Zec 10:1-11:3 | TNotes | STEP | Summary for Zech 10:1-11:3: 10:1–11:3 God will strengthen his people by his power and restore them because of his compassion (10:6 , 12 ). With its references to shepherds (10:2-3 ; 11:3 ), the passage prepares for the following allegory of the good and evil shepherds (11:4-17 ). Summary for Zech 10:1-3: 10:1-3 This is a rebuke of false shepherds , human leaders who do not have their people’s good at heart. 10:1 Rain was a sign of divine blessing (see Joel 2:23 )— the Lord was the source of the rain, but Israel’s leaders had led the people to trust in false gods instead.

Summary for Zech 10:1-11:3: 10:1–11:3 ^a God will strengthen his people by his power and restore them because of his compassion (10:6 ^b, 12 ^c). With its references to shepherds (10:2-3 ^d; 11:3 ^e), the passage prepares for the following allegory of the good and evil shepherds (11:4-17 ^f).
Summary for Zech 10:1-3: 10:1-3 ^g This is a rebuke of false shepherds, human leaders who do not have their people’s good at heart. 10:1 ^h Rain was a sign of divine blessing (see Joel 2:23 ⁱ)—the Lord was the source of the rain, but Israel’s leaders had led the people to trust in false gods instead.
10:2 ^j Household gods might refer to ancestor statues used in rituals of necromancy (conjuring up the spirits of the dead); consultation with the dead was a widespread practice in the ancient world, but God’s law made it taboo for the Hebrews (see Lev 20:27 ^k; Deut 18:10-11 ^l).
10:3 ^m My anger burns: Israel is often the object of this divine wrath, incited by disobedience to covenant stipulations or by lapses into idolatry (see Exod 22:22-24 ⁿ; Deut 6:14-15 ^o; Josh 7:1 ^p; Judg 2:20 ^q; Heb 10:31 ^r).

• these leaders (or these male goats): This is a figure of speech for princes, since male goats typically lead goat herds.
Summary for Zech 10:4-12: 10:4-12 ^s A true shepherd is promised. 10:4 ^t A cornerstone is the first-laid foundation stone upon which a building’s superstructure rests (see Job 38:6 ^u; Ps 118:22 ^v; Isa 28:16 ^w; Eph 2:20 ^x).

• Just as a tent peg anchors a tent to the ground, so Judah will provide the future leaders needed to stabilize the Hebrew nation.

• Many understand cornerstone, tent peg, and bow for battle as titles for the Messiah (cp. Isa 22:20-23 ^y; Zech 9:13 ^z).
10:6 ^aa save: This Hebrew word is also used for the exodus from Egypt (see Exod 14:30 ^ab). Salvation and victory come from God (Ps 3:8 ^ac; Isa 63:1 ^ad).

• God saves and restores his people Israel because of his compassion (see Exod 33:19 ^ae; Pss 103:13 ^af; 111:4 ^ag; Lam 3:32 ^ah).
10:8 ^ai When I whistle to them: Shepherds in biblical times herded their flocks by whistling or piping to them (see Judg 5:16 ^aj).

• Redeemed can also mean “ransomed”—buying slaves out of their servitude or indentured status (see Deut 15:15 ^ak; 24:18 ^al).

• numerous as ... before: The proliferation of the Hebrew people was one of God’s covenant promises to Abraham (Gen 12:1-3 ^am; 22:17 ^an; 32:12 ^ao).
10:10 ^ap The Lord had previously whistled for the armies of Egypt and Assyria to come against King Ahaz of Judah because of his unbelief (Isa 7:18 ^aq). The two nations were especially symbolic of the slavery and exile endured by the Hebrews.

• Gilead is a fertile region east of the Jordan River and south of the Sea of Galilee that is suitable for grain growing and pasturing; it was settled by the tribes of Manasseh and Gad.

• Lebanon sometimes defined the northern edge of the Promised Land (see Deut 11:24 ^ar; Josh 1:4 ^as). God’s restoration and resettlement of the Hebrews would be so complete that even the fringe areas of Israelite territory would teem with people.
10:11 ^at When the Hebrews returned to the land of Israel from exile in Babylon, they had to ford the Euphrates River; this is likened to a second exodus from Egypt (see Isa 43:2-6 ^au, 16-17 ^av).
10:12 ^aw This verse repeats the earlier promise that God would strengthen his people (10:6 ^ax; see Isa 41:8-10 ^ay; cp. Pss 18:1 ^az; 22:19 ^ba; 28:8 ^bb; 29:11 ^bc).

‏ Zechariah 11:1-3

Summary for Zech 11:1-3: 11:1-3 ^bd This taunt song against Lebanon and Bashan concludes the preceding message of deliverance and restoration for Israel (10:1-12 ^be); it could also introduce the following message about good and evil shepherds (11:4-17 ^bf). 11:1 ^bg Lebanon, boasting snow-covered mountains and fruitful valleys, was a symbol of strength and fertility.
11:2 ^bh Like Lebanon, Bashan had superb stands of timber. Lebanon and Bashan are often paired (Isa 2:13 ^bi; Jer 22:20-22 ^bj; Ezek 27:5-6 ^bk) in representing nations that God would judge when he would regather and restore the people of Israel (see Zech 10:11 ^bl).
11:3 ^bm Shepherds and lions figuratively represent the leaders of Lebanon and Bashan, lamenting the destruction of their forested slopes, their pride, and their livelihood (see 11:1-2 ^bn).