EZEKIEL CHAPTER 33 According to the duty of a watchman in warning the people, Ezekiel is admoished of his duty in warning sinners, EZEKIEL 33:1. God showeth the manner of his dealings with the righteous that revolteth, and with the returning sinner, EZEKIEL 33:10. He mataineth the equity of his proc... [ Continue Reading ]
The prophet, after three years silence enjoined him now hath his mouth opened by new commission. TO THE CHIDLDREN OF THY PEOPLE; to the Jews in general, to who he had not spoken since what he spake in the 24th chapter, SAY UNTO THEM; propound a parable unto then WHEN; if at any time. THE SWORD; war,... [ Continue Reading ]
THE SWORD of the enemy, or any other danger which he may foresee in any of the causes or forerunners of it. COME, i.e. coming, approaching to the land. BLOW THE TRUMPET; sound the alarm: the sound of the trumpet is a warning, yet to this sometimes it is necessary to add a warning by word of month, a... [ Continue Reading ]
WHOSOEVER considers not and minds not what he hears, who hears and does not consider, he turns a deaf ear to the meaning, though not to the sound of the trumpet. TAKETH NOT WARNING; apprehends not, nor will be made apprehensive of, the danger, to provide for resisting or fleeing the sword. TAKE HIM... [ Continue Reading ]
He heard, as well as others who escaped, and he might have delivered himself, as they did who took warning. He is the only cause of his own death. SHALL DELIVER HIS SOUL; shall save his life, preserve his own person.... [ Continue Reading ]
BLOW NOT THE TRUMPET; neglect his charge, which is to give the alarm. BE NOT WARNED; but, unwarned, are surprised by the enemy. TAKEN AWAY IN HIS INIQUITY; punished by the Lord for his sins and trespasses formerly done, and he is destroyed under the present fault of not watching, which is a fault in... [ Continue Reading ]
No text from Poole on this verse.... [ Continue Reading ]
No text from Poole on this verse.... [ Continue Reading ]
These three verses are the same with the 17th, 18th, 19th verses of the third chapter, where see them explained.... [ Continue Reading ]
SPEAK, declare from me, UNTO THE HOUSE OF ISRAEL; the residue of the two tribes, which are brought to Babylon; or else to those already there, and here their brethren are on the way thitherward, since Jerusalem was taken. THUS YE SPEAK; thus ye discourse among themselves, object against God, and his... [ Continue Reading ]
AS I LIVE, SAITH THE LORD GOD: see EZEKIEL 5:11, EZEKIEL 16:48 17:16. I HAVE NO PLEASURE: see EZEKIEL 18:23,32. BUT THAT THE WICKED: here is an ellipsis; but I have pleasure in the seasonable return the sinner makes from sin to holiness, and from death to life. TURN YE; O leave sin, cease to do evil... [ Continue Reading ]
AS FOR THE WICKEDNESS OF THE WICKED, & c.: see EZEKIEL 3:20, EZEKIEL 18:20-22,24, where the same things are explained.... [ Continue Reading ]
THE RIGHTEOUS; who hath in his life that is past kept the law and forborne evil, hath done what is right and good, and not done what is evil, both which parts of this righteousness are described in Eze. xviii, 5-9. HE SHALL SURELY LIVE; make him promise of doing him good, and giving him life, peace,... [ Continue Reading ]
See EZEKIEL 18:21.... [ Continue Reading ]
See EZEKIEL 18:7,9. WITHOUT COMMITTING INIQUITY: it is not a sinless life here required or supposed, but a life in which a man doth not habitually and wilfully work iniquity.... [ Continue Reading ]
As the threat against a righteous man that proves a presumptuous apostate was stated in the former part of the 12th, and in the whole 13th verse, so in these three verses the case of a repenting and reforming sinner is stated and determined to his encouragement and comfort, and they are the same wit... [ Continue Reading ]
These impious, obstinate quarrellers will accuse and do condemn the just and holy God, that they may acquit themselves. See this verse explained, SEE POOLE ON "EZEKIEL 18:25", SEE POOLE ON "EZEKIEL 18:29".... [ Continue Reading ]
No text from Poole on this verse.... [ Continue Reading ]
In these two verses the cases are so clearly stated, that it is as clear as the sun the ways of God are very just, and that none but ignorant atheists would think or surmise otherwise.... [ Continue Reading ]
