CHAP. XI. V. 1—3. (Marg. Ref. Note, viii. 2—4.) The prophet was next shewn some of the ring-leaders in wickedness, He saw twenty-five men at the east-gate of the temple: but it is uncertain whether they were the same
14M2 “"bk ii. Q. dit. O46. 27,
~
B.'C. 598. — ' EZEKIEL. sx, 2, & 7, 4 Therefore ‘prophesy against them, |
&c, XXe 46, 4).
* wii 2 xxv, 2: prophesy, O son of man, ee vi. b. Vili. 1. 5 And “the Spirit of the Lorp fell vii. Num. x upon me, and said unto me, "Speak ;
25, 26. 1 Sam.
x.6.10. Ac Thus saith the Lorp, ™ Thus have ye
44. x1. Ud. Pr ‘_ Vita" 5.% its said, O house of Israel: "for I know the
m xwvill.2. 2% things that come into your mind, every Pe arma one of them.
i 1s, ae ~=6& Ye have °multiplied your slain in
iii r) 22~—-30. Jam.: p ait gta: this city, and ye have filled the streets —
Ps. Vit 9. Cxxxix. 2. Jere
thereof with the slain. aviv i7.avii 1. 7 Therefore thus saith the Lord Gop, ii. 24, 95. xxi? Your slain whom ye have laid in the o Revi midst of it, they ave the flesh, and this xui,o- 8-8 ' city is the caldron, ‘but I will bring you 2 Kings xti- 16 Forth out of the midst of it. vit © Sow, § Ye ‘have feared the sword: and I
2. Mic. iti, 10. ° ‘ ° vii. 2. zeph. it. Will bring a sword upon you, saith the ei: 3— .o, Lord Gop. : qmeitg, 9 And I will bring you out of the xxv. 18-29. Jer- midst thereof, * and deliver. you into the
¥ Job iii. 25. xx. 04. Prov. x. 94. Is. xxiv. 17, 18. xxx. 16, 17. Ixvi. 4. Jer. XXXVI. 19-23, xiii, 14—16. xliv. 12,18. . Am, ix. Il—4. Jolin xi. 48. 1 Thes. ii. 15, 16. 8 xxi. Sl.
Dent. xxviii. 49, 50. Jer. V. 15—17. XXxix. 6.
with the twenty-five men before-mentioned; (Note, vill. 16;) as they were not worshipping idols, but consulting about publick affairs. Whether they belonged to the san-hedrim, or great council of the nation or not, they were princes, or nobles, who had great influence in the measures of government.
Some writers inform us, that Jerusalem was divided into twenty-four districts, over each of which there was a prince, or agi and one that was over them all was the ruler of the city.—Among these princes the prophet distinguished two, who seem to have been the most eminent: and the Lord informed him, that this company, especially the two mentioned by name, (Notes, 13. viii. 7—12,) were the persons who devised mischief and gave evil council in the city.
Probably, they encouraged idolatry, countenanced the false prophets, and persecuted - the true prophets, They counselled the revolt from the Chaldeans, the alliance with Egypt, and the pertinacious opposition to the besiegers, in defiance of the warnings and predictions of God, by Jeremiah and other prophets. They persuaded the people, that if there were any truth in the predictions of divine judgments on the city and Jand, they would not be fulfilled for a long time; that they might build houses, and attend to their temporal concerns, without any apprehensions.
And in derision of Jeremiah’s vision of a scething pot, (Notes, xxiv. 1—14. Jer. ic 13, 144,) they added that they were the flesh in this pot, or caldron; the walls of the city would protect them caarw the Chaldeans, as the caldron keeps the fire from the flesh that is in it; that if any attempted to take them oit, it would be at their ‘peril. Thus they taught the people to harden themselves in rebellion against God.— This 1s a proverb which means, «We will share all fate with her, we will either be pre- * served or perish with her.” (Michaelis.)
