Zechariah 11:1-17 NIV

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Zechariah 11:1-3

In dark and figurative expressions, as is usual in the scripture predictions of things at a great distance, that destruction of Jerusalem and of the Jewish church and nation is here foretold which our Lord Jesus, when the time was at hand, prophesied of very plainly and expressly. We have here, 1. Preparation made for that destruction (Zech. 11:1): ?Open thy doors, O Lebanon! Thou wouldst not open them to let thy king in?he came to his own and his own received him not; now thou must open them... read more

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

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Zechariah 11:15-17

God, having shown the misery of this people in their being justly abandoned by the good Shepherd, here shows their further misery in being shamefully abused by a foolish shepherd. The prophet is himself to personate and represent this pretended shepherd (Zech. 11:15): Take unto thee the instruments or accoutrements of a foolish shepherd, that are no way fit for the business, such a shepherd's coat, and bag, and staff, as a foolish shepherd would appear in; for such a shepherd shall be set over... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Zechariah 11:1

Open thy doors, O Lebanon ,.... By which may be meant, either the temple of Jerusalem, which was built of the cedars of Lebanon; "the gates of which are said F23 T. Bab. Yoma, fol. 39. 2. to open of themselves forty years before the destruction of Jerusalem, when Jochanan ben Zaccai, who lived at the same time, rebuked them, saying, O temple, temple, wherefore dost thou frighten thyself? I know thine end is to be destroyed; for so prophesied Zechariah, the son of Iddo, concerning... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Zechariah 11:2

Howl, fir tree; for the cedar is fallen ,.... By which are designed the princes, nobles, and magistrates of the land: so the Targum interprets them of kings and princes; see Nahum 2:3 , because all the mighty are spoiled ; which is an explanation of the figurative expressions in the former clause, and in the following; and designs rich men, as the Targum paraphrases it, who at this time would be spoiled of their wealth and substance. Howl, O ye oaks of Bashan ; which the Targum... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Zechariah 11:3

There is a voice of the howling of the shepherds ,.... Which may be understood either of the civil rulers among the Jews, who now lose their honour and their riches; and so the Targum, Jarchi, and Aben Ezra, interpret it of kings; or of the ecclesiastical rulers, the elders of the people, the Scribes and Pharisees: for their glory is spoiled ; their power and authority; their riches and wealth; their places of honour and profit; their offices, posts, and employments, whether in civil... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Zechariah 11:4

Thus saith the Lord my God ,.... The Syriac version adds, "to me"; not the Prophet Zechariah, but the Messiah, who calls the Lord his God, as he was man and Mediator, John 20:17 for what follow are the words of God the Father to him, calling upon him, and giving him a commission to Feed the flock of the slaughter ; meaning the people of the Jews in general, to whom Christ was sent as a prophet, to teach and instruct them by the ministry of the word; so "feeding" is interpreted of... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Zechariah 11:5

Whose possessors slay them, and hold themselves not guilty ,.... Not the Romans after Christ came, into whose hands they were delivered, and by whom they were slain in great numbers, not accounting it any sin to put them to death; but the priests, Scribes, Pharisees, and doctors, among the Jews, who ruined and destroyed their souls, by feeding them with poisonous doctrines; teaching them the commandments of men, and to observe the traditions of the elders; and to seek for life and salvation... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Zechariah 11:6

For I will no more pity the inhabitants of the land, saith the Lord ,.... Or spare them; but cause his wrath to come upon them to the uttermost, as it did at the time of Jerusalem's destruction by the Romans; but, lo, I will deliver the men everyone into his neighbour's hand ; this seems to refer to the factions and divisions among themselves during the siege of Jerusalem, when multitudes fell into the hands of the zealots, and heads of parties, and perished by them: and into the hand... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Zechariah 11:7

And I will feed the flock of slaughter ,.... According to the call and commission he had from his divine Father, Zechariah 11:4 he determines to do as it was enjoined him, and as he had undertook: even you, O poor of the flock ; besides the people of the Jews in general, to whom Christ was sent, and he came to feed, there were a small remnant, according to the election of grace, he had a special regard for; and whom he fed by the word and ordinances with himself, the bread of life;... read more

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Zechariah 11:1-3

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

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Zechariah 11:15-17

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Zechariah 11:1

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Zechariah 11:2

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Zechariah 11:3

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Zechariah 11:4

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Zechariah 11:5

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Zechariah 11:6

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Zechariah 11:7

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