Ezekiel 11
DortGod sheweth unto the prophet the wickedness of the chiefest rulers in Jerusalem that mocked at Gods prophecies vers 1 c the prophet must prophesie of their sins and punishments 4, one of the aforesaid rulers dieth at which the prophet is troubled 13, God sheweth him how those at Jerusalem mocked at their brethren that were carried away to Babel to whom on the contrary God promiseth his both spiritual and corporal blessing 14 .The glory of the Lord foresaketh the city 22.God bringeth the prophet again in a vision to his fellow captive breathen in Chaldea 24.
1. Then the spirit lift me up [meaning the spirit of God that sheweth him this vision see above chap 8 on vers 3]and brought me to the east-gates of the Lords house [see above chap 10 on vers 19] which looketh east ward and behold at the door of the gate were five and twenty men [it is conceived that they were then very same that were mentioned above chap8.16 however this is the most certain that they were men of great account among the people and especially those whose names are hereafter expressed .They come here out of the house of the Lord from the idol service which they had performed to the sun and discourse together about fortifying the city as followeth]and in the midst of them I saw Jaasania the son of Azzur [this is to be distinguished from another Jaasania the son of Saphan above chap8.11] and Pelatia the son of Benaja [this Pelatia is also to be distinguish ed from another of this name 1 Chron3.21 and 4.42] princes of the people [that is most honourable and excellent persons that being in place of government and authority were greatly respected by people and consequently ought to have been examples of piety unto them compare Exodus 3:16 Levit 4.15 2Kings 23.1 and annotations.]
2. And he said unto me [he to wit the spirit that carried him whence it appeareth that the word must not be understood of the wind others understand by this speaking person the Lord that shewed himself over the Cherubims above chap 10 .19] these are the men that devise iniquity and that counsel evil in this city [to wit not to deliver up the city into the hand of the Chaldeans against the counsel of the prophet Jeremia but to defend it against them .]
3. Which say a man ought not to build houses nearby [to wit near the city that is in the suburbs] this city [that is Jerusalem]should be the pot [to wit whereof Jeremia prophesized Jerem 1.13 see above chap 1 on vers 3]and we the flesh [that is the Chaldeans coming to besiege this city might conveniently dwell in the houses of the suburbs and as a fire cause the city being as a pot to seethe and consume us that should be in it as the flesh by famine compare below chap 24.47c they scoff at Jeremias prophecy Jerem 1.13 which they by their counsel go about to discredit and to prove it to be a false and lying prophecy others our destruction is not near let us build houses to wit the tarry and dwell here and so let this city be the pot and we the flesh for if we be the flesh in the pot we must stay in it so that Jeremia prophecieth himself when he telleth us that we shall be carried away .]
4. Therefore prophesie against them prophesie o child of man .
5. So then the spirit of the Lord fell upon me [see above chap 1 on vers 3]and he said unto me [see above on vers 2] say thus saith the Lord thus do ye say [to wit as is related immediately before vers 3]o house of Israel [that is Juda see 2 Chron 15 .17 and 21.2 with the annotate]for I know every one of the things that ascendnto your spirit [Heb the ascensions of your spirit whatsoever ascendeth into the thought of your heart see of the like phrase Jerem 7.31.]
6. Ye [to wit princesses and rulers of the city of whom see above on vers 1]have multiplied your slain in this city [that is those whom you have opposed in the city by all manner of injustice compare above chap 7.23 and 9.9]and you have filled the street with the slain .
7. Therefore thus saith the Lord LORD your slain whom ye have laid down in the midst of it they are that flesh and this city is the pot and I will cause you to go forth out of the midst of it [to wit Jerusalem namely by means of the Chaldeans that should take them captive and punish them according to their deserts see the four following verses others be shall or they shall cause you to go forth meaning the enemy .That which the Jews spake in derision of Jeremiahs words the same doth Ezekiel retort against them as if he had said the city of Jerusalem is indeed the pot but the flesh that boils in it are those whom ye have cruelly oppressed in it for which cause and all your impieties Gods wrath shall devour you and such as you are yet more fearful and hitherto is hath done .]
