1Und das Wort Jehovas geschah zu mir also: 2Menschensohn, weissage wider die Hirten Israels, weissage und sprich zu ihnen, den Hirten: So spricht der Herr, Jehova: Wehe den Hirten Israels, die sich selbst weiden ! Sollen die Hirten nicht die Herde weiden? 3Ihr esset das Fett und kleidet euch mit der Wolle, das fette Vieh schlachtet ihr; die Herde weidet ihr nicht. 4Die Schwachen habt ihr nicht gestärkt und das Kranke nicht geheilt und das Verwundete nicht verbunden, und das Versprengte führtet ihr nicht zurück, und das Verlorene suchtet ihr nicht; und mit Strenge habt ihr über sie geherrscht und mit Härte. 5Und so wurden sie zerstreut, weil sie ohne Hirten waren; und sie wurden allen Tieren des Feldes zur Speise, und wurden zerstreut. 6Meine Schafe irren umher auf allen Bergen und auf jedem hohen Hügel; und über das ganze Land hin sind meine Schafe zerstreut worden, und da ist niemand, der nach ihnen fragt, und niemand, der sie sucht. - 7Darum, ihr Hirten, höret das Wort Jehovas! 8So wahr ich lebe, spricht der Herr, Jehova: Weil meine Schafe zur Beute und meine Schafe allen Tieren des Feldes zur Speise geworden sind, weil kein Hirte da ist, und meine Hirten nicht nach meinen Schafen fragen, und die Hirten sich selbst weiden, aber nicht meine Schafe weiden: 9darum, ihr Hirten, höret das Wort Jehovas! 10So spricht der Herr, Jehova: Siehe, ich will an die Hirten, und ich werde meine Schafe von ihrer Hand fordern und machen, daß sie aufhören, die Schafe zu weiden, damit die Hirten nicht mehr sich selbst weiden; und ich werde meine Schafe von ihrem Munde erretten, daß sie ihnen nicht mehr zur Speise seien. 11Denn so spricht der Herr, Jehova: Siehe, ich bin da, und ich will nach meinen Schafen fragen und mich ihrer annehmen. 12Wie ein Hirt sich seiner Herde annimmt an dem Tage, da er unter seinen zerstreuten Schafen ist, also werde ich mich meiner Schafe annehmen und werde sie erretten aus allen Orten, wohin sie zerstreut worden sind am Tage des Gewölks und des Wolkendunkels. 13Und ich werde sie herausführen aus den Völkern und sie aus den Ländern sammeln und sie in ihr Land bringen; und ich werde sie weiden auf den Bergen Israels, in den Tälern und an allen Wohnplätzen des Landes. 14Auf guter Weide werde ich sie weiden, und auf den hohen Bergen Israels wird ihre Trift sein; daselbst, auf den Bergen Israels, werden sie auf guter Trift lagern und fette Weide beweiden. 15Ich will meine Schafe weiden, und ich will sie lagern, spricht der Herr, Jehova. 16Das Verlorene will ich suchen und das Versprengte zurückführen, und das Verwundete will ich verbinden, und das Kranke will ich stärken; das Fette aber und das Starke werde ich vertilgen: nach Recht werde ich sie weiden. - 17Und ihr, meine Herde, so spricht der Herr, Jehova: Siehe, ich werde richten zwischen Schaf und Schaf, den Widdern und den Böcken. 18Ist es euch zu wenig, daß ihr die gute Weide abweidet und das Übrige eurer Weide mit euren Füßen zertretet, und daß ihr das abgeklärte Wasser trinket und das Übriggebliebene mit euren Füßen trübet? 19Und meine Schafe sollen abweiden, was mit euren Füßen zertreten, und trinken, was mit euren Füßen getrübt ist? 20Darum, so spricht der Herr, Jehova, zu ihnen: Siehe, ich bin da, und ich werde richten zwischen fettem Schaf und magerem Schaf. 21Weil ihr all die Schwachen mit Seite und Schulter verdränget und mit euren Hörnern stoßet, bis ihr sie nach außen hin zerstreut habt, 22so will ich meine Schafe retten, damit sie nicht mehr zur Beute seien; und ich werde richten zwischen Schaf und Schaf. 23Und ich werde einen Hirten über sie erwecken, und er wird sie weiden - meinen Knecht David: der wird sie weiden, und der wird ihr Hirt sein. 24Und ich, Jehova, werde ihr Gott sein, und mein Knecht David wird Fürst sein in ihrer Mitte. Ich, Jehova, habe geredet. 