Four Horns Four Carpenters

Professional bull riders who compete for a prize fear a bull with horns most. The possibility of being gored is greater on bulls with large horns. Horns represent strength and power. A horn, in scripture, represents two things: strength and a strong king or kingdom.

In Zechariah 1:21 we see the horn representing both kingdoms and strength or power over another. As in most things physical, there are two sides to everything; a positive and a negative. In Zachariah 1:18 a set of horns are depicted as evil; negative. Zechariah 1:18-19. 18 Then lifted I up mine eyes, and saw, and behold four horns. 19 And I said unto the angel that talked with me, What be these? And he answered me, These are the horns which have scattered Judah, Israel, and Jerusalem. But, in Zechariah 1:21 we see good horns; positive righteous horns. 21 Then said I, What come these to do? And he spake, saying, These are the horns which have scattered Judah, so that no man did lift up his head: but these are come to fray them, to cast out the horns of the Gentiles, which lifted up their horn over the land of Judah to scatter it.

The powers or kingdoms which scattered Israel, Judah and Jerusalem were evil but the carpenters were God’s horns (good, righteous) to ‘fray’ the powers of the Gentiles which scattered Israel, Judah and Jerusalem. To ‘fray’ is to tear apart and destroy the strength of the whole. (evil kingdoms)

In Revelation 17:12, we read what horns represent. Rev. 17:12, 12 And the ten horns which thou sawest are ten kings, which have received no kingdom as yet; but receive power as kings one hour with the beast. In our reading, we see the horn representing kings or kingdoms whose power to overcome nations can rule and scatter people all over the earth.

What is our scripture passage telling us today? Let us read it again in context. Zechariah 1:18-21. 18 Then lifted I up mine eyes, and saw, and behold four horns. 19 And I said unto the angel that talked with me, What be these? And he answered me, These are the horns which have scattered Judah, Israel, and Jerusalem. 20 And the Lord shewed me four carpenters. 21 Then said I, What come these to do? And he spake, saying, These are the horns which have scattered Judah, so that no man did lift up his head: but these are come to fray them, to cast out the horns of the Gentiles, which lifted up their horn over the land of Judah to scatter it.

At the time of Zachariah, as we learned before, Zechariah received this prophecy in the second year of King Darius. (Zech. 1:7) The four kings or kingdoms which scattered Israel, Judah and Jerusalem included Assyria and Babylon. It is not certain who were the other two; perhaps a subordinate government of one or both. However, God desired to collect all Israel to return to Jerusalem and Zion. Therefore, he sent four carpenters to disperse the Gentiles from Judah. (vs. 21)

Perhaps these carpenters are to build Jerusalem and Zion once again increasing the presence of God in His chosen land to strike the fear of God in the hearts of the Gentiles. Zechariah now sees a man with a measuring line. Zech. 2:1-2. 2 I lifted up mine eyes again, and looked, and behold a man with a measuring line in his hand. 2 Then said I, Whither goest thou? And he said unto me, To measure Jerusalem, to see what is the breadth thereof, and what is the length thereof.

A measuring line was an indication of the parameter of God’s chosen territory; Jerusalem, both old and new. Jeremiah 31:38-40.38 Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, that the city shall be built to the Lord from the tower of Hananeel unto the gate of the corner. 39 And the measuring line shall yet go forth over against it upon the hill Gareb, and shall compass about to Goath. 40 And the whole valley of the dead bodies, and of the ashes, and all the fields unto the brook of Kidron, unto the corner of the horse gate toward the east, shall be holy unto the Lord; it shall not be plucked up, nor thrown down any more for ever.

In Revelation 21 we read of an angel using a reed to measure. He was to measure the Holy city, the New Jerusalem. Rev. 21:15-17. 15 And he that talked with me had a golden reed to measure the city, and the gates thereof, and the wall thereof. 16 And the city lieth foursquare, and the length is as large as the breadth: and he measured the city with the reed, twelve thousand furlongs. The length and the breadth and the height of it are equal. 17 And he measured the wall thereof, an hundred and forty and four cubits, according to the measure of a man, that is, of the angel.