translation_id: net-engnet

book_id: ZEC

label: NET study note

text: Death (in this case being run…through with a sword ) was the penalty required in the OT for prophesying falsely ( Deut 13:6-11; 18:20-22 ).


text: Despite the NT use of this text to speak of the scattering of the disciples following Jesus’ crucifixion ( Matt 26:31 ; Mark 14:27 ), the immediate context of Zechariah suggests that unfaithful shepherds (kings) will be punished by the Lord precisely so their flocks (disobedient Israel) can be scattered (cf. Zech 11:6, 8, 9, 16 ). It is likely that Jesus drew on this passage merely to make the point that whenever shepherds are incapacitated, sheep will scatter. Thus he was not identifying himself with the shepherd in this text (the shepherd in the Zechariah text is a character who is portrayed negatively).


text: The fractions mentioned here call to mind the affliction of God’s people described by Ezekiel, though Ezekiel referred to his own times whereas Zechariah is looking forward to a future eschatological age. Ezekiel spoke of cutting his hair at God’s command ( Ezek 5:1-4 ) and then of burning a third of it, striking a third with a sword, and scattering the rest. From this last third a few hairs would survive to become the nucleus of a new Israel. It is this “third” Zechariah speaks of (v. 9 ), the remnant who will be purified and reclaimed as God’s covenant people.


text: The expression I will say ‘It is my people,’ and they will say ‘the Lord is my God’ is reminiscent of the restoration of Israel predicted by Hosea, who said that those who had been rejected as God’s people would be reclaimed and once more become his sons and daughters ( Hos 2:23 ).