Chapter Summary
Core Passages from Zechariah 11
Zechariah 11:7So I became the shepherd of the flock doomed to be slaughtered by the sheep traders. And I took two staffs, one I named Favor, the other I named Union. And I tended the sheep.
Zechariah 11:12Then I said to them, “If it seems good to you, give me my wages; but if not, keep them.” And they weighed out as my wages thirty pieces of silver.
The people pay the shepherd thirty pieces of silver, which was the measly price of a common slave, showing how little they valued God's leadership.Zechariah 11:17"Woe to my worthless shepherd, who deserts the flock! May the sword strike his arm and his right eye! Let his arm be wholly withered, his right eye utterly blinded!"
This verse warns of a 'worthless shepherd' who abandons the flock, representing the harsh reality of life without God's protection.
Historical & Cultural Context
The Fall of the Proud Forests
The chapter begins with a poetic and terrifying description of fire consuming the great forests of Lebanon and the oaks of Bashan. These mighty trees and thickets represent the proud and powerful leaders of the land who are about to be brought low. As the 'glorious trees' fall, the shepherds wail because their source of pride and wealth has been destroyed. This sets a dark tone for the judgment that is coming upon a nation that has lost its way.
The Shepherd and the Doomed Flock
Following the imagery of destruction, God gives Zechariah a strange and difficult assignment to act out. He is told to become the shepherd of a flock 'doomed to slaughter,' representing the people of Israel who are being exploited by their own greedy leaders. Zechariah takes up two staffs to lead them, but the relationship quickly sours as the people grow to detest his leadership. This dramatic performance mirrors the historical rejection of God's prophets and, ultimately, the Messiah.
The Drama of the Two Staffs
In Zechariah 11:1-17, the prophet moves from a vision of natural disaster to a symbolic performance in the streets of Jerusalem. He acts as a shepherd to show the people exactly how they have treated God and what the future holds because of their choices.
The Ruin of the Mighty (Zechariah 11:1-3)
1 Open your doors, O Lebanon, that the fire may devour your cedars!
2 Wail, O cypress, for the cedar has fallen, for the glorious trees are ruined! Wail, oaks of Bashan, for the thick forest has been felled!
3 There is a sound of the shepherds' wail, for their glory is ruined. The sound of the lions' roar, for the thicket of the Jordan is ruined.
Commentary:
The proud leaders and their strongholds are destroyed, leaving them in total despair.
A People Without Pity (Zechariah 11:4-6)
4 Thus said the Lord my God: “Become shepherd of the flock doomed to slaughter.
5 Those who buy them slaughter them and go unpunished, and those who sell them say, ‘Blessed be the Lord, I have become rich,’ and their own shepherds have no pity on them.
6 For I will no longer have pity on the inhabitants of this land, declares the Lord. Behold, I will cause each of them to fall into the hand of his neighbor, and each into the hand of his king, and they shall crush the land, and I will deliver none from their hand.”
Commentary:
God observes the cruelty of the leaders and decides to let the people face the results of their choices.
Breaking the Staff of Favor (Zechariah 11:7-11)
7 So I became the shepherd of the flock doomed to be slaughtered by the sheep traders. And I took two staffs, one I named Favor, the other I named Union. And I tended the sheep.
8 In one month I destroyed the three shepherds. But I became impatient with them, and they also detested me.
9 Then I said, “I will not be your shepherd. What is to die, let it die. What is to be destroyed, let it be destroyed. And let those who are left devour the flesh of one another.”
10 And I took my staff Favor, and I broke it, annulling the covenant that I had made with all the peoples.
11 So it was annulled on that day, and the sheep traders, who were watching me, knew that it was the word of the Lord.
Commentary:
The shepherd stops protecting the flock and breaks the staff of Favor to show God's grace is being withdrawn.
The Price of a Slave (Zechariah 11:12-14)
12 Then I said to them, “If it seems good to you, give me my wages; but if not, keep them.” And they weighed out as my wages thirty pieces of silver.
13 Then the Lord said to me, “Throw it to the potter” - the lordly price at which I was priced by them. So I took the thirty pieces of silver and threw them into the house of the Lord, to the potter.
