_Now it came to pass in the thirtieth year, in the fourth [month], in the fifth [day] of the month, as I [was] among the captives by the river of Chebar, [that] the heavens were opened, and I saw visions of God._ The Book of the prophet Ezekiel.] The book of Ezekiel, so the Hebrews call it, and for... [ Continue Reading ]
In the fifth [day] of the month, which [was] the fifth year of king Jehoiachin's captivity, Ver. 2. _In the fifth day._] The Sabbath day, likely, that queen of days, as the Jews call it. See on Ezekiel 1:1 . Which was the fifth year of Jehoiakim's captivity.] With whom Ezekiel and other precious p... [ Continue Reading ]
The word of the LORD came expressly unto Ezekiel the priest, the son of Buzi, in the land of the Chaldeans by the river Chebar; and the hand of the LORD was there upon him. Ver. 3. _The word of the Lord came expressly._] Heb., By being hath been, or hath altogether been - _Existendo extitit. Accura... [ Continue Reading ]
And I looked, and, behold, a whirlwind came out of the north, a great cloud, and a fire infolding itself, and a brightness [was] about it, and out of the midst thereof as the colour of amber, out of the midst of the fire. Ver. 4. _And I looked, and, behold._] In this ensuing mysterious vision of a... [ Continue Reading ]
Also out of the midst thereof [came] the likeness of four living creatures. And this [was] their appearance; they had the likeness of a man. Ver. 5. _Also out of the midst thereof,_] _i.e., _ From God's glorious presence. _ Came the likeness of four living creatures,_] _i.e., _ Angels; Ezekiel 10:... [ Continue Reading ]
And every one had four faces, and every one had four wings. Ver. 6. _And every one had four faces._] To set forth, saith an expositor, that the power of angels is exercised about all creatures. It is as if the angels did bear on them the heads of all living creatures - _i.e., _ did comprehend in th... [ Continue Reading ]
And their feet [were] straight feet; and the sole of their feet [was] like the sole of a calf's foot: and they sparkled like the colour of burnished brass. Ver. 7. _And their feet were straight feet._] Importing their right progress in executing God's will. We must also "make straight or even paths... [ Continue Reading ]
And [they had] the hands of a man under their wings on their four sides; and they four had their faces and their wings. Ver. 8. _And they had the hands of a man under their wings._] Faces, wings, hands, all to express, saith one, the sufficiency of God's providence for all means of help. A little o... [ Continue Reading ]
Their wings [were] joined one to another; they turned not when they went; they went every one straight forward. Ver. 9. _Their wings were joined one to another._] To show the unity of angels, the uniformity also of their motions in God's service; there is a suitability and agreeability between them... [ Continue Reading ]
As for the likeness of their faces, they four had the face of a man, and the face of a lion, on the right side: and they four had the face of an ox on the left side; they four also had the face of an eagle. Ver. 10. _They four had the face of a man, and the face of a lion._] Hereby is set forth the... [ Continue Reading ]
Thus [were] their faces: and their wings [were] stretched upward; two [wings] of every one [were] joined one to another, and two covered their bodies. Ver. 11. _And their wings were stretched upward._] Faces and wings are both turned toward God, at whose beck and obedience the holy angels wholly ar... [ Continue Reading ]
And they went every one straight forward: whither the spirit was to go, they went; [and] they turned not when they went. Ver. 12. _And they went every one straight forward._] See on Ezekiel 1:9 . _ Whither the Spirit was to go, they went._] That is, the Spirit of God, by whose direction and conduc... [ Continue Reading ]
As for the likeness of the living creatures, their appearance [was] like burning coals of fire, [and] like the appearance of lamps: it went up and down among the living creatures; and the fire was bright, and out of the fire went forth lightning. Ver. 13. _Their appearance was like burning coals of... [ Continue Reading ]
And the living creatures ran and returned as the appearance of a flash of lightning. Ver. 14. _And the living creatures ran and returned._] As soon as ever their work was done, they came back to him who sent them out to know his further pleasure, and to do him more service. When the angel had lesso... [ Continue Reading ]
