contempt of God's laws.

B. C. 594.

are round about you, and have not A. M. 3410.
walked in my statutes, neither have
kept my judgments, neither have done ac-
cording to the judgments of the nations that
are round about you;

8 Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I, even I, am against thee, and will execute judgments in the midst of thee in the sight of the nations.

9 h And I will do in thee that which I have not done, and whereunto I will not do any more the like, because of all thine abominations.

Lam. iv. 6; Dan. ix. 12; Amos iii. 2.

burn, as they make great havoc, and consume as fast to enlighten the dark world with a divine light. And as fire. Thou shalt take a third part, and smite she hath changed my judgments into wickedness— about it with a knife-To show that a third part of Instead of following my judgments, and the precepts the inhabitants should be slain with the sword; I gave her for the conduct of life, she hath given either in the sallies they made out of the city against herself up to wickedness. More than the nations—— the enemy, or when the city was taken by assault. She hath sinned against clearer light and stronger A third part thou shalt scatter in the wind-This convictions of duty than the heathen nations, and signified that a part of them should be dispersed therefore has contracted greater guilt, and deserved into various countries, as the chaff is dispersed by greater punishment than they. And my statutes the wind; I will draw out a sword after them-My|| more than the countries round about her-None vengeance shall pursue them in their dispersions, of the countries round about had the statutes of and they shall be everywhere exposed to suffer vio- Jehovah delivered to them, for he made known his lence and injury. Also take a few and bind them statutes only to Israel: the meaning of this therefore in thy skirts-The Hebrew is, in thy wings. This must be, that the nations round about were more signified that a small part of them should be pre- observant of the statutes and precepts delivered to served in the land; and accordingly we find that them by men than the Israelites were of those deliverNebuzar-adan, captain-general of the king of Baby-ed to them by God. Thus we find from Jeremiah, lon, left a few of them in the land under Gedaliah, that the Rechabites were much more observant of the as we read Jer. xl. 5, 6. Then take of them again,|| precepts (though no easy ones) which their father or and cast them into the midst of the fire-This ex- first founder enjoined them, than the Israelites were pressed the calamity and destruction which should of the commandments given them by God. arise from this small remnant differing among themselves: some espousing the part of Gedaliah, who had been set over them by the Babylonians, and was a good man; and others joining themselves to Ishmael, one of the blood of David, but a wicked man; who formed a conspiracy against Gedaliah, and treacherously slew him, which was the occasion of || the utter ruin of that poor remainder of the Jews, which were left in their native country. For thereupon some of them went down into Egypt, where they were all consumed according to Jeremiah's prophecy against them, chap. xliv. 11, &c., and the rest who remained in the land were entirely carried away captive by Nebuzar-adan, Jer. lii. 30.

Verses 7-9. Therefore, because ye multiplied more than the nations-Their multiplying, in the common sense of the word, was a blessing promised to them, and could not be alleged against them as a crime; therefore a word ought to be supplied here, as is done in many versions, namely, because ye multiplied your crimes, or wickedness, more than the nations, &c., neither have done according to the judgments [or manners] of the nations that are round about you-Namely, by persevering in the religion of your forefathers: you have not been so constant and zealous for the true religion as they have been for a false one. Or, as others interpret the clause, You have exceeded them in superstition and idolatry, and fallen short of them in moral duties. Therefore, behold, I, even I, am against thee

Verses 5, 6. Thus saith the Lord, This is Jerusalem-Here the explication of the foregoing type is given, namely, that the hair to be shaved off signi--I will vindicate my laws from being contemned as fied Jerusalem, which was to be destroyed. I have set it in the midst of the nations-I set Jerusalem in the midst of the heathen nations, that it might be a pattern of religion and virtue to them: that the Egyptians, Syrians, Arabians, &c., might take example from her. Jerusalem was set in the midst of the nations to be as the heart in the human body, to invigorate the dead world with a divine life, as well as

they have been by you; for why should I suffer it to be said, See how they who profess to worship the true and only God, live immersed in wickedness, and without any virtue? And I will do in thee that which I have not done--As your sins have particular aggravations above those of other nations, so your punishment shall be proportionably greater. I will not do any more the like-The punishments

