Ezekiel 1

Ezekiel 1:1

IN the thirteenth yeer] After that the Book of the Law was found, which was the eighteenth yeer of the reign of Josiah, when the Covenant with God was renewed, Religion reformed, and a very solemne Passeover kept, 2 Kings 23:23. 2 Chron. 35. 19. the remembrance of such benefits gave the Jews occasion of this account.

among the captives] Heb. captivitie. When Jehoicahin or Jeconiah was led captive to Babel. 2 Kings 24:12. then Ezekiel, Chap. 40. 1. Mordecai, Esther 2:6. and many of the people were also led away.

Chebar] A river of Mesopotamia, neer to which it should seeme, were appointed the habitations for the Jews, which were led into captivitie, Psalms 137:1.

the heavens were opened] A kind of speech much used in the description of visions, Matthew 3:16. Acts 7:56. & Acts 10:11. Revelation 19:11. to note a sudden breaking forth of light from above, created by God miraculously, as if it came out of heaven it self: in and through the midst of which were shewn the representation of divine things.

visions of God] That is, which God shewed: or, wherein I saw God: or, notable and excellent visions, so that it might be known it was no naturall dream, but came of God.

Ezekiel 1:2

fifth yeer] If to these five of Jeconiahs captivitie you adde eleven of Jehoiakim, and the fourteen last of Josiah, there will arise thirtie spoken of in the first verse, and so Ezekiel prophecieth thirty yeers after the finding of the Book of the Law, in the fifth yeer of Jeconiahs captivitie.

captivitie] 2 Kings 24:12.

Ezekiel 1:3

Ezekiel] Heb. Jehezkel.

land of the Chaldeans] That is, in Mesopotamia a part of Chaldea.

the hand of the Lord] That is, the Spirit of Prophecie, as Chap. 3. 22. and 37. 1. for this John saith, Revelation 1:10. I was in the Spirit. See 1 Kings 18:46. 2 Kings 3:15.

Ezekiel 1:4

a whirlwind] Exodus 9:24. A figure of the coming of the Sonne of God, eternall King of the Church, in judgement against the Jew; using the Chaldeans, which lay Northernly from Judea, for his instruments

infolding it self] Heb. catching it self.

Ezekiel 1:5

out of the midst thereof came] The meaning of this vision seems to be; that the Sonne of God who had established the Arke of the covenant, with all the things belonging to it, for a sign of his residence among his people, and for a figure of heaven where he dwelleth, and reigneth in glory amongst his Angels: doth here reveal his heavenly Majestie in formes and shapes answerable to the earthly figures of the Temple; appearing in judgement against his people, purposing to depart from them, and to destroy them; as it is declared, Ezekiel 10:17. 19. & 11. 23. untill the time appointed for the restauration of the Church, at which time he will return in the same forme, Ezekiel 43:3. See the like visions, Daniel 7:9. Rev. 4. 6, 7.

living creatures] Living and moving bodies, which represented the Angels about Christ his throne, as likewise upon the Ark, and upon the wals on the outside and inside of the Sanctuary there were pictures of Cherubims; as these living creatures are also called, Chap. 10. 1. 15. 20. As Ezekiel seeth the glory of God and Christ; so also he seeth the ministerie of Angels, which in wit excell, in might are strong, in service unweary, in quicknesse fleet.

Ezekiel 1:7

their feet were] According to the Hebrew phrase, by feet are meant the legges and thighs, here described to be streight without any bending in the hamme, or hough, like unto the fore-legges of beasts.

streight feet] Heb. a streight foot.

sole of a calves foot] To signifie, as it should seeme, the indefatigable motion of Angels in the service of God, and of his Church.

Ezekiel 1:8

the hands] To shew the vertue and diversitie of the Angels operation.

foure sides] Namely on the foure sides of the waggon, on each side of which there was a Cherubim.

Ezekiel 1:9

wings were joyned] Namely, with which they did flie, vers. 11. did spread themselves and move alike, to shew the equall uniformitie of the Angels motions in Gods service.

they turned not] To wit, at their own will and pleasure, but according to the direction of him that sate upon the Throne, vers. 14. A figure of the constancie, perseverance, simplicitie, and uprightnesse of the Angels in all their service.

Ezekiel 1:10

their faces] The Angels he saw in formes of bodied weights, for every Cherubim had foure faces, the face of a man, and of a lion on the right side, and the face of an ox and an eagle on the left side.

