NOTES ON The Book of EZEKIEL
The name Ezekiel signifies, The strength of God. And God did indeed make his face
strong against all opposition. It was the tradition of the Jews, that for his boldness and
faithfulness in reproving them, he was put to death by the captives in Babylon.
The prophecies of this book were spoken and written in Babylon, to the Jews who were
captives there. Ezekiel prophesied in the beginning of their captivity, to convince them
when they were secure and unhumbled; Daniel, in the latter end of it, to comfort them,
when they were dejected and discouraged.
There is much in this book which is very mysterious, especially in the beginning and
latter end of it. But tho' the visions are intricate, the sermons are plain, and the
design of them is, to shew God's people their transgressions. And tho' the reproofs and
threatenings are very sharp, yet toward the close we have very comfortable promises, to be
fulfilled in the kingdom of the Messiah, of whom indeed Ezekiel speaks less than almost
any of the prophets.
The visions, which are his credentials, we have, chap. 1 - 3. The reproofs and
threatenings, chap. 4 - 24. We have messages sent to the neighbouring nations, foretelling
their destruction, chap. 25 - 35. To make way for the restoration of Israel, and the re -
establishment of their city and temple, which are foretold, chap. 36 - 48.
Chapter I
The time when this prophecy was delivered, the place where, and person by whom,
ver. 1 - 3. His vision of the glory of God, in his attendance, surrounded with angels,
(here called living creatures) ver. 4 - 14. In his providences, represented by the wheels
and their motions, ver. 15 - 26. And in the face of Jesus Christ, sitting upon the throne,
ver. 26 - 28.
| 1 |
Thirtieth year - From the finding the book of the law in the eighteenth year of
Josiah, from which date to the fifth year of the captivity are thirty years. Fifth day -
Probably it was the sabbath - day, when the Jews were at leisure to hear the prophet.
River - Perhaps retiring thither to lament their own sins, and Jerusalem's desolation.
Chebar - A river now called Giulap, arising out of the mountain Masius, and falling into
Euphrates, somewhat below a city called by the same name. |
| 2 |
The month - Thamus, as ver.1, answering to our June and July. Fifth year
- This account observed will guide us in computing the times referred to ver.1.
These five of Jehoiachin, and the eleven of his predecessor, added to fourteen of Josiah's
reign, after he found the law, make up thirty years, ver.1. Jehoiachin - Who
is also called Jechoniah, and Coniah. It may be of use to keep an account, when and where
God has manifested himself to us in a peculiar manner. Remember, O my soul, what thou
didst receive at such a time, at such a place: tell others what God did for thee. |
| 3 |
The word - What was visions, ver.1, is here the word, both as signifying
and declaring the mind of God, what he would do, and as continuing his commands to Ezekiel
and to the people. Ezekiel - He speaks of himself in a third person. Priest - He was of
the priests originally; he was a prophet by an extraordinary call. The hand - He felt the
power of God opening his eyes to see the visions, opening his ear to hear the voice, and
his heart to receive both. When the hand of the Lord goes along with his word, then it
becomes effectual. |
| 4 |
Looked - I very diligently surveyed the things that were represented to me in the
vision. Whirlwind - This denotes the indignation and judgments of God; a quick, impetuous
and irresistible vengeance. North - From Babylon, which lay northward from Judea; and the
prophet, tho' now in Babylon, speaks of the Jews, as if they were in Jerusalem. A fire -
An orb or wheel of fire: God being his own cause, his own rule, and his own end.
Brightness - Yet round about it was not smoak and darkness, but a clear light. The midst -
Of the fire. |
| 5 |
The likeness - Such a representation of the holy angels as God saw fit to make use of,
came out of the midst of the fire: for angels derive their being and power from God: their
glory is a ray of his. |
| 6 |
Wings - With two they flew, denoting the speed of their obedience; and with two they
covered their body, denoting their reverence. |
| 7 |
Feet - Their thighs, legs and feet, were of a human shape. Straight - Not bowed to
this or that part, which argues weakness. The sole - That which is properly the foot. A
calf's - A divided hoof spake the cleanness of the creature. They - Their feet. |
| 8 |
Under - Their power and manner of exerting it is secret and invisible. Sides - On each
side of the chariot one of these living creatures flood, and so on each side hands were
ready to act as they were moved. They four - It is doubled to confirm the truth and
certainty of the thing. |
| 9 |
Their wings - The wings of the two cherubim which went foremost, and the wings of the
two hindermost, were joined together when they moved. Went - This explains the former
words, assuring us, that every one of those living creatures are ready, and unwearied in
doing the pleasure of their Creator. |
| 10 |
A man - Each face is compared to what is most excellent in its kind, man excels in
wisdom, lions in strength, the ox in patience and constancy of labour, the eagle in speed
and high flight. |
| 11 |
Divided - So each face appeared distinct above the shoulders, and there the wings
divided from each other were united to the body of the living creature. |
| 12 |
Straight - Which way soever they went, each living creature had one face looking
straight forward. The spirit - The will, command, and breathing of the Spirit of God, both
gave and guided their motions. Was to go - Going is attributed here to the Spirit of God,
by allusion, for he who is in every place cannot properly be said to go from or to any
place. Turned not - They looked not back, they turned not out of the way, they gave not
over, 'till they had compleated their course. |
| 13 |
The fire - This fire stood not still, but as the Hebrew is, Made itself walk up and
down. It moved itself, which is too much to ascribe to creatures: God only moved all these
living creatures. |
| 14 |
Ran - They ran into the lower world, to do what was to be done there: and when they
had done, returned as a flash of lightning, to the upper world, to the vision of God. Thus
we should be in the affairs of this world: though we run into them we must not repose in
them, but our souls must presently return like lightning, to God, their rest and center. |
| 15 |
Living creatures - By each of the living creatures stood one wheel, so that they were
four in number, according to the number of living creatures. Four faces - By this it
appears, each wheel had its four faces. While he was contemplating the glory of the former
vision, this other was presented to him: wherein the dispensations of providence are
compared to the wheels of a machine, which all contribute to the regular motion of it.
Providence orders, changes: sometimes one spoke of the wheel is uppermost, sometimes
another. But the motion of the wheel on its own axle - tree, is still regular and steady.
And the wheel is said to be by the living creatures, who attend to direct its motion. For
all inferior creatures are, and move, and act, as the Creator, by the ministration of
angels directs and influences them: visible effects are managed and governed by invisible
causes. |
| 16 |
Work - All that was wrought, whether engraved or otherwise was of one colour. Beryl -
A sea green. One likeness - The same for dimensions, colour, frame, and motion. In the
middle - It is probable, the wheels were framed so as to be an exact sphere, which is
easily rolled to any side. |
| 17 |
They - The wheels. Four sides - The wheels being supposed round every way as a globe,
by an exact framing of two wheels one in the other; the four semi - circles which are in
two whole wheels, may be well taken for these four sides on which these wheels move, and
such a wheel will readily be turned to all points of the compass. Returned not - They
returned not 'till they came to their journey's end; nothing could divert them, or put
them out of their course. So firm and sure are the methods, so unalterable and constant
the purposes of God, and so invariable the obedience and observance of holy angels. So
subject to the sovereign will of God are all second causes. |
| 18 |
The rings - The circumference of the wheels. Dreadful - Their very height imprest a
fear on the beholder. Them four - Every one of the four wheels. How fitly do the wheels,
their motion, their height, and eyes, signify the height, unsearchableness, wisdom, and
vigilance of the Divine Providence. |
| 20 |
The spirit - The Spirit of God. These angels in their ministry punctually observed
both his impulse and conduct. They - The wheels, inferior agents and second causes. Their
spirit - The wheels concurred with the spirit of the living creatures, so that there was
an hearty accord between those superior and inferior causes. For - An undiscerned, yet
divine, mighty, wise, and ever - living power, spirit, and being, actuated all, and
governed all. |
| 21 |
For - The same wisdom, power, and holiness of God, the same will and counsel of his,
that guides and governs the angels, does by them order and dispose all the motions of the
creatures in this lower world. |
| 22 |
Likeness - The appearance or resemblance. As crystal - For splendor, purity, and
solidity, all that was above these creatures and wheels was beautiful and very majestic,
and 'tis therefore called terrible, because it impressed a veneration upon the mind of the
beholders. |
| 23 |
Under - Below at a great distance, stood these living creatures. Straight - Stretched
forth, ready for motion. One - Each of the four had two other wings with which they
covered their bodies. |
| 24 |
The voice - Thunder. Speech - The prophet heard the voice in an articulate manner. An
host - A tumultuous voice of men. Stood - Having done their office they present themselves
before God, waiting for the commands of their Lord. |
| 26 |
A man - Christ, God - man, who here appears as king and judge. |
| 27 |
Amber - In this colour does Christ appear against the rebellious Jews; he that would
have visited them clothed with the garments of salvation, now puts on the garments of
vengeance, expressed by such metaphors. Brightness - Majesty, justice, and unstained
holiness, shine round about him. |
| 28 |
The bow - A like appearance of Christ in a surrounding brightness, as of the rainbow
you have, Rev 4:3. Mercy, and truth, and both according to covenant are about
the throne of Christ. Glory - It was not the full glory of God, but such as the prophet
might bear. I fell - With deep humility and reverence. |
Chapter II
Ezekiel is commissioned to prophesy to the Jewish captives, ver. 1 - 5. Is
cautioned not to be afraid of them, ver. 6. Has words put into his mouth, signified by the
vision of a roll, which he is ordered to eat, ver. 7 - 10.
