Yechezkel 34

1 4 And the Devar Hashem came unto me, saying,

2 Ben Adam, prophesy against the ro’im (shepherds) of Yisroel, prophesy, and say unto them, Thus saith Adonoi Hashem unto the ro’im (shepherds); Oy to the ro’im (shepherds) of Yisroel who are ro’im tending to themselves! Should not the ro’im (shepherds) be ro’im tending to the tzon (flock)?

3 Ye eat the chelev, and ye clothe you with the tzemer (wool), ye slaughter the healthy; but ye are not ro’im that tend the tzon.

4 The weak have ye not strengthened, neither have ye healed that which was cholah (sick), neither have ye bound up the nishberet (injured ones), neither have ye brought back that which was straying, neither have ye sought haovedet (the lost); but with chazekah (force) and with perek (harshness, severity) have ye ruled them.

5 And they were scattered, because there is no ro’eh; and they became okhel (food) to kol chayyat hasadeh, when they were scattered.

6 My tzon wandered through all the harim, and upon every high givah (hill); yes, My tzon was scattered upon all the face of ha’aretz, and none did search or seek after them.

7 Therefore, ye ro’im, hear the Devar Hashem:

8 As I live, saith Adonoi Hashem, surely because My tzon became a prey, and My tzon became okhel to kol chayyat hasadeh, because there was no ro’eh, neither did My ro’im (shepherds) search for My tzon, but the ro’im (shepherds) were ro’im tending to themselves, and tended not My tzon;

9 Therefore, O ye ro’im, hear the Devar Hashem:

10 Thus saith Adonoi Hashem: Hineni, I am against the ro’im; and I will require an accounting for My tzon at their yad, and cause them to cease from being ro’im to the tzon; neither shall the ro’im (shepherds) be ro’im tending to themselves any more; for I will save My tzon from their mouth, that they may not be okhel for them.

11 For thus saith Adonoi Hashem: Hineni, I, even I, will both search for My tzon, and seek after them.

12 As a ro’eh seeketh after his tzon in the day that he is among his tzon that are scattered; so will I seek after My tzon, and will save them out of kol hamekomot (all the places) where they have been scattered there in the yom anan va’arafel (day of clouds and thick darkness).

13 And I will bring them out from HaAmim, and gather them from the aratzot (countries), and will bring them to their own adamah, and I will tend them as Ro’eh upon the harim of Yisroel by the ravines, and in all the moshevei HaAretz.

14 I will give them feeding of a roeh in a mireh tov (good pasture) and upon the high harim of Yisroel shall their naveh (fold, abode of sheep) be; there shall they lie in a naveh tov, and in a mireh shamen (fat pasture) shall they feed upon the harim of Yisroel.

15 As a ro’eh will I tend My tzon, and I will cause them to lie down, saith Adonoi Hashem.

16 I will seek haovedet (that which was lost), and bring back that which was straying, and will bind up the nishberet (that which was injured), and will strengthen the cholah (sick); but I will destroy the shemenah (stout, sleek) and the chazakah; I will tend to them with mishpat (justice).

17 And as for you, O My tzon, thus saith Adonoi Hashem; Hineni, I judge between seh and seh, between the rams and the goats.

18 Seemeth it a small thing unto you to have eaten up the mireh hatov (good pasture), that ye must also trample down with your raglayim what is left of your mirim (pastures)? And to have drunk of the clear mayim, but ye must also foul the rest with your raglayim?

19 And as for My tzon, they feed on that which ye have trampled with your raglayim; and they drink that which ye have fouled with your raglayim.

20 Therefore thus saith Adonoi Hashem unto them; Hineni, I, even I, will act as shofet between the seh biryah (fat lamb) and between the seh razah (emaciated lamb).

