CHAP. XIII. V. 1-4. The Lord had before intimated his displeasure against the false prophets; (12:24.) but Ezekiel was here ordered more fully and directly to enter his protest against them, as the other prophets had done. -The true prophets often denounce God's 'judgments against the false ones; laying to 'their charge many misdemeanors in their 'private conversation; and upbraiding them for 'unfaithfulness in the office they undertook, 'of guiding and directing men's consciences. Lowth . ( Notes , 22:25-28. 34:2—6 . Is . 9:13-17. 56:9-12. Jer . 5:30,31. 6:13–15. 14:13—16. 23: 9-32.
Mic . 3:5-12.) -Some of the false prophets lived in Judah, and others of them among the captives in Chaldea. ( Notes , Jer . 29:) They vaunted themselves to be "the prophets of Israel," and were considered by many as such; but they were the ruin of the people who confided in them. Ezekiel was therefore required to prophesy against them; not so much in expectation of bringing them to repentance, as in order to undeceive those whom they deluded.
They had the character of being very discerning men, and were no doubt proud of their wisdom: but they were " foolish prophets;" because they followed their own fancies, and had received no revelations from God, though they audaciously ventured to speak in his name. ( Marg . and Marg .
Ref . a-d.) Israel therefore must be informed, that their favorite prophets were "like the foxes in the deserts:" crafty, ravenous, and mischievous; always scheming something for their own interest, or shifting about to save themselves, without regard to the welfare of the people: thus they spoiled the Lord's vineyard, and devoured his flock; as the foxes from the desert marred the vineyards, and did mischief in the sheep-folds of Canaan. ( Marg .
Ref . e.- Notes , Cant . 2:15. 2 Cor . 11:13-15.) - 'They seize their prey, in a 'cunning and cowardly manner; and then flee 'into lurking places.' Bp . Newcombe.
V. 5. The wickedness of Israel had broken down the hedge of the divine protection, and
9 And mine hand shall be upon the prophets that see vanity, and that divine lies: they shall not be in the || assembly of my people, neither shall they be written in the writing of the house of Israel, 'neither shall they enter into the land of Israel; * and ye shall know that I am the Lord God. 10 Because, even because they have
m 22. 1 Kings 22:6,27,37. Prov. 14:15. Jer. 29:31. 37:19. Mark 13:6,22,23. 2 Thes. 2:11. n 2,3,6.
ο 5:8. 21:3. 26:3. 28:22. 29:3,4, 10. 35:3. 38:3,4. 39:1. Jer. 50: 31,32. 51.25. Nah. 2:13. 3:5,6. 1 Pet. 3:12.
p 11:13. 14:9,10. Jer. 20:36. 28:15-17. 29:21,22,31,32.
opened a gap or breach at which their enemies might enter.
And, as when such breaches are made in the walis of besieged cities, the officers and soldiers who defend them repair thither, and venture their lives in withstanding the foe, till the breach be built up again: so "the prophets of Israel" ought to have ventured all consequences, in endeavoring to bring the people to repentance; as well as to have opposed their prayers, examples, instructions, and their whole influence, against the prevalence of ungodliness and iniquity, and in using every means of averting the divine judgments which were coming upon them.
But the false prophets attempted nothing of the kind: they neither sought to turn away the approaching calamities, nor to prepare the people for them; but rather encouraged them to harden themselves against God, who had declared that he was coming to fight against them by the Chaldeans. ( Marg . and Marg . Ref . Notes, 22:30. Ps . 106:19-23. Is . 59:16-19. Jer . 21:57. 23:21,22. Mal . 1:9-11.)
V. 6. The false prophets spoke with such confidence and plausibility, and their predictions so accorded to the desires and presumptuous confidence of the people, that they assuredly expected to see them accomplished. ( Marg . Ref . Notes , 12:21-28. 1 Kings 22:13, 14. Ps . 119:49. Jer . 23:32. 28:1-4.)
