Ezekiel 7

Ezekiel 7:13

For the seVer shall not return to that which is sold, although they were yet alive. The year of jubilee shall be no advantage to the sellers, when once they are gone into captivity: for though they should live so long, yet they shall not enjoy the benefit of the law, (Lev. xxv. 13.) nor return any more to their possessions. Neither shall any strengthen himself in the iniquity of his life.] And though they harden themselves in sin, and shut their eyes against the judgments which hang over their heads, these will at last unavoidably overtake them;

Ezekiel 7:14

They have blown the trumpet, (see Jer. vi. 1.) but none goeth to the battle. Men’s hearts fail them, as looking upon ifcemselves as given up to destruction. (See ver. 17.) Vcr. 15. Hie sword is without, the pestilence and famine within.’] See v. 2.12.’ Ver. 1G. But they that are escaped of them shall escape. ] Some few of them shall have the favour of escaping the common calamity, called elsewhere the escaped or the remnant, from whence is derived the phrase ol 2w£o/uvoi in the New Testament, such as are or should be saved. (See the note on Isa. i. 9. Jer. xliv. 14.) And shall be upon the mountains like doves in the valleys, &c.] When they flee from the enemy to the mountains, [compare Psal. xi. 1. Matt. xxiv. 16.] and are escaped out of the imminent danger that threatened them, they will then reflect upon their former provocations, and bemoan themselves, and their calamities the effects of them. (See vi. 9. and compare Tsa. xxxviii. 14. lix. 11.) All of them mourning.] St. Jerome renders it, All of them trembling: an epithet ascribed to doves, Hos. xi.ll. who are by nature exceeding timorous: this interpretation implies, that their guilt should make them very apprehensive of God’s judgments, and fearful what should befal them.

Ezekiel 7:17

All hands shall be feeble, and all knees shall be weak as water. Weakness and failing of spirits doth cause feebleness in the hands and knees. (Compare xxi. 7. Isa. xxxv. 3. Job iv. 3, 4.)

Ezekiel 7:18

Horror shall cover them. Or, overwhelm them, as the phrase is translated Psal.lv. G. Shame shall be upon all faces.] The marks of confusion and misery, covering the face, or shaving the head, and making it bald, as it follows. (See the note on Isa. xv. 2.)

Ezekiel 7:19

They shall cast their silver into the streets, and their gold shall be removed. Or, shall be accounted an unclean thing; so the margin renders the word leniddah, in the following verse: it shall be valued no more than dung or filthiness, as being made a prey to the conquerors. TJiey shall not satisfy their souls, nor. fill their bowels.] Their wealth will not procure them the necessaries of life under the straits of famine, or miseries of bondage. Because it is the stumbling-block of their iniquity.] They laid out their silver and gold in making ornaments for their idols. (Compare xiv. 2. xvi. 17. -cliv. 12.)

Ezekiel 7:20

As for the beauty of his ornament, he set it in majesty, &c. The expressions may most probably be understood of the glory and magnificence of the temple, called elsewhere the beauty of holiness. (Compare ver. 22.) This very place they have defiled with idolatry; (see v. 11.) therefore I have given it into the hands of the gentiles to profane and pollute it. For to that sense the marginal reading rightly translates the following words. The vol. iv. preter-perfect tense is often used by the prophets for the future; who, to denote the certainty of the event, speak of what is to come, as if it were already done. (See the note upon Isa. xxi. 9.) The same sense is expressed in the following, I will give it into the hands of strangers, &c. Ver. 21i To the wicked of the earth.] See ver. 24.

Ezekiel 7:22

My face also will I turn from them,&c. I will not hear them when they cry to me in their distress: (see viii. 18.) but will deliver up the holiest part of the temple, where none but the* high-priest used to enter, into the hands of the Chaldeans, that shall profane and plunder it.

Ezekiel 7:23

Make a chain. The prophets foretold things by actions as well as by words. So Jeremiah is commanded to make bonds and yokes; (Jer. xxviii. 2.) and Ezekiel here to make a chain, to foreshew the approaching captivity, when king and people should be carried in chains to Babylon. (See 2 Kings xxv. 7. Jer. xl. 1.) For the land is full of bloody crimes.] The innocent blood that has been shed in it cries aloud for vengeance. (See ix. £. xxiii. 27. xxvi. 18.)'

Ezekiel 7:24

Therefore will I bring the worst of the heathen. The Chaldeans, who were at that time the great oppressors of the world, and a terror to all the countries round about them. (See xxviii. 7. xxx. 11.). I will make the. pomp of the strong to ceased All the state and magnificence of the mighty men shall be brought to nothing. (Compare xxxviii. 28.): And their holy places shall be defiled.] The word holy places being in the plural number, denotes the temple and all its outward courts, where the people assembled for the worship of God, and thereupon were accounted holy. (Compare ix. 7. xxi* 2. Ps^l. Ixviii. 35. lxxiii, 17. Jer. li. 51.) Ver. 26. Then shall they seek a vision from the prophet.] Men are desirous to hear what the event shall be in times of perplexity. (See xiv 9. xx. 1. xxxviii. 17.) But the law shall perish from the priest, and counsel from the ancients.] Jeremiah, Daniel, and Ezekiel himself, shall go into* captivity. So there shall either be no prophet left among you, or, if there be any left, they shall not be favoured with Divine revelations. (See Lam. it. 8.) And counsel from the ancients.] Or the elders, as the word is elsewhere translated, (viii. 1. xiv. 1. xx. 1.) men of authority, and famous for wisdom, whose advice they asked in all cases of difficulty. (See Psal. cxix. 100. Isa. iii. 2.) In like manner the prophet, the priest, and the wise men, are joined together, Jer. xviii. 18.

Ezekiel 7:27

Tlie king shall mourn, and the princes shall be clothed with desolation, and the hands.of the people shall be troubled. There shall be a general consternation of all ranks and degrees of men. They that are in authority shall want presence of mind to give counsel and directions, and the inferiors shall have no heart to put them in execution. The word prince is synonymous with the king, as may appear by comparing xii. 10. 1% xxi. 25.