Zechariah 11:7 - Exposition

And I will feed. Thus the Greek and Latin Versions; but it should be, So I fed . It is the account of what the prophet did in accordance with the command in Zechariah 11:4 (see the end of this verse, "and I fed"). Even you, O poor of the flock. There is difficulty about the word rendered "you" ( lachen ) which may be the personal pronoun, or an adverb meaning "therefore," "therewith," "truly," or a preposition, "on account of;" Vulgate, propter hoc. The best rendering is, I fed the flock therefore the poor among the flock. "Therefore" refers to the previous command. It is also rendered "in sooth." The LXX ; arranging the letters differently, translates, ποιμανῶ τὰ πρόβατα τῆς σφαγῆς εἰς τὴν χαναανίτιν "I will go and tend the flock of slaughter in the land of Canaan;" some render the last words, "for the merchants." This Jerome interprets to mean that the Lord will nourish the Israelites for slaughter in the land of the Gentiles (but see note on Zechariah 11:6 ). And I took unto me two staves. Executing in vision his commission of feeding the flock, the prophet, as the representative of the Shepherd, took two shepherd's staves. The two staves intimate the manifold care of God for his flock from the earliest days, and the two blessings which he designed to bestow (as the names of the staves show), favour and unity. Beauty ; κάλλος ; Decorem (Vulgate); "Graciousness". It probably means the favour and grace of God, as in Psalms 90:17 . Bands ; literally, Those that bind; σχοίνισμα , "Cord;" Vulgate, Funiculum. The name is meant to express the union of all the members of the flock, especially that between Israel and Judah (see Psalms 90:14 ). These make one flock under one shepherd. I fed the flock. This repetition emphasizes the beginning of the verse, and expresses God's ears in time past and in time to come also.