Ezekiel 5

Ezekiel 5:1-4

In this chapter we have a farther and no less terrible denunciation of the judgments of God upon the Jewish nation, 1. Reprehended by casting, burning, and scattering of hair, vers. 1—4. 2. That sign is expounded and applied to Jerusalem, (1.) Sin is charged upon her as the cause of this defelation, contempt of God’s law, vers. 5—7. and profanation of his sanctuary, vers. 11. (2.) Which is threatened, great wrath, vers. 8, 9, 10. a variety of miseries, vers. 12, 16, 17. such as should be their reproach and ruin, vers. 13—15.

1. AND thou, son of man, take thee a sharp knife, take thee a barbers rafor, and cause it to pass upon thine head, and upon thy beard, then take thee balances to weigh, and divide the hair. 2. Thou shalt burn with fire a third part in the midst of the city, when the days of the siege are fulfilled; and thou shalt take a third part, and finite about it with a knife; and a third part thou shalt fouter in the wind, and I will draw out a sword after them. 3. Thou shalt also take thereof a few in number, and bind them in thy fixirts. 4. Then take of them again, and cast them into the midst of the fire, and burn them in the fire; for thereof shall a fire come forth into all the house of Israel.

Jerusalem’s ruin is here represented by another sign. 1. The prophet must shave his head and beard, and carefully weigh and divide the hair into three parocks; one third must be burnt, another be cut in pieces, the other scattered in the wind,

a few hairs excepted, which he must bind in his fixirts, and then quickly take them thence, and burn them in the fire.

2. The meaning of this is, that Jerusalem, which had been the head of the nation, and full of inhabitants, numerous as these hairs, must undergo the foolish disgrace, and be covered with bitterest grief; weighed in the balances of God’s justice, the punishment suitable to their guilt is determined. The city must be taken and burnt; one third of the inhabitants conformed in the flames, or by the famine; another slain with the sword during the siege, or attempting to escape; the other be dispersed into all the neighbouring countries, not only led captive into Chalkia, but dying for refuge to Egypt, Nissha, and Ammon, whether the sword of the king of Babylon would pursue them. A few under Godallah formed relieved for mercy, but even among them the fire kindles, their ruler is slain, and this remnant miserably conformed; thus will God overcome when he judgments. If sinners will obstinately perish in their wickedness, utter destruction will infallibly overtake them.

3. Thus saith the LORD God, This is Jerusalem: I have set it in the midst of the nations and countries that are round about her. 6. And the hath changed my judgments into wickedness more than the nations, and my statutes more than the countries that are round about her: for they have refused my judgments and my statutes, they have not walked in them. 7. Therefore thus saith the LORD God, Because ye multiplied more than the nations that are round about you, and have not walked in my statutes, neither have kept my judgments, neither have done according to the judgments of the nations that are round about you: 8. Therefore thus saith the LORD God, Behold, I, even I am against thee, and will execute judgments in the midst of thee, in the sight of the nations. 9. And I will do in thee that which I have not done, and whereunto I will not do any more the like; because of all thine abominations. 10. Therefore the fathers shall eat the sons in the midst of thee, and the sons shall eat their fathers; and I will execute judgments in thee, and the whole remnant of thee will I scatter into all the winds. 11. Wherefore, as I live, saith the LORD God, Surely because thou hast desited my sanctuary with all thy detestable things, and with all thine abominations, therefore will I also diminish thee, neither shall mine eye spare, neither will I have any pity. 12. A third part of thee shall die with the pestilence, and with famine shall they be consumed in the midst of thee; and a third part shall fall by the sword round about thee; and I will scatter a third part into all the winds, and I will draw out a sword after them. 13. Thus shall mine anger be accomplished, and I will cause my fury to rest upon them, and I will be comforted: and they shall know that I the LORD have spoken it in my zeal, when I have accomplished my fury in them. 14. Moreover, I will make thee waite, and a reproach among the nations that are round about thee, in the sight of all that pass by. 15. So it shall be a reproach and a taunt, an instruction and an astonishment unto the nations that are round about thee, when I shall execute judgments in thee in anger and in fury, and in furious rebukes: I the LORD have spoken it. 16. When I shall send upon them the evil arrows of famine, which shall be for their destruction, and which I will send to destroy you; and I will increase the famine upon you, and will break your staff of bread. 17. So will I send upon you famine and evil beasts, and they shall bereave thee; and pestilence and blood shall pass through thee, and I will bring the sword upon thee: I the LORD have spoken it.

