_Son of man, prophesy unto the mountains of Israel_ The prophet had been ordered, Ezekiel 6:2, _to set his face toward the mountains of Israel, and to prophesy against them._ Then God was coming forth to contend with his people; but now he is returning in mercy to them, and his prophet must speak go... [ Continue Reading ]
_Because the enemy hath said_, &c. This prophecy appears to be a continuation of the preceding. “The Idumeans have made their boasts (see Ezekiel 36:5, and Eze 35:10) that they should become masters of the mountainous parts of Judea, where the ancient fortresses were placed which commanded all the r... [ Continue Reading ]
_But ye, O mountains of Israel, shall yield your fruit_, &c. Here the land of Judea is ordered to provide for the sustenance of the people of Israel, who were about to return out of captivity to dwell there again: _for_, says the prophet, _they are at hand to come_ That is, the deliverance of my peo... [ Continue Reading ]
_Because they say, Thou land devourest men_ Or, _thy people._ The country of Judea (as appears from what is here said) was spoken of by the neighbouring nations with disgrace, as a country particularly fatal to its inhabitants, where more died by famine, pestilence, and the sword, than in any other... [ Continue Reading ]
_When the house of Israel dwelt in their own land_ In fulness of bread, ease, and security, as they did in days past; _they defiled it _ Rendered it abominable before God, and uncomfortable to themselves; _by their own way and by their doings_ By the way of their own choice, their wicked way, forsak... [ Continue Reading ]
_When they entered unto the heathen, they profaned my holy name_ 1st, By their evil practices they brought a scandal on God's name, and gave occasion to the heathen to say, See what profligate wretches these are, who call themselves Jehovah's peculiar people; judge what sort of a God he is who has s... [ Continue Reading ]
_But I had pity for my holy name_ That is, as it is expressed Ezekiel 20:9, _I wrought for my name's sake, that it should not be polluted_, or brought into disgrace, _among the heathen:_ I preserved, reformed, brought back my people from captivity, and re-established them in their own land, for the... [ Continue Reading ]
_I will sprinkle clean water upon you_ The expression here alludes to those legal purifications which were made by sprinkling water upon the unclean persons: see Numbers 8:7; Numbers 19:13. But the cleansing intended is plainly that of the soul, by the blood of Christ sprinkled upon men's conscience... [ Continue Reading ]
_A new heart also will I give you_ A new disposition of mind, excellent in itself, and vastly different from what it was before; a frame of soul changed from sinful to holy, from carnal to spiritual; a heart in which the law of God is written, Jeremiah 31:33; a sanctified spirit, in which the almigh... [ Continue Reading ]
_And ye shall dwell in the land_ Spiritual blessings, promised in the last three verses, are now followed with temporal blessings. Thus does earth often follow heaven, and _godliness hath the promise of the life that now is, as well as of that which is to come._ When the Israelites are thus prepared... [ Continue Reading ]
_Then shall ye remember your own evil ways_ Reflect seriously upon your former sins. _And shall loathe yourselves in your own sight_ With holy shame and confusion of face, seeing how loathsome you have made yourselves in the sight of God; _for your iniquities and for your abominations_ Being convinc... [ Continue Reading ]
_I will yet be inquired of by the house of Israel_ The house of Israel must, 1st, Pray for these blessings; for by prayer God is sought unto and inquired after. What is the matter of God's promises, must be the matter of our prayers. By asking for the mercy promised, we give glory to the donor, expr... [ Continue Reading ]