Ezekiel 14:22

behold, therein shall be left Rather: and behold, should there be left therein a remnant. After "behold" the verb is hypothetical, as often, e.g. ch. Ezekiel 13:12; Ezekiel 15:4. If some of the wicked in Jerusalem escape it is with a special design, viz. that those spared should reveal their great wickedness to the earlier exiles among whom they shall come, and thus shew how inevitable the destruction of the city was.

that shall be brought forth The ancient versions read the active (hiph.) participle here: that shall bring forthsons and daughters. In Ezekiel 14:18; Ezekiel 14:20it is said that the three great saints named should gave neither sons nor daughters; and here some would be spoken of who brought out sons and daughters. It is very doubtful if this pointed antithesis was in the mind of the prophet. His point is that if some in Jerusalem, men and women, escape, notwithstanding the principle that the righteous shall not save the wicked, it is for a special purpose, viz. to shew to the earlier exiles the great wickedness of Jerusalem, and thus comfort them over its fall. Both Jeremiah and Ezekiel regard the exiles carried away under Jehoiachin as the flower of the nation (Jeremiah 24), and those left behind as the dregs of the people. Of course it was the persons of rank and influence that were carried captive, while those left behind were the meanest, least educated and probably most idolatrous (Jeremiah 24:8-10; Jeremiah 29:16-20).

their way and their doings Their evil "way" of life, and their gross idolatries.

comforted concerning the evil The exiles of the days of Jehoiachin and those of earlier times, whose thoughts were keenly occupied with Jerusalem and its fate (ch. Ezekiel 24:25), shall be comforted for its destruction when they see the way and doings of the new exiles. So corrupt and gross in their iniquities shall these appear to them that they will feel that no other fate than that which has befallen it was possible for Jerusalem; and that "not without cause" has Jehovah overthrown it (Ezekiel 14:22). Cf. on "comforted" ch. Ezekiel 32:31.

In the passage Ezekiel 14:12 questions are not raised what "land" it is that Jehovah will bring his plagues of famine, sword and the like upon, nor when he will bring them. The cases supposed are merely illustrations of the principle that the righteous shall not save the wicked. And the application to Jerusalem is what the prophet has in view. See on ch. 18.