Zechariah Chapter 11, The Good Shepherd sold

Here the nation is presented with the Good Shepherd, who is then sold for 30 pieces of silver. This fulfills the picture of the Servant Messiah, who will die as our sacrifice (Isaiah 52:13-53;12/

In Zechariah 11, the destruction of Jerusalem and Temple is foretold, following the rejection of the Good Shepard. Zechariah, then jumps forward to the end of days, as he foretells the coming of the Worthless Shepherd, the Antichrist, which the nation will accepts. He will devastate the nation, at the end-of-days, because he does not care for the flock.

This prepares the nation of the return of their King, the Suffering Messiah, who returns in the 12^th chapter as Israel is surrounded by the nations. The nation will look upon the one pierced.

2 Wail, O cypress, for the cedar has fallen, Because the mighty trees are ruined. Wail, O oaks of Bashan, For the thick forest has come down.

3 There is the sound of wailing shepherds! For their glory is in ruins. There is the sound of roaring lions! For the pride of the Jordan is in ruins.

(1)Open your doors: The first three verses deal with the results of verses 4-14, the rejection of the Good Shepard. When Israel as a nation rejects the Messiah, the nation was judged, the Temple and Jerusalem both destroyed. Zechariah refers to the “Flock for slaughter”, which is the result of the Roman invasion after Messiah is “Cut off”. Before Zechariah, Daniel foretold the destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple following Messiah’s death.

26 "And after the sixty-two weeks Messiah shall be cut off, but not for Himself; And the people of the prince who is to come Shall destroy the city and the sanctuary. The end of it shall be with a flood, And till the end of the war desolations are determined.

Josephus who was an eyewitness of the event describes in detail how the Romans devastated the land of Judah and Israel, removing the forests to lay siege to Jerusalem. According to Josephus, all the trees around Jerusalem for 100 furlongs (20 Kilometers) were removed.

NOW when Caesar perceived that the upper city was so steep that it could not possibly be taken without raising banks against it, he distributed the several parts of that work among his army, and this on the twentieth day of the month Lous [Ab]. Now the carriage of the materials was a difficult task, since all the trees, as I have already told you, that were

about the city, within the distance of a hundred furlongs, had their branches cut off already, in order to make the former banks. The works that belonged to the four legions were erected on the west side of the city, over against the royal palace; but the whole body of the auxiliary troops, with the rest of the multitude that were with them, [erected their banks] at the Xystus, whence they reached to the bridge, and that tower of Simon which he had built as a citadel for himself against John, when they were at war one with another.[1]

Lebanon: The Cedars of Lebanon, famous throughout the world for their beauty and majesty, were used to build Solomon’s Temple in Jerusalem. (I Kings 5:6). According to Jamieson Fausset Brown, the Rabbis saw this verse as referring to the impending destruction of Temple.

Forty years before the destruction of the temple, the tract called "Massecheth Joma" states, its doors of their own accord opened, and Rabbi Johanan in alarm said, I know that thy desolation is impending according to Zechariah's prophecy.[2]

Rashi also writes in his commentary, this refers to the destruction of the 2^nd Temple.

for the pride of the Jordan has been spoiled The pride of the Jordan, which is the place of the young lions and the old lions. Our Sages (Yoma 39b) explained “Open your doors, O Lebanon,” as the prophet prophesying about the destruction of the Second Temple; that forty years prior to the destruction, the doors of the Temple proper would open by themselves. Rabban Yochanan ben Zakkai rebuked them. He said, “Temple, how long will you terrify yourself? I know that you will eventually be destroyed. Zechariah the son of Iddo has already prophesied concerning you: 'Open your doors, O Lebanon, etc.’”[3]

Cedars: An alternate view of these first verses, understands the tress, (Cedars, Cypress and Oaks) referred to here, as referring to the three shepherds (Verse 8). Daniel 2, refers to the King of Babylon, Nebuchadnezzar as a great tree (Daniel 4:21-22). Ezekiel also refers to the king of Babylon, as a Cedar of Lebanon (Ezekiel 17:3,) (See also Isaiah 14;8, 2 Kings 14:9, Amos 2:9)

(2) Cypress: Also known as Fir trees, another variety of tree found in the land. Here the tree is told to wail for the Cedar tree. As the Roman Legions approached the land of Judah from the north, the cities were destroyed one after another, the last strong hold was Masada, is remembered today in Israel.