25Und ich werde einen Bund des Friedens mit ihnen machen, und werde die bösen Tiere aus dem Lande vertilgen; und sie werden in der Wüste sicher wohnen und in den Wäldern schlafen. 26Und ich werde sie und die Umgebungen meines Hügels zum Segen machen; und ich werde den Regen fallen lassen zu seiner Zeit, Regen des Segens werden es sein. 27Und der Baum des Feldes wird seine Frucht geben, und das Land wird seinen Ertrag geben; und sie werden in ihrem Lande sicher sein. Und sie werden wissen, daß ich Jehova bin, wenn ich die Stäbe ihres Joches zerbreche und sie aus der Hand derer errette, welche sie knechteten. 28Und sie werden nicht mehr den Nationen zur Beute sein, und die wilden Tiere der Erde werden sie nicht mehr fressen; sondern sie werden in Sicherheit wohnen, und niemand wird sie aufschrecken. 29Und ich werde ihnen eine Pflanzung erwecken zum Ruhme , und sie werden nicht mehr durch Hunger weggerafft werden im Lande und nicht mehr die Schmach der Nationen tragen. 30Und sie werden wissen, daß ich, Jehova, ihr Gott, mit ihnen bin, und daß sie, das Haus Israel, mein Volk sind, spricht der Herr, Jehova. 31Und ihr, meine Herde, Herde meiner Weide, ihr seid Menschen; ich bin euer Gott, spricht der Herr, Jehova.
Jamieson Fausset Brown Bible Commentary 2 REPROOF OF THE FALSE SHEPHERDS; PROMISE OF THE TRUE AND GOOD SHEPHERD. (Eze. 34:1-31)
Jer 23:1 and
Zech 11:17 similarly make the removal of the false shepherds the preliminary to the interposition of Messiah the Good Shepherd in behalf of His people Israel. The "shepherds" are not prophets or priests, but rulers who sought in their government their own selfish ends, not the good of the people ruled. The term was appropriate, as David, the first king and the type of the true David (
Ezek 34:23-
Ezek 34:24), was taken from being a shepherd (
2Sam 5:2;
Ps 78:70-
Ps 78:71); and the office, like that of a shepherd for his flock, is to guard and provide for his people. The choice of a shepherd for the first king was therefore designed to suggest this thought, just as Jesus' selection of fishermen for apostles was designed to remind them of their spiritual office of catching men (compare
Isa 44:28;
Jer 2:8;
Jer 3:15;
Jer 10:21;
Jer 23:1-
Jer 23:2).
3 fat--or, by differently pointing the Hebrew, "milk" [Septuagint]. Thus the repetition "fat" and "fed" is avoided: also the eating of "fat" would not probably be put before the "killing" of the sheep. The eating of sheep's or goats' milk as food (
Deut 32:14;
Pro 27:27) was unobjectionable, had not these shepherds milked them too often, and that without duly "feeding" them [BOCHART], (
Isa 56:11). The rulers levied exorbitant tributes.
kill . . . fed--kill the rich by false accusation so as to get possession of their property.
feed not . . . flock--take no care of the people (
John 10:12).
4 The diseased--rather, those weak from the effects of "disease," as "strengthened" (that is, with due nourishment) requires [GROTIUS].
broken--that is, fractures from wounds inflicted by the wolf.
brought again . . . driven away-- (
Exod 23:4). Those "driven away" by the enemy into foreign lands through God's judgments are meant (
Jer 23:3). A spiritual reformation of the state by the rulers would have turned away God's wrath, and "brought again" the exiles. The rulers are censured as chiefly guilty (though the people, too, were guilty), because they, who ought to have been foremost in checking the evil, promoted it.
neither . . . sought . . . lost--Contrast the Good Shepherd's love (
Luke 15:4).
with force . . . ruled-- (
Exod 1:13-
Exod 1:14). With an Egyptian bondage. The very thing forbidden by the law they did (
Lev 25:43; compare
1Pet 5:3).
