The book brims with inexplicable images that continue to baffle readers. Zechariah described a shepherd who was paid thirty pieces of silver for his work. Some scholars interpret this to mean that Zechariah, as a prophet, was the shepherd. Some scholars interpret this to mean that Judas Iscariot was a shepherd who was paid thirty pieces of silver for his work of betraying Jesus. Another puzzling image shows up in Chapter 12. Zechariah described a time when the people of Jerusalem looked “on me whom they have pierced and mourn for him as for an only son. They will grieve bitterly for him as for a firstborn son who has died.” (NLT, Zechariah 12:10) Some scholars say the pierced one is an unidentifiable historic member of David’s family. Other scholars say the pierced one is an allusion to the crucifixion of Jesus.