years, they gave up. Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon tried for 13 years and it too was failed.
God also said he was going to protect Israel. How was that going to be possible? Any nation that came to destroy the other nations was also going to destroy them.
But the Lord did it.
The Lord raised up Alexander the Great of the Greeks. Through him judgment was brought to the nations, including Tyre. It only took him 7 months to win. Then he next rolled on to Jerusalem to attack it. And the historical account of what happened is incredible (Josephus, Antiquities 11.8.4-5).
To summarize it, Alexander the Great, the one to whom nobody could stand against, set his sights on Jerusalem. He was going to sack it with ease.
The high priest at the time in Israel was Jaddua. When he heard Alexander was on the way, in terror and agony he sought out the Lord. He entreated others to do the same and they did.
One night when he had been pleading to the LORD, Jaddua had a dream. He dreamed he was to go out to meet Alexander and full priestly garb of purple and scarlet with the mitre on his head and the golden plate with the name of God on it. The rest of the citizens were to all dress in white. He also was told that he should not fear what would happen to them but know that the LORD would protect them.
So that’s what Jaddua did. They did not lock the city gates or set up protection. Instead when Alexander and his army approached Jerusalem, Jaddua and all the citizens of the land went out to meet him, dressed according to the dream.
When Alexander approached, he saluted them. They all saluted back. And Alexander’s lieutenants and military were astonished. What was happening? Parmenio, his second in command, pulled him aside and asked what was going on. Was he crazy?
Little did they know that Alexander prior to going out to war to conquer the land had a dream of his own. In it the Lord was directing him to conquer the nations, including Babylon. Also he saw someone in his dream dressed like a high priest.
So when he came to Israel and saw how Jaddua was dressed in his high priest garments, he remembered his dream. He then came to the conclusion that the God of his dream was the same God of Israel. So instead of destroying them, he worshiped with them.
There was also more to come out of it. He asked the high priest what they needed. Jaddua told them they needed liberty to worship according to what the Lord had shown them. Not only that but the people held captive in Babylon were to worship their God freely as well. And also that they would not have to pay yearly tribute.
Alexander agreed. But even more than that, Jaddua is said to have shown him the book of Daniel. That there would be a Greek leader who would conquer the Persians in Babylon. Alexander decided he must be that leader, and was greatly encouraged that Babylon would be overthrown. And that’s exactly what happened. Alexander defeated the Persians in Babylon.
So Alexander the Great conquered the nations according to the direction of God’s judgment upon them. Israel was saved just like God had promised. And the people in the land no longer had to pay taxes and were given freedom to worship. What a moment in history! God did as he said he would do.
But this chapter does not stop there. There is a Messianic prophecy that is made (v. 9).
Rejoice greatly, Daughter Zion!
Shout, Daughter Jerusalem!
See, your king comes to you,
righteous and victorious,
lowly and riding on a donkey,
on a colt, the foal of a donkey.
We know this was made of Jesus. And that he would come not on a stallion of a conquering king, but in humility on a donkey. A very different type of king.
There’s also another prophecy (v. 13):
I will rouse your sons, Zion,
against your sons, Greece,
and make you like a warrior’s sword.
While Alexander was good to the Jewish people, their descendants would one day have conflict. The Lord would raise up the sons of Israel to defeat the sons of Greece.
This did play out in history. There was one descendant hundreds of years later called Antiochus Epiphanes. He would do great evil in the land of Israel, sacrificing a pig on the altar and setting up idols in the temple.
A revolt happened under the leader of the Maccabees. They were able to drive out the Greeks who were trying to make Israel worldly like them. It was very bloody, but they were successful. That is until later on the Romans came. All of this according to Daniel.
What an encouraging history! A high priest who sought the Lord in his hour of danger and responded in obedience, despite his fear. The promise of the Messiah who would be a leader who led with humility, not in a spirit of dominance. And a glimpse into history. One that would show that God has the final say in the events of the world.
I think we can be encouraged on many levels.
http://www.earlyjewishwritings.com/text/josephus/ant11.html
