Ezekiel 37:1

CHAPTER XXXVII

This chapter treats of the same subject with the preceding, in

a beautiful and significant vision. Under the emblem of the

open valley being thickly strewed with very dry bones is

represented the hopeless state of the Jews when dispersed

throughout the provinces of the Chaldean empire. But God,

contrary to every human probability, restores these bones to

life, thereby prefiguring the restoration of that people from

the Babylonish captivity, and their resettlement in the land of

their forefathers, 1-14.

The prophet then makes an easy and elegant transition to the

blessedness of the people of God under the Gospel dispensation,

in the plenitude of its manifestation, when the genuine

converts to Christianity, the spiritual Israel, shall be no

longer under the domination of heathen and anti-christian

rulers, but shall be collected together into one visible

kingdom, and constitute but one flock under one Shepherd, 15-28.

The vision of the dry bones reviving is considered by some as

having a remote view to the general resurrection.

NOTES ON CHAP. XXXVII

Verse Ezekiel 37:1. The hand of the Lord was upon me] The prophetic influence was communicated.

And carried me out in the spirit] Or, And the Lord brought me out in the spirit; that is, a spiritual vision, in which all these things were doubtless transacted.

The valley which was full of bones] This vision of the dry bones was designed, first, as an emblem of the then wretched state of the Jews; secondly, of the general resurrection of the body.