ESV Global Study Bible :: Footnotes for Zechariah 11

Zech. 11:1–17 Zechariah’s focus turns from the flock back to the shepherds. The fable of vv. 1–3 tells of impending destruction. In vv. 4–7, attention turns to a single shepherd who acts briefly on behalf of the flock but then abandons them (vv. 8–14). He is equipped with two staffs, one symbolizing an international covenant (v. 10) and the other a national covenant between Judah and Israel (v. 14). Eventually, he breaks both of these staffs. Verses 15–17 describe the reappointment (once more) of a foolish shepherd, whose carelessness results in the devastation of the flock and who thus stands condemned.

Zech. 11:1–3 The glory of Israel’s shepherds, who were the subjects of the Lord’s judgment in 10:3, will be brought low. They are pictured as massive cedar trees; as the mighty oaks of Bashan; and as the lush thicket of the Jordan. As glorious as these trees are, they could be destroyed by fire or cut down. Like these now-useless trees, Israel’s bad shepherds will lose their glory when the Lord delivers his people.

Zech. 11:4–17 Zechariah himself acts out the role of a shepherd who rescues his sheep only to have the sheep come to detest him. He then leaves the flock to a worthless shepherd.

Zech. 11:4 Zechariah is instructed to become the shepherd to a flock doomed to slaughter. They were doomed because their corrupt owners and shepherds cared for them only as a means of acquiring wealth (vv. 4–17). This represents the Lord’s attitude toward his people in the past. He had abandoned them without pity to suffer abuse from their Persian captors and their fellow citizens.

Zech. 11:7 The reason for the Lord’s lack of compassion for his people becomes clear as the sign-act goes on. Zechariah tended his flock with staffs named Favor and Union, symbolizing God’s positive intentions for them.

Zech. 11:8 In a very short time Zechariah removed three other shepherds and became the shepherd to this flock. This symbolizes a complete purging of the greedy leaders. But he became impatient with his flock and they detested him. The three shepherds probably represent either leaders known to the people of that time or leaders in general whom God has rejected.

Zech. 11:9 Zechariah resigned from his position as shepherd, leaving the flock to devour itself.

Zech. 11:10 Zechariah broke his staff named Favor, breaking his covenant with the nations around Israel, leaving the flock exposed to them.

Zech. 11:12–13 Zechariah received as his pitifully inadequate wages thirty pieces of silver, the price of a slave. He rejects the money and throws it into the house of the Lord, to the potter.

Zech. 11:14 Zechariah broke the second staff, Union, destroying the unity between the northern and southern kingdoms of Judah and Israel.

Zech. 11:17 Israel rejects the shepherd the Lord has provided. So the Lord instructs Zechariah to leave the flock to the mercies of a worthless shepherd who will exploit it for his own benefit. The NT connects the flock’s rejection of the shepherd and his pitifully inadequate wages to the rejection and betrayal of Jesus (compare Matt. 27:3–10; John 10:25–27). The Lord will ultimately judge the worthless shepherd. He will strike his arm and right eye, parts of the body essential for fighting and for controlling the flock.