Charles Ellicott Commentary Ezekiel 34:5

"And they were scattered, because there was no shepherd; and they became food to all the beasts of the field, and were scattered." — Ezekiel 34:5 (ASV)

They were scattered, because ...—The calamities of the people are attributed to the fault of the rulers, not because the people themselves were free from sin—the contrary has already been abundantly asserted in this book—but because the people’s sins were largely due to the evil example, the idolatries, the oppressions, and the disobedience of their rulers.