V. 4-12. Under the immediate. impulse of the Holy Spirit, the prophet in vision seemed to himself to deliver the following message to these counsellors of rebellion: - and this, being afterwards written and published, would
4
_ judgments among you.
~
hands of strangers, ‘and will execute‘ tc. tip
10 Ye shall “fall by the sword, I will =o S
judge you in * the border of Israel ; ¥ and" arf mats, ye shall know that I am the Lorp. i anaes 11 This “city shall not be, your cal- 9.0%. xi,
ings viii. 65.
dron, neither shall ye be the flesh in the , *#ins xiv; 9 midst thereof, but I will judge you in the {: se. Pm, xe border of Israel : © Gr, cohich have
12 And ye shall know thst I am = ie et ee
the Lorn: “for ye have not walked 1 Kings B. 3.,
in my statutes, neither executed my judg- Ps. Hxvit” te. Jer. Me 16. Dan.
ments, *but have done after the man-, *.'.
ners of the heathen that are round about **.41—17. tev. Ou. Dent. xii. $0, 31,
13 And it came to pass, * when I pro- eee ar phesied, that Pelatiah the son of Benaiah ixat!"s'>
died. ©Then fell I down upon my face, ciss—to. sere
| and cried with a loud voice, and said, 1: “sxxvii.
“Ah Lord Gop! wilt thou make a full §7,"i Sng xi
er. MXVtii. I
end of the remnant of Israel ? + ST. Hos, wi i Kili. 14. c Deut. ix. 18, 19. Josh. vil. 6—9. 1 Chr. xxi. 16, 17. Ps. cri, 25. cxix. 120,
dix. 8 Aw. Vii. 2. 5.
rc
come to their knowledge. He first reminded them of the wicked words which they had spoken, as above stated, (g:)
and assured them that the Lord was exactly acquainted with -
all their secret thoughts, counsels, and designs, their vain hopes and rebellious devices. He next charged them both with shedding the blood of prophets and righteous men, by, their oppressions and persecutions; and also with murdering all the Jews, who had been or would be slain ‘in the war, in which they so obstinately persisted: so that they. multiplied their slain in the streets of the city. (Marg. Ref.) The city was indeed a caldron; and they, who perished by. their fault, by the sword and famine during the sjege, were the. flesh that should continue and be consumed in it: but
they themselves would be brought forth out of it. (Notes, .
XNxiV. 1—13.) They had feared being put to death, if they surrendered to the Chaldeans, and had therefore determined to stand out to the last extremity; and thus they should be slain by the sword: (Note, Prov. x. 24) the Lord would deliver them into the hand of the Chaldeans, and by thar hands execute his judgments upon them; for Nebuchadnezzar would put them to death as criminals, at Riblah, in the border of the land. (Marg. Ref. Notes, 2 Kings xxv. 38—21.) Then it would appear that the city was not their caldron, and that they were not able to continue in.it:. see. ing they had not obeyed the Lord, but had copred- the idolatries and iniquities of all the surrounding nations. (Marg. Ref.) |
V. 13. Whilst the prophet, in vision, was delivering this message to the princes, Pelatiah suddenly died. It is probable, that he was actually cut off by some terrible death at Jerusalem, at this time, or afterwards when the prophecy was fulfilling; and in so remarkable a manner, as would
render the vision much noticed. But when the, prophet .
witnessed this accomplishment of God’s ward;. as-one, who had the welfare of his people nearer. his heart than his own character, he was greatly alarmed and distressed, and renewed his enquiries, whether the Lord. meant to destroy all
_ B.C. 593.
oe . ae
"Marg. RS.). inhabitants of Jerusalem were.
" of their estates: they meant therefore to excommunicate and
_ ship should be as acceptable, as if they had sacrificed at the, » Jers XxiX, 7. win shall come. ;
B: C. 598.
