Zechariah 11

Verse 1. Gates. Josephus (Bel. vii. 12.) relates, that the heavy eastern gates flew open at midnight: and the priests officiating at Pentecost, heard a multitude crying, “Let us go hence.” See Tacit. Hist. v. Johanan then declared, “O temple, I know thou wilt so be destroyed,” as Zac. foretold, Open, and so forth Kimchi, Lyr. and so forth Calmet.—Libanus. So Jerusalem, and more particularly the temple, is called by the prophets, from its height, and from its being built of the cedars of Libanus. Challoner. Isaiah 10:34. Ezekiel 17. Saint Jerome—The destruction of both by Titus is predicted. Worthington.—Cedars. Thy princes and chief men. Challoner. Worthington.

Verse 2. Fir and oak may signify the cities and towns of the Jews.—Fenced. Septuagint “well planted;” ( Calmet.) or “forest, planted all at once.” Bible.—“The temple was like a fortress.” Tacit.

Verse 3. Pride, or farther banks, covered with shrubs, among which lions dwelt. Jeremiah 50:44. Calmet.

Verse 4. Feed, thou Zacharias; ( Menochius.) or the prophet announces what God will do.—Slaughter, whom Herod and his successors, the Zealots, Eleazar, Simon, and John, so cruelly oppressed and brought to ruin. Calmet.

Verse 6. Hand. This alludes to the last siege of Jerusalem, in which the different factions of the Jews destroyed one another, and they that remained fell into the hands of their king, (that is, of the Roman emperor) of whom they had said, (John 14:15.) We have no king but Cæsar. Challoner.—The besieged slew each other daily, so that Vespasian did not hurry. Jos. Bel. verse 2. and vi. 1.

Verse 7. For this. Christ came to feed his flock. Calmet.—But the Jews would not receive him. Bible.—Septuagint read ( Calmet.) locnani, as verse 11, “of slaughter into Chanaan, and I,” and so forth Bible.—Two rods, or shepherds’ staves, meaning the different ways of God’s dealing with his people; the one by sweet means, called the rod of Beauty, the other by bands and punishments, called the Cord. And where both these rods are made of no use or effect by the obstinacy of sinners, the rods are broken, and such sinners are given up to a reprobate sense, as the Jews were. Challoner.—The first denotes God’s general providence, as it is most seemly that all should be under him; the second means his particular care of the Jews. Worthington.—God uses both the crook and the whip, employing both severity and tenderness. Now all proves in vain.

Verse 8. Month. That is, in a very short time. By these three shepherds probably are meant the latter princes and high priests of the Jews, whose reign was short. Challoner.—Ismael, Joseph, and Ananus, all obtained the dignity in one year; and as they and their predecessors were actuated by avarice, they could not fail being displeasing to God. Galba, Otho, and Vitellius were likewise cut off in little more than a year, when Vespasian succeeded, and his son took Jerusalem. Calmet.—The Jews pretend that Moses, Aaron, and Mary are here meant. Saint Jerome—But what reference can the prophet have to them?

Verse 9. Not feed. This is the final sentence. God allowed them thirty-seven years to repent, after the death of Christ.

Verse 10. All people. Hereupon all fell upon the Jews.

Verse 11. Poor converted to Christ, ( Calmet.) who retired to Pella, (Eus. Hist. iv. 5.) as they had been warned of the impending storm. Matthew 24:1. Lu. 21:20.

Verse 12. Pieces. Sicles are usually understood. About fifty-one livres. The Jews bought the life of Christ for this sum; ( Calmet.) thirty pieces. Worthington.

Verse 13. The statuary. The Hebrew word signifies also a potter, ( Challoner.) and this seems to be the true meaning. Matthew 27:3. The prophet is ordered to bring, thus to indicate what should be done by the traitor. Calmet.—Septuagint “cast them into the crucible to see if it (the metal) be good, as I have been tried by them.” Bible.

Verse 14. Israel. The latter remained obstinate, ( Calmet.) while Juda, the real “confessor,” ( Bible.) embraced the gospel. After the destruction of the temple, the Jewish ceremonies were no longer ( Calmet.) observed or tolerated in the Church, as they had been, in order that the synagogue might be buried with honour. Saint Augustine Bible.—The Jews are rejected. Worthington.

Verse 15. A foolish shepherd. This was to represent the foolish, that is, the wicked princes and priests that should rule the people, before their utter destruction. Challoner.—Caligula, Claudius, or Nero, monsters of stupidity, may also be meant. To such the Jews preferred to submit: but they soon found out their mistake, when it was too late. Caligula and Nero would be adored in the temple!

Verse 16. Hoofs, with excessive travelling. Calmet.—They shew no pity, but are wholly intent on their own pleasures. Bible.

Verse 17. Shepherd. Septuagint “ye who feed foolish things, forsaking,” and so forth Bible.—Hebrew “shepherd of nothing.”—Darkened. Caligula was slain, and had not sense to know what was for this real interest. His wife and only daughter were murdered. See Jos. Ant. xix. 1. Suet.—His maxim was, “Let them hate, provided they fear;” and he wished the Romans had “all but one neck,” that he might cut it off. Calmet.—Antichrist, the destroyer, shall perish. Worthington.