This is a digital copy of a book that was preserved for generations on library shelves before it was carefully scanned by Google as part of a project to make the world’s books discoverable online. It has survived long enough for the copyright to expire and the book to enter the public domain. A public domain book is one that was never subject to copyright or whose legal copyright term has expired. Whether a book is in the public domain may vary country to country. Public domain books are our gateways to the past, representing a wealth of history, culture and knowledge that’s often difficult to discover. Marks, notations and other marginalia present in the original volume will appear in this file - a reminder of this book’s long journey from the publisher to a library and finally to you.

Usage guidelines

Google is proud to partner with libraries to digitize public domain materials and make them widely accessible. Public domain books belong to the public and we are merely their custodians. Nevertheless, this work is expensive, so in order to keep providing this resource, we have taken steps to prevent abuse by commercial parties, including placing technical restrictions on automated querying. We also ask that you:

+ Make non-commercial use of the files We designed Google Book Search for use by individuals, and we request that you use these files for personal, non-commercial purposes. + Refrain from automated querying Do not send automated queries of any sort to Google’s system: If you are conducting research on machine translation, optical character recognition or other areas where access to a large amount of text is helpful, please contact us. We encourage the use of public domain materials for these purposes and may be able to help. + Maintain attribution The Google “watermark” you see on each file is essential for informing people about this project and helping them find additional materials through Google Book Search. Please do not remove it. + Keep it legal Whatever your use, remember that you are responsible for ensuring that what you are doing is legal. Do not assume that just because we believe a book is in the public domain for users in the United States, that the work is also in the public domain for users in other countries. Whether a book is still in copyright varies from country to country, and we can’t offer guidance on whether any specific use of any specific book is allowed. Please do not assume that a book’s appearance in Google Book Search means it can be used in any manner anywhere in the world. Copyright infringement liability can be quite severe.

About Google Book Search

Google’s mission is to organize the world’s information and to make it universally accessible and useful. Google Book Search helps readers discover the world’s books while helping authors and publishers reach new audiences. You can search through the full text of this book on the web at http://books.google.com/

1 WESTMINSTERCOMMENTABIES EDITEDBYWALTERLocxD.D. IRELANDPEDFKSSOROFTHEEXEGESIS OFHOLYBCEIPI'URE

THEBOOKOFTHEPROPHET EZEKIEL THEBOOKOFTHEPROPHET EZEKIEL

WITHINTRODUCTIONANDNOTES

BY

HENRYA.REDPATHD.LI'1'1‘.,M.A.

BONITIIBGRXNFIELDLECIURIRONTHESEPTUAGXFTINTHE UNIVERSITYOFOXFORD

METHUEN81CO. 36INSEXSTREEI‘W.C. LONDON FirstPulllis/lcziinl907 CubinN(4'3two“

PREFATORYNOTEBYTHEGENERALEDITOR

HEprimaryobjectoftheseCommentariesistobe exegetical,tointerpretthemeaningofeachbookof theBibleinthelightofmodernknowledgetoEnglish readers.TheEditorswillnotdeal,exceptsubordinately, withquestionsoftextualcriticismorphilology;buttaking theEnglishtextintheRevisedVersionastheirbasis,they willaimatcombiningaheartyacceptanceofcriticalprinciples withloyaltytotheCatholicFaith. in TheserieswillbelesselementarythantheCambridge BibleforSchools,lesscriticalthantheInternationalCritical

-'l\ Commentary,lessdidacticthantheExpositor’sBible; andit ishopedthatitmaybeofusebothtotheologicalstudents andtotheclergy,aswellastothegrowingnumberof educatedlaymenandlaywomenwhowishtoreadtheBible ‘1' intelligentlyandreverently. (.L{LGGL1..1_17 Eachcommentarywillthereforehave (i)AnIntroductionstatingthebearingofmodern criticismandresearchuponthehistoricalcharacterofthe book,anddrawingoutthecontributionwhichthebook,asa O_I\.\\L~.'devme whole,makestothebodyofreligioustruth. (ii)Acarefulparaphraseofthetextwithnotesonthe moredifficultpassagesand,ifneedbe,excursusesonany “an1w \1.l5 'k”.'

a vi PREFATORYNOTE pointsofspecialimportanceeitherfordoctrine,orecclesi asticalorganization,orspirituallife.

ButthebooksoftheBiblearesovariedincharacterthat considerablelatitudeisneeded,astotheproportionwhichthe variouspartsshouldholdtoeachother.TheGeneralEditor willthereforeonlyendeavourtosecureageneraluniformity inscopeandcharacter:buttheexactmethodadoptedin eachcaseandthefinalresponsibilityforthestatementsmade willrestwiththeindividualcontributors.

BypermissionoftheDelegatesoftheOxfordUniversity PressandoftheSyndicsoftheCambridgeUniversityPress theTextusedinthisSeriesofCommentariesistheRevised VersionoftheHolyScriptures.

WALTERLOCK PREFACE

thecompilationofthisvolumeI haveendeavouredfirst ofalltoarriveatopinionsconcerningthemeaningand purposeoftheprophetindependently,asfaraspossible,of thosewhohaveprecededme.Itwasonlywhenthishad beendonethatI haveconsultedpreviouscommentators, inordertoseeifanypoints,whichoughttobenoted,had beenoverlooked;and,inallimportantcases,acknowledg mentsofindebtednesshavebeendulymade. InthestudyofanybookoftheBibleextremelyvaluable helpcanbeobtainedfromadiscreetuseofthemarginal referencestobefoundinmanyeditionsoftheRevised Version.IhaveconstantlyconsultedvariousDictionariesof theBibleaswellasthenewOxfordHebrewLexicon.No studentcanproperlymeasurethediflicultiesconnectedwith theHebrewtextofEzekiel,exceptbyacarefuluseofthe Septuagintversionwhichisinvaluableforthegreaterpart ofthisbook,eventhoughthetranslatorhasfailedtograsp, inpart,themeaningofsomeofthelaterchapters. ThedescriptionoftheidealTemplecanscarcelybe understoodwithouttheassistanceofillustrations,andfor thosetobefoundinthisvolumeI owegreatgratitudeto myfriendMrW.HiltonNash,F.R.I.B.A.,whosedrawings, carefullymadetoscale,will,I hope,materiallyassistthe reader.Conjectureshavehadtobehazardedoncertain pointsas,forinstance,wheretheactualpositionofsomeof viii PREFACE thechambersisnotgiven.Butnounnecessarytampering withthetexthasbeenattempted,norindeedisitrequired. Myworkhasbeenalabouroflovespreadoverseveral years.Itmust,fromthenatureofitssubjectmatter,be imperfect;butIhopethatitmayhelptomakethemeaning ofthisgreatprophetclearer.Suchasitis,I praythat itmaycontribute,initssmallmeasure,tothegloryofGod andthegoodofHisChurch. HENRYA.REDPATH CONTENTS

PAGE INTRODUOTIOE: l. TheProphetEzekiel,hislifeandcharacter. . xi 2. ThetextoftheBook...... xiv 3. TheChronologyoftheBook...... xv 4. Ezekiel’sstyle. . . . xvi IllustrationsofEzekiel’sstyle . . . . xvii 5. EzekielandthePentateuch...... xxi 6. EzekielandtheBookofJeremiah. . . . xxiv 7. EzekielandtheBookofDaniel. . . . . xxv 8. EzekielandtheApocalypseofStJohn. . . xxv 9. EzekielandtheBookofCommonPrayer. . . xxix

THETHEOLOGYorEZEKIEL: (a)Ezekiel’sideaofGod...... xxx (b)Manandman’ssinfulness...... xxxiv (0) Angels...... xxxvi (d)Ezekiel’sDayoftheLord...... xxxvi (0) Lifeafterdeath...... xxxvi (f)Ezekiel’sMessianicIdeas...... xxxvii

THECONDITIONorTHE.11stINTHETIMEorEZEKIEL. . xxxviii

COMMENTARY...... 1

INDEX...... 269 PLANS

I. GROUNaPLANorwasTEMPLEANDrrsCoun'rs. AtEnd

II.SscrronorCHAMBERS...... ,, ,,

III.SnmELEVATIONorwasAurmorBURNTOrrssmos,, ,,

ERRATUM

Page19,col.2,line4. ForZechariahreadZedekiah. INTRODUCTION

1. TheProphetEzekiel,hislifeandcharacter.Of EzekielwhoisreckonedasthethirdofthegreaterProphets,so calledinallprobabilityfromtheamountofpropheciesattributedto themwhichhavesurvived,weknowbutlittle.Ini. 2,3,an explanatorynoteinsertedtomakeclearwhoitisthatisspeakingin i. 1,heisdescribedas‘thepriest,thesonofBuzi.’Hisname, meaning‘Godstrengthens,’isnotacommonone,andonlyoccurs besides,inRV.undertheformJehezkel,asthatoftheleader ofthetwentiethofthetwenty-fourcoursesofpriestswhosenames aregivenin1 Chr.xxiv.16. ThenameHezekiah,‘Jehovahl strengthens,’isacorrespondingonewiththeotherdivineappella tionasitslastportion.OfBuzinothingisknown:theform suggestsa familyratherthananindividual’.SomeJewish authoritiesidentifyBuziwithJeremiah,whowascertainlyaprophet, perhapsbecauseoftheacquaintancewhichEzekielshewswiththe propheciesoftheelderprophet.Weknownothingofhisearly years,butfromhiswayofspeakingof‘ourcaptivity’21) wegatherthathewasoneofthosecarriededwithJehoiachin (2K.xxiv.10,11).Astohisageatthattimewecannotspeak withcertainty.Somehaveconsideredthatthethirtiethyearof i.1meantthethirtiethyearoftheprophet’slife,andholdthatit wasmostsuitablethattheprophet’scallandcareershouldhave begunattheverytimeofhislifeatwhich,hadhebeenatJerusalem,

1 TheDivineNameisprintedinthisformthroughoutthisvolume,asbeing themostfamiliartothereader. "' TheonlypersonsbearingthenameofHimintheQT.are(a)asonof Nshor(Gen.xxii.21);and(b)amanbelongingtothetribeofGad(1Chr.v.14). a. b xii INTRODUCTION hewouldhavecommencedtodischargehissacerdotaloflice.In Babyloniahewasplantedwithothersofhisownnationbythe banksofoneoftheirrigatingcanals,whichwascalledChebar,ata placecalledTel-abib(iii.15),wherehehadhisownhouse(viii.1). Theexactsiteofthisplaceisunknown.Hewasamarriedman, andthelossofhiswife,inasuddenandunexpectedway,wasmade, bydivineinstruction,alessontothepeople(xxiv.15—27).He spenttwenty-twoyearsinthedischargeofhispropheticaloflice. Beyondthat,andastothelengthofhislifeweknownothing. Theonlyallusiontohimintherestofthescripturesisthatmade bythesonofSirach(Ecclus.xlix.8,9):— ItwasEzekielwhosawthevisionofglory, WhichGodsheWedhimuponthechariotofthecherubim. HisvisionsofGodandofGod’sglorypresentedthemselvesto hismindsomewhatafterthefashionofthesculpturesofstrange andfantasticanimalswhichweretobeseenonthewallsoftheBaby lonianTemples.Wemusttakethemforwhattheyare,wecannot accuratelydefineorpourtraytheminblackandwhite.Wemay sumuptheintentionoftheprophetsdescriptioninthewordsof thePsalmist:—“InHistempleeverythingsaith1Glory”(Ps.xxix.9). Ezekielwasaboveallelseavisionary.Hewasoneoftheyoung men,tousethelanguageofJoel,whoundertheinfluenceofthe SpiritofGodsawvisions,andwho,ashegrewolder,dreamed dreamsofa futuretimeofgloryandprosperityforhisnation inarebuiltJerusalemwithanewandgloriousTemple,andina regeneratedland.Ofhismoralteachingwemustspeaklater.But histeachingandpreachingseemtohavehadbutlittleeffect,partly, perhaps,becausehishearerscouldnotunderstandhim,butalso becausetheyweresocrushedandoverwhelmedbytheircaptivity thattheydespairedofthereeverbeinganationalresurrectionsuch ashetriedtostimulatethemtobelievein.Hespokethetruthwith constancytohishearers,butjustbecauseofthattheydidnot accepthisteachinginsuchawayastogiveitanypracticaleffect. Oneofthemoststrikingmodesofthatteachingisthatinwhich hecarriedoutinactionsbeforethepeopleanoutlineofwhatwas happeningtotheircityduringthefinalsiege.Thereseemsno goodreasonfordoubtingtheactualperformanceofthesesymbolic acts.Weknowhow,wheremodernmeansofcommunicationare INTRODUCTION notavailable,newstravelsevento-daywithstartlingrapidity,and wemaywellimaginethatsuchwasthecasewithregardtothe eventsthatwereoccurringinPalestine.Atanyrate,inwhatever waythetidingscametohim,theprophetseemstohavebeenwell awareofallthatwaspassing,andbyhisactsmadeitknownto hisfellow-countrymen. Heseemstohavetakenagreatinterestingeographicaldetailsof thethenknownworld,outsidethoseportionsofitwhichhadcome withinhisownken.Hisknowledgeseemstohaveextendedto TarshishandtheshoresoftheMediterraneanononeside,Sheba inanotherdirection,thecountrybetweentheBlackSeaandthe Caspianinanother,andEgyptandLibyainyetanother.The chapter(xxvii.)dealingwiththecommercialintercourseofTyre withothercountriesshewsthis.Moreoverhispropheciesdonot dealonlywiththeJewishworld.Oneconsiderablesectionofthem containsdenunciationsofthechiefempires0ftheworld,andofother nations. Ezekielwasagreatidealist.Helookedforwardtoanideal conditionforhisnativelandunderanidealruleroftheoldreigning familyofDavid;heanticipatedareunitedkingdomandanideal restoredtemplewithitsservices.Hisownconnectionwiththe priestlyfamilyOfZadokledhimtoattachgreatimportancetothe maintenanceofthepublicserviceofGodwithallitsritesand ceremonies.Butwithhimallthiswasbutthehusk.Thekernel Oftherenewedlifeofthepeoplewastobespiritual,withadeep personalsenseofsinandofresponsibility.Withoutthisallelse wouldbevainanduseless. Thereremainstobeconsideredthetitle,SonOfman,whichis giventohimthroughoutthebook,andwhichoccursatthecom mencementofallhisprophecies.Ithasaspecialinterestbecause intheOldTestamentEzekiel,withtheexceptionofDaniel(viii.17), istheonlyindividualtowhomthetitleisapplied,andthat title,generallyinthemoredefiniteform,‘theSonOfman,’is appropriatedbyourLordtoHimselfinallthefourGospels, apparentlywithanimpliedreferencetoDan.vii.13: ‘therecame withthecloudsofheavenonelikeuntoasonofman’(thisidea isreproducedinRev.i.13:xiv.14).OutsidetheGospelthetitle isonlycertainlyusedofourLordonce,withoutanyexpression 62 xiv INTRODUCTION ofsimilitude,andthatbyS.Stephen:-—‘Behold,Iseetheheavens opened,andtheSonofmanstandingontherighthandofGod’ (Acts5,6).IntheOldTestamentitisusedgenerallyandnot particularly,e.g.inPs.viii.4. Whatisman,thatThouartmindfulofhim? Andthesonofman,thatThouvisitesthim? Insuchapassageasthisthetitle‘sonofman’implieshumility toGod-ward,butacertainsenseofsuperiorityinrelationtothe restofthenaturalworld. _ Itisscarcelywithinourprovinceheretodiscussthemeaningof thetitleintheNewTestament,thoughwemaysay,afterthe analogyofitsusejustquoted,thatitisanaccuratedesignationof OneWhowasmeekandlowlyamongthesonsofmen,andyet wasspirituallyexaltedabovealltherestofthosesonsofmen. Oftheprophet,also,wemaysay,thathisdesignationbythat titlewasintendedtoremindhimofhishumbleposition,whilstat thesametimeitindicatedtowhathighprivilegesofcommunion withGodhewastobeadmitted.Somethingofthissortmust certainlybeallowedtoitsconstantoccurrence,forthetitleisused aboutonehundredtimes. 2. ThetextoftheBook.TheHebrewtextofthisbook ismorecorruptthanthatofmanyportionsoftheOT.Thiswill appearinmanyofthenotesintheCommentary.Thetextcan veryoftenbeamendedbymeansoftheSeptuagint.Butthereare placeswherethemeaningofwords(e.g.pannagxxvii.17)cannot beascertained;andthearchitecturaldetailsofthelastchapters seemtohavepuzzledandconfusedthetranscriberofthepresent Massoretictext.Muchhasbeendonetowardstheelucidationof thesedifiiculties,especiallybyCornillinhisDasBuckdesPropketen Ezeclz-iel,Leipzig,1886.Attemptshavealsobeenmadeinthe EncyclopaediaBiblicatoaccommodatetheHebrewtexttothe ArabianandJerahmeelitetheorieswhichareemphasizedinthat work.Scarceranydoubthaseverbeencastevenbytheextremest criticsupontheunityandauthenticityofthebook,thoughafew glossesandinterpretativewordsornotesmayhavefoundtheirway intothetext.Itdoesnot,therefore,presentsuchproblemsfor discussionasmanyotherbooksofi'er. INTRODUCTION xv 3. TheChronologyoftheBook.Thewholeofthe propheciesofthisbookarearrangedinsectionseachofwhich beginswitha date.Ezekiel’sowncaptivityanddeportationis fixedfor3.0.597(i.1)— Hispropheciesaredated,asinthefollowingtable:

ZFrFFFEFEHerwPac.592(5thdayofthemonth) i.2-iii.15. no.592(12thdayofthemonth) iii.16-vii. 13.0.591(5thdayofthe6thmonth)viii—xix. 3.0.590(10thdayofthe5thmonth)xx.-xxiii. 3.0.588(10thdayofthe10thmonth)xxiv.,xxv. 13.0.586(lstdayofthemonth) xxvi—xxviii. 13.0.587(12thdayofthe10thmonth)xxix.1-16. 3.0.570(lstdayofthelstmonth)xxix.17—21. (reallypartofG‘) xxx.1—19. 3.0.586(7thdayofthelstmonth)xxx.20—26 3.0.586(1stdayofthe3rdmonth)xxxi. 3.0.585(lstdayofthe12thmonth)xxxii.1—16. 8.0.585(15thdayofthemonth) xxxii.l7—xxxiii.20. 13.0.585(5thdayofthe10thmonth)xxxiii.2l—xxxix. 3.0.572(10thdayofthemonth“in thebeginningoftheyear”) xl.-xlviii. Itwillbenoticedthatincertaincasesthenumberofthe monthisnotgiven.Thisisperhapsduetothefaultystateofthe textandisnotanoriginalomission.ExceptinAandBitcan almostcertainlybefilledup.InFthemonthisthelstasinI; inLthemonthisthe12thasinK. Thepropheciesareforthe mostpartarrangedintheorderoftheirdelivery,andthereisno reasontodoubtthatthisisgenerallycorrect.Theexceptionsare:— (a)SectionHisintroducedwhereitistocompletethestory aboutTyreandEgypt.Theinsertionofthisshortsectionseems toinvolvesomeconfusionwithregardtosectionsF,G',G"andI. TyreaswellasEgypthadtobedealtwithbeforeHcouldfollow, whilstatthesametimeananxietyismanifestedtointroduceit,as soonasthefirstprophecyconcerningEgyptisuttered.Hencethe dislocation. (b)SectionsKandLareinsertedbeforeMtocompletethe setofEgyptianprophecies.InLadateseemstohavedisappeared altogetheratxxxiii.1,forxxxiii.1—20hasobviouslynoconnection whateverwiththeprecedingprophecy. ItistobenotedthatthedateofEexactlycoincideswiththe xvi INTRODUCTION dategivenin2K.xxv.l forthecommencementofthesiegeof JerusaleminZedekiah’sreign. 4. Ezekiel'sstyle.Thefollowinglistofphrasesand expressionspeculiar,ornearlyso,totheprophet,willshewthathe hasadefinitestyleofhisown.Therearealsotobefoundcertain notablemodesofexpression.Heisfondofinterrogativeformsof sentence,e.g.viii.6“Sonofman,seestthouwhattheydo?”,and anoccasionaluseofinterjectionalsentences.Healso,whenthe opportunitypresentsitself,delightsinusing(a)proverbialaswell as(b)parabolicandallegoricalexpressions.Suchare:——(a)“The daysareprolonged,andeveryvisionfaileth”(xii.22); “the fathershaveeatensourgrapes,andthechildren’steethareseton edge”(xviii.2);“asisthemother,soisherdaughter”(xvi.44); and(b)“Agreateaglewithgreatwingsandlongpinions,fullof feathers,whichhaddiverscolours,cameuntoLebanon,andtookoff thetopofthecedar...”(xvii.3).Ezekielalsohasseveraldirgesor lamentationsoftheformcalledIrina/L,whichhavevariousrhythmic constructionsinHebrew.Theyoccurinxix.1: xxvi.17: xxvii. 2,32:xxviii.12:xxxii.2,andshouldbecomparedwiththe LamentationsofJeremiah,andthosein2 Sam.i. 19:iii.33: Am.v.1:Jer.ix.19. Toaddtoallthis,thedescriptionofsymbolicactionsandsym— bolicvisionsisaspecialcharacteristicofthisprophet.Wehave discussedelsewherethequestionwhethertheactionsdescribedwere allactuallycarriedout:itseemsmostprobablethattheywere. Astohisvisionsthecharacterofa clairvoyanthasoftenbeen assignedtotheprophet: wemaydeclareatanyratewithcertainty thathecouldreadindicationsofwhatwascomingfromwhatwas goingonaroundhim: andallthisisclearinhislanguageandmode ofexpression. INTRODUCTIONxvii

ILLUSTRATIONSOFEZEKIEL’SSTYLE. [Ineachcasetheexactformgivenisthatofthefirstpassagequoted] bytheriverGhebari.1: 15,23:x.15,20,22:xiiii.3. oin'onanGodi.1:viii.3:x].2. thehandoftheLordwasthereuponhimi.3:iii.14,22: 1: xxxiii.22:xxxvii.l:xi.1. a;thecolourofamberi.4,27:viii.2. Soanmanii.l,3,6,8:iii.1,3,4,10,17,25:iv.l,15:v.1:vi.2:vii2: viii.5,6,8,12,15,17:xi.2,15:xii.2,3,9,17,22,26:xiii.2,l7:xiv.3, 13:xv.2:xvi.2:xvii.2:xx.3,4,27,46:xxi.2,6,9,14,19,28:xxii.2, 18,24:xxiii.2,36:xxiv.2,16,25:xxv.2:xxvi.2:xxvii.2:xxviii.2, 12,21: xxix.2,18:xxx.2,21:xxxi.2;xxxii.2,18:xxxiii.2,7,10,12, 24,30:xxxiv.2:xxxv.2:xxxvi.l,17:xxxvii.3,9,ll,16:xxxviii.2, 14:xxxix.1:x1.4:xliii.7,10,18:xliv.5:xlvii.6. whethertheywillhear,orwhethertheywillforbearii.5,7:iii.11. rebellioushouee5,6,8: iii.9,26,27:xii.2,3,9,25:xvii.12:xxiv.3. shallknowthattherehathbeenaprophetamongthemii.5:xxxiii.33. thechildrenofthypeopleiii.11: xxxiii.Z12,17,30:xxxvii.18. thespiritliftedmeupiii.12,14:viii.3: xi.1,24:xliii.5. thereforehearthewordatmymouthandgivethemwarningfromme iii.17: xxxiii.7. whenIsayuntothewickediii.18:xxxiii.8. shalldieinhisiniquityiii.18: xviii.18 hisbloodwillIrequireiii.18,20:xxxiii.6,8. deliveredthysouliii.19,21: xiv.14,20:xxxiii.5,9. turnfromhisrighteousnessandcommitiniquityiii.20:xviii.24,26: xxxiii.18. hisrighteousdeedswhichhehathdoneshallnotberememberediii.20: xviii.24:xxxiii.l3. buildforte...oastupamountiv.2:xvii.17:xxi.22:xxvi.8. setthyfacetoward(against)iv.3,7:vi.2:xiii.17:xx.46:xxi.2:xxv.2: xxviii.21: xxix.2:xxxv.2:xxxviii.2. bear...iniquityiv.4,5,6:xliv.10,12. intheireight(beforetheireyes)iv.12:xii.3,4,5,6,7:xxi.6:xxxvii.20: xxxviii.16: 11;inthesightthhenationv.8:xxii.16. AhLordGod!iv.14:ix.8:xi.13:xx.49. breaktheatafl'bereadiv.16:v.16:xiv.13. theyshalleatbread...withcarefulness;andtheyshalldrinkwaler...with astonishmentiv.16:xii.19. pineawayintheiriniquityiv.17: xxiv.23: cp.xxxiii.10. [willdrawoutaawordafterthemv.2,12:xii.14. havedoneaftertheordinancesofthenationsthatareroundaboutyou v.7: xi.l2. xviii INTRODUCTION

Behold,Iamagainsttheev.8:xiii.8:xxi.3:xxvi.3:xxviii.22:xxix.3,10: xxx.22:xxxiv.10:xxxv.3:xxxviii.3:xxxix.l. ezecutejudgementainthemidstthheev.8,10:xi.9:xvi.41:xxiii.10. scatteruntoallthewindsv.10;scattertowardeverywindxii.14:xvii. 21; scattertothewindv.2 asIlive,saiththeLordGodv.11:xiv.16,18,20:xvi.48:xvii.16, 19:xviii.3. defilemysanctuaryv.11: xx.3,31,33:xxiii.39: xxxiii.11,27:xxxiv.8: xxxv.6,11. detestablethings...abominationsv.11: vii.20:xi.18,21. neithershallmineeyespare,andIalsowillhavenopityv.11: vii.4,9: viii.18:ix.5,10:cp.xx.17. accomplishangerv.13:vi.12:vii.8:xx.8,21. satisfymyfuryv.13:xvi.42:xxi.l7:xxiv.13. Ihavespokeninmyzeal(jealousy)v.13:xxxvi.6: xxxviii.19. furiousrebukesv.15:xxv.l7. evil(noisome)beastsv.17: xiv.15,21: xxxiv.25. mountainsQ/‘Israelvi.2,3:xix.9:xxxiii.28:xxxiv.13,14:xxxv.12: xxxvi.l,4,8:xxxvii.22:xxxviii.8: xxxix.2,4,17. ThussaiththeLordGodtothemountainsandtothehills,tothewater coursesandtothevalleysvi.3:xxxvi.4:cp.xxxvi.6. knowthatIamtheLordvi.7,10,13,14:vii.4,27:xi.10,12:xii.I5,16, 20:xiii.9,14,21,23:xiv.8:xv.7:xvi.62:xx.20,26,38,42,44: xxii.16:xxiii.49:xxiv.24,27:xxv.5,7,11,17:xxvi.6:xxviii.22, 23,24,26:xxix.6,9,16,21: xxx.8,19,25,26:xxxii.l5:xxxiii.29: xxxiv.27:xxxv.9,15:xxxvi.11,23,38:xxxvii.6,13,28:xxxviii.23: xxxix.6,7,22,28. theyshallloathethemselvesintheirownsightfortheevilswhichthey havecommithvi.9:xx.43:cp.xxxvi.31. stretchoutminehanduponvi.l4:xxv.7,13,16:xxxv.3. iudge...aeeordingto...'waysvii.3,8:xviii.30:xxxiii.20. br-ing...wayupon...vii.4:ix.10:xi.21:xvi.43:xxii.31. pourout...furyuponvii.8:ix.8:xiv.19:xx.8,13,21:xxii.22: xxxvi.18. allhandsshallbefeeble,andallkneesshallbeweakaswatervii.17:xxi.7. stumblingblockQf...in-iquityvii.19:xiv.3,4,7:xliv.12. theeldersofJudah(Israel)satbeforemeviii.1: xiv.1: xx.1. commitabominationviii.6,17:xviii.12. theglorythlwGodofIsraelviii.4:ix.3:x.19:xi.22:xliii.1;the gloryoftheLordi.28:iii.12,23:x.4,5,18:xi.23:xliii.4,5:xliv.4. thethingsthatcomeintoyourmindxi.5: xx.32:xxxviii.10. makeafullendxi.13:xx.17. Iwillputanewspiritwithinyou;andIwilltakethestonyheartout oftheirflesh,andwillgivethemanheartoffleshxi.19:xxxvi.26. theyshallbemypeopleandIwillbetheirGodxi.20:xiv.11:xxxvi.28: xxxvii.23.

,IJ-“WM—fw'"”~rNWJ-__‘J INTRODUCTION xix stufl'forremovingxii.3,4,7. asIwascommandedxii.7:xxiv.18: xxxvii.7. Mynet...willIspreaduponhim,andheshallbetakeninmysnare:and IwillbringhimtoBabylonxii.13: xvii.20:cp.xix.8: xxxii.3. seevanity...dim'neliesxiii.9:xxi.29:xxii.28. enterintothelandofIsraelxiii.9:xx.38. daub...withuntemperedmortar10,ll,14,15:xxii.28. anoverflowingshowerxiii.ll,13: xxxviii.22. setthyfaceagainstxiii.17: xiv.8:xv.7:xxix.2:xxxv.2. Returnyeandturnyourseloeefromxiv.6: xviii.30. commitatrespassxiv.13:xv.8:xx.27;trespassatrespassxvii.20: xviii.24. causetoknowherabominationsxvi.2:xx.4: 2. nakedandbarexvi.7,22,39: xxiii.29. broideredworkxvi.10,13:xxvii.7,16,24;broideredgarmentsxvi.18: xxvi.16. deckwithornamentsxvi.11: xxiii.40. putbraceletsupon...hands...andabeautifulcrownupon...headxvi.11: xxiii.42. didstsetmineoilandmineincensexvi.18: xxiii.41. causetopassthroughthefirexvi.21: xx.26,31: xxiii.37. multiplywhoredomxvi.26,29:xxiii.19. women...thatshedbloodxvi.38: xxiii.45. striptheeofthyclothesandtakethyfairjewelsxvi.39: xxiii.26. bringupanassemblyagainstxvi.40:xxiii.46. commitlewdnessxvi.43:xxii.9. usethisproverbxvi.44:xviii.2,3. bearthineownshamexvi.52,54:xxxii.24,25,30:xxxiv.29:xxxvi.6, 7: xxxix.26:xliv.l3;bearthylewdnessxvi.58: xxiii.35. dodespiteuntotheexvi.57: xxviii.24,26. despisethe0ath...breakthecovenantxvi.59:xvii.15,16,18,19. ItheLordhavespokenitxvii.21:xxi.17,32:xxiv.14:xxvi.14:xxx. 12:xxxiv.24;[havespokenitxxiv.14:xxvi.5:xxviii.10;xxxix.5; ItheLordhavespokenandhavedoneitxvii.24:xxii.l4: xxxvi.86: xxxvii.14. themountainoftheheightofIsraelxvii.23: xx.40:xxxiv.14. eatenuponthemountainsxviii.6,ll,15:xxii.9. liftupeyestotheidolsxviii.6,12,15:xxxiii.25. restorethepledgexviii.7,l2:xxxiii.15. hathtakenincreasexviii.B,13:xxii.12. shallberememberedagainsthimxviii.22:xxxiii.16. havepleasureinthedeathxviii.23,32:xxxiii.11. Yetyesay,ThewayoftheLordisnotequalxviii.25:xxxiii.17,20: cp.xviii.29. Whentherighteousmanturnethawayfromhisrighteousness,and committethiniquity,heshalldiethereinxviii.26: 18. xx INTRODUCTION

Whenthewickedmanturnethawayfromhiswickednessanddeaththat whichislawfulandrightxviii.27: xxxiii.19: cp.xxxiii.14. forwhywillyedie,0houseofIsrael.9xviii.31: xxxiii.11. takeupalamentationforxix.l:xxvi.17:xxvii.2,32:xxviii.12:xxxii.2. wiltthoujudge...wiltthoujudge?xx.4:xxii.2:cp.xxiii.36. liftedupminehand(unto)xx.5,6,15,23,28,42:xxxvi.7: xlvii.l4. knowthatIamtheLordthatsanctifyxx.12:xxxvii.28. profanemysabbath:xx.13,16,21,24:xxii.8:xxiii.38. Iwillbesanctifiedinyouxx.41:xxviii.22,25:xxxvi.23:xxxviii.16: xxxix.27. behold,itcometh,anditshallbedone,saiththeLordGodxxi.7: xxxix.8. inthetimeoftheiniquityoftheendxxi.25:xxxv.5. Iwillblowupontheewiththefireofmywrathxxi.31: xxii.21. thebloodycityxxii.2:xxiv.6,9. scatteramongthenationsxxii.l5:xxxvi.19. difl'erencebetweentheholyandthecommon...caueedmentodiscern betweentheuncleanandthecleanxxii.26:xliv.23. Ahal xxv.3:xxvi.2:xxxvi.2. despiteofsoulxxv.6,l5: xxxvi.5. aplaeeforthespreadingofnetsxxvi.5,14: xlvii.10. shakeatthesoundofhisfallxxvi.l5: xxxi.16. theyshalltremble(at)everymomentxxvi.16:xxxii.10. thenetherpartsoftheearthxxvi.20:xxxi.14,16,18:xxxii.18,24. withthemthatgodowntothepitxxvi.20:xxxi.14:xxxii.18,24. inthelandofthelivingxxvi.20: xxxii.23,24,25,26,27,32. perfectinbeautyxxvii.3:xxviii.12;haveperfectedthybeautyxxvii. 4,11. theirkingsarehorriblyqfraidxxvii.35:xxxii.10. thouartbecomeaterror,andthoushaltneverbeanymorexxvii.36: xxviii.19:cp.xxvi.21. theterribleofthenationsxxviii.7:xxx.11: xxxi.12:xxxii.12. thegardenQ/‘Godxxviii.13:xxxi.8,9. Iwillputhooksinthyjawsxxix.4: xxxviii.4. IwillscattertheEgyptiansamongthenations,andwilldieperaethem throughthecountn'eaxxix.12:xxx.23,26. theprideofherpowerxxx.6,18: xxxiii.28. yearofourcaptivityxxxiii.21: x1.1. Iwillmakewiththemacovenantofpeacexxxiv.25: xxxvii.26. noneshallmakethemqfraidxxxiv.28: xxxix.26. willbringyouintoyourownlandxxxvi.24:xxxvii.21: cp.xxxvii.12. Iwillputmyspiritwithinyouxxxvi.27: xxxvii.14. Iwillturntheeaboutxxxviii.4: xxxix.2. theutter-moatpartsofthenorthxxxviii.6,15: xxxix.2. beholdwiththineeyes,andhearwiththineearsx1.4:xliv.6. thekeepersofthechargeofthehousex1.45:xliv.14. theseparateplacexli.12,13,14,15:xlii.l,10,13.

.me*_wfl: *w-aMaiHaj,—w, I, u...“ INTRODUCTION xxi

shallenterbythewayoftheporchofthegatexliv.3:xlvi.2. whenthechildrenofIsraelwentastrayxliv.15:xlviii.11: cp.xliv.10.

NB.Insomecasestheseexpressionsoccuralsoinotherbooks,but nonethelesstheymaybesaidtobecharacteristicofEzekiel.

5. EzekielandthePentateuch.Noonecandoubtfor amomenttheintimateconnectionbetweenEzekielandthoseparts ofthePentateuchwhichareascribedbymoderncriticstoPandD. Butthattherearealsopassageswhichshewaknowledgeofthe otherpartsoftheTorahoratanyrateofitshistoryisalsoclear. ThedestructionofSodom(J)isdistinctlyreferredto(xvi.49,50). ThedescriptionofCanaanasalandflowingwithmilkandhoney comesoriginallyfromJ(Ex.iii.8),thoughitoccursalsoinP,and thereseemstobeadistinctallusiontoGen.xlix.10(J)inxxi.27: ‘untilhecomewhoserightitis.’Thelistofthepeoplesengaged incommercewithTyre(xxvii.)usesthepartsofGen.x.whichare assignedtoJaswellasthoseassignedtoP:andthisistruealso ofthecountriesmentionedinxxxviii.andmightbeusedasacontri butoryargumenttowardsprovingthatEzekielknewthePentateuch practicallyintheformthatitnowhas.Therearepoints,andthis perhapsisthemostdifficultcasetodealwith,commontoEzekiel’s ‘Eden,thegardenofGod’ (xxviii.13171,xxxi.8,9,16,18)andthe EdenofJ(Gen.ii.,iii.),butotherpartsoftheprophet’slanguage givetheideathatithasbeeninfluencedbyhisBabyloniansur roundings.Theideaofspiritualfornication,morethanonce occurringinEzekiel,ismetwithfirstinJE,asisalsothecon demnationofusuryandwithholdingofpledges(Ex.xxii.21,26 comparedwithxviii.7,8,13).Thesmitingofthehandstogether inwrath 14,17)occursfirstinJE(Num.xxiv.10). ItisnottheprovinceofacommentatoruponEzekieltodiscuss thedatesofthevariousdocumentswhicharesupposedtounderlie ourpresentPentateuch:butitdoesfallwithinhisprovinceto considerwhetherEzekielisdependentuponDandP,orPandD aredependentuponEzekiel.AstoD,thoughProfessorKennett (JournalofTh.Studies,July1906)hasarguedinfavourofanexilic dateforDeuteronomy,hisargumentsseeminconclusive,andthegreat majorityofcriticswouldallowthatDistheseniordocument.But withreferencetoP,betweenwhichandtheprophetthereisamuch

m<-~,._<<_, ..,,_N“ _~ ’\ _ xxii INTRODUCTION moreintimateconnection‘,opinionismuchmoreevenlydivided. Indiscussingthequestion,ithastoberemembered,withreference tochaps.xl.-xlviii.,thatitisequallypossibleforanidealtobe evolvedfromaworkingsystem,asforaworkingsystemtobeevolved fromanideal.Oneofthebestdiscussionsofthesubjectistobe foundinMoller’sAretheCriticsRight?(Eng.tr.R.T.S.1903), towhichthepresentwriterisgreatlyindebted.Inhisopinion themosteasywaytodeterminebetweenthetwoviewsistotest themwithreferenceinparticulartoEz.xL—xlviii.,andthiswilllead ustotheconclusionthat,wheretheymeet,theindicationsare mostfavourabletoEzekiel’sidealbeingthelaterofthetwo.Itis obvious,tobeginwith,thatEzekiel’sidealdoesnotprofesstogive acompletelegislation:hepresupposestheknowledgeofprevious legislationofawidercharacterthanhisown. Otherwisewearecompelledtobelievethatheintendedto abrogatecertainprovisionsofHebrewlawwhichareuniversally acknowledgedtohavebeenbindingbeforetheregulationsofPwere committedtowriting,e.g.theobservanceofthefeastofweeks.In onecase,atleast,heactuallyrunscounternottoP,buttowhatis supposedtobemuchearlierlegislation—thatabouttheapproachto thealtarbysteps(xliii.17comparedwithEz.xx.26).Arewe thentosaythatEzekielisearlierthanthislegislation?Thiswould followfromtheargumentsusedwithreferencetoP. Againindiscussingthisquestionwehavetoansweranother. Wouldamoresystematiclegislationfollowalesssystematicorvice versri?Theanswertothisquestionisnotadifficultonetomake. Themoresystematicwouldbethelater: ifwelookintoitweshall findthatEzekielismoresystematic,e.g.inxlv.24,xlvi.5,7: therefore wemayconcludethatEzekielisthelater. Again,ifanidealwasinexistence,andoneputforthwithall theauthorityofarecognizedprophetoftheLord,whatrightwould thepriestlybodyhave,whoafterallwereonlyanexecutivebody, topublishalmostcontemporaneously,acounterschemeoflegislation tothatwhichhadbeenpromulgatedwithwhatclaimedtobedivine

1 Thereareperhapsabout60passagesinwhichaconnectionwithPmaybe traced.ThechiefsectionsinwhichthereisthisconnectionwithP,orwith D,orwithboth,occurinchaptersiv.,v.,xiv.,xvi.,xx.,xxii.,xxvii.,xxxiv., xl.-xlviii.

raw-4””’4———‘~“‘ ‘ INTRODUCTIONxxiii sanction?Nonewhatever: andwearedrivenatoncetothesame conclusionthatPwastheearlier,andthatnotonlyonthebasisof P,butwiththerecognitionoftheexistenceofotherpreviouslegis lationofgreaterantiquitythanmostcriticswouldbedisposedto allow,Ezekielframedhisidealofworshipforanidealtemplereared inanidealPalestine,andclaimedforitdivinesanction.Thatits idealcharacterwasrecognizedisprovedbythefactthatthesecond templewasneveracknowledgedtobeidenticalwithEzekiel’stemple, andthereforenoattemptwasmadetocarryouthisideallegisla tion,whichwasneverintendedtobeenforcedtillhisidealtemple couldbeerected.Ifanylaterlegislationhadbeentakeninhand,it musthavebeenexactlyonthelinesoftherevelationtotheprophet. InthepresentsectionIhavedealtonlywiththepriorityofone codetotheotherandwithnootherargumentsaboutthedateofP as,forinstance,that,ifithadbeenpre-exilic,weshouldhavefound itrigidlyobserved. Thereis,however,anotherquestionwhicharisesandwhichhas causeddifficultyinconnectionwithD—thedegradationofcertain ‘Levites,’fromwhich,itis concluded,beganthedistinction betweenthepriestsandLevites,suchasiscertainlylaiddownin thelegislationofP. Itisassumedthatthese‘Levitcs’were priests.Iftheywere,atanyratetheywerenotofthesonsofZadok, forwearetoldofthese(xliv.24)thattheyremainedfaithful.They couldonly,then,bethesonsofAbiathar,theAbiatharwhohad beenthrustoutbySolomonfrombeingpriestButlittlethatis definitecanbearguedaboutthepersonsmentionedbyEzekiel. Theyarenotevenassertedtobepriestsatall,andareonlycalled Levites,whereastheorthodoxlineofpriestsarecalled‘thepriests theLevites’inexactagreementwiththeusageofDent.(xvii.9: xviii.l: xxiv.8: xxvii.9),or‘thepriests...fromamongthesonsof Levi.’N0expressconclusion,therefore,canbedrawnaboutthese degradedpersonsfromthetextofEzekielinitspresentcondition, forEzekielcouldhardlyhavespokenofthemas‘Levites’ifthere werenoLevitesotherthantheZadokianpriests.Furtherpar ticularsmaybefoundinthecommentaryonthepassage‘. 1 Oneproblemwhichatpresentseemsinsolubleis:-—Whyistherenohigh priestinEzekiel’slegislation?Isitthatinsomewayorotheritisintended that'theprince’ shouldbetheheadofthenewJewishChurchaswellasof theJewishState?Thepresentwriteronlythrowsthisoutasasuggestion. xxiv INTRODUCTION

6. EzekielandtheBookofJeremiah.Jeremiahand Ezekielwerecontemporaries,thoughJeremiahwastheseniorofthe two.Wehavenoinformationthattheyhadevermetorseenone anotherbeforethedeportationofEzekiel.Buttheyhavepointsof contactintheirpropheciesandthemostreasonableviewisto supposethattheyoungerprophetknewsomethingoftheutterances oftheelder,whilsttheelderalsotakesupexpressionsofthe younger‘.Thiswouldbequiteaneasymatter,forcommunication wasconstantbetweentheexilesandthoseleftbehindinJerusalem. Tobothprophets‘thenorth’wasthesourceoftroubleand misfortune(e.g.Ez.xxvi.7comparedwithJer.i.14).Thefollowing expressionsmaybenoticedinthetwoprophets:— [TheexactformofEnglishwordsquotedbelowisthatofthefirst passage] Benotafraidofthem(Jer.i.8: Ezek.ii.6). shalldieinhisiniquity(Jer.xxxi.30:Ezek.iii.18,19:xviii.18). Ilayastumblingblockbeforehim(Jer.vi.21:Ezek.iii.20). Iwillgivethemoneheart(Ezek.xi.19: Jer.xxxii.39). Behold,Iamagainstyou(Ezek.xiii.8: Jer.xxi.13). saying,Peace,peace;whenthereisnopeace(Jer.vi.14:Ezek. 10: cp.xiii.16). toplaytheharlot(Jer.ii.20:iii.1,6:Ezek.xvi.15). talusupalamentation(Jer.vii.29:Ezek.xix.1,etc.) tosmiteuponthethigh(Jer.xxxi.19:Ezek.xxi.12). theyarebrassandiron(Jor.vi.28:Ezek.xxii.18). inmineangerandinmyfury(Ezek.xxii.20:Jer.xxxiii.5). thewoundedgroan(Jer.Ii.52:Ezek.xxvi.15). wallowinashes(Jer.vi.26:cp.xxv.34:Ezek.xxvii.30). shallfallupontheopenfield(Jel'.ix.22: Ezek.xxix.5). allthemingledpeople(Jor.xxv.20:l.37: Ezek.xxx.5). Woeuntotheshepherds(Jer.xxiii.l:Ezek.xxxiv.2). Iwillsetupshepherdsoverthemwhichshallfeedthem(Jer. 4: Ezek.xxxiv.23). servethemselvesofhim(Jer.xxx.8: Ezek.xxxiv.27). havingneitherbarsnorgates(Jer.xlix.31:Ezek.xxxviii.11). Iwillcallforasword(Jer.xxv.29:Ezek.xxxviii.21). Thefollowingversesmayalsobecompared:—vii.15with Jer.xiv.18; xiii.23withJet.xxiii.14; xxxix.17withJet.xii.9. Thefollowingpointsarealsoworthyofnotice.Thename

1 Inthefollowinglistofphrasestheprophetsarenamedineachcaseinthe chronologicalorderoftheirprophecies. INTRODUCTIONxxv AzzurwhichonlyoccurselsewhereinNeh.x.17occursinboth prophets(Ez.xi.1:Jer.xxviii.1):andPekod,ifitisagenuine name,onlyoccursinJer.l.21: Ezek.xxiii.23.Theformofargu mentofJer.xv.1‘ThoughMosesandSamuelstoodbeforemeyet...’ isadoptedinEzek.xiv.14‘thoughthesethreemen,Noah,Daniel, andJobwereinit...’Bothquotethesameproverb: ‘Thefathers haveeatensourgrapes,andthechildren’steetharesetonedge’ (Jer.xxxi.29:Ezek.xviii.2). ThesectionaboutOholahand Oholibah(Ezek.xxiii.)isadevelopmentofJer.iii.6—11. '7. EzekielandtheBookofDaniel.Thereseemsno reasontodoubtthattheDanielofEzekiel(xiv.14,20:xxviii.3)is theprophet:thelastpassageseemstoindicatethisclearly.Itis alsoevidentthatthelanguageofthelaterpropheciesowessome thingtoEzekiel.Afewcoincidencesmaybequoted:—

Eznxmn DANIEL. i.16 likeuntothecolourofaberyl,x.6 liketheberyl. cp.x.9. i.26astheappearanceofaman. viii.15 astheappearanceofaman. ii.1etc.Sonofman. viii.17 0sonofman. ii.9 anhandwasputforthuntox.10ahandtouchedme. me. ix.2 oneman...clothedinlinen. x.5 amanclothedinlinen,cp.xii. 6,7. xii.27Thevision...isformanydaysviii.26thevision: foritbelongeth tocome. tomanydaystocome,cp.x. 14. xvii.23 intheshadowoftheiv.12 thefowlsoftheheaven branchesthereofshallthey dweltinthebranchesthereof. dwell. xxvi.7 KingofKings(ofNebu-ii.37 KingofKings(ofthesame). chadrezzar). xxxi.1-9TheAssyriancomparediv.10—22Nebuchadrezzarcompared toacedar. toatree. xxxi.10hisheartisliftedup. v.20hisheartwasliftedup. Theabovequotationsdonotadequatelyrepresenttheinfluence whichtheapocalypticportionsofEzekielhavehaduponDaniel. Torealiseitswholeforce,theyshouldbereadtogether. 8. EzekielandtheApocalypseofStJohn.N0reader ofthesetwobookscanfailtoseehowmuchthelanguageand imageryoftheApocalypsehasbehinditthatofEzekiel.DrSwete, xxvi INTRODUCTION inhiseditionoftheApocalypse(1906),quotes29passagesfromthe Revelation,comparingthelanguagewiththatoftheSeptuagint, butwithoutprofessingtobeexhaustive.Innocasearethewords a quotation,theyareanassimilationofthelanguageofthe prophet.Thefollowinglistcontainsasomewhatlargernumber ofcoincidences.

Eznxrsr. REVELATION. i.l theheavenswereopened. xix.11 Isawtheheavenopened. i.6—10outofthemidstthereof...iv.6—8inthemidst...fourliving fourlivingcreatures...theface creatures...likea lion...likea ofaman...ofalion...ofanex... calf...afaceasofaman...like ofaneagle(cp.x.14thefaceof aflyingeagle. aman...ofalion...ofaneagle). i.7thesoleoftheirfeet...likethei. 15 hisfeetlikeuntoburnished colourofburnishedbrass(cp.xi. brass(cp.ii.18hisfeetarelike 3liketheappearanceofbrass). untoburnishedbrass). i.13 outofthefirewentforthiv.5 outofthethroneproceed lightning. lightninss i. 18 fullofeyesroundaboutiv.8 fullofeyesroundabout (cp.x.12). (cp.iv.6fullofeyesbeforeand behind). i.22likethecolouroftheterribleiv.6 likeuntocrystal. crystal. i.24likethenoiseofgreatwatersi.15 hisvoiceasthevoiceofmany (cp.xliii.2hisvoicewaslike waters; cp.xiv.2avoice...as thesoundofmanywaters). thevoiceofmanywaters;xix.6 thevoice...asthevoiceofmany waters. i.26alikenessastheappearancei.13 onelikeuntoasonofman. ofaman(cp.Gkofviii.2). i.28 astheappearanceofthebowiv.3 arainbowroundaboutthe (i.e.therainbow). throne;cp.x.1 therainbow. whenIsawitIfell. i.17 whenIsawhimIfell. ii.8 eatthatIgivethee(ie.aroll1:.9 eatitup(Le.thelittlebook). ofabook). ii.9,10 anhand...arollofabookv. 1 intherighthand...abook wastherein...itwaswritten writtenwithinandontheback. withinandwithout 1—3eat...thybelly....Thendid1:.9,10eat...thybelly...I...ateit I eatit;anditwasinmy up;anditwasinmymouth mouthashoneyforsweetness.sweetashoney. vii.2 thefourcornersoftheearth.vii.l thefourcornersoftheearth (soxx.8). ix.4 amarkupontheforeheads.vii.3 ontheirforeheads;cp.ix.4 INTRODUCTION "

EEKXEL. Rsvnm'nos. thesealofGodontheirfore heads,xiv.1:xxii.4. ix.ll(Gk)clothedwithhisgarmenti.13 clothedwithagarmentdown downtothefoot,andgirtabout tothefoot,andgirtaboutat theloinswithhisgirdle,cp. thebreastswithagoldengirdle. ix.2(Gk). xiv.21 theswordandthefaminevi.8 withsword.landwithfamine, andthenoisomebeastsandthe andwithdeath(R.V.marg. pestilence(cp.v.12:xxix.5: pestilence),andbythewild xxxiv.28). beastsoftheearth. xxvi.13 thesoundofthyharpsxviii.22thevoiceofharpers...shall shallbenomoreheard(cp.Gk). beheardnomoreatallinthee. xxvi.21 shaltthouneverbefoundxviii.21 andshallbefoundnomore again. atall. xxvii.9 theshipsofthesea. xviii.19 theirshipsinthesea. xxvii.29-33themariners...shallxviii.17—19mariners...theycast cry...andshallcastdustupon dustontheirheads,andcried, theirheads...andtheyshall weepingandmourning. weep...withbittermourning. xxviii.l3 sardins...topaz...beryl...iv.3 jasper...sardius...en1erald. jasper...sapphire...emerald.xxi.19,20 jasper...sapphire... emerald...sardius...beryl...topaz. xxxi.8 anytreeinthegardenof ii.7 thetreeoflife,whichisin God. theParadise(RV.marg.gar den)ofGod. xxxiv.23Heshallbetheirshepherd.vii.17 theLamb...shallbetheir shepherd. xxxiv.24 I theLordwillbetheirxxi.3 thetabernacleofGodiswith God;cp. 27Mytaber men...andtheyshallbehis naclealsoshallbewiththem; peoples,andGodhimselfshall andI willbetheirGod,and bewiththem,andbetheirGod. theyshallbemypeople. xxxvii.9 thefourwinds. vii.1 thefourwindsoftheearth. xxxvii.10(cp.5)thebreathcamexi.11 thebreathoflifefromGod intothemandtheylived,and enteredintothem,andthey stoodupupontheirfeet. stoodupontheirfeet. xxxviii.2 Gog...Mag0g. xx.8 GogandMagog. 22andwithblood...greatviii.7 hailandfiremingledwith hailstones,fireandbrimstone.blood. xiv.10 fireandbrimstone(cp.xx. 10:xxi.8). xxxix.17,18,20Speakuntothe xix.17,18 sayingtoallthebirds birdsofeverysort...Assemble...Oomeandbegatheredto yourselvesandcome;gather getheruntothegreatsupper... yourselves...agreatsacrifice...thatyemayeatthefleshof

B. 6 xxviii INTRODUCTION

Eznxrnn. Rmnx'nox. thatyemayeatflesh...Yeshall kings...andthefleshofmighty eatthefleshofthemighty...men...horses...allmen. theprincesoftheearth...horses ...mightymen...allmenofwar. xl.2 InthevisionsofGodbroughtxxi.10 hecarriedmeawayinthe heme...averyhighmountain...spirit...amountaingreatand acity. high...theholycity. xi.3,5 ameasuringreed. xi.1 a reedlikeuntoa rod... measurethetemple(cp.xxi.15). xliii.2 theearthshinedwithhis xviii.1 theearthwaslightened glory. withhisglory. xliii.16 squareinthefoursidesxxi.16 liethfoursquare. thereof. xlvil.l watersissuedoutfromunderxxii.1 ariverofwater...proceeding thethreshold. outofthethrone. xlvii.12thewatersthereofissue outofthesanctuary. xlvii.12(cp.7) bytheriveruponxxii.2 onthissideoftheriverand thebankthereof,onthisside onthatwasthetreeoflife,... andonthatside,shallgrow yieldingitsfruiteverymonth: everytreeformeat...itshall andtheleavesofthetreewere bringforthnewfruitevery forthehealingofthenations. month...andtheleafthereof (shallbe)forhealing. xlviii.31—34thegatesofthecityxxi.10—13theholycity...having shallbeafterthenamesofthe twelvegates...andnameswritten tribesofIsrael;threegates thereon,whicharethenamesof northward...andattheeast thetwelvetribesofthechildren side...threegates...andatthe ofIsrael:ontheeastwerethree southside...threegates...atthe gates;andonthenorththree westsidethreegates. gates;andonthesouththree gates;andonthewestthree gates. xlviii.35 thenameofthecity. iii.12thenameofthecity.

Note. Inthisconnectionitmaybementionedthatverylittletraceof Ezekiel’spropheciesistobefoundintherestofthebooksofthe NewTestament‘.

1 Thefollowingcomparisonsoflanguagemaybemade:—ii.1 withActs xxvi.16;ix.6with1 Pet.iv.17;xi.19,xxxvi.26with2Cor.iii.3;xii.2 withMk 18;xvii,23withMkiv.32;xx.41withEph.v.2,Phil.iv.18; INTRODUCTIONxxix Itisprobablebutnotcertainthatthewordsin2 Cor.vi.16 ‘IwillbetheirGod,andtheyshallbemypeople,’partofa sentenceintroducedbytheexpression‘asGodsaid,’areaquotation fromEzek.xxxvii.27(cp.however,Ex.vi.7 andotherpassages); butthereisnootheractualquotationfromourbook.Whetherthis hadanyconnectionwiththefactthatinsomeJewishcirclesthe canonicityofthebookwasdisputedisdoubtful. Itmighthavebeenexpectedthattheapocalypticportionsofthe Apocrypha,andespecially2Esdras,wouldshewanacquaintancewith Ezekiel.Thenearestapproachestoitare2Esdr.xiv.38compared withEzek.ii.8,and2Esdr.ii.34withEzek.xxxiv.23g andthe ‘preciousstones’ andgoldofEzek.xxviii.13andTob.xiii.16,17.

9. EzekielandtheBookofCommonPrayer.Thisbook isreadinordinarycourseontwoSundaysandpartofanotherin theyear. Myrrms. Evassoso. 18thSundayafterTrinity ii.orxiii.tov.17. 19th ,, ,, xiv. xviii.orxxiv.v.15. 20th ,, ,, xxxiv. xxxvii. andportionsofitarereadinthedailylessonsfromAugust27to Sept.13(inclusive). Inadditiontothis,onWhitsundayoneofthealternative eveninglessonsisEzek.xxxvi.v.25,withitsallusionstothe‘new spirit’;onTuesdayinEasterWeekatEvensongEzek.xxxvii.to 'v.15isreadwithitsdescriptionoftheresurrectioninthevalleyof drybones;onStMark’sdayEzek.i.to'0.15,partofEzekiel’s visionofthe‘fourlivingcreatures' ofteninterpretedtypicallyof thefourEvangelists;andonStPeter’sdayEzek.iii.0.4tov.15, themissionoftheprophettotherebellioushouseofIsrael. Lastly,thesentenceveryoftenheardatthecommencementof MorningandEveningPrayerandstandingfirstofallistakenfrom ourprophet(xviii.27):— ‘Whenthewickedmanturnethawayfromhiswickednessthathe hathcommitted,anddoeththatwhichislawfulandright,heshall savehissoulalive.’ xxviii.2with2Th.ii.4;xxxiv.2,8,10withJude12;xxxiv.5withMt.ix.36, Mkvi.34;xxxiv.16withLk.xix.10;xxxiv.23,xxxvii.24withJohnx.16; xxxvii.26withHeb. 20. c2 xxx INTRODUCTION

THETHEOLOGYOFEZEKIEL. Ezekiel’spositionasareligiousteacherisinsomerespectsfarin advanceofthosewhoprecededhim.Itwillbewellthereforetotry toestimatewhatthatpositionwasinordertorealisehispresen tationofreligiontohisfellow-countrymenaroundhim.Thisis' bestdonebyconsideringvariousaspectsofthatreligion. (a)Ezekiel’sideaofGod.Itmaybeusefulfirstofallto considerhisuseofthenamesofGod.Thefollowingarethenames thatoccurinthisbook;thefiguresafterthenamesrepresentthe numberofoccurrencesofeach:— El(2),Elohim(22),Elohe-Israel(7),El-Shaddai(1),Shaddai (1),Adonai(4),Jehovah(209),JehovahElohimwithapossessive sufiixattachedtoElohim(8),AdonaiJehovah,Jehovahbearingin theHebrewthevowelpointsofElohim(217). ThesearerepresentedintheEnglishbythefollowingnames:— God,God,theGodofIsrael,GodAlmighty,theAlmighty,the Lord,theLoan,theLoanyour(their)God,theLordGon. ItisobviousatoncehowveryseldomEzekielusesthegeneric termE1orElohimby.itself.Likeallwritersbeforehim,he presupposestheexistenceofGod,aGodapartfromnature,but exhibitinghispowerinandthroughthecontroloftheoperationsof nature.TheformElohimisplural,andiswhatiscalledthe pluralofmajesty,but,thoughpluralinform,theHebrewwriters didnotasarulerecognizethatitwasaplural,anditisfollowed mostfrequentlybyasingularverb. ThisGodisdefinedfurtherbytheprophetasEl-Shaddai,God Almighty‘.TheactualmeaningofthewordShaddaiisveryun certain.Theearliestinterpretationwehaveofitisthatofthe LXXandofJewishwriterswhoanalysethewordandmakeitmean ‘ HeWhoissufficient,’perhapsintendingthereby‘ HeWhois sufficientinHimselftodoeverythingforallmen.’InthePenta teuchGodissaidtohaverevealedhimselftoAbramasEl Shaddai,andthispointstotheantiquityofthename,eventhough thepassagesinwhichitoccursareassignedtooneofthelater sourcesofthePentateuch(P). AlimitationoftheuniversalityofthetitleElohimisalso 1 InoneofthetwoplacesinwhichShsddaioccursE1isomitted. INTRODUCTIONxxxi indicatedinafewpassageswherewemeetwiththeexpression‘ the GodofIsrael’(firstinviii.4). Thiscarriesusbacktothename El-elohe-Israel(Gen.xxxiii.20),andmarksofftheElohimWhom IsraelworshippedfromtheElohimofothercountriesandnations. ThisGodoftheirstheyknewasJehovah,anamewhichtheir Torahdeclaredtohavebeenrevealedtothemimmediatelybefore theExodusasthenameoftheircovenantGod.Atfirstthisname wasusedasadistinctivename.Wemaysaythat,tobeginwith, theJewishreligionwasmonolatrousnotmonotheistic,thatistosay theyworshippedJehovahalone,butbelievedthatthegodsofthe heathenalsohadarealexistence.Thisisimpliedbytheuseof thenameJehovahfollowedbyaninterpretativeElohimwitha possessivesnflixaddedtoit,JehovahyourElohim,theirElohimand soon,thusidentifyingJehovahwiththeElohimoftheirown people.Thisuseofthetwonamesisespeciallynoticeablein DeuteronomybutoccursafewtimesinEzekiel.Thenextstageof advancewastobelieveinthesuperiorityoftheHebrewGodtoall thegodsofotherpeoples.SoJethroisrepresentedassaying:— ‘NowIknowthatJehovahisgreaterthanallgods’(Ex.xviii.11), andthispassageisassignedtooneoftheearliestsourcesofthe Pentateuch.ThelaststageisreachedwhenJehovahisdeclaredto betheonlyGod,andallothergodsnogodsatall;wefind,for instance,Jeremiahspeakingof‘gods,whichyetarenogods’(ii.11). MuchearlierthanthiswehaveinPs.xviii.,ascribedtoDavid,the words‘WhoisGod,saveJehovah'l’Thisideagraduallyprevailed moreandmoreamongstthepeople,tillwiththelessonsoftheexile behindthemthewholepeoplebecamestrictmonotheists.Bythe timethatStPaullivedandwrote,hecouldsay‘noidolisany thinginthisworld...thereisnoGodbutone.Forthoughtherebe thatarecalledgods,whetherinheavenoronearth;asthereare godsmany,andlordsmany;yettousthereisoneG0d...thethings whichtheGentilessacrifice,theysacrificetodevils,andnottoG0d.’ (1Cor.viii.4—6,x.20.) InEzekiel’sdaystheturning-pointforthenationhadarrived, andn0prophetissternerinhisdenunciationofallidolatryand especiallyofthefalseworshipsthatwentoneveninthetemple courts—theimageofjealousy,theidolatrousdecorationofthewalls, thewomenweepingforTammuz,theworshippersofthesun xxxii INTRODUCTION (Ezek.viii).Theconstantrefrainofthewholebook,repeatedin almostidenticalformatleastsixtytimes,is‘YeshallknowthatI amJehovah.’ ThemostfrequentuseofthenameJehovahbyEzekielisin combinationwiththenameAdonai,renderedLordGon.Those whonoticeminutiaeinprintingwillhaveremarkedthattheremust besomedifferenceintheHebrewbetweenthistitleandthatof ‘LOBDGod’inthesectionofthePentateuch,Gen.ii.4—iii.24. TheretheHebrewisJehovahElohim;hereitisAdonaiJehovah. LiterallythelattertitlemeansmyLordJehovah,butAdonaihas cometobeusedasapropername.Inmanycasesitwouldseemthat, owingtotheintensereverencepaidtothenameJehovah,which wascalledtheincommunicableName‘,thisnameAdonaihasfirst ofallbeennotedinthemarginofthemanuscriptsinordertobe substitutedforitinpublicreadingandthenhascreptintothetext. OccasionallywefindAdonaibyitself(fourorperhapsfivetimesin thisprophet,butmostofteninIsaiahandLamentations).Itcan bedetectedintheRV.bytheprintingLord(mtLORD).Inthe fourcertainpassages(xviii.25,29:xxxiii.17,20)itoccursina popularsaying,‘ThewayoftheLordisnotequal.’Suchasaying wouldcertainlynotincludethetetragrammatonJehovah.Theidea. conveyedbythetitleisthatofLordoflordsz—‘JehovahyourGod, HeisGodofgods,andLordoflords' (Deut.x.17). SuchbeingthetitlesgiventoGodinthisbookwhatarethe contentsofEzekiel’sideaofGod?HeisaGodoutsidetheuniverse suchastheprophetknewit,butyetorderingandguidingallits afiairs.HeisaGodsurroundedbygloryandsuchglorythatany analysisoftheappearanceofthepersonalGodispastthepowerof humanlanguagetoexpresswithanythingapproachingtoaccuracy. Asaruletheprophetonlydescribesthesurroundingglory,though oncehespeaksof‘alikenessastheappearanceofaman’upon thethrone,andoftheloinsofthefigure,butthatisallandisvery indefinite.Itmayindeedbeincludedundertheanthropomorphic languageoftheQT.ForEzekiel,Godhasarealexistentperson ality,Heisall-powerful,HecandeterminethefatenotonlyofHis ownpeoplebutofallthenationsoftheearth,Hecanuseas instrumentsofHiswrathandjusticethesword,fire,famine 1 SeeLevit.xxiv.11andcp.Wisd.xiv.21for‘theincommunicableName.’ INTRODUCTIONxxxiii andpestilence.BytheuseofthearchaicnameShaddai,Ezekiel indicateshisbeliefintheomnipotenceofhisGod,abeliefwhich madeitpossibleforhimtolookupontheheathennationsasused byGodasHisinstruments.‘ThussaiththeLordGod: Behold,I amagainstthee,0Tyre,andwillcausemanynationstocomeup againstthee’(mi.3). ThisomnipotenceofGodistheoneofHis attributesuponwhichtheprophetlaysespecialstress. Undertheexpression‘thenameofGod,’theprophetsumsup hisideasofwhatGodessentiallyis. Thatnamemustnotbe profaned(xx.39); whatGodwroughtwas‘forHisname’ssake,’to preventitsprofanation(xx.9,14,22,44:xxxvi.20); thepitywhich HewouldshewtoIsraelwastobeexercisedforthesamereason (xxxvi.21,22)andnotfortheirsakes;inthecomingtimethat namewastobeknownandhadinhonourbyIsrael(xxxvi.23: xxxix.7,22); herewemaysaythat‘name’isalmostequivalentto ‘glory’;andinthefutureGodwillbejealous(i.e.zealous)forthe honourofHisholyname(xxxix.25). TheveryfactthatEzekielconstantlydenouncesidolworshipof allsortsprovesthathisGodisaspiritualGod.Ontheoneside heisfirmlyconvincedthatGoddemandsofHisservantsamaterial worship.EzekielcannotconceiveofaserviceofGodwithouta Templeandworshipaccompaniedbyritualandmaterialofferings andsacrifices.Thisisshewnbytheidealwhichhesetsbeforethe peopleinthelastchaptersofhisprophecies.Thatworshipmust beapurifiedworshipfardifferentfromthedegradedformsofworship whichhadfoundtheirwayevenintotheTempleatJerusalem immediatelybeforeitsdestruction,yetnonethelessitisto bematerial.But,apartfromthat,theindividualisalsotobe actuatedandinspiredbytheSpiritofGod(xxxvi.27:xxxvii.14), whichwillgivehimanewlife.Infactwemayputitinthisway, thatastheTempleistospeaktohimofJehovahoutsidehimself, andofHisabidingpresencewithHispeople(xlviii.35),sothe SpiritimplantedinhimwillspeakofJehovahabidingwithinhim, andusingthroughitHispowerandinfluenceuponman’slifeand conversation,eventotheextentofraisinghimfromspiritualdeath tospirituallife(xxxvii.1-14).Itwastheneedofthisdeliverance andemancipationthatpressedwithgreatforceupontheprophet’s mind.Thepeoplewereinaparlousstate,theycouldnotdeliver xxxiv INTRODUCTION themselves,theywerefullofiniquity,andsotheyneededadeliverer whoshouldleadthemintothepathsofrighteousnessforHisName’s sake.Thiswasaspiritualworkandcouldonlybedonebythe SpiritofGod.TillthiswaseffectedJehovah’sNamewasprofaned (xxxvi.20)byHisownpeculiarpeopleinthemidstofthenations amongstwhomtheywerescattered.Butwhenthatprofanation ceased,thenthesanctificationofHisNamebyHisownpeople,His recognitionas‘theHolyOneinIsrael’(xxxix.7),wouldleadto Hisbeingacknowledgedbyothernationsaswell,andtotheir confessingHimtobetheirGod. (6)Momandman’ssinfulmzss.Ezekiel’sideasaboutGodmay notbeverymuchinadvanceofthosewhohadgonebeforehim. Itisunderthepresentheadingthatwefindmostprogressofthought especiallywithregardtoman’sindividualresponsibility.Heexposes thefalseinterpretationthathadbeenputuponthelastpartofthe secondcommandment,asillustratedbythepopularproverb‘ The fathershaveeatensourgrapes,andthechildren’steethareseton edge’(xviii.2)‘.‘Thesoulthatsinneth,itshalldie’—thatisthe keynotetoallhisteaching.AndherewemaynotethatEzekiel recognisesbothsoulandspiritasconstituentelementsinmen. Ifwetrytoanalysetheirrespectivefunctions,itisdifficulttodefine themaccurately,butwemaysaythatthesoulisthemainspringof action,thespiritisthesourceofmotive,and,inthecaseofthe righteousman,isanewspirit,implantedbyGod,sothatrighteous actsandtheregeneratelifeareinspiredbyHim.Itbecomesanew life,asitwere,suchasisdescribedinEzekiel'svisionofthevalley ofdrybones. Toreturn,then,tothesubjectofsin.TheHebrewwordforsin, justliketheGreekword,impliesthemissingofthemarkaimedat, adivergencefromwhatisstraight,or,touseratheradifferentform ofexpression,afailuretocomeuptoastandard,thatstandardof coursebeingtherevealedwillofGod.Sin,therefore,issomething doneagainstGod,itmaybealsoagainstone’sfellow—man.Itis thislatteraspectofsinuponwhichgreatstressislaidinthosetwo chaptersofEzekiel(xviii.,xxxiii.)whichareoccupiedwiththe problemsofsin.Atthesametimethesinnerplaceshimselfinoppo sitiontoGodbyhissin,andthereforeputshimselfunderthe 1 ThisproverbisalsoquotedbyJeremiah(xxxi.29). INTRODUCTIONxxxv sentenceofdeath,butstillthereisaremedyifhewillbutturn fromsin.SofarasisconsistentwithGod’sperfectjustice,Hedoes notdesirethatonesinnershoulddie(xviii.30—32).But,ifhe goesoninsin,heonlyisresponsibleandmustexpectthedue rewardofhisdeeds:butinvirtueofhisfreewillhecanmakea freechoicebetweengoodandevil; heisnotbounddowntosin. Anotherpointwhichwemayverywellnoticehereisthatto Faekielthepeople,asawhole,hadbytheirownfaultlosttheir uniquerelationtoJehovah.Theyhadbeentakenintocovenant withHim,buttheyhadbrokenthatcovenant,andweretherefore outcasts.Buthelooksforwardtoatimewhenanewcovenant shallbemadetotaketheplaceoftheold;ofthisnewcovenant theleadingfeatureswillbethatitwillindicateareconciliation betweenGodandHispeople;itwillbeacovenantofpeace;and itwillneverbebrokenbyeitherpartytoit; itwillbeaneverlasting covenant.Itwillbecomeabond,bindingthemtogetherindissolubly (xx.37). Andtheoppositetosinisrighteousness.Righteousnessisto Ezekielnotanabstractionbutsomethingconcrete: itismadeupof righteousacts,doneinthesightofGodandinaccordancewiththe covenantbetweenGodandman.Motiveistakenslightaccountof: thespiritofalawisstilllessopposedtoitsletter. Withreferencetoforgivenessandthenewlifeoftheredeemed itisinterestingtonotice,asispointedoutbythelateDrA.B. DavidsoninhisTheologyoftheOldTestament(p.343),howexactly Ezekiel’sdoctrinalpositionanticipatesthatofStPaul.Wecannot dobetterthanquotehiswords.AftercitingpartsofEzek.xxxvi. 17—38hecontinues: ‘ProbablynopassageintheOldTestamentofferssocompletea paralleltoNewTestamentdoctrine,particularlytothatofStPaul. CommentatorscomplainthatnobodyreadsEzekielnow.Itisnot certainthatStPaulreadhim,forbenowherequoteshim.Butthe redemptiveconceptionsofthetwowritersarethesame,andappear inthesameorder:1.Forgiveness—“Iwillsprinklecleanwater uponyou”; 2. Regeneration—“Anewheartandspirit”; 3. TheSpiritofGodastherulingpowerinthenewlife—“Iwill putMySpiritwithinyou”; 4.Theissueofthisprincipleoflife, thekeepingoftherequirementsofGod’slaw—“Thattherighteous xxxvi INTRODUCTION nessofthelawmightbefulfilledinus,whowalknotaftertheflesh, butaftertheSpirit(Rom.viii.4)”; 5.Theeffectofliving“under grace”insofteningthehumanheartandleadingtoobedience—— “Yeshallrememberyourevilwaysandloatheyourselves”—“Shall wesinbecausenotunderlawbutundergrace?”(Rom.vi.,vii.). And,finally,theorganicconnectionofIsrael’shistorywithJehovah’s revelationofHimselftothenations(Rom.xi.).’ (0)Angels.Thereisnotmuchinthisbookthatwillhelpus astoanyJewishdoctrineaboutangels.Theirexistenceisassumed, aselsewhereintheOldTestament.Thecherubimformpartof thevisionsoftheprophetasministeringtotheDivineglory, especiallyintheTemple,inwhichwerefiguresofthe‘cheruhimof gloryovershadowingthemercyseat.’No doubt,too,Ezekiel, whenhementions‘thevoiceofonethatspake’attheendofhis firstvision,andthe‘man,whoseappearancewasliketheappear anceofbrass’whowasthemeasureroftheidealtempleandhis guideconcerningit,wishesustothinkofboththesebeingsasangels. LikeStJohnintheApocalypseheisinclinedtoworshipthefirst ofthese,butishiddentostanduponhisfeet.Butbeyondthis theprophetgivesuslittleinformation. (d)Ezekiel’sDayoftheLord.ThereareintheOldTesta mentmanyvariedconceptionsofwhatiscalled‘thedayofthe Lord.’ToEzekielitwastobeanend,thatis,anendofthestate ofthingsastheywereinhistime.This‘end’wouldbeaccom paniedbydestructionanddevastationnotonlyfortheJewishpeople butalsoforheathennations.ItwastobeanoutpouringofGod’s wrathupontheworldwiththecertaintyofabetterstateofthings tofollow.Whetherthedaywastobeactuallythesameday forallalike,JewandGentile,isnotclear;theonedefiniteidea intheprophet’smindwasthatitwascloseathandandwas totaketheformofauniversaljudgement.Theproverbialsaying oftheday,‘Thedaysareprolonged,andeveryvisionfaileth,’ aswellasthecommonJewishnotionthatEzekiel’sprophecieslooked forwardtoadistantfuture,werealiketobefalsified.Theperform anceofwhathadbeenforetoldwasimminent. (e)Lifeqfterdeath.ToEzekielthereisoneplace,Sheolor Hades,whitherallgo,goodandbadalike,atdeath.Itisagreat receptaclewheretheindividual’spersonalityismaintained,butyet

'MV—‘d";-'flrfn-vw—jf1s.-"~i~4"-,...:—:,' ,_"'::-.»'».-..c=r—~-4 INTRODUCTIONxxxvii existencethereisofaveryshadowycharacter.Itismentionedby theprophetespeciallyinconnectionwiththeoverthrowofthe heathennations(xxxi,xxxii.)Someoftheinhabitants‘ofthebaser sort’occupyamoredistantpositionontheedgeofthereceptacle thanseemstobeassignedtoothers(xxxii.23).Thevisionofthe ValleyofDryBonesimplies,ifitdoesnotactuallyassert,the beliefoftheprophetinaLifetocomeandaResurrection,even thoughhisimmediateuseofitistoprophesyanationalresurrection. Wecannotimagineitotherwiseifwerememberwhatstressthe prophetlaysupontheindividual,theindividual’slifeandindi vidualresponsibility. (f)Ezekiel’sMessianicIdeas.Thesemainlytaketheform ofarevivalofreligionandofprosperityamongtheJews.The formerisindicatedbythe‘newheart’andthe‘newspirit.’But ofapersonalSaviourorRedeemerthereisverylittletrace.The mainideaisofaprince,anewDavid(xxxiv.23:xxxvii.24,25), whoistobetheirprinceforever,unlessweunderstandbythis expressionthatanewDavidicdynastyistobesetup.Whether thisDavidisidenticalwiththefirstkingofJudah,intheprophet’s mind,isalittleuncertain; itseemsprobablethatheis; butthere isnothingdivineabouthim.Alltheworkofregenerationandthe establishmentofthenewKingisthedirectworkofJehovah.In oneotherpassagethereseemstobeadistinctreferencetowhatis generallyheldtobeaMessianicpassageinGenesis(xlix.10): ‘ThesceptreshallnotdepartfromJudah, Northerulei’sstafffrombetweenhisfeet, UntilShilohcome; Anduntohimshalltheobedienceofthepeoplesbe.’ Thewordsoftheprophetare(xxi.27):‘Thisalsoshallbeno more,untilhecomewhoserightitis;andI willgiveithim.’ Forthemeaningofthispassage,wewouldrefertothenotesonit. BeyondthisthereisbutlittletoinformusofEzekiel’sviewsabout acomingMessianicDeliverer. xxxviii INTRODUCTION

THECONDITIONOFTHEJEWSINTHE TIMEOFEZEKIEL. ItiswelltotrytoconsiderbeforereadingEzekiel’sprophecies whatexactlywastheconditionofthepeopleduringthetwenty yearscoveredbythepropheciesofthisbook(592—5703.0.).We arefortunateinpossessingnotonlythepropheciesofthisbookbut alsosomecontemporaneouspartsofJeremiah(xxi.,xxxii.-xxxv., xxxviii.—xliv.,lii.4—34),besidethenarrativeof2Kingsxxv.Daniel andperhapsObadiahwerealsoprophetsofthisperiod. AtthedatewhenthebookofEzekielopens,theCaptivityhad alreadyreallybegun.FormanyyearsEgyptandBabylon,eachfrom itsownquarter,hadbeenpressinguponthekingdomofJudah,and Pharaoh-necohhadmorethanonceinvadedtheland,onone occasioncarryinghismarchonwardsasfarastotheriverEuphrates (2K.xxiii.29).ThiswasthelastoccasiononwhichtheEgyptian kingwasabletosendhistroopssofar.Theyweredefeatedatthe battleofCarchemish(todayJerabisontheEuphrates),Jer.xlvi.2. ItwasinthecourseofPharaoh-necoh’smarchtoCarchemishthat JosiahwasslainatthebattleofMegiddo.ThebattleofCar chemishactuallytookplaceinJehoiakim’sreign.Fromthattime theEgyptianpowerwasdrivenback.Jehoiakimhimselfwasa vassalofPhara0h~necoh,setupbyhim,but,attheendoftheeleven yearsofhisreignitcouldbesaidthat‘thekingofBabylonhad taken,fromthebrookofEgyptuntotheriverEuphrates,allthat pertainedtothekingofEgypt’(2K.xxiv.7). Inthelatterpart ofhisreign,Jehoiakimwasforthreeyears(2K.xxiv.l)tributary toNebuchadrezzar,and,onhisrebellionattheendofthistime,the Captivitymaybesaidtohavebegun.Itisnotclearwhether Jehoiakimwasactuallydeported; probablyhewasnot(2K.xxiv.6), thoughpreparationsmayhavebeenmade,ifweacceptthe Chronicler’sstatement,forsuchadeportation(2Chr.xxxvi.6). HewassucceededbyhissonJehoiachin,knowntoJeremiahas JeconiahorConiah.ThegreatdeportationfromJerusalemtook placeattheendofhisshortreignofthreemonths,whenthe Templewasspoiledandallthepickedmenamongsttheinhabitants ofthelandwerecarriedaway:‘noneremained,savethepoorest

~~,./-»~v N ":52"! INTRODUCTIONxxxix sortofthepeopleoftheland’(2K.xxv.14:cp.Jer.xxiv.1, xxix.2). ItwasinthisdeportationthatEzekielwascarriedoffto Babylon:JeremiahremainedinJerusalem:communicationwas,how ever,continuedbetweentheexilesandthosestillremaininginthe land.Jeremiahwrotealetterandsentamessagetothemofthe captivity,andShemaiah,afalseprophet,sentlettersfromBabylonto Jerusalem,claimingtohavebeenappointedpriestbyJehovahand tobeaprophet(Jer.xxix.).Tofinishouroutlineofthehistory, Mattaniah,Jehoiakim’sbrother,wassetupasthevassalkingwith thenameofZedekiahbyNebuchadrezzarandreignedelevenyears. Buthewasarecalcitrantvassal,andseemstohavebeenurgedon torebellionbyPharaoh-necoh’ssuccessor,Pharaoh-hophra.The approachoftheEgyptiancausedatemporarywithdrawalofthe BabylonianarmyfrombeforeJerusalem,butthatwasall.The finaldestructionfollowed,andcityandtemplewerealikeburntand sackedbytheBabylonians,whilstthekingwascarriedoffto Babylonwithsomeofhissubjects,andthistimeagovernor,nota king,wasleftinchargeofthosethatstillremained.Afterafew monthsthegovernor,Gedaliah,whohadsetuphisgovernmentat Mizpah,wasassassinated,andagreatnumberoftheremnantwent offtoEgypt,carryingawaywiththemJeremiahtheprophet,who hadopposedtheirproceedings. JeremiahandEzekielthenwerecontemporariesduringthis period,butexercisingtheirpropheticofficeatadistancefromone another,theoneinJerusalem,theotherinBabylonia,thoughthe latterdescribeshisrevelationsandvisionsofwhatwasgoingonin Jerusalem.Wenaturally,therefore,looktoJeremiahtotellus moreparticularlyaboutthepoliticallifeoftheJewsofhisday,for politicallifedidnotexistforthecaptives.Solongastheykept thepeace,theselatterwereallowedtodwellsecurelyintheland andtocarryontheirownoccupationsandeventoholdland. Ezekiel,whodweltamongthem,devoteshisattention,inallhis actsandutteranceswhichdealwiththeJews,tothespiritualstate ofhisfellow-countrymen,andtothefactsconnectedwiththestate ofreligiouslifeinJerusalemwhichmadehimseethatthefinal destructionofcityandtemplehadbeenallalonginevitable. Jerusalemwasacitydividedagainstitselfinmorewaysthan one.Politically,thereweretwogreatpartiesinthecity.Theone xl INTRODUCTION relieduponEgypt,theotherlookedrathertomakingtermswith Babylon.ThemajorityinZedekiah’sreign,notwithstandingthe curtailmentthathadtakenplaceoftheEgyptianpoweralittle whilebefore,stillcastlongingeyestowardsEgyptforhelp.Isaiah (xxx,xxxi.)hadalreadyinsisteduponthefutilityofrelyingupon EgyptinHezekiah’sreign,andEzekiel,apparentlywiththe recollectionofthewordsattributedtoRabshakeh(2K.xviii.21, Is.xxxvi.6‘thoutrustestuponthestaffofthisbruisedreed,even uponEgypt’),speaksoftheinhabitantsofEgyptashavingbeen ‘astafiofreedtothehouseofIsrael’ (xxix.6,7). Jeremiah,who wasinthethickofthepoliticalstrife,didallhecouldtopersuade ZedekiahthatoppositiontotheBabylonianforceswasuseless.His writingsarefullofeffortsinthisdirection(e.g.xxvii.).Butitwas allinvain,evenwhenthefalseprophetHananiah,whohad prophesiedadeliveranceandarestorationfromBabylonwithintwo years,diedwithinafewmonthsinaccordancewithJeremiah’s prophecy(xxviii)Zedekiahhimselfseemstohavebeenavacillating monarch,butthepro-Egyptianfactionledbytheprincesterrorised him(xxxvii.),andbroughtabouttheprophet’simprisonment.So bitterwasthefeelingagainsttheprophetthatwhen,uponthe withdrawaloftheBabylonianarmyfrombeforeJerusalemfora time,becauseoftheadvanceoftheEgyptianforces,hewasstarting forAnathothtoreceivetheproduceofhisestatethere,hewas arrestedandimprisonedonthepleathathewasintendingtojoin theBabylonians(xxxvii.).Withaweakking,andacitydistractedin thisway,itisnowonderthatthesiegecametosuchatermination asitdid,andthat,whenabreachwasatlastmadeinitswalls, Zedekiahandtheleadingpeopleendeavouredtoescape. Butthiswasnotall:thespiritualstateofJerusalematthis timepresentsaverysaddeningaspect.UptokingSolomon’stime, theideaofonecentralplaceofworship,suchasthetabernacle hadbeen,wasinthemindsofmostofthepeopledormant:they madeuseofthehighplacesthatwereinexistencealloverthe countryfortheirworshipofJehovah,andthiswasnotlikelytolead totheretentionofaverypureformofworship.ButinSolomon’s daysmattersgrewworse.Owingtohisalliances,matrimonialand otherwise,heathencultswerenotonlytoleratedbutrecognizedside bysidewiththeworshipofJehovah.Thistolerationofother INTRODUCTION xli worshipswasallowedtocontinueallthroughtheperiodofthekings, withveryfewexceptions.HezekiahandJosiahmadeattemptsto purgethelandofitsidolatrousworships,buttheirreformationshad nolastingeffect,and,evenintheirtimes,norestrictionofsacrificial worshiptotheTempleatJerusalemwasattempted.InSolomon’s timeithadbeentheworshipofAshtoreth,Chemosh,andMolech; whenJosiahattemptedtocarryouta reformation,wefind mentionofwhatwemaycallacompletepandemonium,including theworshipofthesun,moonandstars,and,asEzekieltellsus, thatofAdonis(Tammuz)aswell.Thesacredritesattachedto someoftheseworshipsbroughtwithitprostitutiononthepartof bothsexesaspartoftheservicethatwasofiered.Thefollowersof alltheseheathenritesweregatheredfromtheeldersofthepeople. Wereadofseventyofthemburningincenseinahighlydecorated chamberoffalseworshipattachedtotheTempleitself(Ezek.viii.11). TheformofdecorationwasderivedfromBabylon(Ezek.xxiii. 14,15). Withavacillatingmonarch,acorruptcourt,apeopledivided politicallyintotwocamps,oneforBabylon,oneforEgypt,acondi tionastoreligionhopelesslydisordered,withtheworshipofIsrael's Jehovahpurelyformal,andscarcelyholdingitsowninthemidst ofotheranddegradedworships,withprophetandfalseprophet contendingagainstoneanother,wecannotbesurprisedatwhat happened,foritwasinevitable.AsEzekielsatbythewatersof Babylon,ashethoughtofthedepartinggloryofJehovahandof Hishouse,hecouldnothelpdrawingthelessonshedidfromthe impendingcompletionoftheruinof'hiscountry‘.Ithadcome uponthemnotonlyinconsequenceoftheerrancyofthepeopleas awhole.Tohimitwasclearthateachindividualseparawahad hisownresponsibilityinthematter.Asthepeople,intheir entirety,weretosufferfortheircorporatetransgressionsofDivine Law,soeachindividual,whodidnotturnfromhisownevilcourses, wouldinduetimemeetwiththeduerewardofhisdeeds.And,as theprophettookawidersurveyofaflaim,heseesthatitisa universallawofDivineProvidence,andthatsoonerorlaterTyre, 1 ForapictureoftheattitudeoftheExilesinBabylon,seePs.oxxxvii.‘By therivers0!Babylon,Therewesatdown,yes,wewept,whenweremembered Zion,’etc. xlii INTRODUCTION Babylon,Egypt,andothergreatpowersintheirturnwillhaveto sufferfortheirprideandarrogancyandself-sufficiency,andto becomewhatJerusalembecameduringtheprophet’sministry,an astonishmentanda desolation.Andthuswecometoa truth whichEzekielclearlysawandwhichhasbeenwellexpressedinthe statementthat‘HistoryisJehovahoperatingforHisName'ssake.’ Itisalittledifficulttoformanestimateofthenumbersthat werecarriedoffinthevariousdeportationstoBabylon.Inthe dividedstateoftheJewsatthetimewhenEzekiel’sprophecies beginitwouldbeinterestingtoknowwhatproportionofthe JewishinhabitantswereleftinPalestine,andwhatproportionwere inBabylonia.Theonlydatawehaveforforminganyconjecture are(1)thenumbergiveninEzraandNehemiahofthosewho returnedfromthecaptivitytotheirownland,whichamountedto 49,897(49,952Neh.),andtheseafterallseemtohaveformedonly aportionofthecaptives,forthereweremanywhoremainedas permanentsettlersanddidnotaccompanythereturn;(2)the numberofthecaptivesinJehoiachin’scaptivity,11,000or18,000, accordingtothewayinwhichweinterpret2K.xxiv.14,16;(3)the figuresofthreedeportations,3023+832+745=4600,giveninJer. lii.28—30,thefirstofwhichmusthavetakenplaceinJehoiachin’s reign.Itwill,therefore,beevidentthatlittlecanbegatheredfrom thesestatementsexceptaroughestimateoftheJewishpopulation inBabylonia.Ifthesefiguresarecorrect,theirnumbersmust haveincreasedwithsurprisingrapidityduringtheyearsofexile. ThosewhoremainedinBabyloniaaftertheReturnalsomultiplied veryrapidly,andcenturieslateroneofthegreatcentresof Rabbinicallearningwastobefoundinthatcountryandendured therealmostintothemiddleages(Abrahams,ShortHistm'yof JewishI/iteratwre,p.22). THEBOOKOFTHEPROPHET EZEKIEL.