_ 4 @ Again the word of the Lorp | - * Came unto me, saying, |
¢ dora. 5. = 15 Son'of man, ° thy brethren, even
_ thy brethren, the men of thy kindred,
and all the house of Israel wholly, are
they unto whom the inhabitants of Jeru-fis. try. s. twvisalem have said, “Get ye far from the gua. Torp: Sunto us is this land given in
possession.
/ 16 Therefore say, "Thus saith the ii, Jer. axiv » Lord Gop.; Although I have cast them ms far off among the heathen, and although I have scattered them among the countries, yet will I be to them ‘as a little sanctuary in the countries where they.
bh @ Kings xxiv. 1% —16. Ps. xliv.
& Pe. xuxi. 20. xc. 1, xcic 1, &c.
« XVII, 10
pf iv. b. Vill.
17, Therefore say, Thus saith the Lord
the remnant of his people Israel? (Note, ix. 8—10. V. 14-—-i6. The Lord was graciously pleased to relieve the anxiety of his servant respecting his people Israel, by directing his attention to the Jews who were already in eaptivity. They were his brethren in distress, as well’ as im blood; and thus more nearly connected with him, than those in the land of Judah: especially as he was raised up to prophesy among them. Nay, the-dispersed Israelites were mire the objects of the Lord’s special favour, than the (Notes, Jer. xxiv. P.O.) Indeed the latter treated the captives with disdain: they imagined, that God had rejected them, and sent them into captivity as the greater sinners; or that their surrender to the Chaldeans was a forfeiture of their privileges, and even
disinherit them; and to appropriate. the city and land to themselves, (Notes, xxxiil. 24—29. Js. Ixv. 3—7.) But the Lord had other intentions: he had sent some of the people into captivity in order to their reformation; ‘and though they were scattered among the Gentiles far from the temple; yet He ‘* would beas a little Sanctuary” unto them in every place.
He would be their Protector and Support; he would answer their prayers, and give them the comfort of his presence: and when two or three of them met together, in a synagogue or a private house, their wor-temple:. so that whilst the Jews at Jerusalem possessed many external religious advantages, without the power and presence of the Lord, because of their pride and hypocrisy; those in captivity among the Gentiles should have his pre-ence and power with them, being enabled to exercise humble faith, and to worship God in spirit and truth. (Notes, Dan. ix.) This would be as “a little Sanctuary” in every place, a refuge to a few people, which would not excite either the jealousy or rapacity of their enemies, as the magnificent temple at Jerusalem had done. (Noée, Js. viii. 11 ——15.
Marg. Ref.)—* As a sanctuary for ashort time.’ (Bp. Newcombe.)—Such a promise evidently implied the future Introduction of a new and more spiritual dispensation, when men should worship God with acceptance in. every place. (Note, John iv. 21—a24.) But as this ‘ little Sanctuary” must, as it were, be entered by faith in Jesus Christ, the
CHAPTER XI.
‘and "I will put a new spirit within you ;
-flesh, and will give them an heart of flesh.
4.-XXI1V. 7. XXX. 22, XXX).
‘. B. C..593.
Gop, * I-will even gather you from thes reas "oe people, and assemble you out of the coun- XaXix. @7-— 29 tries where ye have been scattered, and I
Ts, XI. fi — 16. Jer. iil. 12. 18.
will give you the land of Israel. aaa, a= 10. ' 48 And they shall come thither, ‘and ¥o:. i. 10; 1.
Am. Ix, i4, 15.
they shall take away all the detestable'2). © 11,%n. 20. things thereof, and all the abominations thereof from thence.
XVI.
19 And ™] will give them one heart, . Stasi! 26, 9. Dent. xxx. 6,
2 Chr. xxx. !48. * Jer. Xxxiv. 7.
XXXii. $9, 40.
