1 And the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,
2 Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel, prophesy, and say unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD unto the shepherds; Woe [be] to the shepherds of Israel that do feed themselves! should not the shepherds feed the flocks?
3 Ye eat the fat, and ye clothe you with the wool, ye kill them that are fed: [but] ye feed not the flock.
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.
5 And they were scattered, because [there is] no shepherd: and they became meat to all the beasts of the field, when they were scattered.
6 My sheep wandered through all the mountains, and upon every high hill: yea, my flock was scattered upon all the face of the earth, and none did search or seek [after them].
7 Therefore, ye shepherds, hear the word of the LORD;
8 [As] I live, saith the Lord GOD, surely because my flock became a prey, and my flock became meat to every beast of the field, because [there was] no shepherd, neither did my shepherds search for my flock, but the shepherds fed themselves, and fed not my flock;
9 Therefore, O ye shepherds, hear the word of the LORD;
10 Thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I [am] against the shepherds; and I will require my flock at their hand, and cause them to cease from feeding the flock; neither shall the shepherds feed themselves any more; for I will deliver my flock from their mouth, that they may not be meat for them.
11 For thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I, [even] I, will both search my sheep, and seek them out.
12 As a shepherd seeketh out his flock in the day that he is among his sheep [that are] scattered; so will I seek out my sheep, and will deliver them out of all places where they have been scattered in the cloudy and dark day.
13 And I will bring them out from the people, and gather them from the countries, and will bring them to their own land, and feed them upon the mountains of Israel by the rivers, and in all the inhabited places of the country.
14 I will feed them in a good pasture, and upon the high mountains of Israel shall their fold be: there shall they lie in a good fold, and [in] a fat pasture shall they feed upon the mountains of Israel.
15 I will feed my flock, and I will cause them to lie down, saith the Lord GOD.
16 I will seek that which was lost, and bring again that which was driven away, and will bind up [that which was] broken, and will strengthen that which was sick: but I will destroy the fat and the strong; I will feed them with judgment.
17 And [as for] you, O my flock, thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I judge between cattle and cattle, between the rams and the he goats.
18 [Seemeth it] a small thing unto you to have eaten up the good pasture, but ye must tread down with your feet the residue of your pastures? and to have drunk of the deep waters, but ye must foul the residue with your feet?
19 And [as for] my flock, they eat that which ye have trodden with your feet; and they drink that which ye have fouled with your feet.
20 Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD unto them; Behold, I, [even] I, will judge between the fat cattle and between the lean cattle.
21 Because ye have thrust with side and with shoulder, and pushed all the diseased with your horns, till ye have scattered them abroad;
22 Therefore will I save my flock, and they shall no more be a prey; and I will judge between cattle and cattle.
23 And I will set up one shepherd over them, and he shall feed them, [even] my servant David; he shall feed them, and he shall be their shepherd.
24 And I the LORD will be their God, and my servant David a prince among them; I the LORD have spoken [it].
25 And I will make with them a covenant of peace, and will cause the evil beasts to cease out of the land: and they shall dwell safely in the wilderness, and sleep in the woods.
26 And I will make them and the places round about my hill a blessing; and I will cause the shower to come down in his season; there shall be showers of blessing.
27 And the tree of the field shall yield her fruit, and the earth shall yield her increase, and they shall be safe in their land, and shall know that I [am] the LORD, when I have broken the bands of their yoke, and delivered them out of the hand of those that served themselves of them.
28 And they shall no more be a prey to the heathen, neither shall the beast of the land devour them; but they shall dwell safely, and none shall make [them] afraid.
29 And I will raise up for them a plant of renown, and they shall be no more consumed with hunger in the land, neither bear the shame of the heathen any more.
30 Thus shall they know that I the LORD their God [am] with them, and [that] they, [even] the house of Israel, [are] my people, saith the Lord GOD.
31 And ye my flock, the flock of my pasture, [are] men, [and] I [am] your God, saith the Lord GOD.
Overview of Ezekiel Chapter 34
Ezekiel Chapter 34 presents a profound critique of the leaders of Israel, often referred to as “shepherds.” It emphasizes God’s discontent with these leaders for their failure to care for the people. The chapter transitions from condemnation to a promise of restoration, highlighting God’s role as the ultimate shepherd who will gather and care for His flock.
Key Themes
- Failure of Leadership: The chapter opens with a strong denunciation of the shepherds of Israel, who are accused of neglecting their responsibilities.
- Divine Judgment: God declares that He will hold the leaders accountable for their actions and inactions.
- Restoration and Hope: The chapter shifts to a message of hope, promising that God Himself will shepherd His people.
- The New Covenant: The promise of a future leader, often interpreted as the Messiah, who will bring true guidance and care.
Detailed Analysis
Condemnation of the Shepherds (Verses 1-10)
The chapter begins with a prophetic word against the shepherds of Israel. The leaders are criticized for their self-serving behavior and neglect of the flock.
- Self-Interest: The shepherds are described as feeding themselves rather than the sheep, indicating a focus on personal gain.
- Neglect of the Flock: The shepherds fail to seek the lost, heal the sick, or bind up the injured, showcasing their complete disregard for the welfare of the people.
- Divine Judgment: God declares that He will remove these negligent leaders and hold them accountable for their actions.
God as the True Shepherd (Verses 11-16)
In a powerful turn, God declares His intention to become the shepherd of His people. This section emphasizes God’s personal involvement in the care of His flock.
- Gathering the Flock: God promises to seek out His sheep, emphasizing His commitment to those who are lost or scattered.
- Provision and Care: The imagery of feeding and leading the sheep to good pastures illustrates God’s nurturing nature.
- Healing and Restoration: God pledges to heal the sick and strengthen the weak, contrasting sharply with the previous shepherds’ failures.
Judgment Against the Fat and Strong (Verses 17-22)
God addresses the inequities within the flock, condemning the fat and strong sheep who have taken advantage of the weaker ones.
- Social Justice: This section highlights the importance of justice among the people, as God calls out the exploitation of the vulnerable.
- Divine Intervention: God promises to judge between the sheep, ensuring that the strong will not oppress the weak.
Promise of a Davidic Shepherd (Verses 23-31)
The chapter concludes with a promise of a future shepherd from the line of David, often interpreted as a messianic prophecy.
- Messianic Hope: This future shepherd will rule with justice and righteousness, restoring the relationship between God and His people.
- Covenant of Peace: God promises to establish a covenant of peace, symbolizing a new era of harmony and security for His people.
- Identity of the People: The chapter ends with a reaffirmation of the relationship between God and His people, emphasizing their identity as His flock.
Conclusion
Ezekiel Chapter 34 serves as a powerful reminder of God’s expectations for leadership and His unwavering commitment to His people. The chapter’s themes of judgment, restoration, and hope resonate throughout the biblical narrative, pointing towards the ultimate fulfillment found in the figure of Jesus Christ as the Good Shepherd.
