Matthew Poole and continuators on Zechariah 11:7

7 And I will feed the [illegible: 1 letter]lock of slaughter , even you, O poor of the flock : And I took unto me two staves ; the one I called Beauty , and the other I called Bands , and I fed the flock .

Or but as the Heb. particle is sometime read, as for the grea[illegible: 1 letter]est part they are so corrupt and obstinately disobedient I will cast them off; But▪ I will feed, &c. O therefore, so then, because it is the Will of God that the Flock of slaughter should be fed, I will feed, &c. the French Version seems this way inclined. Ie me suis don[illegible: 1 letter] mis a paistre les brebis exposees a tuerie. I am sent then to feed the sheep that are exposed to slaughter.

Either by the violence of their Enemies, or by the monstrous negligence of their Shepherds.

This is explicatory of the former, and by the ingemination of it shews us that God doth in his charge to the Prophet Typically, and in his charge to Christ Antitype distinguish clearly between People, and People among the Jews, between those that were poor, and forlorn, and those that were Tyrannical, proud, cruel, and made a prey of them these are left out of the Pastoral charge, the other are taken care of.

Thus he enters on the actual exercise of his office, and takes two staves to himself, at the meaning whereof we can but guesse. Two say some to signifie the twofold way of Christs Governing his people by lenity and severity. Or say others to note his singular care and diligence in his office, when other Shepherds, c[illegible: 1 letter]n[illegible: 1 letter]ent them[illegible: 1 letter]elves with [illegible: 1 letter]ne, Christ ta[illegible: 1 letter]es two. Or what if hereby Christ would [illegible: 1 letter]e provided with [illegible: 1 word] to guide the Flock, with an other to repel [illegible: 2 letters]ch as would s[illegible: 1 letter]aughter them to protect against violence [illegible: 1 letter]nd to d[illegible: 1 letter]rec[illegible: 1 letter] such as are m[illegible: 2 letters]k▪ Chr[illegible: 1 letter]st hath his Golden Scepter f[illegible: 1 letter]r his l[illegible: 1 letter]yal and obedient subjects, and his Ir[illegible: 1 letter]n rod for r[illegible: 1 letter]fractory rebels, and v[illegible: 1 letter]olent Enemies.

Or pleasantness, sweetness, and loveliness, this lay in the Holiness of his precepts, the excellency of his comforts, the glory of his reward. This is the first and answers to the character of the wayes of wisdom, Pr[illegible: 1 letter]v. 3 17. They are pleasantness, the Ordinances of God, and the enjoyment of them are the Beauty of the Lord, and our beholding it a[illegible: 1 letter] David, Psal. 27.4.

Either alluding to the lines wherewith the portion of the Holy Land was meted out to every one according to their lot. Or referring to the obligations Christ layes on men, to hold together in Peace and Unity. The Beauty of Grace and Glory, the Bands of Love and Peace.

With these in hand the Shepherd undertakes to feed and rule this flock.

Marginal references: Or, verily the poor.; Or, binde[illegible: 1 letter]s.