Ezekiel 7

4 thine abominations shall be in the midst of thee. That is, thy sin shall be brought home to thee.

5 an only evil. “Evil on evil!” (Moffatt).

6 watcheth. Or, “awaketh” (R.V.). In the original there is a play upon two very similar Hebrew words signifying “end” and “watch”; and the second introduces the impressive figure of the dawning of a day of trouble.

7. The morning. Rather, “The circle”; i.e., cycle (see Eccles. i. 6); meaning, “Thy turn has come.”

the sounding again of the mountains. The joyful shouts with which the hills resounded on festive occasions.

10. The morning. See note on ver. 7.

The rod hath blossomed, etc. The rod of Judah has blossomed into proud luxuriance. Judah has become proud and self-willed in her iniquities, and (11) the violence of her enemies has risen into “a [chastising] rod of, or for, [her] wickedness”: see Isa. x. 5.

12. Let not the buyer rejoice, nor the seller mourn. He who buys an estate will not enjoy it: he who sells it would soon have lost it otherwise; nor will there be a jubilee of restitution; for the Chaldeans are at hand.

13. Neither shall any strengthen himself in the iniquity of his life. Or, “And none that liveth in iniquity shall prosper.”

16. But they that escape of them shall escape. Rather, “And their fugitives have fled, but they are on the mountains,” etc. Having spoken of the uselessness of defence, the prophet now depicts the miseries of flight.

19. They shall cast their silver, etc. In the hurry of flight.

because it is the stumblingblock. Their gold and silver had been used to procure their luxuries and their idols.

20 the beauty of his (the people’s) ornament. The “ornament” was the gold and silver just mentioned, which they “used in pride, and made the images and their abominations and detestable things thereof.”

22. My secret [place]. The sanctuary, which was not to be entered by any one but the priests, shall be spoiled by invaders.

23. Make a (the) chain. An emblem of the approaching captivity.

24 the worst of the heathen. A description of the ruthless Chaldeans.

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