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| 1 In the eighth month, in the second year of Darius, came the word of Yahweh unto Zechariah, son of Berechiah, son of Iddo, the prophet, saying:–
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Darius – Darius Hystaspes. R2521:2
Zechariah – Was a prophet and a priest; returned from Babylonian captivity under governor Zerubbabel as a young man. R2521:2
He was the successor of Haggai. His career began in the second year of Darius Hystaspes and continued two years. Part of his mission was to encourage the Jews who labored in the construction of the Temple. R2521:2
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| 2 Yahweh, was sore displeased, with your fathers: |
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| 3 therefore shalt thou say unto them, Thus, saith Yahweh of hosts, Return ye unto me, urgeth Yahweh of hosts,–that I may return unto you, saith Yahweh of hosts. |
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| 4 Do not become like your fathers, unto whom the former prophets, proclaimed, saying, Thus, saith Yahweh of hosts, Return, I pray you, from your wicked ways, and from your wicked practices; but they heard not, nor hearkened unto me, declareth Yahweh. |
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| 5 Your fathers, where are they? and, the prophets, to times age-abiding, do they live? |
Do they live forever? – Are they immortal, as claimed by many? R802:2*
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| 6 Howbeit, as for my words and my statutes with which I charged my servants the prophets, did they not overtake your fathers? and so they returned and said, Just as Yahweh of hosts planned to do unto us, according to our ways and according to our practices, So hath he dealt with us? |
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| 7 Upon the twenty-fourth day of the eleventh month, the same, is the month Shebat, in the second year of Darius, came the word of Yahweh unto Zechariah, son of Berechiah, son of Iddo, the prophet, as followeth: |
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| 8 I looked by night, And lo! a man riding upon a red horse, and he was standing among the myrtle trees, in the shade; and, after him, were horses, red, bay, and white. |
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A man riding – ? This could be our Lord or one of the Apostles (Paul?) or it could even be John the Baptist.
Upon a red horse – Red - Ashes of the red heifer. Possibly a picture of the ancient worthies. Since horses picture doctrines the thought here is one who rides the doctrines that were in effect during the Jewish age. Red is also a picture of blood and could thus be a reference to the ransom.
Behind him – i.e., in the past from where this man among the myrtle trees is at the time of this vision's setting.
[horses] Red – Jewish age doctrines which eventually produce the ancient worthies - ashes of the red heifer.
Speckled – Strong's 8320, "bright red (as piercing to the sight)" - Ancient worthies? |
| 9 Then said I, What are these, my lord? And the messenger who was speaking with me, said unto me, I, will shew thee what these, are. |
The angel – Materialized angels can eat, drink and perform all the functions of the natural being of the earthly plane of existence. Q744:3
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| 10 So the man who was standing among the myrtle-trees responded, and said,–These, are they whom Yahweh, hath sent, to go to and fro through the earth. |
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| 11 Then responded they to the messenger of Yahweh, who was standing among the myrtle-trees, and said, We have gone to and fro through the earth,–and lo! all the earth, resteth and is quiet. |
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| 12 Then the messenger of Yahweh responded, and said, O Yahweh of hosts! How long wilt, thou, not have compassion upon Jerusalem, and the cities of Judah,–against which thou hast had indignation these seventy years? |
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| 13 And Yahweh answered the messenger who was speaking with me, in words that were pleasant,–words that were consoling, |
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| 14 Then the messenger who was speaking with me, said unto me, Proclaim thou, saying, Thus, saith Yahweh of hosts, I am jealous for Jerusalem, and for Zion, with a great jealousy; |
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| 15 And, with a great displeasure, am I displeased with the careless nations,–in that, when, I, was displeased (for) a little, then, they, helped forward the calamity, |
The affliction – Rendered "evil" in "I create evil." (Isa. 45:7) A125
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| 16 Wherefore, Thus, saith Yahweh, I have returned to Jerusalem, with compassions, My house, shall be built therein, declareth Yahweh of hosts, and, a line, shall be stretched forth over Jerusalem. |
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| 17 Further, proclaim thou, saying, Thus, saith Yahweh of hosts, Yet, shall my cities overflow with blessing! So will Yahweh yet, have compassion, upon Zion, and yet make choice of Jerusalem. |
Choose Jerusalem – Promises to the natural seed. R11:5
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| 18 Then lifted I up mine eyes and looked,–and lo! Four Horns. |
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| 19 And I said unto the messenger who was speaking with me, What are these? And he said unto me, These, are the horns which have scattered Judah, Israel, and Jerusalem. |
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The horns – Powers. These four are the four universal empires of Babylon, Medo-Persia, Greece and Rome.
Which have scattered – These were the instruments used by God to scatter His People (first natural Israel, then spiritual Israel) to the four winds (in all directions.) |
| 20 Then Yahweh shewed me Four Craftsmen. |
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Four carpenters – Builders. In this case, they built the four universal empires. This view is supported by the next verse. |
| 21 And I said, What are these coming in to do? And he spake, saying, These, are the horns which have scattered Judah, so that no man lifted up his head, but these [others] have come in to put them in fear, to cast down the horns of the nations, the which have lifted up the horn against the land of Judah to scatter her. |
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These – The four carpenters.
Are the horns – The four powers.
Of the Gentiles – This might as well read - "These are the Four Universal Gentile Empires which rule during the Times of the Gentiles."
Which have scattered – Same comment as vs. 19.
We suggest the following as the understanding of verses 18-21:[18] Then lifted I [the John class] up mine eyes, and saw, and behold four horns [powers]. [19] And I said unto the angel [7th angel, messenger] that talked with me [the John class], What be these? And he answered me, These are the horns [Gentile powers] which have scattered Judah, Israel, and Jerusalem. [20] And the LORD showed me four carpenters [builders]. [21] Then said I, What come these to do? And he spake, saying, These [the four horns of vss. 18-19, the "universal" Gentile empires] are the horns [powers] which have scattered Judah, so that no man did lift up his head: but these [four carpenters, builders] are come to fray them [to cause them to shudder with terror (Strong's)], to cast out the horns [4 universal empires, powers] of the Gentiles, which lifted up their horn over the land of Judah to scatter it. |