Commentaries:
Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown
Expounded by Christ as referring to Himself (Matthew 26:31-32). Thus it is a resumption of the prophecy of His betrayal (Zechariah 11:4, Zechariah 11:10, Zechariah 11:13-14), and the subsequent punishment of the Jews. It explains the mystery why He, who came to be a blessing, was cut off while bestowing the blessing. God regards sin in such a fearful light that He spared not His own co-equal Son in the one Godhead, when that Son bore the sinner's guilt.
Awake—Compare a similar address to the sword of justice personified (Jeremiah 46:6-7). For "smite" (imperative), Matthew 26:31 has "I will smite." The act of the sword, it is thus implied, is GOD'S act. So the prophecy in Isaiah 6:9, "Hear ye," is imperative; the fulfilment as declared by Jesus is future (Matthew 13:14), "ye shall hear."
sword—the symbol of judicial power, the highest exercise of which is to take away the life of the condemned (Psalms 17:13; Romans 13:4). Not merely a show, or expression, of justice (as Socinians think) is distinctly implied here, but an actual execution of it on Messiah the shepherd, the substitute for the sheep, by God as judge. Yet God in this shows His love as gloriously as His justice. For God calls Messiah "My shepherd," that is, provided (Revelation 13:8) for sinners by My love to them, and ever the object of My love, though judicially smitten (Isaiah 53:4) for their sins (Isaiah 42:1; Isaiah 59:16).
man that is my fellow—literally, "the man of my union." The Hebrew for "man" is "a mighty man," one peculiarly man in his noblest ideal. "My fellow," that is, "my associate." "My equal" ([DE WETTE]; a remarkable admission from a Rationalist). "My nearest kinsman" [HENGSTENBERG], (John 10:30; John 14:10-11; Philippians 2:6).
sheep shall be scattered—The scattering of Christ's disciples on His apprehension was the partial fulfilment (Matthew 26:31), a pledge of the dispersion of the Jewish nation (once the Lord's sheep, Psalms 100:3) consequent on their crucifixion of Him. The Jews, though "scattered," are still the Lord's "sheep," awaiting their being "gathered" by Him (Isaiah 40:9, Isaiah 40:11).
I will turn . . . hand upon . . . little ones—that is, I will interpose in favor of (compare the phrase in a good sense, Isaiah 1:25) "the little ones," namely, the humble followers of Christ from the Jewish Church, despised by the world: "the poor of the flock" (Zechariah 11:7, Zechariah 11:11); comforted after His crucifixion at the resurrection (John 20:17-20); saved again by a special interposition from the destruction of Jerusalem, having retired to Pella when Cestius Gallus so unaccountably withdrew from Jerusalem. Ever since there has been a Jewish "remnant" of "the little ones . . . according to the election of grace." The hand of Jehovah was laid in wrath on the Shepherd that His hand might be turned in grace upon the little ones.
Other Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown entries containing Zechariah 13:7:
Isaiah 1:25
Isaiah 13:14
Jeremiah 31:22
Zechariah 10:2
Zechariah 13:1
Zechariah 13:6
Matthew 10:42
John 10:11
John 10:12
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