Still blinded prejudice quarrels. JUDGE; call you to account, plead with you, and pass sentence. EVERY ONE: this is added to rouse every one up to repent of all sins, and of this particularly. AFTER HIS WAYS; a terrible threat, and I know not how a greater could be denounced against sinners than thi... [ Continue Reading ]
IN THE TENTH MONTH, IN THE FIFTH DAY OF THE MONTH; that is one year and five months after the thing was done, and temple burnt, and the city sacked. ONE THAT HAD ESCAPED; one whose own care, but God's wonderful providence had much more, befriended him; perhaps it might be one of those that yielded t... [ Continue Reading ]
THE HAND OF THE LORD WAS UPON ME; the powerful influence of the prophetic Spirit inspired me, and prepared me for what followed. HAD OPENED MY MOUTH; not that the prophet was dumb through impotence and inability to speak, for he had prophesied against many nations, but he was forbidden to say any th... [ Continue Reading ]
No text from Poole on this verse.... [ Continue Reading ]
THEY THAT INHABIT; who were left behind, having either hid themselves, but now come out of their holes, or returned from neighbour countries, whither they fled, or permitted by the conqueror to stay and plant vineyards. WASTES; places once very fruitful and abounding with people, but now by the spoi... [ Continue Reading ]
SAY UNTO THEM; remove them from this dangerous carnal confidence, and show them what they do, and by that what they are, how far from Abraham's seed, his genuine seed. YE EAT WITH THE BLOOD: whatever might be the reason why, it is most certain this was forbidden, GENESIS 9:4 LEVITICUS 17:14, LEVITIC... [ Continue Reading ]
YE STAND UPON YOUR SWORD; you trust to your sword, and stand with it as it were drawn ready to kill and slay, you do all with violence and force, not regarding what is right and equal, and fear no restraints or punishments. ABOMINATION; idolatry, or other wickedness not to be named. YE DEFILE EVERY... [ Continue Reading ]
THE WASTES; the ruinous heaps of cities or towns, in which some sorry habitations might possibly be found by them. SHALL FALL; the Chaldean soldier ransacking all places, and either expecting or by chance finding them there, shall kill in revenge of Gedaliah's death and Ishmael with others shall des... [ Continue Reading ]
I WILL LAY THE LAND; I do purpose to destroy utterly all in this land; and what can escape, when savage beasts, cruel men, and a pestilential air all concur to ruin the land? The pomp of her strength; the stately and pompous shows of her strength, and her former riches and power. THE MOUNTAINS OF IS... [ Continue Reading ]
I would have had them acknowledge me to be the Lord by my blessings which beautified the land, by my holy precepts which directed to piety and justice, by my mercy and kindness towards them; but they despised my mercy, broke my law, abused my bounty; and now by the punishment of their sins, as I thr... [ Continue Reading ]
THE CHILDREN; captives in Babylon. THY PEOPLE; THY, not _my_ people; God doth debase, degrade, and disown them. BY THE WALLS; as men now do in cities or towns, so then they stood up to the wall, when, meeting in the streets, they would talk together. IN THE DOORS OF THE HOUSES; others got into the p... [ Continue Reading ]
Flocking to the school of some famous doctor, or as men and women flock to hear some famous preacher, or as they were wont to the synagogues to hear their learned scribes. So we find the elders of Judah, EZEKIEL 8:1, which see; so the disciples of the great rabbies sat at their feet; so is Saul said... [ Continue Reading ]
These Jews esteem and regard thee and what thou sayest, as men regard a skilful musician, who to a well-tuned instrument hath sung the praises of virtue or of virtuous men; it pleaseth their ear, but it doth not frame their hearts and life to virtue. They loved him for his eloquent lamentation, and... [ Continue Reading ]
When all thou hast prophesied against the Jews shall, as that thou prophesiedst against the nations, come to pass to their ruin, they shall know thou wast no musician, but a prophet sent of God, to forewarn them to flee from wrath; not employed by men, to please their wanton ear and fancy.... [ Continue Reading ]