CHAP. XI. V.1-3. There is a remarkable Romans expel these oppressors, when they 6 For I will no more pity the inhabit- || called Beauty, and the other I called
ants of the land, saith the LORD: but, lo, I will deliver the men every one into his neighbor's hand, and into the hand of his king: and they shall smite the land, and out of their hand I will not deliver them .
two
Bands; and I fed the flock.
8 Three shepherds also I cut off b in one month; and iny soul { loathed thein, dand their soul also abhorred me.
9 Then said I, I will not feed you: 7 And I will feed the flock of slaugh-that that dieth, let it die; and that that is ter, even you, O poor of the flock. And to be cut off, let it be cut off; & and let the I took unto me rest eat every one the flesh of || another. q 5. Is. 27:11. Ez. 8:18. 9:10. Hos. 1:6. Matt. 18:33-35. 22: 7. 23.35-38. Luke 19:43,44. 21:22-24.1 Thes. 2:16. Heb. 10:26-31. Jam. 2:13.
9,14. 8:10. Is. 3:5. 9:19-21. Jer. 13:14. Mic. 7:2-7. Hag. 2:22. Matt. 10:21,34-36.24: 10. Luke 12:52,53, 21:16,17.
* Heb. make to be found.
t Mal. 4:6.
2 staves: the * one I u Ps. 50:22. Hos. 2:10. Mic. 5:8. 6:14. Heb. 2:3. 10:26,27. x 4,11. 13:8,9.
† Or, verily the poor. y Is. 11:4. 61:1. Jer. 5:4,5. Zeph. 3:12. Matt. 11:5. Mark 12:37. Jam. 2:5.
z 10,14. Lev. 27:32. 1 Sam. 17: 40,43. Ps. 23:4.
wasted the land. (Marg. Ref. d-h.- Notes , 4-9, υυ . 5,8. 15-17. Is . 56:9-12. Jer . 49:19,20. Ez . 19:2-9. 20:45-48. 22:25-28. Mic . 3:812. Zeph . 3:1-4. Matt . 23:34,36. Acts 7:51-53. 1 Thes . 2:13—16. Јат . 5:1-6.)
V.4-6. It is evident, that the prophet performed some symbolical actions, as emblems of the events predicted: but doubtless Christ was here especially intended. The Father (whom as Man he acknowledged to be the LORD his God, John 20:17.) appointed him as "the good Shepherd" to feed the flock, just before it was given up to the slaughter.
"He came to seek and save the lost;" and his personal ministry was among "the lost sheep of the house of Israel." His labors, doctrines, and miracles were calculated to reform and preserve the people: yet they eventually occasioned the ruin of the nation; and he seemed to feed them for the slaughter. ( Marg . Ref . i-1.- Notes , 7-9. Is . 40:9-11. Jer . 23:1,2. Ez . 34:2-6,17-22.
Mic . 3:1-4,9-12.) Their rulers and teachers, who bore the pastoral office, deceived, oppressed, and devoured the people, without shame or remorse: nay, they boasted of their own righteousness, and hypocritically praised God for making them rich; as if he had concurred in their unmerciful oppressions! ( Marg . Ref . n-p.- Notes , Hos . 12: 7-9.
John 16:1-5, ч . 1.10-13. 1 Tim . 6:6-10, vv. 9,10. 2 Pet . 2:1-3.) Therefore the Lord determined to shew them no more pity, than they had done the people: and as the nation in general was extremely corrupt, and concurred in rejecting Christ; so he would involve them in one common calamity; (except "a remnant according to the election of grace;" Note , Rom . 11:1-6.) and the people would both be given up to destroy one another by furious intestine dissensions, and be left in the power of the Roman emperor, whom they acknowledged as their only king, when they demanded the crucifixion of Christ their true King. ( Marg . and Marg.
Ref . q-t.-Notes, Is . 27:7-11, v. 11. Dan . 9:25-27, υυ . 26,27. Mal . 4:4-6, v. 6. Matl . 10:21,22. 22:1-10, v . 7. 24:6-14. John 19:13-18, υ . 15. Heb . 10:26-31.)-Idolatry is not here mentioned among the sins of the Jews, in the times predicted; but covetousness and hypocrisy are specified; which, with the context, fully proves, that the destruction of Jerusalem by the Romans was intended. He 'noteth the hypocrites, which have ever the 'name of God in their mouths, though in their 'life and doings they deny God! attributing 'their gain to God's blessing, which cometh
Or, Binders. John 10:16. Eph. 2:13-16.
b Hos. 5:7. Matt. 23:34-36.24: 50,51.
c Lev. 26:11,30,44. Deut. 32: 19. Ps. 5:5. 78:59. 106:40. Jer. 12:8. 14:21. Hos. 9:15. Heb. 10:38,
Heb. was straitened for. Luke 12:50.
