The word therefore
makes it clear that what follows is the Lord’s word of judgment. Instead of caring for the Lord’s people, they have scattered
them and driven them away.
This refers to the coming exile. It may be the Lord who will take his people into exile, but it is the failure of the kings that must take much of the blame for the nation’s failure. It is their actions that have led to the nation’s unfaithfulness. The kings will give an account to the Lord for their failure. The shepherds have not attended
to the sheep in a positive way and so the Lord will attend
to the shepherds in a very negative way because of their evil deeds.
1
2 Therefore thus says the LORD, the God of Israel, concerning the shepherds who care for my people: “You have scattered my flock and have driven them away, and you have not attended to them. Behold, I will attend to you for your evil deeds, declares the LORD.