Zechariah 10:4Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

Indeed, the divine disciples, scattered among the Greeks, were as powerful as horses, causing an uproar against their empty philosophies and godless lies. This is affirmed when Christ speaks of the blessed Paul Ananias, saying, “Go, for this man is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel” (Acts 9:15). Furthermore, Habakkuk did not hesitate to prophesy that “thou shalt teach thy horses, and thy cavalry salvation” (Habakkuk 3:8). Such a statement implies that, as God, He recognized those qualified for the ministry of preaching the gospel, selecting from the lineage of Judah and appointing them to this sacred task. He ordained them as doers of His will, servants, and mediators of the grace that flows from Him.

He also mentioned that “from him,” Judah in fury drew a bow against his foes, implying that those who go forth to confront the enemy and bring about ruin and captivity are a part of this narrative. This aligns with what the divine disciples achieved when they rescued the Greek children and brought them under the reign of the great King, Christ, enabling them to align their hearts with His after finally breaking away from the oppression of the devil. The divine disciples manifested their victory over the Greek philosophers in such a way that it seemed they were already trampling on the refuse left behind; for the Lord was with them, “who doeth great things, and unsearchable, marvelous things without number” (Job 5:9).

Christ assured His followers, “I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy” (Luke 10:19). It is important that we underscore the spiritual significance of the words we are examining. However, the Jews often ignore this interpretation, instead adopting a historical viewpoint. They argue that after the period of exile, Antiochus, known as Epiphanes, waged war against them, gathering a massive army from the Greek territories while boasting of foreign allies. Yet, according to their own accounts, Israel emerged victorious, gaining glory through his oppression, which led to the Maccabees, who were martyrs, being adorned with a crown of glory (1 Maccabees 6:7).

To support their stance, they refer to prior declarations such as, “For I will bend Judah for me, I will fill the bow with Ephraim, and I will raise up thy sons, O Zion, against the sons of the Greeks, and will make thee as a warrior’s sword: and the Lord shall be over them, and his arrow shall shoot forth as lightning; and the Lord God Almighty shall blow the trumpet, and shall march in the wind of his praise. The Lord Almighty shall protect them” (Zechariah 9:13-14).

From Him has come forth a watchful eye, from Him has come forth strength, from Him the fierce war bow, and from Him shall all emerge together; they shall be like warriors crushing roadside dirt in the conflict, ready, for the Lord is with them. Jewish interpreters understand this passage in two ways: some assert that all will be fulfilled at Christ's return, while others hold that these events were accomplished during the era of the Maccabees. However, the promise of the Lord signifies that He was displeased with the shepherds, the rulers, and the priests, as well as the goats, visiting His people in accordance with the scripture, "My people have become a lost flock; the shepherds have cast them out" (Jer. 50:6). Therefore, due to the failings of their leaders, the people incurred punishment, not because of unjust judgment assigning the sins of parents to their children, but because the people consented to the faults of their leaders. This led the Lord to visit the goats, or the prosperous lambs, resulting in their drought, as stated in the Septuagint. Following that, the Lord regarded His flock in the house of Judah, for He raised up Judah Maccabeus and others of his kin against the rulers of Antiochus and positioned them in battle as His glorious steed, those who emerged from his lineage, as they had long oppressed the Macedonians. The phrases "From Him is the cornerstone," "from Him the pillar," and "from Him the war-bow" are understood figuratively; the cornerstone signifies regal authority, providing support for the walls. He states that the pillar represents the priesthood, aligning with Isaiah's vision of Eliakim being established as a pillar in the temple (Isaiah 22:20-24). The war bow indicates strength in battle, and from Him will arise rulers collectively—depicted in Hebrew as noges (נוגש) and translated by Aquila as εἰςπράσσων—indicating that among them will be not only capable leaders but also those unworthy of leadership. Indeed, Judas Maccabeus and the princes from his lineage served as the cornerstone, ruling the people with royal authority; they were also pillars, as they themselves were priests; they were the war bow because they displayed unmatched bravery. Thus, they not only led the army but also charged into battle as the first. As for the subsequent phrase "from Him shall come every ruler together," which the Septuagint translates as "from Him shall come every one that bringeth forth together," it may also imply that there will not be a chief in the army who is not aligned with His will. They shall be mighty, trampling the Macedonians in combat as if they were roadside dirt; they will be strong in battle and shall strive, for the Lord is with them. Our scholars refer to this passage concerning the times of persecution, as the people's sins often result in their surrender into the hands of their enemies on account of their priests' vices. Yet, after this, the Almighty Lord will visit His flock, the house of Judah, who sincerely confess God with both their mouths and hearts, and He will prepare them for combat as His magnificent steed, of whom the saints proclaim, "Thou shalt mount his horses, and thy ascent is salvation" (Hab. 3:8). He Himself shall also become the bow of the Lord’s fury, as it is said, "I will make My arrows drunk with blood" (Deut. 32:42), and once more, "My arrows shall slay them." This bow and these arrows are referenced in the seventh psalm (Psalm 7:13-14): "He strained His bow and prepared it, and in it He prepared the vessels of death; His arrows He made of flame." Those who are crowned in martyrdom shall triumph over their adversaries and declare, "The Lord is my enlightenment and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the defender of my life; before whom shall I tremble? When those who malign me rush to devour my flesh, my enemies who torment me, they themselves become weak and fall. If armies are raised against me, my heart will not fear; if war arises against me, in Him will I place my trust" (Psalm 26:1-4). Then shall these words come to fruition: "One of you shall pursue a thousand, and two shall put to flight many thousands" (Deuteronomy 32:30).