For the idols have spoken vanity, and the diviners have seen a lie, and have told false dreams; they comfort in vain: therefore they went their way as a flock, they were troubled, because there was no shepherd.
For the idols have spoken vanity - literally, 'the teraphim,' the household gods, consulted in divination (note, Hosea 3:4). Derived by Gesenius from an Arabic root, 'comfort,' indicating them as the givers of comfort. Or an Ethiopian root, 'relics.' They seem to have been of human form, and were consulted for oracular responses. They were a corruption of the pure worship of Yahweh, framed originally by those who, not finding satisfaction in worshipping the unseen God alone, adopted visible symbols and images of Him, which they privately venerated, as the Penates and Lares, or household gods of Rome. Thus, Laban, who worshipped Yahweh, also had teraphim, which Rachel stole away (Genesis 31:19; cf. 1 Samuel 19:13; 1 Samuel 19:16). [The word is probably akin to Seraphim, Cherubim, the recognized symbol of God's presence, whence by corruption came the Egyptian Serapis (Genesis 3:24), raapaa' (H7495), to heal; the Greek therapeuoo (G2323) may also be compared.] Herein Zechariah shows that the Jews, by their own idolatry, had stayed the grace of God heretofore, which otherwise would have given them all those blessings, temporal and spiritual, which they are now (Zechariah 10:1) urged to "ask" for.
And the diviners - who gave responses to consulters of the Teraphim: as opposed to Yahweh and His true prophets.
Have seen a lie - pretending to see what they saw not, in giving responses.
They comfort in vain - literally, 'they give vapour х chebel (H2256)] for comfort' - i:e., give comforting promises to consulters, which are sure to come to naught (Job 13:4; Job 16:2; Job 21:34).
Therefore they went their way - i:e., Israel and Judah were led away captive.
As a flock, they were troubled, because there was no shepherd - as sheep wander, and are a prey to every injury, when without a shepherd. So the Jews had been while they were without Yahweh, the true Shepherd; because the false prophets whom they trusted were no shepherds (Ezekiel 34:5). So now they are scattered, while they know not Messiah their Shepherd; typified in the state of the disciples, when they had forsaken Jesus and fled (Matthew 26:56: cf. Zechariah 13:7).