Zechariah 11:7

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. AND - rather, Accordingly: implying the motive cause which led Messiah to assume the office-namely, the will of the Father (Zechariah 11:4), who pitied the sheep who were without any true shepherd, and who therefore said to the Son, "Feed the flock." I WILL FEED THE FLOCK OF SLAUGHTER - or else [ 'er`eh (H7462)], 'I fed,' which comes to the same thing, as the past tense is often used by the prophets in speaking of the future, so certain, as if it were past, is everything that God saith. Calvin makes the words here to be those of THE FATHER, 'I fed the flock.' It...

He resumes here the thread of the discourse, which he had shortly before broken off; for he sets forth what had not yet been sufficiently expressed — that the ingratitude of the people, with which obstinacy was especially united, deserved entire ruin, and that now there was no hope of pardon; for the paternal care of God had been most basely and most shamefully repudiated, as well as the kind favor which he had manifested to the people. God then complains that he _fed the flock_. Some apply this to Zechariah; but, as I have said, God relates the acts of kindness which he had uniformly showed to the people, until they became wholly unworthy of his favor. Let us however remember that the Prophet speaks of the remnant; for he does not here recount the benefits of God in ancient times, but describes the state of the people after their return from their exile in Babylon. God seemed before to...

4-14 Christ came into this world for judgment to the Jewish church and nation, which were wretchedly corrupt and degenerate. Those have their minds wofully blinded, who do ill, and justify themselves in it; but God will not hold those guiltless who hold themselves so. How can we go to God to beg a blessing on unlawful methods of getting wealth, or to return thanks for success in them? There was a general decay of religion among them, and they regarded it not. The Good Shepherd would feed his flock, but his attention would chiefly be directed to the poor. As an emblem, the prophet seems to have taken two staves; Beauty, denoted the privileges of the Jewish nation, in their national covenant; the other he called Bands, denoting the harmony which hitherto united them as the flock of God. But they chose to cleave to false teachers. The carnal mind and the friendship of the world are enmity...

Verse Zechariah 11:7. _AND I WILT FEED THE FLOCK OF SLAUGHTER_] I showed them what God had revealed to me relative to the evils coming upon the land; and I did this the more especially for the sake of _the poor_ _of the flock_. _TWO STAVES_] Two _shepherd's crooks_. One I called _Beauty_-that probably by which they marked the sheep; dipping the end into _vermillion_, or some red liquid. And this was done when they were to _mark_ every _tenth_ sheep, as it came out of the field, when the _tithe_ was to be set apart for the Lord. _THE OTHER I CALLED BANDS_] Probably that with the _hook_ or _crook_ at the head of it, by which the shepherd was wont to catch the sheep by the horns or legs when he wished to bring any to hand. _AND I FED THE FLOCK._] Thes

The prophetic narrative which follows, differs in its form, in some respects, from the symbolical actions of the prophets and from Zechariah’s own visions. The symbolical actions of the prophets are actions of their own: this involves acts, which it would be impossible to represent, except as a sort of drama. Such are the very central points, the feeding of the flock, which are still intelligent people who understand God’s doings: the cutting off of the three shepherds; the asking for the price; the unworthy price offered; the casting it aside. It differs from Zechariah’s own visions, in that they are for the most part exhibited to the eye, and Zechariah’s own part is simply to enquire their meaning and to learn it, and to receive further revelation. In one case only, he himself interposes in the action of the vision Zec 3:1-10 :15; but this too, as asking that it might be done, not, as...

EXPOSITION ZECHARIAH 11:13 § 8. Restoration to their own land and material prosperity do not free the Israelites from probation or trouble. The prophet, therefore, darkens his late picture with some gloomy shadows. _The Holy Land is threatened with judgment _(Zechariah 11:1). ZECHARIAH 11:1 OPEN THY DOORS, O LEBANON. The prophet graphically portrays the punishment that is to fall upon the people. The sin that occasions this chastisement, viz. the rejection of their Shepherd and King, is denounced later (§ 9). Lebanon stood in the path of an invader from the north, whence most hostile armies entered Palestine. The "doo

AND I WILL FEED THE FLOCK OF SLAUGHTER,.... According to the call and commission he had from his divine Father, Zechariah 11:4 he determines to do as it was enjoined him, and as he had undertook: [EVEN] YOU, O POOR OF THE FLOCK; besides the people of the Jews in general, to whom Christ was sent, and he came to feed, there were a small remnant, according to the election of grace, he had a special regard for; and whom he fed by the word and ordinances with himself, the bread of life; and with the discoveries of his love, and with the covenant of grace, its blessings and promises, the sure mercies of David. These are called "the poor of the flock", because they were the poor of this world, as were the disciples and followers of Christ; "the poor have the Gospel preached unto them"; Matthew 11

Zechariah 11:4. _Thus saith the LORD my God; Feed the flock of the slaughter;_ This is a deep prophecy. It may be interpreted concerning many events, but I think it primarily refers to the departure of the people of Israel from God, and their rejection of Christ. It has to do with the first coming of Christ, and the way in which they cast off the great Shepherd, and he cast them off, so that Israel was simply spoiled and scattered throughout the whole earth. The teachers of those days were false to their service. Zechariah 11:5. _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._ They bound heavy burdens upon them, grievous to be borne, but they to

TWO STAVES The scene belongs to the first advent. Beauty and Bands -- literally "graciousness and union"; the first signifying God's attitude toward His people Israel, in sending His Son (Matthew 21:37) the second, His purpose to reunite Judah and Ephraim (Ezekiel 37:15). Christ, at His first advent, came with grace (John 1:17) to offer union (Matthew 4:17) and was sold for thirty pieces of silver (Zechariah 11:12); (Zechariah 11:13). "Beaut

CHAPTER 11 _ 1. The judgment of the land, the temple and the slaughter of the flock (Zechariah 11:1) _ 2. The true shepherd set aside and rejected (Zechariah 11:7) 3. The foolish shepherd (Zechariah 11:15) Zechariah 11:1. This chapter presents a dark prophetic picture. We have seen in the preceding Chapter s the blessings and mercies in store for the Israel of the future. The visions and prophecies have revealed their national and spiritual restoration, the overthrow of their enemies, the destruction of the world-powers, the establishment of the theocracy and the blessings of the k