And it came to pass in the seventh year, in the fifth [month], the tenth [day] of the month, [that] certain of the elders of Israel came to enquire of the LORD, and sat before me. Ver. 1. _And it came to pass._] This chapter fitly followeth the former. There these malcontents had complained that th... [ Continue Reading ]
Then came the word of the LORD unto me, saying, Ver. 2. _Then came._] See on Ezekiel 18:1 .... [ Continue Reading ]
Son of man, speak unto the elders of Israel, and say unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Are ye come to enquire of me? [As] I live, saith the Lord GOD, I will not be enquired of by you. Ver. 3. _Are ye come to inquire of me?_] _q.d., _ I scorn the motion, I loathe your false looks, be packing with... [ Continue Reading ]
Wilt thou judge them, son of man, wilt thou judge [them]? cause them to know the abominations of their fathers: Ver. 4. _Wilt thou judge them?_] Or, Wilt thou excuse them? or, Wilt thou intercede for them? If thou hast never so good a mind to do so, yet do it not; rather reprove them for, and convi... [ Continue Reading ]
And say unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD; In the day when I chose Israel, and lifted up mine hand unto the seed of the house of Jacob, and made myself known unto them in the land of Egypt, when I lifted up mine hand unto them, saying, I [am] the LORD your God; Ver. 5. _In the day when I chose Isr... [ Continue Reading ]
In the day [that] I lifted up mine hand unto them, to bring them forth of the land of Egypt into a land that I had espied for them, flowing with milk and honey, which [is] the glory of all lands: Ver. 6. _Into a land that I had espied for them._] _Humanitus dictum._ Finding it out, as it were, by d... [ Continue Reading ]
Then said I unto them, Cast ye away every man the abominations of his eyes, and defile not yourselves with the idols of Egypt: I [am] the LORD your God. Ver. 7. _Then said I unto them,_] viz., While yet in Egypt. This we find not in Exodus; it is enough that we find it here. See Job 5:9. _See Trapp... [ Continue Reading ]
But they rebelled against me, and would not hearken unto me: they did not every man cast away the abominations of their eyes, neither did they forsake the idols of Egypt: then I said, I will pour out my fury upon them, to accomplish my anger against them in the midst of the land of Egypt. Ver. 8. _... [ Continue Reading ]
But I wrought for my name's sake, that it should not be polluted before the heathen, among whom they [were], in whose sight I made myself known unto them, in bringing them forth out of the land of Egypt. Ver. 9. But I wrought for my name's sake.] Lest the heathens should say to my dishonour, _Me no... [ Continue Reading ]
_Wherefore I caused them to go forth out of the land of Egypt, and brought them into the wilderness._ Ver. 10. _Wherefore I caused them._] With a strong hand and an outstretched arm I caused it, against all the force of Egypt. Exo 13:18 God hath also mightily brought England out of Egypt spirituall... [ Continue Reading ]
And I gave them my statutes, and shewed them my judgments, which [if] a man do, he shall even live in them. Ver. 11. _And I gave them my statutes._] Which were far beyond the laws of the twelve tables in Rome, whereof yet Cicero affirmeth that they were far beyond all the libraries of philosophers.... [ Continue Reading ]
Moreover also I gave them my sabbaths, to be a sign between me and them, that they might know that I [am] the LORD that sanctify them. Ver. 12. _Moreover also, I gave them my Sabbaths._] A sweet mercy, without which the best would even grow wild. What a wretch then was that Egyptian in Phagius, who... [ Continue Reading ]
But the house of Israel rebelled against me in the wilderness: they walked not in my statutes, and they despised my judgments, which [if] a man do, he shall even live in them; and my sabbaths they greatly polluted: then I said, I would pour out my fury upon them in the wilderness, to consume them.... [ Continue Reading ]
But I wrought for my name's sake, that it should not be polluted before the heathen, in whose sight I brought them out. Ver. 14. But I wrought for my name's sake.] Oh how oft are we beholden to this motive, and do escape fair by this means! See on Ezekiel 20:9 .... [ Continue Reading ]
Yet also I lifted up my hand unto them in the wilderness, that I would not bring them into the land which I had given [them], flowing with milk and honey, which [is] the glory of all lands; Ver. 15. _Yet also I lifted up mine hand._] Here we have an epitome of Exodus and Numbers. _ Flowing with mi... [ Continue Reading ]
Because they despised my judgments, and walked not in my statutes, but polluted my sabbaths: for their heart went after their idols. Ver. 16. _For their heart went after their idols._] Heb., Their dungy deities; those dirty delights carried them sheer away from God and goodness. Any beloved sin wil... [ Continue Reading ]
