1By the parable of a boiling pot is shewed the destruction of Jerusalem, the bloody city. 15Ezekiel is forbidden to mourn for the death of his wife, 19to denote that the calamity of the Jews shall be beyond all expressions of sorrow. 25In that day of affliction the prophet's mouth shall be opened to their conviction.
1AGAIN in the 1ninth year, in the 2tenth month, in the tenth day of the month, the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,
1 After the captivity of king Jehoiachin, described in 2 Kings 24:12, 13, 14, 15, 16 (compare Ezek. 1:2; 33:21; 40:1), in whose stead Nebuchadnezzar made Zedekiah king; and in the ninth year of this king Zedekiah in the tenth month, and on the tenth day of the month, Jerusalem was besieged. See 2 Kings 25:1; Jer. 39:1; 52:4.
2 In the ecclesiastical year called Tebeth, in the political or civil year Thamuz.
2Son of man, 3write thee the name of the day, 4even of this same day: the king of Babylon 5set himself against Jerusalem this same day.
3 In remembrance, to be compared with the event, whereof see 2 Kings 25:1; Jer. 52:4. This was about two years before the taking and destruction of Jerusalem, of which is here prophesied.
4 Hebr. the strength or the bone of the day, that is, the being of the day, and (as we use to say) even or just the same day. See Ezek. 2:3 with the annotation.
5 Or, is come near, hast himself applied to. The Hebrew word is frequently used for leaning, staying, supporting, likewise of laying on of hands, all which is done with some conjunction, approaching, or drawing near; and in the matter of siege we use to say: to lie down or to lay oneself down before a city, etc.
3And 6utter a parable unto the rebellious house, and say unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Set on a 7pot,a set it on, and also pour water into it:
6 Hebr. as if one would say: parable a parable. See Ezek. 17 on verse 2.
7 Signifying the besieged city of Jerusalem, as verse 6. See Jer. 1:13; Ezek. 11:3 with the annotations.
a Jer. 1:13.
4Gather the 8pieces 9thereof into it, even 10every good piece, the 11thigh, and the shoulder; fill it with the 12choice bones.
8 Signifying the inhabitants, especially the rich, luxurious citizens and great ones of Jerusalem.
9 Namely, of the pot; that is, such pieces of flesh as ought to be in the pot.
10 Hebr. all or every good or best piece.
11 Or, loins, hip, hind-quarter.
12 That is, the choicest bones, as marrow-bones.
5Take the 13choice of the flock, and burn also 14the bones under it, and make 15it boil 16well, and let them 17seethe the 18bones of it 19therein.
13 That is, the choicest sheep, or goat, take the best of the small cattle for the purpose.
14 Or, a fire of bones (compare verse 9; Isa. 30:33), signifying the grievous and continuing miseries of the people, which they would suffer in the siege by the sword, the famine and the pestilence, and also afterward; as a fire made of bones is very hot, and bones are hard and durable or lasting. Some apply it to the casting away of the dead bodies and bones that would lie unburied in the open field, as God had often threatened them that there would be bones enough to be had to make a fire of them, by which judgments they nevertheless would not be amended or converted, as follows.
15 The pot.
16 Hebr. boil his boilings.
17 Or, sodden. Hebr. be boiled.
18 Of the pot, as verse 4.
19 Hebr. in the midst, namely, of the pot.
6¶Wherefore thus saith the Lord GOD; Woe to the 20bloodyb city, to the pot 21whose 22scum is therein, and whose scum is not gone out of it! 23bring it out piece by piece; let no lot fall upon 24it.
20 As verse 9; Ezek. 22:2.
b Ezek. 22:2.
21 The Lord wants to say, that the inhabitants of Jerusalem, by all that seething and boiling, were notwithstanding not cleansed, that is converted, but continued still obstinately in their wickedness.
22 Other, rust, as verse 11, where there is also another word which signifies rust. The word, which is used here and also in verses 11 and 12, seems to signify the scum, not being boiled off, skimmed off, or sodden away, sticks fast at the side of the pot, and becomes only a tough filth or slime.
23 Hebr. by or according to the pieces thereof, according to the pieces thereof bring it out; the lot is not fallen upon it. This signifies the slaying and casting away of many, and carrying away of the rest into captivity to Babel, without either pity or distinction of persons. See Ezek. 11:7.
