38 As the holy H6944 flock, H6629 as the flock H6629 of Jerusalem H3389 in her solemn feasts; H4150 so shall the waste H2720 cities H5892 be filled H4392 with flocks H6629 of men: H120 and they shall know H3045 that I am the LORD. H3068
And the children H1121 of Israel H3478 that were present H4672 at Jerusalem H3389 kept H6213 the feast H2282 of unleavened bread H4682 seven H7651 days H3117 with great H1419 gladness: H8057 and the Levites H3881 and the priests H3548 praised H1984 the LORD H3068 day H3117 by day, H3117 singing with loud H5797 instruments H3627 unto the LORD. H3068 And Hezekiah H3169 spake H1696 comfortably H3820 unto all the Levites H3881 that taught H7919 the good H2896 knowledge H7922 of the LORD: H3068 and they did eat H398 throughout the feast H4150 seven H7651 days, H3117 offering H2076 peace H8002 offerings, H2077 and making confession H3034 to the LORD H3068 God H430 of their fathers. H1 And the whole assembly H6951 took counsel H3289 to keep H6213 other H312 seven H7651 days: H3117 and they kept H6213 other seven H7651 days H3117 with gladness. H8057 For Hezekiah H2396 king H4428 of Judah H3063 did give H7311 to the congregation H6951 a thousand H505 bullocks H6499 and seven H7651 thousand H505 sheep; H6629 and the princes H8269 gave H7311 to the congregation H6951 a thousand H505 bullocks H6499 and ten H6235 thousand H505 sheep: H6629 and a great number H7230 of priests H3548 sanctified H6942 themselves. And all the congregation H6951 of Judah, H3063 with the priests H3548 and the Levites, H3881 and all the congregation H6951 that came out H935 of Israel, H3478 and the strangers H1616 that came out H935 of the land H776 of Israel, H3478 and that dwelt H3427 in Judah, H3063 rejoiced. H8055 So there was great H1419 joy H8057 in Jerusalem: H3389 for since the time H3117 of Solomon H8010 the son H1121 of David H1732 king H4428 of Israel H3478 there was not the like in Jerusalem. H3389 Then the priests H3548 the Levites H3881 arose H6965 and blessed H1288 the people: H5971 and their voice H6963 was heard, H8085 and their prayer H8605 came H935 up to his holy H6944 dwelling place, H4583 even unto heaven. H8064
And Josiah H2977 gave H7311 to the people, H1121 H5971 of the flock, H6629 lambs H3532 and kids, H1121 H5795 all for the passover offerings, H6453 for all that were present, H4672 to the number H4557 of thirty H7970 thousand, H505 and three H7969 thousand H505 bullocks: H1241 these were of the king's H4428 substance. H7399 And his princes H8269 gave H7311 willingly H5071 unto the people, H5971 to the priests, H3548 and to the Levites: H3881 Hilkiah H2518 and Zechariah H2148 and Jehiel, H3171 rulers H5057 of the house H1004 of God, H430 gave H5414 unto the priests H3548 for the passover offerings H6453 two thousand H505 and six H8337 hundred H3967 small cattle, and three H7969 hundred H3967 oxen. H1241 Conaniah H3562 also, and Shemaiah H8098 and Nethaneel, H5417 his brethren, H251 and Hashabiah H2811 and Jeiel H3273 and Jozabad, H3107 chief H8269 of the Levites, H3881 gave H7311 unto the Levites H3881 for passover offerings H6453 five H2568 thousand H505 small cattle, and five H2568 hundred H3967 oxen. H1241 So the service H5656 was prepared, H3559 and the priests H3548 stood H5975 in their place, H5977 and the Levites H3881 in their courses, H4256 according to the king's H4428 commandment. H4687 And they killed H7819 the passover, H6453 and the priests H3548 sprinkled H2236 the blood from their hands, H3027 and the Levites H3881 flayed H6584 them. And they removed H5493 the burnt offerings, H5930 that they might give H5414 according to the divisions H4653 of the families H1 H1004 of the people, H1121 H5971 to offer H7126 unto the LORD, H3068 as it is written H3789 in the book H5612 of Moses. H4872 And so did they with the oxen. H1241 And they roasted H1310 the passover H6453 with fire H784 according to the ordinance: H4941 but the other holy H6944 offerings sod H1310 they in pots, H5518 and in caldrons, H1731 and in pans, H6745 and divided them speedily H7323 among all the people. H1121 H5971 