8. Ye have feared the sword that is war see Levit 26] and I will bring the sword upon you saith the Lord LORD.
9. And I will cause you to go forth out of the midst thereof and I will deliver you into the hand of strangers [namely of the Chaldeans]and I will do judgment among you [see above on vers 8.]
10. They shall fall by the sword that is perish by war see Levit 26 on vers 7 ]I will judge you [that is punish you ompare Genes 15 on vers 14 so here in the next vers] in the borders of Israel [namely in Ribla see of this city 2 Kings 23 on vers33 and 25.6 it lay in the land of Hamath which was by north on the border of Palestina Numb 33 Joshua 13:5]and ye shall know that I am the Lord .
11. This city shall not be your pot [to wit seeth in it that is to stay in it and to bear your greatest punishment touching this life]and ye shall not [this word must here be added again from the former clause be the flesh in the midst thereof therefore I will judge you in the board of Israel [as above in the fore going 5 verse see the fulfilling hereof 2 Kings 25:21 Jerem 52.10.]
12. And ye shall know that I am the Lord because ye have not walked in my statutes neither done my judgments but have done according to the rules or manner of the heathen that are round about you meaning the idolatious law and customs of the heathen which God had forbidden his people in any wise to follow Levit 18.3 and 20.23 Deuteronomy 12:9,30 and 18 .14 above chap 5 on vers 7 the Jews are reproved because they lived not according to the judgments or laws of the heathen but see thereof the annotate there.
13. Now it came to pass when I prophesied that Pelatia the son of died [it seemeth that this prophesying of Ezekiel and the dying of Pelatia happened in that vision and afterwards indeed so that Ezekiel actually declared unto the Israelites that were in Chaldea that which he had seen and done in the spirit and that the death of Pelatia then also happened actually for confirmation of his prophecy]then fell I down upon my face [to wit through astonishment and to pray for the remnant of the people compare Numb 14 on vers5]and cried with aloud [Heb great] vice and said ah Lord LORD wilt thou utterly make a full end of the remnant of Israel ?[the prophet in this complaint doth not properly look at Pelatia that was a wicked man but at a few that yet were left conceiving that if the Lord should so go on he would suddenly make an end whereas he had promised to reserve a remnant see of this phrase Jerem 4 on vers 27 .]
14. Then the word of the Lord came unto me saying .
15. Child of man they are [meaning those that with Jojachin by Jeremiahs counsel had removed as exile into Chaldea 2 Kings 24:12 & c]thy brethren [that is thy kinsmen or neer of kin see Gen 24 on vers 27] thy brethren [this repetition is made or express the zeal of God and the weightiness of the matter] the man of thy kindred ,[Heb of redemption that is those by virtue of their kindred had right to redeem thy goods and consequently are thy nearest kinsmen see Levit 25.25] and all the house of Israel yea all that [to wit that was there in Chaldea for he most past belonging to the tribe of Juda]unto whom the inhabitants of Jerusalem have said [to wit mocking them because they had left their own country and dwell like banished men in Chaldea whereas they on the other side still possessed and enjoyed the land which God had given unto their fathers for an inheritance as followeth]get you far away from the Lord this same land is given unto us for an hereditary possession [as if they had said we only are Gods people that inhabit his land which he gave unto our fathers . We have nothing to do with you that are gone away from us and ye shall have no share with us in this land which ye shall forsaken .]
16. Therefore say thus saith the Lord LORD although I have removed them [to wit those whom he had in the former verse called the prophets brethren and the house of Israel so in the sequel]far off among the heathen and although I have scattered them in the lands yet I will be to them a little while a sanctuary [or I am to them a little while a sanctuary to wit instead of the visible temple in Jerusalem which was a token of my presence I will be a little while with them without that outward token dwelling among them by my spirit and grace hearing their prayers and protecting them .Others a sanctuary of fewness that is a few compare Isaiah 8:14 .] in the land into which they are come [to wit the land of Chaldea and other countrys wherein are scattered .]
