Zechariah: Individual Saviors or Nations?
Contents
1. Zechariah and the End Times.
2. Vengeance by the Other Tribes against Gentiles for their Oppressiing of Judah.
3. Four Saviors or Kingdoms, or Both? Midrash.
4. The Fourth Savior.
5. Query and Notes from Mark Williams.
6. Zechariah (extract from "Origin").
1. Zechariah and the End Times
The Book of Zechariah builds its Prophecy (especially in the first chapters) on events surrounding the Destruction of Jerusalem by the Babylonians and the Exile of Judah. This was followed 70 years later by the partial return of the Exiles from Judah, the Rebuilding of Jerusalem, and of the Temple.
This was an historical event, something that did happen. A closer examination of the text however reveals that the described events are only used as Prototypes on which to build a larger Scenario concerning Redemption in the End Times and the rebuilding of the End Times Temple at that time.
In chapters one and two the Prophet Zechariah describes Four Horns and Four Craftsmen: The Horns symbolize the adversaries of Judah, whereas the Craftsmen have come to help Judah and Jerusalem. The Craftsmen are interpreted to represent either Four Major Saviors or Four Kingdoms coming to help Judah.
2. Vengeance by the Other Tribes agaisnt Gentiles for their Oppressiing of Judah.
Based on the consideration that Four kingdoms are intended this could coincide with the Prophecy that the People of Israel will take vengeance against Edom for what they did to Judah:
Ezekiel (NIV) 25:
12 This is what the Sovereign LORD says: 'Because Edom took revenge on Judah and became very guilty by doing so, 13 therefore this is what the Sovereign LORD says: I will stretch out my hand against Edom and kill both man and beast. I will lay it waste, and from Teman to Dedan they will fall by the sword. 14 I will take vengeance on Edom by the hand of my people Israel, and they will deal with Edom in accordance with my anger and my wrath; they will know my vengeance, declares the Sovereign LORD.'
Very often when the terms "Judah" and Israel" are juxtaposed "Judah: stands for the Jews and "Israel" for the Ten Tribes.
3. Four Saviors or Kingdoms, or Both? Midrash.
The alternate interpretation that the Four Craftsmen represent future Saviors does not contradict their representation as Kingdoms since by Saviors may be intended different portions of the Ten Tribes with "Saviors" leading them.
cf.
Midrash BaMidbar Rabah 12:2 (as presented by Menachem Zeev Stern, "Torah shel Baal Peh; Remez beMeloia""):
# There is much controversy concerning the the Saviors of Israel [Stern: Who are destined to arise and save Israel in the Future]: Some say there will be seven of them, as it says, "We will raise against them seven shepherds, " (Micah 5:5), others say eight, " even eight commanders" (Micah 5:5). There will only be those who are mentioned expressly, that is four, as it says,
Zechariah 1:
20 Then the LORD showed me four craftsmen. 21 I asked, 'What are these coming to do?'
He answered, 'These are the horns that scattered Judah so that no one could raise their head, but the craftsmen have come to terrify them and throw down these horns of the nations who lifted up their horns against the land of Judah to scatter its people.' [Most versions of the Hebrew Text number these verses 2:3-4].
These [Saviors] are the Four Craftsmen.
King David in the Book of Psalms commented on this:
Psalms 60:
7 Gilead is mine, and Manasseh is mine;
Ephraim is my helmet,
Judah is my scepter.
Gilead is Eliyahu who was an inhabitant of Gilead (1-Kings 17:1).
Manasseh is a future Messiah who will come from the Tribe of Manasseh.
cf.
Psalm 80:
1 Hear us, Shepherd of Israel,
you who lead Joseph like a flock.
You who sit enthroned between the cherubim,
shine forth
2 before Ephraim, Benjamin and Manasseh.
cf.
Psalm 60:7
Ephraim is my helmet.
This is the Anointed Leader of War who comes from Ephraim, cf. "In majesty he is like a firstborn bull" (Deuteronomy 33:17).
"Judah is my scepter" (Psalms 60:7): This is the Great Redeemer who will be descended from the sons of David. #
The Midrash continues and according to the Commentary of Stern it explains that though in effect we have here Three Saviors, (1) one from Ephraim, another (2) from Manasseh, and then (3) a descendant of David from Judah. After that a fourth Savior (4) who will be the Messiah son of David..
There seem to be different opinions concerning (3). Both (3) and (4) are referred to in the Midrash as the "Moabites" descendants of Ruth the Moabitess and ancestress of David.
Ruth 4: 13 SO BOAZ TOOK RUTH AND SHE BECAME HIS WIFE; AND WHEN HE WENT IN TO HER, THE LORD GAVE HER CONCEPTION, AND SHE BORE A SON..
18 NOW THIS IS THE GENEALOGY OF PEREZ: PEREZ BEGOT HEZRON. 21 SALMON BEGOT BOAZ, AND BOAZ BEGOT OBED; 22 OBED BEGOT JESSE, AND JESSE BEGOT DAVID.
