WPCA 3 0(y B{ 0l  UH 0 D9U H}U %UH ? #EyTz|G  y  {! ! ! $!S8!D%{"|z y!T-!d5UH! t= )A%"]$(($ o  ^$    6    ݀ XjXX XgKline,1991. d((3 ^$ ! W     0  D  ^$    12    XjXX XgԀPaulusesgoldandsilverinhisimagerydescribingwhatisleftafter @ Christiansexperiencetesting.-nAp`0Swiss 721RomanSpeedo(#$  0  -nAp`0Swiss 721RomanSpeedo<  9p`(   ^$    9     XjXX XgԀThewingedwomenaretakingtheephahinthisvisionto"Shinar"another @ nameforBabylon,whereitwillbesetupinafalsetemple.Floyd,1996. X-nAp`0Swiss 721RomanSpeedoHDCanon BJ-200BJ200.PRS8H|,XhhhhX,H#ȴ#^ o  ^$    4    ݀ XjXX XgKline,1991. p  ^$    3    XjXX XgԀMeyers,1993. r  ^$    10     XjXX XgԀBaldwin,1972.   ^$    8    ݀ XjXX XgTheentirepassageisnotaboutrejectionoftheshepherd.Heseemsto @ makesomeheadwayatthebeginning,puttinganendto"threeshepherdsinonemonth."Sincemanyhavespeculatedaboutthemeaningofthis.Iwilladdmyspeculationalso.WhenJesuscame,Helivedapropheticmonth,thirtyyears,beforeputtinganendtoallprophets,priests,andkingswhohadbeentypesofHimandHisministrybybeginningHisownpublicministry.IfonlytheattitudesthechiefpriestsandKingHerodhadbeenthesameasthatofJohntheBaptist."Hemustincrease,butImustdecrease. o  ^$    7    ݀ XjXX XgKline,1991.   ^$    11    ݀XjXX XgԀItmustbenotedatthispoint,however,thatJoshua,Zerubbabel,and @ Zechariahhaveallbeensymbolicrepresentationsofthe"Branch"tocome,soitisstillpossiblethatthislanguagecanbetypical.Theimportantpointhere,isthatitcannotbe"merely"referringtoanactualhumanruler.# XgXXXjE# q  ^$    2    XjXX XgԀRedditt,1989. y  ^$    1     XjXX XgԀHillandWalton,1991. .  ^$    5    (XjXX XgԀ# XgXX(XjC#(XjXX XgThefirsttwo(ch3andch6:915)usetheexpression"Branch"torefertoa @ comingleader.Thethirdreferstotwo"sticks"whichtheprophet,actingouthisassignedroleusestoshepherdthem.AccordingtoStrong'sThewordfor"sticks"or"staffs"seemstobefromarootmeaning"togerminate"similartotherootmeaningof  "branch"whichhastheconnotationofbeingfruitful,springingup,orgrowing.Perhapsthepriestlybranchandthekinglybrancharethetwostaves,favor,andunion.ThepriestrepresentingGod'sfavorandthekingnationalunity.# XgXX(Xjֆ#   ^$    9     XjXX XgԀThewingedwomenaretakingtheephahinthisvisionto"Shinar"another @ nameforBabylon,whereitwillbesetupinafalsetemple.Floyd,1996. q  ^$    2    XjXX XgԀRedditt,1989. r  ^$    10     XjXX XgԀBaldwin,1972. p  ^$    3    XjXX XgԀMeyers,1993.<6X9`+CourierF6X9`+,CourierHalf-Height-nAp`0Swiss 721RomanSpeedo/HzAp.Swiss 721BoldSpeedo o  ^$    7    ݀ XjXX XgKline,1991.   ^$    8    ݀ XjXX XgTheentirepassageisnotaboutrejectionoftheshepherd.Heseemsto @ makesomeheadwayatthebeginning,puttinganendto"threeshepherdsinonemonth."Sincemanyhavespeculatedaboutthemeaningofthis.Iwilladdmyspeculationalso.WhenJesuscame,Helivedapropheticmonth,thirtyyears,beforeputtinganendtoallprophets,priests,andkingswhohadbeentypesofHimandHisministrybybeginningHisownpublicministry.IfonlytheattitudesthechiefpriestsandKingHerodhadbeenthesameasthatofJohntheBaptist."Hemustincrease,butImustdecrease.