Zechariah 11:1 Commentary and Bible Study

Chapter 10 has been about the future blessing on the spiritual remnant; this chapter is about the heavy judgment that will fall on the nation as a whole. It is only by understanding this clear distinction between the believing remnant and the nation as a whole that Zechariah, and indeed many of the prophets, can be delivered from being inconsistent with themselves. It is an amplification of the withdrawing of the priesthood and the ending of the false teachers of Israel: the priests, the high priests, and all who teach falsely. God will end the special relationship which he has with Israel, and with Judah. As far as the nation is concerned, the patience of God is exhausted. He is going to expose them to their enemies in a terrible way. It begins with a dramatic start: Lebanon is told to open her doors. Clearly she would not do this voluntarily if she knew that this would let in those who were intent on destroying her, but she has no choice. This is the prophet’s way of saying what is going to happen to her, whether she likes it or not. She may as well open her doors, for she cannot prevent her enemies from burning her up. Probably this is a reference to the Roman takeover, and the spoiling of her territory. That occupation of the land is going to end with the terrible events of AD 70. Lebanon was at the top of the land, and it was from this direction that many of her enemies entered. The prophet borrows his imagery from the past, but it is Rome that is referred to. This will begin to take place prior to the coming of Christ: Palestine fell to the Romans in 63 BC. Before the Romans, the Greeks had come as described in Zechariah 9, and then there had been a measure of independence. But the Romans would follow and take away Judah’s sovereignty, and the occupation would end with a fearful conflagration.The whole passage speaks of Messiah and of the time of his incarnation, for it is quoted in Matthew 27 in connection with Judas’ betrayal of Christ. Zechariah tells us that he is acting as the Lord’s spokesman – ‘For I will no more pity the inhabitants of the land, saith the LORD’ (verse 6) – but in much of the second half of the chapter the prophet speaks as though he is doing all these things to Judah himself, but he speaks as the Lord’s mouthpiece, as though he is the Saviour. God is saying that when the King comes, he personally will teach the very generation which will fall.The cedars of Lebanon referred proverbially to the great ones of the land. They are going to howl and fall at this time of judgment – the mighty people will be spoiled. Likewise the oaks of Bashan should appropriately howl, for they will come down – Bashan was famous for its rich pastures. Using the same term, the shepherds of Israel – about whom more will be said later in the chapter – represented by the cedars, are also said to howl, for God is now taking away the glory of their office which is to become redundant and their prestige in the nation will come to an end.