Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Zechariah 7:11
But they refused to hearken, and pulled away the shoulder, and stopped their ears, that they should not hear.
11. pulled away the shoulder ] Neh 9:29; Hos 4:16.
stopped ] Lit. made heavy, i.e. dull. Comp. Isa 6:10. The same word is used of the eyes, Gen 48:10, and of the tongue, Exo 4:10.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
But they gave a backsliding shoulder – Like a restive animal, which would not endure the yoke, dull and stupid as the beasts: as Hosea says, Israel slideth back like a backsliding heifer Hos 4:16. Nehemiah confesses the same; they gave a backsliding shoulder and hardened their neck and would not hear Neh 9:29.
And made heavy their ears – Fulfilling in themselves what God foretold to Isaiah would be the result of his preaching, make their ears heavy. The heart, which will not hearken, becomes duller by the outward hearing, as Paul says, The earth which drinketh in the rain that cometh oft upon it, and bringeth forth herbs meet for them by whom it is dressed, receiveth blessing from God; but that which beareth thorns and briars is rejected Heb 6:7-8.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Verse 11. Pulled away the shoulder] From under the yoke of the law, like an unbroken or restive bullock in the plough.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
But they refused to hearken; they wilfully were ignorant, ant, would not consider nor understand.
Pulled away the shoulder; next they shift from doing their duty, withdraw their shoulder from the yoke of the law, Neh 9:29; Hos 4:16.
And stopped their ears; and to make it highest contempt, they act the deaf man, stop their ears, and so turn their backs on God.
That they should not hear; all this out of an obstinate resolution to be unacquainted with Gods will and their own duty.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
11. pulled away theshoulderliterally, “presented a refractory shoulder”;an image from beasts refusing to bear the yoke (Ne9:29, Margin).
stopped . . . ears(Isa 6:10; Jer 7:26;Act 7:57).
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
But they refused to hearken,….. That is, the Jews, before the captivity, refusal to give heed to the above exhortations, and obey the voice of God in them:
and pulled away the shoulder; from serving the Lord, and supporting his interest: or “they gave”, or presented, “a rebellious shoulder” f; a refractory one, that slides back, like a backsliding or refractory heifer, that will not admit of the yoke, Ho 4:16 so these could not bear the yoke of the law, nor the burden of duty; nor suffer the words of exhortation, or receive the admonitions given them:
and stopped their ears, that they should not hear; like the deaf adder, Ps 58:4 they would not hear, and pretended they could not; which was an instance of contempt to the speakers.
f “scapulam aversam”, Pagninus; “deflectentem”, Montanus; “rebellem”, Munster, Tigurine version; “refractarium”, Junius Tremellius, Piscator so Ben Melech.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
The Prophet here by referring to the fathers more sharply reproves the Jews of his age; for he saw that they differed but little from their fathers. The sum of what he says is, that the Jews in all ages dealt unfaithfully and perversely with God; for how much soever they boasted of their care and zeal for religion they yet sought to satisfy God only by vain trifles. This then was the Prophet’s object. For it is certain that there ever had been some pretense to religion in that nation but it was mere dissimulation for they were in the mean time intent on their ceremonies and when God seriously remonstrated with them their obstinacy and perverseness before concealed instantly appeared.
He therefore says that they refused to hear. He does not now accuse the dead except for this purpose to teach the people of his acre. He saw that they were solicitous about fasting at appointed seasons, while at the same time they regarded almost as nothing the main requirements of the law, even mercy, and justice, and uprightness. These are indeed the three things, which Christ mentions. (Mat 23:23.) He then intimates that this doctrine was not new, and that their fathers had been sufficiently warned and instructed, but that they wilfully, and as it were designedly rebelled against God. In short, he pulls off their mask of ignorance; for as men for the most part seek to extenuate their sins by the plea, that they had not been clearly or seasonably taught, the Prophet declares that there was not any excuse of this kind, because they had been refractory and untameable, they had refused to hear
To set forth more fully this perverseness, he afterwards says, that the shoulder of withdrawing had been presented by them. The Hebrews say that men serve with the shoulder, when they are submissive, and tractable, and willingly undergo the burden laid on them, according to what we have seen in Zep 3:1. The Prophet now, on the contrary, says that the Jews had a refractory shoulder, as they refused to bear the yoke, but shook off every fear of God. The reason for the metaphor is this — that as burdens are carried on the shoulder, so the Lord lays the law on our shoulders, that the flesh may not lasciviate at pleasure, but be kept under restraint. He hence says, that they had presented a rebellious shoulder. The word סררת, sarret, is properly rendered declining; but some render it perverse, and others contumacious: since the meaning is the same, I contend not about the word. It is enough to know that the contumacy of the Jews is what is here condemned; for they had been wholly unteachable, and had refused to submit to God and to his word. (74)
He afterwards mentions their ears, They made heavy their ears, lest they should hear. In short, the Prophet sought by all means to prove the Jews guilty, that they might not adduce anything to extenuate their sin: for they had in every way, with the most determined wickedness, refused to obey God, when his teaching was sufficiently clear and intelligible.
