INTRODUCTION TO EZEKIEL 24 Is this chapter the destruction of the city and temple of Jerusalem is prophesied of; the former under the parable of a boiling pot; the latter is represented by the sudden death of Ezekiel's wife. The time of this prophecy was that very day the king of Babylon began the... [ Continue Reading ]
AGAIN, IN THE NINTH YEAR,.... Of Jehoiachin's captivity, from which the dates of Ezekiel are, and of Zedekiah's reign, which commenced together: IN THE TENTH MONTH, IN THE TENTH DAY OF THE MONTH; the month Tebet, which answers to part of our December, and part of January; so that it was at the latt... [ Continue Reading ]
SON OF MAN, WRITE THEE THE NAME OF THE DAY,.... That is, what day of the week it was, as well as what day of the month; as whether the first, or second, or third, c.: for the Jews had no other names for their days, as we have: EVEN OF THIS SAME DAY according to Bishop Usher r, it was the 30th of Ja... [ Continue Reading ]
AND UTTER A PARABLE TO THE REBELLIOUS HOUSE,.... The people of the Jews so called, not so much on account of their rebellion against the king of Babylon, which caused him to come against them, as on account of their rebellion against God, and the breach of his laws; see Ezekiel 2:3. The prophet is b... [ Continue Reading ]
GATHER THE PIECES THEREOF INTO IT,.... fire being made, and the pot set on, and water poured into it, the next thing is, to put in the pieces that are to be boiled; and these are to be gathered; meaning the people of the land, that were to be gathered from the several parts of it, for their security... [ Continue Reading ]
TAKE THE CHOICE OF THE FLOCK,.... King, princes, nobles, magistrates, priests and rulers of the people: AND BURN ALSO THE BONES UNDER IT: or, "put a pile of bones under it" u; the bones of them that are slain in it; denoting the great slaughter of them; or the bones of the innocent that had been mu... [ Continue Reading ]
WHEREFORE THUS SAITH THE LORD GOD, WOE TO THE BLOODY CITY,.... Here the parable begins to be explained; and shows that by the pot is meant the city of Jerusalem, called the bloody city, because of the blood of the prophets, and of righteous persons, and of innocent babes, that was shed in it; and wh... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR HER BLOOD IS IN THE MIDST OF HER,.... The blood of innocent persons shed in the midst of her, openly and publicly, cried for vengeance: SHE SET IT UPON THE TOP OF A ROCK; where it could not soak in, as when spilled upon soft earth: this denotes her openness and impudence in shedding blood, as n... [ Continue Reading ]
THAT IT MIGHT CAUSE FURY TO COME UP TO TAKE VENGEANCE,.... Into the heart and mind of God, into his face, speaking after the manner of men; observing such gross and open wickedness, he determined within himself to show his resentment, manifest his wrath and displeasure, and take vengeance on such ca... [ Continue Reading ]
THEREFORE THUS SAITH THE LORD GOD, WOE TO THE BLOODY CITY,.... Ezekiel 24:6: I WILL EVEN MAKE THE PILE FOR FIRE GREAT; a large pile of wood, a great quantity of fuel to maintain the fire, and keep the pot boiling; meaning the vast army of the Chaldeans, which the Lord would bring against Jerusalem... [ Continue Reading ]
HEAP ON WOOD, KINDLE THE FIRE,.... This is said either to the prophet, to do this in an emblematic way; or to the Chaldean army, to prepare for the siege, encompass the city, begin their attacks, and throw in their stones out of their slings and engines, and arrows from their bows: CONSUME THE FLES... [ Continue Reading ]
THEN SET IT EMPTY UPON THE COALS THEREOF,.... The city, when emptied of its inhabitants and substance, like a pot that is boiled over, and all in it boiled away, or taken out; burn it with fire, as the city of Jerusalem when taken and plundered was: THAT THE BRASS OF IT MAY BE HOT, AND BURN; as bra... [ Continue Reading ]
SHE HATH WEARIED HERSELF WITH LIES,.... With serving idols, which were lying vanities; by trusting to the alliances of neighbouring nations, which deceived her; or by committing sin, in which there was no satisfaction; or it may be understood of wearying of God with their sins, and particularly with... [ Continue Reading ]
IN THY FILTHINESS IS LEWDNESS,.... Consummate wickedness joined with impudence, and an obstinate persisting in it; though her sins were so abominable and filthy, yet she was not ashamed of them, nor could be reclaimed from them; but, like a lewd woman, or an old harlot, was bold and impudent: BECAU... [ Continue Reading ]