| 1 |
And - He that sat upon the throne, Jesus Christ. Son of man - A phrase which is ninety
- five times, at least, used in this prophecy to keep him humble who had such great
revelations. Stand - Arise, fear not. And with this command God sent forth a power
enabling him to rise and stand. |
| 2 |
The spirit - The same spirit which actuated the living creatures. |
| 5 |
Shall know - They that obey shall know by the good I will do them, those that will
not, by the evil which I will bring upon them. |
| 6 |
Words - Accusations, threats, or whatever else a malicious heart can suggest to the
tongue. Briars - Which usually run up among thorns, are a very fit emblem of the
frowardness and keenness of sinners against God and his prophet. Scorpious - Malicious,
revengeful men. They that will do any thing to purpose in the service of God, must not
fear the faces of men. |
| 8 |
Hear - Obey. Open - This was done only in a vision. |
| 9 |
Roll - Their books were not like ours, but written in parchment and in the length of
it, and so one piece fastened to another, 'till the whole would contain what was to be
written, and then it was wrapped or rolled about a round piece of wood, fashioned for that
purpose. |
| 10 |
And - The person, who held out his hand. Spread - Unrolled it. Within &c. - On
both sides, on that side which was inward when rolled, and on that side also that was
outward. |
Chapter III
His eating the roll, ver. 1 - 3. Farther instructions and encouragements given him,
ver. 4 - 11. He is carried to the captive Jews, ver. 12 - 15. An illustration of his
office by that of a watchman, ver. 16 - 21. The restraining and restoring of his liberty
of speech, ver. 22 - 27.
| 1 |
Eat - This was done in a vision. Findeth - In the hand which was sent to him. |
| 3 |
Belly - The mouth is the proper instrument of eating, but when meat is digested, the
belly is said to eat. Fill thy bowels - This denotes the fulness of the measure wherewith
we should read, meditate, and digest the word of God. Honey - It was sweet to receive
things by revelation from God, and so to converse with God. And usually the first part of
the ministerial work is pleasant. |
| 4 |
Speak - What things I shall shew thee, and in what words I shall declare them to thee.
|
| 6 |
Many people - Divers nations, that thou shouldest need divers tongues, to speak to
them all in their own language. |
| 7 |
All - The far greater part, tho' not every particular person. |
| 8 |
I have - I have given thee, constancy, and manly carriage. The more impudent wicked
people are in their opposition to religion, the more openly and resolutely should God's
people appear in the practice and defence of it. |
| 11 |
Captivity - Of the first captivity under Jeconiah's reign, who succeeded his father
Jehoiakim, slain for his conspiracy with Egypt against Nebuchadnezzar. |
| 12 |
A voice - An articulate sound, of many angels, attended with the rushing of the
wheels, added to the noise of their wings. Blessed - Praised be the gloriously holy and
just God. His place - Coming down from heaven. |
| 13 |
Rushing - The wheels of providence moved over against the angels, and in concert with
them. |
| 14 |
Spirit - Caught him up into the air. Took - Carried me to the place where the captive
Jews were crowded together. Bitterness - Not at all pleased with my work. He went in the
heat of his spirit; because of the discouragements he foresaw he should meet with. But the
hand of the Lord was strong upon him, not only to compel him to the work, but to fit him
for it. |
| 15 |
Tel - abib - A part of Mesopotamia, which was shut up within Chebar westward, and
Saocora eastward. By - On that part of the river Chebar, which runs west - ward of Tel -
abib. Where - Where I found them sitting astonished, at the sight of their change from
freedom and honour to servitude and shame. Seven days - Mourning no doubt all that while,
and waiting 'till the spirit of prophecy should open his mouth. |
| 20 |
I Lay - Permit it to be laid before him. He shall - Perish in his sin. Remembered -
Shall not be profitable to him; "he that apostatizes is the worst of men, because he
falls from known ways of goodness and holiness." |
| 22 |
There - At Tel - abib. Go forth - Withdraw from the multitude. |
| 23 |
As the glory - We are not now to expect such visions. But we have a favour done us
nothing inferior, if we by faith behold the glory of the Lord, so as to be changed into
the same image. And this honour have all his saints. |
| 24 |
Shut - To foresignify the shutting up of the Jews in Jerusalem. |
| 25 |
Not go - Thou shalt be straitly confined. |
| 26 |
I - I will make thee as dumb as if thy tongue clave to the roof of thy mouth. |
| 27 |
But - When ever I shall reveal any thing to thee. Open - I will give thee power to
speak. Let - 'Tis his duty and safety. Forbear - 'Tis at his own peril. |
Chapter IV
Two things are here represented to the prophet in vision,
- The fortifications that shall be shortly raised against the city, signified by his
laying siege to the portrait of Jerusalem, ver. 1 - 3. And lying first on one side, and
then on the other side before it, ver. 4 - 8.
- The famine that would rage therein, signified by his eating coarse fare, and little of
it, so long as this typical representation lasted, ver. 9 - 17.
| 1 |
Portray - Draw a map of Jerusalem. |
| 2 |
Lay siege - Draw the figure of a siege about the city. Build - Raise a tower and
bulwarks. |
| 3 |
A wall - That it may resemble a wall of iron, for as impregnable as such a wall, shall
the resolution and patience of the Chaldeans be. |
| 4 |
Lay - Take upon thee the representation of their guilt and punishment. House of Israel
- The ten tribes. The number - By this thou shalt intimate how long I have borne with
their sins, and how long they shall bear their punishment. |
| 5 |
I have laid - I have pointed out the number of years wherein apostate Israel sinned
against me, and I did bear with them. Years - These years probably began at Solomon's
falling to idolatry, in the twenty - seventh year of his reign, and ended in the fifth of
Zedekiah's captivity. |
| 6 |
Accomplished - That is, almost accomplished. House of Judah - Of the two tribes. Forty
days - Probably from Josiah's renewing the covenant, until the destruction of the temple,
during which time God deferred to punish, expecting whether they would keep their
covenant, or retain their idolatries, which latter they did for thirteen years of Josiah's
reign, for eleven of Jehoiakim's, and eleven of Zedekiah's reign, and five of his
captivity, which amount to just forty years. But all this was done in a vision. |
| 7 |
Set - While thou liest on thy side thou shalt fix thy countenance on the portrait of
besieged Jerusalem. Uncovered - Naked and stretched out as being ready to strike. |
| 8 |
Bands - An invisible restraint assuring him, that those could no more remove from the
siege, than he from that side he lay on. |
| 9 |
Take - Provide thee corn enough: for a grievous famine will accompany the siege. Wheat
- All sorts of grain are to be provided, and all will be little enough. One vessel - Mix
the worst with the best to lengthen out the provision. |
| 10 |
By weight - Not as much as you will, but a small pittance delivered by weight to all.
Twenty shekels - Ten ounces: scarce enough to maintain life. From time to time - At set
hours this was weighed out. |
| 11 |
The sixth part - About six ounces. |
| 12 |
As barley cakes - Because they never had enough to make a loaf with, they eat them as
barley cakes. With dung - There was no wood left, nor yet dung of other creatures. This
also was represented in a vision. |
| 17 |
May want - So because they served not God with chearfulness in the abundance of all
things, He made them serve their enemies in the want of all things. |
Chapter V
The destruction of Jerusalem, represented by a sign, the cutting and burning and
scattering of hair, ver. 1 - 4. Sin, the cause of this destruction, ver. 5 - 7. Wrath,
misery and ruin threatened, ver. 8 - 15.
| 1 |
Take - Thus foretel the mourning, reproach, and deformity that are coming, for all
this is signified by shaving the head and beard. |
| 2 |
A third part - Described on the tile, chap.4:1, a type of what should be
done in Jerusalem. The days - When the three hundred and ninety days of thy lying against
the portrayed city shall be ended. With a knife - To signify them that fall by the sword.
Scatter - To typify them that fell to the Chaldeans, or fled to Egypt, or other countries.
|
| 3 |
Take - Of the last third. Bind - As men tied up in the skirt of their garment what
they would not lose: to signify the small remnant. |
| 4 |
Of them - Out of that little remnant. In the fire - For their sin against God, their
discontents at their state, and conspiracies against their governor, another fire shall
break out which shall devour the most, and be near consuming all the houses of Israel. |
| 5 |
This is Jerusalem - This portrayed city, is typically Jerusalem. The midst - Jerusalem
was set in the midst of the nations, to be as the heart in the body, to invigorate the
dead world with a divine life, as well as to enlighten the dark world with a divine light.
|
| 6 |
More - More than the heathen. |
| 7 |
Multiplied - In idols, superstitions, and wickedness. Neither - You have exceeded them
in superstition and idolatry, and fallen short of them in moral virtues. |
| 9 |
Not done - Though the old world perished by water, and Sodom by fire, yet neither one
or other was so lingering a death. |
| 10 |
Scatter - This was verified when they were fetched away, who were left at the
departure of the besiegers, and when the very small remnant with Johanan fled into Egypt. |
| 11 |
Sanctuary - My temple. Detestable things - Thy idols. |
| 13 |
Comforted - In executing my vengeance. In my zeal - For my own glory. |
| 15 |
Taunt - A very proverb among them. Instruction - Sinners shall learn by thy miseries,
what they may expect from me. |
| 17 |
Bereave thee - Of your children, friends, and your own life. Pestilence and blood -
Thy land shall be the common road for pestilence and blood. Tho' this prophecy was to be
accomplished presently, in the destruction of Jerusalem by the Chaldeans; yet it may well
be supposed to look forward, to the final destruction of it by the Romans, when God made a
full end of the Jewish nation, and caused his fury to rest upon them. |
Chapter VI
A threatening of the destruction of Israel for their idolatry, ver. 1 - 7. A
promise of the gracious return of a remnant, ver. 8 - 10. Directions to lament the sins
and calamities of Israel, ver. 11 - 14.
| 2 |
The mountains - The inhabitants of the mountains, who were secure in their fastnesses.
|
| 3 |
Rivers - To those who dwell by river sides, or in the valleys. High places - The
places of your idolatrous worship. |
| 4 |
Cast down - Before the altars of your idols, which you fly to for refuge. |
| 5 |
And - Thus the idols were upbraided with their inability to help their worshippers,
and the idolaters, with the folly of trusting in them. |
| 6 |
Your works - All your costly work for your idols. |
| 8 |
Remnant - It is the Lord that preserves a remnant, the enemies rage would destroy all.
