7 So I prophesied H5012 as I was commanded: H6680 and as I prophesied, H5012 there was a noise, H6963 and behold a shaking, H7494 and the bones H6106 came together, H7126 bone H6106 to his bone. H6106
And he said, H559 Go forth, H3318 and stand H5975 upon the mount H2022 before H6440 the LORD. H3068 And, behold, the LORD H3068 passed by, H5674 and a great H1419 and strong H2389 wind H7307 rent H6561 the mountains, H2022 and brake in pieces H7665 the rocks H5553 before H6440 the LORD; H3068 but the LORD H3068 was not in the wind: H7307 and after H310 the wind H7307 an earthquake; H7494 but the LORD H3068 was not in the earthquake: H7494 And after H310 the earthquake H7494 a fire; H784 but the LORD H3068 was not in the fire: H784 and after H310 the fire H784 a still H1827 small H1851 voice. H6963 And it was so, when Elijah H452 heard H8085 it, that he wrapped H3874 his face H6440 in his mantle, H155 and went out, H3318 and stood H5975 in the entering in H6607 of the cave. H4631 And, behold, there came a voice H6963 unto him, and said, H559 What doest thou here, Elijah? H452
But G1161 Peter G4074 and G2532 John G2491 answered G611 and said G2036 unto G4314 them, G846 Whether G1487 it be G2076 right G1342 in the sight G1799 of God G2316 to hearken G191 unto you G5216 more than G3123 G2228 unto God, G2316 judge ye. G2919
Go, G4198 stand G2476 and G2532 speak G2980 in G1722 the temple G2411 to the people G2992 all G3956 the words G4487 of this G5026 life. G2222 And G1161 when they heard G191 that, they entered G1525 into G1519 the temple G2411 early in the morning, G5259 G3722 and G2532 taught. G1321 But G1161 the high priest G749 came, G3854 and G2532 they that were with G4862 him, G846 and called G4779 the council G4892 together, G4779 and G2532 all G3956 the senate G1087 of the children G5207 of Israel, G2474 and G2532 sent G649 to G1519 the prison G1201 to have G71 them G846 brought. G71 But G1161 when the officers G5257 came, G3854 and found G2147 them G846 not G3756 in G1722 the prison, G5438 they returned, G390 and G1161 told, G518 Saying, G3004 G3754 The prison G1201 truly G3303 found we G2147 shut G2808 with G1722 all G3956 safety, G803 and G2532 the keepers G5441 standing G2476 without G1854 before G4253 the doors: G2374 but G1161 when we had opened, G455 we found G2147 no man G3762 within. G2080 Now G1161 when G5613 G5037 the high priest G2409 and G2532 the captain G4755 of the temple G2411 and G2532 the chief priests G749 heard G191 these G5128 things, G3056 they doubted G1280 of G4012 them G846 whereunto G5101 G302 this G5124 would grow. G1096 Then came G3854 one G5100 and G1161 told G518 them, G846 saying, G3004 G3754 Behold, G2400 the men G435 whom G3739 ye put G5087 in G1722 prison G5438 are G1526 standing G2476 in G1722 the temple, G2411 and G2532 teaching G1321 the people. G2992 Then G5119 went G565 the captain G4755 with G4862 the officers, G5257 and brought G71 them G846 without G3756 G3326 violence: G970 for G1063 they feared G5399 the people, G2992 lest G3363 they should have been stoned. G3034 And G1161 when they had brought G71 them, G846 they set G2476 them before G1722 the council: G4892 and G2532 the high priest G749 asked G1905 them, G846 Saying, G3004 Did G3853 not G3756 we straitly G3852 command G3853 you G5213 that ye should G1321 not G3361 teach G1321 in G1909 this G5129 name? G3686 and, G2532 behold, G2400 ye have filled G4137 Jerusalem G2419 with your G5216 doctrine, G1322 and G2532 intend G1014 to bring G1863 this G5127 man's G444 blood G129 upon G1909 us. G2248 Then G1161 Peter G4074 and G2532 the other apostles G652 answered G611 and said, G2036 We ought G1163 to obey G3980 God G2316 rather G3123 than G2228 men. G444
So I went, H3212 and hid H2934 it by Euphrates, H6578 as the LORD H3068 commanded H6680 me. And it came to pass after H7093 many H7227 days, H3117 that the LORD H3068 said H559 unto me, Arise, H6965 go H3212 to Euphrates, H6578 and take H3947 the girdle H232 from thence, which I commanded H6680 thee to hide H2934 there. Then I went H3212 to Euphrates, H6578 and digged, H2658 and took H3947 the girdle H232 from the place H4725 where I had hid H2934 it: and, behold, the girdle H232 was marred, H7843 it was profitable H6743 for nothing.
