Ezekiel 14

1 sat before me. See viii. 1, and note.

4. I the Lord will answer him that cometh, etc. Rather, “I Jehovah will answer him according to it, according to the multitude,” etc. The emphasis of repetition.

7 and cometh to a prophet to inquire of him, etc. Rather, “and cometh to a prophet to inquire for himself concerning Me, I the Lord will answer him concerning Myself”: cp. R.V. The answer follows in ver. 8.

9. I the Lord have deceived that prophet. See note on 1 Kings xxii. 23.

13 the land. Rather, “a land,” as R.V.

14. Daniel. At this time Daniel had been at least fourteen years in Babylon, and had held for nearly ten years the high posts to which his gifts had caused him to be elevated: see Dan. i., ii. There was, therefore, ample time for his extraordinary worth to be generally recognised. Noah had been permitted to save his family, Daniel his associates, and Job his friends; but not all of them together could save idolatrous Israel: cp. Jer. vii. 16; xv. 1. It has been well suggested that the mention of a contemporary, together with the saints of older days, would show that neither past nor present worthies could avail in such a case. (So Calvin.)

22 ye shall be comforted. When you see the wickedness of the remnant whom I will bring into exile, you will be fully satisfied that the punishment which I have inflicted was not too severe.