|
| 9 |
Shall remember - So as to turn unto me. Broken - I am much grieved. Whorish heart -
Idolatrous hearts depart from God, as an adulterous wife departs from her husband. Loath -
With a mixture of grief towards God, of indignation against themselves, and abhorrence of
the offence. |
| 10 |
In vain - Either without cause, the sufferers gave him just cause to pronounce that
evil; or without effect. Their sins where the cause, and their destruction is the effect
of their sufferings. |
| 11 |
Smite - To shew thy wonder, indignation, sorrow, and pity, for their sins and
sufferings. |
| 12 |
Far off - Either by flight, or captivity. Shall fall - Who dwell near to Jerusalem, or
would retire to it, when the Babylonians approach. |
| 14 |
Wilderness - The horrid wilderness of Moab. Therein the fiery serpents so much annoyed
Israel. Accordingly the land of Canaan is at this day one of the most desolate countries
in the world. |
Chapter VII
In this chapter the prophet tells them, that a final ruin is coming, ver. 1 - 6. A
ruin just at the door, ver. 7 - 10. An unavoidable ruin, because of their sins, ver. 11 -
15. That their strength and wealth would be no fence against it, ver. 16 - 19. That the
temple, which they trusted in, should itself be ruined, ver. 20 - 22. That it should be an
universal ruin, the sin that brought it being universal, ver, 23 - 27.
| 1 |
An end - An end of God's patience, and of the peace and welfare of the people. |
| 4 |
Recompense - The punishment of them. |
| 5 |
An evil - An evil and sore affliction, a singular, uncommon one. |
| 6 |
An end - When the end is come upon the wicked world, then an only evil comes upon it.
The sorest of temporal judgments have their allays; but the torments of the damned are an
evil, an only evil. |
| 7 |
The morning - The fatal morning, the day of destruction. Sounding - Not a mere echo,
not a fancy, but a real thing. |
| 10 |
Is come - Of your wickedness; pride and violence in particular. |
| 11 |
None - They shall be utterly wasted for their sins. Wailing - The living shall not
bewail their dead friends, because they shall judge the dead in a better case than the
living. |
| 12 |
Mourn - Men usually part with their estates grieving that they must transmit their
right to others; but let them now think how little a while they could have kept them, and
how little time they shall keep them who have bought them. |
| 13 |
Yet alive - For if any should survive the captivity, yet the conqueror wasting and
destroying all, would confound all ancient boundaries. Touching - The evils threatened are
designed against all the multitude of Israel. Strengthen - Nor shall any one man of them
all he able to secure himself, by any sinful contrivance. |
| 14 |
They - The house of Israel have summoned in all fit for arms. None - There is not a
man going to the war. Wrath - That displeasure which takes away their courage. |
| 15 |
Without - In the countries. Within - The besieged city. Field - Whoever is in the
field. |
| 16 |
Iniquity - Either for the punishment of their iniquity, or for their iniquity itself. |
| 18 |
Baldness - Either by pulling off the hair amidst their sorrows, or cutting it off in
token of mourning. |
| 19 |
Cast - That they may be the lighter to fly. Removed - Carried away into Babylon. Not
satisfy - They shall afford them no comfort. Stumbling - block - This silver and gold they
coveted immeasurably, and abused to pride, luxury, idolatry and oppression; this that they
stumbled at and fell into sin, now they stumble at and fall into the deepest misery. |
| 20 |
The beauty - The temple, and all that pertained to it, which was the beauty and glory
of that nation. He set - God commanded it should be beautiful and magnificent. Images -
Their idols. Far from them - I have sent them far from the temple. |
| 21 |
It - My temple. |
| 22 |
Turn - Either from the Jews, or from the Chaldeans, neither relieving the one nor
restraining the other. Secret place - The temple, and the holy of holies. Robbers - The
soldiers. |
| 23 |
A chain - To bind the captives. |
| 24 |
The pomp - The magnificence and glory, wherein they boasted; or the temple that the
Jews gloried in. |
| 26 |
Seek - But in vain. The priest - He shall have no words either of counsel or comfort
to say to them. Ancients - Nor shall their senators know what to advise. |
| 27 |
The king - Zedekiah. The prince - Every magistrate. Troubled - Hang down, and melt
away. What can men contrive or do for themselves, when God is departed from them? All must
needs be in tears, all in trouble, when God comes to judge them according to their
deserts, and so make them know, that he is the Lord, to whom vengeance belongeth. |
Chapter VIII
God in vision brings Ezekiel to Jerusalem, ver. 1 - 4. There he sees the image of
jealousy, ver. 5, 6. The elders of Israel worshipping all manner of images, ver. 7 - 12.
The women weeping for Tammuz, ver. 13, 14. The men worshiping the sun, ver. 15, 16.
Threatenings against them, ver. 17, 18.
| 1 |
Sixth year - Of Jeconiah's captivity. Sixth month - Elul or our August. The elders -
The chief of those that were now in captivity. They were come either to spend the sabbath
in religious exercises, or to enquire what would become of their brethren in Jerusalem.
The hand - The spirit of prophecy. |
| 2 |
A likeness - Of a man; the man whom he had seen upon the throne. Fire - This fire
might denote the wrath of God against Jerusalem. |
| 3 |
And - This, and all the passages to the end of the 16th verse, was done in vision
only. Inner gate - To the door of the gate of the inner court. The north - The temple
courts had four gates towards the four quarters, and this was the north gate, which opened
into the great court where Ahaz had set up his Damascen altar, and where the idols were
set up. The image - Baal, which Manasseh had set up, Josiah had destroyed, but succeeding
kings had again set it up. Jealousy - Because it was so notorious an affront to God, who
had married Israel to himself. |
| 5 |
Northward - Ahaz had removed it from the middle of the court and set it near this
north gate, to which it gave name. Entry - In the very passage to the temple, to affront
the worship of God. |
| 6 |
They - The generality of the Jews. Great abominations - The notorious idolatries. Here
- In this court, in view of my temple. Far off - Not that they designed this, but no other
could be expected. |
| 7 |
The door - The second door, for there were two in the north side. |
| 8 |
A door - A private door, by which the priests entered into the chamber of their
imagery, to perform idolatrous worship to their images. |
| 9 |
Are doing - Under the approach of judgments, in this very place, under the walls of my
temple. |
| 10 |
Every form - Of such creatures as the Egyptians, or any others with whom the Jews had
acquaintance, worshipped. |
| 11 |
Seventy - Heads of the tribes or families, who should have been examples of true
religion, not ringleaders in idolatry. Shaphan - Mentioned 2Kings 22:9.
Shaphan was forward in reforming under Josiah and his son is as forward in corrupting the
worship of God. |
| 12 |
Seeth not - They deny God's care of them and their affairs, and therefore they must
chuse some other god. |
| 13 |
Greater - Either because added to all the rest: or, because some circumstances in
these make them more abominable. |
| 14 |
The door - Of the outer court, or court of the women, so called, because they were
allowed to come into it. Weeping - Performing all the lewd and beastly rites of that idol,
called by the Greeks, Adonis. |
| 15 |
Greater - These later wickednesses may be accounted greater, because acted in a more
sacred place. |
| 16 |
Inner court - The innermost, that which was next the temple, called here the Lord's
house. At the door - Before he saw abominations in the gates of the courts, now he is come
to the very house itself. The porch - That stately porch, beautified with the curious and
mighty brass pillars, Jachin and Boaz. Altar - The brazen altar for burnt - offerings,
which was placed in the court before the front of the temple, and is here represented in
its proper place. Their backs - In contempt of God, and his worship. The sun - In
imitation of the Persians, Egyptians, and other eastern idolaters; these Jews turn their
back on God who created the sun, and worship the creature in contempt of the Creator. |
| 17 |
Violence - All injustice is here meant towards all sorts of men, whom they first
despise and next destroy. Returned - From injustice against man they return to impiety
against God. The branch - As the worshippers of Bacchus waved their Thyrsus, the stalk
wreathed with ivy, and bowed their bodies and often kissed the branches, so did these
idolatrous Jews. |
| 18 |
Will not hear - The time was, when God was ready to have heard, even before they
cried: but now they cry aloud, and yet cry in vain. It is the upright heart which God
regards, and not the loud voice. |
Chapter IX
Instruments prepared to destroy the city, ver. 1 - 2. The glory removes to the
threshold of the temple, ver. 3. Orders given to mark a remnant, ver. 3, 4. The execution
of them who were not marked begun, ver. 5 - 7. The prophet intercedes, but in vain, ver. 8
- 10. The report of him that had marked the remnant, ver. 11.
| 1 |
He - The man whom he had seen upon the throne. Them - Those whom God hath appointed to
destroy the city: perhaps angels. Every man - Every one; 'tis an Hebrew idiom. Each of
these had a weapon proper for that kind of destruction which he was to effect; and so,
some to slay with the sword, another with the pestilence, another with famine. In his hand
- Denoting both expedition in, and strength for the work. |
| 2 |
And - As soon as the command was given, the ministers of God's displeasure appear. Men
- In appearance and vision they were men, and the prophet calls them as he saw them. The
north - Insinuating whence their destruction should come. One man - Not a companion, but
as one of authority over them. With linen - A garment proper to the priesthood. They - All
the seven. |
| 3 |
The glory - The glorious brightness, such as sometimes appeared above the cherubim in
the most holy place. Gone up - Departing from the place he had so long dwelt in. He was -
Wont to sit and appear. Threshold - Of the temple, in token of his sudden departure from
the Jews, because of their sins. |
| 4 |
That sigh - Out of grief for other mens sins and sorrows. Cry - Who dare openly bewail
the abominations of this wicked city, and so bear their testimony against it. |
| 5 |
The others - The six slaughter - men. |
| 6 |
At my sanctuary - There are the great sinners, and the abominable sins which have
brought this on them. |
| 7 |
And slew - The slaughter also was in vision. |
| 8 |
Was left - Left alone, now both the sealer, and the slayers were gone. |
Chapter X
The scattering the coals of fire upon the city, ver. 1 - 7. The removal of the
glory of God from the temple, ver. 8 - 22.
