Zechariah 11:17

idol shepherd Rather, worthless shepherd: lit. shepherd of nothingness, or worthlessness. Comp. "physicians of no value," Job 13:4.

leaveth the flock Comp. John 10:12.

the sword To be taken perhaps metaphorically of punishment or visitation: "per gladium quamlibet speciem pœnæ designat." Calv. The particular kind of punishment then follows, in the withering of the arm and blinding of the eye.

The Second Burden. Chaps. 12 14. Like the First Burden of the Word of Jehovah, this Second extends over three Chapter s and contains two chief sections or prophecies. Of these the first reaches from Zechariah 12:1 to Zechariah 13:6; the second is comprised in the remainder of the Book.

The First Sectioncontains three subdivisions, viz. Jehovah's protection of His people from their enemies, Zechariah 12:1-9; their penitent sorrow for sin, Zechariah 12:10-14; their worthy fruits of repentance, Zechariah 13:1-6.