The Role of the Shepherd

January 25, 2020

John Macdonald

In the time of King David and Israel, shepherds were important pastoral leaders. They looked after docile sheep in the Judean hills. The Spring season was an important part of the year when new lambs were born and the older sheep were shorn of their fleeces. Unfortunately, a hired shepherd, did not care for the flock in the same way as the true shepherd. Shepherds were meant to guard their flocks at night from predators. When evening came the flocks were counted and during the hot summer days the shepherds led their flocks to cool pools or drew their water from wells. During the cool winter days the sheep were often herded in caves for protection from the elements.