Zechariah 14:5

“And ye shall flee [to] the valley of the mountains, etc.] To seek for shelter and safety in them, for fear of the Lord, and the glory of his majesty, whom every eye shall see, (<230219>Isaiah 2:19 <660107>Revelation 1:7): for the valley of the mountains shall reach unto Azal; a name of a place not known; it may be thought to be at some considerable distance: yea, ye shall flee, like as ye fled from before the earthquake in the days of Uzziah king of Judah; two years before which Amos prophesied, (<300101>Amos 1:1) and which, according to Josephusf298, was at the time when King Uzziah was stricken with a leprosy for invading the priest’s office; when, as he says, at a place before the city…”

“ye shall flee to the valley--rather "through the valley," as in Sa2 2:29. The valley made by the cleaving asunder of the Mount of Olives (Zac 14:4) is designed to be their way of escape, not their place of refuge [MAURER]. JEROME is on the side of English Version. If it be translated so, it will mean, Ye shall flee "to" the valley, not to hide there, but as the passage through which an escape may be effected. The same divinely sent earthquake which swallows up the foe, opens out a way of escape to God's people. The earthquake in Uzziah's days is mentioned (Amo 1:1) as a recognized epoch in Jewish history. Compare also Isa 6:1 : perhaps the same year that Jehovah held His heavenly court and…”

“And ye shall flee to the valley of the mountains - Rather, along the valley of My mountains namely, of those mountains, which God had just formed by dividing the mount of Olives. “For the valley of the mountains shall reach unto Azal, that is, Azel,” the same word which enters into Beth-Azel of Micah, where the allusion probably is to its firm-rootedness. It is more probable that the name of a place should have been chosen with an allusive meaning, as in Micah, than that an unusual appellative should have been chosen to express a very common meaning. Cyril had heard of it as the name of a village at the extremity of the mountain. Elsewhere it might very probably have been destroyed in the…”

“The valley of the mountains - A place provided of God for their safety. O Lord my God - As if it were said, though it will, O Lord, put us into fear; yet without such wonderful works we shall not see thy salvation; therefore, O Lord my God come, and bring thy holy ones with thee. Zechariah 14:6”

“14:5 Some identify Azal (Hebrew ’atsal) as a district on the northeast side of Jerusalem inhabited by descendants of Azel (1 Chr 8:37-39; 9:43-44). Others emend the Hebrew to ’etsel, “alongside” or “the side [of it].” • The date of the earthquake in the days of King Uzziah is unknown, but Amos began his ministry two years before it (Amos 1:1). • The holy ones are probably the multitude of angels that worship God and serve as his army (see Ps 89:5, 7).”

“the mountains: or, my mountains, for the, etc. or, when he shall touch the valley of the mountains to the place he separated. ye shall flee. Num 16:34; Rev 11:13, Rev 16:18-21 ye fled: Isa 29:6; Amo 1:1 the Lord: Psa 96:13, Psa 97:4-6, Psa 98:9; Isa 64:1-3, Isa 66:15, Isa 66:16; Dan 7:9-14, Dan 7:21-27; Mat 16:27, Mat 24:3, Mat 24:27-31, Mat 25:31; Mar 13:26, Mar 13:27; Luk 21:27; Th2 2:8; Jam 5:8; Jde 1:14, Jde 1:15; Rev 6:16, Rev 6:17, Rev 20:4, Rev 20:11 and all: Deu 33:2; Joe 3:11; Th1 3:13; Th2 1:7-10 Zechariah 14:6”