Bible Commentaries
Zechariah 11

Verse 1

Open, to. Figure of speech Apostrophe. App-6 .

Verse 2

fir = cypress.

for. If the cedar is fallen, how much more the cypress.

the . The 1611 edition of the Authorized Version reads "all the".

mighty = honourable, or majestic ones.

forest of the vintage = the inaccessible forest.

Verse 3

shepherds = the rulers of the State.

young lions . The rapacious nobles.

Verse 4

Thus saith = Thus hath said the Lord. Hebrew. Jehovah . App-4 .

God. Hebrew. Elohim. App-4 .

Feed = Tend. Zechariah is to represent a good shepherd, and is sent to the People whose rulers destroyed them (verses: Zechariah 11:5 , Zechariah 11:16 ).

of = exposed to, or destined for slaughter. Genitive of Relation App-17 . Compare Romans 8:36 .

Verse 5

am rich = am become rich, [and therefore can sell them cheaply].

Verse 6

saith the LORD = [is] Jehovah's oracle.

men , Hebrew. 'adam. App-14 .

every one. Hebrew. 'ish , App-14 .

Verse 7

And I will feed = So I [Zechariah] tended.

even you, O poor of the flock. Reading the two words (in Hebrew) as one word (with the Septuagint) it should be "for the sheep-traffickers", as in Zechariah 14:21 ("Caaanite").

I took. Compare verses: Zechariah 11:7 , Zechariah 11:10 , Zechariah 11:13 , Zechariah 11:15 with Zechariah 6:10 , Zechariah 6:11 .

staves. Which shepherds use; the crook or staff, and the club. See note on Psalms 23:4 ,

Beauty = Graciousness,

Bands = Union.

Verse 8

cut off = sent off. They are unnamed.

soul, Hebrew. nephesh. App-13 .

Verse 9

that, &c. = the dying will die.

eat every one, &c.: i.e. destroy one another.

Verse 10

people = peoples: i.e. here, tribes.

Verse 11

the poor of the flock = the sheep-traflickers; as Zechariah 11:7 .

waited upon = were watching me ( 1Sa 1:12 ; 1 Samuel 19:11 .Psalms 59:0 , title).

Verse 12

price = wage.

thirty pieces of silver. The damages for injury done to a servant. Reference to Pentateuch (Exodus 21:32 ). This is not the passage referred to in Matthew 27:9 . Sec App-161 . That was "spoken" by Jeremiah; this was written by Zechariah.

Verse 13

Cast it. As in Genesis 21:15 . 2 Chronicles 24:10 . unto the potter. The Syriac reads "into the treasury".

potter = fashioner. The material cast to, so as to be used by, the fashioner determines the meaning of the word (Hebrew. yazar) . If clay, then a potter (Jeremiah 18:4 ; Jeremiah 19:1 ). If stone, then a jeweller, or mason (Ex. Zec 28:11 , 2 Samuel 5:11 ; 1 Chronicles 22:15 ). If wood, then a carpenter (1 Samuel 5:11 . 2Ki 12:11 . 1 Chronicles 14:1 .Isaiah 44:13; Isaiah 44:13 ). If iron, then a smith (2 Chronicles 24:12 .Isaiah 44:12; Isaiah 44:12 ). If gold, then a goldsmith (Hosea 8:6 ). If silver, then a silversmith (Hosea 13:2 ). The casting of silver to a potter was as incongruous as casting clay to a silversmith. See App-161 .

goodly = ample. Used of a wide garment. There is no evidence of irony here or elsewhere in Zechariah. The Hebrew 'eder denotes size and amplitude, as in Jonah 3:6 and Micah 2:8 .

prised = priced.

of them : i.e. by them. But some codices read "by you

Verse 15

instruments = implements.

foolish = worthless. Judah and Israel had rejected these, and later on they rejected Messiah the good Shepherd; hence the threatening in Zechariah 11:16-17 .

Verse 16

lo. Figure of speech Asterismos. App-6 , This Looks forward to the Antichrist; for one of his titles is "the idol shepherd "of Zechariah 11:17 .

those that be cut off = the perishing.

the young one = the straying.

that that is broken = the wounded.

feed = nourish.

that standeth still = the weak.

Verse 17

idol = idol's. For the sequel to this prophecy see Zechariah 13:7-9 .

clean dried up = withered.

darkened = blinded.