THE BOOK OF THE PROPHET EZEKIEL _Chronological Notes relative to the commencement of_ _Ezekiel's prophesying_ -Year from the Creation, according to Archbishop Usher, 3409. -Year of the Jewish era of the world, 3166. -Year from the Deluge, 1753. -Second year of the _forty-sixth_ Olympiad. -Year... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Ezekiel 1:2. _JEHOIACHIN'S CAPTIVITY_] Called also Jeconiah and Coniah; see 2 Kings 24:12. He was carried away by Nebuchadnezzar; see 2 Kings 24:14.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Ezekiel 1:3. _THE HAND OF THE LORD_] I was filled with his power, and with the influence of the prophetic spirit.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Ezekiel 1:4. _A WHIRLWIND CAME OUT OF THE NORTH_] Nebuchadnezzar, whose land, Babylonia, lay north of Judea. _Chaldea_ is thus frequently denominated by Jeremiah. _A GREAT CLOUD, AND A FIRE INFOLDING ITSELF_] A mass of fire concentrated in a _vast cloud_, that the flames might be more distinc... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Ezekiel 1:5. _ALSO OUT ON THE MIDST THEREOF_ CAME - _FOUR LIVING_ _CREATURES._] As the amber-coloured body was the _centre_ of the _fire,_ and this _fire_ was in the _centre_ of the _cloud_; so out of this amber-coloured igneous centre came the _living creatures_ just mentioned.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Ezekiel 1:6. _EVERY ONE HAD FOUR FACES_] There were _four_ several figures of these living creatures, and each of these figures had _four_ distinct faces: but as the face of the _man_ was that which was presented to the prophet's view, so that he saw it more plainly than any of the others; hen... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Ezekiel 1:7. _THEIR FEET_ WERE _STRAIGHT FEET_] There did not seem to be any flexure at the knee, nor were the legs separated in that way as to indicate progression by walking. I have before me several ancient _Egyptian_ images of _Isis, Osiris. Anubis_, c., where the legs are _not separated_... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Ezekiel 1:8. THEY HAD _THE HANDS OF A MAN UNDER THEIR WINGS_] I doubt much whether the arms be not here represented as all covered with feathers, so that they had the appearance of wings, only the hand was bare; and I rather think that this is the meaning of their having "the hands of a man un... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Ezekiel 1:9. _THEIR WINGS_ WERE _JOINED ONE TO ANOTHER_] When their wings were extended, they formed a sort of canopy level with their own heads or shoulders; and on this canopy was the throne, and the "likeness of the man" upon it, Ezekiel 1:26. _THEY TURNED NOT WHEN THEY WENT_] The wings di... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Ezekiel 1:10. _AS FOR THE LIKENESS OF THEIR FACES_] There was but one body to each of those compound animals: but each body had four faces; the face of a _man_ and of a _lion_ on the right side; the face of an _ox_ and an _eagle_ on the left side. Many of these compound images appear in the A... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Ezekiel 1:12. _THEY WENT EVERY ONE STRAIGHT FORWARD_] Not by _progressive stepping_, but by _gliding_. _WHITHER THE SPIRIT WAS TO GO_] Whither that _whirlwind_ blew, they went, being borne on by the wind, see Ezekiel 1:4.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Ezekiel 1:13. _LIKE BURNING COALS OF FIRE_] The whole substance appeared to be of flame; and among them frequent coruscations of fire, like vibrating lamps, often emitting lightning, or rather sparks of fire, as we have seen struck out of strongly ignited iron in a forge. The flames might be s... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Ezekiel 1:14. _THE LIVING CREATURES RAN AND RETURNED_] They had a circular movement; they were in rapid motion, but did not increase their distance from the spectator. So I think this should be understood.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Ezekiel 1:15. _ONE WHEEL UPON THE EARTH_] It seems at first view there were _four wheels_, one for each of the living creatures; that is, the creatures were compound, so were the wheels, for there was "a wheel in the middle of a wheel." And it is generally supposed that these wheels cut each... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Ezekiel 1:18. _AS FOR THEIR RINGS_] The _strakes_ which form the _rim_ or _periphery_. _THEY WERE DREADFUL_] They were exceedingly great in their diameter, so that it was tremendous to look from the part that touched the ground to that which was opposite above. WERE _FULL OF EYES_] Does not... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Ezekiel 1:19. _WHEN THE LIVING CREATURES WENT, THE WHEELS WENT_] The _wheels_ were attached to the living creatures, so that, in progress, they had the same motion.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Ezekiel 1:20. _THE SPIRIT OF THE LIVING CREATURE_ WAS _IN THE WHEELS._] That is, the wheels were _instinct with a vital spirit_; the wheels were _alive_, they also were _animals_, or endued with _animal life_, as the creatures were that stood upon them. Here then is the _chariot of Jehovah_. T... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Ezekiel 1:22. _THE COLOUR OF THE TERRIBLE CRYSTAL_] Like a _crystal_, well cut and well polished, with various _faces_, by which rays of light were refracted, assuming either a variety of prismatic colours, or an insufferably brilliant splendour. This seems to be the meaning of the _terrible c... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Ezekiel 1:23. _EVERY ONE HAD TWO, WHICH COVERED ON THIS SIDE_] While they employed two of their wings to form a foundation for the _firmament_ to rest on, two other wings were let down to cover the lower part of their bodies: but this they did only when they _stood_, Ezekiel 1:24.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Ezekiel 1:24. _THE NOISE OF THEIR WINGS_] When the whirlwind drove the wheels, the wind rustling among the wings was like the noise of _many waters_; like a _waterfall_, or _waters dashing continually_ _against the rocks_, or _rushing down precipices_. _AS THE VOICE OF THE ALMIGHTY_] Like dis... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Ezekiel 1:26. _A SAPPHIRE_] The pure oriental sapphire, a large well cut specimen of which is now before me, is one of the most beautiful and resplendent blues that can be conceived. I have sometimes seen the heavens assume this illustrious hue. The human form above this canopy is supposed to... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Ezekiel 1:27. _THE COLOUR OF AMBER_] There are specimens of amber which are very pure and beautifully transparent. One which I now hold up to the light gives a most beautiful _bright yellow_ colour. Such a splendid appearance had the august Being who sat upon this throne from the reins upward;... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Ezekiel 1:28. _AS THE APPEARANCE OF THE BOW_] Over the canopy on which this glorious personage sat there was a fine _rainbow_, which, from the description here, had all its colours vivid, distinct, and in perfection-red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, and violet. In all this description... [ Continue Reading ]