Ezekiel 34:4

“The diseased have ye not strengthened, &c.] Such, in the civil polity, who were poor, and in necessitous circumstances, were not relieved; such who were injured and oppressed by others were not vindicated; and such as were forced to flee to other countries, or were carried captive, no care was taken, or methods used, to ransom them, and, bring them back; all which may be meant by this and the following metaphors, taken from the evil things that befall a flock of sheep: and such who were weak through spiritual diseases, their prophets and teachers took no care to cure them of their diseases, and to strengthen these feeble minded ones with divine cordials and spiritual food, and confirm them…”

“The diseased--rather, those weak from the effects of "disease," as "strengthened" (that is, with due nourishment) requires [GROTIUS]. broken--that is, fractures from wounds inflicted by the wolf. brought again . . . driven away-- (Exo 23:4). Those "driven away" by the enemy into foreign lands through God's judgments are meant (Jer 23:3). A spiritual reformation of the state by the rulers would have turned away God's wrath, and "brought again" the exiles. The rulers are censured as chiefly guilty (though the people, too, were guilty), because they, who ought to have been foremost in checking the evil, promoted it. neither . . . sought . . . lost--Contrast the Good Shepherd's love (Luk 15:4).…”

“The diseased - The weak and languishing. Bound up - Oppressors in the state, or church, broke many then, but these shepherds bound them not up. Ezekiel 34:5”

“diseased: Eze 34:16; Isa 56:10; Jer 8:22; Zac 11:15, Zac 11:16; Mat 9:36; Heb 12:12 sought: Mat 10:6, Mat 18:12, Mat 18:13; Luk 15:4-6 but with: Exo 1:13, Exo 1:14; Jer 22:13; Mat 21:35, Mat 24:49; Co2 1:24; Jam 5:1-6; Pe1 5:2, Pe1 5:3; Rev 13:14-17, Rev 17:5, Rev 17:6 Ezekiel 34:5”