Ezekiel 28
DortA prophecy of the destruction of the King of Tyrus, for his pride, insolency, verse 1,2,c. A prophetical lamentation for him, by comparing his former glory with his future ruine, 11. A prophecy against Zidon; 21 with a promise of the restauration of the church, 25.
1. Moreover, the word of the Lord came unto me saying:
2. Child of man, say unto the prince of Tyrus, [Meaning the King of Tyrus as above verse 12, and see 2 Samuel 6:21 and 2 Kings 20:5.] Thus saith the Lord LORD; because thy heart lifteth up it self and saith, [or, thou sadist, or, sayest; to with, with thy self; that is thinkest, perfwadest thy self] I am God, [Attribution to thy self the wisdom, power, majesty which belongeth to the onely true God] as I sit in God’s seat, [as in such a kingdom, where no enemy can annoy me, nor any glory is lacking unto me] in the heart of the seas: [see above chapter 27.4. so verse 8] whereas thou art a man, and not a God, yet thou settlest thine heart as the heart of God. [thou comparest thy self in wisdom, &c. with God
3. Behold, thou art wiser than Daniel: [Meaning in thine own conceit; and so the sequel: or it is spoken ironically. It seemeth that there was such a proverb used in Babel, (where Ezekiel prophesied) taken fron Daniel’s wisdom, which was famous there. See Daniel 1:17, &c.] They have hid [Or, darkened] no closed thing from thee. [Or, men have hid no closed thing, &c. or, or no closed thing hath been, &c.]
4. By thy wisdom, and by thine understanding thou hast gotten [Heb. Made. So in the sequel] for thee wealth; yea thou hast gotten gold and silver into thy treasures. [or, treasures.]
5. By the greatness of thy wisdom in thy traffickast thou increased thy wealth: and thy heart lifteth up itself because of thy wealth.
6. Therefore thus saith the Lord LORD, because thou hast set thine heart as the heart of God;
7. Therfore behold, I will bring strangers [The Babylonians, above chapter 26.7 and below chapter 29.20.] upon thee, the most tyrannical [or, most terrible, most horrible, most cruel. So below chapter 30.11. and 31.12. and 32.12] of the heathen they shall draw out their swords [Heb. Empty their swords: because the sheath is empty when the sword is drawn out. So below chapter 30.11.] Against the beauty of thy wisdom, [that is, thy flourishing kingdom and state, the glory whereof thou ascribest unto thy wisdom: or, against thee, the esteemeth thy self to be so beautiful and wise] and shall profane thy brughtness. [that is, defile it, deal with it as a profane and filthy thing, by killing thee and casting thee into the pit, as followeth. So verse 16. see above chapter 7 on verse 21.]
8. They shall cause thee to go down to the pit: and thou shalt die the death [Heb. In the plural number deaths or killings as Isaiah, as Isaiah 53:9.] of one that is slain in the heart of the seas. [As above verse 2. The meaning is, they shall put thee to a violent death, even in thine own city, which is compassed about with waters, wherein thou trustest]
9. Wilt thou (then) in any wise say [Heb, saying say] before the face of thy slayer, [when thou shalt indeed find thine own impotency and weakness, being in the power of thine enemy] I am God whereas thou art a man, and not a God, in the hand of him that slayeth thee.
10. Thou shalt die the death of the uncircumcised, [Heb, deaths (in plural number, as verse 8.) of the uncircumcised; that is, thou shalt die as wicked, profane men, and such as are hated and despised of God, that are none of his people, die. See 1 Samuel 17:26. Judges 15:18. also below chap.31.18 and 32.19,21,25,27,&c. some conjecture that this may have respect to the ordinance of God’s people, that had a command to cut off from among them those that would not be circumcised, Genes. 17.14.] by the hand of strangers; for I have spoken at, saith the Lord LORD.
11. Moreover, the word of the LORD came unto me, saying:
12. Child of man, take up a lamentation upon the king of Tyrus, and say unto him; [Or, concerning him] thus saith the Lord LORD; thou sealer up of the summe, [that is, of that which is told or weighed: that is, (as some conceive) that hath the supreme command over all the great traffick of Tyrus; or, (as others) that art the measure, pattern, image, or, picture of an absolute flourishing slate: or, without any defect, where nothing at all is wanting, as a summe that is well told and sealed up] full of widsome and perfect in beauty:
13. Thou wast in Eden, the garden of God; [Didst dwell and keep court in all exceeding pleasant places, as in a garden of pleasure, or paradise. See Genes. 2.8 and 13.10. and below chapter 31.8,9 and 36.35.] Every [or, all kind of] precious stone was thy covering, [that is, thy garment were so adorned therewith, as if thou clothed with mere precious stones] Sarduis stones or Rubies. In the Hebrew all these stones are mentioned in the singular number. See further, Exod. 28 on verse 17.] Topazes, and Diamonds, [or, Carbuncles] Torroise, Sardoux-stones, [see Gen. 2. on ver. 12.] and Jasper-stones, Saphirs, Rubies, [or carbuncles] Emeraulds, and gold: the work of thy tabrets and of thy pipes was thee; in the dry when thou wast created [that is, born, and by the power, goodness, and wisdom of God cameth first into the world out of thy mothers womb. Compare Genes. 1 on verse 1 and verse 15. and above chapter 21. 30.] Were they prepared? [From thy very infancy hast thou lived in all kind of jollity aud wantonness; all manner of pleasure and dainties hath been tendered to thee, for which purpose the voice of the tabret & pipe served.]
