1God refuseth to be consulted by the elders of Israel: 4he rehearseth the rebellions of their ancestors in Egypt, 13in the wilderness, 27and in the promised land: 30he reproacheth the present generation with the like corrupt manners. 33He threateneth to rule over them with rigour, but with promise to gather them, to purge out the rebels, and accept the services of the faithful in his church. 45The destruction of Jerusalem prophesied under the name of a forest.
1AND it came to pass in the 1seventh year, in the 2fifth month, the tenth day of the month, that certain of the 3elders of Israel came 4to enquirea of the LORD, and sat before me.
1 Namely, after the carrying away of Jehoiachin. Compare Ezek. 1 on verse 2; Ezek. 8 on verse 1.
2 See of this month Num. 33 on verse 38.
3 See Ezek. 8:1.
4 Namely, what result the people of the Jews would have of all their troubles, as well in Jerusalem and Judea as there in the land of Babylon, and what they needed to do to escape the judgments wherewith they were threatened. How the Lord was inquired of, see Ezek. 14 on verse 3.
a Ezek. 14:3.
2Then came the word of the LORD unto me, saying,
3Son of man, speak unto the elders of Israel, and say unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Are ye come to enquire of me? 5As I live, saith the Lord GOD, I will not be enquired of by you.
5 That is, I will not be inquired of by you. See this kind of oath Num. 14 on verse 23.
4Wilt thou 6judgeb them, son of man, 7wilt thou judge them? cause them to know the 8abominations of their fathers:
6 Or, give them judgment. Hebr. judge, that is here, speak in favor of, excuse, defend, justify, support. Also Ezek. 22:2; 23:36. Compare the annotation at Gen. 15 on verse 14 about the word judging. Other, Wilt thou not judge them, etc., that is, judging punish them, as follows.
b Ezek. 22:2; 23:36.
7 He duplicates the speech, to give it the greater power; and implies, that he by no means ought to intercede for them or to defend them. Compare Num. 17:12; Judges 5:12, 27.
8 Namely, those which they had in common with their fathers; that they may consider how deeply they are rooted or have run into their wickedness, and how long I have borne with them in it.
5¶And say unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD; In the day when I 9chose Israel, andc10lifted up mine hand unto the 11seed of the house of Jacob, and made myself 12knownd unto them in the land of Egypt, when I lifted up mine hand unto them, saying, I am the LORD your God;
9 That is, declared that I had chosen them out of all people and nations of the earth, that they would be a holy people unto Me. Compare Deut. 4:37; 7:6; 14:2; 26:18.
c Exod. 6:7.
10 That is, promised them with an oath, that I would take them for Mine own people. Gen. 22:16; Exod. 6:7. The lifting up of the hand for making an oath. It is spoken of God after the manner of men. See Gen. 14 on verse 22.
11 That is, posterity. See Gen. 9 on verse 9.
12 Namely, by Moses and Aaron. See Exodus 3 and 4, etc.
d Exod. 3:8; 4:31.
6In the day that I lifted up mine hand unto them, to bring them forth of the land of Egypt into a land that I had espied for them, 13flowing with milk and honey, 14which is the glory of all lands:
13 See Exod. 3 on verse 8.
14 Also verse 15; Ezek. 26:20. See also of the glory of the land of Canaan, Deut. 8:7; 32:13; Psalm 106:24.
7Then said I unto them, Cast ye away every man 15the abominations of his eyes, and 16defile not yourselves with 17the idols of Egypt: I am the LORD your God.
15 As such God calls the images and all their wicked trumpery, because they are loathsome in His sight, and should be so in the sight of all men, upon which notwithstanding the Israelites did cast their eyes with great delight. See 1 Kings 11 on verse 5; 2 Chron. 15 on verse 8.
16 Which is done by setting them up for idolatry, and by giving them inward or outward religious honor. Also verses 30 and 31; Ezek. 23:7; 36:25. Idolatry is spiritual uncleanness. Compare Gen. 35:2; 2 Chron. 29:16, etc. Hence it is also called fornication or adultery. See Lev. 17 on verse 7.
17 Which were very abominable and ridiculous, as calves, crocodiles, apes, the bird Ibis, which in Egypt they write to be a bird as a stork which devours serpents, etc.
8But they rebelled against me, and would not hearken unto me: they did not 18every man cast away the abominations of their eyes, neither did they forsake the idols of Egypt: then I said, I will pour out 19my fury upon them, to accomplish 20my anger against them in the midst of the land of Egypt.
