Zechariah 11
DOYLYknew &c.] The few believing Jews, the meek and humble, who conscientiously waited on me, were convinced, that this was agreeable to the will and pleasure of God. Bp. Hall, W. Lowth.
— tear their claws in pieces.] The foolish shepherd, instead of being tender and gentle with his flock, is supposed to drag them about with his iron crook, or to overdrive them in rough and stony ground, so as to break their hoofs. Dr. Blayney.
- Woe to the idol shepherd! Who takes no care of the flock. Such a shepherd is no better than an “idol that is profitable for nothing,” Isa. xlv. 10. W. Lowth.
— the sword shall be upon his arm, &c.? The purport of the passage is, that since, through the misapplication of his power and his understanding, signified by his “arm” and his “right eye,” the flock are subjected to desolation or the sword; therefore, as of strict justice, he shall be punished with a deprivation at least of those faculties, which he so fatally misused. Dr. Blayney, W. Lowth.
Chap. XII. This and the two following chapters contain prophecies, which relate entirely to the circumstances of the Christian dispensation. They begin with
the assurance of some final victories to be obtained over the enemies of Jerusalem, ver. 1-9, compared with Ezek. xxxviii, xxxix; and Rev. xx. 9: they describe the restoration of the Jews, their conversion and bitter compunction for having pierced the Messiah, ver. 10; their admission by baptism to the privileges of the Gospel covenant, chap. xiii. 1; and their deliverance from the delusions of false prophets. The Prophet then reverts to foreshew the dispersion of Christ’s disciples, chap. xiii. 7, compared with Matt. xxvi. 31, and Mark xiv. 27; and the preservation of a small remainder of his converts, whose faith should be tried in affliction. In the last chapter he represents the destruction of Jerusalem by the Romans under Vespasian, chap. xiv. 1, 2; the subsequent disconfiture of its enemies, ver. 3; and the final and triumphant establishment of Christ’s righteous kingdom, who should be King over the whole earth. Dr. Gray.
Ver. 2. — a cup of trembling] The nations, that besiege Jerusalem, shall be in the same condition as those that are overcome by intoxicating liquors, and thereby bereaved of their strength and understanding. Compare Isa. li. 17. 22. W. Lowth.
Zechariah 11:3
- — a burdensome stone] Jerusalem is here compared to a stone of great weight, which, being too heavy for those who attempt to lift it up or remove it, falls back upon them, and crushes them to pieces. St. Jerome, by way of explication, describes an exercise common, he says, “throughout Palestine and all Judea in his days, where the young men, who were ambitious to give proof of their strength, used to lift up stones of enormous weight, some as high as their knees, others to their navel, their shoulders, and their heads; and some placed them on the top of their head, with their hands erect and joined together.” Mr. Lowth, by whom this passage of St. Jerome is cited, remarks, that to the same sense Christ saith, “on whomsoever this stone shall fall, it will grind him to powder,” Matt. xxi. 44. Dr. Blayney.
Zechariah 11:4
- — I will open mine eyes upon the house of Judah.] I will look down graciously upon my people. Bp. Hall.
Zechariah 11:7
- And I will feed the flock of slaughter, &c.] Zechariah, representing the Person of Christ, the true Shepherd, says, He entered upon his office, and undertook the care of the flock, chiefly out of regard to the meek and humble among them. W. Lowth. — I took unto me two staves: A staff or crook is the proper ensign of a shepherd: the shepherds of old time had two rods or staves; one turned round at top, that it might not hurt the sheep; this was for counting them, and separating the sound from the diseased; see Lev. xxvii. 32: the other had an iron hook at the end of it, to pull in the stray sheep, and hold them fast. The Psalmist mentions both these, Ps. xxiii. 4. W. Louth. These “staves” or crooks the Prophet assumed as a badge of his office; and gave them significant names, which are explained ver. 10. 14. Dr. Blayney. — Beauty,—Bands;] The one, which I called “Beauty,” was the staff of mercy, and gracious and pleasurable protection; the other, which I called “Bands,” was the staff of unity for the conjoining of my Church, or of correction and just censure of the offenders. Bp. Hall.
Zechariah 11:8
- Three shepherds also I cut off in one month;] Their kings, their priests, and their prophets. Dr. Stokes. We may probably explain these “three shepherds,” of the chief priests, scribes, and elders of the Jews. Christ exposed these as blind guides, and thereby lessened their authority among the people. “One month” seems a proverbial expression for a short time; see Hos. v. 7. W. Lowth.
Zechariah 11:9
- Then said I, I will not feed you: &c.] When Christ found a great part of his sheep proving untractable, He resolved to be their Shepherd no longer, but to leave them to be consumed by the common calamities Beauty, and cut it asunder, that I might break my covenant which I had made with all the people.
Zechariah 11:12
- — If ye think good, give me my price; &c.] This being left to their discretion, was rated by them at thirty pieces of silver, supposed shckels, of the value of two shillings and fourpence each. This was the price of a slave, Exod. xxi. 32; and was meant to shew how little they cared for him or his service. Abp. Newcome, Dr. Blayney, W. Lowth.
Zechariah 11:13
- And the Lord said unto me,] The Lord, who said this, could be no other but the Lord Christ. There are many such places, where Christ spoke as plainly by the Prophets in the Old Testament, as ever He did with his own mouth in the New. And it was He, whom this and all the Prophets mean, when they say, “Thus saith the Lord.” Bp. Beveridge. — Cast it unto the potter:] As a reward only suitable to his labour, and a price only fit for such wares as he sold, which were of the meanest value: see Lam. iv. 2. W. Lowth. — a goodly price] He means ironically that it was a pitiful price, that he and his care were valued at. Dr. Wells. — And I took the thirty pieces of silver, &c.] I cast them back into the treasury in the temple, where afterwards they were laid out for the purchase of the potter’s field. This whole transaction, performed by Zechariah in a vision, was designed to be an exact representation of the several circumstances that attended the betraying of the Messiah by Judas; the price put upon Him by the chief priests, to whom, as the governours of the temple, the money was returned; and the use to which the money was applied: see Matt. xxvii. 6. 10. The Jews themselves have expounded this prophecy of the Messiah. W. Lowth.
Zechariah 11:14
- Then I cut asunder mine other staff, even Bands.] As they refused to be united under me their head, so in Before CHRIST about 587. of the flock, &c. certainly knew. be good in your eyes. b Matt. 26. 15. c Matt. 27. 9. The type of a foolish shepherd. ZECHARIAH. Jerusalem a burden to her adversaries. Before CHRIST about 587. Or, hidden. Or, bear. d Jer. 23. 1. Ezek. 31. 2. John 10. 12. Take unto thee yet the instruments of a foolish shepherd.