The first word of judgment Ezekiel 21:1. Ezekiel speaks first to the people of Israel, shows the universality of the coming destructions, and indicates by a sign (that of sighing) the sadness of the calamity. The words and order of words are identical with Ezekiel 20:45, except that for “south,” th... [ Continue Reading ]
THE RIGHTEOUS AND THE WICKED - take the place of “every green tree and every dry tree” Ezekiel 20:47; “all faces” that of “all flesh:” to show the universality of the destructions. National judgment involves the innocent in the temporal ruin of the guilty. The equity of God is vindicated by the ruin... [ Continue Reading ]
The prophet was directed to let the people see him sighing and prostrate, as a sign of the sorrow and weakness about to come upon the people. THE BREAKING OF THY LOINS - The prostration of strength; the loins being the seat of strength.... [ Continue Reading ]
The second word of judgment: the glittering and destroying sword. The passage may be called the “Lay of the Sword;” it is written in the form of Hebrew poetry, with its characteristic parallelism. Ezekiel 21:10 IT CONTEMNETH THE ROD OF MY SON, AS EVERY TREE - The rod is the scepter of dominion, ass... [ Continue Reading ]
The third word of judgment. The king of Babylon’s march upon Judaea and upon the Ammonites. Destruction is to go forth not on Judah only, but also on such neighboring tribes as the Ammonites (compare Jeremiah 27:2). Ezekiel 21:19 APPOINT THEE - Set before thee. CHOOSE THOU A PLACE, CHOOSE IT - Ra... [ Continue Reading ]