_THE DESTRUCTION OF JERUSALEM. THE FAITHFUL BEING CARED FOR, THE
IMPENITENT ARE REJECTED. THE SLAVES OF BEAUTY AND BANDS BROKEN BY THE
REJECTION OF CHRIST. THE TYPE AND CURSE OF A FOOLISH SHEPHERD._
_Before Christ 517._
THIS chapter contains a prophesy of a very different cast from the
foregoing.... [ Continue Reading ]
OPEN THY DOORS, &C.— This manner of expression sufficiently shews,
that Lebanon itself is not addressed, which had no doors, or gates;
but the temple, built of the cedars of Lebanon. In the three preceding
Chapter s, Zechariah spoke of the advantages and prosperities of Judah
and Jerusalem, after th... [ Continue Reading ]
HOWL, FIR-TREE— _O fir-tree; because the cedar is fallen, because,_
&c. _Howl, O ye oaks of Bashan, because the defenced forest is
overthrown._ Houbigant. When any apologue or fable became celebrated
for the art and beauty of its composition, or for some extraordinary
efficacy in its application, it... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR THE PRIDE OF JORDAN IS SPOILED— _Because the waters of Jordan
have overflowed,_ so that the lions can no more rest among its reeds,
and on its banks; that is, no place in Judaea is safe whither the
warriors and great men may betake themselves. Houbigant. Dr. Blayney
observes, that by "the pride... [ Continue Reading ]
FEED THE FLOCK OF THE SLAUGHTER— Or _the flock prepared for
slaughter._ That flock is so described in the next verse, as to make
it evident that a flock not of _sheep,_ but of _men,_ is meant, and
consequently an allegorical shepherd. Zechariah was not only of a
priestly family, but one of the chief... [ Continue Reading ]
AND HOLD THEMSELVES NOT GUILTY— _And repent not,_ or _are not
ashamed._ See Jeremiah 2:3; Jeremiah 50:7. Hosea 5:15. The Romans are
here referred to, who, at the time of the coming of the great Shepherd
of the sheep, the Messiah, had reduced the Jews under their power,
whom they bought and sold as t... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR I WILL NO MORE PITY, &C.— It is a remark which deserves
attention, that the prophets representing two persons, the Word, or
the Messiah, and themselves, in the very same discourses, will
sometimes speak of themselves, and at other times in the character
that they are commanded to assume; of this... [ Continue Reading ]
AND I WILL FEED, &C.— In Ezekiel 37:16 the prophet writes the names
of the tribes upon two sticks, which, joined together, aptly express
the union of all the tribes. But here the prophet takes the shepherd's
_crook,_ or _staff,_ to shew the office and power of the Messiah; the
_Logos,_ or Word; for,... [ Continue Reading ]
THREE SHEPHERDS ALSO—IN ONE MONTH— The _great Shepherd,_ the
Messiah, goes on to speak, agreeably to the ancient custom, of hiring
shepherds for a month. The priests were frequently changed among the
Jews during the latter part of their polity or commonwealth; whence
the priesthood became venal, or... [ Continue Reading ]
THEN SAID I, &C.— These are the words of the Messiah to the priests
of his time, whom he quickly forsook, and broke his staff of
_loveliness_ or _delight,_ being no longer inclined to spare them, nor
to restrain the people from oppressing the Jewish nation, as he had
before restrained them by that c... [ Continue Reading ]
AND IT WAS BROKEN, &C.— _But when this was broken in that day, the
poor_ or _meek of the flock, as also those who watched with me, knew
that this was the word of the Lord._ The prophet calls those who
followed the true Shepherd, _the poor,_ or _meek of the flock;_ but
_those who watched,_ priests an... [ Continue Reading ]
AND I SAID, &C.— _Afterwards I said unto them, if this pleaseth you,
give me my hire; if not, forbear: so,_ &c. Zechariah 11:13. _And the
Lord said unto me, cast it to the potter,_ [namely,] _this very goodly
valuation which they made of me._ The Messiah speaks this to the
chief-priests and rulers o... [ Continue Reading ]
THEN I CUT ASUNDER, &C.— From the time that the people returned from
Babylon, the Jews and Israelites had formed one society both of
religion and polity, which society continued till the last destruction
of Jerusalem, when, the Jewish kingdom being subverted, _the bands
were broken,_ and a disunion... [ Continue Reading ]
TAKE UNTO THEE YET THE INSTRUMENTS OF A FOOLISH SHEPHERD— The
prophet follows the order of time, that he may foretel the madness and
blindness of the shepherds, or of the priests and rulers of the Jewish
nation, till the last destruction of Jerusalem; who not only
disregarded religion, and the safet... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR, LO,—WHICH SHALL NOT VISIT, &C.— _For lo,—who will not look
after those that are perishing, nor seek the wandering one, nor heal
the broken, nor carry the restive or the weary; but will eat the flesh
of the fat one, and pluck off their hoofs._ The unwise and wicked
shepherd, instead of being ten... [ Continue Reading ]