*THE BOOK OF THE PROPHET
EZEKIEL

Ezekiel 10

1The vision of the coals of fire, which are ordered to be taken from between the cherubims, and scattered over the city. 8The vision of the cherubims and the glory of God removing from the temple.


1THEN I 1looked, and, behold, in the 2firmament that was above the head of the 3cherubims there appeared 4over them as it were a 5sapphire stone, as the appearance of the likeness of a 6throne.

1 Namely, in the spirit. For, the prophet was in a trance.

2 See Ezek. 1 on verse 22, and compare there verse 26.

3 That is, the likeness of cherubims. See of these cherubims Gen. 3 on verse 24. They are called in Ezek. 1:5 creatures, and were four in number. See Ezek. 1 on verse 5.

4 Namely, the firmament and the throne. Or, upon them, namely, the cherubims.

5 See Ezek. 1 on verse 26.

6 See Ezek. 1 on verse 26.

2And 7he spake unto 8the man clothed with linen, and said, Go 9in between the 10wheels, 11even under the cherub, and fill thine hand with 12coals of fire 13from between the cherubims, and 14scatter them over the city. And 15he went in 16in my sight.

7 Namely, God, Who is called below in verse 18 the Lord, and the God of Israel in verse 19.

8 See of this Man in Ezek. 9 on verse 3. If by Him here is understood the Lord Christ, then He is here considered as the Judge of the wicked.

9 Hebr. within the wheels, that is, into the very midst of them. So in the sequel.

10 Understand by these the wheels, of whose description and signification see in Ezek. 1 on verse 15.

11 For, the wheels were by the cherubims.

12 Which were representations of God’s righteous judgments. See Ezek. 1 on verse 13, and compare Psalm 18:8.

13 Hebr. from the betweennesses of the cherubims, that is, from the place which is between the cherubims.

14 Unto a sign that it shall be consumed by a burning of the sword, famine and pestilence, yes, also with material fire, 2 Kings 25:9.

15 Namely, the Man clothed with linen.

16 That is, that I beheld Him with mine eyes in this vision.

3Now the cherubims stood 17on the right side 18of the house, when the man went in; and the 19cloud filled the 20inner court.

17 That is, on the north side, which looked toward the land of the Chaldeans, to signify that the destruction of the temple and of the Jews would come from there.

18 That is, of the temple of the Lord, meaning in the inner court, as appears from the following words in this verse.

19 Which signified God’s wrath, and the destruction that was near at hand and ready to light upon the temple. So that the cloud here is a sign of God’s anger and approaching calamities, as Psalm 18:11, 12, and not of His gracious presence, as Exod. 40:34; Num. 9:15; 1 Kings 8:10, 11.

20 Which was the court of the priests. See 1 Kings 6 on verse 36.

4Then 21the glory of the LORD went up 22from the 23cherub, and stood 24over the threshold of the 25house; and the house was filled with the cloud, and the 26court was full of the brightness of the LORD's glory.

21 See Ezek. 1 on verse 28.

22 Namely, upon which the Lord had had His ordinary dwellingplace in the Holy of Holies, 1 Sam. 4:4; Psalm 80:1; Isa. 37:16. Or, from upon these four cherubims to the threshold of the house.

23 Or, cherubims; for, the singular number is here taken for the plural. See on verse 1; Ezek. 9 on verse 3.

24 To signify that God would remove from the temple and from that people.

25 That is, of the part of the temple which was called the holy place. God first departed from the most holy place, Ezek. 9:3; now He departs also from the holy place.

26 Namely, the innermost court, otherwise called the court of the priests.

5And the 27sound of the 28cherubims’ 29wings was heard even to 30the outer court, 31as the voice of the 32Almighty God when he speaketh.

27 This is further described by similitudes Ezek. 1:24.

28 Namely, who thus consented this just removal of the Lord as it were with praise and thanksgiving, or, as it was foretold with astonishment the fearful misery that would follow upon it.

29 See Ezek. 1 on verse 6.

30 Otherwise called: the great court. See 1 Kings 7:9 and the annotation.

31 See Ezek. 1 on verse 24.

32 See Gen. 17 on verse 1.

6And it came to pass, that when 33he had commanded the man clothed with linen, saying, Take 34fire 35from between the wheels, from between the cherubims; then he went in, and stood beside 36the wheels.

33 Namely, the Lord, Whose glory is described in verse 4.

34 Called in verse 2 coals of fire. Fire signifies God’s wrath and vengeance. See Job 22 on verse 20.

35 See on verse 2.

36 Namely, by one of these four wheels which were by the cherubims. Other, wheel. And thus here the singular number is taken for the plural. Compare verse 4, the annotation on the word cherub.

7And 37one cherub stretched forth his hand from between the cherubims unto the fire that was between the cherubims, and took thereof, and put it into the hands of him that was clothed with linen: who took it, and 38went out.

37 Namely, one of the four, of which see Ezek. 1:5 and the annotations.

38 Namely, to scatter this over the city Jerusalem; which here has truly occurred in a vision for a prediction of the future, but a few years hereafter in the performance unto the fulfillment of the prophecy.

8¶And 39there appeared in the cherubims the form of a man’s 40hand under their wings.

39 See Ezek. 1 on verse 8.

40 Nevertheless understand that each of them had two hands. The singular number for the plural. Compare verse 4 on the word cherub; likewise verse 21.

