Ezekiel 18

God sharply reproveth of the hypocritical Jews concerning the sowre grapes whereby they accuse him of injustice and cruelty verse 1,2 &c shewing how he will deal with a righteous father 5 with a wicked son of righteous father 10 with a righteous son of a wicked father 14 with a wicked man that repenteth 19 with a righteous man that falleth away 24 he desendeth his justice 25 exhorteth them to repentance 30 .

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

2. What ail ye that ye use this proverb [that is what reason have ye to use this proverb ?as if he should say I have given no cause for it .Of the word proverb see above chap 1 on verse 22] of the land of Israel [that is concerning the inhabitants of Israel see Genes 6 on verse 11] saying the fathers have eaten unripe grapes and the childrens teeth [that is our teeth] are set on edge ? [that is the fathers have sinned and the children must suffer for it thus the Jews accused God most impudently of injustice.]

3. As true as I live saith the Lord LORD if it shall happen to you any more to use this proverb in Israel [he denieth strongly with an oath that they should ot have occasion long to use this blasphemous proverb for they should be suddenly assailed with such horrible plagues that everyone might judge yea their own conscience might bear witness that they were plagued for their own sins.]

4. Behold all souls [that is men see Genes 12 on verse 5] are mine [that is belong to me to wit because I am their creator and their preserver hence God concludeth that he can wrong no man because he had done all of them good in creating them and doth them still good in preserving them but that only he punisheth those that sin and that not because he hateth his creature but because he hateth sin and is a just and righteous judge against him that commiteth it as foloweth]as the soul of the father so also the soul of the son is mine the soul that sinneth the same shall die [that is hall bear the punishments of thy sins to wit either in this life or in the life that shall come.]

5. Now when a man is just and doth the judgment and ustice [that is liveth according to the commandments of the first and second table either in public or private calling see Genes 18 on vers 19.]

6. Eateth not upon the mountains [to wit of that which is offered unto idols and consequently hath no fellowship with idolatry for upon the mountains as also in the groves and under the green trees they had their altars whereon theyoffered sacrificies unto idols 1King 11.7 Isaiah 65:7 Hosia 4.13 whereof they then also dideat in a part and feasted with their friends Deuteronomy 32:38 Judges 9:27 Psal 106.28 1 Corinthians 8:1,4 &c]neither lifteth up his eyes to the dung –gods of the house of Israel [to wit to give them religious honor because they commonly stand in high places so below vers 15 the contrary is to lift up ones eye unto God who is in heaven Psal 123.1]neither dsileth his neibhours wife [to wit by adultery se the phrase thus fully set down below chap 23.17]neither cometh neer to the separated woman [to wit to know see Genes 20 on verse 4 the separated woman that was to be severed or separated from the carnal copulation of her husband whenshe had monthly course uponthe pain of death see Levit 15.24 and 18 verse 19 ,20 and 20.18 and the annotate.]

7. And appreseth no man [see Exodus 22:21 Levit 19.13 and 25.14]restoreth to the debtor his pledges [see the law concerning this Exod 22 .26,27 Deuteronomy 24:12]spoileth no spoil [that is taketh not from any one that which is his either by open robbery and violence or under a pretence and color of law see the same phrase see the same phrase below chap 22 on verse 29]giveth his bread to the hungry and covereth the naked with clothing [see Deuteronomy 15:7 Isaiah 58:7 Matth 25.35.]

8. Giveth not forth upon usury neither taketh excess of gain [see of these words usury and exortion Levit 25 on verse 36 Exodus 22:25]withdraweth his hand from iniquity excerciseth true judgment between the one and the other [Heb doth right or judgments of the truth between the men towards the man that is judgeth and dealeth rightly between the one and the other which must not only be done by those that are in public office and authority but also by every private man in his private calling.]

9. Walketh in my statutes and keepeth my judgments [compare 1 Kings 11:33 and the annotate] to deal faithfully [Heb to do truth and faithfulness see Prov 12 on vers 22]the righteous man shall surely live [Heb living live that is be saved both in soul and body so below verse 17 ,19,21]saith the Lord LORD .

10. Now if hath begotten a son that is breaker in [see Psal 17 on verse 4]that sheddeth blood that doth unto his brother [that is neibhour see 2Chrons 11 on vers 4]one of these things to wit that are forbidden others that doth unto his brother any other thing but &c to wit of these good deeds that are mentioned immediately before .Or of the statutes and judgments of God wheeof mention is made in the former verse. ]

11. And that doth not all those things [to wit that are commanded others doth none of these things] but also eateth upon the mountains [see above on verse 6] and desileth his neighbours wife .

