Dirge over the downfall of the kingdom of Judah The passage is probably in some confusion; Ezekiel 7:8 are virtually a repetition of Ezekiel 7:3. In LXX. Ezekiel 7:3 stand immediately after Ezekiel 7:8, and have the appearance of being a duplicate. In other respects the text is very difficult, and... [ Continue Reading ]
The end is come upon the whole land, unsparing destruction from the Lord This destruction is the fruit of the abominations of the people, their idolatries and crimes (Ezekiel 7:23). They shall know when it overtakes them that he who inflicts it is Jehovah, God alone.... [ 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 ]
Ezekiel 7:2 might read: unto the land of Israel an end! the end is come upon, &c. Cf. Amos 8:2.... [ Continue Reading ]
_send mine anger_ Is an unusual form of expression. _will recompense_ BRING or PUT. Chastisement is but sin assuming another form, a form which it inevitably takes.... [ Continue Reading ]
_mine eye shall not spare_ So Ezekiel 7:9, ch. Ezekiel 5:11; Ezekiel 8:18; Ezekiel 9:10. From their calamities the people shall learn not only that he that inflicts them is their God, whom they called Jehovah (a thing which they were slow to learn, Amos 3:2; Amos 5:18), but also what the nature of t... [ Continue Reading ]
_an only evil_ Lit. _one evil_, scarcely a "unique" evil, to which there is nothing like, but an evil which is "one" and final, 1 Samuel 26:8; Haggai 2:6, "Yet once, it is a little while, and I will shake the heavens and the earth" (Hebrews 12:26).... [ Continue Reading ]
The dirge takes a fresh turn, announcing in nearly the same words that the end is come upon the inhabitants of the land... [ Continue Reading ]
_it watcheth_ Rather: IT AWAKETH FOR THEE. The word forms an alliteration with "end" (Ḳêç, heḳîç), and suggests that the vengeance slumbering long is now ready to fall on them. A similar paronomasia in Amos 8:2, between "end" and "summer fruit," and in Jeremiah 1:11, between "almond tree" and "be wa... [ Continue Reading ]
_The morning is come_ The sense "morning" is that which a similar word has in Aramaic; but the dawn or morning is always used of the breaking in of felicity not of calamity (cf. Isaiah 8:20). The term occurs in Isaiah 28:5 in the sense of crown or chaplet, probably from the idea of encircling, going... [ Continue Reading ]
Ezekiel 7:8-9 are virtually Ezekiel 7:3 repeated, except that Ezekiel 7:9 ends with the words: that I am Jehovah that smiteth. The order of Ezekiel 7:1 in LXX. differs from the Heb. thus: Ezekiel 7:1_; Ezekiel 7:6_the end is come, 7 unto thee O inhabitant of the land, &c., 8, 9, 3, 4. This order is... [ Continue Reading ]
The ruin is universal, overtaking all classes 10. _morning is gone forth_ Rather: IS COME FORTH, the figure of a plant springing up; Job 14:2, "man cometh forth like a flower." On "morning" see Ezekiel 7:7; R.V. _doom_as there. _rod hath blossomed_ i.e. sprouted and grown so as to become a rod. Th... [ Continue Reading ]
"Violence" must be that in Israel, not that of the enemy. This violence has risen up so as to be, or to bring down a rod of wickedness, i.e. a rod due to wickedness or in chastisement of it (Ezekiel 7:23). All this, however, is language very unnatural. The rest of Ezekiel 7:11 is very obscure, and... [ Continue Reading ]
The inhabitants shall be overwhelmed in a common ruin, in which all social relations shall be forgotten the buyer shall not rejoice nor the seller sorrow. A universal "wrath" shall be on all classes, involving them in a common destruction. Cf. Isaiah 24:2, "It shall be as with the buyer so with the... [ Continue Reading ]
_return to that which is sold_ Sales, particularly of real property, were usually temporary, the subjects sold being redeemable. When they were redeemed the seller would "return to that which was sold." By the Law real property returned to the original owner at the year of freedom. This hope is vain... [ Continue Reading ]
Fruitlessness of the defence 14. Preparations for the defence are made but there is no courage to face the enemy, for the wrath of God upon them predetermines their defeat. _even to make all ready_ Rather: AND HAVE MADE (inf. abs.).... [ Continue Reading ]
