Ezekiel 7

Ezekiel 7:2

Israel, or Judea, in all its parts. (Worthington) — In five or six years’ time all shall be destroyed.

Ezekiel 7:3

Set, as accusers, to increase thy confusion.

Ezekiel 7:5

One. A second shall not be necessary, Nahum i. 9. (Calmet)

Ezekiel 7:6

Awaked. Justice seems to have slept. (Haydock) See ver. 10., and Jeremias i. 12.

Ezekiel 7:7

Destruction, St. Jerome reads “contraction,” as also [in] ver. 10. Protestants, “the morning.” (Haydock) — Chaldean, “the reign.” (Calmet) — Hebrew tsephira, is variously rendered. (Haydock) — Joy. Hebrew, “echo or cry” of people in the vintage.

Ezekiel 7:10

Budded; figurative expressions, denoting a speedy vengeance. (Calmet) — Chaldean, “the reign is open, the ruler has flourished, the wicked hath appeared.” In this reign of Nabuchodonosor ye shall be chastised. (Haydock) — Septuagint or rather Theodotion, from whom many things have bee supplied according to St. Jerome, (Calmet) have, “The deceit has gone forth, the rod,” &c. (Haydock)

Ezekiel 7:11

Iniquity. What other fruit could be expected from wickedness? It draws on chastisement. — Noise, or grandees. None will repent, and therefore none shall escape, from the highest to the lowest.

Ezekiel 7:13

Sold, as in the year of jubilee, Leviticus xxv. 25. (Calmet) — Now there shall be no recovery. (Worthington) — They shall be driven from the land. — Although. By supplying the former negation, (Calmet) we may render “Nor,” &c., (Haydock) which seems better. (Calmet) — It may also mean, “those who are now alive” shall witness these things. (Haydock) Back. It is not a mere threat.

Ezekiel 7:14

CHAPTER VII.

Ready. He describes the vain attempts of the Jews to make resistance.

Ezekiel 7:16

Doves, not daring to vent their complaints. (Calmet)

Ezekiel 7:17

Water; urine, (St. Jerome) sweat, &c., the usual effects of fear.

Ezekiel 7:18

Heads. They cut their hair in times of penance and of mourning.

Ezekiel 7:19

Iniquity. Riches have fostered their passions: they will not now procure food or liberty, Sophonias i. 18. (Calmet) — The riches of the idols invited the enemy to plunder. (Worthington)

Ezekiel 7:20

And. Protestants, “As for the beauty of his ornament, he set it in majesty: but they made the,” &c. The sacred ornaments of the temple, appointed by God, (Haydock) have been converted into idols, and shall be carried to Babylon, ver. 21. (Calmet)

Ezekiel 7:22

Secret: the inward sanctuary, the holy of holies. (Challoner) — God would guard it no longer. (Calmet)

Ezekiel 7:23

Shutting up. Hebrew, “chain,” for imprisonment and captivity. (Challoner) — Pronounce sentence upon all.

Ezekiel 7:24

Sanctuary; the temple of God, or of idols, chap. vi. 3.

Ezekiel 7:25

Distress. When the enemy is before the city, they will see their error; but it will be too late. They shall not obtain peace, Jeremias xxxviii. 1.

Ezekiel 7:26

Ancients. Priests shall afford no consolation, nor counsellors any advice. They shall be all confounded. (Calmet) — During the captivity a few only were found to give instruction, Malachias ii. (Worthington)