Zeph. iii, 9.
zon0. ri a : 23. Acts iv. 32. 20 That ? they may walk in my sta- 1 Cor. i. 1% tutes, and keep mine ordinances, and do | Phil. it. Is. é them: ‘and they shalt be my people, and 3% 7" I will be their God. Gea gue iv. 28. © xxxVi. 26, 27. Is. xiviii. 4. Zech. vil, 12. Rom. ii. 4,,5. p !@. Ps cv. 45. cxix. 4,.3.32. Luke i. 6.74, 75. Tit. ii. 11, 12 q xiv. 11. xxxvi. 28. xxXvil. 27. Jer. Xie i ji. 39. XXxii. $8. Zech. xiii. 9, Heb. vill. 10. xi. 16.
°and I will take the stony heart outof their
Door and the Way: (Notes, John x. 6—g. Riv. 4—6:) 80°
the Jews in their present dispersions have not the benefit of it, because of their unbelief; which renders their present dispersion unspeakably more dreadful than the Babylonish: captivity.
V. #7—20. The Lord further promised to the captives,. - that they, or their posterity, should be restored to their own land; and become decidedly set against idolatry and all. other abominable wickedness. Few of them seem at that time to have been true believers: but God engaged to prepare them for the blessings which he intended for them, by “ giving them one heart, and by putting a new spirit within “them.” The ‘one heart” may either mean, that one-- ness of judgment, disposition, and affection, which the grace of God produces in his people; or that singleness of heart which distinguishes them from others. - (Notes, Ps. Ixxxvi.
11. Jer. xxiv. 7, XXX. 99-—41. Zeph, ill. g, 10.
Acts i. 44—47. iv. 32-35.) The hearts of the fews: had been divided among ditlerent idols, and they. had endeavoured to worship both JEHOVAH and. their idols, to serve him and their sins: but this change would cause them to serve him singly! wholly, and devotedly, and to rénounce all idols rivals, or worldly lusts. ‘* A new: spirit” would. also be given them, that is, a new temper and disposition ;- a. new: light in the understanding and direction to the judgment s new purity in their memorics, imaginations, and affections ; new desires, hopes, fears, Joys, and sorrows;, a new tenderness in the conscience, and submission in the will: the effect of the regenerating Spirit of God; for ‘ that, which. ‘¢is born of the Spirit is spirit;” altogether spiritual, ace cording to the law, truth, and image of God; disposed to repentance, faith, love, conscientious obedience and’ holy. worship. (oles, xvill. go—32. xxxvi 24—27.
Deut, XXIX. 4.XXX.1—10. Ps. li. 10. Fer. xxxi. 31—34. Rom. Xli,.1, 2. 2 Cor, v. 17.)—At the samatime, the Lord. would take away ‘the stony heart out of their flesh,’’ or from their. corrupt nature: for “ that’ which 1s born of. the ‘flesh is “flesh,” carnal, and enmity to God., ‘* The stony heart’’’ denotes the natural insensibility, obduracy, and obstinacy. of fallen man. The carnal-heart, like a stone,, cannot be-made to feel. Judgments,. mercies, warnings, cxamples,. are alike unavailing. (Note, ix. 3, 4.) The terfors trom mount Sinai, the-love-of Christ, and the sweet promises of:
B. C. 593.
t Ec. xi. 9. Jer.
Bc. xi 9 et: 6-21 Butas for them, * whose heart walk- Vit teas, Jam.eth after the heart of * their detestable sis.seri ii. things, and their abominations, ‘I will tix 10, xx. ss.recompense their way" upon their own xxix. 16-19. heads, saith the Lord Gop. ,
Bie 18,20 % 1% 92 | Then did "the cherubims lift up their wings, and the wheels beside them; and the glory of the God of Israel was over them above.