7:7. 15:18,23-25.
e Jer. 25:33,39. Matt. 13:10,11. 21:43. 23:38,39. John 8:21,24. 12:35. Acts 13:46,47. 28:2628.
f Ps. 69:22-28. Jer. 15:2,3. 43:11. Matt. 15:14. 21:19. Rev. 22:11.
g Deut. 28:53-56. Is. 9:1921. Jer. 19:9. Ez. 5:10.
d Is. 49:7. Luke 19:14. John | || Heb. his fellow, or, neighbor.
prayers; therefore ye shall receive the greater damnation." (Nole, Matt . 23:14.) Some suppose the Romans, when selling the captive Jews for slaves, to be meant: but the language far better suits the covetous, oppressing, hypocritical scribes and Pharisees. The Jews presumptuously expected, that God would deliver his worshippers, city, and temple from the Roman idolaters: they had no prophet sent expressly to declare the contrary, as in the siege of the city by the Chaldeans; and they had forgotten or explained away these ancient predictions, and scorned the warnings of Christ and his disciples. But the event, and their condition for above seventeen hundred years, have abundantly shewn the fallaciousness of their hopes.
V.7-9. The good Shepherd, by his forerunner John the Baptist, and personally, and by his apostles, would "feed the flock of slaughter;" but his attention would chiefly be directed to the "poor of the flock," among whom a remnant would be preserved from the common ruin of the nation. ( Marg . and Marg . Ref . z, y. See on Note , 4-6.- Notes , Is . 11:2 -5.61:1-3. Zeph . 3:11-13, v. 12. Matt . 11:2 -6, v . 5. Luke 4:16-19.) Some by "the flock of slaughter," understand the poor and oppressed, who were "counted as sheep for the slaughter" by their cruel oppressors.
As an emblem of his thus feeding the flock, it is probable, that the prophet "took two staves," such as were generally used by shepherds: one of these he called "Beauty;” by which was meant the honor, privilege, and ornament, which the Jews possessed, according to their national covenant, in the oracles, instituted worship, and temple of God: and especially by the ministry of Christ, and his apostles, who preached the gospel to them before all others.
The other he called "Bands," denoting the connexion of the nation under one government, and the harmony that had in some measure hitherto united them, as the flock of God. ( Marg . and Marg . Ref . z-a.- Notes , 10-14. Ps . 133:1. Ez . 37:15-19. Luke 2:28-32, v . 32. John 10: 14-18, υ. 16. 17:20-23. Rom . 3:1,2. 9:4,5.
Eph . 2:13-23.) But it would soon appear, that they did not generally profit by the doctrine and ministry of Christ, but chose to adhere to false teachers in preference: and he would therefore "cut off three shepherds in one month." Some explain this of the three leading sects among the Jews, the Pharisees, Sadducees, and Herodians: others of their rulers, priests, and scribes, who were three orders of pretend
'of the spoil of their brethren.'-"Ye devoured shepherds, and were all degraded and cut widows' houses, and for a pretence make long off suddenly. One month seems a proverbial
'expression for a short time.' Lowth . They were set aside, when the apostles were commissioned, and sent forth to preach: and they were destroyed by the Romans, the executioners of the Lord's vengeance. For his righteous soul "loathed" their pride, hypocrisy, and wickedness; and they as much abhorred his holy character, doctrine, and precepts. He therefore gave them up, and would feed them no more: but left them unprotected to destroy one another; to be destroyed by their enemies; and to perish in their sins without good instruction, or those means of grace which they had abused. ( Marg . and Marg . Ref . b-l.- Notes , Deut . 28:49-57.32:19,20. Is. 9:18-21. 49:7,8, v. 7. Hos . 9:15-17. Matt . 15: 12-14 . Luke 19.11-27, vv . 14,27.)
Loathed. (9) "Was straitened for." Marg . "I have a baptism to be baptized with: and how am I straitened till it be accomplished." ( Luke 12:50.)-Or "grieved." "He was moved with indignation, being grieved at the hardness of their hearts." ( Mark 3:5) The word )בָחֲלָה( translated "abhorred," is not met with elsewhere in scripture. It has this sense in the 'Syriac.' Bp . Newcombe . - The LXX render it, ̔Αι ψυχαι αυτων επώρυοντο επ' εμε· (“Their souls went against me," or rushed upon me:) a striking prediction of the fixed, and virulent purpose, of the most distinguished orders among the Jews, with all their policy, power, and influence, to procure the death of Christ. The horrid circumstance of the Jews, during the siege of Jerusalem, eating, and even quarrelling about, the flesh of their brethren and children, should not here be forgotten. ( Marg . Ref . g.)
