Zechariah 11:4-6

The shepherd’s loving care, Zechariah 11:4-6.

4. The author represents Jehovah as appointing him the shepherd of the flock of slaughter, which Jehovah has determined to deliver from its oppressors.

Feed Give shepherding care and protection (see on Micah 5:4).

The flock The community of the Jews (see on Micah 7:14).

Of the slaughter Not a flock already slaughtered, nor a flock that is to be slaughtered literally (compare Jeremiah 12:3), but a flock that is treated cruelly and shamefully in the manner described in Zechariah 11:5, which undoubtedly led to the undoing of many.

Whose possessors Margin R.V., “buyers.” The former is the meaning of the word in Isaiah 1:3, but the parallelism favors the marginal reading (compare Amos 8:6).

Hold themselves not guilty Literally, are not guilty; meant ironically, in their own opinion; hence the English reproduces the thought correctly (compare Jeremiah 50:7; Hosea 5:15). The buyers, in spite of their cruelty, admit no wrongdoing.

They that sell them The Jews are represented as cattle or sheep that may be bought or sold at the pleasure of the owner. The sellers succeed in filling their own pockets.

Blessed be Jehovah Not only do they not recognize guilt; they even exclaim piously that they are prospered by Jehovah; hence their acts must be in accord with his will.

Their own shepherds This is a translation plus an interpretation; literally, their shepherds. The form of the pronoun indicates that their does not refer to the flock, but to the buyers and sellers.

These two are under the direction of the shepherds.

Pity them not The form of the pronoun is the same as in their buyers, their sellers; hence it must refer to the flock. Opinions differ as to who are the persons meant by buyers, sellers, shepherds. In all probability the first two are practically identical; they are persons who ill-treat the flock; the distinction is introduced only to make complete the picture of the helplessness of the sheep; they can be bought or sold at the pleasure of their owners and can do nothing to prevent it. Some think that they represent foreign rulers, but the exclamation “Blessed be Jehovah” contradicts this view. It seems best to understand all three terms of native rulers, the buyers and sellers as unscrupulous nobles or officials who oppress the people to serve their own interests, the shepherds as the masters or rulers of these nobles, who should have compassion for their subjects, but were indifferent and allowed their underlings to do as they pleased.

Zechariah 11:6 is another exceedingly difficult verse. Its connection with the preceding verse is not clear, and Zechariah 11:7 would form a more suitable continuation of Zechariah 11:5. Most recent commentators omit it as a later gloss. If it is original, it is best interpreted as a parenthetical sentence introduced by the author to explain the appointment of the shepherd. Jehovah was about to execute judgment upon the whole earth, and during the crisis he desired to have his people in the care of a capable leader.

Inhabitants of the land Better, of the earth; for the men, which follows, is used ordinarily of all mankind; Jehovah intended to shake the nations (Haggai 2:6-7).

The men Better, mankind, or, the human race; with special reference, perhaps, to the surrounding nations that have proved hostile to the Jews.

Deliver… every one into his neighbor’s hand, and into the hand of his king The threat is one of anarchy and civil strife among the nations of the earth and of oppression by tyrannical kings. It is not improbable, however, that we should read, with a change of a single vowel point, “into the hand of his shepherd” instead of “into his neighbor’s hand”; the whole clause, “into the hand of his shepherd and into the hand of his king.” Then the thought will be, while the Jews are to have a good shepherd, the nations of the earth are to be placed under the rule of tyrannical shepherds (rulers) and kings.

They The tyrannical rulers and kings.

I will not deliver Jehovah will allow the nations of the earth to be destroyed. No further reference is made to the fate of the nations, and in the succeeding verses the author returns to the shepherd appointed over the Jews.