12. Oppresseth the miserable and needy spoileth much spoil [Heb spoileth spoils that is doth much violence to take away much from his neighbours compare above verse 7 and below verse 18]restoreth not the pledge andlifteth up his eyes to the dung-gods [see above on verse 6] committeth abiminations [by abomination is very often in scriptures meant idolatry see above chap 8.6 and the annotate for which cause also idols are called abominations 2Kings 23.13 and idols abominations above chap 16.63.]

13. Giveth forth upon usury and taketh extortion should he live? he shall not live he hath done all those abiminations he shall surely be put to death [Heb he shall dying be put to death or be put to death with death to wit either here in body by means of men or hereafter in Gods judgments both in body and soul] his blood [Heb blood] shall be upon him [that is he himself is the cause of his own death seeLevit 20 on vers 9.]

14. Now lo if he hath begotten a son that seeth all his father sins that he doth and looketh to it he do not such like ;

15. Eateth not upon the mountains [see above on verse 6] neither lifteth up his eyes the dung-gods of the house of Israel desileth not his neighbour’s wife .

16. And oppresseth no man keepeth not the pledge [Heb pledgeth no pledge to pawn but to keep the pawn ant not to restore it as may be gathered above from the comparing the seventh verse where it is said restoreth unto the debtors his pledge]and spoileth no spoil giveth his bread to the hungry covereth the naked with clothing .

17. With holdeth his hand from the afflicted [understand the hand that doth violence and wrong that is withdraweth his hand from doing violence and wrong to poor which above verse 8 is called to withdraw ones hand from iniquity or wrong] taketh no usury nor extortion and doeth my judgments and walketh in my statutes he shall not die for the iniquity of his father he shall surely live [Heb shall living live.]

18. His father because he oppressed his oppression [that is cruely oppressed to wit with violence or deceit see Prov 14 on vers 31] robbed his brother [that is his neighbour above verse 10]goods ,[Heb his brothers spoil]did that which was not good in the midst of his nations lo he shall die in his iniquity .

19. But ye say why? Doth not the son bear the iniquity of the father ? [ye namely the Jews that use the afore-mentioned proverb above verse 2 accusing Gods falsely that he punisheth the children for their fathers offences ye I say answer me thus why ? &c thus the prophet here preventeth that which the wicked Jews answered upon his former doctrine why? &c these are the words of the Jews as if they had said why doest thou say that to wit that the sonn doth not bear the iniquity of his father seeingthe contrary appeareth in us who are punished with war for our fathers sake ?iniquity is here taken for the punishment of iniquity so in the sequel see Levit 5 on verse 1 Heb doth not the son bear in or the iniquity &c and so in the sequel]indeed the son that hath done judgment and righteousness and hath kept all my statutes and done them he shall surely live [this is a further reply which God giveth by his Prophet unto the Jews shewing that the godly man is not punished for the wicked mans sake but that the wicked beareth his own punishment as followeth in the next verse .]

20. The soul that sinneth the same shall die [see above on verse 4] the son shall not bear the iniquity of the father [understand this of such a son as doth not follow the iniquity of his father otherwise the threatenings which we read Exodus 20:5 & Deuteronomy 5:15 remain firm and stedfast]neither shall the father bear the iniquity of the son the righteousness of the righteousness shall be upon him [that is the gracious recempence of righteousness and of good works shall be betide him concerning the word righteousness compare Genes 30.33 and the annotate likewise see Psal 24.5 and 85.14 and 112 .9 Isaiah 58:8]and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon him [that is the just punishment which the wicked deserveth shall come upon him see above verse 19 on the word iniquity .]

21. But when the wicked turneth from all his sins he hath committed and keepeth all my statutes and doth judgment and justice [see above on verse 5] he shall surely live [Heb living live] he shall not die .

22. All his transgression that he hath commiteth shall not be remembered [that is non of his transgression shall be remembered see of this phrase 1 Kings 11 on verse 34]unto hi [or against him see Psal 79 on verse 8 the meaning is that the transgression shall not move the Lord to punish him it is spoken of God after the manner of man so Isaiah 64:9 Jerem 14 .10 Hebrews 10:17 compare above chap 3 on verse 20]in his righteousness that he hath done he shall live [not that his righteousness deserveth its own worth or value but because of God of his free grace for his sons and is pleased for to reward it Romans 4:4.]

