Ezekiel 15

By similitude of the wood of the vine God foretelleth utter ruine to Jerusalem by all reason of all wickedness .

1. And the word of the Lord came unto me saying:

2. Child of man what is the wood of vine [to wit after it is cit down others tree]more then all wood [that is better of more value and more profitable implying not a whit but rather slighter both for form it being crooked knotty and unshapely and for matter it being unfit to make any wooden vessel or any piece of work of it as followeth]or the vine branch more then that which is among the wood of a forest ?

3. Is wood taken thereof to make a piece of work ? doth a man take a pin [that is a wooden nail or peg] to hang any vessel thereon ? [Heb do they take a pin of it &c that is shall a man be able to take a fit stuff of it only to make a wooden pin or nail whereon he might hang some pieces of household stuff or working tool ?]

4. Behold it is delivered to the fire to be consumed [or for a consumption or for a fuel so below vers 6] the fire consumeth both the ends thereof and the midst of it is burnt [some understand by the ends all the borders of the land that were wasted round about and by the midst Jerusalem]would it be fit for a piece of work ?[this question implieth a strong rejection for besides that the vine wood being entire and not hurt at all is very fit to make anything of it yet it is much more unfit when it is spoiled and damnified by the fire as followeth.]

5. Behold when it was whole it was not made into any piece of work how much less where the fire hath consumed it and it is burnt shall it yet then be made into a piece of work ?

6. therefore thus saith the Lord LORD like as the wood of vine [hereunto are the Jews and those of Jerusalem compare whom God had set apart for his own people that they might bring forth good fruits see Isaiah 5:1,2 &c Job 15:1,2 &c]among the wood of the forest [meaning the heathen and antions thatwere unbelievers and consequently unfruitful to all good works now by these words the Jews are joined in a like judgment as followeth because by their willful thankfulness they made void the prerogative which by Gods grace they had above them] which I deliver to the fire to be consumed so will I the inhabitants of Jerusalem .

7. For I will set my face against them when they go out from one fire [to wit of miseries and plagues see Job 15 on vers 34] another fire shall consume them [the meaning is that they should not sooner have escaped one plague but they should fall into another as from the famine into the pestilence or into the sword or from the sword into captivity compare Isa 24 .18 and Jerem 48.43] and ye shall know that I am the Lord when I shall have set my face against them .

8. And I will the land waste because they have grievously transgressed [Heb have transgressed transgression compare above chap 14.13] saith the Lord.