MPV Commentary

Second Vision. The power of the Jews' foes shall be dissipated.

The four horns in this vision represent the ruling powers of the world that have oppressed God's people (Re 17:3, 12). For a pastoral people like the Jews, horns symbolized strength and pride. In Zechariah's time, the number four referred to the four cardinal points of the horizon, representing the enemies that surrounded God's people from every direction. However, the Spirit in the prophet looked beyond these immediate foes to the four world powers that would rise until the kingdom of Messiah overthrows them all (Da 2:1-49; 7:1-28). Babylon and Medo-Persia had already risen, but Greece-Macedonia was next, followed by Rome as the fourth and final power.

The fact that the text speaks of repairing the evils caused to Judah and Israel by all four kingdoms indicates that this fulfillment is yet future. The overthrow of two world powers up to Zechariah's time (Jer 51:2; Eze 5:10, 12) was only a partial fulfillment, with the full restoration still to come.

Judah and Israel are mentioned together here because although some of the ten tribes returned from Babylon, their full return is yet future.

The four carpenters or artificers represent the instrumentalities God will use to crush the Gentile powers that scattered Judah. Each horn has a corresponding counteracting power to destroy it.

These horns being distinguished from the destroying workmen, we ask: What are these horns? They refer to the enemies of God's people who have been oppressing them. These enemies were so depressed and weighed down by their own evils (Job 10:15) that they could not even lift up their heads in pride or haughtiness (Ps 75:4, 5). Instead, they struck terror into those around them (Eze 30:9), tyrannizing over Judah with the strength of their horns (Eze 34:21).