Literally, “be shepherds.” (The same original word occurs in Gen. 13:7; 47:3; Ex. 2:17; Isa. 31:4; Jer. 6:3; etc.) The people were to wander about in the wilderness, taking care of their flocks.

 The word thus translated does not mean “to waste away” or “to rot,” but “to be used up,” “to be competed,” “to be ended.” Thus it refers to the complete toll to be taken of those condemned to die. Compare the following verses, in which the same word is translated “is spent” (Gen. 47:18), “had done” (Joshua 5:8), “are ended” (Job 31:40) “is perfect” (Isa. 18:5).