Then I took my staff “Pleasantness” and cut it in two to annul my covenant that I had made with all the people.

Then I cut the second staff “Binders” in two in order to annul the covenant of brotherhood between Judah and Israel.

Many peoples and powerful nations will come to Jerusalem to seek the Lord who rules over all and to ask his favor.

(2:1) ¹  Once again I looked and this time I saw four horns.

Though I scatter ¹  them among the nations, they will remember in far-off places – they and their children will sprout forth and return.

The Lord my God says this: “Shepherd the flock set aside for slaughter.

“The Lord who rules over all says, ‘If you live ¹  and work according to my requirements, you will be able to preside over my temple ²  and attend to my courtyards, and I will allow you to come and go among these others who are standing by you.

‘for there will be a peaceful time of sowing, the vine will produce its fruit and the ground its yield, and the skies ¹  will rain down dew. Then I will allow the remnant of my people to possess all these things.

Then I will bring the remaining third into the fire; I will refine them like silver is refined and will test them like gold is tested. They will call on my name and I will answer; I will say, ‘These are my people,’ and they will say, ‘The Lord is my God.’” ¹ 

The Lord then addressed good, comforting words to the angelic messenger who was speaking to me.

The Lord will take possession of ¹  Judah as his portion in the holy land and he will choose Jerusalem once again.

I asked the messenger who was speaking to me, “Where are they taking the basket?”

Now the people of Bethel ¹  had sent Sharezer and Regem-Melech and their companions to seek the Lord’s favor

Moreover, as for you, because of our covenant relationship secured with blood, I will release your prisoners from the waterless pit.

So on that day I will set out to destroy all the nations ¹  that come against Jerusalem.”

So I asked the angelic messenger ¹  who spoke with me, “What are these?” He replied, “These are the horns ²  that have scattered Judah, Israel, and Jerusalem.” ³ 

Do not plan evil in your hearts against one another. Do not favor a false oath – these are all things that I hate,’ says the Lord.”

The inhabitants of one will go to another and say, “Let’s go up at once to ask the favor of the Lord, to seek the Lord who rules over all. Indeed, I’ll go with you.”’

I am enraged at the shepherds and will punish the lead-goats. For the Lord who rules over all has brought blessing to his flock, the house of Judah, and will transform them into his majestic warhorse.

Indeed, I will no longer have compassion on the people of the land,” says the Lord, “but instead I will turn every last person over to his neighbor and his king. They will devastate the land, and I will not deliver it from them.”