Zechariah 7:11

“But they refused to hearken, etc.]. That is, the Jews, before the captivity, refusal to give heed to the above exhortations, and obey the voice of God in them: and pulled away the shoulder; from serving the Lord, and supporting his interest: or “they gave”, or presented, “a rebellious shoulder”f151; a refractory one, that slides back, like a backsliding or refractory heifer, that will not admit of the yoke, (<280416>Hosea 4:16) so these could not bear the yoke of the law, nor the burden of duty; nor suffer the words of exhortation, or receive the admonitions given them: and stopped their ears, that they should not hear; like the deaf adder, (<195804>Psalm 58:4,5) they would not hear, and…”

“pulled away the shoulder--literally, "presented a refractory shoulder"; an image from beasts refusing to bear the yoke (Neh 9:29, Margin). stopped . . . ears-- (Isa 6:10; Jer 7:26; Act 7:57).”

“But they gave a backsliding shoulder - Like a restive animal, which would not endure the yoke, dull and stupid as the beasts: as Hosea says, “Israel slideth back like a backsliding heifer” Hosea 4:16. Nehemiah confesses the same; “they gave a backsliding shoulder and hardened their neck and would not hear” Nehemiah 9:29. And made heavy their ears - Fulfilling in themselves what God foretold to Isaiah would be the result of his preaching, “make their ears heavy.” The heart, which will not hearken, becomes duller by the outward hearing, as Paul says, “The earth which drinketh in the rain that cometh oft upon it, and bringeth forth herbs meet for them by whom it is dressed, receiveth blessing…”

“Pulled away - Withdrew their shoulder from the yoke of the law. Zechariah 7:12”

“7:11 Your ancestors refused to listen: They ignored God’s commands (see Jer 11:10). • stubbornly turned away (or set a defiant shoulder): The idiom signifies haughty stubbornness (see Neh 9:29). • Put their fingers in their ears places full responsibility upon the people for their obstinacy (cp. Isa 6:10). The same expression is used of Pharaoh when he “became stubborn” (or “hardened his heart”) against God and refused to release the Hebrews (Exod 8:32).”

“they refused: Zac 1:4; Exo 10:3; Kg2 17:13-15; Ch2 33:10; Neh 9:17, Neh 9:26, Neh 9:29; Pro 1:24-32; Isa 1:19, Isa 1:20; Jer 6:16, Jer 6:17, Jer 7:24, Jer 13:10, Jer 26:5, Jer 26:6, Jer 35:15, Jer 36:31, Jer 44:16; Eze 3:7; Hos 4:16; Dan 9:5; Zep 3:2; Act 7:51; Heb 12:25 pulled away the shoulder: Heb. gave a backsliding shoulder, Neh 9:29; Jer 8:5; Hos 4:16; Heb 10:38, Heb 10:39 stopped: Heb. made heavy, Psa 58:4, Psa 58:5; Isa 6:10; Act 7:57 Zechariah 7:12”