CHAP. XXIV. V. 1, 2. The prophet resided many hundred miles from Jerusalem: yet on the very day when the siege of that city was formed, the Lord revealed it to him; and ordered him to make such a memorial of it, as would afterwards give authority to his declaration, that it was in truth the word of God ( Marg . Ref . Notes , 1:1-3, v . 2. 2 Kings 25:1
boil well, and let them seethe the bones of || 9 Therefore thus saith the Lord GoD; it therein.
6 Wherefore thus saith the Lord GoD; * Woe to the bloody city, to the pot whose scum is therein, and whose scum is not gone out of it! bring it out piece by piece; let no lot fall upon it.
7 For her blood is in the midst of her: she set it upon the top of a rock; she poured it not upon the ground to cover it with dust;
8 That it might cause fury to come up to take vengeance: 'I have set her blood upon the top of a rock, that it should not be covered.
V. 3-5. To represent to the rebellious Jews the certain event of the siege, the prophet was ordered to speak ak a parable to them. For the Lord gave repeated orders (as in haste to be obeyed,) to set on a pot and pour water into it. Into this they were directed to gather the pieces of an animal, or of several animals, "the choice of the flock;" especially the choice pieces and bones.
This represented Jerusalem besieged by the Chaldeans: all ranks of men were gathered into it, by taking refuge within the walls, especially the nobles and princes; and thus they were retained in the city to their destruction.-'Add this ... parable: '... though they seem resolved not to take heed 'to what thou deliverest, either in plain words, 'or figurative expressions.' Lowth .- Burn also the bones, &c. (5) 'The bones of those who 'have been unjustly slain in the midst of the 'city, (11:7.) whose blood cries for vengeance 'against it, and kindles God's anger like fire.' Ibid . ( Marg . and Marg .
Ref . Notes , 11:1-3, 4-12, v . 7. 22:18-22. Jer . 1:13,14.)
V. 6--8. Jerusalem, that bloody city, ( Marg . Ref . k, 1.) was the pot, and the wickedness committed in it, the scum. The judgments of God upon the Jews caused this scum to arise, by exciting convictions, and discovering their crimes. Under these dispensations they should have put away their transgressions; as the scum, which arises by the heat of the fire, is taken off from the top of the pot. But they grew worse and worse; their sins remained unrepented and unpardoned, and therefore their miseries would continue and increase.
All the besieged would endure lingering and dire calamities, till it came to the turn of each to perish, or to fall into the hands of the besiegers: multitudes would die during the siege, by the sword, by famine, and by pestilence: no lot would fall upon them, which should be slain, and which spared; but they would be involved in one common ruin: and all who survived the siege would either be slain, or enslaved by the conquerors, or driven as wretched exiles to wander and perish in other countries. ( Marg . Ref . m, n.- Notes , 2 Sam . 8:2.
Nah. 3:8-11, v. 10.) For the guilt of Jerusalem's murders and other iniquities, re
s Woe to the bloody city! I will even make the pile for fire great.
10 Heap on wood, kindle the fire, consume the flesh, and "spice it well, and let the bones be burned.
11 Then set it empty upon the coals thereof, that the brass of it may be hot, and may burn, and that the filthiness of it may be molten in it, that the scum of it may be
consumed.
12 She hath wearied herself with lies, and a her great scum went not forth out of her: her scum shall be in the fire.
13 In thy filthiness is lewdness: be
s See on 6.- Hab. 2:12. Luke 13:34,35. Rev. 14:20. 16:6,19. t 22:19-22,31. Is. 30:33. 31:9. 2 Thes. 1:8. 2 Pet. 3:7-12. Jude 7. Rev. 21:8.
u Jer. 17:3. 20:5. Lam. 1:10. 2:16.
z Is. 47:13. 57:9,10. Jer. 2:13. 9:5. 10:14,15. 51:58. Hos. 12: 1. Hab. 2:13,18,19.
a 6,13. Gen. 6:5-7. 8:21. Is. 1:5. Jer. 5:3. 44:16,17. Dan. 9:15,14.
b 11. 23:36-48. 2 Cor. 7:1. x Jer. 21:10. 32:29. 37:10. 38: c 22:24. 2 Chr. 36:14-16. Is. 18. 39:8. 52:13.
y 20:38. 22:15, &c. 23:26,27,47, 48. 36:25. Is. 1:25. 4:4. 27:9. Mie. 5:11-14. Zech. 13:1,2, 8,9. Mal. 4:1. Matt. 3.12. 1 Cor. 3:12,13.