| 2 |
He - That sat on the throne. Scatter - That it may take fire in all parts, and none
may escape. |
| 3 |
The right side - The north - side, the side towards Babylon, from whence the fire came
which consumed the city. The man - Christ, the Lord of angels, who now attend his coming
and commands. The cloud - As the sign of God's presence. The inner court - The court of
the priests, who were chief in the apostacy. |
| 4 |
The glory - The visible token of the presence of the God of glory. Went up - In token
of his departure from the temple. And stood - Shewing his unwillingness to leave, and
giving them time to return to him, he stands where he might he seen, both by priests and
people, that both might be moved to repentance. |
| 5 |
Was heard - As a mighty and terrible thunder. |
| 6 |
And stood - Either as one that deferred execution, to try whether the city would
repent, or as one who was to give some farther order to the angels, that were to be the
ministers of his just displeasure. |
| 7 |
One Cherub - One of the four. And took - As a servant that reaches what his master
would have. Went out - Out of the temple. |
| 9 |
Looked - Attentively viewed. Beryl stone - Of sea - green. |
| 10 |
They - The wheels. This intimates the references of providence to each other, and
their dependences on each other: and the joint tendency of all to one common end, while
their motions appear to us intricate and perplexed, yea, seemingly contrary. |
| 11 |
When - The wheels moved by the cherubim, or that spirit of life, which moved the
living creatures. They went - They were so framed, that they could move on all four sides
without the difficulty and delay of turning. Head - Of the living creatures. |
| 12 |
And - Now he describes both the cherubim and wheels as full of wisdom, and as governed
by an excellent wisdom. The wheels - Which the four cherubim had to move, govern, and
direct. |
| 13 |
The wheels - As to their frame and motion. It was cried - Still there was one who
guided, as by vocal direction. Unto them - To each of them. |
| 14 |
Every one - Of the living creatures, chap.1:6. |
| 17 |
For - There is a perfect harmony between second causes in their dependence on, and
subjection to, the one infinite, wise, good, holy, and just God. The spirit of God directs
all the creatures, upper and lower, so that they shall serve the divine purpose. Events
are not determined by the wheel of fortune, which is blind, but by the wheels of
providence, which are full of eyes. |
| 18 |
And stood - On the right side of the house, where the cherubim were in the inner
court. |
| 19 |
And every one - The glory, the cherubim, the wheels, all stood, respiting execution,
and giving opportunity of preventing the approaching misery. The east gate - The last
court, the court of the people. |
| 20 |
I knew - Either by special assurance as a prophet, or by comparing them with those
which he had often seen in the temple. |
Chapter XI
God's message of wrath to those who remained secure at Jerusalem, ver. 1 - 13. A
message of comfort to the dejected captives at Babylon, ver. 14 - 21. The glory of God
removes farther, ver. 22, 23. The vision disappears, of which Ezekiel gives an account,
ver. 24, 25.
| 1 |
Jaazaniah - Not him that is mentioned chap.8:11. Pelatiah - Named here
for that dreadful sudden death, whereby he became a warning to others. |
| 2 |
He - The Lord sitting on the cherub. |
| 3 |
It - The threatened danger and ruin by the Chaldeans. The caldron - This is an impious
scoff, yet mixt with some fear of the prophet, Jer 1:13. |
| 6 |
Ye - Many murders have you committed yourselves, and you are accountable to God for
all those whom the Chaldeans have slain, seeing you persuaded them, thus obstinately to
stand out. |
| 7 |
Bring you forth - Not in mercy, but in wrath, by the conquering hand of Babylon. |
| 9 |
Deliver you - Defeating all your projects for escape. |
| 10 |
Will judge - My just judgments shall pursue you, whithersoever you fly. |
| 11 |
Your caldron - The place of your sufferings; greater are reserved for you in a strange
land. Judge you - I will do more against you at Riblah, where the captive king had his
children, and others with them, first murdered before his eyes, and then his own eyes put
out; Riblah is called the border of Israel: for Syria was adjoining to Israel on the
north, and Riblah was on the frontiers of Syria. |
| 13 |
Pelatiah - Mentioned ver.1, a principal man among the twenty - five
princes, who made all the mischief in Jerusalem. It should seem this was done in vision
now, (as the slaying of the ancient men, chap.9:6,) but it was an assurance,
that when this prophecy was published, it would be done in fact. And the death of Pelatiah
was an earnest of the compleat accomplishment of the prophecy. A full end - By slaying
all, as this man is cut off. |
| 15 |
Thy brethren - Thy nearest kindred, which it seems were left in Jerusalem. Their
degeneracy is more noted in the repetition of the word brethren. Gone far - Ye are gone
far from the Lord; as much as the Heathens accused the Christians of atheism. |
| 16 |
Say - In vindication of them. Although - The obstinate Jews at Jerusalem will call
them apostates; but I the Lord sent them thither, and will own them there. Scattered -
Dispersed them in many countries which are under the king of Babylon: yet they are dear to
me. A little sanctuary - A little one in opposition to that great temple at Jerusalem. To
him they shall flee, and in him they shall be safe, as he was that took hold on the horns
of the altar. And they shall have such communion with God in the land of their captivity,
as it was thought could be had no where but in the temple. |
| 18 |
They - They who assemble upon Cyrus's proclamation first, and then upon Darius's
proclamation, shall overcome all difficulties, dispatch the journey, and come safely to
their own land. Take away - They shall abolish superstition and idolatry from the temple. |
| 19 |
One heart - Cyrus shall give them leave, and I will give them a heart to return; and
on their way shall there be great utility; and, when come to Jerusalem, they shall own me,
and my laws, and with one consent, build Jerusalem and the temple, and restore true
religion. The stony - That hard, inflexible, undutiful, incorrigible disposition. |
| 21 |
Heart - Soul and affections. Walketh - Either secretly adhere to, or provide for the
service of idols, called here detestable things. |
| 23 |
Went up - The glory of the Lord removes now out of the city, over which it had stood
some time, waiting for their repentance. The mountain - Mount Olivet. He removed thither,
to be as it were within call, and ready to return, if now at length in this their day,
they would have understood the things that made for their peace. |
| 24 |
The spirit - The same spirit which carried him to Jerusalem, now brings him back to
Chaldea. Went up - Was at an end. |
Chapter XII
The prophet by removing his stuff, and quitting his lodgings is a sign of
Zedekiah's flight out of Jerusalem, ver. 1 - 16. By eating his meat with trembling, he is
a sign, to set forth the famine and consternation in the city, ver. 17 - 20. An assurance
that these things shall be fulfilled, ver. 21 - 28.
| 2 |
Eyes to see - They have capacity, if they would, to understand, but they will not
understand, what thou speakest. |
| 3 |
Stuff - Vessels or instruments, wherein thou mayest put what is portable. |
| 4 |
In their sight - Before 'tis quite night, that they, who should learn by this sign,
may see and consider it. |
| 5 |
Dig - Come not through the door, but as one who knows there is a guard upon the door,
get to some back part of thy house, and dig there thyself, either to make the greater
haste, or to keep all secret; for all will be little enough for them that must act what
thou dost represent. Carry out - Through the hole thou hast dug. |
| 6 |
Bare it - In testimony of the servitude they shall be reduced to, who then must do
what servants or beasts were wont to be employed in. Cover thy face - As unwilling to be
seen or known. For - I have set thee for a sign to them, and thou shalt tell them the
meaning of these things in due time. |
| 7 |
I brought forth - Here is a transposing of his actions, and rehearsal of that in the
first place, which was acted in the second place. |
| 10 |
Say - Though they enquire not, yet tell them what I mean hereby, that this prophecy is
a burden which the kingdom shall groan under. The prince - Zedekiah. |
| 11 |
I am your sign - My person is the emblem of yours, and my actions of that you shall
do. And the like shall be done to you, O inhabitants of Jerusalem. We cannot say
concerning our dwelling place, that it is our resting place. For how far we may be tossed
from it before we die, we cannot foresee. |
| 12 |
The prince - Zedekiah. Shall bear - Disguised, as a servant, in hope to conceal
himself, chuses the twilight as the time that would best favour his design. They shall dig
- This was fulfilled when they broke down the wall to fly, Jer 39:4. Cover
his face - Zedekiah did by this aim at concealing himself. |
| 13 |
It - Neither the land nor the city; for his eyes will be put out at Riblah. |
| 16 |
Declare - By relating those sins, for which God was justly angry, and for which he
punished them, though they were his own people. Thy - The Chaldeans. See how God brings
good out of evil! The dispersion of sinners, who had done God much dishonour and
disservice in their own country, proves the dispersion of penitents, who shall do him much
honour and service in other countries! |
| 19 |
The people - Thy fellow captives. And of the land - Those that dwell in the countries
round about Jerusalem. Her land - Jerusalem's land, so called because it was the head city
thereof. Desolate - Because it shortly shall be laid waste, emptied of inhabitants, wealth
and plenty. Violence - Injustice, oppression and tyranny of the Jews toward one another. |
| 22 |
That proverb - That short saying commonly used. Days - Of wrath and vengeance, are to
come a great while hence. Every vision - Threatening vision, which Jeremiah and Ezekiel
would fright us with, comes to nothing. |
| 25 |
I will speak - There has been and shall be a succession of God's ministers, by whom he
will speak, to the end of the world. Even in the worst times, God left not himself without
witness, but raised up men that spoke for him, and spoke from him. |
Chapter XIII
The prophet shews the sin and punishment of the false prophets, ver. 1 - 16. Of the
false prophetesses, ver. 17 - 23.
