Matthew Poole and continuators on Ezekiel 34:4

4 The diseased have ye not strengthened , neither have ye healed that which was sick, neither have ye bound up that which was broken, neither have ye brought again that which was driven away, neither have ye sought that which was lost ; but with force and with cruelty have ye ruled them.

The weak and languishing, such there are in the Church, and State.

With your hand, countenance and counsel, so these Metaphorical shepheards should as the other strengthen their sheep, with carrying them into good and quiet pastures.

The sheep in our Pastures are subject to many sicknesses, the sheep in Church and State to more, and Shepheards in both should be as Physicians to heal them, but here these did not so.

Sometime violent and ravenous beasts break their bones, sometimes the stronger and fatter sheep bruise or break them, these should the shepheards bind up, violent oppressours in the State, and such in Church broke many then, but these shepheards bound them not up.

Sheep wander, and lose themselves, shepheards should seek such and bring them home, many political sheep among the Jews wandered from their Countrey, their King, Religion and God, and these careless Rulers never sought them.

With hard hand that held fast all, that should look like royal power and priviledge, and rigorously executed all their grievous Laws, and Edicts.

Such as the Egyptians used toward the Jews, Exod. 1.13, 14. instead of acting like shepheards, these Tyrants in the Jewish Polity, acted like merciless butchers in Church and State.

Sheep are often driven out of the pasture, frighted, hunted, and pursued by Dogs, or other mischievous Creatures, these the Shepheard should find our, and bring back in Church and State, there were many such frighted and driven by fierce men like Dogs running upon them, but the Jewish Rulers took no care to enquire for them, or to bring them back to their own Countrey.

Marginal references: 1 Pet. 9.3.