Ezekiel 1

Ezekiel 1:1-3

Vita

In this chapter we have, 1. The time when this prophecy was delivered, vers. 1. the place where, vers. 2. and the person by whom, vers. 3. 2. The introduction is it by a vision of the glory of God. (1.) The cherubim over which he appeared, vers. 4—14. (2.) The wheels that accompanied them, vers. 15—26. (3.) His glo-

1. The word of the LORD was the first part of the word of the Lord, in the fourth month, in the fifth day of the month, (as I was among the captives by the river of Chebar) that the heavens were opened, and I saw visions of God. 2. In the fifth day of the month (which was the fifth year of king Jehoakim’s captivity) 3. The word of the LORD came expressly unto Ezekiel the priest, the son of Buzl, in the land of the Chaldean, by the river Chebar, and the hand of the LORD was there upon him.

We have here,

1. The date of this prophecy. In the thirtieth year, as some fuppets, of the prophet’s life, when, according to callouts, he entered on his priestly office; but others refer it to the era commencing from Nabopolafes’s reign, which was the twelfth of the captivity, reckoning from the third year of Jehoakim; and the fifth of Jehoakim, or Cimah’s captivity, in the fourth month, the fifth day of the month, probably a labbath-day, when the prophet was employed in the higher work of contemplation and prayer; the seven days after we first another vision of the same nature given him, chap. iii. 16. Note. They who seek to improve the sacred house God hath separated for his own service, in waiting upon him, will find him often manifesting himself to them as he doth not unto the world.

2. The place: among the captives by the river Chebar, in the land of the Chaldean. In their afflicted state God thus shewed he had not forsaken them, but would encourage full their hope of mercy, and engage them to repent and turn to him. The prophet stated in the common calamity; for in national judgment, the people who had been a great deal of the people who had been a great deal of the people who had been a great deal of the people who had been a great deal of the people who had been a great deal of the people who had been a great deal of the people who had been a great deal of the people who had been a great deal of the people who had been a great deal of the people who had been a great deal of the people who had been a great deal of the people who had been a great deal of

3. The vision. The heavens were opened, and I saw the visions of God, some amazing displays of the divine glory appeared. And the word of the Lord came expressly unto Ezekiel the priest, the son of Buzl. The words translated came expressly into the original, implying the certainty, evidence, and clearness, of the prophetic word which God revealed to him. And the hand of the Lord was there upon him, supporting him, that he might not be overpowered with the dazzling lustre; and strengthening him to go forth to deliver what was communicated to him. Note. (1) They will be enabled to deliver their message with great boldness, who speak from the most absurd conviction in their own souls. (2) If God sends us forth in his ministry, we may expect his hand will be with us to strengthen us, and give deconstruction and power to the work he puts into our mouths.

Heb. Concling it fell. Rev. ix. 6. &c.