-nAp`0Swiss 721RomanSpeedo   ^$    11    ݀XjXX XgԀItmustbenotedatthispoint,however,thatJoshua,Zerubbabel,and @ Zechariahhaveallbeensymbolicrepresentationsofthe"Branch"tocome,soitisstill ) possiblethatthislanguagecanbetypical.Theimportantpointhere,isthatitcannotbe"merely"referringtoanactualhumanruler.# XgXXXjE# y  ^$    1     XjXX XgԀHillandWalton,1991.6?xxxxhXxg{T5D1FFFxh/,FdT42YCY,,tXYjq12_C_,,X_BT@Kd,,tjg?Kd,,BT>Z6(6,,th6jPZ/| |IB"AHOZq|~E?00<00//NH2RP@LL "AHOZq|~E?00<00//NH2RP@LL "u'>E^7@7E^!&$\BeR((gDFGG(;"D:W9=:<<@@'@a<@VDVPVDVD\F\FoP(P(P(M;M;M;M;D-D"D"UDUDUDUDUDUDlWH=H:H:H:UG@VDP(M;D"H=H=`S\FUDLB\F/<<<GGGLxHDDPD8C\BCFIG4UT\H8C\:HHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH8888888CCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCC.P&') ! W  XjXX Xg  %  @ 7  jX XjWhenGodTreatedHisShepherd  @*;LikeaFalseProphet# XjX jY#@(9AstudyoftheMessiahin@=Zechariah13:29@zDby@@BruceBlum@iDfor@@GregKing's@=ReligionSeminar@u?May25,1998  g 7XXdXXd7  "Youwillallfallawaybecauseofmethisnight,foritiswritten,"Iwillstrikedowntheshepherdandthesheepoftheflockshallbescattered.(Matthew26:31NASB)Withthesewords,JesusaccuratelypredictedthereactionofHisdisciplestoHiscrucifixion.TheywereunpreparedforsuchanendtotheirMaster'slife.Hehaddonenothingdeservingofdeath.AsaleaderHehadbeenfaithfulinthefaceofthehypocrisyofthechiefpriests,andhadrebukedkingHerod'sthreats(Luke13:32).HewastheonlytrueandinnocentoneofalltheleadersofHisday.YetJesusHimselfseemedtoknowwhatwascomingonHimthroughHisreadingofthescriptures.Couldthedisciplesandothershaveknownalsoiftheyhadfaithfullysearched?Thispaperwillshowthatthey shouldthatthey couldhaveknown,fortheinjusticetheyobservedhadbeenprefiguredinthebookofZechariah,500yearsbeforeinapersonal,direct/typicalprophecy(13:29).   , #  1       F   Therangeofinterpretationsofthispassageamongliberalscholarsiswide.FewwouldseethebookofZechariahastheproductofoneauthor,oftensplintering  thesecondhalfofZechariahupintosomanypieceswithsomanydifferentredactorsfromdifferentspecialinterestgroupsthateventhegeneralmessianicsenseofthepassageislost.  y  y #  2      ׀Othercommentatorsdonotsaythepassageisnotmessianic,but `#   theyindicatethatthewritergainedhisinspiration"fromIsrael'stragichistory." "*  * #  3      ׀Thus 2%" thispassagerefersthedeathofakingpossiblyintheauthor'sday.Interestin gly,the ' $ linguisticandcontextualinformationthatlinksthispassagewithafuturemessiahisnotaddressedbymanyliberalscholarsintheirtreatmentsofthepas sage.   ThispaperwillshowthatZechariah13:29$ thisprophecy$ cannotbeunderstoodapartfromtheliterarystructureandhistoricalcontextoftheentirebook.ZechariahwritesattheendoftheBabylonianexileduringtherebuildingofthetempleunderZerubabelwhichbeganduringtheministryofHaggai.HeseemstobeaddressingthefearsofthepeopleregardingtheircontinuedfavorwithGod.Aftertheexileitwouldmakesenseforthemtobeasing,"HowcouldYahwehstillbeourGodafterwhatHeallowedtohappentous?"Theheartofthebookcontainsatwofoldmessageof1.social/spiritualreform(1:4,7:910)and2.encouragementtothereturningexiles(1:16,8:3).Zechariahmincesnowordsintellingthemthattheexilewastheirownfault(1:6).Yet,heassuresthemthattheyarestillYahweh'speople,andHewillstillfulfillHispurposesthroughthem(8:1113).Interestingly,inthisbookitbecomesclearthatGod'spurposeforHischosenpeopleisthattheywillbeachannelthroughwhichHewillblessallnations(8:23,9:10,14:16).  