18 Hebr. everyone did not reject or did not cast away the detestation of their eyes; also the following words, no man or none of them, meaning of the greatest part. See 1 Kings 11 on verse 34.
19 See Psalm 79 on verse 6.
20 See Ezek. 7 on verse 8.
9But I 21wrought 22for my name's sake, that it should not be 23polluted before the heathen, among whom they were, 24in whose sight I made myself known 25unto them, in bringing them forth out of the land of Egypt.
21 Namely, what I have done, namely, promising to deliver them out of the land of Egypt, Gen. 15:14; Exod. 3:8. Compare verses 14 and 22.
22 That is, not because they deserved it, or were worthy, but because I had promised it out of mere grace and mercy, and wanted to be found true in My word. Compare verses 14, 22, and 44, etc.; Dan. 9:19; Rom. 9:17, 23; Eph. 1:6.
23 See verses 21, 24, and 39; Lev. 18 on verse 21; Ezek. 39:7
24 Namely, in the eyes of the heathen, and especially of the Egyptians, who had seen all God’s wonderful works. Exod. 14:18; Num. 33:3.
25 Namely, the Israelites.
10¶Wherefore I caused them to go forth out of the lande of Egypt, and brought them into the 26wilderness.
e Exod. 13:18.
26 This stretches itself from the Red Sea to the borders of the land of Canaan.
11And I 27gave them my statutes, and shewed them my judgments, 28whichfif a man do, he shall even live in them.
27 Namely, on mount Sinai, of which see Exod. 19 on verse 1. See also Lev. 7:38; 25:1 with the annotation.
28 See Lev. 18 on verse 5; Deut. 6 on verse 25.
f Lev. 18:5; Rom. 10:5; Gal. 3:12.
12Moreover also I gave them my 29sabbaths,g to be a 30sign between me and them, that they might know that I am the LORD 31that sanctify them.
29 See of this word Lev. 25 on verse 2.
g Exod. 20:8; 31:13; 35:2.
30 That is, a ceremonial representation and signification of the spiritual and eternal Sabbath. Also verse 20.
31 That is, by grace separated from other men, in order that I may be their God, and they may be My people, which I purify unto Myself by the blood of the Messiah, and sanctify them by My Word and Spirit. See Lev. 20 on verse 8; Lev. 21 on verse 8.
13But the house of Israel rebelled against me in the wilderness: they walked not in my statutes, and they despised my judgments, which if a man do, he shall even live in them; and my sabbaths they greatly 32polluted:h then I said, I would pour out my fury upon them in the wilderness, to consume them.
32 Namely, by doing therein what God had forbidden, and leaving undone what He had commanded.
h Exod. 16:28.
14But I 33wrought for my name's sake, that it should not be polluted before the heathen, in whose sight I 34brought them out.
33 Namely, what I have done unto them according to My gracious promise. See on verse 9. Other, I did it, namely, in punishing them oftentimes when they murmured and sinned against Me in the wilderness.
34 Namely, out of the land of Egypt, as verse 6.
15Yet also I 35lifted up my hand unto them in the wilderness, that I would not bring them into the land which I had given them, 36flowing with milk and honey, which is the glory of all lands;
35 See on verse 5.
36 See on verse 6.
16Because they despised my judgments, 37and walked not in my statutes, but polluted my sabbaths: for their heart 38went after their idols.
37 Or, and in my statutes, walked not in them, or, and concerning my statutes, walked not in them. The sense is one and the same.
38 Compare 1 Kings 11 on verse 5.
17Nevertheless mine eye spared them from 39destroying them, neither did I make an end of them in the wilderness.
39 See of this phrase Jer. 4 on verse 27. Also Ezek. 11:13.
18But I said 40unto their children in the wilderness, 41Walk ye not in the statutes of your fathers, neither observe 42their judgments, nor 43defile yourselves with their idols:
40 That is, unto the sons and daughters of those whom I had powerfully brought forth out of the land of Egypt.
41 See 1 Kings 15 on verse 26.
42 That is, their way and manner of doing. Compare Gen. 40:13 and the annotation.
43 See on verse 7.
19I am the LORD your God; 44walk in my statutes, and keep my judgments, and do them;
44 Compare 2 Chron. 6:16 and the annotation.
20And 45hallow my sabbaths; and they shall be a 46sign between me and you, that ye may know that I am the LORD your God.
