Zechariah 14:18

And if the family of Egypt goe not vp, and come not, that haue no raine: there shall bee the plague wherewith the Lord will smite the heathen that come not vp to keepe the feast of Tabernacles. Zechariah 14:18 (KJV)

And if the family of Egypt go not up, and come not, that have no rain; there shall be the plague, wherewith the LORD will smite the heathen that come not up to keep the feast of tabernacles. Zecharich 14:18 (KJV)

Zechariah 14:18 is part of the prophecy given by the prophet Zechariah concerning the future and the ultimate reign of God’s kingdom on earth. This chapter specifically focuses on the events surrounding the Day of the Lord, when God will bring judgment and establish His kingdom.

In this particular verse Zechariah prophesies about a future time when the nations are expected to go up to Jerusalem and participate in the Feast of Tabernacles. The Feast of Tabernacles, also known as the Feast of Booths or Sukkot, was an annual festival in Israel to commemorate the wilderness journey of the Israelites and to celebrate the abundance of the harvest. It was one of the three major pilgrimage feasts in the Jewish calendar.

The verse warns that the family of Egypt, and any other heathen nations, who do not go up to keep the feast will face divine judgment. For Egypt the consequence is described as a lack of rain, which in an agricultural society would bring severe hardship. In addition, the LORD will bring a plague upon those nations that refuse to keep the feast of tabernacles. The specific nature of the plague is not detailed, but the warning underscores the seriousness of neglecting this holy observance.

Zechariah’s prophecies often contain elements that are both immediate and future in their fulfillment. While some aspects may have had partial fulfillment during Zechariah’s own time, the ultimate fulfillment points to an eschatological future when all nations will annually come up to Jerusalem, worship the Lord, and keep the Feast of Tabernacles as part of the establishment of His kingdom on earth.

In summary, Zechariah 14:18 emphasizes the importance of the Feast of Tabernacles, the expectation that all nations will participate, and the severe consequences—lack of rain and a plague—for those who refuse. The passage points forward to a time when universal worship will culminate in the reign of Christ in the millennial kingdom, fulfilling the prophetic vision of God’s universal kingdom.