A. THEPROPHET’SFIRSTVISIONANDHIS CHARGE,3.0.592.CHAPTERSI.—-III.15. i. TheIntroductionoftheProphet,withhisfirstVision.i. INconsideringthisandtheothervisionsoftheProphet,itiswellto rememberthatwehaveinthemanattempttodescribeinhumanlanguage, withallitsimperfections,whattotheprophetwerevisionsoftheDivine. Thatthelanguageheusedconveyedtohimtheimpressionsthatwere formedonhismindbythevisionsseemsquiteclear,forthelanguage describingthemisharmoniouswithitself,aswecanseebyacomparisonin detailofthedescriptionherewiththatofchapterx.Butwehavenotseen thevisions,andthereforeitisnottobewonderedatiftheimpressions formeduponourmindsbythelanguagetheprophetusesfailofdefinite clearness,andonlygiveusvagueideasoftheincomprehensiblemajestyand gloryofGod. ForthemostnotableattemptofArttoreproducethisvision,wemay refertothepictureinthePittiPalaceatFlorence,entitled“TheVisionof Ezekiel,”“whichifnottheworkofRaphael’sownpencil,iscertainly acontemporarycopyofthelostoriginal”(Lanciani,TheGoldenDaysof theRenaissanceinRome,p.261). I. 1 Nowitcametopassinthethirtiethyear,inthe fourthmonth,inthefifthdayofthemonth,asIwasamong I. 1-3.Intheseversestherestill,thesecondwasintroducedlater seemstobea doubleintroductionasanexplanationofthefirst.The oftheprophet,byhimself(I)andby chronologyofthetwopassagesis someoneelse(2,3); andtheseconddifferentlyreckoned,inv.1wehave mayperhapshaveoriginallypre ‘thethirtiethyear,’withnofurther cededthefirst,or,morelikelyexplanation,inv.2‘thefifthyear

R. I EZEKIEL I.[—4. the1captivesbytheriverChebar,thattheheavenswere 2opened,andIsawvisionsofGod.Inthefifthdayofthe month,whichwasthefifthyearofkingJehoiachin’s 3captivity,thewordoftheLORDcameexpresslyunto Ezekielthepriest,thesonofBuzi,inthelandofthe ChaldeansbytheriverChebar;andthehandoftheLORD 4wasthereuponhim.AndIlooked,and,behold,astormy

1 Bob.captivity. ofKingJehoiachin’scaptivity.’We16),aswellasthemartyrdomof have‘thesixthyear’and‘theseventhStStephen(Actsvii.56)andthe year’mentionedinviii.1,xx.1.Ifthe Apocalypse(Rev.xix.ll).‘Visions fifthyearofKingJehoiachin’scap ofGod’(viii.3:x1.2)and‘thehand tivity(cp.2K.xxiv.12,15)betakenoftheLordwasthereuponhim as13.0.592thethirtiethyearcan(me)’(iii.22etc.)arecharacteristic scarcelybereckonedbackwardfromexpressionsofEzekiel.Thelatter that,foritwouldthenfallaboutthe almostinvariablyleadsuptothe timeofNabopolassar’saccessionto accountofa vision.Itimplies thethroneofBabylonandofthe directingpowerandthegivingof discoveryoftheBookoftheLawmorethanhumanpowertohimupon (2K.xxiii).Thethirtiethyearis whomthehandwaslaid.Wemay muchmoreprobablythatyearinthe connectwiththisthenameof prophet’slife.Hewasapriest,andtheprophet—Yehezkél,i.e.God theministrationsofthepriestbeganstrengtheneth. atthatage(Numb.iv.3etc).The 3. Ezekielthepriest]Thepro captivityreferredtowasthefirstphetisdescribedasapriest,the deportationofcaptivestoBabylonia,sonofBuzi.ThenameBuziismore fouryearsbeforetheFallofJerulikeagenericnamethanapersonal salem(cf.Introd.p.xxxviii). oneanddoesnotoccuranywhere 1. theriverChebar]TheprophetelseintheBibleinconnectionwith isatonceintroducedasoneofthethepriestlytribe. captivesbytheriverChebarinthe 4—28.'l‘mrrms'rVISION.Itis,of landoftheChaldeans.Chebarwascourse,impossibletodepictexactly thenameofoneofthelargeirri whatthevisionwaswhichthepro gatingcanalsofBabylonia,anda phetsaw.Thevision,however,came placecalledTel-abib(iii.15)stoodforthfromacloud-stormandwas uponit. Withtheopeningoftheoneofbrightnessoutofwhich heavenswemaycomparetheBapemergedfourmysteriouslivingcrea tismofourLordwhenatthetimetureswithfourfacesandfourwings, thatHe‘wasaboutthirtyyearswiththeirrelativepositionstowards ofage’(Lk.iii.23)‘theheavensoneanotheralwaysremainingthe wereopeneduntohim,andhe same.Combinedwiththemandclose sawtheSpiritofGod’(Matt.iii. tothemwerethewheelswhichgave L4 EZEKIEL 3

windcameoutofthenorth,agreatcloud,withafire

theideaofmotionandthatmotionwithHispeopleistoendurefor directedbythespiritofeachlivingeverinthenewTempleinwhich creature.SuperimposeduponthisandHetakesupHisabode. abovethefirmamentwasthethroneNodoubttheformwhichthe withananthropomorphicdivineformvisiontookwassuggestedto surroundedbyanappearancelikeEzekielbythecherubimover arainbow.Thisrepresentedtotheshadowingthemercy-seatofthe prophetthepresenceoftheglorytabernacleandthetempleatJeru oftheLoanWhocalledhimtohis salem,andalsobythewonderful workandoffice.TheSonofSirachwingedcreatureswhichguardedthe callsit‘thevisionofglorywhichtemplesandpalacesofBabylonia. GodshewedhimuponthechariotThewheelswemayperhapstake ofthecherubim’(Ecclus.xlix.8). asanemblemoftheeternityofall Thisvisionoccursfourtimesin thingsdivine. Ezekiel;seeiii.22,viii.4,xliii.4. Itisfurthertobenoticedhow ItwasavisionoftheGodwhowasmuchoftheapocalypticimagery abouttoremoveHispresencefromoftheNewTestamentisduetothe HistempleatJerusalem,andwasinfluenceofthesevisionsofEzekiel. afterwardstofilla newTemple,Thefourlivingcreaturesappear idealizedbyEzekielinthelastthere(Rev.iv.6-9).Theirfeet chaptersofthisbook,withHissparkling‘likethecolourofburnished glory—aglorythatwastobegreaterbrass’(v.7)havetheircounterpart thantheformerglory(cp.Hag.ii.7, inthefeetofthesonofman,‘like 9).—Thiswillexplainmuchthatis untoburnishedbrass,asifithad obscure:itshewsustheGodof beenrefinedinafurnace’(Rev.i. judgmentcomingfromthenorthin 15: ii.18:cp.Ezek.1:1.3:Dan.1:.6). thestorm;butatthesametimeThe‘ringsfullofeyesroundabout’ comingwithmercyinhumanform(0.18)recallthelivingcreatures (thusanIncarnationofthedivineis ‘fullofeyesbeforeandbehind,’ alludedto),andwalkinguponthe‘roundaboutandwithin’(Rev.iv. earthinsuchawaythatHisKingdom6,8). Thefirmamentcorresponds spreadsineverydirection.Heis with‘theglassysea’(Rev.iv.); pointedoutasidenticalwithHim‘alikenessastheappearanceof Who,totheJews,sittethbetweenthe aman’with‘onelikeuntoason cherubim(Ps.lxxx.l)whicharetheofman’(Rev.i. 15).Therain livingcreaturesofthischapter(seebow(i.28)alsoappearsinRev. x.1).Inthoselivingcreaturesistheiv.3. Betweenthetwostandthe fulnessoflife,representedbytheirapocalypticvisionsofDaniel(vii. fourfaces,whilstatthesametime9—14:x.4—6).Forafulleraccount theyarespiritualbeings.Theyare oftheuseofEzekielbylaterwriters dominatedbytheSpiritoftheseeIntrod.pp.xxvexxix. LivingGodWhosesearchingeye 4. thenorth]Itwasfromthe (i.18)seeseverythingeverywhere.norththattheIsraeliteshad ThispresenceoftheGod-Man(v.26) sufferedinvasion,andtheirinvaders 1—2 4 EZEKIEL L405

1infoldingitself,andabrightnessroundaboutit,andout ofthemidstthereof2asthecolourof8amber,outofthe 5midstofthefire.Andoutofthemidstthereofcamethe

1 Or,flashingcontinually9 Or,asambertoLookupon8 Or,electrum hadbeentheinstrumentsoftheashegazeduponthevision.In judgmentofGod.Itwasinthev.11,whichmustbecomparedwith north,too,thattheBabyloniane.23,somecriticswishtoleaveout placedtheabodeofhisgods(Is.thewords‘Andtheirfaces,’butit xiv.13).Thismayhavepartlyscarcelyseemsnecessarytodoso. influencedtheprophetinthechoiceThewordsimplythateachfacehad ofthenorthasthequarterfromaseparatejunctionwiththebody. whichthevisioncame,andmayalsoIn0. 12(cp.v.90:x.22b)the betakentoimplythedeparturespiritisnotthewindof'v.4,butthe ofGodfromthatcityinwhichspiritofthelivingcreature(cp. visibletokensofHispresencehad1m.20,21: x.17),anditisimplied beenseen.Theexpression‘afirethatallthefourfaceslookedinthe infoldingitself,’translatedmorecor samedirection.In17.13thereading rectlyinthemargin‘afireflashingoftheSeptuagintinthemargin continually’haditsorigininEx.furnishesthebettersense.The ix.24(seeR.V.marginthere). languageofco.13,14recallsthe amber]TheHebrewwordre appearancesatthegivingofthe presentingamber(marg.electrum)LawonMountSinai(cp.alsoPs. isoneofdoubtfulmeaning.Electrumxviii.12).Somewishtoomitv.14, (r'fAsK-rpov)maymeaneitheramberfollowingoneformoftheGreek orametalcompoundedofgoldandversion.Thesefourcreatures,like silver.Thewordisusedalsoin thefourstreamsofEden,wereafter 'u.27andviii.2. Ineachcasewardstakenasemblemsofthefour referenceismadeonlytocolouror Evangelists(cp.Westcott’sIntrod. outwardappearance. totheStudyoftheGospels,cap.iv., 5—14.Tansoonmvmeenmforafullertreatmentofthesubject). rrmss.Thesecreaturesmustbe TheChurchdirectsattentiontothis identicalwiththecherubimofcap.byappointingi.1—14asoneofthe x. ThedetailsofthetwochapterslessonsonStMark’sday. shouldbecarefullycompared.Their Thereareseveralethicalideas wingsmustthereforehavecoveredconveyedbythemannerofmotion theirarms.V.8b, whichsomeasitisdescribedhere.Thereis wouldomit,reallyattachesthe directnessofpurpose,‘theyturned followingwordstov. 7. Hownotwhentheywent’;thereisin everdifficultwemayfinditto tensityofaction,‘theywentevery picturethesevisionstoourselves,onestraightforward’;andthere theprophetis consistentinhis is obediencetotheimpulseof descriptions.Inbothe. 5bandthespirit,‘thespiritoftheliving v.10itisimpliedthatthefaceofa creaturewasinthewheels.’No manwasinfrontoftheprophetdoubtthismoralaspectofthevision L5—15 5

likenessoffourlivingcreatures.Andthiswastheir 6appearance;theyhadthelikenessofaman.Andevery onehadfourfaces,andeveryoneofthemhadfourwings. 7Andtheirfeetwerestraightfeet;andthesoleoftheir feetwaslikethesoleofacalfsfoot:andtheysparkled 8likethecolourofburnishedbrass.Andtheyhadthe handsofamanundertheirwingsontheirfoursides: 9andtheyfourhadtheirfacesandtheirwingsthus; their wingswerejoinedonetoanother;theyturnednotwhen 10theywent;theywenteveryonestraightforward.Asfor thelikenessoftheirfaces,theyhadthefaceofaman; andtheyfourhadthefaceofalionontherightside; andtheyfourhadthefaceofanoxontheleftside; they 11fourhadalsothefaceofaneagle.1Andtheirfacesand theirwingswereseparateabove; twowingsofeveryone werejoinedonetoanother,andtwocoveredtheirbodies. 12Andtheywenteveryonestraightforward: whitherthe spiritwastogo,theywent; theyturnednotwhenthey 13went.2Asforthelikenessofthelivingcreatures,their appearancewaslikeburningcoalsoffire,liketheappear anceoftorches;itwentupanddownamongtheliving creatures:andthefirewasbright,andoutofthefirewent 14forthlightning.Andthelivingcreaturesranandreturned 15astheappearanceofaflashoflightning.NowasIbeheld

1 Or,Andthusweretheirfaces;andtheirwingswere4's. 5 TheSept.has,Andinthemidstofthelivingcreatureswasanappearanced'c.

helpedtosuggestthemysticalin (seeEx.xxviii.20:Cant.v. 14: terpretationofitasapplicableto Ezek.x.16).The‘wheelwithina thefourEvangelists. wheel’canonlyimplytwowheels 15-21.TanwnnsrsANDnovaatrightanglestooneanother. MENTorranLrvmocannons(cp.In0.18RV.margin‘felloes’(cp. x.6,9-13,16,17,192xi.22).The1Kingsvii.33)makesthemeaning ‘beryl’(v.16)representsaHebrewofthepassageclearer.In0.20a wordofverydoubtfulmeaning,as somewordsseemtohavebeen appearsfromtherenderingsofthe writtentwiceunintentionally.The Sept.(Hapau's)andVulg.(mari:i.e. verseshouldreadz—Whithersoever thesea)andthevariousalternativesthespiritwastogo,thewheels suggestedinthemarginoftheRV.went:andtheywereliftedbeside 6 EZEKIEL I.15-22 thelivingcreatures,beholdonewheelupontheearth besidethelivingcreatures,foreachofthefourfaces 16thereof.Theappearanceofthewheelsandtheirwork waslikeuntothecolourofaberyl:andtheyfourhad onelikeness:andtheirappearanceandtheirworkwasas 17itwereawheel1withinawheel.Whentheywent,they wentupontheirfoursides:theyturnednotwhenthey 18went.Asfortheir2rings,theywerehighanddreadful; andtheyfourhadtheirringsfullofeyesroundabout. 19Andwhenthelivingcreatureswent,thewheelswent besidethem:andwhenthelivingcreatureswerelifted 20upfromtheearth,thewheelswereliftedup.Whither soeverthespiritwastogo,theywent;thitherwasthe spirittogo: andthewheelswereliftedup3besidethem; forthespirit4‘ofthelivingcreaturewasinthewheels. 21Whenthosewent,thesewent;andwhenthosestood, thesestood;andwhenthosewereliftedupfromthe earth,thewheelswereliftedupabesidethem:forthe 22spirit4ofthelivingcreaturewasinthewheels.And

1 Heb.inthemidstof. 9 Or,felloes3 Or,overagainst‘ Or,oflife them:fortheSpiritoftheliving'0.24aregenerallyappliedtothe creature(RV.marg.‘oflife’is voiceoftheAlmightyHimself(see certainlywrong)wasinthewheels.1:.5):theSept.omitsthewords 22-28.THEFIRMAMEN'I‘ANDrm:‘likethevoice...anhost’‘Al muons.Theseappearagainin mighty’isthetranslationofthe chapterx. Bythefirmamentis wordShaddai,whichoccursasa meantsomethinglikethebluevaultnameofGodfirstinGen.xvii.1 oftheclearsky(Gen.i. 6):the(RV.margin).TheNameisonefor descriptionhererecallsthatofEx.whichnosatisfactoryexplanation xxiv.10.Themarginal‘ice’for hasasyetbeengiven.‘Myrock’ ‘crystal’haslittletorecommendit. or‘myLord’aretwoofthemean Thedescriptionofthewingsinthisingswhichhavebeenassignedto passagemustbetakenwiththatin it TheGreektranslatorofJob, '0.11.Theywerestraightlikethewherethenameoccursmostfre feet(0.7). Theirarrangementis quently,evidentlyconsidereditto differentfromthatofthewingsin mean‘Hewholissuflicient’(cf. Isaiah’svision(vi.2). Hereitis Driver’sGenesis,ExcursusI. p. impliedthattheyappearedtohold404andseeIntrod.p.xxx).The upthefirmament.Thesimilesof lastclauseofv.25isemittedby I.22—28 EZEKIEL 7 overtheheadofthelivingcreaturetherewasthelikeness ofafirmament,likethecolouroftheterrible1crystal, 23stretchedforthovertheirheadsabove.Andunderthe firmamentweretheirwingsstraight,theonetowardthe other:everyonehadtwowhichcovered2onthisside, andeveryonehadtwowhichcovered2onthatside,their 24bodies.Andwhentheywent,I heardthenoiseoftheir wingslikethenoiseofgreatwaters,likethevoiceofthe Almighty,anoiseoftumultlikethenoiseofanhost: 25whentheystood,theyletdowntheirwings.Andthere wasavoiceabovethefirmamentthatwasovertheir 26heads:whentheystood,theyletdowntheirwings.And abovethefirmamentthatwasovertheirheadswasthelike nessofathrone,astheappearanceofasapphirestone: anduponthelikenessofthethronewasalikenessasthe 27appearanceofamanuponitabove.AndI sawasthe colourofamber,astheappearanceoffirewithinitround about,fromtheappearanceofhisloinsandupward; and fromtheappearanceofhisloinsanddownwardIsawasit weretheappearanceoffire,andtherewasbrightness 28roundabout3him.Astheappearanceofthebowthatis inthecloudinthedayofrain,sowastheappearanceof thebrightnessroundabout.Thiswastheappearanceof thelikenessofthegloryoftheLORD.AndwhenIsaw it,I felluponmyface,andI heardavoiceofonethat spake.

1 Or,ice ’ Or,forthem= 013i:

manyasanaccidentalrepetitionx.4,18,19:xi.22,23:xliii.4,5: fromc.24.With0.26wemustxliv.4). compare1:.l. The‘sapphirestone’ItisthesenseofthisDivineglory occursinthesameconnectionin thatcausestheprophettoprostrate Ex.xxiv.10.‘Thegloryofthehimselfbeforeit,in a stateof Lord’(2:.28)isalsoseeninEx.xxiv.expectancyandattention.Atthe 16,andtheexpressionoccursmanysametimethemysteriouscharacter timesintheaccountofEzekiel’sof the‘onethatspake’lends visions(cp.iii.23:viii.4:ix.3: solemnitytothecomingcall. 8 EZEKIEL IL1—3

ii. TheProphet’sCalland ii.l—iii.3. II.1Andhesaiduntome,Sonofman,standuponthy 2feet,andI willspeakwiththee.Andthespiritentered intomewhenhespakeuntome,andsetmeuponmyfeet; 3andIheardhimthatspakeuntome.Andhesaidunto

11l—III.2. FollowingupontheDanielisbiddentodoinsimilar introductoryvision,thecallandcircumstances,thoughinhiscase missionoftheprophetwithhisfirstthewords‘Istoodtrembling’(x.11) symbolicactionaredescribed.follow.Itistobenotedthatthe 11.1,2.Theprophetisaddressedwordspokenbringswithit the hereandconstantlythroughouttheinwardinspiration,andthatthe bookasSonofMan.Itis his strengthtostandinthepresenceof distinctivetitle,onlyappliedinthethe‘onethatspake’isattributed OldTestamentoncebesides,perhapstotheSpiritjustasitisiniii.24. inimitationofthisuse,toaprophetThustheactionoftheSpiritof (Dan.viii.17).Whatthetitleas GodandofthewordofGodisas appliedtotheprophetexactlyin closelyunitedasintheaccountof dicatesisnotabsolutelycertain.To theCreation(Gen.i. 2,3). Man someitappearsmerelytoimplycannotfulfilGod’swordwithoutHis theimmeasurabledistancethereis Spirit‘preventing’him(intheold betweenevenachosenprophetof senseoftheword). GodandJehovah:whilstbyothers3—7.Inthemissionthatisgiven itisheldtoconnoteaswellthetotheprophet,nothingisdisguised dignityofthehumanagent(cp.Pa orkeptback.Thediflicultiesof 5). Itseemsscarcelyinbar hisposition,thequalitiesthathe monywithitssurroundingsinthiswillneed,thefactthathewill booktolookuponitsimplyasa havetospeakofothernationsbe titleofdepreciation.Thisisthesideshisown,areallmentioned moretobeobservedwhenwere withoutreserve.Theshrinkingof memberthatthetitlewhichourMosesfromthetasklaiduponhim, LordusesmostfrequentlyforHimandJonah’sattempttoescapefrom selfisthatof‘theSonofMan,’per hiscallmayillustratethehesitancy hapslookingbacktoDan.vii.l3:— thatisimpliedhereonthepartof ‘therecamewiththecloudsofheavenEzekiel.Thechargegiventothe onelikeuntoasonofman.’ForyoungEzekielmaybecompared afullerdiscussionofthephrasesee withthatofStPaultotheyoung thearticleSonofManinHastings’Timothy,whohadtodealwithJews DictionaryoftheBible,Vol.iv.andandGentilesalike:—‘Beinstantin Introduction,p.xiii. season,outofseason;reprove,re Theprophetiscalledupontorisebuke,exhort,withalllongsufi'ering andstanduponhisfeetasamarkandteaching’(2Tim.iv.2). That ofGod‘sconfidenceinhim,justas theword‘nations’impliesmorethan 1L3J4 EZEKIEL 9

me,Sonofman,IsendtheetothechildrenofIsrael,to nationsthatarerebellious,whichhaverebelledagainst me:theyandtheirfathershavetransgressedagainstme, 4evenuntothisveryday.Andthechildrenareimpudent andstifi'hearted;’Idosendtheeuntothem:andthou

1 0r,untowhomIsendthee thetribesofIsraelissurelyclearconsonants,Jehovahreceivedthe fromthepropheciesofxxv.—xxxii.;vowelpointsofElohim. thoughtheprophet’smission,sofar Theprophet’shearersweretohave astheywereconcerned,didnotin noexcuse.Theyhadafreewillto volvea verbaldeliveranceofthe hearortoforbear,butinanycase, message(iii.5,6):theprophetwasitisimpliedthattheycouldnot simplytoutterGod’swillconcerninghelpknowingthattheyhadhada themTherebellionofIsraelis prophetamongstthem.Thehearing carriedback(seexx.8)notonlyto andtheforbearingofthosetowhom thetimeofthewanderingsinthe theprophetissentisespecially wildernessbuttothebondagein emphasized(cp.iii.11,27).Thefall Egypt.Theimpudenceofv.4is ofJerusalem,whichwassoonto the‘hardforehead’(weusethe come,wouldprovethetruthofhis expression‘brazen-faced’)ofiii.7. message(cp.xxxiii.33). Theprophetisempoweredtosay, Asagainsttheimpudenceand ashedoessayafterwards(e.g.v.5), stifi'heartednessofhishearers,the thathiswordsarethewordsofGod.prophetwastotakeupafearless TheactualNameofGodusedis attitude,indicatedlaterbythefore AdonaiJehovah—thedivinenameif head‘asanadamantharderthan printedincapitalsinA.V.0rR.V.flint’(iii.9),justasJeremiahwas impliestheuseofthenameJehovahbiddentodo(i.8). Theexpression -atitlewhichisespeciallyusedin ‘rebellioushouse’(literally,‘house thepresentHebrewtextofEzekiel,ofrebelliousness’)isonecharacter thoughitalsooccurswithlessfre isticofthisbook.The‘briersand quencyelsewhere.Theformof thorns’indicatetheheathenamongst thetitlemaybeduetothefactwhomtheJewsweredwelling(cp. thatwhen,inlatertimes,theNamexxviii.24whereZidonandtheother Jehovahwasdeclaredunutterable,neighboursoftheJewsinPalestine thewordAdonaimayhaveatfirstarecalled‘aprickingbrier’and‘a beenplacedinthemarginasits grievingthorn’).Theyatanyrate substitute,andthenafterwardsin wouldnothelptheprophettoassert corporatedintothetextWhenhisauthority.Thescorpionisdan thiswasdone,Elohimwasreadfor gerousfromitssting.Thoseamongst Jehovah,andwhenthevowelpointswhomtheprophetwasdwelling wereadded,instilllatertimes,to wouldendeavourtoinjurehimwith theHebrewtext,ofwhichthe venomousactsandwords. originalformonlycontainedthe 10 EZEKIEL IL4—111.I

5shaltsayuntothem,ThussaiththeLordGOD.Andthey, whethertheywillhear,orwhethertheywillforbear,(for theyarearebellioushouse,)yetshallknowthatthere 6hathbeenaprophetamongthem.Andthen,sonofman, benotafraidofthem,neitherbeafraidoftheirwords, thoughbriersandthornsbewiththee,andthoudost dwellamongscorpions:benotafraidoftheirwords,nor bedismayedattheirlooks,thoughtheybearebellious 7house.Andthoushaltspeakmywordsuntothem, whethertheywillhear,orwhethertheywillforbear: 8fortheyaremostrebellious.Butthou,sonofman,hear whatI sayuntothee;benotthenrebelliouslikethat rebellioushouse:openthymouth,andeatthatI give 9thee.AndwhenI looked,behold,anhandwasputforth 10untome;and,lo,arollofabookwastherein;-andbe spreaditbeforeme;anditwaswrittenwithinand without:andtherewaswrittenthereinlamentations,and mourning,andwoe.111.1 Andhesaiduntome,Son II.8—111.3. Theprophetis anglestothewritingwhichwould hiddennottofollowthepeoplein beincolumns,andthereforeacon theirrebelliousways,but,afterin siderablelengthofthepassagewould spectingarollwhichisspreadoutbedisclosedTherollhadwriting beforehim,toeatit,andthenonbothsides(cp.Rev.v.1)ofa saturated,asitwere,withitscontentsmournfulcharactersuchasisdis toutterthemtohisfellow-countryclosedinthesucceedingprophecies. menin theircaptivity.EatingItsmessagewasto befirstto (Rev.1:.9‘Takeit’i.e.alittlebook,theJews,justastheChristian ‘andeatitup’;cp.Jer.x.15)or messagewasdeliveredfirsttothem. drinking(2Esdr.xiv.38—41,‘OpenBeforebeingdelivered,itwasneces thymouth,anddrinkthatI givesarythattheprophetshould theetodrink...a.ndwhenI hadthoroughlydigestandassimilateit. dnmkofit,myheartutteredimderThisisindicatedbythefirstclause standing,andwisdomgrewinmy ofv.3. Thelatterpartoftheverse breast,formyspiritretainedits indicates,thatasthebookwas memory:andmymouthwasopened,divineitmustnecessarilybegood andshutnomore’)wasasymbolic(sweetashoney)initself.Inthe acceptanceofinspirationinapocacorrespondingpassageinRev.(x.9, lypticliterature.Theputtingforth10)bitternessfollows,and,though ofthehandoccursagaininviii.3, bitternessisnotmentionedhere,it andsomethinglikeitinDan.1:.10. isimpliedlater(iii.14).Tospeak Thebookwouldbeunrolledatrightandactwithtruthisgoodbutoften IIL[—6 EZEKIEL 11

ofman,eatthatthoufindest;eatthisroll,andgo,speak 2untothehouseofIsrael.SoI openedmymouth,and 3hecausedmetoeattheroll.Andhesaiduntome,Son ofman,causethybellytoeat,andfillthybowelswith thisrollthatIgivethee.ThendidIeatit; anditwasin mymouthashoneyforsweetness.

iii.AGhargegiventotheProphet.iii.4—11. 4 Andhesaiduntome,Sonofman,go,gettheeunto thehouseofIsrael,andspeakwithmywordsuntothem. 5Forthouartnotsenttoapeople1ofa strangespeech andofanhardlanguage,buttothehouseofIsrael; 6nottomanypeoplesofastrangespeechandofanhard language,whosewordsthoucanstnotunderstand.Surely, ifI senttheetothem,theywouldhearkenuntothee. 1 Heb.deepoflipandheavyoftongue. carrieswithitanelementofbittermaycomparewiththelastclauseof nesswhichmakesitdistasteful.e. 6 ourLord’swords:-—‘ifthe WecanderivesomeguidancemightyworkshadbeendoneinTyre fromthispassagein forminga andSidon,whichweredoneinyou properestimateofwhatis in (i.e.ChorazinandBethsaida),they volvedinInspiration.Theprophetwouldhaverepentedlongago...if istoabsorbintohimselfwhatis themightyworkshadbeendonein givenhimfromabove,andthenSodomwhichweredoneinthee istogiveitoutwithhisownlips(i.e.Capernaum),itwouldhavere andinhisownlanguage.Thein maineduntilthisday’(Matt.xi.21, dividualityoftheprophetwillthere23:Lk.x.13):andinv.7again:— forehavefullplayandbeallowed‘Iftheypersecutedme,theywill tomanifestitself. alsopersecuteyou’(Johnxv.20: 4—11.Intheseverseswehavea cp.Matt.x. 24).Theideacon reiterationofthemissionoftheveyedbyw.8,9 isexpressedin prophet,couchedinstrongerlanguageanamplerforminJer.i. 18,a thanbefore,sofarasregardsthechapterwhichbearsmanypoints attitudetheprophetwastotakeup ofresemblancetothis.InIsaiah towardshisfellow-countrymen.The(1.7)theprophetspeaksofhimself stemdifficultiesofthesituationareassettinghisfacelikeaflint;here notsmoothedawayintheslightesttheprophet’sforeheadismadestill degree.Itisa tremendoustaskharder,‘asan adamant.’The thattheprophethastoundertake,Hebrewsluzmtr,translatedadamant, butGodwillbewithhim.Weisequivalenttocorundumoremery, 12 EZEKIEL III.7—13

7ButthehouseofIsraelwillnothearkenuntothee;for theywillnothearkenuntome:forallthehouseofIsrael 8areofanhardforeheadandofastiffheart.Behold, I havemadethyfacehardagainsttheirfaces,andthy 9foreheadhardagainsttheirforeheads.Asanadamant harderthanflinthaveI madethyforehead:fearthem not,neitherbedismayedattheirlooks,thoughtheybea 10rebellioushouse.Moreoverhesaiduntome,Sonofman, allmywordsthatIshallspeakuntotheereceiveinthine 11heart,andhearwiththineears.Andgo,gettheetothem ofthecaptivity,untothechildrenofthypeople,andspeak untothem,andtellthem,ThussaiththeLordGOD;whether theywillhear,orwhethertheywillforbear.

iv. ThepresenceofGodwiththeProphet,andhis transferencetoTel-abib.iii.12—15. 12 Thenthespiritliftedmeup,andI heardbehindme thevoiceofagreatrushing,saying,Blessedbetheglory 13oftheLORDfromhisplace.AndIheardthenoiseof thewingsofthelivingcreaturesastheytouchedone andwasthehardestsubstanceChebar(i.1). Itwasa removal knownatthetime.Thecarethefromastateofecstasytoacondition prophetwastoexerciseonhispartinwhichhecouldhavepractical inhisreceptionofthemessagetobe intercoursewiththosetowhomhe deliveredisemphasized: nopartof wassent.Therevulsionoffeeling itwastobelost.‘Thechildrenconsequentuponthechangeisin ofthypeople’is a phrasethatdicatedinav.14,15,andsomelittle occursagaininchapsxxxiii.(fourtimeelapsesbeforetheprophetcan times)andxxxvii.(v.18). goforwardinhiswork,andthen 12—15.Theprophetistakento onlyafterfurtherinstructionand theplacewhereheistoexercisehis inspiration.Alluptothispoint office.Hisremovalisattributedto hadbeentransactedinthepresence thespirit,asinthecaseofPhilipofthegloryoftheLordandofthe thedeacon(Actsviii.39,40).Thevision;thevisionnowpassesaway, removalisintendedtobelookedandtheprophetisleftstillfeeling uponjustliketheeatingoftheroll,theLord’shanduponhim.Who asonesimplyinvision(cp.viii.3: utteredtheejaculation(v.l2)‘Blessed xi.24:Numb.xxiv.4,16),forthe bethegloryoftheLordfromHis prophetwasalreadybytheriverplace,’isnotstated(thewordsaying III.13—!5 EZEKIEL 13 another,andthenoiseofthewheels1besidethem,even 14thenoiseofagreatrushing.Sothespiritliftedmeup, andtookmeaway:andIwentinbitterness,intheheat ofmyspirit,andthehandoftheLORDwasstrongupon 15me.ThenI cametothemofthecaptivityatTel-abib, that2dweltbytheriverChebar,3andtowherethey 2dwelt;andI satthereastoniedamongthemseven days. 1 Or,overagainst2 Or,sat 3 Anotherreadingis,andIsat wheretheysat. isnotintheoriginal),though‘thecameintoexistence.Butit is voiceofa greatrushing’mustbe doubtfulwhetherthisisreallythe attributedtothewingsandthemeaningofthewordinTel-abib. wheelsofthevision;andthenoiseTheearlytranslatorscertainlydid ofthewingsissaid(i.24)tobe notthinkso,fortheydidnotmake ‘likethevoiceoftheAlmighty.’apropernameoftheplacetowhich Itis meant,then,forthevoicetheprophetcameatall,buttrans ofHimWhowasbehindthevision.latedit;thustheVulgatesays:— Thevisiongone,theprophetisleft‘toaheapofnewfruits,’whilstthe inbitterness,abitternesscausedby Septuagintseemstohavereadsome thesenseofthemessagehehadthingquitedifl'erent:‘Icameto todeliver(cp.Rev.x. 10)andthecaptivityinastateofexaltation, accompaniedbytheheatofhis andwentaroundthosedwellingby spirit.ThislatterexpressionimpliestheriverChebar.’Ifitbeaplace, vexationatthecharacteroftheTel-abibhasnotyetbeenidentified: workimposeduponhim,curbed,and,ifthenamewasBabylonian, however,bythehandoftheLord,itsmeaningwouldbeDeluge-mound whichwasconstantlylaiduponhim(Encycl.Bib.4920).TheRV. (cp.e.g.i.3:v.22).Henowfindsmarg.rendering‘sat’recallsPs. himselfwithhisfellow-captivesat cxxxvii.1 ‘BytheriversofBabylon, Tel-abib.DrCheynemaintainsthattherewesatdown.’Thesitting weshouldplacethesceneofthisofthecaptivesimpliestheirdis narrativeinNorthArabiainsteadof consolatestate(cp.Lam.ii.10: inBabylon(seeEncycl.Bib.4919),Jobii.13wherethereisthesame butthistheorydoesnotmeetwithperiodofsevendays),whichin anysupportfromothercriticsof fectedtheprophetalso.Theword weight.Thefirstpartofthename‘astonied’impliesthestuporof pointstoamoundindicatingthegrief.Suchastateofintensepros ruinsofapreviouslyexistingtown.trationundergriefisattributed Thelatterpart,Abib(Le.youngearstoEzra(ix.3:cp.Neh.i. 4). The ofbarley),isfamiliartousastheperiodofsevendayswasa re nameofamonth(Ex.xiii.4),thecognizedtimeofmourning(seeGen. monthwhentheyoungearsofcorn1.10:Jobii.13). 14 EZEKIEL 111.16-18

B. AFTERSEVENDAYS,AFURTHERCHARGETO THEPROPHET,AFURTHERVISION,SYMBOLIO ACTIONSONTHEPROPHET’SPARTWITH THEIREXPLANATIONS,ANDPROPHEOIESOF DOOM,3.0.592.CHAPTERSIII.16—VII.

v. AfurtherChargetoflu:Prophet.iii.16—21. 16 Anditcametopassattheendofsevendays,thatthe 17wordoftheLORDcameuntome,saying,Sonofman, I havemadetheeawatchmanuntothehouseofIsrael: thereforehearthewordatmymouth,andgivethem 18warningfromme.WhenI sayuntothewicked,Thou shaltsurelydie;andthougivesthimnotwarning,nor speakesttowarnthewickedfromhiswickedway,tosave 16—21.Thesevendaysover,a beforehim]Cp.Jer.vi.21andour freshchargeisgiventotheprophet.Lord’suseofIs.vi.9,10.Sucha ItlooksforwardespeciallytothecasecanonlyoccurinthepersonOI propheciescontainedin chapsonewhocontinuesinacourseof xviii.,xxxiii.,andis a summaryhardenedsin,e.g.thePharaohofthe ofthem.Theprophetis tobe Exodus. a watchman(xxxiii.7:theidea ItwasadefinitearticleofJewish is workedoutin xxxiii.1-9:beliefthatgoodworkshadsome cp.Heb.xiii.17).Thewarningthingmeritoriousaboutthemand hewastogivewasofdangerwentup‘foramemorialbeforeGod’ fromtheguiltofsin,anditwas(Acts1:.4).ThusNehemiahsays:— tobeaheaven-sentwarning.All ‘Rememberuntome,OmyGod,for responsibilityonthepartofthegood,allthatI havedoneforthis prophetwastoceasewiththepeople’(v.19:cp. 14,22,31). deliveryofhismessagebutnotThismemorialistobeblottedoutin before.Thesentenceofdeathfor thecaseoftheunrepentantsinner. thesinnerwastheoneannouncedThiscommissiontotheprophet fromthebeginning(Gen.ii.17).bringsintodistinctprominenceone Definiteindividualresponsibilityfor sideofthepropheticofliee,whichis moralcharacteris moreplainlysometimesforgotten—thatofthe assertedthanperhapsithadeverteller-firthofGod’swillforhis beenbefore.‘HisbloodwillIre people,withoutanydefinitean quire’isaformofexpressionusednouncementoffutureevents.Sin becausetotheHebrewbloodwasanditsconsequences,thatistobe anequivalentforlife(Gen.ix.4). theleadingideaofEzekiel’spro 20.andIlayastumblingblocknouncements. III.18—23 EZEKIEL 15 hislife;thesamewickedmanshalldieinhisiniquity; 19buthisbloodwillI requireatthinehand.Yetifthou warnthewicked,andheturnnotfromhiswickedness, norfromhiswickedway,heshalldieinhisiniquity; 20butthouhastdeliveredthysoul.Again,whenarighteous mandothturnfromhisrighteousness,andcommitin iquity,andIlayastumblingblockbeforehim,heshalldie: becausethouhastnotgivenhimwarning,heshalldiein hissin,andhisrighteousdeedswhichhehathdoneshall notberemembered:buthisbloodwillIrequireatthine 21hand.Neverthelessifthouwarntherighteousman,that therighteoussinnot,andhedothnotsin,heshallsurely live,becausehetookwarning;andthouhastdelivered thysoul.

vi.ArenewaloftheProphet’sVision,andthe Chargerepeated.iii.22—27. 22 AndthehandoftheLORDwasthereuponme;and hesaiduntome,Arise,goforthintothe’plain,andIwill 23theretalkwiththee.ThenI arose,andwentforthinto the1plain: and,behold,thegloryoftheLORDstoodthere, 1 Or,valley 22—27.Afurthermanifestationgin)onwhichthemoundTel-abib, ofGodisdisclosedtotheprophettheplacewheretheprophetabode, similartowhathadgonebefore,stood.Thevisionisidenticalwith andafurtherinstructionisgivento thepreviousvision;anditseffect him,layinguponhimacommandwasthesame.Buttheinstruction oftemporarysilencetobefollowedgiventotheprophetwasdifferent. bya declarationtohisrebelliousHeWastoshuthimselfupinhis fellow-countrymen,as thecomhouse,andnotdeliveranymessage mencementofhispropheticutteruntilhewasbidden.Thesubject ances.‘ThehandoftheLord’is oftheverbinthesentence‘they uponhimasbefore(i.3). Thisshalllaybandsuponthee’isobscure, timeheiscalled‘intotheplain,’especiallyasitissaidlater(iv.8) cp.the‘plaininthelandofShinar’‘Iwilllaybandsuponthee.’The (Gen.xi.2),whereShinarisidenticalHebrewwordisprobablywrongly withBabylonia.Itis herethepointedintheMassoretictextand plain(hardly‘valley’asinthemarshouldbereadasapassive,‘bands 16 EZEKIEL 111.13-17

astheglorywhichIsawbytheriverChebar:andIfell 24onmyface.Thenthespiritenteredintome,andsetme uponmyfeet; andhespakewithme,andsaiduntome, 25Go,shutthyselfwithinthinehouse.Butthou,sonof man,behold,theyshalllaybandsuponthee,andshall bindtheewiththem,andthoushaltnotgooutamong 26them:andI willmakethytonguecleavetotheroofof thymouth,thatthoushaltbedumb,andshaltnotbeto 27themareprover:fortheyarearebellioushouse.But whenIspeakwiththee,I willopenthymouth,andthou shaltsayuntothem,ThussaiththeLordGOD:Hethat heareth,lethimhear;andhethatforbeareth,lethim forbear:fortheyarearebellioushouse.

vii.Thefirstofaseries(iv.—v.1—4)ofsymbolicactions toillustratethesiegeofJerusalem:thetileandthe ironpan.iv.1-3. Thewholeofthissection(iv.—v.1—4)isintendedtopourtraytheprophet’s occupationduringhistimeofsilence.Thoughheisshutupinhishouse andabstainsfromallpropheticutterance,heisaccessibletothosewhocome toseehimandtoobservehisactions. Theactionswhichtheprophetishiddentoperformmusthavegoneon withinthesameperiod.Toourprosaicwesternmindsitseemsdiflicultto imaginethattheprophetwoulddosuchthingsasheishiddentodohere. ButOrientalhabitsofthoughtandactionarefardifferentfromours. WhenwethinkoftheactionsofaSimeonStylites,orofsomeoftheasceties eveninthesedaysinIndia,wemaywellhesitatetosaythatitwas impossibleforEzekieltodothem—eventotheconstantlyinguponone sideforsomanydays. SuchactionsasthoseofEzekielwouldappealnaturallytohisfellow countrymen.Otherprophetshadactedinsimilarwaysbefore.Isaiah,for

shallbelaiduponthee.’TheideaRev.xxii.11,thoughtheturnof ofthetonguecleavingtotheroofthesentenceisnotquitethesame: ofthemouthismetwithelsewhere‘Hethatisunrighteous,lethimdo (Jobxxix.10:Ps.cxxxvii.6:Lam.unrighteousnessstill:andhethat iv.4:cp.alsoPs.xxii.15‘myisfilthy,lethimbemadefilthystill: tonguecleavethtomyjaws’).Theandhethatisrighteous,lethimdo openingofthemouthisalludedto righteousnessstill:andhethatis againinxxiv.27,xxix.21.Thefree holy,lethimbemadeholystill.’ willofthehearersisasserted,asin IV.1,a EZEKIEL 17 instance,‘walkednakedandbarefootthreeyearsforasignandawonder uponEgyptanduponEthiopia’(xx.3).Jeremiahworeagirdlewith outputtingitinwater,andthenhiditinaholeoftherock(xiii.1—5) SimilaractionshaveappealedtoOrientalmindsatothertimes.Agabus theprophetfromJudaeatakingStPaul’sgirdleandbindinghisown feetandhandsassymbolicalofwhatwastohappentotheownerofthe girdleisacaseinpoint.Itwasthisappealtooutwardactionsand surroundingsthatmadeourLord’steachingsoattractivetohishearers. Thefindingnothingbutleavesonthefig-treeanditscursinginconsequence isanotableexampleofthis;anditistosatisfythenaturalcravingofmany mindsthatexternalsymbolismhasfoundsomarkedaplaceasithasin manyformsofChristianworship. Ithasbeenquestionedhowlongtheprophet’ssilenceissupposedtobe maintainedItseemsquiteclearthatitterminatesatv.4. Theprophet hadbeentoldtopreparehismessagewiththewords,‘ThussaiththeLord Gon.’V.5beginswiththeseidenticalwordsandtheyarefollowedbywhat istoallintentsandpurposesanexplanationoftheactionsofthetimeof silence.Othershaveheldthatthesilencelastedtillthenewsofthefallof JerusalemreachedEzekiel(xxxiii.22),butthepassagereferredto,takenin conjunctionwithwhatgoesbefore(xxiv.26,27),impliesratherthatthe prophethadtopassthroughvariousperiodsofenforcedsilence. IV.1 Thoualso,sonofman,taketheeatile,andlay itbeforethee,andpourtrayuponitacity,evenJerusalem: 2andlaysiegeagainstit,andbuildfortsagainstit,and IV.1-3.TunmsAND'rnsmosofbatteringramsisalsomentioned ms.Theprophetishimselfinsym twicelaterinthisbook(xxi.22: bolicalactiontotakepartinthesiegexxvi.9).Theprophethimselfisout ofthecity.For‘setthyfacetoward’sidetherampartofthebesiegers, (0.3),cp.xx.46:xxi.2:thedeterwhichisrepresentedbythe‘iron minedcharacterofthesiegeis pan.’Thesubjectstobepourtrayed impliedbytheexpression.Overonthetileremindusofthegraphic andoveragaininthisbooktheillustrationsofsiegesandfightings prophethastoactapartasasigntobeseenonthewallsofthepalaces tohisfellow-countrymen(xii.6,ll: ortemplesinBabylonia.Someof xxiv.24,27).InthiswaytheywerethetabletsfoundinBabyloniahave tobeinformedabouttheeventsonthemplansofcities.Illustrations thatwereoccurringintheirnativeofsomeofthemcanbeseeninToy’s‘ land.TheregulardetailsofsiegeEzekiel(p.98),wherealsomaybe workweretobepourtrayedon foundapictorialattempttoillustrate thetileortablet.Nebuchadrezzartheappearanceofthewheelsof builtfortsagainstJerusalem(2K. Ezekiel’svision.Pictures,derived xxv.1). Thecastingupofmountsfromthemonuments,illustratingthe isconstantlyalludedtointhisbookoperationsofasiegecanbeseenin (xvii.l7:xxi.22:xxvi.8). TheuseEncycl.Bib.art.‘Siege.’‘Astriking R. 2 18 EZEKIEL IV.1—4

castupamountagainstit;setcampsalsoagainstit,and 3plantbatteringramsagainstitroundabout.Andtake thouuntotheeaniron1pan,andsetitforawallofiron betweentheeandthecity:andsetthyfacetowardit, anditshallbebesieged,andthoushaltlaysiegeagainst it. ThisshallbeasigntothehouseofIsrael. viii.Thesecondsymbolicaction.'—theprothtoliefirst onhislthsideandthenonhisrightside,andto havelimitedrationsforasettime.iv.4—17. 4 Moreoverliethouuponthyleftside,andlaythe iniquityofthehouseofIsraeluponit:accordingtothe 1 OrIflatplate illustrationofEzck.iv.3isfurnishedis therecognizedproportionof byDoughty(Ar.Des.i. 593),whopunishment(cp.Num.xiv.34,and describesaniron-plateddoorinthe thedaysandweeksofDaniel’s castleofHayil:“theplates(intheprophecies,ix.24-27: xii.11—13). indigenceoftheirarts)arethe Therearegreatdiflicultiescon shield-likeironpans(tannfir)uponnectedwiththenumberofthedays whichthetownhouse-wivesbake(foryears)inthispassage.Tobegin theirgirdle-bread’”(Encycl.Bib.with,accordingtotheHebrewtext, 891).Somehavetriedtofindin thenumberofdaysfortheprophet theironpanasymbolofthebarriertolieonhisleftsideis390andon thattherewasbetweenGod,as hisrightside40,andyetwhenthe representedbyHisprophet,andtimecomesforhimtostoreup Hispeople,butthiscanscarcelybe provisionsfortheperiodofthesiege saidtobecontemplatedinthe(v.9),theprovisionsareonlytolast actionheredescribed. 390days.AccordingtoJeremiah 4—17.Tnnssconnsvunomc(xxxix.I: 4—7)theactualsiege amen.The‘sonofman’isto lastedfromthetenthdayofthe beartheiniquityofhispeople,thetenthmonthoftheninthyearof houseofIsraelaswellasthehouseZedekiah’sreignuntiltheninthday ofJudah,asheliesfirstuponhis ofthefourthmonthoftheeleventh leftsideandthenuponhisrightyearofthesamereign.Thiscon side.Hewastobethepeopleper siderablyexceedsthe430daysof sonified,asitwere,andtogothroughthepassageinEzekiel,which,how inactionallthehorrorsofthesiege,ever,doesnotnecessarilyimplythat someofwhichweretocausehimthecommencementofthesiegeand greatdistressofsoulbecauseofthe oftheprophet’slyingonhisside uncleanncssandpollutionwhichwereco-terminous.Thisis one theyinvolved.Adayfora yeardifficulty,buta stillgreaterone IV.4—9 EZEKIEL 19 numberofthedaysthatthoushaltlieuponit,thoushalt 5beartheiriniquity.ForI haveappointedtheyearsof theiriniquitytobeuntotheeanumberofdays,even threehundredandninetydays:soshaltthoubearthe 6iniquityofthehouseofIsrael.Andagain,whenthou hastaccomplishedthese,thoushaltlieonthyrightside, andshaltbeartheiniquityofthehouseofJudah:forty days,eachdayforayear,haveIappointedituntothee. 7AndthoushaltsetthyfacetowardthesiegeofJerusalem, withthinearmuncovered;andthoushaltprophesy 8againstit. And,behold.Ilaybandsuponthee,andthou shaltnotturntheefromonesidetoanother,tillthou 9hastaccomplishedthedaysofthysiege.Takethoualso ariseswhenweaskwhatperiodssointimepastisclearfromxxi.12, oftransgressionof390yearsand40 13.Inespecialwemayreferto yearsrespectivelydoestheprophecythereignofAhaz(2K.xvii),and contemplate?Ifwereckon390theembassyearlyinZechariah’s yearsbackwardfromthefallof reign(Jer.xxix.3),perhapsalsoto Samaria(722no.)wearecarriedthetreatmentofMerodach-Baladan’s toa date40yearsprecedingtheambassadors(Is.xxxix.) usuallyaccepteddatefortheacces TheSeptuaginttranslatoreither sionofSaul.But,if(bya comhadadifferenttextbeforehimor parisonofon.5,6,9)wecometo feltthedifficultiesthatbesetthe theconclusionthat390inv.4 is textasitstands,andproceededto amistakeofascribefor350,wefindemenditbyinserting‘160’inv.4, ourselvesattheactualdate(1072110.)reading‘190’for‘390’inv.5and givenfortheaccessionofSaulwhenmakingitthetotalof150+40;and itmaybesaidinonesensethatthe alsoreading‘190’inv.9. This kingdomofIsraelbegan,andalso150yearsisapparentlyintendedto theperiodoftransgressionmaybe representtheperiodbetweenthe heldtohavecommenced.ThenumfallofSamariaandthedestruction ber‘40’oftenseemstohaveasym ofJerusalem(722—5883.0.),whilst bolicalsenseascribedtoitintheOldthe40yearsare,inroundnumbers, Testament(cp.e.g.Numb.xiv.34:theyearsfromthefallofJerusalem l K.xix.8),andnottohavebeentotheDecreeofCyrus,thoughthe usedalwayswithexactnumericalCaptivitywasgenerallyreckonedto accuracy.Itmaybetakenherehavelasted70yearswhichwere torefertoshortperiodswhenthereckonedfromJehoiakim’sreign kingsofJudahweredallyingwith(606—536so.) theAssyriansandtryingtoseekan Othersagainseeingthat390+40 allianceonequaltermswiththat=430havecomparedthis430years greatkingdom.Thattheyhaddonewiththe430yearsofEx.xii.40: 2—2 20 EZEKIEL IV.9—“ untotheewheat,andbarley,andbeans,andlentils,and millet,andspelt,andputtheminonevessel,andmake theebreadthereof;accordingtothenumberofthedays thatthoushaltlieuponthyside,eventhreehundredand 10ninetydays,shaltthoueatthereof.Andthymeatwhich thoushalteatshallbebyweight,twentyshekelsaday: 11fromtimetotimeshaltthoueatit. Andthoushaltdrink waterbymeasure,thesixthpartofanhin: fromtimeto 12timeshaltthoudrink.Andthoushalteatitasbarley cakes,andthoushaltbakeitintheirsightwithdungthat 13comethoutofman.AndtheLORDsaid,Eventhusshall thechildrenofIsraeleattheirbreadunclean,amongthe 14nationswhitherIwilldrivethem.ThensaidI,AhLord

Gal.iii.17,butitcanscarcelybe Toestimatetheactualamountof conceivedthatthiswastheperiodaday’srationsisdifficultbecause theprophecyhadinview. thestandardsvariedsomuchandwe Theuncoveringoftheprophet’sarenottoldwhetheritistheBaby arm(a.7)indicates,byanoutwardlonianorHebrewshekelwhichis sign,whatisimmediatelysaid,thatintendedhere.Ifwetakeamean hisprophecywastobeagainstvalue,perhapsabout8 ozs.isthe Jerusalem(cp.Is.lii.10),forhe dailyamountofbreadwhichwasto uncoversittosethisarmfreetodo beeaten,thoughitwastobeofa theworkwhichhastobedone;poormixedcharacter,andnotof and,justasinthelastchapterthequalityofbarleybread.The (iii.25),sohererestraintislaidallowanceofwaterwouldbeabout upontheprophet.Itwastobehis 11,;pintsorrathermore,ifwetake siegeaswellasthesiegeofJerutheMnasabout1%gallonsScarcity salem.Duringhissiegehewasto offuelalsoistocausetheprophet puthimselfonrationsofthefoodgreatdistress,inhisfearofeating whichhehadstoreduptobeginuncleanfood.The‘AhLordGod1’ with.Thevarietiesoffoodintheishereaselsewhereaprotestagainst onevesselindicatetheimpossibilityGod’sruling(cp.ix.8:xi.13:xx.49). owingtoscarcityofgatheringenoughWemaycompareStPeters‘Not ofonekindofmeal.Thewordso,Lord;forI havenevereaten ‘meat’intheEnglishBibleoftenanythingthatiscommonorunclean’ means‘food.’Thatrationswere(Actsx.14).Justastoeatofmeat servedoutduringthesiegeofJerufromananimalthatdiedanatural salemweseeinthecaseofJeremiahdeathorwasternofbeastsinvolved whoreceiveddailyin‘thecourtof ceremonialuncleanness(Lev.vii.24), theguard’‘aloafofbreadoutofthesotheuseofthefuelindicatedin bakers’street,untilallthebreadin v.5madetheprophetshrinkfrom thecitywasspent’(Jer.xxxvii.21).thatwhichwasbakedwithit,forhe IV.14.—V.I EZEKIEL 21 GOD!behold,mysoulhathnotbeenpolluted:forfrom myyouthupeventillnowhaveInoteatenofthatwhich diethofitself,oristernofbeasts;neithercamethere 15abominablefleshintomymouth.Thenhesaiduntome, See,I havegiventheecow’sdungforman’sdung,and 16thoushaltpreparethybreadthereon.Moreoverhesaid untome,Sonofman,behold,I willbreakthestaffof breadinJerusalem:andtheyshalleatbreadbyweight, andwithcarefulness;andtheyshalldrinkwaterby 17measure,andwithastonishment:thattheymaywant breadandwater,andbeastoniedonewithanother,and pineawayintheiriniquity.

ix.Thethirdsymbolicactionwiththesharpsword orbarber’srazor,andtheprophetshair.v.1-4. V. 1 Andthou,sonofman,taketheeasharpsword, asabarber’srazorshaltthoutakeituntothee,andshalt causeittopassuponthineheadanduponthybeard: hadalwayskeptfrom‘abominableLev.xxvi.39)wouldbebecauseof flesh,’thoughtherewerenodoubtthesiegewhichwascausedbytheir temptationstopartakeofforbiddeniniquity. foodinBabylon.AnalternativeV. 1—4.THETHIRDsmsomo fuelisallowedtheprophet,almostsorrow.Theswordasrazor,and asrepulsivetoWesternideasasthetheprophet’shair.Inordertoshew first,butconstantlyprepared,storedthatthisactionwassymbolicthe up,andusedto-daybytheBedouin.prophetusesasharpswordinstead The‘stafl'ofbread’(thestaffoflife ofabarber’srazor.Fortheuseofa uponwhichmansupportshimself)razortoimplydestructioncp.Is.vii. occursagaininv.16:xiv.13and20.Thedivinejudgementistobe alsoinLev.xxvi.26:Ps.cv.16 exercisedexactly,thisisthein (cp.Is.iii.1). Whenthestaffis terpretationofthe‘balancesto brokenmancannotleanuponitto weigh.’‘Roundaboutit’inv.2 supporthimself.InJerusalemtheirsignifies‘roundaboutthecity.’The breadandwaterwastobemeasuredcityreferredtoisthecitydepicted outliketheprophet’s.Todrinkontheclaytablet.Va.2,3indicate water‘withastonishment’(cp.‘asthat,afterthefireofthesackingof tonied,’iii.15)impliesthestateof thecity,andtheswordofslaughter stupefactionintowhichthesiegeinit,aswellastheswordunsheathed wouldthrowthepeople:whilsttheirinpursuitofthescatteredfugitives piningaway(cp.xxiv.23: xxxiii.10: hadeachexacteditsthirdofthe 22 EZEKIEL V.[—5

thentaketheebalancestoweigh,and1dividethehair. 2Athirdpartshaltthouburninthefireinthemidstof thecity,whenthedaysofthesiegearefulfilled;and thoushalttakeathirdpart,andsmitewiththesword roundaboutit; andathirdpartthoushaltscattertothe 3wind,andIwilldrawoutaswordafterthem.Andthou shalttake2thereofafewinnumber,andbindtheminthy 4skirts.Andoftheseagainshaltthentake,andcastthem intothemidstofthefire,andburntheminthefire; therefromshallafirecomeforthintoallthehouseof Israel. x. Thefirstofaseriesoffivepropheciesconsequentupon andinterpretativeofthethreesymbolicactions,asfore tellingthetripartitedestructwnofthepeople.v.6—17. 5 ThussaiththeLordGOD:ThisisJerusalem:Ihave setherinthemidstofthenations,andcountriesare

1 Heb.dividethem." Heb.theme. wholenumberofvictims,therewassymbolicactionscomesalsotheun tobeaninfinitesimallysmallremnantsealingofhislipsthathemayexplain leftintheland(Jer.lii.16),andwhatheisdoingorhasdone.This thatremnantwastopassthroughisimpliedbytheopeningwords thefurnaceofaffliction(Jer.xlii.‘ThussaiththeLordGod,’with l8: xliv.16).Thelastclauseofv.4 whichtheprophethadbeentwice isofverydoubtfulmeaning.Istheorderedtodeliverhismessage(iii. firestilladestructivefire,orisit 11,27).Theyhadseenthetablet afireofpurification?Theformerwiththesketchuponit; the seemstobeexcludedbythestatelectureupontheillustrationsnow mentthatitistogoforth‘intocommences:—‘Thisis Jerusalem,’ allthehouseofIsrael.’Itseemsacitywhichhaddoneworsethan morenaturalthentosaythattheitsneighbours,althoughit was fireofdevastationbecamethefirelookeduponbyitsowninhabitants ofpurificationforthosethatwereasthecentreoftheworld,and left,justasitissooftenassertedalthoughithadhadgreateroppor thatthegreatFireofLondonpuritunitiesandprivilegesthanthey, fiedthecityfromanyfurthercon becauseofitsdivineinstitutions. sequencesoftheplaguewhichhadThewordtranslated‘yearetur devastateditayearbefore. bulent’(v.7)isaverydoubtfulone, 5-17.Withthecompletionoftheandismostprobablytobecorrected instructionstotheprophetastohis intoonemeaning‘yehaverebelled,’ V.5—10 EZEKIEL 23

6roundabouther.Andshehath1rebelledagainstmy judgementsindoingwickednessmorethanthenations, andagainstmystatutesmorethanthecountriesthatare roundabouther:fortheyhaverejectedmyjudgements, andasformystatutes,theyhavenotwalkedinthem. 7ThereforethussaiththeLordGOD:Becauseyeare turbulentmorethanthenationsthatareroundabout you,andhavenotwalkedinmystatutes,neitherhave keptmyjudgements,neitherhavedoneafterthezordin 8ancesofthenationsthatareroundaboutyou; therefore thussaiththeLordGOD:Behold,I,evenI,amagainst thee; andIwillexecutejudgementsinthemidstofthee 9inthesightofthenations.AndIwilldointheethat whichIhavenotdone,andwhereuntoIwillnotdoany 10morethelike,becauseofallthineabominations.There 1 Or,changedmyjudgement:intowickedness’ Heb.judgements. whichgivesa bettersense.Theactionbytheprophetbeinghidden twofolddivisionintostatutesandtolaysiegeagainstthecity(iv.3). judgementsisonewhichconstantlyThenationsweretobewitnessesof recurs;theword‘ordinances,’asthethepunishmentanddefilementof marginalnoteindicates,representsthepeople(cp.xxii.16),apunish thesameHebrewwordas‘judgementdifferentfromanyother,‘for ments.’Thedistinctionbetweentheunderthewholeheavenhathnot two(cp.DriveronDeut.iv.1)is beendoneashathbeendoneupon that‘statutes’areactualenactmentsJerusalem,’saida laterprophet of principlesin thedifferent(Dan.ix.12:cp.Bar.ii.2,which branchesoflaw,whilst‘judgements’is followedbya reminiscenceof aretheapplicationsoftheseprinv. 10).Theprophecyofthefirst ciplesbyjudicialsentences.In halfofv.10correspondswithJer. stancesof‘judgements’maybefoundxix.9:cp.Lev.xxvi.29:Dent. inLev.xxiv.10-23:Num.xv. xxviii.53:Lam.ii.20:iv.10.An 32—36.Thelaw-abidinglifeis instanceofsuchanoccurrenceis oftenspokenofasapathtowalkin givenusintheaccountofthesiege (v.7)ora waytorunalong(Ps.ofSamariainJehoram’sreign(2K. cxix.32).‘Iamagainstthee'is vi.28,29),andthisscarcityoffood anotherconstantlyrecurringphrasehadbeensymbolizedintheprophet’s inthisbook(xiii.8:xxi.3,etc),as secondaction.Thedispersalofthe alsois‘Iwillexecutejudgements’peopleis a constantthemeof (xi.9:xvi.41: xxiii.10).Thisan prophecy(cp.xii.14,15:xvii.21), tagonismandjudgementhadbeenandinlateragesthetermDiaspora, indicatedinthefirstsymbolicali.e.Dispersion,hadquiteatechnical 24 EZEKIEL V.[0—13

forethefathersshalleatthesonsinthemidstofthee, andthesonsshalleattheirfathers;andIwillexecute judgementsinthee,andthewholeremnantoftheewill 11Iscatteruntoallthewinds.Wherefore,asI live,saith theLordGOD,surely,becausethouhastdefiledmysanc tuarywithallthydetestablethings,andwithallthine abominations,thereforewillIalso1diminishthee; neither 12shallmineeyespare,andI alsowillhavenopity.A thirdpartoftheeshalldiewiththepestilence,andwith famineshalltheybeconsumedinthemidstofthee; and athirdpartshallfallbytheswordroundaboutthee; andathirdpartI willscatteruntoallthewinds,and 13willdrawoutaswordafterthem.Thusshallmineanger beaccomplished,andI will2satisfymyfury8uponthem, andI willbecomforted:andtheyshallknowthatIthe

1 Or,withdrawmineeyethatitshallnotspareAnotherreadingis, hewtheedawn.’ Heb.bringto'rest. ' Or,toward sense.IntheNewTestamentwe referringtothecuttingofofneces meetwith‘thetwelvetribeswhichsarysupplies.Theverselooksback areoftheDispersion’(Jamesi.1: tothecuttingofi'oftheprophet's cp.2 Mace.i.27)and‘sojournersbeard,andthereadingofthetext oftheDispersioninPontus,Galatia,acceptedbyRV.hastheverbwhich Cappadocia,AsiaandBithynia’is usedofthebeardinother (1Pet.i.1);andinStJehn’sGospelpassages(Is.xv.2:Jer.xlviii.37). (vii.35)‘theJews’arerepresentedForthelastwordsoftheverse, assayingofourLord:—‘WillHe cp.vii.4,9: 18:ix.5,10.The gountotheDispersionamongthe detailsofthethirdactionare Greeks,andteachtheGreeks?’explained,andremindusofthe Thenextverses(ll,12)dealwiththreealternativesputbeforeDavid thethirdsymbolicaction,andare byGod,three(in2Sam.seven)years introducedwithasolemnasseveraoffamine,threemonthsofpursuit tion(cp.xiv.16,18,20:xvi.48,etc).bytheswordoftheenemy,three Thewayinwhichthesanctuarydays’pestilence(lChr.xxi.ll,12). wasdefiledwasexhibitedtoEzekielAllthreearenowtocomeuponthe ‘inthevisionsofGod’(viii:cp. land(vi.ll,12:cp.Jer.xv.2) 20;xi.18,21;xxiii.39).As andeachis todestroya third themarginalnoteshows,thereare partofthepopulation.Itisonly difficultiesaboutthewords‘willinthiswaythatthedivinewrath Ialsodiminishthee.’Inadditioncanbelaidtorest(RV.marg. tothemeaningsgiventhere,anothercp.vi.12:vii.8:xvi.42:xx.8,21: ispossible,derivedfromxvi.27andxxi.17:xxiv.13:Lam.iv.11). V.x3—VI.r EZEKIEL 25

LORDhavespokeninmyzeal,whenIhaveaccomplished 14myfuryuponthem.MoreoverIwillmaketheeadesola tionandareproach,amongthenationsthatareround 15aboutthee,inthesightofallthatpassby.Soitshallbe areproachandataunt,aninstructionandanastonish ment,untothenationsthatareroundaboutthee,when Ishallexecutejudgementsintheeinangerandinfury, 16andinfuriousrebukes:ItheLORDhavespokenit:when Ishallsenduponthemtheevilarrowsoffamine,thatare fordestruction,whichI willsendtodestroyyou;and Iwillincreasethefamineuponyou,andwillbreakyour 17staffofbread;andIwillsenduponyoufamineandevil beasts,andtheyshallbereavethee;andpestilenceand bloodshallpassthroughthee;andIwillbringthesword uponthee: ItheLORDhavespokenit.

xi. Thesecondprophecyoftheseries.-—auaddresstothe naturalcharacteristicsofthecountry—themountains, thehills,thewatercourses,thevalleys.vi.1-10.

VI.IAndthewordoftheLORDcameuntome,saying,

Theword‘zeal’usedhereofGod,ascomingfromthebowofGod’s ascanbeseenfromotherpassageswrath.Inthisverse(16)thesecond (xxxvi.5,6:xxxviii.19)indicatesactionoftheprophetandthe God’sjealousyforHishonour,asin declarationmadeattheendofit thesecondcommandment,‘Ithe (iv.16,17)isrecurredto,withthe LordthyGodamajealousGod’(cp.additionofafreshhorrorinv.17. the‘godlyjealousy,’marg.‘jealousyEvilbeasts(cp.xiv.l5:xxxiii.27: ofGod,’ofStPaul,2Cor.xi.2). Deut.xxxii.24)aretobesentupon TheHebrewwordfor‘instruction’themasa punishmentfortheir (1:.15)isbetteromittedasinthedesertionofGod,justasisrepre Septuagint;ifitisleftin,itmustsentedtohavehappenedtothe havethemeaning‘anexampleof immigrantsintotheterritoryofthe warning.’The‘furiousrebukes’NorthernKingdomafterthede recurinxxv.17.‘TheevilarrowsportationoftheTenTribes(2K. offamine’isauniqueexpression:xvii.25).Pestilenceandbloodare butbecauseitisoneoftheweaponscombinedxiv.19:xxxviii.22. ofdestructionwhicharedischargedVI.14'.Justastheprophet againsttheland,famineistreatedwastosethisfacetowardthecity 26 EZEKIEL VI.2—6

2Sonofman,setthyfacetowardthemountainsofIsrael, 3andprophesy1untothem,andsay,YemountainsofIsrael, hearthewordoftheLordGOD: ThussaiththeLordGOD tothemountainsandtothehills,tothe2watercourses andtothevalleys:Behold,I,evenI,willbringasword 4uponyou,andIwilldestroyyourhighplaces.Andyour altarsshallbecomedesolate,andyoursun-imagesshallbe broken: andI willcastdownyourslainmenbeforeyour 5idols.AndIwilllaythecarcasesofthechildrenofIsrael beforetheiridols;andI willscatteryourbonesround 6aboutyouraltars.Inallyourdwellingplacesthecities shallbelaidwaste,andthehighplacesshallbedesolate; thatyouraltarsmaybelaidwasteand8madedesolate, andyouridolsmaybebrokenandcease,andyoursun imagesmaybehewndown,andyourworksmaybe

1 01‘,against2 Or,ravines3 OrIbeartheirguilt ofJerusalem(iv.3:cp.xxi.2),so bythetechnicalnameofwady: nowheistosethisfacetowardandcorrespondverymuchtothe themountainsofIsrael,whichare ‘nullahs’ofIndia.Inthemtoo,and constantlymentionedinthisbookinthevalleys,as,forinstance,in (xix.9:xxxiii.28:xxxiv.l3,l4: thevalleyofthechildrenofHinnom xxxv.12:xxxvii.22:xxxviii.8: (Gehenna),someoftheworstforms xxxix.2,4,17).Inalaterchapterofworshipwerecarriedon(Is.lvii. (xxxvi.1-12)wehavethemountains5,6:cp.alsoLev.xxvi.30).The ofIsraelapostrophisedagain(cp.sun-images(Lev.xxvi.30:Isxvii.8: Ps.cxlviii.9: Songof3Ch.53)andxxvii.9:2Ch.xiv.5:xxxiv.4,7: thesameenumerationofmouncp.2K.xxiii.5)representaform tainsandhills,watercoursesandofworshipagainstwhichacaution valleysalsooccurs(xxxvi.4,6). isutteredinDent.iv.19,andalaw Uponthemountainsandhillsstoodispromulged(Deut.xvii.3),andit theunauthorisedaswellastheisrecognizedinJobxxxi.26.The idolatroushighplaces,andthisto olderversionsoftheOldTestament suchanextentthatinAhab’stimedonotseemtohavehadanyvery itcouldbesaidbytheSyrians"I‘heirclearideaofwhatwasmeantbythe godisagodofthehills....TheLordhammanimorsun-images.The isagodofthehills,butheisnotwordneveroccursinthesingular agodofthevalleys’(lK.xx.23, intheBible,andthe‘images’were 28).Itisforthisreasonthatthemostlikelyobelisks.AtCarthage mountainsareinparticularde andinPhoeniciaoneofthetitlesof nounced.Thewatercourses(marg.a DivinitywasBaal-hamman,the ravines)werewhatarewellknownlordofthesun-obelisk.Theworship V16-9 EZEKIEL 27

71abolished.Andtheslainshallfallinthemidstofyou, 8andyeshallknowthatIamtheLORD.YetwillIleave a remnant,inthatyeshallhavesomethatescapethe swordamongthenations,whenyeshallbescattered 9throughthecountries.Andtheythatescapeofyoushall remembermeamongthenationswhithertheyshallbe carriedcaptives,howthat2Ihavebeenbrokenwiththeir whorishheart,whichhathdepartedfromme,andwith theireyes,whichgoawhoringaftertheiridols: andthey 1 Heb.blottedout. 2 01',accordingtomostoftheancient versions,Ihavebrokentheird'c. ofthesunextendedinalldirections.(cp.Is.xli.29).Theslainmen Ezekieldescribestheworshipofthereferredtomorethanoncearethose suninJerusalemitself,whichhe ofthesecondandthirdpartsofthe saw‘inthevisionsofGod’(viii.l6, prophet’sthirdsymbolicalaction 17),wherealsowerethehorsesand(v.12). chariotsofthesun(2K.xxiii.11), 7. andyeshallknowthatIam whichweredestroyedbyJosiah.theLord]Thisisthesheetover Thewordusedfor‘idols’attheendandoveragainanticipatedinthese oftheverseisanopprobrioustermpropheciesoftroubleanddisaster andimpliesthattheywereasdung(vii.4:xi.10,12,etc). (cp.thenameBeelzebul)orthat 8—10.Aremnantshallescape theyweremerelogs. andbeincaptivity(xii.16:xiv.22: NotwithstandingJosiah’sreforcp.vii.16).Thisremnantshall mationtheworshipofthesunstillremembertheLord,andtheirown survivedwhenthisprephecywaswickedways(xvi.61:xx.43:xxxvi. uttered.Thecastingofthedead31).Theexpression‘1havebeen bodiesofmenbeforetheidolswasbrokenwiththeirwhorishheart’ (seeLev.xxvi.20)anadditionof canscarcelyberight,themarginal onepollutiontoanother.Thererendering‘I havebrokentheir seemstobeaconstantrecollectionwhorishheart’istobepreferred. ofthereformsofJosiah(cp.v.5 Thewhorishheartisaninstance with2K.xxiii.l4,l6),implyingofthelanguagethatisoftenused thathisreformswouldhavetobe in theOldTestamentofIsrael doneoveragain.Theworkofde standing,initsrelationtoGod,in structionwastogooneverywherethepositionofabridefalsetoher (cp.xii.20).In0. 6 thewordhusband.Thewhoringtakesthe translated‘madedesolate’probablyformofgoingafterothergodsinstead means‘treatedasguilty’;butaveryofbeingtruetoGod(cp.Ex.xxxiv. smallalterationofthetextgivesthe15).Therevulsionistofollowina othermeaning.The‘works’menstateofself-loathing(xx.43:xxxvi. tionedaretheobelisks,images,and31),andaconvictionofthetruthof highplaces,especiallytheimagesGodandtherealityofHispromises. 28 EZEKIEL VL9—1: shallloathethemselvesintheirownsightfortheevils whichtheyhavecommittedinalltheirabominations. 10AndtheyshallknowthatIamtheLORD:Ihavenotsaid invainthatIwoulddothiseviluntothem. xii.Thethirdprophecyoftheseries:——adenunciationof idolatryasthecauseofthetripartitedestructionofthe people.vi.11—14. 11 ThussaiththeLordGOD:Smitewiththinehand,and stampwiththyfoot,andsay,Alas! becauseofalltheevil abominationsofthehouseofIsrael:fortheyshallfallby

11—14.Afurtheroracleofthetilenceandthesword.’Thesame Lord,reallya restatementofthepreferenceforthehillsandthetops previousdenunciations.Thesmiting ofthemountainsastheplacefor withthehand(xxi.14,17:xxii.idolatrousworshipisdenouncedby 13:cp.Num.xxiv.10),andtheHosea(iv.13),wherethe‘green stampingwiththefoot(xxv.6)aretree’(cp.Jer.ii.20)isdefinedas signsnotofsorrowbutofindignathepoplarandtheterebinth.There tionatthewickednessofthepeople.seems,however,tobelittledoubt Thesword,thefamineandthethatthewordrendered‘oak’by pestilenceareoncemore(cp.v.12) R.V.herereallydesignatesthe threatened.Thepestilencewillat ‘terebinth’(somarg.),Pistam'a tackthoseofthepeoplewhodwellTerebinthus,ashrubwhichlivesto atadistancefromthecity,butthisa greatage,andsometimesde doesnotimplythatitwillnotalsovelopesintoa goodsizedtree. haveitsvictimswithinJerusalemThe‘oak’ofHos.iv.13represents (seevii.15).Thedivisionofthe adifferentHebrewword,andthe peopleintothosethatarefaroffandterebinthofthatpassageistheoak thosethatarenearisafamiliaroneofthis(RV.text). bothintheOldandNewTestamentsTheworshipindicatedhereis (Is.lvii.19:Actsii.39:Eph.ii.17),supposedtohavehaditsoriginina thoughintheNewTestamentthe formofnatureworshipwhichactually phraseappliestothedistinctionembodiedtree-worship.Atanyrate, betweenJewandGentile.TheinthefalseworshipofCanaan,the wordtranslated‘besieged’(marg.sacrificeswereofferedandtheoracles ‘preserved’) is ofverydoubtfulweresoughtunderthesacredtrees. meaning:itisinformthesameItmayhavebeenthat,whenthe wordwhichoccursinIs.i. 8‘asa breezestirredtheleaves,therustling besiegedcity.’Ifthemarginalren soundwasheldtoportendthe deringispreferred,itmustmeanpresenceandevenperhapsthe ‘hethatispreservedfromthepes voiceofthedeity.Itwillbere VI.11—14 EZEKIEL 29

12thesword,bythefamine,andbythepestilence.Hethat isfaroffshalldieofthepestilence;andhethatisnear shallfallbythesword;andhethatremainethandis 1besiegedshalldiebythefamine: thuswillI accomplish 13myfuryuponthem.AndyeshallknowthatI amthe LORD,whentheirslainmenshallbeamongtheiridols roundabouttheiraltars,uponeveryhighhill,inallthe topsofthemountains,andundereverygreentree,and undereverythick2oak,theplacewheretheydidoffer 14sweetsavourtoalltheiridols.AndIwillstretchoutmy handuponthem,andmakethelanddesolateandwaste, 3fromthewildernesstowardDiblah,throughoutalltheir habitations:andtheyshallknowthatI amtheLORD.

1 Or,preaerved’ Or,terebinth' Or,morethan membercd,inthisconnection,thatmostfrequentlyoccurringformin Davidwasbidden(2S.v.24)to theSeptuagintofthenameofthe accept‘thesoundofmarchingin placewhichiscalledintheHebrew thetopsofthemulberrytrees’asa Rihlah,andafewHebrewmss.read tokenthattheLordwasgoingoutRiblahhere.Butwecanscarcely beforehimandthathemustbestirimaginethatEzekielwouldreferto himself.But,thoughthepresenceRiblahhere,for,thoughRiblah,a ofthelargerkindsoftreesisassoplacestillexistingwiththesame ciatedwithsacredplaces,theredoesname,waswellwithinthebordersof notseemtobesufficientproofthatSolomon’sempire,itwasatleast theywerethemselvesobjectsof 100milesawayfromthenearest worship. boundaryevenoftheNorthern ThesweetsavourofthesacrificeKingdom.Attemptshavebeenmade ismentionedinsteadofthesacrifice,toidentifytheplacewithAlmon foritwasthatwhichwaspleasingdiblathaim(Numb.xxxiii.46,47), tothedeity(xvi.19:xx.28:cp. oneofthecampingplacesinthe Gen.viii.21).Theformofexpreswilderness,andBeth-diblathaim(Jer. sionsurvivesevenintheNewTestaxlviii.22),bothofwhichwereinthe ment(Eph.v.2:Phil.iv.18:cp. landofMoab,andneartheedgeof 2 Cor.ii.15,16).ThestretchingtheSyriandesertButallispure outofthehandwasinchastisementconjecture,andwemustbecontent (soxxv.7,13,16:cp.Is.v.26)in toconfessourignorance.Themar ordertolaywaste. ginalrendering‘morethanthe ThenameDiblahissomewhatof wildernesstowardDiblah’istobe apuzzle.DiblahorDiblathisthepreferred. 30 EZEKIEL VII.[—6

xiii.Thefourthprophecy.Ashortannmmcement ofthecomingend.vii.1—4.

VII.1MoreoverthewordoftheLORDcameuntome, 2saying,Andthou,sonofman,thussaiththeLordGODunto thelandofIsrael,Anend: theendiscomeuponthefour 3cornersoftheland.Nowistheenduponthee,andI willsendmineangeruponthee,andwilljudgethee accordingtothyways;andI willbringupontheeall 4thineabominations.Andmineeyeshallnotsparethee, neitherwillIhavepity: butIwillbringthywaysupon thee,andthineabominationsshallbeinthemidstof thee:andyeshallknowthatI amtheLORD.

xiv.Thefifthprophecy.Adevelopmentofthelastwith allthehorrorsofthesiegedepicted.5—27. 5 ThussaiththeLordGOD:Anevil,anonlyevil;behold, 6itcometh.Anendiscome,theendiscome,itawaketh VII.1—4.Aanmaaa'rnnDECLAThethirdandfourthversesareplaced RATIONorPUNISHMENTresTHEbytheSeptuagintafterno.8,9. LAND.Inv. 2 itisequallyper 5—27.ArunrnnnDENUNCIATION, missibletomakethewords‘untoWITHAPROPHECYorsomeorTHE thelandofIsrael’partoftheoracle.DETAILSOFTHETROUBLESTHATWERE Theendisasgoodaspresent(op.TOCOME.Thereisjustenoughrepeti 12.6:Lam.iv.18:Am.viii.2: tion(andnom0re)intheseprophecies 1 Thess.ii.16).TheconsequencetoshewusthatEzekielrepeatedhis ofalltheirevil‘doingistoovertakemessageofimpendingdisastertothe them,andthewrathofGodistobe peoplewithwhomhewaslivingover unsparingandpitiless(v.11).‘I andoveragain,toshewthemthat willbringthywaysuponthee’is theirbrethreninJudahwerewithout anotherphrasepeculiartothisbookexcuseandthattheirpunishment (cp.ix.10:xi.21:xvi43:xxii.31).wasinevitable.‘Anonlyevil’(1'.5) Theburdenisagaintakenupof meansonestandingbyitself,unique, prophecyafterprophecy(seenoteadisasterdifferentfromallothers. onvi.7),‘yeshallknowthatIam V.6repeatstheideaof'o.4,buthere theLord’;thatisthelastingresultthereisaplayuponthewordsinthe aimedat.Thereissomelittlecon Hebrewfor‘theend...itawaketh’ fusionabouttheorderoftheverses(haqqee,héqic).In0.7wearemet atthebeginningofthischapter.withafurtherdifliculty,astothe VII.6—11 EZEKIEL 31

7againstthee;behold,itcometh.1Thydoomiscomeunto thee,Oinhabitantoftheland:thetimeiscome,thedayis near; adayoftumult,andnotofjoyfulshouting,Iupon 8themountains.NewwillIshortlypouroutmyfuryupon thee,andaccomplishmineangeragainstthee,andwill judgetheeaccordingtothyways;andI willbringupon 9theeallthineabominations.Andmineeyeshallnot spare,neitherwillI havepity:I willbringuponthee accordingtothyways,andthineabominationsshallbein themidstofthee; andyeshallknowthatI theLORDdo 10smite.Behold,theday,behold,itcometh:thydoomis goneforth;therodhathblossomed,pridehathbudded. 11Violenceisrisenupintoarodofwickedness;8noneof themshallremain,noroftheirmultitude,noroftheir wealth:neithershalltherebe‘eminencyamongthem. 12Thetimeiscome,thedaydrawethnear:letnotthebuyer

1 Or,TheturnOr,Thecrowningtime ’ Or,from ‘ Or,notfromthem, norfromtheirmultitude,norfromtheirwealth‘ Or,waitingforthem meaningofthewordtranslatedbetheresultofwhathadpreceded. ‘doom’(marg.turn,or,crowningThereisscarcelyanyneedtoinsert time:A.V.themorning).Itisnotinv.7 withR.V.adayQf.The clearthatitisrecognizedatallby ‘tumult’isreally‘discomfiture’(so theSeptuagint;ifit is,it was1 S.xiv.20,andotherplacesforthe consideredtomean‘end.’ThewordsameHebrewexpression).Itwasthe occursagaininv.10.Theonlyotherdiscomfiturethatwastocomeupon passageinwhichitis foundis themfromtheirenemiesasthe Is.xxviii.5 whereitistranslatedinstrumentsofthedivinewrath. ‘diadem.’Thismeaningis justThepouringoutoffury,aphrase possibleinv. 10(seelater)butcommoninthisbook(ix.8:xiv.19: nothere.Itmaybethatinthexx.8,13,21,33,34:xx.22:xxxvi. dislocationwhichthepassagehas18),isconnectedwiththeideaof undergoneatsometimeorother,thecupofthewineofthefuryof thewordhascreptinherefromGod(cp.Jcr.xxv.15).Theverse v.10insteadofthatmeaning‘theinwhichitoccurscorrespondswith end’:otherwise,andthisislesspro c.3inthepreviousoracle,asdoes bable,thoughithassomesupport12.9withv.4. Thewordtranslated fromtheArabic,itmustbetaken‘doom’(seeu.7)caninthisverse asinRV.‘doom,’thatwhichcomesequallywellhaveitsgeneralmeaning roundtousinthecircleofevents.‘thediademhasgoneforth’;the Itistheend,thetime,theday,clausethenstandsinparallelism to.theendthatmustinevitablywiththenextwords‘therodhath 32 EZEKIEL VII.12—18

rejoice,northesellermourn:forwrathisuponallthe 13multitudethereof.Forthesellershallnotreturntothat whichissold,1althoughtheybeyetalive: forthevision is touchingthewholemultitudethereof,2noneshall return;neithershallanystrengthenhimself8inthe 14iniquityofhislife.Theyhaveblownthetrumpet,and havemadeallready;butnonegoethtothebattle:for 15mywrathisuponallthemultitudethereof.Theswordis without,andthepestilenceandthefaminewithin: he thatisinthefieldshalldiewiththesword;andhethatis 16inthecity,famineandpestilenceshalldevourhim.But theythatescapeofthemshallescape,andshallbeonthe mountainslikedovesofthevalleys,allofthemmourning, 17everyoneinhisiniquity.Allhandsshallbefeeble,and 18allkneesshallbeweakaswater.Theyshallalsogird themselveswithsackcloth,andhorrorshallcoverthem;

1 Heb.thoughtheirlifebeyetamongtheliving.2 Or,itshallnotturnback 3 Or,whoaelifeisinhisiniquity

blossomed.’Bothclauseswillthenallwouldsufferalike,buyerand indicatethepassingofrighteousseller(soIs.xxiv.2:cp.1 Cor.vii. ruletobesucceededbyaperiodof 29,30);allweretobeaffected;even arrogancyandviolence.If,however,thoughsomemen’sliveswerepre thetranslationoftheR.V.ispre served,andthoughtheyassembled ferredthedoomandtherodwillforthecontest,theywouldneither indicatethechastisementandde enterintobattle,norwouldthey structionofJerusalembyBabylon.returntotheoccupationsoftheir Inanycaseatimeoflawlessnessis lifewhichhadbeeninvolvedinsin; todestroyallwealthandallcom for,withtheexceptionofanin mercialprosperity.Thepopulationfinitesimalminority,destructionin anditswealthwerealiketodisappearsomeformwouldoverwhelmthem (cp.xvii.13).Thelastclauseof all. Thisis clearlythegeneral v.11readslikea noteexplainingmeaningofma.ll-16,thoughthe thepreviouswordswhichhasfoundexactmeaningofeachclauseis itswayintothetext:itisomittedoftenobscure,andthereis some inthebesttextoftheSeptuagintconfusioninthetext.Va.ll,12 Thedifficultiesofinterpretationin and13,14arelikea strophe thischapterarepartlyduetothe andantistropheina chorusofa factthatitiscastinamorepoeticGreektragedywiththesamecon strainthanmostoftherestof cludingstrain‘mywrathisuponall thebook.Inthistimeoftroublethemultitudethereof.’Thereturn VII.18-20 EZEKIEL 33

andshameshallbeuponallfaces,andbaldnessuponall 19theirheads.Theyshallcasttheirsilverinthestreets, andtheirgoldshallbeasanuncleanthing;theirsilver andtheirgoldshallnotbeabletodeliverthemintheday ofthewrathoftheLORD;theyshallnotsatisfytheir souls,neitherfilltheirbowels:becauseithathbeenthe 20stumblingblockoftheiriniquity.Asforthebeautyofhis ornament,1hesetitinmajesty:buttheymadetheimages oftheirabominationsandtheirdetestablethings2therein: thereforehaveImadeituntothemasanuncleanthing.

1 Or,theyturnedittopride,- andtheyit's. ' 0r,thereof ofthesellertowhathehadsoldis hasbecomeproverbialwithus,im anallusiontothereturnofanyonepliesinstability,thelackofpower tohispossessionsintheyearof tostandfirm.Accompanyingthis jubilee(Lev.xxv.10,13).Whatweaknessthereweretobeoutward theprophetsaw(‘thevision,’0.l3),formsofrepentance,thesackcloth andwhathedepictedbyhissymbolic(cp.Is.xv.2,3:Lam.ii.10:Jer. actionswastoaffectthewholexlviii.37:xlix.3,etc),thebaldness population.At0.15wecomeback(cp.Dentxiv.1),andsoon.The tothethreefoldformofdestructionhorror(Ps.lv.5)istheshuddering whichhasbeenannouncedbeforeofdreadatwhatwastobefalthem. (v.2,12:vi.12),whilethelanguageTherewouldalsobenosatisfaction usedhereoftheswordandofthefortheminthepossessionofwealth faminecorrespondstothatinJere(Prov.xi.4:Zeph.i. 18):itwould miah(xiv.18).Thecomparisonof givenogratificationmentalorbodily: themourningremnantofthepeopleinthepastithadledthemintosin tomourningdoves(cp.Is.xxxviii.(cp.1 Tim.vi.10),and,becauseof l4:lix.11)doesnotseemtohavethis,itwouldbelookeduponasan occurredinalltheancientHebrewuncleanthingandthereforetobe copies(seetheSeptuagint),butitis rejected.‘Thestumblingblockof averynaturalcomparison,andthetheiriniquity’isa. phrasewhich doveissaidtobuilditsnestintherecursinthisbook(xiv.3,4,7: sidesofthewadya.Theflightto xliv.12). themountainsisrecommendedin 20—27.Ifweacceptthetrans similarcircumstancesbyourLordlationofthetext,theprophetnow (Matt.xxiv.16).Thefeeblenessof turnstothetemple,forthatiswhat thehandsintimesoftroubleisa ismeantby‘thebeautyofhisorna commonplacewiththeprophetsment,’buttheexpressionis an (Is.xiii.7: Jer.vi.24:cp.Is.xxxv.anomalousone.Ontheotherhand, 3:Heb.xii.12),andthewholeof ifweacceptthemarginalrenderings, thisverseisrepeatedlater(xxi.7). theprophetisstillspeakingofthe Thephrase‘weakaswater,’whichgoldandsilverofv.19whichhad R. 3 34 EZEKIEL VII.11—16 21AndI willgiveitintothehandsofthestrangersfora prey,andtothewickedoftheearthforaspoil; andthey 22shallprofaneit. MyfacewillI turnalsofromthem,and theyshallprofanemy1secretplace:androbbersshall 23enterintoit,andprofaneit. Makethechain:forthe landisfullofS’bloodycrimes,andthecityisfullof 24violence.WhereforeIwillbringtheworstoftheheathen, andtheyshallpossesstheirhouses: I willalsomakethe prideofthestrongtocease; and3theirholyplacesshall 25beprofaned.4Destructioncometh;andtheyshallseek 26peace,andthereshallbenone.Mischiefshallcomeupon mischief,andrumourshallbeuponrumour;andthey shallseekavisionoftheprophet;butthelawshallperish

1 Or,more!treasure* Heb.judgmentofblood. 3 Or,theythat sanctifythem4 Or,Distreu beenusedforidolatrouspurposeshaveofthestateofthingsduring (cp.xvi.17)andthereforewasnowthefinalsiegeofthecityin704.1). treatedbyJehovahasunclean.TheThe‘bloodycrimes’ arethosewhich Temple,andnotmerelyJerusalemas involvedthepunishmentofdeath. awhole,seemscertainlytobeindica‘Theirholyplaces’(v.24)certainly tedbythewordtranslated‘mysecretrepresentsa betterreadingofthe place’(marg.treasure).Thelanguage,Hebrewthan‘theythatsanctify thoughobsciu'e,pointstotheHolythem’(nun-9.).Inlatertimesthe ofHoliesintheTemple,whichwaspluralisusedinsteadofthesin thesecretdwelling-placeofJehovah.gular:sowehave‘thesanctuaries Theexpression‘Makethechain’oftheLord’shouse’(Jer.Ii.51), (v.23)isaverydoubtfulone:theand‘thesanctuariesofGod’(Ps. wordfor‘chain’onlyoccursagain,lxxiii.17,whereRV.hasthesingu andtherenotverycertainly,in1 K. lar); bythisusethevariousdivisions vi.21.Here,ifitisreadrightly,it ofthesacredbuildingsareindicated mustmeanthat,justastheprophetWehaveanotheruniquewordinthat wastolaysiegeagainstthecity,so usedtoexpress‘destruction’(marg. hewastopreparechainsforthein ‘distress’). Judgingbytheuseof habitantstobeledawayintocapthekindredverbintheexpression tivity.Variousemendationsofthe‘Ihaverolleduplikeaweavermy texthavebeensuggestedbutnonelife’(Is.xxxviii.12),finaldestruction areconvincing.TheSeptuagintisintendedbytheword.‘ Mischief’ translate‘audtheyshallcausedis (v.26:cp.Is.xlvii.11)ishereusedin order.’Thepictureoftheinternalthesenseof‘disaster.’Theresort disorderandviolenceinthelandtothewisepersonsoftheland—the andinJerusalemisjustsuchaswe prophet,thepriest(cp.Mal.ii.7), VII.16—VIIL1 EZEKIEL 35

27fromthepriest,andcounselfromtheancients.Theking shallmourn,andtheprinceshallbeclothedwithdesola tion,andthehandsofthepeopleofthelandshallbe troubled:I willdountothemaftertheirway,and accordingtotheirdesertswillI judgethem;andthey shallknowthatI amtheLORD.

