17. you, . . . my flock--passing from the rulers to the people.
cattle and cattle--rather, "sheep and sheep"; Margin, "small
cattle," or "flocks of lambs and kids," that is, I judge between one
class of citizens and another, so as to award what is right to each. He
then defines the class about to be punitively "judged," namely, "the
rams and he-goats," or "great he-goats" (compare
Isa 14:9,
Margin;
Zec 10:3;
Mt 25:32, 33).
They answer to "the fat and strong," as opposed to the "sick"
(Eze 34:16).
The rich and ungodly of the people are meant, who imitated the bad
rulers in oppressing their poorer brethren, as if it enhanced their own
joys to trample on others' rights
(Eze 34:18).
JFB.
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