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ZECHARIAH 11
PARAGRAPH DIVISIONS OF MODERN TRANSLATIONS
NASB | NKJV | NRSV | TEV | NJB |
The Doomed Flock | Desolation of Israel | The Fall of the Tyrants | The Fall of the Tyrants | A Taunt Against Enemies |
11:1-3 (1-3) |
11:1-3 (1-3) |
11:1-3 (1-3) |
11:1-3 (1-3) |
11:1-3 (1-3) |
Prophecy of the Shepherds | The Two Shepherds | The Two Shepherds | The Two Shepherds | |
11:4-6 | 11:4-6 | 11:4-6 | 11:4-5 | 11:4-6 |
11:6 | ||||
11:7-14 | 11:7-14 | 11:7-14 | 11:7-12 | 11:7-14 |
11:13-14 | ||||
11:15-17 | 11:15-16 | 11:15-16 | 11:15-17 | 11:15-16 |
(17) |
11:17 (17) |
11:17 (17) |
11:17 (17) |
READING CYCLE THREE (see "Bible Interpretation Seminar")
FOLLOWING THE ORIGINAL AUTHOR'S INTENT AT PARAGRAPH LEVEL
This is a study guide commentary, which means that you are responsible for your own interpretation of the Bible. Each of us must walk in the light we have. You, the Bible, and the Holy Spirit are priority in interpretation. You must not relinquish this to a commentator.
Read the chapter in one sitting. Identify the subjects (reading cycle #3). Compare your subject divisions with the five translations above. Paragraphing is not inspired, but it is the key to following the original author's intent, which is the heart of interpretation. Every paragraph has one and only one subject.
TEXTUAL INSIGHTS
WORD AND PHRASE STUDY
NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: ZECHARIAH 11:1-3
1Open your doors, O Lebanon,
That a fire may feed on your cedars.
2Wail, O cypress, for the cedar has fallen,
Because the glorious trees have been destroyed;
Wail, O oaks of Bashan,
For the impenetrable forest has come down.
3There is a sound of the shepherds' wail,
For their glory is ruined;
There is a sound of the young lions' roar,
For the pride of the Jordan is ruined.
11:1 "Open your doors" This (BDB 834 I, KB 986) Qal IMPERATIVE is imagery for surrender. Zechariah 11:1-3 forms a literary unit. This poem could relate to
This idiomatic phrase (cf. Isa. 45:1) is a way of personifying the nation of Phoenicia (cf. Zech. 9:3-4). It depicts the military defeat of Phoenicia (Lebanon).
▣ "Lebanon" Lebanon was proverbial for its wealth and power. This poem uses the analogies of certain well-known trees (cedars, cypress, and oak; see UBS' Fauna and Flora of the Bible) and their destruction to describe the judgment of YHWH.
▣ "a fire may feed on your cedars" The VERB (BDB 37, KB 46, Qal IMPERFECT used as a JUSSIVE) is either an emphasis on YHWH's judgment or an invasion from the north (possibly by YHWH, cf. chapter 9).
11:2 "Wail" There are two Hiphil IMPERATIVES (Zech. 11:2a,c). This term (BDB 410, KB 413) is used for
▣ "cypress" The tree (BDB 141) may be a juniper (NIDOTTE, vol. 1, p. 741), which was the major source of lumber in Lebanon. It was an evergreen used in the construction of Solomon's temple.
▣ | |
NASB, TEV | "the glorious trees have been destroyed" |
NKJV | "the mighty trees are ruined" |
NRSV | "the glorious trees are ruined" |
NJB | "the majestic ones have been revaged" |
REB, JPSOA | "the mighty trees are ravaged" |
LXX | "because nobles have greatly suffered misery" |
Peshitta | "the mighty are plundered" |
The NOUN (BDB 12) means "glory" or "magnificence." It is also used in Zech. 11:13 in a sarcastic sense. Here it may refer to leaders, symbolized as mighty, beautiful trees.
The VERB (BDB 994, KB 1418, Pual PERFECT) means "to despoil," "devastate," or "ruin." It can refer to
▣ "O oaks of Bashan" Bashan, in the transJordan area, part of Gilead (cf. Zech. 10:10), was mostly a pasture land, but it was dotted with groups of beautiful trees. Its name (BDB 143) means "smooth" (i.e., fertile) land.
