Ezekiel 37:18

And when the children of thy people shall speak unto thee, saying, Wilt thou not shew us what thou meanest by these? WHEN THE CHILDREN OF THY PEOPLE SHALL SPEAK UNTO THEE, SAYING, WILT THOU NOT SHOW US WHAT THOU MEANEST BY THESE? God does not explain the symbolical prophecy until the Jews have been stimulated by the type to consult the prophet....

15-28 This emblem was to show the people, that the Lord would unite Judah and Israel. Christ is the true David, Israel's King of old; and those whom he makes willing in the day of his power, he makes to walk in his judgments, and to keep his statutes. Events yet to come will further explain this prophecy. Nothing has more hindered the success of the gospel than divisions. Let us study to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace; let us seek for Divine grace to keep us from detestable things; and let us pray that all nations may be obedient and happy subjects of the Son of David, that the Lord may be our God, and we may be his people for evermore....

A prophecy of the reunion of Israel and Judah, the incorporation of Israel under one Ruler, the kingdom of Messiah upon earth and in heaven. Ezekiel 37:16 ONE STICK - So in the marginal reference the names of the tribes had been written on rods or sticks. FOR JUDAH ... - To the house of David had remained faithful, not only Judah, but also Benjamin, Levi, and part of Simeon, and individual members of various tribes 2 Chronicles 11:12. Compare the marginal references. JOSEPH ... EPHRAIM - Compare Psalms 78:67;...

EXPOSITION This chapter embraces, in its earlier section (Ezekiel 37:1), the concluding portion of the "word of God" begun at Ezekiel 36:16; in its later section (Ezekiel 36:15), an additional "word," to which the former naturally leads. The earlier, under the figure of a resurrection of dry bones, beheld by the prophet in vision, describes the political and religious reawakening of Israel; in the later is depicted, by means of a symbolic action, the reunion of its two branches. The first divides itself into two parts—the vision (Ezekiel 36:1) and its interpretation ...

AND WHEN THE CHILDREN OF THY PEOPLE SHALL SPEAK UNTO THEE, SAYING,.... The children of Israel and Judah in captivity, of which people Ezekiel was and to whom he was sent as a prophet; who seeing him take two sticks, and write on them, and then join them together, would naturally put such a question to him: WILT THOU NOT SHOW US WHAT THOU MEANEST BY THESE? for they concluded he had some meaning in it, and that it was not a mere childish diversion and amusement; and therefore would desire that he would let them know what it was: whether they would ask this seriously or in banter, out of curiosity or in contempt, as they sometimes did; it matters not, he was to give them an answer, as follows; though, by the manner of their putting the question, it looks as if they were doubtful whether he would or not; since they had treated him in a sneering way on such like occasions before....

Ezekiel 37:1. _The hand of the LORD was upon me, and carried me out in the spirit of the LORD,_ God's servants learn nothing until they have an experience similar to that of Ezekiel. They must be led by the Spirit of the Lord, and they must have their eyes and mouths opened by him, and then they can both see the vision, and tell the vision to others. Ezekiel 37:1. _And set me down in the midst of the valley which was full of bones,_ Like a huge grave, or charnel-house, or battle-field where the slain had not been buried. No servant of God would go without being sent to such a place, yet it was needful that Ezekiel should be there in order that he might understand and speak the message of God....

CHAPTER S 37-48 The Future Blessings of Israel, the Nation Regathered, Their Enemies Overthrown, the Millennial Temple, and the Division of the Land _ 1. The vision of the dry bones and Judah and Israel reunited (Ezekiel 37:1) _ 2. Gog and Magog and their destruction (Ezekiel 38:1; Ezekiel 39:1) 3. The millennial temple, its worship, and the division of the land (Ezekiel 40:1; Ezekiel 41:1; Ezekiel 42:1;...

Prophecy of the reunion of the restored Israel into one kingdom, ruled by one king, even David (1) Ezekiel 37:15. Symbol of the union of Judah and Israel into one kingdom, with its explanation. (2) Ezekiel 37:24. There shall be one king over the new nation, even David. (3) Ezekiel 37:26. Jehovah's covenant with the people shall be everlasting, and his presence will sanctify them....

DISCOURSE: 1122 THE STICKS OF JUDAH AND OF EPHRAIM JOINED Ezekiel 37:15. The word of the Lord carne again unto me, saying, Moreover, thou son of man, take thee one stick, and write upon it, For Judah, and for the children of Israel his companions: then take another stick, and write upon it, For Joseph, the stick of Ephraim, and for all the house of Israel his companions: and join them one to another into one stick; and they shall become one in thine hand. And when the children of thy people shall speak unto thee, saying, Wilt thou not shew us what thou meanest by these? say unto them, Thus saith the Lord God; Behold, I will take the stick of Joseph, which is in the hand of Ephraim and the tribes of Israel his fellows, and will put them with him, even with the stick of Judah, and make them one stick; and they shall be one in mine hand. And the sticks whereon thou writest shal

B. The Oracle of the Two Sticks 37:15-28 TRANSLATION (15) And the word of the LORD came unto me, saying, (16) Now as for you, son of man, take for yourself a stick, and write upon it: For Judah, and for the children of Israel his companions; then take another stick, and write upon it, For Joseph, the stick of Ephraim and all the house of Israel his companions; (17) And bring them near one to the other into one stick, that they may become one in your hand. (18) And when the children of your people say to you: Will you not declare to us what you mean by these things? (19) say unto them: Thus says the Lord GOD: Behold, I am about to take the stick of Joseph, which is in the hand of Ephraim, and tribes of Israel his companions, and I will put them upon the stick of Judah, and I will make them to be one stick; and they shall be one in My hand. (20) And the sticks upon which you have written...