i8 74 ] VARIOUS EXTRACTS 241 



x. 9 the prophet has already indicated that a period of 

 suffering and captivity lies between the present state of 

 sin and the future state of salvation. And this dark 

 side, especially the dark present, is the subject of ch. xi. 

 In vv. 1-3 the destruction of the nation is figured, appar 

 ently with reference to the storm of chap, ix., under the 

 image of a fire devouring the cedars of Lebanon and the 

 oaks of Bashan, wasting the pastures and the thickets of 

 the Jordan. This short burst of lyric lamentation serves 

 to introduce the subsequent verses in which the fate of 

 the people is handled in connection with the history of his 

 own work among them. Jahveh sent him to feed the 

 sheep of the shambles, i.e. the nation of Israel bought and 

 sold by cruel and treacherous rulers who care not though 

 the people perish if they themselves are enriched. 



For Jahveh has no more pity on His people ; but sends 

 civil strife among them and discord between people and 

 king, so that the land is wasted and no help is found. 

 Yet amidst these sad circumstances the prophet assumes 

 the task of shepherd, armed with two staves, the staff of 

 God s protecting (kindness) grace for His people and the 

 staff of (harmony) union between Judah and Ephraim. 

 Three of the false shepherds fall before the prophet in one 

 month ; but his soul is wearied with his thankless charge, 

 and the nation loathes his wholesome constraint. So he 

 resolves to leave them to their fate, breaks the staff of 

 grace (DM not just = 7Dn) and sets free against the 

 people the foreign nations whom Jahveh had till now 

 restrained. Nor was this an empty symbol. Its fulfil 

 ment followed straightway, and the few who still hearkened 

 to his word recognised hereby the divine mission of the 

 seer. But still no such repentance follows as to lead him 

 to draw back from his demission of the shepherd s office. 

 That that demission may be formal and with mutual 

 consent that he may not, as Jonah or Elijah did, flee 

 from his work he demands of his flock such hire as they 

 may think his due. His reward is the price of the meanest 



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