EZEKIEL. 8 And there appeared in the cherubims the form of a man's hand under their wings. 9 And when I looked, behold the four wheels by the cherubims, one wheel by one cherub, and another wheel by another cherub: and the appearance of the wheels was as the colour of a 1 beryl-stone. 10 And as for their appearances, they four had one likeness, as if a wheel had been in the midst of a wheel. 11 m When they went, they went upon their four sides; they turned not as they went, but to the place whither the head looked they followed it; they turned not as they went. 12 And their whole body, and their backs, and their hands, and their wings, and "the wheels, were full of eyes round about, even the wheels that they four had. from the temple. B. C. 593. 14° And every one had four faces: A. M. 3411. the first face was the face of a cherub, and the second face was the face of a man, and the third the face of a lion, and the fourth the face of an eagle. 15 And the cherubims were lifted up. This is the living creature that I saw by the river of Chebar. 16 And when the cherubims went, the wheels went by them: and when the cherubims lifted up their wings to mount up from the earth, the same wheels also turned not from beside them. 17 When they stood, these stood; and when they were lifted up, these lifted up themselves also for the spirit of the living creature was in them. 6 t 18 Then the glory of the Lord departed from off the threshold of the house, and stood over the cherubims. 19 And the cherubims lifted up their wings, and mounted up from the earth in my sight: time to return to him, and placed itself where it part, was toward his right hand; the ox, being placed might be seen, both by priests and people, that both || toward the west, was on his left; and the eagle was might be moved to repentance. And the sound of toward the north. This interpretation is justified the cherubims' wings, as the voice of the Almighty--|| from the situation of the standards of the several As the sound of loud thunder. The cherubim, in tribes of Israel in the wilderness, (Num. ii. 2, 10, 18, the prophet's vision, seem to have moved to attend 25,) where Judah, whose standard was a lion, was upon the Shechinah, which now had taken its station placed on the east side; Reuben, whose standard at the threshold of the house. He went and stood was a man, was placed on the south; Ephraim, beside, rather, between, the wheels. whose standard was an ox, was placed on the Verses 8-13. There appeared in the cherubim the west; and Dan, whose standard was an eagle, was form of a man's hand-See chap. i. 8. The follow-placed on the north side. Here the prophet is suping verses to the 12th are the same, in substance, posed to stand westward of the Shechinah, as that with chap. i. 16-18, where see the notes. To the was moving eastward: so the ox was first in his place where the head looked they followed, verse 11. view. Each wheel consisted of four semicircles in correspondence to the heads of each animal. It was cried unto them, O wheel--Or, move round, as some render the word. They were put in mind of continually attending upon their duty; for the wheels and living creatures were animated with the same principle of understanding and motion. Verses 15-17. And the cherubims were lifted upTo attend upon the divine glory wherever it went, and particularly at its removal from the temple. This is the living creature, &c.-Here it is spoken of as only one living creature, though before it is called the living creatures; because it was, as it were, but one creature, of the likeness of four different animals. For the spirit of the living creature was in them-There is a perfect harmony between second causes in their dependance 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 all 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. Verse 14. And every one had four faces-See notes on chap. i. 6-10. The first had the face of a cherub―That is, of an ox, as appears by comparing this verse with chap. i. 10. The word cherub, indeed, originally signifies an ox. The several faces are here represented in a different order from the description given of them chap. i. 10, of which difference this reason may be assigned. In the first chapter the prophet saw this vision coming out of the north, and advancing southward, (verse 4,) Verses 18, 19. Then the glory of the Lord dewhere the face of a man, being placed on the south || parted from off the threshold, &c.—The cloud of side, was first in view. The lion, being on the east glory, emblematical of the divine presence, now a Chap. i. 8; Verse 8.and withdraw that benefit and service which they gave before. Here, however, the glory of God, the cherubim, and the wheels, all stood, respiting execution, and giving opportunity of preventing the approaching misery. .— Chap. i. 10.— Chap. i. 12. makes a further remove from the temple: it now quite left the house itself, and settled upon the cherubim, which stood in the court adjoining to it, ver. 3. || And the cherubims lifted up their wings: the wheels also-See chap. i. 19, 26. And stood at the door of the east gate-This was a still further remove from Verse 20. This is the living creature, &c.