1False prophets reproved, and their daubing with untempered morter; 17the prophetesses also reproved with their impostures under the title of pillows and kerchiefs.
1AND the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,
2Son of man, prophesy 1against the prophets of Israel 2that prophesy, and say thou unto them that prophesy 3out of their own hearts, Hear ye the word of the LORD;
1 Namely, who were in Chaldea among the captive Jews, whom they would make to believe that they would quickly return into their own country. See of them also Jer. 29:8. They had their companions also in Jerusalem, Jer. 23:16, 17.
2 That is, who take upon themselves the prophetical office, but falsely.
3 Hebr. the prophets out of their own heart, that is, who prophecy that which proceeds out of their own opinion, judgment and motion, and not from God. Such prophets are said to prophesy false visions, and the deceits of their heart, Jer. 14:14, to speak the visions of their own heart, Jer. 23:16, to be the prophets of the deceit of their own heart, Jer. 23:26, to follow their own spirit, here in the next verse. See the contrary in Num. 16:28 and there the annotation.
3Thus saith the Lord GOD; Woe unto the foolish prophets, that follow 4their own spirit, and have 5seen nothing!
4 That is, follow their own minds and conceptions in propounding their presumptuous prophecies. Compare the annotation on the previous verse.
5 Namely, which would not have been shown to them by God in a vision to declare it in His Name unto the people. The word see is often thus taken, as Num. 24:4; Isa. 30:10; Lam. 2:14, and here verses 6, 7 and 8. Hence the prophets are called seers. See 1 Sam. 9 on verse 9; 2 Chron. 9 on verse 29.
4O Israel, thy prophets are 6like the foxes in the deserts.
6 Namely, that being in waste, barren and desolate places, where very little prey is to be had, are very eager to snatch at the meanest thing there they can get it.
57Ye have not gone up 8into the gaps, neither made up 9the hedge for the house of Israel to stand in the battle 10in the day of the LORD.
7 Namely, the false prophets.
8 It is a similitude taken from warlike affairs, where valiant soldiers do set themselves boldly in the gap which is made in the city wall by the enemy, to keep the enemy out of it; which the false prophets ought to have imitated by their prayers unto God, and exhortations unto the congregations, to turn away God’s judgments and punishments. See the same phrase Psalm 106:23, 30; Ezek. 22:30.
9 Namely, when it was broken. It is another similitude taken from gardens, which hedges and fences, when they have been damaged by wild animals, must be repaired against a new irruption of the same. See of this comparison Ezek. 22:30.
10 Understand the time wherein the Lord would send the Chaldeans against the Israelites to destroy them. The day of the Lord for the day of punishment or vengeance. See Job 24 on verse 1.
611They have seen 12vanity and 13lying divination, saying, The LORD saith: and the LORD hath not sent them: and they have made others to hope that they would confirm 14the word.
11 Namely, the false prophets, unto whom Ezekiel had spoken in the second person, verse 5, of whom he now speaks in the third person, as also verse 4. See of similar change in person Job 18:4.
12 See Ezek. 12 on verse 24.
13 Hebr. prediction of a lie.
14 Or, the matter, namely, which they have published falsely as a prophecy coming from God.
715Have ye not seen a 16vain vision, and have ye not spoken 17a lying divination, whereas ye 18say, The LORD saith it; albeit 19I have not spoken?
15 This question implies a strong affirmation.
16 Hebr. a vision of vanity, also Ezek. 12:24. See the annotation.
17 Hebr. a prediction of a lie.
18 Namely, unto the people.
19 Namely, the Lord.
8Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD; Because ye have spoken vanity, and seen lies, therefore, behold, 20I am against you, saith the Lord GOD.
20 Namely, to punish and destroy you. Compare Jer. 21:13 with the annotation.
9And 21mine hand shall be upon the prophets that see vanity, and that divine lies: they shall not be 22in the assembly of my people, neither shall they be written in the 23writing 24of the house of Israel, neither shall they enter 25into the land of Israel; and ye shall know that I am the Lord GOD.
21 That is, My power to punish and to destroy. Also Exod. 9:3; Judges 2:15; 1 Sam. 12:15.
22 Thus is the Hebrew word sod taken Psalm 89:7; 111:1. The sense is, that the false prophets shall not be reckoned among God's chosen people, nor be partakers of His spiritual goods.