O. ASERIESOFVISIONSANDPROPHECIES COMMENCING59113.0.CHAPTERSVlII.—XIX. xv.Thefirstofasem'esofvisions(viii-xi.):—thevision ofGodcarriestheprophetofinspirittoseevarious formsoffalseworshipinJerusalem:——(a)theimageof jealousy(vv.3—6);(b)a/nimalworship(vv.10—12); (0)Tammuzworship(v.14);(d)sun-worship(v.16).viii.

Itisaquestionhowfar,iftheHebrewtextisright,thesevisions fellwithintheperiodduringwhichtheprophetwastolie,firstuponhis leftsideandafterwardsuponhisrightside.IftheGreekreckoning isright(seenoteonviii.1),theywouldfalloutsidethatperiod. VIII. 1 Anditcametopassinthesixthyear,inthe sixthmonth,inthefifthdayofthemonth,asI satin minehouse,andtheeldersofJudahsatbeforeme,that 2thehandoftheLordGODfellthereuponme.ThenIbe held,and,lo,alikenessastheappearanceoffire;fromthe andtheancientsorelders—comeswordusedfor‘princo’mayperhaps toolate.Theprophecyconcludesimplyadependentruler:butitis withthesameburdenasthosethatnoticeablethatbothwordsarealso havegonebefore(seevi.7). TheusedofthefutureDavidtowhom useofthetitleof‘king’hasbeenEzekiellooksforward(cp.e.g.xxxiv. objectedto in v. 27,because23withxxxvii.24). elsewhere(eg.hereandinxii.10) VIII.1—6.AsncosnPERIOD EzekielcallsZedekiah‘prinoe,’andorVISIONSANDPROPHECIES.In alsobecausetheclausementioning0. l thesixthyearis thesixth ‘theking’doesnotoccurintheyearofKingJehoiachin’scaptivity Septuagint,butthereseemstobe (i.2),andthedateisoneyearand noparticularreasonwhytheprophettwomonths(or,onemonth,inthe shouldnothaveusedboth.TheGreekversion)aftertheprevious 3—2 36 EZEKIEL VIII.1—5

appearanceofhisloinsanddownward,fire:andfromhis loinsandupward,astheappearanceofbrightness,1asthe 3colourofamber.Andheputforththeformofanhand,and tookmebyalockofminehead;andthespiritliftedmeup betweentheearthandtheheaven,andbroughtmeinthe visionsofGodtoJerusalem,tothedoorofthegateofthe innercourtthatlookethtowardthenorth; wherewasthe seatoftheimageofjealousy,whichprovokethtojealousy. 4And,behold,thegloryoftheGodofIsraelwasthere, accordingtothe2appearancethatI sawintheplain. 5Thensaidheuntome,Sonofman,liftupthineeyesnow thewaytowardthenorth.SoI liftedupmineeyesthe waytowardthenorth,andbeholdnorthwardofthegate

1 Or,asambertolookupon' Or,vision date,ie.3.0.591.Thedayofthe‘fortheLord,whosenameisJealous, monthisthesameinbothcases.isajealousGod’andDeut.xxxii. HeretheeldersofJudahare16,21).Theimagetooktheform present;elsewhereinthisbook(e.g.ofa statueofa god.What xx.1)theyarecalledtheeldersof godthiswasisnotatallcertain. Israel(a.in}:p.37).JustintheIthasbeenidentifiedwiththe samewayElishasatinhishousein ‘Ghiun’ofAmos(v.26)andthat Samariaduringthesiege‘andthewiththeBabylonianKaiwan,the elderssatwithhim’(2K.vi.32).analoguetoSaturn(Encycl.Bib. WhiletherethehandoftheLordart.‘Chiun’),butthisidentification comesuponhimasitdidbeforecannotberegardedasatallcertain. (i.3). ThedescriptionisthesameOthershaveidentifiedit with asini.4,27.ThehandisputforthAstarté.Atthedoortheprophet asinii.9(cp.Dan.v.5)andit entersintothepresenceoftheglory carriesofftheprophet(cp.BelandofGod,whichwasmanifestedinthe Dragon36:Actsviii.39)inthesamewayashehadseenitbeforein visionsofGod(i.1:cp.2Cor.xii.theplain(seeiii.22,23:andcp.i. 1—4)toJerusalem,where,inspirit,28).Ashestandsatthedoorthat theprophetwascarriedfromplacelookstowardsthenorthheishidden toplace(ma.7,14,16:xi.1,24).tolookinthatdirectionthathemay Hewasfirsttaken‘tothedoorseeinsidethegateorporch(r.16), ofthegateoftheinnercourt’whichadmitstothealtar,theimage whichseemstobedifferentfromofjealousystandingattheentrance. ‘thedoorofthecourt.’‘TheimageTheworshipofthisimageisthe ofjealousy’istheimageofsomefirstabominationthatheseesinhis deitywhichprovokedthejealousyvisions,butheistoseeothersbeside ofJehovah(cp.esp.Ex.xxxiv.14 whichdefiledthesanctuary,andof VIII.5—10 EZEKIEL 37 6ofthealtarthisimageofjealousyintheentry.Andhe saiduntome,Sonofman,seestthouwhattheydo?even thegreatabominationsthatthehouseofIsraeldocommit here,1thatI shouldgofarofffrommysanctuary?but 72thoushaltagainseeyetothergreatabominations.And hebroughtmetothedoorofthecourt;andwhenI 8looked,beholdaholeinthewall.Thensaidheuntome, Sonofman,dignowinthewall: andwhenIhaddigged 9inthewall,beholdadoor.Andhesaiduntome,Goin, 10andseethewickedabominationsthattheydohere.SoI wentinandsaw;andbeholdeveryformofcreeping things,andabominablebeasts,andalltheidolsofthe houseofIsrael,pourtrayeduponthewallroundabout.

1 Or,togetthemfar017' 3 Or,tumtheeyetagain,andthoushaltlee greaterabomination:Soalsoinvv.13,15. whichhehadalreadybeentoldto picturespaintedinvermilion(cp. speak(v.ll).ThesewouldcauseJer.xxii.14).Inthischamber thewithdrawalofthepresenceof illicitworshipwascarriedonby GodfromHissanctuary.Thewordstheeldersin theirrecognized here(1:.6)perhapssuggestedthenumber,seventy(Ex.xxiv.l: Num. ‘Letusdeparthence’whichwasxi.16).Theyarecalled‘theelders saidtohavebeenheardintheofthehouseofIsrael,’perhapsto Templeduringthelastsiegeof distinguishthemfrom‘theelders JerusalembytheRomans(Josephus,ofJudah’(v.1)whowerewith B.J.VI.5,3:Tac.Hist.v.13). Ezekielincaptivity.Inthisbook 7—12.Inorderthathemaysee thewordIsraelisusedforthewhole all,theprophetisbroughtfrompeopleofGodgenerically;Judahand ‘thedoorofthegateoftheinnerIsraeltogethermakeupthissame court’to‘thedoorofthecourt’people(e.g.iv.5,6);whilstJudah itself.Heretherewasa holein islimitedinoneplaceto‘Judahin thewall,whichwasapparentlyJerusalem’(xxi.20)andinother anadobewall,fortheprophetplacesintheappendixtothebook wastodiginit(cp.xii.5),till (e.g.xlviii.7)Judahistheoldtribal hefounda doorthroughwhichname.Thoughhedoesnotusethe hewastogointoa dark(1:.7) nameinotherplaces(e.g.xiv.lthe chamberdecoratedastoitswallseldersofIsrael),yetinthisparticular withforbiddensubjects(Ex.xx.4: passage‘Judah'isthenamegiven cp.Rom.i.23).ThesedecorationstothecaptiveswithEzekielto hadnodoubtbeenderivedfromdesignatethattheywerecaptives Babylon(cp.xxiii.l4,15),wherefromtheKingdomofJudahas thewallswerecoveredwithsuchdistinguishedfromtheKingdomof 38 EZEKIEL VIII.1:,m

11Andtherestoodbeforethemseventymenoftheeldersof thehouseofIsrael,andinthemidstofthemstood JaazaniahthesonofShaphan,witheverymanhiscenser inhishand;andtheodourofthecloudofincensewent 12up.Thensaidheuntome,Sonofman,hastthouseen whattheeldersofthehouseofIsraeldointhedark, everymaninhischambersofimagery?fortheysay,The LORDseethusnot;theLORDhathforsakenthe1earth.

1 Or,land

Israel.ThechiefoftheseelderstheWorshipheredescribedtobe wasJaazaniah(or,Jechoniah)theanimportationfromNorthArabian sonofShaphan,anditisacuriousheathenism,andwouldhaveusread coincidence,thatthenameShaphan0.10asmentioningalltheidolsof isidenticalwiththenameofoneof thehouseofIshmael(notIsrael), theuncleananimalsofLev.xi.5: butthisideadoesnotseemtowin Deut.xiv.7,theconeyorrockbadgeracceptance.ThisShaphanmayor (RV.marg.),whichwasperhapsmaynotbethesameastheShaphan figured0nthewallsofthechamber.of2 Kings(xxiii.1—14)whois BuildinguponthisRobertsonSmithcreditedwithasonAhikam(v.12) (JournalofPhilology,Ix.97)sawa whowasthefatherofGedaliah, survivalofthefamilyworshipofa thegovernoroftheremnantofthe totemisticcharacter.Butthereis peopleinthelandofJudah,and scarcelysufficientgroundforthisalsowithasonGemariah(Jer.xxxvi), theory,especiallywhenwerememberandasonnamedElasah(Jer.xxix. thatothernames,notoffamiliesor 3).Theexcusegivenfortheintro clans,existedatthesametimeductionofthisworship,andputinto whichwereidenticalwiththenamesthemouthoftheelders,isthat of animals,Achbor(=‘mouse’),Jehovahhadceasedtopayanyheed Huldah(=‘weasel').Whilewere tothemandhaddesertedthem, membertheworshipthathadcreptwhichwasmadeanexcusealsofor inofthebrazenserpent(2K.xviii.everykindofwrong-doing(ix.9: cp. 4),wecanscarcelyimaginethatsuchIs.xxix.15,wheretheexpression worshipcouldhavebeencarriedon maybenoticed‘theirworksare foranylengthoftime,butmustinthedark’).Thissecondabomina rathersupposethatitwasa re tionisexpresslystatednottohave crudescenceinatimeofdespairbeenpractisedactuallysomuchin andfanaticism,broughtaboutbythe theTempleasinsecretinmen’s parlousstateofsocietyandreligion,privatedomesticchapelsforfalse andinducedbyaknowledgeofthe worship(:7.12),thoughofcoursethe templebuildingsof Babylonia.Templeusage(0.7)formedthemodel Cheyne,whowishestolookalways,uponwhichtheybasedtheirsecret ifpossible,toNorthArabia,considersdevotions. VIII.13—17 EZEKIEL 39

13Hesaidalsountome,Thoushaltagainseeyetother 14greatabominationswhichtheydo.Thenhebroughtme tothedoorofthegateoftheLoaD’shousewhichwas towardthenorth;andbehold,theresatthewomen 15weepingforTammuz.Thensaidheuntome,Hastthou seenthis,0sonofman?thoushaltagainseeyetgreater 16abominationsthanthese.Andhebroughtmeintothe innercourtoftheLORD’Shouse,andbehold,atthedoor ofthetempleoftheLORD,betweentheporchandthe altar,wereaboutfiveandtwentymen,withtheirbacks towardthetempleoftheLORD,andtheirfacestowardthe 17east;andtheyworshippedthesuntowardtheeast.Then hesaiduntome,Hastthouseenthis,0sonofman?Is

13,14.ButtheprophethadnotplantingsofAdonis’(RV.marg.) yetseenall.ThistimeheistakenForaspecimenofthewailingdirges tothedoorofthegateoftheforTammuz,seeEncyel.Bib.art. Templeitself,where‘satthewomen‘Tammuz.’ weepingforTammuz.’Tammuz(in 15,16.Buttheendisnotyet. Babylonian,Dumuzi),orAdonis,ThefurtherwithintheTemplethe theGreekformgiventoAdonaiprophetistakenthegreaterarethe (i.e.mylord),wasoriginallytheabominationswhichhesees.Heis BabylonianSun-god,cutoffinhisnowintroducedintotheinnercourt primebydeath,andmournedforby oftheLord’shouse,where,atthe IstarwhodescendedintothelowerdooroftheTemplebetweenthe worldtotryandbringhimback.porchandthealtar(cp.Joelii.17), InlatermythologyTammuzbecametheworshipofthesunwasbeing theBabyloniangodofvegetation,carriedonbyabout25men,whoare whodiedeveryyearattheendperhapstobeidentifiedwiththe25 ofthesummerandcametolifemenmentionedlater(xi.1). This againinthefollowingspring.Everyworshipseemstohavebeenone yearthedateofthedeathandofthemostpopularformsofidolatry funeralofTammuzwasmadeatimeinthelaterdaysofthekingdom oflamentationsuchasisherede (cp.vi.6:2 K.xxiii.5). Sun scribed.Thisworship,then,isan worshipmayhavebeenintroduced otherimportationfromBabylon.eitherfromEgyptorfromBabylonia (Forotherideasaboutthisannual17,18. Astillfurtherformof mourningseeRobertsonSmith,idolatryisindicatedbytheexpres ReligionoftheSmiles,pp.391,392.)sion‘theyputthebranchtotheir Tammuzisnotmentionedbynamenose’(0.17),unlessthisispartof againintheBible,butthereisa theritualoftheworshipofthe doubtfulreferencetothesamegodsun,or,stillmoreprobably,of idIsaiah(xvii.10):‘thouplantestTammuz(Adonis);butnothing 40 EZEKIEL VIII.l7—IX.a

italightthingtothehouseofJudahthattheycommitthe abominationswhichtheycommithere?fortheyhavefilled thelandwithviolence,andhaveturnedagaintoprovoke metoanger:and,10,theyputthebranchtotheirnose. 18ThereforewillIalsodealinfury:mineeyeshallnotspare, neitherwillIhavepity:andthoughtheycryinmineears withaloudvoice,yetwillInothearthem.

xvi.Thesecondvision:oneof destruction.ix.1—11. IX.1Thenhecriedinmineearswithaloudvoice,say ing,1Causeyethemthathavechargeoverthecitytodraw near,everymanwithhisdestroyingweaponinhishand. 2Andbehold,sixmencamefromthewayoftheupper gate,whichliethtowardthenorth,everymanwithhis 2slaughterweaponinhishand; andonemaninthemidst ofthemclothedinlinen,withawriter’sinkhorn3byhis

1 Or,Drawyenearthat(to. 1 Or,battleaxe ' Heb.uponhisloins. certaincanbesaidaboutit. Theoneofthepreviousrites,thecon sameriteisprobablyalludedto clusionisthesame.Pitilesspunish inIsaiah(xvii.10),wherewemeetment(v.ll,13)istoovertakethem; withtheexpression‘strangeslips’thecryformercy,howeverloud,will (margin,‘vineslipsofastrangebetoolate(cp.Pr.i.26—28:Is.i.15: god’).TheHebrewwordfor‘slips’Mi.iii.4). and‘branch’(inthispassage)isthe IX.1—1I. Theprophetnowsees same.Thebranchmusthavebeeninhisvisionthedestructionthatis noticeableforitsacceptablescent,tocomeactuallybeingwroughtupon eitherasitwasgrowingorwhenthepeople.Itbegins,ifweaccept burnt.AnillustrationfromCyprustherenderingofRV.marg.,which isgivenbyToy(Ezekiel,p.112)of is tobepreferred,witha loud worshippersof Adonisholdingcrytowhatareevidentlyintended flowerstotheirnoses.TheGreektobetakenasa bodyofsix translation,however,supportsquitedestroyingangels.Theexistenceof a difl'erentinterpretationofthesuchdestroyingangelsisconstantly passage,viz.thatalltheseidolatrousassertedintheBible.Adestroy worshipperswerelikeanillsavouringangeldestroyedthepeople goingupbeforeGod,provokingHimafterDavid’snumberingofthem toanger.Butwhetherthisbean (2Sam.xxiv.16:1 Chr.xxi.l5; otherformofidolatry,orpartof cp.‘thedestroyer’ofExod.xii.23 IX.1—6 EZEKIEL 41

side.Andtheywentin,andstoodbesidethebrasen 3altar.AndthegloryoftheGodofIsraelwasgoneup fromthecherub,whereuponitwas,tothethresholdofthe house:andhecalledtothemanclothedinlinen,which 4hadthewriter’siukhorn1byhisside.AndtheLORDsaid untohim,Gothroughthemidstofthecity,throughthe midstofJerusalem,andsetamarkupontheforeheadsof thementhatsighandthatcryforalltheabominationsthat 5bedoneinthemidstthereof.Andtotheothershesaidin minehearing,Goyethroughthecityafterhim,andsmite: 6letnotyoureyespare,neitherhaveyepity:slay2utterly theoldman,theyoungmanandthemaiden,andlittle childrenandwomen:butcomenotnearanymanupon whomisthemark; andbeginatmysanctuary.Then theybeganatthe3ancientmenwhichwerebeforethe

1 Heb.uponhisZoine.3 Heb.todestrlwtion.' Or,elder: and1 Cor.x.10).Adestroyingtasktodobeforetheworkof angelsmoteSennacherib’shostin destructionbegins.Healsotakes thereignofHezekiah(2K.xix.35:partinthevisionofthenextchapter 2 Chr.xxxii.21:Is.xxxvii.36):(x.2,6,7),andisdescribedin andsuchadestroyingangelissaidlanguagelikethatinthelatterpart tohavesmittenHerodAgrippaI ofDaniel(x.5:xii.6,7). Thereis intheearlydaysoftheChristiannottheslightestneedtoconnectthis Church(Actsxii.23). angelwiththeBabylonianGodNebo, Theuppergatethroughwhichassomewoulddo.Inthetabernacle theseangelsenteredthecitymustbe (Ex.xxxix.38,39)andtherefore thesameasiscalled‘theuppergatepresumablyintheTempletherewas ofBenjamin’(Jer.xx.2:cp.Jer.botha goldenaltarandabrasen xxxvii.l3:Zech.xiv.10),becausealtar,anditwasnearthislatter, ofitsbeingsituatedonthesideapparently,thatthe‘imageof ofthecitywhichwasclosetothejealousy’(viii.5)stood.Aspartof Benjaminborder.Thementionof hisvisiontheprophetseestheglory ‘thenorth’isperhapsanallusionto ofGodasifonitswaytoleavethe theconstantbeliefthatevilandmis house.InordinarytimestheShe fortunecamefromthenorth(cp.i.4: chinahresteduponorbetweenthe Jer.i.14).Theweaponscarriedby cherubimthatcoveredthemercy the‘sixmen’ aredescribedinveryseatupontheark(Ex.xxv.18-22: generaltermsandmustnotbe 1 K.viii.6,7,64:cp.x.4, 18). limitedtothe‘battleaxe’(RV.Judgementwas‘tobeginatthe margin)Therecordingangelis houseofGod’(1Petiv.17:per distinctfromthesixandhashis hapsa consciousreminiscenceof 42 EZEKIEL IX.6—“

7house.Andhesaiduntothem,Defilethehouse,andfill thecourtswiththeslain:goyeforth.Andtheywent 8forth,andsmoteinthecity.Anditcametopass,while theyweresmiting,andIwasleft,thatIfelluponmyface, andcried,andsaid,AhLordGOD!wiltthoudestroyall theresidueofIsraelinthypouringoutofthyfuryupon 9Jerusalem?Thensaidheuntome,Theiniquityofthe houseofIsraelandJudahisexceedinggreat,andthe landisfullofblood,andthecityfullof1wrestingof judgement:fortheysay,TheLORDhathforsakenthe 102earth,andtheLORDseethnot.Andasformealso,mine eyeshallnotspare,neitherwillI havepity,butI will 11bringtheirwayupontheirhead.Andbehold,theman clothedinlinen,whichhadtheinkhombyhisside, reportedthematter,saying,I havedoneasthouhast commandedme.

1 0r,perverleneu“ Or,land thescenehere),buttherewerea nouncedmorethanonce(cp.v.11). certainnumbertobemarkedby Thedestructionheredescribedis theangelandtobepreserved—suchasissaidtohavebeeninflicted thosethathadremainedfaithful,byNebuchadrezzar(2Chr.xxxvi.17). andbewailedthewickednessoftheThe‘ancientmen’arethesameas city.TheHebrewwordforthetheelders(soRV.marg.andcp. markisalsothenameofthelastviii.ll,12).Theslaughterofthose letterofthealphabet(ids),andearlyinthesanctuarywoulddefileitby Christianwritershavetakenpleasurethepresenceofdeadbodiesinits inpointingoutthatoneofthecourts,whereEzekielwasleftwhen archaicformsofthisletterisexactlythedestroyerswentforth.The likeacross,theemblemofsalvationprophet’slamentationatthede fromSatantheDestroyer(Apollyon:structionofthepeopleandhisinter Rev.ix.11).Similarmarkingof cessionforthemaresimilartohis thefaithfulservantsofGodisde lamentationafterthedeathofPela scribed(inlanguagedoubtlessbasedtiah(xi.l3). uponthispassage)intheNewTesta ‘Wrestingofjudgement’(o.9),i.e. mentApocalypse(Rev.vii.3:ix.4: pervertedjudgement(RT),ismuch xiv.l:xxii.4),asalsoofthewortobepreferredasarenderingof shippersof‘theimageofthebeast’theHebrewtothemarginalren (Rev.xiii.16,17: xiv.9:xx.4). dering‘perverscness’Theexcuse Thedestroyingangelswereto givenforthedisordersofthecountry carryoutthepitilessjudgementof isthesameasthatgivenforthe God,whichhadalreadybeenan privateidolatrousanimalworshipof Ll—6 EZEKIEL 43 xvii.Afartherstageinthevisionofthedestructionofthe city.ItisdestroyedbyfiretakenfromtheDivine presence,whichisasecondtimefullydescribed.x.1—22. x.1 ThenI looked,andbehold,inthefirmament thatwasovertheheadofthecherubim,thereappeared abovethemasitwereasapphirestone,astheappearance 2ofthelikenessofathrone.Andhespakeuntotheman clothedinlinen,andsaid,Goinbetweenthewhirling wheels,evenunderthecherub,andfillboththinehands withcoalsoffirefrombetweenthecherubim,and1scatter 3themoverthecity.Andhewentininmysight.Now thecherubimstoodontherightsideofthehouse,when themanwentin;andthecloudfilledtheinnercourt. 4AndthegloryoftheLORDmountedupfromthecherub, andstoodoverthethresholdofthehouse; andthehouse wasfilledwiththecloud,andthecourtwasfullofthe 5brightnessoftheLosn’sglory.Andthesoundofthe wingsofthecherubimwasbeardeventotheoutercourt, 6asthevoiceof2GodAlmightywhenhespeaketh.Andit cametopass,whenhecommandedthemanclothedin

1 Or,sprinkle9 Heb.ElShaddai. thetime(viii.12).Theworkof (i.16),thefourwithonelikenessand destructionintheprophet’svisionis thewheelwithina wheel(i.16), concludedbythedestroyingangelthemotionofthewheels(i.17),the makinghisreportthatthedivineabundanceofeyes(i.18),thefour commandhadbeencarriedout faces(i.6),thelikenessofeachface X. Thedivinepresenceismani(i.10),themotionofthecreatures festedmorebrightlyandmorein andthewheels(i.19—21);butthe detailthanithadbeeninthepreviouswhirlingofthewheels,thename vision.Thedetailsofitareverycheruborcherubim,thecoalsoffire muchthesameasinthefirstvision,(exceptinsimilei. 13),thecloud wherewehavethefirmament(i.22),(ep.1 K.viii.10),arefreshdetails. thesapphirestoneandthethroneTheleadingangelisnowhidden (i.26),thegloryoftheLord(i.28),tosetfiretothecity,thefiretobe thesoundofthewingslikethevoicetakenfromtheDivinepresence, oftheAlmighty(i.24),theformof thussignifyingthatthedestruction aman’shand(i.8),thewheels(i.15),ofthecitywassanctionedbyGod. thelikenessofthewheelstoaberylThereisa similarcastingoffire 44 EZEKIEL X.6—14.

linen,saying,Takefirefrombetweenthewhirlingwheels, frombetweenthecherubim,thathewentin,andstood 7besideawheel.Andthecherubstretchedforthhishand frombetweenthecherubimuntothefirethatwasbetween thecherubim,andtookthereof;andputitintothehands ofhimthatwasclothedinlinen,whotookitandwent 8out.Andthereappearedinthecherubimtheformof 9a man’shandundertheirwings.AndI looked,and behold,fourwheelsbesidethecherubim,onewheelbeside onecherub,andanotherwheelbesideanothercherub:and theappearanceofthewheelswasasthecolourofa1beryl 10stone.Andasfortheirappearance,theyfourhadone 11likeness,asifawheelhadbeen2withinawheel.When theywent,theywent8upontheirfoursides:theyturned notastheywent,buttotheplacewhithertheheadlooked 12theyfollowedit;theyturnednotastheywent.And theirwholebody,andtheirbacks,andtheirhands,and theirwings,andthewheels,werefullofeyesroundabout, 13eventhewheelsthattheyfourhad.Asforthewheels, 14theywerecalledinmyhearing,thewhirlingwheels.And everyonehadfourfaces:thefirstfacewasthefaceofthe cherub,andthesecondfacewasthefaceofaman,and thethirdthefaceofalion,andthefourththefaceofan

1 Or,aloneofTanhish' Heb.inthemidstof. ‘ 0r,toward: fromheavenuponearthinRevelawind(i.4)andthegreatrushing tion(viii.5:whereSwetesupposes(iii.12),whichaccompaniedthe anultimatereferencetothedoomof presenceofGod.Thisatanyrate Sodom,Gen.xix.24).Themovementseemstobetheclearestideatobe oftheoutwardtokensofthegloryof derivedfromthenarrative(cp.e.2 theLord(17.4)isrepeatedlaterin withon.6—8),fortheformofaman’s thevision(2m.18,19).Theangelis handundertheirWings(1:.21:cp. describedascreepingunderoneof i.8)isattributedtothecherubim. thecherubsandthenstandingup Thenotesuponthedetailsofthe byonecherubandputtinghishandfirstvisionmustbeconsultedasto intothespacebetweenthemtotakethedetailswhichcorrespondinthis firefromtheothercherub.Thesecondvision.Bytherightsideof wordusedfor‘thewhirlingwheels’thehouse(12.3)isintendedthe betweenwhichtheangelgoes,in southernside.Theadditionaldetail cludesinitanallusiontothestormyinthethirdclauseofv.11(cp.v.22) X.14—11 EZEKIEL 45

15eagle.Andthecherubimmountedup:thisistheliving 16creaturethatIsawbytheriverOhebar.Andwhenthe cherubimwent,thewheelswentbesidethem: andwhen thecherubimlifteduptheirwingstomountupfromthe earth,thewheelsalsoturnednotfrombesidethem. 17Whentheystood,thesestood;andwhentheymounted up,thesemountedupwiththem:forthespirit1ofthe 18livingcreaturewasinthem.AndthegloryoftheLORD wentforthfromoverthethresholdofthehouse,andstood 19overthecherubim.Andthecherubimlifteduptheir wings,andmountedupfromtheearthinmysightwhen theywentforth,andthewheels2besidethem:andthey stoodatthedooroftheeastgateoftheLORD’shouse; andthegloryoftheGodofIsraelwasoverthemabove. 20ThisisthelivingcreaturethatI sawundertheGod ofIsraelbytheriverChebar;andIknewthattheywere 21cherubim.Everyonehadfourfacesapiece,andevery onefourwings;andthelikenessofthehandsofaman

1 Or,oflifeSeeoh.1.21. 3 Or,overagaimt

correspondstowhatissaidini.9. thoughtofherenooneknows.The In1:.13wehavetheintroductionconnectionbetweenthewordscherub ofthewordexplainedwhichin andKirubuisverydoubtful2 others dicatesthewhirlingofthewheels.connecttheformerwordwiththe AcomparisonofthetwovisionsGreekypihk,i.e.agrifiin.Inthis showsuswhatideathewordcherubsecondvision(1:.15)theprophet conveyedtotheprophet,for‘theidentifiesthecherubimwiththe faceofthecherub’(e.14)takesthelivingcreatureshehadseeninthe placeof‘thefaceofanox’(i.10),first(i.5)bytheriverChebar(i.l: whilstatthesametimehumanfacescp.v. 20).Themovementand areconnectedwithallfour.Itis directionofthewheelsisascribed prettyclearfromthisthatthevisiontothespiritofthelivingcreature, ofoneofthefourcreatureswhichfor‘inthem’(1:.17)mustmean‘in theprophetsawcorrespondedin thewheels.’In0.18thegloryof greatmeasuretothecolossalquadtheLordreturnstoitsfirstposition rupedswithhumanfaceswhichin (v.4),whilethemovementofthe Babylonianarchitectureguardedthecherubimdescribedhere(2‘.19)is entrancesofthetemplesandwererepeatedlater(xi.22).Theeast calledinBabyloniaKimbu,thoughgateappearsagaininthenextstage whatthecherubsinSolomon’sTemofthesevisions(xi.1). plewerelikewhicharereallytobe Itiscarefullytobenoticedin

46 EZEKIEL X.’ll—XLa

22wasundertheirwings.Andasforthelikenessoftheir faces,theywerethefaceswhichIsawbytheriverChebar, theirappearancesandthemselves;theywenteveryone straightforward.

xviii.AnotherstageinthejudgementsofGod.Thefalse teachersarecondemned,andoneofthem,Pelatiah,is smittenwithdeath.xi.1—13.

XI.1 Moreoverthespiritliftedmeup,andbrought meuntotheeastgateoftheLORD’shouse,whichlooketh eastward:andbehold,atthedoorofthegatefiveand twentymen; andI sawinthemidstofthemJaazaniah thesonofAzzur,andPelatiahthesonofBenaiah,princes 2ofthepeople.Andhesaiduntome,Sonofman,these arethementhatdeviseiniquity,andthatgivewicked

bothvisionsthattheprophetneveragainstthem,andasheprophesies assertsthathesawanyDivineform.oneofthemissmittenwithdeath. Thelivingcreaturewasunderthe Inthisstageofhisvisionsthepro GodofIsrael(x.20),justasoverit phetisclosetotheplacewherethe wasthelikenessofa firmamentcherubimhadstoodinhislastvision (i.22),andoverthatagainavoice(x.19),viz.thedooroftheeastgate (i.25)andthelikenessofathroneoftheLord’shouse—thecherubim (i.26).Itistruethatuponthehadbeenatthedooroftheeastgate. likenessofthethrone,ashesays,Therehesawfiveandtwentymen, therewasalikenessastheappearwhetherthesamemenasinviii.16 anceofamanuponitabove(i.26),(wheretheSeptuagintspeaksof butthisisveryindefinite,andcantwentymen)isnotclear.Among onlybetakenasanthropomorphicthemthereisonenamedJaazaniah, languagetoindicatethatthereif butnotapparentlythesameasthe anywherewasthePersonoftheJaazaniahalreadymentioned(viii. Divinetobefound.Thewholeof 11),whowasinthemidstofseventy thisvisionisintendedtoindicatemen.Bothalikearecalledinthe thedeterminationofJehovahto GreekJechoniah,buttheonemen departfromHisTemple,foratthetionedhereiscalledthesonof endofthispartoftheprophet’sAzzur,andthenameAzzuroccurs vision,thecherubimhavereachedasthatofthefatherofHananiah thedooroftheeastgate. theprophetwhodiedinsimilar XI.1-13.Theprophetseesin circumstancestoPelatiahinthis hisvisionthefalsecounsellors,hearschapter(seeJer.xxviii.)Itmay theircondemnation,andprophesiesbethatAzzurandhissonslaid

X].1—7 EZEKIEL 47 3counselinthiscity:whichsay,1Thetimeisnotnearto buildhouses: thiscityisthecaldron,andwebetheflash. 4Thereforeprophesyagainstthem,prophesy,0sonofman. 5AndthespiritoftheLORDfelluponme,andhesaidunto me,Speak,ThussaiththeLORD:Thushaveyesaid,O houseof_Israel; forI knowthethingsthatcomeinto 6yourmind.Yehavemultipliedyourslaininthiscity, andyehavefilledthestreetsthereofwiththeslain. 7ThereforethussaiththeLordGOD:Yourslainwhomye havelaidinthemidstofit,theyaretheflesh,andthis cityisthecaldron: but’yeshallbebroughtforthoutof

1 Or,I:notthetimenear(60.! 1 Anotherreadingis,Iwillbringyou. claimtobeafamilyendowedwithprincesofthepeople(0.2). The thegiftofprophecy.OfPelatiahideawhichthesimileisintendedto weknownothingbutwhatisre conveyisthatasthepotwasnothing cordedinthischapter,andthewithoutthefleshinside,soJerusalem namewasacommonone,aswasthatowedalltoitschiefsorleaders. ofhisfatherBenaiah.ThiswholeAtthesametimeasthepotpro bandofmenisdenouncedasfalsetectedthefleshfrombeingconsumed counsellorsandfalseprophets.Theirbythefire,sothewallsofJerusalem pronouncement(r.3)isveryobscure; weretobeaprotectiontoitsin itmaybethatitwasintendedto habitantsfromtheBabylonianforces. imitatetheambiguityofmeaningThereforetheprophetishiddento whichattacheditselftoverymanyannouncethatGodknowswhatis heathenoracles.Thus,thefirstintheirminds,butthatintruth clauseisanassertionoraquestion: itistheywhohavecauseddeedsof twocontrarymeaningscanbeac violencetobedoneinthecity(cp. ceptedaccordingasitisoneorthe vii.23).Thoseslainaretheflesh other.Ifitisanassertion‘Theinthecaldron,ie.inJerusalem. timeisnotneartobuildhouses,’it Thiscomparisontothecaldronand mayapplytotheslaughterthathadthefleshinitisusedagainbythe alreadytakenplace(27.6)whichhadprophetin‘aparable’(xxiv.3—13). reducedthepopulation,sothatthereButallwerenottobeastheflesh wasnoneedforhousebuilding.If inthecaldrou;someweretobe itisaquestion(RV.marg.)‘Isnotbroughtoutofthecityandhanded thetimeneartobuildhouses?’thenoverintocaptivity.Theyhadbeen theprophecyisintendedasanen afraidofthesword(cp.Jer.xlii.16), couragementtothepeopletolookbuttheswordoftheirenemiesshould fora withdrawalofthebesiegersovertakethem.Thisandcaptivity andforatimeofprosperitytoensue.weretobethejudgementsofGod. ThesecondclauseassertstheimportTheexecutionofZedekiah’ssons anceoftheseleaders,whoarecalledandofanumberofthechiefpeople 48 EZEKIEL XI.7—n. 8themidstofit. Yehavefearedthesword;andI will 9bringthesworduponyou,saiththeLordGOD.AndIwill bringyouforthoutofthemidstthereof,anddeliveryou intothehandsofstrangers,andwillexecutejudgements 10amongyou.Yeshallfallbythesword; Iwilljudgeyou intheborderofIsrael; andyeshallknowthatIamthe 11LORD.Thiscityshallnotbeyourcaldron,neithershall yebethefleshinthemidstthereof;Iwilljudgeyouin 12theborderofIsrael; andyeshallknowthatI amthe LORD:foryehavenotwalkedinmystatutes,neither haveyeexecutedmyjudgements,buthavedoneafterthe ofthecityisdescribedin2KingsuponBabylon,andtheotherwhich (xxv.7, 18—21:cp.Jer.xxxii.4: lookedrathertoEgyptforhelpand xxxix.6:lii.10,24—27).Itactuallysupportinitsattemptstothrow tookplaceatRiblah,whichisde offtheyokeoftheBabyloniankings. scribedasa bordertown(Numb.Judahwasakindofbufferstate xxxiv.11). betweenthesetwoempires,andalso Attheendof'0.10thepropheta constantcauseofwarbetween returnstotheburdenofhisformerthem.Wesee,forinstance,agreat prophecies:‘yeshallknowthatattemptmadeinJosiah’sreignby I amtheLord’(cp.vi.7). Here,thePharaohcalledPharaoh-necoh ifthetextis right,thewordstocompelthatkingtogiveup arerepeatedasecondtime(e.12):beingonthesideofAssyria(2K. buttherepetitionoftheclauseis xxiii.29).Moreistoldusofthis probablyanaccidentaloneonthedivisionofopinioninJerusalemby partofascribe.‘Theordinancesof Jeremiah.Thatprophetalways thenations’werethefalseworshipsadvocatedfriendshipwithBabylon, whichhadbeenintroducedintotheanditmusthavebeenagreatblow city.Inthecourseofthisapostothepro-Babylonianpartywhen trophetothehouseofIsraelwhichJosiahmethisdeathatMegiddo theprophetmakesinhisvision,fightingagainsttheEgyptians(2K. Pelatiah,oneoftheprinces,dies.xxiii.30).Itwasafterthebattleof Dismayfallsupontheprophetas CarchemishinJehoiakim’sreignthat ithaddonewhilethedestroyingtheboundaryoftheEgyptianempire angelswereaccomplishingtheirseemstohavebeensetbackfrom workandhisejaculationstakealmosttheEuphratestotheRiverofEgypt, thesameform(cp.ix.8). ie.theWadi-el-‘Arish. Itmustberemembered,incon Theprincesofthischapterevi nectionwithalltheseprophecies,dentlybelongtotheanti-Babylonian thatinJerusalemthereweretwofactionwhohada firmconviction parties,onewhichadvocatedthethatthecitywouldbeabletoresist maintenanceoftributarydependenceallBabylonianattacks.Itwasthe XI.12-16 EZEKIEL 49

131ordinancesofthenationsthatareroundaboutyou.And itcametopass,whenI prophesied,thatPelatiah.theson ofBenaiahdied.ThenfellI downuponmyface,and criedwithaloudvoice,andsaid,AhLordGOD!wiltthou makeafullendoftheremnantofIsrael?

xix.Thefinalstageofthevisionandthereturnofthe prophetinthespirittoOhaldaea.Judgementmust come,andtheDivinepresencemustbewithdraum:but inthefuturethereistobeatimeofrestorationand spiritualrenewal,whenGodwillagainbetheirGod. xi.14—25.

14 AndthewordoftheLORDcameuntome,saying, 16Sonofman,thybrethren,eventhybrethren,themenof thy2kindred,andallthehouseofIsrael,allofthem,are theyuntowhomtheinhabitantsofJerusalemhavesaid, GetyoufarfromtheLORD;untousisthislandgivenfor 16apossession: thereforesay,ThussaiththeLordG01): WhereasIhaveremovedthemfaroffamongthenations,

1 Heb.judgements.9 Heb.redemption.SeeLev.26.25,die. anti-Babylonianpolicyof theseofrestorationshallcome.Arefor princesandrulersthatwas,humanlymationintheirownlandshallfollow speaking,bringingdisasterandwiththegiftofanewheartanda slaughteruponJerusalemastypifiednewspirit,sothattherewillbea bythefleshintheealdron.Theregeneration,andtheoldrelation discordthatexistedthenmusthavebetweenthepeopleandtheirGod beeninameasurelikethediscordwillbere-established. thatexistedinlatertimesduringThebrethrenspokenof(n.16) thefinalsiegeofJerusalembythe aretheprophet’sfellow-exilesin Romanswhenthreediscordantele Babylonia,andsotheHebrewis mentsinitspopulationstruggledto translatedbytheLXX,whichreads, thedeathforthemastery. however,adifferentHebrewword. 14-21.ThelaststageoftheTheliteralmeaningoftheHebrew presentvisionisnowreachedTheis ‘themenofthyredemption,’ existinggenerationofevildoersis whichtheRV.interprets‘themen tobepunished.TheDispersionwillofthykindred.’Mostprobablythe beguardedbyJehovah,andatimeprophetgivesthemthistitleby

R. 4 50 . EZEKIEL XI.[6—10

andwhereasIhaVescatteredthemamongthecountries, 1yetwillIbetothemasanctuaryforalittlewhileinthe 17countrieswheretheyarecome.Thereforesay,Thussaith theLordGOD:I willgatheryoufromthepeoples,and assembleyououtofthecountrieswhereyehavebeen 18scattered,andIwillgiveyouthelandofIsrael.Andthey shallcomethither,andtheyshalltakeawayallthe detestablethingsthereofandalltheabominationsthereof 19fromthence.AndIwillgivethemoneheart,andI will puta newspiritwithinyou;andI willtakethe stonyheartoutoftheirflesh,andwillgivethemanheart 20offlesh:thattheymaywalkinmystatutes,andkeep mineordinances,anddothem:andtheyshallbemy

1 Or,yethaveIbeenOr,andhavebeen

anticipation,especiallyasheisaboutpurificationoftheland(xxxvii.23) tospeakoftheirrestorationtotheirfromallitsabominations,andthis ownland,implyingthattheywereto wastobeaccompaniedbya re beredeemedfromcaptivity.Wecangenerationofthepeoplethemselves. thencomparewithit,‘theyearof Howthoroughthisreformationwas Myredeemediscome’(Is.lxiii.4). inpost-exilictimes,sofaratleastas ‘TheinhabitantsofJerusalem’of falseworshipswereconcerned,is thispassage(1;.15)aretheanti wellknown.Theirheartswereto Babylonianpartywhohadhiddenbeasone(cp.Jer.xxxii.39),and theothersbegone,ashavingno eachheartnota stonyheartthat righttoanyshareinthelandandhardeneditselfagainstGod’sword asdeservingtobebanishedfrom(Zech.vii.12),butonepulsating God’spresence,whoistreatedas withtheloveofGod(cp.xviii.31: a localGod,whereasitwasGodxxxvi.26),andthatcouldbeim whohadremovedthemandwaspressedbyHiscommandments(cf. alreadyandwouldbetheirrefuge2Cor. 3:‘Yeareanepistleof andsanctuaryinthecountriesto Christ,ministeredbyus,writtennot whichtheyhadgone,thoughtheywithink,butwiththeSpiritofthe hadnovisiblesanctuary(cp.Rev.livingGod;notintablesofstone, xxi.22).Induetimewouldcomebutintablesthatareheartsofflesh’; theirrestorationtotheirownlandandseeJer.xxxi.33).InthirflOW (xx.41:xxviii.25:xxxiv.l3:xxxvi.lifewouldcomethefulfilmentofthe 24:xxxvii.21:xxxviii.8:xxxix.27). promisegivenmorethanonce:‘they ThisrestorationtotheirownlandshallbeMypeople,andIwillbetheir wastheconstantthemeofthepro God’(xiv.ll:xxxvi.28:Lev.xxvi. phets(e.g.Jer.xxxii.37).Thel2:Jer.xxiv.7:xxx.22:xxxi.1, returnwastobeaccompaniedbya 33:xxxii.38:Rev.xxi.3). Butall XI.10—:5 EZEKIEL 51

21people,andI willbetheirGod.Butasforthemwhose heartwalkethaftertheheartoftheirdetestablethingsand theirabominations,Iwillbringtheirwayupontheirown 22heads,saiththeLordGOD.Thendidthecherubimliftup theirwings,andthewheelswere1besidethem; andthe 23gloryoftheGodofIsraelwasoverthemabove.Andthe gloryoftheLORDwentupfromthemidstofthecity,and stooduponthemountainwhichisontheeastsideofthe 24city.Andthespiritliftedmeup,andbroughtmeinthe visionbythespiritofGodintoChaldea,tothemofthe captivity.SothevisionthatIhadseenwentupfromme. 25ThenIspakeuntothemofthecaptivityallthethingsthat theLORDhadshewedme.

1 Or,canagaimt

thesepromisesdonotexcludethepearshereforthefirsttime.The punishmentofthewicked:thatis Chaldaeans,inAssyrianKaldl'i,in stillcertain(a.21).Thewords‘theHebrew()hasdim1were,atfirst,a. heartof’(a.21)shouldprobablybe tribetothesouth-eastofBabylonia. omitted. Theybecamethepredominanttribe 22,23.ThegloryofGodnowinBabylonia.ThefirstChaldaean takesitsdeparturefromHisHousewhobecamekingofBabyloniawas (cp.x.19).ThemountaintotheNabopolassarwhosedatewasabout eastoftheCitymustbetheMount6253.0.,alittlewhilebeforeEzekiel’s ofOlives.Itis uponthissametime.TheformChasdimconnects mountainthatinthe‘dayofthethemwithChesed,oneofthesons Lord’itissaidHisfeetshallstandofAbrahambyMilcah,butweneed (Zech.xiv.4);anditwasfromthenotnecessarilysupposethatthe sameMountthatthedeparturefromHebrewhistorianlookeduponhim theearthoftheSonofGod,inWhomastheancestoroftheChasditm. wasmanifestedthegloryofGod, Thevisionended,theprophet tookplaceafterHisrejectionby narrateswhathehadseentohis Hispeople. fellow-captives.But,thoughthey 24,25.Theprophetisbroughtadmiredthebeautyoftheprophet's backinspiritfromJerusalem,ashe words,itmadenolastingimpression hadbeentakenthither(viii.3).Theuponthem(cp.xxxiii.30—33). name‘Chaldea‘forBabyloniaap 52 EZEKIEL XII.1-4

xx.Thefirstoftwoprophecies,bothofwhichareaccom— paniedbysymbolicactions.Transactionsdonewitha viewtoagoingintoexile,symbolicoftheexileof theremaininginhabitantsofJerusalemtoBabylonia. xii.1—16. XII.1 ThewordoftheLORDalsocameuntome, 2saying,Sonofman,thoudwellestinthemidstofthe rebellioushouse,whichhaveeyestosee,andseenot, whichhaveearstohear,andhearnot;fortheyarea 3rebellioushouse.Therefore,thousonofman,prepare theestufl'for1removing,andremovebydayintheirsight; andthoushaltremovefromthyplacetoanotherplacein theirsight:itmaybetheywill2consider,thoughtheybe 4arebellioushouse.Andthoushaltbringforththystufi‘ bydayintheirsight,asstufffor1removing:andthou shaltgoforththyselfatevenintheirsight,aswhenmen

‘ Or,exile' Or,perceivethattheyare III.1—16.Theprophetisonceways,aswellasthoseoftheir again(cp.ii.3,5)remindedofthefellow-countrymen.Theprepara rebelliouscharacterofthosewithtionsforremovalweretobemade whomhehastodeal.Itisthebydayandtheprophet’sactual rebellioushouse(on.2,8)aboveall departurewastobemadeunder others(cp.Mattxiii.13-15withits coverofnight.Itmakesnodiffer quotationfromIs.vi.9,10).Heis encetothesymbolismwhetherthe thereforebyhisactionstoindicatewalltobedugthroughwasthat theapproachingexileoftheinhabioftheprophet’shouseorofthecity tantsofJerusalemandtheirprince.orvillageinwhichhedwelt.The HeistoprepareforremovalintoactualflightofkingZedekiahand exileandtoremovefromoneplacehissoldiersfromJerusalemdidtake toanotherwithhisgoods,diggingplacebynightaftertheBabylonian atthesametimeaholeinthewallarmyhadmadea breachinthe throughwhichtopass.Thisactionwalls,buttheescapewasmade istotakeplaceinthesightofhis througha.gatebytheking’sgarden companionsinexileasinprevious(2K.xxv.4:Jer.xxxix.4:lii.7). cases(iv.12)andasalsoinlaterTheprophetistocoverhisfaceas ones(xxi.6:xxxvii.20:xliii.11).thekingwoulddo,partlyingrief, Thiswouldgivethemanopportunitypartlytoconcealhisflightfromhis forconsideringtheirownrebellioussubjectsThereisalsoacovertallu XII.4—:1 EZEKIEL 53

5goforthintoexile.Digthouthroughthewallintheir 6sight,andcarryoutthereby.Intheirsightshaltthou bearituponthyshoulder,andcarryitforthinthedark; thoushaltcoverthyface,thatthouseenottheground: forI havesettheeforasignuntothehouseofIsrael. 7AndI didsoasI wascommanded:I broughtforthmy stuffbyday,asstuffforremoving,andintheevenI diggedthroughthewallwithminehand;I broughtit forthinthedark,andbareituponmyshoulderintheir 8sight.AndinthemorningcamethewordoftheLORD 9untome,saying,Sonofman,hathnotthehouseofIsrael, therebellioushouse,saiduntothee,Whatdoestthou? 10Saythouuntothem,ThussaiththeLordGOD:This1burden concemeththeprinceinJerusalem,andallthehouseof 11Israel2amongwhomtheyare.Say,Iamyoursign:like asIhavedone,soshallitbedoneuntothem: theyshall 12gointoexile,intocaptivity.Andtheprincethatisamong themshallbearuponhisshoulderinthedark,andshall goforth:theyshalldigthroughthewalltocarryout

1 0r,oracle9 Or,thatareamongthem siontothefactthatthekingwouldtoliftupthevoice,and,further,as notseethelandtowhichhewasto theutterancestowhichtheword becarriedcaptive.Allhisactionsisappliedinprophecy(e.g.constantly weretobeasign,justasthelayingin Isaiah)generallythoughnot siegetoJerusalemportrayeduponalwaysconveyedtheideaofpunish atabletwasasignalso(iv.3). Thementoraffliction,theuseofthe prophetcarriesouthisinstructionsword‘burden' canreadilybeunder totheletter(cp.xxiv.18:xxxvii.7), stood.Fortheuseoftheword and,weareledtosuppose(v.9), ‘prince’asappliedtothekingof isaskedthemeaningofwhathe Judah,seenoteonvii.27.Thewords isdoing(cp.xxiv.19:xxxvii.18).(1;.10)‘amongwhomtheyare’(marg. Thenextmorningheishiddento ‘thatareamongthem’)donot explainallthathehasdonetohis conveyanyobviousmeaning,and companions.Theexplanationhe pointtoaprobablecorruptionof givesiscalleda‘burden’or‘oracle.’thetext.Inv. 11theprophet ThewordintheHebrewmeansdescribeshimselfastherepresents simplyanutterance,fromtheideativeoftheIsraelitesjustasheis ofliftingupthevoice.Astherootsaidtobelater(xxiv.24).The fromwhichthewordisderivedprinceisZedekiahwhoescapedfrom meanttoliftupaburdenaswellas thecitybynightinshameand 54 EZEKIEL XII.n—rg

thereby: heshallcoverhisface,becauseheshallnotsee 13the1groundwithhiseyes.MynetalsowillIspreadupon him,andheshallbetakeninmysnare:andI willbring himtoBabylontothelandoftheChaldeans; yetshallhe 14notseeit,thoughheshalldiethere.AndI willscatter towardeverywindallthatareroundabouthimtohelp him,andallhisbands;andIwilldrawouttheswordafter 15them.AndtheyshallknowthatIamtheLORD,whenI shalldispersethemamongthenations,andscatterthem 16throughthecountries.ButI willleaveafewmenof themfromthesword,fromthefamine,andfromthe pestilence;thattheymaydeclarealltheirabominations amongthenationswhithertheycome;andtheyshall knowthatI amtheLORD.

xxi.Asecondsymbolicactiontoindicatethetimesof famineanddistressthatwouldensueuponthecaptivity. xii.17—20. 17 MoreoverthewordoftheLORDcametome,saying, 18Sonofman,eatthybreadwithquaking,anddrinkthy 19waterwithtremblingandwithcarefulness; andsayunto thepeopleoftheland,ThussaiththeLordGODconcerning

1 01',land confusionofface,andwhoseflightwithv.2).Twiceagaintheburden wastoendinalandwhichhewouldoftheprophecyistakenup:‘they notseebecauseofhishavingbeenshallknowthatI amtheLord’ blinded. (on.15,16:cp.vi.7). Butstilla Thenetis,aselsewhere,thenetremnantwastosurvive,whointheir ofcaptivity(xvii.20:xix.8:xxxii.repentancewouldowntotheabomi 2). ZedekiahdidnotseeBabylonnationswhichtheyhadcommitted becausehiseyeswereputoutat 17—20.Anothersymbolicaction, Riblah(2K.xxv.7:Jer.lii.ll),similartothatiniv.9~ll,16,17, probablybecauseofhisattemptto toindicatethewantthatshould throwofl'hisstateofvassalage.Hisensueuponthedesolationofthe armybrokeupintheplainofJericholandbyNebuchadrezzar‘sarmies. ('2K.xxv.5),andnodoubtwasThecauseofthisdesolationisas decimatedbyitspursuers(cp.c.14 signedtothepreviouslawlessness0f XII.lg—a3 EZEKIEL 55 theinhabitantsofJerusalem,andthelandofIsrael:They shalleattheirbreadwithcarefulness,anddrinktheir waterwithastonishment,thatherlandmaybedesolate from1allthatistherein,becauseoftheviolenceofall 20themthatdwelltherein.Andthecitiesthatareinhabited shallbelaidwaste,andthelandshallbeadesolation;and yeshallknowthatIamtheLORD.

xxii.Twopopularsayings,(meofthembeingintheformof aproverb,(westatedanddeclaredtobefalse.God’s wordisdeclaredtobesureandimmutableandno fin'therdelayistobeexpected.Thefidfilmentisat hand.xii.21—28. 21 AndthewordoftheLORDcameuntome,saying, 22Sonofman,whatisthisproverbthatyehaveintheland ofIsrael,saying,Thedaysareprolonged,andeveryvision 23faileth?Tellthemtherefore,ThussaiththeLordGOD: Iwillmakethisproverbtocease,andtheyshallnomoreuse I itasaproverbinIsrael;butsayuntothem,Thedaysare

1 Heb.thefulnessthereof. theinhabitants(vii.11,23)anditis ‘word’(0.23marg.)explainingevery notlimitedtoJerusalem:itisto visionistohaveitsaccomplishment. spreadallovertheland(vi.6),withVainvisionsandflatteringdivina theconsequencesooftenalreadyex tionswhichhadbeenutteredbyfalse pressed:‘theyshallknowthatIam prophets(xiii.1—7)weretobeput theLord’(vi.7).Theword‘carefulanendto. Aprevalentformofde ness’(v.18)ishereusedasequivalentlusionisindicatedbytherecurrence to‘anxiety’(cp.1 Cor.vii.32AV.)ofthesubjectinthesucceedingpro 21—25.Apopularsayingisherephecies,formenthoughtthatthe repeatedasinxviii.2,3. Thetimehadlengthenedoutwithoutany wordtranslated‘proverb’meansanyfulfilmentofthatwhichhadbeen pointedsaying,asin1 Sam.x.12: uttered.Similarexperienceshadbe xxiv.13.ThissayinghadevidentlyfallenJeremiah(v.13: xvii.l5).God’s beenusedtodiscredittheprophecieswordistohaveitsdueeffect,and oftheprophets,justasitisan theresultofitisnottobedeferred nouncedshouldbethecase‘inthe(cp.Isaxiii.22:IV.11).Theword lastdays’(2Pet.iii.3,4).Theexact‘divination’ implieseitheridolatrous contraryoftheproverb,whichisno orfalseprophets.Deludingpopular moretobeused,issetforth.Thesayingshaveprevailedinallages. 56 EZEKIEL XII.13—XIII.a

24athand,andthe1effectofeveryvision.Forthereshall benomoreanyvainvisionnorflatteringdivination 25withinthehouseofIsrael.ForI amtheLORD;I will speak,andthewordthatIshallspeakshallbeperformed; itshallbenomoredeferred:forinyourdays,0rebellious house,willIspeaktheword,andwillperformit,saiththe LordGOD.

26 AgainthewordoftheLORDcametome,saying, 27Sonofman,behold,theyofthehouseofIsraelsay,The visionthatheseethisformanydaystocome,andhe 28prophesiethoftimesthatarefar011'.Thereforesayunto them,ThussaiththeLordGOD:Thereshallnoneofmy wordsbedeferredanymore,butthewordwhichI shall speakshallbeperformed,saiththeLordGOD. xxiii.Adenunciationofthefalseprophetsandprophetesses inthreeseparatepronouncements; tworeferringtothe prophets,thethirdtotheprophetesses.xiii.1—7:xiii. 8—16: 17—23. XIII.1 AndthewordoftheLORDcameuntome, 2saying,Sonofman,prophesyagainsttheprophetsof Israelthatprophesy,andsaythouuntothemthat

1 Heb.word. ‘Voxpopuli,voxDei,’‘Seeingis prophecieshadapartialfulfilment believing,’willfurnishspecimensof inthefinalsiegeandfallofJeru suchproverbialexpressions. salem,butalsolookforwardtoa 26—28.Anotherformofdelusionfutureandgreaterfulfilmentand wasthattheprophecywasindeedthewordsreferringtoeachcannot true,thoughitsfulfilmentneednotbepreciselydiscriminated,sono belookedforexceptinthedistantdoubtmanyofthepropheticalutter future.ThistheprophetdealswithancesoftheOldTestamenthadaful verysummarily.Itisadelusionthatfilmentbeyondthatwhichthepro oftenrecurs(cp.Amvi.3:2 Pet.phethimselfunderstood,andhavea iii.4). Onecautionmust,however,muchwiderrange,withlessonsand begiven.Theprophecymayhavewarningsforalltime. itsimmediatefulfilment,butthatby XIII.1—7.Tm:rinsrorTwo nomeansalwaysexhauststhemeanDENUNOIATIONSorTHErsissP30 ingitiscapableof.JustasinourPas'rsWHOHADBEENcowanns.uvn Lord’sdiscoursesHiseschatologicalmas.Theirpropheciesweretheir XIII.1—6 EZEKIEL 57 prophesyoutoftheirownheart,Hearyethewordofthe 3LORD;ThussaiththeLordGOD:Woeuntothefoolish prophets,thatfollowtheirownspirit,1andhaveseen 4nothingi OIsrael,thyprophetshavebeenlikefoxesin 5thewasteplaces.Yehavenotgoneupintothe2gaps, neithermadeupthefenceforthehouseofIsrael,tostand 6inthebattleinthedayoftheLORD.Theyhaveseen vanityandlyingdivination,thatsay,TheLoansaith; and theLORDhathnotsentthem:andthey8havemademen

1 Or,andthingswhichtheyhavenotseen ’ Or,breaches ' Or,havehoped owninventions(‘outoftheirownconditionoftheprophetsofJeru heart':cp.v.17:Jer.xxiii.16,26) salemisdescribedinverystrong andexpressedtheirownwishesandlanguagebyJeremiah(xxiii.l4: desires.Theyprofessedtohavehadxxix.23).Thediscussionofthefalse visionsbuthadnotreallyseenany prophet’spositionandpowersisone thing.Thisprophecyisinalternateofnolittledifficultyaswehavevery versesaddressedtothepeople(or.fewdatatogoupon.Itseemsindubi 4,6)andtotheprophets(vs.5,7). tablethatatthetimeofthefallof ThesearecomparedtothefoxesJerusalemtherewerenumbersoffalse (or,perhaps,jackals,cp.Imm.v.18) prophetstobefoundinthecity. wanderingaboutinthetwilightThefollowinginterestingextract ontheruinsofafallencityandfroma volumeonInspirationby byburrowinginthemhelpingto thelateDrF.Watson(S.P.C.K. increasestillfurtherthedevas1906)willtellusallperhapsthat tation.N0vdoubtfromthedaysof wecansafelygatherfromthein Jehoiakim,ifnotfromstillearlierformationatourdisposal. times,thefortificationsofJerusalem‘Therewerefalseprophetsaswell hadsufferedseriousinjury,evenastrueinIsrael,andwhatisalmost thoughthecitywasstillableto ofmoreimportance,prophetsofa standasiege.Theprophetsarealsoloweraswellasofahigherinspira reproachedfornotsharinginthetion.Someprophetsspakeoutof defenceofthecityagainstits theirownheart;ofsomeitissaid enemies(cp.xxii.30).Inrealitythattheywereeveninspiredbya theyhadnodivinemissionandno lyingspiritfromtheLord;ofsome divinerevelation(cp.xxii.28)to thatGodhadnotsentthem.There communicate.Theywere‘foolish’arecupboardprophets,whomMicah (v.3). Theadjectiveisidenticaldescribesaswalkinginthewindand withthenameNabal(1S.xxv.25).falsehood,andprophesyingofwine InthelaterHebrewthewordmayandstrongdrink.Therewasalarge betakentoincludelewdness(seepropheticclassororder,and,as new01f.Heb.Dick),andthemoralProfessorSandaysays,“Wherethere

_.,--“WP___-_ 58 EZEKIEL XIII.6-lo 7tohopethatthewordshouldbeconfirmed.Haveyenot seena vainvision,andhaveyenotspokena lying divination,whereasyesay,TheLORDsaith; albeitIhave notspoken?

8 ThereforethussaiththeLordGOD:Becauseyehave spokenvanity,andseenlies,therefore,behold,I am 9againstyou,saiththeLordGOD.Andminehandshallbe againsttheprophetsthatseevanity,andthatdivinelies: theyshallnotbeinthe1councilofmypeople,neither shalltheybewritteninthe2writingofthehouseofIsrael, neithershalltheyenterintothelandofIsrael;andye 10shallknowthatI amtheLordGOD.Because,even becausetheyhaveseducedmypeople,saying,Peace; and thereisnopeace;andwhenonebuildethup3awall,

1 Or,secret2 0r,regilter' Or,aslightwall isaprofessionalclasstherearesure 8—16.A sscosnDENUNCIATION tobeprofessionalfailings.”“ThereorrunFALSEraorrnrrs,INCLUDING wouldbesmallnaturesamongthemINITrunANNOUNCEMENTormam aswellasgreatTheywouldbeaptCOMINGnas'rauc'rros.Justasthe tofallintoconventionalandunrealLordhaddeclaredHimselfagainst waysofspeaking.”ItisplainthatJerusalem(v.8)andafterwardsde notallthewordsoftheprophetsclaresHimselfagainstthelandof containedinHolyScripturehaveIsrael(xxi.3),againstTyre(xxvi.3), thesameabidingnessorspiritualagainstZidon(xxviii.22),against power....Anditisplainthatpro Pharaoh(xxix.3:xxx.22),against phecy,likeallinstitutionsinwhichtheshepherdsofIsrael(xxxiv.10), manhasa substantialpart,wasagainstMountSeir(xxxv.3),and liabletofallintouttercorruption.againstGog(xxxviii.3),sohereHe JeremiahhadnogreaterormoredeclaresHimselfagainstthefalse dangerousenemiesthantheprophetsprophets.Theyaretobecastout ofhistime’(pp.137,8). altogetherfromtheassembly,struck ‘ThedayoftheLord’isanex offtheregister(RV.marg.),i.e.the pressionconstantlyrecurringinthe listofthoseofgenuineJewishbirth OldTestamenttoindicatethetime(cp.intheN.T.thementionofthe ofDivinePunishment.Fromtherenamesofthoseofthespiritual itfounditswayintotheNewTestaIsrael,whicharerecordedinthe ment(e.g.‘thedayoftheLordso BookofLife,Phil.iv.8,andSwete comethasathiefinthenight,’1 onRev.iii.5),andnottobe Thesev.2):seeIntrod.p.xxxvi.allowedtoreturntotheircountry XIII.10—17 EZEKIEL 59

11behold,theydaubitwithuntemperedmortar:sayunto themwhichdaubitwithuntemperedmortar,thatitshall fall:thereshallbeanoverflowingshower;andye,0great 12hailstones,shallfall;andastormywindshallrendit.Lo, whenthewallisfallen,shallitnotbesaiduntoyou, Whereisthedaubingwherewithyehavedaubedit? 13ThereforethussaiththeLordGOD;I willevenrendit withastormywindinmyfury;andthereshallbean overflowingshowerinmineanger,andgreathailstonesin 14furytoconsumeit. SowillIbreakdownthewallthatye havedaubedwithuntemperedmortar,andbringitdown totheground,sothatthefoundationthereofshallbe discovered:anditshallfall,andyeshallbeconsumed inthemidstthereof;andyeshallknowthatI amthe 15LORD.ThuswillIaccomplishmyfuryuponthewall,and uponthemthathavedaubeditwithuntemperedmortar; andIwillsayuntoyou,Thewallisnomore,neitherthey 16thatdaubedit;towit,theprophetsofIsraelwhich prophesyconcerningJerusalem,andwhichseevisions ofpeaceforher,andthereisnopeace,saiththeLordG01).

17 Andthou,sonofman,setthyfaceagainstthe

(cp.xx.38).Suchapunishmentof mortar(orperhapsthewordmay aprophetofthecaptivityisforetoldmeandryclaywhichwouldcrack; inthecaseofShemaiahbyJeremiahcp.xxii.28).Theresult,inthecase (xxix.30-32).Heretherefrain‘ye ofthewall,isthatinatimeofstress shallknowthatI amtheLord’andstormitwillfallanditsfoun (seevi.7)iscaughtupagainfromdationswillbelaidopen.Soallthe xii.20.Thereasonfortheirex falsehopesthatthefalseprophets pulsionisthedeceittheyhaveusedhavebuiltupwillbeshattered; and towardsthepeople.Theutterancepeoplewillseethefeeblecharacter ofamessageofpeacewhenthereoftheirwork,whentheunrealityof wasnopeaceismadeacommonitallshallbeexposedbythestorm causeofcomplaintbythetruepro likeattackoftheBabyloniansThe phets,byJeremiah(vi.14)andMicahfinalresultwillbetheassertionof (iii.5)aswellasbyEzekiel.TheGod’spowerandglory:onceagain effectofendeavouringtoencouragetherefraincomesin‘yeshallknow thepeopleinthebeliefinpeaceandthatIamtheLord.’ prosperityiscomparedtotheeffect 17-23.DENUNCIA’I‘IONorran ofamantryingtostrengthenaslightPnormnssnsInthissectionthe wall(RV.marg.)withuntemperedprophetis directedtoturnhis 60 EZEKIEL XIII.I7,18

daughtersofthypeople,whichprophesyoutoftheirown 18heart;andprophesythouagainstthem,andsay,Thus saiththeLordGOD:Woetothewomenthatsewpillows uponall1elbows,andmakekerchiefsfortheheadof

l Heb.joi1mofthehands. attentiontothefalseprophetesses.andthereforetheprophetwasto Prophetesseshadbeenrecognizedopposethem. atvarioustimesinthehistoryof 18.Pillows,kerchiefir]Themean_ thepeople.Miriam,thesisterof ingandintentionofthefeminine MosesandAaroniscalleda pro practicesheredescribedis very phetess(Ex.xv.20);Deboraha obscure.Thewordsthemselves prophetessjudgedIsraelintheareofdoubtfulsignification.That timeofBarak;Huldahthepro rendered‘pillows’(nines),inac phetesswasconsultedafterthecordancewiththemeaningofthe discoveryof‘thebookofthelaw'wordinlaterHebrew,moreprobably inJosiah’sreign,andgaveapro means‘bands’or‘fillets’sewnon pheticutteranceconcerningthe totherobesafterthefashionofthe future(2K.xxii.14—20:2Chr.xxxiv.‘phylacteries’oftheNewTestament 22~28).Ananonymousprophetess(Mtxxiii.5). InfactintheHex wasthemotherofIsaiah’ssonMaheraplatheHebrewwordisrepresented shalal-hash-baz(Is.viii.3),and,notby¢uAa|mipiaandEphraemSyrus manyyearsafterthisdenunciationmakesitequivalenttosomesortof oftheprophetcsses,a prophetesscharmoramuletIfwetakethe Noadiahwith‘therestofthepro Hebrewliterallyasitstandsthe phets’wasamongsttheopponentswomenarerepresentedassewing ofNehemiahwhenaconspiracywastheseonthejointsofGod’shands madeagainsthimbyTobiahand(R.V.marg.),asif it wereto Sanballat,andWouldhaveputhimpreventHimfromtouchingthem. infear(Neh.vi.14).WestillfindButthisseemsscarcelyreasonable, prophetessesexistinginNewTestaandamuchmorenaturalinterpre menttimes.Anna9.prophetesswastationistosupposethatthewomen presentwhenourLordwasbroughtsewedtheseamulets0nthewristsof intotheTempleatthepurificationthegarmentsofthosewhocon oftheBlessedVirgin(Lk.ii.36)sultedthemtoshewtowhomthey Philiptheevangelist‘hadfourbelonged.Theotherword(ninenp) daughters,virgins,whichdidpro translated‘kerchiefs,’seemstobeof phesy’(Actsxxi.9:cp.1 Cor.xi.5). equallyuncertainmeaningandmay Onefalseprophetessismentionedperhapsindicateveilsorwimples, (Rev.ii.20)asbeingatThyatira,‘the whichperhapswereusedtoshelter womanJezebel,whichcallethherselfthepersonswhoworethemfromthe aprophetess.’Thesefalseprophetinfluencesofevilspiritsorfrom essesofEzekiel’stimedidlikethetheevileye;or,stillmoreprobably, prophets.Theyfollowedtheirownthelanguageisfigurativeandimplies imaginationsandtheirownwishes,thattheykeptthemfromapercep XIII.I8—so EZEKIEL 61 personsofeverystaturetohuntsoulsI ‘Willyehuntthe soulsofmypeople,andsavesoulsalive2foryourselves? 19Andyehaveprofanedmeamongmypeopleforhandfuls ofbarleyandforpiecesofbread,toslaythesoulsthat shouldnotdie,andtosavethesoulsalivethatshouldnot live,byyourlyingtomypeoplethathearkenuntolies. 20WhereforethussaiththeLordGOD: Behold,Iamagainst yourpillows,awherewithyetherehuntthesouls‘tomake themfly,andIwilltearthemfromyourarms; andI will letthesoulsgo,eventhesoulsthatyehunt‘tomakethem

1 Or,Yehunt.._andyesave(to. , Or,thatareyour: ' Or,whereyehunt ‘ Or,a:bird;

tionofthetruth.Inbothcasestheesses.Asaconsequenceofallthis resultwouldbethesame.TheseJehovahdeclaresHimselfagainst womenwouldcapturethesepersonsthem,their‘pillows’andtheir‘ker andmakethembelieveintheirchiefs’Thewords‘tomakethem perniciousdoctrines,forthewordfly’(marg.better‘asbirds’)which translated‘souls’doesnothereoccurtwiceinthisverserepresent conveyexactlythesameideaas averydoubtfulHebrewword,the theEnglishword.Allthiswasfirstoccurrenceofwhichisnotre doneostensiblyasa partofthe cognisedbytheSeptuagint,though worshipofthetrueGod.ThelastAquilahadthewordinthetext partofo. 18isbettertakenas beforehiminthisplace.There astatementandnotasaquestion: wouldseemtohavebeen,asearly Yehuntthesoulsofmypeople,andasTheodotion,anotherreadingof yesaveyourownsouls. theHebrewword(fromparakin 19.Inthisverseafurtherchargesteadofparah)whichwouldgive ismadeagainstthesewomen,thethemeaninginbothplacestosnatch falseprophetesses.Theyhavepro themawayinthesenseoftorescue fanedGod,i.e.Hisnameandtherethem(cp.Ps.cxxxvi.24:Lam.v.8). foreHisglory,bartering,asitwere,Thedifficultyofthewordasitstands Hishonourinreturnforthesmallestisobvious:themeaninggivenabove offerings,suchashandfulsofbarleyagreesbetterwiththenextverse, andpiecesofbread(cp.1Sam.ii.36).forthepurposeofGodtorescueHis Itwasfrombarleyratherthanfrompeoplefromthesewomenisthere wheatthattheordinarybreadoftheindicated.Twicemorewehavethe peoplewasmade.Theiroperationsrefrain‘yeshallknowthatIamthe mayhavehadlioentiousritescon Lord’(cp.vi.7).Thefalseprophet nectedwiththem,butwhetherthisesseswerewiththefalseprophets wassoornottheresultwastheoneofthecursesofthetime(see oppositetowhatitoughttohavenoteonp.60).Thosewhoremained beeniftheyhadbeentrueprophetfaithfulweresaddenedbytheirlying 62 EZEKIEL XIII.:o-XIV.a

21fly.YourkerchiefsalsowillItear,anddelivermypeople outofyourhand,andtheyshallbenomoreinyourhand tobehunted;andyeshallknowthatI amtheLORD. 22Becausewithliesyehavegrievedtheheartofthe righteous,whomIhavenotmadesad;andstrengthened thehandsofthewicked,thatheshouldnotreturnfrom 23hiswickedway,1andbesavedalive:thereforeyeshallno moreseevanity,nordivinedivinations: andIwilldeliver mypeopleoutofyourhand;andyeshallknowthatIam theLORD.

xxiv.Sundrydetachedutterances.xiv.l—xv.8. (a)Comemingidohztersandtheprophetwhois deceived.xiv.1—11. (b)Nohumanpowercandelivertheland:yetthere shallbearemnant.xiv.12—23. (0)Jerusalem,likethevinebranches,giventothefire. xv.1—8. XIV.1 ThencamecertainoftheeldersofIsrael 2untome,andsatbeforeme.AndthewordoftheLORD 1 Or,bypromisinghimlife utterances,whilstthewickedwereoraeularutterance(cp.viii.1).Their encouragedintheirwickednessby motivemayhavebeencuriosityorthe theexamplesetthem(cp.Jer.xxiii.wishtofindsomehandleofobjection 14).Theseprophetessesaretobe againstEzekielinfavourofthefalse stoppedintheircareer:theywereprophets.Theyarerepresented nottobeallowedtopursuetheirasnothavinganyrighttomakeany calling.Suchprophetsandpro inquiriesatall.Theyhadaccepted phetessesasarereferredtointhisidolworship:thishadbecome‘the chapterseemtohaveprophesiedstumblingblockoftheir,iniquity’ bothinJerusalemandtothecap(thesameexpressionoccursin171:.4, tivity.Inv.22thetextgivesthe7: 19:xliv.12).Thequestion meaningbetterthanthemargin.asked(v.2)impliesa negative Forthewordsusedinv.23seeanswer:buttheansweristocorre we.6,7,and9. spondtotheircondition(vv.4, XIV.1-11.TheeldersofIsrael,7). Bytheiridolatrousworshipthe orrathersomeofthem,areherere peoplehadputthemselvesata presentedasiftheywereawaitingan distancefromGod.Withthem

__.—-____',___, XIV.2—9 EZEKIEL 63

3cameuntome,saying,Sonofman,thesemenhave1taken theiridolsintotheirheart,andputthestumblingblockof theiriniquitybeforetheirface:shouldIbeinquiredofat 4allbythem?Thereforespeakuntothem,andsayunto them,ThussaiththeLordGOD:Everymanofthehouseof Israelthattakethhisidolsintohisheart,andputteththe stumblingblockofhisiniquitybeforehisface,andcometh totheprophet;ItheLORDwillanswerhim2thereinaccord 5ingtothemultitudeofhisidols;thatImaytakethehouse ofIsraelintheirownheart,becausetheyareallestranged 6frommethroughtheiridols.Thereforesayuntothehouse ofIsrael,ThussaiththeLordGOD:Returnye,andturn yourselvesfromyouridols;andturnawayyourfacesfrom 7allyourabominations.Foreveryoneofthehouseof Israel,orofthestrangersthatsojourninIsrael,which separatethhimselffromme,andtakethhisidolsintohis heart,andputteththestumblingblockofhisiniquity beforehisface,andcomethtotheprophettoinquire8for 8himselfofme;ItheLORDwillanswerhimbymyself:and Iwillsetmyfaceagainstthatman,andwillmakehiman astonishment,forasignandaproverb,andIwillcuthim offfromthemidstofmypeople;andyeshallknowthatI 9amtheLORD.Andiftheprophetbe‘deceivedandspeaketh aword,ItheLORDhavedeceivedthatprophet,andIwill

1 Heb.causedtocomeup. ' 01',accordingtheretoAnotherreadingis,he incomeinthemultitude(to. ‘ Or,ofhimconcerningme 4 Or,enticed wereinvolvedtheresidentaliens9. a word]i.e.a prophetical whohadsettledinthecountryandutterance.Wearenottosuppose acceptedtheJewishreligion.Thethatthesefalseprophetshadbeen prophetis tocallalltheseto deceivedfromtheverybeginningof repentance.Theyaretoturntheirtheircareer.Ratheritisimplied backsupontheidolsandtoreturnthat,astimewenton,theyhadwil toGod.Iftheyarestillidolatersfullydeceivedthepeople,tillatlast andgototheprophettoinquireas theyhadbeenallowedbyDivine toGod’swill1ananswerofcon Providencetocontinuetheirwork demnationistobegiventothemas ofdeceitSuchseemstohavebeen comingdirectlyfromGod.YetthemysteriouswayinwhichGod againcomesintherefrain‘yeshalldealtwiththosegenerations.The knowthatIamtheLord’(seevi.7). courseimpliedcanbecompared 64 EZEKIEL XIV.9—i5

strthoutmyhanduponhim,andwilldestroyhimfrom 10themidstofmypeopleIsrael.Andtheyshallbear1their iniquity:theiniquityoftheprophetshallbeevenasthe 11iniquityofhimthatseekethuntohim;thatthehouseof Israelmaygonomoreastrayfromme,neitherdefilethem selvesanymorewithalltheirtransgressions;butthatthey maybemypeople,andI maybetheirGod,saiththe LordGOD.

12 AndthewordoftheLORDcameuntome,saying, 13Sonofman,whenalandsinnethagainstmebycommitting atrespass,andIstretchoutminehanduponit,andbreak thestaffofthebreadthereof,andsendfamineuponit,and 14cutofffromitmanandbeast;thoughthesethreemen, Noah,Daniel,andJob,wereinit,theyshoulddeliverbut theirownsoulsbytheirrighteousness,saiththeLordGOD. 15IfIcausenoisomebeaststopassthroughtheland,and * Or,thepunishmentoftheiriniquity withtheDivinetreatmentofthesamepromise(cp.Jer.xxiv.7: PharaohoftheExodus.Atfirstxxx.22:xxxi.l, 33:xxxii.38), hehardenshisheart,thenGodjustasHoseahaddoneinslightly hardenshisheartorallowsitto differentlanguage(ii.23),and remainhardened,anddestructionZechariahwastodolater(viii.8: follows,asitdoesalsointhecaseof xiii.9)IntheApocalypsethesame theprophetsQuemDew;cultideaistakenup:‘theyshallbeHis perdere,priusdementat.Butin peoples,andGodHimselfshallbe thecondemnationpronouncedhere,withthem,andbetheir prophetandinquirerarealiketo Hethatovercomethshallinherit receivepunishment.Inthiswaythesethings;andIwillbehisGod, onlywillthepeoplebewarnedandandheshallbeMyson’(Rev.xxi. keptstraight,andfreefrompollution3,7). 80StPaulincorporatedthe (cp.xxxvii.23).Thenindeedtheysamestatementinhisargumentin maystillhopetobeGod’speople,2Corinthians(vi.165.). andthatHewillbetheirGodas 12-20.Intheseverseswehave Hepromises(xi.20:xxxvi.28:thelimitationsexpressedthatare xxxvii.23:cp.Lev.xxvi.12).Thisimposeduponthepowerofmanfor wasaconstantdesireandexpectagoodwithregardtohisfellowmen. tionoftheprophetsofthetime.Thatsuchaninfluencecouldbe Jeremiahfrequentlyexpressestheexercisedisallowedintheaccount

A / Q-M__—qr— . if . _‘ J __.__¢__,__ ___‘._ XIV.15—10 EZEKIEL 65 they1spoilit,sothatitbedesolate,thatnomanmaypass 16throughbecauseofthebeasts;thoughthesethreemen wereinit,asIlive,saiththeLordGOD,theyshalldeliver neithersonsnordaughters;theyonlyshallbedelivered, 17butthelandshallbedesolate.OrifIbringaswordupon thatland,andsay,2Sword,gothroughtheland; sothatI 18cutofffromitmanandbeast;thoughthesethreemen wereinit,asIlive,saiththeLordGOD,theyshalldeliver neithersonsnordaughters,buttheyonlyshallbedelivered 19themselves.OrifIsendapestilenceintothatland,and pouroutmyfuryuponitinblood,tooutofffromitman 20andbeast:thoughNoah,Daniel,andJob,wereinit,as I live,saiththeLordGOD,theyshalldeliverneitherson nordaughter;theyshallbutdelivertheirownsoulsby

1 Or,bereave3 Or,Letthewordgo ofAbraham’sentreatyforSodom:Theyhavebeentakenasstanding butthepresentpassagenarrowsfortypesofstrugglersagainstthe downthispower,whilethepessiworld(Noah),theflesh(Daniel) misticauthorofPs.xlix.seemsto andthedevil(Job).Theyhadsaved gofurtherstillwhenhesays‘Noneothersaswellasthemselves(Heb. ofthemcanbyanymeansredeemxi.7:Jobxlii.9:Dan.iii.49).‘Noah hisbrother,NorgivetoGoda wasarighteousman’(Gen.vi.9: ransomforhim’(0.7). Forthecp.vii.l:Ecclus.xliv.17),and‘a teachingofEzekielasto‘trespass’preacherofrighteousness’(2Pet and‘sin,’seeIntrod.p.xxxiv.Here ii.5).Job‘wasperfectandupright’ thelandisspokenofinsteadofits (Jobi. 1). Doubtshavebeenex inhabitantsandismadetosharein pressed,butwithoutmuchbasisto thepunishment,quiteinaccordancegoupon,astowhethertheDanielof withwhatissaidintheaccountof EzekielistheprophetDaniel.Even theFall(Gen.iii.17,18). ThethoughthebookofDanielmaybe breaking‘thestaffofbread’hadoflaterdate,yetitwouldseem alreadybeenannouncedbyEzekielmostprobablethattheDanielofit inearlierprophecies(iv.16:v.16:wasa historicalpersonageofan cp.Lev.xxvi.26).Theintroductionearliertime.Danielmust,indeed, ofthethreemenissimilartothehavebeenayoungmanatthistime, introductionofotherwellknownor,atanyrate,notmorethaninthe personsbyJeremiah(xv.1):‘Thoughprimeoflife:andtheinsertionofhis MosesandSamuelstoodbeforeme,namehereisastrikingtributeonthe yetmymindcouldnotbetowardpartofEzekieltohisfellow-captive’s thispeople.’Oftheparticularthreecharacter.Theplacingofhisname mentionedherelittleneedbesaid.beforeJob’sisamoreaccident:the R 5 66 EZEKIEL XIV.10—23

21theirrighteousness.ForthussaiththeLordGOD:How muchmorewhenI sendmyfoursorejudgementsupon Jerusalem,thesword,andthefamine,andthenoisome beasts,andthepestilence,tocutofffromitmanandbeast? 22Yet,behold,thereinshallbeleft1aremnantthatshallbe carriedforth,bothsonsanddaughters: behold,theyshall comeforthuntoyou,andyeshallseetheirwayandtheir doings:andyeshallbecomfortedconcerningtheevil thatI havebroughtuponJerusalem,evenconcerningall 23thatIhavebroughtuponit. Andtheyshallcomfortyou,

1 Heb.theythatescape. namesdidnotneedtobementioned‘thesethreemen,Noah,Danieland inchronologicalorder.ThementionJob’(2:.14),‘thesethreemen’ ofDanielelsewherebyEzekiel(xxviii.(0.18),‘Noah,Daniel,andJob’ 3:‘beholdthouartwiserthan('0.20).Thepestilencewastobe Daniel;thereisnosecretthattheysuchasoccurredafterDavid’ssinof canhidefromthee’)seemstopointnumberingthepeople(2S.xxiv.15: tojustsuchapersonasisdescribedl Chr.xxi.14).Thewords‘in inthebookofDaniel(i.17‘asfor blood’areusedinconnectionwith thesefouryouths,Godgavethemthepestilenceasequivalentto‘in knowledgeandskillinalllearningthetakingoflife’:fortheblood andwisdom:andDanielhadunderwasheldtobethelife(cp.Gen.ix.4). standinginallvisionsanddreams’).Pestilenceandbloodhavealready Thereisnoneedthereforetothinkbeenconnectedtogether(v.17). ofanotherDanielthanthewell Thisfourfoldideaof God’s knownone.Thewordtranslatedpunishmentoftheworldoccurs ‘noisome,’i.e.harmful(cp.v.21),againinRevelation(vi.8‘therewas isthesameasthattranslated‘evil’givenuntothemauthorityoverthe elsewhereinthisbook(v.17)andfourthpartoftheearth,tokill ‘noisome’isasurvivalfromtheA.V.withsword,andwithfamine,and Theideaisthatthewildbeastswithdeath[mm-g.pestilence],and weretogaintheupperhand,sothatbythewildbeastsoftheearth’: mencouldnotliveinthecountry.cp.2Esdr.xv.5). Theadjurationofvv.16,18,20isof 22,23.Stillthereishopefora commonoccurrenceinthisbookremnant,thathopewhichconstantly (cp.v.11).Thesword(0.17)andassertsitself(cp.vi.8:xii.16)Itis thepestilence(v.19)havealreadyimpliedthataremnantfromJeru beenmentioned(v.12)andoccursalem,who,insomemysteriousway, alsoinasimilarpassageinLeviticuswouldbea comforttotheearlier (xxvi.25).Thevariouswaysin exiles,aretojointhosealready whichtheprophetplaysuponthein captivity.Thecomfortap mainstringofhisideaisnoticeable,parentlywastoarisefromthe

xrv.ag—XV.6 EZEKIEL 67

whenyeseetheirwayandtheirdoings:andyeshallknow thatIhavenotdone1withoutcauseallthatIhavedone init,saiththeLordGOD.

XV.1 AndthewordoftheLORDcameuntome, 2saying,Sonofman,whatisthevinetreemorethanany tree,thevinebranchwhich2isamongthetreesofthe 3forest?Shallwoodbetakenthereoftomakeanywork? orwillmentakeapinofittohanganyvesselthereon? 4Behold,itiscastintothefireforfuel:thefirehath devouredboththeendsofit,andthemidstofitisburned; 5isitprofitableforanywork?Behold,whenitwaswhole, itwas3meetfornowork:howmuchless,whenthefire hathdevouredit,anditisburned,shallityetbe“meet 6foranywork?ThereforethussaiththeLordGOD:As

1 Or,invain ’ Or,was ' Heb.madeinto. consciousnessthatinthecaptivityforThyself.Itisburnedwithfire, God’sdealingwithHispeoplewasitiscutdown’); andwearecarried justified:fortheselaterexileswouldontoourLord’swords,‘Iamthe includethemostignorant,mostvine,yearethebranches...Ifaman superstitiousandmostdegradedof abidenotinMe,heiscastforthas thepeoplewhohadbeenleftbehindabranch,andiswithered; andthey whentheformerdeportationshadgatherthem,andcastthemintothe takenplace(2K.xxiv.l4:andcp. fire,andtheyareburned’(Johnxv. theparableoftheverygoodand5,6). Thewoodofthevineisofno theverybadfigsinJer.xxiv.). useinitself,noteventomakeapeg XV.1—8.Thecomparisonof of,butisonlyfitforfuel.Much IsraelorJerusalemtoavineisonelessisitofusewhenithasbeen ofconstantoccurrenceintheOldburned.SoitwillbewithJeru TestamentItoccursagainlatersalemanditsinhabitants:itshall inthisbook(xvii.6:xix.10—14)andbeconsumedwithfireandcome alsoinIsaiah(v.1: cp.theparableoftoanend: thiswillbeGod’sjudge thevineyard,Matt.xxi.33:Mkxii. mentuponit. Theprophetmay l : Lk.xx.9),butperhapsthehaveinhismindherethewild similaritytothispassageismostvineoradegeneratecultivatedvine strikinginPslxxx.(ma.14—16:‘Lookratherthanthegrapebearingculti downfromheaven,andbehold,andvatedvine:butthewoodofboth visitthisvine,Andthestockwhichalikeis useless.Fortheactual Thyrighthandhathplanted,AnddestructionofJerusalembyfiresee thebranchthatThoumadeststrong2K.xxv.9:20hr.xxxvi.19:Jer. 5—2 68 EZEKIEL XV.6—8—XVI.3

thevinetreeamongthetreesoftheforest,whichIhave giventothefireforfuel,so1willIgivetheinhabitantsof 7Jerusalem.AndI willsetmyfaceagainstthem;they 2shallgoforthfromthefire,butthefireshalldevour them; andyeshallknowthatIamtheLORD,whenIset 8myfaceagainstthem.AndI willmaketheland desolate,becausetheyhavecommittedatrespass,saith theLordGOD.

XXV.Alongandelaboratedescriptionofthe historyofJerusalem.xvi.

