Bible Chapter Summary
Zechariah 11 Summary
The Shepherd's Covenant Broken
The prophet is commanded to feed a flock destined for slaughter, representing Israel's poor. He takes two staves named Beauty and Bands to shepherd them. When he rejects three worthless shepherds, the flock weighs out his wages as thirty pieces of silver, which the Lord commands him to cast to the potter. He then breaks both covenants by cutting asunder his staffs, signifying the dissolution of God's care and the sundering of Judah from Israel. Finally, the Lord announces a foolish shepherd will come who neglects the flock, and judgment falls upon him.
Key themes
Key verses
Zechariah 11:7
“And I will feed the flock of slaughter, even you, O poor of the flock. And I took unto me two staves; the one I called Beauty, and the other I called Bands; and I fed the flock.”
Zechariah 11:12-13
“And I said unto them, If ye think good, give me my price; and if not, forbear. So they weighed for my price thirty pieces of silver.”
Zechariah 11:10
“And I took my staff, even Beauty, and cut it asunder, that I might break my covenant which I had made with all the people.”
Zechariah 11:16-17
“For, lo, I will raise up a shepherd in the land, which shall not visit those that be cut off, neither shall seek the young one, nor heal that that is broken, nor feed that that standeth still: but he shall eat the flesh of the fat, and tear their claws in pieces.”
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