3 Therefore prophesy H5012 and say, H559 Thus saith H559 the Lord H136 GOD; H3069 Because they have made you desolate, H8074 and swallowed you up H7602 on every side, H5439 that ye might be a possession H4181 unto the residue H7611 of the heathen, H1471 and ye are taken up H5927 in the lips H8193 of talkers, H3956 and are an infamy H1681 of the people: H5971
Thou makest H7760 us a reproach H2781 to our neighbours, H7934 a scorn H3933 and a derision H7047 to them that are round about H5439 us. Thou makest H7760 us a byword H4912 among the heathen, H1471 a shaking H4493 of the head H7218 among the people. H3816
All that pass H5674 by clap H5606 their hands H3709 at thee; H1870 they hiss H8319 and wag H5128 their head H7218 at the daughter H1323 of Jerusalem, H3389 saying, Is this the city H5892 that men call H559 The perfection H3632 of beauty, H3308 The joy H4885 of the whole earth? H776 All thine enemies H341 have opened H6475 their mouth H6310 against thee: they hiss H8319 and gnash H2786 the teeth: H8127 they say, H559 We have swallowed her up: H1104 certainly H389 this is the day H3117 that we looked for; H6960 we have found, H4672 we have seen H7200 it.
In the ninth H8671 year H8141 of Zedekiah H6667 king H4428 of Judah, H3063 in the tenth H6224 month, H2320 came H935 Nebuchadrezzar H5019 king H4428 of Babylon H894 and all his army H2428 against Jerusalem, H3389 and they besieged H6696 it. And in the eleventh H6249 H6240 year H8141 of Zedekiah, H6667 in the fourth H7243 month, H2320 the ninth H8672 day of the month, H2320 the city H5892 was broken up. H1234 And all the princes H8269 of the king H4428 of Babylon H894 came in, H935 and sat H3427 in the middle H8432 gate, H8179 even Nergalsharezer, H5371 Samgarnebo, H5562 Sarsechim, H8310 Rabsaris, H7249 Nergalsharezer, H5371 Rabmag, H7248 with all the residue H7611 of the princes H8269 of the king H4428 of Babylon. H894 And it came to pass, that when Zedekiah H6667 the king H4428 of Judah H3063 saw H7200 them, and all the men H582 of war, H4421 then they fled, H1272 and went forth H3318 out of the city H5892 by night, H3915 by the way H1870 of the king's H4428 garden, H1588 by the gate H8179 betwixt the two walls: H2346 and he went out H3318 the way H1870 of the plain. H6160 But the Chaldeans' H3778 army H2428 pursued H7291 after H310 them, and overtook H5381 Zedekiah H6667 in the plains H6160 of Jericho: H3405 and when they had taken H3947 him, they brought him up H5927 to Nebuchadnezzar H5019 king H4428 of Babylon H894 to Riblah H7247 in the land H776 of Hamath, H2574 where he gave H1696 judgment H4941 upon him. Then the king H4428 of Babylon H894 slew H7819 the sons H1121 of Zedekiah H6667 in Riblah H7247 before his eyes: H5869 also the king H4428 of Babylon H894 slew H7819 all the nobles H2715 of Judah. H3063 Moreover he put out H5786 Zedekiah's H6667 eyes, H5869 and bound H631 him with chains, H5178 to carry H935 him to Babylon. H894 And the Chaldeans H3778 burned H8313 the king's H4428 house, H1004 and the houses H1004 of the people, H5971 with fire, H784 and brake down H5422 the walls H2346 of Jerusalem. H3389 Then Nebuzaradan H5018 the captain H7227 of the guard H2876 carried away captive H1540 into Babylon H894 the remnant H3499 of the people H5971 that remained H7604 in the city, H5892 and those that fell away, H5307 that fell H5307 to him, with the rest H3499 of the people H5971 that remained. H7604 But Nebuzaradan H5018 the captain H7227 of the guard H2876 left H7604 of the poor H1800 of the people, H5971 which had nothing, H3972 in the land H776 of Judah, H3063 and gave H5414 them vineyards H3754 and fields H3010 at the same time. H3117 Now Nebuchadrezzar H5019 king H4428 of Babylon H894 gave charge H6680 concerning Jeremiah H3414 to H3027 Nebuzaradan H5018 the captain H7227 of the guard, H2876 saying, H559 Take H3947 him, and look well H5869 H7760 to him, and do H6213 him no harm; H3972 H7451 but do H6213 unto him even as he shall say H1696 unto thee. So Nebuzaradan H5018 the captain H7227 of the guard H2876 sent, H7971 and Nebushasban, H5021 Rabsaris, H7249 and Nergalsharezer, H5371 Rabmag, H7248 and all the king H4428 of Babylon's H894 princes; H7227 Even they sent, H7971 and took H3947 Jeremiah H3414 out of the court H2691 of the prison, H4307 and committed H5414 him unto Gedaliah H1436 the son H1121 of Ahikam H296 the son H1121 of Shaphan, H8227 that he should carry H3318 him home: H1004 so he dwelt H3427 among H8432 the people. H5971 Now the word