Ezekiel 13

Ezekiel 13:2

THem that prophecie out of their own hearts] Heb. them that are prophets out of their own hearts.

hearts] Jeremiah 14:14. & Jeremiah 23:16.

Ezekiel 13:3

follow their own spirit] Heb. walk after. That doe meddle with prophecying of their own proper motion, being driven thereunto by their own carnall affection, and declare nothing but their own imaginations and inventions.

and have seen nothing] Or, and tings which they have not seen.

Ezekiel 13:4

foxes] Which have spoiled the Lords Vine-yard, as Foxed do, when the inclosures of mud wals, as are made in those Countreys, are broken down, Cant. 2. 15.

deserts] Heb. in dry places. Where no poultrey or other birds are to feed on, whereupon being hungry they greedily gape after prey.

Ezekiel 13:5

Ye have not gone up] Manners of speech taken from siegers, in which the duties of Captains are to repaire and fortifie the place, and then stand to defend it, if there be any breach made. The true strength of the Church is faith, obedience, piety, &c. The defence is invocation, intercession, repentance, and zeal to represse the wicked, &c. Psalms 106:23. 30. Chap. 22. 30. The false Prophets are here reproved for fayling in both these duties, Psalms 106:23.

gaps] Or, breaches.

made up the hedge] Heb. hedged the hedge.

day of the LORD] Of his judgements.

Ezekiel 13:6

word] Namely, their false predictions.

Ezekiel 13:7

saith it] Ye promised peace to this people, and now ye see their destruction: so that it is manifest, that ye are false Prophets. See Jeremiah 23:21. 31.

Ezekiel 13:9

they shall not be] I will root them out of the world, so that they shall not onelyl be debarred from having any voice in publique Assemblies, as the Prophets in those dayes had, Jeremiah 26:7. that they shall not so much as be members of the people, which were all numbred, and set down, Exodus 30:12. Nor they shall not be suffered to dwell the holy Land. which was not denied even to strangers.

assembly] Or, secret, or counsel.

Ezekiel 13:10

Peace] Jeremiah 6:14. & Jeremiah 8:11.

built up a wall] Or, a slight wall. Whereas the true Prophets prophecied the destruction of the Citie to bring the people to repentance; the false prophets spake the contrary, and flattered them in their vanities: so that what one false prophet said, (which is here called the building of the wall) an other false prophet would affirme, though he had neither occasion nor good ground to bear him.

daubed it with untempere morter] Chap. 22. 28.

Ezekiel 13:11

overflowing showre] Hereby are meant Gods extreme judgements.

Ezekiel 13:12

shall it not be said unto you] You will bear the just reproofes of your flattering predictions.

Ezekiel 13:14

midst thereof] You shall be enfolded in the ruines of it.

Ezekiel 13:15

untempored morter] Whereby is meant whatsoever man of himself setteth forth under the authoritie of Gods word.

The wall is no more] I will presently destroy both the wall and the daubers thereof.

Ezekiel 13:17

which prophecie] See vers. 2.

Ezekiel 13:18

women that sow] They were certain false Prophetesses, that did use these signes and ceremonies after the manner of the Prophets: and it should seem that the pillows were a signe of peace and ease for the one; and the vailes of mourning and calamitie for the other: according to the custome of covering their faces in the like cases, 2 Samuel 15:30. & 2 Samuel 19:4. Esth. 6. 12. & 7. 8. Job 9:24. and to this, that which is spoken verse 19. & 22. seems to have relation.

to all] Indifferently to whom they please, without regarding either Gods will, or the worth, or unworthinesse of men.

arm-holes] Or, elbows.

every stature] Namely, of all conditions and qualities, great and small, young and old.

hunt soules] To ensnare them in errour, and consequently in perdition, at their pleasures.

Ezekiel 13:19

pollute me] Maing me the Authour and maintainer of your lies, and deceits, without any respect to my most holy Name.

handfuls of barley] For any slight reward, Micah 3:5.

slay the souls] Dnouncing death and unhappy chances to good men, and raising persecution against them among the people: and contrariwise promising life and prosperitie to wicked men, and defending them against the justice of men.

Ezekiel 13:20

Behold, I am against your pillows] I will quickly cause you and your false ceremonies to perish.

to make them fly] Or, into gadens.

souls that ye hunt] That is, to cause them to perish, and that they should depart from the body.

Ezekiel 13:22

heart of the rihteous sad] By threatning them that were godly, and upholding the wicked.

strengthened the hands of the wicked] er 23. 14.

by promising him life] Or, that I should save his life. Heb. by quickening him.

Ezekiel 13:23

see no more vanitie] I will root you out, that you may no more seduce my people with your deceits.