Jeremiah 23:1-2

Yahweh announced coming judgment on the leaders of Judah, kings, and other leaders, who were harming His people, rather than tending them like good shepherds who cared for their sheep (cf. John 10:11-13). "Shepherd" was a common metaphor for "king" in the ancient Near East and in the Old Testament, and it is possible that Jeremiah had in mind the last four kings of Judah particularly. The model of God’s people being the sheep of His pasture is also common in the Old Testament (cf. Psalms 74:1; Psalms 79:13; Psalms 95:7; Psalms 100:3). Judah’s shepherds had not attended (Heb. paqad) to the flock, so God would attend (Heb. paqad) to punishing them.