Further judgments

B. C, 594.

B. C. 594.

A. M. 3410. 10 Therefore the fathers i shall eat 13 Thus shall mine anger be ac- A. M. 3410. the sons in the midst of thee, and complished, and I will cause my fury the sons shall eat their fathers; and I will to rest upon them, and I will be comforted: execute judgments in thee, and the whole" and they shall know that I the LORD have remnant of thee will I scatter into all the spoken it in my zeal, when I have accomwinds.

m

11 Wherefore, as I live, saith the Lord GOD; Surely, because thou hast defiled my sanctuary with all thy detestable things, and with all thine abominations, therefore will I also diminish thee; " neither shall mine eye spare, neither will I have any pity.

12 A third part of thee shall die with the|| pestilence, and with famine shall they be consumed in the midst of thee: and a third part|| shall fall by the sword round about thee; and I will scatter a third part into all the winds, and I will draw out a sword after them.

i Lev. xxvi. 29; Deut. xxviii. 53; 2 Kings vi. 29; Jer. xix. 9; Lam. ii. 20; iv. 10.- Verse 12; Lev. xxvi. 33; Deut. xxviii. 64; Chap. xii. 14; Zech. ii. 6. 2 Chron. xxxvi. 14; Chapter vii. 20; viii. 5, &c.; xxiii. 38. Chapter xi. 21. Chapter vii. 4, 9; viii. 18; ix. 10.— Verse 2; Jer. xv. 2; xxi. 9; Chap. vi. 12.

you shall suffer shall be more remarkable for their greatness than those I shall at any time inflict upon

other nations.

plished my fury in them.

14 Moreover, I will make thee waste, and a reproach among the nations that are round about thee, in the sight of all that pass by.

y

15 So it shall be a reproach and a taunt, an instruction and an astonishment unto the nations that are round about thee, when I shall execute judgments in thee in anger, and in fury, and in furious rebukes. I the LORD have spoken it.

16 When I shall send upon them the evil arrows of famine, which shall be for their destruction, and which I will send to destroy

P Jer. ix. 16; Verses 2, 10; Chap. vi. 8.- -9 Lev. xxvi. 33; Verse 2; Chap. xii. 14.- Lam. iv. 11; Chap. vi. 12; vii. 8. Chapter xxi. 17.—1 Deut. xxxii. 36; Isa. i. 24." Chapter xxxvi. 6; xxxviii. 19. Leviticus xxvi. 31, 32; Neh. ii. 17. y Deut. xxviii. 37; 1 Kings ix. 7; Psa. lxxix. 4; Jer. xxiv. 9; Lam. ii. 15.2 Chap. xxv. 17.-a Deut. xxxii. 23, 24.

nified see on verse 2. And I will draw out a sword after them-My anger shall still pursue them, even into the countries whither they shall be Verses 10, 11. The fathers shall eat the sons, &c. banished and carried captives. As this was par-Fathers eating their children, and children their ticularly fulfilled in those that went into Egypt, (see fathers, expresses the height of misery, and the most on verse 4,) so it has been remarkably verified in grievous famine. We have sufficient proof that the several persecutions and massacres they have such instances happened in the Jewish nation amidst undergone at different times in most of the countheir more than common calamities. Josephus re- tries of Europe, in latter ages: see note on Deut. lates some instances of parents eating their children || xxviii. 65. Thus shall mine anger be accomduring the siege of Jerusalem by the Romans; and || plished-My anger shall be appeased toward them, we have further evidence of such horrid acts having after I have executed due punishment upon them been done by them in the extremity of famine, from for their sins. And I will cause my fury—Or rathe texts referred to in the margin. And the whole || ther, my wrath, or indignation, as, non should be remnant of them will I scatter, &c.-This is another rendered, for to apply the word fury to God, is judgment threatened against them by Moses, and highly improper and indecent: to rest upon them— remarkably fulfilled in this their last dispersion, in To be satisfied in punishing them. And I will be which they are to be found in every part of the comforted-Here we have a strong instance of the known world, and yet live everywhere like strangers metaphor called anthropopathia, by which the only upon sufferance: see note on Deut. xxviii. 64. Be- qualities of men are ascribed to God. As men cause thou hast defiled my sanctuary-Hast profaned sometimes find some sort of ease and rest in their my temple by placing idols in it, and worshipping minds upon venting their anger on just occasions, them. With all thy detestable things, and all thine and bringing offenders to condign punishment; so abominations-These are expressions of the same God is here described as feeling ease and satisfacsignification, denoting idols. Therefore will I also tion in executing his justice on obstinate offenders: diminish thee-Will make thee of less account, and compare chap. xvi. 42, and xxi. 17; and see note on take from thee all honours as thou hast from me, Isa. i. 24. They shall know that I have spoken it as much as lay in thy power: or, as some interpret in my zeal-Out of a just concern for my own the clause, I will cut off or destroy, by diminishing, honour and authority, which they have slighted and (as the word is used Num. xxvii. 4,) with- || despised. out showing any pity or compassion. See the margin.

