Ezekiel 14

The prophet denounces. God’s judgments against those hypocrites who pretended to be his worshippers, and at the same time secretly practised idolatry. He afterward sets forth God’s mercy towards the Jews, in sparing a few of that sinful nation, and those no better than the rest that were destroyed, when he might in justice have involved all of them in one common destruction. face.] They are not’ only idolaters in their heart, but they have actually set up idols and worshipped them; and thereby have fallen into that great sin of deserting me and my worship. (See vii. 19.) Should I be inquired of at all by them?] Though they have the impudence to come to ask counsel of God, (see vii. 26.) they shall not receive a favourable answer, but such a one as their hypocrisy deserves. (See the following verse, and compare xxxvi. 37.)

Ezekiel 14:1

JL HEN came certain of the elders of Israel, &c. See viii. 1.

Ezekiel 14:3

Tliese men have set up their idols in their heart, and put the stumbling-block of their iniquity before their

Ezekiel 14:5

That I way take the house of Israel in their own heart. That I may deal with them according to their deserts, and thereby convince them that I am a searcher of hearts, and know the inward aud secret wickedness of their thoughts.

Ezekiel 14:6

From all your abominations. Your idolatries. (Sec viii. 10. xvi. 2.)

Ezekiel 14:7

Or of the stranger that sojourneth in Israel. The stranger within thy gates, as it is expressed in the fourth commandment. These, though they were not all of them circumcised, yet devoted themselves to the service of the one true God, for which reason they are styled the worshippers of God, Acts xvi. 14. xviii. 7. Who separates himself from me.] Who turns apostate from me and my service; for men cannot serve God and idols; he having declared himself a jealous God, that will not admit any rival in his worship. (See Josh. xxiv. 19.) I, the Lord, will answer him by myself] I will punish him immediately by my own hands. (See the following verse.)

Ezekiel 14:8

And Iioill set my face against that man. I will make him a mark of mine indignation. (See xv. 7. Jer. xliv. 11.). And I will make him a sign and a proverb.] I will make him a signal and remarkable instance of my vengeance. (Compare Numb. xxvi. 10. Deut. xxviii. 38.) * And will cut him off from the midst of my people.] By a sudden death, attended with extraordinary circumstances. (See Lev. xx. 6. 17, 18.)

Ezekiel 14:9

And if a prophet be deceived. This is to be understood of the false prophets, whose practices are reproved throughout the whole foregoing chapter. I, the Lord, have deceived that prophet.] I have suffered him to be deceived. (See the note on Isa. lxiii. 17.) I have given him up to strong delusions, as a just judgment upon him for going after idols, and setting up false pretences to inspiration. (See xiii. 2. 7. 23. 1 Kings xxii. 23. Jer. iv. 10. and compare 2 Thess.‘ii. 11, 12.) Or the words may be explained to this sense: I will disappoint the hopes and expectations of those prophets, who seduce my people by speaking peace to them: (xiii. 10.) for I will bring upon them those evils, which they with great assurance have declared should never come to pass. To this purpose it follows, I will stretch out my hand upon him, &c. i. e. I will send such a judgment upon him, as 1 inflicted upon Hananiah the false prophet, Jor. xxviii. 16, 17.

Ezekiel 14:10

The punishment of the prophet shall be even as the punishment of him that seeketh to him. Because both parties are equally guilty of going astray from me, and seeking after idols, and other unlawful means of divination. (See ver. 11. and compare 2 Kings i. 3, 4.)

Ezekiel 14:11

That the house of Israel may go no more astray fromme. The judgments I inflict upon the false prophets, and those that consult them, shall bo an instruction to my people to keep close to me and my Worship, and not hanker after the idolatrous practices of the neighbouring nations. But that they may be my people, &c] Sec tho note on xi. 20.

Ezekiel 14:13

Wlien the land trespasseth grievously, &c. Or, When a land. The design of this and the following verses is to shew, that when the inhabitants of a land have filled up the measure of their iniquities, and God ariseth to execute judgment upon them, the few righteous that arc left among them shall not be able by their prayers arid intercessions to deliver the nation from the judgments decreed against it. They shall but deliver their own souls; as we see in the case of Sodom, where there was no righteous but Lot and his family; those just persons saved themselves, but no intercession could avail to save the city. (See the following verse.) And break the staff of the bread thereof] See iv. 16- *

Ezekiel 14:14

Though these three men, Noah, Daniel, and Job, were in it. All of them persons eminent for their piety: Noah and his family were saved out of the universal deluge, and obtained a promise from God that he would never destroy the world so again, Gen. viii. 21. Daniel interceded with God for the whole nation of the Jews, and obtained a promise of their restoration, Dan. ix. Job was appointed by God to make intercession for his three friends, Job xiii. 8. But when God’s irreversible decree is gone out against a nation, even the prayers of such men will be ineffectual towardstheir deliverance. (Compare Jer.xv.l.) We may observe how early the fame of Daniel’s piety w r as spread over Chaldea,who was at this time not above thirty years of age; it being but thirteen years ago since he was carried captive to Babylon, when he was very young. (See Dan. i. 1. 4, &c.)

Ezekiel 14:15

If I cause noisome beasts to pass through the land. See v. 17.

Ezekiel 14:17

Or if I bring a sword upon the land. If I deliver it into the hands of a cruel and bloody enemy. (See v. 12. vii. 15. xxi. 9. 16.) The conqueror’s sword is often called tho sword of the Lord, in the prophets; because they are the executioners of God’s judgments. (See Isa. x.15. Jer. xxv. 9. xlvii. 6.) And say, Sword, go through the land.] So God is said to call for a sword upon Gog, xxxviii. 21. So that I cut off man and beast from it.] The men are destroyed by the sword, and the cattle are drove away by the enemy; or else consumed by pestilence arising from the air’s being corrupted through the stench of dead bodies. (Compare xxv. 13. xxix.8. xxxii.13. Hos.iv.3. Zeph.i.3.)

Ezekiel 14:19

Or if I send a pestilence uponthat land. Seev.12. And pour out my fury upon it in blood.] AVith great destruction of men’s lives, as the Chaldee paraphrase explains it. (Compare xxxviii. 22.)

Ezekiel 14:21

How much more [should there be an utter destruction. when I send my four sore judgments upon Jerusalem, &c] See v. 12. vi. 32. xii. 16. Jer. xv. 2. The particles aph ki, are very properly translated here, How much more; in which sense they are plainly taken, 2 Sam. iv. 11. Prov. xi. 31. xxi. 15. Tlie noisome beast.] See v. 17. xxxiii. 27.

Ezekiel 14:22

Yet, behold, therein shall be left a remnant