Stuart suggests that the word head
is more commonly associated with the life of God’s people prior to the monarchy (Numbers 14:4; Judges 11:8).1 Those days, he continues, constitute for the prophet a paradigm of the age of restoration. The institution of the monarchy had only resulted in “strife, warfare, disobedience and apostasy.” Furthermore, Hwang notes that any mention of a king would have “military overtones,” which would be inappropriate here considering the emphasis on peace, harmony, and the absence of war. Israel needs a different kind of leader, unlike those of the eighth century.2
11 And the children of Judah and the children of Israel shall be gathered together, and they shall appoint for themselves one head. And they shall go up from the land, for great shall be the day of Jezreel.