Zechariah 11:4-14

Zechariah 11:4-14

[4] Thus saith  the LORD  my God;  Feed  the flock  of the slaughter;  [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  [6] For I will no more pity  the inhabitants  of the land,  saith  the LORD:  but, lo, I will deliver  the men  every one  into his neighbour's  hand,  of his king:  and they shall smite  the land,  and out of their hand  I will not deliver  [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  and I fed  the flock.  [8] Three  shepherds  also I cut off  in one  month;  and my soul  lothed  them, and their soul  also abhorred  me. [9] Then said  I, I will not feed  you: that that dieth,  and that that is to be cut off,  and let the rest  eat  every one  the flesh  of another.  [10] And I took  my staff,  even Beauty,  and cut it asunder,  that I might break  my covenant  which I had made  with all the people.  [11] And it was broken  in that day:  and so the poor  of the flock  that waited  upon me knew  that it was the word  of the LORD.  [12] And I said  unto them, If ye think  good,  give  me my price;  and if not, forbear.  So they weighed  for my price  thirty  pieces of silver.  [13] said  unto me, Cast  it unto the potter:  a goodly  price  that I was prised at  of them. And I took  the thirty  pieces of silver,  and cast  them to the potter  in the house  [14] Then I cut asunder  mine other  staff,  that I might break  the brotherhood  between Judah  and Israel. 

What does Zechariah 11:4-14 Mean?

Contextual Meaning

The reason for the devastation of the people and the land just described now becomes apparent. It is the people"s rejection of the messianic Shepherd-King (cf. Isaiah 42; Isaiah 49; Isaiah 50; Isaiah 53). The Lord would graciously give His people another good leader ( Zechariah 11:4-6), but they would reject the good shepherd that He would provide for them ( Zechariah 11:7-14).