Thirtieth year — From the finding the book of the law in the eighteenth year of Josiah, from which date to the fifth year of the captivity are thirty years. Fifth day — Probably it was the sabbath — day, when the Jews were at leisure to hear the prophet. River — Perhaps retiring thither to lament th... [ Continue Reading ]
The month — Thamus, as Ezekiel 1:1, answering to our June and July. Fifth year — This account observed will guide us in computing the times referred to Ezekiel 1:1. These five of Jehoiachin, and the eleven of his predecessor, added to fourteen of Josiah's reign, after he found the law, make up thirt... [ Continue Reading ]
The word — What was visions, Ezekiel 1:1, is here the word, both as signifying and declaring the mind of God, what he would do, and as continuing his commands to Ezekiel and to the people. Ezekiel — He speaks of himself in a third person. Priest — He was of the priests originally; he was a prophet b... [ Continue Reading ]
Looked — I very diligently surveyed the things that were represented to me in the vision. Whirlwind — This denotes the indignation and judgments of God; a quick, impetuous and irresistible vengeance. North — From Babylon, which lay northward from Judea; and the prophet, tho' now in Babylon, speaks o... [ Continue Reading ]
The likeness — Such a representation of the holy angels as God saw fit to make use of, came out of the midst of the fire: for angels derive their being and power from God: their glory is a ray of his.... [ Continue Reading ]
Wings — With two they flew, denoting the speed of their obedience; and with two they covered their body, denoting their reverence.... [ Continue Reading ]
Feet — Their thighs, legs and feet, were of a human shape. Straight — Not bowed to this or that part, which argues weakness. The sole — That which is properly the foot. A calf's — A divided hoof spake the cleanness of the creature. They — Their feet.... [ Continue Reading ]
Under — Their power and manner of exerting it is secret and invisible. Sides — On each side of the chariot one of these living creatures flood, and so on each side hands were ready to act as they were moved. They four — It is doubled to confirm the truth and certainty of the thing.... [ Continue Reading ]
Their wings — The wings of the two cherubim which went foremost, and the wings of the two hindermost, were joined together when they moved. Went — This explains the former words, assuring us, that every one of those living creatures are ready, and unwearied in doing the pleasure of their Creator.... [ Continue Reading ]
A man — Each face is compared to what is most excellent in its kind, man excels in wisdom, lions in strength, the ox in patience and constancy of labour, the eagle in speed and high flight.... [ Continue Reading ]
Divided — So each face appeared distinct above the shoulders, and there the wings divided from each other were united to the body of the living creature.... [ Continue Reading ]
Straight — Which way soever they went, each living creature had one face looking straight forward. The spirit — The will, command, and breathing of the Spirit of God, both gave and guided their motions. Was to go — Going is attributed here to the Spirit of God, by allusion, for he who is in every pl... [ Continue Reading ]
The fire — This fire stood not still, but as the Hebrew is, Made itself walk up and down. It moved itself, which is too much to ascribe to creatures: God only moved all these living creatures.... [ Continue Reading ]
Ran — They ran into the lower world, to do what was to be done there: and when they had done, returned as a flash of lightning, to the upper world, to the vision of God. Thus we should be in the affairs of this world: though we run into them we must not repose in them, but our souls must presently r... [ Continue Reading ]
Living creatures — By each of the living creatures stood one wheel, so that they were four in number, according to the number of living creatures. Four faces — By this it appears, each wheel had its four faces. While he was contemplating the glory of the former vision, this other was presented to hi... [ Continue Reading ]
Work — All that was wrought, whether engraved or otherwise was of one colour. Beryl — A sea green. One likeness — The same for dimensions, colour, frame, and motion. In the middle — It is probable, the wheels were framed so as to be an exact sphere, which is easily rolled to any side.... [ Continue Reading ]
They — The wheels. Four sides — The wheels being supposed round every way as a globe, by an exact framing of two wheels one in the other; the four semi — circles which are in two whole wheels, may be well taken for these four sides on which these wheels move, and such a wheel will readily be turned... [ Continue Reading ]
The rings — The circumference of the wheels. Dreadful — Their very height imprest a fear on the beholder. Them four — Every one of the four wheels. How fitly do the wheels, their motion, their height, and eyes, signify the height, unsearchableness, wisdom, and vigilance of the Divine Providence.... [ Continue Reading ]
The spirit — The Spirit of God. These angels in their ministry punctually observed both his impulse and conduct. They — The wheels, inferior agents and second causes. Their spirit — The wheels concurred with the spirit of the living creatures, so that there was an hearty accord between those superio... [ Continue Reading ]
For — The same wisdom, power, and holiness of God, the same will and counsel of his, that guides and governs the angels, does by them order and dispose all the motions of the creatures in this lower world.... [ Continue Reading ]
Likeness — The appearance or resemblance. As crystal — For splendor, purity, and solidity, all that was above these creatures and wheels was beautiful and very majestic, and 'tis therefore called terrible, because it impressed a veneration upon the mind of the beholders.... [ Continue Reading ]
Under — Below at a great distance, stood these living creatures. Straight — Stretched forth, ready for motion. One — Each of the four had two other wings with which they covered their bodies.... [ Continue Reading ]
The voice — Thunder. Speech — The prophet heard the voice in an articulate manner. An host — A tumultuous voice of men. Stood — Having done their office they present themselves before God, waiting for the commands of their Lord.... [ Continue Reading ]
A man — Christ, God — man, who here appears as king and judge.... [ Continue Reading ]
Amber — In this colour does Christ appear against the rebellious Jews; he that would have visited them clothed with the garments of salvation, now puts on the garments of vengeance, expressed by such metaphors. Brightness — Majesty, justice, and unstained holiness, shine round about him.... [ Continue Reading ]
The bow — A like appearance of Christ in a surrounding brightness, as of the rainbow you have, Revelation 4:3. Mercy, and truth, and both according to covenant are about the throne of Christ. Glory — It was not the full glory of God, but such as the prophet might bear. I fell — With deep humility an... [ Continue Reading ]