Ezekiel 4

1 a tile. Rather, “a brick.” Such bricks, on which inscriptions and designs were portrayed by stamping or engraving when moist, were much used in Nineveh and Babylon; and are found in great numbers in their ruins. Many inscriptions on bricks are to be found in the illustrations to Babylonian Life and History, by Sir E. Wallis Budge (1925). There can be little doubt that the successive actions here described took place only in vision, like the eating of the prophetic roll mentioned in ch. iii. 1-3.

2 lay siege against it. Pictorially.

the camp. Rather, “encampments,” denoting different points of attack.

3 pan. Or, “plate,” on which bread was baked.

4 upon thy left side. In one unmoving position, symbol of a fettered or disabled condition. Similarly ver. 6.

thou shalt bear their iniquity. This phrase always means to bear the punishment due to sin (see Numb. xiv. 33; Lev. xix. 8; Isa. liii. 11; Ezek. xviii. 19, 20; xxiii. 35). But it is difficult to determine what are these periods of 390 and 40 years. The Septuagint has 190 years for 390. The 190 is made up of two periods of 150 and 40. “This 150 years is apparently intended to represent the period between the fall of Samaria and the destruction of Jerusalem (722-588 B.C.), while the 40 years are, in round numbers, the years from the fall of Jerusalem to the Decree of Cyrus, though the Captivity was generally reckoned to have lasted 70 years which was reckoned from Jehoiakim’s reign, 606-536 B.C.” (Dr. H. A. Redpath in Westminster Commentaries). Dr. Currey, Master of the Charterhouse, says (Speaker’s Commentary) that “it seems more in accordance with the other signs, to suppose that the years represent not that which has been, but that which shall be.”

7 set thy face. That is, “turn thine attention.” thine arm shall be uncovered. So as to be unencumbered for action—for the action of the siege.

8. I will lay bands upon thee. A Divine constraint.

10 thy meat (food) . . . shall be, etc. The mixture of all sorts of meal in one cake, the small quantity prescribed (giving less than a pound of food a day), the revolting cookery at first ordered, and the stinted allowance of about a pint and a half of water daily, were evidently combined to show the extreme destitution to which God would reduce the luxurious Jews.

15 cow’s dung. In many parts of Asia, at the present day, dried animal dung is used as fuel.