GTJ 3:1 (Spr 82) p. 65 classes of the people. There could be foreign elements as well as native Israelites among them. Zechariah’s characterization of them is no different than that of prophets who had preceded him (Isa 9:19–20; Jer 23:1–2; Ezek 18:10–13; Hos 12:7 (Eng. v 8); Amos 2:6–7; Mic 3:1–3). The merchants are given their own opportunity to evaluate the shepherd. They had been watching his actions and realized “that it was the word of Yahweh.” It is unclear just why they came to this conclusion.