Zechariah 5:10Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

Jerusalem, too, participated in unfaithfulness, turning to idols and making sacrifices to Baal, Astarte, the celestial bodies, and other entities, while readily indulging in all forms of impurity, effectively disregarding the teachings of the wise Moses.

Thus, the vision represents the kingdoms of Israel as two women, depicted with the wings of a hoopoe, to illustrate the profound moral corruption of their hearts and their propensity for vile acts. The hoopoe, a seemingly trivial bird drawn to filth and decay, scavenges for worms and consumes the most repugnant forms of refuse—reflecting the mindset of idolaters. Their path diverges from righteousness, veering toward unrighteousness, oblivious to the divine law, and consumed by every form of impurity.

This is why the vision conveys that these women possess hoopoe-like wings, symbolizing their shared ambitions with this unclean bird. However, they are laden with a measure of iniquity, as each soul bears its own sinful weight. The transgressions of Samaria and Jerusalem are intrinsically similar, thus equally burdened, they are swept away rapidly to a foreign land—specifically to Babylon—signifying the spirit that instigated their sinful actions and imposed guilt upon them. Ultimately, they were taken captive, falling under the rule of their adversaries.

The angelic proclamation that a measure was ‘taken to build her a temple in the land of Babylon’ ought to be understood as an indication of the prolonged subjugation of the Israelites among their enemies, where a house was established for them through iniquity—construing a dwelling among their captors. This reality was indeed realized, as their liberation from bondage did not come until the completion of seventy years.

The prophet indicates that these kingdoms swiftly leap towards falsehood and idolatry whenever given the chance. The angel's response—to establish a temple in Babylon—implies that the iniquity and idolatrous practices of the Jewish people, despite being driven away by the apostles and prophets, will persist and endure until the arrival of the Antichrist, who will rule over the land of Babylon.

The two women symbolize the kingdoms that have oppressed the Babylonians, namely the Median and Macedonian empires, allowing wickedness to take root. This interpretation is crafted skillfully to avoid direct application to the Israelites. The two women, certainly emerging from Judah, are representative of the twelve tribes—those taken captive by the Assyrians and the Chaldeans. The spirit in their wings signifies the power of evil. Ecclesiastes states, “If the spirit of him that hath power ascend upon thee, leave not thy place” (Ecclesiastes 10:4). Furthermore, the Gospel mentions the unclean spirit that, expelled from his dwelling, wanders through arid lands and ultimately returns to his old abode, accompanied by seven other spirits more wicked than himself (Luke 11:24-26). Thus, these women, influenced by this spirit as if caught in a gust, were swiftly transported with their wings.

The Hebrew term ‘asida’ is rendered as ‘hoopoe’ in the Septuagint and signifies a predatory bird that preys on domestic fowl. Different types of herons are acknowledged, but the most aggressive and savage of these is the black heron, which, in its wrath, is ferociously unstoppable. The hoopoe, which derives its name from the Greek, is often seen near graves and amidst human refuse, where it also builds its nest and feeds its young. Regardless of which bird ‘asida’ refers to, it draws a parallel to the women of Judah and Israel who were surrendered to demonic influences due to their sinful actions and brought to Babylon. They bore away the vessel containing their wrongdoing, sealed with a heavy lead weight to prevent it from escaping, and they lifted this immense burden of sin into the air above.

Understanding this, the prophet did not question the identity of these women or the nature of their burden—these truths had been revealed to him beforehand—but sought clarification regarding the destination of the vessel. He asked the angel once more, “Where do they carry the vessel away?” The angel’s answer was that a house would be constructed for it in the land of Shinar. The Seventy’s translation refers to it as Babylon, which indeed is the region of the Chaldeans, noted for their prideful tower (Genesis 11:4). Babylon, which means “mixture,” was named for the confusion of languages that occurred there. The women transport wickedness to Babylon, destined to build and firmly establish a dwelling for it, ensuring its permanence. Babylon is, without question, a stronghold of immorality, in both historical and allegorical respects.

If one considers the two women as nations—the heretical and the Jewish, both estranged from God and swayed by a tumultuous spirit, accumulating riches through injustice while vying for the Church’s heritage through rivalry and strife—one can witness how these women bear the weight of sin and construct a place of mingled idolatry in the service of Babylon. Thus, where the heretical and Jewish populations reside, idolatrous worship thrives, embodying servitude to material idols of wood and stone.

I inquired of the heavenly messenger, “What is the purpose of their journey?” It was revealed to me that they were traveling to Babylon, not merely to establish a measure there but also “to make a temple for it, and to place it there for their delight;” for the Lord has declared that He will not extend grace to Babylon as He did to Jerusalem, having designated a time for desolation, after which He bestowed mercy and forgiveness. In contrast, Babylon, due to her immense wrongdoing, shall endure relentless punishment.