Oaks of Bashan: Bashan is an area known today as the Golan Heights, this area was famous for its oaks. (See Isaiah 2:3, Ezekiel 27:6) The third variety of tree, mentioned here, indicating the complete devastation of the land with the invading armies of Rome.

(3) Wailing shepherds: The wailing shepherds refers to the priesthood and leaders in Judah, following the rejection of the Good Shepherd, the land is destroyed (Zechariah 10:3, 11:8). When the armies of Rome destroyed the Temple, the priesthood is also destroyed. The Temple and all its glory burned, stone by stone the burned Temple was broken apart, as the Romans searched for melted Gold. Jesus foretold this coming destruction of the Temple, in Matthew 24:1-2,

1 Then Jesus went out and departed from the temple, and His disciples came up to show Him the buildings of the temple.

2 And Jesus said to them, "Do you not see all these things? Assuredly, I say to you, not one stone shall be left here upon another, that shall not be thrown down." Matthew 24:1-2

5 "whose owners slaughter them and feel no guilt; those who sell them say, 'Blessed be the Lord, for I am rich'; and their shepherds do not pity them.

6 "For I will no longer pity the inhabitants of the land," says the Lord. "But indeed I will give everyone into his neighbor's hand and into the hand of his king. They shall attack the land, and I will not deliver them from their hand."

7 So I fed the flock for slaughter, in particular the poor of the flock. I took for myself two staffs: the one I called Beauty, and the other I called Bonds; and I fed the flock.

8 I dismissed the three shepherds in one month. My soul loathed them, and their soul also abhorred me.

9 Then I said, "I will not feed you. Let what is dying die, and what is perishing perish. Let those that are left eat each other's flesh." Zechariah 11:4-9

(4) Feed: The responsibility of the shepherd was to lead the flock, to make sure they could eat from the lands and drink water, so they might be a fruitful flock. Feeding the flock in scripture represents the responsibility of the shepherd to make sure spiritual nourishment takes place. Jesus implores Peter to feed His sheep, meaning Peter was responsible to make sure the sheep (people) receive “Righteous” instruction and direction. (Ezekiel 34:23-24, Isaiah 40:9-11)

15 So when they had eaten breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, "Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me more than these?" He said to Him, "Yes, Lord; You know that I love You." He said to him, "Feed My lambs."

16 He said to him again a second time, "Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me?" He said to Him, "Yes, Lord; You know that I love You." He said to him, "Tend My sheep."

17 He said to him the third time, "Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me?" Peter was grieved because He said to him the third time, "Do you love Me?" And he said to Him, "Lord, You know all things; You know that I love You." Jesus said to him, "Feed My sheep. John 21:15-17

Flock for slaughter: Refers to the flock, which is slaughtered following the rejection of the Good Shepherd who is sold for 30 pieces of silver. The Good Shepherd paid particular attention to the “poor of the flock” vs. 7. The flock is the generation which was destroyed by the armies of Rome.

In A.D. 70, over 1 million Jews perished in the destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple. Following this, another 580,000 Jews perished in A.D. 132-135, during the rebellion of Bar Kochba, when the armies of Hadrian smashed the rebellion. Jerusalem was leveled, and the city of Jerusalem was renamed, Aelia Capitolina after Hadrian’s wife family name, no Jews were permitted to enter the new city. Hadrian renamed the area, Palestine after the Philistines, the enemies of the Jews.

This is in contrast to Zechariah 9:8, when the Lord preserved his flock from destruction by the armies of Alexander the Great, thus allowing Israel the opportunity to see their Messiah enter the city on a donkey. Zechariah 9:9

(5) Owners: The owners of the flock were those given the responsibility to feed the flock. The owners rather then caring for the flock, used the flock for their own wealth. The priesthood had become corrupt, like in the days of Jeremiah. The priesthood was interested in their own wealth, rather then the flock which they were given responsibility over.

1 "Woe to the shepherds who destroy and scatter the sheep of My pasture!" says the Lord.

2 Therefore thus says the Lord God of Israel against the shepherds who feed My people: "You have scattered My flock, driven them away, and not attended to them. Behold, I will attend to you for the evil of your doings," says the Lord. Jeremiah 23:1-2

Slaughter them: The Priesthood and leaders in order to preserve their position sold the nation to the Romans by selling their Messiah for 30 pieces of silver.

I am rich: The leaders and priesthood became focused on money rather then the shepherding the flock. Jesus rebuked the Priesthood for their focus on money.