5:4-6. 9:13-17. Jer. 6:28 30. 25:3-7. 31:18. Hos. 7:1, 9-16. Am. 4:6-12. Zeph. 3:2,7. Matt. 23:37,38. Luke 13:7-9. Rev. 22:11.
mained in the midst of her. Indeed the murderers had avowed their crimes: the blood shed by them was, as it were, set on the top of a rock, a conspicuous place, into which it would not sink, and where it could not be concealed; and they disdained even to cover it with dust, or to bestow the least pains to hide it. The words allude to the command of the law, ( Lev . 17:13.) that they cover the blood of 'any beast, or other living creature that was 'slain, with dust; which was not only intended 'to prevent their eating of blood, but also to 'give men a sort of horror or aversion to the 'sight of bloodshed.' Lowth . (Note, Lev . 17:10 -16.) The Lord would therefore call up his hot displeasure, expose their wickedness to all the world, and make their punishment as notorious as their crimes had been. ( Marg . Ref. o-r.- Notes , 9-13. 2 Kings 25:1-7. Is . 26:20, 21. Jer . 6:13-15, ν . 15.)
V. 9-11. The great pile for fire represented the power, courage, violence, and indignation of the Chaldeans, which would exceedingly distress the Jews, and both prevent their escape and accelerate their ruin. The command to "heap on wood," &c. denoted the commission given the besiegers to conduct the assault with increasing vigor, and to treat the Jews with marked severity: so that they would be wasted in the city like flesh in the boiling pot; and all their previous calamities would prepare them for a prey to the Chaldeans, as the meat is stewed and seasoned for relishing food.
For they would in this manner glut their revenge, cruelty, and avarice, as if enjoying the pleasures of a feast: and they would pursue the poor remains of the people with unrelenting rage, as men burn the bones, when they have eaten the flesh from off them.
But, as the pot was still polluted with the scum, or rust of the metal, (with the relics of their idolatry and iniquity,) it must also be heated, burned, and even melted by the fire, till wholly purified: that is, Jerusalem would be entirely levelled with the ground, as nothing short of this could purify it from its abominations; and then afterwards it would be rebuilt, free from those defilements, a holy city as in former ages. ( Marg . Ref.
cause I have purged thee, and thou waste morning, and at even my wife died: and 1 not purged, thou shalt not be purged from did in the morning, as I was commanded. thy filthiness any more, dtill I have caused my fury to rest upon thee.
14 I the LORD have spoken it : it shall come to pass, and I will do it ; I will not go back, neither will I spare, neither will I repent: & according to thy ways, and according to thy doings, shall they judge thee, saith the Lord God. [Practical Observations.]
15 Also the word of the Lord came unto me, saying,
16 Son of man, behold, I take away from thee the desire of thine eyes with a stroke: yet neither shalt thou mourn nor weep, neither shall thy tears * run down.
17 Forbear to cry, make no mourning for the dead, bind the tire of thine head upon thee, and put on thy shoes upon thy feet, and cover not thy + lips, and eat not the bread of men.
18 So I spake unto the people in the
d 5:13. 8:18. 16:42. Rom. 2: 8,9.
e Num. 23:19. 1 Sam. 15:29. Ps. 33:9. Is. 55:11. Jer. 23: 20. Matt. 24:35.
f 5:11. 7:4,9. 8:18. 9:10. Jer. 13:14.
g 16:43. 18:30. 22:31. 23:24,49, Is. 3:11. Jer. 4:18. Matt. 16: 27. Rom. 2:5,6,
k 21-24.
Lev. 10:2,3. Jer.
22:10,18. 1 Thes. 4:13.
1 Jer. 9:1,18. 13:17. Lam. 2:18. * Heb.go.
† Heb. Be silent. marg. 39:9. 46:10 Hab. 2:20.
m Jer. 16:4-7.
n 23. Lev. 10:6. 21:10.
o 2 Sam. 15:30.
Ps. 37:7.
Am. 8:3.
Notes, 3-8. Is . 1:25-27. 27:7-11. Jer. 30:19 -22. 31:23-26.)
