In Ezek. 4–5, the coming siege of Jerusalem and the dispersion of its inhabitants is foretold under divers symbols. If the 5th year of Jehoiachins captivity be taken (as is most probable) for the year in which Ezekiel received this communication, it was a time at which such an event would, according... [ Continue Reading ]
A TILE - Rather, a brick. Sun-dried or kiln-burned bricks were from very early times used for building walls throughout the plain of Mesopotamia. The bricks of Nineveh and Babylon are sometimes stamped with what appears to be the device of the king in whose reign they were made, and often covered wi... [ Continue Reading ]
LAY SIEGE AGAINST IT - The prophet is represented as doing that which he portrays. The leading features of a siege are depicted. See the Jeremiah 6:6 note. THE CAMP - Encampments. The word denotes various hosts in various positions around the city. FORT - It was customary in sieges to construct to... [ Continue Reading ]
AN IRON PAN - Another figure in the coming siege. On Assyrian sculptures from Nimroud and Kouyunjik there are sieges of cities with “forts, mounts, and rams;” and together with these we see a kind of shield set up on the ground, behind which archers are shooting. Such a shield would be represented b... [ Continue Reading ]
The siege being thus represented, the condition and suffering of the inhabitants is exhibited by the condition of one, who, bound as a prisoner or oppressed by sickness, cannot turn from his right side to his left. The prophet was in such a state. BEAR THEIR INIQUITY - The prophet was, in a figure,... [ Continue Reading ]
ACCORDING TO THE NUMBER OF THE DAYS - Or, “to be to thee as a number of days (even as)” etc. Compare the margin reference. Some conceive that these “days” were the years during which Israel and Judah sinned, and date in the case of Israel from Jeroboam’s rebellion to the time at which Ezekiel wrote... [ Continue Reading ]
THEREFORE THOU SHALT SET THY FACE - Or, “And etc.” i. e., direct thy mind to that subject. THINE ARM SHALL BE UNCOVERED - A sign of the execution of vengeance Isaiah 52:10.... [ Continue Reading ]
I WILL LAY BANDS UPON THEE - Contrast margin reference. The Lord will put constraint upon him, to cause him to exercise his office. In the retirement of his house, figuratively bound and under constraint, he shall not cease to proclaim the doom of the city. THE DAYS OF THY SIEGE - Those during whic... [ Continue Reading ]
Two things are prefigured in the remainder of this chapter, (1) the hardships of exile, (2) the straitness of a siege. To the people of Israel, separated from the rest of the nations as holy, it was a leading feature in the calamities of their exile that they must be mixed up with other nations,... [ Continue Reading ]
MEAT - A general term for food, which in this case consists of grain. Instead of measuring, it was necessary in extreme scarcity to weigh it Leviticus 26:26; Revelation 6:6. TWENTY SHEKELS A DAY - The shekel contained about 220 grains, so that 20 shekels would be about 56 of a pound. FROM TIME TO... [ Continue Reading ]
WATER BY MEASURE - This probably corresponds to the water of affliction 1 Kings 22:27; Isaiah 30:20. The measure of the hin is variously estimated by Jewish writers. The sixth part of a hin will be according to one estimate about 610ths, according to another 910ths of a pint. The lesser estimate is... [ Continue Reading ]
In eastern countries where fuel is scarce the want is supplied by dried cow-dung laid up for the winter. Barley cakes were (and are) baked under hot ashes without an oven. The dung here is to be burned to ashes, and the ashes so employed.... [ Continue Reading ]
The ceremonial ordinances in relation to food were intended to keep the nation free from idolatrous usages; everywhere among the pagan idol feasts formed a leading part in their religious services, and idol meats were partaken of in common life. Dispersion among the Gentiles must have exposed the Je... [ Continue Reading ]
ABOMINABLE FLESH - Flesh that had become corrupt and foul by overkeeping. Compare Leviticus 19:7.... [ Continue Reading ]
THE STAFF OF BREAD - Bread is so called because it is that on which the support of life mainly depends. WITH ASTONISHMENT - With dismay and anxiety at the calamities which are befalling them.... [ Continue Reading ]