Second Section. Ch. 33 39. Prophecies of Israel's Restoration and Eternal Peace Only one date appears in connexion with these prophecies, that in Ezekiel 33:21. Though this date does not stand at the beginning of ch. 33 _seq_., it may be held to indicate the time generally to which the whole seven... [ Continue Reading ]
The illustration duty of the watchman in war.... [ Continue Reading ]
_of their coasts_ OF THEIR NUMBER, from among them, cf. 2 Kings 9:17.... [ Continue Reading ]
The trumpet was the signal of danger, Hosea 8:1; Amos 3:6; Jeremiah 6:1.... [ Continue Reading ]
He that heareth the trumpet and taketh not warning, his blood shall be on his own head; he is responsible for his own death, which shall not be laid at the door of the watchman.... [ Continue Reading ]
Although in Ezekiel 33:2 Jehovah is said to bring the sword upon the people (Ezekiel 14:17), and presumably for their sin, the language of the present verse leads over from the illustration to the thing meant to be illustrated.... [ Continue Reading ]
Similar to the part of the watchman is that of the prophet. Cf. ch. Ezekiel 3:17 _seq_. The evil, corresponding to the sword in the illustration, in regard to which the prophet is to warn the people, is left undefined. As in the case of all the prophets, however, the turning point in the fortunes of... [ Continue Reading ]
_If our transgressions_ Better, direct: our transgressions … ARE UPON US. The people had come to regard their calamities as due to their sins and evidence of them. They had come round to the prophet's view of their history, for they saw his predictions fulfilled. But the new view came with a crushin... [ Continue Reading ]
Despondency of the people, making the prophet's appeals to them of none effect. Removal of the despair by two gracious words from the Lord.... [ Continue Reading ]
Jehovah's answer to the people's despondency and despair of "life." These verses must be estimated from the point of view of the people's despair of life, to which they are an answer. The passage is not directly an affirmation of the rectitude of God, although this is indirectly affirmed in answer t... [ Continue Reading ]
It would have been enough to illustrate the earnest exhortation, Turn ye, why will ye die? (Ezekiel 33:11) by the assurance that if the wicked turns his past sins will not be remembered against him (Ezekiel 33:16). But the prophet states the truth in a more general form. His purpose is to teach also... [ Continue Reading ]
Cf. Ezekiel 3:20; Ezekiel 18:24.... [ Continue Reading ]
Cf. Ezekiel 3:18; Ezekiel 18:27. _that which is lawful_ Lit. as marg., (just) judgment and justice.... [ Continue Reading ]
Instances of a return to righteousness on the part of the wicked, cf. Ezekiel 18:7; Exodus 22:1; Exodus 22:4; Numbers 5:6-7. _the statutes of life_ By walking in which a man shall live, ch. Ezekiel 13:21; Ezekiel 20:11; Leviticus 18:5. As elsewhere "life" is used in the pregnant sense of enjoyment o... [ Continue Reading ]
Cf. Ezekiel 18:22. _shall be mentioned_ Or, REMEMBERED AGAINST him, as Ezekiel 33:13.... [ Continue Reading ]
Cf. Ezekiel 18:25; Ezekiel 18:29.... [ Continue Reading ]
These verses sum up the whole principles of the passage, cf. Ezekiel 18:26-27. On Ezekiel 33:20 cf. Ezekiel 18:25; Ezekiel 18:29.... [ Continue Reading ]
The date here given is about a year and a half after the city's fall. Considering the constant intercourse between the mother country and the exiles this period is very long. Some MSS. as well as the Syr. read _eleventh_year, leaving about six months for the news to travel by messenger. (Eleven and... [ Continue Reading ]
Fugitives from Judaea arrive among the exiles announcing that the city had fallen. This confirmation of all the prophet's anticipations, which the exiles had received with so much incredulity, opened his mouth, gave him confidence to speak before his fellow exiles. And he announces what shall be the... [ Continue Reading ]
Though the date is inserted here, it is probably to be understood as applicable to the whole chapter, for Ezekiel 33:1 the prophet is commanded to speak publicly to the children of his people. In the evening he felt the hand of the Lord upon him, he fell into an excitation. Thoughts such as those in... [ Continue Reading ]
The confirmation by the fugitives of all his previous predictions gave the prophet boldness to speak anew, and what he says is but a continuation of that which he had said before, and had been so literally confirmed. He had predicted the city's fall because of its sins, and his prophecy had been ver... [ Continue Reading ]
Regarding those remaining in the land even before the fall of the city, cf. Ezekiel 11:5-12; Ezekiel 11:14-21; Jeremiah 24. Those remaining in the land express their confident hopes. Though reduced in numbers they are still many in comparison of the single individual Abraham. Yet he was multiplied i... [ Continue Reading ]
The claim of the remnant is repudiated by Ezek. with indignation. They persist in the sins for which their country fell, and the same judgment shall overtake them. _ye eat with the blood_ i.e. eat flesh slaughtered in such a way that the blood remains in it. According to the law animals had to be sl... [ Continue Reading ]
_stand upon your sword_ Hardly means, the footing on which ye deal with men is the sword; but probably, ye occupy yourselves with the sword, cf. Ezekiel 44:24. _work abomination_ The term is mostly applied to religious practices contrary to the pure religion of Jehovah. On the other sin named cf. Ez... [ Continue Reading ]
The "wastes" are the desolate cities; those that still hover about these ruins shall be slain by the enemy. The "open field" is the country, now depopulated and "the possession of wild beasts;" and the "forts," coupled with caves, are the natural fastnesses of the land. Those taking refuge there sha... [ Continue Reading ]
Cf. Ezekiel 7:24; Ezekiel 24:21; Ezekiel 30:6-7. The "mountains of Israel" are the mountain land of Israel.... [ Continue Reading ]
_are talking against thee_ THE CHILDREN OF THY PEOPLE WHO TALK OF THEE. The construction has a certain inconsequence in it. On "talk" cf. Malachi 3:16. The "walls" afforded a shade, under which men gathered for conversation. _one to another_ The form "one" is Chaldee rather than Heb. The clause say... [ Continue Reading ]
Demeanour of the people towards the prophet The confirmation which the fall of the city gave to the prophet's past predictions awakened the interest of his fellow exiles in him and his words. They congregated together in knots under the shadow of the walls and in the doors of the houses discussing... [ Continue Reading ]
On "come unto thee" cf. Ezekiel 8:1; Ezekiel 14:1; Ezekiel 20:1. as _my people_ The construction is very hard. LXX. omits. _with their mouth … love_ The language is peculiar, but can hardly have any other sense. LXX. Syr. read: _for falsehood is in their mouth and their heart &c_. The term "coveto... [ Continue Reading ]
_lovely song_of _one_ lit. a lovely song; one that hath. The comparison "like a lovely song" is as usual inexact; "like" merely indicates the circumstances as when there is a lovely song. The prophet is compared to the singer as A. V.... [ Continue Reading ]
_when this cometh_ BUT WHEN IT COMETH TO PASS. The general _it_(fem. as usual in general references) is the judgment or crisis, the idea of which underlies all the prophet's words and is presupposed in them. Cf. Ezekiel 2:5.... [ Continue Reading ]