SUMMARY
The sheep merchants give the shepherd his wages, thirty shekels of silver. The LORD commanded him to throw them into the LORD’s treasury.
ANALYSIS
The prophet assumed the position of shepherd, replacing the false shepherds (11:4-11). He sets out to fulfill his task with two staffs, Favor and Unity. The puzzling passage that follows implies that the shepherd left the flock when the sheep abandoned the covenantA covenant is a promise or agreement. In the Bible the promises made between God and God's people are known as covenants; they state or imply a relationship of commitment and obedience. More; when the shepherd was paid his wages, thirty shekels of silver, he flung them into the treasury of the LORD. Judas’ betrayal of Jesus for thirty pieces of silver and his subsequently throwing them back in the templeThe Jerusalem temple, unlike the tabernacle, was a permanent structure, although (like the tabernacle) it was a place of worship and religious activity. On one occasion Jesus felt such activity was unacceptable and, as reported in all four Gospels, drove from the temple those engaged... More is cited by Matthew 27:3-10 as a fulfillment of this prophecyProphecy is the gift, inspired by God, of speaking and interpreting the divine will. Prophets such as Amos, Isaiah, and Ezekiel spoke words of judgment and comfort to the people of Israel on behalf of God. More, although most New Testament manuscripts attribute it to Jeremiah.