14 Then I broke my second staff Union, annulling the brotherhood between Judah and Israel.
Commentary:
The people insult God with a tiny payment, leading to the total loss of unity among them.
The Rise of the Foolish Shepherd (Zechariah 11:15-17)
15 Then the Lord said to me, “Take once more the equipment of a foolish shepherd.
16 For behold, I am raising up in the land a shepherd who does not care for those being destroyed, or seek the young or heal the maimed or nourish the healthy, but devours the flesh of the fat ones, tearing off even their hoofs.
17 "Woe to my worthless shepherd, who deserts the flock! May the sword strike his arm and his right eye! Let his arm be wholly withered, his right eye utterly blinded!"
Commentary:
A cruel leader rises to exploit the people, but he too will eventually face God's judgment.
The High Cost of a Hardened Heart
The Rejection of Divine Grace
The breaking of the staff named 'Favor' shows that God's protection is not something to be taken for granted. When the people consistently detest God's ways, He eventually allows them to experience life without His special shield, leading to chaos and suffering.
The Insult of Undervaluing God
The thirty pieces of silver highlight a recurring human tendency to treat the most valuable things as cheap. By offering the price of a slave for the work of a prophet, the people showed that their hearts were far from recognizing God's true worth.
The Judgment of Bad Leadership
This chapter reveals that one of the ways God judges a rebellious people is by giving them the kind of leaders they deserve. When we reject the Good Shepherd, we often end up under the thumb of 'worthless shepherds' who care only for themselves.
Applying the Shepherd's Warning to Our Lives
In Zechariah 11:12, the people valued God's work at the price of a slave. You can apply this by asking if you treat your relationship with God as a 'cheap' hobby or as the most valuable treasure in your life, ensuring you give Him your best rather than your leftovers.
The breaking of the staffs in verses 10 and 14 shows how easily grace and unity can be lost. You can seek to protect these things by practicing forgiveness and working for peace in your family and church, rather than letting bitterness break your 'staff of Union.'
Verse 16 warns about following those who only seek to take rather than give. You should evaluate the voices you listen to - whether on social media, in politics, or in your social circles - to ensure they reflect the heart of the Good Shepherd who seeks to heal and nourish.
The Tragedy of the Rejected Shepherd
Zechariah 11 presents a sobering picture of what happens when a people decide they no longer want God's gentle rule. By rejecting the Good Shepherd and valuing His work at the price of a slave, the nation invited the very chaos and oppression they feared. The message is clear: God's grace and unity are precious gifts that must be cherished. When we turn away from His 'Favor,' we are not finding freedom, but rather opening the door to leaders and forces that do not have our best interests at heart.
What This Means for Us Today
We are constantly choosing which shepherd we will follow. Zechariah 11 invites us to look at the 'thirty pieces of silver' in our own lives and decide if we are truly valuing Christ or just giving Him the bare minimum. Today, we can choose to return to the Good Shepherd who heals the maimed and nourishes the healthy.
- Is there any area of my life where I have 'broken the staff' of unity with others?
- How can I show God today that I value His leadership more than anything else?
- Am I listening to the voice of the Good Shepherd, or am I being distracted by 'worthless' voices?
Further Reading
Immediate Context
This chapter promises that God will strengthen His people and provide them with good leadership, contrasting with the failure in chapter 11.
The focus shifts to the future deliverance of Jerusalem and a time when the people will mourn for the one they pierced.
Connections Across Scripture
This passage records how Judas returned thirty pieces of silver, which was then used to buy a potter's field, fulfilling the prophecy in Zechariah.
A detailed prophecy against the 'shepherds of Israel' who fed themselves instead of the flock, mirroring the themes of Zechariah 11.
Jesus identifies Himself as the Good Shepherd who lays down His life for the sheep, the perfect answer to the 'worthless shepherd' of Zechariah.
Discussion Questions
- Why do you think the people in Zechariah's day grew to 'detest' the shepherd who was trying to help them?
- The 'thirty pieces of silver' was a very small amount for such a big job. In what ways do we 'underpay' or undervalue God in our modern culture?
- What are the signs of a 'worthless shepherd' in today's world, and how can we avoid being led astray by them?