Verses 12, 13. A third part of thee, &c.-In this verse is given an explication of what the burning of the hair, the smiting of it with a knife, &c., sig

||

Verses 15-17. So it shall be an instruction to the nations-They shall learn from such an example of vengeance to fear me, and be afraid of my judgments. When I shall send upon them the evil arrows of famine-Hail, tempest, drought,

CHAPTER VI.

A. M. 3410. you and I will increase the famine || beasts, and they shall bereave thee; A. M. 3410 upon you, and will break your staff and pestilence and blood shall pass of bread: through thee; and I will bring the sword 17 So will I send upon you famine and evil thee. I the LORD have spoken it.

Levit. xxvi. 26; Chapter iv. 16; xiv. 13.— Levit. xxvi. 22; Deut. xxxii. 24; Chap. xiv. 21; xxxiii. 27; xxxiv. 25. mildew, locusts, all which contribute to make a Pestilence and blood shall pass through theefamine. So will I send upon you famine and evil|| Blood signifies any unusual sort of death, and may beasts-Wild beasts multiply in a land when it be- denote here such a pestilence as would destroy mulcomes uninhabited, Exod. xxiii. 29. This likewise || titudes; or that, in addition to destruction by pestiis a punishment which, among others, was threat-lence, they should be slaughtered by their enemies ened against the Jews by Moses: see the margin. || throughout their land.

CHAPTER VI.

In this chapter, (1,) God threatens, by his prophet, to bring general destruction upon the Jews and their idols, 1-7. (2,) Promises that a remnant of those in captivity should return to him by unfeigned repentance, and a thorough reformation, 8–10. (3,) Directs Ezekiel and his fellow-prophets to bewail, both the iniquities and the calamities of their nation, 11–14.

A. M. 3410. AND the word of the LORD came || children of Israel before their idols; A. M. 3410. unto me, saying, and I will scatter your bones round

2 Son of man, set thy face toward the moun- || about your altars.

tains of Israel, and prophesy against them,

3 And say, Ye mountains of Israel, hear the word of the Lord GOD: Thus saith the Lord GOD to the mountains, and to the hills, to the rivers, and to the valleys; behold, I, even I, will bring a sword upon you, and I will destroy your high places.

4 And your altars shall be desolate, and your 1images shall be broken: and I will cast down your slain men before

8¶f Yet will I leave a remnant, that ye may 5 And I will 2 lay the dead carcasses of the have some that shall escape the sword among

9 And they that escape of you shall remember me among the nations whither they shall be carried captives, because I am broken with their whorish heart, which hath departed from me, and with their eyes which go a whoring after their idols and they shall loathe themselves for the evils which they have committed in all their abominations.

10 And they shall know that I am the LORD, and that I have not said in vain that I would do this evil unto them.

11 Thus saith the Lord GOD; Smite with thy hand, and stamp with thy foot, and say, Alas, for all the evil abominations of the house of Israel! for they shall fall by the sword, by the famine, and by the pestilence.

take place in the land.

