XVIII. This chapter connects itself closely with the foregoing series of prophecies. The certainty of the Divine judgments had now been repeatedly and most emphatically foretold, but that this might have the effect of leading the people to true repentance, it was still necessary that the sense of s... [ Continue Reading ]
WHAT MEAN YE? — Almost the same expression occurs in Ezekiel 12:22. The literal translation would be, _What is it to you who are using this proverb?_ and the sense is “_Why_ do you, &c.?” _Proverb_ shows that it was a common saying, a way in which the people habitually sought to shirk the responsibi... [ Continue Reading ]
ALL SOULS ARE MINE. — This is the basis of the subsequent teaching. Since all alike belong to God and are absolutely in His power. He has no occasion to punish one lest another should escape; and again, since all are His, He loves and would save them all, and inflicts punishment only when it is dese... [ Continue Reading ]
IF A MAN BE JUST. — At the opening and close of the statement in regard to the righteous man (Ezekiel 18:5; Ezekiel 18:9), he is described in general and comprehensive terms; while in the intermediate verses various particulars of an upright life are specified as examples of the whole. These particu... [ Continue Reading ]
EATEN UPON THE MOUNTAINS. — The various sins here specified are all enumerated again, with others, and charged upon Jerusalem in Ezekiel 22:2. The particular of eating upon the mountains is mentioned in Ezekiel 18:9, and refers to the feasts in connection with sacrifices to idols which were commonly... [ Continue Reading ]
TO THE DEBTOR HIS PLEDGE. — In the simple state of early Hebrew society borrowing was resorted to only by the very poor, and the law abounds in precepts against any oppression or taking advantage in such cases (Exodus 22:25; Leviticus 25:14; Leviticus 25:17, &c). Especial provision was made for rest... [ Continue Reading ]
GIVEN FORTH UPON USURY. — In Scripture usury does not mean excessive interest, as often in modern legislation, but any interest at all. This was strictly forbidden in the law to be taken of any Hebrew, though allowed, without limit as to amount, from foreigners. It had nothing to do with the regulat... [ Continue Reading ]
THAT DOETH THE LIKE TO ANY ONE OF THESE THINGS. — The prophet now enters upon the consideration of the second case, that of the son of a righteous father who takes to wicked courses, and it is shown that he shall be dealt with according to his own personal character. It is not necessary that he shou... [ Continue Reading ]
HATH DONE ALL THESE ABOMINATIONS. — This expression is collective, while that in Ezekiel 18:10 is partitive. This is not because he who commits one sin is considered as having committed all, but because he who willingly commits any sin thereby puts himself into the class of sinners, of those who do... [ Continue Reading ]
DOETH NOT SUCH LIKE. — This is the third case — that of the righteous son of a wicked father. The general principle is the same, that each man is to be judged according to his own individual character. The son of the righteous man has advantages, and the son of the wicked has hindrances in the way o... [ Continue Reading ]
AS FOR HIS FATHER. — There is here a recurrence to the second case, to bring out more sharply the contrast between the two, and to emphasise the fact insisted upon, that each individual must be judged according to his own character, without help or prejudice from that of his father. This third case... [ Continue Reading ]
WHY? DOTH NOT THE SON BEAR? — It would be clearer to read this as a single question, “Why doth not the son, &c?_”_ It is the question proposed by the people in objection to what has been declared. To them it seemed the law of nature, the necessity of the case, the teaching of history, that the son s... [ Continue Reading ]
IF THE WICKED WILL TURN. — The prophet now takes up the fourth and last case — that of a change in the individual character. This has necessarily two sub-divisions: (1) that of the wicked repenting and doing righteousness (Ezekiel 18:21, and Ezekiel 18:27), and (2) that of the righteous falling into... [ Continue Reading ]
SHALL NOT BE MENTIONED UNTO HIM. — A strong way of expressing the completeness of the Divine forgiveness. Here, again, at first sight, there seems to be an inconsistency between the Divine promise and the actual facts of the world. The penitent and forgiven sinner is continually seen to suffer throu... [ Continue Reading ]
HAVE I ANY PLEASURE AT ALL? — This brings out that fundamental truth which underlies the whole teaching of both the Old and New Testaments, and which should have satisfied Israel of the Lord’s readiness to receive every penitent sinner. God created man; and when he had fallen, ordered both the old a... [ Continue Reading ]
THE WAY OF THE LORD IS NOT EQUAL. — The word means literally, _weighed out, balanced._ The accusation of the Israelites was still (here and in Ezekiel 18:29) that the Lord was arbitrary and unjust. His statement in reply is that He rewards and punishes according to eternal and immutable principles o... [ Continue Reading ]
SHALL SAVE HIS SOUL ALIVE. — This does not mean that any man can by his own power save himself, for that question is not here in view at all, but that the consequence of a certain course of conduct will be his salvation, and that the adoption of that course is within the man’s own choice.... [ Continue Reading ]
REPENT, AND TURN. — The three last verses of the chapter contain an earnest exhortation to the Israelites, based on the principles of God’s dealings with man just now declared, to repent and receive His mercy and blessing. Here, as before, there is no question of human sufficiency; and when the coun... [ Continue Reading ]