Zechariah 11:4-14
1599 Geneva Bible
4 Thus saith the Lord my God, Feed the sheep of the [a]slaughter.
5 They that possess them, slay them [b]and sin not: and they that sell them, say, [c]Blessed be the Lord: for I am rich, and their own shepherds spare them not.
6 Surely I will no more spare those that dwell in the land, saith the Lord: but lo, [d]I will deliver the men every one into his neighbor’s hand, and into the hand of his [e]king: and they shall smite the land, and out of their hands I will not deliver them.
7 For I fed the sheep of slaughter, even the [f]poor of the flock, and I took unto me [g]two staves: the one I called Beauty, and the other I called Bands, and I fed the sheep.
8 [h]Three shepherds also I cut off in one month, and my soul loathed [i]them, and their soul abhorred me.
9 Then said I, I will not feed you: that that dieth, let it die: and that that perisheth, let it perish: and let the remnant eat, everyone the flesh of his neighbor.
10 And I took my staff, even Beauty, and brake it, that I might disannul my covenant, which I had made with all people.
11 And it was broken in that day: and so the [j]poor of the sheep that waited upon me, knew that it was the word of the Lord.
12 And I said unto them, If ye think it good, give me [k]my wages: and if no, leave off: so they weighed for my wages thirty pieces of silver.
13 And the Lord said unto me, Cast it unto the [l]potter: a goodly price, that I was valued at of them. And I took the thirty pieces of silver, and cast them to the potter in the house of the Lord.
14 Then brake I mine other staff: even the Bands, that I might dissolve the brotherhood between Judah and Israel.
Read full chapterFootnotes
- Zechariah 11:4 Which being now destinate to be slain, were delivered as out of the lion’s mouth.
- Zechariah 11:5 Their governors destroy them without any remorse of conscience, or yet thinking that they do evil.
- Zechariah 11:5 He noteth the hypocrites, which ever have the Name of God in their mouths, though in their life and doings they deny God, attributing their gain to God’s blessings, which cometh of the spoil of their brethren.
- Zechariah 11:6 I will cause one to destroy another.
- Zechariah 11:6 Their governors shall execute cruelty over them.
- Zechariah 11:7 That is, the small remnant, whom he thought worthy to show mercy unto.
- Zechariah 11:7 God showeth his great benefits toward his people to convince them of greater ingratitude, which would neither be ruled by his most beautiful order of government, neither continue in the bands of brotherly unity, and therefore he breaketh both the one and the other. Some read, for Bands, Destroyers, but in verse 14 the first reading is confirmed.
- Zechariah 11:8 Whereby he showeth his care and diligence that he would suffer them to have no evil rulers, because they should consider his great love.
- Zechariah 11:8 Meaning, the people, because they would not acknowledge these great benefits of God.
- Zechariah 11:11 He showeth that the least part ever profit by God’s judgments.
- Zechariah 11:12 Besides their ingratitude God accuseth them of malice and wickedness, which did not only forget his benefits, but esteemed them as things of naught.
- Zechariah 11:13 Showing that it was too little to pay his wages, which could scarce suffice to make a few tiles to cover the Temple.
Geneva Bible, 1599 Edition. Published by Tolle Lege Press. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, without written permission from the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations in articles, reviews, and broadcasts.
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