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.
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Prophecy of Devastation and Judgment

1
Open thy doors, O Lebanon, that the fire may devour thy cedars. ​
2
Howl, fir tree; for the cedar is fallen; because the mighty are spoiled: howl, O ye oaks of Bashan; for the forest of the vintage is come down. ​
3
There is a voice of the howling of the shepherds; for their glory is spoiled: a voice of the roaring of young lions; for the pride of Jordan is spoiled. ​

Commission to Feed the Doomed Flock

4
Thus saith the LORD my God; Feed the flock of the slaughter; ​
5
Whose possessors slay them, and hold themselves not guilty: and they that sell them say, Blessed be the LORD; for I am rich: and their own shepherds pity them not. ​
6
For I will no more pity the inhabitants of the land, saith the LORD: but, lo, I will deliver the men every one into his neighbour's hand, and into the hand of his king: and they shall smite the land, and out of their hand I will not deliver them. ​

The Symbolic Acts of the True Shepherd

7
And I will feed the flock of slaughter, even you, O poor of the flock. And I took unto me two staves; the one I called Beauty, and the other I called Bands; and I fed the flock. ​
8
Three shepherds also I cut off in one month; and my soul lothed them, and their soul also abhorred me. ​
9
Then said I, I will not feed you: that that dieth, let it die; and that that is to be cut off, let it be cut off; and let the rest eat every one the flesh of another. ​
10
And I took my staff, even Beauty, and cut it asunder, that I might break my covenant which I had made with all the people. ​
11
And it was broken in that day: and so the poor of the flock that waited upon me knew that it was the word of the LORD. ​
12
And I said unto them, If ye think good, give me my price; and if not, forbear. So they weighed for my price thirty pieces of silver. ​
13
And the LORD said unto me, Cast it unto the potter: a goodly price that I was prised at of them. And I took the thirty pieces of silver, and cast them to the potter in the house of the LORD. ​
14
Then I cut asunder mine other staff, even Bands, that I might break the brotherhood between Judah and Israel. ​

The Coming of the Worthless Shepherd

15
And the LORD said unto me, Take unto thee yet the instruments of a foolish shepherd. ​
16
For, lo, I will raise up a shepherd in the land, which shall not visit those that be cut off, neither shall seek the young one, nor heal that that is broken, nor feed that that standeth still: but he shall eat the flesh of the fat, and tear their claws in pieces. ​
17
Woe to the idol shepherd that leaveth the flock! the sword shall be upon his arm, and upon his right eye: his arm shall be clean dried up, and his right eye shall be utterly darkened. ​

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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