Ezekiel 4

Ezekiel 4:1

TAke thee] It is likely that all this was inspired to, and done by the Prophet whilest he was dumb.

Ezekiel 4:2

lay siege] Draw a design of a very strait siege.

battering rammes] Or, chief leaders. Namely to batter the walls, according to the ancient manner.

Ezekiel 4:3

an iron pan] Or, a flat plate, or, slice. To shew, that all endeavours and resistance that they of Jerusalem could make against the besieging Chaldeans, should be to no purpose, and that it should be impossible for any relief to come and deliver them.

lay siege] Thou shalt act the part of a chief Commander of an army, which doth straitly besiege a place.

signe to the house of Israel] Namely of the siege and taking of Jerusalem, which the Jews that were already in captivitie in Babylon with Ezekiel, would not be perswaded could come to passe.

Ezekiel 4:4

Lie thou] This also happened and was done in his extasie. It is likely that the Prophet, doing of these things, did speak such words withall as did declare these dayes, and other circumstances. Now this vision was a figure of Gods long patience, in suffering the sinnes of his people, although they were great and intolerable; as it would be very troublesom for a man to lie long upon one side, specially if he had any great weight lying upon him.

house of Israel] Hereby he representeth the Idolatry and sin of the ten Tribes (for Samaria was on his left hand from Babylon)

upon it] Namely upon the contrary side, the other bearing the weight.

bear their iniquitie] This was also spoken to the Prophet by inspiration, and he did in an extasie as a man that did take up some burden.

Ezekiel 4:5

three hundred] Three hundred and ninetie dayes represent so many years; from the division of the kingdome (or falling away of the ten tribes by Jeroboam) to Jeusalems flames, are 390 years; the whole time is exactly noted by applying a day to a year: during which the Lord endured the sinnes of the whole Nation, namely of the ten Tribes and Judah.

so shalt thou] Numbers 14:34.

Ezekiel 4:6

accomplished them] When thou art within fourty of the last as may appear by comparing the ninth verse with the fifth, and this.

house of Judah] Judah should be destroyed when fourty years should be accomplished in the preaching of Jeremie, whom they so much despised. Of the tribe of Judah; whose sinnes have been as it were confused and mixed with the sinnes of the other ten Tribes for the former number of years, are now reckoned severally from the time of Jeremies beginning to preach in they thirteenth of Josiah, Jeremiah 1:2. unto the eleventh year of Zedekiah, unto the carrying away of Jerusalem captive in the fifth month, Vers. 3.

fourty years] God by Ezekiel maketh famous the pains of his servant Jeremy, who laboured to keep Judah from being carried to Babel, as into a wildernesse, fourtie years before the third captivitie, that which followed the Temples burning.

each day for a year] Heb. a day for a year, a day for a year.

Ezekiel 4:7

set thy face] Do the actions of a Commander who is very busie about some siege.

arm shall be uncovered] Isaiah 52:10:

shalt prophesie against it] By these signes, with words and expressions joyned thereunto.

Ezekiel 4:8

lay bands] This also was in vision, Chap. 3. 25. for a signe, that as God had born with the people three hundred ninety years, so Jerusalem should beare her punishment in the last siege, three hundred ninetie dayes, Vers. 9. Now though the siege lasted eighteen moneths, Jerem. 52. 4, 5, 6. yet there was an intermission by the Egyptians coming, Jeremiah 37:5. which might last for the space of five moneths, which are left out in this account.

from one side to another] Heb. from thy side to thy side.

Ezekiel 4:9

Take thou] A figure of the extreme dearth in Jerusalem during the siege, signified by the course bread, made of divers sorts of grain, then by the small weight, and lastly by the times appointed to eate.

fitches] Or, spelt.

Ezekiel 4:10

twenty shekels] Which make a pound: others, about ten ounces.

Ezekiel 4:11

water by measure] Whereof there was also great scarcity during the siege, the Springs without the City being possessed by the enemies.

an hi] Read Exodus 29:40.

Ezekiel 4:12

dung that cometh] Signifying the great scarcity of wood to bake their bread with: also that the Lord holding his people for profane and unclean, would make them in exile and captivity unable to observe that ceremonall puritie in their meats, which God had commanded, see Hosea 9:3.

Ezekiel 4:14

Ah, Lord] Acts 10:14.

of that which dieth] Exodus 22:31. Leviticus 17:15. Deuteronomy 14:3.

abominable flesh] Much lesse such vile corruption as mans dung, impure by the Law, Deuteronomy 23:12-14.

Ezekiel 4:15

Cows dung] Used by some Nations for to dresse their meat, and was not altogether so abominable as mans dung. And this was a signe of the mitigation of this threatning towards the elect.

Ezekiel 4:16

I will break] An Hebrew phrase, Leviticus 26:26. Isaiah 3:1. That is, I will send an extreme penury of bread, and of all things needfull for the sustenance of mans life.

staffe of bread] Leviticus 26:26. Chap. 5. 16. and 14. 13.

Ezekiel 4:17

and consume away] Lev. 26. 39.