Itsdevelopmentfromapoor,humbleandheathenoriginisdescribed aswellasthesorestraitsandimpoverishedconditionitwasin,whenGod selecteditforHimselfandboundittoHimbyacovenantHislovethen adorneditwithallmannerofgloryandbeauty,bothinsituationandin decoration. XVI. 1 AgainthewordoftheLORDcameuntome, 2saying,Sonofman,causeJerusalemtoknowherabomina 3tions,andsay,ThussaiththeLordGODuntoJerusalem:

‘ Or,have1given2 Or,havegoneforth xxxix.8,iii.13.JeremiahhadalsoIsraelitesandwasproducedfroma prophesiedtheburningofthecityunionofAmoritcandHittite.The (xxi.10).ThevariationsoftheAmoriteisdescribedasdescended marginheremaketheseversesan fromCanaan(Gen.x.16)aswellas explanationoftheDivinepurposeina Heth,i.e.theHittite,andboth destructionalreadypastratherthanHiviteandHittiteappearamong a lookingforwardtothefuture.thepeoplesofthelandmentioned Againtherefraincomesin‘yeshallwhichareto be dispossessed knowthatIamtheLord’(seevi.7). (Deut.vii.1). Somehavewished Thetrespass(v.8)hereasalwaystosubstituteHiviteherebutthe wasthelapseintoidolatry. assertionofthetextisrepeatedin XVI.1-9.Theobjectofthishis v.45andthepresentreadingisas toryistoshewtheabominationsof oldastheSeptuagintversion.Itis whichJerusalemhasbeenguiltytobenoticedthatinGen.x.15Heth (cp.xxii.2),andtheaccountgoesimmediatelyprecedestheJebusite, backtothecity’sveryfoundationwhoisconnectedinseparanywith andorigin.ItwasCanaanitein Jerusalem(Judg.i. 21),whilethe genuslongbeforeitbelongedtothe Amoriteistheverynextnamein XVI.3—7 EZEKIEL 69 1ThybirthandthynativityisofthelandoftheCanaanite; theAmoritewasthyfather,andthymotherwasanHittite. 4Andasforthynativity,inthedaythouwastbornthy navelwasnotcut,neitherwastthouwashedinwaterto cleansethee; thouwastnotsaltedatall,norswaddledat 5all.Noneeyepitiedthee,todoanyoftheseuntothee, tohavecompassionuponthee; butthouwastcastoutin theopenfield,forthatthypersonwasabhorred,inthe 6daythatthouwastborn.AndwhenI passedbythee, andsawtheewelteringinthyblood,I saiduntothee, Thoughthouartinthyblood,live; yea,Isaiduntothee, 7Thoughthouartinthyblood,live.I 2causedtheeto multiplyasthebudofthefield,andthoudidstincrease andwaxgreat,andthouattainedstto3excellentornament; thybreastswerefashioned,andthinehairwasgrown;yet

1 Or,Thineorigin’ Heb.madetheeamyriad. ' Heb.ornamentofornaments. order;andthereseemsnoreasonto is stillpractisedin Palestine doubtthatwhilstthemainbodyof andis believedto hardenand. theHittiteslivedinthenortha strengthenthem.Salthasalways smallerbodyofthemwereamongstbeenlookeduponasapreservative, theinhabitantsofSouthernCanaanandthepracticemayhavehad (seeProf.SayceinExpositoryTimes,originallya spiritualmeaningas March,1904,p.280).Itmaybe well(cp.Lev.ii.13‘withallthine rememberedalso,asillustratingthisoblationsthoushaltofl'ersalt’).The passage,thatfromanearlyperiodword‘weltering’(2m.6,22)means theBabyloniansdescribedthein ‘wallowing’or‘rollingaboutin'and habitantsofPalestineasAmurrurepresents,itisinterestingtonote, orAmorite.Theearliesthistoryof theparticipleofaHebrewverbwith JerusalemisdescribedunderthewhichthenameJebus(cp.Judg.xix. imageofa pitifulandneglected10)orJebusitemaybeconnected. infantexposedbyitsmotherto ThetransitionfromtheCanaanite death.‘Tocleansethee’(A.V.JerusalemtotheIsraeliteJerusalem ‘Tosupplethee’)representsawordisnowhereclearlydefined,perhaps ofdoubtfulmeaningwhichdoesbecauseofthemixedcharacterof notoccurelsewhere.Itisomittedthepopulation(cp.Josh.xv.63: Judg. in theSeptuagint,buttwoof i.21:28am.v.6);forwemayre theGreekversionsreadthewordcallinthisconnectionthefactthat differentlyandtranslate‘forsafety’inDavid’sreignUriahtheHittite or ‘salvation.’Thesaltingof (cp.v.3)hadahouseinJerusalem thebodiesofnew-borninfants(2SameQ).Thetimesofnakedness

' -v‘w 70 EZEKIEL XVI.7—r1

8thouwastnakedandbare.NowwhenIpassedbythee, andlookeduponthee,behold,thytimewasthetime oflove; andIspreadmyskirtoverthee,andcoveredthy nakedness:yea,I swareuntothee,andenteredinto a covenantwiththee,saiththeLordGOD,andthou 9becamestmine.ThenwashedI theewithwater;yea, I throughlywashedawaythybloodfromthee,andI 10anointedtheewithoil.Iclothedtheealsowithbroidered work,andshodtheewith1sealskin,andI 2girdedthee 11aboutwithfinelinen,andcoveredtheewithsilk.I deckedtheealsowithornaments,andIputbraceletsupon

1 0r,porpoise-skin2 0r,boundtheewithatireoffinelinen andbareness(v.7)maypossiblybe translatedis uncertain.Theold anallusiontothesojourninthe versionsmadeitsimplyacolourbut wilderness. itisalmostcertainlythenameofan AtlastGodtookJerusalemtobe animal.The‘badgers’oftheA.V. Hisowncity:thisisdescribedinthe arederivedfromtheTalmud:but figurativelanguageofthespreadingtwootheralternativesaresetbefore theskirtoverher(cp.thestoryof us:(1)thattheanimalintendedwas BoazandRuth,Ruthiii.9)andin marine,theseal,theporpoiseorthe theformalcovenantmadebetweensea-cow,allpossibleanimalsinthe Godandthepeople(cp.thecovenantseasneartheArabianpeninsula;or madeatMountSinai,Ex.xxiv.7,8, (2)thattheHebrewwordcomes bywhichthepeoplebecameGod’sfromtheEgyptianandsimplymeans people,Ex.xix.5). Thetimeof leather(Encycl.Bib.456,457).On enteringintothecovenanthadtobe thewholeoneofthemarineanimals atimeofpurification(Ex.xix.10,14, isthemostlikely,especiallyasweare 15:cp.alsoRuthiii.3foranothertoldthat‘theArabsoftheSinaitie possibleconnectionhere),whilethe desertusetheskinofHalicore anointingwiththeoilsignifiedthe Hemp'richii,Ehr.,acetaceanfound dedicationorconsecrationoftheintheRedSea,formakingsandals’ people,orofJerusalem (Hastings,Diet.oftheBible,s.voe. 10.ThebeautifyingofthecityBadger).Thewordfor‘girded’ isdescribedinelaboratelanguage.impliesacoveringforthehead,as The‘broideredwork’(my.10,13,18) inthemargin(cp.xxiv.17:Ex. remindsusoftheforty-fifthpsalmxxix.9:Lev.viii.l3),andfinelinen (v.14‘Sheshallbeleduntothekingwasusedforthehighpriest’smitre inbroideredwork’),whilethe‘seal(Ex.xxviii.39:xxxix.28:thereseems skins’(marg.‘porpoiseskins’)carrytobenogoodreasonfortranslating usbacktothefurnitureofthetheword‘silk’asinRV.marg.) tabernacle(Ex.xxv.5:xxvi.14). Thewordfor‘silk’(w.10,13)is Theexactmeaningofthewordso oneofveryuncertainmeaningand XVI.11—16 EZEKIEL 71

12thyhands,andachainonthyneck.AndI putaring uponthynose,andearringsinthineears,andabeautiful 13crownuponthinehead.Thuswastthoudeckedwithgold andsilver;andthyraimentwasoffinelinen,andsilk,and broideredwork; thoudidsteatfineflour,andhoney,and oil:andthouwastexceedingbeautiful,andthoudidst 14prosperuntoroyalestate.Andthyrenownwentforth amongthenationsforthybeauty;foritwasperfect, throughmymajestywhichIhadputuponthee,saiththe LordGOD.

15 Butthoudidsttrustinthybeauty,andplayedstthe harlotbecauseofthyrenown,andpouredstoutthy 16whoredomsoneveryonethatpassedby; hisitwas.And thoudidsttakeofthygarments,andmadestfortheehigh placesdeckedwithdiverscolours,andplayedsttheharlot

indicatessomedelicatematerial.thesetwopassagesarequotedin ItoccursnowhereelseandtheearlyLam.ii.15). versionsgiveusnohelp:theonly 15—34.Afurtherstageisreached placeintheBiblewheresilkiscer inthisparagraph.Thebeautyand tainlymentionedbeingRev.xviii.favourofthecityanditsinhabitants 12. madeitfalsetoitshighcalling. 12—14.Thenose-jewelwhichhungThethingswhichshouldhavebeen downovertheupperlipseemsto foritswealthwereuntoitan havebeenoftenlookeduponasan occasionoffalling.Unitedbythe amulet.Wemeetwithitfirstin strongestspiritualtiestoherdivine Gen.xxiv.47,whereAbraham’sLord,thecitylapsedintospiritual servantplacesoneonRebekah’sfornication.Languageofthekind nose.Thecrownexpressestheusedhererepresentsconstantlyin developmentofJerusalemintoa theOldTestamentthefaithlessness royalcity(cp.v. 13).ThefoodofIsraeltotheLord(cp.vi.9,xxiii. mentionedis assignedto Israelpassim:Ex.xxxiv.15: Lev.xvii.7: elsewhere(Deut.xxxii.13,14:cp. xx.6:Dent.xxxi.16:Judg.ii.17: Ps.lxxxi.16).ThebeautyofJeruIs.i.21:lvii.8:Jer.ii.20:iii.pauz'm: salemwasa constantsourceof Hos.i.2). Thehighplaces(0.16) glorification,asbeingknownfarweremadeforthelicentiousrevelries andwide:‘Beautifulinelevation,andmysteriesoftheheathenworships. thejoyofthewholeearth,Is Forthedeckingofthemcp.2 K. MountZion’(Ps.xlviii.2);‘Zion,xxiii.7. Thelastwordsofv. 16 theperfectionofbeauty’(Ps.l. 2; areobscureandhavenodefinite

Univ;_ I ‘_ ‘\_-_-i _ ‘q_. 72 EZEKIEL XVI.16—1!

uponthem: thelikethingsshallnotcome,neithershallit 17beso.Thoudidstalsotakethy1fairjewelsofmygold andofmysilver,whichI hadgiventhee,andmadestfor thee2imagesofmen,anddidstplaytheharlotwiththem; 18andthoutookestthybroideredgarments,andcoveredst them,anddidstsetmineoilandmineincensebeforethem. 19MybreadalsowhichIgavethee,fineflour,andoil,and honey,wherewithIfedthee,thoudidstevensetitbefore themforasweetsavour,andthusitwas; saiththeLord 20G01).Moreoverthouhasttakenthysonsandthy daughters,whomthouhastborneuntome,andthesehast thousacrificeduntothemtobedevoured.Werethy 21whoredomsa smallmatter,thatthouhastslainmy children,anddeliveredthemup,in3causingthemtopass

1 Or,beautifulveuels2 Or,maleimage:' Or,setting themapartHeb.makingthempassover. meaning,anymorethanthoseof withthementionofhoney,itmaybe 1m.15(‘hisitwas’),19(‘andthusit rememberedthatundertheLevitical was’),thoughitmaybe‘hisitwas’Law(Lev.ii.11)honeywasforbidden (0.15)means‘thybeautybecametobeusedinthefireofi'eringaFor thepropertyofeveryonethatpassedthesweetsavourseevi.13.Involved by.’In0.19theword‘thus’is inthepracticeoftheseriteswasthe insertedbythetranslatorsTheofi'eringofhumansacrifices(vv.21, text,however,inalltheseversesis 36:xx.26,31:xxiii.37)tobedevoured, veryuncertain. notincannibalisticfashion,butby Theworkdescribedinav.17,18,19thefire.ThesesacrificestoMoloch correspondswithwhatisdescribedseemtohavebeenofprettyfre inotherpassages(vii.20:xxiii.14) quentoccurrenceinJerusalemand butisofa grosserkind.Theespeciallyofl'eredbythekings(2K. ‘beautifulvessels’ofRV.marg.is xvi.3:xxi.6),whoseexamplewas moreliteralandabetterrenderingafterwardsmoregenerallyfollowed. than‘fairjewels’(e.17:see17.39, Tracesofsuchsacrificesofchildren xxiii.26).Whatshouldhavebeenhavebeenfoundintherecentex God’s(‘mygoldandmysilver,’cavationsatGezer.Inthispassage ‘mineoilandmineincense,’‘myGodclaimsthechildrenashis(‘my bread’:soxxiii.41,cp.Hos.ii.8) children,’0.21),justasmuchasthe isdevotedtootherpurposes.Thegoldandsilverandotherthings. ‘imagesofmen’ seemtohavebeenAllthisidolatrousserviceinvolved imagesoftheheathengodsinhumantheignoringofwhathadbeendone form(cp.Is.xliv.l3),attiredinmagbyGodforHispeopleintheirearly nificentvestments.Inconnectionyears(cp.av.43,60),whenJeru XVI.11—17 EZEKIEL 73

22throughthcfireuntothem?Andinallthineabominations andthywhoredomsthouhastnotrememberedthedaysof thyyouth,whenthouwastnakedandbare,andwast 23welteringinthyblood.Anditiscometopassafterall thywickedness,(woe,woeuntothee!saiththeLordG01),) 24thatthouhastbuiltuntothee1aneminentplace,andhast 25madetheealoftyplaceineverystreet.Thouhastbuilt thyloftyplaceateveryheadoftheway,andhastmade thybeautyanabomination,andhastopenedthyfeetto everyonethatpassedby,andmultipliedthywhoredom. 26ThouhastalsocommittedfornicationwiththeEgyptians, thyneighbours,greatofflesh;andhastmultipliedthy 27whoredom,toprovokemetoanger.Beholdtherefore,I havestretchedoutmyhandoverthee,andhavediminished thine20rdinaryfood,anddeliveredtheeuntothewillof

1 Or,avaultedchamber’ Or,allowance salemwasinsuchadesperatestatefromEgypt.Thewords‘greatof (fortheexpressionsusedtodescribeflesh,’appliedtotheEgyptians,are thisseeso.6,7). Thewordtrans~aeuphemisticexpressionintended lated‘aneminentplace’hereandin toillustratethegrossandsensual or.31,39(marg.‘avaultedchamber’)characteroftheworship.‘To isanambiguousoneandmaysimplyprovokemetoanger’doesnot meanamound,thoughsomeofthe implythatthiswastheobjectof earlyversionsgiveitamoredefinitethosewhodidsuchthings,butonly meaning(LXXo'l'mfmwopvaxdv,1rop thatitwasthenaturalconsequence niov).Theallusionistowhatis oftheiracts.Thepunishmentfor moreplainlyexpressedinotherallthishascomeinthefamineinthe passages(e.g.Is.lvii.7:Jer.ii.20:besiegedcity,duringwhichthe iii.2)withreferencetotheindecentallowanceoffood(marg.betterthan andlicentiousorgieswhichaccomtextofRV.)wascutdown,andthe paniedsomeoftheformsofidolatrousPhilistines(mentionedagain,'0.57) worshipthatwereopenlyandun arerepresentedastakingadvantage blushinglypractisedinthestreetsof ofthesituation,foreventheir theHolyCity. daughtershadfeltshamefortheir 26-29.Intheseversessomeof neighbours’misconduct.Suchan thevariousformsofimportedwor invasionofthePhilistinesisdescribed shiparementioned.Theprophetastakingplaceinthereignofking beginswiththeEgyptianswhoseAhaz(2Chr.xxviii.18). cultsarealsomentionedlateron Theirmisconductalsoextended (xx.7,8:xxiii.19-21),thoughitis totheAssyrians,andanadoptionof notclearwhatformswereimportedtheirworshipwhichisdescribed

74 EZEKIEL XVI.17—34

themthathatethee,thedaughtersofthePhilistines, 28whichareashamedofthylewdway.Thouhastplayed theharlotalsowiththeAssyrians,becausethouwast unsatiable;yea,thouhastplayedtheharlotwiththem, 29andyetthouwastnotsatisfied.Thouhastmoreover multipliedthywhoredom1inthelandofCanaan,unto 3OChaldea; andyetthouwastnotsatisfiedherewith.How weakisthineheart,saiththeLordGOD,seeingthoudoest allthesethings,theworkofanimperiouswhorishwoman; 31inthatthoubuildestthineeminentplaceintheheadof everyway,andmakestthyloftyplaceineverystreet;and hastnotbeenasanharlot,2inthatthouscornesthire. 32Awifethatcommittethadultery]thattakethstrangers 33insteadofherhusband!Theygivegiftstoallharlots: butthougivestthygiftstoallthylovers,andbribest them,thattheymaycomeuntotheeoneverysideforthy 34whoredoms.Andthecontraryisintheefromother womeninthywhoredoms,inthatnonefolloweththeeto commitwhoredom: andwhereasthougivesthire,andno hireisgivenuntothee,thereforethouartcontrary.

1 Or,untothelandoftraflic’ Or,thatlcqfl'ethatherhire later(xxiii.5-21).Itwasinthe RV.isinconsistent).Itisbesthere reignofAhazthattributewaspaidwiththeSeptuaginttoleaveoutthe toTiglath-pileserandanaltarwaswords‘inthelandofCanaan.’This builtin Jerusalemlikeonein makesthepassagemoreinaccord Damascus,ofwhichplaceTiglathwithxxiii.14—16;andthesetwo pileserwasinpossessionatthetime.chaptershavemuchin common. Itisalsowellknown,thatjustas Chaldeanworshipwaspracticallythe therewasanEgyptianpartyinJerusameastheAssyrian. salem,soalsoduringitslatertimes 30—34.Thelanguagegrows therewasanAssyrianorBabylonianstrongerstillasJerusaleminher party(seeIntrod.pp.xxxviiiif). prideandcorruptionisdescribedas 29.Inthisversethereissome‘animperiouswhorishwoman’(cp.Is. confusion.Anattemptismadeto xlvii.7,10);whileheraffectionfor setitrightbytranslating‘Canaan’ herhusband(God)isdescribedas as‘traffic’butthisdoesnotseembutlittle(‘weakisthineheart’). satisfactory(cp.xvii.4whereasimilarTheSeptuagintomits‘imperious’ questionarises,asalsoinZeph.i.ll: anditstranslationpointstosome Zech.xiv.21: Pr.xxxi.24;thesuchemendationofthetextas m35—39 EZEKIEL 75

35 Wherefore,Oharlot,hearthewordoftheLORD: 36ThussaiththeLordGOD,Becausethy1filthinesswas pouredout,andthynakednessdiscoveredthroughthy whoredomswiththylovers; andbecauseofalltheidols ofthyabominations,andforthebloodofthychildren, 37whichthoudidstgiveuntothem; thereforebehold,Iwill gatherallthylovers,withwhomthouhasttakenpleasure, andallthemthatthouhastloved,withallthemthatthou hasthated;Iwillevengatherthemagainsttheeonevery side,andwilldiscoverthynakednessuntothem,thatthey 38mayseeallthynakedness.AndI willjudgethee,as womenthatbreakwedlockandshedbloodarejudged; andIwillbringupontheethebloodoffuryandjealousy. 39Iwillalsogivetheeintotheirhand,andtheyshallthrow

1 Heb.bran.

Cornillhassuggested‘Whathave(viii.10).The‘hated’onesrefers Itodowiththycovenant'l’ V.31a backto thedaughtersof the repeatsv.24,whilsttherestofthe Philistinesofe.27,towhomthe passageisintendedtointensifythe Israeliteswerealwaysopposed.The guiltofthecity. wholeofthisparagraphshouldbe 35—43.Intheseversesisdescribcomparedwithxxiii.22-35(cp.also edthepunishmentthatistocomeHos.ii.10),andsimilarlanguageis uponJerusalem.ItwillcomefromusedoftheBabylonoftheApoca thosewithwhomshehassoughta lypse(Rev.xvii.)Thefulfilmentof guiltyunion,andwillalsobea thisprophecyisdescribedinsimilar judicialpunishmentbywhichthelanguage(Lam.i.8,9). Divinesentencewillbeexecuted.38.Forthefirstpartofthis In0. 36theformsofguiltare versecp.xxiii.45wherethejudge recapitulated.Themeaning‘filthimentisassignedtorighteousmen. ness’giventothewordwhichin Thepunishmentenjoinedforsuch Hebrewmeans‘bronze’or‘copper’transgressionswasdeath(Lev.xx. (RV.marg.‘brass’)isveryun 10:Dent.xxii.22;andforshedding certain,butthereadingisasoldas ofbloodGen.ix.6:Num.xxxv.33). theSeptuagintwhichtranslatesThelastwordsmean,thattheend literally.Itisscarcelypossibleto ofJerusalemwastobetheresultof translatethewordasifitmeanttheDivinefuryandjealousy(cp. ‘money’here,butthisiswhatisim v.42). pliedbytheGreekrendering.39.Fortheeminentandlofty Similarlanguagetothatinv.37a placesseeon.24,25,andforthe isusedtodescribetheassembling‘fairjewels’seenoteonv.17,and ofthespoilersofIsraelbyHoseacomparethedescriptionofJeru 76 EZEKIEL XVI-39-43 downthineeminentplace,andbreakdownthylofty places; andtheyshallstriptheeofthyclothes,andtake thyfairjewels:andtheyshallleavetheenakedandbare. 40Theyshallalsobringupanassemblyagainstthee,and theyshallstonetheewithstones,andthrusttheethrough 41withtheirswords.Andtheyshallburnthinehouseswith fire,andexecutejudgementsupontheeinthesightof manywomen; andIwillcausetheetoceasefromplaying 42theharlot,andthoushaltalsogivenohireanymore.So willI 1satisfymyfury2uponthee,andmyjealousyshall departfromthee,andIwillbequiet,andwillbenomore 43angry.Becausethouhastnotrememberedthedaysof thyyouth,buthastfrettedmeinallthesethings;therefore

‘ Heb.bringtorest. ’ 0!,toward salemin1 Mace.ii.9, 11 (‘hermaybetaughtnottodoafteryour vesselsofgloryarecarriedaway...lewdness.‘Thephrase‘I will heradorningisalltakenaway’).satisfymyfury,’whichoccurselse Herlaststateistobeasherfirstwhereinthisbook(v.13:xxi.l7: (v.7). xxiv.13),isoneofdoubtfulmeaning: 40—43.Theassemblyof theitmaysimplymean‘Iwillbring nationsandwhatit willdois myfurytorest,’i.e.toanend describedagainlater(xxiii.4,6,47).(RV.marg.).TheR.V.inthewords Thesentenceofdeathinvolved‘hastfrettedme’(o.43)followsthe stoningwithstonesandtheburninggenerallyacceptedemendationofthe ofthecriminal’sproperty(Josh.vii. Hebrewtext,whichasit stands 24,25:cp.alsoLev.xx.2:Dent.shouldbetranslated‘wastangry xiii.10:xvii.5). IfwearetolookwithMe’;buttheemendcdtext foraliteralfulfilmentofthissentence,givesthebettersense.Themean inthecaseofJerusalem,weshallingofthelastwordsofthisverseis findit intheuseofsomesuchalsoveryobscure.TheHebrew ‘instrumentsforcasting...stones’as texthasthefirstperson,whilstin arementionedin1 Mace.vi.51. theHebrewmarginthesecondper TheburningofJerusalemisdescrisonisread.Tworenderingsofthis bedin2K.xxv.9:2Chr.xxxvi.19: latterreadingaregiveninR.V., Jer.xxxix.8:lii.13.ThepunishthoughtheHebrewverbcanscarcely mentistotakeplace‘inthesightbetranslatedasafuture,asitisin ofmanywomen’ (v.41),i.e.ofmanythetextofR.V.,andthewhole peoplesTheintentionoftheinserclausescarcelyadmitsofbeingtrans tionofthesewordsismoreclearlylatedasaquestion.TheSeptuagint expressedin thecorrespondinghasanotherreadinginsteadofthe passageinxxiii.48‘thatallwomennegativeparticleandtranslates‘and

“'Mm“. ¢--»‘ p,'___W_r—~A -‘VA____ XVI-43—47 EZEKIEL 77 behold,I alsowillbringthywayuponthinehead,saith theLordGOD: and1thoushaltnotcommitthislewdness aboveallthineabominations.

44 Behold,everyonethatusethproverbsshallusethis proverbagainstthee,saying,Asisthemother,soisher 45daughter.Thouartthymother’sdaughter,thatloatheth herhusbandandherchildren; andthouartthesisterof thysisters,whichloathedtheirhusbandsandtheir children: yourmotherwasanHittite,andyourfatheran 46Amorite.AndthineeldersisterisSamaria,thatdwelleth atthylefthand,sheandherdaughters: andthyyounger sister,thatdwellethatthyrighthand,isSodomandher 47daughters.Yethastthounotwalkedintheirways,nor

1 0r,hastthounotcommitted(1%.! thusthoudidstcommitiniquityin thechildren’steetharesetonedge’ additiontoallthyactsoflawlessxviii.2:cp.xii.22andtheexpres ness.’Toyomitsthewordsaltosion‘theythatspeakinproverbs’ gether. Num.xxi.27).Startingwiththis 44—63.Thesectionof theproverbherecurstotheoriginof prophecywhichwehavenowto Jerusalem(v.3). Thehusbandof dealwithisfullofdiflicultiesof JerusalemisJehovah(cp.Is.liv.5 interpretation.Thatthiswasfelt ‘thyMakeristhinehusband’),and isshewnbytheuncertainstateof theprophetimpliesthatHestood theHebrewtextinwhichthereare originallyinthesamerelationto manydoubtfulreadings.Buttheothernations.TheloathingofHim mainpurposeofitis plainz—toistheforsakingofHisworship:the pointoutthedegradationofmoralsloathingofthechildrenis the andreligionintowhichJerusalemofferingtheminsacrifice.The hadfallen,so lowindeedthatsistersofJerusalemaresaidtobe SamariaandSodomcouldbe SamariaandSodom,bothdestroyed consideredbetterthanshewas.fortheiriniquities.Samariamight YetforallthisGod,whoisGodof wellbesaidtohaveforsakenJe JewandGentilealike(cp.Rem.iii. hovah’sworshipandtohaveoffered 29),iswaitingtobegracioustoall herchildreninsacrifice,butadiffi threeandtoestablishanewandcultyarises,astohowthiscouldbe everlastingcovenant. saidofSodom.Themostpossible 44-47.Thisisthesecondtimeinterpretationisthat,inthecaseof thatEzekielquotesaproverbandthatcity,referenceismadetothe hequotesanotherlateron(‘thelicentiousconditionofsociallifein fathershaveeatensourgrapes,andthatplace.Thisrelationshipbe 78 EZEKIEL XVI.47—5i

doneaftertheirabominations; but,asifthatwereavery littlething.thouwastmorecorruptthantheyinallthy 48ways.AsI live,saiththeLordGOD,Sodomthysister hathnotdone,shenorherdaughters,asthouhastdone, 49thouandthydaughters.Behold,thiswastheiniquityof thysisterSodom; pride,fulnessofbread,andprosperous casewasinherandinherdaughters;neitherdidshe 50strengthenthehandofthepoorandneedy.Andthey werehaughty,andcommittedabominationbeforeme: 51thereforeItookthemaway1asIsawgood.Neitherhath Samariacommittedhalfofthysins;butthouhast

1 Or,whenImwit tweenSamariaandJerusalemis live’(v.48)constantlyoccursin againexpressedin xxiii.4, 33. thisforminthisbook(v.11:xiv.16, BothSamariaandSodomwere18,20:xvii.16,19:xviii.3:xx.3, Canaanite(v.3)andinthiswaythe33),andmuchmorefrequentlythan relationshipassertedhereistobe elsewhere.Oftheiniquityattributed accountedfor; butinthecaseof toSodomhere,prideis again Samariatheremaypossiblybean mentionedinEcclus.xvi.8 (‘He allusiontothekingdomofIsrael,sparednotthosewithwhomLot whichhadits capitalthere.sojourned,Whomheabhorredfor Samariawasonthelefthand,i.e.the theirpride’),whiletheprosperity north(Gen.xiv.15)ofJerusalem,oftheCitiesofthePlainisimplied whilstSodomwasontherighthand,inGen.xiii.10.Theirabominations i.e.thesouth(cp.1 Sam. 19, (v.50)arementionedinGen. l3, ‘24:Palxxxix.13).Thepointsof andelsewhere(cp.2Pet.ii.7for‘the thecompasswereindicatedinthislasciviouslifeofthewicked’which waybyfacingtherisingsun.Thesorelydistressed‘righteousLot’: daughtersofSamariaandSodomJude7). Thedestruction(‘taking arethetownsandvillagesdependaway’'z'.50)ofSodomisdescribedin entuponthem(cp.e.g.Josh.xvi. Gen.xix.Thelastwordsofv.50 45).Jerusalemisrepresentedas arebettertranslatedasin RV. havingdoneworsethaneitherof marg.‘whenI sawit’andperhaps them;weareremindedofourmayrefertoGen.xviii.‘21(‘Iwill Lord’ssaying,repeatedmorethangodownnow,andseewhetherthey once,‘itshallbemoretolerablefor havedone...’). thelandofSodominthedayof 51,52.Theprophetnowturnsto judgement’(Matt.x.15:xi.24)in SamariaanddeclaresthatSamaria HisdenunciationofthoseplacesandSodomwerenotsobadas thatWouldnotacceptHim(cp.alsoJerusalem;thisisthemeaningof 2K.xxi.9:2Chr.xxxiii.9). thephrase‘hastjustifiedthysisters’ 48—50.Theasseveration‘AsI (cp.Jer.iii.11).‘Bearthineown XVL51—57 EZEKIEL 79

multipliedthineabominationsmorethanthey,andhast justifiedthysistersbyallthineabominationswhichthou 52hastdone.Thoualso,hearthineownshame,inthatthou hastgivenjudgementforthy1sisters;throughthysinsthat thouhastcommittedmoreabominablethanthey,theyare morerighteousthanthou:yea,bethoualsoconfounded, andbearthyshame,inthatthouhastjustifiedthysisters. 53AndI will2turnagaintheircaptivity,thecaptivityof Sodomandherdaughters,andthecaptivityofSamaria andherdaughters,andthecaptivityofthycaptivesinthe 54midstofthem:thatthoumayestbearthineownshame, andmayestbeashamedbecauseofallthatthouhastdone, 55inthatthouartacomfortuntothem.Andthysisters, Sodomandherdaughters,shallreturntotheirformer estate,andSamariaandherdaughtersshallreturntotheir formerestate,andthouandthydaughtersshallreturnto 56yourformerestate.ForthysisterSodomwasnot 57mentionedbythymouthinthedayofthypride; before thywickednesswasdiscovered,asatthetimeofthe reproachofthedaughtersofSyria,andofallthatare

1 0r,sister’ Or,returnto shame’isanotherofthephraseswasa comforttothembybeing whichEzekieldelightstouse(17.54: worsethantheywere,sothatthey xxxii.24,25,30:xxxiv.27: xxxvi.6, felttheirownguiltless(A.B.David 7:xxxix.26:xliv.13). son),butthisdoesnotseemvery 53-55.SodomandSamariaare satisfactory. bothpromisedrestorationinthese 56—58.Sodomwasnaturallyig verses.Thematerialrestorationof nored,as havingbeenutterly Sodomcannotbethoughtof:itcandestroyed,whilstherdestruction onlymeantherestorationuponoughttohavebeentakenasa repentancetoDivinefavourofcitieswarning.Thewickednessthat‘was suchasSodomwas.Thiswasthediscovered’wasinthereignofAhaz onlywayinwhichtheprophetinhis whenfalseworshipwasrampant daycouldexpresssuchanidea,Thisiscloselyconnectedinhistory unlesshewasimaginingthesiteof (2K.xvi.4—6;cp.Is.vii.l,2)with SodomtobeinhabitedonceagainthecombinedattackofSyriaunder bya prosperouspeople.Itis Rezin,andPekahofIsraelupon difficultto understandwhatis Jerusalem(‘thereproachofthe meantbyJerusalembeingacomfortdaughtersofSyria’0. 57).The toSodomandSamaria.TheusualSyriansalsoattackedJudahin interpretationgiventoitisthatsheJehoiakim’sreign(2K.xxiv.2:Jer.

80 EZEKIEL XVI.57—63

roundabouther,thedaughtersofthePhilistines,which 58dodespiteuntotheeroundabout.Thouhastbornethy 69lewdnessandthineabominations,saiththeLORD.For thussaiththeLordGOD:I willevendealwiththeeas thouhastdone,whichhastdespisedtheoathinbreaking 60thecovenant.NeverthelessIwillremembermycovenant withtheeinthedaysofthyyouth,andI willestablish 61untotheeaneverlastingcovenant.Thenshaltthou rememberthyways,andbeashamed,whenthoushalt receivethysisters,thineeldersistersandthyyounger: andIwillgivethemuntotheefordaughters,butnotby 62thycovenant.AndI willestablishmycovenantwith 63thee;andthoushaltknowthatI amtheLORD:that thoumayestremember,andbeconfounded,andnever openthymouthanymore,becauseofthyshame; whenI haveforgiventheeallthatthouhastdone,saiththeLord G01). xxxv.11).Thereis,therefore,no notbeenbrokenbythepeople. needashasbeensuggestedtosub Theideaofaneweverlastingcoven stituteEdomforSyria.Itwasin antiscommontoIsaiah(lv.3); thereignofAhaz,aswehaveseenandJeremiah(xxxii.40:L5)with already(12.27),thatthePhilistinesEzekiel.UnderitJerusalemwill invadedJudah.Jerusalemhadto receivenotonlySodomandSamaria bepunishedforitswickednessbutothersisters(i.e.greaterand (cp.xxiii.35,49). smallernations)aswelltobetreated 59—63.Thetimeofpunishmentasdaughters.Itistobe‘notby istobringatimeofrepentance,andhercovenant’thattheyarereceived thenwillfollowtherenewalofthebutbythenewDivinecovenant, covenantJerusalemhaddespisedwhichiseventuallytoincludethe theoathwhichJehovahhadtaken.wholeworld(Rom.xi.32). Ithadalsobrokenthecovenantwith Afterallthissadstoryofun Jehovahbytheintroductionof cleannessandabominations,withthe falseandidolatrouscults.ButHe renewalofthecovenantweonce couldrememberit;thereis theagaincatchuptheoldrefrain(vi.7) samepromiseinLev.xxvi.42tothe‘thoushaltknowthatI amthe rebelliouspeople;andthecovenantLord.’ toberememberedwasnotonlythat Itis tobenoticedthatthe atSinai,butalsothatwiththeprophet,inordertoshewtheinten patriarchs(Ex.ii.24:vi.5:cp.Ps. sityofthedegradationintowhich cvi.45).TherenewedcovenantJerusalemhasfallen,assertsthather wouldbeaneverlastingcovenant,as restorationcannottakeplacetill theoldonewouldhavebeenhadit afterthatofSodomandSamaria. XVII.1—5 EZEKIEL 81 xxvi.Ariddleanditsinterpretation.Twoeagles,the cedar,andthevine,i.e.Babylon,Egypt,andtheking andprimesofJerusalem,withtheirdestruction.The restorationofJerusalemandtheDavidichousewill comeinthefuturewithawaiversalacceptanceofits authority.xvii.1—24. XVII.1 AndthewordoftheLORDcameuntome, 2saying,Sonofman,putfortha riddle,andspeaka 3parableuntothehouseofIsrael; andsay,Thussaiththe LordGOD:Agreateaglewithgreatwingsandlong pinions,fulloffeathers,whichhaddiverscolours,came 4untoLebanon,andtookthetopofthecedar: hecropped offthetopmostoftheyoungtwigsthereof,andcarriedit into1alandoftraffic;hesetitinacityofmerchants. 5Hetookalsooftheseedoftheland,andplanteditin

1 Or,thelandofCanaan

XVII.l-lO.The‘riddle’ofthisofftoBabylon.In17.4thereisan passage,alsocalled‘aparable,’con ambiguityofmeaningwhichhas sistsintheallegoryofwhichtheinteroccurredalready(seenoteonxvi. pretationhastobefound.Theeagle29)between‘landoftraflic'and isthekingofBabylon(soJer.xlviii.‘landofCanaan.’Herethelandof 40: xlix.22:cp.,forthisuseofthe traflicmustbeBabylonia. eagleastheemblemofaninvadingItisclearfromtheApocalypse force,Dent.xxviii.49‘TheLord(Rev.xviii.10—20)thatBabylonwas shallbringa nationagainsttheelookeduponasthetypical‘cityof fromfar...astheeagleflieth,’andmerchants’inoldtime. 2Esd.xi.1).Thefirsteagleismore Itisquitepossiblethattheplant powerfulthanthesecond(11.7):it ingof‘theseedoftheland’may hasdiverscoloursbecausemanyindicatethesettingupofMattaniah variousnationswereruledoverby (i.e.Zedekiah)asavesselkingin Nebuchadrezzar.Thecedarof JerusalembyNebuchadrezzar,but LebanonrepresentsheretheJewishitismorelikelythattheexpression people;laterwhenthelandwasrefersnotonlytohimbutalsoto underBabylonianruletheAssyriantheprincesandmightymenof is‘acedarinLebanon’(xxxi.3). Judahwhowerecarriedoffto ‘ThetopmostoftheyoungtwigsBabyloninJehoiachin’sreign(2K. thereof’mustbethekingofJudah.xxiv.12,14—16)andplacedbythe JehoiachinandZedekiahthelaststreamsandcanalsofBabylon,where twokingsofJudahwerebothcarriedthewillowwasoneofthemost 6

82 EZEKIEL xvn.5-m

1afruitfulsoil;heplaceditbeside’manywaters;heset 6itasawillowtree.Anditgrew.andbecameaspreading vineoflowstature,whosebranchesturnedtowardhim, andtherootsthereofwereunderhim:soitbecameavine, 7andbroughtforthbranches,andshotforthsprigs.There wasalsoanothergreateaglewithgreatwingsandmany feathers:and,behold,thisvinedidbenditsrootstoward him,andshotforthitsbranchestowardhim,fromthebeds 8ofitsplantation,thathemightwaterit. Itwasplanted inagood3soilby2manywaters,thatitmightbringforth branches,andthatitmightbearfruit,thatitmightbea 9goodlyvine.Saythou,ThussaiththeLordGOD: Shall itprosper?shallhenotpulluptherootsthereof,andcut offthefruitthereof,thatitmaywither;thatallitsfresh springingleavesmaywither;evenwithoutgreatpoweror 10much‘peopletopluckitupbytherootsthereof?Yea, l Heb.afieldofIced. ' Or,great1 Heb.field. ‘ Or,people,plucking(ta. noticeabletrees(Ps.cxxxvii.2‘Upon(forthelanguageusedcp.xxxi.4; thewillowsinthemidstthereofWePharaohHophraisperhapsspecially hangedupourharps’).Acorrepointedathere),butitisnotde spondinguseofthewillowina scribedasbeingasstrongasthe simileistobefoundinIs.xliv.4. firsteagle.Egyptalsohaditsgreat Thetreeactuallymeantis thewaters,i.e.theNile;sothatthevine Populuseuphratica,akindofpopisrepresentedasendeavouringto larlikeawillow(Encycl.Bib.5301).dependuponbothempiresatonce, Thewordusedhereis,however,butit is nottoprosper.The differentfromthatusedinotherEgyptianwastojoininthedestruc placesintheBible.Thereseemstionofthevine(‘shallhenotpull tobenodoubtaboutitsmeaninguptherootsthereof’:forthe thoughtheSeptuaginttranslatorsEgyptianshareinthedestruction havemistakentheword.In12.6 ofthekingdomofJudahbeginning thevineoflowstatureis thewiththebattleatMeg-iddoandthe Jewishpeoplereducedtoa lowdeathofJosiahsee2 K.xxiii.29, estatethathadtolooktotheking33—35:20hr.xxxv.20—xxxvi.4). ofBabylonandbeunderhisau Theruinbroughtbytheeastwind thority,butyetunderitdevelopedmayverywellmeantheinvasion insomedegree(‘it...shotforthfromBabylonwhichpushedback sprigs’).TheothereagleisthethepowerofEgypttothebrook EgyptianmonarchytowardswhichofEgypt(2K.xxiv.7:Jer.xlvi.2) theJewsoftenlookedforassistanceaswellasdestroyedentirelythe XVII.10—16 EZEKIEL 83 behold,beingplanted,shallitprosper?shallitnotutterly wither,whentheeastwindtouchethit?itshallwitherin thebedswhereitgrew.

11 MoreoverthewordoftheLORDcameuntome,saying, 12Saynowtotherebellioushouse,Knowyenotwhatthese thingsmean?tellthem,Behold,thekingofBabylon cametoJerusalem,andtookthekingthereof,andthe princesthereof,andbroughtthemtohimtoBabylon; l3andhetookoftheseedroyal,andmadeacovenantwith him;healsobroughthimunderanoath,andtookaway 14themightyoftheland:thatthekingdommightbe1base, thatitmightnotliftitselfup,butthatbykeepingofhis 15covenantitmightstand.Butherebelledagainsthimin sendinghisambassadorsintoEgypt,thattheymightgive himhorsesandmuchpeople.Shallheprosper?shallhe escapethatdoethsuchthings?shallhebreakthecove 16nant,andyetescape?AsI live,saiththeLordG01), surelyintheplacewherethekingdwelleththatmade himking,whoseoathhedespised,andwhosecovenanthe brake,evenwithhiminthemidstofBabylonheshall

1 Heb.low. kingdomofJudah.YetafterthisthatNebuchadrezzar‘hadmade theremnantofJudahstilllookedhimswearbyGod'isconfirmed. towardsEgyptandsomeofthemTheonlymentionthatwehaveof withJeremiah,thoughinhiscasetheEgyptiansinZedekiah'sreignis againsthiswill,actuallymigratedthatinJer.xxxv.5 wherethe intothatcountry(Jer.xliii.). PharaohcomesoutofEgyptduring 11—21.IntheseverseswehavethesiegeofJerusalem.Thatthe thesolutionoftheriddle,whichhaskingshouldsendhispeopletoEgypt beenalreadydealtwith.‘There forhorseswasforbiddenbythe bellioushouse’isanexpressionwhichDeuteronomiclegislation(Deut.xvii. looksbacktotheprophet’soriginal16),thoughinSolomon’stimesuch commission(ii.5, ‘theyarea re intercoursewithEgyptseemsto bellioushouse’:cp. 6,8:iii.26:havebeenofcommonoccurrence xxiv.3:xliv.6). In12.13,where(1K.x.28:2Chr.i. 16:ix.28); Zedekiahisreferredto,thestatementIsaiahdenouncessuchintercourse oftheChronicler(2Chr.xxxvi.13) andtraffic(xxxi.1).Inthispassage 6—2 84 EZEKIEL XVII.16—21 17die.NeithershallPharaohwithhismightyarmyand greatcompanymakeforhiminthewar,whentheycast 18upmountsandbuildforts,tocutoffmanypersons.For hehathdespisedtheoathbybreakingthecovenant; and behold,hehadgivenhishand,andyethathdoneall 19thesethings;heshallnotescape.Thereforethussaith theLordGOD:AsI live,surelymineoaththathehath despised,andmycovenantthathehathbroken,I will 20evenbringituponhisownhead.AndI willspreadmy netuponhim,andheshallbetakeninmysnare,andI willbringhimtoBabylon,andwillpleadwithhimthere 21forhistrespassthathehathtrespassedagainstme.And allhisfugitivesinallhishandsshallfallbythesword, andtheythatremainshallbescatteredtowardevery wind:andyeshallknowthatI theLORDhavespoken 1t.

22 ThussaiththeLordGOD:I willalsotakeofthe loftytopofthecedar,andwillsetit;Iwillcropofffrom thetopmostofhisyoungtwigsatenderone,andI will weseemalsotohavealinkofcon anewexpression‘1theLordhave nectionwiththeprophecyinthespokenit’(soxxi.17,32:xxvi.5, lastchapter(xvi.59‘whichhastl4:xxviii.10:xxx.12:xxxiv.24: despisedtheoathinbreakingthexxxix.5:seealsoa.24). covenant’).Astothedeathof 22-24.Therestofthischapter ZedekiahwehavenorecordinthedealswiththerestorationofJeru Bible,whichtakeshimtoBabylonsalemandthehouseofDavid,of andleaveshimthere.ThePharaohwhichthelineisstilltobekeptup ofv.17isPharaohHophra(Jer.(‘atenderone’ fromthetopmostof xliv.30):thoughhisarmycauseda theyoungtwigsofthecedar).The temporarycessationofthesiegeby mountainintheprophet’smindwas theBabyloniansyetitwasonlytem nodoubtMountZion(cp.Ps.ii.6). porary(Jer.xxxvii.5—8).ZedekiahButthenewcedartreewhichisto ‘hadgivenhishand,’i.e.hehadgrowfromthetendertwigisto submittedtoNebuchadrezzar(cp.embraceallnations(‘allfowlof l Chr.xxix.24)Thefirsthalfof everywing’)andallkingdoms(‘all v.20isarepetitionof 13andthetrees’);inthiswaytheuniver theprophecyofthescatteringofthesalityofthenewcovenantisex remnantoccursalsoinv.10andpressed(forthelanguageusedcp. xii.14.Theparagraphendswithxxxi.6:Dan.iv.12andourLord’s XVII.n-XVIII.3 EZEKIEL 85

23plantituponanhighmountainandeminent:inthe mountainoftheheightofIsraelwillI plantit:andit shallbringforthboughs,andbearfruit,andbeagoodly cedar:andunderitshalldwellallfowlofeverywing; intheshadowofthebranchesthereofshalltheydwell. 24AndallthetreesofthefieldshallknowthatItheLORD havebroughtdownthehightree,haveexaltedthelow tree,havedriedupthegreentree,andhavemadethe drytreetoflourish:I theLORDhavespokenandhave doneit. xxvii.Adiscussionoftheproverb‘Thefathershaveeaten sourgrapes,andthechildren’steetharesetonedge.’ Sinandthepersonalresponsdilityofmanforit. xviii.1-32.

XVIII.1 ThewordoftheLORDcameuntome 2again,saying,Whatmeanye,thatyeusethisproverb 1concerningthelandofIsrael,saying,Thefathershave eatensourgrapes,andthechildren’steethareseton 3edge?AsI live,saiththeLordGOD,yeshallnothave

‘ Or,in parableofthegrainofmustardseedmuchastheparableandtheriddle Matt.xiii.31,32:Mkiv.30—32:(cp.xii.22:xvi.44)Thatquoted Lk.xiii.18,19).Thegreentreehereseemstohavebeenconstant andthedrytreebothoccuragainlyusedandoccursinJeremiah inxx.47andarebothtogetherused(xxxi.29,30)wholaysdownin figurativelybyourLord(Lk.xxiii.thelanguageoftheproverbthe 31):‘iftheydothesethingsinthemainthesisofthischapter:‘Every greentree,whatshallbedonein oneshalldieforhisowniniquity: thedry?’Theexpressionattheeverymanthateateththesour endofv.24‘ItheLordhavespokengrapes,histeethshallbeseton andhavedoneit’ismoreemphaticedge.’Ontheotherhandinthe thanthatattheendofv.21andLamentations(v.7)theoppositeside occursfrequentlyinthisbook(cp.ofthetruthismaintained:‘Our xxii.l4:xxiv.l4:xxxvi.36:xxxvii.fathershavesinned,andarenot; l4). Andwehavehometheiriniquities.’ XVIII.1-3.TheuseofaproverbForthesolemnasseverationofc.3 isafamiliaronewithEzekiel,justas seexvi.48. 86 EZEKIEL XVIII.3—7 4occasionanymoretousethisproverbinIsrael.Behold, allsoulsaremine;asthesoulofthefather,soalsothe soulofthesonismine: thesoulthatsinneth,itshalldie. 5Butifamanbejust,anddo1thatwhichislawfuland 6right,andhathnoteatenuponthemountains,neither hathlifteduphiseyestotheidolsofthehouseofIsrael, neitherhathdefiledhisneighbour'swife,neitherbath 7comeneartoa womaninherseparation;andhath notwrongedany,buthathrestoredtothedebtorhis pledge,hathspoilednonebyviolence,hathgivenhis breadtothehungry,andhathcoveredthenakedwitha

1 Heb.judgementandrighteousness.

4. souls]Thewordnepheshthisandthecorrespondingverses whichistranslated‘soul’herereallyhereandalsoinxxii.9tomakeit expressespersonalityratherthanagreewithxxxiii.25eatingwith whatwegenerallymeanbysou].theblood,apracticeforbiddenin Adiscussiononthemeaningofthe Gen.ix.4:Lev.iii.17:butthisis wordintheOldTestamentcanbe scarcelynecessaryandthepresent foundinA.B.Davidson’sTheologytextisconfirmedbytheSeptuagint oftheOldTestament(p.199).The (b)liftinguptheeyestothe maindoctrineofthispassageis idolsofthehouseofIsrael(0v.6, summedupinthestatementtwice12,15:cp.xxxiii.26);thatis,in repeated(ov.4,24)‘Thesoulthatreverentialworship. sinneth,it shalldie,’whichlays (0)sinsagainstthemarriage downinthemostabsolutewaya tieandpurity(on.6,11,15:cp. personalresponsibilityforsin. xxii.10,11: Lev.xviii.19,20). Ezekiel’sviewofsinanditspunish (d)wrongingany(so.7,12in mentistobefounddiscussedinthegreaterdetail,thepoorandneedy Introd.,p.xxxiv,andthispassagearetheobjectoftheoppression,16: shouldbecomparedwithiii.16-21.cp.Ex.xxii.21forthewrongingof 5—9.TheHebrewexpressionthestranger). correspondingwith‘thatwhichis (e)lendingforusuryortaking lawfulandright’(so.5,19,21,27)increase(vv.8,l3,l7:cp.xxii.12: is‘judgementandrighteousness,’Ex.xxii.25:Lev.xxv.36:Deut. i.e.legalandmoralgoodness.xxiii.19lawsonlyapplyingto SpecimensofthecoutrariestotheseHebrews:Ps.xv.5). Adistinction aregiven: canscarcelybedrawnbetween (a)eatinguponthemountains‘usury’and‘increase’;unlessin (on.6,ll,15: cp.xxii.9:Is.lxv.7). creasebeexcessiveprofitintrading. ThiswasthejoininginthesacrificialPositivegooddeedsofthe‘just’ feastswhichtookplacethere.Manyorrighteousmenarealsomen slightlyaltertheHebrewtextin tioned:— XVIII.7—I3 EZEKIEL 87

8garment;hethathathnotgivenforthuponusury, neitherhathtakenanyincrease,thathathwithdrawnhis handfrominiquity,hathexecutedtruejudgementbe 9tweenmanandman,hath'walkedinmystatutes,and bathkeptmyjudgements,todealtruly;heisjust,he 10shallsurelylive,saiththeLordGOD.Ifhebegetason thatisarobber,ashedderofblood,and1thatdoethany 11oneofthesethings,andthatdoethnotanyofthose duties,butevenhatheatenuponthemountains,and 12defiledhisneighbour’swife,hathwrongedthepoorand needy,hathspoiledbyviolence,hathnotrestoredthe pledge,andhathlifteduphiseyestotheidols,hath 13committedabomination,hathgivenforthuponusury,and hathtakenincrease:shallhethenlive?heshallnot live: hehathdonealltheseabominations:heshall

1 Or,thatdoethtoa brotheranyofthen (a)therestoringofthepledge17,19,21:cp.xx.11)whichare (v.7,cp.2m.12,16inanenlargedcombinedinthestatementofHab formnopledgebeingtakenatall);akkuk(ii.4)oftenquotedinthe thisisenjoinedinthelaw(Ex.xxii.NewTestament(Rom.i. 17:Gal. 26ofagarment,Deut.xxiv.12,13: iii.11:Heb.x.38),‘thejustshall cp.Jobxxii.6:xxiv.9:Pr.xxii.27: livebyhisfaith’(R.V.marg.‘inhis Am.8). faithfulness’). (b) abstainingfromrobbery10—13.Thecaseofawickedson withviolence(in.7,12,16,18). ofsuchafatherisnowconsidered, (a)givingbreadtothehungryandacatalogueofhistransgressions, (w.7,16:avirtueinculcatedin usingthesameexpressions,isgiven. Is.lviii.7,10:Matt.xxv.35). Buttothemisadded‘ arobber,a (d)clothingthenaked,anothershedderofblood.’Theinsertionin corporalactofmercy(seereferencesRV.marg.of‘toabrother’(0.10) under0). isduetoavariousreadinginthe (a) keepingthehandfromHebrewtext.Thewords‘hath iniquityandexecutingtruejudgecommittedabomination’whichdo mentorimpartiality(cp.Deuti.16: notoccurpreviously(0.6) may Zech.viii.16). refertotheidolatrousabominations (f) beinganobserverofGod’scondemnedearlierinthebook(viii. laws(00.9,17). 6,17).Theresponsibilityandthe Thesedetailsarefollowedbythepunishmentforthesewillbethe summingupofthemallintotheson’sown:hisbloodwillbeupon statement‘heis just’andthehim,is.uponhisownhead(cp. promise‘heshallsurelylive’(ea.9, xxxiii.4:Lev.xx.9,11). 88 EZEKIEL XVIII.13—19

14surely1die;hisbloodshallbeuponhim.Now,10,ifhe begetason,thatseethallhisfather’ssins,whichhehath 15done,and2feareth,anddoethnotsuchlike,thathathnot eatenuponthemountains,neitherhathlifteduphiseyes totheidolsofthehouseofIsrael,hathnotdefiledhis 16neighbour’swife,neitherhathwrongedany,hathnot takenaughttopledge,neitherhathspoiledbyviolence, buthathgivenhisbreadtothehungry,andhath 17coveredthenakedwithagarment,thathathwithdrawn hishandfromthepoor,thathathnotreceivedusurynor increase,hathexecutedmyjudgements,hathwalkedin mystatutes;heshallnotdiefortheiniquityofhis 18father,heshallsurelylive.Asforhisfather,becausehe cruellyoppressed,spoiledhisbrotherbyviolence,anddid thatwhichisnotgoodamonghispeople,behold,heshall 19die3inhisiniquity.Yetsayye,Whereforedothnotthe sonbeartheiniquityofthefather?Whenthesonhath donethatwhichislawfulandright,andhathkeptallmy

1 Heb.beputtodeath.9 Anotherreadingis,seeth, or,comide'reth.' Or,for

14-17.Ezekielfollowsthemattertobehisaccordingtoanearlier uptotheconsiderationofthethirdprophecy(iii.18)becausehehad generation,imaginingthecaseof notgiventhemanwarning. thewickedsonhavingagoodsonof 19,20.Apparentlytheprover hisown,wholivesarighteouslife bialexpressionwhichexpresseda warnedbyandafraidbecauseofthe beliefofthetimehadarisenfrom iniquitiesofthefather.Thevariaafalseinterpretationofthesecond tionofreadingine.14doesnotcommandment(Ex.xx.5). The materiallyalterthesense.Towithhearersarerepresentedasobjecting; drawthehandfromthepooristo theprophetthereforerepeatshis keepfromdoingthemanywrong.statementthattherighteousson Inthiscasenoharmwillcometo willnotsufferinthelongrunfor themanbecauseofhisfather’stheiniquities0fthewickedfather. wickedness. Theyhadlostsightinthecommand 18.Areturnforamomentto mentofthewords‘themthathate thesentenceuponthefatherforhis Me,’‘themthatloveMeandkeep wrongdoingandactsofoppression.Mycommandments’;thoughthis Hissentencewillcomeuponhim,wasnotalwaysso(see2K.xiv.6 butincasetheprophetshouldnotwhereDeut.xxiv.16isquoted:‘The warnhim,theprophet’sfateisalsofathersshallnotbeputtodeathfor

~-—p’4., XVIII.19—14 EZEKIEL 89

20statutes,andhathdonethem,heshallsurelylive.The soulthatsinneth,itshalldie:thesonshallnotbearthe iniquityofthefather,neithershallthefatherbearthe iniquityoftheson;therighteousnessoftherighteous shallbeuponhim,andthewickednessofthewicked 21shallbeuponhim.Butifthewickedturnfromallhis sinsthathehathcommitted,andkeepallmystatutes, anddothatwhichislawfulandright,heshallsurelylive, 22heshallnotdie.Noneofhistransgressionsthathehath committedshallberememberedagainsthim:inhis 23righteousnessthathehathdoneheshalllive.HaveIany pleasureinthedeathofthewicked?saiththeLordGOD: andnotratherthatheshouldreturnfromhisway,and 24live?Butwhentherighteousturnethawayfromhis righteousness,andcommittethiniquity,anddoethac cordingtoalltheabominationsthatthewickedman doeth,shallhelive?Noneofhisrighteousdeedsthat

thechildren,neithershalltheoppositevirtues(cp.vv.27,28: childrenbeputtodeathforthexxxiii.19).V. 22is practically fathers:everymanshallbeputto repeatedinxxxiii.16;thereisto deathforhisownsin’).Jeremiah,beablottingoutofhistransgressions, too,hadsaidthattheproverbialandthisbecauseGodwillethnot expressionwhichembodiedthethedeathofthesinner.Thisidea popularbeliefwouldbenomoreoccursagaininv.32andxxxiii.11 used(xxxi.29,30).Individualre whereitismadethegroundofan sponsibilityishereplainlyassertedappealtothepeopletorepent.For justas it is byStPaul(seethedoctrineinvolvedwemaycom Rom.ii.). pare2Esd.viii.59(‘theMostHigh Itmaybesaidafterallthata willednotthatmenshouldcometo sondoessufl‘ersometimesforthenought’):Wisdi. 13:1 Tim.ii.4, sinsofhisfather,andnodoubtthis6(God‘willeththatallmenshould is trueinonesense.Butthe besaved’):Titii.11: 2Pet.iii.9. prophet,likeStPaul,isdealing24.Thenexttwoversesdescribe withthepermanentandnotwiththefalloftherighteous(cp.iii.20: thetemporaryconsequencesofsin. xxxiii.l2,13).Allhisprevious 21—23.Thereisaplaceofrepengoodnesswillnotcount:heshall tanceforthewickedifhedobutdieinhissins:cp.2Pet.ii.20‘if, acceptit,asGodwouldhavehimaftertheyhaveescapedthedefile~ do.Butthismustbebyavoltsmentsoftheworldthroughthe face.Notonlymusthegiveup knowledgeoftheLordandSaviour vicesbuthemustpracticetheJesusChrist,theyareagain 90 EZEKIEL XVIII.24,—3|

hehathdoneshallberemembered:inhistrespassthat hehathtrespassed,andinhissinthathehathsinned,in 25themshallhedie.Yetyesay,ThewayoftheLordis notequal.Hearnow,0houseofIsrael: Isnotmyway 26equal?arenotyourwaysunequal? Whentherighteous manturnethawayfromhisrighteousness,andcommitteth iniquity,1anddieth2therein; 3inhisiniquitythathehath 27doneshallhedie.Again,whenthewickedmanturneth awayfromhiswickednessthathehathcommitted,and doeththatwhichislawfulandright,heshallsavehis 28soulalive.Becauseheconsidereth,andturnethaway fromallhistransgressionsthathehathcommitted,he 29shallsurelylive,heshallnotdie.Yetsaiththehouseof Israel,ThewayoftheLordisnotequal.Ohouseof Israel,arenotmywaysequal?arenotyourways 30unequal?ThereforeI willjudgeyou,OhouseofIsrael, everyoneaccordingtohisways,saiththeLordGOD. Returnye,andturnyourselvesfromallyourtrans 31gressions;‘soiniquityshallnotbeyour6ruin.Cast

1 Or,heshalldie 9 Or,becauseofit ’ Or,for ‘ Or,soshallthey notbeastumblingblockofiniquityuntoyou ° Heb.stumblingblock. entangledthereinandovercome,morerepresentedasbeingmade. thelaststateisbecomeworsewithPunishmentisthreatenedagainbut themthanthefirst.’ thechapterconcludeswithanappeal 25—28.Acomplaintagainstthetothepeopleto repent.The equityofGod’sjudgementanswered.sentencepassed(17.30)isarepetition Thesamecomplaintwhichoccursofonealreadyannounced(vii.3,8) againino. 29is repeatedandandrecursagain(xxxiii.20:cp. answeredinmuchthesamewayxxxvi.19).Theappealtoreturn later(xxxiii.17,20).Itismanthathasbeenalreadymade(xiv.6),asit istoblame,notGod.V.26isa hadbeenbyHosea(xiv.1 ‘OIsrael, repetitionofv.24.ThemarginalreturnuntotheLordthyGod;for renderingsaretobepreferred.thouhastfallenbythineiniquity’). V.27repeatsv.2](cp.xxxiii.19). Ofthetworenderingsofthelast ‘Heshallsavehissoulalive’meansclauseofv.30thatinthetextis ‘heshallrescueitsothatitshallthebest.Thecastingawayof live.’Inv. 28‘heconsidereth’transgressionsis toleavethem impliesthatherealisestheconsebehind,andrefersmostprobablyto quencesofhissins theidolatrousworship(cp.xx.7). 29—32.Thecomplaintis onceThenewheartandnewspirithad XVIII.gl—XIX.3 EZEKIEL 91 awayfromyouallyourtransgressions,whereinyehave transgressed;andmakeyoua newheartandanew 32spirit:forwhywillyedie,0houseofIsrael?ForI havenopleasureinthedeathofhimthatdieth,saiththe LordGOD:whereforeturnyourselves,andlive.

xxviii.Alamentationovertheroyalfamilyof Judah.xix.1-14. XIX.1 Moreover,takethouupalamentationfor 2theprincesofIsrael,andsay,Whatwasthymother? Alioness: shecouchedamonglions,inthemidstofthe 3younglionsshenourishedherwhelps.Andshebrought uponeofherwhelps;hebecameayounglion: andhe alreadybeenpromised(xi.19);andupontheevilgeniusoftherace(Ag. theappeal‘whywillyedie?’is 1497—1507). repeatedlater(xxxiii.11).V.32 XIX.1-9.Thelamentationin repeatstheinterrogationofv.23in cludedintheseversesisparabolicin anotherform. formbuttheinterpretationisclear. WemayperhapstracebacktotheOtherlamentationsoccurinxxvi. teachingofthischapterasaying,17: xxvii.2,32(forTyre):xxviii.12 sometimesattributedtoourLord,(for'I‘yre’sking):xxxii.2(forthe sometimestooneoftheprophets:Pharaoh):andalsoinAm.v. 1: ‘InwhatsoeverstateI findyou,in Jer.vii.29.Thelienisconnected thatwillIjudgeyou’(illof:(ivMirwithJudahfromJacob’sblessing, narahdfim,c’vroli'rmsKfllxpivai,Justin,whereJudahiscomparedtoboth 19hd.aTyyph.c.47;ohvydpdbwlionandlioness(Gen.xlix.9),down In,Tomi-rowmlxpuni,Basil,Ep.1.42; totheApocalypse(Rev.v.5),where cp.Reach,‘Agrapha,’Textsandwereadof‘theLionthatisofthe Unters.v.4,p.112). tribeofJudah.’Theyounglionof Thewholeofthischapterdealsv.3mustbeJehoahazwhosemother withthesameproblem,therelation(otherstakethe‘mother’hereas ofindividualresponsibilitytohereonlymeaningthe‘nation’) was dity,whichisstillbeingdiscussedHamutalthedaughterofJeremiah andwasdiscussedoverandoverofLibnah(2K.xxiii.31).Pharaoh againintheGreekdrama,e.g.we necohwastheEgyptiankingwho maycompareespeciallytheAgamemcapturedhim:‘hewastakenin nonofAeschylus,inwhichthetheirpit’(cp.o.8:Lam.iv.20), ChoruswillnotallowClytemnestrareferringtothecaptureofwild toescapetheresponsibilityforheranimalsbydiggingpitsandcovering wickeddeedbythrowingtheblamethemouthsofthemsothatthey 92 EZEKIEL xxx.3—8

4learnedtocatchtheprey,hedevouredmen.Thenations alsoheardofhim;hewastakenintheirpit:andthey 5broughthimwithhooksuntothelandofEgypt.Now whenshesawthatshehadwaited,andherhopewaslost, thenshetookanotherofherwhelps,andmadehima 6younglion.Andhewentupanddownamongthelions, hebecameayounglion:andhelearnedtocatchthe 7prey,hedevouredmen.Andheknewtheir1palaces,and laidwastetheircities; andthelandwasdesolate,andthe 8fulnessthereof,becauseofthenoiseofhisroaring.Then thenationssetagainsthimoneverysidefromthe provinces: andtheyspreadtheirnetoverhim; hewas

1 Or,widowl weretrappedinthem.Jehoahaztheexactdetailsoftheparabolic wascarriedoffintoEgypt(2K. languagearenottobepressedor xxiii.34:2 Chr.xxxvi.4:heis thatJehoiakimandJehoiachinare calledShalluminJer.xxii.ll,12 leftoutandthatZedekiah,whowas wherehiscaptivityisprophesied).likeJehoahaza sonofHamutal Hooksorringsarerepresentedon (2K.xxiv.18),isindicatedhere. themonumentsasputthroughtheIn1:.7therenderingofRV.marg. lipsofprisoners(sou.9:cp.R.V.isthatoftheHeb.text;thatof marg.of2 Chr.xxxiii.11‘theRV.isaconjecturalemendation: captainsofthehostofthekingof itmayrefertoZedekiah’ssucceeding Assyria,whichtookManassehwithhisbrotherintheroyalharem. hooks’andthepropheciesofxxix.WhicheverkingofJudahitis,heis 4:xxxviii.4:2 K.xix.28:Is. representedascausingdevastation xxxvii.29),androyalprisonersareintheland:so2 K.xxiv.4says knowntohavebeenputincagesthat‘hefilledJerusalemwith inBabylon(seeToyonthispassage).innocentblood.’IfJehoiakimis UponthecaptivityofJehoahaz,thekingintendedthenthenations aftera timeofwaitingin the whocameagainsthim(0.8)would hopethathemightreturntothebethenationsofthetributary throne(Jer.xxii.10-12),EliakimprovincesoftheBabylonianempire, (or,Jehoiakim)wassetupaskingandmightalsoincludethosemen bytheEgyptianking(2K.xxiii.tionedin2 K.xxiv.2. Hewas 34: 2Chr.xxxvi.4). Thenarrativetakenasinanet(cp.xii.l3:xvii. hereimpliesthatthequeenmother20).Butthecarryingawayto hadalsosomethingtodowithBabylonwasonlyeffectedinthe hisaccession:thoughJehoiakim’scaseofJehoiachinandZedekiah. motherwasZebidahthedaughterNebuchadrezzaris,however,repre ofPedaiahofRumah(2K.xxiii.36) sentedin2 Chronicles(xxxvi.6) andnotHamutal.ItmaybethatasintendingtocarryJehoiakim XIX.8—14. EZEKIEL 93 9takenintheirpit.Andtheyputhiminacagewith books,andbroughthimtothekingofBabylon;they broughthimintostrongholds,thathisvoiceshouldno morebehearduponthemountainsofIsrael.

10 Thymotherwaslikeavine,1inthyblood,plantedby thewaters:shewasfruitfulandfullofbranchesby 11reasonofmanywaters.Andshehadstrongrodsforthe sceptresofthemthatbarerule,and2theirstaturewas exaltedamongthe3thickboughs,and‘theywereseenin 122theirheightwiththemultitudeofE"theirbranches.But shewaspluckedupinfury,shewascastdowntotheground, andtheeastwinddriedupherfruit:herstrongrods werebrokenofi‘andwithered;thefireconsumedthem. 13Andnowsheisplantedinthewilderness,inadryand 14thirstyland.Andfireisgoneoutof5therodsofher

1 Seech.16.6. Or,inthylikeness’ Heb.his. 3 0r,clouds ‘ Heb.hewas. ' Or,a.rod intocaptivity,thoughitisclearmustcompareitwithxvi.6 (see from2K.xxiv.6andJer.xxii.l8, RV.marg.here);a oonjectural 19thathediedandwasburiedat emendationreads‘ina vineyard’ ornearJerusalem.Itistherefore(seeToy):therestoftheverse mostprobablethatZedekiahis shouldbecomparedforitslanguage intendedthroughoutthispassage:withPs.i.3,andthewholepassage thoughA.B.DavidsonwouldhavewithPs.lxxx.8leqq.The‘many usthinkofJehoiachininthesewaters’ofPalestinewereoneofits verses,whilstheholdsthat00.10 glories(Deut.viii.7). Thesame 14refertoZedekiah.Thewholevariationofmeaningbetween‘thick chaptermaypossiblybemisplacedboughs’(R.V.)and‘clouds’(RV. andshouldcomelater,andbein marg.)istobefoundinxxxi.3,10, sertedinadifferentcollectionof 14,wheretheHebrewwordof propheciesfromthatdated591ac. ambiguousmeaningisusedofthe 10-14.Thelionessoftheformercedar. partofthelamentation,ifbythe Theefl'ectoftheeastwindupon lionessis intendedthenation,thetreesofthelandisalsodescribed becomesinthispartthevine,a inxvii.10:Hos.xiii.15.Thedryand simileofconstantoccurrenceinthe thirstylandwhichhadtobeirrigated OldTestament(seenoteonxv.6). byasystemofcanalsisBabylonia. If‘inthyblood’(0.10)berightwe Deportationstookplaceinthereigns 94 EZEKIEL XIX.:4-xx.3

branches,ithathdevouredherfruit,sothatthereisin hernostrongrodtobeasceptretorule.Thisisa lamentation,andshallbeforalamentation.

D. ACOLLECTIONOFPROPHECIESDATED 5903.0.CHAPTERSXX.—XXIII. xxix.Israel,inthepast,inthepresentandin thefuture.xx.1—44. Perhapsthebestcommentthatcanbemadeuponthespiritofthis chapterasawholeistobefoundinTheChristianYear(18thSunday afterTrinity):— Inthewastehowlingwilderness TheChurchiswanderingstill, Becausewewouldnotonwardpress WhenclosetoSion’shill. Backtotheworldwefaithlessturned, Andfaralongthewild, Withlabourlostandsorrowearned, Ourstepshavebeenbeguiled. ar- a x- a Fainwouldourlawlessheartsescape, Andwiththeheathenbe, Toworshipeverymonstrousshape Infancieddarknessfree. Vainthoughtthatshallnotbeatall! Refuseweorobey, OurearshaveheardtheAlmighty’scall, Wecannotbeasthey. Kssua. xx.1 Anditcametopassintheseventhyear,in thefifthmonth,thetenthdayofthemonth,thatcertain oftheeldersofIsraelcametoinquireoftheLORD,and 2satbeforeme.AndthewordoftheLORDcameuntome, 3saying,Sonofman,speakuntotheeldersofIsrael,and ofJehoiaehinandZedekiah.V.14 XX.1—4.ThissectionofEzekiel describestherevoltsofthesetwoisdatedalmostoneyearandone kings,theresultofwhichwasthemonthlaterthanthelast(viii—xix.) depositionoftheroyalhouseal- andnearlytwoyearsandahalfearlier together. thanthenextsection(xxiv.,xxv.).It xx-3-7 EZEKIEL 95

sayuntothem,ThussaiththeLordGOD:Areyecometo inquireofme?AsIlive,saiththeLordGOD,Iwillnotbe 4inquiredofbyyou.Wiltthoujudgethem,sonofman, wiltthoujudgethem?causethemtoknowtheabomina 5tionsoftheirfathers; andsayuntothem,Thussaiththe LordGOD:InthedaywhenI choseIsrael,andliftedup minehanduntotheseedofthehouseofJacob,andmade myselfknownuntotheminthelandofEgypt,whenI liftedupminehanduntothem,saying,I amtheLORD 6yourGod;inthatdayI liftedupminehanduntothem, tobringthemforthoutofthelandofEgyptintoaland thatIhadespiedforthem,flowingwithmilkandhoney, 7whichisthegloryofalllands: andIsaiduntothem,Cast yeawayeverymantheabominationsofhiseyes,and defilenotyourselveswiththeidolsofEgypt;I amthe opensexactlyasthelastdidwithHeliftedupHishand(twiceinthis theeldersofIsrael(viii.1Judah:for verse,cf.vv.6,15,23,28,42: xlvii. theuseofthesetwotermsseenote14)insolemnassertionofthisfact, there)sittingbeforetheprophetandatthesametimerevealedHim (astheydoalsoinxiv.1)tohearselftothemastheirGodunderthe theDivinemessage.ButtheNamenowpopularlypronounced Almightyrefuseswitha solemnJehovah(Ex.iii.14:vi.2). With asseveration(cp.xvi.48)togiveanythebirthofthenationwasto answertotheirinquiries:thisis comenationaldeliveranceandtheir alsothecasepreviously(xiv.3 removalintoalandwhichGodhad ‘shouldI beinquiredofatallby lookedoutforthem(cp.Ex.iii.8)as them'1") Therepetitionofthearichandfertileone,whichthe questioninv.4occursagaininxxii.patrioticJewcouldlookuponas‘the 2‘wiltthoujudge,wiltthoujudgegloryofalllands’(so0.15:cp.Jer. thebloodycity?’Theinhabitantsiii.19:Zech.14:Ps.xlviii.2‘the ofJerusalemweretoknowallthejoyofthewholeearth’:Lam.ii.15). abominationswhichtheyliketheirOnthisadoptionofHispeopleGod forefathershadcommitted. gavethemaninjunctiontorejectall 5—26.Inordertoinformthemtheworshipexceptof Him.‘The prophetgoesbacktothehistoryof abominationsoftheireyes’isan theirmakingasanationandwhatexpressionexplainedbyv.24‘their happenedtothemnotonlyinEgypteyeswentaftertheirfathers’idols,’ butalsointhewilderness.Itwaswhichmustbereadinconnection inEgyptthattheyenteredupona withwhatJoshuaisrepresentedas nationalexistenceandwerechosensaying(Josh.xxiv.2):—‘Your solemnlybyGodtobeHispeople.fathers...servedothergods’The 96 EZEKIEL XX.7—11 8LORDyourGod.Buttheyrebelledagainstme,andwould nothearkenuntome;theydidnoteverymancastaway theabominationsoftheireyes,neitherdidtheyforsake theidolsofEgypt:thenIsaidIwouldpouroutmyfury uponthem,toaccomplishmyangeragainsttheminthe 9midstofthelandofEgypt.ButIwroughtformyname’s sake,thatitshouldnotbeprofanedinthesightofthe nations,amongwhomtheywere,inwhosesightI made myselfknownuntothem,inbringingthemforthoutof 10thelandofEgypt.SoIcausedthemtogoforthoutof thelandofEgypt,andbroughtthemintothewilderness. 11AndI gavethemmystatutes,and1shewedthemmy judgements,whichifamando,heshalllive2inthem. 12MoreoveralsoI gavethemmysabbaths,tobeasign betweenmeandthem,thattheymightknowthat3Iam

1 Heb.madethemtoknow.a0151.ng3 Or,ItheLonedosanctifythem idolsofEgyptwouldbedifferentthatinLev.xviii.5. Itoccursagain fromthese:thoughwearenottoldinw.13,21,Neh.ix.29andisre oftheirworshippingthemwhenin producedtwicebyStPaul(Rom.x. Egypt,yettheIsraeliteslooked5:Gal.iii.12:cp.Lukex.28‘this backtotheidolsofEgypt,whendo,andthoushaltlive’).Another theymadethegoldencalfinimitacauseofcomplaintwastheprofan tionoftheEgyptianGodApis.It ationofthesabbath(w.12,13,16, wasthisfalseworshipinEgypt21,24)—abreachofthefourth whichhadexcitedGod’sangerCommandmentThatinstitution againstHispeople.Thepurposeof wasintendedtoshewthemtheclaim God’swrathwasthevindicationof thatJehovahhadupontheirservice. HisNameandhonour,whichButinthisrespectasinothersthey otherwisewouldhavebeendegradedweredisobedient;wefindonecase amongtheheathen(cp.v.22:Ps. ofsabbath-breakinginthewilder cvi.8:Is.xlviii.11)whohadseenness(Numb.xv.32—36)severely HispowerexercisedamongHispunishedbydeathbystoning:and people(0.14). Thedeliverancethemannathatwasgivenonthe fromEgyptaccomplished,thepeopleotherdayswaswithheldonthe werebroughtintothewildernesssabbath,when‘therewentoutsome wheretheyreceivedtheirlawsof ofthepeoplefortogather’(Ex.xvi. variouskinds,‘judgements’and27).Thiscomplaintaboutthe ‘statutes’astheyarecalledhere.breakingofthesabbathrecurs(xxii. Thestatementaboutthem(1:.11),8:xxiii.38);andtheprofanation ‘whichifamando,heshalllivein occurredagaininpost-exilictimes (marg.by)them,’isidenticalwith(Neh.xiii.15-22);theuseofthe

XX.11—21 EZEKIEL 97

13theLORDthatsanctifythem.ButthehouseofIsrael rebelledagainstmeinthewilderness:theywalkednotin mystatutes,andtheyrejectedmyjudgements,whichifa mando,heshalllive1inthem;andmysabbathsthey greatlyprofaned:thenIsaidI wouldpouroutmyfury 14upontheminthewilderness,toconsumethem.ButI wroughtformyname’ssake,thatit shouldnotbe profanedinthesightofthenations,inwhosesight 15Ibroughtthemout.MoreoveralsoI liftedupmyhand untotheminthewilderness,thatIwouldnotbringthem intothelandwhichIhadgiventhem,flowingwithmilk 16andhoney,whichisthegloryofalllands; becausethey rejectedmyjudgements,andwalkednotinmystatutes, andprofanedmysabbaths:fortheirheartwentaftertheir 17idols.Neverthelessmineeyesparedthemfromdestroying them,neitherdidImakeafullendoftheminthewilder 18ness.AndIsaiduntotheirchildreninthewilderness,Walk yenotinthestatutesofyourfathers,neitherobservetheir 19judgements,nordefileyourselveswiththeiridols:I am theLORDyourGod;walkinmystatutes,andkeepmy 20judgements,anddothem:andhallowmysabbaths;and theyshallbeasignbetweenmeandyou,thatyemay 21knowthatI amtheLORDyourGod.Butthechildren ‘ Ombu pluralmayhintattheneglectofthe 18—26.Thenextgenerationin sabbaticalyearsaswellasofthethewildernesswasinitsturnex sabbath.OnceagainGod’swrathhortedtoobedienceandabstinence wastobepouredoutuponthemfromidolatry,theidolatryoftheir (cf.en.8,21)forthevindicationof forefathers(Josh.xxiv.l4).Jeho HisNameandglory(v.14:cf.co.9, vahclaimedalltheirobedienceand 22).Thisvindicationtooktheformalltheirallegiance,asinthefirst inearliertimesofexcludingfromtheCommandment,andwithregardto promisedlandallthoseoffullagethesabbath,inthefourth(e.20 whocameoutofEgypt,excepttworepeatsv.12).Butgenerationafter (Numb.xiv.28—30:Ps.xcv.11),generation(allareincludedin‘the becauseoftheirdisobedienceandchildren’ of1:.21)wererebellious idolatry.Butstilljusticewastem andmetwiththesamesentenceof peredwithmercy,thenationasa judgement,andthesamedisplayof nationsurvived. mercy.Therewas,however,always

B. 7 98 EZEKIEL XX.zr—ay

rebelledagainstme;theywalkednotinmystatutes, neitherkeptmyjudgementstodothem,whichifaman do,heshalllive1inthem;theyprofanedmysabbaths: thenI saidI wouldpouroutmyfuryuponthem,to accomplishmyangeragainsttheminthewilderness. 22NeverthelessIwithdrewminehand,andwroughtformy name’ssake,thatitshouldnotbeprofanedinthesightof 23thenations,inwhosesightI broughtthemforth.More overI liftedupminehanduntotheminthewilderness, thatIwouldscatterthemamongthenations,anddisperse 24themthroughthecountries;becausetheyhadnot executedmyjudgements,buthadrejectedmystatutes, andhadprofanedmysabbaths,andtheireyeswereafter 25theirfathers’idols.MoreoveralsoI gavethemstatutes thatwerenotgood,andjudgements2whereintheyshould 26notlive;andI pollutedthemintheirowngifts,inthat they8causedtopassthroughthefireallthatopeneththe womb,thatI mightmakethemdesolate,totheendthat theymightknowthatIamtheLORD.

27 Therefore,sonofman,speakuntothehouseofIsrael, andsayuntothem,ThussaiththeLordGOD:Inthis moreoverhaveyourfathersblasphemedme,inthatthey

1 Or,by2 Or,whereby9 Or,setapartallSeeEx.13.12. hangingoverthemthesentenceanytimeaninherentpartofthe ofdispersion(thatsentenceispro Jewishreligion:theywereintrusions nolmcedinDeut. 64)fortheirfromwithout. disobedienceandidolatry.They 27—29.Thiscorruptionofthe werealsodeliveredovertoandpeopleandtheirsuperstitionhad allowedtoliveunderevillaws(cp.neverceased.Whattheyhaddone Ps.lxxxi.12:Actsvii.42),andtheirwasinderogationofthehonourof offeringstofalsegodswereacauseGod(thisisthemeaningoftheword ofpollutiontothem,andbrought‘blasphemed’v.27).Thesefalse punishmentintheirtrain(1:.26) worshipshavealreadybeenmen thattheymightbebroughtbackto tioned(vi.l3).‘Theprovocationof theacknowledgmentofthetruetheirofl'ering’isanotherwayofex God.Fortheinfantsacrificescp. pressing‘theirofl‘eringthatpro xvi.20,21.Thereisnothingto vokedme.’Theexactpointofe.29 shewthatthesesacrificeswereat islost.TheR.V.makesitlittle XX.27—32 EZEKIEL 99

28havecommittedatrespassagainstme.ForwhenIhad broughtthemintotheland,whichI liftedupminehand togiveuntothem,thenthey1saweveryhighhill,and everythicktree,andtheyofferedtheretheirsacrifices, andtheretheypresentedtheprovocationoftheiroffering, therealsotheymadetheirsweetsavour,andtheypoured 29outtheretheirdrinkOfl'erings.ThenI saiduntothem, Whatmeaneththehighplace12whereuntoyego?Sothe 30namethereofiscalled8Bamahuntothisday.Wherefore sayuntothehouseofIsrael,ThussaiththeLordGOD:D0 yepolluteyourselvesafterthemannerofyourfathers? 31andgoyeawhoringaftertheirabominations?andwhen yeofferyourgifts,whenyemakeyoursonstopassthrough thefire,doyepolluteyourselveswithallyouridols,unto thisday?andshallI beinquiredofbyyou,Ohouseof Israel?AsI live,saiththeLordGOD,I willnotbe 32inquiredofbyyou:andthatwhichcomethintoyour mindshallnotbeatall; inthatyesay,Wewillbeasthe nations,asthefamiliesofthecountries,toservewoodand

1 Or,lookedoutfor 9 Or,whereuntoyego,andthenamewhereof...day.1 8 Thatis,Highplace. elsethananexplanationofthenamethenations’):andthiswasoneof Bamah.R.V.marginimpliesa thecausesoftheiridolatry.Their derisionofthehighplacecouchedgodsaresimplycalledhere,aselse inajinglingform(thetransliterationwhere(e.g.Deut.iv.28),‘woodand mdhhabbdmdh...habbd'im...bdmdhstone,’justas whenHezekiah willindicatethekindofformof destroyedthebrazenserpent,which syllablespredominantintheverse).hadbecomeanobjectofidolatry,he InthefollowingversestheaccusacalleditNehushtan,i.e.a.pieceof tionsagainstthepeopleareturnedbrass.Theirpunishmentistocome. intoquestionsthelastofwhichhasGodwithHiswrathandterrorswill occurredbefore(0.3:cp.xiv.3).ThepleadwithHispeopleandpurify expression‘thatwhichcomethintothem,andatthesametimeexercise yourmind’alsohasitscounterpartHissovereignpower.Hisscattered inxx.32,xxxviii.10.Oneofthepeoplearetobegatheredtogether temptationsofthepeoplewastheagain(Jer.xxxi.8); butoncemore desiretobeliketheirneighbours.itistobeintoawilderness—‘the Thisitwas,wearetold,whichledwildernessofthepeoples’(v.35),Le. themtoaskforaking(1Sam.viii.5 thewildernessonwhoseoutskirts ‘makeusakingtojudgeuslikeall livedmanydifferentpeoples.There _7_2 100 EZEKIEL XX.31—40

33stone.AsIlive,saiththeLordGOD,surelywithamighty hand,andwithastretchedoutarm,andwithfurypoured 34out,willI bekingoveryou:andI willbringyouout fromthepeoples,andwillgatheryououtofthecountries whereinyearescattered,withamightyhand,andwitha 35stretchedoutarm,andwithfurypouredout:andIwill bringyouintothewildernessofthepeoples,andthere 36willIpleadwithyoufacetoface.LikeasIpleadedwith yourfathersinthewildernessofthelandofEgypt,sowill 37Ipleadwithyou,saiththeLordGOD.AndIwillcause youtopassundertherod,andI willbringyouintothe 38bondofthecovenant;andI willpurgeoutfromamong youtherebels,andthemthattransgressagainstme;Iwill bringthemforthoutofthelandwheretheysojourn,but theyshallnotenterintothelandofIsrael:andyeshall 39knowthatIamtheLORD.Asforyou,OhouseofIsrael, thussaiththeLordGOD:Goye,serveeveryonehisidols, 1andhereafteralso,ifyewillnothearkenuntome:but myholynameshallyenomoreprofanewithyourgifts, 40andwithyouridols.Forinmineholymountain,inthe

1 Or,buthereaftersurelyyeshallhearkenuntome,anddc.

Godwillplead(cp.xvii.20:xxxviii.andkeptoutoftheland(cp.xiii.9) 22)withHispeople,inthesenseof whentherestarerestored.The sittinginjudgementuponthem,faceseparationis a separationbya tofacewiththemasatSinai(Dent.judicialdecision(cp.Mattxxv.32 vi.4).‘Thewildernessofthelandof ‘Heshallseparatethemonefrom Egypt’isthewildernessontheanother,astheshepherdseparateth bordersof thatcountry.Thethesheepfromthegoats’).Those passingundertherodwasthere whoareadmittedtofavourwill dedicationofthepeopletoGod,enteronceagainintocovenant justasthetitheofanimalspassedrelationshipwithGod.Thefinal undertherod,whentheywereresultisexpressedintherecurring claimedasGod’s(Lev.xxvii.32):it formula:—‘yeshallknowthatIam hasnothingtodoherewiththerodtheLord’(cp.vi.7). Theprophecy ofchastisementbutisthetallyrodthenbreaksoutintobittersarcasm: onwhichtheywerecounted.Andthepeoplemightservetheiridols astheypassundertherod,the(cp.Judg.x.14‘goandcryuntothe rebelliousandthewickedwillbere godswhichyehavechosen’)ifthey jected,astheirforefatherswere,chose,buttheyshouldnomoredo XX.40—44 EZEKIEL 101 mountainoftheheightofIsrael,saiththeLordGOD,there shallallthehouseofIsrael,allofthem,servemeinthe land:therewillI acceptthem,andtherewillI require yourofferings,andthe1firstfruitsofyour2oblations,with 41allyourholythings.8AsasweetsavourwillIacceptyou, whenI bringyououtfromthepeoples,andgatheryou outofthecountrieswhereinyehavebeenscattered; and I willbesanctifiedinyouinthesightofthenations. 42AndyeshallknowthatIamtheLORD,whenIshallbring youintothelandofIsrael,intothecountrywhichIlifted 43upminehandtogiveuntoyourfathers.Andthereshall yerememberyourways,andallyourdoings,whereinye havepollutedyourselves; andyeshallloatheyourselves inyourownsightforallyourevilsthatyehavecom 44mitted.AndyeshallknowthatI amtheLORD,when I havewroughtwithyouformyname’ssake,not accordingtoyourevilways,noraccordingtoyourcorrupt doings,0yehouseofIsrael,saiththeLordGOD.

1 Or,chief? Or,tribute' 0r,With

soinJerusalem:theretheofl'eringsnifiedinthembeforeus’).When mustandshallbegiventoJehovahthishappytimeshouldcomethe alone:elseHisNamewouldbepro Jews,asanation,wouldlookback faned(cp.xxxix.7:xliii.7). Thewithloathingupontheirpasthistory holymountainisMountZion,andby (sovi.9:xxxvi.31),andrealisethat namingallthehouseofIsraelthetheyhadmeritedmuchmorepunish prophecyincludesarestorationof mentthantheyhadreceived(cp. theTenTribesaswellasofthePs.ciii.10‘Hehathnotdealtwith kingdomofJudah;allalikewillusafteroursins,Norrewardedus bringtheirofl'eringsforacceptanceafterouriniquities’). (cp.Mal.iii.4) totherestoredItwasoneofthegreatgloriesof Temple.InthiswayGod'sNamethepiousJewtocelebratethepast willbehallowed1andrecognitionof historyofhispeople,andcomme HimholdswayamongJewsandmorateGod’sdealingswithit(Ps. Gentilesalike(cp.xxxvi.23:xxxviii.lxxviii.,civ.,cv.:Neh.ix.:cp.Acts 16,23:xxxix.27: Is.1:1.5:Ecclus.vii.).Inthischapterthelessonto xxxvi.3,4‘AsThouwastsanctifiedbetaughtisself-humiliation. inusbeforethem,SobeThoumag 102 EZEKIEL XX-45—49

xxx.Ashortseparateprophecyagainstthe South.XX.45—49.

Thisprophecyaccordingto{theHebrewnotationformsthecommence mentofchapterxxi.Itstandsindependentbothofwhatprecedesand ofWhatfollows.

45 AndthewordoftheLORDcameuntome,saying, 46Sonofman,setthyfacetowardthesouth,anddropthy wordtowardthesouth,andprophesyagainsttheforestof 47thefieldintheSouth; andsaytotheforestoftheSouth, HearthewordoftheLORD;ThussaiththeLordGOD: Behold,I willkindleafireinthee,anditshalldevour everygreentreeinthee,andeverydrytree:theflaming flameshallnotbequenched,andallfacesfromthesouth 48tothenorthshallbeburntthereby.Andallfleshshall seethatI theLORDhavekindledit:itshallnotbe 49quenched.ThensaidI,AhLordGODl theysayofme,Is henotaspeakerofparables?

45—49.Thoughthisprophecyis districtatanytime:wemaycompare quiteindependentofanyother,the theuseofthewordinScotland1and openingofitisconstructedontheitmaysimplyrefertothescruband samemodelasxxi.2. Theexpreslow-growingbushesthatflourishin sion‘drop[thyword]’occursfirstthedesert,whichareeasilyconsum inAm.vii.l6andMic.ii.6 andedbyfire(cp.Jer.xxi.14).The afterwardsonlyhereandinxxi.2. greentreeandthedrytreeare Itisalwaysusedofprophecy.‘Thecontrastedasinxvii.24(whichsee). south,’asisindicatedinpartbytheThedevouringflameisrepresented printingoftheR.V.,representsasspreadingnorthwards(soxxi.4) threeHebrewwords,ddrom,almosttodevourthelandofCanaanitself, entirelylimitedtoEzekiel,témdn,havingbeenkindledbyJehovah. andthestillmorecommonwordTheexclamation‘AhLordGod!’ Negeb.Allalikerefertothe hasoccurredalready(iv.14:ix.8: districttothesouthofJudah,andxi.l3),alwaysinadeprecatorysense. thefirstsurvivestothepresentday,Ezekielasa speakerofparables asitisstillcalledDaroma:itisto winsnoacceptancefromthepeople: thesouthofGazaItisquestiontheycannotgraspthemeaningof ablehowfartherewasanythinglikethem.Theparableisexplainedin whatweshouldcall‘forest’inthisthenextsection. XXI.1—7 EZEKIEL 103

xxxi.Anothershortutteranceexplanatoryoftheparable oftheprecedingverses.xxi.1—7.

