Zechariah 12:1  “…burden of the word of the LORD against Israel…”
It says burden against Israel, but it’s actually just telling what is going to happen regarding Israel; Jerusalem and Judah.

2  “…I will make Jerusalem a cup of drunkenness to all the surrounding peoples…”
Will be more than they can handle when they lay siege to Jerusalem.  A coming time when many nations will surround Jerusalem with the intent to either conquer it or destroy it.  Will be too much for them.

3  “…I will make Jerusalem a very heavy stone for all peoples…”
Same idea as the first.  All who try to do anything against Jerusalem will find it impossible.  They’ll injure themselves in the trying.

3  “…though all nations of the earth are gathered against it”
Won’t matter that all nations are there.  Strength of numbers will be useless.

4  “…strike every horse with confusion, and its rider with madness…”
Way in which God will rescue Jerusalem from the would-be invaders.  Could be the end time just as Christ returns when Antichrist is gathered with the nations against Jerusalem, or commentaries suggest it could be the Ezekiel invasion by Gog and Magog in which God destroys the invaders.  The mention of horses is the apparent clue.  Possible, or could just be reference to confusion among the invaders.  Will be interesting to see how it plays out.  Unknown if the Ezekiel invasion is pre or post Rapture.

5  “…inhabitants of Jerusalem are my strength in the LORD of hosts…”
Rulers recognize that the source of their deliverance is from God.  He wants to preserve Jerusalem and Judah, therefore He will protect them.

6  “…I will make the governors of Judah like a firepan in the woodpile, and like a fiery torch in the sheaves…”
Appears to say, and probably is so, that due to the strength of God, the small group at Jerusalem will be able to destroy the huge group of people that come against them.  Wonder why it says the governors will be so.  Commentaries no help.  Given the note in verse 5, could be that the governors are strengthened and inspired to fight the good fight due to what they see, God fighting for them.

7-9  Interesting details, odd in fact.  Obviously necessary as they are included.  Perhaps it is a note on making sure everyone recognizes that it is God who is doing the saving and not man by any of his resources.  God saves the defenseless first, then the more fortified.  Thus, He is doing the saving, not man.  And He will strengthen all involved.  Verse 9 makes it sound like the end, when all nations are gathered against Israel, and Christ destroys them.

10  “…then they will look on Me whom they pierced…”
Places the time at the end when the nation of Israel finally recognizes Jesus for who He is.

11  “In that day there shall be a great mourning in Jerusalem…”
Remorse for their sin of rejecting Christ when He came.  Nationwide.  Fulfillment of what God promised Abraham.

12-14  “…family of the house of David by itself, and their wives by themselves…”
Mourning complete to the individual.  Kings, priests, and common folk.  Separation of the wives may have been reference to the women worshipping and lamenting separately from the men.  At any rate, the nation as a whole finally comes to Christ.  Obviously it is still an individual thing, but the majority have moved in that direction so that the nation is converted.

I hope you enjoy reading and studying His word.  May it accomplish what He desires.  Please feel free to comment or post questions.  Thanks for reading!

Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.