Zechariah 12:1Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

Those who are indeed called to sanctification through faith in Christ are those who truly come to know God and the Father both through Him and in Him, for this represents the genuine and most profound way to perceive God. Thus, we refer to the Israel we have just identified.

Moreover, the Sovereign God, the Creator of all, reveals to us the prophecy of what is to come, as illustrated by the words, ‘He that stretcheth out the heavens, and foundest the earth, and buildeth up the spirit of man in it.’ The Almighty, who spreads the heavens as a curtain (Psalm 103:2), has established the earth with such stability that it remains steadfast and continues to endure, despite being supported by the seas. The scriptures inspired by the Holy Spirit convey this truth. ‘And He that buildeth up the spirit of man in him’: the Creator of such magnificent works can surely accomplish His will with ease and without struggle. The spirit of man ‘in him’ is not merely restored to its original state, though it was indeed formed through Him, but rather it is a transformation from fragility to strength, from weakness to steadfastness, and generally, within spiritual matters, a transition from the worst to the best.

In this way, the divine David expresses: ‘Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew the spirit of righteousness in my womb’ (Psalm 50:12). No rational individual would suggest that the psalmist seeks to obtain a heart or spirit that he lacked initially. Instead, it is clear that he desires a pure heart and a right spirit to be cultivated within him. This encapsulates the essence of transformation. Furthermore, the holy prophets, when intending to make significant predictions, often begin by highlighting the omnipotence of the Almighty, ensuring that their message is solid and credible for faith, even when addressing concepts that may transcend hope or seem improbable to human understanding.

This prophetic declaration from the Book of Zechariah can be understood in three distinct ways, commencing from the statement: I will make Jerusalem a limit of intoxication for all nations, leading up to the phrase: O sword, awaken against My shepherd and against the man who is My companion, says the Lord of Hosts. Strike the shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered (Zech. 13:7). Some among the Jews believe this has already begun to occur throughout history, from Zerubbabel to C. Pompey, who was the first Roman to conquer Judea and seize the temple, as noted by Josephus Flavius. Others anticipate this prophecy's fulfillment at the end of time, when the temple is to be rebuilt; the unfortunate people of Judea hope for this realization through their anointed one, whom we identified previously as the foolish shepherd. Lastly, we, the followers of Christ, hold that this prophecy is continually unfolding until the end of time and must be manifested within the Church.

Rather than elaborating extensively on individual interpretations, we have succinctly presented these three understandings to allow the discerning reader to grasp the various interpretations available. The Lord, the one who stretches out the heavens like a tent and firmly establishes the earth while breathing life into humanity, is indeed the Creator of all souls, forming one living being from both body and spirit. The term spirit is frequently used interchangeably with soul, as seen in: Father, into Your hands I commit My spirit (Luke 23:46), and: You take away their breath, they die and return to dust (Psalm 103:29). Thus, the Lord, the Creator of the universe, testifies that He will make Jerusalem a source of intoxication for all surrounding nations, leading those who approach her to stumble and fall, or triggering the very pinnacle they touch to crash down upon them.

As Jerusalem is besieged, Judah too is overtaken by the nations and enters into alliance with them, consequently becoming burdened by the imposition upon his capital. Moreover, the Lord will make Jerusalem a significant burden to all; any who attempt to raise her will find themselves exhausted and torn apart by the effort. Indeed, every kingdom will gather against Jerusalem. Among the cities of Palestine, there is an enduring tradition, even today in Judea, where young men exhibit their strength by lifting heavy round stones in villages, towns, and fortresses; these stones weigh significantly, and their strength is tested as they attempt to lift them to various heights. In a certain fortress, beside a statue of Minerva, I observed a colossal copper sphere that I struggled to even budge. Upon inquiring about its purpose, locals explained that the strength of wrestlers is measured against this heavy object, and no competitor leaves until they understand their strength relative to others through the lifting of the stone.

Thus, the intention is clear: I will position Jerusalem as an exceptionally heavy stone for all nations to attempt to lift. Indeed, they will do so and exhaust themselves; yet, the effort of lifting this immense burden will inevitably inflict wounds and scars upon those who engage in such an endeavor. This can be understood in relation to the Church as follows: all those who have opposed the house of God shall partake of the cup He offers to all nations through the prophet Jeremiah, causing them to drink deeply, stagger, and fall into madness (Jer. 25:27). I know that during periods of persecution, many within our ranks have felt compelled to oppose the Church; nonetheless, those willing to bear this weight will find themselves burdened by the wrath of God, which corrects sinners. However, they will not escape retribution; they too will face the sword of God’s judgment.

Instead of the term "heavy stone," which we have translated based on our understanding, the Seventy rendered it as "a stone to be trodden upon by all nations;" whoever treads upon it (referring to the stone, or Jerusalem) will bring curses upon it. The interpretation in this context is straightforward: Jerusalem will be trampled in two ways— first by hostile nations, and second, by persecutors; it will become an object of scorn at the will of those who revile it. The previous interpretation should be viewed as more aligned with the truth. We have summarized these details briefly to achieve our goal of providing clarity without overwhelming the reader with complex discussions or excessive length.