Zech. 11 The destruction of Jerusalem, Zech. 11:1–3. Under the type of Zechariah is showed Christ’ s care for the flock, the Jews; and their rejection for ingratitude and light estimation of him, Zech. 11:4–14. The type and curse of a foolish shepherd, Zech. 11:15–17.

This chapter is minatory, and foretells the ruin of Jerusalem and the temple, this second temple, by the Romans, and the captivity of the Jews under them, for their rejecting of Christ; so the times of this chapter must be laid about the death of Christ and downwards.

Howl, fir tree; either mean men, or houses and towns built with firs. For the cedar is fallen; the greater and better escape not, much less shall the meaner and worse.

There is; it is as certain as if present, as sure all these shall howl, as if the things for which they do howl were already acted. A voice of the howling, a most bitter, loud, passionate, and dismal howling, of the shepherds: literally thus; The enemy having broken in hath driven away or eaten up…

Thus saith the Lord my God; God the Father. Feed; O Zechariah, feed, comfort, rule: but rather the Father speaks to Christ the Son, and appoints him who is the eternal Shepherd to feed his sheep. The flock of the slaughter; appointed to the slaughter by different hands, and for different causes.

Whose possessors slay them; either their own governors, or the Romans who in right of conquerors are their possessors; which way soever they got them into their hands, they ruined them, destroyed them both in body and estate.

For I will no more pity: their great sins have turned away God’s compassions from them, and men show no mercy where God withdraws his. The inhabitants; the generality of the nation, the body of this sinful people.

And, or But, as the Hebrew particle is sometimes read: As for the greatest part, they are so corrupt and obstinately disobedient, I will cast them off; but I will feed, & c. O therefore, so then, because it is the will of God that the flock of slaughter should.

Three, put for many, a definite for an indefinite number. Shepherds, negligent or greatly faulty. I cut off; put out of office, or, by discovering their faults, made them lie hid and conceal themselves. In one month; in a little time. My soul loathed them; hated their treachery and idleness.

Then; after that time of his patient and vigilant feeding the flock, and after his cutting off the three unfaithful shepherds, and after the ill resentment he met with for it; when he deserved love and thanks for it, he is repaid with disdain and hatred by the people, as well as by the shepherds;…

And I took my staff, even Beauty; which I gave that name to, which was the beauty and glory of them, the covenant of God with all the blessings of it, his presence with them, his love to them, and his protection of them, and his blessing on them.

It was broken; the covenant was abrogated by the Jews’ obstinate refusal of it, and the Mediator of it. In that day: it is not to be wondered it was done in one day at last, for the unthankful, unbelieving Jew had been through many generations breaking it: now a day doth it, when it came to that,…

And I said unto them; upon parting, Christ seems after the manner of men to mind them of his pains and care for them, and would have them reckon with him. If ye think good: he puts it to them whether they thought he deserved aught at their hands, and what it was.

The Lord, God the Father, with detestation of so vile an affront and undervalue of his Son, said unto me; to Zechariah, in this theatre personating Christ sometimes.

Then; so soon as I saw what value they put upon me, or presently after the casting them off from the covenant, and unchurching them. I; Christ did it really, the prophet did it in the type.

Take unto thee, O Zechariah. The instruments; put on the garb and personate once more a shepherd, quite different from him thou hast represented. Of a foolish shepherd: this foolish people have rejected the wisest and best shepherd; let them see what one they will choose, in seeing what part thou…

I will raise up a shepherd; as a just punishment of their sin in refusing Christ, the wise and good Shepherd; his government they would not accept to their salvation, that they choose shall be to their ruin.

Woe to the idol shepherd! to every one of them that are but the images of shepherds, worthless and useless. That leaveth, casts off the care of, the flock, Jer. 23:1, Ezek. 34:2.