Seventh-day Adventist Bible CommentaryEzekiel 34

The word of the Lord. A new prophecy in which the unfaithful shepherds are denounced. God promises to remove His flock from them and appoint David as His shepherd instead (v. 23). The land will be restored to full fruitfulness. The message of the chapter is similar to that of Jer. 23:1–8.

Shepherds. Heb. ro‘im, from the root ra‘ah, “to pasture,” “to feed.” It is used metaphorically of responsible rulers or leaders (see 1 Kings 22:17; Jer. 2:8). Feed themselves. The shepherd ought to do that which his name implies. The charge is probably directed specifically at Judah’s later kings.

Ellen G. White

Fat. Heb. cheleb. A slightly different vowel pointing to chalab gives the meaning “milk.” This is the reading of the LXX and Vulgate. Either meaning fits the context. The rulers levied exorbitant taxes.

That which was lost. See Jer. 50:6; cf. Matt. 18:11–14; Luke 15; compare the parable of the lost sheep (see on Luke 15:3–7). Force and with cruelty. Compare Ex. 1:13, 14; Lev. 25:43.

No shepherd. The rulers are blamed for the disaster that had befallen Israel. Their evil example had caused the people to depart from the way of righteousness. This does

not mean, of course, that the people were free from sin. No man can be forced to transgress. His own consent must first be gained. It is by his own choice that he follows the evil example of others.

My sheep. The pronoun indicates that God claims the people as His own.

My shepherds. They were the ones appointed over God’s flock and hence responsible to God.

Against the shepherds. The first act of judgment was to be the removal of the self-seeking shepherds.

Thus saith the Lord. The rich promises of vs. 12–31 describe conditions as they might have been if Israel had met the necessary conditions. The prophecies were partially fulfilled at the time of the return from exile. But because the Jews failed to seek a true spiritual experience, either in the Exile or subsequently, the degree of fulfillment was extremely limited. Later, when Israel rejected her Messiah, the nation forever forfeited all claim to the blessings here promised. These promises were then transferred to the Christian church and were to be fulfilled in principle in connection with this spiritual body. A local, political kingdom would no longer form the center of the spiritual kingdom. The new adherents would be scattered in all lands. Their capital would no longer be an earthly Jerusalem; instead, they were to anticipate a heavenly. In their spiritual application these verses will be fulfilled in the new heavens and the new earth. They would have met a literal fulfillment after the Jews returned from Babylonian exile if they had met the conditions God set down (see pp. 29–32).

Good pasture. If the conditions of repentance and spiritual revival had been met, the Lord would have restored Palestine to its original productiveness as a “land flowing with milk and honey” (Ex. 3:8, 17; Num. 13:27; etc.). He would have sent the rain in due season and blessed His people in “basket and … store” as He had promised to do formerly (Deut. 28:1–14). At the time of the original entry into Canaan the fulfillment had been prevented by a failure of the people to comply with the necessary conditions. Here, now, was a second opportunity to inherit the same rich promises. Israel was offered a fresh start. Would the nation now prove willing?

Destroy the fat. Fatness was a symbol of prosperity. Prosperity often leads to forgetfulness of God (Deut. 32:15). The unfaithful shepherds had waxed fat by robbing the flock. They had fed themselves instead of the flock. Now they are to be fed “with judgment.”

Between cattle and cattle. Literally, “between sheep and sheep.” God will judge between the various members of the flock. Not all will share in the restoration—only those who repent and turn to God, their Shepherd (see Eze. 34:20, 22; cf. Matt. 25:31– 46).

Foul the residue. The false shepherds are charged with wantonness and waste. That which they did not use they spoiled so as to make it of no use to others.

One shepherd. Doubtless in contrast with the many rulers who had gone before, and probably also with reference to the two kingdoms of Israel, which were to be reunited. My servant David. Commentators have generally taken this prediction to refer to the Messiah (Jer. 23:5, 6; Luke 1:32). Because Israel never accepted the conditions on which these promises could be fulfilled, the application is justified. Jesus, coming in the flesh, and later to come in His glory, is the fulfillment this prediction is now to have.

Evil beasts to cease. At the time of the entrance into Canaan, God had promised to establish the conditions of tranquillity here mentioned (Lev. 26:6). Israel was now given the opportunity to assume once more her role as the center of God’s worldwide spiritual kingdom, and as such was promised every temporal advantage (see Eze. 34:14, 26–30).

Showers of blessing. See Lev. 26:4; Ps. 68:9; Mal. 3:10.

Plant of renown. Better, “a plantation of renown.”

Flock of my pasture. The figure is applied. What grace when the God of heaven condescends to have fellowship with men who, like a flock, have wandered far from Him!