4. The meaning of this is, that Jerusalem, which had been the head of the nation, and full of inhabitants, numerous as these hairs, must undergo the foolish disgrace, and be covered with bitterest grief; weighed in the balances of God’s justice, the punishment suitable to their guilt is determined. The city must be taken and burnt; one third of the inhabitants conformed in the flames, or by the famine; another slain with the sword during the siege, or attempting to escape; the other be dispersed into all the neighbouring countries, not only led captive into Chalkia, but dying for refuge to Egypt, Nissha, and Ammon, whether the sword of the king of Babylon would pursue them. A few under Godallah formed relieved for mercy, but even among them the fire kindles, their ruler is slain, and this remnant miserably conformed; thus will God overcome when he judgments. If sinners will obstinately perish in their wickedness, utter destruction will infallibly overtake them.

Ezekiel 5:5-17

The reddition of the foregoing sign is here given at large, This is Jerusalem; the name of the thing signified being given to the sign, as this is my body.

1. Jerusalem was highly honoured, v. 5. set in the midst of the nations, and exalted in privileges above them all, as a beacon on a hill, designed to diffuse the light of those divine oracles, which were entrusted to her. For whom God hath given distinguished mercies, he justly expects a suitable return.

2. Her provocations were multiplied, great and aggravated. She hath changed my judgment into wickedness; not only neglecting God’s commands, and fighting his instructions, but introducing the idolaters and abomination of the heathen; and as if it was not enough to be like them, the profaneness and impiety of Israel were more than the nations round about them; yet, they

they did not according to the judgments of the nations round about them; they were more abandoned in wickedness, and the word of that respect for the true God which they paid to their idol desires. And to such a pitch of hardened influence and impulses in sin were they grown, that in the very house erected for God’s honour and worship, there did they set up their hand idols, and offered their detestable sacrifices before them. Nies, (1.) Many a comparatively virtuous heathen will rise up and condemn the immoral lives of professing christianism. (2.) When they who have been God’s people by profession, turn apollases, they usually grow most abandoned.

3. Her punishment shall be according to her sins; terrible beyond what any nation before ever did, or ever shall again suffer, v. 9. and public, in the midst of thee, ver. 8. that all around might behold God’s righteous judgments, and be warned by her plagues.

(1.) God himself makes bare his holy arm. I, even I am against thee; whatever instruments he employed, the destruction was from the Lord: in anger and fury, and furious rebuke, as a man exasperated with the most atrocious provocations; yea, all the fierceness of his wrath shall be accomplished, ver. 13. So entire shall be their ruin, and his fury shall rest upon him for a long reason; they shall lie under the marks of his fearful vengeance, and this without mercy or pity, v. 11. Yea, so far from it, he will delight in their misery, I will be confirmed, ver. 13. in thus easing himself of his enemies, under whom the very earth sprang, and in glorifying his justice and truth by the execution of these most righteous judgments. And then at last when they feel, they will know the truth of his thirteenth, and his jealously in vindicating his own glory, and the honour of his government. Nies, (1.) Wo to the sinner that provokes a jealous God. When his wrath is kindled, yea, but for a moment, who may abide it! (2.) The misery of the damned shall result to God’s glory, and he will, without the least impatements of his mercy, delight in their torment, seeing it is the just reward of their deeds.

(2.) The particular judgments threatened are many and grievous. (1.) Famine, sharp and deadly as a poisoned arrow, v. 16. So raging, that all natural affection should be extinguished thereby, and fathers eat their sons, and sons feed upon their murdered fathers. (2.) Disperison; the remnant which survived the siege, should be miserably scattered in all lands, like Cain under a curse, and vagabonds in the earth. (3.) Petition; which should devour a third part, v. 12. the usual consequence of famine. (4.) The sword, which should not only destroy a third part during the siege, but pursue the fugitives, and bring them at last to a miserable end, v. 12. (5.) God beeth, ver. 17. not merely enemies, as savage as lions, but every furious beeth of prey that should break in upon them in herds, because them of their dearest relatives, and devour those who find into the mountains and deserts for shelter. For as vain is it to fly from God’s vengeance, as to redit it.

(3.) Neighbouring nations would insult their fall, reproach them for their wickedness, ridicule their vain confidence; and whilst they were amazed and astonished at the terribleness of the judgment, would receive instruction, and be warned of the dreadful danger of provoking such a jealous God. Nies, When the judgments of God are seen in the earth, the inhabitants thereof should learn righteousness, and repent of those sins which they see productive of such unutterable misery in others.

4. The veracity of God is engaged for executing the words of his thirestings. I, the Lord, have spoken it, able to perform it, and who cannot lie, or repent, therefore the judgment is infidely sure to come. And however, while the threatened vengeance is distant, sinners are apt to despise it, when it is accomplished, they shall know and feel the truth of those thirestings, which they would not believe from the mouth of the prophet.