(74)
And withdraw the shoulder, —Newcome.
He adds, “The line occurs in Neh 9:29. The metaphor is taken from beasts that decline the yoke. See Hos 4:16.”
And turned their back rebelliously, —Henderson
He observes that “to turn the shoulder is equivalent to turning the back upon any one. The cause of such action is traced to a refractory, rebellious, and intractable disposition.”
Literally it is—
And gave (or presented) the shoulder of turning away.
It is a metaphor taken, as some say, from refractory children or servants, who being admonished, despise and reject what is commanded them, as Drusius observes, by turning their backs. This is the most suitable view according to the context. Non-attendance to God’s word, and not insubordination, is the subject. They refused to hear, turned their backs, and pretended deafness, or conducted themselves as though they were deaf. Then the source of this conduct is mentioned; the heart was made as hard as adamant, so that they would not hear the law and the words sent by the Prophets. The want of attention is throughout the subject; and the evident fact is first referred to, in the various ways in which it displayed itself; and then it is traced up to an adamantine heart. This is often the way in which things are stated by the Prophets — the most palpable acts are first stated, then the most hidden participles. — Ed.
Fuente: Calvin’s Complete Commentary
(11) Pulled away the shoulder.Better, offered a stubborn shoulder (Neh. 9:29), as an ox that refuses to receive the yoke.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
Zec 7:11. Pulled away the shoulder They refused to obey, and turned their backs on instruction. The Hebrew vaiittenu kateph soreret is literally, They gave a backsliding shoulder; like him who offers his shoulder to carry a burthen with another, and afterwards slides from it, and leaves his companion overpowered with the weight. See Calmet.
Fuente: Commentary on the Holy Bible by Thomas Coke
Zec 7:11 But they refused to hearken, and pulled away the shoulder, and stopped their ears, that they should not hear.
Ver. 11. But they refused to hearken ] Being a nation void of counsel, Deu 32:28 , not willing to know what they should do, lest they should do what they would not. Nay (said they once, when they had nothing else to say), but we will have a king.
And pulled away the shoulder
And stopped their ears
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
But they. Some codices, with four early printed editions, read “and ye”, showing the Figure of speech Polysyndetion (App-6).
refused, &c. Compare Zec 1:4. Jer 6:10, Jer 6:17, Jer 6:19, &c.
and. Note the Figure of speech Polysyndeton (App-6) for emphasis.
pulled away, &c. Turning aside from the one who speaks.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
they refused: Zec 1:4, Exo 10:3, 2Ki 17:13-15, 2Ch 33:10, Neh 9:17, Neh 9:26, Neh 9:29, Pro 1:24-32, Isa 1:19, Isa 1:20, Jer 6:16, Jer 6:17, Jer 7:24, Jer 13:10, Jer 26:5, Jer 26:6, Jer 35:15, Jer 36:31, Jer 44:16, Eze 3:7, Hos 4:16, Dan 9:5, Zep 3:2, Act 7:51, Heb 12:25
pulled away the shoulder: Heb. gave a backsliding shoulder, Neh 9:29, Jer 8:5, Hos 4:16, Heb 10:38, Heb 10:39
stopped: Heb. made heavy, Psa 58:4, Psa 58:5, Isa 6:10, Act 7:57
Reciprocal: Exo 7:13 – General Exo 8:15 – he hardened Exo 32:9 – a stiffnecked Lev 26:15 – despise Deu 9:6 – a stiffnecked 2Ch 24:20 – transgress Psa 81:11 – people Pro 5:12 – How Pro 21:13 – stoppeth Pro 28:9 – turneth Pro 29:1 – shall Isa 28:12 – yet Isa 30:9 – will not Isa 46:12 – ye stouthearted Isa 48:4 – I knew Isa 65:12 – because Jer 2:19 – and thy Jer 3:3 – thou refusedst Jer 5:3 – they have made Jer 11:8 – obeyed Jer 15:6 – thou art Jer 17:23 – they obeyed Jer 17:27 – ye will Jer 19:15 – because Jer 25:4 – ye Jer 29:19 – General Jer 31:22 – backsliding Jer 32:33 – turned Jer 34:14 – but Jer 42:21 – but Jer 44:5 – they Eze 5:6 – for they Eze 14:5 – I may Hos 9:17 – because Hos 11:2 – they called Amo 4:1 – which oppress Amo 6:12 – horses Mal 2:2 – ye will not hear Mat 13:15 – ears Mat 21:32 – repented Rom 2:5 – But after 2Ti 4:4 – turn Heb 3:8 – Harden
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
DEAF EARS AND HARD HEARTS
They refused to hearken they made their hearts as an adamant stone.
