Zechariah 1:18Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

In the vision, the prophet perceives four horns, representing four nations that are fierce and warlike, capable of devastating cities and lands. Some interpret these to be: the Assyrian empire, followed by Babylon, and the third being Macedonia; for Antiochus, known as Epiphanes, who hailed from Macedonia, laid waste to Judea. Additionally, the Roman Empire, which seized Jerusalem by force post the crucifixion of Christ, is encompassed within this context. However, since the celestial messenger, while interpreting the vision for the prophet, stated regarding the horns that ‘these have devastated Judah and Israel,’ I find it imperative to shift focus now to the nations that ravaged Israel. Thus, there were four rulers known for bringing calamities upon Judah: the first was Tula, who triumphed over the tribes of Israel residing beyond the Jordan; subsequently Salmanasar, followed by Sennacherib, and lastly, Nebuchadnezzar. It is most fitting to acknowledge that ‘these are the horns that wasted Judah and Israel.’

As God was revealing the vision to the prophet, he observed ‘four craftsmen.’ Once again, he inquired regarding their purpose. The angel responding informed him that they ‘went out to terrify’ the four horns that oppressed and scattered Judah and Israel. What, then, may we ask, does this signify? Were those who had already devastated Israel spurred on further, and did God exacerbate the condition of those He had employed as instruments of His wrath? Yet, He commanded the proclamation: ‘I am zealous for Jerusalem and Zion with great zeal, and with great wrath I am angry against the tongues of the assailants: for I have been angry a little, but they have come upon the wicked.’ He, who was only mildly and momentarily wrathful and found jealousy for the misfortunes inflicted upon the captives, how could He issue a command to sharpen the horns against them? Thus, those horns are aimed not against Israel, but against themselves; for they engaged in rebellion against one another, with the Persians and Medes waging war against the Assyrians and Babylonians during Cyrus’ reign, as noted previously. Therefore, had not the horns been sharpened and the territory of the Babylonians not been conquered, Israel would have remained in bondage and under severe affliction. Hence, the four craftsmen sharpening the horns, symbolizing their authority or as conquerors (interpreted to mean the kings of Persia), may represent the angels set forth to accomplish the will of God. This was destined for the Babylonians to be subdued and come under the rule of the Persians and Medes, of whom the Lord of all declares in another passage, ‘They are sanctified: and I lead them, and they are exceeding great, and come to fulfil my wrath, rejoicing together, and rebuking together’ (Isaiah 13:3).

The four horns represent the nations that opposed the Lord's land. Specifically, they are the four kingdoms: the Babylonians, the Medes and Persians, the Macedonians, and the Romans. This is made evident as the Lord converses with the prophet and as Daniel provides a detailed explanation. He identified these nations when interpreting the vision of the statue, which was comprised of a head of gold, a chest of silver, a belly of bronze, and feet made of iron and clay (Dan. 2:31-44). In another vision, he depicted the same nations through the imagery of four beasts—a lion, a bear, a leopard, and a dreadful beast, whose name remains unnamed. That the Medes and Persians formed a singular kingdom following Cyrus’s conquest is apparent, whether one refers to secular or sacred texts.

It is also apt that the prophet utilized the imagery of horns to symbolize kingdoms, a common practice in sacred Scriptures. For instance, it is written, "He raised up the horn of His Christ" (Ps. 148:14), and, "He has raised up for us a horn of salvation in the house of His servant David" (Luke 1:69). Furthermore, Daniel the prophet also refers to ten horns that will reign in the end (Dan. 7:7-20). At the time the prophet observed this vision, the Babylonian empire had already fallen, the Medes and Persians were on the rise, while the Macedonian and Roman empires still existed. Through historical events, it is well known what suffering the Babylonians, the Medes, the Persians, and the Macedonians inflicted, particularly during the reign of Antiochus Epiphanes, under whom the events of the Maccabees unfolded.

The hardships endured by the Israelites during the arrival of the Savior, when Jerusalem was besieged, were first foretold in the Gospel (Luke 19:42-43) and later detailed by the historian Josephus. Indeed, these horns scattered Judah as if targeting individuals one at a time, leaving none able to raise their heads under the weight of calamity. The four laborers, or craftsmen, referred to in Greek as τέκτονας, were not directly seen by the prophet but were shown to him by the Lord, who clarified their purpose. We understand these laborers to be angels working under God’s authority to rebuild what the Gentiles have destroyed.

The translation from Hebrew, "They came to crush them," is interpreted by the Seventy as "They came to refine them in their hands," which denotes an intention to crush. This crushing aims at ensuring that they submit to the yoke of Christ and does not imply making them worse for being refined. If angels were to worsen the wicked, they could not be considered as agents of good, but rather as evildoers themselves. It’s vital to recognize that the four horns of the Gentiles each raised a horn against God’s people separately; they did not rule concurrently, nor did they oppress Judah as a unified force. Instead, they succeeded one another: the Babylonians were followed by the Medes and Persians; then came the Macedonians, and subsequently the Romans. Our discussion follows the chronological order of these historical occurrences.

The prophet’s declaration, "I lifted up mine eyes," aligns with a spiritual understanding expressed in the words, "I lift up my eyes to the hills—from where does my help come?" (Psalms 120:1), and, "Lift up your eyes, and look at the fields, for they are already white for harvest" (John 4:35). As spoken in Isaiah, the Holy One declares, "Lift up your eyes and behold who has shown you all these things" (Isaiah 21:6). Thus, it is necessary to elevate our eyes and spiritual perception to recognize the hostile forces that seek to oppose us, about which the Apostle warns, "Our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers of this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places" (Eph. 6:12).

Through His arrival, Christ has defeated these four adversaries that perpetually waged war against the saints. The Psalmist captures this truth when proclaiming, "You will tread upon the lion and the adder; the young lion and the serpent you will trample underfoot" (Ps. 90:13). The four horns that rose against God's people can also be interpreted as four passions—an understanding that transcends mere suffering to encompass emotions like indignation, sorrow, and joy; while the future references include fear and desire. A renowned poet encapsulated this with the phrase: "Therefore they fear, greatly desire, grieve, and rejoice."

The four laborers, comparable to physicians addressing these disturbances, are imparted to the prophet through divine revelation. These laborers represent the four virtues: prudence, justice, fortitude, and temperance—subjects extensively discussed by Cicero in "De officiis," where he dedicated individual works to each virtue. Those who eradicate vices and cultivate virtues, including all the saints who embody these traits, are duly recognized as builders or laborers in the faith. Hence, the Apostle states, "As a wise master builder, I have laid the foundation" (1 Cor. 3:10). In His indignation, the Lord declares He will remove the wise and the public works director from Jerusalem (Is. 3:3). The Lord Himself, the Son of the Almighty Creator, is called the son of a builder. Some commentaries suggest that the four workers symbolize the four evangelists who have restored the afflicted Israel to its original purpose—contemplation of God, trust in Him, and a vision of the world—and who, through the preaching of the Gospel, have led those separated from the Church back to salvation.