Zechariah 11:14

"Then I cut asunder mine other staff, even Bands, that I might break the brotherhood between Judah and Israel."

Commentators usually see in this the promise of strife and disorder before the final dissolution of the nation by the Romans under Vespasian and Titus; and this may well be included in the meaning. However, there is another possibility. This may refer to the breaking away of the true "Israel" from any further connection with the race factor. Henceforth, God's children would be accounted sons of Abraham, only if they manifested the grace and virtuous faith of Abraham. John 8 elaborated this in detail. The Pharisees boasted about being Abraham's sons; but Jesus said, "Ye are the sons of the devil?' "If ye were Abraham's sons, ye would believe in me." Also Paul noted that Christians are "the seed of Abraham" (Galatians 3:26f).

"The brotherhood between Judah and Israel ..." What brotherhood? If this is a reference to the northern and southern kingdoms of the old states of the Jews, neither of them was in existence; and the northern kingdom had already disappeared forever from human history. It appears reasonable then, that "Israel" here means the "true Israel," which no longer would be associated with the fleshly race of Abraham in any manner whatsoever. If this seems unreasonable, let it be remembered that this whole passage is dealing with times of the Messiah. The Church of Christ is called "the twelve tribes of the children of Israel" by Jesus (Matthew 19:28), by James (James 1:1), by Paul (Galatians 6:16), and by John (Revelation 7:4; 21:12); and in 1Peter, that apostle pre-empted all of the titles that once applied to the old Israel and applied them to the Israel of God in the church!

Thus, it appears certain that what happened in the breaking of Bands was the absolute and final removal of any racial connection from any consideration whatever as to who will be saved or lost eternally. This was an event of sufficient importance to merit inclusion in this phenomenal prophecy; but the disorders of the Roman period of conquest in Palestine do not so qualify.