Ezekiel 11:1

Moreover the spirit lifted me up, and brought me unto the east gate of the LORD's house, which looketh eastward: and behold at the door of the gate five and twenty men; among whom I saw Jaazaniah the son of Azur, and Pelatiah the son of Benaiah, princes of the people. THE SPIRIT LIFTED ME UP, AND BROUGHT ME UNTO THE EAST GATE - to which the glory of God had moved itself (); the chief entrance of the sanctuary-the portico or porch of Solomon. The spirit moves the prophet there, to witness, in the presence of the divine glory, a new scene of destruction. BEHOLD AT THE DOOR OF THE GATE FIVE AND TWENTY MEN. The same as the 25 (i:e., 24 heads of courses and the high priest) sun-worshippers seen in . The leading priests were usually called "princes of the sanctu...

Here the Prophet admonishes the people that perverse leaders would be the cause of their destruction. For if the blind lead the blind both will fall into the ditch (Matthew 15:14; Luke 6:39.) Since, therefore, the elders of the city were such wicked apostates, they drew with them the whole body of the people into the same ruin. Now, therefore, the Prophet shows that the state of the city was so corrupt that no hope of pardon remained, since those who ought to be the eyes of the whole people were involved in darkness. But he names the _five and twenty seniors _Whence it is probable, that this number was chosen in the midst of confusion, or that a definite number is put for an indefinite; and I rather embrace this second view. Whatever it is, it implies that those who held the reins of government were impious despisers of God, and hence it is not surprising tha

1-13 Where Satan cannot persuade men to look upon the judgment to come as uncertain, he gains his point by persuading them to look upon it as at a distance. These wretched rulers dare to say, We are as safe in this city as flesh in a boiling pot; the walls of the city shall be to us as walls of brass, we shall receive no more damage from the besiegers than the caldron does from the fire. When sinners flatter themselves to their own ruin, it is time to tell them they shall have no peace if they go on. None shall remain in possession of the city but those who are buried in it. Those are least safe who are most secure. God is often pleased to single out some sinners for warning to others. Whether Pelatiah died at that time in Jerusalem, or when the fulfilment of the prophecy drew near, is uncertain. Like Ezekiel, we ought to be much affected with the sudden death of others, and we should st...

CHAPTER XI _This chapter denounces the judgments of God against those_ _wicked persons who remained in Jerusalem and made a mock of_ _the types and predictions of the prophets_, 1-13; _compare_ Ezekiel 11:3 with Jeremiah 1:13. _God promises to favour those who were gone into captivity, and_ _intimates their restoration from the Babylonish yoke_, 14-21. _Then the shechinah, or symbol of the Divine Presence, is_ represented forsaking the city, as

THE GATE - The gate of the templecourt. The gate was the place of judgment. FIVE AND TWENTY MEN - Not the same men as in Ezekiel 8:16. There they were representatives of the “priests,” here of the “princes.” The number is, no doubt, symbolic, made up, probably, of 24 men and the king. The number 24 points to the tribes of undivided Israel. JAAZANIAH ... PELATIAH - We know nothing more of these men. The former name was probably common at that time Ezekiel 8:11. In these two names there is an allusion to the false hopes which they upheld. “Jaazaniah” (Yah (weh) listeneth) “son of Azur” (the Helper); “Pelatiah” (Yah (weh) rescues) “son of Benaiah” (Yah (weh) builds). In the latter case, death...

EXPOSITION EZEKIEL 11:1 MOREOVER THE SPIRIT LIFTED ME UP, etc. It is noticeable that the position to which Ezekiel was thus transported in his vision from his place in the inner court (Ezekiel 8:14), was identical with that which he had just seen occupied by the cherub chariot before its departure (Ezekiel 10:19). What he is about to see will throw light on the significance of their departure. The gate is probably, here as there, that of the court of the temple. FIVE AND TWENTY MEN. The number at first reminds us of the worshippers of the sun, in Ezekiel 8:16; but tha

MOREOVER, THE SPIRIT LIFTED ME UP,.... From the inner court of the temple, where the prophet was, according to the last account of him, Ezekiel 8:16; it was the same Spirit that took him by the lock of his head, and lifted him up, as in Ezekiel 8:3; and perhaps in the same manner: AND BROUGHT ME UNTO THE EAST GATE OF THE LORD'S HOUSE, WHICH LOOKETH EASTWARD; where were the cherubim, and the wheels, and the glory of God above them, Ezekiel 10:19; AND BEHOLD AT THE DOOR OF THE GATE FIVE AND TWENTY MEN; not the same as in Ezekiel 8:16; for they were in a different place, between the porch and the altar; an

Ezekiel 11:1. The priests and the leaders of the nation were steeped in wickedness, defied God and the judgments His prophets had announced. They devised mischief (or iniquity) and gave wicked counsel. Their wicked counsel consisted in disobedience against Jehovah and His Word. In regard to the judgment they said, “It is not the time to build houses; this is the cauldron and we are the flesh.” They knew of Jeremiah's letter which he had sent to the elders who were carried away captives. In that letter, Jeremiah, believing God's Word concerning the long duration of the captivity, gave the advice, “Build ye houses and dwell in them” Jeremiah 29:1. They ridiculed that divinely given advice. They still thought themselves safe in Jerusalem. The phrase “this is the cauldron” means the city of Jerusalem; and we are

EZEKIEL 11. THE DEPARTURE OF YAHWEH. Ezekiel 11:1. Another Guilty Group. The doom has been executed with grim thoroughness, the guilty are all slain (Ezekiel 11:9); it is therefore surprising to come here upon another guilty group. Clearly this passage presupposes a slightly different time, but it admirably serves to strengthen the reasons for Yahweh's departure from the city. Besides the idolatry already described (Ezekiel 11:8), another type of guilt is illustrated by this group of twenty-five (probably twenty-four and a president) who give wicked counsel in the city. Apparently these were statesmen who favoured the policy (condemned by Jeremiah) of revolt from Babylon. In proverbial language they compare the city

SPIRIT. As in Ezekiel 2:2. Hebrew. _ruach,_ App-9. See note on Ezekiel 8:3. THE EAST GATE. Compare Ezekiel 43:1. THE LORD'S. Hebrew. _Jehovah._ s. App-4. DOOR. entrance. FIVE AND TWENTY MEN. These are not the same as in Ezekiel 8:16, but were princes of the People,. title never given to priests, who were called "princes of the sanctuary" (Isaiah 43:28). _They_ were probably those referred to in Jeremiah 38:4....