John 10:12

Hireling. The Mishnah mentions four kinds of bailees (guardians): “a gratuitous bailee, a borrower, a paid bailee, and a hirer. A gratuitous bailee must swear for everything [if the bailment is lost or destroyed through any cause, excepting negligence, the unpaid trustee must swear to the occurrence, and is free from liability], A borrower must pay for everything. A paid bailee or a hirer must swear concerning an animal that was injured, captured [in a raid] or that perished; but must pay for a loss or theft” (Baba Mezi’a 7.8, in Soncino ed. of the Talmud, p. 537). The same tractate sets forth the responsibility of the guardian as follows: “[If] one wolf [attacks], it is not an unavoidable accident; if two [attack], it is an unavoidable accident. ... [The attack of] two dogs is not an unavoidable accident. ... A robber’s [attack] is an unavoidable accident. [Damage done by] a lion, bear, leopard, panther and snake ranks as an unavoidable accident. When is this? If they came [and attacked] of their own accord: but if he [the shepherd] led them to a place infested by wild beasts and robbers, it is no unavoidable accident” (ibid. 7.9, Soncino ed. of the Talmud, p. 540).

The hireling cares more for his hire than for the sheep. He does not take a personal interest in the flock (cf. 1 Peter 5:2). The hour of danger distinguishes him from the true shepherd.

The wolf catcheth them. According to the Mishnah, if only one wolf attacked, the shepherd was held accountable for the flock; if two, it was counted as an unavoidable accident (see above under “Hireling”). But the true shepherd would risk his life to protect the flock. Compare Matt. 10:6; Acts 20:29.

Scattereth the sheep. Compare Zech. 13:7.