And afterward H310 they made ready H3559 for themselves, and for the priests: H3548 because the priests H3548 the sons H1121 of Aaron H175 were busied in offering H5927 of burnt offerings H5930 and the fat H2459 until night; H3915 therefore the Levites H3881 prepared H3559 for themselves, and for the priests H3548 the sons H1121 of Aaron. H175 And the singers H7891 the sons H1121 of Asaph H623 were in their place, H4612 according to the commandment H4687 of David, H1732 and Asaph, H623 and Heman, H1968 and Jeduthun H3038 the king's H4428 seer; H2374 and the porters H7778 waited at every gate; H8179 they might not depart H5493 from their service; H5656 for their brethren H251 the Levites H3881 prepared H3559 for them. So all the service H5656 of the LORD H3068 was prepared H3559 the same day, H3117 to keep H6213 the passover, H6453 and to offer H5927 burnt offerings H5930 upon the altar H4196 of the LORD, H3068 according to the commandment H4687 of king H4428 Josiah. H2977 And the children H1121 of Israel H3478 that were present H4672 kept H6213 the passover H6453 at that time, H6256 and the feast H2282 of unleavened bread H4682 seven H7651 days. H3117 And there was no passover H6453 like H3644 to that kept H6213 in Israel H3478 from the days H3117 of Samuel H8050 the prophet; H5030 neither did H6213 all the kings H4428 of Israel H3478 keep H6213 such a passover H6453 as Josiah H2977 kept, H6213 and the priests, H3548 and the Levites, H3881 and all Judah H3063 and Israel H3478 that were present, H4672 and the inhabitants H3427 of Jerusalem. H3389 In the eighteenth H8083 H6240 year H8141 of the reign H4438 of Josiah H2977 was this passover H6453 kept. H6213
Behold, the days H3117 come, H935 saith H5002 the LORD, H3068 that I will sow H2232 the house H1004 of Israel H3478 and the house H1004 of Judah H3063 with the seed H2233 of man, H120 and with the seed H2233 of beast. H929 And it shall come to pass, that like as I have watched over H8245 them, to pluck up, H5428 and to break down, H5422 and to throw down, H2040 and to destroy, H6 and to afflict; H7489 so will I watch over H8245 them, to build, H1129 and to plant, H5193 saith H5002 the LORD. H3068
Thus saith H559 the Lord H136 GOD; H3069 In the day H3117 that I shall have cleansed H2891 you from all your iniquities H5771 I will also cause you to dwell H3427 in the cities, H5892 and the wastes H2723 shall be builded. H1129 And the desolate H8074 land H776 shall be tilled, H5647 whereas it lay desolate H8077 in the sight H5869 of all that passed by. H5674 And they shall say, H559 This H1977 land H776 that was desolate H8074 is become like the garden H1588 of Eden; H5731 and the waste H2720 and desolate H8074 and ruined H2040 cities H5892 are become fenced, H1219 and are inhabited. H3427
Thus saith H559 the LORD H3068 of hosts; H6635 The fast H6685 of the fourth H7243 month, and the fast H6685 of the fifth, H2549 and the fast H6685 of the seventh, H7637 and the fast H6685 of the tenth, H6224 shall be to the house H1004 of Judah H3063 joy H8342 and gladness, H8057 and cheerful H2896 feasts; H4150 therefore love H157 the truth H571 and peace. H7965 Thus saith H559 the LORD H3068 of hosts; H6635 It shall yet come to pass, that there shall come H935 people, H5971 and the inhabitants H3427 of many H7227 cities: H5892 And the inhabitants H3427 of one H259 city shall go H1980 to another, H259 saying, H559 Let us go H3212 speedily H1980 to pray H2470 before H6440 the LORD, H3068 and to seek H1245 the LORD H3068 of hosts: H6635 I will go H3212 also. Yea, many H7227 people H5971 and strong H6099 nations H1471 shall come H935 to seek H1245 the LORD H3068 of hosts H6635 in Jerusalem, H3389 and to pray H2470 before H6440 the LORD. H3068 Thus saith H559 the LORD H3068 of hosts; H6635 In those days H3117 it shall come to pass, that ten H6235 men H582 shall take hold H2388 out of all languages H3956 of the nations, H1471 even shall take hold H2388 of the skirt H3671 of him that is a Jew, H376 H3064 saying, H559 We will go H3212 with you: for we have heard H8085 that God H430 is with you.
