Ezekiel 33:1

CHAPTER XXXIII

The prophet, after having addressed several other nations,

returns now to his own; previously to which he is told, as on a

former occasion, the duty of a watchman, the salvation or ruin

of whose soul depends on the manner in which he discharges it.

An awful passage indeed; full of important instruction both to

such as speak, and to such as hear, the word of God, 1-9.

The prophet is then directed what answer to make to the cavils

of infidelity and impiety; and to vindicate the equity of the

Divine government by declaring the general terms of acceptance

with God to be (as told before, Ezekiel 18:3; Ezekiel 18:4 c.,)

without respect of persons so that the ruin of the finally

impenitent must be entirely owing to themselves, 10-20.

The prophet receives the news of the destruction of Jerusalem

by the Chaldeans, about a year and four months after it

happened, according to the opinion of some, who have been led

to this conjecture by the date given to this prophecy in the

twenty-first verse, as it stands in our common Version: but

some of the manuscripts of this prophet consulted by Dr.

Kennicott have in this place the ELEVENTH year, which is

probably the genuine reading. To check the vain confidence of

those who expected to hold out by possessing themselves of its

other fastnesses, the utter desolation of all Judea is

foretold, 21-29.

Ezekiel is informed that among those that attended his

instructions were a great number of hypocrites, against whom he

delivers a most awful message. When the Lord is destroying

these hypocrites, then shall they know that there hath been a

prophet among them, 30-33.

NOTES ON CHAP. XXXIII