24 What pieces so ever thou wouldst have to pull out of the pot, either first, or last, or none at all, they must all pack away, some be slain, others sent away out of the land.
7For 25her blood is in the midst of her; she set it upon the 26top of a rock; she poured it not upon the ground, to cover it with 27dust;
25 Of Jerusalem, typified by this pot.
26 Hebr. smoothness, brightness, or top, sticking out of a rock, where she, in the sight of God, has shed the blood of her children to the honor of idols, and let them lie in the open to provoke God to anger, as follows. Compare the phrase with Ezek. 26:4, 14.
27 This refers to the law, Lev. 17:13; Deut. 12:16, 24.
828That it might cause fury to come up to take 29vengeance; I have set her 30blood upon the top of a rock, that it should not be covered.
28 That is, that I manifest exceedingly My wrath and vengeance against such abominations.
29 Hebr. to avenge vengeance.
30 Implying, that He will also punish her publicly, that there shall be the signs of it before all men’s eyes.
9Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD; Woec to the 31bloody city! I will even make the 32pile for fire great.
c Nah. 3:1; Hab. 2:12.
31 As verse 6.
32 Compare verse 5; that is, I will kindle a great fire under Jerusalem (this pot), as follows.
1033Heap on wood, kindle the fire, 34consume the flesh, and 35spice it well, and let the bones be 36burned.
33 Hebr. multiply the wood or sticks. A lively representation of the misery of the besieged ones of Jerusalem.
34 Or, dress it, make it ready, boil it thoroughly, let it be well and fully sod.
35 Hebr. spice the spices; in order that the enemies (as some conceive) may have an appetite and mind to it.
36 Or, be burned thoroughly.
11Then set 37it empty upon the coals thereof, that the brass of it may be hot, and may burn, and that the filthiness of it may be 38molten in it, that the scum of it may be consumed.
37 The pot; that is, Jerusalem shall not only be deprived of inhabitants, but the city shall also be burned, that the place may be entirely purged of that abominable uncleanness.
38 Or, may flow away, may be poured off.
12She hath wearied herself with 39lies, and her great scum went not forth out of her: her scum shall be in the fire.
39 Making such a continual stir by her idolatries, heathenish covenants, internal violence, lies, hypocrisy and all manner of wicked devices, with which she has wanted to support her ruinous condition, and to keep off threatened destruction, instead of repenting and turning unto Me, whereunto I exhorted them by My prophets with such patience and forbearance, and admonished them so faithfully and frequently with sore threatenings, that I am even grown weary of it, they being (in the least) not bettered, but still grown more obstinate and hardened thereby, as is set forth in the sequel. The Hebrew word is only found here, coming, according to the opinion of most interpreters, from a word that signifies vanity, injustice, lies, wickedness, vice, also idolatry. Other, She hath wearied herself with vanities.
13In thy filthiness is lewdness: because I have 40purged thee, and thou wast not purged, thou shalt not be purged from thy filthiness any more, till I have caused my fury to 41rest upon thee.
40 Because I have sought to purge thee in vain by the exhortations, admonitions and threatenings of My prophets, therefore I will now take another course with thee.
41 See Ezek. 5 on verse 13.
14I the LORD have spoken it: it shall come to pass, and I will do it; I will not go back, neither will I spare,d neither will I repent; according to thy ways, and according to thy doings, shall they judgee thee, saith the Lord GOD.
d Ezek. 5:11.
e Ezek. 23:24.
15¶Also the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,
16Son of man, behold, I take away from thee the 42desire of thine eyes with a 43stroke: yet neither shalt thou mourn nor weep, neither shall thy tears run down.
42 Or, wish, that is, thy wife. See verse 18. Whereby was typified the temple and the city of Jerusalem.
43 That is, a sudden death, extraordinarily sent by God.
1744Forbear to cry, make no 45mourning for the dead, bind the 46tire of thine head upon thee, and put on thy 47shoes upon thy feet, and cover not thy 48lips, and eat not the 49bread of men.
44 That is, do not groan, but hold thy peace.
45 That is, show no signs of mourning, as in those times they were accustomed to do for their deceased friends.
46 Or, set thy coif, cap, bonnet upon thine head (as verse 23). The Hebrew word has its name from adorning or attiring. On the contrary, mourners were accustomed to go bareheaded, and to cast ashes or dust upon their heads, Lev. 10:6; 21:10; 1 Sam. 4:12; 2 Sam 15:32; Isa. 61:3; Lam. 2:10.