5 scattered, because . . . no shepherd--that is, none worthy of the name, though there were some called shepherds (
1Kgs 22:17;
Matt 9:36). Compare
Matt 26:31, where the sheep were scattered when the true Shepherd was smitten. God calls them "My sheep"; for they were not, as the shepherds treated them, their patrimony whereby to "feed themselves."
meat to all . . . beasts--They became a prey to the Syrians, Ammon, Moab, and Assyria.
6 every high hill--the scene of their idolatries sanctioned by the rulers.
search . . . seek--rather, "seek . . . search." The former is the part of the superior rulers to inquire after: to search out is the duty of the subordinate rulers [JUNIUS].
10 I will require my flock-- (
Heb 13:17), rather, "I require," &c., for God already had begun to do so, punishing Zedekiah and the other princes severely (
Jer 52:10).
11 I . . . will . . . search--doing that which the so-called shepherds had failed to do, I being the rightful owner of the flock.
12 in the day that he is among--in the midst of (Hebrew) His sheep that had been scattered. Referring to Messiah's second advent, when He shall be "the glory in the midst of Israel" (
Zech 2:5).
in the cloudy . . . day--the day of the nation's calamity (
Joel 2:2).
13 And I will bring them out from the people, &c.-- (
Ezek 28:25;
Ezek 36:24;
Ezek 37:21-
Ezek 37:22;
Isa 65:9-
Isa 65:10;
Jer 23:3).
14 good pasture-- (
Ps 23:2).
high mountains of Israel--In
Ezek 17:23;
Ezek 20:40, the phrase is "the mountain of the height of Israel" in the singular number. The reason for the difference is: there Ezekiel spoke of the central seat of the kingdom, Mount Zion, where the people met for the worship of Jehovah; here he speaks of the kingdom of Israel at large, all the parts of which are regarded as possessing a moral elevation.
16 In contrast to the unfaithful shepherds (
Ezek 34:4). The several duties neglected by them I will faithfully discharge.
fat . . . strong--that is, those rendered wanton by prosperity (
Deut 32:15;
Jer 5:28), who use their strength to oppress the weak. Compare
Ezek 34:20, "the fat cattle" (
Isa 10:16). The image is from fat cattle that wax refractory.
with judgment--that is, justice and equity, as contrasted with the "force" and "cruelty" with which the unfaithful shepherds ruled the flock (
Ezek 34:4).
17 you, . . . my flock--passing from the rulers to the people.
cattle and cattle--rather, "sheep and sheep"; Margin, "small cattle," or "flocks of lambs and kids," that is, I judge between one class of citizens and another, so as to award what is right to each. He then defines the class about to be punitively "judged," namely, "the rams and he-goats," or "great he-goats" (compare
Isa 14:9, Margin;
Zech 10:3;
Matt 25:32-
Matt 25:33). They answer to "the fat and strong," as opposed to the "sick" (
Ezek 34:16). The rich and ungodly of the people are meant, who imitated the bad rulers in oppressing their poorer brethren, as if it enhanced their own joys to trample on others' rights (
Ezek 34:18).
18 Not content with appropriating to their own use the goods of others, they from mere wantonness spoiled what they did not use, so as to be of no use to the owners.
deep waters--that is, "limpid," as deep waters are generally clear. GROTIUS explains the image as referring to the usuries with which the rich ground the poor (
Ezek 22:12;
Isa 24:2).
19 they eat--scantily.
they drink--sorrowfully.
20 fat . . . lean--the rich oppressors . . . the humble poor.
21 scattered them abroad--down to the time of the carrying away to Babylon [GROTIUS].
22 After the restoration from Babylon, the Jews were delivered in some degree from the oppression, not only of foreigners, but also of their own great people (Neh. 5:1-19). The full and final fulfilment of this prophecy is future.