17. Therefore say thus saith the Lord yea I will gather you from the nations and I will assembly you out of the land wherein ye scattered [which was fulfilled when the Jews came back out of the Babylonian captivity into their own country and yet more fully when our saviour Christ gathered his church out of all nations by the ministry of the apostles]and I will give you the land of Israel [to wit after the captivity of seventy years .]
18. And they shall come hither and take away all the detestations thereof and all the abominations thereof [that is the idols which man ought to detest and abominate]from thence .
19. And I will give them one kind of a heart [that is such as is not double of false but is upright unfeigned cleaving only unto me and not divided between me and idols. See further Jerem 32.39with the annotate .By heart here is meant inclination motion .So is the word heart for the most part taken when it is place by the word spirit which then signifieth the mind understanding and thoughts of man Psal 51.12 below chap 18.31 and 36.26] and will give a new spirit in the innermost part of you [that is another mind and other thoughts then were in you before .Meaning a change of the spirit not in substance and essence but in qualities and powers compare the fore-quoted places likewise Rom7.6 and 12.2 Cor4.13 Ephesians 4:23 Col 30.10.] and I will take away the stony heart [Heb the heart of stone that is a stony heart the heart of unregenerate man is here likened to a stone in regard of its natural hardness .The resemble consisteth also herein that a stone of its own nature hath not power to change or to turn itself into flesh so neither hath an unregenerate man by his own unregenerate nature power to turn unto God but as God is able even of stones to raise up children unto Abraham Matth 3.9 so can he also soften his heart by his saving and sanctifying spirit] out of their flesh [that is out of their body wherein the soul dwelleth see Job 12 on vers 10 and this I will do saith God by rooting out of the soul by rooting qualities power and faculties wherewith through their own corrupt nature they oppose me and by taking them away from them by the spirit of regeneration that they may no more rebel against me]and will give them a fleshy heart [Heb an heart of flesh that is a fleshy heart the heart of a regenerate man is here resembled to flesh which is not hard like a stone but is flexible soft and suffereth itself willingly to be led by Gods spirit such is the heart of man after God hath taken away the stony heart and hath given a new heart .]
20. That they walk in my statutes [he saith not that they may be able or may have power to walk &c but he speaketh of actually obedience which the regenerate yield unto God] and keep my judgments [the word keep hath respect to the certain perseverance of those that are truly converted unto God]and do them and they shall be a people unto me [see Levit 26 on vers 12] and I will be a God unto them [See Gen 17 on vers 7 and Levit 18 on vers 2 compare Jerem 24.7 and 30.22 and 31.1 and 33.38 .]
21. But whose heart walketh after the heart of their detestations and their abominations [that is idols of walking after idols compare 1 Kings 11 on vers 5 after the heart that is which they conceive that their idols do wish and desire .Others but as for them whose heart walketh after the heart of their detestations and abominations] I will render their way upon their head [see above chap9.10 compare Jerem 9.10]saith the Lord .
22. Then did the Cherubims see above chap 1.6 upon the word beasts ]lift up their wings [to wit wherewith they flew see above chap 1 on vers 6] and the wheels [see above chap 1 on vers 15]over against them and the glory of God of Israel [see above chap 1 on vers 28 so in the next vers] was over them from above .
23. And the glory of the Lord went up from the midst of the city [see above chap 10 on vers 4] and stood upon the mountains [that is stayed or went and stood or set itself upon the mountain meaning the mountain of Olives whereof see 2 Sam 15.30 Zach 14.4 Matth 24.3]which is towards the east of the city .
24. Afterward the spirit took me up and brought me in vision by the spirit of God into Chaldea [that is in a vision that was shewed me by the spirit of God compare above chap 4 on vers 4] the meaning is that all this happened to him in the vision of his spirit not really in his body which still remained in Chaldea ] to them that were carried away captive [Heb captive carrying away so in the next vers see above chap 1 on vers 1] and the vision that I had seen went up from me [that is ceased or vanished away.]
25. And spake unto them that they were all carried away captive all the words [or matters]things of the Lord which he had caused me to see .