The Pulpit Commentary — Zechariah — Section 126

Ver. 3.-Bad men in high office. "There is a voice of the howling of the shepherds; for their glory is spoiled: a voice of the roaring of young lions; for the pride of Jordan is Bpoiled." We have here two subjects of thought. I. BAD MEN IN HIGH OFFICE. The men referred to here are called "shepherds," which is a designation of men in power, men who politically and ecclesiastically presided over the people-the leaders. Communities of men everywhere and in all times have bad "shepherds," men who guided and ruled them. 'l'hese "shepherds" have sometimes reached their position irrespectively of the will of the people, some- times with the will of the people, sometimes against the will of the people. In this country we have a number of" shepherds," politically from the mayor to the queen, ecclesiastically from the assistant curate to the archbishop. The "shepherds" referred to in the text had unfortunately what, alas ! the leaders of the people in all ages have too frequently had--an ambitious character. Hence they are here called, "young lions," "a voice of the roaring of young lions;" or, as Keil has it, a "loud roaring of the young lions." They were hungry, ravenous, and rapacious, fattening upon the people of their charge. Elsewhere they are represented as" ravening wolves." How often have men in high office, both in state and Church, been of this character! Such as they care nothing for the people, only so far as they can make use of them, feed and fatten on them. Observe: 1. That a man in high office who has a bad character is of all men the most contemptible. A bad character in a pauper makes him contemptible; bnt a bad character in a king makes him ten times the more contemptible. When God commands us to honour our parents, and to honour the king, it implies that the parents and the king are honourworthy; if they are corrupt in character, they should be dis- honoured and denounced. 2. That it is the duty of all peoples to promote those aume to high ojffoe who have a high moral character. Alas! they have not done so; henc.e they have often had unworthy magistrates, judges, kings, bishops. II. BAD MEN IN HIGU OFFICE GREATLY DIBTRESBJl:D. "There is a voice of the bowling of the shepherds; for their glory is spoiled: a voice of the roaring of youn~ lions; for the pride of Jordan is spoiled." "The glory of these shepherds being spoiled," says Wardlaw, "signifies the bringing down of all their honour and power, and the wealth and luxury which, b_y the abuse of their power they had acquired, all becoming a prt:y to the sacking and pillaging besiegers. 'l'he pride of Jordan lay in its evergreens D.IJd brushwood with which ite banks were enriched and ~•iorned; and these being the CH, XI. 1-17.] THE BOOK OF ZECHARIAH. 129