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Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Zechariah 11:4-14

The prophet here is made a type of Christ, as the prophet Isaiah sometimes was; and the scope of these verses is to show that for judgment Christ came into this world (John 9:39), for judgment to the Jewish church and nation, which were, about the time of his coming, wretchedly corrupted and degenerated by the worldliness and hypocrisy of their rulers. Christ would have healed them, but they would not be healed; they are therefore left desolate, and abandoned to ruin. Observe here, I. The... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Zechariah 11:9

Then said I, I will not feed you ,.... That is, any longer; either personally, or by his apostles; he fed them himself, during his public ministry; and afterwards by his apostles, whom he ordered to preach the Gospel to the Jews first; but that being contradicted, blasphemed, and despised by them, they were ordered to turn away from them, and go to the Gentiles: this shows that not the shepherds only, but the body of the people, abhorred Christ and his Gospel: and therefore it was taken away... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Zechariah 11:9

I will not feed you - I shall instruct you no longer: some of you are appointed to death by famine; others, to be cut off by the sword; and others of you, to such desperation that ye shall destroy one another. read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Zechariah 11:9

Verse 9 God now declares what had been briefly mentioned before, — that his judgment could not be deemed cruel, for the people had been extremely wicked, and their wickedness deserved extreme punishment. It seems indeed to be a simple narrative; but God here defends his own cause, for he had tried all means in ruling the people, before he had recourse to extreme rigor. Who indeed could now murmur against God? for he had been ever ready to undertake the office of a shepherd, and had so humbled... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Zechariah 11:4-14

§ 9. The punishment falls upon the people of Israel because they reject the good Shepherd, personified by the prophet, who rules the flock and chastises evildoers in vain, and at last flings up his office in indignation at their contumacy. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Zechariah 11:7-10

The two staves. Acted parable. May be taken to illustrate the two great blessings of Christ's kingdom. I. THE FATHERHOOD OF GOD . "Beauty" may indicate the covenant of peace. God's grace restraining, preserving, governing. " Broken. " Sign of judgment and woe. "Ichabod!" But as whole, emblem of the fatherly love and care of God, and the fairness and beneficence of his vile. II. BROTHERHOOD OF MAN . National covenant. Union of Judah and Israel. One people under the... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Zechariah 11:7-14

A final opportunity. "And I will feed the flock of slaughter," etc. Although the "flock" of Israel was ripe for "slaughter"—as we saw in our last—there was to be, nevertheless, a certain measure of pause before that slaughter began. Israel should hear again, if only once more, an offer of peace. Our present very difficult passage may, perhaps, be understood as describing how such an offer was made to rebellious Israel—just previously to that destruction of Jerusalem which seems predicted... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Zechariah 11:7-14

The true Shepherd. I. GOD 'S IDEA OF THE TRUE SHEPHERD . His character and service. Faithful and disinterested. Not a hireling. He is for the sheep, not the sheep for him. If his recompense left to the free will of the people, should be adequate and fair. "The workman is worthy of his hire." But the wage should be given in more than material form. " Themselves. " Their trust, sympathy, prayers, and hearty cooperation in all good. "I seek not yours, but you," said Paul. ... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Zechariah 11:8-11

Divine rejection. "My soul loathed them, and their soul also abhorred me. Then said I, I will not feed you: that that dieth, let it die; and that that is to be cut off, let it be cut off; and let the rest eat every one the flesh of another. And I took my staff, even Beauty, and cut it asunder, that I might break my covenant which I had made with all the people." The subject of these words is Divine rejection. A time comes in the history of incorrigible nations and incorrigible... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Zechariah 11:9

I will not feed you. In consequence of their contumacy, the shepherd abandons the flock to their fate, as God threatened ( Deuteronomy 31:17 ; comp. the very similar passage in Jeremiah 15:1-3 ). Three scourges are intimated in the succeeding words—plague, war, famine, combined with civil strife. Eat every one the flesh of another (comp. Isaiah 9:20 ). Many see here a reference to the awful scenes enacted when Jerusalem was besieged by the Romans, and intestine feuds filled the city... read more

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