And G1161 there were G2258 dwelling G2730 at G1722 Jerusalem G2419 Jews, G2453 devout G2126 men, G435 out of G575 every G3956 nation G1484 under G5259 heaven. G3772 Now G1161 when this G5026 was G1096 noised abroad, G5456 the multitude G4128 came together, G4905 and G2532 were confounded, G4797 because G3754 that every G1538 man G1520 heard G191 them G846 speak G2980 in his own G2398 language. G1258 And G1161 they were G1839 all G3956 amazed G1839 and G2532 marvelled, G2296 saying G3004 one to another, G4314 G240 Behold, G2400 are G1526 not G3756 all G3956 these G3778 which G3588 speak G2980 Galilaeans? G1057 And G2532 how G4459 hear G191 we G2249 every G1538 man in our G2257 own G2398 tongue, G1258 wherein G1722 G3739 we were born? G1080 Parthians, G3934 and G2532 Medes, G3370 and G2532 Elamites, G1639 and G2532 the dwellers G2730 in Mesopotamia, G3318 and G5037 in Judaea, G2449 and G2532 Cappadocia, G2587 in Pontus, G4195 and G2532 Asia, G773 G5037 Phrygia, G5435 and G5037 G2532 Pamphylia, G3828 in Egypt, G125 and G2532 in the parts G3313 of Libya G3033 about G2596 Cyrene, G2957 and G2532 strangers G1927 of Rome, G4514 G5037 Jews G2453 and G5037 G2532 proselytes, G4339 Cretes G2912 and G2532 Arabians, G690 we do hear G191 them G846 speak G2980 in our G2251 tongues G1100 the wonderful works G3167 of God. G2316
And G2532 I heard G191 the number G706 of them which were sealed: G4972 and there were sealed G4972 an hundred G1540 and forty G5062 and four G5064 thousand G5505 of G1537 all G3956 the tribes G5443 of the children G5207 of Israel. G2474 Of G1537 the tribe G5443 of Juda G2455 were sealed G4972 twelve G1427 thousand. G5505 Of G1537 the tribe G5443 of Reuben G4502 were sealed G4972 twelve G1427 thousand. G5505 Of G1537 the tribe G5443 of Gad G1045 were sealed G4972 twelve G1427 thousand. G5505 Of G1537 the tribe G5443 of Aser G768 were sealed G4972 twelve G1427 thousand. G5505 Of G1537 the tribe G5443 of Nepthalim G3508 were sealed G4972 twelve G1427 thousand. G5505 Of G1537 the tribe G5443 of Manasses G3128 were sealed G4972 twelve G1427 thousand. G5505 Of G1537 the tribe G5443 of Simeon G4826 were sealed G4972 twelve G1427 thousand. G5505 Of G1537 the tribe G5443 of Levi G3017 were sealed G4972 twelve G1427 thousand. G5505 Of G1537 the tribe G5443 of Issachar G2466 were sealed G4972 twelve G1427 thousand. G5505 Of G1537 the tribe G5443 of Zabulon G2194 were sealed G4972 twelve G1427 thousand. G5505 Of G1537 the tribe G5443 of Joseph G2501 were sealed G4972 twelve G1427 thousand. G5505 Of G1537 the tribe G5443 of Benjamin G958 were sealed G4972 twelve G1427 thousand. G5505 After G3326 this G5023 I beheld, G1492 and, G2532 lo, G2400 a great G4183 multitude, G3793 which G3739 no man G3762 could G1410 number, G705 G846 of G1537 all G3956 nations, G1484 and G2532 kindreds, G5443 and G2532 people, G2992 and G2532 tongues, G1100 stood G2476 before G1799 the throne, G2362 and G2532 before G1799 the Lamb, G721 clothed G4016 with white G3022 robes, G4749 and G2532 palms G5404 in G1722 their G846 hands; G5495
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible » Commentary on Ezekiel 36
Commentary on Ezekiel 36 Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
CHAPTER 36
Eze 36:1-38. Israel Avenged of Her Foes, and Restored, First to Inward Holiness, Then to Outward Prosperity.
The distinction between Israel and the heathen (as Edom) is: Israel has a covenant relation to God ensuring restoration after chastisement, so that the heathen's hope of getting possession of the elect people's inheritance must fail, and they themselves be made desolate (Eze 36:1-15). The reason for the chastisement of Israel was Israel's sin and profanation of God's name (Eze 36:16-21). God has good in store for Israel, for His own name's sake, to revive His people; first, by a spiritual renewal of their hearts, and, next, by an external restoration to prosperity (Eze 36:22-33). The result is that the heathen shall be impressed with the power and goodness of God manifested so palpably towards the restored people (Eze 36:34-38).
1, 2. mountains of Israel—in contrast to "Mount Seir" of the previous prophecy. They are here personified; Israel's elevation is moral, not merely physical, as Edom's. Her hills are "the everlasting hills" of Jacob's prophecy (Ge 49:26). "The enemy" (Edom, the singled-out representative of all God's foes), with a shout of exultation, "Aha!" had claimed, as the nearest kinsman of Israel (the brother of their father Esau), his vacated inheritance; as much as to say, the so-called "everlasting" inheritance of Israel and of the "hills," which typified the unmoved perpetuity of it (Ps 125:1, 2), has come to an end, in spite of the promise of God, and has become "ours" (compare De 32:13; 33:15).