V.7-9. ( Marg . Ref . n-p.- Note , 6.) The indignation of God would fall especially upon the false prophets, whose covetous and carnal minds made them susceptible of strong impressions from the illusions of Satan: so that they first wilfully imposed on the people; and probably were afterwards judicially given up to strong delusions to believe their own lies, and to expect that the Jews would prosper in resisting the Chaldeans. ( Notes , 14:9-11. 1 Kings 22:19-23. 2 Thes . 2:8-12.2 Tim . 3:13.) Thus they "saw vanity and lying divination," and then they prophesied lies: and their predictions as much contradicted their former scriptures, as they did the prophecies of Jeremiah, Ezekiel, and other later prophets. ( Notes , Jer . 28:8,9. 29:8,9,15-32.) The Lord
seduced my people, saying, "Peace, and || and it shall fall, and dye shall be consumed there was no peace; and one built up a in the midst thereof: and ye shall know wali, and, lo, * others daubed it with un- that I am the Lord.
tempered mortar :
15 Thus will I accomplish my wrath 11 Say unto them which daub it with upon the wall, and upon them that have untempered mortar , that it shall fall: there daubed it with untempered mortar ; and shall be an overflowing shower; and ye, Owill say unto you, The wall is no more, great hailstones, shall fall; and a stormy wind shall rend it .
12 Lo, when the wall is fallen, shall it not be said unto you, 2 Where is the daubing wherewith ye have daubed it ?
13 Therefore thus saith the Lord GoD, I will even rend it with a stormy wind in my fury; and there shall be an overflowing shower in mine anger, band great hailstones in my fury to consume it .
14 So will I break down the wall, that ye have daubed with untempered mortar , and bring it down to the ground, so that the foundation thereof shall be discovered;
t 2 Kings 21:9. Prov. 12:26. Jer. 23:13-15. 1 Tim. 4:1. 2 Tim. 3:13. 1 John 2:26. Rev. 2:20.
u 16. Is. 57:21. Jer. 4:10. 6:14. 8:15. 14:13. 23:17. 28:9. Mal. 3:15.
* Or, a slight wall.
22:28. 2 Chr. 18:12. Is. 30:10. Jer. 5:31. Mic. 2:11.
y 38:22. Job 27:21. Ps. 11:6. 18:13,14. 32:6. Is. 25:4. 28:2, 15-18. 29:6. 32:19. Nah. 1:3,
7,8. Matt. 7:25,27. Luke 6: 48,49.
z Deut. 32:37. Judg. 9:38. 10: 14. 2 Kings 3:13. Jer. 2:28. 29:31,32. 37:19. Lam. 2:14,15. a Lev. 26:28. Ps. 107:25. 148: 8. Jer. 23:19. Jon. 1:4.
b Ex. 9:18-29. Ps. 18:12,13. 105:32. 148:8. Is. 30:30. Rev. 8:7. 11:19. 16:21.
c Ps. 11:3. Mic. 1:6. Hab. 3:13. Luke 6:49. 1 Cor. 3:11-15.
therefore declared, that they should not be in the assembly of Israel: either they would become open apostates; or they would be detected and excommunicated, or cut off by death. Their names also would be expunged from the registers of the house of Israel; and their families should either be extinct, or not be able to claim any inheritance among those who returned from captivity; which would be an emblem of their exclusion from heaven, as not having their names written in the book of life. (Marg. Ref . q-s.-Notes, Ezra 2:61-64. Ps . 69:22-28. Is . 4:3,4.
Rev. 13:8-10.) 'They 'shall not be members of the church here, nor 'partake of the communion of saints in heav'en. The Hebrew word Sod signifies a secret 'assembly, or privy council, such as are ac'quainted with the most inward thoughts, and 'secret intent of a prince: and from thence it is 'applied to God's chosen people, those that are 'acquainted with "the whole counsel of God," 'and whom he instructs by the secret direc'tions of his Holy Spirit. Lowth . ( Marg. Notes, Ps . 25:14. Jer . 23:18.)
