Zechariah 11:17

“Woe to the idol shepherd, etc.] Or, “the shepherd of nothing”f262; that is, no true shepherd, that is good for nothing, for an idol is nothing in the world, (<460804>1 Corinthians 8:4) and who is an idol himself, sits in the temple of God, and is worshipped as if he was God. (<530204>2 Thessalonians 2:4 <661304>Revelation 13:4,8,15) and is an encourager and defender of idolatry: that leaveth the flock; has no regard to its spiritual concerns; does not feed it, but fleece it, and leaves it to the cruelty and avarice of his creatures under him: the sword [shall be] upon his arm; with which he should feed the flock: and upon his right eye; with which he should watch over it: his arm shall be…”

“the idol--The Hebrew expresses both vanity and an idol. Compare Isa 14:13; Dan 11:36; Th2 2:4; Rev 13:5-6, as to the idolatrous and blasphemous claims of Antichrist. The "idol shepherd that leaveth the flock" cannot apply to Rome, but to some ruler among the Jews themselves, at first cajoling, then "leaving" them, nay, destroying them (Dan 9:27; Dan 11:30-38). God's sword shall descend on his "arm," the instrument of his tyranny towards the sheep (Th2 2:8); and on his "right eye," wherewith he ought to have watched the sheep (Joh 10:12-13). However, Antichrist shall destroy, rather than "leave the flock." Perhaps, therefore, the reference is to the shepherds who left the flock to…”

“Woe to the idol shepherd - (A shepherd of nothingness, one who hath no quality of a shepherd ;) “who leaveth the flock.” The condemnation of the evil shepherd is complete in the abandonment of the sheep; as our Lord says, “He that is an hireling and not the Shepherd, whose own the sheep are not, seeth the wolf coming and leaveth the sheep and fleeth: and the wolf catcheth them and scattereth the sheep. The hireling fleeth, because he is an hireling and careth not for the sheep” John 10:12-13. Or it may equally be, “Shepherd, thou idol,” including the original meaning of nothingness, such as antichrist will be, (Jerome), “while he calleth himself God, and willeth to be worshiped.” Jerome:…”

“The idol shepherd - To them that are but the images of shepherds. That leaveth - Casts off the care of the flock. The sword - Of the enemy, shall break his strength and be - fool his counsels. Dried up - They that have gifts which qualify them to do good, if they do it not, they will be taken away. They that should have been workmen, but were slothful, and would do nothing, will justly have their arm dried up. And they that should have been watchmen, but were drowsy, will justly have their eye blinded. Next: Zechariah Chapter 12”

“11:17 This oracle of woe is a poetic curse against the worthless shepherd for abandoning the flock. The arm and right eye represent the physical and mental abilities of the shepherd. The maimed arm and blind eye make the worthless shepherd powerless and end his selfish, opportunistic rule.”

“Woe: Jer 22:1; Eze 13:3, Eze 34:2; Mat 23:13, Mat 23:16; Luk 11:42-52 idol: Isa 9:15, Isa 44:10; Jer 23:32; Co1 8:4, Co1 10:19, Co1 10:20 that leaveth: Joh 10:12, Joh 10:13 the sword: Isa 6:9, Isa 6:10, Isa 29:10, Isa 42:19, Isa 42:20; Jer 50:35-37; Hos 4:5-7; Amo 8:9, Amo 8:10; Mic 3:6, Mic 3:7; Joh 9:39, Joh 12:40; Rom 11:7 his arm: Sa1 2:31; Kg1 13:4; Eze 30:22-24 Next: Zechariah Chapter 12”