3. Literally, "Because, even because."
swallowed you up—literally, "panted after" you, as a beast after its prey; implying the greedy cupidity of Edom as to Israel's inheritance (Ps 56:1, 2).
lips of talkers—literally, "lips of the tongue," that is, of the slanderer, the man of tongue. Edom slandered Israel because of the connection of the latter with Jehovah, as though He were unable to save them. De 28:37, and Jer 24:9 had foretold Israel's reproach among the heathen (Da 9:16).
4. Inanimate creatures are addressed, to imply that the creature also, as it were, groans for deliverance from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God (Ro 8:19-21) [Polanus]. The completeness of the renewed blessedness of all parts of the land is implied.
derision—(Ps 79:4).
5. to cast it out for a prey—that is, to take the land for a prey, its inhabitants being cast out. Or the land is compared to a prey cast forth to wild beasts. Fairbairn needlessly alters the Hebrew pointing and translates, "that they may plunder its pasturage."
6. the shame of the heathen—namely, the shame with which the heathen cover you (Ps 123:3, 4).
7. lifted … mine hand—in token of an oath (Eze 20:5; Ge 14:22).
they shall bear their shame—a perpetual shame; whereas the "shame" which Israel bore from these heathen was only for a time.
8. they are at hand to come—that is, the Israelites are soon about to return to their land. This proves that the primary reference of the prophecy is to the return from Babylon, which was "at hand," or comparatively near. But this only in part fulfilled the prediction, the full and final blessing in future, and the restoration from Babylon was an earnest of it.
10. wastes builded—Isa 58:12; 61:4; Am 9:11, 12, 14, where, as here (Eze 34:23, 24), the names of David, Messiah's type, and Edom, Israel's foe, are introduced in connection with the coming restoration.
11. do better … than at your beginnings—as in the case of Job (Job 42:12). Whereas the heathen nations fall irrevocably, Israel shall be more than restored; its last estate shall exceed even its first.
12. to walk upon you—O mountains of Israel (Eze 36:8)!
thee … thou—change from plural to singular: O hill of Zion, singled out from the other mountains of Israel (Eze 34:26); or land.
thou shall no more … bereave them of men—Thou shalt no more provoke God to bereave them of children (so the ellipsis ought to be supplied, as Ezekiel probably alludes to Jer 15:7, "I will bereave them of children").
13. Thou land devourest up men—alluding to the words of the spies (Nu 13:32). The land personified is represented as doing that which was done in it. Like an unnatural mother it devoured, that is, it was the grave of its people; of the Canaanites, its former possessors, through mutual wars, and finally by the sword of Israel; and now, of the Jews, through internal and external ills; for example, wars, famine (to which Eze 36:30, "reproach of famine among the heathen," implies the allusion here is).
14. bereave—so the Keri, or Hebrew Margin reads, to correspond to "bereave" in Eze 36:13; but "cause to fall" or "stumble," in the Hebrew text or Chetib, being the more difficult reading, is the one least likely to come from a corrector; also, it forms a good transition to the next subject, namely, the moral cause of the people's calamities, namely, their falls, or stumblings through sin. The latter ceasing, the former also cease. So the same expression follows in Eze 36:15, "Neither shalt thou cause thy nations to fall any more."
17. removed woman—(Le 15:19, &c.).
18, 19. The reason for their removal was their sin, which God's holiness could not let pass unpunished; just as a woman's legal uncleanness was the reason for her being separated from the congregation.
20. profaned my holy name, when they—the heathen
said to them—the Israelites.
These, &c.—The Israelites gave a handle of reproach to the heathen against God, who would naturally say, These who take usury, oppress, commit adultery, &c., and who, in such an abject plight, are "gone forth" as exiles "out of His land," are specimens of what Jehovah can or will effect, for His people, and show what kind of a God this so-called holy, omnipotent, covenant-keeping God must be! (Isa 52:5; Ro 2:24).
21. I had pity for mine holy name—that is, I felt pity for it; God's own name, so dishonored, was the primary object of His pitying concern; then His people, secondarily, through His concern for it [Fairbairn].
22. not … for your sakes—that is, not for any merit in you; for, on the contrary, on your part, there is everything to call down continued severity (compare De 9:5, 6). The sole and sure ground of hope was God's regard to "His own name," as the God of covenant grace (Ps 106:45), which He must vindicate from the dishonor brought on it by the Jews, before the heathen.
