What do the staffs "Favor" and "Union" symbolize in Zechariah 11:7? The Setting: A Shepherd Holding Two Staffs “Then I shepherded the flock marked for slaughter, especially the oppressed of the flock. I took two staffs and called one Favor and the other Union, and I shepherded the flock.” (Zechariah 11:7) In ancient Israel a shepherd’s staff symbolized both guidance and protection (Psalm 23:4). Zechariah acts out a living parable: God Himself is the Shepherd, Israel is the flock. What the Staff Named “Favor” Signifies Hebrew Noʿam—“pleasantness, grace, kindness.” Represents the LORD’s gracious covenant care: blessing, protection, prosperity, and divine goodwill. Echoes: • Leviticus 26:9 — “I will look on you with favor and make you fruitful.” • Psalm 106:4 — “Remember me, O LORD, in Your favor toward Your people.” What the Staff Named “Union” Signifies Hebrew Ḥobhelim—“binding cords, unity.” Represents national brotherhood: the solidarity between Judah and Israel and the social cohesion within the covenant community. Foreshadows Ezekiel 37:15-23, where two sticks become one in God’s hand, picturing restored unity. When Favor Is Broken (Zechariah 11:10) “I took my staff called Favor and cut it in two, revoking the covenant I had made with all the peoples.” God withdraws His protective grace because the flock rejects their true Shepherd. Historical fulfillment: the loss of divine protection leading to foreign domination—ultimately Rome’s destruction of Jerusalem in A.D. 70 (Luke 19:41-44). Spiritual lesson: grace despised is grace removed (cf. Hebrews 10:29). When Union Is Broken (Zechariah 11:14) “Then I cut in two my second staff called Union, breaking the brotherhood between Judah and Israel.” Internal fractures follow the loss of divine favor: civil strife, sectarian hatred, and national collapse. Josephus records fierce Jewish infighting during the Roman siege—an eerie fulfillment of the broken staff. Hosea 1:11 looks beyond the breach to a future reunification under one leader—fulfilled in Messiah’s ultimate reign. Threads Woven Through Scripture Psalm 133:1 — “How good and pleasant it is when brothers live together in unity!” Isaiah 8:14 — Messiah becomes “a stone of stumbling” to those who refuse Him, hastening judgment. Ephesians 2:14-16 — Christ now “is our peace,” making Jew and Gentile one new man: a gracious reversal of Zechariah’s broken Union for all who believe. Key Takeaways • Favor = God’s grace and covenant blessing. • Union = God-given national and relational unity. • Rejection of the Shepherd leads to loss of both; acceptance of the Shepherd restores both in an even fuller way. |
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