12 Then Jesus went into the temple of God and drove out all those who bought and sold in the temple, and overturned the tables of the money changers and the seats of those who sold doves.

13 And He said to them, "It is written, 'My house shall be called a house of prayer,' but you have made it a 'den of thieves.' " Matthew 21:12-13

They saw wealth in itself, as a blessing from God, rejoicing in their sins. The shepherds (the priesthood) did not have compassion for the sheep (the people). The goal of the priesthood and the Pharisees was to be highly regarded by men, not relying on the power of the spirit. The shepherds conspired with the Romans, who installed the High Priest and tried to maintain the status quo, rejecting the claims of Jesus as Messiah.

13 "No servant can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon."

14 Now the Pharisees, who were lovers of money, also heard all these things, and they derided Him.

15 And He said to them, "You are those who justify yourselves before men, but God knows your hearts. For what is highly esteemed among men is an abomination in the sight of God.

(6) I will…no longer pity: The point of judgment had arrived, since the shepherds sold the flock, the Good Shepherd would focus on the poor of the flock, whom He would feed. Following the Messiah’s being “Cut off” (Daniel 9:26, Isaiah 52:13-53:12), the Lord would not withhold judgment. Jesus in fact spoke of Jerusalem destruction and His longing for their salvation, not only in His day, but even before His birth in the world, He long to gather Jerusalem.

37 "O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the one who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing!

39 "for I say to you, you shall see Me no more till you say, 'Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!' " Matthew 23:37-39

Following these verses, Jesus then outlines the destruction of the Temple (Matthew 24:1-2), how one stone would not be left upon another. Almost 600 years before the destruction of Jerusalem, Zechariah foretold its fall, following the rejection of the good Shepard, who was sold for 30 pieces of silver.

neighbor's hand: Josephus reported the treachery of every mans neighbor during the siege of Jerusalem, who the various factions fought among themselves, while the city was being besieged by the Roman armies. The city of Jerusalem was divided into three factions, with the Temple and its surroundings used as base, for Jews to fight fellow Jews while the armies of Rome attacked the city.

WHEN therefore Titus had marched over that desert which lies between Egypt and Syria, in the manner forementioned, he came to Cesarea, having resolved to set his forces in order at that place, before he began the war. Nay, indeed, while he was assisting his father at Alexandria, in settling that government which had been newly conferred upon them by God, it so happened that the sedition at Jerusalem was revived, and parted into three factions, and that one faction fought against the other; which partition in
such evil cases may be said to be a good thing, and the effect of Divine justice.[4]

hand of his king: The people were given over their king, who was their king? During the trial of Jesus, the Jewish priesthood rejected Jesus and appealed to Caesar as their King.

14 Now it was the Preparation Day of the Passover, and about the sixth hour. And he said to the Jews, "Behold your King!" 15 But they cried out, "Away with Him, away with Him! Crucify Him!" Pilate said to them, "Shall I crucify your King?" The chief priests answered, "We have no king but Caesar!"

Tiberius Caesar (A.D. 14-37) was the Roman Emperor during the time of Christ, his successors during the destruction of Jerusalem was Vespasian (A.D. 69-79) followed by Titus who was the general who led the armies of Rome in the conquest of Jerusalem in A.D. 70, later to become the Emperor, succeeding his father Vespasian.

I will not deliver: Jerusalem was nearly completely destroyed by the Roman armies one part of the wall was left standing which the Roman legions used as a defensive wall, and shelter.

Now of those that perished by famine in the city, the number was prodigious, and the miseries they underwent were unspeakable; for if so much as the shadow of any kind of food did any where appear, a war was commenced presently, and the dearest friends fell a fighting one with another about it, snatching from each other the most miserable supports of life. Nor would men believe that those who were dying had no food, but

the robbers would search them when they were expiring, lest any one should have concealed food in their bosoms, and counterfeited dying; nay, these robbers gaped for want, and ran about stumbling and staggering along like mad dogs, and reeling against the doors of the houses like drunken men; they would also, in the great distress they were in, rush into the very same houses two or three times in one and the same day. Moreover, their hunger was so intolerable, that it obliged them to chew every thing, while they gathered such things as the most sordid animals would not touch, and endured to eat them; nor did they at length abstain from girdles and shoes; and the very leather which belonged to their shields they pulled off and

gnawed: the very wisps of old hay became food to some; and some gathered up fibres, and sold a very small weight of them for four Attic[5]

Josephus records the extent of the famine was so great the population came to a point of cannibalism, where a mother ate her own child, to the horror of both Romans and Jews.

