Ezekiel 3
DortThe prophet eateth up that roll at the command of God vers 1 c who again chargethinstructeth and strengtheneth him against the peoples obstinacy :4 sheweth him again his glory and instructeth him concerning the office of a faithful prophet and the usefulness thereof 12 The glory of the Lord is shewed unto him again22God butteth and openeth the prophets mouth 25 c
1. After that he said unto me child of man eat that thou shalt find :[see chap 2 on vers 8 that is eat that is which is here present to wit this rolled letter as the following words express see the same phrase Genesis 19:15.2 King 19.4 Jeremiah 10:15,16]eat this roll [see above chap 2 on vers 9] and go speak unto the house of Israel [see above chap 2 on vers 3]
2. Then I open my mouth and he gave me that roll to eat.
3. And he said unto me child of man give the belly to eat and fill thy bowel with this roll that I give thee then did I eat it was in my mouth like honey by reason of sweetness [hereby he doth intimate that the revelations of God were pleasant and delightful unto him for though the contents thereof grieved him yet he assented altogether to the end and scope thereof which was to declare the justice of God in the punishing of fins compare Jerem 15.16 Revelation 10:9.]
4. And he said unto me child of man go thy waies go to the house of Israel and speak unto them with my words
5. For thou art not sent unto a people deep of speech [Heb deep of lips that is of a dark unknown and strange speech for that which is deep is also dark and that which is dark is not well known so Isa 33.19and here in the next vers]and heavy of tongue [that is language understand again a language that is strange outlandish and unknown and unknown for that folleth heavy to him that is not versed in it Exodus 4:10 Moses calleth himself heavy of tongues because he was not eloquent]but to the house of Israel
6. Not to many nations deep of speech ,and heavy of tongue whose words thou canst understand :[Heb hear see Gen 11 on vers 7] if I had sent thee unto them would they not have hearkened unto thee?[that that is they would not been so incredulous ,obstinate and unthankful as the Isaelites are at this day as the same also appeared by the repentance of the Ninevites at the preaching of Jonas compare Matthew 11:21,23.Others if it were not for to wit that thou dost not understand their language nor they thine I had sent thee unto them and they had hearkened unto thee]
7. But the house of Israel will not hearken unto thee because they will not hearken unto me for all the house of Israel [Meaning except true believers and elect such as were Jeremias ,Baruch ,Daniel and his companion and many others]is stiff of forehead ;[that is impudent so above chap 2.4 hard of face] and they are hard of heart [so above chap 2.4stiff or hardened of heart compare Exod 4.on vers 21 also Prov 28on vers 14.]
8. Behold I have made thy face stiff[understand a stiffness proceeding not from a forward nature which consisteth of a hard cruel heart and discovereth itself in a bold impudent face but from the spirit of Christ consisting of a strong faith and confidence in Gods gracious helpjoyned with activity in working and courageousness in the outward countenance] against tyheir faces and thy forehead stiff against thy forehead.
9. I have made thy forehead as a diamond [see of the Hebrew word Schannar which many render an Admant or Diamond ,Jerem 17on vers 1]harder than a rock fear them not neither be dismared at their looks because they are a rebellious house [The Lord giveth a reason why he had furnished his prophet with strength that might not fear to wit because he had to deal with an willful and obstinate people which were to be dealt withal with an undaunted boldness and courage others although they are a rebellious house .So the reason should be expressed why the prophet might find himself to be dismaied Heb an house of rebellion so in the sequel .]
10. Moreover he said unto me child of man receive in thine heart all my words that I shall speak unto thee and hear them with thine ears
11. And go thine waies and come to them that are carried away ,[Heb transportation or carrying away see above chap 1 on vers1]to the children of thy people[that is to thy people and thy nation namely the Jews that were carried away captive compare Genes 23.11 2chron 25.5.c God calleth not the Israelites his people because they were rebellious against him but Ezekiels people that is those that were of his nation compare Exodus 32:7]and speak unto them and say unto them ,Thus saith the Lord LORD :whether they will hear or whether they will forbear [see above chap 2on vrse 5 .]
12. Then the spirit [see above chap 2 on vers 2] took me up and l heard behind me a voice of a great rushing [to witmade by the beasts or the Angels or the Cherubims see the next vers] said praise be the glory of be the Lord [compare Isa 6.3Luke 2.13,14. Revel 4.8 of the Lord that fate upon the throne .see above chap1.26 .The meaning is that his glory should not be diminished by the destruction Jerusalem and of the temple but rather be the more exalted by the demonstrations of his justice against the backsliding Jews] out of his place. [To wit removing and departing .Understand by this place Jerusalem and especially the temple which God has chosen for his habitation as a token of his presence among that people 1 Kings8.13. 2Chron 6.2 Psal 132.13,14 this place will forsake for a while Hosea 5:15 Mich 1.3.]
