The Establishment of Messiah’s Kingdom (Chs. 9-14). 

        We have already pointed out that these chapters are apocalyptic, and as is usual in such prophecies the general drift is clear enough, but detailed interpretation is impossible — he who thinks otherwise should learn humility from those as good as he who have interpreted them otherwise. We must content ourselves with pointing out the main subdivisions.

        a) 9:1-8. Jehovah’s vengeance on Israel’s neighbours.

        b) 9:9f. The Messianic king of peace.

        c) 9:11-17. Israel freed from captivity is victorious over her enemies. Obviously the fulfilment of this must precede (b) unless it is completely spiritualized.

        d) 10:If. A warning against superstition and magic arts. It may be in its present position because the closing words link it superficially with what follows.

        e) 10:3-12. The raising up of rulers by God who shall lead Judah and Ephraim back to the land. Though not exclusively Messianic,’ there is a Messianic note in it. For the use of shepherd see p. 111.

        f) 11:Iff. A visitation on the land. There is no pos­sibility of identifying the particular invader. Since the mention of shepherds may explain its position here, we cannot even assume that it is eschatological.

        g) 11:4-14. The rejection of Jehovah’s Shepherd. The passage becomes easier when one remembers that the prophet is acting allegorically (with an imaginary flock?), and some­times it is the prophet, sometimes God, who speaks in the first person.

        h) 11:15ff. The appointment of a worthless king as a punishment. Probably a historic figure of the past used to Prefigure one yet future

        i) 12:1-9. The deliverance of Jerusalem, cf. 14:1-15.

        j) 12:10-14. Judah’s repentance. On the basis of John 19:37; Rev. 1:7, it is probably better to follow the R.V. mg. in ver. 10. The reference in ver. 11 has never been satisfactorily explained.

        k) 13:1-6. The cleansing of Judah from all taint of sin

and false prophecy.

        l) 13:7ff. The smiting of the Shepherd, and its fruit. Some link this with 11:15ff, but there is really no serious ground for this. It is far more satisfactory to link in with 12:10 and refer it to our Lord. The Shepherd is called Jehovah’s fellow, because Jehovah is the supreme Shepherd of Israel, cf. I Pet. 5:Iff.

        m) 14:1-5. The Lord comes to deliver Jerusalem.

        n) 14:6-21. Millennial glory. Read the mg. in ver. 21.