| 2 |
That prophesy - Out of their own deceiving hearts, not from God. |
| 3 |
Foolish prophets - Foolish prophets are not of God's sending: for whom he sends, he
either finds fit, or makes fit. Where he gives warrant, he gives wisdom. Their own spirit
- Not the spirit of God. Seen nothing - God hath shewed them no vision. |
| 4 |
Thy prophets - Thy prophets, not mine. Like the foxes - Hungry, and ravening, crafty,
and guileful. In the deserts - Where want makes them more eager after their prey. |
| 5 |
Ye - Vain prophets. Gone up - As in a besieged city, whose wall is broken down, a
valiant soldier would run up into the breach to repel the enemy; so true prophets partly
by prayer, and partly by doctrine, labour to preserve God's people. Hedge - The house of
Israel is the Lord's vineyard, through the hedge whereof many breaches are made. To stand
- Not with arms, but with fasting, prayer, and repentance. |
| 6 |
Vanity - Things that have no foundation. |
| 9 |
Mine hand - My power striking them. In the assembly - Have no seat among the rulers,
nor voice among the counsellors. Written - Not registered among those that return, Ezra
2:1,2. Enter - They shall never come into the land of Israel. They shall not be
written in the book of eternal life, which is written for the just ones of the house of
Israel, saith the Chaldea paraphrast. |
| 10 |
Peace - They told sinners, no harm would happen to them. And those are the most
dangerous seducers, who suggest to sinners that which tends to lessen their dread of sin,
or their fear of God. These are compared to men who build a slight tottering wall, which
others daub with untempered mortar; sorry stuff, that will not bind, nor hold the bricks
together: doctrines not grounded on the word of God. |
| 14 |
Ye shall know - Those that deceived others, will in the end be found to have deceived
themselves. And no doom will be more fearful, than that of unfaithful ministers. |
| 15 |
Accomplish - Fulfil what my prophets foretold. |
| 18 |
Sew pillows - A figurative speech, expressing the security, which they promised to
every one that came to them. Kerchiefs - Triumphal caps, which were made by these
prophetesses, and put upon the head of every who one consulted them, and by these they
were to interpret, as a promise of victory over the Babylonians. Stature - That is, of
every age, whether younger or elder, which usually is seen by their stature. To hunt - All
this is really spreading a net, as hunters do, to catch the prey. Will ye save - Can you
preserve them alive, whom you deceive by your promises? |
| 19 |
Pollute me - Pretending my name for what I never spake. My people - My own people.
Handfuls of barley - For a mean reward. To slay - You denounce evil to the best, whom God
wilt keep alive. To save - Declaring safety, to the worst, whom God will destroy. |
| 20 |
There - At Jerusalem. Grow - You promise a flourishing, growing, state to all
enquirers; and this is the net with which you hunt souls. Tear them - With violence, and
suddenness. |
| 23 |
See no more vanity - They shall see all their predictions vanish, which shall so
confound them, that they shall pretend no more to visions. |
Chapter XIV
The elders of Israel come to enquire of the prophet, ver. 1 - 5. They are ordered
to repent, or not to pretend to enquire of God, ver. 6 - 11. Tho' Noah, Daniel and Job
were to pray for the people, yet they would not prevail, ver. 12 - 21. Yet a remnant shall
escape, ver. 22, 23.
| 1 |
Elders - Men of note, that were in office and power among the Jews, who were come from
Jerusalem. |
| 3 |
Set up - Are resolved idolaters. The stumbling block - Their idols which were both the
object of their sin, and occasion of their ruin. |
| 4 |
According - According to his desert, I will give answer, but in just judgment. |
| 5 |
Take - That I may lay open what is in their heart, and discover their hypocrisy, and
impiety. Through their idols - It is always through some idol or other, that the hearts of
men are estranged from God: some creature has gained that place in the heart, which
belongs to none but God. |
| 7 |
The stranger - Every proselyte. I the Lord - He shall find by the answer, 'twas not
the prophet, but God that answered: so dreadful, searching, and astonishing shall my
answer be. |
| 8 |
A sign - Of divine vengeance. |
| 9 |
The prophet - The false prophet, who speaks all serene, and quiet, in hope of reward.
Have deceived - Permitted him to err, or justly left him in his blindness. |
| 13 |
When - At what time soever. |
| 14 |
Noah - Who 'tis probable prevailed with God to spare the world for some years, and
saved his near relations when the flood came. Daniel - Who prevailed for the life of the
wise men of Chaldea. Job - Who daily offered sacrifice for his children, and at last
reconciled God to those that had offended. |
| 17 |
That land - What land soever it be. |
| 19 |
In blood - In death and destruction, not by the sword. |
| 21 |
How much more - If they could not be able to keep off one of the four, how much less
would they be able to keep off all four, when I commission them all to go at once. |
| 22 |
Their way - Their sin and their punishment. Comforted - In this proof of the truth of
God. |
| 23 |
Comfort you - That is, you will be comforted, when you compare their case with your
own: when they tell you how righteous God was, in bringing these judgments upon them. This
will reconcile you to the justice of God, in thus punishing his own people, and to the
goodness of God, who now appeared to have had kind intentions in all. |
Chapter XV
God by the similitude of a vine, foreshews the utter destruction of Jerusalem, ver.
1 - 8.
| 2 |
The vine - tree - Israel is here compared to a vine, which, when fruitless, is utterly
unprofitable. This the prophet minds them of to humble them, and awaken them to
fruitfulness. A branch - One branch of a tree in the forest is of more use than the whole
vine - tree is, except for its fruit. |
| 3 |
A pin - Will it afford even a pin to drive into a wall or post, on which you may
safely fasten any weight. |
| 4 |
For fuel - When for its barrenness it is cut down, it is fit only to burn. |
| 6 |
Given - Doomed for food to the fire. |
| 8 |
Because - They have been so perpetually trespassing, that it seems a continued act. |
Chapter XVI
The mean beginning of the Jewish church and nation, ver. 1 - 5. The many favours
God bestowed upon them, ver. 6 - 14. Their treacherous and ungrateful requital, ver. 15 -
34. Terrible judgments threatened, ver. 35 - 43. An aggravation of their sin and of their
punishment, ver. 44 - 59. A promise of mercy to a remnant, ver. 60 - 63
| 3 |
Jerusalem - The whole race of the Jews. Thy birth - Thy root whence thou didst spring.
Thy father - Abraham, before God called him, (as his father and kindred) worshipped
strange gods beyond the river, Josh 24:14. An Amorite - This comprehended all
the rest of the cursed nations. |
| 4 |
In the day - In the day I called Abraham to leave his idolatry. Salted - Salt was used
to purge, dry, and strengthen the new - born child. Nor swaddled - So forlorn was the
state of the Jews in their birth, without beauty, without strength, without friend. |
| 5 |
To the loathing - In contempt of thee as unlovely and worthless; and in abhorrence of
thee as loathsome to the beholder. This seems to have reference to the exposing of the
male children of the Israelites in Egypt. And it is an apt illustration of the Natural
State of all the children of men. In the day that we were born, we were shapen in
iniquity: our understandings darkened, our minds alienated from the life of God: all
polluted with sin, which rendered us loathsome in the eyes of God. |
| 6 |
When I passed by - God here speaks after the manner of men. Live - This is such a
command as sends forth a power to effect what is commanded; he gave that life: he spake,
and it was done. |
| 7 |
Thou art come - Thou wast adorned with the choicest blessings of Divine Providence.
Thy breasts - Grown up and fashioned under God's own hand in order to be solemnly
affianced to God. |
| 8 |
When I passed - This second passing by, may be understood of God's visiting and
calling them out of Egypt. Thy time - The time of thy misery was the time of love in me
towards thee. I spread my skirt - Espoused thee, as Ruth 3:9. Entered into a
covenant - This was done at mount Sinai, when the covenant between God and Israel was
sealed and ratified. Those to whom God gives spiritual life, he takes into covenant with
himself. By this covenant they become his, his subjects and servants; that speaks their
duty: and at the same time his portion, his treasure; that speaks their privilege. |
| 9 |
Washed - It was a very ancient custom among the eastern people, to purify virgins who
were to be espoused. And I anointed - They were anointed that were to be married, as Ruth
3:3. |
| 10 |
Broidered - Rich and beautiful needle - work. Badgers skin - The eastern people had an
art of curiously dressing and colouring the skins of those beasts, of which they made
their neatest shoes, for the richest and greatest personages. |
| 11 |
A chain - Of gold, in token of honour and authority. |
| 14 |
My comeliness - "That is, thro' the beauty of their holiness, as they were a
people devoted to God. This was it that put a lustre upon all their other honours, and was
indeed the perfection of their beauty. Sanctified souls are truly beautiful in God's
sight, and they themselves may take the comfort of it. But God must have all the glory for
whatever comeliness they have, it is that which God has put upon them." |
| 15 |
Playedst the harlot - Thou didst go a whoring after idols. Thy renown - Her renown
abroad drew to her idolatrous strangers, who brought their idols with them. Pouredst out -
Didst readily prostitute thyself to them; every stranger, who passed thro' thee, might
find room for his idol, and idolatry. He it was - Thy person was at the command of every
adulterer. |
| 16 |
Thy garments - Those costly, royal robes, the very wedding clothes. High places -
Where the idol was. With divers colours - With those beautiful clothes I put upon thee.
