Zechariah 1:19Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

Thus, the prophet envisions four horns, representing four nations that are fierce and warlike, capable of wreaking havoc on cities and territories. Some interpret these as the kingdoms of Assyria and Babylon, followed by Macedonia, particularly referring to Antiochus Epiphanes, who devastated Judea. The kingdom of Rome, which forcibly overtook Jerusalem following the crucifixion of Christ, is also encompassed in this vision. However, since the divine messenger indicated that “these horns have devastated Judah and Israel," it is appropriate to shift our focus to the nations responsible for Israel’s suffering.

There were four rulers known for bringing calamity upon Judah: first was Tula, who conquered the tribes beyond the Jordan, followed by Salmanasar, then Sennacherib, and finally Nebuchadnezzar. Hence, one may rightly conclude, “these are the horns that wasted Judah and Israel.” As God revealed and interpreted the vision to the Prophet, four tree-like beings appeared. The Prophet inquired about their purpose, to which the angel responding to him revealed that they “went out to tear apart” the four horns crushing and scattering Judah and Israel. But what does this signify? Did those who previously ravaged Israel receive encouragement to act anew, or were the forces God had allowed to rise against them made more ruthless due to His displeasure? Yet, God instructed to declare, “I am zealous for Jerusalem and Zion with great zeal, and with great wrath am I angry against the tongues of the assailants; for I was angry a little, but they further harmed the wicked.” The One whose anger was restrained, feeling jealousy for His people because of the unspeakable barbarities inflicted upon them, would not have authorized the sharpening of horns against Israel.

The horns were sharpened not against His people, but upon themselves. The Assyrians and Babylonians engaged in conflict during Cyrus's reign as the Persians and Medes opposed each other. Thus, had the horns not been sharpened, and had Babylon not been defeated, Israel would not have escaped from bondage and dire afflictions. The four craftsmen who sharpened the horns symbolize those who possess power, possibly the Persian kings, interpreted as angels appointed to fulfill God’s will perfectly. Their purpose was the destruction of Babylon, placing them under the dominion of the Persians and Medes, concerning whom the Sovereign declares in another passage, “They are sanctified: and I lead them, and they are exceeding great, and come to fulfill my wrath, rejoicing together, and rebuking together” (Isaiah 13:3).

The four horns represent the nations that attacked the Lord's inheritance, namely, the Babylonians, the Medes and Persians, the Macedonians, and the Romans, as clarified by the Lord through the prophet and detailed in the visions of Daniel. In his explanations, Daniel identified these nations in the context of the statue with a head of gold, a chest of silver, and legs of iron and clay (Dan. 2:31-44). Additionally, he represented these same nations by four beasts: a lion, a bear, a leopard, and a frightful beast without a name, showing that the Medes and Persians, following Cyrus’ victory, formed one kingdom—a point not disputable by anyone familiar with historical and sacred texts.

It is fitting that the prophet used the term “horns” to signify kingdoms, as Scripture often uses this imagery, such as when it says: “He raised up the horn of His Christ” (Ps. 148:14) and “He raised up for us a horn of salvation in the house of His servant David” (Luke 1:69). Daniel also speaks of ten horns that will reign at the end of times (Dan. 7:7-20). By the time of this vision, the Babylonian kingdom had ended, while the Medo-Persian kingdom was emerging, with the Macedonian and Roman kingdoms still in existence.

The historical context concerning the Babylonians, Medes, Persians, and Macedonians, particularly during the reign of Antiochus Epiphanes, is well-established. The challenges faced by the Israelites upon the arrival of the Savior, particularly when Jerusalem was besieged, were foretold in the Gospel (Luke 19:42-43) and chronicled extensively by Josephus, a noted Jewish historian. Behold, these horns scattered the people of Judah, one by one, so that none could lift their heads beneath the weight of despair.

The four laborers, referred to in Greek as τέκτονες, were not seen directly by the prophet but were revealed by the Lord along with their purpose. They embody the angels sent to rebuild what the Gentiles have destroyed. The expression translated as “to crush them” in Hebrew is rendered as “to refine them in their hands” by the Seventy, with “refine” understood as “to break,” facilitating the submission of all under the authority of Christ—not intended to imply they would fall further into depravity. If the angels aimed to worsen the wicked, they would not be recognized as facilitators of goodness but as agents of harm.

It is also crucial to note that the four horns of the Gentiles raised a single horn against God's people, as they did not conquer simultaneously but rather one after the other: the Babylonians were succeeded by the Medes and Persians; these were followed by the Macedonians; and afterwards, the Romans. This sequence aligns with the historical timeline discussed previously.

The phrase “I lifted up mine eyes” should be understood in a spiritual sense, reminiscent of the Psalmist’s declaration: “I have lifted up mine eyes to the mountains; whence cometh my help” (Psalm 120:1) and the words of Jesus: “Lift up your eyes and look at the fields, for they are white for harvest” (John 4:35), as well as the exhortation from Isaiah where the Holy One commands, “Lift up your eyes and see who has shown these things” (Isaiah 21:6). We must elevatingly focus our spiritual insight to recognize the hostile forces rallying against us, in accordance with the Apostle’s teaching: “For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places” (Eph. 6:12).

Through Christ's arrival, these four adversaries, who continually assailed the faithful, have been vanquished. The Psalmist proclaims: “You shall tread upon the lion and the serpent” (Ps. 90:13). The four horns opposing God's people may also symbolize four passions—interpreted not merely as suffering but as emotional states: indignation, sorrow, joy, fear, and lust—as illuminated by the poetic expression: “Therefore they fear, greatly desire, grieve, and rejoice.”

The four laborers, likened to physicians combating these disturbances while nurturing virtues, were not visible to the prophet without divine revelation. God showed him these figures, representing the four cardinal virtues: prudence, justice, fortitude, and temperance, extensively discussed by Cicero in “De officiis,” each labeled in a separate book. Those who eradicate vices and nurture virtues, thus constructing the Church, deserve the title builders or laborers. Consequently, the Apostle affirms, “As a wise master builder, I have laid the foundation” (1 Cor. 3:10), while the Lord, in His chastisement, foretells the removal of wise leaders from Jerusalem (Is. 3:3).

Moreover, Christ, the Son of the Almighty God and Creator of all, is also referred to as the son of a builder. Some commentaries suggest that the four laborers represent the four Evangelists, who restored the oppressed nation of Israel to its rightful place by leading them back to contemplation of God, reliance on Him, and vision of the world through the preaching of the Gospel, thus guiding those estranged from the Church towards salvation.