Zechariah 11:3

“[There is] a voice of the howling of the shepherds, etc.] Which may be understood either of the civil rulers among the Jews, who now lose their honour and their riches; and so the Targum, Jarchi, and Aben Ezra, interpret it of kings; or of the ecclesiastical rulers, the elders of the people, the Scribes and Pharisees: for their glory is spoiled; their power and authority; their riches and wealth; their places of honour and profit; their offices, posts, and employments, whether in civil or religious matters, are taken from them, and they are deprived of them: a voice of the roaring of young lions; of princes, comparable to them for their power, tyranny, and cruelty: the Targum is, “their…”

“shepherds--the Jewish rulers. their glory--their wealth and magnificence; or that of the temple, "their glory" (Mar 13:1; Luk 21:5). young lions--the princes, so described on account of their cruel rapacity. pride of Jordan--its thickly wooded banks, the lair of "lions" (Jer 12:5; Jer 49:19). Image for Judea "spoiled" of the magnificence of its rulers ("the young lions"). The valley of the Jordan forms a deeper gash than any on the earth. The land at Lake Merom is on a level with the Mediterranean Sea; at the Sea of Tiberias it falls six hundred fifty feet below that level, and to double that depression at the Dead Sea, that is, in all, 1950 feet below the Mediterranean; in twenty miles'…”

“A voice of the howling of the shepherds, for their glory is spoiled - It echoes on from Jeremiah before the captivity, “Howl, ye shepherds - A voice of the cry of the shepherds. and an howling of the principal of the flock; for the Lord hath spoiled their pasture” Jeremiah 25:34, Jeremiah 25:36. There is one chorus of desolation, the mighty and the lowly; the shepherds and the young lions; what is at other times opposed is joined in one wailing. “The pride of Jordan” are the stately oaks on its banks, which shroud it from sight, until you reach its edges, and which, after the captivity of the ten tribes, became the haunt of lions and their chief abode in Palestine, “on account of the burning…”

“Of the shepherds - The enemy having driven away their flocks and herds. Their glory - What was their honour. Of Jordan - The great forests on the banks of Jordan, where the young lions were wont to range. Zechariah 11:4”

“11:3 Shepherds and lions figuratively represent the leaders of Lebanon and Bashan, lamenting the destruction of their forested slopes, their pride, and their livelihood (see 11:1-2).”

“a voice: Zac 11:8, Zac 11:15-17; Jer 25:34-36; Joe 1:13; Amo 8:8; Zep 1:10; Mat 15:14; Matt. 23:13-33; Jam 5:1-6 for their: Sa1 4:21, Sa1 4:22; Isa 65:15; Jer 7:4, Jer 7:11-14, Jer 26:6; Eze 24:21-25; Hos 1:9, Hos 1:10, Hos 10:5; Zep 3:11; Mat 3:7-10, Mat 21:43-45; Act 6:11-14, Act 22:21, Act 22:22; Rom 11:7-12 a voice: Psa 22:21; Jer 2:30; Eze 19:3-6; Zep 3:3; Mat 23:31-38; Act 7:52 for the pride: Jer 49:19, Jer 50:44 Zechariah 11:4”