28 Therefore say H559 unto them, Thus saith H559 the Lord H136 GOD; H3069 There shall none of my words H1697 be prolonged H4900 any more, but the word H1697 which I have spoken H1696 shall be done, H6213 saith H5002 the Lord H136 GOD. H3069
But and G1161 if G1437 that G1565 evil G2556 servant G1401 shall say G2036 in G1722 his G846 heart, G2588 My G3450 lord G2962 delayeth G5549 his coming; G2064 And G2532 shall begin G756 to smite G5180 his fellowservants, G4889 and G1161 to eat G2068 and G2532 drink G4095 with G3326 the drunken; G3184 The lord G2962 of that G1565 servant G1401 shall come G2240 in G1722 a day G2250 when G3739 he looketh G4328 not G3756 for him, and G2532 in G1722 an hour G5610 that G3739 he is G1097 not G3756 aware of, G1097 And G2532 shall cut G1371 him G846 asunder, G1371 and G2532 appoint G5087 him his G846 portion G3313 with G3326 the hypocrites: G5273 there G1563 shall be G2071 weeping G2805 and G2532 gnashing G1030 of teeth. G3599
The lion H738 is come up H5927 from his thicket, H5441 and the destroyer H7843 of the Gentiles H1471 is on his way; H5265 he is gone forth H3318 from his place H4725 to make H7760 thy land H776 desolate; H8047 and thy cities H5892 shall be laid waste, H5327 without an inhabitant. H3427
Yet a small H4962 number H4557 that escape H6412 the sword H2719 shall return out H7725 of the land H776 of Egypt H4714 into the land H776 of Judah, H3063 and all the remnant H7611 of Judah, H3063 that are gone H935 into the land H776 of Egypt H4714 to sojourn H1481 there, shall know H3045 whose words H1697 shall stand, H6965 mine, or theirs.
Tell H559 them therefore, Thus saith H559 the Lord H136 GOD; H3069 I will make this proverb H4912 to cease, H7673 and they shall no more use it as a proverb H4911 in Israel; H3478 but say H1696 unto them, The days H3117 are at hand, H7126 and the effect H1697 of every vision. H2377 For there shall be no more any vain H7723 vision H2377 nor flattering H2509 divination H4738 within H8432 the house H1004 of Israel. H3478 For I am the LORD: H3068 I will speak, H1696 and the word H1697 that I shall speak H1696 shall come to pass; H6213 it shall be no more prolonged: H4900 for in your days, H3117 O rebellious H4805 house, H1004 will I say H1696 the word, H1697 and will perform H6213 it, saith H5002 the Lord H136 GOD. H3069
But G1161 of G4012 that G1565 day G2250 and G2532 that hour G5610 knoweth G1492 no man, G3762 no, not G3761 the angels G32 which G3588 are in G1722 heaven, G3772 neither G3761 the Son, G5207 but G1508 the Father. G3962 Take ye heed, G991 watch G69 and G2532 pray: G4336 for G1063 ye know G1492 not G3756 when G4219 the time G2540 is. G2076 For the Son of man is as G5613 a man G444 taking a far journey, G590 who left G863 his G846 house, G3614 and G2532 gave G1325 authority G1849 to his G846 servants, G1401 and G2532 to every man G1538 his G846 work, G2041 and G2532 commanded G1781 the porter G2377 to G2443 watch. G1127 Watch ye G1127 therefore: G3767 for G1063 ye know G1492 not G3756 when G4219 the master G2962 of the house G3614 cometh, G2064 at even, G3796 or G2228 at midnight, G3317 or G2228 at the cockcrowing, G219 or G2228 in the morning: G4404 Lest G3361 coming G2064 suddenly G1810 he find G2147 you G5209 sleeping. G2518 And G1161 what G3739 I say G3004 unto you G5213 I say G3004 unto all, G3956 Watch. G1127
And G1161 take heed G4337 to yourselves, G1438 lest at any time G3379 your G5216 hearts G2588 be overcharged G925 with G1722 surfeiting, G2897 and G2532 drunkenness, G3178 and G2532 cares G3308 of this life, G982 and G2532 so that G1565 day G2250 come G2186 upon G1909 you G5209 unawares. G160 For G1063 as G5613 a snare G3803 shall it come G1904 on G1909 all G3956 them that dwell G2521 on G1909 the face G4383 of the whole G3956 earth. G1093 Watch ye G69 therefore, G3767 and pray G1189 always, G1722 G3956 G2540 that G2443 ye may be accounted worthy G2661 to escape G1628 all G3956 these things G5023 that shall G3195 come to pass, G1096 and G2532 to stand G2476 before G1715 the Son G5207 of man. G444