Now it came to pass, when Jeremiah H3414 had made an end H3615 of speaking H1696 all that the LORD H3068 had commanded H6680 him to speak H1696 unto all the people, H5971 that the priests H3548 and the prophets H5030 and all the people H5971 took H8610 him, saying, H559 Thou shalt surely H4191 die. H4191
Now G1161 when they heard G191 this, they were pricked G2660 in their heart, G2588 and G5037 said G2036 unto G4314 Peter G4074 and G2532 to the rest G3062 of the apostles, G652 Men G435 and brethren, G80 what G5101 shall we do? G4160
And G1161 suddenly G869 there was G1096 a great G3173 earthquake, G4578 so that G5620 the foundations G2310 of the prison G1201 were shaken: G4531 and G5037 immediately G3916 all G3956 the doors G2374 were opened, G455 and G2532 every one's G3956 bands G1199 were loosed. G447 And G1161 the keeper of the prison G1200 awaking G1096 out of his sleep, G1853 and G2532 seeing G1492 the prison G5438 doors G2374 open, G455 he drew out G4685 his sword, G3162 and would G3195 have killed G337 himself, G1438 supposing G3543 that the prisoners G1198 had been fled. G1628 But G1161 Paul G3972 cried G5455 with a loud G3173 voice, G5456 saying, G3004 Do G4238 thyself G4572 no G3367 harm: G2556 for G1063 we are G2070 all G537 here. G1759 Then G1161 he called G154 for a light, G5457 and sprang in, G1530 and G2532 came G1096 trembling, G1790 and fell down before G4363 Paul G3972 and G2532 Silas, G4609
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible » Commentary on Ezekiel 37
Commentary on Ezekiel 37 Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
CHAPTER 37
Eze 37:1-28. The Vision of Dry Bones Revivified, Symbolizing Israel's Death and Resurrection.
Three stages in Israel's revival present themselves to the prophet's eye. (1) The new awakening of the people, the resurrection of the dead (Eze 37:1-14). (2) The reunion of the formerly hostile members of the community, whose contentions had affected the whole (Eze 37:15-28). (3) The community thus restored is strong enough to withstand the assault of Gog, &c. (Eze 38:1-39:29) [Ewald].
1. carried … in the spirit—The matters transacted, therefore, were not literal, but in vision.
the valley—probably that by the Chebar (Eze 3:22). The valley represents Mesopotamia, the scene of Israel's sojourn in her state of national deadness.
2. dry—bleached by long exposure to the atmosphere.
3. can these bones live? … thou knowest—implying that, humanly speaking, they could not; but faith leaves the question of possibility to rest with God, with whom nothing is impossible (De 32:39). An image of Christian faith which believes in the coming general resurrection of the dead, in spite of all appearances against it, because God has said it (Joh 5:21; Ro 4:17; 2Co 1:9).
4. Prophesy—Proclaim God's quickening word to them. On account of this innate power of the divine word to effect its end, prophets are said to do that which they prophesy as about to be done (Jer 1:10).
5. I … cause breath to enter into you—So Isa 26:19, containing the same vision, refers primarily to Israel's restoration. Compare as to God's renovation of the earth and all its creatures hereafter by His breath, Ps 104:30.
ye shall live—come to life again.
6. ye shall know that I am the Lord—by the actual proof of My divinity which I will give in reviving Israel.
7. noise—of the bones when coming in mutual collision. Perhaps referring to the decree of Cyrus, or the noise of the Jews' exultation at their deliverance and return.
bones came together—literally, "ye bones came together"; as in Jer 49:11 (Hebrew), "ye widows of thine shall trust in Me." The second person puts the scene vividly before one's eyes, for the whole resurrection scene is a prophecy in action to render more palpably to the people the prophecy in word (Eze 37:21).
8. So far, they were only cohering in order as unsightly skeletons. The next step, that of covering them successively with sinews, skin, and flesh, gives them beauty; but still "no breath" of life in them. This may imply that Israel hereafter, as at the restoration from Babylon was the case in part, shall return to Judea unconverted at first (Zec 13:8, 9). Spiritually: a man may assume all the semblances of spiritual life, yet have none, and so be dead before God.
9. wind—rather, the spirit of life or life-breath (Margin). For it is distinct from "the four winds" from which it is summoned.
from the four winds—implying that Israel is to be gathered from the four quarters of the earth (Isa 43:5, 6; Jer 31:8), even as they were "scattered into all the winds" (Eze 5:10; 12:14; 17:21; compare Re 7:1, 4).
10. Such honor God gives to the divine word, even in the mouth of a man. How much more when in the mouth of the Son of God! (Joh 5:25-29). Though this chapter does not directly prove the resurrection of the dead, it does so indirectly; for it takes for granted the future fact as one recognized by believing Jews, and so made the image of their national restoration (so Isa 25:8; 26:19; Da 12:2; Ho 6:2; 13:14; compare Note, see on Eze 37:12).
11. Our bones are dried—(Ps 141:7), explained by "our hope is lost" (Isa 49:14); our national state is as hopeless of resuscitation, as marrowless bones are of reanimation.
cut off for our parts—that is, so far as we are concerned. There is nothing in us to give hope, like a withered branch "cut off" from a tree, or a limb from the body.