V. 12, 13. Jerusalem had wearied herself, or weared God, with lies. At a great expense, and with much labor, she had followed after idols, which were "lying vanities;" she had sought the assistance of her heathen neighbors who deceived her; and she had professed to worship JEHOVAH, when this profession was mere hypocrisy. As no reformation had taken place, the Lord would consume her iniquity by his fiery vengeance. Her idolatry was no occasional offence, the effect of pecu
liar circumstances temptation: but it was the result of a violent depraved propensity; an enmity to God and his holy worship; and a strong attachment to the sensual rites and worshippers of abominable idols: as the unfaithfulness of an adulterous wife, is proved to arise from a rooted licentiousness of heart, when she grows more dissolute amidst all means used to reclaim her. The Lord had used various methods to wean the Jews from idolatry, by reforming kings, holy prophets, and awful judgments; but they still continued obstinately attached to idols: they would therefore at length be given up to ruin; and nothing further would be done for their reformation, till the Lord had "caused his fury to rest upon them." (Marg. Ref . Notes , 9-11. 5:13. Is . 1: 5,6. 5:3,4. Jer . 3:6-11.5:3-6. 31:18-20. Hos . 5:15. Zeph . 3:1--4.)
19 And the people said unto me, & Wilt thou not tell us what these things are to us, that thou doest so ?
20 Then I answered them, The word of the Lord came unto me, saying,
21 Speak unto the house of Israel, Thus saith the Lord GoD; Behold, I will profane my sanctuary, "the excellency of your strength, the desire of your eyes, and that which your soul pitieth; and your sons and your daughters whom ye have left shall fall by the sword.
22 And ye shall do as I have done; ye shall not cover your lips, nor eat the bread of men.
23 And your tires shall be upon your heads, and your shoes upon your feet; ye shall not mourn nor weep: a but ye shall pine away for your iniquities, band mourn one toward another.
24 Thus Ezekiel is unto you a sign: according to all that he hath done shall ye
him previously, that he would "take away the desire of his eyes with a stroke;" that is, his wife, whom he greatly loved, and whom we may suppose to have been in every respect worthy of his endeared affection, and a great comfort to him amidst his heavy trials: yet God would take her from him by a sudden stroke without any intervening sickness, which would aggravate the pain of this sudden and great affliction. Yet he was commanded to avoid every outward expression of sorrow: he was not allowed to shed tears, or to make any outcry, mourning: he was required to wear his turban or to use any of the customary tokens of
or bonnet, and his shoes, as usual; and not to cover his lips, the sign of silent distress. He was not allowed to eat the bread, which was commonly sent on such occasions to the mourners by their friends; as supposing their minds too full of perturbation to make provision for themselves; and perhaps consisting of such things, as were deemed to correspond with their afflicted state, or suited to minister to their comfort.
Accordingly, by the grace of God, he was enabled to acquiesce in the divine will, in this trying dispensation: and, after having received this distressing information, he went to speak to the people, and probably to notify to them the affliction which was coming upon him, and the manner in which he was ordered to behave under it. For at even his wife died, and the next morning he openly conformed his conduct to the divine command, though it would probably expose him to the censure of being insensible, and devoid of tender affections. ( Marg . and Marg . Ref . Notes , 19-24. 44:25-27.
Lev . 10:3. 21: 1-5. Jer . 16:5-7. 1 Cor. 7:29-31. 1 Thes . 4:
V.14. Marg . Ref . Note , 12:26--28. V. 16-18. This was the last message, which the prophet carried to the captives, respecting the destruction of Jerusalem and of the temple; and it was introduced by a very afflictive dispensation to himself. The Lord informed | 13-18, v . 13.)
do; and dwhen this cometh, ye shall 26 That he that escapeth in that day know that I am the Lord Gon. shall come unto thee, to cause thee to hear
25 Also, thou son of man, shall it not || it with thine ears? be in the day when I take from them their strength, the joy of their glory, the desire of their eyes, and that whereupon they set their minds, & their sons and their daughters,
V. 19-24. Some of the people would inquire the prophet's meaning, in derision or censoriousness; but others would suppose that he thus intended to fix their attention on his
27 In that day shall thy mouth be opened to him which is escaped, and thou shalt speak, and be no more dumb: ana thou shalt be a sign unto them; and they shall know that I am the LORD.
h 33:21. 1 Sam. 4:12-18 Job 11,12. Ps. 51:15. Luke 21.15. 1:15-19.
Eph. 6:19.
i 3:26,27. 29:21. 33:22. Ex. 6: k 24.
would not deliver any prophecies to them, during the continuance of the siege; though employed to deliver several predictions concerning the neighboring nations. ( Marg . Ref .
instructions: and their inquiry gave him ank.- Notes , 3:22-27, υυ . 25-27. 25:-32:35:)
PRACTICAL OBSERVATIONS.
