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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 11:14

Then I cut asunder mine other staff, even Bands ,.... By which is meant, either the removal of the form of civil government from the Jews; or the abrogation of the Mosaic law, and the carnal ordinances of the Jews, in which judaizing Christians joined them, until the destruction of Jerusalem; or rather the ordinances of the Gospel, which, upon taking that away, ceased: that l might break the brotherhood between Judah and Israel ; the Gospel and Gospel ordinances being removed from the... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Zechariah 11:14

That I might break the brotherhood - I cannot, says Newcome, explain this passage, without supposing that the kingdom of Israel subsisted when the prophet wrote it; and that either the wars between Judah and Israel are referred to, (see 2 Kings 16:5 ;), or the captivity of the ten tribes, when the brotherly connection between these kingdoms ceased. read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Zechariah 11:14

Verse 14 There is here set before us the extreme vengeance of God in scattering his people, so that there would be no longer any union between the children of Abraham. We have seen that the Prophet took two staves or crooks to execute the office of a shepherd in ruling the people. The first staff he said was Beauty, because God had omitted nothing necessary to produce the best order of things. Now when this blessed mode of ruling was trodden under foot, then soon after followed the scattering... 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 11:7-14

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 11:12-14

A model spiritual teacher. "And I said unto them, If ye think good, give me my price; and if not, forbear. So they weighed for my price thirty pieces of silver. And the Lord said unto me, Cast it unto the potter: a goodly price that I was prised at of them. And I took the thirty pieces of silver, and cast them to the potter in the house of the Lord." Why these words should have been referred to by the Evangelist Matthew ( Matthew 27:9 , Matthew 27:10 ), and applied to Christ and Judas,... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Zechariah 11:14

I eat asunder mine other staff. As the flock, by their contemptuous payment, showed their alienation from the Shepherd, so he now, by his symbolical action, shows his rejection of them, and his surrender of them to anarchy, confusion, and ruin. The breaking of the first staff indicated that God withdrew his defensive care; the breaking of the staff called "Bands" signifies the utter dissolution of all the bends that held the nation together, the civil and social disunion that paved the way... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Zechariah 11:14

And I cut asunder mine other staff, Bands, to dissolve the brotherhood between Judah and Israel - Hitherto prophecy had spoken of the healing of the great breach between Israel and Judah, in Christ. “The Lord,” Isaiah said, “shall assemble the outcasts of Israel, and gather together the dispersed of Judah from the four corners of the earth. The envy of Ephraim shall depart, and the adversaries of Judah shall be cut off: Ephraim shall not envy Judah, and Judah shall not vex Ephraim” Isaiah... read more

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