Ezekiel 34
DOYLYEzekiel 34:2
- — shepherds] The king, his counsellors, and the heads of the people. Michaelis. The word “shepherd” comprehends governours both civil and ecclesiastical; compare Isa. lvi. 11; Jer. ii. 8; xxiii. 1. W. Lowth.
— that do feed themselves!] That regard their own profit and advantages, not the good of the people committed to their charge. W. Lowth.
Ezekiel 34:3
- Ye eat the fat,] Or the milk; milk and fat being expressed by the same word in Hebrew. W. Lowth.
— ye kill them that are fed:] The wealthy and substantial, to enrich yourselves. W. Lowth.
Ezekiel 34:4
- The diseased have ye not strengthened,] Those particular offices which belong to your charge, as comforting the weak, healing the sick, binding up the broken-hearted, reclaiming and reducing those that have erred, ye have not accordingly done; but rather have tyrannously and cruelly exercised an imperious authority over them. By. Hall.
The same allegory holds, ver. 5—10. Jesus Christ made the same reproach to the Scribes and Pharisees. Matt. xxiii. 4; see also 1 Pet. v. 2, 3. Calmet.
Ezekiel 34:5
- — no shepherd:] None in effect; none deserving the name. Abp. Newcome.
— meat to all the beasts of the field,] That is, to their enemies, who as so many beasts of prey have spoiled and devoured them; compare Jer. xii. 9; Isa. lvi. 9. W. Lowth.
Before CHRIST 587. b 1 Pet. 5. 3. Or, without a shepherd: and so ver. 6. God’s providence for his flock. Before CHRIST 587.
Ezekiel 34:23
- — one shepherd over them, — even my servant David;] Jesus Christ the true Shepherd, to whom the title of David is given by the Prophets, and attributed by Himself in the Gospel, and who has fulfilled all the duties, after having faithfully described all the characters of the office. The Scriptures call this Shepherd David,
because He was born of David after the flesh, and possessed in reality, and eminently, all those qualities,
which the Scriptures give to David, under the figure of the Messiah. Calmet, Bp. Hall. — he shall feed them, and he shall be their shepherd.] This prophecy was remarkably fulfilled, when Christ by the preaching of the Gospel “gathered in one the children of God, that were scattered abroad,” John xi. 52; Ephes. i. 10; among whom were many “of the lost sheep of the house of Israel.” But it will receive a further completion at the general conversion of the Jews, when the time will come, that they shall say, “Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord,” Matt. xxiii. 39; and this signal event will usher in, or complete the fulness of the Gentiles; see Rom. xi. 12. 15. 25. 32. W. Lowth.
Ezekiel 34:24
- — and my servant David a prince among them;] The Messiah; the true heir and successor of David. Bp. Hall.
Ezekiel 34:25
- — the evil beasts to cease] And I will keep them from those spiritual dangers that may be hurtful to them; see ver. 8 of this chapter. Calmet. The words may be meant of freedom from persecution by infidels and strangers. W. Lowth.
Ezekiel 34:26
26 And I will make them &c. — a blessing;] I will beast of the land devour them; but they shall dwell safely, and none shall make them afraid.
Ezekiel 34:29
- And I will raise up for them a plant of renown.] I will make them a glorious plant, being fast rooted in that promised Messiah, and being incorporated in Him; and they shall no more be consumed with a spiritual famine, nor be trampled upon by the enemies of my Church. Bp. Hall. The Messiah is often described under the name of “the Branch,” and “the Rod,” or shoot, growing out of the stem of Jesse: see Isa. iv. 2; xi. 1; Jer. xxiii. 5; Zech. iii. 8; vi. 12. W. Lowth.
Ezekiel 34:31
- And ye my flock, &c.] These words at the conclusion of the chapter explain the metaphor, which runs
through the whole; that what was said of a flock and its shepherds, is to be understood of men and their governors, and especially of God’s people, whom He takes care of, as a shepherd does of his flock, chap. xxxvi. 38. W. Lowth. Chap. XXXV. ver. 2. — mount Seir.] Idumea; see Deut. ii. 5, where God says, that He has “given mount Seir unto Esau for a possession.” The Prophet goes on to shew, that the same reason which will operate in favour of the Jews, will not operate in favour of the heathen, especially not in favour of the Edomites, for they shewed no mercy, and therefore deserved to receive none; and because they had a perpetual hatred, were to be made a perpetual desolation. Abp. Newcome. The judgment of mount Seir for their hatred of Israel. Before CHRIST 587. of old. out the children. hands.