Then I raised my eyes and looked, and behold, there were four horns. So I said to the angel who was speaking with me, “What are these?” And he said to me, “These are the horns that have scattered Judah, Israel, and Jerusalem.” Then the Lord showed me four craftsmen. And I said, “What are these coming to do?” And he said, “These are the horns that have scattered Judah so that no one lifts up his head; but these craftsmen have come to frighten them, to throw down the horns of the nations who have lifted up their horns against the land of Judah in order to scatter it.” Zechariah 1:18-21
This is the second vision of the eight that the prophet sees. It builds on the first vision by focusing on comfort and encouragement for God’s people. There are four horns who have or will oppressed Israel and scattered them. It is implied from the text that the horns were attached to some kind of animal or beast, but the prophet only see the horns. Now horns typically represent power or authority, and in this case they seem to represent four world empires that have opposed God’s people. In chapter 6 of Zechariah there are four chariots which represent the same kingdoms. While in a general sense the four could mean four corners of the earth or four directions, based on similar prophetic writings such as Daniel, it seems clear that the four horns represent world empires. According to Adam Clarke the four empires are the Assyrians, Babylonians, Persians and Egyptians. There is of course some debate about who the nations are and some scholars do not identify any nations at all. However, I believe Clarke is correct in his assessment.
In verse 20 there are also four craftsmen that God is sending to deal with the horns. We notice that when the prophet asks about the craftsmen he asks what they will do, or their function, and not who they are. Yahweh has set up these craftsmen to throw down and destroy those nations that have scattered and oppressed his people. In a sense the craftsmen are also horns in that they will be given the power to overcome the four nations that have crushed God’s people. Often in scripture a king represents the entire kingdom – we find this in Daniel when he speaks about the beast nations. So, the craftsmen are likely kings who defeat four kingdoms. To be more specific let’s unpack who the craftsmen could be:
1. Assyria – Nabopolassar, who was Nebuchadnezzar’s father defeated the Assyrian empire
2. Babylonia – the Persian king, Cyrus, defeated the Babylonians
3. Persia – Alexander the Great overcame the Persian empire
4. Egypt – Ptolemy I Soter became the ruler of Egypt (part of Greek empire after Alexander)
These are likely candidates for the craftsmen, but let’s not get too bogged down in the details and move to the point of the vision. The text tells us that no one could raise their head among God’s people. This demonstrates how severe their treatment was, however God out of his great love and compassion for his people sends his craftsmen to destroy the Gentile nations who have or will oppress his people. Again, as with the first vision, Yahweh’s encouragement comes in the form of righteous judgments against the enemies of his people. The vision is intended to encourage those in his care that God always defends his people. Suffering may last for a season, but in the end God visits his people with kindness, compassion and justice. As with the first vision the takeaway is that while God does correct his people, it is always for restoration and peace. This restorative process may include suffering for a season, but eventually when God restores us to himself he does so with monumental acts of justice, setting everything right. Our response to such a good and loving Father should be one of adoration, trust, and praise - honoring the God who loves us so much to correct and to defend.
And I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse, and He who sat on it is called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and wages war. His eyes are a flame of fire, and on His head are many crowns; and He has a name written on Him which no one knows except Himself. He is clothed with a robe dipped in blood, and His name is called The Word of God. And the armies which are in heaven, clothed in fine linen, white and clean, were following Him on white horses. From His mouth comes a sharp sword, so that with it He may strike down the nations, and He will rule them with a rod of iron; and He treads the wine press of the fierce wrath of God, the Almighty. And on His robe and on His thigh He has a name written: “KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.” Revelation 19:11-16
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