4 {5 aii, + ©6230 And *the glory of the Lorp went Matt. xtitl’ 57 up from the midst of the city, and stood
Ki. Vili. 4. iw. S. &
the gospel, fail of producing suitable affections. Men live unconcerned amidst the dead and dying; they accumulate loads of guilt like mountains, and are neither dismayed nor humbled; and they often are as unfeeling to the miseries of others, as to their own danger. They are dead, insensible, and like a stone, which feels nothing from the hardest blow. But renewing grace creates a susceptibility of proper feel- . ing in the soul and conscience: thena sinner learns to fear God, to stand in awe of his word, and to flee from his wrath. Then the mercies of God excite his gratitude, and the promises encourage lis hope: he is humbled for his transgressions of the law; and unites love and gratitude with stall deeper humiliation,-by his knowledge of the gospel. Then his heart becomes broken, his conscience tender, hisaffections easily moved to fear or compassion: a wrong temper now causes him more pain than numerous gross crimes once did;
and the consideration of the shortness and uncertainty of life:
roduces, in some. measure, its proper effect on his conduct. His heart becomes as living flesh, which feels the least touch, and is now capable of joy and sotrow from spiritual objects, which before it was not. This change the Lord alone can work, and he promised to do it for Israel, in order that they might walk in his statutes: for without it aha obedience and worship cannot be performed: and thus he would ‘ be their God, and own them as his people.” (Marg.
Ref.) —This may be interpreted as a prophecy of the restoration of the Jews and some of the Israelites, to their own land: it is also applicable in its largest sense to the true Israel, the elect of God, who all partake of this “blessing in due season: but it especially foretels the future conversion of Israel, and his restoration to his own land. (Notes, XXXiV. 23—931. XXXvVIl. 29—28. xXxxIX. 23—29. OS. lil. 4, 5. Amos ix. 19—15.
Mic. vil, 11—18.)— * Conversion is commonly spoken of in scripture, as if it * were a new creation, because of the new dispositions and * powers which accompany it.’—* These promises chiefl ‘-relate toethe conversion of the Jews, when God shall ‘pour on them the Spirit of grace.’ (Zech. xii. 10.) (Lowth.) : V. 21. The hearts of almost all the Jews in Jerusalem and Judah, and of numbers among the captives, walked . after the heart of their detestable things.
Their affections were habitually fixed upon idols; they were disposed to copy, the licentiousness, cruelty, and fraud, which these ‘supposed deities were represented as delighting in; and they loved their gross and carnal worship. Or, they took as much pleasure in serving Satan, (who was worshipped under the names and forms of all their idols,) as he did in receiving their adoration. But none of those who continued to act in this manner, could have any interest in these pro-
EZEKIEL.
B.C. 89,
upon the mountain, which is on the east : side of the city. ;
24 Afterwards ¥ the Spirit took me up”: "4.> Stim and brought me in a vision, by the Spirit “™* . of God, *into- Chaldea to them of the’ gas.” ™ captivity. * So the vision that I had seen zav. 13. Acts went up from me. ore.25 Then °I spake unto them of the?i. 7m. « 1 captivity all the things that the Lorp had ~ shewed me. ;
mises ; but they would be recompensed according to their
own ways: notwithstanding the mercies ‘reserved for the penitent.—* The prophet mentions the heart ‘of their detest- ‘ able things,—because evil spirits, who were worshipped ‘in and by them, were pleased with the devotions, in that ‘manner paidtothem.’ (Lowth.) (Marg. Ref.) .
V. 22—25. After the prophet had received all this in~ formation; he saw the cherubim and the wheels, with the glory of God above them, remove to a greater distance : they had before left the temple, and now they departed from the city eastward to the mount of Olives; the place
from which Christ, the glory of the second temple, as~ -
cended into heaven, previous to its destruction. (Notes, ix. 3, 4. xlili. 2—5. Hag. ii. 6—g. Zech. xiv. 4, § Luke XXIV. 50—53. Acts i. g—12.)——Then the prophet was, in vision, brought back into Chaldea, in the same way that he had been conveyed thence: the vision left him, his extasy terminated, and he found himself among the elders where he was at first. (Note, vili. 2—4.) Afterwards he reported to them and the other captives all that he had seen.and heard in this vision: (vili—-xi:) and perhaps he also now exe plained the other signs, which he had before shewn to them, (Notes, iv—vii.) ,
PRACTICAL OBSERVATIONS. V. i—13.