XXI.1 AndthewordoftheLORDcameuntome, 2saying,Sonofman,setthyfacetowardJerusalem,and dropthywordtowardthesanctuaries,andprophesy 3againstthelandofIsrael;andsaytothelandofIsrael, ThussaiththeLORD:Behold,Iamagainstthee,andwill drawforthmyswordoutofitssheath,andwillcutoff 4fromtheetherighteousandthewicked.Seeingthenthat I willcutofffromtheetherighteousandthewicked, thereforeshallmyswordgoforthoutofitssheathagainst 5allfleshfromthesouthtothenorth:andallfleshshall knowthatI theLORDhavedrawnforthmyswordoutof 6itssheath; itshallnotreturnanymore.Sightherefore, thousonofman; withthebreakingofthyloinsandwith 7bitternessshaltthousighbeforetheireyes.Anditshall be,whentheysayuntothee,Whereforesighestthou?

XXI.1—5.AlthoughthisisaprorezzartoattackEgyptfirstandso pheticutteranceindependentofthe toapproachJerusalemfromthe last(xx.45—49),itisevidentlyintendcdsouth—andallfleshweretoknow fromthemodeofitsintroductionthatitwasJehovah’swork(soxx. torecallandbeexplanatoryofthe48).Thestatement‘itshallnot formerparabolicstatementofthe return(i.e.toitssheath)anymore’ samefactFor0v.1,2cp.xx.45, means‘itshallnotreturnuntilit 46.‘Thesanctuaries’mustbethehasaccomplisheditswork.’ holysitesinJerusalem.‘Thefire’ 6,7. Asthisannouncementis and‘flamingflame’(xx.47)arethemadetheprophetishiddentola swordofNebuchadrezzarandhis ment.The‘breaking’oftheloins host,usedbyJehovahasHisownisacuriousexpression,butintended instrumentforthedevastationofthetoindicateviolentbodilyconvulsions landofIsrael,andsoHecallsit duetoexcessivegrief.Thecause ‘Mysword’(cp.Dent.xxxii.41).All ofthisexcessivegriefisexplained alike,goodandbad,weretobecuttobethenewsofthecertaintyof off,ashadbeenindicatedinthethedestructionthatiscoming(cp. parablebythegreenanddrytreevii.5,6),andtheeffectuponthe (xx.47); andtheworkwastobeginpeople—themeltingofhearts,a fromthesouthandg0northwardphraseoccurringmostoftenin (soxx.47)-—thisperhapsimpliesJoshua(ii.11:v.1:vii.5)butalso thatEzekielexpectedNebuchadinPs.xxii.14:Is.xiii.7. The 104 EZEKIEL XXI.7—10

thatthoushaltsay,Becauseofthetidings,foritcometh: andeveryheartshallmelt,andallhandsshallbefeeble, andeveryspiritshall1faint,andallkneesshallbeweak aswater:behold,itcometh,anditshallbedone,saiththe LordGOD.

Anotherprophecyofinvasion,castinaquasi poeticform:‘ThesongoftheswordoftheLord' (A.B.Davidson).xxi.8—17.

8 AndthewordoftheLORDcameuntome,saying, 9Sonofman,prophesy,andsay,ThussaiththeLORD:Say, 10Asword,asword,itissharpened,andalsofurbished:it issharpenedthatitmaymakeaslaughter;itisfurbished thatitmaybeaslightning:shallwethenmakemirth?

1 Or,bedim othereffects,thefeeblehands(cp.‘sword’isfeminine,andthisexplains Is.xiii.7:Jer.vi.24)andweakthetranslationsgiveninthemargin knees,haveoccurredalreadyto of1m.10,13.Eventhenitisnot gether(vii.17:cp.Is.xxxv.3 clearwhattheexpression‘therod ‘Strengthenyetheweakhands,andofMyson’means.Ifwetakethe confirmthefeebleknees’quotedin R.V.textitmustmeantherodwith Heb.xii.12).Thelastclauseofv.7 whichMyson,i.e.Mypeople,is occursagaininxxxix.8. chastised;ifthemargin,therod 8—17.ThestyleofthispassagewithwhichMysonhasarmedhim withitsemphaticrepetitionsmayselfagainsthisenemies.Ineither wellbecomparedwithvii.5 if. casethe‘tree’ismentionedhere,as ‘Anendiscome,theendiscome,’beingwoodincontrastwiththe etc.Theflashingoftheswordis glitteringspearofsteeLTheWooden comparedtolightningasinDentrodsofchastisementaredespised xxxii.41‘IfIwhetthelightningof bythechastisingsword.Or,the mysword’(cp.ma.15,28).Sucha woodenrodsmaybetakenforthe timeisnotonefortakingpleasureemblemsofauthorityofweaker (cp.1 Cor.vii.29—31).Thelastpowersascomparedwiththesword wordsofc.10arediflicult,because,ofthekingofBabylon.TheSep iftheyaretranslatedasinthe tuaginthadadifferentHebrewtext text,theHebrewwordfor‘rod'beforethem,andmanyattempts whichisalwaysmasculineelsewherehavebeenmadetoamendthe mustbetakenhereandinv.13as Hebrew,thoughthereislittlesatis feminine,whereasthewordfor factiontobegatheredfromthem. XXI.ro-r4 EZEKIEL 105

111therodofmyson,itcontemnetheverytree.Anditis giventobefurbished,thatitmaybehandled: thesword, itissharpened,yea,itisfurbished,togiveitintothehand 12oftheslayer.Cryandhowl,sonofman: foritisupon mypeople,itisuponalltheprincesofIsrael:’theyare deliveredovertotheswordwithmypeople: smite 13thereforeuponthythigh.Forthereisatrial;and1,what ifeventherodthatcontemnethshallbenomore?saith 14theLordGOD.Thoutherefore,sonofman,prophesy,and smitethinehandstogether; andlettheswordbedoubled thethirdtime,theswordofthedeadlywounded:itisthe SWOI‘dofthegreatonethatisdeadlywounded,which

1 Or,itcontemneththerodofmyson,aseverytree 2 0r,terrorsbyreason oftheswordareuponmypeople3 Or,whatiftheswordcontemneventhe rod?itshallbenomore,rte. Thewordstranslated‘shallwe maybeeffectedbyit.Thethought thenmakemirth'l’havebeenalsoofallthisistobringsorrowtothe rendered:‘ha!letusmakemirth’prophetforhispeople(justasin (Delitzsch)or‘woeoprince’(Smend)v.6):therenderingofR.V.isbetter or‘againsttheprince’(Gesenius).thanR.V.marg.ine. 12.The Whichevermeaningwegivetothesmitinguponthethighisasignof followingwordstheideaimplied,so grief(cp.Jer.xxxi.19).Amore faraswecanarriveatanysense,is reasonablerenderinginv.13is‘the thatthechastisementinflictedex trialhasbeenmade,’i.e.thepeople ceedseverythingthathasgonebefore.havebeenputtothetestandhave Butthewordsarehopelessintheirfailed,andthesuppositionisbrought presentstate.A.B.Davidsongivesforward,‘whatifthepowerofthe asummaryoftheguessesthathavepeopleandoftheprinces(symbolised beenmadeatitsmeaning. bytherod),oreventhatofBabylon, Ithasbeenheldbymanythatcometoanend?’thisatanyrate theseobscurepassages(ma.10,13) istheultimatemeaningofbothRV. lookbacktothepassageaboutthetextandmargin.TheHebrewtext sceptredepartingfromJudahin hereisasobscureasinv.10. Jacob’sblessingsofhistwelvesons 14—17.Thesmitingtogetherof (Gen.xlix.10).Thisismainlyduetheprophet’shandsisasignofwrath totheobviousallusiontothatpas (cp.xxii.13:Numb.xxiv.10).The sagelaterinthischapter(0.27);reading‘lettheswordbedoubled’is therecanscarcely,however,beanyconsideredveryquestionable—itmay connectionwithithere. perhapsmean‘begivenadouble 11.Theswordis furbishedin edge’—andanemendationhasbeen orderthatitmaybegraspedbythesuggested‘lettheswordbereave.’ handtosomepurposeandslaughterInthisverse(14)thereisalsoan 106 EZEKIEL XXI.14—19

151enterethintotheirchambers.I havesetthe2pointof theswordagainstalltheirgates,thattheirheartmay melt,andtheirstumblingsbemultiplied:ah! itismade 16aslightning,itispointedforslaughter.3Gatherthee together,gototheright;setthyselfinarray,gotothe 17left;‘whithersoeverthyfaceisset.Iwillalsosmitemine handstogether,andIwill5satisfymyfury:I theLORD havespokenit.

xxxiii.Afurtherprophecyofthesword,moreclearly definedasthatoftheswordofthekingofBabylon; withthesequel0fthedepositionofthekingofJudah foranindefiniteperiod.xxi.18—27. 18 ThewordoftheLORDcameuntomeagain,saying, 19Also,thousonofman,appointtheetwoways,thatthe swordofthekingofBabylonmaycome; theytwainshall

1 Or,compasseththemabout9 Or,consternation' Heb.JlZakethyself one. ‘ 0r,whitheristhyfaceset? 5 Heb.bringtorest. allusiontothethreeinvasionsof be‘theslaughterofthesword.’In Nebuchadrezzarinthereignsof 0.16thereisnoclearindicationto (a)Jehoiakim,(b)Jehoiachin,(c) whomthecommandsareaddressed: Zedekiah(2K.xxiv.l,10:xxv.1). probablytheobscurityisleftto Therestoftheverseis fullof indicatetheconfusionamongthe diflicultywhichseemswell-nighinhabitantsofJerusalem,andthat insoluble.Whoisthegreatonereallyitmadelittledifferencein thatisdeadlywounded?Nothingwhichdirectiontheyturned;though issaidofZedekiahbeingwoundedothersmaketheswordtobeapos duringhisflightfromthecity.All trophisedandthatitisdirectedto thatissaidisthathiseyeswereputsmiteonallsides.Forthesatisfac outandhewascarriedtoBabylontionofGod’sfuryseev.13. (2K.xxv.7);wearenottoldhow 18—23.Theswordisnowdefined longhelivedthere.ItmaybethatasthatofthekingofBabylonwhich thewoundisdealttotheking’shastwoobjectives,Rabbahand power.TheRV.marg.isthebetterJerusalem,thoughitstartsfromone renderingofthelastwordsofe.14. place,andpartoftherouteisthe Againin1:.15thereisadifficulty.sametoboth.Rabbahhadbeenfor Although‘point’givesaverypoeta.longtimethecapitalcityofthe icalturntothesentence,yetitis Ammonites.InDavid’sreignithad morelikelythattherenderingshouldendureda siegeandbeentaken XXL19—11 EZEKIEL 107

comeforthoutofoneland:andmarkouta1place,mark 20itoutattheheadofthewaytothecity.Thoushalt appointaway,fortheswordtocometoRabbahofthe childrenofAmmon,andtoJudahinJerusalemthe 21defenced.ForthekingofBabylonstoodattheparting oftheway,attheheadofthetwoways,tousedivination: heshookthearrowstoandfro,heconsultedtheteraphim, 22helookedintheliver.Inhisrighthandwasthedivination fo'rJerusalem,tosetbatteringrams,toopenthemouth 2intheslaughter,toliftupthevoicewithshouting,toset batteringramsagainstthegates,tocastupmounts,to

1 Heb.hand.5 Or,for

(2Sam.xi,xii:lChr.xx.).Laterit Judg.xvii.5:1 Sam.xv.23where wascalledPhiladelphiabyPtolemytheirworshipisdenounced:xix.13 Philadelphus,anditnowgoesby fromwhichsomehaveconcluded thename‘Amman.Wemeetwiththattheirformwasthatofa theAmmonitesandtheircity,onemummifiedhumanhead:Hos.iii. orboth,elsewherein prophecy4:Zech.x.2wherespeakingvanity (at.528—32:xxv.1—7:Jer.xxv.21:isattributedtothem); (c)thethird xlix.1—6:Am.i.13—15:Zeph.ii.8, formofdivinationistheinspection 9).FortheirattitudetoNebuchadoftheliverofasacrifice.Thiswas rezzaratthistimecp.noteattheendcalledhepatoscopy,andconclusions ofthischapter.Atacerthstagewereformedfromtheconvulsionsof onhismarchwhereafinger-posttheliverofthenewlysacrificedvic (Heb.hand)pointsoutthetwotim,orfromitscolourorshape.Some roads,thekingofBabylonispic wouldcombine(a)and(b)andhold turedverygraphicallyasdiviningthatthearrowswereshakeninfront whichrouteheshallchooseattheoftheteraphim.Thelastofthe partingoftheways.ThreeformsthreewaspractisedinRome:the of divinationarementioned:— personwhoinspectedtheentrailsor (a)theshaking0fthearrows:liverwascalledthereextispex. thisiscalledbelomancy.ArrowsThelotfellforthemarchagainst wouldbeinscribedwiththenamesJerusalemsincethatcametohisright ofthetwotownsandtheywouldhand,i.e.hisrighthanddrewthe beshufiiedtogether,andthekingarrowmarkedwiththenameofthat woulddrawone;but,accordingto city,whichiscalled‘thedefenced’ theSeptuagint,rhabdomancy,i.e. andthereforehadtobebesieged divinationwithwands,isintended;withbatteringramsandmountsand (b)theconsultingtheteraphim,ie forts(soiv.2andinxxvi.9 0fthe mostprobablyhouseholdgods.ThesiegeofTyrebyNebuchadrezzar). teraphimarementionedseveralTheHebrewwordtranslated‘in timesintheBible(Gen.xxxi.19,34: (marg.for)theslaughter’isofrare 108 EZEKIEL XXI.12—15

23buildforts.Anditshallbeuntothemasavaindivination intheirsight,whichhaveswornoathsuntothem: buthe bringethiniquitytoremembrance,thattheymaybe taken. 24 ThereforethussaiththeLordGOD:Becauseyehave madeyouriniquitytoberemembered,inthatyour transgressionsarediscovered,sothatinallyourdoings yoursinsdoappear;becausethatyearecometo 25remembrance,yeshallbetakenwiththehand.Andthou, Odeadlywoundedwickedone,theprinceofIsrael,whose occurrenceandsomewhatdoubtfuloftheend,’isrepeatedinaprophecy meaning:theGreekgives‘withagainstMountSeir(xxxv.5). It a shout’andthismakesthetwoimpliesthatiniquitywillbringtheir clausesparallel,referringtotheendtothepeople.Themitre battlecryoftheChaldaeans.All (mitznepheth)onlyoccurselsewhere thiswouldseemauselessformof asapriestlycovering:hereitbelongs divinationtotheJews,whohadin totheking,thoughotherstakeit timepastswornoathsofallegiancetoimplythedeportationofthe totheChaldaeans(thisappearsto hierarchy:buttheregalofficehas bethemeaningofthewords‘whichalwaysbeenconsideredtohave haveswornoathsuntothem’):but a sacerdotalelementinit. The Jehovahremindsthemoftheirwords‘thisshallbenomorethe iniquitybyallowingthemtobe same,’h't.‘thisnotthis,’seemtogive carriedintocaptivity.Theyare nosense.Allthattheycanmean overcomebythechastisinghandof is‘therewillbea change.’The God.OtherstakeitthatitisNe followingwordsgraphicallyexpress buchadrezzarwhocallsthepeople’stheboulevenementoftheoverthrow breakingoftheiroathstorememofJerusalem.Theyalsoremindus brance. ofthesongofHannah(18.ii.7) 24-27.TheprophecynowturnsechoedintheMagnificat(Lk.i.52): tothedestructionofthepeopleand‘Hehathputdownprincesfrom theprince,i.e.Zedekiah.Wehavetheirthrones,Andhathexalted alreadyseen(noteonv.14)thatit themoflowdegree.’Thecertainty isdifficulttounderstandhowZedeandthoroughnessoftheoverthrow kiahcanbedescribedas‘deadlyis emphasisedbythethreefold wounded.’Hiswickednessis ac repetitionoftheword,perhapsre knowledged(2K.xxiv.19:2Chr.ferringtoNebuchadrezzar’sthree xxxvi.12:Jer.lii.2),butweknowinvasions(forsimilarthreefoldre nothingofhisendinBabylon.He petitionsseeJer. 4‘thetemple wasblindedbeforehewascarriedoftheLord,’xxii.29‘earth’). And thither.Thephrase‘inthetimethiskingdomis tohaveanend oftheiniquity(marg.punishment)‘untilhecomewhoserightitis.’

IJ-"JaMflu.' 1:,1-qu-ALis XXI.15—18 EZEKIEL 109 26dayiscome,inthetimeoftheliniquityoftheend;thus saiththeLordGOD: 2Removethemitre,andtakeoffthe crown: thisshallbe3nomorethesame:exaltthatwhich 27islow,andabasethatwhichishigh.‘Iwilloverturn, overturn,overturnit: thisalsoshallbenomore,untilhe comewhoserightitis;andIwillgiveithim.

xxxiv.AprophecyagainsttheAmmonites.xxi.28—32.

ThesecondlothadfallentothekingfortheroutetoRabbah.Sowhen Jerusalemisdestroyedthedestructionofthatcityanditspeopleistobe takeninhandinitsturn. 28 Andthou,sonofman,prophesy,andsay,Thussaith theLordG01)concerningthechildrenofAmmon,and concerningtheirreproach;andsaythou,Asword,a

1 Or,punishment2 Or,Iwillremoved'c. ‘ Heb.notthis. 4 Heb.Anoverthrow,overthrow,overthrow,willImakeit.

ThereseemstobeaclearreferenceajudgementupontheAmmonitesfor heretothemuchdisputedwords,theirtreatmentoftheprophetand astheprophetinterpretedthem,hispeople.Theyhadhadvisionsof ofGen.xlix.10‘UntilShilohcome’reducinghimandthemtonothing (seeR.V.marg.inthatpassagewithandhadprophesiedliesconcerning Drivefsexcursusandcp.Zech.vi.l2, them,sothattheprophetmightbe l3andthe6('pxopsvoroftheGospels,involvedinthegeneralslaughterof e.g.Matth.xi.3).Itisevidentthatkingandpeople(cp.v.25,from somepersonwitharighttoreignis whichthelastpartofv. 29is lookedforwardtointhefutureby derived).Inthenextversethe theprophecy,andthusfaritis timeofslaughteronthepartof Messianic. Ammonisdescribedasover,and 28—32.Thisprophecybeginsin theDivinejudgementistobecarried almostidenticallanguagewiththatoutuponAmmoninthelandof againstJerusalem(v.9);‘theirre theirbirth,i.e.totheSouthof proach’iscontainedinv.29.ThePalestine.' Fortheblowingwith words‘tocauseittodevour’(marg.thefireofwrathwemaycompare ‘totheuttermost’)arebetteromitxxii.21. The‘brutish’(i.e.in ted; theyhavenothingtocorrespondhuman)menarethehordesofthe withtheminv.10.Themeaningof Babylonianarmy.Theideaofall v.29isveryobscure.ItisnotclearrecollectionoftheAmmonitesas whoisaddressed.Themostrea anationpassingawayrecurslater sonableinterpretationisthatitis (xxv.10). 110 EZEKIEL XXI.28—31

swordisdrawn,fortheslaughteritisfurbished,1tocause 29ittodevour,thatitmaybeaslightning:whilestheysee vanityuntothee,whilestheydivineliesuntothee,tolay theeuponthenecksofthewickedthataredeadlywounded, whosedayiscome,inthetimeofthe2iniquityoftheend. 30Causeittoreturnintoitssheath.Intheplacewhere thouwastcreated,inthelandof8thybirth,willIjudge 31thee.AndIwillpouroutmineindignationuponthee; I willblowupontheewiththefireofmywrath: andIwill delivertheeintothehandofbrutishmen,skilfulto 32destroy.Thoushaltbeforfueltothefire;thyblood shallbeinthemidstoftheland;thoushaltbenomore remembered:forItheLORDhavespokenit.

1 Or,totheuttermost2 Or,punishment' Or,thineorigin

THEAnnoxrres. TheconnectionoftheAmmonitesLaterstill,JewishfugitivesinAm withthisperiodofJewishhistoryis mon(aswellasinMeshandEdom) obmure.InJehoiakim’sreignbandsreturnedtoJudahaftertheappoint oftheAmmonitescombinedwithmentof Gedaliahas vioeroy. bandsofChaldaeans,SyriansandWhetherallthesefugitivestook MoabitestoinvadeJudah,andtheirpartinIshmael’sconspiracyagainst invasionwaslookeduponasaDivineGedaliahwhichwaseggedonby judgement(2K.xxiv.2). Butin BaaliskingofAmmonisnotclear; Zedekiah’sreign(forJehoiakimin but,atanyrate,whenGedaliahand Jer.xxvii.1 seemstobeamistakehispartisanshadbeenkilled, forZedekiah:seeR.V.marg.)thereIshmaelcarriedoffthepeoplethat seemstohavebeenanattemptat wereleftinMizpah,theseatof Jerusalemasitsheadquartersto Gedaliah’sgovernment,tojointhe formaconfederacyagainstNebuchildrenofAmmon.Akindof chadrczzarinwhichAmmonwithcounter-revolutiontookplaceledby Edom,Moab,TyreandZidonwasJohananwhichmanyofthosewith toshare.ItwasperhapsthisdeedIshmaeljoined.VeryfewJews oftheirsthatbroughtaboutthewereleftwithIshmael;whilst invasionofAmmonbyNebuchadJohanan’sfollowersmadeprepara rezzar,ajudgementwhichhadbeentionstoemigratetoEgypt,an alreadyprophesiedbyJeremiahemigrationwhichtheyafterwards (xxv.21)inJehoiakim’sfourthyear.carriedout(seeJer.xL-xh'ii). xxn.[-7 EZEKIEL 111

XXXV.Thefirstofa seriesofthreepropheciesagainst JerusalemandthelandofJudah,thefirstbeingdirected againstthecitywitha denunciationagainstits wickedness.xxii.1—16. XXII.1 MoreoverthewordoftheLORDcameunto 2me,saying,Andthen,sonofman,wiltthoujudge,wilt thoujudgethebloodycity?1thencausehertoknowall 3herabominations.Andthoushaltsay,Thussaiththe LordGOD: Acitythatsheddethbloodinthemidstof her,thathertimemaycome,andthatmakethidols 4againstherselftodefileher!Thouartbecomeguiltyin thybloodthatthouhastshed,andartdefiledinthine idolswhichthouhastmade;andthouhastcausedthy daystodrawnear,andartcomeevenuntothyyears: thereforehaveI madetheeareproachuntothenations, 5andamockingtoallthecountries.Thosethatbenear, andthosethatbefarfromthee,shallmockthee,thou 62infamousoneandfulloftumult.Behold,theprincesof Israel,everyoneaccordingtohis8power,havebeenin 7theetoshedblood.Intheehavetheysetlightbyfather andmother;inthemidstoftheehavetheydealtby 1 Or,and ' Heb.defiledofname.3 Heb.arm. XXII.1—5.Theopeningofthisdrenshehadgivenoccasiontoother prophecyisinformlikethatinxx. nationstoreproachandrevilehcr 4. Here,however,theprophecyis (v.14),whethertheywerenearat immediatelydirectedagainstthecityhandorfaraway.Theexpression whichiscalled‘bloody’(soxxiv.6), ‘fulloftumult’occursalsoinIs. i.e.Jerusalem,becauseofthevio xxii.2,butthecontextmakesits lencethatwasdoneinit. Ourmeaningdifferent. Lord’sdenunciationofJerusalem6,7. Theprophecyturnsforthe shouldbecomparedwiththis(Matth.momentto therulerswhose xxi.l3:xxiii.37).Shewasto characterisdenouncedagainfurther bebroughttotheknowledgeof on(v.27),andwhoseviolenceand theabominationsthatwerecomoppressionarenotorious.Theirlaw mittedinher(xvi.2:xx.4). A lessnessisexpressedinwordsthat declarationismadethathertimealludetotheTorah.Theyhaveset forjudgementistocome(xxi.25),lightbyfatherandmother(Deut. andthatheridolswouldbeherxxvii.16):theyhaveoppressedor ruin.Byherfalsenesstoherchil wrongedthestranger,thefatherless 112 EZEKIEL XXII.7-15 oppressionwiththestranger:intheehavetheywronged 8thefatherlessandthewidow.Thouhastdespisedmine 9holythings,andhastprofanedmysabbaths.Slanderous menhavebeenintheetoshedblood:andintheethey haveeatenuponthemountains:inthemidstoftheethey 10havecommittedlewdness.Intheehavetheydiscovered theirfathers’nakedness:intheehavetheyhumbledher 11thatwasuncleaninherseparation.Andonehath committedabominationwithhisneighbour’swife;and anotherhathlewdlydefiledhisdaughterinlaw;and anotherintheehathhumbledhissister,hisfather's l2daughter.Intheehavetheytakenbribestoshedblood; thouhasttakenusuryandincrease,andthouhastgreedily gainedofthyneighboursbyoppression,andhastforgotten 13me,saiththeLordGOD.Behold,therefore,lhavesmitten minehandatthydishonestgainwhichthouhastmade, andatthybloodwhichhathbeeninthemidstofthee. 14Canthineheartendure,orcanthinehandsbestrong.in thedaysthatI shalldealwiththee?I theLoanhave 15spokenit,andwilldoit. AndIwillscattertheeamong thenations,anddispersetheethroughthecountries; and

andthewidow(Ex.xxii.21,22).ForallthesethingsGodhadmani ThestrangerwasalwaysanobjectfestedHiswrath,asindicatedby ofcare,accordingtotheLaw. thesmitingofthehands(xxi.l4, 8-16.Thedenunciationreturns17).Theirgainhadbeendishonest tothewholepopulation.Sabbath(sou.27: cp.Jer.li.13RV.marg.) breakingisagain(cp.xx.13)de andtheirviolencehadspread.When nounced.Slanderingandbloodshedthepunishmentcametheywouldnot arecombinedasintheLaw(Lev.beabletoendureit. Itwassureto xix.16).Fortheeatinguponthecome:theactualexpressionassert mountainsseexviii.6,andfortheingthis,‘ItheLordhavespoken commissionoflewdnesscp.xvi.43. andwilldoit,’occursfirstin Unlawfulmarriages(Lev.xviii.7,S: xvii.24.Thenfollowsthesentence xx.11)hadtakenplaceandactsof of dispersion(sov. 10). The impurity(Lev.xviii.9,15,19,20:peoplearetobepurifiedinthe xx.l2,l7).Bribery(Ex.xxiii.8: furnaceofaffliction(cp.ca.21,22): Dent.xvi.l9),unlawfulgain(xviii.onceholy,theyaretobeprofaned 8:cp.Ex.xxii.25)andoppressionbeforetheheathen(cp.v.8),with wereallprevalent,combinedwiththeresultthattheywillagainac aforgetfulnessofGod(cp.xxiii.35).knowledgetheLord.Somecritics XXII.15—11 EZEKIEL 113

16Iwillconsumethyfilthinessoutofthee.Andthoushalt beprofanedinthyself,inthesightofthenations;and thoushaltknowthatIamtheLORD. xxxvi.Asecondutteranceinwhichthejwlgement0fthe peopleisanmmmedinaparabolicform:theyareto beputinthemeltingpot,whenthesiegetakesplace. xxii.17—22. 17 AndthewordoftheLORDcameuntome,saying, 18Sonofman,thehouseofIsraelisbecomedrossuntome: allofthemarebrassandtinandironandlead,inthe midstofthefurnace; theyarethedrossofsilver. 19ThereforethussaiththeLordGOD:Becauseyeareall becomedross,thereforebehold,Iwillgatheryouintothe 20midstofJerusalem.Astheygathersilverandbrassand ironandleadandtinintothemidstofthefurnace,toblow thefireuponit,tomeltit;sowillI gatheryouinmine angerandinmyfury,andI willlayyouthere,andmelt 21you.Yea,Iwillgatheryou,andblowuponyouwiththe fireofmywrath,andyeshallbemeltedinthemidst 22thereof.Assilverismeltedinthemidstofthefurnace, soshallyebemeltedinthemidstthereof;andyeshall knowthatI theLORDhavepouredoutmyfuryupon you. havewishedtoemendv.16and3. Thepeoplearecomparedtothe makeitread‘Ishallbeprofaned’variousmetals,brass(Jer.vi.28), butthisisnotnecessary. tin(Is.i.25),ironandlead(Jer.vi. 18-22.Therearetwoideascon 28,29),thataremeltedinthe veyedintheseverses.Thefirstis furnace,butafteralltheyturnout thatthepeoplearetopassthroughtobeonlydrosstoberejected thefurnaceofafflictionheatedby Jerusalemwastoformthefurnace, thefireofthewrathofGod;the andthenthefirewastobeblown secondthatinthatfurnacetheywilluponthem(cp.xxi.31).Thecom allberejectedlikedress;thesilverbination‘inmineangerandinmy willbecomedrossasIsaiah(i.22) fury’occursalsoinJeremiah(xxxiii. expressesit. Fortheuseofthis5),andthepouringoutofGod’s similewemaycomparePs.cxix.furyisafavouriteformofexpression 119:Is.i. 25:Jer.vi.30:Mal.iii. withEzekiel(seevii.8).

B. 8 114 EZEKIEL xxn.13-28 xxxvii.Athirdutteranceinwhichtheterriblecorruption whichprevailedamongthevariousclassesofthe inhabitants—prophets,priests,princes,people—is described.xxii.23—31. 23 AndthewordoftheLORDcameuntome,saying, 24Sonofman,sayuntoher,Thouartalandthatisnot cleansed,norraineduponinthedayofindignation. 25Thereisaconspiracyofherprophetsinthemidstthereof, likearoaringlionraveningtheprey: theyhavedevoured souls; theytaketreasureandpreciousthings; theyhave 26madeherwidowsmanyinthemidstthereof.Herpriests havedoneviolencetomylaw,andhaveprofanedmine holythings:theyhaveputnodifferencebetweentheholy andthecommon,neitherhavetheycausedmentodiscern betweentheuncleanandtheclean,andhavehidtheir eyesfrommysabbaths,andI amprofanedamongthem. 27Herprincesinthemidstthereofarelikewolvesravening theprey;toshedblood,andtodestroysouls,thatthey 28maygetdishonestgain.Andherprophetshavedaubed forthemwithuntemperedmortar,seeingvanity,and diviningliesuntothem,saying,ThussaiththeLordGOD,

24-31.Thepollutionofthelandcommitviolenceinvariousforms. fromwhichsheisnotcleansedhadTheprophetsarecomparedtolions beendescribedbytheprophetin justastheprincesarecomparedto thefirstofthethreepropheciesof wolves;inbothcasestheyareac thischapter(no.2-4).Thewithcusedof‘ravening(i.e.rapaciously holdingofrainwaslookeduponas tearing)theprey.’Thepriestshave oneoftheDivinepunishmentsfor brokentheceremoniallawsandnot sin(Deut.xi.17:1 K.viii.35,36).observedthesabbath(forsimilarac Somedifficultyhasbeenfeltaboutcusationscp.o.8:Lev.x.10:xi.47: thewordrendered‘cleansed,’andxx.25:Mal.ii.8: Zeph.4). The solongagoaswhentheGreekprinces(thiswouldincludetheleading versionwasmadeaslightlydifferentinhabitants)weredenouncedalsoin Hebrewwordwasreadwhichthelastprecedingprophecy(v.6:cp. shouldbetranslated‘moistened’ or Mic.iii.1),andallthree,princes,pro ‘drenchedwithrain.’Thecon phetsandpriests,aredenouncedby spiracyamongtheprophets(intheZephaniah(iii.3,4). Theshedding Greekversion:‘theleaders’)wasto ofbloodanddishonestgainarealso xxn.zS-XXIH.3 EZEKIEL 115 29whentheLORDhathnotspoken.Thepeopleoftheland haveusedoppression,andexercisedrobbery;yea,they havevexedthepoorandneedy,andhaveoppressedthe 30strangerwrongfully.AndI soughtfora manamong them,thatshouldmakeupthefence,andstandinthegap beforemefortheland,thatIshouldnotdestroyit: butI 31foundnone.ThereforehaveI pouredoutmineindigna tionuponthem;I haveconsumedthemwiththefireof mywrath:theirownwayhaveI broughtupontheir heads,saiththeLordGoo.

xxxviii.Thetwoadulteroussistersandtheir wickedness.xxiii.1-49. Thiswholechapterisaverydiflicultoneandmustbereadinconnection withchapterxvi.Itisonelongutteranceintendedtodescribetheresults ofthespiritualfornicationofthetwokingdomsofIsraelandJudah. XXIII.1ThewordoftheLORDcameagainuntome, 2saying,Sonofman,thereweretwowomen,thedaughters 3ofonemother: andtheycommittedwhoredomsin mentionedabove(0.13).In1:.28 women(cp.xvi.45,48)whocom theprophetrecurstoa formermittedwhoredoms(cp.xvi.15)first utterance(xiii.10:cp.xiii.6). ofallinEgypt(seenoteonxx.7, Therewasnotonetobefoundto andcp.vv.8,19,27)intheiryouth, standbetweenthelandandits i.e.whentheywerebutthebegin destruction(cp.Is.li.18:lix.16:ningsofapeople.Theirnamesare lxiii.5:Jer.v.1‘seek...ifyecanfindgivenasOholah(marg.thatis,her aman’).Iftherehadbeenonehe tent)andOholibah(marg.thatis,my wouldhavemadeupthefence(cp.tentisinher),andareattachedto xiii.5)andstoodinthegaptowardSamariaandJerusalemrespectively. offdestruction.Butastherewas Considerableobscurityattachesto not,destructioncameuponthethemeaningandsignificanceofthese people,andtheybroughtitontheirnames.Whilethemeaningofthe ownheads. lattergivenabovesuitsJerusalem, XXIII.2-4.Wehaveherea fortheTemplewasthefinalresting descriptioninthemostrealisticlan placeoftheTabernacle,thatofthe guageofthespiritualwhoredomsformerisnotatallobvious.The ofthetwokingdomsofIsraelandOxfordHebrewLexiconmakesthe Judah,whicharelikenedtotwowordspracticallyidentical,withthe 8—2 116 EZEKIEL xxm.3—8

Egypt; theycommittedwhoredomsintheiryouth: there weretheirbreastspressed,andtheretheybruisedthe 4teatsoftheirvirginity.Andthenamesofthemwere Oholahtheelder,andOholibahhersister:andthey becamemine,andtheybaresonsanddaughters.Andas fortheirnames,Samariais1Oholah,andJerusalem 5’Oholibah.AndOholahplayedtheharlotwhenshewas mine;andshedotedonherlovers,ontheAssyriansher 6neighbours,whichwereclothedwithblue,governorsand 8rulers,allofthemdesirableyoungmen,horsemenriding 7uponhorses.Andshebestowedherwhoredomsupon them,thechoicestmenofAssyriaallofthem:andon whomsoevershedoted,withalltheiridolsshedefiled 8herself.Neitherhathsheleftherwhoredoms4sincethe

1 Thatis,Hertent. 2 Thatis,Mytentisinher. ' 0r,deputies SeeJer.51.23,die. ‘ Or,broughtfromEgypt meaningof‘aworshipperatatentcontinuedwiththeAssyrians. shrine,’whileB.A.CookandCheyneTherearethreespecialmoments (Encycl.Bib.3466)amendtheformsrecordedinthebooksoftheKings ofbothwordsandmakethemmeanwhenthekingdomofIsraelwas ‘tent(or,dwelling)ofJehovah’andbroughtintocontactwithAssyria: ‘tent(or,dwelling)ofBaal,’but(a)whenMenahemwaskingof thiswouldbemorelikelyiftheIsraelandPulkingofAssyria;(b) nameswereappliedtoexactlythewhenPekahwaskingofIsraeland oppositecities.Wemeetwitha Tiglath-pileserwaskingofAssyria; kindrednameinOholibamah,oneof and(6)whenHosheawaskingof Esau’swives(Gen.xxxvi.2). AllIsraelandShalmaneserkingof thatcanbedefinitelysaidaboutAssyria(2K.xv.19:xvii.3). On themisthattheyrefertosomekindthefirstandthirdoccasionstribute ofworshipintents.TheyaresaidwaspaidbyIsraeltoAssyriaBut tohavebecometheLord’s(cp.xvi.theallusionhereseemstobeto 8),andtohavehadsonsandsomethingearlier,andcorresponds daughters.Itwasnecessaryto withwhatwouldbecalledinmodern mentionthesebecauseofthesacrilanguagesome‘politicalcoquetting’ ficesoftheirchildrenwhichtheyarebetweenIsraelandAssyriainthe saidtohaveoffered(no.37,39). reignofJeroboamII,suchas 5—10.FirstofOholah,i.e.BamisindicatedbyHosea(viii.9)in aria.WhilstshewastheLord’s,languagewithwhichEzekielmay shecommittedspiritualwhoredom,havebeenfamiliar:‘theyaregone i.esheforsookHim.Thisbeganin uptoAssyria...Ephraimhathhired Egypt(w.3,8)andwasafterwardslovers.’TheHebrewwordfor‘doted’ xxm.8—14. EZEKIEL 117

daysofEgypt;forinheryouththeylaywithher,and theybruisedtheteatsofhervirginity: andtheypoured 9outtheirwhoredomuponher.WhereforeIdeliveredher intothehandofherlovers,intothehandofthe 10Assyrians,uponwhomshedoted.Thesediscoveredher nakedness:theytookhersonsandherdaughters,and hertheyslewwiththesword: andshebecamea1byword amongwomen;fortheyexecutedjudgementsuponher. 11AndhersisterOholibahsawthis,yetwasshemore corruptinherdotingthanshe,andinherwhoredoms 12whichweremorethanthewhoredomsofhersister.She dotedupontheAssyrians,governorsandrulers,her neighbours,clothedmostgorgeously,horsemenriding 13uponhorses,allofthemdesirableyoungmen.AndI 14sawthatshewasdefiled; theybothtookoneway.And

1 Heb.name. scarcelyoccursagainexceptinthiscaptivitytookplaceinPekah’sreign chapter(cp.Jer.iv.30).Itwas(2K.xv.29)andasecondinHoshea’s theAssyrianchiefsandleadersthat(2K.xvii.6,23:xviii.ll),Tiglath IsraelisrepresentedasgoingafterpileserandShalmaneserbeingthe (cp.ofJudah2m.12,23).ThewordkingsofAssyriaForthelanguage ‘ncighbours’is questionablefor usedinv.10cp.xvi.37.ThusGod’s Assyriacouldhardlybecalleda. wrathwasexecuteduponIsrael neighbourtoIsrael.Thenamesof andSamariawascaptured(7223.0.). thetwosortsofofficersusedhere, 11—21.NextofOholibah,i.e. ‘governorsandrulers’(marg.‘depuJerusalemandthekingdomof ties’),areusedtogetherbyJeremiahJudah.Theirstateisdescribedas (Ii.23,28,57)aswellasinthisworsethanthatofIsrael,andthisis chapterandarebothborrowedinagreementwithwhatJeremiah fromtheAssyrian.The‘rulers’saysincomparingthetwoina wereprovincialauthorities,muchpassageverysimilartothis(iii. thesameasthesatrapsinthePersian8—11).Thelanguagedescribingthe Empire.ThekeytoalltherealisticAssyrianrulersisalmostexactlythe languageofthechapteristobe sameasthatusedalready(0.6). foundinthelastwordsofv.7‘withBothsistersactedalike(0.13).The alltheiridolsshedefiledherself.’firstcontactofJudahwithAssyria Thisdefilementhadbeengoingon seemstohavebeeninthereignof eversinceherfirstdefilementin AhazwhenTiglath-pileserwasking. Egypt.Theconsequenceis theIdolatrousfiguresinhumanform overthrowofherkingdomatthehadbeenportrayeduponthewall handsoftheAssyriansAfirstwithvermilionintheprecinctsof 118 EZEKIEL XXIII.14—12 sheincreasedherwhoredoms;forshesawmenpourtrayed uponthewall,theimagesoftheChaldeanspourtrayed 15withvermilion,girdedwithgirdlesupontheirloins, 1exceedingindyedattireupontheirheads,allofthem princestolookupon,afterthelikenessoftheBabylon 16ians2inChaldea,thelandoftheirnativity.And1‘as soonasshesawthemshedoteduponthem,andsent 17messengersuntothemintoChaldea.AndtheBabylon ianscametoherintothebedoflove,andtheydefiledher withtheirwhoredom,andshewaspollutedwiththem,and 18hersoulwasalienatedfromthem.Soshediscoveredher whoredoms,anddiscoveredhernakedness: thenmysoul wasalienatedfromher,likeasmysoulwasalienatedfrom 19hersister.Yetshemultipliedherwhoredoms,re memberingthedaysofheryouth,whereinshehadplayed 20theharlotinthelandofEgypt.Andshedotedupon theirparamours,whosefleshisasthefleshofasses,and 21whoseissueis liketheissueofhorses.Thusthou calledsttoremembrancethelewdnessofthyyouth,inthe bruisingofthyteatsbytheEgyptiansforthebreastsof thyyouth.

22 Therefore,0 Oholibah,thussaiththeLordGOD: Behold,I willraiseupthyloversagainstthee,from

1 Or,withdyedturbam" 01',thelandofwhosenativityisChaldea 3 Heb.atthesightofhereyes. thetemple(viii.10:xvi.17,28,29).asHehadbeenpreviouslyfrom ThehumanformswereliketheIsrael.Thenshelookedinother Chaldaeansandtheritespractiseddirectionsforobjectsforherillicit werelicentiousrites.Joiningin affection:butinwhatdirection theseritesmadeJudahsendto exactlyisveryobscurerhintedat BabylonfortheChaldaeanstheminv.20.Itmostprobablyappliesto selves(cp.v.40:Is.lvii.9,andthetheturningtowardsEgyptforhelp, wayinwhichMerodach-baladan’sasthepeopleofJudahdidseveral ambassadorswerereceivedinHezetimes,insteadoftoAssyria. kiah’sreign,2K.xx.12).Inthe 22-35.Jerusalem(Oholibah)had fulfilmentofherdesireslovewasdevotedherselftopoliticalcoquetry turnedtoalienation,andGodalsowithothernationsandhadbecome HimselfwasestrangedfromJudahalienatedfromthem:nowtheyare XXIII."—21 EZEKIEL 119

whomthysoulisalienated,andIwillbringthemagainst 23theeoneveryside;theBabyloniansandallthe Chaldeans,PekodandShoe.andKoa,andallthe Assyrianswiththem: desirableyoungmen,governorsand rulersallofthem,princesand1menofrenown,allof 24themridinguponhorses.Andtheyshallcomeagainst theewithweapons,chariots,andi‘wagons,andwithan assemblyofpeoples;theyshallsetthemselvesagainst theewithbucklerandshieldandhelmetroundabout: andI willcommitthejudgementuntothem,andthey 26shalljudgetheeaccordingtotheirjudgements.AndI willsetmyjealousyagainstthee,andtheyshalldealwith theeinfury; theyshalltakeawaythynoseandthine ears;andthyresidueshallfallbythesword: theyshall takethysonsandthydaughters;andthyresidueshall 26bedevouredbythefire.Theyshallalsostriptheeof 27thyclothes,andtakeawaythyfairjewels.ThuswillI makethylewdnesstoceasefromthee,andthywhoredom

1 Or,counsellorsHeb.called.' 01',wheels tocomeagainsther(cp.xvi.37).hereof‘menofrenown’(marg. Alistisgivenoftheinvaderscon ‘counsellors’). Thewordtranslated tainingthreewellknownnames,‘wagons’(sotooinxxvi.10)means Babylonians,Chaldaeans,Assyrians,literally‘wheels’(soRV.marg.), andthreeobscurenames,Pekod,andmayjustaswellmeanwar Shoa,Koa.OfPekodnothingis chariotsaswagons.Theenemyare certainlyknown:thenameoccurstocomeinfullpanoplyandare againonlyinJer.l. 21,andin tobetheexecutorsoftheDivine Hebrewmeans‘visitation’;buta judgementaswellastheirown peoplecalledPukuduanda city(cp.2K.xxv.6ofZedekiah,‘they calledPikuduarementionedinthe gavejudgementuponhim’).The Babylonianrecords.ShoaandKoaDivinejealousyindicatestheclaim seemtocorrespondtoSutu(orSu) ofJehovahtohavethefirstplace andKutu(orKu)whichoccurto intheheartsofHispeople.The getheronthecuneiforminscriptionscuttingoffofcarsandnosedescribes asthenamesofpeoplesonthe themutilationofcaptivestakenby Tigris,butCheynewouldhaveus theBabylonians(cp.2 K.xxv.7) seeinthemcorruptionsofRehoboth,ratherthanthemutilationofan IshmaelandJerahmeel(Encycl.Bib. adulteressaspractisedinEgypt. 4488).ThedescriptionofthechiefsThereisapictureofsuchamutila isasinma.6,12,withtheadditiontionfromthemonumentsinToy’s 120 EZEKIEL xxm.17-34

broughtfromthelandofEgypt:sothatthoushaltnotlift upthineeyesuntothem,norrememberEgyptanymore. 28ForthussaiththeLordGOD: Behold,Iwilldeliverthee intothehandofthemwhomthouhatest,intothehandof 29themfromwhomthysoulisalienated:andtheyshall dealwiththeeinhatred,andshalltakeawayallthy labour,andshallleavetheenakedandbare:andthe nakednessofthywhoredomsshallbediscovered,boththy 30lewdnessandthywhoredoms.Thesethingsshallbedone untothee,forthatthouhastgoneawhoringafterthe heathen,andbecausethouartpollutedwiththeiridols. 31Thouhastwalkedinthewayofthysister; thereforewill 321givehercupintothinehand.ThussaiththeLord GOD:Thoushaltdrinkofthysister’scup,whichisdeep andlarge:thoushaltbelaughedtoscornandhadin 33derision;1itcontainethmuch.Thoushaltbefilledwith drunkennessandsorrow,withthecupofastonishment 34anddesolation,withthecupofthysisterSamaria.Thou shaltevendrinkitanddrainitout,andthoushaltgnaw thesherdsthereof,andshalttearthybreasts: forIhave

1 Or,toomuchtoendure Ezekiel(p.140).Thenationwasto heathenishpracticeswhichare bedestroyedindetailandtoloseall meant.Jerusalemhadfollowed itschoicestpossessions(v.27is Israel; thereforethecup(Jer.xxv. identicalwithpartofxvi.39).In 15)ofpunishmentandofGod’s thiswayitsspiritualwhoredomwaswrathistobepassedonfromthe tobebroughttoanend(op.12.48:onetotheother.Thiswillcause xvi.41: thereferencetoEgyptthepeopletobecome‘ascornand isrepeatedfromv.8). Followingderisiontothemthatareround uponthisthealienationofIsraelaboutthem’(Ps.lxxix.4: cp.v.14, fromthepeopleswithwhomshehad15).In1:.32RV.istobepreferred coquettedisagainasserted(cp.on. toR.V.marg.Themagnitudeof 17,22).Mutualhatredistosucceedthecupintensifiesthedrunkenness andJerusalemistobestrippedof heredescribed(cp.Jer.xiii.13), hertreasures(xvi.39);thiswillwhichis causedbyhavingto leaveherassheisdescribedtohavedrinktotheverydregsofthe beenatthebeginning(xvi.7,22).cupofthewrathofGod.So Atlastinv.30wegetthespiritualthoroughis thisdrinkingtobe applicationofallthepreviouslan (Ps.lxxv.8),thateventhesherdsof guage(cp.vi.9):itisidolatryandthecupwillbegnawedtoextract XXIII.34—4.! EZEKIEL 121 35spokenit,saiththeLordGOD.Thereforethussaiththe LordGOD:Becausethouhastforgottenme,andcastme behindthyback,thereforebearthenalsothylewdness andthywhoredoms.

36 TheLORDsaidmoreoveruntome:Sonofman,wilt thoujudgeOholahandOholibah?thendeclareuntothem 37theirabominations.Fortheyhavecommittedadultery, andbloodisintheirhands,andwiththeiridolshavethey committedadultery; andtheyhavealsocausedtheirsons, whomtheybareuntome,topassthroughthefireuntothem 38tobedevoured.Moreoverthistheyhavedoneuntome: theyhavedefiledmysanctuaryinthesameday,andhave 39profanedmysabbaths.Forwhentheyhadslaintheir childrentotheiridols,thentheycamethesameday intomysanctuarytoprofaneit;and,lo,thushavethey 40doneinthemidstofminehouse.Andfurthermoreye havesentformen1thatcomefromfar:untowhoma messengerwassent,and,lo,theycame;forwhomthou didstwashthyself,paintedstthineeyes,anddeckedst 41thyselfwithornaments;andsatestuponastatelybed, withatablepreparedbeforeit,whereuponthoudidstset

1 Or,tocome anythingthatcanbedrawnfromEzekielconstantlyuses(xx.4: xxii. them.Thetearingthebreastsis 2). Theoldaccusationsofadultery eitherasignofgreatgrieforof andviolenceandspiritualwhoredom intoxication.Jerusalemhadfor areagainrepeated(xvi.38:xxii.2); gottenGod(xxii.12):shehadputaswellasactualhumansacrifices Godoutofsight,thatistheidea(xvi.20,21),thedefilingofthe conveyedbythecastingGodbehindsanctuary(v.11: viii),andthepro— herback,thereforeshewouldhavefanationofthesabbath(xx.13,21, tobeartheconsequences(0.49:24:xxii.8). Theofl'eringoftheir xvi.58). childrentotheidolswasfollowedby 36—49.Thewickednessandpun entranceintothesanctuaryofGod, ishmentof bothSamariaandatreatingofbothwarshipsasona Jerusalemareagainreiterated.Thispar,andthiswaslookeduponas freshportionoftheprophecybeginsprofanation.Thereseemstohave inaninterrogativeformsuchas beenincludedinthisentrancethe 122 EZEKIEL mm.41—46

42mineincenseandmineoil.Andthevoiceofamultitude beingateasewaswithher: andwithmenofthecommon sortwerebroughtdrunkardsfromthewilderness;and theyputbraceletsuponthehandsofthemtwain,and 43beautifulcrownsupontheirheads.ThensaidI 1ofher thatwasoldinadulteries,Nowwilltheycommit 442whoredomswithher,3andshewiththem.Andthey wentinuntoher,astheygoinuntoanharlot:sowent theyinuntoOholahanduntoOholibah,thelewdwomen. 45Andrighteousmen,theyshalljudgethemwiththe judgementofadulteresses,andwiththejudgementof womenthatshedblood;becausetheyareadulteresses, 46andbloodisintheirhands.ForthussaiththeLord GOD: Iwillbringupanassemblyagainstthem,andwill

1 Or,Shethatisoldwillcommitadulteriea2 Heb.her whoredom.' Or,evenwithher actualrearing0fidolatrousaltars‘mineoilandmineincense’:cp. withinthetempleanditsprecinctsHos.ii.8),becausetheywererightly (2K.xxi.4,5ofManasseh’sreign,His.Thereshesitsandreceives buttheseweredestroyedunderherguestswithatumultuousnoise Hezekiah’sreformation;cp.Jer. ofrevelryaroundher(theGreek vii.30:xxxii.34).Allmannerof has:‘withavoiceofharmony’): importationsofsourcesofwickednessincludedinthecrowdareSabaeans evenfromdistantplacestookplace(thisiscertainlytherightreading, (cp.v.16)inJerusalem.Shemadenot‘drunkards’:thevariation herselfattractivetocapturetheseoccursintheHebrew),a people foreignimmigrants.ThepaintingmentionedbyIsaiah(xlv.14)in oftheeyeswasjustwhatJezebelconnectionwithEthiopiaandthere did(2K.ix.30):theywerepaintedforewelldescribedhereas‘from withkohlorantimonytomakethemthewilderness.’Cheyne,however, looklargerandmorebeautifulwishestoomittheword(Encycl. (Jer.iv.30‘thoughthouenlargestBib.s.v0c.).Thosewhoweresent thineeyeswithpaint’).Allmannerforandcamewereadornedwith ofornamentssuchasaredescribedbraceletsandcrowns(xvi.11,12). inxvi.11,12areputon;andthenTheinsertionofthewordtwainby sheplacesherselfonastatelycouchRV.(v.42)showsthattherevisers orbedofacharactersuchasthosethoughtofthebraceletsbeingput describedinEsther(i.6:cp.Prov.upontheheadsofOholahandOholi vii.16,17).Infrontofherisa bah;buttheyreallyseemtohavebeen tablewithincenseandoiluponit putuponthoseoftheirlovers.The describedasJehovah’s(soxvi.18 Almightyisrepresentedassaying XXIII.46—XXI'V.a EZEKIEL 123 47givethemtobetossedtoandfroandspoiled.Andthe assemblyshallstonethemwithstones,anddespatch themwiththeirswords;theyshallslaytheirsonsand theirdaughters,andburnuptheirhouseswithfire. 48ThuswillI causelewdnesstoceaseoutoftheland,that allwomenmaybetaughtnottodoafteryourlewdness. 49Andtheyshallrecompenseyourlewdnessuponyou,and yeshallbearthesinsofyouridols:andyeshallknow thatI amtheLordGOD.

E. A FURTHERCOLLECTIONOFPROPHEOIES DATED58813.0.ONTHEVERYDAYOFTHE COMMENCEMENTBYNEBUOHADREZZAROF THEFINALSIEGEOFJERUSALEM(2K.XXV.1: cp.Jer.XXXIX.1). CHAPTERSXXIV,XXV. xxxix.Theparableofthecaldronandits intemretatio'n.xxiv.1—14. XXIV.1 Again,intheninthyear,inthetenth month,inthetenthdayofthemonth,thewordofthe 2LORDcameuntome,saying,Sonofman,writetheethe nameoftheday,evenofthisselfsameday:thekingof thattheywouldcommitagaintheir(xxiv.21: cp.2Chr.xxxvi.17,and oldsins,andsotheydid.Thefora specificcase2 K.xxv.7, consequenceisthattheywillbe Zedekiah’ssons),andtheburningof judgedbyrighteousmenandwilltheirproperty,likethatofAchan receivethelegalpunishmentfor (Josh.vii.24,25: cp.xvi.40,41).It theirmisdeeds(cp.v.24:xvi.38).An wasonlybytheseextrememeasures assemblyistobebroughtagainstthatthepollutionofthelandwould them(seexvi.40),andtheyareto bedoneaway(op.22.27:xvi.41),the receiveviolenttreatment(Dent.womenwouldbetaughtalesson, xxviii.25‘thoushaltbetossedto andthepeoplewouldrealizethe andfroamongallthekingdomsof powerofJehovah(cp.vi.7)and theearth’)andtobespoiled(cp.beartheconsequencesoftheirsins vii.21).Theirpunishmentwasto (so0.35). bestoning,whichwasthepunishXXIV.l,2. Thedatingofthe mentofadulteresses(cp.Dent.xxii.utteranceoftheparable.Onthe 24),slaughteroftheirchildrendayitselfitisrevealedtotheprophet 124 EZEKIEL XXIV.2—7

Babylon1drewcloseuntoJerusalemthisselfsameday. 3Andutteraparableuntotherebellioushouse,andsay untothem,ThussaiththeLordGOD,Setonthecaldron, 4setit on,andalsopourwaterintoit:gatherthe piecesthereofintoit,eveneverygoodpiece,thethigh, 5andtheshoulder; fillitwiththechoicebones.Takethe choiceoftheflock,andpilealsothebonesunderit:make itboilwell;yea,letthebonesthereofbeseethedinthe midstofit. 6 WhereforethussaiththeLordGOD:Woetothe bloodycity,tothecaldronwhosei‘rustistherein,and whose’rustisnotgoneoutofit!bringitoutpieceby 7piece;nolotisfallenuponit. Forherbloodisinthe midstofher;shesetituponthebarerock;shepouredit

1 Heb.leanedupon.2 Or,scum thataclosesiegeofJerusalemis Ithadalreadyreceivedthistitle commencing. (xxii.2),whichis alsogivento 3-5.Theparablefollows.A Nineveh(Nah.iii.1). Theword parabolicutterancehadpreceded‘rust’betterrepresentstheHebrew (xvii.2)andtheprophetwasknownthan‘scum’hereandinm».ll,12: as‘aspeakerofparables’(xx.49).itdescribestheinherentpollution Onceagainwehavethetitleof ofthecity.Thelastwordsof'v.6 ‘rebellioushouse’(secii.5)givento arevery,ifnothopelessly,obscure. Jerusalem.ThesimileofthecaldronTheyimplydispersion,andalso seemstohavebeenafamiliaroneat universality.Itwillnotbeacase thetimeandtohavebeenusedby ofonetakenbylotandanotherleft, othersbesidesEzekiel(seexi.3,7, butallalikewillsufl‘er.V.7implies 11).Thethighandtheshoulder,thattheviolenceofJerusalemwas especiallytherightone(Ex.xxix.alwaysobvious,fortheblood,which 22,27:Lev.vii.32,33),werelookedthelawordered,inthekilling uponasthechoicestparts(cp.1Sam.ofanimals,tobepouredoutupon ix.24).Thewholeofthebestof thegroundandcoveredwithdust thebestanimalswastobeseethed(Lev.xvii.l3:cp.Dent.xii.16,24), orstewedinthecaldron. wasleftexposedanduncoveredon 6—14.Theinterpretationofthethebarerock,andthismadethe parable.Thecaldronisthecity,citymorethaneverincurthewrath called‘bloody’becauseofthescenesofJehovah.Thewoeofv. 6 is ofviolencethathadbeenwitnessedreiteratedino.9. Thepileforthe init;sceneswhichwerere-enactedburningandfortheheatingofthe inthesamecitycenturieslatercaldronistobeagreatone(cp.Is. duringthesiegebytheRomans.xxx.33‘thepilethereofisfireand xxrv.7—14 EZEKIEL 125 8notupontheground,tocoveritwithdust;thatitmight causefurytocomeuptotakevengeance,Ihavesether blooduponthebarerock,thatitshouldnotbecovered. 9ThereforethussaiththeLordGOD:Woetothebloody 10city!Ialsowillmakethepilegreat.Heaponthewood, makethefirehot,boilwelltheflesh,andmakethickthe 11broth,andletthebonesbeburned.Thensetitempty uponthecoalsthereof,thatitmaybehot,andthebrass thereofmayburn,andthatthefilthinessofitmaybe 12molteninit,thattherustofitmaybeconsumed.She hathwearied1herselfwithtoil:yethergreatrustgoeth 13notforthoutofher; herrust2goethnotforthbyfire.3In thyfilthinessislewdness: becauseIhavepurgedtheeand thouwastnotpurged,thoushaltnotbepurgedfromthy filthinessanymore,tillI have‘satisfiedmyfury5upon 14thee.I theLORDhavespokenit:itshallcometopass, andIwilldoit;Iwillnotgoback,neitherwillIspare, neitherwillIrepent;accordingtothyways,andaccording tothydoings,shalltheyjudgethee,saiththeLordGOD.

1 Or,me ' Or,isinthefire 3 Or,Forthyfilthylewdness ‘ Heb.broughttorest. ' Or,toward muchwood’). Aftertheseethingis thatinJer.ii.22:‘thoughthou over,theemptycaldronitselfisalsowashtheewithlye,andtakethee tobedestroyedwithallitsfilthinessmuchsoap,yetthineiniquityis (soxxii.15‘I willconsumethy markedbeforeme,saiththeLord filthinessoutofthee’).Butthe God’:andalsoinIs.xxii.14:‘this rustofthecaldronisindestructible:iniquityshallnotbepurgedfrom sothepollutionofthepeopleiswellyoutillyedie.’God’sdecisionis nighirremediable.Theinsertionsimmutable:Hewillnotrepent initalicsinRV.ofv.12arerather(‘GodisnotamanthatHeshould doubtful;themarginismorecorrect.lie;neitherthesonofman,thatHe Thefilthinessofthepeoplewasso shouldrepent,’Numb.xxiii.19:cp. ingrainedinthemthatpurification1 Sam.xv.29),butHisjudgements wasimpossiblewithoutfurtherwillbecommensuratewiththeirevil punishment.Theideaissimilarto acts. 126 EZEKIEL XXIV.r5—l7

x1.Deathoftheproth'swife,andthelessons tobededucedfromit. xxiv.15—27.

Theproblemsofthisshortsectionareconsiderable.Theprophet is toldofhiswife’sapproachingdeath.Hespeakstothepeople: isittoannouncethecalamitythatiscominguponhimtothem?the narrativeleavesthatunsolved.Thenheistomakenolamentationforthe dead.Wouldthisstrikehiminhisdayasapitilesscommand?Wemust rememberthatEzekielwasapriestandthatthelawlimitedverymuch,and inthecaseofthehigh-priestpracticallyprohibited,anythinglikeceremonial mourningforthedead(seeLev.xxi.andcp.Lev.x.6). Thismayhave arisenasaprotestagainstancestorworshiporkindredbeliefsprevalentin oldtimesandstillsurvivingamongEasternnations.MoreoverEzekiel lookeduponhimselfnodoubtasunderspecialdivineinfluences,andwas readytoendureallandsufferall,ifonlyhecouldbringGod’speopleback toHim. 15 AlsothewordoftheLORDcameuntome,saying, 16Sonofman,behold,I takeawayfromtheethedesireof thineeyeswithastroke:yetneithershaltthoumourn 17norweep,neithershallthytearsrundown.Sigh,1butnot aloud; makenomourningforthedead,bindthyheadtire uponthee,andputthyshoesuponthyfeet,andcovernot

1 Heb.besilent.

16,17.Ezekielistolosehiswife,(cp.Mic.iii.7),enjoinedalsoupon whoiscalledthedesireofhiseyestheleper(Lev.xiii.45).Neither (cp.1K.xx.6),butheistoutterwashetoeatthebreadofmen noneofthoseLamentationsbywhich(cp.v.22).Thisexpressioninits theemotionsoftheOrientalgiveEnglishformsoundsobscure:butit expressiontotheirgrief.Hisgriefistobeexplainedbyotherpassages, is tobea silentinwardsorrowe.g.Deutxxvi.l4:Hos.ix.7(‘the unaccompaniedbyexternalsignsof breadofmourners’):Jer.xvi.7 woe.Heistoputonhishead-tire(‘neithershallmenbreakbreadfor orturban,whichkeptthehairfromtheminmourning,tocomfortthem hanginglooseasitwouldinoneforthedead’).Foraninjunctionto distraughtwithgrief(cp.Lev.x. dosucha thingwemaycompare 6). HeistowearshoesorsandalsTob.iv.17: ‘Pouroutthybreadon uponhisfeet,whilsttogobarefoottheburial(RV.marg.tomb)ofthe wasasignofsorrow(cp.2Sam.xv. just.’Thesecustomsseemtohave 30:Is.xx.2). Heisnottocoverbeen,someofthematanyrate,a hislips(so2:.22):thiswasanothersurvivalfromorintroductionof outwardmanifestationofmourningheathencustomsatfuneralslikethe xxrv.17-15 EZEKIEL 127 18thylips,andeatnotthebreadofmen.SoIspakeunto thepeopleinthemorning;andatevenmywifedied:and 19I didinthemorningasI wascommanded.Andthe peoplesaiduntome,Wiltthounottelluswhatthese 20thingsaretous,thatthoudoestso?ThenI saidunto 21them,ThewordoftheLORDcameuntome,saying,Speak untothehouseofIsrael,ThussaiththeLordGOD:Behold, Iwillprofanemysanctuary,theprideofyourpower,the desireofyoureyes,and1thatwhichyoursoulpitieth;and yoursonsandyourdaughterswhomyehaveleftbehind 22shallfallbythesword.AndyeshalldoasIhavedone: yeshallnotcoveryourlips,noreatthebreadofmen. 23Andyourtiresshallbeuponyourheads,andyourshoes uponyourfeet:yeshallnotmournnorweep;butye shallpineawayinyouriniquities,andmoanonetoward 24another.ThusshallEzekielbeuntoyouasign;according toallthathehathdoneshallyedo:whenthiscometh, thenshallyeknowthatIamtheLordGOD. 25 Andthou,sonofman,shallitnotbeinthedaywhen I takefromthemtheir2strength,thejoyoftheir3glory, 1 Heb.thepityofyoursoul. ' Or,stronghold ' Or,beauty buryingofprovisionswithadeadtobedestroyed.Whenthistook bodysuchasprevailedinEgypt. place,theywouldfeelit asa 18-24.Hislosscameuponshock,buttheywoulddojust EzekielveryrapidlyandhecarriedasEzekielhaddone(cp.xii.11). outexactlythecommandswhichTheirprostrationwouldbesogreat hadbeengivenhim(cp.xii.7: thattheywouldnotbeableto xxxvii.7). Seeingwhattheymustexpresstheirgriefinanyoutward haveheldtobeverystrangeconductdemonstrationatall.Inthisway onhispart,astheyhadnoticedEzekielwastobeasigntothem before(xii.9)andweretonotice(cp.xii.6,11:u.27),andtheywould again(xxxvii.18),thepeopleaskrealizethepowerofJehovah. himthemeaningofit Itis 25—27.Whenallthesetroubles explainedtothem.Theywereto cameuponJerusalem,includingthe loseallthattheylovedandallthatcaptureofthestrongholdofMount theywereproudof. EventheirZion(‘theirstrength’),newsofthem templewastobeprofaned,andwillbebroughttothecaptivity: thosewhohadbeenleftintheirwehearofthenewsbeingbrought ownland,whenEzekiel’shearerslaterinthebook(xxxiii.2]).Dumb werecarriedintocaptivity,werenessismorethanoncespokenofas 128 EZEKIELxxw.15-xxv.= thedesireoftheireyes,and1thatwhereupontheyset 26theirheart,theirsonsandtheirdaughters,thatinthat dayhethatescapethshallcomeuntothee,tocausetheeto 27hearitwiththineears?Inthatdayshallthymouthbe opened2tohimwhichisescaped,andthoushaltspeak, andbenomoredumb:soshaltthoubeasignuntothem; andtheyshallknowthatIamtheLORD.

xli.ShortpnmlwmksagainstAmman,M0011,Edam andthePhilistines.xxv.

Althoughthischapteris,inthepresentarrangementofthebook,which ischronological,assignedtothesameperiodaschapter“iv.,yetitreally formsthefirstofaseriesofchaptersdenouncingGod’sjudgementsupon variousheathennations,whichareintendedtoclearthewayforandlead uptothepropheciesoftheRestorationofthepeople.Chapterxxv.there forereallybelongs,strictlyspeaking,tothefollowingsection,xxvi.—xxxii. ItisinterestingtonoticethatinthisseriesofpropheciesBabylonis notincluded,thoughinordertoreachthenumberseven,Zidonhassome whatartificiallytobecountedseparatelyfromTyre.Thismaybedue partlytothefactthatthesepropheciesweredeliveredinBabylon,where theJewsforthemostpartmetwithaverykindlyreception,andpartly totheviewwhichtheprophettookofthemasGod’sinstrumentsin carryingoutHisplans,andtherefore“righteousmen”(cp.xxiii.45). Ifthisprophecycomesunderthelastchronologicalheading(xxiv.l), thecaptivityofv.3cannotbethefinalcaptivityunderZedekiah,but perhapsthatunderJehoiachin(2K.xxiv.11-16). ' XXV.1 AndthewordoftheLORDcameuntome, 2saying,Sonofman,setthyfacetowardthechildrenof

1 Heb.theliftingupoftheirsoul. 2 Or,togetherwith imposedupontheprophet,thatis probablymisplacedinthepresent tosay,silencefromanydivinearrangementofthebook.Butwhen messagetothepeople.Thedumbthetimeofdumbnesswasover, nessherementionedisregardedas Ezekielwouldbefreetospeakagain lastingtillthenewsofthefallof withmoreconfidencethat,after Jerusalemarrived(xxxii.21,22:sucha practicaldemonstrationof ‘mymouthwasopenedandIwashisdivineinspiration,hewouldbe nomoredumb’).Thisdumbnesslistenedto. wouldnotextendtoutterancesXXV.1—5.Aosuvs'rAmmos.The aboutforeignnationswhichoccupychildrenofAmmon,descendantsas xxv.-xxxii.; andxxxiii.1—20is theywerebelievedtobefroman xxv.1-4 EZEKIEL 129

3Ammon,andprophesy1againstthem:andsayuntothe childrenofAmmon,HearthewordoftheLordGOD;Thus saiththeLordGOD:Becausethousaidst,Aha,againstmy sanctuary,whenitwasprofaned; andagainstthelandof Israel,whenitwasmadedesolate; andagainstthehouse 4ofJudah,whentheywentintocaptivity:thereforebehold, Iwilldelivertheetothechildrenoftheeastforaposses sion,andtheyshallsettheirencampmentsinthee,and 1 Or,concerning incestqumarriageofLot,andbyfirehadbeenprophesiedbothby thereforekinsfolkoftheJews,hadAmos(i.14)andJeremiah(xlix.2); beenformorethantwoyearstheandthefeelingagainstAmmon subjectofoneofEzekiel’spropheciesafl'ectedotherprophetsalso(Zeph. (xxi.20,28—32),justasJeremiahii.8—10).Heretheprophetcarries alsohadprophesiedaboutthemitsdesolationstillfurther:whathad (xlix.1—6).Heretheprophecyis beenaflourishingcitywastobe directedtobespokenactuallyto simplyaresting-placefortheherds thatpeople.Thedenunciationandflocksofwanderingtribes.In againstthemis evokedbythepostexilictimestheAmmonites exultationwithwhichtheyhadseemtohavestillhad,atfirst,a witnessedthedesolationofboththeseparatetribalexistence(cp.Neh. kingdomofIsraelandthekingdomii.19:iv.7),buttohavebeen ofJudaheachinitsturn,justasthegraduallymergedintheArabians Tyrians(xxvi.2)andEdom(Obad.ofthedesert:thoughtheyarestill 11)hadexultedoverthedestructionrecognizedasaseparatepeoplein ofJerusalem(xxvi.2)anditsTemple.1 Mace.v.6:2Mace.iv.26:v.7. TheyareintheirturntoberavagedThecapitalRabbah,ofwhichmany andplunderedby“thechildrenof ruinsremain,hadalaterhistoryand theeas” ThisexpressionconstantlymuchprosperityinRomantimes. occursintheOldTestament,andis Adescriptionoftheplaceandthe a somewhatambiguousone.In Romanremainsstillexistingthere Gen.xxix.1 itreferstotheinhabitistobefoundinBaedeker’sPaleatt'ne antsofAram:elsewhereitisusedandSyria,ed.3,p.170. ashereofnomadtribesfurthereast Itseemsalittledifficulttomake thanthosethatwereincontactwithoutexactlythepoliticalrelation orborderinguponPalestine.TheirbetweentheAmmonitesandJudah wealthincamelsandcattle,andduringthelastyearsofthatking theirabundanceoftentsisdescribeddom(seenoteontheAmmonites inJudg.vi.5. Thecapitalof attheendofchapterxxi.).They AmmonwasRabbah,famousforits seemtohavetakenpossessionof prolongedsiegeinDavid’stime.In GadafterIsraelwascarriedaway itwaspreservedthebasaltsarcocaptive(Jer.xlix.1). Fromthis phagusof0g.Thecity’sdestructionvantageground‘bandsofthechil

R. 9 130 EZEKIEL XXV.4-8 maketheirdwellingsinthee; theyshalleatthyfruit,and 5theyshalldrinkthymilk.AndI willmakeRabbaha stableforcamels,andthechildrenofAmmonacouching placeforflocks:andyeshallknowthatIamtheLORD. 6ForthussaiththeLordGOD: Becausethouhastclapped thinehands,andstampedwiththefeet,andrejoicedwith allthedespiteofthysoulagainstthelandofIsrael; 7thereforebehold,I havestretchedoutminehandupon thee,andwilldelivertheeforaspoiltothenations; and Iwillcuttheeofffromthepeoples,andIwillcausethee toperishoutofthecountries:I willdestroythee;and thoushaltknowthatIamtheLORD. 8 ThussaiththeLordGOD:BecausethatMoabandSeir dosay,Behold,thehouseofJudahislikeuntoallthe drenofAmmon’joinedinthepeculiartothisprophet(cp.e.15: attackofNebuchadrezzaruponJe xxxvi.5). Fortheclappingof hoiakim(2K.xxiv.2:cp.xxi.29 handscp.Lam.ii.15.Thestamp ofEzekiel).Intheearlypartof ingofthefeet,hereusedofex Zedekiah’sreigntheyseemtohaveultation,is elsewhereusedasa metinconferencewithrepresentafigureofdisappointment(vi.ll). tivesofotherstatesatJerusalemTwiceintheseverses(vv.5,7) withtheideaofformingaleaguetherefrainis repeated‘yeshall againstNebuchadrezzar(Jer.xxvii.(thoushalt)knowthatI amthe 3),apolicyopposedbyJeremiah;Lord’;itoccursagainin00.11,17 butapparentlytheproposalcameto (cp.2:.l4):xxvi.6:xxviii.22,24, nothingortheAmmoniteswould26:xxix.6,9,16,21:xxx.8,19, havenothingtodowithit,and25,26:xxxii.15.Thisconstant lookedonwithsatisfactionattherepetitionthroughoutthissectionof destructionofJerusalem.Inthethepropheciesistolayemphasis dispersionthatfollowedwehearof uponthesuper-eminentfactthat someJews‘amongthechildrenof JehovahistheonlyGodandsupreme Ammon’underBaalistheirking,overallnationsoftheearth,asthey amongwhomwasIshmaeltheson willrealizewhenthesejudgements ofNethaniahwhowassentby comeuponthem. BaalistokillGedaliahthegovernor8-11.AGAINSTMosssunSam. appointedbyNebuchadrezzaroverSeir,i.e.Edom,istreatedseparately theremnantofthepeoplethatinthenextparagraph,anditsin remainedin thelandandwhosertionheremaybeaccidentalfor actuallycarriedouthiscommission.thebesttextofthenuomitsit 6,7. TheseversesareareiteraWiththisprophecyagainstMoab tionofthepreviousones.‘Despite,’cp.Isxv.:Jer.xlviii.:Am.ii.1-3: i.e.contempt,‘ofsoul’isaphraseZeph.ii.8—10.Thereproachagainst XXV.8-11 EZEKIEL 131 9nations;thereforebehold,I willopenthesideofMoab fromthecities,fromhiscitieswhichare1onhisfrontiers, thegloryofthecountry,Beth-jeshimoth,Baal-moon,and 10Kiriathaim,2untothechildrenoftheeast,togoagainst thechildrenofAmmon,andIwillgivethemforaposses sion,thatthechildrenofAmmonmaynotberemembered 11amongthenations:andI willexecutejudgementsupon Moab; andtheyshallknowthatIamtheLoan. 12 ThussaiththeLordGOD:BecausethatEdomhath dealtagainstthehouseofJudahbytakingvengeance,and

1 Or,ineveryquarter’ Or,togetherwiththechildrenofAmmon, untothechildrenoftheeast thehouseofJudahisthatintimesignedtoReuben(Numb.xxxii.37: ofstressithadnoadvantageoverJosh.xiii.19).Ithadalready itsneighbom's.Themeaningof beenprophesiedofAmmonthatthe on.9,10isclear:theflankofMoabmemoryofitwastodieout(xxi.32). withitsfrontiercities,whichare Onceagainbythesejudgementsthe thegloryoftheland,istobeopenknowledgeoftheLordwastobe toattackwhenAmmonisattackedbroughthometotheheathen(cp. (vv.2,4). Ofthesecitiesweknowvi.7)aswellastoHisownpeople. butlittle:theywereallEastofthe Thisprophecylikethatabout DeadSea.Beth-jeshimothwasAmmonhaditsfirstfulfilmentin acrosstheJordanoppositetoJerichothesubjugationofthesepeoples andtheoreticallyintheterritoryof soonaftertheoverthrowofJerusa Reuben(Numb.xxxiii.49:Josh.lembyNebuchadrezzar.Inearly xii.3:xiii.20).Baal-meon,alsoin post-exilictimesgreattroublearose thetribeofReuben(Num.xxxii.38: becauseoftheintermarriagebetween l Chr.v.8),wasknownasBeth-baalJewsandMoabitesandAmmonites meon(Josh.xiii.17),Beth-meanthathadcreptincontrarytoJewish (Jer.xlviii.23)andBeon(Numb.law(Ezraix.1:Neh.xiii).Moab xxxii.2),andismentionedtwiceon seemstohavedisappearedmuch theMoabitestoneofMesha’sreign,earlierthanAmmon,forthelatter onwhichisalsotobefoundtheseemtohavebeenstillanumerous nameofKiriathaim.KiriathaimpeopleinJustinMartyr’sdays(Dial. (theSeptuagintmakestwowordsof c.Tryph.272). thisname,andinterpretsit‘the 12—14.Aoams'rEnou.There citybythesea,’i.e.ofcoursethealwaysappearstohavebeenabitter DeadSea;thoughtheplaceitselfis feelingbetweenJewsandEdomites. somedistancefromtheSea)isalsoItshowsitselfinmanyofthepro mentionedin theprophecyof phetsintheirdenunciationsofEdom Jeremiah(xlviii.l,23)concerning(cp.xxxii.29:xxxv.:Ps.cxxxvii.7: Moab:itwasintheterritoryas Is.xxxiv.5:Jer.xlix.7—22:Am.i. 9—2 132 EZEKIEL XXV.n—l6

hathgreatlyoffended,andrevengedhimselfuponthem; 13thereforethussaiththeLordGOD,I willstretchoutmine handuponEdom,andwillcutoffmanandbeastfromit: andIwillmakeitdesolatefromTeman;evenuntoDedan 14shalltheyfallbythesword.AndIwilllaymyvengeance uponEdombythehandofmypeopleIsrael;andthey shalldoinEdomaccordingtomineangerandaccording tomyfury: andtheyshallknowmyvengeance,saiththe LordGOD. 15 ThussaiththeLordGOD:BecausethePhilistineshave dealtbyrevenge,andhavetakenvengeancewithdespite 16ofsoultodestroyitwithperpetualenmity;thereforethus

11,12:Obadiah:l Esdr.iv.45). Keturah(Gen.xxv.3:lChr.i.32). ThatpeoplearesaidtohavetakenTheSeptuagintdoesnotrecognize anactivepartintheBabylonianDedanhereatallandhadanother destructionofJerusalem,thoughtextThe‘vengeanceuponEdom closelyakintotheIsraelitesby bythehandofIsrael’was,inpart descent.Forthisaboveallelseatanyrate,takenunderJudas theydeservedpunishment,andMaccabaeus(lMace.v.3:2Mace. it wasto comeuponthem.x.16)anditwastoberecognizedas Theircountrylaytothesouthof theLord’s(‘Maccabaeusandhis Moab—weknowitasIdumaeain men...besoughtGodtofightontheir theNewTestament—anditsex side’2 Mace.x.16).Theywere tremitiesareindicatedhereby finallysubduedunderJudasHyrca TemanandDedan.Temanwasthe nus(1253.0.):butitisinteresting nameofoneofEsau’sgrandsonstonotethat,acenturylater,Herod (Gen.xxxvi.II)andTemanitesare thekingwasofEdomiteextraction. mentionedseveraltimesintheOld 15-17.AGAINST'rnnPmms'rmss. Testament(lChr.i.45:Jobii.11: Thesepeople,theperpetualenemies Jer.xlix.20).AsDedanwasinthe ofIsrael,fromwhomthelandob South,Temanmusthavebeenin taineditsnameofPalestine,were theNorth,butitcannotbedefinitelyoriginallyanon-Semiticpartofthe localizedandtheuseofthenamepopulation(asisindicatedbythe isvague:sometimesitisaplace,factthattheyarecalledintheLn sometimesadistrict,sometimesitis dkkéqivhoi),andwereimmigrants identicalwiththewholeofEdom.fromCrete.Theyareconstantly Dedanseemstohavebeenagreatdenouncedbytheprophets(seeIs. commercialcentre(xxvii.15,20: xiv.29—32:Jer.xxv.20:xlvii.: Joel xxxviii.l3),anditstradeextendediii.4—8:Am.i.6—8:Zeph.ii.4)and overArabia(Is.xxi.l3:cp.Jer.psalmists(Ps.IX.8:cviii.9).‘Despite xxv.23:xlix.8). Dedanisrepreofsoul’isattributedalsotothe sentedasagrandsonofAbrahamby Ammonites(o.6)andtoother XXV.r6,r7 EZEKIEL 133

saiththeLordGOD,Behold,I willstretchoutminehand uponthePhilistines,andI willcutofftheCherethites, 17anddestroytheremnantoftheseacoast.AndI will executegreatvengeanceuponthemwithfuriousrebukes; andtheyshallknowthatI amtheLORD,whenIshalllay myvengeanceuponthem.

F. A COLLECTIONOFPROPHECIESDATEDAT LEASTMORETHANAYEARAFTERTHELAST ANDDEALINGWITHTYREANDZIDON.586Be. CHAPTERSXXVI—XXVIII.

Insubjectmatterchapterxxv.connectsitselfwiththesechapters,though apparentlythepropheciesinitprecededthesebysomemonths.But whilstchapterxxv.hastodowithpeoplesthesethreechapterscontain aseriesoffivepropheciesdealingwithtwooftherichestcitiesonthe bordersofIsrael,prosperousfromtheirpositiononthesea-coast—Tyreand Zidon(cp.xxxii.30). Ifthechronologicalheadingsarecorrect,thenthissectionshould certainlycomelater.Thenumberofthemonthisnotstated,sothatit isnotclearatfirstsightwhetheritshouldprecedeorfollowxxx.20—26: xxxi.ButasthedateofthefinalbreachinthewallofJerusalemisfixed (Jer.xxxix.2)astheninthdayofthefourthmonthoftheeleventhyearof Zedekiah,andthelayingwasteofJerusalemtookplaceinthefifthmonth (Jer.lii.12),andinthisprophecy(xxvi.2)Jerusalemisspokenofas ‘broken’and‘laidwaste,’itisquiteclearthattheplaceforthesechapters, inchronologicalorder,isafterchap.xxxi. TyreandZidonwerethesubjectofprophecybyotherprophets (Is.xxiii.:Jer.xxv.22:xxvii.3:Joeliii.4:Am.i.9,10:Zech.ix.2-4). Thelanguageofthischapter,asmaybeseeninthenotes,hadconsiderable influenceuponthewriteroftheApocalypse

nations(xxxvi.5). TheCherethitesthePelethitesbeingtheother(2 (v. 16)areidenticalwiththeSam.viii.l8:xv.18:xx.7,23: Philistines,andtheLxxinthepro 1 K.i. 38,44:1 Chr.xviii.17). pheticalbookscallsthemCretans.For‘furiousrebukes’seev.15and Theyarealsomentioned,asapeople,fortherefrainatthecompletion intwootherplaces(1Sam.xxx.14: oftheprophecyseevi.7. The Zeph.ii.5);elsewheretheyformPhilistines,asa people,losttheir oneofthetwoconstituentelementsseparateexistenceinlatertimes. ofDavid’sbodyguardofmercenaries, 134 EZEKIEL XXVI.I—6

FirstprophecyagainstTyre.xxvi.

XXVI.1 Anditcametopassintheeleventhyear, inthefirstdayofthemonth,thatthewordoftheLORD 2cameuntome,saying,Sonofman,becausethatTyrehath saidagainstJerusalem,Aha,sheisbrokenthatwasthe gateofthepeoples;sheisturneduntome:I shallbe 3replenished,nowthatsheislaidwaste:thereforethus saiththeLordGOD:Behold,Iamagainstthee,0Tyre,and willcausemanynationstocomeupagainstthee,asthe 4seacausethhiswavestocomeup.Andtheyshalldestroy thewallsofTyre,andbreakdownhertowers: Iwillalso 5scrapeherdustfromher,andmakeherabarerock.She shallbeaplaceforthespreadingofnetsinthemidstof thesea;forIhavespokenit,saiththeLordGOD:andshe 6shallbecomeaspoiltothenations.Andherdaughters

XXVI.1-14.Aoms'rTYRE.areperhapsa. recollectionofthe Theejaculationusedby'l‘yrea languageusedbytheprophetof gainstJerusalemoccursalsoinxxv.Jerusalem(xxiv.7). Herethedust 3(‘Aha,againstMysanctuary’)andreferstotheruinsofthecity,which xxxvi.2 (‘theenemyhathsaidwasplanted,sofarasitsmercantile againstyou,Ahal').Jerusalemis quarterswereconcerned,‘ontwo calledthegateofthepeoplesas barerockyislands’(Baedekex’s beingtheplacethroughwhichthePalestineandSyria,ed.3,p.307). intercourseofAssyriaandBabyloniaSincethetimeofthesiegeby withEgyptwascarriedon. TheNebuchadrezzartheplacehaspassed phrase‘sheis turneduntome’throughmanyvicissitudesandis impliesthatTyreclaimedtohavenowaninsignificanttownofabout takenherplaceuponherfallas 6000inhabitants.Thedaughtersof thecentreforcommercialinterTyrearethesurroundingtownsor course.ButTyre,too,wastohavevillagesdependentuponit(cp.Josh. herpunishment.Itcame,butit xv.45,R.V.marg.)withtheirin wasonlyafteralongstruggleunderhabitants.Thetitle‘kingofkings’ Ethbaal(Ithobaal)IIanda.siegeisascribedtoNebuchadrezzarby ofthirteenyears(585-5733.0.)by Daniel(ii.37)andArtaxerxesisalso NebuchadrezzarthatTyrewastaken.describedassuchintheBible(Ezra Thisprolongedsiegeisalludedtoin vii.l2).Jeremiahhadprophesied aprophecysixwenyearslaterthanof‘eviloutofthenorth’ (iv.6:vi.1, thepresentone(xxix.18).The22:x.22),meaningtherebyinvasion ‘barerock’andthe‘dust’(1w.4,12) ofa hostilepeople:andthough XXVI.6—n EZEKIEL 135

whichareinthefieldshallbeslainwiththesword:and 7theyshallknowthatIamtheLORD.Forthussaiththe LordG01):Behold,IwillbringuponTyreNebuchadrezzar kingofBabylon,kingofkings,fromthenorth,withhorses, andwithchariots,andwithhorsemen,andacompany, 8andmuchpeople.Heshallslaywiththeswordthy daughtersinthefield:andheshallmakefortsagainst thee,andcastupamountagainstthee,andraiseupthe 9buckleragainstthee.Andheshallsethisbattering enginesagainstthywalls,andwithhis1axesheshall 10breakdownthytowers.Byreasonoftheabundanceof hishorsestheirdustshallcoverthee: thywallsshall shakeatthenoiseofthehorsemen,andofthe2wagons, andofthechariots,whenheshallenterintothygates,as 11menenterintoacitywhereinismadeabreach.With thehoofsofhishorsesshallhetreaddownallthystreets: heshallslaythypeoplewiththesword,andthe8pillarsof 12thystrengthshallgodowntotheground.Andtheyshall

1 Heb.swords.' Or,wheels3 0r,obelisks

BabylonwasalmostonthesamebeenactuallymadeinitswallsThe latitudeasTyre,itsinvadingarmiesBabylonianwagons(or,‘war-chariots’: did,asa matteroffact,enterseenoteonxxiii.24)aswellastheir Palestinefromthenorth.Thesiegewholearrayhadbeenalreadyde isprophesiedof(o.8)inverymuchscribed(xxiii.24,‘theyshallcome thesametermsasareusedofJeru againsttheewithweapons,chariots, salem(iv.2:xxi.22).Thebucklerandwagons’;saidofJerusalem). istheshieldcarriedbythesoldiers‘Thepillarsofthystrength,’i.e.thy oftheinvadinghostandsometimesstrongpillars,werethemassebahsor anumberofthemwerecombinedto obeliskswhichformedanimportant formashelterfromthemissilesof elementoftheTyrianworship(cp. thosewhowerebeingbesieged.TheHdt.ii.44),astheoutwardand Hebrewwordfor‘axes’isadoubtvisiblesignofthepresenceofthe fulone,cp.theRV.marg.of2Chr.deity.Suchpillarsorobeliskswere xxxiv.6. Itisquiteclearfromconstantlydenouncedamongthe someoftheexpressionsusedthatJews(Ex.xxiii.24‘breakinpieces Ezekielexpectedatfirstthatthetheirpillars,’cp.Lev.xxvi.l:Dt. citywouldfallmuchmorequicklyxii.3:xvi.22gHos.1.2:Mic.v.13). thanitdid,forhespeaksonceof Theexactnatureandobjectofthe theentranceoftheinvadersintoworshipconnectedwiththemisstill thecityevenwithoutabreachhavingamatterofdoubt,buttheymight

W~“-Q-w' ' ~ A 136 EZEKIEL XXVI."—17 makea spoilofthyriches,andmakea preyofthy merchandise:andtheyshallbreakdownthywalls,and destroythypleasanthouses: andtheyshalllaythystones andthytimberandthydustinthemidstofthewaters. 13AndIwillcausethenoiseofthysongstocease; andthe 14soundofthyharpsshallbenomoreheardAndI will maketheea barerock:thoushaltbeaplaceforthe spreadingofnets;thoushaltbebuiltnomore: forIthe LORDhavespokenit,saiththeLordGOD. 15 ThussaiththeLordGODtoTyre:Shallnottheisles shakeatthesoundofthyfall,whenthewoundedgroan, 16whentheslaughterismadeinthemidstofthee?Then alltheprincesoftheseashallcomedownfromtheir thrones,andlayasidetheirrobes,andstripofftheir broideredgarments:theyshallclothethemselveswith ‘trembling;theyshallsitupontheground,andshall 17trembleeverymoment,andbeastonishedatthee.And 1 Heb.tremblings. standforagodorgoddess:probablyastheactualislandsinit,wouldfeel thosementionedherestoodfor theterrorofitsfall.‘Theprinces Astarté. ofthesea,’aswemayinterpretthe Theconsiderationofthewealthof expressionfromwhatIsaiahsaysof Tyrewillbemorefitlydiscussedin Tyre‘whosemerchantsareprinces’ thenotesonthenextchapter.In (xxiii.8),arehermerchantprinces 0.13weseemtohavearecollectionwhohavemadetheirwealthby ofIs.xxiv.8,9(‘thejoyoftheharpmaritimecommerce,ratherthanthe ceaseth.Theyshallnotdrinkwineprincesoftheneighbouringsea-eoasts. withasong’),apassagewhichfollowsTheyaretohumblethemselves. immediatelyupon‘theburdenof Sittinguponthegroundisoneof Tyre’(lsxxiii.).V.14repeatsthetheoutwardsignsofsorrow(cp. sentencepasseduponTyreinw.4, Jobii.13:Is.iii.26:Lam.ii.10), 5. Thewordsinit‘thoushaltbe andthetrembling‘everymoment’ builtnomore’needonlysignifyisalsopartoftheterrorofEgypt thatTyreshouldneverregainits (xxxii.10).Theirlamentationwas formerposition,which,asamattertobetakenup(cp.xix.l: xxvii.2, offact,itneverdid. 32)inawaythatisre-echoedinthe 15—21.Intheseversesthecon lamentationintheApocalypse(Rev. sequencesofthefallofTyrearexviii.especially0.19)overBabylon. enlargedupon.‘Theisles’(cp.Betweenthetwoalternativeren xxvii.35),i.e.theplacesonthederings‘ofseafaringmen’ and‘won coastsoftheMediterraneanaswellfromtheseas’ (R.V.marg.)thereis

I ,.,___,-» 1 . XXVI.r7—ao EZEKIEL 137 theyshalltakeupalamentationforthee,andsaytothee, Howartthoudestroyed,thatwastinhabited1ofseafaring men,therenownedcity,whichwaststronginthesea,she andherinhabitants,whichcausedtheirterrortobeonall 18that2hauntit!Nowshalltheislestrembleinthedayof thyfall;yea,theislesthatareintheseashallbe 19dismayedatthydeparture.ForthussaiththeLordGOD: WhenIshallmaketheeadesolatecity,likethecitiesthat arenotinhabited;whenI shallbringupthedeepupon 20thee,andthegreatwatersshallcoverthee;thenwill

1 Or,beingwonfromthemu ' OrIinhabitedher

verylittletochooseandbotharegenerationshadgonedown.Other applicable,thesecondbeingjustifiedplaceshadbeendestroyedbefore: bythegeographicalpositionofthe Tyrewasnottobelookeduponas city.Adifficultywashoweverfelttheonlyexampleofa citythat longagoabouttheHebrewcon ceasedtobeinhabited.Thelast struction,andtheL1!leavesoutclauseofv.20isvariouslyread: thewordrepresentedby‘thatwastthereadingofR.V.marg.,which inhabited’andeitherdidnotreadisthebetter,issupportedbythe itatallortreateditasaglossuponSeptuagint.The‘landoftheliving’ theprecedingword.ThemeaningisafrequentBiblicalexpression(see wouldthenbe:‘ Howartthoue.g.xxxii.23,27,32:Ps.xxvii.13). destroyedfromtheseas’(i.e.fromTheRV.‘aterror’(v.21)mustmean beingamaritimepower).Thelastasourceofterrortootherswhomay expressionofv. 17‘whichcausedfeelthedangerofbeingbroughtto theirterrortobe’isassertedof a similarcondition(cp.xxvii.36: othersbesideTyre(xxxii.23—27,32). xxviii.19,bothofTyre). Thetremblingoftheislesisagain Ithasbeenobjected,withrefer emphasized(cp.v.15),andthede encetothisprophecy,thatitnever partureofTyreisherdeparturewascompletelyfulfilled.Butwe fromherpreeminentposition.In havetorememberinthisconnection connectionwithn. 19itmaybe (a)theconstanthyperbolethatforms mentionedthattherearestill‘ruinsanessentialpartofthecharacterof visibleinthesea’thoughtheyare Orientallanguages;and(b)thefact saidtobe‘merelytheremainsof thatDivinepurposeinitsrevelation overthrownmediaevalwalls’(Baetomanhastobeclothedinlanguage dekerPal.andSyria,ed.3,p.308).adaptedtohumancapacityand Thelanguageofo.20shouldbe suitableasavehicletobringmanto comparedwithxxxi.14,16:xxxii.asenseofsinandtoachangeofhis 18,23,24,27,32. purposes.ItisnotGodwhochanges, Thepitissimplythegrave,belowbuthumanconduct,whenitis theground,intowhichpreviouschanged,avertswhatwouldother

M-\-~. 138 EZEKIELXXVI.ao—XXVIL3 I bringtheedownwiththemthatdescendintothepit, tothepeopleofoldtime,andwillmaketheetodwellin thenetherpartsoftheearth,‘intheplacesthatare desolateofold,withthemthatgodowntothepit,that thoubenotinhabited; 2andIwillsetgloryinthelandof 21theliving:Iwillmakethee8aterror,andthoushaltbe nomore: thoughthoubesoughtfor,yetshaltthounever befoundagain,saiththeLordGOD. xliii.AdescriptionofTyre,itswealth,commerce,and magnificenceatthetimeofitssiegebyNebuchad rezzar.xxvii. ThischaptershouldbecomparedwiththedescriptionofBabylonin Rev.xviii.whichevidentlylooksbacktothisasitsmodel.Special resemblanceswillbenotedinthecommentary. Thetextis,insomeversesofthischapter,ratherdoubtful,fortheyare muchabbreviatedintheSeptuagint Ezekiel’sgeographicalknowledgeisveryextensive,buthewouldeasily acquiresuchknowledgeinBabyloniaAmapoftheworldisstillin existencedatingfromaboutthetimeofHammurabi,i.e.somewhereabout thedaysofAbraham.

