Greece
Zechariah 9:13
9:13 Greece. When Zechariah wrote this prophecy, the Greek nation had not yet risen to military prominence, but he knew from Daniel’s prophecies (Daniel 2:39; 8:3-7, 20-21) that Greece would eventually displace Medo-Persia as the dominant world power. Sooner or later, little Israel must confront mighty Greece. According to Josephus, the Jewish historian, when Alexander had defeated the Philistines and headed toward Jerusalem, Alexander was led to spare and even honor the Jews when Jaddua, the high priest, met him and showed him these prophecies of Daniel that he was fulfilling. Later, after the break-up of Alexander’s empire, the Maccabean Jews did have to battle continually with his successors in Syria, but the Lord preserved them and enabled them to endure.