Jeremiah 23:4 - Exposition

And I will set up shepherds ; e.g. rulers, not necessarily kings (see on next verse). Which shall feed them . For the evil shepherds "fed themselves, and fed not my flock" ( Ezekiel 34:8 ). And they shall fear no more. Ezekiel again contributes an essential feature to the description. The neglect of the shepherds left the flock exposed to the ravages of wild beasts ( Ezekiel 34:8 ). Neither shall they be lacking . A speaking phrase. Too many of the sheep had fallen down precipices or been carried off by lions. Yet the context rather favors a slight and palaeographically natural emendation of Hitzig, "Neither shall they be terrified." The Septuagint omits the word altogether, which favors the supposition that they read as Hitzig would read, for they are apt to condense by omitting synonyms.