The like things - As there was none before her that had done thus, so shall there be none
to follow her in these things. |
| 17 |
Images - Statues, molten and graven images. Commit whoredom - Idolatry, spiritual
adultery. And possibly here is an allusion to the rites of Adonis, or the images of
Priapus. |
| 18 |
Coveredst - Didst clothe the images thou hadst made. Set mine oil - In lamps to burn
before them. |
| 19 |
For a sweet savour - To gain the favour of the idol. Thus it was - All which is
undeniable. |
| 20 |
And those - These very children of mine hast thou destroyed. Sacrificed - Not only
consecrating them to be priests to dumb idols; but even burning them in sacrifice to
Molech. Devoured - Consumed to ashes. Is this - Were thy whoredoms a small matter, that
thou hast proceeded to this unnatural cruelty? |
| 21 |
For them - For the idols. |
| 24 |
In every street - Idol temples were in every street; both in Jerusalem and her cities.
|
| 25 |
At every head of the way - Not content with what was done in the city, she built her
idol temples in the country, wherever it was likely passengers would come. |
| 26 |
Great of flesh - Naturally of a big, make, and men of great stature. |
| 30 |
How weak - Unstable, like water. An imperious woman - A woman, that knows no superior,
nor will be neither guided nor governed. |
| 31 |
Not as an harlot - Common harlots make gain of their looseness, and live by that gain;
thou dost worse, thou lavishest out thy credit, wealth, and all, to maintain thine
adulterers. |
| 34 |
Contrary - Here we may see, what the nature of men is, when God leaves them to
themselves: yea, tho' they have the greatest advantage, to be better, and to do better. |
| 38 |
Blood - Thou gavest the blood of thy children to idols in sacrifice; I will give thee
thine own blood to drink. |
| 42 |
My jealousy - The jealousy whereto you have provoked me, will never cease, 'till these
judgments have utterly destroyed you, as the anger of an abused husband ceases in the
publick punishment of the adulteress. No more angry - I will no more concern myself about
thee. |
| 44 |
The mother - Old Jerusalem, when the seat of the Jebusites, or the land of Canaan,
when full of the idolatrous, bloody, barbarous nations. Her daughter - Jerusalem, or the
Jews who are more like those accursed nations in sin, than near them in place of abode. |
| 45 |
Thou - The nation of the Jews. Thy mother's daughter - As much in thy inclinations, as
for thy original. Loatheth - That was weary of the best husband. |
| 46 |
Thine elder sister - The greater for power, riches, and numbers of people. Her
daughters - The lesser cities of the kingdom of Israel. Thy left hand - Northward as you
look toward the east. Thy younger sister - Which was smaller and less populous. Thy right
hand - Southward from Jerusalem. |
| 47 |
Not walked after their ways - For they, all things considered, were less sinners than
thou. Nor done - Their doings were abominable, but thine have been worse. |
| 49 |
This was - The fountain and occasion of all. Fulness of bread - Excess in eating and
drinking. Strengthen - She refused to help strangers. |
| 51 |
Hast justified - Not made them righteous, but declared them less unrighteous, than
thou; of the two they are less faulty. |
| 52 |
Hast judged - Condemned their apostacy, and hast judged their punishment just. |
| 53 |
When - Sodom and Samaria never were restored to that state they had been in; nor were
the two tribes ever made so rich, mighty, and renowned, though God brought some of them
out of Babylon: the words confirm an irrecoverably low, and despised state, of the Jews in
their temporals. Then - Then, not before. |
| 54 |
A comfort - Encouraging sinners like those of Sodom and Samaria. |
| 56 |
Not mentioned - The sins of Sodom, and her plagues, were not minded or mentioned by
thee. |
| 57 |
Before - The time of her pride was, when they were not yet afflicted, and despised by
the Syrians. And all - The nations that were round about and combined in league against
the house of David. Her - Syria, the chief whereof were the Philistines. |
| 58 |
Thy lewdness - The punishment thereof. |
| 59 |
In breaking the covenant - So will I break my covenant with thee. |
| 60 |
Nevertheless - The Lord having denounced a perpetual punishment to the impenitent body
of the Jewish nation, doth now promise to the remnant, that they shall be remembered, and
obtain covenanted mercy. My covenant - In which I promised I would not utterly cut off the
seed of Israel, nor fail to send the redeemer, who should turn away iniquity from Jacob.
With thee - In the loins of Abraham, and solemnly renewed after their coming out of Egypt,
which is the time, called the days of thy youth, Isa 44:2. Establish -
Confirm and ratify. It shall be sure, and unfailing. An everlasting covenant - Of long
continuance, as to their condition in the land of Canaan, and in what is spiritual, it
shall be absolutely everlasting. |
| 61 |
Then - When that new covenant shall take effect. Receive - Admit into church -
communion, the Gentiles, now strangers, but then sisters. Thine elder - Those that are
greater and mightier than thou; that by their power, wealth and honour are as much above
thee as the elder children are above the younger. Thy younger - Thy lesser or meaner
sister. For daughters - As daughters hearken to, and obey, so shall the Gentiles brought
into the church, hearken to the word of God, which sounded out from Jerusalem. But not -
Not by that old covenant which was violated; nor by external ceremonies, which were a
great part of the first covenant, but by that covenant which writes the law in the heart,
and puts the fear of God into the inward parts. |
| 63 |
Open thy mouth - Neither to justify thyself, or to condemn others, or to quarrel with
thy God. Because of thy shame - Such a confusion for thy sin will cover thee. Indeed the
more we feel of God's love, the more ashamed we are that ever we offended him. And the
more our shame for sin is increased, the more will our comfort in God be increased also. |
Chapter XVII
The parable of two eagles and a vine, ver. 1 - 10. The application of it, ver. 11 -
21. A promise to raise the house of David again, ver. 22 - 24.
| 2 |
A riddle - A dark saying. The house of Israel - The remainders of the house of Israel,
whether of the ten, or of the two tribes. |
| 3 |
A great eagle - Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon is compared to a great eagle, the king
of birds, swift, strong, rapacious. Great wings - Mighty provinces on each side of his
kingdom. Long winged - His kingdom was widely extended. Full of feathers - And full of
people. Divers colours - Who were of divert nations, languages and manners. Lebanon -
Jerusalem the chief city of the country where this great, fruitful and pleasant hill was.
And took - Took, captive and carried away with him the king of Judah, Jehoiachin. The
cedar - The nation. |
| 4 |
The top - Both the king of Judah, now eighteen years old, and the nobles and chief of
the land. Into a land - Babylon, which was a city of mighty trade. |
| 5 |
The seed - Mattaniah, whom he called Zedekiah. Planted - Settled him on the throne of
Judah. As a willow - The prophet compares this new made king to a willow, which grows no
where so well as near great waters. |
| 6 |
Of low stature - They grew and flourish, while they owned their state tributary to
Babylon. Toward him - Nebuchadnezzar as their protector, and sovereign lord. The roots -
All the firmness, fruitfulness, and life of this state, was in subjection to him. |
| 7 |
Another - The king of Egypt. This vine - Zedekiah, his nobles and people. Did bend -
Sought his friendship. Shot forth - Sent ambassadors, and trusted to the power of Egypt.
Water it - That they might add to their greatness, as trees grow by seasonable watering
them. By the furrows - Alluding to the manner of watering used in Egypt, by furrows or
trenches to convey the water from the river Nile. |
| 8 |
Was planted - By Nebuchadnezzar, in a very hopeful condition, where it might have been
fruitful, and flourished. |
| 9 |
Say - Tell them what will be the issue of all this, and tell it to them in my name. It
prosper - Shall Zedekiah and his people thrive by this? Pull up - Utterly overthrow this
kingdom. Cut Off - Put to the sword the children of Zedekiah, and of the nobles. The
leaves - All the promising hope they had shall vanish. Without great power - The king of
Babylon shall do this easily, when it is God that sends him. For God needs not great power
and many people, to effect his purposes. He can without any difficulty overturn a sinful
king and kingdom, and make no more of it than we do of rooting up a tree that cumbers the
ground. |
| 10 |
Yea - Suppose this vine were planted by the help of Egypt. The east wind - When the
king of Babylon, who like the blasting wind comes from the north - east, shall but touch
it, it shall wither. In the furrows - Even amidst its greatest helps, to make it flourish.
|
| 15 |
He - Zedekiah. Shall he break - Can perjury be the way for deliverance? |
| 18 |
Given his hand - Solemnly confirming the oath. |
| 20 |
Plead - I will punish him. |
| 21 |
All - Not strictly, but the greatest part. |
| 22 |
The highest branch - Of the royal seed; of the highest branch that is heir to the
throne; namely, the Messiah. An high mountain - Upon mount Zion. Eminent - Not for outward
splendor, but for spiritual advantages. |
| 23 |
In the mountain - In Jerusalem. All fowl - All nations. In the shadow - There they
shall find peace and safety. |
| 24 |
The trees - The great ones on earth. The high tree - The kingdom of Babylon, which was
brought low indeed, when overthrown by Darius and Cyrus. |
Chapter XVIII
God reproves a corrupt proverb, ver. 1 - 4. It shall be well with the righteous,
ver. 5 - 9. but ill with the wicked man, tho' he had a good father, ver. 10 - 13. It shall
be well with a good man, tho' he had a wicked father, ver. 14 - 18. Therefore God is
righteous, ver. 19 - 20. It shall be well with penitents, but ill with apostates, ver. 21
- 29. An exhortation to repentance, ver. 30 - 32.
| 2 |
The land of Israel - The two tribes, not the ten. The fathers - Our fore - fathers.