Nevertheless mine eye spared them from destroying them, neither did I make an end of them in the wilderness. Ver. 17. _Nevertheless mine eye spared them._] It was by a _non obstante_ of God's mercy, and by a prop of his extraordinary patience, that they subsisted.... [ Continue Reading ]
But I said unto their children in the wilderness, Walk ye not in the statutes of your fathers, neither observe their judgments, nor defile yourselves with their idols: Ver. 18. _Walk ye not in the statutes of your fathers._] With this text Frederick IV, prince palatine, answered another prince, who... [ Continue Reading ]
I [am] the LORD your God; walk in my statutes, and keep my judgments, and do them; Ver. 19. _Walk in my statutes._] This is a surer and safer way. _Lex, lux:_ "The commandment is a lamp, and the law is light." Pro 6:23 Come, therefore, to this light, that your deeds may be made manifest that they a... [ Continue Reading ]
And hallow my sabbaths; and they shall be a sign between me and you, that ye may know that I [am] the LORD your God. Ver. 20. _And hallow my Sabbaths._] By abandoning as well spiritual idleness as corporal labour. _ And they shall be a sign._] See on Ezekiel 20:11 .... [ Continue Reading ]
Notwithstanding the children rebelled against me: they walked not in my statutes, neither kept my judgments to do them, which [if] a man do, he shall even live in them; they polluted my sabbaths: then I said, I would pour out my fury upon them, to accomplish my anger against them in the wilderness.... [ Continue Reading ]
Nevertheless I withdrew mine hand, and wrought for my name's sake, that it should not be polluted in the sight of the heathen, in whose sight I brought them forth. Ver. 22. See on Ezekiel 20:14 .... [ Continue Reading ]
I lifted up mine hand unto them also in the wilderness, that I would scatter them among the heathen, and disperse them through the countries; Ver. 23. See on Ezekiel 20:15 .... [ Continue Reading ]
Because they had not executed my judgments, but had despised my statutes, and had polluted my sabbaths, and their eyes were after their fathers' idols. Ver. 24. See on Ezekiel 20:16 .... [ Continue Reading ]
Wherefore I gave them also statutes [that were] not good, and judgments whereby they should not live; Ver. 25. _Wherefore I gave them also statutes that were not good._] _i.e.,_ I gave them up to their own inventions and hearts' lusts (which was worse than to be delivered up to Satan), because they... [ Continue Reading ]
And I polluted them in their own gifts, in that they caused to pass through [the fire] all that openeth the womb, that I might make them desolate, to the end that they might know that I [am] the LORD. Ver. 26. _And I polluted them in their own gifts,_] _i.e., _ I rejected both their persons and pre... [ Continue Reading ]
Therefore, son of man, speak unto the house of Israel, and say unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Yet in this your fathers have blasphemed me, in that they have committed a trespass against me. Ver. 27. _Your fathers have blasphemed me._] Because they trembled not at my judgments while they hung i... [ Continue Reading ]
Ezekiel 20:28 [For] when I had brought them into the land, [for] the which I lifted up mine hand to give it to them, then they saw every high hill, and all the thick trees, and they offered there their sacrifices, and there they presented the provocation of their offering: there also they made their... [ Continue Reading ]
Then I said unto them, What [is] the high place whereunto ye go? And the name thereof is called Bamah unto this day. Ver. 29. _And the name thereof is called Bamah,_] _i.e., _ A high place; a name good enough in itself, but, as used by them, as odious to all good hearts as a brothel house is to a c... [ Continue Reading ]
Wherefore say unto the house of Israel, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Are ye polluted after the manner of your fathers? and commit ye whoredom after their abominations? Ver. 30. _Are ye polluted after the manner of your fathers?_] _q.d., _ Are you good at that indeed? and have you yet a face to threadba... [ Continue Reading ]
For when ye offer your gifts, when ye make your sons to pass through the fire, ye pollute yourselves with all your idols, even unto this day: and shall I be enquired of by you, O house of Israel? [As] I live, saith the Lord GOD, I will not be enquired of by you. Ver. 31. _And shall I be inquired of... [ Continue Reading ]
And that which cometh into your mind shall not be at all, that ye say, We will be as the heathen, as the families of the countries, to serve wood and stone. Ver. 32. _And that which cometh into your mind shall not be at all._] You are laying a plot for an accommodation with the Babylonish idolaters... [ Continue Reading ]
