Zechariah 12:14Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

Many from the tribe of Judah, seated on royal thrones, were in close proximity to glory, while others from the tribe of Levi, adorned with the high priestly mantle, also basked in honor and renown. What of the judges, scribes, and others graced with various distinctions? Yet, in their fury against the Messiah, they were delivered into the hands of their adversaries. When Vespasian and Titus ravaged their land and besieged Jerusalem amid a horrific famine, despair and weeping filled the hearts of all its inhabitants. Josephus provides historical testimony to such sorrow; in recounting the city’s doom, he remarks upon the universal wailing that echoed within its walls. He referred to Jerusalem as Lebanon and a forest, proclaiming, “Open thy doors, O Lebanon, that the fire may devour thy cedars; weep, O ye fir trees; for the cedar is fallen; because the mighty are spoiled; weep for the oak of Bashan, for the oak that was planted is cut down,” indicative of a garden set for destruction. The evangelist Matthew elucidates this further, warning the people of Judea: “And even now the axe is laid to the root of the trees: every tree therefore that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down and cast into the fire” (Matthew 3:10). Thus, great mourning will prevail, reminiscent of the heartbreak over a lush pomegranate orchard that is abruptly severed at its roots. “And the land shall mourn, every family apart, and their wives apart.” It is plausible to consider that the blessed prophet did not intend to imply that men and women of every tribe would merely weep in isolation, for that notion lacks purpose. Instead, he instructs that each tribe, alongside their spouses, will have specific reasons for their grief. Hence, he specifies, “the tribe of the house of David shall mourn apart, and their wives apart.” We must now endeavor to articulate the anguish felt by each tribe. Certain members from the tribe of David or Judah, having lost their kingdom, will weep uncontrollably for the abandonment of their once magnificent glory. Others, hailing from the tribe of Levi, who have been stripped of the priestly honors, will likewise join in sorrow, alongside their wives. Additionally, from the lineage of Nathan—a prophet, albeit not a genuine one—there exists lamentation, for they can no longer prophesy falsely or peddle their own thoughts as divine revelations (Jeremiah 23:16), nor can they mislead the uninformed for personal gain. There is a tradition that the judges appointed in their time were drawn from the tribe of Simeon, known for their wisdom and adherence to law. Thus, the tribe of Simeon also mourned for its failures, as they had erred in judgment and deviated from divine statutes, seeking instead their own gain, as the prophet proclaims, “Her princes are roaring lions” (Zephaniah 3:3). Other tribes shared in this sorrow, having lost their cherished customs and facing death itself as a looming threat, while famine descended upon them like a sword drawn by an enemy.

The tribe of David will mourn alone, as will their women; the tribe of Judah and their women; the tribe of Nathan and their women; the tribe of Levi and their women; the tribe of Simeon and their women; and all other tribes will grieve separately with their women.

Adadremmon refers to a city near Israel, previously known by that name and currently called Maximianopolis, located in the valley of Mageddon, where King Josiah met his unfortunate fate at the hands of Pharaoh Necho. Jeremiah’s lamentations are a testament to Josiah’s enduring significance, affirmed by the book of Chronicles. At that time, following the sins of the kings, the people placed their hope in Josiah. After his death, a great outcry arose in the city, captured in Lamentations 4:20: "The breath of our lips, the Lord's anointed, was taken in our sins." To Him, they declared, "Under Your shadow we will dwell among the nations." In a similar manner, following the crucifixion of the Savior, there will again be mourning in Jerusalem, like that experienced at Adadremmon in Mageddon.

The ensuing imagery of families weeping separately represents a time of sorrow wherein marriage concerns are secondary. This sentiment is echoed by Joel, who warns the Jews of impending captivity, proclaiming that the bridegroom shall leave his chamber and the bride her room (Joel 2:16). At the onset of the flood, God instructed Noah to enter the ark with his sons, his wife, and his sons' wives (Genesis 6:18). At the flood's conclusion, they were commanded to exit, signaling a restoration of humanity post adversity (Gen. 8:16). In this context, even moments of prayer require separation to sincerely seek the Lord; as the Apostle Paul reminds the Corinthians not to abandon one another except by mutual agreement for prayer (1 Cor. 7:5).

Consequently, the tribes of David, Nathan, Levi, and Simeon are depicted as mourning separately, grieving for the one and only Lord Jesus, whose blood they proclaimed to be upon them and their children (Matthew 27:25). Here, David symbolizes the royal lineage of Judah, Nathan represents the prophetic order, Levi signifies the priestly lineage, and Samea points to the teachers from whom many have come. The reference to the other tribes is absent because they lack similar distinctions in honor. By stating that all remaining tribes and their women grieve separately, inclusion is implied, though no names are provided.

It is pertinent to note that by using the term ῥοὼν, the Septuagint does not refer exclusively to pomegranate trees but to a locale filled with such trees. In a spiritual context, the bridegroom speaks of going to see the sprouts by the stream, pondering whether the vines have blossomed and the pomegranate flowers have opened (Song of Songs 6:10). The Savior came down into this world, navigating its turbulent waters, as exemplified by His predecessor Elijah, who also drew from those depths (1 Kings 17:2-8). This was in order to gather the fruits of both the vines and pomegranate trees for the sustenance of His Church, who eagerly responds, “You will give me drink of the wine of Your fragrance with the wine of my pomegranates” (Song of Songs 8:2). Such a drink not only satisfies the body's yearning but also provides healing for its ailments.

The beauty of the pomegranate is striking, reflecting the modesty of the Church in its vibrant hue, while the arrangement of its seeds symbolically represents the various roles within the body, divided for the function of distinct ministries. When the Savior finds no fruit in this vineyard, He will declare, "Every branch that does not bear fruit will be cut off, and every fruitful branch will be pruned to yield even more" (John 15:2). Similarly, John the Baptist proclaims that the axe is at the root of the trees; every tree that does not produce good fruit will be severed and cast into the fire (Matthew 3:10; Luke 3:9).

In light of the judgment day, when outward honors will be stripped away, the words of Scripture will ring true: “Behold a man and his works; the wheat will be separated from the chaff” (Matthew 3:12; Luke 3:17). A great lament will arise not elsewhere but in Jerusalem, for the start of judgment will commence with the saints. Kings, chief priests, prophets, and teachers will beat their breasts in sorrow upon witnessing what they deemed the noblest fruits come to ruin, while He whom they pierced reigns in His glory alongside His Father.

Clearly, those who have not embraced the Divine message will mourn, awaiting their ruin. This will occur at the end of time; however, until then, the Lord assures, I will not withhold My provisions from them, even knowing that when I come to bless them, they will crucify Me.

What then will signify His return, such that the forces of opposition would not dare to imitate Him? As Christ has declared, the sign of the Son of Man will emerge in the heavens. The genuine emblem, the very sign of Christ, is the Cross. The luminous sign of the Cross precedes the King who was crucified before; thus, when the Jews who had previously pierced Him and conspired against Him see it, they will all weep from every tribe, lamenting, "This is He whom they executed; this is He whose visage they spat upon; this is He whom they bound; this is He whom they crucified and abased." They ask, "Where can we hide from Your fury?" Yet surrounded by celestial legions, there is no refuge for them. The sign of the Cross instills dread in the enemies of Jesus and brings joy to His faithful followers, who believe in Him, proclaim Him, or endure for His cause.