Thebookisbuiltonathreehingestructure,withthreemajorpassagesservingasthehingesonwhichtherestofthebookishung. #  4      ׀(Seeoutlinebelow.)These `#   threepassagesaretiedtogetherbythreeelements.First,theyallcontainthe"branch"theme.y #  5      ׀Second,theprophetZechariahhimselfparticipatesineach,evenif ' $ thesectionisavision.Third,theyallcontainactualhistoricalindividuals.Therestofthebookonlyreferstosymbolicfiguresorentirenations.  Perhapsmostinterestingisthatthesethreesectionswithsuchremarkableliterarycorrespondencesarealsostructurallytiedtogether.Thefirstandlastarethecenterpiecesoftwosevenpartchiasms,andthesecondisatthecenteroftheentirebook.K #  6      ׀Asthepatternunfolds,wefindinthefirsthingethatthepriestlyofficepoints Z  towardthefutureMessiah.Inthesecondhingethekinglyofficepointstowardthefuture)"Branch")Messiah,andinthethirdhingethepropheticofficepointstowardthefutureMessiah.Butjustasthepeoplehavenotlistenedtotheprophets,neitherwilltheylistentotheMessiah.  TherejectionofZechariahasshepherdinthethirdhinge(11:417)findsits*thematic*balanceinthesatanicaccusationoftheJoshuainthefirsthinge.*$*** #  7      ׀Chapter F elevencontinuesthestoryandshowsustheresultofrejectingtheshepherdGodhasappointed.*%*** #  8      ׀GodacknowledgesHispeople'srejectionoftheshepherdHehasgiven  them(11:8),andHepredictstheendofdivinefavorandtheendofnationalunity(11:10,14).Heandgivesthemthekindofshepherdtheywant,afoolishonewhodoesnottakecareofthem.TherearetwopassagesoftenregardedasMessianicafterthispointinthebook,andbothofthemspeakofHimasinjured(12:10,13:7).  Followingisanoutlineofthebook,showingthethreehingesandtherepeatinga.b.a'.structureinthefirstandsecondhalf.0  IntroI.0 (#(#0 (# (#0h(#(#0h(#h(#0(#(#1:16, (#(# 0  0` (#(#a.0 ` (#` (#0 (# (#0h(#(#0h(#h(#0(#(#1:717 (#(# 0  A.0` (#(#b.0 ` (#` (#0 (# (#0h(#(#0h(#h(#0(#(#1:1821(Hebrew2:14) (#(# A.0  0` (#(#a'.0 ` (#` (#0 (# (#0h(#(#0h(#h(#0(#(#2:113(Hebrew2:517) (#(# 0  B.0` (#(#0 ` (#` (#1.priestwhogoverns0 (# (#3:110(#(# 0  0` (#(#a.0 ` (#` (#accused/installed0 (# (#4:114y(#(# 0  A'.0` (#(#b.0 ` (#` (#0 (# (#0h(#(#0h(#h(#0(#(#5:111b(#(# 0  0` (#(#a'.0 ` (#` (#0 (# (#0h(#(#0h(#h(#0(#(#6:18K(#(# B.0  0` (#(#0 ` (#` (#0 (# (#2.kinglypriest0(#(#6:915](#(# 0  0` (#(#0 ` (#` (#0 (# (#crowned (#(# 0  IntroII.0 (#(#0 (# (#0h(#(#0h(#h(#0(#(#7:18:23/(#(# 0  0` (#(#a.0 ` (#` (#0 (# (#0h(#(#0h(#h(#0(#(#9:117(#(# 0  A.0` (#(#b.0 ` (#` (#0 (# (#0h(#(#0h(#h(#0(#(#10:14(#(# A'.0  0` (#(#a'.0 ` (#` (#0 (# (#0h(#(#0h(#h(#0(#(#10:511:3(#(# 0  B.0` (#(#0 ` (#` (#3.propheticshepherd0 (# (#11:417(#(# 0  0` (#(#a.0 ` (#` (#installed/rejected0 (# (#0(#(#12:113:1|(#(# 0  A'.0` (#(#b.0 ` (#` (#0 (# (#0h(#(#0h(#h(#0(#(#13:29 e(#(# 0  0` (#(#a'.0 ` (#` (#0 (# (#0h(#(#0h(#h(#0(#(#14:121!N(#(# P  Oursectionisinitalicsintheoutline.Itisthelastb.sectioninthebook.Alloftheb.sectionsaresignificantbecauseallofthemaretiedinonewayoranothertothecentralB.sectionthatisattheheartofthebook.Oursectionshouldrightlybeinterpretedinthelightofalloftheb.sections.Oneofthestrongestargumentsthatourpassageismessianicisthatthethree"hinge"sectionsareb.sectionsoftheirrespectiveunits,andallthreearemessianicpassages.Thefirsttwosaythatthemen z,:&* inthemaresymbolsof"theBranch"tocome.Thethird,however,revealswhatsortofreceptionthisHewillreceive.Hisleadershipwillberejectedbythepeople,andGodwillturnthemovertothesortofleadershiptheydesire.Oursisthelastmessianicreferenceinthebook,thusitsmessagetakesonextrasignificance.  Ashasbeennoted,fromheretotheendofthebooktheglimpsesoftheMessiahthatweseearedarkones.Chapter12:10speaksofmourningovertheonetheyhavepierced.Chapter13givesusapictureoftheLord'sShepherdbeingstruckbythesword.It'sinterestingtonotethatinthefirstparallelb.passageinchapter1,theimageryisofthesanctuaryaltar(1:1821).Thiswastheplaceofsacrificeprefiguringthecross.  Thenextb.passageisinchapter5.Itisadualvisionabouttrueandfalseworship.Itsfirstsectiontalksaboutthepurgingofthosewhoswearfalselyfromtheland(5:4),asthefirstpartofourpassagereferstothepurgingofthosewhospeakfalsely(13:3).Thesecondpartofchapter5isadescriptionoffalseworship.ItusessymbolismtomakeamockeryofthefalseworshipofGod'speople.ThiscompetingreligionofwickednessisweakandconnectedwiththeBabylonianexile.*** * #  9      ׀Perhapsit !N isnottoofarofftoinferthatthesamefalsitythatleadstoexilewillleadtotheswordawakeningagainsttheShepherdofYahweh.  Thenextb.passageis10:14.Hereweseethedualpatternoffalseworshipandtrueagain.Theidolsandfalseprophetsarecondemned,asin13:2,whilethe ("& houseofJudahispreparedforitsroleasthesourceof"theconerstone,thetentpeg,thebowofbattle,everyruler,allofthemtogether."(NASB)ThisfitswithothermessianicpredictionsthatJudahwillbethesourceofthemessiah.  Ourpassagehassomeuniquecharacteristics.Itissetupintwoparts.Firstistheremovaloffalseprophets,secondtheswordawakingagainstYahweh'sshepherd.Somequestionwhethertheremovaloffalseprophetsdoesnotgoalittletoofar,sothateventrueprophetsfearfortheirlives.Themostobviousreasonforinferringthisbisthatthelanguageofverse6,"lit.woundsbetweenyourhands"and"inthehouseofmyfriends"areverytemptingpassagesfortheinterpreterwhowouldliketofindevenmoremessianicreferenceshere.Thisseemstobestretchingthemeaning,however,andthetrueunderstandingmightbebestseenthroughcontrast.WhatisshockingisthatthefatethatcameoverthefalseprophetsseemstobethesamefatethatcomesupontheLord'sshepherd.Thefalseprophetsarekilledbyfamilymembers,Yahweh'sshepherdisofferedupbyYahwehHimself.It'sasifheacceptedtherejectionoftheshepherdHeappointedinchapter11,andisactuallylettingtheresultsoftheirrejectiontakeplace.Hisshepherdiskilled.*!*** #  10      ׀Thesword !N thatappearedinchapter11topreyontheworthlessshepherdhereappearsandpreysontheLord'sshepherd.Whatinjusticeisthis?NootherleaderreceivessuchinjusticewithGod'sapprovalbutthesufferingservantofIsaiah53.  