Ezekiel 20:33 [As] I live, saith the Lord GOD, surely with a mighty hand, and with a stretched out arm, and with fury poured out, will I rule over you: Ver. 33. _Surely with a mighty hand._] You are ready to say, as in Jeremiah 2:31, We are lords; we will come no more unto thee; but I shall sure su... [ Continue Reading ]
And I will bring you out from the people, and will gather you out of the countries wherein ye are scattered, with a mighty hand, and with a stretched out arm, and with fury poured out. Ver. 34. _And I will bring you out from the people._] The heathens with whom you have incorporated, hoping so to s... [ Continue Reading ]
And I will bring you into the wilderness of the people, and there will I plead with you face to face. Ver. 35. _And I will bring you into the wilderness of the people._] Into the most solitary and savage places of the world, for a fulness of misery without the benefit of any good society. _ And th... [ Continue Reading ]
Like as I pleaded with your fathers in the wilderness of the land of Egypt, so will I plead with you, saith the Lord GOD. Ver. 36. _Like as I pleaded with your fathers in the wilderness._] Where their carcases fell thick and threefold, till they were all consumed. "Behold we die, we perish, we all... [ Continue Reading ]
And I will cause you to pass under the rod, and I will bring you into the bond of the covenant: Ver. 37. And I will cause you to pass under the rod, and I will bring you into the bond of the covenant.] Why, then, _Feri, Domine, feri,_ Smite, Lord, smite, so my sins may be pardoned, and my soul save... [ Continue Reading ]
And I will purge out from among you the rebels, and them that transgress against me: I will bring them forth out of the country where they sojourn, and they shall not enter into the land of Israel: and ye shall know that I [am] the LORD. Ver. 38. _And I will purge out from among you the rebels._] M... [ Continue Reading ]
_As for you, O house of Israel, thus saith the Lord GOD; Go ye, serve ye every one his idols, and hereafter [also], if ye will not hearken unto me: but pollute ye my holy name no more with your gifts, and with your idols._ Ver. 39. _Go ye, serve ye everyone his idols,_] _q.d., _ You may for me; and... [ Continue Reading ]
For in mine holy mountain, in the mountain of the height of Israel, saith the Lord GOD, there shall all the house of Israel, all of them in the land, serve me: there will I accept them, and there will I require your offerings, and the firstfruits of your oblations, with all your holy things. Ver. 4... [ Continue Reading ]
I will accept you with your sweet savour, when I bring you out from the people, and gather you out of the countries wherein ye have been scattered; and I will be sanctified in you before the heathen. Ver. 41. _And I will be sanctified in you._] I will get me great glory by you among the heathen, wh... [ Continue Reading ]
And ye shall know that I [am] the LORD, when I shall bring you into the land of Israel, into the country [for] the which I lifted up mine hand to give it to your fathers. Ver. 42. _Into the land of Israel._] A pledge of a better place.... [ Continue Reading ]
And there shall ye remember your ways, and all your doings, wherein ye have been defiled; and ye shall lothe yourselves in your own sight for all your evils that ye have committed. Ver. 43. _Ye shall remember your ways._] Recognition is the first thing in reformation. See Ezekiel 16:61 . _ And ye... [ Continue Reading ]
_And ye shall know that I [am] the LORD, when I have wrought with you for my name's sake, not according to your wicked ways, nor according to your corrupt doings, O ye house of Israel, saith the Lord GOD._ Ver. 44. _And ye shall know that I am the Lord._] A sin pardoning and heart sanctifying God;... [ Continue Reading ]
Moreover the word of the LORD came unto me, saying, Ver. 45. _Moreover, &c._] See on Ezekiel 18:1 .... [ Continue Reading ]
Son of man, set thy face toward the south, and drop [thy word] toward the south, and prophesy against the forest of the south field; Ver. 46. _Set thy face._] Prophesy freely and boldly against Jerusalem, which is south from Chaldea. _ Against the forest._] Against Judea, which is mountainous and... [ Continue Reading ]
And say to the forest of the south, Hear the word of the LORD; Thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I will kindle a fire in thee, and it shall devour every green tree in thee, and every dry tree: the flaming flame shall not be quenched, and all faces from the south to the north shall be burned therein.... [ Continue Reading ]
And all flesh shall see that I the LORD have kindled it: it shall not be quenched. Ver. 48. _That I the Lord._] Who myself am a consuming fire. Heb 12:29... [ Continue Reading ]
Then said I, Ah Lord GOD! they say of me, Doth he not speak parables? Ver. 49. _Doth he not speak parables?_] _Nonne artifex est parabolarum iste? Qui erga non vult intelligi, vult negligi._ _a_ He is so high that we cannot take him, and shall therefore slight him as a madman, or not much better. A... [ Continue Reading ]