21 Because ye have thrust with flank and with shoulder, and butted all the weak emaciated ones with your karnayim, till ye have scattered them abroad;

22 Therefore will I save My tzon, and they shall no more be a prey; and I will act as shofet between seh and seh.

23 And I will set up Ro’eh Echad over them, He shall tend them as ro’eh, even Avdi Dovid; He shall feed them. He shall be their Ro’eh.

24 And I Hashem will be their Elohim, and Avdi Dovid [Moshiach] a Nasi among them; I Hashem have spoken.

25 And I will make with them a Brit Shalom, and will cause the chayyah ra’ah to cease out of HaAretz; and they shall dwell safely in the midbar, and sleep in the ye’arot (forests).

26 And I will make them and the places surrounding My givah (hill) a brocha; and I will cause the geshem to come down in its season; there shall be gishmei brocha (showers of blessing).

27 And the etz hasadeh shall yield her p’ri, and ha’aretz shall yield her increase, and they shall be safe in their adamah, and shall know that I am Hashem, when I have broken the bars of their ol (yoke), and saved them out of the yad haovedim (hand, power of enslavers) of them.

28 And they shall no more be a prey to the Goyim, neither shall the chayyat HaAretz devour them; but they shall dwell safely, and none shall make them afraid.

29 And I will raise up for them a planting of renown, and they shall be no more consumed with ra’av in HaAretz, neither bear the shame of the Goyim any more.

30 Thus shall they know that I Hashem Eloheihem am with them, and that they, even Bais Yisroel, are My people, saith Adonoi Hashem.

31 And ye My tzon, the tzon of My mireh, are adam, and I am Eloheichem, saith Adonoi Hashem.

Yechezkel 34 Commentary

Chapter 34

The rulers reproved. (1-6) The people are to be restored to their own land. (7-16) The kingdom of Christ. (17-31)

Verses 1-6 The people became as sheep without a shepherd, were given up as a prey to their enemies, and the land was utterly desolated. No rank or office can exempt from the reproofs of God's word, men who neglect their duty, and abuse the trust reposed in them.

Verses 7-16 The Lord declared that he intended mercy towards the scattered flock. Doubtless this, in the first place, had reference to the restoration of the Jews. It also represented the good Shepherd's tender care of the souls of his people. He finds them in their days of darkness and ignorance, and brings them to his fold. He comes to their relief in times of persecution and temptation. He leads them in the ways of righteousness, and causes them to rest on his love and faithfulness. The proud and self-sufficient, are enemies of the true gospel and of believers; against such we must guard. He has rest for disquieted saints, and terror for presumptuous sinners.

Verses 17-31 The whole nation seemed to be the Lord's flock, yet they were very different characters; but he knew how to distinguish between them. By good pastures and deep waters, are meant the pure word of God and the dispensing of justice. The latter verses, ( 23-31 ) , prophesy of Christ, and of the most glorious times of his church on earth. Under Him, as the good Shepherd, the church would be a blessing to all around. Christ, though excellent in himself, was as a tender plant out of a dry ground. Being the Tree of life, bearing all the fruits of salvation, he yields spiritual food to the souls of his people. Our constant desire and prayer should be, that there may be showers of blessings in every place where the truth of Christ is preached; and that all who profess the gospel may be filled with fruits of righteousness.

Chapter Summary

INTRODUCTION TO EZEKIEL 34

In the former chapter the prophet prophesies against the people of the Jews, both those of the captivity, and those who were not; and here against the shepherds of Israel. This he is bid to do, Eze 34:1,2, whose cruelty to the flock, negligence and unfaithfulness are exposed, Eze 34:3-6, for which reasons they are threatened to be deprived of their office, Eze 34:7-10, and the Lord promises to take the care of the flock upon himself, to seek out his sheep, and feed them, and do every kind office to them, Eze 34:11-16 and then the strong of the flock, that oppressed the weak, are threatened with punishment, Eze 34:17-22 and the promise of the Messiah, as the shepherd of the flock, is made, under whom all prosperity and happiness might be expected, Eze 34:23-31.