Shepherds, Sticks, and Social Destabilization: A Fresh Look at Zechariah 11:4-17

[...]understanding the underlying social conflict provides a vista from which to observe the carefully crafted words of this narrative, which are used to convey the condemnation of the social ills envisioned here. [...]the prophet casts the wages he earned as a shepherd into the temple (Zech 11:13), indicating that the prophet held the priesthood responsible for the plight of the sheep.15 Fourth, the physical incapacities described in the woe oracle in v. 17 would render a priest unfit for service in the temple.16 Finally, if this narrative refers to buying and selling slaves (on this subject, see below), then perhaps this text condemns the priesthood for this sin based on the reference to slaves among the temple personnel in Neh 7:73.17 Like the identification of the shepherds with prophets, the theory that "shepherds" refers to priests falters mainly because no other biblical or ancient Near Eastern text makes such an identification, nor does the tradition of Jeremiah 23 and Ezekiel 34, on which Zech 11:4-17 builds. [...]may refer to the military defeat of a weaker foe by a stronger one.25 Consequendy, the "neighbors" in v. 9, apparently the people of the land of Yehud, seem unlikely to have sufficient strength to defeat others in battle; more likely they would be victims of such utter devastation. The combination of ... and ... (the land of Yehud) in Zech 11:6, all referring to the (in)activity of Yhwh, points to the military exploits of a strong foe in the land of Yehud, which YHWH will not prevent. [...]it seems best to translate ... as "his shepherd," a political figure of some authority who may inflict such utter devastation in the land that the people will desire Yhwh to deliver them.