God's punishment on His sheep
Chapter 11 paints a gloomy picture of death and destruction. The narrative of the shepherd of the sheep for slaughter in vv. 4–16 is surrounded by two poetic oracles in vv. 1–3 and 11:17. The first describes the destruction of the natural beauty of the regions north of Israel—Lebanon, Bashan, and the fertile Jordan Valley. The closing oracle pronounces woe on the shepherd who has failed in his duty to protect his flock. These three segments are unified by the continued use of shepherd imagery, introduced in 10:2–3. The basic message is one of judgment on the people and on their leaders for rejecting Yahweh. In the central narrative, Yahweh orders the prophet to become shepherd of the sheep for slaughter. His service appears to symbolize Yahweh’s relationship with Israel through the prophets: They attempt to lead the people back to Yahweh, but the people persist in their obstinate rebellion until both prophet and Yahweh are frustrated.