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fowls of heaven, and with the creeping things of the ground : and I will break tJie bow and the sword and the battle out of the land, and will make them to lie down safely. And I will betroth thee unto Me for ever ; yea, I will betroth thee unto Me in righteousness, and in judgment, and in loving- kindness, and in mercies. I will even betroth thee unto Me in faithfulness : and thou shalt know that I am the Lord." *
We proceed to the iith verse: And it was broken (namely, the covenant ) in that day ; and thus tJie poor of t/te flock that watched Me (or gave heed unto Me ) knew that it was the word of JehovaJi"
The manifest proof that the covenant which the Shepherd of Israel had made with the nations on Israel s behalf was broken, served as a demonstration to the poor of the flock that what had been foretold was indeed the Word of God.
The point of time in the expression " in that day " is prophetic from the prophet s point of view, and refers to the time and events following the breaking off of the relations between the True Shepherd, whom the prophet represented, and the flock. It is true that he speaks of the breaking of the covenant with the nations on Israel s behalf as past, because in the vision which passed before his mind the things described had actually occurred. "If the prophecy," remarks Hengstenberg, " had been couched in literal terms, instead of being clothed in symbol, it would have run thus : When, therefore, My covenant, or treaty, with the nations is brought to an end, those who fear Me will discern in the fulfilment the divine character of this sentence of Mine upon Israel."
By the IKJn "W, aniyye hatson " the poor of the flock " we can understand (as already explained) nothing else than the believing remnant who were saved out of the " flock of slaughter." They are described as " HasJishomerim othi" rendered " that waited upon Me," in the Authorised Version ; and, " they that gave heed unto Me," in the Revised Version. Literally, it is those that " watched with
1 Hos. ii. 18-20.