▣ | |
NASB, NJB, REB | "impenetrable forest" |
NKJV, NRSV, LXX | "thick forest" |
TEV | "dense forest" |
JPSOA | "stately forest" |
Peshitta | "mighty forest" |
The MT has "vintage" (BDB 131, KB 147 I). BDB suggests it is an agricultural simile similar to Lev. 26:5; Isa. 24:13; 32:10; Jer. 48:32; Micah 7:1.
However, the Hebrew root "vintage" (בציר, DSS) is similar to
The destruction of a forest is used in the OT to symbolize the fall of nations and governments.
11:3 "shepherds' wail" The imagery has changed from
Possibly this poem is an allusion to the fable of Jer. 25:34-38.
▣ "the pride of the Jordan is ruined" This refers to the flood plain of the Jordan, which was a dense undergrowth (cf. Jer. 12:5; 49:19; 50:49), but is now destroyed and, therefore, no hiding place for the lions.
NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: ZECHARIAH 11:4-6
4Thus says the Lord my God, "Pasture the
flock doomed to slaughter. 5Those who buy them slay them and go unpunished, and each of those who sell
them says, ‘Blessed be the Lord, for I have become rich!' And their own shepherds have no pity on them.
6For I will no longer have pity on the inhabitants of the land," declares the Lord; "but behold, I will
cause the men to fall, each into another's power and into the power of his king; and they will strike the land, and I will not deliver them from their power."
11:4-14 This section deals with two kinds of shepherds (i.e., leaders), the coming of a godly ruler who is rejected and replaced by wicked rulers (cf. Zech. 11:4-6 and 15-17). Zechariah 11:7-14 refer to the good shepherd, the Messiah (YHWH's personal representative). Jesus picked up on this theme in His discourse on He, Himself being the Good Shepherd in John 10.
11:4 "Pasture the flock doomed to slaughter" "Pasture" (BDB 944 I, KB 1258, Qal PARTICIPLE, i.e., "shepherd") denotes the rule of a king. "The flock" seems to refer to YHWH's people (cf. Zech. 11:6; Ps. 44:22; Jer. 12:1-3). This phrase does not imply that these are faithful to YHWH, but that they are exploited by their own leaders or foreigners (same ambiguity as Zech. 10:3a-b).
11:5 "Those who buy them slay them" A Qal ACTIVE PARTICIPLE (BDB 888, KB 1111) is followed by a Qal IMPERFECT (BDB 246, KB 255). This is the allusion of the new owners of the sheep who use them for food (not wool). This may typify careless and uncompassionate acts of merchants or governmental leaders (cf. Zech. 10:3).
▣ "Blessed be the Lord, for I have become rich" This seems to be a sarcastic comment by Jewish leaders praising God for their ill-gotten gain from the exploitation of the poor and under privileged. Deuteronomy 27-29 was often interpreted in such a way that wealth equaled YHWH's blessing!
▣ "their own shepherds have no pity on them" Here shepherds means leaders. That which characterizes Israel's covenant God (compassion) does not characterize these Jewish leaders.
11:6 "For I will no longer have pity on the inhabitants of the land" This language is similar to Hosea 1:6-9; 2:1-23. Hosea was told to live his life (i.e., marry a prostitute) in order to model YHWH's love for faithless Israel. Zechariah, or the future Messiah, is also modeling YHWH's attitudes! Jewish leaders were meant to model YHWH's character and leadership. They were "under-shepherds."
▣ "I will cause" Notice another characteristic of apocalyptic literature is the "God is totally sovereign" motif ("I will" three times). Notice chapters 9 and 10 and especially Ezek. 36:22-36.
SPECIAL TOPIC: APOCALYPTIC LITERATURE
▣ | |
NASB | "each into another's power" |
NKJV, Peshitta | "everyone into his neighbor's hand" |
NRSV, LXX | "each into the hand of a neighbor" |
REB | "everyone into the power of his shpeherd" |
JPSOA | "every man at the mercy of every other man" |
The MT has "each man into the hand of his friend." The Hebrew root has several possibilities.
The Rotherham Emphasized Bible, p. 909, c., says "merely changing the vowels, the Heb. may be rendered 'his shepherd.'" If so, then "shepherd" would be paralled to "king."
NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: ZECHARIAH 11:7-14
7So I pastured the flock doomed to slaughter,
hence the afflicted of the flock. And I took for myself two staffs: the one I called Favor and the other I called Union; so I pastured the flock.
