REJECTION OF THE TRUE SHEPHERD 417
For just as the Good Shepherd, whose part the prophet
cted in the first part of the chapter, is in the highest and
ruest sense none other than the Messiah, so the " foolish,"
r wicked, shepherd is in the last resort none other than
he one who is in every sense his opposite the personal
Antichrist, under whose brief reign all Israel s previous
orrows and sufferings shall reach their climax in the final
reat tribulation ; even though it may be granted that, as
n the case of the Christ, so of the Antichrist, there have
seen, so to say, shadowy precursors in whom a certain
artial historical fulfilment of the prophecy may be dis-
ernible.
And he will indeed be the " foolish " shepherd ; for as he Messiah is sometimes spoken of as Wisdom personified, o the Antichrist, in spite of his being wise in all the wisdom which is from beneath, will be the very embodi ment of folly ; for (to quote from an old writer) " since the ^xtremest folly consists in the extremest wickedness, he l be the most foolish who reacheth the highest impiety, md this he will do by arrogating to himself divinity, and laiming divine honours."
But the career of this evil shepherd shall be short, and lis end will be sudden destruction " Woe to the idol (or worthless } shepherd" the prophecy ends, or, as some vould render, the shepherd of " nothingness? or " useless- less." * This is God s estimate and description of him, even vhile he exalts himself unto heaven and seeks to be wor- hipped as God " that leaveth (or forsaketh ) the flock "
tnd thus proves himself a false shepherd and hireling, 2 " the \word shall be upon his arm and his right eye" the The arm is the emblem of might and the eye of intel- gence the two things in which the one who will sum p in himself anti-Christian world-power will trust, and in hich he will boast himself. Very well, he shall be smitten
1 The word S Sx, eltl, is frequently used as an adjective to describe idols as ain and useless (see Lev. xix. 4, xxvi. I ; Ps. xcvi. 5, and other places). In the rophets it is often used also as a name for idols. The probable underlying tymological idea is that of vanity or nothingness. John x. 12, 13. 27