45 That is, use them to that holy end for which I have hallowed them. See Jer. 17:22.
46 See on verse 12.
21Notwithstanding the children rebelled against me: they walked not in my statutes, neither kept my judgments to do them, which if a man do, he shall even live in them; they polluted my sabbaths: then 47I said, I would pour out 48my fury upon them, to 49accomplish my anger against them in the wilderness.
47 Or, I thought. Saying for thinking. See Gen. 20 on verse 11.
48 See Ezek. 7 on verse 8.
49 Also verse 8.
22Nevertheless 50I withdrew mine hand, and 51wrought for my name's sake, that it should not be 52polluted in the sight of the heathen, in whose sight I brought them forth.
50 Namely, from accomplishing Mine anger upon them.
51 Namely, that I did not destroy them in the wilderness.
52 Also verse 9.
23 I 53lifted up mine hand unto them also in the wilderness, that I would scatter them among the heathen, and disperse them through the countries;
53 Namely, threatening to punish them. Compare Psalm 10:12 and the annotation.
24Because they had not executed my judgments, but had despised my statutes, and had polluted my sabbaths, and 54their eyes were after their fathers' idols.
54 Understand also their hearts; for, these two things follow one another, Job 31:7. Therefore they are also sometimes joined together, Jer. 22:17; Ezek. 6:9.
25Wherefore I gave them also 55statutes that were 56not good, and judgments 57whereby they should not live;
55 That is, determined sentences and ordinances of My just judgment, containing in them the punishments which they had deserved, and also had to suffer. As such is the Hebrew word also taken Job 23:14; Psalm 2:7. Thus in the following words the word judgments is taken for punishments which justly belong unto them for their sins.
56 That is, not pleasing unto them or agreeing well with them, but very bad and destructive. See of these punishments Num. 16:23, etc.; 21:6; 25:4, etc. Others understand by these evil statutes the idolatrous laws of the heathen, which God is said to have given to the Israelites, because in His just judgment He permitted them to walk therein to their own destruction, because they forsook His holy laws. Compare Psalm 81:11, 12; Rom. 1:24, etc.; 2 Thes. 2:11.
57 This was fulfilled when they perished in the wilderness and thereafter.
26And I 58polluted them in their own gifts, in that they caused to pass through 59the firei60all that openeth the womb, 61that I might make them desolate, to the end that they might know that I am the LORD.
58 That is, I declared, proved and testified that they were unclean, that is, profane, abominable and displeasing unto Me in the offering of their gifts which they brought unto Me. See of the word polluting so taken Lev. 13 on verse 3.
59 This is here inserted from the 31st verse following. It is also left out of the text at Lev. 18:21. See of this abomination of the Gentiles Lev. 18 on verse 21. Some are of the opinion that the Jews also would commit this abomination to the honor of the true God.
i Ezek. 16:21.
60 Hebr. all opening of the womb, that is, every firstborn. Also Exod. 13:2, etc.; Num. 3:12.
61 For, God had threatened them, if they followed the abominations of the Gentiles, that He would make their land desolate, Lev. 26:22, 31, 32, etc.
27¶Therefore, son of man, speak unto the house of Israel, and say unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Yet in this your fathers have blasphemed me, in that they have committed a 62trespass against me.
62 That is, have committed a particular sin against Me. Compare the manner of speech Lev. 5:15; Num. 5:27; Joshua 7:1.
28For 63when I had brought them 64into the land, for the which I lifted up mine hand to give it to them, then they saw every high hill, and all the 65thick trees, and they offered there their sacrifices, and there they presented the 66provocation of their offering: there also they made their sweet savour, and 67poured out there their drink offerings.
63 Here is related the aforementioned particular transgression.
64 That is, into the land of Canaan, which I had promised unto their fathers.
65 That is, which were very thick and twisted together in their boughs and leaves. Compare Lev. 23:40; Neh. 8:16.
66 Or, their provoking offerings. Hebr. the provocation of their offerings, that is, the offerings whereby they did irritate and provoke Me to anger.
67 See Psalm 16 on verse 4.
29Then I said unto them, What is the 68high place whereunto ye go? And the name thereof is called Bamah unto this day.
68 What the idolatrous high places were, see Lev. 26 on verse 30. The Lord, speaking thus, asks in an ironical way what it meant that they went thither to offer sacrifice; for, though He had continually forbidden them by His prophets to do it, yet there remained still (together with the idolatrous worship) the very name of the place among them in honor and esteem.
30Wherefore say unto the house of Israel, Thus saith the Lord GOD; 69Are ye 70polluted 71after the manner of your fathers? and 72commit ye whoredom after their abominations?
