B³. The Shepherd Is Slain (13:7-9)

This final poetic section resumes the shepherd motif of ch. 11. “My shepherd” indicates the special relationship between Yahweh and his servant, further modified by “the man who is close to me” (v.7). The word for close to me ('^amîtî) denotes an intimacy in relationship and has sometimes been taken as “my equal” (cf. Jn 10:30). The identity of this Shepherd is not in doubt, at least not in Jesus' mind (cf. Mk 14:27, where he applies 13:7 to himself).

Subsequent to the death of the Shepherd-King, the people of God will be diminished in size by two-thirds (v.8). The remaining third will be refined by fire like silver and gold, a metaphor popular among biblical authors for removing impurities (Pr 17:3; Jer 6:29-30; et al.). Having been purified, they will become uniquely God’s and will find their identity in relationship to him (v.9b).