The different opinions concerning (3) opine that this was either not actually a son of David but a one-surving brother named "Eliyahu," OR a descendent of Nathan (2-Samuel 5:15) the brother of Solomon. The ultimate Messiah and the promised succession was to be through Solomon. He is the Fourth Savior. Nathan however was also important.
It is indicated (Zechariah 12: 11-13) that in the End Times there will be four major families in Jerusalem: (1) The family of David, evidently through Solomon. 2. The family of Nathan son of David. (3) The family of Levi from the Trbie of Levi. (4) The family of Shimei from the Tribe of Benjamin from whom Mordecai son of Yair and Esther his niece were descended.
Esther 2:
5 IN SHUSHAN THE CITADEL THERE WAS A CERTAIN JEW WHOSE NAME WAS MORDECAI THE SON OF JAIR, THE SON OF SHIMEI, THE SON OF KISH, A BENJAMITE.
The concept of Saviors does not necessarily contradict the Craftsmen representig specific nations since each one of the Saviors may be destined to head a National Group.
For some notes on Redemption and especially the Prophecy of Zechariah see:
Redemption. Judah and Joseph in the End Times according to Zechariah
https://hebrewnations.com/articles/bible/zechariah/chanon.html
5. Query and Notes from Mark Williams.
Mark Williams sent us the following observations:
From Mark Williams:
As The RADAK speculated; which "kingdoms" would best fit the bill?
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https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Four_Horns_and_Four_Craftsmen
Four Horns and Four Craftsmen
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The four horns and four craftsmen (...also translated "engravers" or "artisans") are a vision found in Book of Zechariah, in Zechariah 1:21 in traditional English texts. In Hebrew texts 1:18-21 is numbered 2:1-4. The vision precedes the vision of A Man With a Measuring Line.
Hebrew Bible text:
Zechariah 2:1AND I LIFTED UP MINE EYES, AND SAW, AND BEHOLD FOUR HORNS. 2 AND I SAID UNTO THE ANGEL THAT SPOKE WITH ME: 'WHAT ARE THESE?' AND HE SAID UNTO ME: 'THESE ARE THE HORNS WHICH HAVE SCATTERED JUDAH, ISRAEL, AND JERUSALEM.' 3 AND THE LORD SHOWED ME FOUR CRAFTSMEN. 4 THEN SAID I: 'WHAT COME THESE TO DO?' AND HE SPOKE, SAYING: 'THESE ARE THE HORNS WHICH SCATTERED JUDAH, SO THAT NO MAN DID LIFT UP HIS HEAD, THESE THEN ARE COME TO FRIGHTEN THEM, TO CAST DOWN THE HORNS OF THE NATIONS, WHICH LIFTED UP THEIR HORN AGAINST THE LAND OF JUDAH TO SCATTER IT.'
In the Talmud
The four craftsmen are discussed in Babylonian Talmud Suk. 52b. Rav Hana bar Bizna attributed to Rav Simeon Hasida the identification of these four craftsmen as Messiah ben David, Messiah ben Joseph, Elijah, and the Righteous Priest (Cohen). However David Kimhi interpreted the four craftsmen as four kingdoms.
In later interpretation
The imagery of craftsmen is generally considered as "smiths", able to master the four iron horns, as symbolizing nations used as instruments of divine power for the destruction of Israel's enemies.[3][4]
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6. Zechariah (extract from "Origin."):
The Prophet Zechariah says that God is angry with the non-Israelite Gentiles because they persecuted Judah. God was a little angry with the Jews and the Gentiles took advantage of it to oppress Judah more than was warranted (1:15). Whoever harms Judah hurts the apple of God's eye (2:8). In the last days the righteousness of the faith of Judah will be acknowledged:
Zechariah 8:
23 IN THOSE DAYS TEN MEN OUT OF ALL THE LANGUAGES OF THE NATIONS, EVEN SHALL TAKE HOLD OF THE SKIRT OF HIM THAT IS A JEW, SAYING, WE WILL GO WITH YOU: FOR WE HAVE HEARD THAT GOD IS WITH YOU.
Zechariah speaks of the Rebuilding of the Temple (6:15). He says that those who are "far off" will participate. Commentators (Abarbanel, Malbim) indicate here and elsewhere that the Lost Ten Tribes will be instrumental in rebuilding the Temple. The four major fast days that the Jews of Judah now keep in mourning over the destruction and continued desolation of the Temple will be made feasts of rejoicing (Zechariah 8:19).
Zechariah 8:
22 YEA, MANY PEOPLE AND STRONG NATIONS SHALL COME TO SEEK THE LORD OF HOSTS IN JERUSALEM, AND TO PRAY BEFORE THE LORD.
Ten men out of all nations of the earth will take hold of he who is a Jew and will say, Let us go with you, for we have hold that God is with you (8:23). Judah is a bow and Ephraim is the arrow against the sons of Yavan (9:13). "Yavan" usually means Greece but the term is also applicable to numerous other peoples including (in Rabbinical texts) Ukraine and/or Russia. Judah and Joseph will re-unite (10:6). Ephraim shall be a mighty nation (10:7). They shall be delivered from their places of exile and be brought to Gilead (Syria) and Lebanon but there will still not be enough room for them (10:10).