13. And I heard [this word is here inserted from the former vers]the found [Heb voice so in the sequel]of the wings of beasts [this was a token that the holy Angels with a glorious sound of applause reverenced and magnified the jugdements of the supreme judge]that touched [Heb kissed that is hit or touched]one another [Heb the woman her sister that is the one the other see above chap 1 on ers 9]and the sound of the wheels over against them [to wit the beastor the wings of the beasts]and the sound of great rushing .[Hereby was intimated that the ruine of the Jews should come suddenly and should also be very terrible]
14. Then the spirit [to wit the holy Ghost see above chap 1 on vers 12 and chap 2 on vers 2]lifted me up and took me away ,[to wit from the place wherein he saw the vision to the habitation of the captives .With the sight of his spirit it may be there was also transporting of his body]and I went utterly grieved [Heb that is was inwardly sore grieved see 2Kings 4 on vers 27]by the heat of my spirit ;[that is by the hot disquiet ness and heaviness of my mind of my mind occasioned in me because I was called to his prophetical ministry and was to preach such terrible things Ezekiel confessed his own weakness .see like examples of infirmity in Moses Exodus 3:11 c and 4.1,10 in Jerem 1.6 of my spirit meaning the prophets own will inclination and motion which is opposed to the power of the holy Ghost see 2 Kings 19 on vers 7]but the hand of the LORD was strong upon me [Meaning the power of the Lord which conquered the opposition of Ezekiels weak nature others understand the spirit of prophecy as above chap 1.3 see the annotate .]
15. And l came to the carried away [Heb to the carrying away or transportation see above chap 1 on vers 1]at Tel-abib the word signifieth an heap of green ears of corn compare Exodus 9:31 Leviticus 2:14 that is of new fruit but Tel-abib is here taken for a country so called lying in Mesopotamia about the river Euphrates see Ezra on vers 59 ]that dwelt by the river Chebar ,[see above chap 1 on vers 1]and I stayed where they dwelt :[Others and by Haescher where they dwelt .Thus Haescher is the name of another river called the Geographers Saocora between which and the river Chebar the country of Tel-abib lay]yea I stayed [the Hebrew word signifieth oftentimes not only to dwell but also to stay or tany. see 2Chron 32 on vers 10[there astonished [to wit at the terrible judgements of God that should fall upon the Israelites and which l was to denounce] in the mist of them among them seven dates [He fate so long still without revealing anything either because being amazed he knew not how to begin his ministry or because he was afraid to undertake it or because he expected further and fuller charges from God
16. Now it came to pass at the end of seven daies that the word of the Lord came unto me saying:
17. Child of man , l have made thee a watchman over the house of Israel[ the prophets and other ministers of the word of God are called watchman because they are appointed by God to give warning to his people to avoid dangers that mayarise either from false docoine or scandalous conversation see Isaiah 21:11&52.8,56&10.11 Jerem6.17 below c 32 .2 Acts 20:28 ,29 it’s a comparison taken from watchmen that are set upon high towers or other places to give notice to the habitants of the place of the enemies coming or of any other danger near hand that they maybe in readiness and upon their guard to opposite it see 1 Sam14.16 2 Sam 13.34 and 18.24 2 Kings 9:17 therefore thou shalt hear the word at my mouth and give them warning [see of the word to give them warning Psal 19 on vers 120]in my name [Heb from or by me that is my name by my command or appointment or by charge warrant and authority from me .]
18. When I say unto the wicked thou shalt die the death ,[Heb dying thou shalt die compare Genes2.17and 3.4 with the annotate and thou givest him not warning and speakest to warn the wicked from his wicked way ,[see Prov 2 on vers 12 .]that thou mast save him alive :[to wit not as God the only workman by his own power ,but as his instrument by the administring of his word ,which is called the power of God ,1 Co.1.18,see 1 Cor .3.5,6,7,8,9.Thus the ministers of God are said to make many righteous Dan12.3. be fishers of men Matth .4.19 to be the light and salvation of Gentiles Acts 13 .47 to open the eyes of man that they might turn from darkness to light see Acts 26:18 to save themselves and those that hear them 1 Timothy 4:16 to save the soul from death and to cover a multitude of fins James 5:20 c compare Jerem 1 on vers 10] that wicked man shall die in his iniquity compare Leviticus 15:3 below vers 19,20 and chap18.25] but his blood will I require at thine hand [see Gen 42 on vers22 .]