8Then I annihilated the three shepherds in one month, for my soul was impatient with them, and their soul also was weary of me.
9Then I said, "I will not pasture you. What is to die, let it die, and what is to be annihilated, let it be annihilated; and let those who
are left eat one another's flesh." 10I took my staff Favor and cut it in pieces, to break my covenant which I had made with all the
peoples. 11So it was broken on that day, and thus the afflicted of the flock who were watching me realized that it was the word
of the Lord. 12I said to them, "If it is good in your sight, give me my wages; but if not, never
mind!" So they weighed out thirty shekels of silver as my wages. 13Then the Lord said to me,
"Throw it to the potter, that magnificent price at which I was valued by them." So I took the thirty shekels of silver and threw them to
the potter in the house of the Lord. 14Then I cut in pieces my second staff Union, to break the
brotherhood between Judah and Israel.
11:7 "I" The "I" of Zech. 11:6 (as Zech. 11:16) referred to YHWH, so too, Zech. 11:7-11, 12-14. It is possible that Zechariah speaks and acts for YHWH or that the Messiah speaks and acts for YHWH. The NIV footnote says, "Zechariah, as a type (foreshadowing) of the Messianic Shepherd-King" (p. 1418). This is the fluidity in apocalyptic prophecy, which makes it so difficult to be specific.
▣ | |
NASB | "the afflicted of the flock" |
NKJV | "in particular the poor of the flock" |
NRSV | "so on behalf of the sheep merchants" |
TEV | "those who bought and sold sheep hired me" |
NJB | "belonging to the sheep-dealers" |
REB | "by the dealers" |
JPSOA | "for those poor men of the sheep" |
LXX | "in Canaanites" |
The ADJECTIVE (BDB 776) can mean "afflicted," "poor," or "humble." It is often used of the faithful being persecuted by wicked Jews or pagan nations (cf. Isa. 14:32; 51:21; 54:11; Hab. 3:14; Zeph. 3:12-13).
It is obvious, however, that the NRSV, TEV, REB, and NJB are following the Septuagint's understanding of combining the terms (BDB 485 and 776) into one Hebrew word "merchants" (לכנעניי, i.e., Canaanite, BDB 488 I, cf. 14:21). The UBS Text Project, p. 417, gives this possibility a "C" rating (considerable doubt). The same is true of v. 11.
▣ "And I took for my two staffs. . .Favor. . .Union" From Ps. 23:4 we learn that shepherds usually carry one large, crooked-necked staff to control the sheep, and one war club in their belt to fight off predators. Here, the shepherd obviously carried two large, crooked-necked staffs (BDB 596). One is called "pleasantness" (BDB 653), while the other one is called "union" or "binding cords" (BDB 287; NIDOTTE, vol 2, p. 15). These staffs stand for YHWH's attempt to reunite Israel and Judah (cf. Zech. 11:14; 9:13; 10:6).
11:8 "I annihilated the three shepherds in one month" The term "annihilate" (BDB 470, KB 469, Hiphil IMPERFECT with waw) means "to totally destroy" (cf. Exod. 23:23; 1 Kgs. 13:34; 2 Chr. 32:21; Ps. 83:4). The Niphal is used in Zech. 11:9 and 16 with the same meaning. The UBS, Handbook, says it can mean "deposed" or "dismissed," as well as "disposed of" (p. 291).
There are over forty current theories as to the historical application of this verse, none of which literally occur in one month. The commentator's presupposition is often superimposed on this chapter to find an allusion to history. See the Contextual Insights at the beginning of this chapter for the current theories. Interpreters must remember this is apocalyptic language, not historical narrative. See D. Brent Sandy, Plowshares and Pruning Hooks: Rethinking the Language of Biblical Prophecy and Apocalyptic.
The JPSOA, in a footnote, suggests an emendation, "a third of the flock." This makes sense of the context and v. 9. If this is accurate, all of the supposed theories relating to "three" people would be inaccurate. The question is, Does this context speak of YHWH rejecting
▣ "for my soul was impatient with them, and their soul was weary of me" There are several theories about the PRONOUN'S antecedents. This shows the attitude of the godly shepherd (i.e., "impatient" BDB 894, KB 1126, Qal IMPERFECT with waw, cf. Num. 21:4; Jdgs. 10:26; Job 21:4) because of the rebellious attitude of the people (i.e., the sheep of Zech. 11:9).
