_The word of the Lord came unto me, saying_ It is probable that this prophecy immediately followed the preceding; and that at, or immediately after, the arrival of the news that Jerusalem was conquered, the prophet was commissioned to speak of the tyranny and carelessness of the governors and teache... [ Continue Reading ]
_Prophesy against the shepherds of Israel_ The word _shepherd_, in the prophetical writings, comprehends both civil and ecclesiastical governors. See notes on Isaiah 56:11; Jeremiah 2:8. Other writers also use the same expression; princes being called shepherds of their people, as well as those who... [ Continue Reading ]
_Ye eat the fat_ Or, _the milk_, as the LXX. render it. The Hebrew words _chalab_, milk, and _cheleb_, fat, differ only in their points, so that the ancient versions take them promiscuously one for the other. These shepherds of the Lord's flock, these civil and ecclesiastical rulers of the people, u... [ Continue Reading ]
_And they were scattered_, &c. Driven into other parts of the land, or into other countries, by the severity, exactions, and oppressions of their rulers. _Because there is no shepherd_ No one worthy of the name of a shepherd; none that cared for or properly watched over and fed the flock. _And they... [ Continue Reading ]
_Thus saith the Lord, Behold, I am against the shepherds_ They have made me their enemy by their negligence and abuse of their power, and I will appear and act as such. They have been enemies to my sheep, though pretending to be their shepherds; I will be an open enemy to them; _and will require my... [ Continue Reading ]
_Behold, I, even I, will search my sheep_ I myself will recall them from their wanderings into the right way; _and will seek them out_ Hebrew, בקדתים, _I will seek them early_, or, _seek them in the morning. As a shepherd seeketh out his flock_ With the greatest care and diligence; as he gathers the... [ Continue Reading ]
Ezekiel 34:17 ; EZEKIEL 34:19. _ As for you, O my flock_ The prophet, having finished what he had to say to the shepherds, now delivers God's message to the flock. God had before ordered him to speak tenderly to them, and to assure them of the mercy which he had in store for them. But now he is orde... [ Continue Reading ]
_Because ye have thrust with side and shoulder_, &c. Have molested and vexed the poor and weak by your unjust and violent dealings; _therefore will I save my flock_ I will interpose, and rescue the poor of my people from violence and oppression. The reader will easily observe that the metaphors used... [ Continue Reading ]
_And I will set up one Shepherd_ That is, the Messiah, “the true Shepherd, who hath given himself this name both in the prophets and in the gospel, and who hath perfectly fulfilled all the duties, the characters whereof have been before described. He is called _David_, because he sprung from David a... [ Continue Reading ]
_I will make them and the places round about my hill a blessing_ I will there give remarkable instances of my favour, and of the happiness which flows from it. God's hill is the same with his _holy mountain_, mentioned Ezekiel 20:40, where see the note. _There shall be showers of blessings_ Blessing... [ Continue Reading ]
_And I will raise up for them a plant of renown_ The Messiah, the branch from the root of David, so frequently foretold by the prophet. _And they shall be no more consumed with hunger_ But shall be blessed with plenty of all things. Spiritual blessings, the blessings peculiar to the Messiah's kingdo... [ Continue Reading ]
_And ye my flock, &c., are men_ These words at the conclusion of the chapter, explain the metaphor which runs through the whole of it; namely, that what was said of a flock and its shepherds, is to be understood of men and their governors, and especially of God's people, whom their civil and ecclesi... [ Continue Reading ]