Zechariah 11:1-17

11:1-17 | After his tender promises to the flock in 10:6-12, Zechariah returns his focus to the shepherds he had addressed in 10:1-5. Verses 1-3 take the form of a fable in which Israel’s shepherd-leaders will lose their glory when God delivers His peoples. In verses 4-14, Zechariah portrays a shepherd whom the sheep reject, signifying how Israel will one day treat Jesus. In verses 15-17, the prophet plays another role, that of a foolish shepherd who does not care for the flock (Ezek. 34:2-3).

11:12-13 | Thirty pieces of silver, roughly the price of a slave, was the determined value of Israel’s Shepherd, Jesus, both at this time and at the time of His betrayal by Judas Iscariot. Human nature disregards or dismisses that which costs them little (Matt. 27:9-10).

11:17 | In the end, the Lord would judge the worthless shepherd, withering his arm that should have protected the sheep, and blinding his right eye that should have watched over them (Jer. 23:1; Ezek. 34:2).