V. 10-16. The peculiar guilt of the false prophets consisted, in seducing the worshippers of God into idolatry and iniquity, and encouraging them to harden themselves in impenitence; by assuring them of peace and prosperity, at the very time when divine judgments were about to be poured out upon them. (Marg. Ref . t, u.- Notes , 17-23, v . 22. Jer . 4:10. 6:13-15. 14:13-16. 23:13-17.) In this manner, perhaps some one of them courted the favor of the people; and the rest, finding him caressed and followed, supported his false predictions by their confident assertions and vain reasonings. ( Note , 1 Kings 22:13,14.) Thus they acted, as if a man were to build a slight wall (10. marg.) with loose stones, or bricks without cement; and others should labor to give it an appearance of stability, by daubing it
neither they that daubed it;
16 To wit , the prophets of Israel which. prophesy concerning Jerusalem, and which see visions of peace for her, and there is no peace, saith the Lord God.
over with mortar made of bad materials, and not properly mixed or tempered: and they should then expect that such a wall would protect them, or that a house built of such walls would serve for a secure habitation. ( Marg . Ref . x.- Note , 5.) -The people supposed themselves safe from the assaults of the Chaldeans; because they vainly presumed, that, as the people of God, he was engaged by covenant to preserve them; not considering that they had forfeited the blessing by their crimes: and the prophets labored to varnish over these presumptuous expectations, by a variety of specious pretences.
But the Lord by his prophet assured them, that this worthless wall should certainly fall down, notwithstanding all their daubing. A tremendous inundation with very large hailstones would tear away all the untempered mortar, and the stormy wind would rend the wall itself. This storm, arising from his righteous indignation, would level the wall to the ground and destroy its foundations, and consume those who built it, or sheltered themselves under it, in its own destruction. ( Marg . Ref . y-c.-Notes, 1 Kings 20:29,30. Is . 28:17 -19. Matt . 7:24-27.
Rom . 10:1-4.)-That is, the Lord would send the Chaldeans to besiege and destroy Jerusalem, and desolate Judah; they would come with such force and fury, as the Jews could by no means withstand; and their success would confute the lying predictions of the prophets, and subvert the false hopes of the people.
When these events should take place, the false prophets would be reproached, and taunted with their folly and presumption; till the Lord had accomplished his wrath upon them: and then those who trusted them, would be reminded by God and his prophets, that "the wall was no more, neither they that daubed it." (Marg. Ref. d-g Notes , 22:25-30.)-Ye, O great hailstones , &c. (11) Or rather, "I will send great hailstones;
19 And will ye pollute me among my || hunted; and ye shall know that I am the
people for handfuls of barley and for pieces of bread, to slay the souls that should not die, and "to save the souls alive that should not live, by your lying to my people that hear your lies?
20 Wherefore thus saith the Lord God; Behold, I am against your pillows, wherewith ye there hunt the souls * to make them fly, and I will tear them from your arms, and will let the souls go, even the souls that ye hunt to make them fly.
21 Your kerchiefs also will I tear, and deliver my people out of your hand, and they shall be no more in your hand to be
r 20:39. 22:26.
s Prov. 28:21. Mic. 3:5,11.
Rom. 16:18. 2 Pet. 2:2,3.
t22. Rom. 14:15. 1 Cor. 8:11.
u Jer. 23:14,17.
x 8,9,15,16.
* Or, into gardens.
y 2 Tim. 3:8,9.
they shall fall; and the storm of a whirlwind shall rend it."
V. 17-23. As the Lord endued some women with the Spirit of prophecy; so there were others who pretended to it from secular motives. (Marg. Ref . 1, m.- Neh . 6:14.) But the prophet was ordered to set his face against them also, and to charge them with "prophesying out of their own heart." -As a token of the peace and security which they promised, they sewed pillows to their own arm-holes, or "elbows," and to the arm-holes or elbows of those who consulted them; intimating that they y might indulge and repose themselves in security, for no enemy would disturb them. (Marg. and Marg . Ref . o.)-The meaning of the kerchiefs, or coverings, which coverings. ich they they put "upon the head of every stature," (or of persons of every age indiscriminately,) is not so evident. Some think that they were ornaments,
LORD.
22 Because a with lies ye have made the heart of the righteous sad, whom I have not made sad; band strengthened the hands of the wicked, that he should not return. from his wicked way, by promising him life:
23 Therefore dye shall see no more vanity, nor divine divinations; for I will deliver my people out of your hand, fand ye shall know that I am the Lord.
z See on 9.
a 9:4. Jer. 4:10. 14:13-17.23:
9. Lam. 2:11-14.
b Jer. 23:14. 27:14-17. 28:16. 29:32.
