The four horns ( ''’ar-ba‘ qərānōṯ'') and four craftsmen ( ''’arbā‘āh ḥārāšîm'', 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
In the Talmud
The four craftsmen are discussed in
Babylonian Talmud Suk.
Sukkah ( he, סוכה, ''hut'') is a book of the Mishnah and Talmud. It is the sixth volume in the Order (Mishnaic section) of Moed. Sukkah deals primarily with laws relating to the Jewish holiday of Sukkot. It has five chapters.
Included in its ...
52b. Rav
Hana bar Bizna
Hana or HANA may refer to:
Places Europe
* Haná, an ethnic region in Moravia, Czech Republic
* Traianoupoli, Greece, called Hana during the Ottoman period
* Hana, Norway, a borough in the city of Sandnes, Norway
West Asia
* Hana, Iran, a city ...
attributed to Rav
Simeon Hasida
Simeon () is a given name, from the Hebrew (Biblical ''Šimʿon'', Tiberian ''Šimʿôn''), usually transliterated as Shimon. In Greek it is written Συμεών, hence the Latinized spelling Symeon.
Meaning
The name is derived from Simeon, son ...
the identification of these four craftsmen as
Messiah ben David,
Messiah ben Joseph,
Elijah, and the
Righteous Priest
In rabbinic Jewish eschatology, the Righteous Priest or Priest of Righteousness is a figure identified with one of the Four Craftsmen in a vision mentioned in the Book of Zechariah. He is found in the Talmud and Midrash.
B. Sukkot 52b
Accordin ...
. 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.
[Herbert Lockyer ''All the Parables of the Bible'' 1963 0310281113 p.107 "(Zechariah 2:1-13) The four carpenters were four smiths or workmen, well able to deal with the four horns. These smiths (R.V. ) symbolize instruments of Divine power for the destruction of alien power and the redemption of God's people."]
References
{{Book of Zechariah
Book of Zechariah