Ezekiel 20:45 to Ezekiel 21:32. The avenging sword of the Lord The passage Ezekiel 20:45-49 belongs to ch. 21 (as in Heb.). The time to which the chapter is to be assigned is the early period of Nebuchadnezzar's movements westwards. The prophet foresees the coming desolation of Israel by the conque... [ Continue Reading ]
Ezekiel 21:1-5. These verses, though still figurative, are plainer than the preceding, of which they furnish the explanation. The sword of the Lord is drawn finally from its sheath, to which it shall not return (Ezekiel 21:5); it is drawn against Jerusalem and its sanctuaries (Ezekiel 21:2); it shal... [ Continue Reading ]
_the holy places_ Or, sanctuaries. These are not the rural sanctuaries or high places, but the holy buildings in Jerusalem (Ezekiel 7:24; Lamentations 2:6).... [ Continue Reading ]
Agitation of the prophet at the tidings of the coming calamity. This agitation of his is only a symbol of the dismay and paralysis that shall overtake all when the calamity comes. On the figures in Ezekiel 21:7 cf. Ezekiel 7:17.... [ Continue Reading ]
_it cometh_ i.e. the overwhelming disaster. The words, "and … to pass" are wanting in LXX.... [ Continue Reading ]
The destroying sword of the Lord. The violent agitation of the prophet at the thought of the coming destruction finds expression in a wild and irregular ode upon the sword of the Lord. The general sense of the poem is discernible, but as in ch. 7 the text is in several places very obscure (e.g. Ezek... [ Continue Reading ]
_should we then make mirth_ lit., or shall we make mirth? These words with the rest to the end of the verse appear to have little meaning in the connexion. R V. renders the whole: "shall we then make mirth? the rod of my son, it contemneth every tree." This is a literal rendering, the last words mea... [ Continue Reading ]
_terrors … the sword_ With R. V. THEY (the princes) ARE DELIVERED OVER TO the sword with my people. _smite upon thy thigh_ A gesture implying despair or the sense of a terrible and irreparable evil happening, Jeremiah 31:19.... [ Continue Reading ]
_Because it is a trial_ Or, for there is a trial. So accented the word occurs again Isaiah 28:16, a stone of trial (tried stone). The word might be read as a verb: for trial has been made. In any case reference is not to the "sword" nor the Babylonian conqueror who wields it, as if the meaning were:... [ Continue Reading ]
_doubled the third time_ The reading must mean: let the sword be doubled, tripled! lit. unto a third (sword), i.e. till it be three-fold. Of course there were not to be three swords or even two; what is called for is a double and triple intensity and operation of the one sword (cf. Ezekiel 21:16).... [ Continue Reading ]
_the point of the sword_ Or, the GLITTER, lit. whirl or swing. Others by changing a letter would read "slaughter," which Frd. Del. (Baer, _Ezek_.) by comparison of Assyr. considers the word to mean as it stands. _ruins be multiplied_ Or, STUMBLING-BLOCKS, Jeremiah 6:21. Or, by a slight change in po... [ Continue Reading ]
Perhaps with R.V., "gather thee together, go to the right; set thyself in array, go to the left!" The sword is addressed by the Lord and bidden concentrate its force to smite on the right, and set itself on to slaughter on the left. Others by changes in the text find a command to the sword to smite... [ Continue Reading ]
_smite mine hands_ The strong anthropomorphism suggests a tumult of emotion in the Divine mind, and sympathy with the terrible work. _cause my fury to rest_ Appease, or, assuage my fury. Cf. ch. Ezekiel 5:13.... [ Continue Reading ]
He who is, or who wields, the sword, the king of Babylon. The verses furnish the interpretation of the preceding passage. The prophet is commanded to represent a way which parts into two ways. At the parting of the ways he is to set up two guideposts, the one pointing to Rabbath Ammon, the other to... [ Continue Reading ]