Somesaythattheshepherdimageryreferstohumanleaders,butnottheMessiah.Threeargumentsstandagainstthis.1.Time.Thispassage,andindeedall *h$( themessianicpassagesinZechariah,pointtoafuturefulfillment.2.Context.Thispassageislinkedstrucurallytotheotherreferencestothe"Branch."3.Language.TheshepherdhereisdecribedasYahweh'sassociate.TheHebrewexpressionisoneoffamiliarityandfriendshipamongequals.ThiscouldonlydescribeYahweh'srelationshiptoaveryspecialShepherd,theGod/Man,notadivinehumanrelationship.*+y*** #  11       Z    Thisiswhatcouldhavebeengoingthroughthemindsofthedisciplesiftheyhadreadandunderstoodthescriptures.Theycouldhaveseentheresultofthenation'srejectionoftheonetheyhadcometoknowastheSonofGod.TherestofthepassagedescribestheresultofthisShepherd'sdemise.Theflockisscattered.Thisisnotanuncommonimage.Ithappenedattheexile,butherewouldrefertothescatteringofthedisciplesthenightofJesus'trial.ThenextphraseandIwillturnmyhadagainstthelittleones(NASB)isinparallelwiththephraseaboutscattering.Itisenigmatic,butinotherusesintheOldTestamentitseemstobeareferencetojudgment.The"littleones"inversesevenisanotherobscureexpression,butseemstobeindicatingthatthestrikingoftheShepherdwillbeatryingtimeforallinvolved.  ThefollowingsectiondescribesinfigurativelanguagetherefiningeffectoftheShepherd'sdeathonthepeopleofGod.TheThecrucifixioncertainlyhadthiseffectonthedisciples,aneffectparalleltotheBabyloniancaptivity,andparalleltothe ' $ testingofthechurchPaulwritesaboutin1Cor3. #  12      ׀Theendresultisthatthepeople @ whoareleftwillcommunicatewithGodandremaininapersonalrelationshipwithHim.  ForapeoplewonderingiftheyarestillacceptabletoGod,themessageofZechariahmusthavebeenpuzzling,butwouldhavebeenveryencouragingifproperlyunderstood.HereisthecruxoftheMessianicpassages:JustasGodhasallowedHisfavoredpeopletobestricken,soHewillallowHisShepherd(theLordismyShepherd?)tobestricken.Theimplicationisclear.HewillnomorerejectthemthanHewouldrejectHisownShepherd.Infact,HeHimselfwillshareintheirsufferingastheirShepherd.%  Whatacomfortandencouragement!ThusZechariahmakesitplainthatGodisstillwithHispeople.Buthealsowarnsthattheattitudesoftheleaders(atleastinthefuture)willleadtorejectionofGod'sleadership.TheinterestingpartisthatHepledgesnottogiveuponthem,but  b @?Bibliography0   Baldwin,Joyce.Haggai,Zechariah,Malachi.TyndaleOldTestamentCommentariesvol.24.DownersGrove,Ill.:IntervarsityPress,1972. (#(# 0   Floyd,MichaelH."TheEvilintheEphah."CatholicBilbiicalQuarterly.vol.58(1996):51,18p. (#(# 0   Hill,AndrewE.&Walton,JohnE.ASurveyoftheOldTestament.GrandRapids,Mi.:Zondervan,1991. (#(# 0   Kaiser,WalterC.TheMessiahintheOldTestament.GrandRapids,Mi.:Zondervan,1995. (#(# 0   Kline,MeredithG."TheStructureoftheBookofZechariah."JournaloftheEvangelicalTheologicalSociety.vol.34(1991):179193. (#(# 0   Smith,RalphL.MicahMalachi.WordBiblicalCommentary.vol.32.Waco,Tx.:WordBooks,1984. (#(# 0   Meyers,CarolL.andEricM.Zechariah914.TheAnchorBiblevol.25c.NewYork:Doubleday,1993.