Ezekiel 1:21

When those went, these went; and when those stood, these stood; and when those were lifted up from the earth, the wheels were lifted up over against them: for the spirit of the living creature was in the wheels. OVER AGAINST - rather lª-, 'in correspondence' or 'conjunction,' 'along with' (Henderson); or, 'beside' OVER AGAINST - rather lª-, 'in correspondence' or 'conjunction,' 'along with' (Henderson); or, 'beside' (Fairbairn)....

He continues the same sentence, that the wheels were fixed, not that they fell but stood without motion, which we know to be unnatural, for a wheel cannot stand on any part of its rim, but will either fall on one side or the other, or will roll on: for the Prophet says that the wheels were immovable. Whence it follows that their moving force was external to themselves. Afterwards he confirms the same by additional words. _For as the living creatures and the wheels stood together, so they moved and were elevated together. _Here the Prophet enlarges upon what he had just touched upon. For although the matter is obscure, yet this copiousness excites attention, and leads us to understand that the motion of the wheels is not uselessly transferred to the living creatures, and that the cause resides there: because if this had been said briefly, it might have been transmitted carelessly, but sin...

15-25 Providence, represented by the wheels, produces changes. Sometimes one spoke of the wheel is uppermost, sometimes another; but the motion of the wheel on its own axletree is regular and steady. We need not despond in adversity; the wheels are turning round and will raise us in due time, while those who presume in prosperity know not how soon they may be cast down. The wheel is near the living creatures; the angels are employed as ministers of God's providence. The spirit of the living creatures was in the wheels; the same wisdom, power, and holiness of God, that guide and govern the angels, by them order all events in this lower world. The wheel had four faces, denoting that the providence of God exerts itself in all parts. Look every way upon the wheel of providence, it has a face toward you. Their appearance and work were as a wheel in the middle of a wheel. The disposals of Pro...

EXPOSITION For the life of the prophet prior to the vision which this chapter relates, and which constituted his call to that office, see Introduction. EZEKIEL 1:1 NOW; literally, _and. _The use of the conjunction indicates here, as in Jonah 1:1, that the narrative that follows links itself on to something that has gone before. In Exodus 1:1 and 1 Samuel 1:1 it may point to a connection with the book that precedes it. Here the sequence is subjective. We may think of Ezekiel as retracing the years of his life till he comes to the thirtieth. Then, as it were, he pulls himself up. That must be t

WHEN THOSE WENT, [THESE] WENT; AND WHEN THOSE STOOD, [THESE] STOOD,.... When ministers are active and lively, then the churches are; but when they are indolent, dull, and inactive, then the churches are so likewise: AND WHEN THOSE WERE LIFTED UP FROM THE EARTH, THE WHEELS WERE LIFTED UP OVER AGAINST THEM; Ezekiel 1:19; FOR THE SPIRIT OF THE LIVING CREATURE [WAS] IN THE WHEELS; or, "the spirit of life", as in Ezekiel 1:20; see Revelation 11:11....

ANALYSIS AND ANNOTATIONS I. PREDICTIONS BEFORE THE FALL OF JERUSALEM A. judgment Predictions Concerning Jerusalem (1-24) Chapter S 1:1-3:14 The Vision of Glory and the Call of the Prophet _ 1. The introduction (Ezekiel 1:1) _ 2. The vision of glory (Ezekiel 1:4) 3. Ezekiel's call and commission (Ezekiel 2:1) 4. The roll eaten and the repeated commission (Ezekiel 2:9; Ezekiel 3:1) Ezekiel 1:1. The introductory words give

EZEKIEL 1-3. EZEKIEL ENTERS UPON HIS MINISTRY. Ezekiel 1:1. Ezekiel's Vision. Ezekiel 1:1. Like the prophets generally, Ezekiel enters upon his ministry only after he has had a vision of God and a call from Him. The book, therefore, appropriately opens with a description of these experiences. They took place in the thirtieth year a difficult phrase: perhaps the thirtieth year of the prophet's life in any case in 592 B.C., the fifth year after Jehoiachin and the leading citizens of Judah had been carried captive into Babylon (2 Kings 24:10 Ezekiel 1:16). Among them was Ezekiel, who whether or not a priest himself, c

The theophany, or, vision of God This is described first generally, as a whirlwind and great cloud coming from the North, with a luminous splendour around it, due to a fire sending out continuous flashes within it (Ezekiel 1:4). Secondly, more particularly that is described which appeared within the storm-cloud (Ezekiel 1:5). This was the chariot of God, in which he rode, descending to the earth and moving from one place to another (cf. ch. 10). This chariot is represented as foursided. On each of the four sides was a living creature of human shape, with outstretched wings. Also on each of the four sides, beside each of the living creatures there was a wheel. The living creatures are not represented as having any platform or basement under them on which they stand; the wheels are usually said to be "beside...

BEHOLD ONE WHEEL UPON THE EARTH— The prophet now proceeds to describe the wheels of this chariot borne by the living creatures. "Now, as I _contemplated_ these living creatures (says he) _there appeared upon the ground a wheel, near each of them by their four faces;_ each living creature had his wheel near him: that appearance and their work were _as if a wheel had been in the midst of a wheel,"_ Ezekiel 1:16 like two circles in a sphere, cutting each other at right angles; to signify, says a commentator, the liability and uniformity of their motion, and the subserviency of one part of providence to another, Ezekiel 1:17. _When they went, they went by the sides of those four living creatures, nor in going did they change their situation,_ each wheel still continuing in its proper place by

C. The Wheels 1:15-21 TRANSLATION (15) Now as I saw the living creatures, behold one wheel on the earth beside each of the living creatures on its four sides. (16) The appearance of the wheels and their works was like the color of topaz and the four of them had one likeness; and their appearance and their works were as a wheel in the middle of a wheel. (17) When they went, they went toward their four sides, they did not turn about in their going. (18) As for their rims, they were high and awesome and their rims were filled with eyes round about the four of them. (19) And when the living creatures went, the wheels went beside them, and when the living creatures were lifted Up from upon the earth, the wheels were lifted up. (20) Wherever the Spirit was to go, they went; thither was the spirit to go and the wheels lifted Up opposite them for the spirit of the living creatures was in the wh...