Ezekiel 11

Chap. XII. ver. 2. — thou dwellest in the midst of a rebellious house.] He was among them of the captivity in Chaldea, ver. 10; chap. xi. 24; xiv. 22; and these seem to have disbelieved the prophecies that Jerusalem should be smitten and burnt, and its inhabitants scattered abroad, chap. iv. 2; ix. 5; x. 2; xi. 9. Abp. Newcome.

St. Jerome remarks upon this place, that the words of this chapter were addressed to the Jews of the captivity, who were then regretting that they had listened to the prophecies of Jeremiah, since Jerusalem was still standing, of which he had predicted the fall; and the object of it seems to have been to shew that they, who were left behind to endure the miseries of a siege, and the insults of a conqueror, would be in a worse condition than those who were already captives. Calmet.

Ezekiel 11:18

18. — detestable things] The idols, which had been the cause of God’s anger. The Jews who returned from the captivity did not relapse into idolatry. Calmet.

Ezekiel 11:19

19. And I will give them one heart, &c.] And I will give them a holy and happy accordance in my truth; and will renew a right spirit in them; and will take away that perverse and obstinate indisposition which is naturally in them to that which is good; and will give them a tenderness of heart, such as may make them capable of the impressions of my Spirit. Bp. Hall.

We read throughout the Prophets, that the time of the Messiah is all along represented as a time of universal love, and peace, and godliness; wherein as the natures of people shall be changed, and all malice and ill nature rooted out, (ka. xi.) so God would give them a heart to do his will, and “he would be their God, and they should be his people,” ver. 20. Dr. T. Burnett.

Ezekiel 11:23

23. — went up from the midst of the city.] This was emblematical that God would desert Jerusalem, as well as the temple. Abp. Newcome.

— and stood upon the mountain which is on the east side] The mount of Olives. W. Lowth. This was the last spot upon which the glory of the Lord rested, before He quitted the devoted city; and it is remarkable, that it was the spot from which the Saviour of the world afterwards ascended up to heaven in the sight of his disciples. Calmet.

Ezekiel 11:24

24. — in a vision by the Spirit of God into Chaldea.] Returned me back into Chaldea in the same manner as it carried me away from thence, being still under the

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