Zechariah 11:1-3

CHAPTER XL

A PARABLE OF SHEPHERDS

RUIN OF HOSTILE POWERS. Zechariah 11:1-3

RV. Open thy doors, O Lebanon, that the fire may devour thy cedars. Wail, O fir-tree, for the cedar is fallen, because the goodly ones are destroyed: wail, O ye oaks of Bashan, for the strong forest is come down. 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 laid waste.

LXX. Open thy doors, O Libanus, and let the fire devour thy cedars. Let the pine howl, because the cedar has fallen; for the mighty men have been greatly afflicted: howl, ye oaks of the land of Basan; for the thickly planted forest has been torn down. There is a voice of the shepherds mourning; for their greatness is brought low: a voice of roaring lions; for the pride of Jordan is brought down.

COMMENTS

It has been suggested that these verses alluding to Bashan and Lebanon describe an invasion of Israel. Bearing in mind the context (uninterrupted in the original text by a chapter heading or number) this seems very unlikely. It is more likely a threat of destruction against the enemies of Judah, particularly since great forests are used occasionally to symbolize military power (cp. Isaiah 10:34). The shepherds of verse three are the leaders of these hostile powers. Devouring fire (Zechariah 11:1), symbol of irremediable destruction, is to come swiftly upon those powers whose rulers would then howl in despair like the lions driven out of the jungle along the Jordan.

The entire passage (Zechariah 10:3 to Zechariah 11:3) is designed to point up the difference between the Jewish nation and its Gentile neighbors, especially those who have historically oppressed the Jews. It looks forward to the day when the shoe will be on the other foot. This could only happen when the Jews, both northern and southern, were returned to their homelands and established as an independent state.

Chapter XLQuestions

A Parable of Shepherds

1.

Discuss the symbolism of the forests in Zechariah 11:1-3.

2.

Of what is fire symbolic in verse one?

3.

The entire passage (Zechariah 10:3 to Zechariah 11:3) is designed to point up the difference between ___________________ and _________________.

4.

Between the time of Zechariah and the establishment of the Jewish people as described in chapter ten, there was to be _________________.

5.

Zechariah 11:12-13 is applied literally to _________________ in Matthew 26:5; Matthew 27:9-10.

6.

Explain the allegory of the flock and the shepherd in this passage.

7.

Why does God promise to sever His covenant relationship to the Jews?

8.

What is meant by flock of slaughter?

9.

What is described in verse six?

10.

Review the events leading to the destruction of Jerusalem in 70 A.D. and 135 A.C.

11.

Who was Bar Cocheba?

12.

What is the symbolism of the two staffs?

13.

Who fulfills the picture of the good shepherd in this passage? (Compare John 10:11)

14.

Why, in verse nine, does the shepherd decide to let the flock die rather than feed it?

15.

What was symbolized in the breaking of the two staffs?

16.

God's patience was mistaken by the Jews as _________________.

17.

In the intervening years between the Babylonian exile and the coming of Jesus, the concern of the Jews turned completely from _________________ to _________________.

18.

A covenant is always _________________.

19.

The final act of unfaithfulness came when _________________.

20.

Instead of paying him his due, the people

_________________ him and sold him.

21.

What is the significance of the thirty pieces of silver?

22.

How does the disposal of the blood money by Judas demonstrate the accuracy of Zechariah's prediction?

23.

What happened to the Jewish people immediately following the destruction of Jerusalem in 135 A.D.?