6. Prophecy against the mountains of Israel, the seats of her idolatry Ch. 4, 5. were directed chiefly against Jerusalem, because she had rebelled against the statutes of the Lord (ch. Ezekiel 5:6) and because she had polluted his sanctuary with her abominations (ch. Ezekiel 5:11). Therefore the ar... [ Continue Reading ]
_a sharp knife_ lit. sword. The term may suggest the devouring divine sword, ch. Ezekiel 21:8 _seq_. _take thee a barber's rasor_ With R.V., AS A BARBER'S RAZOR SHALT THOU TAKE IT UNTO THEE. Two weapons are not to be taken, the sword is to be used as a razor. Isaiah (ch. Isaiah 7:20) had already sa... [ Continue Reading ]
Ezekiel 5:1-4. Symbol shewing the fate of the population during the siege and after it, and their dispersion among the nations The prophet is commanded to take a sharp sword and use it as a barber's razor. With this he is to shave off the hair of his head and beard. He is then to take balances in o... [ Continue Reading ]
Second Section. Ch. Ezekiel 3:22 to Ezekiel 7:27 The second section of the Book contains these parts: (1) Ch. Ezekiel 3:22-27. A preface in which the prophet is commanded to confine himself to his own house, and abandon for a time his public ministry. (2) Ch. Ezekiel 4:1-4. A series of symbols re... [ Continue Reading ]
_third part in the midst of the city_ If we could suppose that the prophet were strict in his symbolism the "city" here would be that graven upon the brick (ch. Ezekiel 4:1). There is no reason to suppose that he has this in his mind. _smite about it with a knife_ Rather: AND SMITE IT WITH THE SWOR... [ Continue Reading ]
_few in number_ Or, "by number," accurately numbering them. (Isaiah 40:26.) Of those dispersed a few shall meantime be preserved.... [ Continue Reading ]
Yet of those preserved some shall be cast into the fire and consumed. _thereof shall a fire_ THEREFROM, i.e. from that remnant which is subjected to new consumption in the fire. The "fire" that goes out from this remnant must be destructive, not purifying, as in Ezekiel 19:4 (cf. Judges 9:15; Ezekie... [ Continue Reading ]
_This is Jerusalem_ Or, _this Jerusalem_I set it! (Exodus 32:1; Ezekiel 40:45). Jerusalem is placed emphatically at the head of the sentence; the thoughts which the name suggests are then developed in the succeeding clauses. _countries_that are _round_ Rather: NATIONS; AND COUNTRIES ARE ROUND ABOUT... [ Continue Reading ]
Explanation of the four preceding symbols Jerusalem, set in the midst of the nations and favoured of God above them all, has even exceeded them in wickedness (Ezekiel 5:5). Therefore God's judgments upon her shall be unparalleled in severity, first in the horrors of the siege, and secondly in the t... [ Continue Reading ]
Read: AND SHE HATH REBELLED AGAINST MY JUDGMENTS TO DO WICKEDNESS MORE THAN THE NATIONS, AND AGAINST MY STATUTES. "Judgments" is ordinances; and "they" refers to the people, who compose Jerusalem.... [ Continue Reading ]
Because she has surpassed the nations in evil, her chastisements shall be without example in severity. _Because ye multiplied_ R.V. _because ye are turbulent_. Both renderings assume an otherwise unknown verb, supposed to be derived from the noun "multitude," "tumult," &c. The existence of such a v... [ Continue Reading ]
_in the sight of the nations_ The nations saw Israel's wickedness, and they shall also see her judgments, and they shall know that Jehovah is God alone.... [ Continue Reading ]
_that which I have not done_ This is no mere rhetorical threat. It is possible that the miseries of the siege and exile were no greater than those endured by other nations in those days, but the same miseries may be felt more acutely. Israel was a nation fervidly patriotic, and patriotism was inspir... [ Continue Reading ]
_the fathers shall eat the sons_ Neither is this, as it might be, a generality merely to suggest severe straitness. Lamentations 4:10, "The hands of the pitiful women have sodden their own children, they were their meat in the destruction of the daughter of my people." See the story 2 Kings 6:24-29;... [ Continue Reading ]
_defiled my sanctuary_ The commentary on this is supplied by ch. 8. _will I also diminish_thee] The word is so rendered ch. Ezekiel 16:27, where, however, an object follows the verb. The balance of clauses here: I also will and mine eye shall not spare: I also will not pity, appears to shew that the... [ Continue Reading ]
Explanation of the symbol Ezekiel 5:1.... [ Continue Reading ]
_my fury to rest upon them_ Rather: WILL QUIET (assuage, or, appease) MY FURY. Zechariah 7:8, "have quieted my spirit in the North country." The phrase again, ch. Ezekiel 16:42; Ezekiel 21:17; Ezekiel 24:13. _I will be comforted_ i.e. appeased by the vengeance taken on the people's sins, cf. Isaiah... [ Continue Reading ]
_reproach among the nations_ Lamentations 2:15-16, "All that pass by clap their hands at thee, they hiss and wag their head at the daughter of Jerusalem, saying, Is this the city that they called the perfection of beauty?... [ Continue Reading ]
_So it shall be_ So shall SHE BE, i.e. Jerusalem. The ancient versions, however, give: _and thou shalt be_. _an instruction_ i.e. a lesson of warning, cf. ch. Ezekiel 23:48, "that all women may be taught (take warning) not to do after your lewdness." Cf. Deuteronomy 29:23 _seq_.... [ Continue Reading ]
_arrows of famine_ Cf. Deuteronomy 32:23-24. _shall be for their destruction_ as R.V., THAT ARE FOR destruction. _I_will _increase_ lit. _add_, i.e. send famine upon famine upon you. On "staff of bread" cf. ch. Ezekiel 4:14.... [ Continue Reading ]
_evil beasts_ The three great plagues often specified are, famine, pestilence and sword (ch. Ezekiel 14:13; Ezekiel 14:17; Ezekiel 14:19), to which a fourth is sometimes added, evil beasts (ch. Ezekiel 14:15; Ezekiel 14:21; Ezekiel 33:27; Ezekiel 34:25; Leviticus 26:22;... [ Continue Reading ]