23 That is, in the register of God's true children. Compare Exod. 32:32 and the annotation. Likewise Psalm 69:29 and the annotations; Luke 10:20; Rev. 13:8; 17:8; 20:15; 21:27.
24 That is, not to be found of the true church.
25 That is, not return into the land of Judah out of the Babylonian captivity; as they, who remain impenitent, shall likewise not enter into the heavenly Canaan.
10¶Because, even 26because they have 27seduced my people, 28saying, Peace; and there was no peace; and 29one built up a 30wall, and, lo, 31others 32daubed it with 33untempered morter:
26 This duplication is made to add greater force to the sense. See similarly Gen. 7 on verse 2; Gen. 14 on verse 10; Num. 3:9; Deut. 16:20; Joel 3:14 and the annotations.
27 Namely, for the reason that they have not believed My threats, nor purely performed My worship, nor obeyed My laws, prescribing the way and rule of life, Jer. 28:15, 16.
28 That is, making them to believe that all things were well and that there was no punishment to be expected. Compare verse 16; Jer. 6:14; 28:9.
29 Namely, the false prophet.
30 Or, a wall of mud, that is, a poor and weak protection to save a house from a violent strike and breach. Understand the vain and flattering prophecies of deceivers, which they presented unto the people, in order that they might not believe the threats of God announced by the true prophets.
31 Namely, the false prophets.
32 That is, assisted to confirm and to complete the proposed prophecy of the first (prophet) by vain and sophistic speeches to men's gratification.
33 Understand an ill-made or tempered material of lime or mortar, which easily falls off and perishes. Compare Ezek. 22:28.
11Say unto them which daub it with untempered morter, that 34it shall fall: there shall be an 35overflowing shower; and ye, O great hailstones, shall fall; and a stormy wind shall rend it.
34 Namely, the mud-wall.
35 Understand by this, and what follows, the violence of the Chaldeans, which would be terribly poured out upon Jerusalem and the entire kingdom of Judah. The same comparisons are also used elsewhere. See Isa. 25:4; Jer. 47:2; Ezek. 38:22.
12Lo, when the wall is fallen, 36shall it not be 37said unto you, Where is the daubing wherewith ye have daubed it?
36 This question implies a strong affirmation.
37 Namely, by the men, who, passing by, shall see the ruin of the house or shall have notice thereof.
13Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD; I will even rend 38it with a stormy wind in my fury; and there shall be an overflowing shower in mine anger, and great hailstones in my fury 39to consume it.
38 Namely, this mud-wall.
39 Hebr. unto destruction.
14So will I break down the wall that ye have daubed with untempered morter, and bring it down 40to the ground, so that 41the foundation thereof shall be discovered, and 42it shall fall, and 43ye shall be consumed in the midst thereof: and ye shall know that I am the LORD.
40 Hebr. make it come near the ground.
41 That is, it shall be razed to the very foundation. See similar phrase Psalm 137:7; Micah 1:6; Hab. 3:13. Compare 2 Sam. 22:16.
42 Namely, Jerusalem.
43 Namely, the Jews.
15Thus will I accomplish my wrath upon the wall, and upon them that have daubed it with untempered morter, and will say unto 44you, The wall 45is no more, 46neither they that daubed it;
44 Understand those who believed the false prophets and expected all manner of good from their vain and flattering prophecies.
45 That is, it is thrown down.
46 Namely, alive. See Gen. 42 on verse 13; Prov. 12 on verse 7.
16To wit, the prophets of Israel which prophesy concerning Jerusalem, and which see visions 47of peace for her, and there is no peace, saith the Lord GOD.
47 See on verse 10.
17¶Likewise, thou son of man, 48set thy face 49against the daughters of thy people, which prophesy out of their own heart; and 50prophesy thou against them,
48 See Ezek. 6 on verse 2.
49 That is, against the women from your country folk, who pass themselves off as prophetesses and diviners, made the people believe by mere vanities and lies that God was not angry with them, as the true prophets taught. Moreover, they flattered the people and hardened them in their sins, promising them God’s mercy and blessing, though they continued and went on in the same sins. Now to assure everyone of it, they made, as some conceive, arm-cushions and head coverings, which they tendered to the person, whom they deceived, for some gain which these prophetesses reaped from it.
