# General Information:

In verses 1-4, Yahweh refers to Israel as his pasture, the people of Israel as his sheep, and the leaders of Israel as the shepherds. Shepherds have a duty to protect the sheep, but the leaders were not doing that. The false prophets had encouraged people to continue sinning by saying everything will be alright.

# this is Yahweh's declaration

"this is what I, Yahweh, have declared". Yahweh speaks of himself by name to express the certainty of what he is declaring. See Jeremiah 1:8.