And the Lord said unto me ,.... The Prophet Zechariah: Take unto thee yet the instruments of a foolish shepherd ; the meaning is, that the prophet should put on the habit of a shepherd, and take a scrip and staff in his hands, and represent a foolish shepherd, hereafter described. read more
The instruments of a foolish shepherd - Such as a bag without bread, a scrip without measure, and a staff without a hook, etc., things that were needless or of no use; to point out to the Jewish pastors, who took no care of the flock, but devoured them, or ruled them with force and with cruelty. read more
Verse 15 Here the Prophet teaches us, that when God shall renounce the care of his people there will be some weak form of government; but it is evident that God would no longer perform the office of a shepherd; as though he had said, that the people would be so deserted, that they would yet think themselves to be still under the protection of God, as we see to be the case among the Papists, who proudly make a boasting of this kind — “The Church is never forsaken by God.” Though the truth of God... read more
Take unto thee yet ( yet again ) the instruments of a foolish shepherd (comp. Hosea 3:1 ). The prophet, in vision, is directed to do as he had done before ( Zechariah 11:4 , etc,), and enact the part of a shepherd, taking the dress, scrip, and crook, which were appropriate to the character; but this time he was to represent "a foolish," i.e. an evil, shepherd; for sin is constantly denoted by "folly" in the Old Testament; e.g. Job 5:2 , Job 5:3 ; Psalms 14:1 ; Psalms... read more
§ 10. In retribution for their rejection of the good Shepherd the people are given over to a foolish shepherd, who shall destroy them, but shall himself, in turn, perish miserably. read more
A picture of antichrist. "And the Lord said unto me, Take unto thee yet the instruments of a foolish shepherd," etc. After the experience of the good Shepherd comes the description of the bad; after the right "instruments," the wrong ones; after the Christ, the anti christ , the person usurping the true Christ's position, that is to say, and so opposing his work. See ( Zechariah 11:17 ) the "idol shepherd"—the shepherd making himself the object of worship to his flock; and comp. ... read more
The evil shepherd. I. CHARACTER . Vain. Selfish. Hypocritical Greedy of gain and popularity. Worthless for real good. Permitted, but not approved. II. OFFENCE . 1 . Coldness. No "pity." His heart is not in his work. 2 . Neglect . Takes no pains to seek out the poor and needy. Does not "visit." 3 . Unfaithfulness, No warnings. False teaching. Making gain of godliness. God's ideal of the shepherd lost. God's benign purposes in the ministry of grace frustrated. Souls... read more
Fraudulent shepherds of the people. "And the Lord said unto me, Take unto thee yet the instruments of a foolish shepherd. For, lo, I will raise up a shepherd in the land, which shall not visit those that be cut off, neither shall seek the young one, nor heal that that is broken, nor feed that that standeth still: but he shall eat the flesh of the fat, and tear their claws in pieces. Woe to the idol shepherd that leaveth the flock! the sword shall be upon his arm, and upon his right eye:... read more
Take to thee yet the instrument - oOf a foolish shepherd - Osorius: “Yet He had enacted one tragedy, in which he clearly set forth the future guilt of Judas; now another is set forth, the accumulated scoffing through antichrist. For as Paul said, because they receive not the Spirit of truth, the Allrighteous Judge shall send them a spirit of “delusion, that they should believe a lie” 2 Thessalonians 2:10-11. He calls him a foolish shepherd, for since the extremest folly consists in the... read more
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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