23. sanctify—vindicate and manifest as holy, in opposition to the heathen reproaches of it brought on by the Jews' sins and their punishment (see on Eze 36:20).
sanctified in you—that is, in respect of you; I shall be regarded in their eyes as the Holy One, and righteous in My dealings towards you (Eze 20:41; 28:22).
24. Fulfilled primarily in the restoration from Babylon; ultimately to be so in the restoration "from all countries."
25. The external restoration must be preceded by an internal one. The change in their condition must not be superficial, but must be based on a radical renewal of the heart. Then the heathen, understanding from the regenerated lives of God's people how holy God is, would perceive Israel's past troubles to have been only the necessary vindications of His righteousness. Thus God's name would be "sanctified" before the heathen, and God's people be prepared for outward blessings.
sprinkle … water—phraseology taken from the law; namely, the water mixed with the ashes of a heifer sprinkled with a hyssop on the unclean (Nu 19:9-18); the thing signified being the cleansing blood of Christ sprinkled on the conscience and heart (Heb 9:13, 14; 10:22; compare Jer 33:8; Eph 5:26).
from all your idols—Literal idolatry has ceased among the Jews ever since the captivity; so far, the prophecy has been already fulfilled; but "cleansing from all their idols," for example, covetousness, prejudices against Jesus of Nazareth, is yet future.
26. new heart—mind and will.
spirit—motive and principle of action.
stony heart—unimpressible in serious things; like the "stony ground" (Mt 13:5, 20), unfit for receiving the good seed so as to bring forth fruit.
heart of flesh—not "carnal" in opposition to "spiritual"; but impressible and docile, fit for receiving the good seed. In Eze 18:31 they are commanded, "Make you a new heart, and a new spirit." Here God says, "A new heart will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you." Thus the responsibility of man, and the sovereign grace of God, are shown to be coexistent. Man cannot make himself a new heart unless God gives it (Php 2:12, 13).
27. my spirit—(Eze 11:19; Jer 32:39). The partial reformation at the return from Babylon (Ezr 10:6, &c.; Ne 8:1-9:38) was an earnest of the full renewal hereafter under Messiah.
28. ye … my people, … I … your God—(Eze 11:20; Jer 30:22).
29. save … from all … uncleannesses—the province of Jesus, according to the signification of His name (Mt 1:21). To be specially exercised in behalf of the Jews in the latter days (Ro 11:26).
call for … corn—as a master "calls for" a servant; all the powers and productions of nature are the servants of Jehovah (Ps 105:16; Mt 8:8, 9). Compare as to the subordination of all the intermediate agents to the Great First Cause, who will give "corn" and all good things to His people, Ho 2:21, 22; Zec 8:12.
30. no more reproach of famine among the heathen—to which their taunt (Eze 36:13), "Thou land devourest up men," in part referred.
31. remember your … evil ways—with shame and loathing. The unexpected grace and love of God, manifested in Christ to Israel, shall melt the people into true repentance, which mere legal fear could not (Eze 16:61, 63; Ps 130:4; Zec 12:10; compare Jer 33:8, 9).
35. they shall say—The heathen, who once made Israel's desolation a ground of reproach against the name of Jehovah Himself (Eze 36:20, 21); but now He so vindicates its sanctity (Eze 36:22, 23) that these same heathen are constrained to acknowledge Israel's more than renewed blessedness to be God's own work, and a ground for glorifying His name (Eze 36:36).
Eden—as Tyre (the type of the world powers in general: so Assyria, a cedar "in the garden of God, Eden," Eze 31:8, 9), in original advantages, had been compared to "Eden, the garden of God" (Eze 28:13), from which she had fallen irrecoverably; so Israel, once desolate, is to be as "the garden of Eden" (Isa 51:3), and is to be so unchangeably.
36. Lord … spoken … do it—(Nu 23:19).
37. I will yet for this be inquired of—so as to grant it. On former occasions He had refused to be inquired of by Israel because the inquirers were not in a fit condition of mind to receive a blessing (Eze 14:3; 20:3). But hereafter, as in the restoration from Babylon (Ne 8:1-9:38; Da 9:3-20, 21, 23), God will prepare His people's hearts (Eze 36:26) to pray aright for the blessings which He is about to give (Ps 102:13-17, 20; Zec 12:10-14; 13:1).
like a flock—resuming the image (Eze 34:23, 31).
38. As the holy flock—the great flock of choice animals for sacrifice, brought up to Jerusalem at the three great yearly festivals, the passover, pentecost, and feast of the tabernacles.