Ezekiel 33

2 their watchman. Cp. vers. 6, 7. “There is nothing in Ezekiel’s ministry that appeals more directly to the Christian conscience than the serious and profound sense of pastoral responsibility to which this passage bears witness” (Skinner).

10. If our transgressions and our sins, etc. This is the language of those who murmur under Divine punishment, instead of humbly confessing guilt and entreating God’s mercy.

11. I have no pleasure, etc. See xviii. 28-32.

VERS. 21-33. Ezekiel now recommences his ministry to his own people, by warning them against the delusive hopes still prevailing among the remnant in Judea (21-29), and by exposing the folly of his fellow-captives in neglecting the warnings of him who was now proved to be a true prophet (30-33).

21 one that had escaped out of Jerusalem came unto me. As had been foretold in xxiv. 26. The date here given allows a year and five months to have elapsed since the fall of Jerusalem. But the Syriac Version and some MSS. read “the eleventh year of our captivity,” which is much more probable. The Septuagint has “the tenth year.”

22 was upon me. Rather, “had been upon me” (R.V.): in the solemn charge preceding this renewal of the prophet’s testimony to the people (1-9). For three years Ezekiel had delivered no direct messages from God to his own countrymen: cp. xxiv. 1.

24. Abraham was one. That is, one only; a single individual: see Isa. li. 2. “If Abraham,” they argued, “when thus alone, was so greatly multiplied, much more shall we, who are many.”

26. Ye stand upon your sword. i.e., “Ye trust to your swords”; to might rather than right.

27 they that are in the wastes, etc. No place shall be a security—the solitary wastes, the open country, the natural fastnesses among the hills.

30. Also, thou son of man, etc. Rather, “And thou, son of man—the children of thy people, who talk about thee,” etc. This is the beginning of a long and rather unconnected sentence, which ends in ver. 33 with the words, “And when this comes—lo! it is come—then they know that a prophet hath been among them.”