When those, who are eminent in rank or abilities, are ~~
destitute of the fear of God, and Oppores or ridicule his truths and warnings, they are qualified to be extensively
mischievous. Being ingenious in me evil, plausible:
in counselling and vindicating it, arid bold in carrying it into execution; they encourage numbers to harden themselves in rebellion against God, and to adopt and persist in the most pernicious and impious designs. But they should be reniided, that they must render an account to him, for all the mischief done by their influence; for all the blood shed in unjust and unnecessary wars, which their worldly policy has oceasioned; and for all the marder, that ‘takes place in consequence of their oppression, persecution, and unrighteous decrees.
How awfully do some men of this description ‘‘ multiply their slain,” not enly through the street@of a single city, or the districts of a kingdom, but through whole continents, nay, in every quarter of the globe! and they will at length be as much distinguished by their punishment, as they now are by their crimes. But carnal policy is connected with infidelity: and such persons turn the oracles of God into ridicule, and persuade themselves and others, that no evil shall happen unto them, If they cannot entirely shake off all regard to revelation; they; f { ;
B, C. 593.
9 CHAP. XII.
Ezekiel is ordered, by removing his goods,
and breaking through the wall of his ' house, to give the people a sign of the
taking of Jerusalem, of Zedehiah’'s flight, and of the captivity of the Jews, 1— 16; by eating and drinking with tremb- -ling and anxiety, to prefigure the famine, and consternation of the Jews during the siege, 17—20; and to declare that this ruin was near at hand; as a rebuke to those who profanely spake of it as distant, 21—25.
conclude, that the wrath of God denounced against transgressors is doubtful, or at least distant; and that they may safely indulge their inclinations, and pursue their rebellious schemes, for some time longer; that they have many years af life before them; and that they shall be able to take care of their souls at last. ‘The love of the world, and dislike to religion, give Satan and his factors an amazing advantage
ainst men, in tempting them to this procrastination: and thus they seduce and ruin one another, until at Jast, when “‘ they are crying, Peace, peace, sudden destruction over- “ takes them, from which they cannot escape.” (No¢es, Dan, v. Luke xii. 15—21. Acts xii, 20o—23. 1 Thes. v. 1—
g-) We should therefore, plainly protest against these de-
Visers of mischief, and wicked counsellors: we should shew them the folly and impiety of their words, and remind them that God. knoweth all their thoughts and contrivances. We should also meditate on the same truths, with reference to ourselves: that we may watch our hearts and lips, and beg of God to examine and keep them for us,x—The worst fears of ungodly men will come upon them, and often by those sinful. means, which they use to secure themselves: and when sinners fear the eee | of man more than the wrath of God, he will sometimes expose them to both; and execute his judgments upon them in this world as well as in the next. Thus he often singles out the ringleaders in impiety, infidelity, and wickedness, and renders them warnings to others, that they may repent and avoid such destructive paths. (Mum. xiv. 36—38. Notes, Num. xvi. 28—
84. fer. xxviii. 15—17. xxix. 21—23.) But while these awful dispensations verify the words of God’s faithful servants; they cannot but be deeply affected by them; and will stil] plead with him to have mercy on those who remain.
V. 14-—25. amiga
The Lord often reserves for himself those. persons, of
_ whom we had little hopes ; and leaves to their own pride
and lusts, such, as we had better expectations of s while they, whom he afflicts and man despises, are commonly nearer the kingdom of heaven, than their more prosperous
_and self-confident neighbours.—Many are ready to. imagine
that they are exclusively the people of God, while others are gone far {rom him; when, in fact, they are idolizing