—See the temple, (for the east gate was just at the entrance chap. i. 22-26. And I knew that they were the cheruinto the inner court before the temple,) to signify || bims-Either by special assurance as a prophet, or that the divine protection would entirely leave the from reading and hearing about those that were rehouse; and, God departing, the angels depart also, || presented in the holy of holies. CHAPTER XI. This chapter concludes the vision which Ezekiel saw at Jerusalem, and relates two messages which he received: (1,) A message of wrath against those who remained secure at Jerusalem, 1-13. (2,) A message of comfort to the dejected captives at Babylon, 14-21. (3,) The glory of God removes farther, 22, 23. (4) The vision disappears, of which Ezekiel gives an account, 24, 25. a Chapter iii. 12, 14; viii. 3; Verse 24.- b Chapter x. 19. Or, It is not for us to build houses near.- d Chap. xii. 22, 27; Chapter viii. 16. NOTES ON CHAPTER XI. 2 Peter iii. 4. Jer. i. 13; Chapter xxiv. 3, &c. ing to others. Then said he unto me-Namely, the divine appearance which was before my eyes. These are the men that give wicked counsel―They probably advised and encouraged the people to use the Chaldean rites of worship, in order to please and gain the favour of that nation. Or, they persuaded the Jews that they had no reason to fear future trouble or mischief from the Chaldeans, and therefore rendered them secure in their sins. Which say, It is not near-The threatened danger and ruin by Verses 1-3. Moreover the spirit lifted me up-It seems it should rather have been rendered, And the|| spirit had lifted me up, for here he appears to go back to speak about those twenty-five men of whom he made mention chap. vii. 16, but had broken off from speaking of them to speak of things of greater importance; but he now returns to them again. And brought me unto the east gate-Caused me to see those parts in my vision just as if I had been there. And behold at the door five and twenty men the Chaldeans. These were such as put the evil -The same who are represented in chap. viii. 16,|| as worshipping the sun. They were princes of the people-That is, most probably, members of the great sanhedrim: compare Jer. xxvi. 10. Among whom I saw Pelatiah, &c.-Named here for that dreadful, sudden death, whereby he became a warn day far from them, as is said Am. vi. 3, and so went on securely in building houses, and making such like improvements. This city is the caldron, and we be the flesh-Jeremiah had foretold the destruction of Jerusalem under the figure of a seething-pot, or caldron, Jer. i. 13. And Ezekiel himself uses Proophecy against the A. M. 3411. ¡B. C. 593. EZEKIEL. 4 Therefore prophesy against them, prophesy, O son of man. 5 And the Spirit of the LORD fell upon me, and said unto me, Speak; Thus saith the LORD; Thus have ye said, O house of Israel: for I know the things that come into your mind, every one of them. 6 Ye have multiplied your slain in this city, and ye have filled the streets thereof with the slain. 7 Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD: hYour slain whom ye have laid in the midst of it, they are the flesh, and this city is the caldron: but I will bring you forth out of the midst of it. || Israelitish elders. B. C. 593. 8 Ye have feared the sword; and A. M. 3411. I will bring a sword upon you, saith the Lord GOD. 9 And I will bring you out of the midst thereof, and deliver you into the hands of strangers, and will execute judgments among you. k n 10 Ye shall fall by the sword; I will judge you in the border of Israel; and ye shall know that I am the LORD. 12 Kings xxv. 19, 20, 21; Jer. xxxix. 6; lii. 10.-1 Kings viii. 65; 2 Kings xiv. 25. Psa. ix. 16; Chap. vi. 7; xiii. 9, 14, 21, 23.-- Verse 3. Verses 6, 7. Ye have multiplied your slain in this city-Ye have, without law or justice, shed the blood of many in your streets. From this, and many other expressions in the Scripture, we may conclude that not only private murders were extremely frequent among them, but that they also frequently put to death, under colour of justice, those who were innocent of every crime deserving of death, but the same metaphor, chap. xxiv. 3, 4, &c. So these scoffers made use of the same expression on purpose to deride the menaces of the prophets; as if they had said, If this city be a caldron, we are well content to be the flesh that is boiled in it. "We will share all fates with her, we will either be preserved or perish with her." So Michaelis, who thinks the words are a proverb. Verses 4, 5. Therefore prophesy against them—whom, for some wicked purposes, they wanted to be Declare to them how different things shall happen removed out of the way. And ye have filled the to them from what they expect. And the Spirit of streets thereof with the slain-You have not only the Lord fell upon me-See note on chap. iii. 24. committed many murders yourselves, but you are And said unto me, Speak; Thus have ye said-Ye accountable to God for all those whom the Chaldeans have advanced the assertion, mentioned verse 3. have slain, seeing you persuaded your people thus "You have rightly said what you say: the city is || obstinately to stand out. Your slain, they are the the caldron, and we are the flesh, shall be fulfilled, flesh, &c.—You yourselves, therefore, have made but not as you understand it. Many of you will your city, as it were, a caldron, by the murdered perish in the city. For those it will be the caldron, bodies with which you have filled the streets of it; and they will be flesh boiled in it. But yourselves many of them cut in pieces, so that they seem like shall not be the flesh in the caldron: but you shall flesh cut for the caldron. And this city may properbe taken out and elsewhere cut in pieces."