23. should I have any delight at all [Heb delighting delight]in the death of the wicked ?saith the Lord LORD [this question implieth a strong negation the meaning is that he no ways delighteth nor is moved by any delight to slay the wicked for through he hath decreed to punish the impenitent yet his end is not properly is not the destruction of his creature but the revelation or manifestation of his justice Romans 9:17 secondly here the speech is properly of the death of the wicked that repenteth and not for those that never repent as te precedent and subsequent words do shew as if God should say you think that I take such delight in destroying and killing and destroying as I even not spare the wicked that repeneth nor accept his repentance but that is blasphemy and is far from me] is it not [to wit that I have pleasure and delight in this ?] when he returneth from his ways [to wit wicked ways that is wicked life which is called a wicked way 1 Kings 13:33 2 Kings 17:13 Jona 3.10 &c]that he may live ? That is may escape my judgments and be saved? this question implieth a strong affirmation that the repentance and conversion of the wicked is so pleasing unto God as that he that is converted shall surely live and that he hath no desire or delight at all to slay the wicked person that is converted compare below verse 32 and chap 33 .11 others do I not elight therein tat he should return &c Ezekiel 33:11 the Hebrew words are placed some what otherwise then.]

24. But when the righteous man turneth away from his righteousness [see above chap 3 on verse 20] and committeth iniquity doing according to all the abominations that the wicked man doth should he live? All his righteousness that he hath done shall not be remembered [that is shall not move God to reward them and to free him from punishment see above chap 3 on verse 20 compare Acts 10:4]in his transgression whereby he hath transgressed and in his sin that he hath sinned them shall he die .

25. Yet ye [namely ye rebellious Jews]say the way of the Lord [that is the manner of acting or the coarse that God taketh in governing of man see of the word way so used Deut 32on verse 4 and Psalms 25 .12 also compare 6.6] is not right [that is not sitted and squared to the rule of justice others not made straight or even weighed right implying that God kept no equality between the punishments and the sins and that he punished one man more grievously then he did another and that he pardoned one mans sins and did not pardon another mans sins &c these were horrible blasphemies]hear now O house of Israel is not my way right ?are not your ways wrong ?[that is not as they ought to be nor rightly weighed in the balance of justice.]

26. When the righteous man turneth away from his righteousness and committeth iniquity and dieth in them [to wit his wicked ways whereof mention is made in the former verse] he shall did in his iniquity that he hath done.

27. but when the wicked man turneth away from his wickedness that he hath committeth and doth judgment and justice he shall save his soul alive [that is he shall save himself alive to wit by faithful persevering in the way that dealeth unto life for it is the will of God that those to whom he for Christ sake graciously promiseth the crown of righteousness should come to it by the ways of righteousness Ephes 1.4 and 2.10 Titus 2:11, 12, 13, 14.]

28. Because he taketh heed [that is careful that he do not continue in his sins which he is sensible of the confesseth see the like signification of the word heeding or considering 1 Kings 12:16 and above in this chapter verse 14] and turneth away from all his transgressions that he hath committeth that he shall surely live he shall not die.

29. Yet saith the house of Israel the way of the Lord is no right equal [see above on verse 25]should not my ways O house of Israel be right ?are not your ways wrong ?

30. Therefore I will judge you O house of Israel everyone according to his ways [of the word ways see Genes 6 on verse 12] saith the Lord LORD return and repent all your transgressions so iniquity shall not be stumbling block unto you [that is an occasion of your ruine and destruction compare above chap 7 .19 and the annotate.]

31. Cast away from you all your transgression whereby you have transgressed [this commandment and that which followeth shew that we are bound to do and not we of our selves are able to do but ought to pray that we may be able to do it by his grace that commandeth it Psalms 51:12 Jeremiah 31:18 Job 15:5] and make you a new heart and a new spirit [compare Ephes 4.23 Jerem 32.39 and above chap 11.19 below chap 36.26] for why should ye die O house of Israel?

32. For I have no delight in the death of him that dieth [that is I have no delight that any man should die and perish in the impenitency but that he being converted should live compare above verse 23] saith the Lord LORD therefore turn yourselves and lives [this commandment containeth itself a strong promise that they shall surely live that do so sincerely and from the heart turn unto God see Psalms 37 .3 and Proverbs 3 on verse 25.]