12 He that is far off shall die of A. M. 3410. B. C. 594. the pestilence; and he that is near shall fall by the sword; and he that remaineth and is besieged shall die by the famine: m thus will I accomplish my fury upon them.

when they denounce general judgments against the See note on chap. v. 12. He that is far off—And Jews; implying that God will still preserve a rem- thinks himself out of danger, because he is out of nant of that people; to whom he will fulfil the pro- the reach of the enemy; shall die of the pestilence mises made to their fathers." And they that escape -The arrow that I will shoot at him. And he that of you shall remember me, &c.-Your afflictions is near-Who stays in his own country, or who is shall bring you to the knowledge of yourselves, and near a place of strength, which he hopes will be to a sense of your duty to me. Because I am broken him a place of safety, yet shall fall by the sword bewith their whorish hearts—I am much grieved, and fore he can retreat to it. And he that remaineth— my patience is tired out with this people's idolatries, Who is so cautious as not to venture out, but remains called in Scripture spiritual whoredom. God is here in the city; shall die by the famine-The most introduced as speaking after the manner of men, miserable death of all: thus will I accomplish my whose patience is tired out by the repeated provoca- fury-I will satisfy my just displeasure, and give tions of others, especially when they see no hopes them full measure of punishment: I will do all that of amendment. And with their eyes go a whoring against them which I had purposed to do. Then shall after their idols-The eyes are the seat of lascivious ye know-See note on verse 10. When their slain inclinations: see 2 Pet. ii. 14. So, in pursuit of the men shall be among their idols-As was threatened same metaphor, the eyes are said to go a whoring before, verses 5-7. Upon every high hill, &c.— after idols, the people being often tempted to idola- There, where they had prostrated themselves in trous worship by the costliness of the images, and honour of their idols, God will lay them dead to the fine show they made. And they shall loathe their own reproach, and the reproach of their idols: themselves, &c.-With a mixture of grief toward they lived among them, and shall die among them: God, of indignation against themselves, and abhor- they had offered sweet odours to their idols, but there rence of the offence. And they shall know I have shall their dead carcasses send forth an offensive not said in vain, &c.— Without cause, as the word smell, as it were, to atone for that misplaced incense. O is more significantly translated chap. xiv. 22; So will I stretch out my hand-Put forth my althe sufferers had given him just cause to pronounce mighty power; and make the land desolate―DI, that evil. Or, without effect: their sins were the cause, a desolation, a Hebraism, for most desolate: that and their destruction is the effect of their sufferings. || fruitful, pleasant, populous country, which has been Verses 11-14. Smite with thy hand, and stamp as the garden of Eden, the glory of all lands; shall with thy foot—Join to thy words the gestures which be more desolate than the wilderness toward Diblath are proper to express grief and concern at the wick--Or Diblathaim, as it is called Num. xxxiii. 46; the edness of thy people, and for their calamities that desert in the borders of Moab, part of that great and will ensue. For they shall fall by the sword, &c.—|| terrible wilderness, described Deut. viii. 15.

590

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3

CHAPTER VII.

CHAPTER VII.

In this chapter, the approaching ruin of Judea is foretold very particularly, and in expressions most affecting and often repeated, that, if possible, the people might be awakened and brought to repentance, in order to the prevention of so great a calamity. The prophet is ordered to tell them, (1,) That it will be a final, complete, and miserable destruction, 1-6. (2) That it was very near at hand, 7-10. (3,) That on account of their aggravated pride and violence it was unavoidable, 10-15. (4,) That neither their strength nor riches should in the least protect them from it, 16–19. (5,) That their glorious temple, in which they trusted, should be laid in ruins, 20-22. (6,) That their miseries and desolation, by the Chaldeans, should be as universal as their sins had been, 23-27.

A. M. 3410. MOREOVER the word of the the day of trouble is near, and not A. M. 3410. LORD came unto me, saying, the sounding again of the moun3

10 Behold the day, behold, it is come; the 5 Thus saith the Lord GOD; An evil, an only morning is gone forth; the rod hath blossomed, evil, behold, is come. pride hath budded.

Violence is risen up into a rod of wickedness: none of them shall remain, nor of their 7 The morning is come upon thee, O thou || 5 multitude, nor of any of theirs: "neither that dwellest in the land: the time is come, || shall there be wailing for them.