John Gill's Exposition on Ezekiel 34:5

A historical reference excerpt for this verse. Read it alongside the biblical text and other available sources.

Exposition of the Old and New Testament
John Gill (1697–1771) · 18th-century historical commentary
Source: BibleWord.ai's local reference edition of this named work.

And they were scattered because there is no shepherd, &c.] No good one; there were shepherds, but they were idol shepherds, good for nothing, and it was all one as if there were none: so, in Christ’s time, there were the Scribes and Pharisees; yet, since these did not feed the people with wholesome doctrine, they are said to be as sheep without a shepherd, and scattered abroad, as here from the fold, and from one another; dispersed here and there, seeking food, and none, which moved his compassion, (<400936>Matthew 9:36), in the political sense it may refer to their captivity, and their dispersion among the nations, having no king: So the Targum, “and they were scattered without a governor.” And they became meat to all beasts of the field when they were scattered; the Targum is, “and they were delivered to all the kingdoms of the people to be consumed;” such as the Assyrians, Babylonians, Ammonites, Moabites, and others; and may be applied to false teachers, those grievous wolves, which spare not the flock, into whose hands members of churches, professors of religion, fall, when neglected by their shepherds.

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