Ezekiel 11

of the prophets: ho promises to favdur those who are gono into captivity, and truly turn to him: intimating, likewise, that thcro shall b6 a gcnbral restoration of tho nation in aftcrtimes. Then the Divino Glory leaves tho city, denoting God’s putting it out of hi£ protection, Vcr. 1. j\±01lEOVER, the spirit lifted me up.] See iii. 12. 14. viii. 3; And brought me unto the east gate of the Lord’s house.] AVhero tho Divino glory had then placed itself, (x. 19.) Five-and-twehty men.’] Tho same probably that came thither to worship tho sun, viii. 16. Princes of the people.] Members of the great Sanhcdrin. (Compare viii. 11. and sco the note on Jer. xxvi. 10.) Vcr. 3. Which say, It is not near: let us build houses.] They were such as put the evil day far from them; (Amos vi. 3.) were hot willing to believe that the judgments threatened would soon overtake them: (compare xii. 27.) and so securely wentotiin building new Houses, and making such-like improvements. Tlds city is the caldron, and we are the flesh.] Jeremiah had foretold the destruction of Jerusalem under the figure of a seething caldron, Jer. i. 13. and Ezekiel himself uses the same metaphor, xxiv. 3, 4, &c. So these infidels made use of the same expression on purpose to deride the menaces of the prophets; as if they had said, If this city be a caldron, we had father take our chance of being consumed in it, than leave our fine houses and other accommodations, and run the risk of war or captivity. (Compare ver. 7, 8. 11.) I will bring you out of the midst thereof, and deliver you into the hands of strangers.] Ye shall be carried out of the city by the Chaldeans, and afterward be slain by them in the land of Hamath. (See Jer.xxxix.6. 2 Kings xxv. 19—21.) Which is called the entrance of Hamath, 1 Kings viii. 65. 2 Kings xiv. 25. because it was just upon the borders of Judea. Vcr. 12. But have done after the manners of the heathtoi.] Have defiled yourselves with their idolatries. (See viii. 10.

Ezekiel 11:5

And the Spirit of the Lord fell upon me, and said unto me. See the note on iii. 24. Vcr. 6. Ye have multiplied your slain in this city.] See xxii. 3, 4.

Ezekiel 11:7

Your slain, whom ye have laid in the midst of it, they are the flesh, and this city is the caldron. The comparing of the city to a caldron may fitly be “applied to the slain, whom you have butchered in ybur streets, and cut in pieces in the midst of it, just as pieces of flesh prepared for the caldron. (See xxiv. 6. and compare Micah iii. 3.)’ But I will bring you out of the midst of it.] You shall not die there, but I will reserve you for another punishment. (See ver. 9. 11.)

Ezekiel 11:13

Tlien I fell down upon my face, end cried with a loud voice, &c. The prophet thought this an earnest of the common destruction which was coming upon all the inhabitants of the city, and thereupon he earnestly deprecated so severe a judgment. (Sec ix. 8.)

Ezekiel 11:15

Thy brethren, the men of thy kindred. Those of thy kindred and acquaintance who are carried away captive with thee. To whom the inhabitants of Jerusalem have said, Get ye far front the Lord, &c.] The Jews who were left in their own country, thought themselves more in God’s favour, than those who were carried away captive; whom they looked upon as outcasts, and such as had no right cither to the privileges of Jews, or the land of Judea. (See the note on Jer. xxiv. 5.)

Ezekiel 11:16

Yet will I be to them a little sanctudry. The Jews were under God’s immediate protection, expressed in Scripture by dwelling under the shadow of his ivings. Tho phrase alluding to the wings of the cherubims covering the mercy-seat, and signifying God’s presence among them, and protection over his people. Therefore, to comfort those who were under a state of exile and captivity, God tells them, that although they Were deprived of the benefit of attending upon his sanctuary, and being placed under that protection, his presence there did import, yet he would supply that by being a constant refuge and defence to them in the countries where they w r cre scattered. (Compare Psal. xxxi. 20. xci. 1. Isa. viii. 14.)

Ezekiel 11:17

iwill even gather them from the people. This maybe in some degree fulfilled in those that returned from captivity, but the utmost completion of this and the following verses must be expected at flic general restoration of the Jewish nation. (See the following notes, and compare xx. 4. xxviii. 25. xxxiv. 13. xxxvi. 24.)

Ezekiel 11:18

They shall take away all the detestable things thereof. They shall live pure from all the pollutions of idolatry, wherewith the land had been formerly defiled. (Sec xxxvii. 23.)

Ezekiel 11:19

And I will give them one heart. They shall serve me with one consent, (Zeph. iii. 9.) and not be distracted by the Several idolatrous worships which were set up in opposition to God’s true worship, when the ten tribes separated themselves from Judah. (Compare Psal. lxxxvi. 11. Jer. xxxii. 39. Hos.‘x. 2.) I will put a new spirit within them.] These promises chiefly relate to the general conversion’ of the Jews; when God shall pour out upon them the spirit of grace, in order to their conversion, Zech. xii. 10. (Compare xxxvi. 26, 27. and see the notes upon Jer.’ xxiv. 7. xxxi. 35, 34. xxxii. 39.) Conversion is commonly spoken of in Scripture iis* if it were a new creation, because of the new dispositions and powers which accompany it. (See Psal. li. 10. 2 Cor. v. 17. Gal. vi. 15. and the note upon xviii. 31.) I will take the stony heart out of their flesh.] Men’s insensibility as to religious matters, is often ascribed to the hardness of their hearts, being such as will receive no impression. Here God promises to give them teachable dispositions, and to takeaway the veil from their heart, a£ St. Paul expresses it,” speaking of this subject, 2 Cor. iii. 16. The same temper being indifferently expressed, cither by blindness, or hardness of heart.

Ezekiel 11:20

They shall be my people. They shall never apostatize any more from me to s6rvc idols, but shall constantly adhere to my worship; and I will own thcrhas iny people, those who are under my immediate protection. (Compare xiv. 11. xxxvi. 28. xxxviii. Sf7. Jer. xxx.*22.)

Ezekiel 11:21

But as for them whose heart goeth after the heart of their detestable things, &c. The prophet speaketh of idols, called here their detestable things, as vcr. 18. the prophet mentions the heart of their detestable things, as if their idols bad an understanding and appetites, because