"Weary" (BDB 103, KB 119, Qal PERFECT) may mean
For "soul" (nephesh) see note at Ezek. 18:4 online.
11:9 "I will not pasture you" Most English translations see the "you" as referring to the sheep. However, the UBS, Handbook, points out that the PRONOUN is MASCULINE, not FEMININE (pp. 292-293). It can mean "pasture for you," which would make it refer to the "sheep merchants" of Zech. 11:7,11.
▣ "What is to die, let it die" The first VERB (BDB 559, KB 562, Qal ACTIVE PARTICIPLE, FEMININE, SINGULAR) obviously refers to the sheep. The second is a Qal IMPERFECT used in a JUSSIVE sense. The sheep are going to die. Their sins have found them out (similar to Rom. 1:24,26,28).
▣ "eat one another's flesh" This (BDB 37, KB 46) is another Qal IMPERFECT used in a JUSSIVE sense. It does not reflect YHWH's view on cannibalism, but it develops the imagery from Zech. 11:4-5. This is part of the "sheep" and "slay" terminology.
11:10 "my staff. . .Favor. . .to break my covenant which I had made with all the peoples" The symbolic destruction of the staff "Favor" shows that YHWH's attitude toward His covenant with the seed of Abraham was broken, annulled, rescinded!
The VERB "break" (BDB 154, KB 180; NIDOTTE, vol. 1, p. 828) has a violent connotation (cf. Isa. 10:33) of something being "cut off" or "sawed off." It is used in the Piel for the destruction of Canaanite fertility objects (cf. Deut. 7:5; 12:3; 2 Chr. 14:3; 31:1; 34:4,7). See SPECIAL TOPIC: ISRAEL'S MANDATED RESPONSE TO CANAANITE FERTILITY WORSHIP
The very concept of YHWH breaking His eternal covenant (cf. Isa. 24:5) with the descendants
of Abraham was shocking, but notice Jer. 14:21 and Ezek. 16:59 (see NIDOTTE, vol. 3, p. 697, #6).
SPECIAL TOPIC: COVENANT PROMISES TO THE PATRIARCHS
SPECIAL TOPIC: COVENANT REQUIREMENTS OF ISRAEL
SPECIAL TOPIC: CONSEQUENCES OF IDOLATRY
SPECIAL TOPIC: KEEP
SPECIAL TOPIC: COVENANT
The phrase "all the people" (CONSTRUCT BDB 481 plus 766 I) seems to imply the universal element (cf. Zech. 8:20-23; 9:7), but this does not fit the context (cf. v. 14).
11:11 "So it was broken on that day" The real interpretive question is does this refer to
This refers to the staff "Favor," but it also refers to the breaking (BDB 830 I, KB 974, Hophal IMPERFECT with waw) of YHWH's covenant, either with the surrounding nations or with the Jewish people. This is shocking! The faithful God knowingly turns from His promises and covenant (cf. Jdgs. 2:1) because of the people's continued unfaithfulness (cf. Jer. 14:19-22). The Mosaic covenant was conditional (cf. Lev. 26:40-45)!
SPECIAL TOPIC: CONSEQUENCES OF IDOLATRY
▣ "the afflicted of the flock who were watching me realized it was the word of the Lord" The "afflicted of the flock" refers to the sheep merchants (cf. NRSV, TEV, NJB). See full note at Zech. 11:7. The good shepherd's actions were recognized as being directed by YHWH. He was actively involved in this process of judging:
11:12 "give me my wages" This refers to the prophet asking (BDB 396, KB 393, Qal IMPERATIVE) for payment for his services (i.e., "wages," BDB 969 I) from the owners of the flock. This verse is used in Matt. 26:15 to refer to Judas Iscariot's betrayal of Jesus to the High Priests.
▣ "weighed out thirty shekels of silver as my wages" The term "shekels" is in italics, which means that it is not in the original text. In the Mosaic legislation this was the price of a gored slave (cf. Exod. 21:32). This is used of typological prophecy of Judas in Matt. 26:15; 27:9,10.
11:13 "the Lord said to me, 'Throw it to the potter'" The VERB "throw" (BDB 1020, KB 1527) is a Hiphil IMPERATIVE.