H1697 of the LORD H3068 came unto Jeremiah, H3414 while he was shut up H6113 in the court H2691 of the prison, H4307 saying, H559 Go H1980 and speak H559 to Ebedmelech H5663 the Ethiopian, H3569 saying, H559 Thus saith H559 the LORD H3068 of hosts, H6635 the God H430 of Israel; H3478 Behold, I will bring H935 my words H1697 upon this city H5892 for evil, H7451 and not for good; H2896 and they shall be accomplished in that day H3117 before H6440 thee. But I will deliver H5337 thee in that day, H3117 saith H5002 the LORD: H3068 and thou shalt not be given H5414 into the hand H3027 of the men H582 of whom H6440 thou art afraid. H3016 For I will surely H4422 deliver H4422 thee, and thou shalt not fall H5307 by the sword, H2719 but thy life H5315 shall be for a prey H7998 unto thee: because thou hast put thy trust H982 in me, saith H5002 the LORD. H3068
And G1161 they that passed by G3899 reviled G987 him, G846 wagging G2795 their G846 heads, G2776 And G2532 saying, G3004 Thou that destroyest G2647 the temple, G3485 and G2532 buildest G3618 it in G1722 three G5140 days, G2250 save G4982 thyself. G4572 If G1487 thou be G1488 the Son G5207 of God, G2316 come down G2597 from G575 the cross. G4716 G1161 Likewise G3668 also G2532 the chief priests G749 mocking G1702 him, with G3326 the scribes G1122 and G2532 elders, G4245 said, G3004 He saved G4982 others; G243 himself G1438 he cannot G3756 G1410 save. G4982 If G1487 he be G2076 the King G935 of Israel, G2474 let him G2597 now G3568 come down G2597 from G575 the cross, G4716 and G2532 we will believe G4100 him. G846 He trusted G3982 in G1909 God; G2316 let him deliver G4506 him G846 now, G3568 if G1487 he will have G2309 him: G846 for G1063 he said, G2036 G3754 I am G1510 the Son G5207 of God. G2316 G1161 The thieves G3027 also, G2532 which G3588 were crucified G4957 with him, G846 cast G3679 the same G846 in his G846 teeth. G3679
Now it came to pass in the seventh H7637 month, H2320 that Ishmael H3458 the son H1121 of Nethaniah H5418 the son H1121 of Elishama, H476 of the seed H2233 royal, H4410 and the princes H7227 of the king, H4428 even ten H6235 men H582 with him, came H935 unto Gedaliah H1436 the son H1121 of Ahikam H296 to Mizpah; H4709 and there they did eat H398 bread H3899 together H3162 in Mizpah. H4708 Then arose H6965 Ishmael H3458 the son H1121 of Nethaniah, H5418 and the ten H6235 men H582 that were with him, and smote H5221 Gedaliah H1436 the son H1121 of Ahikam H296 the son H1121 of Shaphan H8227 with the sword, H2719 and slew H4191 him, whom the king H4428 of Babylon H894 had made governor H6485 over the land. H776 Ishmael H3458 also slew H5221 all the Jews H3064 that were with him, even with Gedaliah, H1436 at Mizpah, H4709 and the Chaldeans H3778 that were found H4672 there, and the men H582 of war. H4421 And it came to pass the second H8145 day H3117 after he had slain H4191 Gedaliah, H1436 and no man H376 knew H3045 it, That there came H935 certain H582 from Shechem, H7927 from Shiloh, H7887 and from Samaria, H8111 even fourscore H8084 men, H376 having their beards H2206 shaven, H1548 and their clothes H899 rent, H7167 and having cut H1413 themselves, with offerings H4503 and incense H3828 in their hand, H3027 to bring H935 them to the house H1004 of the LORD. H3068 And Ishmael H3458 the son H1121 of Nethaniah H5418 went forth H3318 from Mizpah H4709 to meet H7125 them, weeping H1058 all along H1980 as he went: H1980 and it came to pass, as he met H6298 them, he said H559 unto them, Come H935 to Gedaliah H1436 the son H1121 of Ahikam. H296 And it was so, when they came H935 into the midst H8432 of the city, H5892 that Ishmael H3458 the son H1121 of Nethaniah H5418 slew H7819 them, and cast them into the midst H8432 of the pit, H953 he, and the men H582 that were with him. But ten H6235 men H582 were found H4672 among them that said H559 unto Ishmael, H3458 Slay H4191 us not: for we have H3426 treasures H4301 in the field, H7704 of wheat, H2406 and of barley, H8184 and of oil, H8081 and of honey. H1706 So he forbare, H2308 and slew H4191 them not among H8432 their brethren. H251 Now the pit H953 wherein Ishmael H3458 had cast H7993 all the dead bodies H6297 of the men, H582 whom he had slain H5221 because H3027 of Gedaliah, H1436 was it which Asa H609 the king H4428 had made H6213 for fear H6440 of Baasha H1201 king H4428 of Israel: H3478 and Ishmael H3458 the son H1121 of Nethaniah H5418 filled H4390 it with them that were slain. H2491 Then Ishmael