Have eaten - Have sinned. The childrens - We their children, who were unborn, suffer for
their sins. |
| 4 |
Behold - There can be no colour of partial judgment in the proceedings of God, who is
equally God to all. All souls - All persons. The soul - The person, whether father or son,
shall die, shall bear his own punishment. |
| 6 |
Hath not eaten - Hath not committed idolatry, offering sacrifice, and eating of the
things sacrificed to idols; whose temples and altars were on mountains, chap. 20. &
28. Hos 4:13. |
| 8 |
Increase - Illegal interest. Iniquity - Injustice of every kind. |
| 9 |
Shall live - Shall be delivered from famine, pestilence, and sword, and shall see good
days. |
| 13 |
His blood - Heb. 'Tis plural, bloods; both the blood of the innocent which he
murdered, and his own blood which thereby he forfeited; the blood of his own soul and
life: that is the whole blame of his misery in time and eternity, shall lie upon himself. |
| 17 |
Hath taken off - Withdrawn his hand from hurting or wronging the poor, tho' he had
power to do it securely. |
| 20 |
Shall not bear - This is a most unquestionable truth; and tho' perhaps it may seem
otherwise in some cases, yet could we see perfectly the connexion between persons and
persons; could we see the connexion of sins and sins, and how easily, secretly, and
undiscerned men become guilty of the same sins, we should see father and son, though
perhaps one of them might not do the evil, both guilty, and neither punished for the sin
farther than if it was his own: nor do the scriptures, Exod 20:5 Deut 28:18,
doom persons to punishment for sins from which they are wholly free; but if children shall
follow their fathers in sin, then if they die for those sins, 'tis because these are their
own, not as they are their fathers. The righteousness - It shall be well with the
righteous, for he shall eat the fruit of his doing, he shall be rewarded as a righteous
one. The wickedness - The reward of wickedness. "The son shall not die, not die
eternally, for the iniquity of the father, if he do not tread in the steps of it: nor the
father for the iniquity of the son, if he do all he can to prevent it. |
| 22 |
Not mentioned - Not to him. |
| 25 |
The way - His whole management of affairs. Not equal - Not right, or consistent with
his own declaration, and law. |
| 28 |
He shall surely live - "That is, he shall be restored to the favour of God, which
is the life of the soul." |
| 31 |
Make you a new heart - Suffer me to do it in you. |
| 32 |
I have no pleasure - Sinners displease God when they undo themselves; they please him
when they return. |
Chapter XIX
The kingdom of Judah and house of David is compared to a lioness, and their princes
to lions taken in nets, ver. 1 - 9. The kingdom and house are compared to a vine, and
these princes to branches, now broken off and burnt, ver. 10 - 14.
| 1 |
For the princes - Jehoahaz, Jehoiachim, Jehoiachin, and Zedekiah. |
| 2 |
What - What resemblance shall I use to set out the nature, deportment, and state of
the mother of these princes? Thy - One of whom was upon the throne at once, and therefore
the prophet speaks to one at a time. Mother - The land of Judea, and Jerusalem, the chief
city of it, the royal family of David. Lioness - Tho' chosen of God to execute justice;
yet they soon degenerated into the fierce and ravening nature of the lioness. Lay down -
Associated, and grew familiar with neighbour kings, called here lions; fierce and bloody.
Her whelps - Her sons, successors to the crown. Young lions - Either foreign princes and
kings, or some of the fierce, unjust, tyrannizing princes at home. |
| 3 |
Brought up - Advanced, caused him to take the throne after the slaughter of Josiah.
One - Jehoahaz the second son of Josiah. Became - Soon shewed his fierce, cruel, and
bloody disposition. |
| 4 |
The nations - The Egyptians heard what he did. |
| 5 |
Made him - King, and infused the lion - like maxims into him. |
| 6 |
He - Jehoiachim. Went up - He continued eleven years on the throne; whereas Jehoahaz
was taken as soon as he first ventured out. The lions - Heathen kings, with whom he
entered into leagues. He became - Fierce, ravenous, unsatiable. |
| 7 |
He knew - By taking them, he came to know their places, which are here called, what he
made them, desolate. Roaring - By the perpetual violent threats of this cruel king. |
| 8 |
The nations - Which were tributary to Nebuchadnezzar. Set against - By order of the
king of Babylon. The provinces - Which belonged to the Babylonish kingdom. |
| 10 |
Thy mother - O thou prince of Israel. By the waters - In a very fruitful soil. Full of
branches - Full of children; when Josiah died, he left four behind him, beside other
branches of the royal line. |
| 11 |
Strong rods - Many excellent persons endowed with qualifications befitting kings, that
they might sway the scepter. Exalted - Above the ordinary majesty of other kingdoms. Thick
branches - This kingdom equalled, if not excelled, the greatest neighbour - kingdoms, and
her kings exceeded all their neighbouring kings, in riches and power. |
| 12 |
The east wind - God raised up the king of Babylon to pull up this sinful kingdom.
Dried up - Blasted all her fruit, deposed her king, captivated him, his family, and the
whole kingdom. Strong rods - All the choice men. |
| 13 |
She - A few of the branches of the last pruning. In the wilderness - Tho' Babylon was
in a very fruitful place, yet the cruelty of the Babylonians, made it to the Jews as
terrible as a wilderness. |
| 14 |
Fire - The fire of rebellion, kindled by Zedekiah, who is of the blood - royal. No
strong rod - The regal dignity is ceased. |
Chapter XX
The prophet consulted by the elders, signifies God's displeasure against them, ver.
1 - 3. Gives them a history of God's dealings with their fathers, and their treacherous
dealings with God in Egypt, ver. 4 - 9. In the wilderness, ver. 10 - 26. In Canaan, ver.
27 - 32. Judgments denounced against them, ver. 33 - 36. Mercy promised to a remnant, ver.
37 - 44. A word dropt toward Jerusalem, ver. 45 - 49.
| 1 |
The seventh year - Of Zedekiah's reign, two years and five months before
Nebuchadnezzar besieged Jerusalem. Came - Yet resolved before - hand what they would do. |
| 3 |
Are ye come - Are ye in good earnest? |
| 4 |
Wilt thou - Wilt thou not convince and reprove them? And denounce my judgments against
them? The abominations - What their fathers have done, they approve, and have outdone; by
that let them know what to expect. |
| 5 |
When I chose - When I shewed that I had chosen them. The history of the rebellions of
the children of Israel, begins as early, as their beginning. So does the history of man's
apostasy from his Maker. No sooner have we read the story of his creation, but we meet
with that of his rebellion. So we see here, it was with Israel; a people designed to
represent the body of mankind, both in their dealings with God, and in God's dealing with
them. Lifted up my hand - Or stretched out and made bare my arm; that is, magnified my
power for their deliverance. When I lifted up mine hand - Shewed my power in performing my
oath, and assuring them of doing what was farther promised. |
| 6 |
I had espied - God speaks after the manner of men. Milk and honey - Literally milk and
honey in abundance were in the land of Canaan. Proverbially it speaks the plenty and
abundance of all the blessings of life. |
| 7 |
Of his eyes - To which you have looked for help. |
| 8 |
To accomplish - To make an end of them. |
| 9 |
For my name's sake - For the glory of my mercy and faithfulness. Polluted - Reproached
and blasphemed. |
| 12 |
A sign - Of their being peculiarly my people. |
| 13 |
In the wilderness - Where they most needed my care and favour; where the preserving
their life from destruction by the noxious creatures, and from famine by the barrenness of
the wilderness, was a continued miracle. |
| 15 |
I lifted up my hand - I sware. Them - So all the murmuring, disobedient, unbelieving
generation was excluded, and their children were brought in. |
| 18 |
Walk ye not - Live not as your fathers did. |
| 20 |
Hallow - Remember to keep them holy. |
| 22 |
I withdrew - God seems to take the posture of one that was just going to smite, yet
draws back that he might spare. |
| 23 |
I lifted - I sware. |
| 25 |
Wherefore - Because they rejected my good laws and judgments. I gave them - Not by
enjoining, but by permitting them to make such for themselves. Not good - That were
pernicious to the users. |
| 26 |
Polluted - I permitted them to pollute themselves. Might know - Be forced to own, that
the Lord is a mighty king in punishing those that would not have him a gracious king in
governing them. |
| 29 |
What - What mean you that you go to the high place? What do you find so inviting
there, that you will leave God's altar, where he requires your attendance, to frequent
such places as he has forbidden you to worship in? Bamah - That is, the high place. |
| 31 |
Shall I be enquired of - Are you fit to ask counsel of me, whom you have so
obstinately forsaken and reproached? |
| 32 |
And that - God to convince them, tells them what they think and have purposed. Shall
not be - Shall be quite frustrated. We will be - Will unite with them in marriages,
commerce, and religion too; and then we shall be safe among them. |
| 34 |
The people - Sidonians, Ammonites, Moabites, or whoever they were, to whom the
apostate Jews betook themselves, where they thought to lurk, God will bring them thence
into Babylonish captivity. |
| 35 |
Bring you - Drive you. The wilderness - Into the most horrid parts of the world; into
the mountainous parts of Media, Hyrcania, Iberia, Caspia, Albania, and Scythia. Plead with
you - Pass sentence, and execute it on you. |
| 36 |
Your fathers - Who died there, and never entered Canaan. |
| 37 |
I will cause - I will bring you out by number, so that you shall either own my
scepter, or by a conquered subjection, yield to my sword and power. Under the rod -
Referring to the manner of shepherds in that country, who did tell their sheep in, and out
of the fold. Bring you - The voluntary and obedient into covenant with myself. |
| 38 |
The rebels - The stubborn sinners. |
| 39 |
But pollute - But while ye are such idolaters, forbear to take my name into your lips.
|
| 40 |
Mine holy mountain - Sion, God's holy hill, Psa 2:6. Holy by designation,
and God's own appointing it for his temple and presence. Of the height - Sion, tho' lower
than many other hills, yet was above them all for God's peculiar presence. In the land -
Their own land. Your offerings - When I have brought you into the land, then I will
require your offerings as formerly: you shall see my temple built, Jerusalem filled with
inhabitants, and my worship restored. |
| 41 |
Sanctified - Magnified and praised for the good I do to my people. |
| 43 |
Remember - Review your former ways with sorrow: remember, and grieve. |
| 46 |
The south - Look toward Jerusalem, and the land of Canaan. Drop thy word - Let thy
word distil, begin with softer words, before thou shower down with the vehemency of a
storm. The forest - Jerusalem, which was become like a forest. |
| 47 |
Every green tree - All that flourish, and all that are poor. All faces - All persons
and orders of men, from one end of the land to the other. |
| 49 |
Parables - So absolutely, that we cannot understand him. |
Chapter XXI
An explication of the prophecy in the close of the last chapter, with directions to
the prophet upon it, ver. 1 - 7. A prediction of the sword that was coming on the land,
ver. 8 - 17. A prospect given of the king of Babylon's coming to Jerusalem, to which he
was determined by divination, ver. 18 - 24. Sentence passed on Zedekiah, ver. 25 - 27. The
destruction of the Ammonites, ver. 28 - 32.
| 2 |
The holy places - The temple and all parts of it. |
| 3 |
The righteous - It is no unusual thing, that in publick calamities, those who are
indeed righteous should be involved with others. |
| 4 |
All flesh - All the Jews that dwell in the land. |
| 5 |
Shall not return - It shall not return into the scabbard 'till it hath done full
execution. |
| 6 |
Sigh therefore - Thereby express deep sorrow. Breaking of thy loins - Like a woman in
travail. |
| 7 |
Because - The saddest news you ever heard is coming. |
| 9 |
Furbished - Made clean and bright. |
| 10 |
Of my son - To whom God saith, Thou shalt break them with a rod of iron, Psa 2:9.