-Mi- ly be called the caldron, into which their flesh has chaelis in Newcome. For I know the things that been thrown. But I will bring you forth out of the come into your mind—–Here God declares that, how-midst of it-Not in mercy, but in wrath, by the ever much these men thought, and said in their conquering hand of the king of Babylon. You hearts, The Lord seeth us not, yet still he not only shall not die there, but I will reserve you for another saw them, but knew the things that came into their punishment: see verses 9, 11. mind, every one of them, and took particular notice of that vain confidence with which they supported themselves, and endeavoured to put a good face upon a matter which they could not but know to be bad. Remember, reader, God perfectly knows not only the things that come out of our mouths, but the|| things that come into our minds; not only all we || say, but all we think; even those thoughts which are most suddenly darted into our minds, and as suddenly slip out of them again, are perfectly known|| and narrowly observed by God: he knows us infinitely better than we know ourselves; he understands us afar off: the consideration whereof should oblige us to keep our hearts with all diligence, that no vain thoughts may come into them, or lodge within them. Verses 8-11. Ye have feared the sword-Of the Chaldeans; and have, to avoid it, courted them, and left my worship to follow their idolatrous rites: but this very sword will I bring upon you. And I will deliver you into the hands of strangers-Defeating all your projects for escape; and I will execute judgments among you-By the hands of the Chaldeans, whom I will make the instruments of my just vengeance. I will judge you in the border of Israel-Namely, in Riblah, just upon the borders of Judea. In this place the king of Babylon, who is here spoken of as God's representative, sat in judgment on all the princes of Judah, and slew them: see the margin. This city shall not be your caldron-The place of your sufferings; greater are reserved for you elsewhere. A message of comfort A. M. 3411. B. C. 593. 12 And › ye shall know that I am || house of Israel wholly, are they unto A. M. 3411. the LORD: 2 for ye have not walked whom the inhabitants of Jerusalem in my statutes, neither executed my judgments, || have said, Get you far from the LORD: unto but have done after the manners of the hea- us is this land given in possession. then that are round about you. 16 Therefore say, Thus saith the Lord GOD; 13 ¶ And it came to pass, when I prophe- || Although I have cast them far off among the sied, that Pelatiah the son of Benaiah died. heathen, and although I have scattered them Then fell I down upon my face, and cried among the countries, yet will I be to them as with a loud voice, and said, Ah Lord GOD! a little sanctuary in the countries where they wilt thou make a full end of the remnant of shall come. Israel? 17 Therefore say, Thus saith the Lord GOD; 14 Again the word of the LORD came unto "I will even gather you from the people, and me, saying, assemble you out of the countries where ye have been scattered, and I will give you the land of Israel. 15 Son of man, thy brethren, even thy brethren, the men of thy kindred, and all the P Verse 10. Or, which have not walked.- -9 Lev. xviii. 3, | Ver. 1; Acts v. 5. Ch. ix. 8.—t Psa. xe. 1; xci. 9; Isa. 24, &c.; Deut. xii. 30, 31; Chap. viii. 10, 14, 16. viii. 14. -" Jer. xxiv. 5; Ch. xxviii. 25; xxxiv. 13; xxxvi. 24. Verse 13. And when I prophesied, Pelatiah died and out of the way of the dreadful judgments which -Mentioned verse 1, a principal man among the are approaching; among the heathen-The Chaltwenty-five princes, who made all the mischief in deans, or those among whom the Chaldeans have Jerusalem: see note on verse 2. It seems this was placed them; and have scattered them among the done only in vision now, (as the slaying of the an- || countries--Have separated them from each other, cient men, chap. ix. 6,) but it was an assurance, that and dispersed them in many countries; yet will ĺ when this prophecy was published it would be done be to them as a little sanctuary--A sanctuary, or a in fact. And the death of Pelatiah was a pledge of refuge and protection "for a short time," (so Bishop the complete accomplishment of the prophecy. Newcome,) that is, during the seventy years' capThen fell I down upon my face, and cried-The tivity; or a little one in opposition to the great temprophet thought this an earnest of the common de- || ple at Jerusalem; which, when its inhabitants were struction which was coming upon all the inhabitants in the greatest need, should afford them the least of the city, and thereupon he earnestly deprecated help. But I, says God, will really be to my capso severe a judgment. See chap. ix. 8. tives what the proud, self-deceiving Jews promise themselves from their temple, namely, their defence, support, and comfort. To me shall they flee, and in me shall they be safe, as he was that took hold on the horns of the altar. Or rather, they shall have such communion with me in the land of their captivity, as it was thought could be