Ezekiel 3:1

CHAPTER III

This chapter contains more particular instructions to the

prophet. It begins with repeating his appointment to his

office, 1-3.

Ezekiel is then informed that his commission is, at this time,

to the house of Israel exclusively, 4-6;

that his countrymen would pay little regard to him, 7;

that he must persevere in his duty notwithstanding such great

discouragement; and he is endued with extraordinary courage and

intrepidity to enable him fearlessly to declare to a disobedient

and gainsaying people the whole counsel of God, 8-11.

The prophet is afterwards carried by the spirit that animated

the cherubim and wheels, and by which he received the gift of

prophecy, to a colony of his brethren in the neighbourhood,

where he remained seven days overwhelmed with astonishment,

12-15.

He is then warned of the awful importance of being faithful in

his office, 16-21;

commanded to go forth into the plain that he may have a visible

manifestation of the Divine Presence, 22;

and is again favoured with a vision of that most magnificent

set of symbols described in the first chapter, by which the

glorious majesty of the God of Israel was in some measure

represented, 23.

See also Isaiah 6:1; Daniel 10:5; and Revelation 1:10; Revelation 4:1,

for other manifestations of the Divine glory, in all of which

some of the imagery is very similar. The prophet receives

directions relative to his future conduct, 24-27.

NOTES ON CHAP. III

Verse Ezekiel 3:1. Eat this roll, and go speak] This must have passed in vision; but the meaning is plain. Receive my word-let it enter into thy Soul; digest it - let it be thy nourishment; and let it be thy meat and drink to do the will of thy Father who is in heaven.