“‘I will set up

Over them

One shepherd,

My servant David.

He shall feed them.

He shall feed them.

He shall be

Their shepherd.

I,

Yahweh,

Will be their God.

My servant David

Shall be the prince

Among them.’

I,

Yahweh,

Have spoken.”

Yahweh’s solution to this problem of the good and bad Israelite sheep was a new shepherd, who is also the old King David (1010-970 BCE). This may be an allusion to a new monarchy in Israel. The new shepherd king would also feed them like Yahweh’s servant David had done for his people. There would be a new prince among the Israelites, like David, the shepherd king. Yahweh, their God, via Ezekiel, had spoken.