18 And I lift up mine eyes, and look, and lo, four horns. 19 And I say unto the messenger who is speaking with me, 'What 'are' these?' And he saith unto me, 'These 'are' the horns that have scattered Judah, Israel, and Jerusalem.' 20 And Jehovah doth shew me four artizans. 21 And I say, 'What 'are' these coming in to do?' And He speaketh, saying: 'These 'are' the horns that have scattered Judah, so that no one hath lifted up his head, and these come in to trouble them, to cast down the horns of the nations who are lifting up a horn against the land of Judah—to scatter it.'
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Zechariah 1:18-21
Commentary on Zechariah 1:18-21
(Read Zechariah 1:18-21)
The enemies of the church threaten to cut off the name of Israel. They are horns, emblems of power, strength, and violence. The prophet saw them so formidable that he began to despair of the safety of every good man, and the success of every good work; but the Lord showed him four workmen empowered to cut off these horns. With an eye of sense we see the power of the enemies of the church; look which way we will, the world shows us that; but it is only with an eye of faith that we see it safe. The Lord shows us that. When God has work to do, he will raise up some to do it, and others to defend it, and to protect those employed in doing it. What cause there is to look up in love and praise to the holy and eternal Spirit, who has the same care over the present and eternal interests of believers, by the holy word bringing the church to know the wonderful things of salvation!