This sword is that rod of iron, which despiseth every tree, and will bear it down. |
| 12 |
It - The devouring sword. Upon thy thigh - In token of thy sense of what they must
suffer. |
| 13 |
If - But if the king and kingdom of Judah despise this trial, both shall be destroyed
and be no more. |
| 14 |
And smite - In token of amazement and sorrow. Of the slain - Wherewith many shall be
slain. Privy chambers - Where they were hidden in hope to escape. |
| 15 |
All their gates - Both of cities, of palaces, and of private houses. Wrapt up - And
hath been carefully kept in the scabbard, that it might not be blunted. |
| 16 |
Go - O sword, take thy own course. |
| 17 |
Smite my hands - In token of my approbation. |
| 19 |
Appoint - Paint, or describe them on a tile. One land - That is, Babylon. Chuse -
Pitch on some convenient place, where thou mayest place Nebuchadnezzar's army, consulting
where this one way divides into two, which was on the edge of the desert of Arabia. At the
head - Where each way runs, toward either Rabbath, or Jerusalem; for there Nebuchadnezzar
will cast lots. |
| 20 |
To Judah - The Jews. |
| 21 |
Stood - The prophet speaks of what shall be, as if it were already. To use - To
consult with his gods, and to cast lots. Arrows - Writing on them the names of the cities,
then putting them into a quiver, and thence drawing them out and concluding, according to
the name which was drawn. He consulted - Perhaps by a divine permission, the devil gave
them answers from those images. In the liver - They judged of future events, by the
entrails, and more especially by the liver. |
| 22 |
The divination - The divination which concerned Jerusalem, was managed on his right
hand. |
| 23 |
Them - The Jews. That have sworn - Zedekiah, his princes, and nobles, who swore
allegiance to the king of Babylon, these perjured persons will contemn all predictions of
the prophet. He - Nebuchadnezzar. The iniquity - The wickedness of their perjury and
rebellion. They - Zedekiah, and the Jews with him |
| 24 |
Your transgressions - Against God, and against the king of Babylon. Discovered - To
all in court, city, and country. With the hand - As birds, or beasts in the net, are taken
with the hands, so shall you, and be carried into Babylon. |
| 25 |
And thou - Zedekiah. Whose day - The day of sorrows, and sufferings, and punishment is
at hand. Shall have an end - Shall bring the ruin of king and kingdom, and with the
overthrow of your state, the means of sinning shall end too. |
| 26 |
The diadem - The royal attire of the head, which the king daily wore. Shall not be the
same - The kingdom shall never be what it hath been. Him that is low - Jeconiah. The
advance of this captive king, came to pass in the thirty - seventh year of his captivity. |
| 27 |
Shall be no more - Never recover its former glory, 'till the scepter be quite taken
away from Judah, and way be made for the Messiah. He hath an incontestable right to the
dominion both in the church and in the world. And in due time he shall have the possession
of it, all adverse power being overturned. |
| 28 |
Their reproach - Wherewith they reproached Israel in the day of Israel's afflictions. |
| 29 |
While - While thy astrologers, and soothsayers, deceive thee with fair, but false
divinations. To bring thee - To bring thee under the sword of the Chaldeans, and destroy
thee as the Jews; to make thee stumble and fall on their necks, as men that fall among a
multitude of slain. |
| 30 |
Shall I cause it - God will by no means suffer the sword to be sheathed. Judge thee -
Condemn, and execute. |
| 31 |
I will blow - As those who melt down metals blow upon the metal in the fire, that the
fire may burn the fiercer. |
Chapter XXII
A catalogue of the sins of Jerusalem, ver. 1 - 12. Punishment threatened, ver. 13 -
16. They are condemned as dross to the fire, ver. 17 - 22. All orders of men having
contributed to the national guilt, must share in the punishment of it, ver. 23 - 31.
| 2 |
Judge - The question is doubled, to awaken the prophet more fully, and to quicken him
to his work. |
| 3 |
Her time - The time of ripeness in her sins, and of execution of judgments on her. To
defile - For this does more defile them, and provoke God to wrath against them. |
| 4 |
Thy days - The days of thy sorrows, and punishment. Art come - Thou art grown up to
the eldest years in sin, beyond which thou art not to go. |
| 5 |
Much vexed - Afflicted, impoverished, and ruined. |
| 6 |
Every one - Not one to be found of a more merciful temper. To their power - According
to their ability. |
| 7 |
In thee - In Jerusalem. |
| 8 |
Thou - O Jerusalem. Mine holy things - All mine institutions, temple, sacrifices,
feasts. |
| 9 |
Carry tales - Informers, or persons that for money, give in false witness against the
innocent. They eat - Offer sacrifice on the mountains and feast there, in honour of their
idols. |
| 10 |
Discovered - Defiled their fathers bed. |
| 13 |
Smitten mine hand - In testimony of my abhorrence. |
| 14 |
Endure - Withstand the evils that are coming, or bear them when come. |
| 16 |
In thyself - Whereas I was thine inheritance so long as thou wert a holy, obedient
people; now be an inheritance to thyself, if thou canst. |
| 18 |
Dross - Utterly degenerate, and base metal. The furnace - The afflictions I have laid
upon them have not bettered them. The dross - While they loved mercy, did justly, walked
humbly with their God, they were as silver; now they are but dross. |
| 19 |
Gather you - From all parts. I will, by a secret over - ruling providence, bring you
into Jerusalem, as into a furnace, where you may be consumed. |
| 23 |
Her - The land of Israel. Not cleansed - Though God's judgments have been as violent
floods; and as hottest fires. Nor rained upon - Yet neither thy filth hath been carried
away, nor thy dross melted out of thee. Therefore thou shalt be deprived of the rain, that
should cool thy thirsty land. |
| 25 |
A conspiracy - A contrivance, to speak all alike, smooth words, and give out promises
of peace and safety. Thereof - Of the land. The treasure - As a reward of their lies. Made
her - By persuading Zedekiah to hold out the war, which filled Jerusalem with dead
husbands, and forlorn widows. |
| 26 |
My holy things - Sacrifices, and oblations. Put no difference - Neither have they in
their practice, differenced holy and profane, nor in their teaching acquainted the people
with the difference, nor in the exercise of their authority, separated the profane from
the holy, either persons, or things. Hid their eyes - Despised, and would not see the
holiness of the sabbaths. Profaned - Contemned, dishonoured, disobeyed. |
| 27 |
Destroy souls - Ruin families; cutting off the fathers, and impoverishing the widow,
and fatherless. |
| 28 |
Daubed them - Flattered them, in their ways of sin. Untempered mortar - With promises
that like ill - tempered mortar, will deceive them, though all seems at present smooth and
safe. |
| 30 |
I sought - God speaks after the manner of men. A man - Any one, among princes,
prophets, priests, or people, to repair the breach. And stand - Interpose between a sinful
people, and their offended God, and intreat for mercy. But - All were corrupted. |
Chapter XXIII
The apostacy of Israel and Samaria from God, ver. 1 - 8. Their ruin, ver. 9, 10.
The apostacy of Judah and Jerusalem from God, ver. 11 - 21. Their ruin, ver. 22 - 35. The
joint wickedness of them both, ver. 36 - 44. And their joint ruin, ver. 45 - 49.
| 2 |
Two women - Judah, and Israel, two kingdoms. |
| 3 |
Whoredoms - Idolatry. |
| 4 |
Aholah - That is, his own tabernacle; for Israel falling off from the house of David,
fell off from the tabernacle, or temple of God; so that all the temple they had was of
their own making. The elder - Greater for number of tribes, and for power, wealth, and for
multitudes of people. Aholibah - That is, my tabernacle in her: the two tribes had the
temple of God with them. Mine - By solemn marriage - covenant. Bare sons - Were fruitful
and brought forth children to me; they increased in numbers of people; and among these,
some there were that were children of God by faith, love, and obedience. |
| 5 |
Played the harlot - United in idolatry, with the Assyrians. Mine - When under my
government, and protection. |
| 6 |
Horsemen - Skillful in riding, and well furnished with choice horses. |
| 7 |
With all - Other nations, with whom she had commerce. |
| 10 |
Discovered - Stript her naked, and exposed her to shame. Took her sons - Captives.
Slew her - The kingdom of Israel, under Hoshea, was by Salmanesar utterly destroyed. They
- The Assyrians, had executed God's just displeasure upon her. |
| 15 |
Girded - With soldiers belts, which includes the rest of the habit of soldiers. In
dyed attire - Both rich, comely, large, and of divers colours. Princes - Of princely
aspect and majesty. |
| 17 |
Alienated - She grew weary of the Chaldeans. |
| 18 |
Discovered - Made it appear to all, far and near. |
| 19 |
By - Remembering her idolatries in Egypt, her alliance with it in days past, which she
now resolved to act over again. |
| 20 |
Paramours - The nations, that were confederate | |
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