(7) So I fed the flock for slaughter: Seeing the flock was destined for slaughter, the Good Shepherd fed or nurtured the flock. Like David in the Psalms, Zechariah speaks for the Lord, first person. “ I fed the flock”. Jesus referred to Himself as the Good Shepherd, who cared for the flock.

12 "But a hireling, he who is not the shepherd, one who does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and flees; and the wolf catches the sheep and scatters them.

13 "The hireling flees because he is a hireling and does not care about the sheep.

15 "As the Father knows Me, even so I know the Father; and I lay down My life for the sheep.

the poor of the flock: Jesus came to the poor, the sick, those who needed. He was rejected by those in authority, but He ministered to the poor. (See also Luke 4:18, Matthew 5:3)

4 Jesus answered and said to them, "Go and tell John the things which you hear and see:

5 "The blind see and the lame walk; the lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear; the dead are raised up and the poor have the gospel preached to them. Matthew 11:4-5

two staffs: The Messiah, as the shepherd with two staves, Psalm 23:4, “thy rod and thy staff comfort me”. Jesus was the good shepherd, who cared for the flock. He came to minister to Israel, as the shepherd comes to His flock. The two staffs represent the glory of the covenant relationship with the nation, both Judah and Israel.

Beauty (~[nNo`am) meaning, kindness, pleasantness, delightfulness, beauty, favor. The nation of Israel had God’s favor, as a chosen people, protected from the those who would do them harm, Alexander the Great,(Zechariah 9:1-8), Antiochus Ephianes (Daniel 8:11-12). All who would have harmed the Temple were prevented, waiting the arrival of the Good Shepherd, Zechariah 9:9.

Bonds: The unity between Israel and Judah, they were a unified nation, during the ministry of the good shepherd.

(8 )I dismissed the three shepherds: There is a debate, who or what the three shepherds represent, the shepherds could represent the High Priesthood here. Some feel the three shepherds, others see the offices of Prophet, Priest and King. The meaning relates to the leadership of the nation, during the time of the Good Shepherd, who is cut-off. There are over 40 different interpretations of the 3 shepherds identiy.

(9) "I will not feed you: The rejection of the Messiah, cost the land as the land was left to desolation as foretold in Daniel 9:26, following the death of the Messiah. The nation was left to itself, and to this day, the Jewish people, rely on the traditions of the preserved in the Mishna, Talmud, and Midrash (Commentaries of the elders) more then they do on the Torah (5 books of Moses) and Tanakh (Old Testament), which is the Word of the Lord.

eat each other's flesh: In the siege of Jerusalem, this is exactly what happened as preserved by Josephus who recounts the story of Mary the daughter of Eleazar, who came to Jerusalem for refuge from a surrounding village.

4. There was a certain woman that dwelt beyond Jordan, her name was Mary; her father was Eleazar, of the village Bethezob, which signifies the house of Hyssop. She was eminent for her family and her wealth, and had fled away to Jerusalem with the rest of the multitude, and was with them

besieged therein at this time. The other effects of this woman had been already seized upon, such I mean as she had brought with her out of Perea, and removed to the city. What she had treasured up besides, as also what food she had contrived to save, had been also carried off by the rapacious

guards, who came every day running into her house for that purpose. This put the poor woman into a very great passion, and by the frequent reproaches and imprecations she east at these rapacious villains, she had provoked them to anger against her; but none of them, either out of the indignation she had raised against herself, or out of commiseration of her case, would take away her life; and if she found any food, she perceived her labors were for others, and not for herself; and it was now become impossible for her any way to find any more food, while the famine pierced through her very bowels and marrow, when also her passion was fired to a degree beyond the famine itself; nor did she consult with any thing but with her passion and the necessity she was in. She then

attempted a most unnatural thing; and snatching up her son, who was a child sucking at her breast, she said, “O thou miserable infant! for whom shall I preserve thee in this war, this famine, and this sedition? As to the war with the Romans, if they preserve our lives, we must be slaves. This

famine also will destroy us, even before that slavery comes upon us. Yet are these seditious rogues more terrible than both the other. Come on; be thou my food, and be thou a fury to these seditious varlets, and a by-word to the world, which is all that is now wanting to complete the calamities of