That that dieth , &c. (9) The translation of this verse accords with that of the LXX, in deference to whom it was probably made. But the Hebrew is feminine throughout, and may be rendered thus: "... She that dieth, let her die; and she that is cut off, let her be cut off: and as to those women who are left, they shall eat every woman the flesh of her female friend." תאכַלְנָה אִשָׁה אֶת־בשר
רְעוּתָהּ וְהַנִשְׁאָרוֹת
V. 10, 11. These events seem to have been prefigured, by the prophet's cutting asunder his staff, or crook, called "Beauty," when he had delivered this part of the prophecy. This signified the abolition of the national covenant with Judah and Israel, who would be deprived of all those distinctions, which had been their glory and beauty; and which virtually took place when they rejected and crucified Christ. For then as a nation, they ceased to be God's
good, give me my price; and if not, forbear. So they weighed for my price thirty preces of silver.
13 And the Lord said unto me, P Cast it unto the potter: a goodly price that I was prized 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 I cut asunder mine other staff, even + Bands, that I might break the brotherhood between Judah and Israel.
15 And the Lord said unto me, Take
n Matt. 26:15. John 13:2,27-q Is. 53:2,3. Acts 4:11. 30 .
o Gen. 37:28. Ex. 21:32. Matt. 26:15. Mark 14:10,11. Luke 22:3-6.
p. Matt. 27:3-10. Acts 1:18,19.
r 9. 1s. 9:21. 11:13. Ez. 37:16 -20. Matt. 24:10. Acts 23: 7-10. Gal. 5:15. Jam. 3:14, 16. 4:1-3.
Or, Binders. 7.
peculiar people, and their ordinances lost their efficacy, "waxed old, and were ready to vanish away:" and the poor of the flock, those who waited on Christ, "knew that it was the word of the LORD." They soon learned, that the Jews were no longer to be regarded as the peculiar people of God; and so they separated from among them, when they saw the Roman armies about to besiege Jerusalem, being well aware of the event. ( Marg . and Marg . Ref. See on Note , 7-9.-- Notes , 13:8,9. Jer. 31:3134. Ex . 16:60-63. Hos . 1:8-10. Zeph . 3:1113. Matt . 24:15-18. Rom. 11:7—10. Heb. 8:8 -13.)
V. 12-14. This evident prophecy of a transaction, recorded in the New Testament, is expressed with much obscurity; as indeed might previously have been expected. It is probable that the prophet performed some symbolical action of the kind here described, before the rulers and priests, as a type of Christ, and as shewing by what means the Jews would seal their own condemnation. He de
manded his wages for feeding the flock, if they thought good to give him any; and he received "thirty pieces of silver," probably shekels of about the value of half a crown or three shillings each. These the Lord directed him to cast unto the potter; disdaining, that he or his shepherd should be valued at so paltry a sum: and accordingly the prophet cast them to the potter in the house of the Lord; either the potter came thither for that purpose, or he was at work near the temple.
This predicted the bargain of the chief priests with Judas, for that very sum to betray Christ into their hands; the traitor's returning the money in horror of conscience to the chief priests, in the precincts of the temple; and their determining to purchase with it a "potter's field to bury strangers in." ( Marg . and Marg . Ref . n-p.- Notes , Gen. 37: 28. Ex . 21:28-32, v . 32. Matt . 26:14-16, 27:3 -10. Acts 1:16-19.) Then their Shepherd brake the other staff called "bands, that he might break the brotherhood between Judah and Israel; which denoted the dissolution of
their civil and ecclesiastical state, and that the people would be given up to the most destructive and furious contests with each other ( Marg . and Marg . Ref . r.- Notes , Matt . 24:914, v. 10. Acts 23:6-10. Jam. 4:1-3.) Some suppose that the whole was merely a vision, which the prophet reported to the people: but it is recorded as a transaction, or a direct prophecy, and not as a vision. ( Note , Hos . 1:2,3.) The rulers and priests giving thirty shekels, as the wages of the prophet; the contempt thus shewn to God himself; the money being
thrown back by him that received it; and its eventually being given to the potter; are circumstances sufficiently strong to shew, that St. Matthew does not accommodate the passage, but gives us the real meaning of the Holy Spirit in it, though some other circumstances do not coincide. And the awful and affronting nature of the messages and predictions in this chapter, and towards the close of this book, give additional weight to the opinion, that this prophet was "Zacharias the son of Barachias," whom the Jews "slew between the temple and the altar;" and his blood, the last of the innocent blood thus shed till the coming of Christ. ( Note , 1:1.)-The name of Jeremiah stands in our versions of the New Testainent, but many learned men, on very probable grounds, are of opinion, that no name was originally in the text. "Then was fulfilled that which was spoken by the prophet, saying, &c." ( Note , Matt . 27 : 6-10, ν . 9.)
