Zechariah 11:5

“Whose possessors slay them, and hold themselves not guilty, etc.] Not the Romans after Christ came, into whose hands they were delivered, and by whom they were slain in great numbers, not accounting it any sin to put them to death; but the priests, Scribes, Pharisees, and doctors, among the Jews, who ruined and destroyed their souls, by feeding them with poisonous doctrines; teaching them the commandments of men, and to observe the traditions of the elders; and to seek for life and salvation by the works of the law, which was a ministration of condemnation and death to them; and yet thought they did God and the souls of men good service: and they that sell them; as false teachers make…”

“possessors--The buyers [MAURER], their Roman oppressors, contrasted with "they that sell men." The instruments of God's righteous judgment, and therefore "not holding themselves guilty" (Jer 50:7). It is meant that they might use this plea, not that they actually used it. Judah's adversaries felt no compunction in destroying them; and God in righteous wrath against Judah allowed it. they that sell them--(Compare Zac 11:12). The rulers of Judah, who by their avaricious rapacity and selfishness (Joh 11:48, Joh 11:50) virtually sold their country to Rome. Their covetousness brought on Judea God's visitation by Rome. The climax of this was the sale of the innocent Messiah for thirty pieces of…”

“Whose possessors - (buyers) slay them and hold themselves not guilty, rather, are not guilty either in their own eyes, or in the sight of God, since He gave them up and would no more avenge them. They contract no guilt. Aforetime God said; “Israel was holiness to the Lord, the first-fruits of His increase; all that devour him shall be guilty: evil shall come upon them, saith the Lord” Jeremiah 2:3. Now God reversed this, as He said by the same prophet, “My people hath been lost sheep; their shepherds have caused them to go astray; they have turned them away on the mountains; all that found them have devoured them; and their adversaries say, We are not guilty, because they have sinned against…”

“Whose possessors - Governors. Not guilty - Think they do no ill. That sell them - For slaves. For l am rich - Profanely give God thanks, that they thrive by cruelty and oppression. Zechariah 11:6”

“11:5 The sheep (the Hebrew people) were being sold as slaves to buyers—occupying foreign powers, foreign allies, or domestic slave-traders (see Amos 2:6). • The sellers were the shepherds, leaders of the people who were more concerned with getting rich than with the well-being of the sheep.”

“possessors: Jer 23:1, Jer 23:2; Eze 22:25-27, Eze 34:2, Eze 34:3, Eze 34:10; Mic 3:1-3, Mic 3:9-12; Mat 23:14; Joh 16:2 hold: Jer 2:3, Jer 50:7 sell: Gen 37:26-28; Kg2 4:1; Neh 5:8; Mat 21:12, Mat 21:13; Pe2 2:3; Rev 18:13 Blessed: Deu 29:19-21; Hos 12:8; Ti1 6:5-10 and their: Eze 34:4, Eze 34:6, Eze 34:18, Eze 34:19, Eze 34:21; Joh 10:1, Joh 10:12, Joh 10:13 Zechariah 11:6”