_BY THE RESURRECTION OF DRY BONES, THE DEAD HOPE OF ISRAEL IS REVIVED. BY THE UNITING OF TWO STICKS, IS SHEWED THE INCORPORATION OF ISRAEL WITH JUDAH. THE PROMISES OF CHRIST'S KINGDOM._ _Before Christ 587._... [ Continue Reading ]
THE HAND OF THE LORD WAS UPON ME— It is the general opinion of the best commentators, that all this passed in vision. The first and great object of this prophesy seems evidently to be, the restoration of the Jews from the Babylonish captivity. Bishop Warburton observes, that the messengers of God pr... [ Continue Reading ]
CAN THESE BONES LIVE?— _Shall these bones revive?_ Houbigant, who observes very justly, that the question is not concerning the possibility of the fact; for the prophet well knew that God could do all things. But the Lord, introductory to what follows, asks him whether these bones _should now revive... [ Continue Reading ]
AND I WILL LAY, &C.— _For,_ &c.... [ Continue Reading ]
PROPHESY UNTO THE WIND, &C.— It is very remarkable, that our Saviour not only appeals to Moses and the prophets, in attestation of his own divine mission and character; but where he treats of the resurrection and a general judgment, so evidently alludes to the words of the prophets, which were _read... [ Continue Reading ]
AN EXCEEDING GREAT ARMY— This vision itself, in the first place, affords a very lively image of the resurrection; next, they who are raised to life again, are said to be an _exceeding great army;_ the Hebrew is still more emphatical, and even labours for expression: מאד מאד _meod meod, A very very g... [ Continue Reading ]
BEHOLD, O MY PEOPLE— That is, you who are truly such: for this most gracious appellation seems evidently taken from the words of the covenant so often mentioned; _I will be their God, and they shall be my people._ There would be no difficulty in this passage, if we only take _the land of Israel,_ Ez... [ Continue Reading ]
TAKE THEE ONE STICK, &C.— _Take—and write upon it, Judah, and the children of Israel,_ &c. _Then—Joseph, the stick Ephraim, and of all the house,_ &c. The design of this metaphorical action was to mark out the reunion of the tribes, after the return from Babylon; but, in a more elevated sense, the a... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT I WILL SAVE THEM, &C.— _And I will save,_ or _deliver them from all their transgressions._ Houbigant after the LXX.... [ Continue Reading ]
A COVENANT OF PEACE— Could this expression at all agree with the ancient covenant? When have we seen an age, half an age, of peace in Israel, except in the time of the Judges? The whole history of the Jewish nation is nothing more than a recital of wars and continual divisions; and if we understand... [ Continue Reading ]