Chizuk Emunah Under the Microscope: Chapter 37

“Awake, O sword, against my shepherd,

against the man who stands next to me,”

declares the Lord of hosts.

“Strike the shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered;

I will turn my hand against the little ones. (Zechariah 13:7)

Troki believes that this verse is about the kings of Palestine. There are many evil rulers who will need to be struck in order that their followers would be scattered. There definitely is support in the context, as the fountain will open for the house of David to cleanse everyone from unrighteousness. It also contains teh famous passage:

“On that day every prophet will be ashamed of his vision when he prophesies. He will not put on a hairy cloak in order to deceive, but he will say, ‘I am no prophet, I am a worker of the soil, for a man sold me in my youth.’ And if one asks him, ‘What are these wounds on your back?’ he will say, ‘The wounds I received in the house of my friends.’

The "strike the shepherd" appears to be a different oracle than the previous one. This later article speaks about refining the land, cutting off two-thirds of the population, and testing the the remaining third the way that metals are purified in fire. This is consistent with the verse being about Jesus. After the death of Jesus, and later the death of the second temple, the Jewish people were scattered. Many became assimilated into the surrounding cultures. A remnant was tested harshly, especially considering the brutal persecution during the time before Constantine.

Troki's interpretation is pretty far out there. The idea of a Gentile being God's shepherd would be very odd. While Cyrus was considered an anointed one by God, the shepherd metaphor is generally used for Israelite leaders, not for Gentile kings. It is also a stretch to say that the "little ones" are Edomites.

Also, verses 8 and 9 do not support Troki's interpretation that the shepherd and the little ones are Gentiles:

In the whole land, declares the Lord,

two thirds shall be cut off and perish,

and one third shall be left alive.

And I will put this third into the fire,

and refine them as one refines silver,

and test them as gold is tested.

They will call upon my name,

and I will answer them.

I will say, ‘They are my people’;

and they will say, ‘The Lord is my God.’”

Yahweh is their God, and they are God's people. This is not something that is said about the king of Babylon, or the kings of Rome, or the Edomites. This langage reflects God's attitude toward Israel.