CHAPTER XXXIII _The prophet, after having addressed several other nations,_ _returns now to his own; previously to which he is told, as on a_ _former occasion, the duty of a watchman, the salvation or ruin_ _of whose soul depends on the manner in which he discharges it._ _An awful passage indee... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Ezekiel 33:2. _SON OF MAN - IF THE PEOPLE OF THE LAND TAKE A MAN_] The first _ten_ verses of this chapter are the same with Ezekiel 3:17; and to what is said there on this most important and awful subject I must refer the reader. _Here the PEOPLE choose the watchman;_ _there_, the Lord appoint... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Ezekiel 33:10. _IF OUR TRANSGRESSIONS AND OUR SINS_ BE _UPON US_] They are upon us, as a grievous burden, too weighty for us to bear: how then can we _live_ under such a load? _WE PINE AWAY IN THEM_] In such circumstances how consoling is that word: "Come unto me, all ye who are heavy laden,... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Ezekiel 33:11. _AS I LIVE, SAITH THE LORD GOD, I HAVE NO PLEASURE IN_ _THE DEATH OF THE WICKED_] From this to the twentieth verse inclusive is nearly the same with Ezekiel 18:3 c., on which I wish the reader to consult the notes. Ezekiel 18:3.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Ezekiel 33:13. _IF HE TRUST TO HIS OWN RIGHTEOUSNESS, AND COMMIT_ _INIQUITY_] If he trust in his _acting according to the statutes and_ _ordinances of religion_, and according to the _laws relative to_ _rights and wrongs among men_, and in other respects commit iniquity, _he shall die for it_.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Ezekiel 33:19. _HE SHALL LIVE THEREBY_] "The _wages_ of sin is death;" the "gift of God is eternal life." It is a miserable trade by which a man _cannot live_; such a trade is _sin_.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Ezekiel 33:21. _IN THE TWELFTH YEAR OF OUR CAPTIVITY, IN THE TENTH_ MONTH, _IN THE FIFTH_ DAY _OF THE MONTH_] Instead of the _twelfth year,_ the _eleventh_ is the reading of _seven_ of _Kennicott's_ MSS., _one_ of _De Rossi's_, and the _Syriac_. My own, mentioned in the preceding chapter, read... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Ezekiel 33:22. _MY MOUTH WAS OPENED_] They had now the fullest evidence that I had spoken from the Lord. I therefore spoke freely and fully what God delivered to me, Ezekiel 24:27.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Ezekiel 33:24. _ABRAHAM WAS ONE_] If he was called to inherit the land when he was alone, and had the whole to himself, why may we not expect to be established here, who are his posterity, and are _many_? They wished to remain in the land and be happy after the Chaldeans had carried the rest a... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Ezekiel 33:25. _YE EAT WITH THE BLOOD_] Abraham was _righteous_, ye are _unrighteous_. Eating of _blood_, in any way dressed, or of _flesh_ from which the blood had not been _extracted_, was and is in the sight of God abominable. All such practices he has absolutely and for ever forbidden. Let... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Ezekiel 33:26. _YE STAND UPON YOUR SWORD_] Ye live by plunder, rapine, and murder. Ye are every way impure; and shall ye possess the land? No.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Ezekiel 33:27. _THEY THAT_ ARE _IN THE WASTES_] He seems to speak of those Jews who had fled to _rocks, caves_, and _fortresses_, in the _mountains_; whose death he predicts, partly by the _sword_, partly by _wild beasts_, and partly by _famine_.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Ezekiel 33:30. _THE PEOPLE STILL ARE TALKING AGAINST THEE_] בך _bach_ should be rather translated, "concerning thee," than "against thee;" for the following verses show that the prophet was much respected. The _Vulgate_ translates, _de te_; the _Septuagint_, περι σου, "concerning thee," both r... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Ezekiel 33:31. _AS THE PEOPLE COMETH_] As they are accustomed to come on public days, Sabbaths, c. _WITH THEIR MOUTH THEY SHOW MUCH LOVE_] They respected the prophet, but would not bend themselves to follow his precepts. They loved _earthly things_, and did not relish those of _heaven_.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Ezekiel 33:32. _AS A VERY LOVELY SONG_] They admired the _fine voice_ and _correct delivery_ of the prophet; this was _their religion_, and this is the _whole_ of the religion of thousands to the present day; for never were _itching ears_ so multiplied as now.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Ezekiel 33:33. _WHEN THIS COMETH TO PASS - THEN SHALL THEY KNOW THAT A_ _PROPHET HATH BEEN AMONG THEM._] What I have predicted, (and it is even now at the doors,) then they will be convinced that there was a prophet among them, by whose ministry they did not profit as they ought.... [ Continue Reading ]