There have been several textual emendations to explain "potter" (BDB 427, KB 428, Qal ACTIVE PARTICIPLE, i.e., the one who forms metal).
Some believe that it refers to Levites who made the vessels used by the priests, and therefore, a potter's shop was located in the temple ("threw them to the potter in the house of the Lord"). Others say that it is a Hebrew idiom for "that which is worthless and needs to be remade."
In the NT it refers to Judas throwing his ill-gotten treason money back into the priests' possession (cf. Matt. 27:3-5). They saw it as blood money and could not accept it back into the temple's treasury, so they bought a worn out potter's field in which to bury strangers (cf. Matt. 27:6-10).
▣ "that magnificent price at which I was valued by them" This refers either to
11:14 "I cut in pieces my second staff, Union, in pieces, to break the brotherhood between Judah and Israel" In chapters nine and ten there is an emphasis on the restoration of the people of YHWH, but here, old scars are reopened and the union disappears!
The footnote in the JB suggests this might refer to the Samaritan schism in 328 B.C. in which they built a rival temple on Mt. Gerizin (p. 1541).
The term "brotherhood" (BDB 27) occurs only here. It seems to mean "kindred."
NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: ZECHARIAH 11:15-17
15 The Lord said to me, "Take again for
yourself the equipment of a foolish shepherd. 16For behold, I am going to raise up a shepherd in the land who will not care
for the perishing, seek the scattered, heal the broken, or sustain the one standing, but will devour the flesh of the fat sheep and
tear off their hoofs.
17Woe to the worthless shepherd
Who leaves the flock!
A sword will be on his arm
And on his right eye!
His arm will be totally withered
And his right eye will be blind."
11:15-17 This may be Zechariah play acting the wicked shepherd, as he did the good shepherd (cf. Zech. 11:4).
11:15 | |
NASB | "equipment" |
NKJV, NRSV, LXX | "implements" |
TEV | "act the part of" |
NJB, JPSOA | "the gear" |
Peshitta | "clothes" |
This term (BDB 479) is very general and refers to the items of a trade. The TEV gets it translation from "take again" (BDB 542, KB 534, Qal IMPERATIVE and the PREPOSITION, BDB 728, "repeat," "return," or "do again"), which starts the verse and implies a previous role playing (i.e., good shepherd, Zech. 11:7).
▣ | |
NASB, NKJV, JPSOA, Peshitta | "foolish" |
NRSV, TEV | "worthless" |
NJB | "good-for-nothing" |
REB | "a worthless one" |
LXX | "inexperienced" |
This Hebrew ADJECTIVE (BDB 17) is used often in Proverbs of someone who despises wisdom (i.e., a fool). It is used of prophets in Ezek. 13:3,10 and Hosea 9:7 and of YHWH's people in Jer. 4:22.
11:16 This verse expresses in a negative way (cf. Ezek. 34:1-4) the very attributes of YHWH and His Messiah (cf. Ezek. 34:11-16,23).
YHWH, through His Messiah, will restore His scattered people.
▣ "but will devour the flesh of the fat sheep and tear off their hoofs" The opposite actions are directed at
Justice will one day come!
The imagery of "tearing off their hoofs" could have several connotations.
11:17 "Woe" Less emphatic than (BDB 17) this word (BDB 222) usually introduces a pronouncement of judgment in Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, and Habukkuk. It is often translated "Ah" or "Alas."
Many English translations print Zech. 11:17 as poetry (NASB, NKJV, NRSV, NJB).
YHWH will treat the false shepherd exactly opposite of His faithful ones.
This picks up on verses 4-5.
▣ "Who leaves the flock" This was a major failure for the profession of shepherd. To leave the sheep left them open to attack and theft. Jesus picks up on this very point in John 10:7-18 (esp. John 10:10,12).
▣ "A sword will be on his arm" This is idiomatic language for effectiveness in leadership and influence.
▣ "His arm will be totally withered" This is an INFINITIVE ABSOLUTE and IMPERFECT VERB of the same root (BDB 386, KB384) which intensifies the meaning.
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
This is a study guide commentary, which means that you are
responsible for your own interpretation of the Bible. Each of us must walk in the light we have. You,
the Bible, and the Holy Spirit are priority in interpretation. You must not relinquish this to a commentator.
These discussion questions are provided to help you think through the major issues of this section of the book. They are meant to be thought-provoking, not definitive.
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