Zechariah 11: The Rejection of the True Shepherd

This chapter is very interesting and it is very difficult to understand because it points to the betrayal of Judas Iscariot's and it is not so clear to me how this linkage works.

We read:

4-5 God commanded me, “Shepherd the sheep that are soon to be slaughtered. The people who buy them will butcher them for quick and easy money. What’s worse, they’ll get away with it. The people who sell them will say, ‘Lucky me! God’s on my side; I’ve got it made!’ They have shepherds who couldn’t care less about them.”

The Lord commands Zechariah to shepherd his people, however, he says "the people who buy the sheep will butcher them". I don't know who will sell these sheep: Zechariah or others (as corrupted pastors)? It seems that corrupted pastors will take advantage of the sheep and they will foolish themselves thinking that the Lord is on their side.

6 God’s Decree: “I’m washing my hands of the people of this land. From now on they’re all on their own. It’s dog-eat-dog, survival of the fittest, and every person for themselves. Don’t look for help from me.”

The Lord is abandoning his people. Zechariah won't get help from the Lord when shepherding his people.

7-8 So I took over from the crass, money-grubbing owners, and shepherded the sheep marked for slaughter. I got myself two shepherd staffs. I named one Lovely and the other Harmony. Then I went to work shepherding the sheep. Within a month I got rid of the corrupt shepherds. I got tired of putting up with them—and they couldn’t stand me.

Zechariah took the sheep from their owners. These sheeps were marked to be slaughtedered. He took care of them with love and harmony. He also got rid ot the corrupt shepherds. I think that Zechariah points to Jesus.


9 And then I got tired of the sheep and said, “I’ve had it with you—no more shepherding from me. If you die, you die; if you’re attacked, you’re attacked. Whoever survives can eat what’s left.”


Here a problem: Zechariah got tired of the sheep. It doesn't fit Jesus giving his blood to save sinners.

10-11 Then I took the staff named Lovely and broke it across my knee, breaking the beautiful covenant I had made with all the peoples. In one stroke, both staff and covenant were broken. The money-hungry owners saw me do it and knew God was behind it.

Zechariah reflects the Lord abandoning his people, breaking the beautiful covenant. He broke the staff name Lovely.

12 Then I addressed them: “Pay me what you think I’m worth.” They paid me an insulting sum, counting out thirty silver coins.

This passage is mentioned in the New Testament. Judas betrayed Jesus for thirty silver coins. Judas was the one who received the coins. Anyway, Jesus took care of the sheep to be slaughtered but his work wasn't properly evaluated.

13 God told me, “Throw it in the poor box.” This stingy wage was all they thought of me and my work! So I took the thirty silver coins and threw them into the poor box in God’s Temple.

Judas is the one who throw the coins in the temple. We see a parallel but obviously Jesus and Zechariah can't fit very well.

14 Then I broke the other staff, Harmony, across my knee, breaking the family ties between Judah and Israel.

Here, the harmony between Jews and Samaritans (in Jesus time) were broken. However in Zechariah time there was Israel and Judah. Perhaps there is no order on how prophecies are fulfilled so in Jesus time, the harmony between Jews and Samaritans were already broken.

15-16 God then said, “Dress up like a stupid shepherd. I’m going to install just such a shepherd in this land—a shepherd indifferent to victims, who ignores the lost, abandons the injured, and disdains decent citizens. He’ll only be in it for what he can get out of it, using and abusing any and all.

We know that the Lord is Merciful, that He is Love, so it is very difficult to read that the Lord himself will install a shepherd that is indifferent to the injured, victims, etc. instead, this shepherd will be abusive.

17
“Doom to you, useless shepherd,
    walking off and leaving the sheep!
A curse on your arm!
    A curse on your right eye!
Your arm will hang limp and useless.
    Your right eye will go stone blind.”

The Lord is a God of Love. In verse 17, the Lord is cursing this useless shepherd.
In conclusion, it is very difficult to read this chapter and link Judas with the 30 silver coins. It is clear that the Lord wants good shepherds for his people and abusive shepherds will be punished.