had nowhere but in the temple. They shall have the tokens of my presence with them, and my grace in their hearts shall sanctify their prayers and praises, as truly as ever the altar at the temple sanctified the gift. Observe, reader, they that are deprived of the benefit of public ordinances, if it be not their own fault, may have the want of them abundantly supplied in the immediate communications of divine grace and comforts. Verses 14, 15. Again the word of the Lord came unto me--A seasonable word, to stop the mouths of the insulting Jerusalemites, and to encourage the captives at Babylon. Son of man, thy brethren-The men of thy kindred, or, of thy redemption, as sa may be rendered: that is, thy fellow-captives, as Bishop Newcome reads it; unto whom the inhabitants of Jerusalem have said, Get ye far from the Lord, &c.--The Jews who were left in Judea || thought themselves more the favourites of God than those who had been carried away captives, looking|| upon the latter as outcasts, and such as had no right, either to the privileges of Jews or to the land of Judea. The words, pn, rendered, Get you far from the Lord, may be translated, They have departed far from the Lord, that is, they have more Verses 17-20. I will even gather you from the grievously sinned and offended God than we. So people-This might be, in some degree, fulfilled in thought and so said the inhabitants of Jerusalem, those that returned from captivity, but the perfect concerning those who had been carried into cap-completion of this promise must be referred to the tivity. Unto us is this land given in possession-This promised, holy land, where our fathers dwelt, is exclusively ours, and we shall never be put out of possession of it, but it shall always be our inheritance. Verse 16. Therefore say--In vindication of the captives; Although I have cast them far off-Not from myself, but from you and your polluted land, time of the expected general restoration of the Jewish nation. And they shall come thither-They who assemble upon Cyrus's proclamation first, and they who afterward assemble upon Darius's, shall overcome all difficulties, perform their journey, and come safely to their own land. And they shall take away all the detestable things thereof--Shall abolish superstition and idolatry from the temple, the city, Removal of B. C. 593. B. C. 593. A. M. 3411. 18 And they shall come thither, and || they shall be my people, and I will A. M. 3411. they shall take away all the detest- be their God. able things thereof, and all the abominations thereof from thence. and the country, and shall live pure from all the 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. 22 Then did the cherubims lift up their wings, and the wheels beside them; and the glory of the God of Israel was over them above. 23 And the glory of the LORD went up b Psalm cv. 45. xxxvii. 27. Chap. Chap. viii. 4; ix. 3; e Jer. xxiv. 7; Chap. xiv. 11; xxxvi. 28; ix. 10; xxii. 31.- Le Chap. i. 19; x. 19. x. 4, 18; xliii. 4. sent into captivity, and divers other punishments, God seemed to have cast them off; but when they are cured of their idolatry and various vices, and delivered from their captivity and other calamities, God and Israel own one another again: God, by his good work in them, makes them his people; and then, by the tokens of his good-will toward them, shows them that he is their God. Verse 21. But as for them-Whoever they be, and some there will be in the best times, who will refuse to own God for their God, and truly to love and obey him. Whose heart walketh after their detestable things--Whose judgment and choice, or whose will and affections, go after their idols and iniquities, their lusts and vices. I will recompense their way upon their own heads-Their state shall differ as much as their practice does, from that of the people of God: I will treat them according to their ways. Verse 23. And the glory of the Lord went up from the midst of the city-The symbol of God's presence, which had before departed from the temple, (chap. x. 18,) now quite left the city, to signify that he would acknowledge no longer his relation to either, but deliver them up to be profaned by the heathen. It deserves to be observed here, that God did not quit the temple and city all at once, but by little and little. The cloud of his presence was first withdrawn from the mercy-seat in the holy of holies, the usual place of its residence, and removed to the threshold of the house, (chap. ix. 1,) where it remained some time waiting for their repentance. Its second remove was from this threshold, leaving the house altogether, to settle upon the cherubim, which were hovering over the court, and upon the wing to depart, chap. x. 18. It then, with these angelic ministers of the divine will, and the accompanying wheels of providence, withdrew to the east gate of the inner court, chap. x. 19. And now at last it quits Jerusalem altogether, and fixes itself upon the mountain on the east side of the city. By withdrawing himself from his people by slow degrees, God gave them time for consideration and repentance, to which each remove of the Shechinah was a fresh and solemn call, and he thus also manifested with what reluctance he entirely abandoned the seed of Abraham his friend. And even his causing the symbol of his presence, before his final departure, to take its station |
