Zechariah 11:1

CHAPTER XI

The commencement of this chapter relates to the destruction of

Jerusalem and the Jewish polity, probably by the Babylonians;

at least in the first instance, as the fourth verse speaks of

the people thus threatened as the prophet's charge, 1-6.

The prophet then gives an account of the manner in which he

discharged his office, and the little value that was put on his

labours. And this he does by symbolical actions, a common mode

of instruction with the ancient prophets, 7-14.

After the prophet, on account of the unsuccessfulness of his

labours, had broken the two crooks which were the true badges

of his pastoral office, (to denote the annulling of God's

covenant with them, and their consequent divisions and

dispersions,) he is directed to take instruments calculated to

hurt and destroy, perhaps an iron crook, scrip, and stones, to

express by these symbols the judgments which God was about to

inflict on them by wicked rulers and guides, who should first

destroy the flock, and in the end be destroyed themselves,

15-17.

Let us now view this prophecy in another light, as we are

authorized to do by Scripture, Matthew 27:7.

In this view the prophet, in the person of the Messiah, sets

forth the ungrateful returns made to him by the Jews, when he

undertook the office of shepherd in guiding and governing them;

how they rejected him, and valued him and his labours at the

mean and contemptible price of thirty pieces of silver, the

paltry sum for which Judas betrayed him. Upon which he

threatens to destroy their city and temple; and to give them

up to the hands of such guides and governors as should have no

regard to their welfare.

NOTES ON CHAP. XI

Verse Zechariah 11:1. Open thy doors, O Lebanon] I will give Mr. Joseph Mede's note upon this verse:-

"That which moveth me more than the rest, is in chap. xi., which contains a prophecy of the destruction of Jerusalem, and a description of the wickedness of the inhabitants, for which God would give them to the sword, and have no more pity upon them. It is expounded of the destruction by Titus; but methinks such a prophecy was nothing seasonable for Zachary's time, (when the city yet for a great part lay in her ruins, and the temple had not yet recovered hers,) nor agreeable to the scope. Zachary's commission, who, together with his colleague Haggai, was sent to encourage the people, lately returned from captivity, to build their temple, and to instaurate their commonwealth. Was this a fit time to foretell the destruction of both, while they were yet but a-building? And by Zachary too, who was to encourage them? Would not this better befit the desolation by Nebuchadnezzar?" I really think so. See Mr. J. Mede's lxi. Epistle.

Lebanon signifies the temple, because built of materials principally brought from that place.