12. my people—in antithesis to "for our parts" (Eze 37:11). The hope that is utterly gone, if looking at themselves, is sure for them in God, because He regards them as His people. Their covenant relation to God ensures His not letting death permanently reign over them. Christ makes the same principle the ground on which the literal resurrection rests. God had said, "I am the God of Abraham," &c.; God, by taking the patriarchs as His, undertook to do for them all that Omnipotence can perform: He, being the ever living God, is necessarily the God of, not dead, but living persons, that is, of those whose bodies His covenant love binds Him to raise again. He can—and because He can—He will—He must [Fairbairn]. He calls them "My people" when receiving them into favor; but "thy people," in addressing His servant, as if He would put them away from Him (Eze 13:17; 33:2; Ex 32:7).
out of your graves—out of your politically dead state, primarily in Babylon, finally hereafter in all lands (compare Eze 6:8; Ho 13:14). The Jews regarded the lands of their captivity and dispersion as their "graves"; their restoration was to be as "life from the dead" (Ro 11:15). Before, the bones were in the open plain (Eze 37:1, 2); now, in the graves, that is, some of the Jews were in the graves of actual captivity, others at large but dispersed. Both alike were nationally dead.
16. stick—alluding to Nu 17:2, the tribal rod. The union of the two rods was a prophecy in action of the brotherly union which is to reunite the ten tribes and Judah. As their severance under Jeroboam was fraught with the greatest evil to the covenant-people, so the first result of both being joined by the spirit of life to God is that they become joined to one another under the one covenant King, Messiah-David.
Judah, and … children of Israel his companions—that is, Judah and, besides Benjamin and Levi, those who had joined themselves to him of Ephraim, Manasseh, Simeon, Asher, Zebulun, Issachar, as having the temple and lawful priesthood in his borders (2Ch 11:12, 13, 16; 15:9; 30:11, 18). The latter became identified with Judah after the carrying away of the ten tribes, and returned with Judah from Babylon, and so shall be associated with that tribe at the future restoration.
For Joseph, the stick of Ephraim—Ephraim's posterity took the lead, not only of the other descendants of Joseph (compare Eze 37:19), but of the ten tribes of Israel. For four hundred years, during the period of the judges, with Manasseh and Benjamin, its dependent tribes, it had formerly taken the lead: Shiloh was its religious capital; Shechem, its civil capital. God had transferred the birthright from Reuben (for dishonoring his father's bed) to Joseph, whose representative, Ephraim, though the younger, was made (Ge 48:19; 1Ch 5:1). From its pre-eminence "Israel" is attached to it as "companions." The "all" in this case, not in that of Judah, which has only attached as "companions" "the children of Israel" (that is, some of them, namely, those who followed the fortunes of Judah), implies that the bulk of the ten tribes did not return at the restoration from Babylon, but are distinct from Judah, until the coming union with it at the restoration.
18. God does not explain the symbolical prophecy until the Jews have been stimulated by the type to consult the prophet.
19. The union effected at the restoration from Babylon embraced but comparatively few of Israel; a future complete fulfilment must therefore be looked for.
stick of Joseph … in the hand of Ephraim—Ephraim, of the descendants of Joseph, had exercised the rule among the ten tribes: that rule, symbolized by the "stick," was now to be withdrawn from him, and to be made one with the other, Judah's rule, in God's hand.
them—the "stick of Joseph," would strictly require "it"; but Ezekiel expresses the sense, namely, the ten tribes who were subject to it.
with him—that is, Judah; or "it," that is, the stick of Judah.
22. one nation—(Isa 11:13; Jer 3:18; Ho 1:11).
one king—not Zerubbabel, who was not a king either in fact or name, and who ruled over but a few Jews, and that only for a few years; whereas the King here reigns for ever. Messiah is meant (Eze 34:23, 24). The union of Judah and Israel under King Messiah symbolizes the union of Jews and Gentiles under Him, partly now, perfectly hereafter (Eze 37:24; Joh 10:16).
23. (Eze 36:25).
out of … their dwelling-places—(Eze 36:28, 33). I will remove them from the scene of their idolatries to dwell in their own land, and to serve idols no more.
24. David—Messiah (See on Eze 34:23, 24).
25. for ever—(Isa 60:21; Joe 3:20; Am 9:15).
26. covenant of peace—better than the old legal covenant, because an unchangeable covenant of grace (Eze 34:25; Isa 55:3; Jer 32:40).
I will place them—set them in an established position; no longer unsettled as heretofore.
my sanctuary—the temple of God; spiritual in the heart of all true followers of Messiah (2Co 6:16); and, in some literal sense, in the restored Israel (Eze 40:1-44:31).
27. My tabernacle … with them—as foretold (Ge 9:27); Joh 1:14, "The Word … dwelt among us" (literally, "tabernacled"); first, in humiliation; hereafter, in manifested glory (Re 21:3).
28. (Eze 36:23).
sanctify Israel—set it apart as holy unto Myself and inviolable (Ex 19:5, 6).