69 Namely, through the honor and the service which ye do to the idols. See on verse 7.
70 Other, Are ye not become polluted, etc.
71 That is, after or with the manner and course of life of your fathers. See Prov. 6 on verse 6.
72 See Lev. 17 on verse 7; Lev. 20 on verse 5.
3173For when ye offer your gifts, when ye make your sons to pass through the fire, ye pollute yourselves with all your idols, even unto this day: and shall I be enquired of by you, O house of Israel? As I live, saith the Lord GOD, I will not be enquired of 74by you.
73 Other, For when ye offer your gifts, and when ye cause your children to pass through the fire, etc., should I than be enquired of by you?
74 Complete the sense, as in other oaths of God. See Num. 14 on verse 23. The meaning then is, as if the Lord said: I desire from you, who are such abominable idolaters, not to be inquired of.
32And that which cometh 75into your mind 76shall not be at all, that ye say, We will be as the heathen, as the families of the countries, to serve 77wood and stone.
75 That is, what is come into the thoughts of your heart, or what you think or imagine within yourselves. Compare Ezek. 11 on verse 5, and see Jer. 7 on verse 31.
76 Hebr. shall being not be, or, being done not be done.
77 The images are called as such, Deut. 4:28; 29:17; Jer. 2:27; 3:9. Likewise hewn stones, Lev. 26:1; gold and silver, Deut. 29:17; Psalm 115:4, etc.
33¶As I live, saith the Lord GOD, surely with a 78mighty hand, and with a 79stretched out arm, and with 80fury poured out, will I rule 81over you:
78 That I, sore and grievous plagues. See Exod. 3:19; 9:3; Job 13:21 with the annotations.
79 That is, violent, far-extending and long-lasting punishments. Compare Jer. 21:5; Ezek. 4:7.
80 See Ezek. 7 on verse 8.
81 That is, be your Lord and King, in order that it shall not be in your liberty and power to cast Me off, and to forsake Me to choose another sovereign.
34And I will bring you out 82from the people, and will gather you out of the countries wherein ye are scattered, with a mighty hand, and with a stretched out arm, and with fury poured out.
82 Many understand by these people those who were transported to Babel with king Jehoiachin, 2 Kings 24:12; though among them may be also understood those who, by the final siege under Zedekiah’s reign, were scattered into the countries round about. Compare Jer. 40:11, 12.
35And I will bring you 83into the wilderness of the people, and there will I 84plead with you 85face to face.
83 That is, into Chaldea and the countries round about, where the Jews would be as in a wilderness. Compare Ezek. 19:13 and the annotation.
84 Or, reason. The Hebrew word rendered here pleading or reasoning signifies properly to be judged before a judge, Psalm 109:7; Prov. 29:9. There is now no other supreme Judge than God alone, but He is said to be judged, when by His punishments He so convinces man of his sins, that even other men may judge that the sinner is justly punished for them. See Ezek. 17 on verse 20.
85 That is, in presence, revealing Myself unto them by punishments, the justice whereof shall so appear unto all, as if I pleaded against you in personal presence. Compare Exod. 33:11.
36Like as I pleaded with your fathers in the wilderness of the land of Egypt, so will I plead with you, saith the Lord GOD.
37And I will cause you to pass 86under the rod, and I will bring 87you 88into the bond of the covenant:
86 That is, separate you from the rest, and appropriate you as an holy people unto Myself. See of this manner of speech Lev. 27 on verse 32. Likewise Jer. 33:13.
87 Namely, whom I have set apart.
88 That is, unto the obedience which you owe unto Me by virtue of the covenant which I made with you.
38And I will 89purge out from among you 90the rebels, and them that transgress against me: I will 91bring them forth 92out of the country where they sojourn, and they shall 93not enter 94into the land of Israel: and ye shall know that I am the LORD.
89 Or, sweep out, that is, separate from those whom I have chosen for My own peculiar people, and are obedient to My word.
90 Namely, Israel.
91 Namely, to be carried captive to Babel.
92 That is, out of the land of Judah. He speaks of the Jews who were with Zedekiah still in Judea, and He called the land whereof they boasted themselves to be the true and lawful heirs, the land of their pilgrimage, because it was now almost subdued by the king of Babel, and that by their rebellion against him, yea, also against God Himself, they had lost their right in it. Some understand by the land of their pilgrimages the country of Chaldea, from where some wicked men indeed would be brought forth, but would be destroyed by God, and not come into the land of Israel.
