Zechariah11

Zechariah 11 opens with a prophecy of destruction upon the land and its corrupt leaders, symbolized by the falling cedars of Lebanon. The LORD then commissions Zechariah to shepherd a doomed flock, representing His own ministry and subsequent rejection by His people. This rejection is marked by the breaking of two staves, "Beauty" and "Bands," and the payment of thirty pieces of silver, foreshadowing a future "foolish shepherd" who will exploit the flock.

Prophecy of Devastation and Judgment

1
Open your doors, Lebanon, that the fire may devour your cedars. ​
2
Wail, fir tree, for the cedar has fallen, because the stately ones are destroyed. Wail, you oaks of Bashan, for the strong forest has come down. ​
3
A voice of the wailing of the shepherds! For their glory is destroyed: a voice of the roaring of young lions! For the pride of the Jordan is ruined. ​

Commission to Feed the Doomed Flock

4
Thus says the LORD my God: “Feed the flock of slaughter. ​
5
Their buyers slaughter them, and go unpunished. Those who sell them say, ‘Blessed be the LORD, for I am rich;’ and their own shepherds don’t pity them. ​
6
For I will no more pity the inhabitants of the land,” says the LORD; “but, behold, I will deliver the men everyone into his neighbor’s hand, and into the hand of his king. They will strike the land, and out of their hand I will not deliver them.” ​

The Symbolic Acts of the True Shepherd

7
So I fed the flock of slaughter, especially the oppressed of the flock. I took for myself two staffs. The one I called “Favor”, and the other I called “Union”, and I fed the flock. ​
8
I cut off the three shepherds in one month; for my soul was weary of them, and their soul also loathed me. ​
9
Then I said, “I will not feed you. That which dies, let it die; and that which is to be cut off, let it be cut off; and let those who are left eat each other’s flesh.” ​
10
I took my staff Favor, and cut it apart, that I might break my covenant that I had made with all the peoples. ​
11
It was broken in that day; and thus the poor of the flock that listened to me knew that it was the LORD’s word. ​
12
I said to them, “If you think it best, give me my wages; and if not, keep them.” So they weighed for my wages thirty pieces of silver. ​
13
The LORD said to me, “Throw it to the potter, the handsome price that I was valued at by them!” I took the thirty pieces of silver, and threw them to the potter, in the LORD’s house. ​
14
Then I cut apart my other staff, even Union, that I might break the brotherhood between Judah and Israel. ​

The Coming of the Worthless Shepherd

15
The LORD said to me, “Take for yourself yet again the equipment of a foolish shepherd. ​
16
For, behold, I will raise up a shepherd in the land, who will not visit those who are cut off, neither will seek those who are scattered, nor heal that which is broken, nor feed that which is sound; but he will eat the flesh of the fat sheep, and will tear their hoofs in pieces. ​
17
Woe to the worthless shepherd who leaves the flock! The sword will be on his arm, and on his right eye. His arm will be completely withered, and his right eye will be totally blinded!” ​

Study Notes for Zechariah 11

Verse 1

Lebanon, known for its mighty cedars, symbolizes the strength and pride of the nation. The fire represents the swift, consuming judgment of God, likely through foreign invasion.

Verse 2

The destruction moves from the proud cedars of Lebanon (V. 1) to the strong oaks of Bashan, signifying that all powerful national symbols and leaders will fall under God’s judgment.

Verse 3

The 'shepherds' (leaders) are howling because their 'glory' (power and authority) is stripped away. The 'roaring of young lions' refers to the powerful enemies who will now occupy the fertile lands of Jordan.

Verse 4

The LORD commissions the prophet (or a symbolic figure representing the coming Messiah) to 'feed the flock of the slaughter,' meaning to care for a people already destined for judgment due to their rebellion.

Verse 5

This verse describes the corruption of Israel's leadership: the 'possessors' (foreign rulers or corrupt elite) exploit the people, and the 'shepherds' (local leaders) show no pity, viewing their exploitation as divine blessing.

Verse 6

God declares that because of the leaders' corruption and the people’s subsequent suffering, He will withdraw His pity and deliver them into civil strife and the power of their own king (or foreign rulers).

Verse 7

The prophet takes two symbolic staves: 'Beauty' (No'am, signifying God’s favor and grace toward His people) and 'Bands' (Hebel, signifying the unity and brotherhood between Judah and Israel).

Verse 8

The 'three shepherds' likely symbolize a rapid succession of corrupt or ineffective leaders (perhaps political, priestly, and prophetic authorities) whom God swiftly removes from power.

Verse 9

The true shepherd resigns his charge, symbolizing God’s decision to abandon the people to their fate and internal destruction because of their rejection of His guidance.

Verse 10

Breaking the staff 'Beauty' symbolizes the breaking of God’s covenant of favor and protection (His 'beauty') with the people, signaling the end of His unique protective relationship with them.

Verse 11

While the majority were blind, the 'poor of the flock' (the faithful remnant who trusted the true shepherd) recognized that the withdrawal of God's favor was a genuine divine judgment.

Verse 12

The shepherd demands his wage, and the people contemptuously offer 'thirty pieces of silver.' This was the price of a slave (Ex. 21:32), representing their utter scorn for God’s appointed representative.

Verse 13

The LORD commands the money to be cast to the potter. This action, fulfilled by Judas Iscariot (Matt. 27:9-10), confirms the prophetic nature of this passage regarding the rejection and betrayal of the Messiah.

Verse 14

Breaking the second staff, 'Bands,' symbolizes the dissolution of the 'brotherhood' or unity between the two houses (Judah and Israel), leading to internal division and civil chaos.

Verse 15

The prophet is commanded to adopt the 'instruments of a foolish shepherd,' symbolizing the wicked, oppressive ruler God will allow to rise up and govern the people as a further act of judgment.

Verse 16

This 'worthless shepherd' is characterized by his cruelty and neglect; he will not care for the weak or lost but will exploit the strong ('eat the flesh of the fat'), reversing the role of a true shepherd.

Verse 17

This final 'Woe' pronounces a severe judgment upon the 'idol shepherd' (a worthless, false ruler), symbolizing the judgment that will inevitably fall upon all corrupt leaders who betray their divine trust.

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