Now as I beheld the living creatures, behold one wheel upon the earth by the living creatures, with his four faces. Ver. 15. _Behold one wheel upon the earth._] Things here below are exceedingly mutable, and therefore compared to wheels, because they may seem to run on wheels, and to have no certai... [ Continue Reading ]
The appearance of the wheels and their work [was] like unto the colour of a beryl: and they four had one likeness: and their appearance and their work [was] as it were a wheel in the middle of a wheel. Ver. 16. The appearance of the wheels … was like unto the colour of a beryl.] Heb., As the eye or... [ Continue Reading ]
When they went, they went upon their four sides: [and] they turned not when they went. Ver. 17. _When they went, they went upon their four sides._] Or, According to their four sides - _i.e., _ through the four parts of the world, as they were moved by the four living creatures. _ And they returned... [ Continue Reading ]
As for their rings, they were so high that they were dreadful; and their rings [were] full of eyes round about them four. Ver. 18. _As for their rings they were so high._] _Apsides earum tam amplae seu altae ut propterea formidabiles._ The rings or strokes, Heb., backs, of these wheels were so broa... [ Continue Reading ]
And when the living creatures went, the wheels went by them: and when the living creatures were lifted up from the earth, the wheels were lifted up. Ver. 19. _And when the living creatures went, the wheels went by them._] The angels are God's hands, as it were, whereby are acted and agitated this l... [ Continue Reading ]
Whithersoever the spirit was to go, they went, thither [was their] spirit to go; and the wheels were lifted up over against them: for the spirit of the living creature [was] in the wheels. Ver. 20. _Whithersoever the spirit was to go._] See Ezekiel 1:12; and take notice that whatever the instrument... [ Continue Reading ]
When those went, [these] went; and when those stood, [these] stood; and when those were lifted up from the earth, the wheels were lifted up over against them: for the spirit of the living creature [was] in the wheels. Ver. 21. _When those went, these went; and when those stood, these stood._] This... [ Continue Reading ]
And the likeness of the firmament upon the heads of the living creature [was] as the colour of the terrible crystal, stretched forth over their heads above. Ver. 22. _And the likeness of the firmament._] The glory of God in Christ is revealed to the prophet in this ensuing vision, even that great ... [ Continue Reading ]
And under the firmament [were] their wings straight, the one toward the other: every one had two, which covered on this side, and every one had two, which covered on that side, their bodies. Ver. 23. _Were their wings straight,_] _sc., _ When they flew; for at other times they covered their bodies... [ Continue Reading ]
And when they went, I heard the noise of their wings, like the noise of great waters, as the voice of the Almighty, the voice of speech, as the noise of an host: when they stood, they let down their wings. Ver. 24. _And when they went, I heard the noise of their wings._] A very great noise, as is h... [ Continue Reading ]
And there was a voice from the firmament that [was] over their heads, when they stood, [and] had let down their wings. Ver. 25. _And there was a voice from the firmament,_] _i.e., _ From above the firmament, even from Christ on the throne. _ When they stood._] When all was hushed. So Revelation 8:... [ Continue Reading ]
And above the firmament that [was] over their heads [was] the likeness of a throne, as the appearance of a sapphire stone: and upon the likeness of the throne [was] the likeness as the appearance of a man above upon it. Ver. 26. _And above the firmament._] See on Ezekiel 1:22 . _ Was the likeness... [ Continue Reading ]
And I saw as the colour of amber, as the appearance of fire round about within it, from the appearance of his loins even upward, and from the appearance of his loins even downward, I saw as it were the appearance of fire, and it had brightness round about. Ver. 27. _And I saw as the colour of amber... [ Continue Reading ]
As the appearance of the bow that is in the cloud in the day of rain, so [was] the appearance of the brightness round about. This [was] the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the LORD. And when I saw [it], I fell upon my face, and I heard a voice of one that spake. Ver. 28. _As the appearan... [ Continue Reading ]