XXVII.1 ThewordoftheLORDcameagainunto 2me,saying,Andthen,sonofman,takeupalamentation 3forTyre;andsayuntoTyre,Othouthatdwellestat

1 Anotherreadingis,like. 2 Or,asotherwiseread,1wrsetthygloryctc. ‘ Or,adestructionHeb.terrors. wisehavebeenthejudgementof onlyrelative:for,wherethereare God.MoreovertheTyreofto-dayfishingnets,theretheremustbe isnottheTyreofEzekiel’sdays.fishers,andfishermenmusthave AfteritssubjugationbyNebuchadhomes:theycannotalwaysbeupon rezzar,AlexandertheGreatde thewaters.Ezekieltellsushimself stroyeda considerableportionof inalaterprophecy(xxix.18)that thatpartofthecitywhichwason Nebuchadrezzardidnotgetsatisfac themainland:andthecitywastionfromthesiegeofTyre:but alsodestroyedbytheMuslimsin thisdoesnotmakehimretractany 1291an.(seea shortsketchof ofthewordsofhisprophecy.‘The itshistoryinBaedekerloc.cit).millsofGodgrindslowly.’ Moreovertheprophetdoesnotcon XXV'II.1—4.Thelamentationfor templateabsoluteextinctionbutTyrebeginswithadescriptionofthe

fl,,‘~,__’ifm P XXVII.3—5 EZEKIEL 139

the‘entryofthesea,whichartthemerchantofthepeoples untomanyisles,thussaiththeLordGOD: Thou,0Tyre, 4hastsaid,I amperfectinbeauty.Thybordersare intheheartoftheseas,thybuildershaveperfected 5thybeauty.Theyhave2madeallthyplanksoffirtrees fromSenir:theyhavetakencedarsfromLebanonto

l Heb.entrances.’ Heb.built. cityitselfforwhichtheprophetis mentandhorrorofallbeholders,is hiddentotakeupalamentationashe wrecked,andfoundersonthehigh wasorderedtodofortheprincesof seas.”Heis,nevertheless,compelled Israel(xix.1:cp.v.32:xxvi.l7: toadd:—“Thefigureisnot,however, xxviii.l2:xxxii.2:Am.v.1). V.3 consistentlymaintainedthroughout.” shouldbecompmdwithIs.xxiii.l, Suchacomparisonofastatetoa 3. Westill,itmayberemembered,shipindifficultiesfroma severe speakofourcommercialharboursas stormistobefoundinHer.0d.i.14 portsofentry,i.e.fromortothesea.(Onavis,referentinmaretenovi Tyreclaimsforherselfthatsheis Fluctusl),theideaofwhichistaken ‘perfectinbeauty,’andthisthefromanodeofAlcaeus(18Bergk). prophet,speakingfortheLordGod,Othersimilarillustrationsaretobe recognizesin a laterprophecyfoundinWickham’snoteonHorsee’s (xxviii.l2:cp.xxviii.7,17).Herode.Oneobjectiontoitisthatthe geographicalposition,partlyontwofigurativelanguagemustbebroken islands,enabledhertobespokenof upbytheinsertionof9b—25a. asintheheartoftheseas(no.25, Anotherpointtobenoticedisthe 27),i.e.indeepwaters,whilehernumberofnamesthatarecommon beautywasduetoherbuilders.tothischapterandGen.x. They 5—25.A CATALOGUEorranareKittim,Egypt(i.q.Mizraim), sormcnsorrunWEALTHorTYRE.Elishah,Zidon,Arvad,Lud,Put, ItshouldberemarkedthatmanyTarshish,Javan,Tubal,Meshech, takeon.4—90and25b—36asallegoricalTogarmah,Dedan,Syria(ii.q.Aram), andreferringtoTyreitselfwithits Uzal,Sheba,Raamah,Canneh(’(Cal tributarypeoplesunderfigureofa neh),Asshur(f),andperhapsMadai ship; butthisseemsscarcelyneces(v.23),Gomer(v.11),Cush(is.10), sary:theideaisasoldasJerome.PathrusimorPathros(7seenoteon ItisadoptedbyDriverwhowriteso.10),theZemarite(?v.11). (Lit.oftheQT.p.270):—“Tyreis 5. Thefirtrees(otherstranslate hererepresentedasaship,tothe‘cypresses’whichislessprobable) equipmentofwhicheveryquarterofSenirfurnishbuildingtimber. oftheworldhascontributedits SenirissaidinDt.iii.9tobethe best,whichis mannedbyskilfulAmoritenameforHermon,though marinersanddefendedbybraveitisapparentlydistinguishedfrom warriors(on.l—ll),butwhich,neveritinlChr.v.23(‘SenirandMount theless(on.26—36),totheastonishHermon’)andCant.iv.8(‘thetop 140 EZEKIEL xxvn.5—8

6makeamastforthee.OftheoaksofBashanhavethey madethinecars;theyhavemadethy1benchesofivory 7inlaidinboxwood,fromtheislesofKittim.0ffinelinen withbroideredworkfromEgyptwasthysail,thatit mightbetotheeforanensign; blueandpurplefromthe 8islesofElishahwasthineawning.Theinhabitantsof 1 0r,deck ofSenirandHermon).’ShalmanesersurviveinthenameKition~the (seeDelitzschinEncycl.Bib.4362)Larnakaofto-day.In1 Mace.i.1: speaksinaninscriptionofSaniruas viii.5thewordhasawiderapplica ‘themountainsummitattheen tion. trancetoLebanon.’ 7. Itisalittledifliculttoimagine 6. ‘TheoaksofBashan’(cp.Is. whatembroiderytherecouldbe ii.13:Zech.xi.2)likethe‘cedarsaboutsails:butpicturesofem fromLebanon’arealmostaspro broideredsailsfromEgyptaretobe verbialas‘thebullsofBashan.’foundinWilkinson,Manner:and TheywereakindofevergreenoakCustom:ofEgypt,111.plate16.The whichformedlargeforestsinthewordforsailmeanssomethingspread districttotheEastofJordanknownout,aswesayofships‘aspreadof inNewTestamenttimesas'lh-acanvas.’TheSeptuaginttranslator chonitis(Lukeiii.1). Thewordseemstohavefeltthedifficultyand translated‘benches’(marg.‘deck’) translatedtheword‘couch’:‘thy isonlyusedhereinconnectionwithcouchwaslinenwithembroidery shipping:elsewhereitisusedof fromEgypttoputontheeglory.’ the‘boards’ofthetabernacle.Thereisa furtherdifficultythat Whichevermeaningit has,theancientshipsdidnotcarrypennons prodigalityisthesame,thattheyorensigns: whatisimpliedthenmust shouldbemadeofivoryinlaidin bethatthebroideredworkonthe box(orcedar)wood(A.V.withits sailsenabledonevesseltobedis ‘companyofAshurites’isdueto tinguishedfromanother,intheway amisapprehension).Thesametreethatastandardwasusedasasignal ismentionedinIs.xli.19(RV.marg.inwar:butthemeaningisbyno cypress):1x.13:andthereseemsno meansclear.The‘awning'was reasontodoubtthattheboxistheacoveringOver,ortentupon,the woodusedforthispurpose.Comp.deckofblueandpurpleandcame Verg.Aen.x.137: from‘theislesofElishah.’The “qualeperartemnameElishahonlyoccurselsewhere InclnsumbuxoautOriciaterebintho,inGen.x.4 asthatofasonof Lucetebur.” Javan.Itis thereforeconcluded Thisboxwoodisrepresentedas thatthisexpressionwouldreferto comingfromtheislesofKittim(cp.theGreekcoloniesonthecoastsof Gen.x.4),thatis,fromCyprusandSouthernItalyandSicily.TheTar theislandsadjacenttoit. ThenamegumidentifiesElishahwithItaly. Kittimisbymanysupposedto 8. Zidonisofcoursetheother XXVII.8—10 EZEKIEL 141

ZidonandArvadwerethyrowers: thywisemen,0Tyre, 9wereinthee,theywerethypilots.The1ancientsofGebal andthewisementhereofwereintheethycalkers:allthe shipsoftheseawiththeirmarinerswereintheeto 102occupythymerchandise.PersiaandLudandPutwere inthinearmy,thymenofwar:theyhangedtheshield 1 Or,elders 9 Or,exchange greatPhoeniciancity,coupledwith 10.Thereisasimilarmentionof TyreinIs.xxiii.andabout40milesPersiaandPutinxxxviii.5where northofit.Arvadstillfurthertothe CushtakestheplaceofLud.Many northonlyoccursagaininv.15andcritics,however,denythepossibility 1 Macc.xv.23(Aradus),whilsttheofPersiabeingnamedbyEzekiel, ArvmditeismentionedasdescendedascontributingtroopstotheTyrian fromCanaan(Gen.x.18)likeZidonarmy(seealsonoteonxxxviii.5), (Gen.x.15).The‘pilots’aremenandvarioussuggestionshavebeen tionedagaininav.27,29. made,e.g.byProf.Tiele(Encycl. 9. Gebal,calledbytheGreeksBib.3662),thatPathrosistheplace ByblosandinthepresentdayJebeil,originallymentioned.Butwemay isnowasmallvillage.Itliesonthebecontenttoletthementionof PhoeniciancoastbetweenTripoliPersiastand,supportedasitisin andBeirut,andisoneofthemostbothpassagesbytheSeptuagint. ancientinhabitedplacesintheworld.Lud,mentionedagaininxxx.5and TheGebalofPs.lxxxiii.7 referredIs.lxvi.19,isgenerallyidentified toinR.V.(seemarginalreferences)withtheLydians,butothersmake hasnothingtodowiththisplace.itthenameofapeopleinNorth TheGebalitesofJosh.xiii.5,es Africa[LudiminGen.x.13(de peciallyastheyarementionedin scendedfromMizraim: so1Chr.i.ll): connectionwithLebanon,maybeits Jer.xlvi.9];and,followingupon people;butwhethertheyarethethis,somecriticsalterthenamesto sameastheGebalitestone-masonsLubandLubim(i.q.Libya);there ofSolomon’sdays(IK.v.18)is is,however,nosufiicientreasonfor doubtful.The‘calkers’recurinv. thechange.LudandPutareboth 27; theirbusinesswastotreadmentionedinJudithii.23wherethe (calcare)orpressinsomesuchGreektransliteratesinsteadoftrans substanceasoakumintotheseamslatingthenames.Putisa very ofaship(seeHastings,Diet.s.voc.doubtfulnameandoccursalsoin Calker).Theword‘occupy’ofRV.xxx.5:xxxviii.5:Gen.x.6(1|lChr. isalsousedinanarchaicsenseas i. 8):Jer.xlvi.9:Nah.iii.9,and anequivalentfor‘totradewith’:perhapsalsoIs.lxvi.19(insteadof cp.Lukexix.l3A.V.Occupy(RV.Pul1ifwefollowtheSeptuagint). Tradeyeherewith)tillI come,butInEzekielandJeremiahPutis therenderingofR.V.marg.‘toidentifiedwiththeLibyans:in exchangethymerchandise’is to NahumtheGreekhadadifl'erent bepreferredtothatofRV. text,andthereLubimarethe 142 EZEKIEL XXVII.[0—11

11andhelmetinthee;theysetforththycomeliness.The menofArvadwiththinearmywereuponthywallsround about,and1theGammadimwereinthytowers:theyhanged theirshieldsuponthywallsroundabout;theyhave 12perfectedthybeauty.Tarshishwasthymerchantby 1 Or,valorouamen Libyans.Wemayreasonablyassignbecauseofthecloseconnectionbe PuttoNorthAfrica,perhapstothetweentheArvaditeandtheZemarite ‘partsofLibyaaboutCyrene’(cp.inGen.x.18(ll1 Chr.i. 16).A Actsii.10).OthersplacePutto traceoftheZemaritesissupposedto thesouth-eastofEgyptontheshoreexiststillinthevillageSumrato oftheRedSeaThesethreepeoples,thenorthofTripoli.If,asismost whoevertheywere,arerepresentednatural,wereverttothepresent asaddingtothegloryofTyre(‘theyHebrewtext,wemaylookfor setforththycomeliness’). GammadinthemodernKamidel 11.ArvadhasbeenmentionedLéz,situatedabouthalf-waybetween alreadyasfurnishingrowers(v.8). BeirutandDamascus:andit is Gammadim(RV.marg.‘valorouscuriousinthisconnectiontofind men’)isanotherdiflicultword:thetwoplaces,Kumidi(?Gammad)and SeptuagintandPeshittohadadif Sumura(iZemarite),mentionedin ferenttextandread‘theyweretheAmarnatablets(seeCheyne, watchmen,’makingthewholeverseEncycl.Bib.1639).Thecustomof refertothemenofArvad.Anotherhangingupshieldsisreferredtoin Greekrenderinglooksasifthe Cant.iv.4:l Mace.iv.57.The readingitfollowedwas‘theMedians.’sameexpression‘theyhaveperfected Aquila,theJewishliteraltranslatorthybeauty’isusedoftheGammadim oftheHebrewintoGreek,inhisfirstandofthebuildersofTyre(o.4). editiontranslatedtheword‘pygmies’12.Tarshishismentionedagain connectingthewordwithaHebrew1*.25(‘theshipsofTarshish’)and nounmeaning‘acubit’andmakingxxxviii.13(‘merchantsofTarshish’). themmenofacubit’sstature,andhe Theexpression‘theshipsofTarshish’ isfollowedbytheVulgate.Thewhichoccursseveraltimesinthe pygmiesknowntotheGreekswereBible(1K.x.22:xxii.48:Ps.xlviii. araceofdwarfsontheUpperNile.7:Is.ii.16:xxiii.l,14[inconnec Aquilaafterwards,apparently,readtionwithTyre])isgenerallytaken thepassagedifferentlyandtranslatedasanexpressiontorepresentalarge theword‘completedinnumber.’merchantvessel,justaswespeakof Thisreading,ifitweretherightone,EastIndiameninthesameway. wouldnaturallyconnectthewordButitismuchquestionedwhere withGomer(Gen.x.2),anamewhichTarshishwas.Ithasbeenidenti isidentifiedhereandelsewherewithfiedwithTartessusinSpain,with Cappadocia(therenderinginthe Carthage(sotheSeptuagintinEzekiel SeptuagintofCaphtor).OthersstillandinIs.xxiii.inapassagewhich emendthepassageandreadZemaritereferstoTyre),withTarsus(so

XXVII."—15 EZEKIEL 143

reasonofthemultitudeofallkindsofriches; withsilver, 13iron,tin,andlead,theytradedforthywares.Javan, Tubal,andMeshech,theywerethytraffickers:they tradedthepersonsofmenandvesselsofbrassforthy l4merchandise.TheyofthehouseofTogarmahtradedfor 15thywareswithhorsesandwar-horsesandmules.The menofDedanwerethytraffickers:manyisleswerethe martofthinehand:theybroughtthee1inexchangehorns 1 Or,forapresent BunsenandSayce),orwiththeTyr dotus(iii.94: vii.7)andwholived seniorEtruscans,whilstCheyne,by tothecastofthatpeople.The emendingthispassage,connectstheslavetradecarriedonbyIoniaismen expression‘shipsofTarshish’andtionedinJoeliii.6andislikethat theplacewithNorthArabia.On ofBabylonintheApocalypse,where thewholeCarthageseemsthemost‘soulsofmen’ (thesameexpression likely.ThesilverofTarshishis isusedhere)arereckonedamong mentionedinJer.x.9. Otherplacesthemerchandiseoftheplace.The andeountries—Edon1(v.16andnote),‘vesselsofbrass’(orrather‘bronze’) Damascus,Arabia,Kedar—sharedmentionedhereinconnectionwith thedistinctionofbeingthemerchantsthenameofTubalmayrecalltous ofTyre. thatTubal-cainwas‘theforgerof l3.Javan(Gen.x.2:||1Chr.i.5: everycuttinginstrumentofbrass’ Zech.ix.l3[R.V.Greece])isthesame(Gen.iv.22). nameasIonia,andisgenerallylooked14.ThehouseofTogarmahis uponasrepresentingGreece.Tubalmentionedagaininxxxviii.6,and occurswithJavaninGen.1:.2:Is. TogarmahinGen.x.3(||1 Chr.i.6). lxvi.19.Thenameisusuallyre Nothingis reallyknownofthis gardedasrepresentingtheTibareniplace,butitwasmostprobably wholivedtothenorth-eastofCilicia.ArmeniaI aminclinedtothink CheyneimaginesittobeaNorththatthe‘war-horses’ofRV.should Arabiandistrict.TubalandMeshechbe‘horsemen’(cp.Joelii.4;Jer. occurtogetherhereandinxxxii.26: xlvi.4:l K.iv.26;xx.20:2Chr. xxxviii.2,3: xxxix.l,andbothix.25:Hos.i. 7,etc),forthere namesseemtohavepuzzledthe seemstobenogoodreasonforever Septuaginttranslator,whogivesin makingtheHebrewwordmean thispassageetymologicalrenderingsaparticularkindofhorse:andthe forbothnames.MeshechalsooccursSeptuagintagreeswiththisinter inPacxx.5:1 Chr.i.17(asonof pretation.Theymightverywell Shem,butinll Gen.x.4 Masha havebeenmercenaries grandsonofShem,hisfatherbeing l5.Dedanwehavehadalready Aram).Thenameisidentifiedwith(xxv.13).Here,perhapsrightly, theMoschi,whoarementionedtheSeptuaginttookthewordas togetherwiththeTibarenibyHero‘Rhodians’(soinGen.x.4Dodanim 144 EZEKIEL XXVIL15—17

16ofivoryandebony.Syriawasthymerchantbyreasonof themultitudeofthyhandyworks:theytradedforthy wareswith1emeralds,purple,andbroideredwork,andfine 17linen,andcoral,andrubies.Judah,andthelandofIsrael, theywerethytraflickers:theytradedforthymerchandise wheatofMinnith,and2pannag,andhoney,andoil,and

1 Or,carbuncle:5' Perhaps,akindofconfection. correspondstoRhodaniminl Chr.work’onfinelinencamefrom i.7).InthisversearegulartributeEgyptaswellas(v.7)finelinen isregardedasbeingpaidtoTyre.itself.TheHebrewwordfor‘coral’ Ebonyis notrecognizedbytheusedhereoccursbesidesonlyin Septuagintandonlyoccursherein Jobxxviii.l8andperhapsinProv. ourpresenttext,butthereisno xxiv.7 (butRV.‘Wisdomistoo doubtastotheword.‘Everyvesselhigh’)andis ofveryuncertain ofivory’ispartofthemerchandisemeaning.Toytranslatesit‘pearls.’ ofBabyloninRev.xviii.l2. Thewordfor‘rubies’isalsoarare 16.TheimportsintoTyrefromone,onlyoccurringagaininIs.liv.l2. AramorSyriaarenextdealtwith: A.V.has‘agate’inbothplaces,with theGreek,however,read‘Edom’‘chrysoprase’(cp.Rev.xxi.20)in for‘Aram.’Theconfusionbetweenthemarginhere.TheSeptuagint thetwonamesisoneeasilymade,didnotknowwhatthewordmeant, and,perhaps,EdomistherightsoreproducedtheHebrew.Toy wordhere.Oftheimports,emeraldstranslates‘jasper.’ (marg.carbuncles)arementioned17.JudahandIsraelarehere elsewhereinxxviii.13:Ex.xxviii.18: distinguishedandtheagricultural xxxix.llandcorrespondtoadifl'erentcharacterofthecountryisaccentu‘ Hebrewwordfromthattranslatedated.Anexportofwheatandoil carbuncle(marg.emerald)inxxviii.toTyreinSolomon’sreignisrecorded 13:Ex.xxviii.l7:xxxix.10.Itis inl K.v.11(||2Chr.ii.10),and difficulttodistinguishthewords:muchthesametradewentonin someconsiderthatthewordinthepost-exilicdays(Ezraiii.7)andin presentpassagemeans‘malachite.’theApostles’time(TyreandSidon Itseemslike‘carryingcoalsto werefedfromHerod’scountry, Newcastle’tospeakofimportingActsxii.20).Thereseemsnoneed purpleintoTyrefromEdomandtoalter,withCornill,‘Minnith’into ‘theislesofElishah’(v.7);itmay‘andspices.’Minnithisa place betherewassomespecialexcellencementionedinJudg.xi.33and, abouttheirgoods,orthatforeignthoughtheexactsiteisnotknown, purplewaslookeduponasanex itmusthavestoodinaveryfertile travagantluxury(cp.Aesch.Ag.district,anditswheatseemsfrom 883—909).Purplewasamongstthethepresentpassagetohaveobtained merchandiseoftheApocalypticagreatreputation.ItwasinAm Babylon(Rev.xviii.12).‘Broideredmoniteterritory,andthatlandpaid

w‘n‘:’P“.Q-7. _ n _ __—.'- -_.__-—__:___:_—-—' fl XXVII.17—19 EZEKIEL 145

18balm.Damascuswasthymerchantforthemultitudeof thyhandyworks,byreasonofthemultitudeofallkindsof 19riches; withthewineofHelbon,andwhitewool.Vedan andJavantraded1withyarnforthywares:2brightiron,

1 Accordingtosomeancientversions,fromUzal.1 Or,wrought

atributeofgraintoJotham(2Chr.next,thereisconsiderabledifficulty xxvii.5).N0onehasyetascertainedaboutthetext;for‘whitewool. what‘pannag’means.R.V.marg.VedanandJavan’becomesinthe followingtheTargumsays‘PerhapaSeptuagint‘woolfromMiletus,and akindofconfection’andvariouswine,’whilsta wordtranslated conjecturalemendationshavebeen‘yarn’alittlelaterbecomes‘from made,themostcommonlyacceptedAsel’(R..V.marg.‘fromUzal’).The beingawordmeaning‘wax.’A.V.woolofMiletuswasofmostnotice thoughtofPannagasthenameof ablequality.Vergilspeaksof‘Milesia aplacetogowithMinnith.Itis, vellera’(G.iii.306:iv.335),but perhaps,justworthmentioningthattheinsertionofthisnamehereis ‘panicum,’oneoftheLatinnamespureguesswork.TheHebrewmight for‘millet,’goesbackatanyrateto mean‘woolfromZachar.’The thetimeofJuliusCaesar(B.O.n. curiousnameVedan,elsewhere 22).Akindofgrainwouldsuittheunknown,seemstoshewthatthe contexthere.BalmandhoneywereHebrewiscorrupt,thoughnames carriedintoEgyptfromPalestinebeginningwiththeletterVdo inJacob’sdays(Gen.xxxvii.25:actuallyoccur,e.g.VahebinNumb. 11):theformerwasoneof xxi.l4.GlaseridentifiesVedan theproductsofGilead(Jer.viii.22 withWaddannearMedinainArabia, ‘IstherenobalminGilead?’). butthisdoesnotagreewithits 18,19.DamascuswasoneofthecombinationwithJavan.TheSep oldestandwealthiestcitiesofearlytuagintomitstheword.Javanhas times:itwasthecapitalofSyria,occurredalready(o.13).Thevarious andthementionofitherestrengthenssuggestedemendationsofthetext theargumentinfavourof‘Edom’needscarcelyberecorded:butif beingtherightreadinginv.16. Uzal(RV.marg.)isrightrather HclbonisthemodernIlelbun,a than‘yarn,’thispointslikeVedan fewmilesto thenorth-westof toanArabiansourcefortheproducts Damascus.Itissupposedthattheofthisverse.Azalissaid(Encycl. ChalybonianwineofthePersianBib.5239)tohavebeentheancient Court(Straboxv.735)camefromthenameofthecapitalofYemenand vineyardshere.Thesestillexistthenamewouldthennaturally ‘butthegrapesarenowalldriedto connectitselfwithUzalthesonof formraisins,’thevillagebeinga Joktan(Gen.1:.27:H1Chr.i.21). Mahommedanone(Baedeker,Pal.‘Wroughtiron’(RV.marg.)isa andSyria,p.369).Attheendof betterrenderingthan‘brightiron’: thisverseandthebeginningofthebutthewordusedissdoubtfulone.

B. 10 146 EZEKIEL XXVILr9—13

20cassia,andcalamus,wereamongthymerchandise.Dedan 21wasthytraflickerinpreciousclothsforriding.Arabia, andalltheprincesofKedar,theywerethemerchantsof thyhand;inlambs,andrams,andgoats,inthesewere 22theythymerchants.ThetraffickersofShebaandRaamah, theywerethytraflickers: theytradedforthywareswith chiefofallspices,andwithallpreciousstones,andgold. 23HaranandCannehandEden,thetraffickersofSheba,

Thewordfor‘cassia'onlyoccursfrankincensefromSheba’i’);cp.also oncebesides(Ex.xxx.24RV.marg.xxxviii.13.Theexactpositionof ‘costus’);itisapreparationfromRaamahisuncertain:itwasnear thebarkofashruboftheCinnamonthePersiangulf.‘Thechiefofall order.Calamus(cp.Ex.xxx.23)is spices’include‘flowingmyrrh,‘ afragrantreedofsomesort,which‘sweetcinnamon,’‘sweetcalamus’ came‘froma farcountry’(Jer.andcassia,forthesearecalled‘the vi.20). chiefspices’(Ex.xxx.23):tothese 20.Dedan,aboutwhichtheremustbeaddedaloes(Cantiv.14), wassomedoubtino.15,isherecp.Milton,P.L.w.161(quotedby representedasproducingpreciousToy): saddlecloths,withwhichwemay Ofiatseanorth-eastwindsblow comparethe‘richcarpets’ ofJudg.Sabeanodoursfromthespicyshore v.10.Owing,however,tothefactOfArabytheblast. thatthewordusedheredoesnot Itisdifficulttosaywhatprecious occurelsewhere,themeaningisex stonesaremeantine.22.Malachite, tremelydoubtful.Somereferthe turquoise,andrubiesareperhaps wordtoanimalsnottosaddlecloths.indicated,aswellaspearls,onyxand 21.Kedar,inthenorthofArabia,carnelian(seeEncycl.Britannica andeastofPalestine,wasacountrys.voc.Arabia). famousforsmallcattle(Is.lx.7 ‘All 23.Haran(Gen.xi.31: 2K.xix. theflocksofKedarshallbegathered12:||Is.xxxvii.12)istheplace togetheruntothee’).Itsprinceswhichwastheintermediatestage weretributarytoTyre;thatisthebetweenUrandCanaaninthe meaningof‘merchantsofthyhand.’migrationsofAbraham(cp.Actsvii. 22.Shebaoccursagainlater4). Itwasabout500milesN.W.of (0.23:xxxviii.l3),andalso,withUrandnotfarfromEdessa:itis Raamah,inGen.1.7 (II1Chr.i.9 ontheeastsideoftheEuphrates. ‘Raama’).ThenamesareconnectedCannehisperhapsCalneh,forthisis withArabia;ShebaproducesspicesthereadingofoneHeb.14s.,andis andgoldaccordingtoIs.lx.20 aplaceofuncertainidentification. (‘theyallshallcomefromSheba:Thereweretwoplacesofthename, theyshallbringgoldandfrankoneinNimrod’skingdom(Gen.x.10), incense’)andJer.vi. 20(‘TotheotherinNorthSyria(Am.vi.2: whatpurposecomeththeretome inIs1:.9Calno);thelatteristhe XXV'II.23-16 EZEKIEL 147

24AsshurandChilmad,werethytraffickers.Thesewere thytraffickersinchoicewares,inlwrappingsofblueand broideredwork,andinchestsofrichapparel,boundwith 25cordsandmadeofcedar,amongthymerchandise.The shipsofTarshishwerethycaravansforthymerchandise: andthouwastreplenished,andmadeverygloriousinthe 26heartoftheseas.Thyrowershavebroughttheeinto

1 Or,bales morelikely.EdenlikeHaranis withToy,‘mantles’A‘blue’ma mentionedin2K.xix.12(HIs.xxxvii.terialhasbeenalreadymentioned l2:cp.Amosi. 5). N0certain(0.7)and‘broideredwork’has identificationofit hasyetbeenoccurredtwice(as.7,16).‘Chests’ made:R.V.marg.hasBeth-edenin isanotherverydoubtfulword:it Am.i. 5. ForShebaseev. 22. maymean‘carpets.’‘Ofrichap Asshuriscountedamongthesonsof parel’oncemorerepresentsaword Shem(Gen.x.22:IllChr.i.17).Thethatdoesnotoccurelsewhere;it namecannotmeanAssyriahere,andmaybeAssyrianinitsoriginand itmustbeconnectedwiththemeanclothwithtwostrandsofcolour Telassarof2K.xix.12(llIs.xxxvii.init(seeOngf'.Heb.Lax.s. voc. 12)inwhichthechildrenofEden,a D‘Dfig)Thesameauthoritymakes placealsomentionedinthisverse,thewordfor‘madeofcedar,’not aresaidtodwell.Thelastnameoccurringelsewhere,simplymean Chilmaddoesnotoccurelsewhere.‘strong.’ Itwillbenoticedthatithasno 25.FortheshipsofTarshishsee conjunctionbeforeit. Soearlyas 0.12.Theuseoftheword‘caravans’ theTargumconjecturewasatworkasappliedtoshipsisratherstrange, andforChilmad‘andMedia.’wasandtheHebrewconstructionis takentobetherightreading.Thisunusual:thereis probablysome hasbeengenerallyaccepted. corruptionofthetext.A.V.has, 24.Theimportsfromtheplacesquitedifferently,‘TheshipsofTar anddistrictsofthelastverseareshishdidsingoftheeinthymarket,’ given.Thetextofthisverseisverybutthisdoesnotseemanymore uncertain.Thewordfor‘choicesatisfactory.Moreprobablestillis wares’(perhapsrather‘materials’Aquila’sreadingoftheHebrew, or‘robes’)doesnotoccuranywhere‘ministeredtothee.’For‘inthe elsebutisakintoa wordwhichheartoftheseas,’cp.or.4,26, occursinxxiii.l8:xxxviii.4andis 27. translatedbyRV.inthefirstplace 26.‘Greatwaters’shouldbe ‘mostgorgeously,’inthesecond‘in rather,asRV.translates,e.g.in fullarmour.’‘Wrappings’(marg.Numb.xxiv.7‘manywaters,’implying ‘bales’) representsanotheruniquethattheknowledgeofTyrehadspread word,andmaybebettertranslated,farandwide.Thedestructionto 10—2 148 EZEKIEL XXVII.16—51 greatwaters:theeastwindhathbrokentheeintheheart 27oftheseas.Thyriches,andthywares,thymerchandise, thymariners,andthypilots,thycalkers,andthe1occupiers ofthymerchandise,andallthymenofwar,thatarein thee,2withallthycompanywhichisinthemidstofthee, shallfallintotheheartoftheseasinthedayofthyruin. 28Atthesoundofthecryofthypilotsthe8suburbsshall 29shake.Andallthathandletheoar,themariners,andall thepilotsofthesea,shallcomedownfromtheirships, 30theyshallstandupontheland,andshallcausetheirvoice tobeheardoverthee,andshallcrybitterly,andshall castupdustupontheirheads,theyshallwallowthem 31selvesintheashes: andtheyshallmakethemselvesbald forthee,andgirdthemwithsackcloth,andtheyshall weepfortheeinbitternessofsoulwithbittermourning. 32Andintheirwailingtheyshalltakeupalamentationfor

1 Or,exchanger:3 Or,andin ' Or,waves

shippingduetotheeastwindis mariners,andasmanyasgaintheir alludedtoinPs.xlviii.7, livingbysea,stoodafaroff,andcried Withtheeastwind out...Andtheycastdustontheir ThoubreakesttheshipsofTarshish.heads,andcried,weepingand 27—31.Utterdestructionandthe mourning.’Thecastingupofdust lamentationthatwastofollowis upontheheadsasasignofwoeis prophesiedintheseverses.ThementionedinLam.ii.10(cp.Josh. ‘pilots’(cp.on.28,29)ofTyrewerevii.6);andforthewallowingor mentionedinv.8,the‘calkers’in rollingin ashescp.Jer.vi.26 e.9. Forthe‘occupiers’ofmer (‘wallowthyselfinashes’):xxv.34. chandiseseenote1:.9. ThewordThelatterimpliesmoredrastic ‘company’meansthemultitudeself-humiliationthanthecastingof assembledinTyre.‘Suburbs’(cp. ashesonthehead.Themaking xlv.2: xlviii.l5,17)werereallytheoneselfbaldingrief(Mic.i. 16) pasturelandsrounda city.Theis frequentlymentionedin the Septuagintreada differentwordprophets.Certainkindsofsuch andtranslated‘theyshallbeafraidoperationswereforbiddenbythe withterror.’ThetranslationofRV.Law(Lev.xix.27: Deut.xiv.12 cp. marg.isnottenable.ThecorreLev.xxi.5),probablybecauseof spondencebetweenev.29-31andtheirreligioussignificanceamongst Rev.xviii.17—19shouldbenoticed:neighbouringpeoples. ‘Andeveryshipmaster,andevery 32-36.Theformoflamentatiou onethatsailethanywhither,andisgivenherejustasitisover XXVII.31—XXVIII.1 EZEKIEL 149

thee,andlamentoverthee,saying,Whoistherelike Tyre,likeherthatisbroughttosilenceinthemidstof 33thesea?Whenthywareswentforthoutoftheseas, thoufilledstmanypeoples; thoudidstenrichthekingsof theearthwiththemultitudeofthyrichesandofthy 34merchandise.1Inthetimethatthouwastbrokenbythe seasinthedepthsofthewaters,thymerchandiseandall 35thycompanydidfallinthemidstofthee.Allthe inhabitantsoftheislesareastonishedatthee,andtheir kingsarehorriblyafraid,theyaretroubledintheir 36countenance.Themerchantsamongthepeopleshissat thee; thouartbecome2aterror,andthoushaltneverbe anymore.

xliv.ThejudgementoftheprinceofTyre.xxviii.1-10.

XXVIII.1 ThewordoftheLORDcameagainunto 2me,saying,Sonofman,sayuntotheprinceofTyre,Thus saiththeLordGOD: Becausethineheartisliftedup,and thouhastsaid,Iamagod,IsitintheseatofGod,inthe

‘ Accordingtosomeancientversions,Nowthouartbrokm...arefallen(to. 2 Or,adestructionHeb.terrors.

BabyloninRev.xviii.‘Whoistherebecomeaterror’(marg.destruction) likeTyre?’(v.32)correspondswithseexxvi.21. ‘Whatcityislikethegreatcity7’ TheactualfateofTyreisthe (Rev.xviii.18).Sowithv.33cp. subjectofxxix.17—20. ‘Themerchantsofthesethings,who XXVIII.1-10.Theprophetnew weremaderichbyher’(Rev.xviii.l5) turnstotherulerofTyrecalled and‘whereinweremaderichall ‘prince’inv.1 and‘king’in0.12. thathadtheirshipsintheseaby ThiswasIthobaalII(thenameis reasonofhercostliness’(Rev.xviii.identicalinformwiththatofEth 19).Theelegytakesalmostapoeticbaal,thefatherofJezebel,Ahab’s form.ThebreakingofTyrebythequeen,andkingofZidon).The seasistobeexplainedbyxxvi.19. languageofon.2,IS,19isagain ‘Allthycompany’recursfromv.27 themodelforthatofRev.xviii.7,8: (seenote)Thehissingis nota ‘She(i.e.Babylon)saithinherheart, hissingofcontempt,butofstartledI sitaqueen,andshallinnowise surprise.Forthewords‘thouartseemourning.Thereforeinoneday 150 EZEKIEL XXVIII.'1—9

1midstoftheseas;yetthouartman,andnotGod,though 3thoudidstsetthineheartastheheartofGod:behold, thouartwiserthanDaniel;thereisnosecretthatthey 4canhidefromthee:bythywisdomandbythineunder standingthouhastgottenthee2riches,andhastgotten 5goldandsilverintothytreasures:bythygreatwisdom andbythytrafiichastthouincreasedthy2riches,and 6thineheartisliftedupbecauseofthy12riches:therefore thussaiththeLordGOD: Becausethouhastsetthine 7heartastheheartofGod;thereforebehold,Iwillbring strangersuponthee,theterribleofthenations: andthey shalldrawtheirswordsagainstthebeautyofthywisdom, 8andtheyshall8defilethybrightness.Theyshallbring theedowntothepit;andthoushaltdiethedeathsofthem 9thatareslain,intheheartoftheseas.Wiltthouyetsay beforehimthatslayeththee,IamGod?butthouartman, andnotGod,inthehandofhimthat‘woundeththee. 1 Heb.heart.3 0r,power' Or,profane4 Or,profaneth shallherplaguescome,death,andmodernone.Ithasbeensuggested mourning,andfamine.’ThekingthatEnochshouldtakehisplace likehiscitysitsinthemidstofthe(seeCheyneinEncycl.Bib.s.voc. seasandis‘asagod.’WemayEnoch),especiallyastheHebrew comparetheendofHerodinActsofEcclus.xliv.l6(latelydiscovered) 21—23whowassalutedwiththemakesEnoch‘anexampleofknow shout‘Thevoiceofagod,andnotledge’insteadof‘ofrepentance’ ofaman.’Sothekinghereclaims(theGreekversion).Butthis divinity(cp.Is.xiv.l3,14)V21.3—5hardlyseemsasufiicientreasonfor aresarcastic.OflateithasbeenwantonlyalteringtheMassoretic arguedthattheDanielofthistext.Itwouldscarcelyhavebeen passagecouldnotbetheprophetdeemednecemry,butforthelate Daniel,notwithstandingthatwearedateascribedbymoderncriticsto toldthattohimwiththethreetheBookofDaniel,whichhowever childrenGodgave‘knowledgeandinanycasemaybeconsideredto skillinalllearningandwisdom’havea historicalbasis.‘Riches’ andthat‘Danielhadunderstandingor‘power’(R.V.marg.)areequal inallvisionsanddreams’(Dan.i.17).lyadmissibletranslations.‘Thine Thereasongivenforthisisthatheartisliftedup’(u.5)looksback thethirdpersonmentioned,wheretov.1,justasv. 6 looksback Danieloccursinapreviouspassagetov.2. Thestrangerswerethe (xiv.14,Q0,seenotethere),oughthostsofNebuchadrezzardrawnfrom tobeanancientheroandnota manynations(cp.xxx.11‘Heand IX'VIILio—r3 EZEKIEL 151

10Thoushaltdiethedeathsoftheuncircumcisedbythe handofstrangers:forI havespokenit,saiththeLord GOD.

xlv.ThelannentationoverthekingofTyre,astherepre sentativeofthenwgm'fieemeofTyreitself. 11—19.

Itshouldberememberedthatinthispassagethelanguageisfounded upon(a)theaccountoftheGardenofEden;(b)thedescriptionsinExodus of(i)thegivingofthelaw;(ii)thebreastplateofthehigh-priest;and (iii)thecherubimovershadowingthemercy-seat

11 MoreoverthewordoftheLORDcameuntome,saying, 12Sonofman,takeupalamentationforthekingofTyre, andsayuntohim,ThussaiththeLordGOD:Thousealest 13upthe1sum,fullofwisdom,andperfectinbeauty.Thou wastinEdenthegardenofGod;everypreciousstonewas

’ Or,measureOr,pattern hispeoplewithhim,theterribleof wordtranslated‘sum’(marg.‘mea thenations,’xxxi.l2‘Strangers,sure,’or‘pattern’)isvague,butis theterribleofthenations,havecutintendedtoconveytheideaof‘per him08":andsoxxxii.12).Thefection’(A.B.Davidson):itonly restoftheverseshouldbecomparedoccursagaininxlviii.10. witho. 17foritsphraseology.Thekingswisdomhasbeen ‘Brightness’isequivalentto‘splenalready(a.3)describedasgreater dour.’‘Intheheartoftheseas’ is thanthatofDaniel:andperfection usedofTyre’spositioninthepreviousofbeautyisassignedtoTyrein prophecy(xxvii.4,25).‘Thedeathxxvii.3,4. Thewholepassageof oftheuncircumcised’impliesthatit courseisbitingsarcasm. isthedeathofanoutcastForthe 13.Thereisconsiderablediffi wordswithwhichthisprophecycultyinunderstandingwhatthe closescp.xvii.21. prophetmeanswhenhespeaksboth ll—19.TheseversesformtheofthekingofTyreandoftheking elegyoverthekingofTyre,asits ofAssyria(xxxi.8,9)ashavingto representative.Inxxvii.32—36theredowithEdenthegardenofGod wasalamentationoverTyreitself.(mentionedalsoinxxxvi.35:Is.ii. Thekingiscalledprinceinthe3:Joelii.3). Itisevident,atany previousprophecy(v.2). Herehis rate,thatthereferencemustbeto formerhumanexcellencesandwealththegardenofEdeninwhichour aredescribed.Themeaningofthefirstparentsaresaidtohavebeen 152 EZEKIEL XXVIILr3 thycovering,the1sardius,thetopaz,andthediamond,the beryl,theonyx,andthejasper,thesapphire,the2emerald, andthescarbuncle,andgold:theworkmanshipofthy tabretsandofthypipeswasinthee; inthedaythatthou

1 Or,ruby '-’ Or,carbunclc‘ Or,emerald

placed.Ithasbeenheldthatisred,whilethesardiusisbrown. EzekielisdrawingherefromotherThe‘topaz’oftheGreeksisinall traditionsaboutEdenthanthoseprobabilitynotthesamestoneas containedintheBiblewhichwerethetopazofto-dayandcorresponds currentinBabylonia,buttheexistratherwiththechrysoliteorperidot. enceofsuchtraditionshasnotyetItismentionedinJob(xxviii.18) beenproved.Fromthecontextof ascomingfromEthiopia,andthe thesepassageswecanonlygatherHebrewnameisperhapsanexotic thatthewordsimplythatthekingswordconnectedwitha Sanskrit mentionedwereinthewealthiestonemeaning‘yellow.’The‘diamond’ andmostfertileplacesthatcouldhereisanotherdoubtfulrendering. beimagined.Thewealthhereis TheOzf.Heb.Lez.suggestsjasper accentuatedbythecatalogueof oronyx,derivingthenamefrom preciousstonesthatthekingof arootsignifying‘hardness.’The Tyrewascoveredwith; intheother‘beryl,’too,isdoubtful,thestone passagethefertilityisemphasizedmentionedbeingnamedTarshish bythedescriptionofthetreesofthefromthelocalityfromwhichit garden.Thepreciousstonesbroughtcame.Itis mentionedalsoin toTyrearementionedinxxvii.16, i. 16:x.9 (‘stoneofTarshish’ 22.ThelistofpreciousstonesgivenRV.marg.),Cantv.14(RV.marg. hereshouldbecomparedwiththat‘topaz’). Forthe‘onyx’theRV. ofthoseinthehigh-priest’sbreastmarg.givesinsomeplaces(e.g.Ex. plate(Ex.xxviii.17:xxxix.10):xxviii.9)‘beryl.’Thisillustrates wherethenamesoccurin a thegreatdifficultythatcriticshave somewhatdifferentorder,andtheinidentifyingthevariousstones, thirdrowofthreeis leftoutandtheolderversionsdonothelp altogether.Suchalistrecursin usverymuch.Thejasperandthe thelistofthetwelveprecioussapphirearegenerallyrecognized, stoneswhichformedthefoundationsthoughthelatternameincludes oftheheavenlyJerusalem(Rev.xxi.lapislazuli(Rev.xxi.19RV.marg.) 19,20).IfwefollowtherenderingsTheemeraldandthecarbuncle ofRV.therearesixstonesofthat(orderreversedinRV.marg.)are passageidenticalwithsixinthelistalsodoubtfulnames.Theformeris here.Becauseoftheetymologyof bysomeheldtostandformalachite, theHebrewnameofthefirststone,thelatter,followingtheGreek meaning‘redness,’RV.marg.version,isgenerallytakentomean identifiesitwiththe‘ruby.’Otherstheemerald.Thereismuchob identifyitwith‘carnelian’whichseurityaboutallthesenames,and XXV'IILi3—r5 EZEKIEL 153

14wastcreatedtheywereprepared.Thouwasttheanointed cherubthatcovereth:andI setthee,sothatthouwast upontheholymountainofGod; thouhastwalkedupand 15downinthemidstofthestonesoffire.Thouwastperfect inthywaysfromthedaythatthouwastcreated,till thedifficultyaboutsomeofthem‘extended’andthentheremaybe isenhancedbytheunknownlinguanallusiontothecherubimandthe isticsourcefromwhichtheycame.mercy-seatwheretheoutwardtoken TheGreekversiongivestwelveofGod’spresencewastobeseen. nameshereinsteadofnine,besideCp.Ex.xxv.20‘Andthecherubim addinggoldandsilverinthemiddleshallspreadouttheirwingson ofthelist.Onceagainthetabretshigh,coveringthemercy—seatwith andpipesofv.13seema.littleouttheirwings’(so1 K.viii.7). Ifthe ofplaceandthesettingsofthekingwaswithGodthenhewould preciousstoneswouldcomeinherebe‘upontheholymountainof morenaturally.TheHebrewwordGod’:fortheconstantideainthe for‘pipes’doesnotoccurelsewhere:QT.isofthepresenceofGodupon butwhatthetwowordsmeanex amountain(cp.xx.40:Ex.xxiv. actlyisnotclear.Perhaps‘settings9:Is.xiv.13).Thestonesoffire andsockets’(02szHeb.Lear.6662.)describethefireonthemountain isasnearaswecanget.ThedaytopinthepresenceofGod;‘mount oftheking’screation(cp.w.l3,15) Sinaiwasaltogetheronsmoke, wasthedayofhisbirth.FrombecausetheLorddescendeduponit thatdayforwardhismagnificenceinfire’(Ex.xix.l8):andwhenwe wasassured readofthekingherewalkingup 14.Theprophetnowgoesonto anddowninthemidstofthestones callhimbyanothertitlefullofob offireduringhistimeofperfection, scurity,‘theanointedcherubthatweareremindedofthequestion eovereth.’Theideaisevidentlyled andanswer,‘Whoamongusshall ontofromthementionofEden.dwellwiththedevouringfire“I who Thetranslationmayequallywellrun,amongusshalldwellwithever withtheGreek,‘thouwastwiththelastingburnings? Hethatwalketh cherub.’Thethoughttobegraspedrighteously...heshalldwellonhigh' isthat,asTyreclaimedtobeequal(Is.xxxiii.14—16). withGod(1:.2),soheretheking 15—19.Buttheking’sfallwas looksuponhimselfasentitledtobe tocomewhenhisunrighteousness in Paradisewiththeattendantappeared.ThewealthofTyre satellitesofGodandtobeoneof broughtwithit oppressionand theirnumber,andistreatedasbeingviolenceandsothekingandthe theretillhefallslikeAdamintocoveringcherub,whethertheyare sin. Butthewordstranslatedoneortwo,aretobedestroyedand ‘anointed’ and‘thatcovereth’ are castoutfromthemountainofGod difficult,especiallytheformer.Theandfromthemidstofthestonesof word‘anointed’ismoreprobablyfirewherenothingprofanecould 164 EZEKIEL XXVIIL15—12 16unrighteousnesswasfoundinthee.Bythemultitudeof thytraflictheyfilledthemidstoftheewithviolence,and thouhastsinned:thereforehaveI casttheeasprofane outofthemountainofGod; andIhavedestroyedthee, 0coveringcherub,fromthemidstofthestonesoffire. 17Thineheartwasliftedupbecauseofthybeauty,thou hastcorruptedthywisdombyreasonofthybrightness: I havecasttheetotheground,Ihavelaidtheebeforekings, 18thattheymaybeholdthee.Bythemultitudeofthine iniquities,intheunrighteousnessofthytraflic,thouhast profanedthysanctuaries; thereforehaveIbroughtforth afirefromthemidstofthee,ithathdevouredthee,and Ihaveturnedtheetoashesupontheearthinthesight 19ofallthemthatbeholdthee.Alltheythatknowthee amongthepeoplesshallbeastonishedatthee:thouart become1aterror,andthoushaltneverbeanymore. xlvi.AshortprzmhecyagainstZidon,followedbyan intimationofthereturnofIsraeltoitsownland. xxviii.20—26. 20 AndthewordoftheLORDcameuntome,saying, 21Sonofman,setthyfacetowardZidon,andprophesy 22againstit,andsay,ThussaiththeLordGOD:Behold,I 1 Or,adestructionHeb.terrors. existPrideandcorruptionof greatrivalofTyre,behavedbysome intellectarethecausesofthetohavebeeninearlytimesthegreater kingsfall,aswellasimmoraltradingofthetwocities.AtanyrateZidon andsacrilege,andotherkingsareismentionedinGenesis(x.15,19), toseehisdegradation.Heistobe whileTyredoesnotappearthere. entirelydestroyedbyfirefromwithinInIsaiah(xxiii.)‘theburdenof (cp.xxx.8,l4,l6,andRev.xviii.8 Tyre’includesa denunciationof 'she[i.e.Babylon]shallbeutterlyZidon(vo.4,12).Itwasastrong burnedwithfire’).Eachprophecyplace(Josh.xix.28);itskingsare againstTyreconcludesinsimilarmentionedbyJeremiah(xxv.22: language(cp.v.19withxxvi.21, xxvii.3);andEzekiel(xxxii.30) xxvii.36). alsomentionstheslaughterofits 20-94.AcmsrZmon.Asepainhabitants.Itspeoplearemen rateprophecydealswithZidon,thetionedwiththoseofTyreinthe

XXVIH.n—sg EZEKIEL 155 amagainstthee,OZidon;andIwillbeglorifiedinthe midstofthee:andtheyshallknowthatI amtheLORD, whenIshallhaveexecutedjudgementsinher,andshall 23besanctifiedinher.ForIwillsendintoherpestilence andbloodinherstreets; andthewoundedshall1fallin themidstofher,withthesworduponheroneveryside; 24andtheyshallknowthatI amtheLORD.Andthere shallbenomoreaprickingbrieruntothehouseofIsrael, noragrievingthemofanythatareroundaboutthem, thatdiddespiteuntothem;andtheyshallknowthatI amtheLordGOD. 25 ThussaiththeLordGOD: WhenIshallhavegathered thehouseofIsraelfromthepeoplesamongwhomthey arescattered,andshallbesanctifiedintheminthesight ofthenations,thenshalltheydwellintheirownland

1 Or,bejudged Acts(xii.20)andtheSyro-phoecontiguitytoIsraelaprickingbrier nicianWoman,aGreekorGentile,anda grievingthem:cp.Numb. whoentreatedourLordforherxxxiii.55‘thenshallthosewhich daughtercameoutofthebordersyeletremainofthembeaspricks ofTyreandSidon(Markvii.24, inyoureyes,andasthornsinyour 26).ThejudgementofZidonis, sides’(soJosh.xxiii.13).Weare intheprophet’sdeclaration,maderemindedbythesecondsimileof toredoundtothegloryofGodStPaul’s‘thornintheflesh’(2Cor. (cp.xxxix.13),justasthedestrucxii.7). TheGreekwordfor‘thorn’ tionoftheEgyptiansattheRedusedinthislastpassageisusedfor SeaissaidtobringHimhonourtheHebrewwordtranslated‘brier’ (Ex.xiv.4,17,18,cp.Rom.iv.17).in thepresentverse.Forthe Theexpressionsusedherearethoseexpression‘diddespiteuntothem,’ wehavemetwithinotherpropheciescp.xvi.57,andforthefinalwordsof (eg.cp.m.21,22withvi.2,7,xiii.both0.23andv.24cp.vi.7. 8,xx.41).Zidonisthreatenedwith 25,26.Thelasttwoversesof pestilenceaswellaswithslaughter.thischapterareconnectedwiththe Weknownothingfromhistoryof previousonesbythementionofthe whathappenedto it,afterthehouseofIsraelinv.24.Thereistobe fallofJerusalem,butabout230arecollectionoftheIsraelitesinto yearslater(351no.)thecitywastheirownland(seepassagesquoted destroyedbyAlexanderOchus.onxi.17).Godissanctifiedalikein Thetranslationofthetextistobe HisjudgementuponZidonandin preferredtothatofthemarginin mercytowardIsrael(cp.v.25with e. 23. Zidonhadbeenfromits a22).ThepromisethatIsrael

*---rm-JM--'-w'-~ “'V'W‘“""A r 156 EZEKIELXXV'III.15,—XXIX.3

26whichI gavetomyservantJacob.Andtheyshalldwell securelytherein; yea,theyshallbuildhouses,andplant vineyards,andshalldwellsecurely;whenI haveexe cutedjudgementsuponallthosethatdothemdespite roundaboutthem;andtheyshallknowthatI amthe LORDtheirGod.

G“.ASERIESOFPROPHECIESAGAINSTEGYPT, INTERRUPTEDBYTHEMISPLACEDINSERTION OFxxix.17—21,WHICHOUGHTTOCOMEAFTER xxviii.19,58713.0.G1CHAPTERXXIX.1-16.

Thesepropheciesaredatedearlierthanxxvi.—xxviii.andareattributed toatimesevenmonthsanteriortothefallofJerusalem. xlvii.AprophecyagainstEgyptanditsking.xxix.1—16.

XXIX.1 Inthetenthyear,inthetenthmonth,in thetwelfthdayofthemonth,thewordoftheLORDcame 2untome,saying,Sonofman,setthyfaceagainstPharaoh kingofEgypt,andprophesyagainsthim,andagainst 3allEgypt:speak,andsay,ThussaiththeLordGOD: shouldagaindwellinhisownlandrezzar,asbothJeremiah(xlvi.13-26) isrepeatedtwice(xxxvi.28:xxxvii.andEzekielforetold;theredoesnot 25).ThementionofJacobinsteadexistanydefiniterecordofwhatis ofAbrahamhereandinxxxvii.25 initselfinherentlyprobable.The is unusual.Jeremiahspeaksof ‘burdenofEgypt’(Is.xix.)should Jacob’stents(xxx.18)inoneplacebecomparedwiththeselaterpro inmuchthesameway. phecies.ThedesolationofEgyptis XXIX.2-7.Aesms'rEGYPT.alsoannouncedbyJoel(iii.19). ThePharaohofthisprophecyis Hereandinxxxii.2thekingof PharaohHophramentionedunderEgyptis comparedtothegreat thatnamebyJeremiah(xliv.30),dragon,a mythologicalmonster, butelsewheresimplycalledPharaoh.perhapsidenticalwiththeBaby HewasthegrandsonofPharaohlonianTiamat,butconceivedofin Necho(2K.xxiii.29)andreigned,thelanguageofthesetwoprophecies accordingtothebestauthorities,assomethinglikeahugecrocodile nineteenyears(588-5693.0.).It (cp.Ps.lxxiv.13:Is.xxvii.1:Ii.9). hasbeenquestionedwhetherEgyptThedeclarationofr. 3ismadea everwasconqueredbyNebuchadchargeagainstPharaohinn. 9. XXIX.3—6 EZEKIEL 157 Behold,I amagainstthee,PharaohkingofEgypt,the greatdragonthatliethinthemidstofhisrivers,which hathsaid,Myriverismineown,andIhavemadeitfor 4myself.AndI willputhooksinthyjaws,andI will causethefishofthyriverstostickuntothyscales;and I willbringtheeupoutofthemidstofthyrivers,with allthefishofthyriverswhichstickuntothyscales. 5AndI willleavetheethrownintothewilderness,thee andallthefishofthyrivers:thoushaltfalluponthe 1openfield;thoushaltnotbebroughttogether,nor gathered:I havegiventheeformeattothebeastsof 6theearthandtothefowlsoftheheaven.Andallthe inhabitantsofEgyptshallknowthatI amtheLORD,

1 Heb.faceofthefield.

The‘rivers’maybethedifferentEgyptbeingcalled‘astaffofreed’ streamsofthedeltaofthe‘river,’(cp.2 K.xviii.21:‘thoutrustest i.e.theNile.Forthe‘hooks’we uponthestafi‘ofthisbruisedreed, maycomparexxxviii.4:2K.xix.evenuponEgypt; whereonifaman 28:2Chr.xxxiii.11(RV.marg.):so lean,itwillgointohishandand tooJobxli.l ‘Canstthoudrawoutpierceit:soisPharaohkingof leviathan(marg.‘thatis,thecrocoEgyptuntoallthattrustinhim’ dile’)withahook?’Whythefishof llIs.xxxvi.6: andsoIs.xxx.2,3,7). theriveraredescribedasstickingto Butnotonlyso,theefi‘ectupon thescalesofthedragonisnotclear,Egypthadalsobeendisastrous. unlessitmeansthatalltheking’sTheunionbetweenthetwoand retinueandhangers-onofthecourttheirsupportofoneanotheronly weretoshareintheking’sfall.As broughtfurthertroubletoIsrael: amatteroffacttheendofllophra’scp.Is.xxx.3 ‘Thereforeshallthe reignwascausedbytheoccurrencestrengthofPharaohbeyourshame, ofa.revoltofmercenariesinthefarandthetrustintheshadowof SouthofEgyptwhichmightwellbe Egyptyourconfusion.’TheRV. called‘thewilderness’ and‘themarg.(v.7)‘bythehandle’gives openfield’(forthislatterexpressionnogoodsense.‘Thoudidstbreak’ cp.Jer.ix.22).Theprophetalsoshouldratherbe‘thouwastbroken,’ impliesthathewouldnothavethethewordusedisthesameasinthe ritesofroyalburialaccordedto expression‘thisbruisedreed’which him: ‘thoushaltnotbe...gathered’isusedofEgypt(2K.xviii.21:see hasitsparallelinJer.viii.2 andabove).IftheHebrewreadingis perhapsJobxxvii.19.Thefollyof right,thejaggededgeofthebroken thekingsofJudahinhavinglookedstafl'isrepresentedastearingopen toEgyptforhelpisassertedby theshoulderofIsraelwithagrievous 158 EZEKIEL XXIX.6—10 becausetheyhavebeenastaffofreedtothehouseof 7Israel.Whentheytookholdofthee1bythyhand,thou didstbreak,anddidstrendalltheirshoulders: andwhen theyleaneduponthee,thoubrakest,andmadestalltheir 8loinsto2beatastand.ThereforethussaiththeLord GOD: Behold,Iwillbringasworduponthee,andwillcut 9offfromtheemanandbeast.AndthelandofEgypt shallbeadesolationandawaste;andtheyshallknow thatI amtheLORD:becausehehathsaid,Theriveris 10mine,andI havemadeit. Thereforebehold,I am

1 Or,bythehandleAnotherreadingis,withthehand. ’ Or,assomeread,shakeSeePs.69.23. wound:buttheGreekversionis questionablewhetheritisthe encouragesustoread‘hand’for sameMigdolasthatinEx.xiv.2: ‘shoulder’andthelanguagethenNumb.xxxiii.7:thewordsimply correspondswiththatof2K.xviii.meansatower:hencetherendering 21.ThesenseofthelastexpressionofR..V.whichcomesfromthe inv.7 isimprovediftwooftheVulgate.ThereisaBirMaktalin lettersin thewordrepresentingthedeserttothenorth-eastofthe ‘madest...tobeata stand’areBitterLakesatthepresentday: reversed: themeaningisthenthatbutnodoubttherewasmorethan giveninRV.marg.‘madest...toonefrontiertowerandsettlement shake’:soPs.lxix.33‘maketheirbearingthisname.Thereseemsto loinscontinuallytoshake.’ havebeenaplacesocalledtwelve 8-12.ThedeclarationagainstRomanmilessouthofPelusium PharaohandEgyptisreiterated,(ItinerariumAntonim'quotedin anditsdesolationprophesied,in Encycl.Bib.3083)andthismay orderthatitmightknowthepowerhavebeentheplace.Migdolwas ofJehovah(cp.v.7). PharaohhadoneoftheplacesinwhichtheJews boastedthattheNilewashisandsettled(Jer.xliv.l:xlvi.l4).Syene ofhismaking(cp.v.3). Jehovah(xxx.6,perhapsalsoinxxx.16but wouldshewhispowerovertheHeb.Sinasinxxx.15,andinIs. rivers:thepluralisusedforthexliii.3 Heb.Seba)isthemodern variousstreamsofthedeltaoftheAssouanoppositethecityand Nile(cp.xxx.12):andHewouldIslandofElephantinésevendegrees makethelandadesolation.ItsdesosouthofPelusium,andwasin lationwastoreachfromMigdolto ancientdaysa bordercity.Some Syene(RV.marginisthebetterwouldidentifytheSinimofIaxlix. translation),andeventotheborder12withthisplace.Aramaicpapyri ofCush.MigdolandSyeneoccurin ofaboutacenturylaterthanthis thesamewayinxxx.6. Migdolis prophecyhavelatelybeendiscovered thenorthernlimitofdesolation:it there;theyhavebeeneditedby XXIX.10—15 EZEKIEL 159 againstthee,andagainstthyrivers,andIwillmakethe landofEgyptanutterwasteanddesolation,1fromthe towerofSevenehevenuntotheborderofEthiopia. 11N0footofmanshallpassthroughit,norfootofbeast shallpassthroughit,neithershallitbeinhabitedforty 12years.AndI willmakethelandofEgyptadesolation inthemidstofthecountriesthataredesolate,andher citiesamongthecitiesthatarelaidwasteshallbea desolationfortyyears:andI willscattertheEgyptians amongthenations,andwilldispersethemthroughthe 13countries.ForthussaiththeLordGOD:Attheendof fortyyearswillI gathertheEgyptiansfromthepeoples 14whithertheywerescattered:andI willbringagainthe captivityofEgypt,andwillcausethemtoreturninto thelandofPathros,intothelandoftheir’birth;and 15theyshallbetherea3basekingdom.Itshallbethe

1 Or,fromMigdoltoSyeneandeven(to. 1 Or,origin3 Heb.low. SayceandCowley(A.Moring,1906).Egyptiscalled‘thelandofPathros' CushbegantothesouthofPhilae,a (cp.xxx.14:Jer.xliv.l,14:Is.xi. littletothesouthofSyene.Inv.11 ll: inthislastpassagetheGreekhas averysweepingstatementismade: Babylonia).Thecommoninterpre thewordsmeanthatforthatperiodtationofPathrosisthatitmeans Egyptwouldloseitsimportance.Upper,i.e.southernEgypt:cp. ItmaybethatwearenottodefinePathrusim(Gen.xi.l4)begotten the‘fortyyears’exactly,butitis fromMizraim,i.e.Egypt.Upper noticeablethatthefirstoccupationEgyptwasheldbyancienthistor bythePersianswhichbeganunderians(Hdt.ii.4,15:Died.Sic.i.50) Cambyseslastedcloseuponfortytobetheoriginalhomeofthe years(525-487B.C.);andmanyEgyptians,andMenesthefirstking cruelties,fromwhichtheEgyptiansofthefirstdynastyissaidtohave suffered,areattributedtohimby comefromThisnearAbydosin Herodotus.With1:. 12cp.xxx.UpperEgypt.Hencethelandof 7,23,26.HistorydoesnotrevealPathros,i.e.UpperEgypt,iscalled tousanysuchdispersionasishere‘thelandoftheirorigin’(RV. threatened.Itistobenoticedthatmarg.v.14).CheynelookstoN. neitherthenameoftheconquerorArabiaandJerahmeelfora solu ofEgyptnorthatofhisnationis tionofthedifficultiesofthenames mentionedintheprophecy. involved.Theword‘base’usedof 13-16.Arestorationfromcap a kingdomoccursinreferenceto tivityispromisedtoEgypt(cp.Is. Jerusaleminxvii.14.Asamatter xix.22,23:Jet.xlvi.26).In0.l4 offactthoughtheEgyptiansheld 160 EZEKIEL XXIX.15—18

basestofthekingdoms;neithershallitanymorelift itselfupabovethenations:andI willdiminishthem, 16thattheyshallnomoreruleoverthenations.Andit shallbenomoretheconfidenceofthehouseofIsrael, bringinginiquitytoremembrance,whentheyturnto lookafterthem:andtheyshallknowthatI amthe LordGOD.

H.APROPHECYOFMUCHLATERDATE(57013.0.) BUTINSERTEDHEREBECAUSEOFITSCON NECTIONWITHTHEFALLOFTHEEGYPTIAN KINGDOM.CHAPTERXXIX.17—21. xlviii.Aprophecyinwhichisindicatedhowlittleprofit NebnchadrezzarhadfromhislongsiegeofTyre:but itisannouncedthatEgyptshallfalltohimasa compensation.xxix.17—21. 17 Anditcametopassinthesevenandtwentiethyear, inthefirstmonth,inthefirstdayofthe~month,the 18wordoftheLORDcameuntome,saying,Sonofman, outforashorttimeafter48713.0.,(xxvi.l—xxviii.19)andthisisthe Egyptneveragainregainedits sequeltothose.ThesiegeofTyre powerandindependence,andso issaidtohavelastedthirteenyears, theprophecyofv.15(cp.xxx.13: andnodefiniteresultcameofit. Zech.x. 11)wasfulfilled.OneItcausedmuchhardshipamongthe consequenceofthiswasthatthebesiegers.TheHebrewwordstrans Jewishpeoplecouldnomore,howlated‘madebald’and‘peeled,’i.e. evermuchsomeoftheirstatesmenlaidbare(cp.Is.xviii.2,RV.marg.), mighthavedonesointimepastarevague:thenew0.25/1Heb.Lew. (cp.Is.xxx.2,3:xxxvi.6),lookto interpretsthemasdescribingthe Egypttosupportthemintheirresultofmuchcarryingofburdens. resistancetoBabylon.TheusualKeilholdsthattheburdensreferred refrainconcludesthisprophecytowerethosethathadtobeborne (seevi.7):itmayreferhereeitherinordertofillupthespacebetween toIsraelortotheEgyptianstheislandTyreandthemainland. 17—20.PropheciesconcerningNebuchadrezzarwastohavehis TyrewereutteredbytheprophetconsolationinEgyptwhichwasto sixteenyearsbeforethepresentonebegiventohim(soxxx.10-12,24, XXIX.18—1I EZEKIEL 161

NebuchadrezzarkingofBabyloncausedhisarmyto serveagreatserviceagainstTyre: everyheadwasmade bald,andeveryshoulderwaspeeled:yethadheno wages,norhisarmy,fromTyre,fortheservicethathe 19hadservedagainstit:thereforethussaiththeLord GOD:Behold,I willgivethelandofEgyptunto NebuchadrezzarkingofBabylon;andheshallcarryoff hermultitude,andtakeherspoil,andtakeherprey; and 20itshallbethewagesforhisarmy.I havegivenhimthe landofEgypt1ashisrecompenceforwhichheserved, becausetheywroughtforme,saiththeLordGOD. 21 InthatdaywillIcauseanhornt0budforthuntothe houseofIsrael,andI willgivetheetheopeningofthe mouthinthemidstofthem;andtheyshallknowthatI amtheLoan.

1 Or,forhislabourwherswithheurvcd

25:xxxii.ll). Jeremiahpre 21.Intheconcludingversethe phesiedina similarwayagainstprophetseemsto havelooked Egypt(xlvi.13-28).Therewasto forwardtosomeadvantageaccruing bea deportationofsomeofhertoIsraelastheresultofthis inhabitants(cp.xxx.4:butthesubjugationof Egypt:buthis Greekversionomitsthedeportation)wordsareveryindefinite.Thehorn andshewastobespoiled(cp.xxxii.isofcourseanemblemofpower. 12).InthiswaywouldthelongWiththatadvantage,whateverit militaryservicesoftheBabylonianmightbe,wastocomeafurtherop armyberewarded.Theirworkhadportunityfortheprophet(cp.xxiv. beenforGod,andGodwouldreward27:xxxiii.22).Theusualrefrain them. concludestheprophecy(vi.7).

ll 162 EZEKIEL XXX-1—5

G2. FURTHERPROPHECIESAGAINSTEGYPT FOLLOWINGUPONANDCLOSELYCONNECTED WITHxxix.1—16.ASTHEYPROCEED,THE PROPHETBECOMESMOREDEFINITE,TILL ATLENGTH(v.10)HEMENTIONSNEBUCHAD— REZZARBYNAME.CHAPTERXXX.1-19.

xlix.Anuttera/nceshowingthatthedevastationwas toextendfarandwide.xxx.1—5.

xxx.1ThewordoftheLORDcameagainuntome, 2saying,Sonofman,prophesy,andsay,Thussaiththe 3LordGOD: Howlye,Woeworththedayi Forthedayis near,eventhedayoftheLORDisnear,adayofclouds; 4itshallbethetimeoftheheathen.Andaswordshall comeuponEgypt,andanguishshallbein1Ethiopia, whentheslainshallfallinEgypt;andtheyshalltake awayhermultitude,andherfoundationsshallbebroken 5down.1Ethiopia,andPut,andLud,andallthemingled

1 Heb.Cash. XXX.l~5.Theexpression‘Woewidespreadandtoextendbeyond worththeday’ofbothAV.andtheEgyptianbordersintoEthiopia, R.V.isanarchaicone,thewordPutandLud(seexxvii.10forthese ‘worth’comingfromtheAnglotwonames).‘Themingledpeople’ Saxonandmeaning‘be’or‘become.’occurhereandinJeremiah(xxv. SoitmeansWoebetotheday.We20)inratheradifferentsensefrom mayrecallthewords thatinwhichtheexpressionis Woeworththechase,woeworththe usedelsewhere,unlessitrepresents da mercenaryEgyptianforceaThe Thatciststhylife,mygallantgrey.renderingisasoldasthem Scorr,LadyoftheLake,i.9. butitistemptingtothinkthatthe WeheremeetwiththeexpressionMassoreticpointingiswrong,and ‘thedayoftheLord,’alwaysthattherealmeaningis‘allthe implyingjudgement,andsometimesArabians.’‘Cub’mustbetakenasa spokenofsimplyas‘theday'(vii.7, corruptreadingforLub,i.e.Libya: l2:cp.Joeli. 15: 1:Ob.l5: theLxxhasLibyans.‘Thechildren Zeph.i. 7:cp.Introd.p.xxxvi.).ofthelandofthecovenant’is Thedayofcloudsrecurslateranotherobscureexpressionlike‘the (xxxiv.12).Theinvasionistobe mingledpeople.’Somehaveheld XXX.5—9 EZEKIEL 163 people,andCub,andthechildrenof1thelandthatisin league,shallfallwiththembythesword.

I. AfurtherdeclarationagainstEgypta/ruiher helpers.xxx.6—9. 6 ThussaiththeLORD:TheyalsothatupholdEgypt shallfall,andtheprideofherpowershallcomedown: 'fromthetowerofSevenehshalltheyfallinitbythe 7sword,saiththeLordGOD.Andtheyshallbedesolatein themidstofthecountriesthataredesolate,andher citiesshallbeinthemidstofthecitiesthatarewasted. 8AndtheyshallknowthatIamtheLORD,whenIhaveset 9afireinEgypt,andallherhelpersare3destroyed.In thatdayshallmessengersgoforthfrombeforemein shipstomakethecarelessEthiopiansafraid;andthere shallbeanguishuponthem,asinthedayofEgypt;for, 10,itcometh.

1 Or,thelandofthecovenant' Or,fromMigdoltoSyene 3 Heb. broken. thatitreferstoIsraeliterefugeesnoteonxxix.lO.Ambassadorsin inEgypt:Jerometakesitoftheships(v. 9) in connectionwith Jewishpeople.Itmust,however,EthiopiaoccurinIsaiah(xv-iii.l,2) meansomealliedAfricannation.wheretheyaresaidtobesentfrom 6—9.Thedeclarationofthese‘thelandoftherustlingofwings, versesformsakindofantistrophewhichis beyondtheriversof to thepreviousannouncement.Ethiopia,’andtheyaresaidto Verylittlefreshinformationis travel‘invesselsofpapyrusupon given:ingreatpartwhatissaidis thewaters.’Themessengersare a repetitionofxxix.8’12.Thegenerallysupposedtomeanrefugees upholdersofEgyptmustbeherfromEgyptusedbyJehovahas alliesandtributaries.‘TheprideHisambassadors.‘Thedayof ofherpower’isanexpressionwhichEgypt’mayeithermeanthepresent occursagaininv.28andxxxiii.28, judgementofEgypt,ormayreferto inthelattercasereferringtoIsrael.thejudgementuponthatcountryat For‘thetowerofSeveneh’see thetimeoftheExodus.

11—2 164 EZEKIEL XXX.10—13

li. AfurtherDivinedeclaration.Atthispointtheprophet introducesforthefirsttimethenameoftheinstrument usedbyJehovahtocarryoutHispunishmentofEgypt. ItistobeNebuchadrezzar.xxx.10—12. 10 ThussaiththeLordGOD:I willalsomakethe multitudeofEgypttocease,bythehandofNebuchad 11rezzarkingofBabylon.Heandhispeoplewithhim, theterribleofthenations,shallbebroughtinto destroytheland;andtheyshalldrawtheirswords 12againstEgypt,andfillthelandwiththeslain.Andlwill maketheriversdry,andwillsellthelandintothehand ofevilmen; andI willmakethelanddesolate,and1all thatistherein,bythehandofstrangers:ItheLORDhave spokenit.

lii.AnotherdeclarationofJehovah,enteringintodetails astothejudgementsofparticidarplaces.xxx.13-19.

13 ThussaiththeLordGOD: Iwillalsodestroytheidols, andI willcausethe2imagestoceasefromNoph;and thereshallbenomoreaprinceoutofthelandofEgypt: 1 Heb.thefulnessthereof.' Or,thingsofnoughtSeePs.96.5.

10-12.Thisprophecyisearlier13—19.TheSeptuagintomitsall thanxxix.17-21(seeheadingto mentionofthe‘idols’or‘images’ thatprophecy)buthereasthere(marg.‘thingsofnought’)ofthe wehavethe‘multitude’ofEgyptHebrew.ThegodsofEgyptand spokenof(cp.v.4) ‘Theterribletheirtemplesarealsodoomedto ofthenations,’asappliedtothe destructionbyJeremiah(xliii.12 Babylonians,occursfirstinxxviii.7 ‘Iwillkindleafireinthehouseof inaprophecyagainsttheprinceof thegodsofEgypt,’xlvi.25).Isaiah Tyre.Isaiah(xix.5,6)alsospeakshadalreadysaid‘theidolsofEgypt ofthedryingupoftheRiversof shallbe movedat’Jehovah’s Egypt.The‘evilmen’ofEzekiel‘presence’(xix.l):andwemay correspondtothe‘cruellord’andcomparethedeclarationofEx.xii. ‘fierceking’ofIsaiah(xix.4). The12‘againstallthegodsofEgyptI solemndeclarationattheendof willexecutejudgements’(cp.Numb. thisprophecyoccursfirstinxvii.2l.xxxiii.4). Thewordtranslated XXX.I3-[6 EZEKIEL 165

14andI willputafearinthelandofEgypt.AndIwill makePathrosdesolate,andwillsetafireinZean,andwill 15executejudgementsinNo.AndI willpourmyfury uponSin,thestrongholdofEgypt;andI willcutoff 16themultitudeofNo.AndIwillsetafireinEgypt; Sin

‘images’etymologicallysignifiesPs.lxxviii.12,43recordsthewonders whatisworthlessSoinPs.xcvi.5 thatwereworked‘inthefieldof (RV.marg.)wehave‘allthegodsZoan’:andIsaiah(xix.11,13:xxx. ofthepeoplesareidols,’i.e.worthless4)speaksof‘theprincesofZoan’ gods.Noph(av.13,16: cp.Is.xix.asifitwerea royalresidence. 13:Jer.ii.16:xliv.l [acolonyof Almostexactlyonehundredyears Jewsthere]:xlvi.14,19)wasthebeforeEzekiel’sprophecyZoanhad famousancientcitymorecommonlybeensackedbytheAssyriansasa knownasMemphis(cp.Hos.ix.6 punishmentforhavingjoinedTirha wheretheHebrewformisMoph)kahkingofEthiopiawhowasthe about10milessouthoftheCairoof thirdkingbelongingtotheEthio todaywhichispartlybuiltofstonepiandynastywhichruledoverEgypt quarriedfromitsruins.Itclaimedandisgenerallycalledthetwenty tohavebeenfoundedbyMenesandfifthdynasty.No(on.14,15,16)or wastheseatoftheworshipofthe No-amon(Nah.iii.8),orAmenof godPtahwithwhosenamethe No(Jer.xlvi.25),iscalledDiospolis nameEgyptisgenerallyconnected.bytheSeptuagintinEzekieland ThethreegreatpyramidsandthethusidentifiedwiththeThebesof famoussphinxareclosetothesiteUpperEgyptwhichwastheseatof ofthiscity.ThepanicinthelandtheworshipofAmonorAmmon. describedinv. 13isinasimilarItbegantobeanimportantplace passageinIsaiah(xix.16)ascribedduringtheeleventhdynasty,andthe to‘theshakingofthehandoftheruinoustemplesandpalacesofLnxor Lordofhosts,whichheshakethandKarnakonitssitearenotable overit.’Thepreviouswordsimplyto-day.Itwillberememberedthat notsomuchthattherewastobeno HomerspeaksofThebeswithits princeinEgypt,asthathispowerhundredgates(Il.UL383).Sin(on. wasnottoextendoutsidethat15,16)isadoubtfulname;itiscalled country.ForPathrosseexxix.l4. ‘thestrongholdofEgypt’Following Zoan(v.15)orTanis(oneofthetheVulgatethemarginoftheA.V. branchesoftheNilewascalledTaniidentifiedtheplacewithPelusium tic)wasanotherveryancientcitytotheeastoftheseventhor whichcertainlyexistedduringthe PelusiacmouthoftheNile.Ifthis sixthdynastyofEgyptiankings.identificationweretrue,thiswould ItissaidofHebron(Numb.xiii.22),makeSinoneoftheborderfortresses inordertovouchforitsantiquity,ofEgyptontheeastandtherefore thatit‘wasbuiltsevenyearsbeforea‘stronghold.’Thevarioustextsof ZoaninEgypt.’Thewriterof theSeptuagintarenotinagreement.

F"q_~’\NM~..___"_wI__~_-MH‘_\‘M‘ ' ~-—\._“~_\ 166 EZEKIEL XXX.16—19 shallbeingreatanguish,andNoshallbebrokenup:and 17Nophshallhaveadversaries1intheday-time.Theyoung menofAvenandofPi-besethshallfallbythesword: 18andthesecitiesshallgointocaptivity.AtTehaphnehes alsothedayshall2withdrawitself,whenI shallbreak theretheyokesofEgypt,andtheprideofherpower shallceaseinher:asforher,acloudshallcoverher, 19andherdaughtersshallgointocaptivity.ThuswillI executejudgementsinEgypt:andtheyshallknowthat IamtheLORD.

1 0r,alltheday ’ Anotherreadingis,bedark.

In0.15theyvarybetweenSaisandofthesun)inJer.xliii.13(seeRV. Tanis,i.e.Zoan;inv. 16theymarg.)andalsoinIs.xix.18(see mostlyreadSyene,butoneimporRV.marg.).Pi-besethorBubastis tantMS.hasSais.IfSaisisright(v.17),stillcalledTelBasta,was thetownwasonetothewest:the anotherveryancientcitydevoted namesurvivesinthePortSaidof totheworshipoftheeat:ithad today.IfSyeneisrightthenwe nearitalargecemeteryforcats:it havemetwiththeplaceinxxix.10 wasthecapitalofanomeordistrict asabordergarrisontowninthe ofEgypt.Finally,Tehaphnehes extremesouth.Theoldidentifica(v.18)orTahpanhes(Jer.ii.16: tionwithPelusiumorwithsomexliii.7—9[thetemporaryresidence siteinthatneighbourhoodseemsofJeremiah,witharoyalpalace]: howeverthebestone.Theexpressionxliv.l:xlvi.14:Judithi.9)isby ‘adversariesintheday-time(marg.someidentifiedwiththeHanesof alltheday)’readsfeebly:the Is.xxx.4. Itmusthavebeenthe Septuaginthasadifi'erentreading:chieftownofa district,forthe ‘watersshallbedispersed’:probablyexpression‘herdaughters’means thetextiscorrupt:andwehaveno theneighbouringvillages(cp.Josh. meansofknowingexactlywhatthe xv.45RV.marg.).Itwasoneof prophetsaidorwrote. theplacesin whichtheJewish ThenameAven(v.17)isdueto exilessettled.ItiscalledTaphnas amistakeintheHebrewvocalizaintheSeptuagint,andisidentified tion: itshouldbeOn,whichisidentiwiththeDaphnaenearPelusiumin calwithHeliopolis,thegreatseatof theNE.ofEgypt0fHerodotus theworshipofthesun»god,afew(II.30).S.W.oftheremainsof milestothenorth-eastofCairo.It Pelusiumistobefoundanother wasthehomeofPoti-phera,Joseph’ssitestillcalledTelDefenneh,which father-in-law(Gen.xli.45)andis mayreasonablybeidentifiedwith almostcertainlyalludedtounderTahpanhes.Yetagain‘theyshall thenameBeth-shemesh(i.e.houseknowthatIamtheLord’(seevi.7). XXX.10—16 EZEKIEL 167

I. ANOTHERPROPHECYCONCERNINGEGYPT, ABOUTTHREEMONTHSLATERTHANTHE LASTSERIES.CHAPTERXXX.20—26.

Thisprophecy,inpointofdate,standsalone,a/nd exhibitsNebuchadrezzarasJehovah'sagentinthe humiliationofEgypt,andthecarryingoutofthe DivineInmishment.xxx.20-26. Theyearofthisprophecyis5863.0. 20 Anditcametopassintheeleventhyear,inthefirst month,intheseventhdayofthemonth,thattheword 21oftheLORDcameuntome,saying,Sonofman,I have brokenthearmofPharaohkingofEgypt;and,10,it hathnotbeenbounduptoapplyhealingmedicines,to putarollertobindit,thatitbestrongtoholdthesword. 22ThereforethussaiththeLordGOD:Behold,Iamagainst PharaohkingofEgypt,andwillbreakhisarms,the strong,andthatwhichwasbroken; andI willcausethe 23swordtofalloutofhishand.AndI willscatterthe Egyptiansamongthenations,andwilldispersethem 24throughthecountries.AndI willstrengthenthearms ofthekingofBabylon,andputmyswordinhishand: butI willbreakthearmsofPharaoh,andheshallgroan beforehimwiththegroaningsofa deadlywounded 25man.AndIwillholdupthearmsofthekingofBabylon, andthearmsofPharaohshallfalldown;andtheyshall knowthatIamtheLORD,whenIshallputmyswordinto thehandofthekingofBabylon,andheshallstretchit 26outuponthelandofEgypt.AndI willscatterthe

20-26.Thewordtranslatedofwar.Driverconsidersthatthis ‘roller’is a surgicalone:theisanallusionto“therecentfailure SeptuagintthinksratherofapouloftheEgyptianarmytorelieve tice.Therollerofmodernuseisa Jerusalem”(0.T.Lit.p.271).The longbroadbandage.BythebreakdispersionoftheEgyptians(or.23, ingofhisarmsthePharaohwas26)isagainprophesied(cp.xxix.12), preventedfromwieldinganyweaponaswellasthedisplayofBabylon’s

a

.1.J-L_.___fi __'M_._-m_~_____“‘Wm 168 EZEKIELxxx.zG—XXXL4

Egyptiansamongthenations,anddispersethemthrough thecountries; andtheyshallknowthatIamtheLORD.

