XIV.
This chapter consists of two distinct but closely-connected
prophecies, the first of which (Ezekiel 14:1) was called out by the
coming of the elders to enquire of the prophet, and announces to them
that God will not answer, but will destroy idolatrous enquirers; while
the second (Ezekiel 14:12... [ Continue Reading ]
CERTAIN OF THE ELDERS OF ISRAEL. — There is no distinction intended
here between the elders of _Israel_ and the elders of _Judah_
mentioned in 8:1, and therefore there is no occasion to suppose a
deputation sent to the prophet from Jerusalem. Israel is now becoming
the ordinary name of the existing... [ Continue Reading ]
HAVE SET UP THEIR IDOLS IN THEIR HEART. — It was not the open
idolatry of Judæa which is reproved among these elders of the
captivity; that had already passed away, but still their heart was not
right. Like Lot’s wife, they longed for that which they dared not
do. With such a disposition, they were... [ Continue Reading ]
WILL ANSWER HIM THAT COMETH. — The words _that cometh,_ not being in
the original, should be omitted. The verb _answer_ in the original is
in the passive, and has a reflexive sense=“I will show myself
answering,” a softer form than the English. The principle that when
man persists in going counter t... [ Continue Reading ]
REPENT AND TURN. — The announcements of the previous verses form the
basis for the earnest call to a true repentance. There can be no hope
for Israel in any merely outward reformation; they have _to_ do with
the Searcher of hearts, and the only repentance acceptable to Him is
that which has its seat... [ Continue Reading ]
OR OF THE STRANGER. — Under the Mosaic legislation, “the
stranger” living among the Israelites was bound to observe a certain
outward deference to the law of the land, just as a foreigner in any
country now is bound to respect in certain things the law of the
country in which he lives. Israel being... [ Continue Reading ]
WILL MAKE HIM A SIGN. — The text of the Hebrew is here preferable to
its margin, which has been followed by our translators, as well as by
the ancient versions. There is a similar threat in Deuteronomy 28:37;
and the clause should be rendered, “will make him desolate (or
destroy him) for a sign and... [ Continue Reading ]
AND IF THE PROPHET BE DECEIVED. — The exact sense of the original
is, “If a prophet be persuaded and speak a word, I the LORD have
persuaded that prophet.” The thought is thus in close connection
with what precedes; in Ezekiel 14:3; Ezekiel 14:7, the Lord has
refused to allow an answer through the p... [ Continue Reading ]
MAY GO NO MORE ASTRAY. — Here is given the object of all the
previous severity of judgment — that Israel may be brought to a true
repentance and be reunited in communion with God.
The prophet is now directed, in a distinct communication, to meet the
thought which was evidently in the minds of the pe... [ Continue Reading ]
WHEN THE LAND SINNETH. — The definite article is not in the Hebrew,
and should be omitted, as the proposition is a general one. Also the
future tenses throughout the verse should be rendered as present, in
accordance with this character of a general statement: “When a land
sinneth... and I stretch o... [ Continue Reading ]
NOAH, DANIEL, AND JOB. — These three are selected, doubtless, not
only as examples of eminent holiness themselves, but as men who had
been allowed to be the means of saving others. For Noah’s sake his
whole family had been spared (Genesis 6:18); Daniel was the means of
saving his companions (Daniel... [ Continue Reading ]
(15-20) In these verses the same declaration is repeated, for the sake
of emphasis, with each one of three other instruments of punishment,
with only such variations of phraseology as are required for
rhetorical reasons. The phrase “their own souls_”_ is here also
simply equivalent to “themselves.”... [ Continue Reading ]
MY FOUR SORE JUDGMENTS. — The teaching of the preceding eight verses
is here gathered up into its climax. In the case of any one of the
four punishments mentioned in succession, the presence of the holiest
of men should be of no avail to avert it; how much more then, when all
these are combined in t... [ Continue Reading ]
YE SHALL BE COMFORTED CONCERNING THE EVIL. — In this and the
following verse it is promised that a remnant shall be brought from
Jerusalem; and it is clearly implied that they shall come to
Babylonia. There the present exiles shall see them, and thus be
comforted. But in what sense comforted? The co... [ Continue Reading ]