9And when I looked, behold the 41four wheels by 42the cherubims, 43one wheel by one cherub, and another wheel by another cherub: and the appearance of the wheels wasa as the colour of a 44beryl stone.

41 See Ezek. 1 on verse 15.

42 Which were also four in number, Ezek. 1:5, where they are called creatures. See the annotations.

43 Hebr. one wheel by one cherub, and a wheel by one cherub, that is, by every cherub a wheel. See of this manner of speech, Gen. 7 on verse 2; Num. 7:11; Num. 13 on verse 2.

a Ezek. 1:16.

44 A precious stone, of which see Ezek. 1:16.

10And as for their appearances, they four had 45one likeness, 46as if a wheel had been in the midst of a wheel.

45 Which signifies that in all the works of God there is a wonderful likeness in manner, order and perfection.

46 See Ezek. 1 on verse 15 on the words four faces. Likewise see the annotation at Ezek. 1 on verse 16.

11When 47they went, 48they went upon their four sides; 49they turned not as they went, but to the place whither the 50head looked they followed it; they turned not as they went.

47 Namely, the cherubims, by whom were the wheels. See Ezek. 1 on verse 9.

48 Namely, the wheels. See Ezek. 1 on verse 17.

49 See Ezek. 1:17.

50 Understand one of the four heads which every cherub had, which looked towards the four winds.

12And 51their whole 52body, and their backs, and their hands, and their wings, and the wheels, were full of eyes round about, even the wheels 53that they four had.

51 Namely, of the cherubims, to whom are ascribed here eyes (though not in the first vision, Ezekiel 1), signifying the Providence of God, whereby they are enlightened, and whereby all their work is wisely ordered and performed. Compare Ezek. 1 on verse 18, where mention is made of the eyes of the wheels.

52 Hebr. flesh; for, man’s body consists of flesh. See Job 12 on verse 10.

53 Namely, cherubims. See Ezek. 1 on verse 15. Likewise here verse 9. The meaning is, that every cherub had one wheel.

13As for the wheels, it was cried unto them 54in my hearing, O wheel.

54 That is, in order that I heard it, every wheel was called galgal, that is, wheel, or bullet, or ball; or thus: It was cried unto them: O wheel, or, the wheel, etc.

14And 55every one had four faces: the 56first face was the face of a 57cherub, and the second face was the face of a man, and the third the face of a lion, and the fourth the face of an eagle.

55 There is some distinction in this vision, both in order and appellation, from the vision in Ezekiel 1, though in the performance it was the very same. See verses 15 and 22.

56 Namely, of every one of the cherubims. Now this first face of the cherub was that which looked forward; the second, that looked toward the right hand; the third, toward the left hand; the fourth, looked backward. Such four faces each of them all four had. Hebr. the face of the first.

57 Some are of the opinion that here, instead of the face of an ox, is put the face of a cherub to show that they were all cherubims. Others give other reasons.

15And the cherubims were lifted up. 58This is the living creature that I saw by the river of Chebar.

58 Or, these were the same creatures. The singular number for the plural. He speaks of the four creatures, whereof see Ezek. 1:5.

16Andb when the cherubims went, the wheels went by them: and when the cherubims lifted up their wings to mount up from the earth, the same wheels also turned not from beside them.

b Ezek. 1:19.

17When 59they stood, 60these stood; and when they were lifted up, these lifted up themselves also: 61forc the spirit of the living creature was in them.

59 Namely, the cherubims.

60 Namely, the wheels. Also in the sequel.

61 Namely, the Holy Spirit. See Ezek. 1 on verse 12. Other, the spirit of life.

c Ezek. 1:20.

18Then 62the glory of the LORD departed 63from off the threshold of the house, and 64stood over the cherubims.

62 That is, God, Who is glorious. See Ezek. 1 on verse 28.

63 Namely, upon which it was come before from the cherubims. See verse 4 and the annotations.

64 Or, set itself.

19And the cherubims lifted up their wings, and mounted up from the earth 65in my sight: when they went out, the wheels also were 66beside them, and every one 67stood at the door 68of the east gate of the LORD's house; and the glory of the God of Israel was over 69them above.

65 That is, that I beheld it, namely, with the eyes of my spirit, being in a trance.

66 Or, over against them.

67 Or, stayed.

68 Or, foremost gate. Some understand by this gate, the gate of the priests’ court; others, the gate of the people’s court. This signifies that God would at length utterly remove from His house. Compare the annotations at Ezek. 9 on verse 3, and in this chapter on verse 4.

69 Namely, over the cherubims.

2070This is the living creature that I saw 71under the God of Israel byd the river of Chebar; and I 72knew that they were the cherubims.

70 See on verse 15.

71 For, these creatures stood under the firmament, above which the glory of God appeared. See Ezek. 1:26, and here verse 1.

d Ezek. 1:3.

72 In order that this vision of the prophet served for the interpretation of the first vision, described in Ezekiel 1.

21Everye one had four faces apiece, and every one four wings; and the likeness of the hands of a man was under their wings.

e Ezek. 1:6, 8; 10:8, 14.

22And the likeness of their faces was the same faces which I saw by the river of Chebar, their appearances and themselves: 73they went every one straight forward.

73 See Ezek. 1 on verse 9.