93 Namely, because they would die in the Babylonian captivity.
94 That is, in the same land.
39As for you, O house of Israel, thus saith the Lord GOD; 95Go ye, serve ye every one his idols, and 96hereafter also, if ye will not hearken unto me: but pollute ye 97my holy name no more 98with your gifts, and with your idols.
95 A command given in a mocking way, and in most bitter wrath, to signify that He forsook and rejected this obstinate people. Compare Judges 10:14; 1 Kings 22:15; Job 38:3 and the annotations.
96 Namely, after that ye shall be carried away captive out of Judea.
97 Hebr. the Name of my holiness.
98 Namely, which ye give and offer unto your idols, and that for form’s sake out of a good intention, to My honor and glory, as ye pretend.
40For 99in mine holy mountain, in the mountain of the height of Israel, saith the Lord GOD, there shall 100all the house of Israel, all of them in the land, serve me: there will I accept 101them, and there will I require your 102offerings, and the firstfruits of your oblations, with all your 103holy things.
99 Hebr. in the mountain of my holiness. Understand the holy church, and see Ezek. 17 on verse 22.
100 Or, all that are in the land, etc. Understand the spiritual Israel, which is the congregation of all the elect and true believers, Rom. 9:6, 7, etc.; 11:26; Gal. 6:16.
101 That is, their persons, and that out of free grace, for the Mediator’s sake, in Whom they shall believe, and by Whose Spirit they shall be sanctified and governed, Eph. 1:6.
102 Understand by the name here of the worship of the Old Testament also the worship of the New. Compare Isa. 19:19, 21; Mal. 1:11.
103 Namely, which shall be hallowed and dedicated unto Me.
41I will accept you with your 104sweet savour, when I bring you out from the people, and gather you out of the countries wherein ye have been scattered; and I will be 105sanctified in you before the heathen.
104 See Gen. 8 on verse 21.
105 That is, be honored and magnified for the grace and mercy which I shall have shown unto you. See Lev. 10 on verse 3.
42And ye shall know that I am the LORD, when I shall bring you into the land of Israel, into the country for the which I lifted up mine hand to give it to your fathers.
43And there 106shall ye remember your ways, and all your doings, wherein ye have been 107defiled; and ye shall 108lothe yourselves in your own sight for all your evils that ye have committed.
106 Compare Ezek. 6:9 and the annotation.
107 Compare Ezek. 14 on verse 11.
108 See Ezek. 6 on verse 9.
44And ye shall know that I am the LORD, when I have wrought with you 109for my name's sake, not according to your wicked ways, nor according to your corrupt doings, O ye house of Israel, saith the Lord GOD.
109 See on verse 9.
45¶Moreover the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,
46Son of man, 110set thy face 111toward the south, and 112drop thy word toward the south, and prophesy against the 113forest of the south field;
110 That is, prepare thyself, fit thyself, take a strong resolution to prophecy against the south. Compare Ezek. 6:2; 21:2. Some begin here the next chapter, in which beginning this figurative prophecy is explained.
111 That is, toward Jerusalem and Judea. For, this land was situated southward in respect of Chaldea or Mesopotamia, where Ezekiel now was. Compare Ezek. 21:2.
112 See Deut. 32 on verse 2.
113 Understand the land of Judah, which was as full of men as a wood is full of trees. Compare the next verse.
47And say to the 114forest of the south, Hear the word of the LORD; Thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I will kindle 115a fire in thee, and it shall devour 116every greenj tree in thee, and every dry tree: 117the flaming flame shall not be quenched, and 118all faces from the south to the north shall be burned therein.
114 That is, to the men who dwell in Judea. See Ezek. 17 on verse 24.
115 That is, a sore plague of a cruel war. Compare Job 15 on verse 34. Likewise see Psalm 78:63; 83:14.
116 That is, the righteous and the wicked. See this explanation Ezek. 17:24; 21:3. The godly are said to be green, and the wicked dry, Psalm 52:8; Jer. 17:8; Luke 23:31.
j Luke 23:31.
117 Hebr. the flame of flame, or, the flame, the flame, that is, the very mighty flame, or the flame which flames exceedingly. Understand a very great punishment. See Job 15 on verse 30.
118 That is, all men, from one end of the land to the other. Compare Ezek. 21:4.
48And all 119flesh shall see that I the LORD have kindled it: it shall not be quenched.
119 That is, every person. See Gen. 6 on verse 12.
49Then said I, Ah Lord GOD! 120they say of me, Doth he not speak 121parables?
120 Namely, mocking at my person, ministry, calling.
121 See Ezek. 17 on verse 2.