V. 1-14.
opportunity of delivering the message of God to them. ( Marg . Ref . s.-- Notes , 20:49. 21:6,7. 37:15-19, ν . 19.) He had determined to profane his temple, which had been the chief defence, distinction, and honor of their nation; and which the idolatrous Jews still presumed upon as their safeguard, and gloried in as their pride: nor could they bear to hear or think, that it would ever be destroyed by the heathen. (Marg. and Marg . Ref . t-x.- Notes , 16-18. 7:20-22. Jer . 7:3,4. 26:9.) At the same time, the remainder of their children, the objects of their tenderest affection and compassion, would be slain before their eyes. And then they would imitate the prophet, when he had been bereaved of his most valued earthly comfort: they would not shew any of the ordinary tokens of sorrow, lest they should give um-vation in the service of God, and in the meth
"The times before appointed," for the condign punishment of ungodly men, may seem to approach slowly, but they will certainly and speedily arrive. In the mean while it behoves the ministers of God to use every method of exciting the attention, and awakening the consciences, of the careless and obstinate, to a sense of their guilt and danger. The refuges, to which impenitent rebels flee for safety, are often the occasions or the scenes of their destruction.-Men weary themselves far more in the pursuit of lying vanities, either in wickedness, or hypocrisy, or superstition, than they need to do, in seeking happiness and sal
od of the gospel.-Some sinners are longer spared than others: but, unless they "repent and be converted," they will all perish, with
brage to the haughty victors; or because their troubles came upon them in such quick succession, that they had not space for lamenting each of them; or because their personal sor-out respect to rank, abilities, or reputation.
rows were swallowed up in the calamities of the nation; or the multitudes, who had cause to lament, would render particular instances of afflictions less noticed; or in short their griefs would be too big for utterance. So that, in sullen and stubborn desperation, without even the relief of freely giving vent to their sorrows, they would would pine away in unrepented and unpardoned iniquities, or only fretfully
The wrath of God is sufficient to convert any place into a hell, for the torment of his obstinate enemies: even as his favor and consolations can change a dungeon into a heaven, for the benefit of his suffering servants. Those who are shameless in their crimes, shall be rendered infamous in their punishment: and all the innocent blood, which ambitious warriors, cruel tyrants, oppressors, or persecutors,
complain and repine one to another in private. or false accusers, have gloried in shedding, ( Marg . Ref . Ref . y-b.- Notes , 33:10. Lev . 26:38,39. || shall soon be requin required at their hands. When
the instructions of God's word, and the chastenings of his rod, leave men hardened in impenitence, he often condemns them "to continue filthy still;" and their filthiness will then no more be purged, till he has caused his fury to rest upon them to their final destruction. However infidels may despise the denuncia
Am . 6:9-11.)-Though this was addressed to the captives, yet it related to the general concerns of the nation. For the prophet suffered this heavy affliction in this composed manner, to be a sign unto them of their approaching condition and conduct; when they would know the power, truth, and justice of the Lord, by the accomplishment of these terrible predic-tions of his word, he will certainly accomplish tions.
V. 25-27. When the city and temple in which they gloried should be destroyed; all the nobles and valiant men, who were the strength, confidence, and rejoicing of the Jews, cut off; and their valuable treasures, and still more valued children, torn from them; the Lord would send one of those, who had escaped the sword, to inform the prophet. ( Marg . and Marg. Ref . f-h.- Note , 33:21,22.) Then his mouth would be again opened to speak with him that brought the tidings, and to the people concerning the affairs of the nation: and they would be convinced by the event, that he had been a sign unto them, to make them know and fear the Lord. (Marg. Ref . i.Notes, 33:24-33.34:36:39:) In the mean time he would be dumb, as to the Jews, and
them, and not go back, nor spare, nor repent; but will judge sinners according to their ways and their doings.
V. 15-27.
"Marriage is honorable in all," not excepting either priests or prophets, or the most eminent servants of God; and an amiable and pious wife is justly valued and rejoiced in, as one of the chief of created comforts. Yet this honorable and endeared affection must be subordinated to the love of God and submitted to his will. The faith, which influenced Abraham to sacrifice his beloved Isaac, will cause us to submit patiently, should the Lord take away the desire of our eyes by a sudden stroke: for he has a right to recal every loan, and is able to make up every loss to us. We cannot expect to retain very long our most valued