Picture of the dissolution of the state (1) Ezekiel 7:14. The trumpet shall sound the alarm, but none shall prepare himself for the battle. The sword shall devour without and famine consume within. A paralysing terror shall seize upon all. (2) Ezekiel 7:19. They shall cast their gold and silver in... [ Continue Reading ]
Comp. Lamentations 1:20.... [ Continue Reading ]
Read: AND WHEN (if) THEY THAT ESCAPE OF THEM SHALL ESCAPE, THEY SHALL BE UPON THE MOUNTAINS. _mourning_ This refers to the doves: the fugitives shall be on the mountains (seeking refuge) like doves of the valleys, all of which mourn. Isaiah 59:11, We moan all like bears, and mourn sore like doves; E... [ Continue Reading ]
The description returns from the condition of the fugitives to that of the besieged. Prostration and despair seizes them. The figures of the hands "hanging down," and the knees becoming "water" are expressive of complete paralysis of strength. LXX. Hitz. interpret the latter phrase literally. Cf. ch... [ Continue Reading ]
_horror shall cover them_ Or, TREMBLING, terror, Job 21:6. It shall take such hold of them that it shall be all over them, like a garment covering them. Cf. Isaiah 59:17, he was clad with zeal as a cloke; Psalms 55:6. _baldness_ A sign of mourning: Isaiah 15:2, On all heads shall be baldness; Mic: M... [ Continue Reading ]
Amidst the famine they cast their silver and gold away in the streets, it cannot procure them food. On the horrors of famine during the siege of Jerusalem, comp. Lamentations 4:4; Lamentations 4:8-10; Lamentations 2:11-12; Lamentations 2:19-20; Lamentations 1:11. _gold shall be removed_ Rather: SHAL... [ Continue Reading ]
Read: AND THE BEAUTY OF THEIR ORNAMENT THEY TURNED INTO PRIDE, AND THEY MADE THE IMAGES … THEREOF; THEREFORE WILL I MAKE IT UNTO THEM A THING UNCLEAN. The thing spoken of is still their silver and gold; this they not only turned into pride, but made also images of it. Hosea 2:8, I multiplied unto he... [ Continue Reading ]
Because of this abuse of their silver and gold in making it into idols it shall become the prey of the Chaldeans, who shall profane it, turning it from a sacred to a common use. In a certain sense all that was in Israel was sacred, and the mere fact of the heathen taking possession of it profaned it... [ Continue Reading ]
The enemy shall penetrate into the temple and profane it. _turn … from them_ This most naturally refers to Israel, from whom the Lord will turn his face in anger, cf. Ezekiel 7:11. It might refer to the invader, whom the Lord will not behold but permit to work his will, cf. Lamentations 2:3. _secr... [ Continue Reading ]
_Make a chain_ THE chain. The chain could only be for binding the captives to carry them into exile. In Isaiah 40:19 a similar word is used for the silver chains with which the idols were fastened to the wall lest they should totter or fall; and in Nahum 3:10 the verb is rendered "were bound" with c... [ Continue Reading ]
_worst of the heathen_ Cf. Ezekiel 28:7; Ezekiel 30:11 the terrible of the nations. Jeremiah 6:23; Habakkuk 1:7. _the pomp of the strong_ Or, PRIDE. In Ezekiel 24:21 the pride of their strength, and so LXX. here. Cf. Ezekiel 33:28; Leviticus 26:19. The spelling of "sanctuaries" is an Aramaism.... [ Continue Reading ]
_Destruction cometh_ Or, ANGUISH.... [ Continue Reading ]
_Mischief … upon mischief_ i.e. calamity upon calamity; and "rumour" of misfortune upon rumour. Jeremiah 4:20; Isaiah 28:19. _but the law_ AND the law. It is implied in seeking a vision from the prophet that no vision is granted; and the law, i.e. decision or judgment, sought from the priest, ceases... [ Continue Reading ]
_king shall mourn_ 2 Samuel 19. The "prince" is Ezekiel's usual term for the chief civil ruler, and princes for those of the royal house. The clause "the king shall mourn" is wanting in LXX. On "clothed with desolation," i.e. utterly appalled, cf. Ezekiel 7:18; Ezekiel 26:16. _according to their des... [ Continue Reading ]