Ezekiel 34

A prophesy against the wicked shepherds of God’s people, verse 1,2, c. God promiseth that he will seek out his sheep himself, deliver them and feed them aright, and put a difference between sheep and sheep, rams and goats, 10. For which end he will rise up and send their chief shepherd and prince of the church, Jesus Christ, under whose government his sheep shall be blessed and happy, 23.

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

2. Child of man, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel: prophesy and say unto them, unto the shepherds; [the Ecclesiastical and political governours of my people. Compare this ensuing prophesy with Jeremiah chapter 23] thus saith the Lord LORD; Wo unto the shepherds of Israel that feed themselves should not the shepherd feed the sheep? [Ought they not (being contented with a convenient maintenance) principal to mind their own flock? As if God should say, surely they ought wholly so to do]

3. To eat the fat, [as from the sheep they cometh milk, butter, cheese, &c. compare Zach 11, 16] and clothe you with the wooll, ye kill [see of the Hebrew word Gen. 31 on verse 54. The fatted (cattel), (but) ye feed not the sheep.

4. Ye strengthen not the weak, [Meaning sheep and so in the sequel] neither do you heal that which is sick neither do ye bind up that which was broken, neither do ye bring again that which was driven away, neither do ye seek that which was lost: [Heb. decaying, perishing; that is, that which wandreth, goeth astray and is the danger of perishing. Compare Deut. 26 on verse 5.] But ye rule over them with severity and with hardness and cruelty. Compare 1 Peter 5:3 also Exodus 1:13,14 and below 27. Jeremiah 22:13, c.]

5. So they are scattered because there is no shepherd: to feed them, and to provide for them a right: neither spiritual shepherd to feed them with found and wholesome doctrines; no corporal shepherd, to feed them with their fatherly and kind government: but all was clean contrary: whereby the people became utterly corrupt in faith and life, and so incurred God’s fore displeasure, and consequently were mostly pitifully plagued with all kind of miseries: for all which the wicked shepherds were most of all guilty, as followeth] and they are become meat to all the wild beasts of the field, seeing they were scattered.

6. My sheep wonder upon all the mountains; and upon every high hill: yea my sheep are scattered upon the whole earth; [Or into all the land] and there is none that careth for them or any that seeketh them.

7. Therefore ye shepherds hear the word of the LORD:

8. (As true as) I live, saith the Lord LORD: if (i) not! [This is a special abrupt kind of speech, very usual in oaths, (as elsewhere often) which must be supplied from verse 10. As if the Lord should say: if I don’t punish them! If do not set my self against them! , c. see Numb 14 on verse 13 the same is likewise very usual in our own language (and in other languages also) both among good and bad men: if I do this o that: if I do this or that, c. then let me, c. Compare also Genes. 14 on verse 23, c.] Because my sheep have become a prey and my sheep are become meat to all wild beasts of the field, because there is no shepherd; and my shepherds care not for my sheep: and the shepherds feed themselves, but they feed not my sheep:

9. Therefore you shepherds hear the word of the Lord:

10. Thus saith the Lord LORD; behold, I (will be) upon the shepherds, [see of this phrase above chapter 13.8] and will require my sheep at their hand, [as above chapter 33.18. see Genesis 42 on verse 22] and will cause them to cease from feeding the sheep. [That is, I will depose them from their office, because they have the bear name of shepherds, but are not such indeed and in truth] so that the shepherds shall no more feed themselves: and I will pluck my sheep out of their mouth so that they shall not be (any more) meat unto them.

11. For thus saith the Lord LORD, behold I, yea, I will care for my sheep, and I will seek out.

12. As a shepherd seeketh out his flock [Heb. according to the seeking of a shepherd, as elsewhere] in the day when he is in the midst of his dispersed sheep; [all such time as the flock is pitifully scattered, and he cometh to visit, and to see what is wanting, and they might be, to bring them again together] so will I seek out my sheep: and I will deliver them out of all places whither they are scattered in the day of the cloud and of darkness [that is, in the time of grievous miseries, wherewith I have visited them justly. Compare Joel 2:2. With the Annotat.]

13. And I will bring them out to the people, and I will gather them from the land, bring them into their (own) land: [Corporally, from Babel, c into the land of Canaan, and spiritually, to my church by the Messiah, c] and I will feed them upon the mountain of Israel, by the streams, and in all the inhabitable places of the land.

14. I will feed them upon a good pasture, and upon the high mountains of Israel [Heb. upon the mountains of the height of Israel] shall their fold be; there shalt they lie down in a good fold, and shall feed (in) a fat pasture upon the mountain of Israel.

15. I will feed my sheep, and I will cause them to lie down, saith the Lord LORD.

16. I will seek that which was lost, and I will bring again that was driven away, and I will bind up that which was broken, and I will strengthen that which was sick, but I will destroy the fat and strong: [That is, those that by their riches and strength are grown luxurious and wanton, rebelling against me, (as Duet. 32.15.) and oppressing their brethren. Compare the phrase with Psalms 22:30. Isaiah 5:17. and 10.16. Amos 4:1. With the Annotat, c] I will feed them with judgement. [Or I will feed them aright, discreetly. Compare Jeremiah 10 on verse 24]

17. For ye, O my shepherds saith the Lord LORD: behold I will judge between small cattel and small cattel, [Meaning of sheep or goats. See Numbers 15:11. Deuteronomy 14:4 and 17.1, c.] between the rams and the he-goats. [the meaning is, I will distinguish true believers’ from hypocrites that are in my church, and I will deliver them from my power and violence of false brethren. So below verse 22. Compare above chapter 20.37,38. Matthew 25:32, c.]