J. A PROPHECYAGAINSTEGYPTUTTEREDA FEWWEEKSBEFORETHEFINALDISASTERT0 JERUSALEM.CHAPTERXXXI.1-18.

liv.ThisprophecythoughdividedbytheR.V.into paragraphsreallyformsonlyoneprophecyand describesthemagnificenceofEgyptanditscorrespond inglydeepfall.xxxi.1—18. Thedateofthisprophecyis58613.0. XXXI.1 Anditcametopassintheeleventhyear, inthethirdmonth,inthefirstdayofthemonth,that 2thewordoftheLORDcameuntome,saying,Sonofman, sayuntoPharaohkingofEgypt,andtohismultitude; 3Whomartthoulikeinthygreatness?Behold,the AssyrianwasacedarinLebanonwithfairbranches,and withashadowingshroud,andofanhighstature;and 4histopwasamongthe1thickboughs.Thewaters nourishedhim,thedeepmadehimtogrow:herrivers ranroundaboutherplantation;andshesentouther

1 Or,cloud:

power.ThePharaohalludedto havethenameofatree(teashsh'zlr) hereisPharaohHophra(cp.Jcr.alreadymentionedinxxvii.6(R.V. xxxvii.5,7). ‘boxwood’:soIs.xli.19:IX.13) XXXI.1—9.Theabundantpopulawhichisthoughtbymanytobeakind tionoftheEgyptianempireseemsto ofcedarcalledsherbin.Thisseems havestrucktheprophet’simaginaextremelyprobableasthesherbin tion(cp.1:.2withxxix.19:xxx.4: grewinLebanon:andthewhole xxxii.12,16,20,31,32).Thelanguagethenbecomesparabolical. questionofv.2recursinc.18ina Thetwonamesgiventoonetree fullerform(cp.xxxii.19).Theareusedtointensifyitsgrandeur: mentionoftheAssyriancomesin ‘Beholdtherewasa magnificent ratherstrangely: bytheadditionof cedarinLebanon.’The‘shroud' a lettertotheHebrewtextwe ofatreeisitsfoliage,thatwhich

~__.,-,’~-I’*-Nl_fll,,'---~‘W,;(. ~ xxxr.4-" EZEKIEL 169 5channelsuntoallthetreesofthefield.Thereforehis staturewasexaltedaboveallthetreesofthefield; and hisboughsweremultiplied,andhisbranchesbecame longbyreasonof1manywaters,whenheshotthemforth. 6Allthefowlsofheavenmadetheirnestsinhisboughs,and underhisbranchesdidallthebeastsofthefieldbring forththeiryoung,andunderhisshadowdweltallgreat 7nations.Thuswashefairinhisgreatness,inthelength 8ofhisbranches: forhisrootwasby1manywaters.The cedarsinthegardenofGodcouldnothidehim: thefir treeswerenotlikehisboughs,andtheplanetreeswere notashisbranches;norwasanytreeinthegardenof 9Godlikeuntohiminhisbeauty.Imadehimfairbythe multitudeofhisbranches: sothatallthetreesofEden, thatwereinthegardenofGod,enviedhim. 10 Thereforethus2saidtheLordGOD: Becausethouart exaltedinstature,andhehathsethistopamongthe 118thickboughs,andhisheartisliftedupinhisheight;I willevendeliverhimintothehandofthemightyoneof thenations;heshallsurelydealwithhim: Ihavedriven

l Or,great5 0r,saith 3 Or,clouds coversit. TherenderingofRV.simileandindicatesthepunish ‘amongthethickboughs’ischosenmentwhichistocomeasonefor toagreewiththe‘thicktree’ofxx. pride.Thelanguagebecomesmore 28(cp.vi.13),buthereandinw. mixedbetweenthesimileandthe 10,14therenderingofRV.marginthingsignified.‘Hisheartislifted ‘amongtheclouds’istobepre up’mustrefertoPharaohnottothe ferredandhasthesupportofthetree:theexpressionisusedinthe Septuagint.Forthecomparisonof samewayofNebuchadrezzar(Dan. akingtoagreattreecp.Dan.iv. v.20)whohadpreviouslybeencom 10—16:20—23,andformanyoftheparedtoatree.Nebuchadrezzarand expressionsusedherecp.c.xvii.In theChaldaeanhostsareindicatedin on.8, 16,18theprophetdraWsnoobscurelanguage:theyhadbeen comparisonswiththegardenof spokenofas‘strangers,’‘theterrible Edenaboutwhichhehadalreadyofthenations’intheprophecy spokeninxxviii.13,ifthatprophecyagainsttheprinceofTyre(xxviii. precedesthisinpointoftime. 7:cp.xxx.11,12:xxxii.12).The 10—14.Aftermakinghiscominterpretationofthesecondclause parisontheprophetcontinuestheofv.12istobefoundinxxxii.5,6

_.»-_._--_.fi 170 EZEKIEL ml.“.17

12himoutforhiswickedness.Andstrangers,theterrible ofthenations,havecuthimoff,andhavelefthim: upon themountainsandinallthevalleyshisbranchesare fallen,andhisboughsarebrokenbyallthewatercourses oftheland;andallthepeoplesoftheeartharegone 13downfromhisshadow,andhavelefthim.Uponhisruin allthefowlsoftheheavenshalldwell,andallthebeasts 14ofthefieldshallbeuponhisbranches:totheendthat noneofallthetreesbythewatersexaltthemselvesin theirstature,neithersettheirtopamongthethick boughs,northattheirmightyonesstandupintheir height,evenallthatdrinkwater:fortheyareall delivereduntodeath,tothenetherpartsoftheearth,in themidstofthechildrenofmen,withthemthatgo downtothepit. 15 ThussaiththeLordGOD:Inthedaywhenhewent downto1hellIcausedamourning:Icoveredthedeepfor him,andI restrainedtheriversthereof,andthegreat waterswerestayed: andIcausedLebanon2tomournfor 16him,andallthetreesofthefieldfaintedforhim.Imade thenationstoshakeatthesoundofhisfall,whenIcast himdownto1hellwiththemthatdescendintothepit: andallthetreesofEden,thechoiceandbestofLebanon, allthatdrinkwater,werecomfortedinthenetherparts 17oftheearth.Theyalsowentdowninto1hellwithhim

‘ Heb.Sheol.' Heb.tobeblack.

‘I willlaythyfleshuponthementionedaswellasthose‘thatgo mountains,andfillthevalleyswithdowntothepit’(xxvi.20). thyheight...andthewatercourses16-17.Intheseversestheprophet shallbefullofthee’(seenotethere).useslanguageasifthedestruction Withthethirdclausecp.Dan.iv.14: wasalreadyover,revertingtothe ‘letthebeastsgetawayfromunderthreatoffuturedoominv.18.In it,andthefowlsfromhisbranches.’0.15thewordfor‘Icovered’isby Thisdestructionissetforthasa manyheldtobesuperfluous—it warningtoothertrees,i.e.toothergivesnoverygoodsenseandis nations,astowhatwassureto omittedbytheSeptuagint.The comeuponthem.The‘nethersenseofthepusagethenis‘I partsoftheearth’havebeenalreadycausedthedeeptomournforhim,’ XXII.l7—XXXILa EZEKIEL 171

untothemthatbeslainbythesword;yea,theythat werehisarm,thatdweltunderhisshadowinthemidstof thenations. 18 Towhomartthouthuslikeingloryandingreatness amongthetreesofEden‘?yetshaltthoubebroughtdown withthetreesofEdenuntothenetherpartsoftheearth: thoushaltlieinthemidstoftheuncircumcised,with themthatbeslainbytheswordThisisPharaohandall hismultitude,saiththeLordGOD.

K. AFTERA CONSIDERABLEINTERVALTHE PROPHETTAKESUPHISBURDENAGAIN AGAINSTEGYPT.CHAPTERXXXII.1-16.

Thedateofthisprophecyis5853.0.ThepropheciesagainstEgypt coverpartsofthreeyears.Inconsequenceofthelengthoftheinterval separatingthisprophecyfromtheprecedingoneToyaltersthedatefrom thetwelfthyeartotheeleventh. lv. ThedesolationandspoilingofEgyptandits kingbyNebuchadrezzaris distinctlyforetoldin thisprophecywhichfoamsomutterancebyitself xxxii.1—16.

XXXII.1Anditcametopassinthetwelfthyear, inthetwelfthmonth,inthefirstdayofthemonth,that 2thewordoftheLORDcameuntome,saying,Sonofman, andisexactlyparallelwiththelater 18.Thequestionofv.2istaken words‘IcausedLebanontomournupagain.Hiscondemnationisthat forhim’Thecomfortingoftheheistobereckonedamongstthe treesisexplainedinxxxii.31as uncircumcised,thatis,asanoutcast thecomfortingofPharaohand,we (cp.xxxii.19,28). mustsuppose,hisofficers,butitis mu.2.Thefollowingprophecy notatallclearinwhatthecomlikesomeofthepreviousones(see fortingconsists.Itmaybeinthe xix.l)iscalledalamentation.The factthatonesogreatisassociatedPharaohisHophra.Thecomparison withothersintheirfall.Thereis withlionsisafavouriteonewith aconnectioninv.17alsowithwhatEzekiel(xix.3,5,6:xxxviii.13);that wassaidaboutPharaoh’sarmbeingwithadragonislimitedtoEgypt brokeninxxx.21. (seexxix.3)andimpliesalower 172 EZEKIEL XXXII.'l—B

takeupalamentationforPharaohkingofEgypt,and sayuntohim,Thouwastlikeneduntoayounglionofthe nations:yetartthouasadragonintheseas;andthou brakestforth1withthyrivers,andtroubledstthewaters 3withthyfeet,andfouledsttheirrivers.Thussaiththe LordGOD:I willspreadoutmynetovertheewitha companyofmanypeoples; andtheyshallbringtheeup 4inmynet.AndI willleavetheeupontheland,I will casttheeforthupontheopenfield,andwillcauseallthe fowlsoftheheaventosettleuponthee,andIwillsatisfy 5thebeastsofthewholeearthwiththee.AndIwilllay thyfleshuponthemountains,andfillthevalleyswiththy 62height.Iwillalsowaterwiththybloodthelandwherein thouswimmest,eventothemountains;andthewater 7coursesshallbefullofthee.AndwhenIshallextinguish thee,Iwillcovertheheaven,andmakethestarsthereof 3dark;Iwillcoverthesunwithacloud,andthemoon 8shallnotgiveherlight.Allthebrightlightsofheaven willI make“darkoverthee,andsetdarknessuponthy

1 Or,in , Or,asotherwiseread,worms3 Or,tomourn estimateofPharaoh.ThebreakingIonianarmies.Theordinaryim forthoftheriversmustrefertothepressionofEgyptasalevelplain inundationoftheNile,andtheistrueoftheDelta,butabove tramplingwiththefeettooneof CairothevalleyoftheNileis theprocessesofagricultureintheboundedbycliffsandbillsifnotby flood-soddenlandsaswellastothe ‘mountains’anditshouldbere effectproducedbythecrocodilein memberedthattheEgyptianworld thewaters. includesthemountainousArabian 3—10.A furtherstageinthepeninsula.Thequestionin2:. 5 prophecy.Themixedcharacterof between‘height’(R.V.)and‘worms‘ theinvadingarmyis announced(RV.marg.)is oneofHebrew asinthecaseofTyre(xxvi.3).Thevocalization.TheGreekreads Egyptiansarecomparedtoanimalsdifferently‘withthyblood’:and inasnare,or,itmaybe,tothefishthisseemsthesimplestmeaningfor oftheirriverscaughtinanet(cp.thepassage:themaindifficulty xxix.5),andspreadoutupontheaboutitisthatthenthebeginning land.Inourowndayandlanda ofthenextverseisarepetitionof superabundanceoffishis oftenthesameidea.Thewords‘wherein treatedinthisway.Thebeaststo thouswimmest’(bothA.V.andRV.) besatisfiedaretheravagingBabystrikearatherdiscordantnote:the

xxxu.8—r5 EZEKIEL 173

9land,saiththeLordGOD.I willalsovextheheartsof manypeoples,whenI shallbringthydestructionamong thenations,intothecountrieswhichthouhastnotknown. 10Yea,I willmakemanypeoplesamazedatthee,andtheir kingsshallbehorriblyafraidforthee,whenI shall brandishmyswordbeforethem; andtheyshalltremble ateverymoment,everymanforhisownlife,inthedayof 11thyfall.ForthussaiththeLordGOD: Theswordofthe 12kingofBabylonshallcomeuponthee.Bytheswords ofthemightywillI (musethymultitudetofall;the terribleofthenationsaretheyall:andtheyshallspoil theprideofEgypt,andallthemultitudethereofshallbe 13destroyed.Iwilldestroyalsoallthebeaststhereoffrom beside1manywaters;neithershallthefootofman troublethemanymore,northehoofsofbeaststrouble 14them.ThenwillI 2maketheirwatersclear,andcause 15theirriverstorunlikeoil,saiththeLordGOD.WhenI shallmakethelandofEgyptdesolateandwaste,aland

1 01',great " Heb.causetheirwater:tosettle. interpretationusuallyadoptednow 11—16.Theclimaxarrivesinthe isthelandof‘thineoverflow,’i.e. announcementofthecomingof ofblood,butthisisalsoratherNebuchadrezzar(cp.xxix.19:xx. awkward.Inv. 7 themetaphor10:Jer.xlvi.26).Forthe‘multi changes.Egyptis tobeextintude’ofEgyptseexxx.4;for‘the guishedandleftindarkness(cp.Is. terribleofthenations’xxviii.7. xiii.10:Joelii.31:andMatt.xxiv.ThereisatraceofOrientalhyperbole 29:Mkxiii.24,25wherethehereinv.13asinxxix.11:the languageseemsa recollectionof devastationof thelandnever thatusedhere).Herdestructionactuallybecameso greatasis willmakeothernationsalarmeddepictedhere,whereitisrepre anddismayedlestasimilarorevensentedascausingtheriverto worsejudgementshouldbeinstorerunclearandbrightinsteadof forthem.Theeffectislikethatbeingfouledbytheagricultural producedbythejudgementofTyreoperationsinthecountry(seeon (xxvii.35:cp.xxvi.16).Thelastv.2). Thelamentationconcludes wordsofv.10recallDeut.xxviii.withtheusualrefrain(seevi.7),per 66‘thylifeshallhangindoubthapsherearecollectionofwhatwas beforethee;andthoushaltfearsaidinpreparationforthecoming nightandday,andshalthavenoneoftheplaguesuponEgypt(Ex.vii. assuranceofthylife.’ 5‘theEgyptiansshallknowthatI 174 EZEKIEL XXXIL15—r8

destituteof1thatwhereofitwasfull,whenI shallsmite allthemthatdwelltherein,thenshalltheyknowthatI 16amtheLORD.Thisisthelamentationwherewiththey shalllament;thedaughtersofthenationsshalllament therewith:forEgypt,andforallhermultitude,shall theylamenttherewith,saiththeLordGOD.

L. PROPHECIESCLASSEDUNDERTHEDATEOF xxxii.17OFVARIOUSCHARACTER;ONEA SECONDLAMENTATIONOVEREGYPT,AND TWODEFININGTHERESPONSIBILITYOFTHE PROPHETICPREACHERANDTHEINDIVIDUAL RESPONSIBILITYOFEACHMANFORHISSINS. CHAPTERSXXXII.l7—XXXIII.20.

Thedate(585so.)isapparentlyafortnightlaterthanthelastprophecy, thoughthenumberofthemonthisnotgiven. lvi.AfurtherlamentationoverEgypt,withadescription ofthecompanionswhinhtheEgyptianswillfindin Sheol.xxxii.17—32.

17 Itcametopassalsointhetwelfthyear,inthe fifteenthdayofthemonth,thatthewordoftheLORD 18cameuntome,saying,Sonofman,wailforthemultitude ofEgypt,andcastthemdown,evenher,andthe daughtersofthefamousnations,untothenetherparts oftheearth,withthemthatgodownintothepit.

1 Heb.thefulnzuthereof.

amtheLord’).‘Thedaughtersof linkwiththepreviousprophecy thenations’aretolamentforEgypt’s(seexxxii.16andcp.xxxi.2),and, fall,justasit isindicatedlaterthoughthenumberofthemonthis (0.18)thattheywillshareinit. notmentionedhere,itisevidentthat Thelamentationistobeanunusualthetwelfthmonthisintended(cp. one,formournerswereaprofessionale.1),andthatthisprophecywas class(cp.Jer.ix.1?). uttereda fortnightafterthelast. 17-21.Thementionof‘themul Itisnoticeablethatthecasting titudeofEgypt’formsaconnectingdownofEgyptintothenetherparts XXXII.19-14, EZEKIEL 176

19Whomdostthoupassinbeauty?godown,andbethou 20laidwiththeuncircumcised.Theyshallfallinthemidst ofthemthatareslainbythesword:1sheisdeliveredto 21thesword:drawherawayandallhermultitudes.The strongamongthemightyshallspeaktohimoutofthe midstof2hellwiththemthathelphim:theyaregone down,theyliestill,eventheuncircumcised,slainbythe 22sword.Asshuristhereandallhercompany; hisgraves areroundabouthim:allofthemslain,fallenbythe 23sword: whosegravesaresetintheuttermostpartsofthe pit,andhercompanyisroundabouthergrave:allof themslain,fallenbythesword,whichcausedterrorinthe 24landoftheliving.ThereisElamandallhermultitude roundabouthergrave:allofthemslain,fallenbythe sword,whicharegonedownuncircumcisedintothenether partsoftheearth,whichcausedtheirterrorintheland 1 Or,theswordisappointed9 Heb.Sheet. oftheearth(cp.xxxi.14)isassignedthitherbyhisallieswhohavebeen totheprophetasthecarrieroutof alreadymentioned(xxx.6,8). God’svengeance.‘Thepit’and 22,23.Individualnationsinhabi ‘hell’or SheolintheseversestingHadesarenowmentioned. representrespectivelythegraveAsshurhasthefirstplace:the andthedwelling-placeof the AssyrianEmpirepracticallycameto departed.Theword‘pass’inthe anendabouttheendoftheseventh phrase‘passinbeauty’isanarchaiccenturyac.Asshurislocatedin useofthewordinsteadof‘surpass’‘theuttermostpartsofthepit’ (cp.2Sam.i.26).By‘thedaughtersjustasitissaidofthekingof ofthefamousnations’aremeantthe BabylonbyIsaiah(xiv.15):‘thou peoplestributarytothegreatworldshaltbebroughtdowntohell,to power.Thequestionaskedinv.19 theuttermostpartsofthepit.’ correspondstothoseinxxxi.2,18. 24,25.Elamfollows,whosefall ‘Theuncircumcised’whoconstantlywasprophesiedbyJeremiahatthe occurinthisprophecyaretheout beginningofZedekiah’sreign(xlix. castsanduncivilised.V.20reads34—39).Elamwasa constant likeaseriesofhystericalejaculationssourceoftroubletooneempire aboutEgypt.Thisisindicatedby afteranother,especiallytothe thefrequentchangeofpersonsandAssyrians.Wemeetwithakingof gendersinthisandthefollowingElamamongstthekingsofGen. verse.Thepersonaddressedby xiv.1. Somefortyyearsbefore thestrongones(0.21)mustbethe Zedekiah’sreignElamhadbeen kingofEgyptwhohasbeenprecededsubduedbytheAssyriansunder 176 EZEKIEL XXXIL14—28 oftheliving,andhavebornetheirshamewiththemthat 25godowntothepit.Theyhavesethera bedinthe midstoftheslainwithallhermultitude; herpavesare roundabouther:allofthemuncircumcised,slainbythe sword;fortheirterrorwascausedinthelandofthe living,andtheyhavebornetheirshamewiththemthatgo downtothepit:heisputinthemidstofthemthatbe 26slain.ThereisMeshech,Tubal,andallhermultitude; hergravesareroundabouther:allofthemuncircum cised,slainbythesword; fortheycausedtheirterrorin 27thelandoftheliving.1Andtheyshallnotliewiththe mightythatarefallenoftheuncircumcised,whichare gonedownto2hellwiththeirweaponsofwar,andhave laidtheirswordsundertheirheads,andtheiriniquities areupontheirbones;fortheyweretheterrorofthe 28mightyinthelandoftheliving.Butthoushaltbe brokeninthemidstoftheuncircumcised,andshaltlie

1 Or,Andshalltheynotlierte.? ” Heb.Sheol.

Assur-bani-pal,butthesubjugationminedforlackofhistoricalinforma wasnotcomplete:itmayhavebeention.Theinterrogativeformgiven this,however,thatis alludedto toe.27inRV.marg.suitsthe here.Assur-bani-pal’saccountofit contextbest:theonlymeaningR.V. isquotedinEncycl.Bib.374:‘Icut couldconveywouldbethatthey edtheheadofTeumman,theirwouldnotmeetwithhonourable king,therebelwhohadplottedburial.Thelanguagehereasin evil.BeyondnumberI slewhis e.23seemstobreathethespiritof warriors;aliveinmyhandsI tookIsaiah(xiv.18,19).Thementionof hisfightingmen; withtheircorpsesthe‘weaponsofwar'mayreferto aswiththornsandthistlesI filledtheirarmourbeingsetupover thevicinityofSusa;theirbloodtheirgravesordepictedontheir IcausedtoflowintheEulaeus,andmonuments.Inlaterdaysthe I staineditswaterslikewool’(i.e.pillarsoftheMaccabaeanmonu redwool).ThebedissetforElammentatModinhadfashionedupon inHadesbyitsinhabitants. them‘allmannerofarmsfora 26—28.Thenextpeoplesinthe perpetualmemory’(1Mace.xiii. listareMeshechandTubal.These47)andthecustomsurvivesin nameshavealreadyoccurredinthismilitaryandnavalmonumentsto book(xxvii.13).Thedateandthepresentday.‘Theiriniquities particularsofthedisasterwhichis areupontheirbones’isahyper alludedtoherecannotbedeterbolicalexpressionsignifyingthat

XXXII.28—31 EZEKIEL 177 29withthemthatareslainbythesword.ThereisEdom, herkingsandallherprinces,which1intheirmightare laidwiththemthatareslainbythesword: theyshalllie withtheuncircumcised,andwiththemthatgodownto 30thepit.Therebetheprincesofthenorth,allofthem, andalltheZidonians,whicharegonedownwiththe slain;2intheterrorwhichtheycausedbytheirmight theyareashamed; andtheylieuncircumcisedwiththem thatareslainbythesword,andbeartheirshamewith 31themthatgodowntothepit.Pharaohshallseethem, andshallbecomfortedoverallhismultitude:aeven Pharaohandallhisarmy,slainbythesword,saiththe 32LordGOD.ForI haveput‘histerrorinthelandofthe living:andheshallbelaidinthemidstoftheun circumcised,withthemthatareslainbythesword,even Pharaohandallhismultitude,saiththeLordGOD.

1 Or,foralltheirmight2 Or,foralltheterror‘ Or,Pharaohand allhisarmyareslainetc. ‘ Anotherreadingis,my.

theremembranceoftheirwickedoccurrenceofAsshurintheprophecy. nessabideseveninthegravewithItismuchmorelikely,ifthetext them.Othershaveseen,byaslightneedsemendationatall,thatAram emendationofthetext,areference(i.e.Syria)shouldbereadhere. inthispassagetotheNephilim,the 30.Lastofallcometheprinces mightymenofantediluviantimesof thenorth(i.e.Gomerand (Gen.vi.4). In0.28theprophecyTogarmah:seexxxviii.6)andthe returnstoitschiefsubject,theZidonians.Zidonhadbeenprophe peopleofEgypt. siedagainstpreviously(seexxviii. 29.Edomfollows.Herjudge20-24).Themarginalrendering menthadbeenpronouncedmore‘foralltheterror’givesthebest thanthreeyearsbefore(xxv.12-14).sense.Zidonwasatthistime ThereisnodefiniterecordofanytreatedastheleadingNorthern greatdisasterhavinghappenedto State. theEdomites,betweenwhomandthe 31,32.ThekingofEgyptisto Jewstherewasalwaysa mutualseeallthis:anditistobeacause antagonism.Nodoubttheywereofcomforttohimtofindthatothers tributarytoAssyria,astheinscriphavehadtoundergoliketroubles. tionstellus. TheSeptuagintIn1;.32theHebrewtextfollowed translatorreadAsshurforEdom,byRV.marginistobepreferred, butthisseemsanimprobableasnomeaningcanbegiventoR.V. Mugowingto thepreviousexceptbyaveryforcedexegetical B. 12 178 EZEKIEL xxxm.[-7 lvii.Atthispoint,thoughthereisnonewchronological statement,anentirelydifi’erentdepartureismade whichculminatesinthepropheciesoftherestorationof Israel,anditsidealsettlementinanidealisedCanaan, withwhichthebookconcludes.Thetransitional primheciesaretwoinnumber,onedeclaringthe ministerialresponsibilityoftheprophet(xxxiii.1—9), theotherthemoralresponsibilityofeachindividual memberofthehouseofIsrael(xxxiii.10—20).xxxiii. 1—9dealsthenwiththeprophet’sresponsibility.

XXXIII.1AndthewordoftheLORDcameuntome, 2saying,Sonofman,speaktothechildrenofthypeople,and sayuntothem,WhenIbringthesworduponaland,ifthe peopleofthelandtakeamanfromamongthem,andset 3himfortheirwatchman:if,whenheseeththesword comeupontheland,heblowthetrumpet,andwarnthe 4people; thenwhosoeverheareththesoundofthe trumpet,andtakethnotwarning,iftheswordcome,and takehimaway,hisbloodshallbeuponhisownhead. 5Heheardthesoundofthetrumpet,andtooknot warning; hisbloodshallbeuponhim: whereasifhehad 6takenwarningheshouldhavedeliveredhissoul.Butif thewatchmanseetheswordcome,andblownotthe trumpet,andthepeoplebenotwarned,andthesword come,andtakeanypersonfromamongthem;heis takenaway1inhisiniquity,buthisbloodwillIrequireat 7thewatehman’shand.Sothou,sonofman,I haveset 1 Or,for method.ThelateProf.A.B. theybelongtothesamedateasthe Davidsonsuggestedanalterationof previousones.Itwillbenoticed, thepreviousverb,andwouldreadhowever,thatthedateinv.21is ‘hecausedhisterror.’ asomewhatearlierone.Theex XXXIII.1—9.N0dateisgivenpression‘thechildrenofthypeople’ tothisprophecyandthenext.We(so0v.l2,17,30)hasnotoccurred are,therefore,lefttoconcludethatsinceiii.11andoccursoncemore XXXIII.7-1I EZEKIEL 179

theeawatchmanuntothehouseofIsrael;thereforehear theWordatmymouth,andgivethemwarningfromme. 8\VhenI sayuntothewicked,Owickedman,thoushalt surelydie,andthoudostnotspeaktowarnthewicked fromhisway;thatwickedmanshalldie1inhisiniquity, 9buthisbloodwillIrequireatthinehand.Nevertheless, ifthouwarnthewickedofhiswaytoturnfromit,and heturnnotfromhisway;heshalldieinhisiniquity,but thouhastdeliveredthysoul.

lviii.Thedefiniteassertionofindividualresponsibilityfor sin.Thisismadeinawayinwhichithadnever beforebeenmadetotheJewishpeople,andtherefore marksadistinctstepforwardtowardstheenunciation ofevangelicaltruthintheGospeldispensation.Im plicitl-ythedutiesofrepentanceandfaitharealso inculcatedintheseverses.xxxiii.10—20. 10 Andthen,sonofman,sayuntothehouseofIsrael: Thusyespeak,saying,2Ourtransgressionsandoursinsare uponus,andwepineaway1inthem; howthenshouldwe 11live?Sayuntothem,AsI live,saiththeLordGOD,I havenopleasureinthedeathofthewicked; butthatthe 1 Or,for 'Or,Myourtransgressions(to. later(xxxvii.18).‘Thedaughters‘thouhastsavedthylife,’thougha ofthypeople’arementionedin fullerforcehasbeenreadintothe xiii.17. expressioninlatertimes. Theprophetiscomparedhere,as lO—fl).Havingstatedhisown tohisresponsibility,toawatchmanresponsibilityasa watchman,the onguardagainsthostileinvasion.prophetisnowhiddentoenforce Thatofthewatchmanandthatof theirabsolutepersonalresponsibility theindividualsoverwhomhe uponhisindividualhearers.They watchesisaccuratelydefined.Thearerepresentedasbeingindespair wholeprophecyisalmostidenticalbecauseoftheburdenoftheirsins, insubstancewithiii.16—21(seeandashavingnohopeoflife—they notethere,andcp.Is.lii.8: lvi.10: arepiningawayandseenothingbut lxii.6:Jer.vi.l7).‘Thouhastdeathinfrontofthem.Thiscon deliveredthysoul’(v.9)meansonlyditionispourtrayedmoststrikingly 12—2 180 EZEKIEL XXXIII.ir—16 wickedturnfromhiswayandlive: turnye,turnyefrom yourevilways;forwhywillyedie,0houseofIsrael? 12Andthou,sonofman,sayuntothechildrenofthypeople, Therighteousnessoftherighteousshallnotdeliverhim inthedayofhistransgression; andasforthewickedness ofthewicked,heshallnotfalltherebyinthedaythathe turnethfromhiswickedness: neithershallhethatis righteousbeabletolivetherebyinthedaythathe 13sinneth.WhenIsaytotherighteous,thatheshallsurely live; ifhetrusttohisrighteousness,andcommitiniquity, noneofhisrighteousdeedsshallberemembered; but1in hisiniquitythathehathcommitted,2thereinshallhedie. 14Again,whenIsayuntothewicked,Thoushaltsurelydie; ifheturnfromhissin,anddo3thatwhichislawfuland 15right;ifthewickedrestorethepledge,giveagainthat hehadtakenbyrobbery,walkinthestatutesoflife, committingnoiniquity;heshallsurelylive,heshallnot 16die.Noneofhissinsthathehathcommittedshallbe rememberedagainsthim:hehathdonethatwhichislawful

1 Or,for 5 Or,forit 3 Heb.judgementandrighteousness. justatthetimeofthefinalfallof l7: ‘inthedaythatthoueatest thecity.Thesameunhappystatethereofthoushaltsurelydie.’V. is describedin xxxvii.11.The15looksbacktoxviii.7. ‘Statutes answercomesatonce.Itisnotoflife’arestatutestoliveby(cp. God’spleasurethatdeathshouldbe xx.11).With0.llcp.xviii.23,31; theirportion; theyhavebuttoturnandwithM.12,13cp.xviii.24. andlive.Theadjurationofv.11isa V.16correspondstoxviii.22;w.17, commononeinEzekiel(seev.11). 20toxviii.25,29;v.18toIViii. Whatfollowsmustbereadsideby 24,26;'0.19toxviii.21,27;and sidewithandillustratedbythethelastpartofe.20toxviii.30. prophecyalreadyuttered(xviii. Inthedepthoftheirdespairthe 1—32),someoftheversesbeingprophet,asGod’smouthpiece,holds identicalin language.Fortheouttothemonegreatsourceof viewtakenbytheprophetofman’scomfort.Becausetheirpasthas individualresponsibilityseeIntrod.beenwhatithasbeen,itdoesnot p.xxxiv.In0.14wehavenotonlyfollowthattheirfuturemustbe arecollectionofxviii.27butalsolikeit. Theindividualcanrise areproductionofthelanguageof fromthedepthsofdespairand 18,bothpassageslookingbackreturntoamercifulGodwhohas perhapstothedeclarationofGen.nopleasureinthewickedremaining XXXIII.17—1! EZEKIEL 181

17andright;heshallsurelylive.Yetthechildrenofthy peoplesay,ThewayoftheLordisnotequal: butasfor 18them,theirwayisnotequal.Whentherighteousturneth fromhisrighteousness,andcommittethiniquity,heshall 19evendie1therein.Andwhenthewickedturnethfrom hiswickedness,anddoeththatwhichislawfulandright, 20heshalllivethereby.Yetyesay,ThewayoftheLord isnotequal.0houseofIsrael,I willjudgeyouevery oneafterhisways.

M. FROMTHEMOMENTTHATTHENEWSOF THEFINALFALLOFJERUSALEMBEACHES THECAPTIVES,THEPROPHET’STONGUEIS SETLOOSE,ANDHEBEGINSTOSPEAKOFA RESUSCITATIONANDRESURRECTION.THE KINGDOMOFJEHOVAHISTOBERESTORED WITHFULLSPIRITUALPOWER,WHILETHE ENEMIESOFGOD’SPEOPLE,THEHEATHEN NATIONS,ARETOBEU'ITERLYDESTROYED. 585B.O.CHAPTERSXXXIII.2l-XXXIX. Thereisadifficultyhereaboutthelengthoftimewhichissupposedto elapsebetweenthefallofthecityandtheannouncementofthatfall.The falltookplace18monthspreviously.Inconsequencesomewouldread here,andprobablyrightly,eleventhfortwelfth,whichisthereadingof theSyriacversion.Theyears‘ofourcaptivity’aredatedfromJehoiachin’s captivity(i.2). lix.Thenewsarrives:theprophetisnomoredumb: thejudgementistobethorough:andthenmenwill begintoseektoheartheprophetswords,thoughatfirst theymaynotcarrythemout.xxxiii.21—33. 21 Anditcametopassinthetwelfthyearofour captivity,inthetenthmonth,inthefifthdayofthe

1 Or,forthem asheis. Suchatruthasthisis theirposition.Itistruethepast neededandrequirestobereassertedcanneverbeundoneorlivedover inallgenerationstoany'whoare again:butamendmentcanbemade inclinedtodespairandsaythatit forit. isnogoodattemptingtoretrieve21,22.Ezekielisrepresentedas 182 EZEKIEL XXXIII.1r—17 month,thatonethathadescapedoutofJerusalemcame 22untome,saying,Thecityissmitten.Nowthehandofthe LORDhadbeenuponmeintheevening,aforehethatwas escapedcame;andhehadopenedmymouth,untilhe cametomeinthemorning;andmymouthwasopened, 23andI wasnomoredumb.AndthewordoftheLORD 24cameuntome,saying,Sonofman,theythatinhabit thosewasteplacesinthelandofIsraelspeak,saying, Abrahamwasone,andheinheritedtheland:butweare 25many;thelandisgivenusforinheritance.Wherefore sayuntothem,ThussaiththeLordGOD: Yeeatwiththe blood,andliftupyoureyesuntoyouridols,andshed 26blood:andshallyepossesstheland?Yestanduponyour sWOrd,yeworkabomination,andyedefileeveryonehis 27neighbour’swife:andshallyepossesstheland?Thus havingprophesiedthisalmostexactlyourfather’(Matth.iii.9:Luke threeyearsbefore(xxiv.26,27),wheniii.8),‘Ourfatheris Abraham’ theapproachofNebuchadrezzarto (Johnviii.39).Thereseemsto Jerusalemwasannouncedtohimhavebeenapopularbeliefthat,the (xxiv.2). ‘InthatdayhethatGodofthenationhavingonce escapethshallcomeuntothee,to giventheland,itwasinalienable causetheetohearitwiththinecarsfromHispeople(Judg.xi.24). Inthatdayshallthymouthbe 25,26.Theprophetatoncedis openedtohimwhichisescaped,posesoftheirclaim:throughtheir andthoushaltspeakandbeno wickednesstheyhaveforfeitedit. moredumb.’Foradescriptionof TheyhavebrokentheNoachic thelastdaysofJerusalemsee precepts(Gen.vi.4 ‘Fleshwith 2 K.xxv.2—11:2 Chr.xxxvi.thelifethereof,whichistheblood 17—20:Jer.xxxix.1—14:lii.4-16.thereof,shallyenoteat’)aswellas Fortheprophet’suseoftheex theirownlaws(Lev.iii.17‘yeshall pression‘thehandoftheLord’ see eatneitherfatnorblood’): theyhave i.3. ‘ committedidolatry(cp.xviii.6): 23,24.Intheseversesthepeopletheyhavedonedeedsofviolence whoarestillin Palestineare(xxii.3,4):theyhavetrustedto representedasprotestingagainstmightratherthantoright:all beingdispossessedofthelandsortsofabominationhavebeen whichhasbeenlaidwaste.Surelycommitted(seexxii.10,11 for ifAbraham,amereindividual,wasinstances).Nowonderthenthat allowedtopossessit(cp.Is.ii.2), theyarelosingtheirland. theymightclaimitastheirs.One 27—29.Oncemorethepunish ofthegreatboastsoftheJewishmentisannouncedwhichistobring peoplewas‘WehaveAbrahamto themtoaknowledgeoftheLord, XXXIII.’11—3l EZEKIEL 183 shaltthousayuntothem,ThussaiththeLordGOD:AsI live,surelytheythatareinthewasteplacesshallfallby thesword,andhimthatisintheopenfieldwillIgiveto thebeaststobedevoured,andtheythatbeinthestrong 28holdsandinthecavesshalldieofthepestilence.AndI willmakethelandadesolationandanastonishment,and theprideofherpowershallcease; andthemountainsof Israelshallbedesolate,thatnoneshallpassthrough. 29ThenshalltheyknowthatIamtheLORD,whenI have madethelandadesolationandanastonishment,because ofalltheirabominationswhichtheyhavecommitted. 30Andasforthee,sonofman,thechildrenofthypeople talkoftheebythewallsandinthedoorsofthehouses, andspeakonetoanother,everyonetohisbrother,saying, Come,Iprayyou,andhearwhatisthewordthatcometh 31forthfromtheLORD.Andtheycomeuntotheeasthe peoplecometh,andtheysitbeforetheeasmypeople,and theyhearthywords,butdothemnot:forwiththeir mouththeyshewmuchlove,buttheirheartgoeth anditisaccompaniedbyasolemn30-33.Intheselastversesof adjuration:‘asI live’(cp.v.11).thissectionwehavea personal Thedevastationwouldleadtoan touch,inwhichtherelationsbe increaseofthebeastsofprey,tweentheprophetandhisfellow whilstpestilencewouldinvadethecountrymenincaptivityarede habitationsandcavesinwhichtheyscribed.Theyinviteoneanotherto wouldtakerefuge.It maybe goandlistentotheprophet.The interestinginthisconnectionto renderingofRV.marg.‘alove mentionthattherearesaidtohavesong’ istobepreferred(cp.Is.v.1). beenlionsinPalestinedowntotheHiswordshaveadelightfulsoundto 12thcenturyA.D.Jeremiahfromthem,butitissoundmerely;they hisdwellinginEgyptcoulddescribedonotpracticewhathepreaches, Palestineinwordscorrespondingto thoughtheyhadresortedtohimfor thoseinv.28(Jer.xliv.2,6,22).yearspast(seeviii.l),andthough ThemountainsofIsraelhadbeentheycalledthemselvestheLord’s theseatofmuchofthesurvivingpeople(mypeople0. 31).This heathenworship,andtheywereto spiritwasonewhichothershad becomedesolate.Theresultingdenounced(Ps.lxxviii.36,37:Is. knowledgeoftheLordisoneof xxix.l3quotedbyourLordand thedistinctivenotesofthewholeappliedtotheJewsofhisday: book(seevi.7). Matth.xv.8,9: Mkvii.6,7: Jer.xii. 184 EZEKIELXXXIII.3I—XXXI'V.a 32aftertheirgain.And,lo,thouartuntothemas1avery lovelysongofonethatbathapleasantvoice,andcanplay wellonaninstrument: fortheyhearthywords,butthey 33dothemnot.Andwhenthiscomethtopass,(behold,it c0meth,)thenshalltheyknowthataprophethathbeen amongthem. hr. TheLordthroughHisprothcondemnstherulers andguidesofHispeople,andpronouncesjudgement uponthem.Aseparationistotakeplacebetweenthe goodandthebad,andJehovahwillbetheGood ShepherdofHispeople,whileDavidshallbetheirruler. xxxiv.1—31. Thebreakindicatedbyanewparagraphatv.20isnotneeded. XXXIV.1AndthewordoftheLORDcameuntome, 2saying,Sonofman,prophesyagainsttheshepherdsof Israel,prophesy,andsayuntothem,eventotheshep herds,ThussaiththeLordGOD:Woeuntotheshepherds

1 Or,alovesong 2).Gainwastheirmainthought(Jer. afterit. Theprophecyisactually xxii.17)asitiswithsomanyofto addressedtotheseshepherds.The day,whocansitinthecomfortablewholeofitiscloselyconnectedinsub reservedpewinchurchorchapelject-matt/erandlanguagewithJer. andthinkthattheyhavefulfilledxxiii.1—8whichshouldbecarefully theweightiestmatterofGod’slaw.comparedwithit(cp.alsoZech.xi. Hearingisnotdoing:ourLord15—17whichechoestheolder emphasisesthisintheclosingwordsprophecies).‘Shepherds’is the oftheSermonontheMount(Matth.namegivenheretotherulersof vii.26,27: cp.Lk.vi.49).Butthestate,kingandprinces.We whenthetroublecomesinallits havethesameideaintheGreek fulness,toeachgenerationalike,expressionnoipfivAuév.IntheNew thentheforceofthewordsofthe Testamentthismetaphoricalex trueandloyalpreacherofrighteouspressionistakenoverfromtheOld nesswillberecognized. Testamentandappliedtoreligious XXXIV.1-6.Denunciationof teachersandrulers.Someofthese theshepherdsfortheirself-indulareselfishandcareless(seeJudel2 gence,whiletheflockisnottendedquotedlater),liketherulersof butscatteredabroadwithnonetolookthispassage.Theprophecyof XXXIV.1—6 EZEKIEL 185 ofIsraelthatdofeedthemselves!shouldnottheshop 3herdsfeedthesheep?Yeeatthefat,andyeclotheyou withthewool,yekillthefatlings;butyefeednotthe 4sheep.Thediseasedhaveyenotstrengthened,neither haveyehealedthatwhichwassick,neitherhaveyebound upthatwhichwasbroken,neitherhaveyebroughtagain thatwhichwasdrivenaway,neitherhaveyesoughtthat whichwaslost;butwithforceandwithrigourhaveye 5ruledoverthem.Andtheywerescattered,becausethere wasnoshepherd: andtheybecamemeattoallthebeasts 6ofthefield,andwerescattered.Mysheepwandered throughallthemountains,anduponeveryhighhill: yea, mysheepwerescattereduponallthefaceoftheearth;

JeremiahistheearlierbyalmostIsraeliteswheninbondage(Ex.i. twentyyearsandwasdeliveredin 13,14)andinLeviticus(xxv.43,53) Jerusalemwhilethiswaspublishedofthetreatmentof thepoor inBabylonia.Wedonotreadof Israelite(‘thoushaltnotruleover anyintercourseashavingtakenhimwithrigour’).Theordinary placebetweenthetwoprophets,Israelitewasconstantlybeingre thoughwecangather,e.g.fromducedtothiscondition.Micaiah xxxiii.21,thatcommunications300yearsbeforethisprophecywas werekeptupbetweenJerusalemdelivered‘sawallIsraelscattered andthoseofthecaptivity.Theuponthemountains,assheepthat shepherdsarerepresentedas havenoshepherd.’Later,inZecha caringonlyforthemselvesjustriah(x.2),wereadofthepeople asintheNewTestamentweread‘theygotheirwaylikesheep,they of‘shepherdsthatwithoutfearareafflicted,becausethereis no feedthemselves’(Jude12),whereasshepherd.’AndwhenourLord itwastheirdutytofeedtheflock.came,andsawagreatmultitude, Theyeatthefat,ie.thefattedpart‘Hehadcompassiononthem, oftheflock:theSeptuagintbya becausetheywereassheepnot differentvocalizationoftheHebrewhavingashepherd’(Mkvi.34:cp. read‘themilk.’Thesinofthe Matth.ix.36).Theconsequencewas, rulershadbeendenouncedin inEzekiel’stime,thattheybecame equallyscathinglanguageatan aneasypreytoanywhoattacked earlierdatebyMicah(iii.2,3). them.‘ Israelisascatteredsheep; Herethevariouswaysinwhichthelionshavedrivenhimaway: theyshouldhavecaredfortheflockfirstthekingof Assyriahath aredescribedinv. 4. Theworddevouredhim;andlastthisNebu usedfor‘rigour’isanunusualone,chadrezzarkingofBabylonhath andonlyusedelsewhereofthe brokenhisbones’(Jer.L 17).The treatmentbytheEgyptiansofthe peoplewereabsolutelyneglectedby 186 EZEKIEL XXXIV.6—r3

andtherewasnonethatdidsearchorseekafterthem. 7Therefore,yeshepherds,hearthewordoftheLORD: 8AsI live,saiththeLordGOD,surelyforasmuchasmy sheepbecameaprey,andmysheepbecamemeattoall thebeastsofthefield,becausetherewasnoshepherd, neitherdidmyshepherdssearchformysheep,butthe 9shepherdsfedthemselves,andfednotmysheep;there 10fore,yeshepherds,hearthewordoftheLORD; Thussaith theLordGOD:Behold,I amagainsttheshepherds; and Iwillrequiremysheepattheirhand,andcausethemto ceasefromfeedingthesheep;neithershalltheshepherds feedthemselvesanymore;andI willdelivermysheep fromtheirmouth,thattheymaynotbemeatforthem. 11ForthussaiththeLordGOD:Behold,Imyself,evenI, 12willsearchformysheep,andwillseekthemout.Asa shepherdseekethouthisflockinthedaythatheisamong hissheepthatarescatteredabroad,sowillIseekoutmy sheep;andI willdeliverthemoutofallplaceswhither theyhavebeenscatteredin1thecloudyanddarkday. 13AndI willbringthemoutfromthepeoples,andgather

l Heb.thedayofcloudsandthickdarkness.

thosewhooughttohavecaredfor neglect.Forthefuturetheywould them. neithertendtheflocknorbeable 7—10.Theaddressturnsdirectlytoindulgethemselves. totheshepherds.Theyaretobe ll-lfi.TheLordGodHimself maderesponsibleandtheirsheepwillactthepartofagoodshepherd rescuedfromtheirneglectandtotheflock.Wehaveherean oppression.Theadjuration‘AsI anticipationof Newthament live,saiththeLordGod’(cp.xvi.language: ‘theSonofmancameto 48)recursandcorrespondstothe seekandtosavethatwhichwaslost’ ‘Verily,verily’oftheNewTesta(Lk.xix.10):‘Iamthegoodshep mentThesheepandtheshepherdsherd’(Johnx.11).Thelanguage werealikeGod’s;becausethe ofthischapterisrecalledtous shepherdshadnotactedasiftheymorethanoncebyourLord’swords wereGod’sofficers,God’ssheep(Matth.ix.36:xxv.32:Johnx.8, shouldnolongerbeentrustedto ll:cp.Heb.xiii.20:1 Pet.ii.25: them.‘I willrequiremysheepat v.4),andshewshowmuchithad theirhand’meansthattheywillimpresseditselfuponHismind.The havetogiveaccountfortheirrepresentationofourLordasthe

--.-‘-”',_ i Fair’h_—.7“.:‘1:'.:;A‘ XXXI'V.13—18 EZEKIEL 187 themfromthecountries,andwillbringthemintotheir ownland;andI willfeedthemuponthemountainsof Israel,bythewatercourses,andinalltheinhabitedplaces 14ofthecountry.Iwillfeedthemwithgoodpasture,and uponthemountainsoftheheightofIsraelshalltheirfold be:thereshalltheyliedowninagoodfold,andonfat 15pastureshalltheyfeeduponthemountainsofIsrael.I myselfwillfeedmysheep,andIwillcausethemtolie 16down,saiththeLordGOD.Iwillseekthatwhichwaslost, andwillbringagainthatwhichwasdrivenaway,andwill bindupthatwhichwasbroken,andwillstrengthenthat whichwassick:andthefatandthestrongIwilldestroy; 17Iwillfeedtheminjudgement.Andasforyou,Omyflock, thussaiththeLordGOD:Behold,Ijudgebetweencattle 18andcattle,aswelltheramsasthehe-goats.Seemethita smallthinguntoyoutohavefeduponthegoodpasture, butyemusttreaddownwithyourfeettheresidueofyour pasture?andtohavedrunkoftheclearwaters,butyemust goodShepherdisoneoftheearliestprince(cp.Ps.01:.l),butwemay intheCatacombsatRome.‘Thefeelcertainthatsuchanideacould cloudyanddarkday’isthesameas scarcelyhaveenteredintothe thatwhichiscalledelsewhere‘theprophet’smind.Theideatohim dayoftheLord’(e.g.Joeli. 15: wouldbeofDavidasthevicegerent ii.1,2where‘thccloudyanddarkoftheLordGod. day’appearsagain:Zeph.i. 7). 17—19.Atthispointtheaddress Thereistobearestorationofthe isdirectedtotheflockandnotto scatteredpeople,whoaretobe theshepherds.Intheflockthere gatheredtogetheragain(seexi.1?). istobea discriminationbetween Thesimileoftheflockiskeptup thegreatandpowerfulandtherest throughout.Withthefirstwordsoftheflock.Wecannotfailtobe ofe.15cp.Is.X].11‘HeshallfeedremindedofourLord’swordsin hisflocklikeashepherd’andwithreferencetothefinaljudgement:— v.16cp.Mic.iv.6. Atthesame‘ Heshallseparatethemonefrom timejudgementistocomeupontheanother,astheshepherdseparateth oppressors,describedas‘thefat thesheepfromthegoats’(Matth. andthestrong.’ xxv.32),thoughthelikenessisone Itispossibleforustoreadintooflanguageratherthanofmatter. thispassagebyacomparisonofw. ‘Cattleandcattle,’astheyare 14,15andv.23anidentificationin calledhereandinv.22,aredefined somewayorotherbetweentheas‘thefatcattleandthelean LordGodandDavidtheservantcattle’in v. 20. Whetherthe 188 EZEKIEL XXXIV.18—25

19foultheresiduewithyourfeet?Andasformysheep,they eatthatwhichyehavetroddenwithyourfeet,andthey drinkthatwhichyehavefouledwithyourfeet. 20 ThereforethussaiththeLordGODuntothem: Behold, I,evenI,willjudgebetweenthefatcattleandthelean 21cattle.Becauseyethrustwithsideandwithshoulder, andpushallthediseasedwithyourhorns,tillyehave 22scatteredthemabroad;thereforewillIsavemyflock,and theyshallnomorebeaprey;andI willjudgebetween 23cattleandcattle.AndI willsetuponeshepherdover them,andheshallfeedthem,evenmyservantDavid;he 24shallfeedthem,andheshallbetheirshepherd.AndI theLORDwillbetheirGod,andmyservantDavidprince 25amongthem;I theLORDhavespokenit. AndI will makewiththemacovenantofpeace,andwillcauseevil prophethadinhisownmindanyjudgementisindicatedbyitsthree distinctionbetweentheramsandfoldannouncement(rv.I7,20,22). thehe-goats,asrepresentativeof Followinguponthejudgementthere therulingclasseshere,isnotclear.istobeonerulersetoverthem The‘he-goats’aremarkedoutfor (cp.xxxvii.22,24:Jer.xxiii.5: punishmentbya laterprophetMic.v.4:sotoo2 Esdr.ii.34) (Zech.x.3),whiletheramandtheidentifiedwithDavid(xxxvii.24,25) he-goatareusedasemblemsof whohadbeentheshepherdof greatpowerinDaniel(viii.3—8).Israel.V.24makesDavidthe TheindictmentagainstthepowerfulviceroyoftheLord,withtheLord inthepresentpassageisthattheyastheirGod(cp.xxxvii.27following notonlytookthebestbutspoiltfor uponxxxvii.25):foritslastwords otherswhattheydidnotusefor seexvii.24. Alastingcovenant themselves,so thattheyhaveofpeacewastofollow(soxxxvii. trampleddownthepastureand26):suchacovenanthadexisted fouledthewatersfortheweak. beforebuthadbeenbrokenbythe 20—31.Thejudgementanddis people’sdefection(cp.Num.xxv. criminationistobefollowedby 12:Is.liv.10:Ecclus.xlv.24). arestoration.Theviolenceofthe Asaconsequencetherewouldbe rulersisherepourtrayed:ifonehaspeacewithoutanyfearofinvasion everwatchedaflockofsheepone(cp.Lev.xxvi.6:Is.xi.6-8,where canseehowobservanttheprophetthefigurativecomparisonisworked hasbeenoftheworldofnature: out:xxxv.9:lxv.25:Hos.ii.18). theweakones‘gotothewall’in Thesecurityofthepeopleisinsisted theflock.Buttheyweretohaveuponseveraltimesinthepresent a deliverer:thecertaintyoftheseriesofprophecies(xxxviii.8,14; XXXIV.15—19 EZEKIEL 189 beaststoceaseoutoftheland:andtheyshalldwell 26securelyinthewilderness,andsleepinthewoods.AndI willmakethemandtheplacesroundaboutmyhilla blessing; andIwillcausetheshowertocomedowninits 27season; thereshallbeshowersofblessing.Andthetree ofthefieldshallyielditsfruit,andtheearthshallyield herincrease,andtheyshallbesecureintheirland;and theyshallknowthatIamtheLORD,whenIhavebroken thebarsoftheiryoke,andhavedeliveredthemoutofthe 28handofthosethat1servedthemselvesofthem.Andthey shallnomorebeapreytotheheathen,neithershallthe beastoftheearthdevourthem;buttheyshalldwell 29securely,andnoneshallmakethemafraid.AndI will raiseupuntothema2plantationforrenown,andthey shallbenomore8consumedwithfamineintheland,

1 Or,madebondmen2 Or,plant3 Heb.takenaway.

xxxix.26).Itshouldberemembranchofmyplanting’:lxi.3‘that beredthattheterm‘wilderness’theymightbecalledtreesof heremeans‘untilledland’notrighteousness,theplantingofthe necessarilyabarrendesert:agreatLord’:Numb.xxiv.6 ‘aslign-aloes dealofitwaspastureland.ThewhichtheLordhathplanted’). peoplewouldthenbeasourceof Theywerenomoretosufl'erfamine blessingtotheworldaroundthem(soxxxvi.29)ortobescornedby (cp.Gen.xii.2,3: Is.xix.24:Zech.theheathen: butinsteadtheywere viii.13),sothatblessingwouldcometoacknowledgetheirdutifulrelation downliketheseasonableshowertotheLordtheirGodandrealise uponthethirstyland(cp.Mal.iii. thatafteralltheywerebuthuman, 10).Materialprosperitywouldac menandnotGod(cp.xxviii.12 companythesecurityof the‘thouartmanandnotGod’). inhabitants(soxxxvi.30).Theidea Itisverylikelythat,sofaras ofbreakingthebarsoftheyokeis Ezekielhimselfwasconcerned,he commontothispassagewithJer.wouldexpectaspeedyrestoration xxx.8:Nah.i.13.‘ThosethatservedoftheJewishmonarchy,inmuch themselvesofthem’is a quaintthesamewayasStPaulseemsatfirst expressionfor‘thosethatmadetohaveanticipatedaspeedyreturn themtheirslaves.’V.28sumsup oftheLord.Thiswouldbeex whathadbeenalreadysaidin pressedbyhimintheformofthe previousverses.Inthefuturetheysettingupofa Daviduponthe weretobelikeatreeorplant,throne,Davidbeingtheidealking plantedbytheLordHimselfandthatwaslookedbackto,andalso thereforefamous(cp.Is.1x.21‘thebecauseofthepromisesthathad 190 EZEKIELxxxrv.ag—XXXV.5 30neitherbeartheshameoftheheathenanymore.And theyshallknowthatItheLORDtheirGodamwiththem, andthatthey,thehouseofIsrael,aremypeople,saiththe 31LordGOD.Andyemysheep,thesheepofmypasture,are men,andIamyourGod,saiththeLordGOD.

lxi.EdambecauseofitsperpetualhostilitytoIsraelisto haveseverepunishmentmetedouttoit,andthusto realisethepoweroftheLord.xxxv.1—15.

XXXV.1 MoreoverthewordoftheLORDcame 2untome,saying,Sonofman,setthyfaceagainstmount 3Seir,andprophesyagainstit,andsayuntoit,Thussaith theLordGOD:Behold,I amagainstthee,OmountSeir, andIwillstretchoutminehandagainstthee,andI will 4maketheeadesolationandanastonishment.I willlay thycitieswaste,andthoushaltbedesolate;andthou 5shaltknowthatIamtheLORD.Becausethouhasthada perpetualenmity,andhastgivenoverthechildrenof Israeltothepoweroftheswordinthetimeoftheir

beenmadeconcerningDavid’sline.thesouthernendoftheDeadSeato LateragescanseeinallthisitstruetheheadoftheGulfofAkabah,the Messianicmeaningthoughitisnoteasternofthetwonorthernforksof clearthatEzekielidentifiedthe theRedSeaThecountryabout Davidofhisprophecywiththeit wasoccupiedbythosewhose Messiahthatwastocome. descentwastracedfromEsauthe XXXV.1—12.TheprophetsbrotherofJacobthefatherofthe withoneconsentdenouncedEdomtwelvepatriarchs.Thechieftowns foritsunbrotherlyrelationsand(‘cities’v.4)ofEdomwereBozrah, hostility(cp.xxv.12).Isaiah(xxxiv.Sela(i.q.Petra),Elath,Ezion-geber, 5:cp.xxi.ll,22),Jeremiah(xxv.and,perhaps,Teman,ifTemanwas 21:xlix.7—22),Amos(i.ll,12), thenameofatownaswellasa Obadiah(throughout),Malachi(i.4), district.TheexpressionofEdom’s allaliketestifytothestrongani hostilityatthetimeofthefallof mositytherewasonthepartoftheJerusalemseemstohavebeenvery JewsagainsttheEdomites.‘Monntbitter.‘Remember,0 Lord, Seir’isusedhereasanequivalentagainstthechildrenofEdomthe forEdom.ItwasthenameforthedayofJerusalem;whosaid,Rase rangeofmountainswhichranfromit,raseit,eventothefoundation XXXV.5—11 EZEKIEL 191

6calamity,inthetimeofthe1iniquityoftheend:therefore, asI 'live,saiththeLordGOD,I willpreparetheeunto blood,andbloodshallpursuethee:siththouhastnot 7hatedblood,thereforebloodshallpursuethee.Thuswill ImakemountSeiranastonishmentandadesolation;and I willcutofffromithimthatpasseththroughandhim 8thatreturneth.AndI willfillhismountainswithhis slain: inthyhillsandinthyvalleysandinallthywater 9coursesshalltheyfallthatareslainwiththesword.I willmaketheeperpetualdesolations,andthycitiesshall not2beinhabited: andyeshallknowthatIamtheLORD. 10Becausethouhastsaid,Thesetwonationsandthesetwo countriesshallbemine,andwewillpossessit;3whereasthe 11LORDwasthere:therefore,asIlive,saiththeLordGOD, Iwilldoaccordingtothineanger,andaccordingtothine envywhichthouhastshewedoutofthyhatredagainst them; andIwillmakemyselfknownamongthem,‘when 12Ishalljudgethee.Andthoushaltknow5thatItheLORD haveheardallthyblasphemieswhichthouhastspoken againstthemountainsofIsrael,saying,6Theyarelaid

1 Or,punishment3 Anotherreadingis,return.3 Or,though‘ Or, accordingas 5 Or,thatIamtheLORD;Ihaveheard(fic ‘ Or,Itis thereof’(Ps.cxxxvii.7:cp.Am.i. dividedintotwokingdomsanymore ll:Obad.10-l4).Forthephrase‘inatall’).Edomisoneofanumber thetimeoftheiniquityoftheend’ ofnationswhoaresaidtohave seexxi.25.Theword‘sith’(=since),madea covenantagainstGod’s whichoccursseveraltimesinA.V.people(Ps.lxxxiii.5,6),amongst asoriginallyprinted,onlysurviveswhom,astheprophetsays,God hereinR.V.Thepunishmentof dwelt(cp.Joeliii.21).Here,too, Edomistocomeinfullmeasure.theyclaimPalestineastheirownas Passagethroughitswastedcountryin thefollowingprophecy:-—-‘all willbedangerous,asitwastobein Edom,whichhaveappointedmy Egypt(xxix.ll).Therewastobe landuntothemselvesfora pos a greatslaughter:thelanguagesession’(xxxvi.5). Itisnotclear, throughoutislikethatwhichisusedhowever,whethertheyactuallytook aboutEgypt(xxxi,xxii.).Thepossession,thoughtheyclaimedit, twonationsandtwocountriesareofanypartoftheJewishterritory thekingdomsofIsraelandJudahuponthefallofJerusalem.Later, (soxxxvii.22‘theyshallbenomoreinthetimeofl Maccabees(v.65) twonations,neithershalltheybe Hebronandtheneighbourhoodhad 192 EZEKIELXXXV.n—XXXVI.:

13desolate,theyaregivenustodevour.Andyehave magnifiedyourselvesagainstmewithyourmouth,and havemultipliedyourwordsagainstme:Ihaveheardit. 14ThussaiththeLordGOD:Whenthewholeearthrejoiceth, 15Iwillmaketheedesolate.Asthoudidstrejoiceoverthe inheritanceofthehouseofIsrael,becauseitwasdesolate, sowillI dountothee:thoushaltbedesolate,Omount Seir,andallEdom,evenallofit:andtheyshallknow thatIamtheLORD.

lxii.Afurtherprophecylookingbacktothelast.Asthe lastwasaddressedtoMountSeir,sothisone,indue symmetry,isaddressedtothemountainsofIsrael.It continuesthepromiseofrestorationtoGod’speople. xxxvi.1—15. XXXVI.1Andthou,sonofman,prophesyuntothe mountainsofIsrael,andsay,YemountainsofIsrael,hear 2thewordoftheLORD.ThussaiththeLordGOD:Because theenemyhathsaidagainstyou,Ahaland,Theancient becomeEdomite.ThenameIdu XXXVI.1—7.Anapostrophic maea(i.e.landofEdom)goesbackaddresstothemountainsofIsrael. to31213.0.(Encycl.Bib.1186).TheyTheseareconstantlymentionedby weretoreceiveaccordingtotheEzekiel;perhapsthelevelcountry measuretheyhadmetedoutof roundtheTigrisandEuphrates,by angerandhatred.Blasphemies(r. itscontrastwiththeirownhillsand 12)arethecalumniousstatementsmountains,broughtbacktothe whichEdomhadmadeinderisionof captivestheconstantremembrance theirfallenfoe.Forthistheyareoftheirownfatherland.‘The treated,inaccordancewiththebe enemy’includesallthosethathad liefofthetimethattheenemiesof conspiredagainstIsrael: ‘thetents God’speoplemustbeGod’senemies,ofEdomandtheIshmaelites;Mesh, ashostiletoHim.Moreover,theyandtheHagarenes;Gebal,and hadneverbeenemployedliketheAmmon,andAmalek;Philistia Babyloniansastheinstrumentsof withtheinhabitantsof Tyre: Divinewrath.InconsequencetheyAssyriaalsoisjoinedwiththem; shouldbelaidwaste,andtheirtheyhaveholpenthechildrenof desolationwastobea causeof Lot’(Ps.lxxxiii.6—8).Theinter generalrejoicing. jection‘Aha!’isascribedtoAmmon XXXVI.'2—6 EZEKIEL 193

3highplacesareoursinpossession:thereforeprophesy,and say,ThussaiththeLordGod:Because,evenbecausethey havemadeyoudesolate,andswallowedyouuponevery side,thatyemightbeapossessionuntotheresidueofthe nations,andyearetakenupinthelipsoftalkers,andthe 4evilreportofthepeople:therefore,yemountainsof Israel,hearthewordoftheLordGOD;Thussaiththe LordGODtothemountainsandtothehills,tothewater coursesandtothevalleys,tothedesolatewastesandto thecitiesthatareforsaken,whicharebecomeapreyand derisiontotheresidueofthenationsthatareroundabout: 5thereforethussaiththeLordGOD:Surelyinthefireof myjealousyhaveI spokenagainsttheresidueofthe nations,andagainstallEdom,whichhaveappointedmy landuntothemselvesforapossessionwiththejoyofall theirheart,withdespiteofsoul,tocastitoutforaprey: 6thereforeprophesyconcerningthelandofIsrael,andsay untothemountainsandtothehills,tothewatercourses andtothevalleys,ThussaiththeLordGOD:Behold,I havespokeninmyjealousyandinmyfury,becauseye

(xxv.3)andtoTyre(xxvi.2). ‘Thefire,ajealousGod’(Dent.iv.24). ancienthighplaces’wouldincludeGodclaimsanundividedallegiance notonlythetemplebutalsothefromHispeeple:theexpression varioussacredsitesofthedifferentoccursagaininZeph.i.18‘thewhole inhabitantsofCanaan.Thedestruclandshallbedevouredbythefire tionofGod’speoplehadbecomea ofHisjealousy.’IntheNewTes topicofconversationamongstallthetament(Heb.x.27)wefindthe nationsandtheyhadlostthereputeexpressionreversed,‘ajealousyof whichtheyhad.Ithadcomeuponfirewhichshalldevourtheadver themandtheirland(cp.vi.2,3 saries’:thewordsthereseemtobe wherethelanguageofdescriptionarecollectionofIs.xxvi.ll.The resemblesthatofthepresentlpassage)mentionofEdominespeciallooks inaccordancewithprophecy.‘Thebackto thepreviousprophecy residueofthenations’(on.3,4,5) (xxxv.1-15),whereEdomalso mustbethepopulationthatre claimspossessionofCanaan(xxxv. mainedaftertheBabyloniandepor10). Thesamefeelingsthat tations.Theideaintendedtobe actuatedEdomareascribedtothe conveyedbytheexpression‘thechildrenofAmmon:‘thouhast fireofmyjealousy’isbestexplainedclappedthinehands,andstamped by‘TheLordthyGodisadevouringwiththefeet,andrejoicedwithall R. 13 194 EZEKIEL xxxvr.6—r3

7havebornetheshameoftheheathen:thereforethussaith theLordGOD:Ihaveliftedupminehand,saying,Surely theheathenthatareroundaboutyou,theyshallbear 8theirshame.Butye,OmountainsofIsrael,yeshallshoot forthyourbranches,andyieldyourfruittomypeople 9Israel;fortheyareathandtocome.For,behold,I am foryou,andI willturnuntoyou,andyeshallbetilled 10andsown:andIwillmultiplymenuponyou,allthehouse ofIsrael,evenallofit:andthecitiesshallbeinhabited, 11andthewasteplacesshallbebuilded: andIwillmultiply uponyoumanandbeast; andtheyshallincreaseandbe fruitful:andI willcauseyoutobeinhabitedafteryour formerestate,andwilldobetteruntoyouthanatyour 12beginnings: andyeshallknowthatIamtheLORD.Yea, Iwillcausementowalkuponyou,evenmypeopleIsrael; andtheyshallpossessthee,andthoushaltbetheir inheritance,andthoushaltnomorehenceforthbereave l3themofchildren.ThussaiththeLordGOD:Becausethey thedespiteofthysoulagainsttheconstantone(cp.c.xvii),anditmust landofIsrael’(xxv.6,wheresee bethebranchesandfruitthatare noteontheexpression‘despitereferredtointhelastclauseofv.8 ofsoul’).Thewords‘tocastit ‘theyareathandtocome.’ outforaprey’donotgivemuch 8—1‘2.Godwhohadbeenagainst sense:it is difiiculttoseehowthem(v.8)willnowbeforthem,and thelandcouldbecastoutToythedesolateplacesshallbeculti amendstheHebrewsoastomakevated,whilsttheforsakenand it mean‘totakepossessionof ruinouscitiesshallbeinhabited itforaprey.’‘Theshameofthe againwithanabundantpopulation, heathen'istheshameordisgraceashadalsobeenpromisedbyJere whichtheheathenhavebroughtmiah(xxx.18,19:xxxi.27).These uponyou.Theliftingupofthepromisesarerepeatedinw.33, handisthemarkofsolemnasseve35:xxxvii.26.Thelandisrepre ration(cp.Gen.xiv.22)andisusedsentedasbereaviugthepeopleof bymanywitnessesinthelawcourtschildrenbywhatitsufferedinthe ofto-dayas a preliminaryto wayofdevastationandpunishment givingevidence.Theheathenin foritssins. theirturnaretobebroughtto 13—15.Theideaofthelastwords shame,andthenwillcomethe ofv.12iscarriedoninthisfresh restorationofIsraelThecomdeclaration.Itisthelandthathas parisonofthepeopletoatreeisa causedallthetrouble: ithadeaten XXXVI.13—19 EZEKIEL 195 sayuntoyou,Thoulandartadevourerofmen,andhast 14beena bereaverofthylnation;thereforethoushalt devourmennomore,neither’bereavethy1nationany 15more,saiththeLordGOD;neitherwillI8lettheehearany moretheshameoftheheathen,neithershaltthoubear thereproachofthepeoplesanymore,neithershaltthou causethy1nationtostumbleanymore,saiththeLord Goo.

lxiii.Afurtherprqahecyofcleansingandrestoration forIsrael.'xxxvi.16—38.

Themainideaconveyedinthisprophecyisthatitisclearlynecessary thatbytherestorationofthepeopleJehovah’spositionshouldbeasserted andHisomnipotencedeclaredtotheworld.Hewhohadpowertopunish hadpoweralsotorestoretofavourandinthatpowertoguideHispeople forthefuture.Theheathennationsweretobedisabusedoftheidea thatJehovahwasnotstrongenoughtoguardIsrael. 16 MoreoverthewordoftheLORDcameuntome,saying, 17Sonofman,whenthehouseofIsraeldweltintheirown land,theydefileditbytheirwayandbytheirdoings: theirwaybeforemewasastheuncleannessofawoman 18inherseparation.WhereforeI pouredoutmyfuryupon themforthebloodwhichtheyhadpouredoutuponthe land,andbecausetheyhaddefileditwiththeiridols: 19andI scatteredthemamongthenations,andtheywere dispersedthroughthecountries:accordingtotheirway

1 Anotherreadingis,nations.’ Anotherreadingis,causetostumble. ' Or,proclaimagainstthee uptheinhabitants(cp.Num.xiii. 16-21.Thestateofthepeopleand 32)bycausingthemtoperishof theirpunishmentisdescribedlm wantIfwereadwithR.V.marg.purity,violence,andidolatrywere inon.13—15‘nations’for‘nation’theirruin.Itwasthesethatbrought theprophetmustbesupposedto abouttheirdispersion,andintheir refertoIsraelandJudah.In'0.14 dispersiontheybroughtdiscredit thereadingofRV.‘bereave’isto uponJehovah,inwhoselandthey bepreferredtothatofthemarginhaddwelt.Wehaveherean ‘causetostumble.’ allusiontothepopularbeliefthat 13—2 196 EZEKIEL xxxw.19—26 20andaccordingtotheirdoingsIjudgedthem.Andwhen theycameuntothenations,whithertheywent,they profanedmyholyname; inthatmensaidofthem,These arethepeopleoftheLORD,andaregoneforthoutofhis 21land.ButIhadpityformineholyname,whichthehouse ofIsraelhadprofanedamongthenations,whitherthey 22went.ThereforesayuntothehouseofIsrael,Thussaith theLordGOD:1Idonotthisforyoursake,Ohouseof Israel,butformineholyname,whichyehaveprofaned 23amongthenations,whitheryewent.AndI willsanctify mygreatname,whichhathbeenprofanedamongthe nations,whichyehaveprofanedinthemidstofthem;and thenationsshallknowthatIamtheLORD,saiththeLord GOD,whenIshallbesanctifiedinyoubefore2theireyes. 24ForI willtakeyoufromamongthenations,andgather yououtofallthecountries,andwillbringyouintoyour 25ownland.AndIwillsprinklecleanwateruponyou,and yeshallbeclean:fromallyourfilthiness,andfromall 26youridols,willI cleanseyou.AnewheartalsowillI giveyou,andanewspiritwillI putwithinyou:andI willtakeawaythestonyheartoutofyourflesh,andIwill

1 Or,Iworknotfordie. 2 Or,accordingtoanotherreading,your

thegodofalandhadnoauthoritypeoplegatheredtogetheragainin outsidethatland.Thepitythattheirownland(seexi.1?:xxxvii. Jehovahshewed,Heshewedforthe1a21).Theadvanceinspiritual sakeofHisName,thatitsprofanateachingconveyedinor.25-27will tionmightgonofurther. befoundtreatedofintheIntro 22-32.Thethoughtofv.21is duction,pp.xxxiii.ii". Theideaof enlargedintheseverses(cp.Ps.cxv.).sprinklingtocleanseiscommonto ThepurificationandtherestorationthispassagewithIs.lii.15‘80shall thataretocomearetobe,inthefirstHesprinklemanynations’ (soBAR, place,forGod’shonourandglory.butseeR.V.marg.;cp.Is.iv.4: TheseversesbeginandendwithJer.xxxiii.8)andoccursintheNew thisidea(cp.v.22withc. 32).TestamentinHeb.x.22‘havingour God’sNameistobehallowedbeforeheartssprinkledfromanevil theheathennations(cp.xx.41):conscience.’Itis distinctfrom andthiswillbringtheknowledge‘thebloodofsprinkling'(Heb.xii. ofJehovahtothem(soxxxviii.23: 24)andthe‘sprinklingoftheblood xxxix.7,21),whentheyseeHisofJesusChrist,’whichlooksback XXXVI.16—33 EZEKIEL 197 27giveyouanheartofflesh.AndI willputmyspirit withinyou,andcauseyoutowalkinmystatutes,andye 28shallkeepmyjudgements,anddothem.Andyeshall dwellinthelandthatIgavetoyourfathers;andyeshall 29bemypeople,andI willbeyourGod.AndI willsave youfromallyouruncleannesses:andI willcallforthe corn,andwillmultiplyit,andlaynofamineuponyou. 30AndIwillmultiplythefruitofthetree,andtheincrease ofthefield,thatyeshallreceivenomorethereproachof 31famineamongthenations.Thenshallyerememberyour evilways,andyourdoingsthatwerenotgood;andye shallloatheyourselvesinyourownsightforyouriniquities 32andforyourabominations.Notforyoursake1doIthis, saiththeLordGOD,beitknownuntoyou:beashamed 33andconfoundedforyourways,0houseofIsrael.Thus saiththeLordGOD:InthedaythatI cleanseyoufrom allyouriniquities,I willcausethecitiestobeinhabited,

l 01',doliner]: totheLeviticalordinancesandthe(soxxxiv.27,29).Thereproachof sprinklingofthebloodofthesin famineisthereproachthatthey ofi'eringbeforetheLord(Lev.iv.6, incurredamongsttheheathen 17).Theidolswerea sourceof becauseofthedisastersthatcame uncleannessnotonlybecauseoftheuponthem:cp.Joelii.19‘Iwill idolatrousworshipbutalsobecausenomoremakeyoua reproach oftheimpureriteswhichaccomamongthenations.’Thethought paniedthatworship.Thenewoftheirpasttransgressionswill heart,insteadofthestonyheart,bringwithitasenseofshameand andthenewspirithavealreadyhumiliation(seevi.9). V.32 beenspokenof(xi.19,20).Therepeatstheideaofv.22. Itwas newspiritistobeGod’sSpiritgoodforthepeopleofIsraeltobe (1:.27:cp.xxxvii.l4)andbyittheyashamedofthepastwhenthe willbecomedocileandobedientgloryofGod’sholyNamewasonce (soalsoxi.20:xxxvii.24).Theiragainvindicated. oldlandshallbetheirsagain 33—36.Arenewalofthepromise (xxviii.25:xxxvii.25),andtheoldofrestorationfollows(cp.w.9,10, relationbetweenJehovahandHis25).Thecomparisonofthere peopleshallbere-established(xi.storedlandtothegardenofEden 20:xxxvii.23:Ex.vi.7: Lev.xxvi.ismadeinIsaiah(li.3)and‘Eden, l2).DeliveranceandrescuewillthegardenofGod’hasbeenmen bringwithitmaterialabundancetionedmorethanoncealreadyby 198 EZEKIEL XXXVI.33—38

34andthewasteplacesshallbebuilded.Andthelandthat wasdesolateshallbetilled,whereasitwasadesolationin 35thesightofallthatpassedby.Andtheyshallsay,This landthatwasdesolateisbecomelikethegardenofEden; andthewasteanddesolateandruinedcitiesarefenced 36andinhabited.Thenthenationsthatareleftround aboutyoushallknowthatI theLORDhavebuildedthe ruinedplaces,andplantedthatwhichwasdesolate: Ithe LORDhavespokenit,andIwilldoit. 37 ThussaiththeLordGOD: ForthismoreoverwillIbe inquiredofbythehouseofIsrael,todoitforthem;Iwill 38increasethemwithmenlikeaflock.Asthe1flockfor sacrifice,astheflockofJerusaleminherappointedfeasts; soshallthewastecitiesbefilledwithflocksofmen: and theyshallknowthatIamtheLORD.

1 Heb.flockofholythingl.

Ezekiel(xxviii.l3:xxxi.8,9).Thehouseswerenotbuilded’(Neh.vii. restorationofIsraelwastobean 4). JehovahwouldallowHimselfto object-lessontotheneighbouringbeapproached,and,inconsequence, peoples.‘ThensaidtheyamongthepeoplewouldrecognizeHis thenations,TheLordhathdonepower(seevi.7). The‘flockof greatthingsforthem’(Ps.cxxvi.2). Jerusalem’wastheabundanceof Forthelastwordsofc. 36cp. animalsforsacrificethatweretaken xvii.24. uptoJerusalem,especiallyatthe 37,38.InanswertotheirpetitimeofthegreatfeastsAtsuch tionsthepopulationofthelandatimeasthePassoverthesacrifices wastobegreatlyincreased.Thiswerealmostinnumerable.Accord wouldnaturallybeonlyagradualingtoJosephusthereWereabout process.InNehemiah’stime,in 120,000priestsinallattachedtothe Jerusalemitself,hetellsus‘theTempleworship,intheearlydaysof peoplewerefewtherein,andthetheChristianera. XXXVII.l,a EZEKIEL 199

lxiv.Thevisionofthevalleyofd/rybones,andthe Divineinterpretationofthatvimxxxvii.1-14.

Thelanguagedescriptiveofthisvisionisofauniqueandmagnificent kind.Thereisaweirdnessaboutthefirstpart,andarealismaboutthe wholethatenthralsusWeseemtoseetheentiresceneenacted,stageby stage,astheloosedrybonesofeachhumanframecollecttogether,and eachtakesitsnaturalplaceinthebuildingupofaskeleton.Thenindue ordersinews,fleshandskincomeuponeachtocoveritsframework.But theprincipleoflifeisstilllacking.Soanewdevelopmentinthesceneis required.Theprophetisdirectedtoinvokethespiritorbreathfromall quarterstoenterintoandtakepossessionofthelifelessforms;thebreath fromthefourwindsarrivesandimmediatelyanimmensehostspringsinto existence,fulloflifeandvigour. Itisclearlyobviousthattheprimarysignificationofthisvision,both totheprophetandtothosetowhomtheprophetspoke,hadnothingwhat evertodowiththeresurrectionoftheindividualfromthedead.Wemay justlyseeinitlanguagewhichexpressesforustheideaofthat‘Resurrec tionofthebody,’or‘oftheflesh’asitiscalledinourBaptismalService, inwhichoursimplestformofGreedcallsuponustodeclareourbelief. Butfortheprophetandhisaudiencethevisionwasintendedtoconveya promisenottotheindividual,buttothebodypolitic,‘thewholehouseof Israel,’andtospeaktothemofarenewal,underDivineinspiration,ofthe nationallife,andofarestorationtotheirownland. XXXVII.l ThehandoftheLORDwasuponme, andhecarriedmeoutinthespiritoftheLORD,andset medowninthemidstofthevalley;anditwasfullof 2bones;andhecausedmetopassbythemroundabout: andbehold,therewereverymany1intheopenvalley;

1 Heb.uponthefaceofthevalley.

mm1—3.Thevisionof wasthesame,somewherenearthe thevalleyfullofbones.‘TheChebarchannel.Thisvalleybecame handoftheLord’isfrequentlyforthetimeacharneI-house:the mentionedbyEzekiel(seei.3). In bonesofthedeadlyingexposedon otherpassagesitis‘thespirit’thatthefaceoftheground(R.V.marg. ‘liftsup’ Ezekiel(seeiii.12).‘The‘thefaceofthevalley’isbetter valley’ofthispassagerepresentsthanRV.‘theopenvalley’).They thesameHebrewwordas‘thehadbeenlyingthereforsometime plain’of 22:viii.4. Nodoubtandhadbecomebarebones.The thelocalityofthevariousvisionsquestioninsolubletotheprophetis

.. .=__-M_-. 200 EZEKIEL XXXVII.a—lo

3and10,theywereverydry.Andhesaiduntome,Sonof man,cantheseboneslive?AndIanswered,0LordG01), 4thouknowest.Againhesaiduntome,Prophesyover thesebones,andsayuntothem,0yedrybones,hearthe 5wordoftheLORD.ThussaiththeLordGODuntothese bones:Behold,Iwillcause1breathtoenterintoyou,and 6yeshalllive.AndIwilllaysinewsuponyou,andwill bringupfleshuponyou,andcoveryouwithskin,andput breathinyou,andyeshalllive;andyeshallknowthat 7I amtheLORD.SoI prophesiedasI wascommanded: andasI prophesied,therewasa2noise,andbeholdan earthquake,andthebonescametogether,bonetohis 8bone.AndI beheld,and10,thereweresinewsupon them,andfleshcameup,andskincoveredthemabove: 9buttherewasnobreathinthem.Thensaidheuntome, Prophesyuntothe3wind,prophesy,sonofman,andsayto the3wind,ThussaiththeLordGOD:Comefromthefour winds,0‘breath,andbreatheupontheseslain,that 10theymaylive.SoI prophesiedashecommandedme, andthebreathcameintothem,andtheylived,and

1 Or,spirit‘1 Or,thundering' Or,breath‘ OrIwindOr,spirit puttohim‘Cantheseboneslive'4” 18)andhisprophecyis fulfilled. TheanswerhegivesmaybecomTheHebrewwordfor‘noise’isa paredwiththe‘MyLord,thouperfectlygeneraloneandmeans knowest’ofRev.vii.14,whichliterally‘avoice’or‘sound.’The howeverisaddressedtoanelder.languagebecomesveryrealistic; we 4—6.Ashemeditatesuponthisseemtoseethebonesofeach questionheishiddentoaddressindividualbodycreepingtogether thebonesthemselves,andto andbeingclothedwithmusclesand announcetherenewaloflifeto fleshandskin,butstilllifeless. them.Ps.civ.29,30seemstolook 9,10.Afurtherstageisreached. backtothisvision,‘ThoutakestTheprophetsummonsbreathinto awaytheirbreath,theydie,Andtheinertbodies.InRev.xi.11we returntotheirdust.Thousendesthaveaclearreflectionofthewords forthThyspirit,theyarecreated.’ofv. 10:‘thebreathoflifefrom TheboneslikeallelsewithwhichGodenteredintothem,andthey theprophetisconcernedaretoknowstoodupontheirfeet.’Bythis theLord(seevi.7). passageweareledtotherecollec 7,8. Theprophetcarriesouttionofanother:—‘theLordGod... hisinstructions(cp.xii.7:xxiv.breathedintohisnostrilsthebreath

pawn—'4,“v1' ‘_, ______XXXVII.[0—16 EZEKIEL 201

stoodupupontheirfeet,anexceedinggreatarmy. 11Thenhesaiduntome,Sonofman,thesebonesare thewholehouseofIsrael:behold,theysay,Ourbones aredriedup,andourhopeislost;wearecleancutoff. 12Thereforeprophesy,andsayuntothem,Thussaiththe LordGOD:Behold,Iwillopenyourgraves,andcauseyou tocomeupoutofyourgraves,Omypeople;andIwill 13bringyouintothelandofIsrael.Andyeshallknow thatIamtheLORD,whenIhaveopenedyourgraves,and causedyoutocomeupoutofyourgraves,Omypeople. 14AndIwillputmy1spiritinyou,andyeshalllive,andI willplaceyouinyourownland:andyeshallknowthat I theLORDhavespokenit,andperformedit,saiththe Loan.

lxv.Byasymbolibalactionispourtray/edthereunionas wellastherestorationofEphraimandJudahunder Davidastheirhead,withaneverlastingcovenant betweenGodandHispeople.xxxvii.15-28. 15 ThewordoftheLORDcameagainuntome,saying, 16Andthou,sonofman,taketheeonestick,andwriteupon

1 Or,breath oflife’(Gen.ii.7). Thebreathyou’repeatsthatoftheprevious ofGodisthesourceoflife.Theprophecy(xxxvi.24),andforthe HolyGhostisthe“GiverofLife.”lastwordsoftheverseseexvii. 11-14.Theexplanationofthe24. vision.Thebonesstandforthe Itistobenotedthat‘thewhole peoplenow,asitwere,dead,buthouseofIsrael’includesboththe hereaftertobercsuscitatedfromthedestroyedkingdomsofIsraeland desperatestateinwhichtheyima Judah;itisthisthoughtwhich ginethemselvestobe.Aconfessionleadsuptothenextprophecy. ofasomewhatsimilarcharacteris 15—20.Accordingtothesecond putintothemouthofthepeoplein bookoftheChronicles,afterthe xxxiii.10. Similarcomparisonsto disruptionofthekingdom,inthe aresurrectionaretobefoundin reignsofRehoboamandAss,there Is.xxvi.19:Hos.xiii.14. Thewasamigrationofacertainnumber promise‘IwillputMyspiritin ofpeople,besidespriestsandLevites,

ii 202 EZEKIEL XXXVII.16-10

it,ForJudah,andforthechildrenofIsraelhiscom panions:thentakeanotherstick,andwriteuponit,For Joseph,thestickofEphraim,and{forallthehouseof 17Israelhiscompanions:andjointhemfortheeoneto anotherintoonestick,thattheymaybecomeoneinthine 18hand.Andwhenthechildrenofthypeopleshallspeak untothee,saying,Wiltthounotshewuswhatthoumean 19estbythese?sayuntothem,ThussaiththeLordGOD: Behold,I willtakethestickofJoseph,whichisinthe handofEphraim,andthetribesofIsraelhiscompanions; andIwillputthem2withit,evenwiththestickofJudah, andmakethemonestick,andtheyshallbeoneinmine 20hand.Andthestickswhereonthouwritestshallbein

1 Or,of 1 01',togetherwithhimunto(ortobe)thestickofJudah

fromtheNorthernkingdomtothethetentribes.Thereunionofthe south.Benjaminthrewinitsfor peopleissymbolizedbythejoining tuneswithJudah(2Chr.xi.12,13, ofthetwosticksintoone(cp. 16)andbesideswehavementionof o.22).AccordingtotheHebrew ‘themthatsojournedwiththemtexttheunitedstickistobein (i.e.withJudahandBenjamin)outJehovah’s(Mine)hand(v.19):the ofEphraimandManasseh,andoutversionspointtoanotherreading ofSimeon:fortheyfelltohim(i.e.whichwouldplaceitinJudah’shand, toAsa)outofIsraelinabundance’ Judahbeingthecentraltribeof (2Chr.xv.9).Theseareallincludedtheundividedmonarchy.Sucha in‘Judah,andthechildrenof unionisalsolookedforwardtoby Israelhiscompanions’(v.16).It Isaiah(xi.13)when‘Ephraimshall isalsotoberememberedthatlaternotenvyJudah,andJudahshall duringthereformationcarriedoutnotvexEphraim.’Exactlythe byHezekiahpersonsfromthestilloppositeactionisgonethroughin survivingremnantofIsrael,diversZech.xi.14wheretheprophetcuts ofAsherandManassehand0f asunderhisstaff,Bands,to‘break Zebulun,wentuptothesupplethebrotherhoodbetweenJudahand mentarypassoverinthesecondIsrael.’Fortheexpression‘the month(2Chr.xxx.11),sothatchildrenofthypeople’(0.18)see thereseemstohavebeena.constantxxxiii.2. Morethanonceinthis comingandgoingfromthenorthbookthepeoplearerepresentedas ofPalestine,evenafterthede askingthemeaningoftheprophet’s structionoftheNorthernkingdom.actions(seeespeciallyxxiv.19).Here OfthetwosonsofJoseph,Ephraimtheunionofthesticksisatonce alwaystookthelead.Itwastheexplained:anditisclearthatthe mostpowerfulandtherichestof actiondescribedwasactuallyper

--»r' :---~-__~-~.' ’1"”,. »p_._.1?_./-—~—*r-_._I~__._-r—~»_"*6"w______-_!=¢-=~"' '"m‘ t,—~ 1 a XXXVII.20—15 EZEKIEL 203 21thinehandbeforetheireyesAndsayuntothem,Thus saiththeLordGOD:Behold,Iwilltakethechildrenof Israelfromamongthenations,whithertheybegone,and willgatherthemoneveryside,andbringthemintotheir 22ownland:andIwillmakethemonenationintheland, uponthemountainsofIsrael;andonekingshallbeking tothemall:andtheyshallbenomoretwonations, neithershalltheybedividedintotwokingdomsanymore 23atall:neithershalltheydefilethemselvesanymorewith theiridols,norwiththeirdetestablethings,norwithany oftheirtransgressions:butIwillsavethem1outofall theirdwellingplaces,whereintheyhavesinned,andwill cleansethem:soshalltheybemypeople,andIwillbe 24theirGod.AndmyservantDavidshallbekingover them;andtheyallshallhaveoneshepherd:theyshall alsowalkinmyjudgements,andobservemystatutes,and 25dothem.AndtheyshalldwellinthelandthatI have givenuntoJacobmyservant,whereinyourfathersdwelt;

1 Or,accordingtosomeancientversions,fromalltheirbackclidings formed,aswasdoneonother0c miseofxxxvi.28thatthepeople casions(seexii.3). shallbebroughtintocloserelation 21—28.TheprocessofreunionwithGodis repeatedForthe andrestorationisdescribedmorewayinwhichDavidismentioned fully.Thepromise,firstmadein hereseethenoteonxxxiv.23and xi.l7andrepeatedmanytimes,is cp.Jer.xxiii.5 ‘Iwillraiseunto heremadeoncemore.TheunionDavidarighteousBranch,andhe ofthetwokingdomsisthefirstshallreignasking.’Underhim announcementofthisprophecy:thepeopleweretobeobedientto itwasannouncedmorevaguelyby God’slaws(soxxxvi.27).Their Jeremiah(L4). Forthemountainslandwastoberestoredtothem ofIsraelseevi.2. Theoneking(xxviii.25aswellasxxxvi.28), is theoneshepherd,David,of thatlandwhichhadbeengiven xxxiv.23,whoistobea princetoJacobaswellastohisfore (xxxiv.24).Inthisreunitedkingfathers:forinthevisionofJacob’s domthereistobenorenewalladderwehavetheLordsaying oftheoldpollutions(xiv.11).ThetoJacob,‘thelandwhereonthou peopleareto becleansedandliest,totheewillI giveit’(Gen. saved(soxxxvi.25—29).In0.23 xxviii.13:soagainxxxv.12).It thereadingoftheSeptuagint‘fromistobeaperpetualhabitation(cp. alltheirbackslidings’(RV.marg.)Is.1x.21:Am.ix.l5),andtheline givesthebettersense.Thepro ofDavidis alsotoendurefor 204 EZEKIELxxxvn.z5—XXXVHI.1

andtheyshalldwelltherein,they,andtheirchildren,and theirchildren’schildren,forever:andDavidmyservant 26shallbetheirprinceforever.MoreoverI willmakea covenantofpeacewiththem:itshallbeaneverlasting covenantwiththem:andIwill1placethem,andmultiply them,andwillsetmysanctuaryinthemidstofthemfor 27evermore.Mytabernaclealsoshallbe2withthem;and 28IwillbetheirGod,andtheyshallbemypeople.And thenationsshallknowthat8IamtheLORDthatsanctify Israel,whenmysanctuaryshallbeinthemidstofthem forevermore. lxvi.Theworld-powersaretobepermittedtomakeafinal struggleagaimtGod’speople.xxxviii.1—13.

