The children of Israel are hidden in plain sight

whose possesses slay them and hold themselves not guilty ? The verse "whose possessors slay them, and hold themselves not guilty: and they that sell them say, Blessed be the LORD; for I am rich: and their own shepherds pity them not" from Zechariah 11:5 describes a situation of severe exploitation and moral bankruptcy. It depicts those in positions of power (possessors and sellers) mistreating and profiting from those under their care (the flock), while falsely claiming divine blessing and showing no remorse. This refers to those who have authority or ownership over others (like shepherds over their flock) who exploit and harm them without feeling any guilt or responsibility for their actions. This highlights the hypocrisy of those who exploit others for personal gain, using religious language and even invoking God's name to justify their greed and lack of compassion. And their own shepherds pity them not": This emphasizes the failure of leadership and the lack of compassion from those who are supposed to care for and protect the vulnerable people whom they have once enslaved. In essence, the verse critiques a system where power is abused for personal gain, where those in authority exploit the vulnerable, and where religious language is used to mask a lack of moral responsibility. It serves as a warning against greed, hypocrisy, and the dangers of unchecked power. "The seed of the wicked shall not go unpunished" is found in Proverbs 11:21 and means that even if wicked people try to join forces or work together, they will not escape the consequences of their actions.