to have expected." Besides these two, compare farther,
_Alting_, _de Cabbala sacra_ Sec. 73.

In conclusion, we must still direct attention to chap. xx. 3. Who,
indeed, could infer from that passage, that, by way of change, _Pashur_
was called also _Magor-Missabib_?

Chap. xxiii. 1. "_Woe to shepherds that destroy and scatter the sheep
of my pasture, saith the Lord._"

It must be well observed that [Hebrew: reiM] is here without the
article, but, in ver. 2, with it. _Venema_ remarks on this: "A general
woe upon bad shepherds is premised, which is soon applied to the
shepherds of Judah, _q.d._, since Jehovah has denounced a woe upon all
bad shepherds, therefore ye bad shepherds," &c. By the "shepherds,"
several interpreters would understand only the false prophets and
priests. Others would at least have them thought of, along with the
kings. This view has exercised an injurious influence upon the
understanding of the subsequent Messianic announcement, inasmuch as it
occasioned the introduction into it of features which are altogether
foreign to it. It is only when it is perceived, that the bad shepherds
refer to the kings exclusively, that it is seen that, in the
description of the good Shepherd, that only is applicable which has
reference to Him as a King. But the very circumstance that, according
to a correct interpretation, nothing else is found in this description,
is a sufficient proof that, by the bad shepherds, the kings only can be
understood. But all doubt is removed when we consider the close
connection of the verses under consideration with chap. xxii. In
commenting upon chap. iii. 15, we saw that, ordinarily, rulers only are
designated by the shepherds; compare, farther, chap. xxv. 34-36, and
the imitation and first interpretation of the passage under review by
Ezekiel, in chap. xxxiv. Ps. lxxviii. 70, 71: "He chose David his
servant, and took him from the sheep-folds. He took him from behind the
ewes to feed Jacob, His people, and Israel, His inheritance," shows
that a typical interpretation of the former circumstances of David
lies at the foundation of this _usus loquendi_; compare Ezek. xxxiv.
23, 24: "And I raise over them one Shepherd, and he feedeth them, my
servant David; he shall feed them, and he shall be [Pg 405] their
shepherd."--What is to be understood by the destroying and scattering,
must be determined partly from ver. 3 and vers. 13 ff. of the preceding
chapter; partly from ver. 3 of the ch