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GENERAL AND CONNECTED

VIEW, &c.

PROPHECY XXI.

The restoration and conversion of the Jews.

Ezekiel xi. 13.

THEN fell I down upon my face, and cried with

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a loud voice and said, Ah Lord God, wilt thou make a full end of the remnant of Israel? 14. And the word of the Lord came unto me, saying, 15. Son of man, thy brethren, the men of thy kindred, even all the house of Israel wholly, are they unto whom the inhabitants of Jerusalem have said, Get ye far from the Lord *: unto us is this land given in possession. 16. Therefore say, Thus saith the Lord God; Although I have cast them far off among the nations, and although I have scattered them from among the countries, yet will I be to them as a little sanctuary in the countries where they shall come. 17. Therefore say, Thus saith the Lord

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* Unto whom the inhabitants of Jerusalem have said, Get ye far from the Lord.] "The Jews, who were left in their own coun66 try, thought themselves more in God's favour, than those "who were carried away captive." Mr. Lowth in loc. See also his note on Jer. xxiv. 5.

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from the people countries where ye

God; I will even gather you and assemble you out of the have been scattered, and I will give you the land of Israel. 18. And they shall come thither, and they shall take away all the detestable things thereof, and all the abominations thereof from thence. 19. And I will give them one heart, and I will put a new spirit within yout; and I will take the stony heart out of their flesh, and will give them an heart of flesh: 20. That they may walk in my statutes, and keep my ordinances, and do them: and they shall be my people, and I will be their God. 21. But, as for them whose heart walketh after the heart of their detestable things and their abominations, I will recompense their way upon their own heads, saith the Lord God.

COMMENTARY.

When part of the Jews were carried away captive with Jechoniah, those, that remained still in their own country with Zedekiah, thought them

"This may be

* I will even gather you from the people.] "in some degree fulfilled in those that returned from captivity, "but the utmost completion of this and the following verses "must be expected at the general restoration of the Jewish "nation." Mr. Lowth in loc.

+ I will put a new spirit within you.] "These promises chiefly "relate to the general conversion of the Jews, when God shall pour out upon them the spirit of grace, in order to their "conversion, Zech. xii, 10." Mr. Lowth in loc.

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selves better beloved of God than their brethren of the dispersion, whom they looked upon as outcasts, and as having no right either to the privileges of Jews or to the land of Judea. This vain confidence is reproved, and a restoration is promised. The prediction relates primarily to the return from Babylon; but the whole tenor of the latter part of it shews plainly, that it will not receive its full and ultimate accomplishment till the days of the final and general restoration of the Jews. Then, and not till then, can it with propriety be said, that God hath given them a new spirit, and a heart of flesh; that they are faithfully walking in his statutes, and keeping his ordinances.

PROPHECY XXII.

The restoration and conversion of Judah and Israel-The conversion of the Gentiles-Jerusalem the head of all churches, though not by the Mosaical covenant.

Ezekiel xvi. 46. Thine elder sister is Samaria, she and her daughters, that dwell at thy left hand : and thy younger sister that dwelleth at thy right hand, is Sodom and her daughters-53. When I shall bring again their captivity, the captivity of Sodom

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