18. Is it too little for you that you eat up the good pasture? Will ye besides tread down with your feet the residue of your pastures? And I will ye drink the waters that are sunk, [Heb. the sinning, or that which is sunk of the waters, that is, the clear waters, whose mud is settled and sunk down to the bottom. Compare above chapter 32.14.] and soul the residue with your feet? [When ye have drunk enough pure and clear water your selves, when to soul the rest for others? As if the Lord should say, it’s a thing intolerable that ye enjoying and blessing in such great plenty as ye do, yet are not contented therewith, but ye must needs also spoil and wast that little reminder that should be for your poor and weak brethren.

19. My sheep then shall they eat that which is trodden down with your feet and drink that which is souled with your feet? [It is spoken with detestation of the injustice of the thing. [Heb. the treading down of your feet, also the fouling of your feet]

20. Therefore thus saith the Lord LORD unto [Or of] them: behold I, yea I will judge between the fat small cattel and between the lean small cattel. [See above verse 17]

21. Because ye thrust [Heb. push] with the side and with the shoulder and push with the horns all the weak ones, till ye have scattered them abroad: [that is, hurting them by pushing and crushing the, so that they are not able to subsist near you]

22. Therefore I will deliver my sheep that they shall be no more a prey: and I will judge between small cattel and small cattel.

23. And I will raise up one onely shepherd over them, and he shall fees them, (namely) my servant David. [The Messiah, the Lord Jesus Christ, the son of David according the flesh, and the father’s servant according to his office of Mediatourship. See Isaiah 42 on verse 1 and further, 2 Samuel 22 on verse 51. Jeremiah 23. On verse 5 and 30.9 and compare Isaiah 40:11 below chapter 37.24. Job 10:11, c. Hebrews 13:20. 1 Peter 2:25 and 5.4] he shall feed them, and he shall be a shepherd unto them.

24. And I the LORD will be a God unto them; [That is, their Saviour. See Genesis 17 on verse 7. Leviticus 18 on verse 2 and that by his son, whom he hath given unto us to be our priest, prophet and king] and my servant David shall be a prince [Compare Joshua 5:14,15. Isaiah 9:5. Acts 5:31.] in the midst of them: [Compare Matthew 18:20 and 28.20. Revelations 1.13.] I the LORD have spoken it.

25. And I will make the covenant of peace with them, [see Jeremiah 31:31. see also Genseis 37 on verse 14 and Judges 6 on verse 24 and compare Isaiah 11:6,9 and 35.9 below chapter 37.26. Hosea 2:18.] And will cause the evil beasts to cease out of the land: and they shall dwell safely [Heb. in safety or confidence, as verse 27, 28 and elsewhere often] in the wilderness, and sleep in the woods.

26. For I will make them, [To wit, the wilderness and woods wherein my sheep lie down, unto which the foregoing and the following words seem to have respect. Or them, wit, my sheep] and the places round about mine hill, a blessing: [that is, so abundantly grace them with my divine blessing, that they shall be as it were a pure blessing, and a pattern thereof. Compare Genesis 12:4 with the Annotat.. Spiritual blessings are here represented by corporal. Compare Joel 2 on verse 23.] I will cause the showre to come down in his season; there shal be showers of blessing.

27. And the trees of the field shal yield her fruit, and the land shal yield her increase; [Compare Leviticus 26:4] and they shall be safe in their land, and shall know that I am Lord LORD, when I shal have broken the daughter-trees of their yoke. [see Jereemiah 27 on verse 2 and understand here the spiritual yoke of bondage under sin and satan] and plucked them out of the hands of those that caused themselves to be served of them [Or that compelled them to serve. See Jeremiah 22:13 and 25.14 with the Annotat.]

28. And they shall no more be a prey to the heathen, neither shall the wild beasts of the earth devour them any more: but shall dwell safely and there shal be none to make them afraid.

29. And I will raise up for them a plant [The Lord Jesus Christ. Compare Jeremiah 23:5. With the Annotat.] Of name: [That is, a famous, a renowned plant. Compare the phrase with Genesis 6:4 or a plant for a name, that is, which shall be for a name, that is, for renown of glory. Compare Deuteronomy 26:9. Jeremiah 33:9 and chapter 39.13. With the Annotat.] And they shall be no more taken away [Heb. properly gathered. See of such use of the Hebrews word. Psalms 26 on verse 9. Others consumed] by hunger in the land, neither hear the reproach of the heathen [or shame, blushing, which is done to you by the heathen] any more.

30. But they shall know that I the LORD their God am with them: [See Genesis 21 on verse 22.] and that they are my people, [Understand (from the former words) they (the sheep) shall know that they are my people. See Deut. 7 on verse 6] the hose of Israel, [my true church. See Galatians 6:16, c.] saith the Lord LORD.

31. Now ye O my sheep of my pasture, ye are men; (but) I am your God, saith the Lord LORD. [That the great inequality that is between the great God and us poor empty vain men might not frighten us, not the conscience and experience of our on impotency make us afraid, God assureth us here by a gracious and loving speech, that he notwithstanding all this will perfect the promised work of grace in his sheep; as if he had said, be comforted be of good chear, ye my beloved sheep, I am and continue for ever your Saviour. Compare Job 10.28, 29.]