14. Thou wast an anointed covering Cherub: [For that which was in the Tabernacle was anointed with the holy oyl, Exodus 30:26,&c. the Cherub covered the ark with wings, Exodus 25:20. of the word Cherub see Genes. 3 on verse 24. The meaning is, thou wast to be compared for outward costliness and glory, with that which was most precious and glorious upon mount Zion in the Temple, namely the golden Cherubims, and the priestly garments. This surteth fitly with this whole verse. Others apply it to the Cherubims that fence Paradise; (because in the former verse is spoken of Eda, and the garden of God) with whom this king, as anointed (that is, ordained, and sit (as followeth) to be a defender of his kingdome) is compared] and I had set [Or, made] thee (so) [that is, I had endued thee with such glory] thou wast upon the holy mountain of God, [Heb. Upon the mountain of the holiness of God: that is, as, or like &c. meaning Zion] thou walketh in the midst of fiery stones. [Heb. Stones of fire. That is, everywhere where thou didst go up and down in thy palace, it did shine with glittering precious stones: or thou didst walk in garments that were trimmed and adorned therewith, and did cast as it were beams of fire from them: as the high priest shined with the stones that were in the priest breast-plate, Exodus 28:15,&c.]
15. Thou wast perfect in thy wayes, [That is, being, purpose, and action. See Genes. 6. on verse 12. that is, nothing is lacking unto thee in regard of pomp and magnificence] from the day that thou wast created, [As above verse 13.] till iniquity [others, great iniquity: to express, that the Hebrew word which signifieth iniquity, perversness, vice, &c. hath one letter more then ordinary. Compare Psalms 3 on verse 3.] was found in thee. [That is, plainly appeared, and was discovered, and thou wast taken and apprehended n the very act. Compare Psalms 36:3. Jeremiah 2:20, &c. with the Annotat.]
16. By the multitude [or greatness] of thy merchandise they [To wit, those that traded with thee] have filled the midst of thy city] with violence, [So as that thou art bent and inclined to all manner of oppression: or, so as that thou hast gathered great treasures gotten by violence: others, they are (in) the midst of thee full of, c.] and thou hast sinned: therefore I will profane thee [cast thee away as unclean and profane. Compare verse 7.] from the mountain of God, [That is, contemptibly reject thee from thy glory, whereby thou wat to be compared with my mountain, above verse 14.] and will destroy thee, thou covering Cherub, [As above verse 14.] from the midst of the fiery stones. [So that thou shalt be stripped of all thy pride. See verse 14.]
17. Thine heart lifteth up it self because of thy beauty; thou hast corrupted thy wisdom, by reason of thy brightness: [Thine excellency and glory hath caused thy wisdom to perish, and hath besotted thee] I have cast thee upon the ground, [that is, I will surely do it: it is spoken in a prophetical way, and so in the sequel] I will set thee before the face of kings, that they may look upon thee. [That is, for a gazing-stock or spectacle of my righteous and wonderful judgement upon thee, at whose pomp and riches every one formerly wondered, as is declared n the sequel]
18. Because of the multitude of thine iniquities, by the injustice of thy traffick, hast thou profane thy sanctuary; [That is, thy palace, and thy royal throne (which ought to be consecrated unto God and which thou compareth with the habitation and throne of God, verse 2) hast thou made unholy, vile and profane] therefore have I caused a fire [to wit, the fire of mne anger, occasioned thee and thine; or, plague and miseris. See Job 22:20. and above chapter 27.27. and below chapter 30.8.] to come forth from the midst of thee, the same hath consumed thee, and I have made thee to ashes [that is, I will bring thee to the uttermost nullity and destruction. See Job 6:15,&c.] upon the earth, before the eyes of all them that behold thee.
19. All that know thee among the nations were astonished at thee: thou art become a great terrour, [As above chp. 27.36.] and shalt be (no more) shalt not (be any more) for ever.
20. Furthermore, the word of the Lord came unto me saying:
21. Child of man, set thy face against Zidon: [see above chapter 6 on verse 2. Zidon lay also by the midland-sea, or the sea of Phoenicia, northward off Tyrus. See Genesis 10 on verse 15.] and prophesie against;
22. And say, thus saith the Lord LORD; behold, I (will be) upon thee, [see above chapter 13.8. and Jeremiah 21 on verse 13.] O Zidon, and will be glorified] by my judgements and punishments (as followeth) gie occasion of being honoured and extolled] in the midst of thee: they shall know that I am the LORD, when I shall have exercised [Heb. Done. So verse 20. and below chapter 30.19, &c. see above chapter 5. on verse 8. judgements in her [in Zidon] and shall be hallowed in her. [shall have manifested my justice, holiness and power among them. So verse 25. and c. 36.23. and 38.16.]
23. For I will send the pestilence into her, and bloud into her streets, and the slain shall fall [Others, be judged] in the midst of her, by the sword (that) shall be against her round about, and they shall know that I am the Lord.
24. And the house of Israel shall have no more paining [Or, pricking] thorn, or grieving thistle, of all that are round about them, [or, from all places that are round about them] that rob them: [or, despise them. Se verse 26. compare above chapter 16.37. That is, the enemies round about shall no more vex and annoy them] and they shall know that I am the Lord LORD.
25. Thus saith the Lord LORD, when I shall have gathered the house of Israel the nations among whom they are scattered, and I shall be hallowed among them [As verse 22.] before the eyes of the heathen: then shall they dwell in their land that I have given to my servant, unto Jacob.
26. And they shall dwell safely therein, and build houses and plant vineyards; yea they shall dwell safely when I shall have exercised judgments against all that have spoiled them, of those that are round about them, and they shall know that I am the lord am their God. [This prophecy (contained in these last two verses) may in a sort be applied to the deliverance from Babel, but the accomplishment thereof belongeth to the spiritual kingdom of the Messiah: and is set down (as elsewhere often) according to the style of the Old Testament. Compare Jerem. 32.37,38,39,c.]