I THE LORD HAVE SPOKEN IT; IT SHALL COME TO PASS,.... What God has said shall be accomplished; his word shall not return void and empty, or be without effect: AND I WILL DO IT; being God omnipotent and unchangeable: I WILL NOT GO BACK; from his word, or the thing threatened and denounced; nothing... [ Continue Reading ]
ALSO THE WORD OF THE LORD CAME UNTO ME, SAYING. Next follows the other sign, by which the Lord shows the destruction of the temple.... [ Continue Reading ]
SON OF MAN, BEHOLD,.... This is said to raise the attention of the prophet, something strange and unusual, interesting and affecting, being about to be delivered: I TAKE AWAY FROM THEE THE DESIRE OF THINE EYES WITH A STROKE; meaning his wife; who very probably was of a beautiful countenance, and go... [ Continue Reading ]
FORBEAR TO CRY,.... Groan or howl, or make any doleful noise: or, "be silent" x: which the Talmudists y interpret of not greeting any person: MAKE NO MOURNING FOR THE DEAD; use none of those rites and ceremonies commonly observed for deceased relations and friends, particularly and especially for a... [ Continue Reading ]
SO I SPAKE UNTO THE PEOPLE IN THE MORNING,.... Did the duty of his office as a prophet; exhorted and instructed the people, particularly informed them of what had been said to him by the Lord, the evening or night before, concerning the death of his wife, and how he was to behave under such a provid... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THE PEOPLE SAID UNTO ME,.... Either seriously, as being desirous of knowing what was meant by all this; since they had reason to believe that it was not out of want of affection in Ezekiel to his wife that he so behaved; and therefore there must be some hidden meaning in it, which they should be... [ Continue Reading ]
THEN I ANSWERED THEM,.... And gave them an account of the design of the whole, and what was signified hereby: THE WORD OF THE LORD CAME UNTO ME, SAYING; ordering him to do all he did; for he did nothing of himself, but all according to the divine will; and who also directed him to say the following... [ Continue Reading ]
SPEAK UNTO THE HOUSE OF ISRAEL,.... By word of mouth, to those who were upon the spot with him in Chaldea: and by a messenger, or a letter, to them that were in Judea: THUS SAITH THE LORD OF HOSTS, BEHOLD, I WILL PROFANE MY SANCTUARY; the temple, built for him, and where he dwelt, and was worshippe... [ Continue Reading ]
AND YE SHALL DO AS I HAVE DONE,.... When his wife died, and as he was ordered by the Lord; the meaning of Which they were now inquiring: YE SHALL NOT COVER YOUR LIPS; as a token of mourning; nor use any other of their country rites and ceremonies, for fear of provoking their enemies, in whose hands... [ Continue Reading ]
AND YOUR TIRES SHALL BE UPON YOUR HEADS, AND YOUR SHOES UPON YOUR FEET..... As will be necessary while travelling, and when carrying captive to a foreign country, as now will be their case: YE SHALL NOT MOURN NOR WEEP; shall not dare to do it, because of their enemies; and, moreover, so great shoul... [ Continue Reading ]
THUS EZEKIEL IS UNTO YOU A SIGN,.... These are the words of the prophet concerning himself; observing that in all the above things he was a sign to the Jews of what should befall them, and what should be their case: AND ACCORDING TO ALL THAT HE HATH DONE SHALL YE DO; however it might be then a matt... [ Continue Reading ]
ALSO, THOU SON OF MAN, SHALL IT NOT BE IN THE DAY,.... This question is to be answered in the affirmative: WHEN I TAKE FROM THEM THEIR STRENGTH; their king and kingdom, their princes and nobles, their soldiers and men of might and war, their wealth and substance, their city and the inhabitants of i... [ Continue Reading ]
THAT HE THAT ESCAPETH IN THAT DAY SHALL COME UNTO THEE,.... That is, that one that should escape the hands of the Chaldeans, when the city should be taken, should directly make the best of his way to the prophet: TO CAUSE THEE TO HEAR IT WITH THINE EARS; all the particulars of the destruction of th... [ Continue Reading ]
IN THAT DAY SHALL THY MOUTH BE OPENED TO HIM WHICH IS ESCAPED,.... And shall freely converse with him about the several facts and circumstances of taking and burning the city and temple, and of the usage of the inhabitants: AND THOU SHALT SPEAK, AND BE NO MORE DUMB; for from this time to the taking... [ Continue Reading ]