19. Yet when thou warnest the wicked and he turneth not from his wickedness nor from his wicked way he shall die from his iniquity; but thou hast delivered thy soul .[to wit from my vengeance and punishment which otherwise would have come upon thee so below vers 21]
20. Also when a righteous man [to wit in shew and outwards appearance before men not indeed and in truth before God .So is the word righteous taken Proverbs 18:17 below chap 18.24,26 and 33 .13 .Matth 9.13 Luke 18:9 ,14 so faith for seeming or hypocritical faith Luke 8:13 Acts 8:13 and love for seeming or hypocritical love 1Job 3.18 and children of kingdom for to see that seemed to be such Matth 8.12] turneth away from his righteousness ,[that is shew of righteousness to wit which had an outward luster or appearance of righteousness but not the inward hidden root .So below chap 18 24 ,26 and 33 .13 Matth 5.20] and commiteth iniquity and I lay a stumbling block before his face [God is said to do this not properly by moving and by putting a man into fins ,but by leaving him in the way of his iniquity ,yea by giving him up to his way own wicked free-will and by suffering occasions to be offered unto him where bringeth himself into destruction .Others ,then I will lay a stumbling block before his face that is punish him for his fins he shall die as followeth] he shall die because thou hast not given him warning ,he shall die in his fins, that is for his fin ,see above on vers 18 ]and his righteousness which he hath done shall not be remembered [that is shall not be esteemed nor move God to spare him from punishing so below chap 18.24 and 33.13]but his blood will I require at thine hand .
21. But when thou warnest the righteous man that the righteous fin not and he doth not fin ,[understand this of the reigning fin and whereof a man doth not truly repent 1Job 3.6,9 for even the truly righteous themselves for even the truly righteous themselves do also fin but do repent of it ,Eccles7.20 Job8.7.1 Job 1:8]he shall surely live ,[Heb living live so below chap 18.28]because he is warned ,[to wit actually ,really ,effectually ,powerfully and withal counting himself t be warned ,accepting the warning or suffering himself to be warning obtaining by the grace of God the true fruit of the warning whereby he escaped the danger and is saved]and thou hast delivered thy soul.
22. And the hand of the lord was [Or came see above chap1 on vers 3]there [to wit at Tel-abib see thereof above on vers 15] upon me he said unto me Get thee up go forth into the valley [the Hebrew word signifieth a low field that lieth between mountains and seemeth to be divided from them see also below chap 8 .4]and I willl there talk with thee.
23. And I gat me up and went forth into th valley ,and behold the glory of the Lord [see above chap 1 on vers 28b stood there as the glory which l had seen by the river Chebar and I fell on my face [see above chap 1 on vers 28]
24. Then the spirit entered into me [see above chap 2 on vers 2] and set me upon my feet and be [to wit the spirit of God .Other apply it to the word Lord the former vers]sparks with me and he said unto me go shat thy self within in thine house [Heb in the midst of thine house]
25. For as for thee child of man behold they [They Jews that were carried away captive that were dwelt in the Tel-Abib by the river Chebar see above on vers 15] would lay thick cords upon thee [to wit if thou shouldst go forth unto them .Others they shall c Heb they have given that is laid thick cords upon thee : but that the preterperfect tense according to the prophetical manner of speaking must here be taken for the future maybe gathered from the word following that suit with the future tense]and they bind thee therewith :[to wit to hinder thee that thou mightest no more prophesie against them and hose of Jerusalem .Some understand understand this is a parabolical way of the willful obstinancy of the Jews that should make the prophet s prophesies fruitless yea cause them to cease]thou for thou shalt not go out into the midst of them :[Among them as above vers 15]
26. And I will make thy tongue cleave to the roof of thy mouth that thy shalt be dumb [this may be understood either of corporal dumbness or of inability and dejection of spirit which God brought up on his prophet because the Jews were unworthy of his fermous some understand it as if the Lord should have said I will reveal nothing unto thee at that time] and shalt not be them a reproving man [the Lord signifieth hereby that he will not restrain the obstinacy of the Jews but suffer it for a while for their greater punishment] for thy are a rebellious house see above chap 2 on vers 5 Heb an house of rebellion so in the sequel ]
27. But when I shall speak with thee I will open thy mouth [that is by my spirit and by power give the ability again to excuse thy prophetical office] and thy shalt say unto them that saith the Lord he that heareth let him hear and he that forheareth let him forhear ;[compare above chap 2 on vers 5,7] for they are a rebellious house .