50 See on verse 2.
18And say, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Woe to the women that sew 51pillows to 52all armholes, and make 53kerchiefs upon the head 54of every stature to hunt 55souls! Will ye hunt the 56souls of my people, and will ye save the 57souls 58alive that come unto 59you?
51 Some understand this not literally, but figuratively of the flatteries and promises of peace and rest. Others understand it literally, that they made and sold such things to be used by those who believed their prophecies, to signify that they would as truly have rest and peace in the land, as their arms would easily lean and rest upon those pillows.
52 Hebr. all arm-holes of the hands, namely, of all those who, for the aforesaid purpose, would have a desire to buy and use them.
53 Other, nightcaps or kerchiefs. This served as a sign that they would always sleep soundly and quietly.
54 That is, of every age, or tallness. They suit their juggling to all kinds of men, small and great, to tempt every man, to pluck from every man.
55 And so to catch men; that is, to bring men into temporal and eternal destruction, by hardening them in abominable idolatry and impenitence. Compare Prov. 6:26 and the annotation.
56 Understand the reasonable and immortal souls.
57 That is, your person. Also Gen. 9:5 on the words your lives.
58 That is, nourish and sustain them, to obtain by unjust and unlawful gain by your false prophecies.
59 Or, for your selves, that is, for your good.
19And will ye 60pollute me among my people fora handfuls of barley and for pieces of bread, 61to slay the souls that should not die, and to save the souls 62alive that should not live, by your lying to my people that hear your 63lies?
60 Namely, misusing My Name, as if I had commanded you to tempt My people by false prophecies. Compare Lev. 18 on verse 21.
a Micah 3:5.
61 That is, to declare death by your prophecies to those who shall not die, because they believe in Me, and abhor your divinations.
62 That is, to promise life unto those who shall not live, because they depart from Me, and adhere unto you.
63 Namely, your lying, wherewith you deceive them.
20Wherefore thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, 64I am against your pillows, wherewith ye there hunt the souls 65to make them fly, and I will 66tear them from your arms, and will 67let the souls go, even the souls that ye hunt to make them fly.
64 Namely, to tear them in pieces, and to destroy them. Compare verse 8 and the annotation.
65 Hebr. to the flowering gardens, namely, wherein they had their idols, to ask of them concerning things to come and to entice them thither that were very eager and desirous after those things, that they might seduce them, Isa. 65:5. Other, that they might fly away, namely, being loose from your deceitful pillows.
66 Or, pluck them off.
67 Namely, out of the nets where into ye hunt them, or out of the cages wherein ye hold them captive, that they may escape the destruction which ye seek to bring upon them.
21Your kerchiefsb also will I tear, and deliver my people out of your 68hand, and they shall be no more in your hand 69to be hunted; and 70ye shall know that I am the LORD.
b cloth, veil, head-scarf
68 That is, power and might. See Gen. 16 on verse 6.
69 Namely, as a prey, to be hunted by you.
70 Namely, the false prophetesses, of whom is spoken in verse 17.
22Because with lies ye have made the heart of the righteous 71sad, 72whom I have not made 73sad; and strengthened 74the hands of the wicked, that he should not return from his wicked way, by promising him life:
71 Namely, threatening him with temporal and eternal destruction, because he did not believe nor follow you.
72 Namely, the righteous, or, the same, namely, the heart of the righteous.
73 Namely, in threatening him with My judgments; yea, have comforted him more with the promise of My mercy.
74 That is, have hardened and encouraged him in his idolatry and impenitence. See of this phrase also Judges 9:24 and the annotation. It is also taken in a good sense, as Judges 7:11; 1 Sam. 23:16; Isa. 35:3.
23Therefore 75ye shall 76see no more 77vanity, nor 78divine divinations: for I will deliver my people out of your hand: and ye shall know that I am the LORD.
75 Namely, the false prophetesses.
76 Namely, because ye shall perish.
77 See on verse 6.
78 Or, deal in divination. Hebr. divining divine, also Deut. 18:10; 2 Kings 17:17; Ezek. 21:21. See further on the word divination at Prov. 16 on verse 10.