Matthew Henry on Zechariah 1:18–end
It is the comfort and triumph of the church (Isa 59:19) that when the enemy shall come in like a flood, with mighty force and fury, then the Spirit of the Lord shall lift up a standard against him. Now, in this vision (the second which this prophet had), we have an illustration of that, God's Spirit making a stand, and making head, against the formidable power of the church's adversaries.
I. We have here the enemies of the church bold and daring, and threatening to be its death, to cut off the name of Israel; such the people of God had lately been insulted by: I looked and behold four horns (Zac 1:18), which are explained Zac 1:19. They are the horns which have scattered Judah, Israel, and J…
Read the whole note in the consoleJamieson-Fausset-Brown on Zechariah 1:21
These are the horns--rather, Those, namely, the horns being distinguished from the "carpenters," or destroying workmen ("skilful to destroy," Exo 21:31), intended in the "these" of the question.
no man . . . lift up his head--so depressed were they with a heavy weight of evils (Job 10:15).
to fray--to strike terror into them (Eze 30:9).
lifted up . . . horn--in the haughtiness of conscious strength (Psa 75:4-5) tyrannizing over Judah (Eze 34:21).
The city shall be fully restored and enlarged (Zac 2:2-5). Recall of the exiles (Zac 2:6-7). Jehovah will protect His people and make their foes a spoil unto them (Zac 2:8-9). The nations shall be converted to Jehovah, as the result of His dw…
Read the whole note in the consoleAdam Clarke on Zechariah 1:21
These are come to fray them - To break, pound, and reduce them to powder. Fray, from the French, frayer, to rub. חרשים charashim signifies either carpenters or smiths; probably the latter are here intended, who came with hammers, files, and such like, to destroy these horns, which no doubt seemed to be of iron.
From a sensible correspondent I have received the following note: -
"The word we translate carpenters, חרשים charashim, is a root which, according to Mr. Parkhurst, denotes silent thought or attention; and in kal and hiphil, to contrive, devise secretly, or in silence; hence applied as a noun to an artificer of any kind, and to any work which disposes to silent attention. Thus, to po…