Or, that I should save his life. Heb. by quickening
him .
c 16. Gen. 3:4,5. Jer. 6:14. 8:
11. 23:17. 2 Pet. 2:18,19. d 6, &c. 12:24. Deut. 18:20. Mic. 3:6,7. Zech. 13:3,4. 2 Tim. 3:9.
e 21. 34:10. Matt. 24:24. 1 Cor. 11:19. Rev. 12:9,11. 13: 5,8. 15:2.
f 9,21. 14:8. 15:7.
21. Mic . 3:5-7. Acts 8:18-24.) They likewise attempted to terrify, with denunciations of wrath, those pious persons who refused to bribe them; as if life and death, heaven and hell, were at their disposal! By these artifices they worked upon the fears and hopes of those, who attended to their lies. But the Lord declared, that he was "against them," and all their signs and charms with which they terrified souls, to cause them to fly into their entangling net: and he would certainly tear them from them, expose them to shame, and deliver the people from their influence and power: because their lies counteracted the intention and tendency of his word; by distressing the minds of upright, godly men, or grieving them, while they saw God dishonored and souls deceived: whereas the whole revealed will of God tended to encourage such persons, and to make them joyful. On the other hand, their divinations tend
with which they decorated those who consult-ed to harden and embolden wicked men, by
ed them, in token of victory and triumph. Others suppose, that this was spoken figuratively, for their hood-winking them, or keeping them in the dark by their delusions. But probably it was some superstitious observance, a kind of amulet or charm, which they employed to entice the people into their snares.
These '... women for lucre would ... tell every man his 'fortune, giving them pillows to lean on, and 'kerchiefs to cover their head; to the intent they 'might the more allure them.' So that they "hunted their souls:" and, as it seems probable, not only promised the nation deliverance from the Chaldeans; but professed to protect by some spell, the lives of those who applied to them; nay, even to save their souls, by some absolution or indulgence which they vended. 'The easterns had, and still have, frequent am'ulets and ribands of charms, which they put 'principally at their hands and heads.
Such charms these female prophets fabricated, and, 'as appears, attributed to them the power of 'preserving the life of those who wore them,
encouraging them to expect peace and safety in their evil ways; contrary to the express declarations of God, that "there is no peace for the wicked." ( Marg . and Marg . Ref . a-с.) Не would therefore speedily terminate their delusions, and deliver his people, and so make his power and glory known to all concerned.To slay and to make alive , signify here to prom'ise men life, or threaten them with death: (22) 'so the prophet saith, he "came to destroy the 'city," (43:3.) that is, to pronounce the sentence 'of destruction upon it.' Lowth .
PRACTICAL OBSERVATIONS.
V. 1-16.
Many possess great subtlety and sagacity, who are utterly destitute of true wisdom: and, whilst the world admires their talents, the Lord brands them as "fools." This is most awfully the case with numbers, who make the sacred ministry a step to worldly consequence and affluence. They profess to speak in the name of God; but have seen nothing of his
'and of bringing death on their enemies.' Mi -glory, of the evil of sin, the worth of souls, the
chaelis. (Note, Matt . 23:5-7.) Thus they en- glory and preciousness of Christ, the way of tangled the people in their deceptions, as if salvation, or the beauty of holiness: they folthey could save the lives and souls of men; low their own fancies, human traditions, or without any respect to their conduct and char- Satan's illusions; and then ascribe the whole acter.
They seem to have been a company of to the God of truth: they are subtle, rapacious, fortune-tellers; who polluted or profaned the and insinuating, in winding themselves into name of God, by pretending to sell his gifts at favor and preferment, and pursuing "filthy the most contemptible price; and to deal in lucre;" but they are sure to do immense misdivination, and such like impositions, as have chief in the fold and vineyard of the Lord. in every age found eager purchasers. ( Marg . ( Notes , Is . 56:9-12. Rom . 16:17-20. Tit . 1:10 And Marg . Ref . p-z.- Notes , 22:25.
Prov. 28: || -13. 1 Pet . 5:1–4. 2 Pet . 2:1--3,12-16. Jude