For G1063 yourselves G846 know G1492 perfectly G199 that G3754 the day G2250 of the Lord G2962 so G3779 cometh G2064 as G5613 a thief G2812 in G1722 the night. G3571 For G1063 when G3752 they shall say, G3004 Peace G1515 and G2532 safety; G803 then G5119 sudden G160 destruction G3639 cometh upon G2186 them, G846 as G5618 travail G5604 upon G1722 a woman with child; G1064 G2192 and G2532 they shall G1628 not G3364 escape. G1628
Remember G3421 therefore G3767 how G4459 thou hast received G2983 and G2532 heard, G191 and G2532 hold fast, G5083 and G2532 repent. G3340 If G3362 therefore G3767 thou shalt G1127 not G3362 watch, G1127 I will come G2240 on G1909 thee G4571 as G5613 a thief, G2812 and G2532 thou shalt G1097 not G3364 know G1097 what G4169 hour G5610 I will come G2240 upon G1909 thee. G4571
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible » Commentary on Ezekiel 12
Commentary on Ezekiel 12 Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
CHAPTER 12
Eze 12:1-28. Ezekiel's Typical Moving to Exile: Prophecy of Zedekiah's Captivity and Privation of Sight: the Jews' Unbelieving Surmise as to the Distance of the Event Reproved.
1, 2. eyes to see, and see not, … ears to hear, and hear not—fulfilling the prophecy of De 29:4, here quoted by Ezekiel (compare Isa 6:9; Jer 5:21). Ezekiel needed often to be reminded of the people's perversity, lest he should be discouraged by the little effect produced by his prophecies. Their "not seeing" is the result of perversity, not incapacity. They are wilfully blind. The persons most interested in this prophecy were those dwelling at Jerusalem; and it is among them that Ezekiel was transported in spirit, and performed in vision, not outwardly, the typical acts. At the same time, the symbolical prophecy was designed to warn the exiles at Chebar against cherishing hopes, as many did in opposition to God's revealed word, of returning to Jerusalem, as if that city was to stand; externally living afar off, their hearts dwelt in that corrupt and doomed capital.
3. stuff for removing—rather, "an exile's outfit," the articles proper to a person going as an exile, a staff and knapsack, with a supply of food and clothing; so "instruments of captivity," Jer 46:19, Margin, that is, the needful equipments for it. His simple announcements having failed, he is symbolically to give them an ocular demonstration conveyed by a word-painting of actions performed in vision.
consider—(De 32:29).
4. by day—in broad daylight, when all can see thee.
at even—not contradicting the words "by day." The baggage was to be sent before by day, and Ezekiel was to follow at nightfall [Grotius]; or, the preparations were to be made by day, the actual departure was to be effected at night [Henderson].
as they that go forth into captivity—literally, "as the goings forth of the captivity," that is, of the captive band of exiles, namely, amid the silent darkness: typifying Zedekiah's flight by night on the taking of the city (Jer 39:4; 52:7).
5. Dig—as Zedekiah was to escape like one digging through a wall, furtively to effect an escape (Eze 12:12).
carry out—namely, "thy stuff" (Eze 12:4).
thereby—by the opening in the wall. Zedekiah escaped "by the gate betwixt the two walls" (Jer 39:4).
6. in … twilight—rather, "in the dark." So in Ge 15:17, "it" refers to "thy stuff."
cover thy face—as one who muffles his face, afraid of being recognized by anyone meeting him. So the Jews and Zedekiah should make their exit stealthily and afraid to look around, so hurried should be their fight [Calvin].
sign—rather, "a portent," namely, for evil.
9. What doest thou?—They ask not in a docile spirit, but making a jest of his proceedings.
10. burden—that is, weighty oracle.
the prince—The very man Zedekiah, in whom they trust for safety, is to be the chief sufferer. Josephus [Antiquities, 10.7] reports that Ezekiel sent a copy of this prophecy to Zedekiah. As Jeremiah had sent a letter to the captives at the Chebar, which was the means of calling forth at first the agency of Ezekiel, so it was natural for Ezekiel to send a message to Jerusalem confirming the warnings of Jeremiah. The prince, however, fancying a contradiction between Eze 12:13; "he shall not see Babylon," and Jer 24:8, 9, declaring he should be carried to Babylon, believed neither. Seeming discrepancies in Scripture on deeper search prove to be hidden harmonies.