us Jews.” As soon as she had said this, she slew her son, and then roasted him, and eat the one half of him, and kept the other half by her concealed. Upon this the seditious came in presently, and smelling the horrid scent of this food, they threatened her that they would cut her throat immediately she did not show them what food she had gotten ready. She replied that she had saved a very fine portion of it for them, and withal uncovered what was left of her son. Hereupon they were seized with a horror and amazement of mind, and stood astonished at the sight, when she said to them, “This is mine own son, and what hath been done was mine own doing! Come, eat of this food; for I have eaten of it myself! Do not you pretend to be either more tender than a woman, or more compassionate than a mother; but if you be so scrupulous, and do abominate this my sacrifice, as I have eaten the one half, let the rest be reserved for me also.” After which those men went out trembling, being never so much atfrighted at any thing as they were at this, and with some difficulty they left the rest of that meat to the mother. Upon which the whole city was full of this horrid action immediately; and while every body laid this miserable case before their own eyes, they trembled, as if this unheard of action had been done by themselves. So those that were thus distressed by the famine[6]

10 And I took my staff, Beauty, and cut it in two, that I might break the covenant which I had made with all the peoples.

11 So it was broken on that day. Thus the poor of the flock, who were watching me, knew that it was the word of the Lord. Zechariah 11:10-11

(10) Beauty… cut it in two.. The glorious relationship (Beauty) between the Lord and His people was cut, the nation, which was preserved from her enemies by Lord was stopped. The Temple would be destroyed, and the people scattered fulfilling the words spoken by the prophets.

After the Temple was completed, the Lord blessed the building, but promised if the nation should turn away, then the Temple would be destroyed, as a sign of the Lord’s displeasure.

19 "But if you turn away and forsake My statutes and My commandments which I have set before you, and go and serve other gods, and worship them,

20 "then I will uproot them from My land which I have given them; and this house which I have sanctified for My name I will cast out of My sight, and will make it a proverb and a byword among all peoples. 2 Chronicles 7:19-20

The Lord would allow His wrath to fall on the nation, even Titus could not prevent the destruction of the Temple, which his legions tore apart searching for melted gold (Matthew 24;1)

(11) that day: Either the day of the Temple and Jerusalem’s destruction (A.D. 70), or the period following Messiah’s rejection.

the poor of the flock, who were watching me, knew. The poor, accepted Christ, the tax collectors, lame, blind, harlots, diseased) saw him as Messiah and welcomed Him as King, crying out “Son of David” meaning Messiah. They were the ones who understood the message of the suffering Messiah.

In addition, when the city fell in A.D. 70, the Christians fled the city to the mountains listening to the words of Jesus, who told of the 2^nd Temple’s destruction. Jamieson Fausset Brown write the following regarding this verse.

The humble, godly remnant knew by the event the truth of the prediction and of Messiah's mission. He had, thirty-seven years before the fall of Jerusalem, forewarned His disciples when they should see the city compassed with armies, to "flee unto the mountains." Accordingly, Cestius Gallus, when advancing on Jerusalem, unaccountably withdrew for a brief space, giving Christians the opportunity of obeying Christ's words by fleeing to Pella.[7]

12 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.

13 And the Lord said to me, "Throw it to the potter"-that princely price they set on me. So I took the thirty pieces of silver and threw them into the house of the Lord for the potter.

14 Then I cut in two my other staff, Bonds, that I might break the brotherhood between Judah and Israel. Zechariah 11:12-14

(12)Then I said: Zechariah, speaking through the Spirit, speaks for the Lord, asking for wages, which he was valued by the nation. The nation had the option to accept or reject the shepherd, who fed the flock.

my wages; and if not, refrain: What value did the nation place on the Good Shepherd? What was His work from Abraham to the incarnation valued at? The High Priests, Caiphas and Annas valued the life of Jesus of Nazareth at 30 pieces of silver.

15 and said, "What are you willing to give me if I deliver Him to you?" And they counted out to him thirty pieces of silver. Matthew 26:14-15

my wages thirty pieces of silver: This amount of money was paid to the owner of a male or female servant. This is an amazing prophecy of the rejection of the Servant Messiah, who was gored through (pierced) by the Romans. The same word used in Exodus for servant is the same word used in Isaiah 52:13, and 53:11, regarding the righteous servant, who is rejected, and dies for the sins of the nation. The Romans are referred to as Bulls of Bashan in the 22^nd Psalm.