47 Whereas mourners were accustomed to go barefoot, 2 Sam. 15:30.
48 Or, moustache, do not cover, wrap up, as those were wont to do who mourned for a great mishap. See Lev. 13:45; Micah 3:7. Some understand not only the uppermost lip, but also the mouth and the chin, with the entire place of the beard.
49 Understand mourning food, eat a mourning meal with friends and neighbors. See Jer. 16 on verse 7.
18So I spake unto the people in the morning: and at even my wife died; and I did in the morning as I was commanded.
19¶And the people said unto me, Wilt thou not tell us 50what these things are to us, that thou doest so?
50 That is, what they signify to us, what thou wilt give us to understand by this strange kind of action. The words things are are here added according to the nature of the Hebrew language, as elsewhere often. Also Ezek. 37:18.
20Then I answered them, The word of the LORD came unto me, saying,
21Speak unto the house of Israel, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I will 51profane my 52sanctuary, the 53excellency of your strength, the 54desire of your eyes, and that which your soul 55pitieth; and your sons and your daughters whom ye have left shall fall by the sword.
51 To deliver it into the hands of the Chaldeans to be destroyed as a common, profane place.
52 The temple.
53 Or, highness, excellence of your strength, that is, that glorious building of the temple, whereupon ye rely so greatly, supposing that I will spare Jerusalem because of it. Some understand Jerusalem, or the kingdom.
54 Understand the very same temple, in the beholding of it they were accustomed to take pleasure and delight, and for which they now so greatly longed. Some understand their wives, from verse 16.
55 Which temple ye so love, that it would grieve you to the very heart if it would be laid waste. Some understand here their children and nearest friends, whom they, when they went into captivity with Jehoiachin, had left behind at Jerusalem.
22And ye shall do as I have 56done: ye shall not cover your lips, nor eat the bread of men.
56 Ye shall then not be able to show any signs of mourning, by reason of the curse of God, and your astonishment at the dreadful common calamities and desolations that shall happen to the temple, city, country, and all the people. Compare herewith especially Jer. 16:5, 6, 7, 8, with the annotations there.
23And your tiresfshall be upon your heads, and your shoes upon your feet: ye shall not mourn nor weep; but ye shall 57pineg away for your iniquities, and 58mourn one toward another.
f (noun) head-dress*
57 Or, consume, melt away, because of God’s curse upon you, as Ezek. 33:10.
g Ezek. 4:17.
58 Or, howl, roar, because of being impatient and dejected.
24Thus Ezekiel is unto you ah59sign: according to all that he hath done shall ye do: and when this cometh, ye shall know that I am the Lord GOD.
h Ezek. 12:6.
59 See Ezek. 12 on verse 6.
25Also, thou son of man, 60shall it not be in the day when I take from them their 61strength, the 62joy of their glory, the desire of their eyes, and that whereupon they 63set their minds, their sons and their daughters,
60 That is, it shall certainly so come to pass. God foretells these things for the greater confirmation of these prophecies. See its fulfillment Ezek. 33:21, 22.
61 The temple, etc., as verse 21; that is, at such time as Jerusalem shall be taken, and the city with the temple shall be laid waste, and all the people be miserably treated according to these prophecies.
62 That is, in whose ornament they rejoice themselves.
63 Hebr. the lifting up, that is, what they long for heartily, as a man lifts up himself and reaches high for a thing that he would wish to have or to come at. See Psalm 24 on verse 4.
26That he 64that escapeth in that day shall come unto thee, to cause thee to hear it with thine ears?
64 The one who has run away from it, and has escaped, and by My Providence is come to thee, to bring thee the news, tidings of it.
27In that day shall thy mouth be 65opened to him which is escaped, and thou shalt speak, and be no more 66dumb: and thou shalt be a sign unto them; and they shall know that I am the LORD.
65 As if God said: Thou hast now sufficiently foretold My people of the miseries that are at hand; be now silent for a while, till all things be clearly fulfilled and plain before their eyes; then shalt thou speak again to their comfort and instruction, that thou mayest thus be unto them and to My entire church in sundry ways a wonderful sign of great things to come.
66 Compare Ezek. 3:26 with the annotation; 33:22.