Ezekiel 33:2

Son of man— The reader will find in the third chapter, from Ezekiel 33:17 what is here repeated in the ten first verses of this chapter. Instead of, Of their coasts, Houbigant reads, from among them.

Of their coasts— Out of their borders: The proper places to station watchmen.

When the prophet had confirmed his predictions of evil both to the Jews and Heathens by exemplifications of the like predictions already fulfilled among the latter; he proceeds to apply home the conclusion arising hence, by an expostulation and pathetic address to the hearts and consciences of the Jews.—But to what Jews is this addressed? To the Jews who were already in captivity. In order then that this address might make the stronger impression on them, and produce its wished-for effect, he immediately subjoins an information, which he here presents as having been just then received, of the actual capture and destruction of the city of Jerusalem, agreeably to his foregoing prophesies against it: the accomplishment of which prediction against the Jews themselves, joined to his historic narrations before of the accomplishment of many others against the Heathens, both complete his arguments in favour of the credit and veracity of his predictions against Egypt or other nations, and also prove by a conspicuous example the truth of that maxim with which he had concluded his late address to the captive Jews, "That God will judge every one after his ways, both Jews and Heathens."