_appoint thee two ways_ Or, _make_thee. The prophet is to make a representation of a way branching into two ways, i.e. the way from Babylon, which at a certain point parts into two, there being two possibilities before the king, either Rabbah or Jerusalem. Naturally the action was not performed in r... [ Continue Reading ]
On Rabbah cf. Ezekiel 25:5. _in Jerusalem_ UNTO Jerus. For "the defenced" LXX. reads: "in the midst of it," i.e. of Judah.... [ Continue Reading ]
_for the king … stood_ STANDETH. All the verbs had better be put in the present. _made_his _arrows bright_ he SHAKETH THE ARROWS, he CONSULTETH THE TERAPHIM, he LOOKETH in the liver. These ceremonies explain the phrase "to use divination," The process has several parts: a sacrifice was offered to th... [ Continue Reading ]
_at his right hand_ IN HIS right hand IS THE LOT (or, oracle) "Jerusalem," TO SET BATTERING RAMS, to open the mouth WITH A CRY. Though "battering rams" occurs again in the verse the word can have no other sense, such as "captains." The word "cry" seems required by the parallel "shouting;" the letter... [ Continue Reading ]
_to them … sworn oaths_ The words are obscure and wanting in LXX., and possibly are not original. Whether a gloss or no their purpose appears to be to explain why Israel considered this divination of the king's to be false, i.e. believed that he would not besiege or at least capture Jerusalem. The n... [ Continue Reading ]
_so that in … appear_ Or, so that your sins do appear, even all your evil doings. Cf. Ezekiel 29:16.... [ Continue Reading ]
_profane wicked prince_ Or, AND THOU WICKED ONE, WHO ART TO BE SLAIN, PRINCE OF ISRAEL. The sense "profane" is not quite certain, cf. _fem_., Leviticus 21:7; Leviticus 21:14. _when iniquity … an end_ IN THE TIME OF THE INIQUITY OF THE END, i.e. when iniquity shall receive its final chastisement in... [ Continue Reading ]
The term "diadem" is used of the mitre of the high-priest, Exodus 28:4. There can be no reference to the high-priest here, the passage refers exclusively to the royal house, which shall be discrowned. _this … the same_ The somewhat enigmatical words mean probably: this is not that, i.e. the present... [ Continue Reading ]
_and it shall be no_more] Or, yea this it shall not be (or, it is gone!). "This" does not refer to the condition introduced by the overturning, but goes back and resumes the present condition of things, which shall be overturned till he comes who hath the right, the Messiah. On verb, cf. Isaiah 15:6... [ Continue Reading ]
_the sword_… is _drawn_ Rather with disregard of the accents: A SWORD, A SWORD IS DRAWN FOR SLAUGHTER; IT IS FURBISHED TO THE UTTERMOST IN ORDER THAT IT MAY GLITTER. _to consume_ Rather: TO THE UTTERMOST, lit. as far as it can hold or receive. Corn. amends: to flash (hahel for hakil).... [ Continue Reading ]
Appendix. 28 32. Threatening prophecy against Ammon The passage is obscure, but several things seem evident. 1. In spite of the similarities between the language of Ezekiel 21:28 and that in Ezekiel 21:9, the sword here is that of Ammon. This is certain from the words Ezekiel 21:30 "return it to it... [ Continue Reading ]
they _see vanity unto thee_ i.e. Ammon's soothsayers falsely hold out the prospect to it of victory and conquest. _bring thee upon the necks_ The sense is doubtful, the phrase "bring, or, put, upon the necks" not occurring again. The "wicked, whose day is come, in the time of the iniquity of the end... [ Continue Reading ]
_Shall I … return_ RETURN IT INTO ITS SHEATH! Ammon is commanded to put back his sword to its sheath; his dreams of conquests abroad are vain, he shall be visited and destroyed in his own land. On "nativity" cf. Ezekiel 16:3.... [ Continue Reading ]
_brutish men_ i.e. wild and savage men. So in Ezekiel 25:4 it is the "men of the east," the children of the desert, who are to execute the judgment on Ammon. _skilful to destroy_ lit. the smiths or forgers of destruction. Ewald's "smiths of hell," i.e. demons who forge in hell, is fanciful.... [ Continue Reading ]
Cf. Ezekiel 25:10. Ammon shall perish in his own land.... [ Continue Reading ]