Ezekiel 34:2 - Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible

The shepherds; the rulers of the people, both political, as kings, magicians, and princes, and also ecclesiastical, priests and prophets. Israel; the two tribes, and the few that out of the ten did adhere to the house of David. Prophesy; the command is repeated to encourage and engage the prophet to his work. Thus saith the Lord God: Ezekiel speaks, but these rulers must know it is God that speaks by him. Woe be to the shepherds! they have been principal causes of many sins, and exemplary actors in other sins, for which many woes were threatened; many already are come, and the rest will come, in which woes these rulers shall have more than ordinary share. Feed themselves; contrive their own ease, advantage, honour, and ambitious projects. Let the consciences of these rulers, ecclesiastical and political, speak, ought they not, as shepherds, to take care of the sheep committed to their care? The flocks; the sheep, both whole flocks and the single sheep, whole societies and particular members of them.