Ezekiel 4

— dung] To signify the scarcity of all kinds of fuel. W. Lowth. Dathius observes, that the dung of oxen and of camels was often used by the Eastern as fuel for preparing their food; but this command to use human dung for the same purpose is terribly significant of the extremities to which the Jews were to be reduced, and denotes a necessity which cannot be contemplated without horreur. Horner.

Ezekiel 4:2

2. — of the city.] Which the Prophet had portrayed or engraved. Abp. Newcome, W. Lowth.

— the siege] The typical siege. Abp. Newcome. — and smite] See ver. 12.

Ezekiel 4:3

3. — an iron pan.] Or, plate of iron. See the margin. Probably such as cakes were baked on. This may denote the strong trenches of the besiegers, and the invincibleness of the siege. Bp. Hall. Or, according to others, that there was an iron wall between the besieged and God, whom the Prophet represented. Abp. Newcome.

4. — bind them in thy skirts.] This denotes the remnant of the Jews that was left in the land under Geda-

liah. But to shew how few were worthy to be snatched from the general destruction, the Prophet is afterwards directed to take a part even of this remnant, and to cast it into the fire, ver. 4. By these last may be understood, that part of the Jews who were destroyed in consequence of Ishmael’s conspiracy against Gedaliah; see Jer. xlii, xliii, xliiv. W. Lowth.

Ezekiel 4:4

4. Lie thou] In his own house, chap. iii. 24. This was to be his posture in the exercise of his prophetic office. It may be supposed, that the Prophet did not retain it without intermission, but only during a part of each day, when the people were likely to observe his conduct. Abp. Newcome.

— lay the iniquity] That is, declare that you thus represent the iniquity, &c. Abp. Newcome.

— thou shalt bear] Thou shalt represent my patience under the iniquity of the house of Israel. Bp. Hall.

The words are commonly explained in this manner; but as the circumstances under which Ezekiel was placed were all of them penal, and as the other expression of “laying on iniquity,” used in connexion with this verse, (see ver. 4, 5,) conveys the imputation of guilt; the Prophet may be better supposed in this vision to represent and prefigure the punishment due to the idolatries of Israel and Judah. W. Lowth, Abp. Newcome. The original word admits of either sense.

4. — a fire come forth into all the house of Israel.] The conspiracy of Ishmael was the occasion of the utter ruin of that poor remainder of the Jews which were left in their native country: after this some of them went down into Egypt, where they were all consumed according to Jeremiah’s prophecy, chap. xliv. 11; and the rest were entirely carried away by Nebuzar-adan. W. Lowth.

Ezekiel 4:5

5. — three hundred and ninety days.] The number of years corresponding with this (see ver. 6,) will take us back with sufficient exactness from the year in which Jerusalem was sacked by Nebuchadnezzar, to the first year of Jeroboam’s reign, when national idolatry began in Israel. The number of days was designed to signify the continuance of the siege of Jerusalem. That siege lasted, from the beginning to the ending of it, seventeen months, as appears from 2 Kings xxv. 1—4. But the king of Egypt coming to relieve the city, was the occasion of raising the siege for some time, Jer. xxxvii. 5. We may suppose therefore upon the authority of

toward the siege of Jerusalem, and thine arm shall be uncovered, and thou shalt prophesy against it.

Ezekiel 4:6

6. — forty days.] Scalger and some others begin the forty years corresponding to these days, from Jeremiah’s mission as a Prophet, which was in the thirteenth year of Josiah, from which time till the last year of Zulekiah, when the city and temple were destroyed, is just forty years. W. Lowth.

— each day for a year.] See Numb. xiv. 34; Dan. ix. 24.

6. — more than the nations.] More than the nations have changed their judgments. See Jer. ii. 11. Abp. Newcome.

— for they have refused] The reason why the heathen have rejected my laws is, because they have kept constant to the religion of their forefathers; whereas the Jews have rejected that religion which their forefathers received from me. See the next verse. W. Lowth.

Ezekiel 4:7

7. — thine arm shall be uncovered.] Their habits were anciently contrived so that the right arm was disengaged from the upper garments, that they might be the more ready for action. Thus God is said to “make bare his arm,” Isa. lii. 10; where He is represented as subduing his adversaries, and bringing salvation to his people. W. Lowth.

8. — ye multiplied more than the nations] Because you have multiplied your sins more than the nations. Vulgate.

Ezekiel 4:8

8. — I will lay bands upon thee.] God is said to do what was done in consequence of his commands. See chap. iii. 25. This seems to shew the firmness of the Chaldeans in carrying on the siege till they took the city. Abp. Newcome.

Ezekiel 4:9

9. — wheat, and barley, and beans, and lentiles, &c.] By this mixture it is intended to shew the distressed situation of the city of Jerusalem, during the approaching siege. The use of mixed corn is generally a proof of scarcity; but when beans and lentiles are added, it is a mark of severe distress. W. Lowth, Calmet.

Ezekiel 4:10

10. — twenty shekels] About nine ounces. Bp. Cumberland.

Ezekiel 4:11

11. — the sixth part of an hin.] Which is something above a pint and a half of our measure. Bp. Cumberland.

The Prophet was to take this pittance from day to day, and in small portions from time to time, while he subjected himself to publick notice. The act denoted scarcity during the siege. Abp. Newcome.

Ezekiel 4:12

12. — as barley cakes.] Such as people make in haste, when they have not time for preparing a set meal, Exod. xii. 39. This represents the hurry and disorder of a siege. W. Lowth.

Before CHRIST 595. thy side to thy side. The hardness of the famine. Under the type of hair, dung that cometh out of man, in their sight.

Ezekiel 4:13

13. — their defiled bread] The pollution here mentioned was not only in itself disgusting, but particularly odious to the Jews, as being positively condemned by the law, Lev. v. 3; vii. 21; Deut. xxiii. 12. Bp. Hall, Calmet.

Ezekiel 4:14

14. — abominable flesh] The Hebrew word rendered here abominable, is properly used of such meats as are forbidden by the law, Lev. vii. 18; xix. 7. W. Lowth.

Ezekiel 4:16

16. — the staff of bread] On which man leaneth for support. Lev. xxvi. 26. Abp. Newcome.

Chap. V. ver. 1. — a sharp knife—a barber’s rasor. The latter expression explains the former. W. Lowth.