Ezekiel 1:11

stretched upward] Or, divided above. Namely, above the shoulders where the foure faces did begin to divide themselves, and where the foure wings of the Cherubims were also divided; whereof two they used to flie with, and with the other two they covered the lowest parts of their bodies. The first two to signifie their swiftnesse, equalitie, and sublimenesse of their service; the second, their unspotted puritie, as Isaiah 6:2.

Ezekiel 1:12

spirit was to go] To wit, of him that sate upon the Throne, who did drive, and put forward live weights as the wheeles to the same kind of motion, vers. 20. for the Angels are his ministring Spirits, Hebrews 1:12.

Ezekiel 1:14

returned] Not in a tumultuary way, or by chance, or according to their own minds, but according as their head did guide them; and when they had executed his will: for afore they returned not, till God had changed the state of things.

Ezekiel 1:15

one wheel] The Ark, which was the figure of Gods Throne of glory is called a charet, 1 Chron. 28. 18. to shew that God is not shut up in heaven, nor is not idle, but moves and works continually by his Spirit and power. So also he sets wheeles to the Celestiall Throne, Daniel 7:9. The meaning here is, that the Prophet did see a wheel by every one of the living creatures, so that they being, there were also foure wheeles; and so there was the whole frame of a Cart or Waggon. See Chap. 10. 9.

upon the earth] Newly upon that floore which appeared in this vision.

foure faces] That is to say, sides, so that two Cherubims flew before the two first wheels, the other two by the Charet side, before the two last wheeles.

Ezekiel 1:16

a beryll] The Hebrew word is Tarshish, meaning that the colour was like the Cilician Sea, or a precious-stone so called. Also it is the Metropolitane Citie of Cilicia, neer to the Sea, whither Jonas fled, Jon. 1. 3. the Apostle Pauls Countrey, Acts 21:39. & Acts 22:3.

a wheel in the middle] Not in manner of a Sphere, two circles cutting one another by direct angles, which would be absurd in a Chariot; but one wheele being doubled upon the other, to signifie, as it should seem, either the severall Sphericall compasses of the heavens, upon which Gods Majestie is carried: or the two orders of Gods manner of working; namely, the order of Nature, and the order of Grace: or his two orders of Government; namely, the Temporall and Spirituall order, joyned together in his Church. Or, as some say, having foure sides touching one another in right angles, looking toward the foure quarters of the world; East, North, West, and South.

Ezekiel 1:17

return] They did not move out of the direct tract wherein the living creatures did lead them; but even as the live creatures were led by their Chief, so did they also guide the wheeles: see vers. 10. 20. A figure of the agreeing harmonie which is in all the works of Gods providence towards his Church.

Ezekiel 1:18

rings full of eyes] Or strakes. In stead of great nayles wherewith Cart-wheels are garnished, here were eyes for to represent either the starres of Heaven; or more particularly the providence of God in all parts of his Governmnt, or the gifts of the Spirit, in the instruments which are thereunto employed. See Zechariah 3:9. Revelation 4:6.

Ezekiel 1:20

for the spirit of the living] Or, of life. That is to say, the same divine inspiration which did drive the live weights, did also give a motion to the wheeles, to signifie that God is present effectually in all the instruments of his providence, and that Christ doth do all in all in his Church, 1 Corinthians 12:6. Ephesians 1:11. Col. 3. 11.

Ezekiel 1:22

firmament] See Genesis 1:6. By this is meant Christs celestiall glory, who is King of the Church.

Ezekiel 1:23

wings streight] Namely, when they did flie, for when they stood still they did let down their wings.

Ezekiel 1:24

Of their wings] Which declared the swiftnesse, and the fearfulnesse of Gods judgements.

of great waters] See Revelation 1:15.

they let down] Which signified that they had no power of themselves, but onely waited to execute Gods commandement.

Ezekiel 1:26

a mn] Which represented the Sonne of God, head of the Church, and King of the Universe: who at the appointed time was to take upon him humane flesh, See Isaiah 6:1. John 12:41. and was the same which was personally present upon the Ark of the Covenant.

round about] Whereby was signified a terrible judgement toward the earth.

Ezekiel 1:28

I fell] Astonished, and affrighted at the sight of Gods Majestie, alwaies terrible to sinfull men during this mortall life: see Daniel 8:17. and 10. 8, 9. Revelation 1:17.