Ezekiel 18:14-17

The Righteous Grandson.

“Now, lo, if he beget a son who sees all his father's sins which he has done, and fears (an alternative reading is ‘considers'), and does not such things, who has not eaten on the mountains, nor has lifted up his eyes to the idols of the house of Israel, has not defiled his neighbour's wife, nor has wronged any, has not taken anything in pledge, nor has spoiled others by violence, but has given his bread to the hungry, and has covered those lacking in clothes with clothing, who has withdrawn his hand from the poor, who has not received usury nor increase, has executed my judgments, has walked in my statutes. He will not die for the iniquity of his father. He will surely live.”

A further generation, the third generation, is now depicted. Here the grandson is in opposition to his father's evil way of life. He fears Yahweh and does not do things which are against His will, but practises the good that Yahweh demands. He avoids idolatry, sexual transgression, wronging others, taking pledges, using violence to obtain his ends. Rather he feeds the hungry, provides necessities to those in need, does not ill-use the poor, does not seek interest or a percentage of produce when lending to those in need.

‘Has executed my judgments, has walked in my statutes.' Compare Leviticus 18:4. See also Deuteronomy 26:16; Deuteronomy 30:15. This man seeks to please God. He obeys His word and His laws, and follows His ways continually. In the words of Micah 6:8, he ‘does justly, loves mercy and walks humbly with God'. Thus his way of life and his end are different.

‘He will not die for the iniquity of his father. He will surely live.' The sentence that hangs over his father will not hang over him. Rather he will live (compare Leviticus 18:5). We cannot ascribe to Ezekiel simply the idea that all good men live long lives and all men die abruptly for it is, and was, patently not so. And while he probably had in mind the destruction of Jerusalem and the deaths that would result, even that does not satisfy his words, for he was referring to a number of generations. The idea was clearly that in some way the righteous ‘live' in a way that the unrighteous do not, enjoying the blessing of God within in the inner spirit, finding the way more smooth with Someone to call on, enjoying a resulting improved prosperity. And yet having said that it certainly also looks forward to man's end. The righteous die in blessing, the unrighteous under judgment (compare Psalms 73 where the ideas are expanded).