23 set up--that is, raise up by divine appointment; alluding to the declaration of God to David, "I will set up thy seed after thee" (
2Sam 7:12); and, "Yet have I set My king on My holy hill of Zion" (
Ps 2:6; compare
Acts 2:30;
Acts 13:23).
one shepherd--literally, "a Shepherd, one": singularly and pre-eminently one: the only one of His kind, to whom none is comparable (
Song 5:10). The Lord Jesus refers to this prophecy (
John 10:14), "I am THE Good Shepherd." Also "one" as uniting in one the heretofore divided kingdoms of Israel and Judah, and also "gathering together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven and on earth" (
Eph 1:10); thus healing worse breaches than that between Israel and Judah (
Col 1:20). "God by Him reconciling all things unto Himself, whether things in earth or in heaven."
David--the antitypical David, Messiah, of the seed of David, which no other king after the captivity was: who was fully, what David was only in a degree, "the man after God's own heart." Also, David means beloved: Messiah was truly God's beloved Son (
Isa 42:1;
Matt 3:17). Shepherd means King, rather than religious instructor; in this pre-eminently He was the true David, who was the Shepherd King (
Luke 1:32-
Luke 1:33). Messiah is called "David" in
Isa 55:3-
Isa 55:4;
Jer 30:9;
Hos 3:5.
24 my servant--implying fitness for ruling in the name of God, not pursuing a self-chosen course, as other kings, but acting as the faithful administrator of the will of God; Messiah realized fully this character (
Ps 40:7-
Ps 40:8;
Isa 42:1;
Isa 49:3,
Isa 49:6;
Isa 53:11;
Phil 2:7), which David typically and partially represented (
Acts 13:36); so He is the fittest person to wield the world scepter, abused by all the world kings (
Dan 2:34-
Dan 2:35,
Dan 2:44-
Dan 2:45).
25 covenant of peace . . . evil beasts . . . to cease . . . dwell safely--The original promise of the law (
Lev 26:6) shall be realized for the first time fully under Messiah (
Isa 11:6-
Isa 11:9;
Isa 35:9;
Hos 2:18).
26 them and the places round about my hill--The Jews, and Zion, God's hill (
Ps 2:6), are to be sources of blessing, not merely to themselves, but to the surrounding heathen (
Isa 19:24;
Isa 56:6-
Isa 56:7;
Isa 60:3;
Mic 5:7;
Zech 8:13). The literal fulfilment is, however, the primary one, though the spiritual also is designed. In correspondence with the settled reign of righteousness internally, all is to be prosperity externally, fertilizing showers (according to the promise of the ancient covenant,
Lev 26:4;
Ps 68:9;
Mal 3:10), and productive trees and lands (
Ezek 34:27). Thus shall they realize the image of
Ezek 34:14; namely, a flock richly pastured by God Himself.
27 served themselves of them--availed themselves of their services, as if the Jews were their slaves (
Jer 22:13;
Jer 25:14; compare
Gen 15:13;
Exod 1:14).
28 dwell safely-- (
Jer 23:6).
29 plant of renown--Messiah, the "Rod" and "Branch" (
Isa 11:1), the "righteous Branch" (
Jer 23:5), who shall obtain for them "renown." FAIRBAIRN less probably translates, "A plantation for a name," that is, a flourishing condition, represented as a garden (alluding to Eden,
Gen 2:8-
Gen 2:11, with its various trees, good for food and pleasant to the sight), the planting of the Lord (
Isa 60:21;
Isa 61:3), and an object of "renown" among the heathen.
31 ye my flock . . . are men--not merely an explanation of the image, as JEROME represents. But as God had promised many things which mere "men" could not expect to realize, He shows that it is not from man's might their realization is to be looked for, but from GOD, who would perform them for His covenant-people, "His flock" [ROSENMULLER]. When we realize most our weakness and God's power and faithfulness to His covenant, we are in the fittest state for receiving His blessings.
Another feature of Israel's prosperity; those who exulted over Israel's humiliation, shall themselves be a "prey." Already stated in
Ezek 25:12-
Ezek 25:14; properly repeated here in full detail, as a commentary on
Ezek 34:28. The Israelites "shall be no more a prey"; but Edom, the type of their most bitter foes, shall be destroyed irrecoverably.
