“‘Awake!
O sword!
Against my shepherd!
Against the man
Who is my associate!’
Says Yahweh of hosts.
‘Strike the shepherd,
That the sheep
May be scattered.
I will turn my hand
Against the little ones.’
Says Yahweh.
‘In the whole land,
Two thirds shall be cut off.
They shall perish,
One third shall be left alive.
I will put this third
Into the fire.
I will refine them
As one refines silver.
I will test them
As gold is tested.
They will call
On my name.
I will answer them.
I will say.
‘They are my people.’
They will say.
‘Yahweh is my God.’”
Yahweh of hosts wanted to take away the current leaders. The sword should rise up against them, even if they are associated with Yahweh. The shepherd leaders should be killed, so that the flock would be scattered. Yahweh would destroy 2/3rd of this flock of people. The remaining 1/3rd would have to be refined by fire, just like gold and silver were tested in a furnace. This remaining 1/3rd remnant would be Yahweh’s people. They would have Yahweh as their God. Yahweh would have them as his people.
Eugene Finnegan Bible Project 