eating their flesh, and disabling them from resistance by "tearing their claws in pieces!" ( Marg . and Marg . Ref . s-x.- Notes , Is . 56:9-12. Jer . 23:1,2. Ez . 13:1-4. 34:2—6,17-22. Matt . 15:12-14, 23.16-33. John 10-10-13. Acts 20:29-31.) Such a one resembles a shepherd, as an idol does a deity: the idol receives the homage, oblations, and sacrifices, but disappoints the deluded worshipper to his ruin: and the idol-shepherd has the garb and appearance of a shepherd, receives submission, and is supported at much expense; but he leaves the flock to perish through his neglect, or leads them into ruin by his false doctrine, and wicked example. Therefore the sword of the divine vengeance would rest on "his arm” and "right eye," to wither the one, and utterly "to darken" the other: for a total deprivation of power and authority, and an entire judicial blindness would make way for his total ruin. This referred to the proud, blind, and harden
The brotherhood, &c. (14) I cannot explained scribes, Pharisees, priests, and rulers of the 'this passage, without supposing, that the Jews; and to what company of men, in any 'kingdom of Israel subsisted, when the proph- age, can either the character, or the threatened 'et wrote it; and that ... the wars between Ju-judgments on them and their successors and have been their glory and beauty, till their hy-guides" and "foolish shepherds," and "idol
'dah and Israel are referred to.' Bp. Newcombe. But do not many prophecies, allowedly written long after the captivity of the ten tribes, and predicting the times of the Messiah, thus mention Judah and Israel separately? Does not Ezekiel foretel, among other things, the final restoration of the Jews, as introduced, under the emblem of two sticks uniting in his hand; signifying, so to speak, the miraculous reunion of "the staff Bands , " after it had been thus broken? (Notes, Ez . 37:15-28.) And what connexion had the wars between Judah and Israel with the betraying and crucifying of Christ?
The principal calamities of the race of Jacob began, when they divided into two kingdoms: s: on their return from captivity they all formed one people: but after their rejection of Christ, internal discords, far more fierce and more speedily destructive, than the wars between Judah and Israel, hastened Israel, catastrophe of the nation. This is quite sufficient for prophetical language.-" nguage. - " The Lord
said
the fatal
a goodly price , &c." (13) Marg . Ref . q. -Note, Is . 53:2,3.-God was despised in the person of his prophet; but the LORD of Hosts himself was also sold for this small sum!
V. 15-17. Thus far the prophet had typified the great and good Shepherd: but now he was ordered, to take "the instruments of a foolish shepherd;" as an emblem of the infatuated rulers and blind guides, whom Providence in righteous judgment would then place over the nation. From the time that they rejected Christ, and he rejected them, they should have rulers, priests, and prophets, of one sort, and of one heart, (as if they had formed "one shepherd,") to oppress, devour, deceive, and ruin them, both in respect of soul and body. But woe to this idol-shepherd, that left off to teed the flock, and attended to nothing but VOL. IV 111
disciples, be applied with more exact and discriminating justice? It indeed suits many others, in different churches and nations; and it has had an awful and long continued fulfilment, in the character of the Jewish teachers, and the condition of the nation in all ages, since the days of Christ. ( Marg . Ref . Notes , Is . 6:9,10. 29:9-12. 42:18-20. 44:19,20. Matt . 13:14,15. John 9:39-41. Rom . 11:7-10,25-32.) A shepherd, &c. (16) "A shepherd" in the 'singular number denotes a succession of such 'governors, as are described in the following 'words. So the succession of priests is repre'sented under the single person of Levi, Mal . 2: 5,6.' Lowth .
PRACTICAL OBSERVATIONS.
V.1-11.
The admission of wickedness into communities opens the door to a fire, which will consume their prosperity, however great it may be: and the tremendous doom of Jerusalem may well alarm other degenerate churches, as the fall of the cedar might cause the fir-trees and oaks of Bashan to howl.
If any part of the Lord's vineyard prove an unfruitful forest, it must be cut down and cast into the fire: and those, who have been pre-eminent in rank and office, will have the precedency in suff suffering, when all their glory and pride shall be spoiled: yet in such a state of the community, the best methods of reformation often excite so great contempt, enmity, and opposition, that they hasten its downfal.-Alas! very many, who possess rank and authority in the church, church, only consider what gain they can make of their situation; and, whilst they fatten upon the miseries or final ruin of the flock, they are too callous to feel either remorse or pity. pity.
They follow precedents, take accustomed advantages, [881