Zec 7:11-12
I. I can refuse to hearken to God in Jesus Christ. What an awful power is this with which my will is invested!It is perfectly true that, in all instances of salvation God is the supreme and efficient Agent. He seeks the soul. He awakens in it the sense of fear, of shame, of restlessness, of longing. By His Word and His Spirit He enlightens it in the knowledge of Christ. He bends and breaks its stubbornness, its disobedience, its self-satisfaction. He persuades and enables it to embrace Jesus Who is offered to it in the Gospel.
But, none the less, the soul is free to resist and reject Him. Beyond question, it can refuse to hearken. There is a mighty Redeemer and a sufficient redemption, but I must, for myself, appropriate it and Him. There are the wings of the Shechinah; but I must, for myself, hide underneath their shadow. God will not compel me to be saved against my own desire and resolve. He asks for a willing people in the day of His power.
II. What does God require of me?
(1) The true word. Execute true judgment! He says; and it is a command not simply for the magistrate, but for every one. I must hate all falsehood. I must neither depreciate or exaggerate. I must not speak in tones of seeming courtesy, while I am hiding hatred in my heart. The thing that is, the verdict that ought to be given, the characterisation which errs neither by wilful excess nor by wilful defect: that is what my lips must declare.
(2) The kindly deedthis also God asks. And the charitable thought too. Let none of you, He enjoins, imagine evil against his brother in your heart. Ah, my Lord, Thy law is very searching and spiritual. It pierces deep. It takes cognisance of my motives and wishes and unspoken desires. Thou dost weigh the feelings and qualities of my soul in Thy balances. Let me remember it; and create Thou in me the clean heart, and renew the right spirit.
Fuente: Church Pulpit Commentary
Zec 7:11. They means the former princes and they pulled away the shoulder. That means they backslid from the work or service of the Lord and refused to do their share. The figure is based on a common means of service from the ox in those days, when the beast was required to press his shoulder against the yoke.
Fuente: Combined Bible Commentary
7:11 But they refused to hearken, and {l} withdrew the shoulder, and stopped their ears, that they should not hear.
(l) And would not carry the Lord’s burden, which was sweet and easy, but would bear their own, which was heavy and grievous to the flesh, thinking to gain merit by it: which metaphor is taken from oxen, which shrink at the yoke; Neh 9:29 .
Fuente: Geneva Bible Notes
When the former generations of Israelites had heard these commands, they refused to pay attention to the Lord. They turned away from Him stubbornly like a rebellious ox, and they put their fingers in their ears so they would not hear Him. They hardened their hearts (minds and wills) like flint (Heb. shamir, diamond) so they could not hear the Law or the Holy Spirit’s messages through the former prophets whom God had sent to them.
"This remarkable doctrine of the Holy Spirit as mediator of God’s word to the prophets, who were themselves its mediators, has no parallels in the prophetic books. . . . Zechariah is the first to record this aspect of the doctrine of the Spirit." [Note: Baldwin, p. 147.]
God had proceeded to dull the people’s ears in discipline because they would not hear (cf. Isa 6:10; Act 28:27). Consequently great wrath had come from the Lord against them.
"One indispensable ingredient in true spirituality is a dogged attentiveness to familiar truths, but they did not ’pay attention.’" [Note: Barker, p. 647.]