32 "If the ox gores a male or female servant, he shall give to their master thirty shekels of silver, and the ox shall be stoned. Exodus 31:32

(13) Lord said to me: Zechariah speaking for the Lord, in the Spirit, Zechariah prophecies what would happen to the money, which was paid for the Messiah’s betrayal.

"Throw it to the potter": The priesthood used the money, which Judas threw into the Temple (The Lord’s House) to buy a field, from the potter. This field would be used to bury the dead strangers. This field is known today as Aceldama, meaning in Aramaic “Field of blood”.

princely price they set on me: A sarcastic comment for the Prince of peace, who was valued at the price of a servant.

2 And when they had bound Him, they led Him away and delivered Him to Pontius Pilate the governor.

3 Then Judas, His betrayer, seeing that He had been condemned, was remorseful and brought back the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders,

4 saying, "I have sinned by betraying innocent blood." And they said, "What is that to us? You see to it!"

5 Then he threw down the pieces of silver in the temple and departed, and went and hanged himself.

6 But the chief priests took the silver pieces and said, "It is not lawful to put them into the treasury, because they are the price of blood."

7 And they consulted together and bought with them the potter's field, to bury strangers in.

9 Then was fulfilled what was spoken by Jeremiah the prophet, saying, "And they took the thirty pieces of silver, the value of Him who was priced, whom they of the children of Israel priced, Matthew 27:2-9

I took: The Lord Himself was behind Judas taking the money and throwing it into the Temple, the blood money of the Messiah, who was the sacrifice in the Temple.

(14) Then I cut …Bonds: The Roman advance caused the Jewish nation to be scattered to the nations, fulfilling the words of Deuteronomy 28:64. The nation will scattered and thus their unity eliminated.

15 And the Lord said to me, "Next, take for yourself the implements of a foolish shepherd.

16 "For indeed I will raise up a shepherd in the land who will not care for those who are cut off, nor seek the young, nor heal those that are broken, nor feed those that still stand. But he will eat the flesh of the fat and tear their hooves in pieces.

17 "Woe to the worthless shepherd, Who leaves the flock! A sword shall be against his arm And against his right eye; His arm shall completely wither, And his right eye shall be totally blinded."

(15) Me: Zechariah is again speaking for the Lord, about still future shepherd, which will not have the interest of the people at heart.

Foolish shepherd: This could be the Antichrist, who will come in the end of days, and be accepted by the nation. According to Daniel, he will make a covenant with the nation, allowing the Temple to be reconstructed at the end of days. He will come in his own name, and lead Israel into a false sense of security.

42 "But I know you, that you do not have the love of God in you. 43 "I have come in My Father's name, and you do not receive Me; if another comes in his own name, him you will receive. John 5:42-43

(16) I will: The Lord will allow the “False shepherd” to come to past, who will in the end turn on the nation, and desecrate the newly rebuilt Temple, the 3^rd Temple.

1 Behold, the day of the Lord is coming, And your spoil will be divided in your midst.

2 For I will gather all the nations to battle against Jerusalem; The city shall be taken, The houses rifled, And the women ravished. Half of the city shall go into captivity, But the remnant of the people shall not be cut off from the city. Zechariah 14:1-2

Eat the flesh: The day of the foolish shepherd will be worse, then following the days of the rejected Good Shepherd. Jesus warns, those day will unequaled in the history of humanity.

21 "For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been since the beginning of the world until this time, no, nor ever shall be.

22 "And unless those days were shortened, no flesh would be saved; but for the elect's sake those days will be shortened. Matthew 24:21-22

(17) Woe to: Judgment of the Good Shepherd, will bring an end to the worthless shepherd. See Revelation 19:19-21.

[1] Josephus, the War of the Jews, Book 6, Chapter 8

[2] Jamieson Fausset Brown, commentary on Zechariah 11:1

[3]The Judaica Press Complete Tanach, Rahsi commentary on Zechariah, online version, http://www.chabad.org/library/article.asp?AID=16215&showrashi=true

[4] Josephus, The War of the Jews, Book V, Chapter 1, http://www.truthnet.org/Judaism/Jewishwar/Book5/

[5]

[6] Ibid, book VI, Chapter 3 http://www.truthnet.org/Judaism/Jewishwar/Book6/

[7] Jamieson Fausset Brown, commentary on Zechariah 11:11