Read Zechariah 11 and 12 at Bible Gateway.
Hebrew paragraph divisions
Zec 11:1-3 {p} Prophecy against Lebanon/ Wail, cypress + oaks, for the cedar has fallen
Zec 11:4-11 {s} The flock of slaughter, their shepherds replaced, two staffs of Grace + Bonds, but Grace broken
Zec 11:12-14 {p} Thirty pieces of silver, the price set upon YHVH/ Bonds broken
Zec 11:15-17 {p} A worthless shepherd raised up, who leaves the flock, but woe unto him
Zec 12:1-13:6 {p} The nations gathered against Jerusalem, YHVH will defend her/ her repentance
6TH PROPHETIC MESSAGE: Zec 11:4-17 {s+p+p} chiastic structure
1a) Zec 11:4-9, Worthless owners + shepherds without pity/ implements of the worthy shepherd: Beauty + Bonds;
1a) Zec 11:4-6 Worthless owners + shepherds without pity, therefore YHVH will not pity them;
1b) Zec 11:7a, So I fed the flock of slaughter, in particular the poor of the flock;
central axis) Zec 11:7b, I took two staffs: Beauty (Grace), and the other I called Bonds (Unity);
2b) Zec 11:7c, And I fed the flock;
2a) Zec 11:8-9, Worthless shepherds dismissed (they abhorred YHVH)/ YHVH will not feed them;
1b) Zec 11:10-11 {s} The staff of Beauty (Grace) broken, as YHVH’s covenant with the people broken;
central axis) Zec 11:12-13, “Then I said to them, ‘If it is agreeable to you, give me my wages; and if not, refrain.’ So they weighed out for my wages thirty pieces of silver. And the Lord said to me, ‘Cast it unto the potter—that princely price they set on Me.’ So I took the thirty pieces of silver and cast them unto the potter in the house of the Lord;”
2b) Zec 11:14 {p} The staff of Bonds (Unity) cut in two, as the unity between Judah + Israel sundered;
2a) Zec 11:15-17 {p} Implements of the worthless shepherd/ he will not care for or pity the flock.
Interesting that the relationship between YHVH and His flock as a Shepherd to His sheep is characterized by the two shepherd’s staffs of Grace and Unity. When the staff of Grace is broken, the covenant between YHVH and His sheep is broken. Shepherd’s staffs, we have to remember, guide and direct in the right paths – sheep are not left to wander at will – as well as comfort – protect – the flock in times of danger:
He leads me in the paths of righteousness for His name’s sake.Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; For You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me. Psa 23:3-4
YHVH’s Shepherd’s staff, in other words, is both a rod to direct in paths of righteousness, and a staff of protection to bring comfort in times of danger. It repeats the two inseparable sides of the salvation coin found throughout Scripture: Grace and Law, Faith and Works, Spirit and Word, Mercy and Truth, Sanctification (right living) and Justification (right standing).
Israel’s covenant with YHVH was to walk in the Law He gave them, and His grace and blessing then, would rest upon them.
When the staff of Unity is broken, the brotherhood between Judah and Ephraim is broken. From this time out, YHVH has two witnesses in the world who testify of Him, Jews and Christians, and not just Jews only. (It is prophesied in Eze 37 that the two would become one again, never to be divided again).
The central axis is of the price which, YHVH says, they valued Him, to be given to the potter, at 30 shekels of silver. This prophecy is fulfilled in Mat 27:3-10, where the price of Yeshua was valued at 30 shekels of silver, and the money given to the potter – for it was the potter’s field which was purchased with it.
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