H3458 carried away captive H7617 all the residue H7611 of the people H5971 that were in Mizpah, H4709 even the king's H4428 daughters, H1323 and all the people H5971 that remained H7604 in Mizpah, H4709 whom Nebuzaradan H5018 the captain H7227 of the guard H2876 had committed H6485 to Gedaliah H1436 the son H1121 of Ahikam: H296 and Ishmael H3458 the son H1121 of Nethaniah H5418 carried them away captive, H7617 and departed H3212 to go over H5674 to the Ammonites. H1121 H5983 But when Johanan H3110 the son H1121 of Kareah, H7143 and all the captains H8269 of the forces H2428 that were with him, heard H8085 of all the evil H7451 that Ishmael H3458 the son H1121 of Nethaniah H5418 had done, H6213 Then they took H3947 all the men, H582 and went H3212 to fight H3898 with Ishmael H3458 the son H1121 of Nethaniah, H5418 and found H4672 him by the great H7227 waters H4325 that are in Gibeon. H1391 Now it came to pass, that when all the people H5971 which were with Ishmael H3458 saw H7200 Johanan H3110 the son H1121 of Kareah, H7143 and all the captains H8269 of the forces H2428 that were with him, then they were glad. H8055 So all the people H5971 that Ishmael H3458 had carried away captive H7617 from Mizpah H4709 cast about H5437 and returned, H7725 and went H3212 unto Johanan H3110 the son H1121 of Kareah. H7143 But Ishmael H3458 the son H1121 of Nethaniah H5418 escaped H4422 from H6440 Johanan H3110 with eight H8083 men, H582 and went H3212 to the Ammonites. H1121 H5983 Then took H3947 Johanan H3110 the son H1121 of Kareah, H7143 and all the captains H8269 of the forces H2428 that were with him, all the remnant H7611 of the people H5971 whom he had recovered H7725 from Ishmael H3458 the son H1121 of Nethaniah, H5418 from Mizpah, H4709 after H310 that he had slain H5221 Gedaliah H1436 the son H1121 of Ahikam, H296 even mighty H1397 men H582 of war, H4421 and the women, H802 and the children, H2945 and the eunuchs, H5631 whom he had brought again H7725 from Gibeon: H1391 And they departed, H3212 and dwelt in H3427 the habitation H1628 of Chimham, H3643 which is by H681 Bethlehem, H1035 to go H3212 to enter H935 into Egypt, H4714 Because H6440 of the Chaldeans: H3778 for they were afraid H3372 of them, because Ishmael H3458 the son H1121 of Nethaniah H5418 had slain H5221 Gedaliah H1436 the son H1121 of Ahikam, H296 whom the king H4428 of Babylon H894 made governor H6485 in the land. H776
But in mine adversity H6761 they rejoiced, H8055 and gathered themselves together: H622 yea, the abjects H5222 gathered themselves together H622 against me, and I knew H3045 it not; they did tear H7167 me, and ceased H1826 not: With hypocritical H2611 mockers H3934 in feasts, H4580 they gnashed H2786 upon me with their teeth. H8127
But now they that are younger H6810 H3117 than I have me in derision, H7832 whose fathers H1 I would have disdained H3988 to have set H7896 with the dogs H3611 of my flock. H6629 Yea, whereto H4100 might the strength H3581 of their hands H3027 profit me, in whom old age H3624 was perished? H6 For want H2639 and famine H3720 they were solitary; H1565 fleeing H6207 into the wilderness H6723 in former time H570 desolate H7722 and waste. H4875 Who cut up H6998 mallows H4408 by the bushes, H7880 and juniper H7574 roots H8328 for their meat. H3899 They were driven forth H1644 from among H1460 men, (they cried H7321 after them as after a thief;) H1590 To dwell H7931 in the clifts H6178 of the valleys, H5158 in caves H2356 of the earth, H6083 and in the rocks. H3710 Among the bushes H7880 they brayed; H5101 under the nettles H2738 they were gathered together. H5596 They were children H1121 of fools, H5036 yea, children H1121 of base men: H8034 they were viler H5217 than the earth. H776 And now am I their song, H5058 yea, I am their byword. H4405 They abhor H8581 me, they flee far H7368 from me, and spare H2820 not to spit H7536 in my face. H6440
Then will I cut off H3772 Israel H3478 out H6440 of the land H127 which I have given H5414 them; and this house, H1004 which I have hallowed H6942 for my name, H8034 will I cast out H7971 of my sight; H6440 and Israel H3478 shall be a proverb H4912 and a byword H8148 among all people: H5971 And at this house, H1004 which is high, H5945 every one that passeth H5674 by it shall be astonished, H8074 and shall hiss; H8319 and they shall say, H559 Why hath the LORD H3068 done H6213 thus unto this land, H776 and to this house? H1004
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.