11. sign—portent of evil to come (Eze 24:27; Zec 3:8, Margin). Fulfilled (2Ki 25:1-7; Jer 52:1-11).
12. prince … among them—literally, "that is in the midst of them," that is, on whom the eyes of all are cast, and "under whose shadow" they hope to live (La 4:20).
shall bear—namely, his "stuff for removing"; his equipments for his journey.
cover his face, that he see not the ground—See on Eze 12:6; the symbol in Eze 12:6 is explained in this verse. He shall muffle his face so as not to be recognized: a humiliation for a king!
13. My net—the Chaldean army. He shall be inextricably entangled in it, as in the meshes of a net. It is God's net (Job 19:6). Babylon was God's instrument (Isa 10:5). Called "a net" (Hab 1:14-16).
bring him to Babylon … ; yet shall he not see it—because he should be deprived of sight before he arrived there (Jer 52:11).
14. all … about him—his satellites: his bodyguard.
bands—literally, "the wings" of an army (Isa 8:8).
draw out … sword after them—(See on Eze 5:2; Eze 5:12).
16. I will leave a few … that they may declare … abominations—God's purpose in scattering a remnant of Jews among the Gentiles; namely, not only that they themselves should be weaned from idolatry (see Eze 12:15), but that by their own word, as also by their whole state as exiles, they should make God's righteousness manifest among the Gentiles, as vindicated in their punishment for their sins (compare Isa 43:10; Zec 8:13).
18. Symbolical representation of the famine and fear with which they should eat their scanty morsel, in their exile, and especially at the siege.
19. people of the land—the Jews "in the land" of Chaldea who thought themselves miserable as being exiles and envied the Jews left in Jerusalem as fortunate.
land of Israel—contrasted with "the people in the land" of Chaldea. So far from being fortunate as the exiles in Chaldea regarded them, the Jews in Jerusalem are truly miserable, for the worst is before them, whereas the exiles have escaped the miseries of the coming siege.
land … desolate from all that is therein—literally, "that the land (namely, Judea) may be despoiled of the fulness thereof"; emptied of the inhabitants and abundance of flocks and corn with which it was filled.
because of … violence—(Ps 107:34).
20. the cities—left in Judea after the destruction of Jerusalem.
22. proverb—The infidel scoff, that the threatened judgment was so long in coming, it would not come at all, had by frequent repetition come to be a "proverb" with them. This skeptical habit contemporary prophets testify to (Jer 17:15; 20:7; Zep 1:12). Ezekiel, at the Chebar, thus sympathizes with Jeremiah and strengthens his testimony at Jerusalem. The tendency to the same scoff showed itself in earlier times, but had not then developed into a settled "proverb" (Isa 5:19; Am 5:18). It shall again be the characteristic of the last times, when "faith" shall be regarded as an antiquated thing (Lu 18:8), seeing that it remains stationary, whereas worldly arts and sciences progress, and when the "continuance of all things from creation" will be the argument against the possibility of their being suddenly brought to a standstill by the coming of the Lord (Isa 66:5; 2Pe 3:3, 4). The very long-suffering of God, which ought to lead men to repentance, is made an argument against His word (Ec 8:11; Am 6:3).
days … prolonged … vision faileth—their twofold argument: (1) The predictions shall not come to pass till long after our time. (2) They shall fail and prove vain shadows. God answers both in Eze 12:23, 25.
23. effect—literally, "the word," namely, fulfilled; that is, the effective fulfilment of whatever the prophets have spoken is at hand.
24. no more … vain vision … flattering divination—All those false prophets (La 2:14), who "flattered" the people with promises of peace and safety, shall be detected and confounded by the event itself.
25. word … shall come to pass—in opposition to their scoff "the vision faileth" (Eze 12:22). The repetition, "I will speak … speak," &c. (or as Fairbairn, "For I, Jehovah, will speak whatever word I shall speak, and it shall be done") implies that whenever God speaks, the effect must follow; for God, who speaks, is not divided in Himself (Eze 12:28; Isa 55:11; Da 9:12; Lu 21:33).
no more prolonged—in opposition to the scoff (Eze 12:22), "The days are prolonged."
in your days—while you are living (compare Mt 24:34).
27. Not a mere repetition of the scoff (Eze 12:22); there the scoffers asserted that the evil was so often threatened and postponed, it must have no reality; here formalists do not go so far as to deny that a day of evil is coming, but assert it is still far off (Am 6:3). The transition is easy from this carnal security to the gross infidelity of the former class.