Thewholeideaintendedtobeconveyedbythischapterandthegreater partofthenextisofcountlesshordesofbarbarianscomingfromvarious quartersandsweepingdownuponthelandswhichtheyweretoinvade withrelentlessforceandviolence.Othercountriesweretosufferaswell asIsrael.ButthisinvasionwastobefollowedbyajudgementofGod upontheinvaders,involvingtheirentiredestruction,whichisdescribedas takingplaceinthelandofIsrael,andbeingsouniversalthatsevenmonths wouldelapsebeforeitwouldbeentirelycleansedfromthepollutioncaused bythemultitudeofdeadwhichwouldhavetobeburied. XXXVIII.1AndthewordoftheLORDcameunto 2me,saying,Sonofman,setthyfacetowardGog,ofthe

1 Or,giveitthem2 Or,over ' Or,ItheLORDdoaanctifyIsrael ever,forthisiswhatEzekielmustisthepreludetotheirerectionin havemeantbysaying‘Davidmy theidealHolyLand(xliii.7).The servantshallbetheirprincefor sameideaoccursintheaccountof ever.’ThecovenantofpeacehasthenewJerusalemintheApoca beenmentionedalready(xxxiv.25) lypse(xxi.3)wherethelanguageis andthe‘everlastingcovenant’of verysimilartothathere: ‘thetaber thefutureis spokenofalsoby nacleofGodiswithmen,andHe Isaiah(1v.3,whereitisexplainedshalldwellwiththem,andthey asthesuremerciesofDavid:Ixi. shallbeHispeoples,andGodHim 8:Jer.xxxii.40).Theincreaseof selfshallbewiththem,andbetheir thepopulationhasalsobeenforeGod.’V.28repeatstheideaof toldalready(xxxvi.10,25).Thexxxvi.23(cp.alsoxx.12). settingupofthesanctuaryand XXXVIII.1—9.GogandMagog tabernaclementionedinw.26—28arepeculiartothesetwoprophecies

.7 >- -A_Pa=4=

landofMagog,the1princeofRosh,Meshech,andTubal, 3andprophesyagainsthim,andsay,ThussaiththeLord GOD:Behold,Iamagainstthee,OGog,1princeofRosh, 4Meshech,andTubal:andIwillturntheeabout,andput booksintothyjaws,andIwillbringtheeforth,andall thinearmy,horsesandhorsemen,allofthemclothedin fullarmour,agreatcompanywithbucklerandshield,all 5ofthemhandlingswords:Persia,Cush,andPutwith 6them;allofthemwithshieldandhelmet:Gomer,andall hishordes; thehouseofTogarmahintheuttermostparts ofthenorth,andallhishordes:evenmanypeopleswith

1 0r,chiefprinceofMeshech intheOldTestament,buttheywithaBabyloniandeityofthelower reappearintheRevelation(xx.8): world,andalsowiththeliar-Mage ‘thenationswhichareinthefourdonofRev.xvi.16,whichisdistinctly cornersoftheearth,GogandcalledaHebrewword.Itwillbe Magog.’ThenameMagogappearsseenfroma comparisonbetween amongstthesonsofJaphethin RV.andRV.marg.thatitisvery Gen.x.2andthatofGogamongstdoubtfulwhetherRoshisaproper thedescendantsofReuben(lChr.nameornot.Ifitis,thenitispro v.4).GoghasgenerallybeenidentibanytobeidentifiedwithRasses fiedwiththeScythians.This(Judithii.23),anamewhichoccurs identificationisasoldasJosephusinconnectionwithPutandLudas (Am.i.6,l)andintheTelel-AmarnaBoshdoeshere(seec.5). Inthat tabletswehavementionofacountrycaseitistoberememberedthat calledGagorGog.TheSeptuagintRassesisidentifiedbytheVulgate connectstheScythianswithPaleswithTarshish,whilstintheoldLatin tine,foritcallsBeth-sheanScythewehave‘ThirasetRasis,’andin polis,i.e.thecityoftheScythians,Gen.x.2:lChr.i_5Tirasisin andHerodotus(i.103)speaksofan closejuxtapositionwithMagogand invasionofPalestinebytheScythMeshech.ThismaypointtoRosh ians.OthersseeanameofakingbeingidenticalwithTim,butthe inthatofGog,andProf.Schmidtwholesubjectisfullofdiflicultyand (Encycl.Bib.4332)identifieshimobscurity.ForMeshechandTubal withMithridatesVIEupatorDio seexxvii.13.Thewords‘Iwill nysusofPontus.(Thewholeofthe turntheeabout’begintheprophecy article‘Scythians’intheEncycl.inxxxix.2,aswellashere.Theidea Bib.willrepaycarefulstudy.)In ofsubjugationandcontrolissug lateJewishwritingsGogisidentifiedgestedbythehooksinthejaws(cp. withAntichrist.ForMagogCheynexxix.4)orinthenose(2K.xix.28). proposestoreadMigdon,hereandThewholedisplayofheathenpower elsewhere,anamewhichheconnectsandmagnificenceisrepresentedas 206 EZEKIEL XXXVIII.6—iI

7thee.Bethouprepared,yea,preparethyself,thou,and allthycompaniesthatareassembleduntothee,andbe 8thoua1guarduntothem.Aftermanydaysthoushaltbe visited:inthelatteryearsthoushaltcomeintotheland thatis2broughtbackfromthesword,thatisgatheredout ofmanypeoples,uponthemountainsofIsrael,whichhave beenacontinualwaste:butitisbroughtforthoutofthe 9peoples,andtheyshalldwellsecurely,allofthem.And thoushaltascend,thoushaltcomelikeastorm,thoushalt belikeacloudtocovertheland,thou,andallthyhordes, 10andmanypeopleswiththee.ThussaiththeLordGOD: Itshallcometopassinthatday,thatthingsshallcome 11intothymind,andthoushaltdeviseanevildevice:and thoushaltsay,I willgoupto“thelandofunwalled villages;Iwillgotothemthatareatquiet,thatdwell securely,allofthemdwellingwithoutwalls,andhaving

1 Or,commander' Or,restored‘ Or,anopencountry beingallowedbyGod.PersiaandThecommandtogoforwardwas Putaretobefoundinxxvii.10. inthedistantfuture(cp.Is.xxiv. TheCushherementionedmustbe 22‘aftermanydaysshalltheybe theBabylonianKassi(cp.Gen.x.8, visited’):whenthattimecamethey whereCushissaidtobetheancestorwouldinvadethelandwhichhad ofNimrod).Gomer,anothernamebeenpreviouslywastedandthen fromGenesis(x.2),fromwhichrestoredtoIsrael,itsinhabitants Ezekielseemstohavedrawnwhatbeingcollectedfromtheirvarious wemaycallhisethnology,correplacesofexile(cp.xi.17),inwhich spondstoCappadociawhilethenametheywouldbedwellingsecurely itselfisthesameasthatofthe (xxxiv.25,27,28).Theinvasion Cimmerians.The‘hordes’aremenwastocomeuponthelandlikea tionedagain0.22:theHebrewtornado(cp.Jer.iv.13). wordisonepeculiartoEzekieland 10—13.Thedesignofthein isAssyrianinorigin.ForTogarmahvasionbyGogisdescribed.He seexxvii.14.Theinvasionoftheselooksuponthecountryasaneasy hordesisalltocomefromthenorthonetoinvadebecauseofitsun (cp.xxxii.30:xxxix.2),justasin fortifiedvillages,andbecauseits Jeremiah(i.15):‘Iwillcallallthe inhabitantsarenotexpectingin familiesofthekingdomsofthevasion(cp.Jer.iv.31).Theideaof north.’GogishiddentoprepareJerusalemasthecentreofthe himselfforallthissothathemayworldhasoccurredalready(v.5). takethelead(RV.marg.‘comForShebaseexxvii.22;forDedan mander’betterthanRV.‘guard’). xxv.l3(cp.xxvii.15,20).The XXXVIII.Il—i6 EZEKIEL 207

12neitherbarsnorgates:totakethespoilandtotakethe prey;toturnthinehandagainstthewasteplacesthatare nowinhabited,andagainstthepeoplethataregathered outofthenations,whichhavegottencattleandgoods, 13thatdwellinthe1middleoftheearth.Sheba,andDedan, andthemerchantsofTarshish,withalltheyounglions thereof,shallsayuntothee,Artthoucometotakethe spoil?hastthouassembledthycompanytotaketheprey? tocarryawaysilverandgold,totakeawaycattleand goods,totakegreatspoil?

lxvii.Theutterdestructionoftheworld-pmversstillfurther prophesiedina continuationofthelastprophecy. xxxviii.14-23.

14 Therefore,sonofman,prophesy,andsayuntoGog, ThussaiththeLordGOD:Inthatdaywhenmypeople 15Israeldwellethsecurely,shaltthounotknowit?And thoushaltcomefromthyplaceoutoftheuttermostparts ofthenorth,thou,andmanypeopleswiththee,allofthem ridinguponhorses,agreatcompanyandamightyarmy: 16andthoushaltcomeupagainstmypeopleIsrael,asa cloudtocovertheland;itshallcometopassinthe latterdays,thatIwillbringtheeagainstmyland,that thenationsmayknowme,whenI shallbesanctifiedin

1 Heb.navel.SecJudg.9.31.

‘younglions’aretheprincesofconfidenceofIsraelinitssecurity theseplaces,whoarerepresentedas wouldbea stimulustoGogto askingGogwhetherhehascomeforcomefroma greatdistance(cp. booty,implyingthattheyseethatv.6: xxxix.2)toattackthepeople. thisishisintention,andthattheyThewaytheyaredescribedmakes willbereadytobuythespoilfromusthinkofthemasbeinglike him. greatbandsofCossacks,covering 14-16.InthisprophecyGogis thelandafterthefashionofacloud mentionedwithoutthetitlesgiven(soalsov.9). Theissueofthe tohiminthepreviousandfollowinginvasionwouldbethattheLord prophecies.Theknowledgeofthewouldbeheldinhonourmorethan 208 EZEKIEL XXXVIII.:6—22

17thee,OGog,beforetheireyes.ThussaiththeLordGOD: ArtthouheofwhomIspakeinoldtimebymyservants theprophetsofIsrael,whichprophesiedinthosedaysfor 18manyyearsthatIwouldbringtheeagainstthem?And itshallcometopassinthatday,whenGogshallcome againstthelandofIsrael,saiththeLordGOD,thatmy 19furyshallcomeupintomynostrils.Forinmyjealousy andinthefireofmywrathhaveIspoken,Surelyinthat daythereshallbeagreatshakinginthelandofIsrael; 20sothatthefishesofthesea,andthefowlsoftheheaven, andthebeastsofthefield,andallcreepingthingsthat creepupontheearth,andallthementhatareuponthe faceoftheearth,shallshakeatmypresence,andthe mountainsshallbethrowndown,andthesteepplaces 21shallfall,andeverywallshallfalltotheground.AndI willcallforaswordagainsthimuntoallmymountains, saiththeLordGOD:everyman’sswordshallbeagainst 22hisbrother.AndIwillpleadagainsthimwithpestilence andwithblood;andIwillrainuponhim,anduponhis hordes,anduponthemanypeoplesthatarewithhim,an everbyHispeople(no.16,23:Land,air,andwaterwerealltobe xxxix.13). involved(cp.Hos.iv.3),andto 17—23.Gogis spokenofas tremblebeforeJehovah(Ps.cxiv.7). havingbeenprophesiedoflongbe Theprophetalsoseemstoanticipate fore.Justsuchanincursionhadbeen(v.21)thatinternecinestrifewould foretoldbyJeremiah(i.15:vi.22, breakoutamongsttheinvaders, 23:1.41—43)asimpendingoverbothjustsuchastookplaceamongstthe ZionandBabylon;theremaybea MidianiteswhenGideon’slittlehost referencealsotoDent.xxviii.49—51madetheirnightattack(Judg.vii. ‘TheLordshallbringa. nation22)orinJerusalemduringthefinal againsttheefromfar,fromtheendsiegebytheRomans.Toaddtothe oftheearth.’God’sfuryandwrathhorrorsofthetimepestilencewasto weretobeexcitedagainstGog,andoverwhelmthem,andsucha de theprophetevidentlyexpectedthatstructionascameuponSodomand greatterrestrialcommotionswouldGomorrah,ortheCanaanitehostsat accompanythemanifestationof Beth-heron(Is.x.11:cp.Ps.xi.6). God’sanger,justasintheApocwFortheexpression‘I willplead lypse(Rev.xvi.17—21)thefallwithhim’seexvii.20.Thelan ofBabylonisaccompaniedbya guageofv.23seemstohavebeen greatearthquake(cp.alsoHag.6). inthemindofthesonofSirach XXXVIIL'n—XXXIX.5 EZEKIEL 209 overflowingshower,andgreathailstones,fire,andbrim 23stone.AndI willmagnifymyself,andsanctifymyself, andIwillmakemyselfknownintheeyesofmanynations; andtheyshallknowthatIamtheLORD.

lxviii.Afreshandindependentprophecytakesuponce againfromitsbeginningtheburdenagainstGog.It describestheutterdestructionofhispeople,andthe burialofthehostsofdeadwhichistogoonforseven months.xxxix.1—16.

XXXIII.1Andthou,sonofman,prophesyagainst Gog,andsay,ThussaiththeLordGOD:Behold,I am againstthee,OGog,1princeofRosh,Meshech,andTubal: 2andIwillturntheeabout,andwillleadthee0n,andwill causetheetocomeupfromtheuttermostpartsofthe north;andIwillbringtheeuponthemountainsofIsrael: 3andIwillsmitethybowoutofthylefthand,andwill 4causethinearrowstofalloutofthyrighthand.Thou shaltfalluponthemountainsofIsrael,thou,andallthy hordes,andthepeoplesthatarewiththee:I willgive theeuntotheravenousbirdsofeverysort,andtothe 5beastsofthefieldtobedevouredThoushaltfallupon

1 Or,chiefprinceofMelhcch

whenhesays‘AsThouwastpressionwhichincludesthecoast sanctifiedinusbeforethem,sobe landsoftheEasternMediterranean, Thoumagnifiedinthembeforeus’especiallyofSyriaandAsiaMinor. (Ecclus.xxxvi.4). KnowledgeofthenameoftheLord XXXIX.1—10.ThisprophecyistoberevivedinIsrael,andfrom beginsinmuchthesamewayas themHeistobecomeknowntothe xxxviii.2—4,andmanyofthenations(cp.xxxvi.23).Forthe expressionsusedarecommontotheprofanationoftheholynameby twoprophecies.AllthestrengthIsraelseexx.39:xliii.7. ‘The andpowerofGogwastobede Lord,theHolyOneinIsrael’is stroyed.Magog,thelandofGogalmostidenticalwith‘theLord,the (v.6),hasonlyoccurredbeforein HolyOneofIsrael’ofIsaiah(xlv. xxxviii.2:‘theisles’is anex 11).V.8aisidenticalwithxxi.7.

R. 14 210 EZEKIEL xxxrx.5-11

theopenfield:forIhavespokenit,saiththeLordGOD. 6AndIwillsendafireonMagog,andonthemthatdwell securelyinthe1isles:andtheyshallknowthatI amthe 7LORD.AndmyholynamewillI makeknowninthe midstofmypeopleIsrael;neitherwillIsuffermyholy nametobeprofanedanymore:andthenationsshall knowthatI amtheLORD,theHolyOnein Israel. 8Behold,itcometh,anditshallbedone,saiththeLord 9GOD;thisisthedaywhereofI havespoken.Andthey thatdwellinthecitiesofIsraelshallgoforth,andshall makefiresoftheweaponsandburnthem,boththeshields andthebucklers,thebowsandthearrows,andthehand staves,andthespears,andtheyshallmakefiresofthem 10sevenyears:sothattheyshalltakenowoodoutofthe field,neithercutdownanyoutoftheforests;forthey shallmakefiresoftheweapons:andtheyshallspoilthose thatspoiledthem,androbthosethatrobbedthem,saith theLordGOD. 11 Anditshallcometopassinthatday,thatIwillgive untoGogaplaceforburialinIsrael,thevalleyofthem thatpassthrough2ontheeastofthesea:anditshall stopthemthatpassthrough:andthereshalltheybury Gogandallhismultitude:andtheyshallcallitThe

1 Or,coastlands2 Or,infrontof

Alltheamouroftheinvadinggatheredfromthosewhohadspoiled armywastobecomefuelforthe them. fire(cp.Is.ix.5 ‘allthearmourof 11—16.TheburialofGog'speople thearmedmeninthetumult...shallisnowdescribed:itislocatedin evenbeforburning,forfueloffire’).‘thevalleyofthemthatpassthrough Themeaningofthewordtranslatedon(marg.infrontof)theeastofthe ‘handstaves’bothbyA.V.andRV.sea.’Suchavalleyisunknown,but, isdoubtful.Itiseitherthestaffifwedisregardthepointingofthe withaclubbedendusedbyshepHebrewWord,whichis ofless herdstoprotecttheirflocksfromvaluethantheconsonants,wecan thewildbeasts,ora ridinglstick:translate‘inthevalley(orravine)of thelattersenseismoresuitableto Abarim,’andAbarimwasawell thecontexthere.Thefuelthusknownmountain(Numb.xxvii.l2: acquiredwastolastforsevenyears,Deutxxxii.49)orrangeofmoun andinthiswayspoilwastobe tains(Numb.xxxiii.47)totheeast XXXIX.n—i6 EZEKIEL 211 12valleyof1Hamon-gog.Andsevenmonthsshallthehouse ofIsraelbeburyingofthem,thattheymaycleansethe 13land.Yea,allthepeopleofthelandshallburythem; anditshallbetothemarenown,inthedaythatIshall 14beglorified,saiththeLordGOD.Andtheyshallsever outmenofcontinualemployment,thatshallpassthrough thelandtobury2them“thatpassthrough,thatremain -uponthefaceoftheland,tocleanseit:aftertheendof 15sevenmonthsshalltheysearch.Andtheythatpass throughthelandshallpassthrough;andwhenanyseeth aman’sbone,thenshallhe‘setupasignbyit,tillthe 16buriershaveburieditinthevalleyofHamon-gog.And

1 Thatis,themultitudeofGog. 9 Or,withthemthatpanthrough thosethatremainetc. ‘ Someancientversionsomitthewordrendered thatpassthrough.' Heb.build. oftheDeadSea.Forasomewhatthee’).Theobscurityofthemean similarconfusionbetweentwoinginv.14pointstosomecorrup meaningsofawordcp.Jer. Q0 tionofthetext:butthegeneral whereA.V.has‘cryfromthedriftofthewordsisobviousthatthe passages,’R.V.‘cryfromAbarim.’workofburialwouldbeaconstant Suchadistrictasthattotheeastone:therewasprobablyanother oftheDeadSeawouldbeasuitablementionofMountAbariminthis onefortheburialofsuchahost.verse,orthewordfor‘thatpass Thefurtherideainthenextwordsthrough’shouldbeomittedasan ofthepassageisthattheburialaccidentalrepetitionofaprevious groundwouldbesolargethatit word.Everyprecautionwastobe wouldblockthewayfortravellers:takenthatnotasingleboneshould othersbyaslightalterationofthebeleftunburied.Theexistenceofa textread‘theyshallstopthemthatcityHamonahisalsoproblematical. passthrough,’to preventthemSomeseeanallusiontoScythopolis becomingdefiled,butthechange(i.e.thecityoftheScythians),the seemsscarcelynecessary.ThenameancientBeth-shean,butthisappears ofthevalleyHamon-gogsimplyfar-fetched.Othersemendthe means‘multitudeofGog.’TheHebrewandmakeitmean‘andit landwouldnotbecleantillthiswasalloverwiththemultitude’(see greattimeofburialwasover;andHastings’Diet.a.wee.Hamonah). thepeoplewouldobtaingloryand Thenumbersevenusedmore reputationfromit,andGodalsothanonceinthispassage—‘seven wouldbeglorified(cp.xxviii.22‘I years,’‘sevenmonths’—isemployed willbeglorifiedinthemidstof asaroundnumber,toimplycom 14—2 212 EZEKIEL XXXIX.16—21 1Hamonahshallalsobethenameofacity.Thusshall theycleansetheland. lxix.God’sgreatsacrificeuponthemountainsofIsrael, togetherwiththepunishmentofHispeopleandtheir restorationandspiritualregeneration.xxxix.17-29. 17 Andthen,sonofman,thussaiththeLordGOD: Speak untothebirdsofeverysort,andtoeverybeastofthe field,Assembleyourselves,andcome;gatheryourselves oneverysidetomysacrificethatI dosacrificeforyou, evenagreatsacrificeuponthemountainsofIsrael,that 18yemayeatfleshanddrinkblood.Yeshalleattheflesh ofthemighty,anddrinkthebloodoftheprincesofthe earth,oframs,oflambs,andofgoats,ofbullocks,allof 19themfatlingsofBashan.Andyeshalleatfattillyebe full,anddrinkbloodtillyebedrunken,ofmysacrifice 20whichIhavesacrificedforyou.Andyeshallbefilledat mytablewithhorsesandchariots,withmightymen,and 21withallmenofwar,saiththeLordGOD.AndIwillset mygloryamongthenations,andallthenationsshallsee myjudgementthatI haveexecuted,andmyhandthat 22Ihavelaiduponthem.SothehouseofIsraelshallknow

1 Thatis,Multitude. pletenessorthoroughness,asoftenmen,andthefleshofhorsesandof intheRevelationofStJohn. themthatsitthereon,andtheflesh 17—24.Thebirdsofpreyandofallmen,bothfreeandbond,and ravenousbeastsaresummonedto smallandgreat.’Thefatlingsor theslaughterofthenationsandbullsofBashan(cp.Ps.xxii.12: theirflocks.TheidearecursagainAm.iv.1)werea.famousbreedof inRev.xix.17,18‘Isawanangeloxen.Bashan,wellknownalsofor standinginthesun;andhecrieditsoaks(xxvii.6),wasafertiledis withaloudvoice,sayingtoallthetrictonthecastofJordaninthe birdsthatflyinmidheaven,Comenorth,correspondingverymuchwith andbegatheredtogetheruntothethetrans-Jordanicterritoryofhalf greatsupperofGod;thatyemaythetribeofManasseh.Thesacrifice eatthefleshofkings,andthefleshissaidtobeGod’sbecauseitwas ofcaptains,andthefleshofmightyallowedbyHiminHisProvidential XXXIX.21—19 EZEKIEL 213

thatIamtheLORDtheirGod,fromthatdayandforward. 23AndthenationsshallknowthatthehouseofIsraelwent intocaptivityfortheiriniquity;becausetheytrespassed againstme,andIhidmyfacefromthem:soIgavethem intothehandoftheiradversaries,andtheyfellallofthem 24bythesword.Accordingtotheiruncleannessandaccord ingtotheirtransgressionsdidIuntothem;andIhidmy facefromthem. 25 ThereforethussaiththeLordGOD: NowwillI bring againthecaptivityofJacob,andhavemercyuponthe wholehouseofIsrael;andIwillbejealousformyholy 26name.Andtheyshallbeartheirshame,andalltheir trespasseswherebytheyhavetrespassedagainstme,when theyshalldwellsecurelyintheirland,andnoneshall 27makethemafraid;whenIhavebroughtthemagainfrom thepeoples,andgatheredthemoutoftheirenemies’lands, andamsanctifiedintheminthesightofmanynations. 28AndtheyshallknowthatIamtheLORDtheirGod,in thatIcausedthemtogointocaptivityamongthenations, andhavegatheredthemuntotheirownland;andIwill 29leavenoneofthemanymorethere;neitherwillI hide myfaceanymorefromthem:forIhavepouredoutmy spirituponthehouseofIsrael,saiththeLordGOD.

orderingoftheworld.Itwastobe wastoincludeallthedescendants averyabundantone,somuchsoas ofJacob(cp.xx.40:xxxvii.19). tosurfeitthebirdsandbeasts.ButAlthoughIsraelwasrestored,they itsintentwastoshewthepowerandwerestilltobeartheremembrance gloryofGodaliketotheheathenoftheirpreviousdisgraceandtrans andtoIsrael,ashadbeenalreadygression.Thisuseoftheword‘bear’ declared('00.7, l3:xxxvii.28:issomewhatharsh:anditcanbe xxxviii.23).Theheathenwereto avoidedbyachangeofpositionof realisethatboththecaptivityandoneHebrewpoint;thesentencewill therestorationofIsraelwereGod’sthenread:‘theyshallforgettheir doing.IntheircaptivityGodwithshame.’Securityisthekeynoteof dreworhidhisfacefromthem(cp.allthechaptersdealingwiththe Dentxxxi.17). restoration(xxxiv.25,27,28: xxxviii. 25—29.Butnowthereistobe 8). V.27isapracticalrepetitionof arestorationsuchasmorethanonexxviii.25(cp.xi.1?).Thecomplete prophethadbiddenthepeoplelooknessoftherestorationisindicated forwardto(cp.Jer.xxx.3),andit bythestatementthattherewasto

Wfla.m~-_~.~-__ ‘ __~\‘._‘7 214 EZEKIEL XL.1

N. EZEKIEL,DE01VITATEDEI.xL—xlviii.

Thisformsthelastcollectionoftheprophet’sutterances,withthe exceptionofxxix.17—21whichisdatedfiiteenyearslater.Thedating throughoutisfromJehoiachin’scaptivity.Theyearintendedhereis 572ac. Thissectionmaybelookeduponasanappendixtotherestofthebook andasgivinganidealiseddescriptionofrestoredIsrael,hercountry,her cityandherTemple. “TheTempleisJehovah’searthlyresidence:intherestoredcommunity, whichEzekielimaginestobesotransformedastobetrulyworthyofHim (xxxvi.22-36),HewillmanifestHispresencemorefullythanHehaddone before(xxxvii.25-28);Hisre-entryintotheTemple,andHisabiding presencethere,arethetwothoughtsinwhich0.xl.—xlviii.culminate (xliii.1—9:xlviii.35);tomaintain,ontheonehandthesanctityofthe Temple,andontheothertheholinessofthepeople,istheaimoftheentire systemofregulations”(Driver,0.T.Lit.p.274). Aconnectionhasbeenconstantlytracedbetweenthesechaptersand thosepartsofthePentateucb,whicharecommonlyascribedtoasourceP. Itdoesnotcomewithinthepurviewofacommentatoronthisbookto discussthecompositionofthePentateuchorthesourcesfromwhichitis derived. Foradiscussionofthetwoquestionsastotherelationofthesechapters toanyparticularpartofthePentateuch,andastotherelativedatwofthe two,seeIntrod.pp.xxi.if. Theidealis,insomerespects,imperfectlyworkedout.Nomentionis madeofahighpriest,andthesecondofthegreatyearlyJewishfeasts,the FeastofWeeks,isignored.N0satisfactoryexplanationfortheomission ofthese,importantastheyarefromaJewishpointofview,canbegiven. Intheground-planattheendofthisvolume,AistheHolyofHolies, BtheHolyPlace,0the“separa”placeanditsbuilding,Dtheposition, asconjectured,ofthechambersoftheTemple. lxx.Thepreface.Theprophetistakeninvisiontothe landofIsrael,andgivenaguide,andbiddentoobserve andhearallthatisshewnandtoldtohim.x].1—4. XL.1 Inthefiveandtwentiethyearofourcaptivity, inthebeginningoftheyear,inthetenthdayofthe

benoresidueleftbehind,andn0 calculatedinthesamewayasthe morehidingofGod’sface,butan otherdatesthroughoutthebook abundantoutpouringofGod’sSpiritfromJehoiachin’scaptivity(i.2). (cp.Joelii.28). Thestatementmadepractically XL.1-4.Thefirstdatehereis agreeswiththatofxxxiii.21,which

_.,Jl.w..flo-,‘dn-IMar'w":~__r__-p— XL.1—4 EZEKIEL 215

month,inthefourteenthyearafterthatthecitywas smitten,intheselfsameday,thehandoftheLORDwas 2uponme,andhebroughtmethither.InthevisionsofGod broughthemeintothelandofIsrael,andsetmedown uponaveryhighmountain,whereonwasasitwerethe 3frameofacityonthesouth.Andhebroughtmethither, andbehold,therewasa man,whoseappearancewas liketheappearanceofbrass,withalineofflaxinhis hand,andameasuringreed;andhestoodinthegate. 4Andthemansaiduntome,Sonofman,beholdwiththine eyes,andhearwiththineears,andsetthineheartupon allthatI shallshewthee;fortotheintentthatI might shewthemuntotheeartthenbroughthither:declareall thatthouseesttothehouseofIsrael. datesthearrivalofthenewsofthelinen,suchaswecallnowadays fallofJerusalemin‘thetwelfthyeara‘tape’;andthemeasuringreed ofourcaptivity.’Theopeningwordswouldbearod.Itsuseisdescribed shouldbecomparedwithi.1—3wherexlii.16—19andwemayalsocompare the‘visionsofGod’and‘thehandRev.xi.1 ‘therewasgivenuntome oftheLord’arealsomentioned.areedlikeuntoarod:andone ThecityofGodisonaveryhighsaid,Rise,andmeasurethetemple mountain,andthisidearecursin ofGod,andthealtar,andthemthat Rev.xxi.10‘hecarriedmeawayin worshiptherein’(cp.Rev.xxi.15, theSpirittoamountaingreatand16).Asimilarappealforattention high,andshewedmetheholycityismadetotheprophetlater(xliv.5), Jerusalem.’Herewhattheprophetinorderthathisaccounttothe seesis‘asitweretheframe’or, peoplemightbeaccuratelycom rather,thestructureofacity,andprehended. bythecityismeantthenewTempleAnattemptataground-planand withitssurroundings.Theguideis anelevationofthenewTemplefrom mentionedagain(xliii.6:xlvii.3): ChipiezcanbefoundinToy’sEzekiel herethebrillianceofhisappearancepp.70,72.Attheendofthisvolume isdescribedasbeinglikebrass;andistobefoundaground-plandrawn hehastwoinstrumentsofmeasuretoscale,togetherwithtwosectional mentwithhim,ashestandsbythedrawingsofthechambersandthe gateofthestructure.Alineofflaxaltar. wouldbeameasuringlinemadeof

_¢-~_,~ .‘\ -.,-__./---____’—-~\-_Q_V.‘ -~-“Mnwm¢-'“~ 216 EZEKIEL XL.5—9

lxxi.TheoutsidewalloftheTemple,thegate andlodgesaredescribed.x1.5—16.

5 Andbehold,awallontheoutsideofthehouseround about,andintheman’shandameasuringreedofsix cubitslong,ofacubitandahandbreadtheach:sohe measuredthethicknessofthebuilding,onereed;andthe 6height,onereed.Thencameheuntothegatewhich lookethtowardtheeast,andwentupthestepsthereof; andhemeasuredthethresholdofthegate,onereed 7broad:1andtheotherthreshold,onereedbroad.And every2lodgewasonereedlong,andonereedbroad;and thespacebetweenthelodgeswasfivecubits;andthe thresholdofthegatebytheporchofthegatetowardthe 8housewasonereed.8Hemeasuredalsotheporchofthe 9gatetowardthehouse,onereed.Thenmeasuredhethe porchofthegate,eightcubits;andthe4poststhereof,

1 Or,evenonethreshold1 Or,guardchamber' Thisverseisomitted inseveralancientversionsandHebrewMSS.‘ Or,jambsandsothroughout thischapter,andinch.41.1,3.

5. Thisversedescribestheouterxliii.l,4:xliv.l). Thelastclause walloftheTempleenclosure.Theofv.6doesnotseemtoberequired samewallisprobablydescribedin andisduetoamisreadingofthe xlii.20.ThedimensionsoftheMS.Thestepsofapproachseem measuringreedaregiven: thecubittohavebeenseveninnumber(ea. hereislargerthantheordinary22,26). cubitbyanhandbreadth: itisclear 7. Atthegatewerelodgesor fromxliii.13‘thecubitisacubitguard-rooms,whichflankedthe and.anhandbreadth’thatthisis threshold. themeaningofthewordsinthis Somewhatsimilarguard-rooms verse.Thislongercubitisassumedarementionedinconnectionwith tobethesameasthecubitof Solomon’stemple(1K.xiv.28:2 Solomon’stemple,anditslengthis Chr.xii.11).Thelastpartofv.7 given(Emycl.Bib.5293)as2067givesthemeasurementofthethree inches. holdofthegateontheinnerside 6. Thegatetowardtheeast.(‘towardthehouse’).V. 8 is Thiswasagreatfeatureintheoldanotheraccidentalrepetitionand temple(cp.x.19:xi.1)andisem shouldbeomitted:seeRV.marg. phasisedinthenewone(xlii.15: 9. Thisversegivesthemeasure

.dmy-r.~--'-_r _ .,_4¢, ,.‘,._/~ ' 4d_”___—-“-I’M.~J'Lwistfi’f-’:J, . ‘ XL.9-15 EZEKIEL 217

twocubits;andtheporchofthegatewastowardthe 10house.Andthelodgesofthegateeastwardwerethree onthisside,andthreeonthatside;theythreewereof onemeasure:andthepostshadonemeasureonthisside 11andonthatside.Andbemeasuredthebreadthofthe openingofthegate,tencubits;andthelengthofthe 12gate,thirteencubits;andaborderbeforethelodges,one cubitonthisMe,andaborder,onecubitonthatside; andthelodges,sixcubitsonthisside,andsixcubitson 13thatside.Andhemeasuredthegatefromtheroofofthe onelodgetotheroofoftheother,abreadthoffiveand 14twentycubits;dooragainstdoor.Hemadealsoposts, threeseorecubits;andthecourtreacheduntothepost, 15thegatebeingroundabout.Andfromtheforefrontof thegateattheentranceuntotheforefrontofthe1inner

1 Or,porchoftheinnergate mentoftheporchwithitspostsor thattheverseshouldrun‘He jambs(R.V.marg.): thisporchwasmeasuredtheporchtwentycubits alsoontheinnersideoftheentranceandadjoiningtheporchwasthe gate. courtroundaboutthegateway.’In 10.Thenumberofthelodgesv.15‘theinnerporchofthegate' (v.7)isnowgiven:threeoneachmustmeantheporchontheinner sideoftheentrance:andallofthesideofthegate.Totheseguard samedimensions. roomstherewerelatticedwindows, 11-16.Theseversescontainotherjustastherewerein Solomon’s detailsaboutthegate,thepostsor temple(1K.vi.4‘forthehousehe jambs,andthelodges.Eachofthemadewindowsoffixedlatticework’). lodgesorguardchambershada Therewerelatticedwindowsalso border(or‘sill,’Toy)infrontofit. tothearches,probablyofaninterior Thelastclauseofv.11iscorruptcolonnade,or,itmaybe,simplytothe anddoesnotagreewithv.15whereporch.Bythejambsstoodpalm thelengthissaidtobe50cubits: it trees(cp.xli.18),eitheractually isbestomitted,thetencubitsofthegrowing,orcarvedwork,asin earlierpartofthisversearetheSolomon’stemple(1K.vi.29). widthatthetopoftheentranceCanweformanyideaofthis steps.V.14seemstobeincon outer-gatewayanditsbuildings? fusion:thefactbeing,that,astheOnclimbingthesevenstepsweare scribesdidnotunderstandtheinalinewiththeoutsideedgeofthe detailswhichtheywerecopying,wall,atthisthethresholdbegins, theywereparticularlyliabletoerror.whichisofthesamebreadthasthe Scholarsseemprettywellagreedthicknessoftheoutsidewall.This 218 EZEKIEL XL.15—19

16porchofthegatewerefiftycubits.Andtherewereclosed windowstothelodges,andtotheirpostswithinthegate roundabout,andlikewisetothe1arches:andwindows wereroundaboutinward:anduponeachpostwerepalm trees.

lxxii.Afterpassingthroughtheoutergateway,theouter courtisreached.Thisisnowdescribedwithitsthree gates,guard-rooms,andpavement,andthethreegates omositethemleadingintotheinnercourt.x].17-27.

17 Thenbroughthemeintotheoutercourt,and,10,there werechambersandapavement,madeforthecourtround 18about:thirtychamberswereuponthepavement.And thepavementwasbythe’sideofthegates,answerable untothelengthofthegates,eventhelowerpavement. 19Thenhemeasuredthebreadthfromtheforefrontofthe lowergateuntotheforefrontoftheinnercourtwithout,

1 Or,colommdeThemeaningoftheHebrewwordisuncertain. ’ Heb.shoulder.

formstheentrancetoa passage(cp.l Chr.xxviii.l2)andisitself betweenthreepairsofguard-roomspaved(cp.2Chr.vii.3‘theybowed frontingoneanotherandwitha themselveswiththeirfacestothe spacebetweeneachpair.Pastthesegrounduponthepavement’).The therewasanotherthresholdwhichpavementimaginedbyEzekielwas ledtothegateonthesideofthesuchasisdescribedinEsth.i.6‘a courtofthetemple.Thepostsor pavementofporphyry,andwhite jambsofthedoorswereontheout marble,andalabaster,andstoneof sideedgesofthedividingpartitionsbluecolour’(R.V.marg.).Thethirty whichcameforwardtowardsthechambersincludeintheirnumber mainpassageofthegateway. thesixlodges.Threetiersofthirty l7—22.Thedetailsoftheouterchambersaredescribedlater(xli.6). court(mentionedagainxlii.1). It Toythinksofthesechambersas shouldbenoticedthatthereisan hallsforvariousreligiouspurposes. outercourt,whichisleftunmeasured,Thewords‘answerableuntothe tothetempleofGodinRev.xi.2. lengthofthegates’meanthatthe Thecourthereissurroundedon widthofthepavementwasthesame threeofitssides,thenorthern,asthelengthofthegates,thatis, easternandsouthern,bychambers25cubits;andthepavementis

""-|-.-~—~.-...,_, - 'JMJ’M-;-’"r"_ 0-’—--~__ " 'W.,J—-~-.-____,___~, Ws-J’W,' XL.19—16 EZEKIEL 219

anhundredcubits,bothontheeastandonthenorth. 20Andthegateoftheoutercourtwhoseprospectistoward thenorth,bemeasuredthelengththereofandthebreadth 21thereof.Andthelodgesthereofwerethreeonthisside andthreeonthatside;andthepoststhereofandthe archesthereofwereafterthemeasureofthefirstgate: thelengththereofwasfiftycubits,andthebreadthfive 22andtwentycubits.Andthewindowsthereof,andthe archesthereof,andthepalmtreesthereof,wereafterthe measureofthegatewhoseprospectistowardtheeast; andtheywentupuntoitbysevensteps;andthearches 23thereofwerebeforethem.Andtherewasagatetothe innercourtoveragainsttheothergate,bothonthenorth andontheeast;andhemeasuredfromgatetogatean 24hundredcubits.Andheledmetowardthesouth,and beholdagatetowardthesouth:andbemeasuredthe poststhereofandthearchesthereofaccordingtothese 25measures.Andtherewerewindowsinitandinthe archesthereofroundabout,likethosewindows:the lengthwasfiftycubits,andthebreadthfiveandtwenty 26cubits.Andthereweresevenstepstogouptoit,andthe archesthereofwerebeforethem:andithadpalmtrees, oneonthisside,andanotheronthatside,upontheposts

calledthelowerpavement,ascom sides.Thatonthenorthsideisfirst paredwiththatofthe‘innercourt,’mentioned,thoughitsdimensions whichstoodhigher.Themeasurearenotgivenbutitsguardcham mentofv.19isthatoftheinnerbers(RV.‘lodges’)aredescribed. courtfromthesideoftheouterThesecorrespondedexactlywith gatewaywhichabutteduponitto thoseintheoutereasterngate(on. thesideoftheinnercourtwhich13,15),asdidalsothewindows, alsoabutteduponit. Thewordsarches,andpalmtrees(v.16).There ‘ontheeastandonthenorth’are wasasimilarsetofstepsinv.6, addedtoimplythatthebreadthandbutthenumberwasnotgiven.The lengthofthecourtwerethesame,lastwordsof'0.22meanthatthe thoughofcoursepartofthewholearches(or,colonnade)werebeyond squareareawasoccupiedbythethestepa templeandtheinnercourtInto 23—27.Oppositeeachofthethree thisoutercourttherewerethreeen gatesoftheoutercourtwerecorre trancesonthenorth,east,andsouthspondinggatestotheinnercourtof

.---‘-._--\~.._-m-sM“V~__...-'\--"‘~.__-\/\.~\_—~V_fl 220 EZEKIEL XL.16-34

27thereof.Andtherewasagatetotheinnercourttoward thesouth:andhemeasuredfromgatetogatetowardthe southanhundredcubits. lxxiii.Theprophetnowenterstheinnercourtwhichis descrflaedinitsturnwithitsguard-rooms,arches,gates amtjambs.xl.28—37.

28 Thenhebroughtmetotheinnercourtbythesouth gate:andhemeasuredthesouthgateaccordingtothese 29measures;andthelodgesthereof,andthepoststhereof, andthearchesthereof,accordingtothesemeasures:and therewerewindowsinitandinthearchesthereofround about:itwasfiftycubitslong,andfiveandtwentycubits 30broad.Andtherewerearchesroundabout,fiveand 31twentycubitslong,andfivecubitsbroad.Andthe archesthereofweretowardtheoutercourt;andpalm treeswereuponthepoststhereof:andthegoinguptoit 32hadeightsteps.Andhebroughtmeintotheinnercourt towardtheeast:andhemeasuredthegateaccordingto 33thesemeasures;andthelodgesthereof,andtheposts thereof,andthearchesthereof,accordingtothese measures:andtherewerewindowsthereinandinthe archesthereofroundabout:itwasfiftycubitslong,and 34fiveandtwentycubitsbroad.Andthearchesthereof weretowardtheoutercourt;andpalmtreeswereupon

identicalmeasurement;thenorthernthoseofthenorthernandeastern (cp.viii.3)andeasternarementionedgates(vv.7,24,25).Themeasure inv.23,thesouthernine.27to mentofthearchesisheregivenfor bringitintoconnectionwiththethefirsttime:theywereonthe mentionofitinv.28;andthespaceoutersideoftheentrance,andhad betweeneachofthesepairsofgatespalmtreesonthejambsofthedoor was100cubits(re.23,27). ways(cp.c.22).Theseinnergates 28—31.Theprophetis nowhadeightstepsinsteadofseven(0. broughttotheentranceintothe22).V.30isoutofplaceandisin innercourtonthesouthside,wherepartarepetitionfromv.21orv.25. themeasurementswerethesameas 32-34.Fromthesouthgatethe

r-v-W,_pr-~I-.wd__:JA..— “$1M)‘M_~I'i-h :Jd'M-—Jc.fl"':/’ XL-34—39 EZEKIEL 221 thepoststhereof,onthisside,andonthatside:andthe 35goinguptoithadeightsteps.Andhebroughtmeto thenorthgate:andhemeasureditaccordingtothese 36measures;thelodgesthereof,thepoststhereof,andthe archesthereof;andtherewerewindowsthereinround about:thelengthwasfiftycubits,andthebreadthfive 37andtwentycubits.Andthepoststhereofweretoward theoutercourt;andpalmtreeswereupontheposts thereof,onthisside,andonthatside:andthegoingup toithadeightsteps.

lxxiv.Adescriptionofvariouschambers,withthearrange mentsfortheofi'eringofsacrifices,themeasurementof thecourt,andamentionofthealtarinthecourt. x1.38—47.

38 Anda.chamberwiththedoorthereofwasbythepostsat 39thegates;theretheywashedtheburntoffering.And1in theporchofthegateweretwotablesonthisside,and

1 Or,by

prophetistakenroundtotheeastonlyone;butitisimpossibleto gateoftheinnercourt:itsdescriprepresentitintheground-plan.In tionexactlytallieswiththelast. itwouldstand[averscorresponding 35—37.Lastlyheistakentothetothosementionedinl K.vii.38: northgate: thedimensionsarethe2 Chr.iv.6:inthelatterpassage same:theHebrewwordfor‘posts’onlyitissaid‘suchthingsasbe (a.37)shouldbecorrectedto‘arches’longedtotheburntofferingthey tocorrespondwithon.31,34. washedinthem.’FromtheLevitical 38.ThepresentHebrewtext,lawsabouttheburntofl'ering representedinR.\'.,doesnotmake(i,3—17)wegatherthatthewashing itatallclearwherethischamberwasof‘theinwardsandthelegs’ stood.TheGreekversionmustofthevictim,andonlywhenitwas havehadadifferenttextaltogether.takenfromtheherdortheflock. Itspositionrelativetotheentrance39-43.Thetablesforthekilling isquiteuncertain,andit isnotofthesacrifices.Thereweretwo statedclearlywhetherthereweretablesoneachsideoftheporchof correspondingchambersateachof thegateway,fourtablesin all thegates,orwhethertherewas(op.17.42).Onthesetableswere onlyone;presumablytherewasslainnotonlytheburntoffering, 222 EZEKIEL XL-39—44 twotablesonthatside,toslaythereontheburntoffering 40andthesinofferingandtheguiltoffering.Andonthe onesidewithout,1asonegoethuptotheentryofthe gatetowardthenorth,weretwotables;andontheother side,whichbelongedtotheporchofthegate,weretwo 41tables.Fourtableswereonthisside,andfourtableson thatside,bythesideofthegate;eighttables,whereupon 42theyslewthesacrifices.Andtherewerefourtablesfor theburntofi'eiing,ofhewnstone,acubitandanhalflong, andacubitandanhalfbroad,andonecubithigh:where upontheylaidtheinstrumentswherewiththeyslewthe 43burntofferingandthesacrifice.Andthe2hooks,an handbreadthlong,werefastenedswithinroundabout:and 44uponthetableswasthefleshoftheoblation.‘Andwith outtheinnergatewerechambersforthesingersinthe innercourt,whichwasatthesideofthenorthgate;and

1 Or,atthestairsoftheentry ’ Accordingtosomeancientversions, ledges. ' Or,inthebuilding‘ TheSept.has,Andheledmeintothe innercourt.and,behold,twochambersintheinnercourt,oneatthesideofthe gatethatlookethtowardthenorth,havingitsprospecttowardthesouth,andone atthesideofthegatetowardthesouth,butlookingtowardthenorth. butalsothesinoffering(Lev.iv.:Weshouldexpect(0.42)‘sacrifices’ thereisnomentionofwashinganyratherthan‘sacrifice’:butthe partofthevictim,asinthecaseof termhereisprobablysynonymous theburntofi'ering)andtheguiltwith‘burntofl'ering,’justasthe ofl'ering(Lev.v.1-6,14—19:againburntofferingismentionedbyitself thereisnomentionofwashing).inv. 38.Inr. 43thereading In1:.40asecondsetoftablesare ‘ledges’istobepreferred:hooks describedasbeingoutsidethenorthcouldscarcelyhavea place.The gate,butthelanguage,asitstands,word‘oblatiou’ isagenericonefor isconfused.Thesemaketheeightthevariouskindsofsacrifices(cp. tablesofv.41;fourapparentlyLev.i.2). insideandfouroutsidethegateway;44—46.A descriptionofsome andbesidesthese,fourtablesof otherchambers.RV.marg.gives hewnstone,onwhichtolaythea. translationoftheSeptuagint instrumentsofslaughter.Itshouldwhichhada differenttextand berememberedthatactualaltarsdoesnotmentionthesingers.Toy ofhewnstoneareforbiddenin practicallyadoptsthis.‘Without Ex.xx.25;butthetablesheretheinnergate’meansontheside specifiedarenotaltarsThedi ofthegatewhichopenedintothe mensionsofthesetablesaregiven.innercourt.Theappointmentof XL-44—48 EZEKIEL 223 theirprospectwastowardthesouth:oneatthesideof 45theeastgatehavingtheprospecttowardthenorth.And hesaiduntome,Thischamber,whoseprospectistoward thesouth,isforthepriests,thekeepersofthechargeof 46thehouse.Andthechamberwhoseprospectistoward thenorthisforthepriests,thekeepersofthechargeof thealtar:thesearethesonsofZadok,whichfromamong thesonsofLevicomeneartotheLORDtoministerunto 47him.Andhemeasuredthecourt,anhundredcubitslong, andanhundredcubitsbroad,foursquare;andthealtar wasbeforethehouse.

lxxv.DescriptionoftheporchofthTempleitself 2:].48,49. 48 Thenhebroughtmetotheporchofthehouse,and measuredeachpostoftheporch,fivecubitsonthisside, singersfortheTempleworshipis thesameconnectioninxlii.13; ascribedintheChroniclestoDavidwhethertheyarethesameasthe (IChr.vi.31,32)andcertainlyno singers’chambersordifferentfrom idealtemplewouldbecompletethemisnotclear. withoutsuchabody:weneednot Wheresomuchisconjectural,it thereforeomitthisword.Itseemsisdifficulttolocatethesechambers, quiteclear,however,thatthemiddlebutperhapssomeofthemoccupied oftheverseshouldread‘oneatthethespacesmarkedDintheplan. sideofthenorthgate,havingthe 47.Thisversegivesus the prospecttowardthesouth,andthemeasurementoftheinnercourt, other....’Intheformerwas(1:.45) withthealtarinthecentreofitin a chamberforthepriestswhofrontoftheactualtemple.Forthe werecaretakersofthehouse(cp.measurementscp.xli.13—15and xliv.8,14—16).Inthelatterwasseethenotethere.Thealtar thechamberforthosewhohadcorrespondedto‘thealtarofburnt chargeofthealtar(cp.Numb.iii.31: ofi'eringatthedoorofthetaber xviii.5),whoweredescendantsof nacleofthetentofmeeting’ Zadokwhohadalowerofficebecause(Ex.XI.29);andatthededication oftheirformerlapseintoidolatryofSolomon’stemple,weareteld (cp.xliii.19:xliv.15).TheZadokthathehallowed‘themiddleofthe herementionedistobeidentifiedcourtthatwasbeforethehouseof withtheZadokofDavidandtheLord’(1K.viii.64:2Chr.vii.7). Solomon’stime(1K.i.26:iii.‘25: 48,49.Herefollowsadescription l Chr.xxiv.3,6). Thesenorthandoftheporchofthetempleofwhich southchambersarementionedin furtherdetailsaregiveninxli.25, 224 EZEKIEL XL.48—XLI.a

andfivecubitsonthatside:andthebreadthofthegate wasthreecubitsonthisside,andthreecubitsonthatside. 49Thelengthoftheporchwastwentycubits,andthebreadth elevencubits;1evenbythestepswherebytheywentup toit:andtherewerepillarsbytheposts,oneonthisside, andanotheronthatside. lxxvi.AdescriptwbnoftheTemplewithitsside-chambers, basement,and‘thebuildingthatwasbeforetheseparate place.’xli.1—14. XLI.1 Andhebroughtmetothetemple,and measuredtheposts,sixcubitsbroadontheoneside,and sixcubitsbroadontheotherside,whichwasthe 2breadthoftheZtabernacle.Andthebreadthofthe entrancewastencubits;andthe3sidesoftheentrance werefivecubitsontheoneside,andfivecubitsonthe

1 TheSept.has,andbytenstepstheywentetc. 2 Heb.tent.BeeEx.26.22—25.‘ Heb.shoulders.

26.Itslengthwasthesameas cubits.Someexcellentillustrations thatoftheporchinSolomon’stothewholeofthesechaptersare temple,butitsbreadthwasonetobefoundinToy’sEzekiel. cubitmore(cp.1 K.vi.3),ortwo XLI.1—4.Themeasurementson ifwefollowtheGreek,whichheretheinnersideoftheentranceand hastheclearertext.ThepostsofthewalloftheTemplenowfollow. werethejambsofthedoor,andin Thepostswerethejambsonthis frontofthemstoodtwopillarslikesideoftheentrance.AstheHebrew theJachinandBoazofSolomon’stemtextstands,thethicknessofthe ple(lK. 21:2Chr.iii.17).Thejambscorrespondswiththebreadth measureoffivecubitsisthatoftheoftheoldtabernacle,ofwhicha thicknessofthejambs.The‘length’descriptionisgiveninEx.xxvi.l— oftheporchisthelengthalong30:xxxvi.8—34,thoughthesix whichonewouldgoonthewayintocubitmeasurementdoesnotoccur theTemple.Themiddleclauseof ineitherofthoseplaces.Inconse c.49mustberead,followingthequence,manyomitwiththeSep Septuagint(seeRV.mar-51.):‘bytuagintthewords‘whichwasthe tenstepstheywentuptoit.’Thebreadthofthetabernacle,’which measurementsof thegatearecertainlyseemoutofplacehere. differentintheGreekandgivetheIna.2 thethicknessoftheside breadthoftheentranceasfourteenwallsoftheentranceisgivenin XLL5—7 EZEKIEL 225 otherside:andhemeasuredthelengththereof,forty 3cubits,andthebreadth,twentycubits.Thenwenthe inward,andmeasuredeachpostoftheentrance,two cubits:andtheentrance,sixcubits;andthebreadthof 4theentrance,sevencubits.Andhemeasuredthelength thereof,twentycubits,andthebreadth,twentycubits, beforethetemple:andhesaiduntome,Thisisthemost 5holyplace.Thenbemeasuredthewallofthehouse,six cubits; andthebreadthofeveryside-chamber,fourcubits, 6roundaboutthehouseoneveryside.Andtheside chamberswereinthreestories,oneoveranother,and thirtyinorder;andtheyenteredintothewallwhich belongedtothehousefortheside-chambersroundabout, thattheymighthaveholdtherein,andnothaveholdin 7thewallofthehouse.And1theside-chamberswere broaderastheyencompassedthehousehigherandhigher; fortheencompassingofthehousewenthigherandhigher roundaboutthehouse:thereforethebreadthofthe

1 Or,therewasanenlarging,anda windingaboutltillupwardtothe side-chambers:forthewindingaboutofthehousewentstillupwardround aboutthehouse

thesecondclause,followedbytheoracle.’Furtherdetailsofboththe interiordimensionsoftheouterHolyPlace,andtheHolyofHolies chamber.Thefortycubitsoflengtharegiveninca.21,23.Ezekiel’s correspondwiththesamemeasurein guidedoesnottakehimintothe l K.vi.17andthetwentycubitsof HolyofHolies,fornoordinary breadthwiththatinlK.vi.2:2Chr.priestcouldentertherebutonlythe iii.4. In02:.3,4wearetakenon highpriest(cp.Heb.ix.7‘butinto throughthisouterchambertothethesecondtabernaclethehighpriest entranceofandthenintotheHolyalone’). of Holies.Thejambsofthis 5—12.Detailsabouttheside entranceweretwocubitsthick,thechambers.Sixcubitsisthethick ‘sixcubits’isthelengthofthe nessoftheTemplewall,andthe, entrancetobepassedthrough.Thebreadthoftheside-chamberisits HolyofHolieshereisofthesameinternalbreadth.Thereweresuch lengthandbreadthasinSolomon’schambersin Solomon’stemple temple(1 K.vi.16,20:2 Chr.(1K.vi.5,6,8, 10).Theywere iii.8);thispartoftheTempleis thirtyinnumberasintheouter calledinl K.,followingoneety court(x1.17),andtherewere mologyoftheHebrewword,‘theapparentlyledgesinthewallto

R. 15 226 EZEKIEL xLI.7—13 housecontinuedupward;andsoonewentupfromthe lowestchambertothehighestbythemiddlechamber. 8Isawalso1thatthehousehad2araisedbasementround about:thefoundationsoftheside-chamberswereafull 9reed1‘ofsixgreatcubits.Thethicknessofthewall,which wasfortheside-chambers,ontheoutside,wasfivecubits: 4andthatwhichwasleftwastheplaceoftheside-chambers 10thatbelongedtothehouse.Andbetweenthechambers wasabreadthoftwentycubitsroundaboutthehouseon 11everyside.Andthedoorsoftheside-chamberswere towardtheplacethatwasleft,onedoortowardthenorth, andanotherdoortowardthesouth:andthebreadthof 12theplacethatwasleftwasfivecubitsroundabout.And thebuildingthatwasbeforetheseparateplaceattheside towardthewestwasseventycubitsbroad;andthewall ofthebuildingwasfivecubitsthickroundabout,andthe 13lengththereofninetycubits.Sohemeasuredthehouse, anhundredcubitslong;andtheseparateplace,andthe

1 Or,thatthehousewashighroundabout’ Heb.height.‘ Or,ofn‘a: cubitstothejoining ‘ TheSept.has,andthatwhichwasleftbetweenthe ride-chambersthatbelongedtothehouseandbetweenthechamberswas(to. whichtheywereattached,soasnotwalloftheside-chambers:and‘that tobreakintothewalloftheTemplewhichwasleft’wastheremainder (0.6:cp.1 K.vi.6 wheretheseoftheplatformoutsidethechambers. ledgesarecalled‘rebatements’).Thetwentycubits(v.10)wasthe Therewerethreestoriesofthem,partoftheinnercourtwhichwas andeachstoryabovethefirstwasnotbuiltupon(cp.xlii.3). The widerthantheonebelowit:therechambershaddoorsopeningupon seemsalsotohavebeenacirculartheplatform,andthiswasfive staircasetoascendtothehighercubitswideasinv.9. Attheback floors(seeR.V.marg.).ThisextraoftheTemplewasa‘buildingbefore widthwasgainedbythefurthertheseparateplace’—aplaceappar projectionofeachledgeor‘rehateentlyusedasareceptacleforashes ment.’Seethesectionofthe andasastorehouse.Betweenthe chambersattheendofthisvolume.Templeandthisbuildingwaspart RoundtheTemplewasa raisedofthecourtwhichwentallround platform(RV.‘basement’:cp.XI.17).theTemple.See0'intheground Thegreatcubitwasthat‘ofacubitplan. andanhandbreadtheach’(x1.5:xliii. 13,14.Themeasurementofthe 13).Thewallofv.9istheouterTempleexternally.Thehundred XLI.13—18 EZEKIEL 227 building,withthewallsthereof,anhundredcubitslong; 14alsothebreadthofthefaceofthehouse,andofthe separateplacetowardtheeast,anhundredcubits. lxxvii.Sundrymasurements;a/naccowntofthedecorations oftheTemple,ofthealtar,andofthedoors.xli.15-26.

15 Andhemeasuredthelengthofthebuildingbeforethe separateplacewhichwasatthebackthereof,andthe galleriesthereofontheonesideandontheotherside,an hundredcubits;andtheinnertemple,andtheporchesof 16thecourt;thethresholds,andtheclosedwindows,andthe galleriesroundaboutontheirthreestories,overagainst thethreshold,cieledwithwoodroundabout,andfrom thegrounduptothewindows;nowthewindowswere 17covered;tothespaceabovethedoor,evenuntothe innerhouse,andwithout,andbyallthewallroundabout 18withinandwithout,1bymeasure.Anditwasmadewith cherubimandpalmtrees;andapalmtreewasbetween

1 Heb.measures. cubitsoflengthandbreadthagreeplural‘thresholds’(cp.Is.vi.4: withthemeasurementoftheinnerZech.ix.1)indicatesaspacedivided courtinxl.47. bycolumns:thethresholdofthe 15-17.‘ThebuildingbeforetheTemplewasalwayslookeduponas separateplace’hasalreadybeenspeciallysacred.The‘closed’or mentionedinv.12(cp.xlii.1).What‘covered’windowswereoflattice ismeantby‘thegalleries’isnotat work(cp.v.26:111.16:1 K.vi.4). allclear:theyoccuragaininxlii.3,5.The‘threestories’comeoveragain TheGreektranslatorcouldnotmakeinxlii.3,6. Thesegallerieswere themout:herendersthecorrepanelled,sidesandceilingsalike, spondingHebrewworddifferentlyin withwoodinsections(forthisisthe eachofthethreeplacesinwhichit meaningoftheHebrew‘bymea occurs.Ifwetrytopicturethemsures’). toourselves,theymusthavebeena 18-20.Thepanellingwasnot kindofopenarcadeoneachstoryof plainbutdecoratedwithcherubim thebuilding:thehundredcubitsandpalmtrees(cp.v.25: x1.16,22, correspondstothelengthofthis26,31,34,37)whichwereafeature houseinv.13.The‘innertemple’ ofSolomon’stemple(1K.vi.29,32, mustbeidenticalwith‘themost35:vii.36:2Chr.iii.5,7).The holyplace’(a.4).Theuseofthecherubimhadtwoofthefourfaces 15—2 228 EZEKIEL XLI.18—15 cherubandcherub,andeverycherubhadtwofaces; 19sothattherewasthefaceofamantowardthepalmtree ontheoneside,andthefaceofayoungliontowardthe pahntreeontheotherside:thuswasitmadethroughall 20thehouseroundabout.Fromthegrounduntoabovethe doorwerecherubimandpalmtreesmade:1thuswasthe 21wallofthetemple.Asforthetemple,thedoorposts weresquared;andasforthefaceofthesanctuary,the appearancethereofwas2astheappearanceofthetemple. 22Thealtarwasofwood,threecubitshigh,andthelength thereoftwocubits;and3thecornersthereof,andthe ‘lengththereof,andthewallsthereof,wereofwood:and hesaiduntome,Thisisthetablethatisbeforethe 23LORD.Andthetempleandthesanctuaryhadtwodoors. 24Andthedoorshadtwoleavesapiece,twoturningleaves; twoleavesfortheonedoor,andtwoleavesfortheother. 25Andthereweremadeonthem,onthedoorsofthetemple, cherubimandpalmtrees,likeasweremadeuponthe

1 Anotherreadingis,Andasforthewallofthetemple,thedoorpostswere squared.9 Or,a:theformerappearance3 Or,ithaditscomers,- andetc. ‘ TheSept.has,base. assignedtothelivingcreaturesor outA.B.Davidson’ssuggestionto cherubimofEzekiel’svisions(i.10: connectthelastwordsofthisverse x.14).Thepatternwasaconstantlywiththenextdoesnotseemprobable: recurringone,cherubandpalmtreeandbothRV.andR.V.marg.are alternating.ToyinhisEzekielonlymakeshifts gives(p.189)anillustrationfrom 22.Thisaltarofwoodmaybe a Cyprianscarabshowingtwosuchanaltarasthealtarofincense creaturesfacingtowardsasacreddescribedinEx.xxx.1,oritmaybe tree.R.V.marg.givesthebetterintendedtorepresentthetablefor sensebyconnectingthelastclausetheshewbread(Ex.xxv.23-30).It ofv.20withthefollowingverseandismentionedagain(xliv.16),and omittingoneoccurrenceofthewordsuchatableismentionedinMalachi ‘temple.’ (i.7,12).ThereadingofRV.marg. 21.Inthisversethepostsofthe‘hase’istobepreferred. doorsweredescribedandalsothe 23—26.Thedoorsandtheporch externalsurfaceofthewallsoftheofbothbuildings,theholyplace, mostholyplace,butthetext,asit andtheholyofholies,arenow stands,doesnotgiveusanysense,described.Theycorrespondwiththe assomewordmusthavedroppeddoorsinSolomon’stemple(1K.vi. XLI.15—XLII.4. EZEKIEL 229 walls;andtherewerethickbeamsofwood1upontheface 26oftheporchwithout.Andtherewereclosedwindows andpalmtreesontheonesideandontheotherside,on thesidesoftheporch:thusweretheside-chambersofthe house,andthethickbeams.

lxxviii.Adescriptionofthechambersandtheuses towhichtheyweretobeput.xlii.1—14. XLII.1Thenhebroughtmeforthintotheouter court,thewaytowardthenorth:andhebroughtmeinto thechamberthatwasoveragainsttheseparateplace,and whichwasoveragainstthebuildingtowardthenorth. 2Beforethelengthofanhundredcubitswasthenorthdoor, 3andthebreadthwasfiftycubits.Overagainstthetwenty cubitswhichbelongedtotheinnercourt,andoveragainst thepavementwhichbelongedtotheoutercourt,was 4galleryagainstgallery2inthethirdstory.Andbefore 1 Or,beforetheporch ’ Or,inthreestories 31-33)whichalsohadtwofoldingthenorthdoor,whereasthelength leavesforeachdoor(1K.vi.34).ofthechambers,herecalledthe Thedoorswerecarvedlikethebreadthofthecourt,was50 insideofthewalls,apparentlyonlycubits(cp.v.8). The20cubits ontheinnerside.Theouterside(v.3)isexplainedbythestatement wasmoremassivewiththickbeamsmadeearlier:‘betweenthechambers (so1 K.vii.6),unlessthesewordswasa breadthoftwentycubits indicatea separateframeworkin roundaboutthehouseonevery frontofthecarvedwork.Forthe side’(xli.10).Thepavementof side-chamberssee170.5—9. thecourthasalsobeenmentioned XLII.1—3.Theprophetisnowalready(XL17)as‘madeforthe madetoretracehisstepsintothecourtroundabout.’Thesegalleries outercourt(x1.17)inthedirectionorsimilaroneshavealsobeen ofthegatethatfacedthenorthalreadymentioned(xli.15,16). (xl.20).InthiscourttherewereWhetherwetranslate‘inthethird chambersandheistakenintoonestory’(RV)or‘inthreestories’ ofthesethatwasoppositethese (R.V.marg.)itisclearthatweare parateplacewithitsbuildingthattoassumethattherewasagallery stoodinfrontoftheseparateplaceoneachstory(cp.xli.16). (cp.w.10,13:xli.l2,l3).Facing4-12.Wenowreachthede thelongsideoftheinnercourt,scriptionofthechambers,afier 100cubitslong(cp.xli.15),washavingbeentoldfirstthatwhilst

__ _ _~,‘_M“~a-_qa__,_~ ~_/____--\,_,_,--—--<~ -~-~~~—\ q 230 EZEKIEL XLII.4-" thechamberswasawalkoftencubitsbreadthinward,a. wayof1onecubit;andtheirdoorsweretowardthenorth. 5Nowtheupperchamberswereshorter:forthegalleries tookawayfromthese,morethanfromthelowerandthe 6middlemost,inthebuilding.Fortheywereinthree stories,andtheyhadnotpillarsasthepillarsofthe courts:thereforetheuppermostwasstraitenedmorethan 7thelowestandthemiddlemostfromtheground.And the2wallthatwaswithoutbythesideofthechambers, towardtheoutercourtbeforethechambers,thelength 8thereofwasfiftycubits.Forthelengthofthechambers thatwereintheoutercourtwasfiftycubits:and,lo, 9beforethetemplewereanhundredcubits.Andfrom underthesechamberswastheentryontheeastside,as 10onegoethintothemfromtheoutercourt.Inthethick nessofthe2wallofthecourttowardtheeast,beforethe separateplace,andbeforethebuilding,therewere 11chambers.Andthewaybeforethemwasliketheappear anceofthewayofthechamberswhichweretowardthe north;8accordingtotheirlengthsowastheirbreadth: andalltheirgoingsoutwerebothaccordingtotheir 12fashions,andaccordingtotheirdoors.Andaccordingto thedoorsofthechambersthatweretowardthesouthwas adoorintheheadoftheway,eventhewaydirectly beforethe2walltowardtheeast,asoneenterethinto

1 Accordingtosomeancientversions,ahundredcubits.’ 0r,fence 3 Or,theywereaslongasthey,andasbroadasthey theirdoorsfacedthenorththerecourt.Va.7,8indicatethatthese wasapassagewayinfrontofthechambersoccupiedtwosides,asit buildingtothewest(cp.xlvi.19)were,ofaquadrangle100x50cubits. tencubitswide.ItseemsquiteUnderthesechamberswasthe clearthattheSeptuagintisrighteasternentryintotheoutercourt inreadingahundredcubitsinstead(cp.xlvi.19):andontheeastern ofonecubit,thusindicatingtheside,asonthenorthern,therewere lengthofthepassage.Thethirdchamberssimilarlybuiltinthe rowofchamberswasshorterthanthicknessofthewall.Thesefronted theonesbelowit,owingtothetheseparateplaceandthebuilding galleries: andthechambershadno byit(cp.v.1:x1.17)andwereex pillarslikethosepillarsintheouteractlyliketheothers(p.234).They

w~~_,_—-uh4'M.'_-,-~,.__. , a.,,-—fl XLII."—15 EZEKIEL 231

13them.Thensaidheuntome,Thenorthchambersand thesouthchambers,whicharebeforetheseparateplace, theybetheholychambers,wheretheprieststhatare nearuntotheLORDshalleatthemostholythings:there shalltheylaythemostholythings,andthemealoffering, andthesinoffering,andtheguiltoffering;fortheplace 14isholy.Whenthepriestsenterin,thenshalltheynotgo outoftheholyplaceintotheoutercourt,buttherethey shalllaytheirgarmentswhereintheyminister;forthey areholy:andtheyshallputonothergarments,andshall approachtothatwhichpertainethtothepeople.

lxxix.Theexternalmeasurementsofthewhole Templeenclosure.xlii.15-20. 15 Nowwhenhehadmadeanendofmeasuringtheinner house,hebroughtmeforthbythewayofthegatewhose prospectistowardtheeast,andmeasureditroundabout.

alsohadadooratthetopoftheofthegate’whicharespecified passagefrontingtowardtheeast.earlier(1:1.39).Afurtherregulation 13,14.Theuseofthechambersisthattheuseoftheministerial thathavebeendescribed.Thegarmentsshallbelimitedtothese sacrificialmealsaretobeeatenchambersandnotextendedtowhat inthemby‘theprieststhatarewentonintheoutercourtinthe nearuntotheLord,’thatis,as sightofthepeople(cp.xliv.19). wouldappearfromX].46,thesonsThiscorrespondswiththeregula ofZadok.ThesacrificestobeeatentioninLeviticusaboutthecarrying therefollowtheLeviticalordinances;forthbythepriestoftheashesof themealofl'ering(Lev.vi.16:x.l2, theburntofl'ering.Heistodo 13),thesinofl'ering(Lev.vi.26),thisin‘othergarments’(Lev.vi. andtheguiltoffering(Lev.vii.7). 11).Itistobenotedthatinthe Theshewbreadwasalsobythecaseofthemealoffering,themeal Leviticalregulationseaten‘ina wouldbe‘laid’inthechambers holyplace’(Lev.xxiv.9),butitis tillitcouldbebakedforthepriests notmentionedhere.Thereservationtoeatit. forthepriestsofthethreeofferings15—20.Themeaurementsgiven mentionedhereisalsoenjoinedin intheseversesaretheexternal Numbers(xviii.9).Accordingto measurementsofthewholeenclos Ezekieltheywouldbebroughtintoure.Thecastgatebywhichthe thechambersafterhavingbeenlaidprophetcameoutisalwaystreated uponthefourtables‘intheporchasthemostimportantbothinthe

' s - .‘d—I-IMTM'~-"~_,v\m-\ 232 EZEKIELxnn.re—xmn.1

16Hemeasuredontheeast1sidewiththemeasuringreed, fivehundredreeds,withthemeasuringreedroundabout. 17Hemeasuredonthenorth1side,fivehundredreeds,with 18themeasuringreedroundabout.Hemeasuredonthe south1side,fivehundredreeds,withthemeasuringreed. 19Heturnedabouttothewest1side,andmeasuredfive 20hundredreedswiththemeasuringreed.Hemeasuredit 2onthefoursides:ithadawallroundabout,thelength fivehundred,andthebreadthfivehundred,tomakea separationbetweenthatwhichwasholyandthatwhich wascommon. lxxx.TheDivineBeingtakespossessionofHisTemple, andgivesdirectionstoHispeople,uponthefulfilmentof whichHepromisestobewiththemforever.xliii.l-9. XLIII.1Afterwardhebroughtmetothegate,even 2thegatethatlookethtowardtheeast:andbehold,the gloryoftheGodofIsraelcamefromthewayoftheeast: andhisvoicewaslikethesoundofmanywaters: andthe

1 Heb.wind.' Heb.towardthefourwinds. actualtempleatJerusalem(x.19:(cp.xliii.12).Forthesymbolismof xi.1)andinEzekiel’sidealTemplethefoursquare,asdenotingperfec (xl.6:xliv.l,4).Forthemeasuringtion,andofthemeasurements,see reedseexl.3. TheenclosurewasSwetconRev.xxi.16. exactlysquare,andithadacon Ifweretaintheword‘reeds,’ tainingwall(cp.xl.5). Thesamethenwehaveintheseversesthe measurementisrepeatedlater(xlv.measurementsofaclearspacebe 2);inbothpassagesitisclearthattweentheactualTempleenclosure ‘eubits’istherightreading,notandanexternalwallofwhicheach ‘reeds’(thereedwassixcubits,sidewouldthenbe3,000cubits; xl.5),andsotheSeptuagintin outsideofwhichagaintherewould terpretsinxl.17.IntheRevelationbeanotherspace50cubitswide (xxi.16)theHeavenlyJerusalem,(xlv.2:seethatpassageforthe theCityofGod,isrepresentedas meaningof‘thesuburbsthereof’); foul-squareandsurroundedbya butthisisnotsoprobable. wall,butthedimensionsaremuchXLIII.1-5.Theentranceofthe larger—12,000furlongs.TheintengloryoftheGodofIsraelintoHis tionofthewallistomarkoffthehouse.ThisiswitnessedbyEzekiel enclosureasadedicatedholyplaceattheeastgate(cp.xlii.15).The

M,M_,_4-.-a~4-'-~-""'J )""" XLIII.2—7 EZEKIEL 233 3earthshinedwithhisglory.Anditwasaccordingtothe appearanceofthevisionwhichI saw,evenaccordingto thevisionthatI sawwhenI cametodestroythecity; andthevisionswerelikethevisionthatI sawbythe 4riverChebar:andI felluponmyface.Andthegloryof theLORDcameintothehousebythewayofthegate 5whoseprospectistowardtheeast.Andthespirittook meup,andbroughtmeintotheinnercourt;andbehold, 6thegloryoftheLORDfilledthehouse.AndI heardone speakinguntomeoutofthehouse;andamanstoodby 7me.Andhesaiduntome,Sonofman,thisistheplace ofmythrone,andtheplaceofthesolesofmyfeet,where

interchangeofexpressionbetweenx. 15,20,22).Theresulthere ‘thegloryoftheGodofIsrael’‘/Ifelluponmyface’isthesameas (cp.xi.22)and‘thegloryofthebefore(i.28:iii.23).Theresultof Lord’occursalsoinx.18,19.Thetheentrybythiseasterngateis newJerusalemoftheApocalypsedescribedlater(xliv.l,2).After possessesandislightenedby‘thetheentryoftheglorytheprophet gloryofGod,’nolongerlimitedas isbroughtbythespirit(cp.iii.12: theGodofIsrael(xxi.ll,23).Theviii.3:xi.1,24:xxxvii.1)intothe descriptionoftheDivinevoiceas innercourt,justashehadbeen ‘thesoundofmanywaters’takesbroughtintotheinnercourtat usbacktoEzekiel’sfirstvision:Jerusalem(viii.16)whichwasfilled ‘thenoiseoftheirwingsliketheatanothertimewiththecloudof noiseofgreatwaters,likethevoicetheDivinepresence(1:.3). The oftheAlmighty’(i. 24),andis gloryitselffilledthehouseaswell reproducedintheApocalypse(i.15 astheinnercourt(cp.x.4,and ‘hisvoiceasthevoiceofmanyagainxliv.4).Asimilartaking waters’).TheearthreflectsGod’spossessionofthehousebytheLord glory,justasinRev.xviii.l weareisdescribedinthecaseofSolomon’s toldthat‘theearthwaslightenedTemple(1K.viii.10,ll:2Chr.v. withhis(i.e.anangel’s)glory.’In l3,l4:vii.l~3)asinthatofthe v.3thereferenceinthefirstclauseTabernacle(Ex.XI.34,35:cp. istotheslaughterindicatedin Rev.xv.8 ‘thetemplewasfilled ix.1,25,thoughthereisscarcelywithsmokefromthegloryofGod, anydescriptionoftheprophetsandfromhispower;andnonewas visioninthatchapter(see,however,abletoenterintothetemple’). ix.3);butthereisafurtherrefer 6—9.Themessagetotheprophet. encetotheprophet’sfirstvisionThemessengerwhogivesthe (i.4-28)bytheriverChebar(i.l), Divinemessageiscalleda man whichis connectedelsewhereby (cp.id.3),andisgenerallyaccounted himwithhislatervisions(iii.23:tohavebeenanangelinhuman

.r-....- v.,.~--.__- __-“'~AW,W-~~ 234 EZEKIEL XLIII.7—9 IwilldwellinthemidstofthechildrenofIsraelforever: andthehouseofIsraelshallnomoredefilemyholyname, neitherthey,northeirkings,bytheirwhoredom,andby 8thecarcasesoftheirkings‘51:.theirhighplaces;intheir settingoftheirthresholdbymythreshold,andtheirdoor postbesidemydoorpost,andtherewasbutthewall betweenmeandthem;andtheyhavedefiledmyholy namebytheirabominationswhichtheyhavecommitted: 9whereforeIhaveconsumedtheminmineanger.Nowlet themputawaytheirwhoredom,andthecarcasesoftheir kings,farfromme,andIwilldwellinthemidstofthem forever.

1 0r,accordingtoanotherreading,intheirdeath form(cp.Rev.xxi.17‘themeasureings‘intheirhighplaces’(R.V.) ofaman,thatis,ofanangel’).Heand‘intheirdeath'(RV.marg.) actsasthemouthpieceofGod.representtwodifferentpointings TheleadingideaofthemessageoftheHebrewconsonants.The isGod’sacceptanceoftheTempleSeptuaginthasstillanotherreading asa dwelling-placeinwhichHe ‘inthemidstofthem.’TheRV. promisestoabideforever,ifitis marg.givesthebestsense:and keptnnpolluted.Thedescriptionthewholeideaofthepassageisthe ofthisTempleasGod’sfootstoolintrusionbythelaterking'supon correspondstowordsascribedto theTempleenclosurewithbuildings David(1Chr.xxviii.2‘tobuildan fortheirowndepravedpurposes: h0use...forthefootstoolofourGod’:evenintheirdeathsburialwas cp.Ps.xcix.5:cxxxii.7)andto soughtfortheminunlawfulplaces. Isaiah(IX.13‘tobeautifytheplaceOnlya wallseparatedtheregal ofmysanctuary,andI willmakefromJehovah’sbuildings.Itwill theplaceofmyfeetglorious’). berememberedhowJoashwas HenceforthGod’sHolyNameis rescuedfromAthaliahandactually nottobedefiledorprofaned(cp.livedintheTemplesixyears(2K. xx.39:xxxix.7)byspiritualwhorexi.3),andthatthesepulchresof dom—theforsakingofGodisoftenthekingswereintheCityofDavid, describedinBiblicallanguageasa andthereforecouldnothavebeen breakingofa marriagetie—andfarfromtheTemple(cp.l K. otherabominations.Thetworenderxi.43).

Addendumtop.230. Thelastclauseofverse11means:‘therewerethesameexitsand arrangementscorrespondingwiththeirdoors.’

-.~4'I>...,- ,.-___’#_~~--_ , 1.. ‘W—a',_ pm,,_M',‘...r"ff

— ,—_iJ-_*I—‘—“ 7,,” XLHI.io-n EZEKIEL 235 lxxxi.Thepeoplearetohavemadeknowntothemthe detailsofthehouseandalltheregulationscon nectedwithit andwithitsritesandceremonies. xliii.10—12. 10 Thou,sonofman,shewthehousetothehouseof Israel,thattheymaybeashamedoftheiriniquities: and 11letthemmeasurethe1pattern.Andiftheybeashamed ofallthattheyhavedone,makeknownuntothemthe formofthehouse,andthefashionthereof,andthegoings outthereof,andthecomingsinthereof,andalltheforms thereof,andalltheordinancesthereof,andalltheforms thereof,andallthelawsthereof,andwriteitintheir sight: thattheymaykeepthewholeformthereof,andall 12theordinancesthereof,anddothem.Thisisthelawof thehouse: uponthetopofthemountainthewholelimit thereofroundaboutshallbemostholy.Behold,thisis thelawofthehouse. 1 Or,mm

10—12.Thewholedesignofthetionordelineation;the‘fashion’is newhouseistobeexhibitedwithitsarrangement.Theentrancesand theinjunctionthatitistobekeptexitsoccuragain(xliv.5). The mostholy:theideabeingthatthedoublerepetitionof‘andallthe thoughtofthiswillmakethepeopleformsthereof’isnotneeded.The ‘ashamedoftheiriniquities’(v.10) ordinancesandlaws(or,law)ofthe intheirprofanationofthepre-exilichousearealltheregulationsthat house.Soattheverybeginningof aretocontrolitsadministrationand thesevisionsthecommandhadbeenservice.Thewholeofwhatthe giventotheprophet:‘declareall prophetwastoshewthemwastobe thatthouseesttothehouseof writtendownintheirpresence(cp. Israel’(XI.4).Theword‘pattern’xii.3).Themountainuponwhich (RV.marg.‘sum’) representsa theTemplewastobeplacedwas Hebrewwordexpressingtheideasof mentionedatthebeginningofthese shape,measurementandsymmetry:visions(xl.2).Alltheincludedarea andthewholecatalogueoftermsin wastobeholy(cp.xlii.15-20): '0.11isintendedtobeexhaustive.noroyalpalacewastohaveplace The‘form’ofthehouseisitsdescripthere.

.._..‘,_‘,—---_~-___. 236 EZEKIEL XLIII.r3—17

lxxxii.DescriptionoftheAltar.xliii.13—17. 13 Andthesearethemeasuresofthealtarbycubits: (the cubitisacubitandanhandbreadth:)the1bottomshallbe acubit,andthebreadthacubit,andtheborderthereofby theedgethereofroundaboutaspan:andthisshallbethe 142baseofthealtar.Andfromthebottom3upontheground tothelower"settleshallbetwocubits,andthebreadth onecubit; andfromthelessersettletothegreatersettle 15shallbefourcubits,andthebreadthacubit.Andthe “upperaltarshallbefourcubits;andfromthe6altar 16hearthandupwardthereshallbefourhorns.Andthealtar hearthshallbetwelvecubitslongbytwelvebroad,square 17inthefoursidesthereof.Andthesettleshallbefourteen

‘ Or,hollowHeb.bosom.’ Heb.back. ' Or,at ‘ Or,ledge 5 Heb.Hard.‘ Heb.Ariel.SeeIs.29.1.

13—17.Thisaltarhasalreadybeenequivalenttohalfa cubit.Each describedasbeing‘beforethehouse’stageofthealtarisoflessdimen (xl.47: cp.xlvii.1),justasthealtarof sionsthantheoneimmediately burntofferingwas‘atthedoorof below.Theverticalsectionofthe thetabernacleofthetentofmeeting’altarattheendofthevolumeshews (Ex.xl.29).Themeasurementsaretherelativeproportionsofeach. notidenticalwiththoseofthe Thegreatersettleofthealtaris tabernaclealtar(Ex.xxvii.1—8:mentionedagaininxlv.19.Both xxxviii.1—7):thecubitofmeasurethatandthelessersettlehavehigher mentisdefinedhereasbefore(xLstructuresrestinguponthem.It 5):itisthegreatcubitofxli.8. willbenoticedthatR.V.marg. Whenthedetailsareexamined,it givestwoHebrewwords‘Harel’ isverydifficulttounderstandthem.and‘Ariel’whicharetranslatedby The‘bottom’(R.V.marg.‘hollow,RV.‘upperaltar’and‘altar.hearth’ Heb.bosom’)seemstobeahollowrespectively.Butitseemscertain spaceatthebottomofthealtar,thattheformerwordisa scribal usedasa draintocarryoffthecorruptionofthelatter,andthatwe blood,ofwhichthebreadthisoneoughttoread‘altarhearth’ inboth cubit,butwhatthesecondcubitin clauses.ThenameArielisusedas thedimensionsgivenreferstoisnotanameofJerusaleminIs.xxix.l, clearunlessitbetheprojectingpart2,7,butitssignificanceisquestioned. ofthe‘bottom’notcoveredbytheItmaymean‘lionofGod’or‘altar superimposedaltar.WhatiscalledhearthofGod.’Withthepresent ‘theborderthereof’wouldthenbe passagebeforeusitisbettertogive a kindofmoulding.Aspanis itthelattersignification,ameaning

I '—p-a" /_Ww_lwan; XLIII.17—11 EZEKIEL 237 cubitslongbyfourteenbroadinthefoursidesthereof; andtheborderaboutitshallbehalfacubit;andthe bottomthereofshallbeacubitabout;andthesteps thereofshalllooktowardtheeast.

lxxxiii.TheDedicationoftheAltar. 18—27. 18 Andhesaiduntome,Sonofman,thussaiththeLord GOD:Thesearetheordinancesofthealtarintheday whentheyshallmakeit,toofferburntofferingsthereon, 19andtosprinklebloodthereon.Thoushaltgivetothe prieststheLevitesthatbeoftheseedofZadok,whichare nearuntome,toministeruntome,saiththeLordGOD,a 20youngbullockfora.sinoffering.Andthoushalttakeof thebloodthereof,andputitonthefourhornsofit,and onthefourcornersofthesettle,andupontheborder roundabout: thusshaltthoucleanseit andmake 21atonementforit. Thoushaltalsotakethebullockofthe

whichitalsohasintheinscription—theactualsheddingoftheblood, ofMeshakingofMoab(1.12).Theandthesprinklingoftheblood(so fourhornsofthealtarcorrespondLev.i. 5:iii.8:2Chr.xxxv.11). withthoseofthealtarinthetaberBotharealludedtointheNew nacle(Ex.xxvii.2:xxix.12:xxx.Testament,theactualsheddingof 2:Lev.iv.7,30:cp.Pacxviii.27 bloodatthedeathofChrist,and ‘Bindthesacrificewithcords,even‘thebloodofsprinkling’(Heb.xii. untothehornsofthealtar’).To 24:cp.1 Peti.2‘sprinklingofthe takeholdofthehornsofthealtarbloodofJesusChrist’).Aspecial wastoclaimsanctuary(lK.i. 50),useofthissprinklingoccurredon justasthegraspingoftheknockerthedayoftheatonement(Lev.xvi. atthedoorofDurhamCathedral14—16):theideaintendedtobecon gavearighttosanctuary.Liketheveyedwastheapplicationofthevirtue tabernaclealtarthehearthwasa ofthesacrificc.Hereandinoneother perfectsquare,aswasthesettle.place(xliv.15)wefindtheDeutero UnlikethealtarinthecodeofEx.nomieexpression‘theprieststhe xx.26thisaltarhadsteps Levites’(Deut.xvii.9:xviii.l ‘the 18—27.Sevendaysaretobeoc prieststheLevites,allthetribeof cupiedwiththededicationoftheLevi’:xxi.5‘theprieststhesonsof altar,beginningwiththedayofits Levi’:xxiv.8:xxvii.9). Itdoes completion(‘whentheyshallmakenotfollownecessarilythattheterms it,’v.18).Intheofferingofthe‘priests’and‘Levites’eachrepre burntofl'eringthereweretwostagessentedanidenticalbodyorthatall 238 EZEKIEL XLIII.11—26 sinofl‘ering,andheshallburnitintheappointedplace 22ofthehouse,withoutthesanctuary.Andonthesecond daythoushaltofferahe-goatwithoutblemishforasin offering;andtheyshallcleansethealtar,astheydid 23cleanseitwiththebullock.Whenthouhastmadeanend ofcleansingit,thoushaltofferayoungbullockwithout 24blemish,andaramoutoftheflockwithoutblemish.And thoushaltbringthemnearbeforetheLORD,andthepriests shallcastsaltuponthem,andtheyshallofferthemupfor 25aburntofi'ei'inguntotheLORD.Sevendaysshaltthou prepareeverydayagoatforasinofi'ering:theyshallalso prepareayoungbullock,andaramoutoftheflock,with 26outblemish.Sevendaysshalltheymakeatonementfor

Leviteswerepriests:Deut.xxi.5 shaltthouburnwithfirewithout shewsusthattheonlysafecon thecamp’:cp.Lev.iv.11,12,21: clusionwecandrawfromtheNumb.xix.3,andtheusemadeof combinationisthatthepriestsarethisinHeb.xiii.11,12‘Jesusalso, speciallydesignatedasbelongingto thathemightsanctifythepeople thetribeofLevi.Herethebodyof throughhisownblood,sufi'ered priestsindicatedarefurtherlimitedwithoutthegate’).‘He’inv.21is asbeingdescendedfromZadok(seeindefiniteandmeansoneappointed noteonXI.46),thehigh-priestwhotodischargethatduty.Thesecond anointedSolomonanddisplacedtheandfollowingdaystheofferingofa lineofEli.Itwasnodoubtbecausehe-goatwithoutblemishisdirected oftheviewsofEzekielastothetoprecedethatofthebullock,and restorationof‘David,’that,inhis a thirdofl'eringofaramwithout idealTemple,thechiefplaceis blemishwastofollow.Itwould reservedfortheZadokites.Fortheseemfromv.25thatitisonlyby ‘youngbullock’cp.xlv.18:Ex.someaccidentthattheseofferings xxix.l,10.Similardirectionstothosearenotmentionedashavingbeen ofv.20aretobefoundinxlv.19:madeonthefirstday.Anoffering Ex.xxix.l2:Lev.viii.15:thoughoframsfollowedtheofferingofa thedirectionsaboutthe‘settle’andbullockattheconsecrationofpriests the‘border’arepeculiartoEzekiel.(Ex.xxix.),butnoexactlysimilar Thesesacrificesconstitutethemodesacrificeofahc-goatoccursinthe ofcleansingandpurifyingthealtarPentateuch: thoughtheofferingof (s0Ex.xxix.36‘thoushaltcleanseahe-goatforasinoflefiiigfollows thealtar,whenthoumakestatonethatofayoungbullockinNumb. mentforit’).Theactualburningxv.24(cp.Deut.xxviii.22).Salt ofthevictimtookplaceelsewhere,wasaconcomitantofalloblations: asinthetabernacleworship(Ex.itwas‘thesaltofthecovenantof xxix.14‘thefleshofthebullock...thyGod’(Lev.ii.13: cp.Mkix.49,

XLIII.16—XL1'V.3 EZEKIEL 239 27thealtarandpurifyit;soshalltheylconsecrateit. And whentheyhaveaccomplishedthedays,itshallbethat upontheeighthday,andforward,thepriestsshallmake yourburntofferingsuponthealtar,andyourpeaceoffer ings;andIwillacceptyou,saiththeLordGOD. lxxxiv.Theprince’sentrytotheTemple,andaspecification astowhoelseis tohavetherightofentrance. xliv.1—14.

XLIV.1Thenhebroughtmebackthewayofthe outergateofthesanctuary,whichlookethtowardtheeast; 2anditwasshut.AndtheLORDsaiduntome,Thisgate shallbeshut,itshallnotbeopened,neithershallanyman enterinbyit,fortheLORD,theGodofIsrael,hathentered 3inbyit; thereforeitshallbeshut.Asfortheprince,he

1 Heb.fillthehandsthereof.SeeEx.29.24. accordingtomanyauthorities‘everyIs.lx.7:Mal.iii.4: cp.1 Petii.5 sacrificeshallbesaltedwithsalt’).‘toofferupspiritualsacrifices, SaltwastheaccompanimentofeveryacceptabletoGodthroughJesus meal,andthereforeofthesacrificialChrist’). meal,and,in consequence,was XLIV.1—3.Theseversesdeal lookeduponasthesymbolofa withtheprince’srelationtothe perpetualunionorcovenantbetweenTempleanditsrites.Theprophet Godandman.Theperiodofsevenis broughtbackfromtheinner daysfollowstheuseatthededicacourt(xliii.5)totheeasterngate tionofthealtarinEx.xxix.35,36. wherehewasbefore(xliii.1). This TheHebrewexpressionforconsecragatewasforthefuturetobebarred tion‘fillthehands’hasitsoriginin becausethroughitthegloryofthe theplacingofthesacrificeuponthe Lordhadpassed(xliii.4).The handsoftheofl'erer(Ex.xxix.24).princeistheDavidofwhomthe Theeighthdayisoftenspecifiedin prophethasalreadyspoken(xxxiv. theJewishritual(cp.e.g.Lev.ix.1: 23,24:xxxvii.24,25)andwhois l K.viii.66).Thepeaceofferingsmentionedagainlater(xlv.7: xlvi.2). werefirstmentionedinv.27,butHeistotakepartintheeatingof theycomeasinLeviticus(iii.1) thesacrificialmeals,thatis the aftertheburntofferingsandthe meaningofhiseatingbreadbefore regulationastothesaltingofthe theLord;cp.Ex.xviii.l2‘Jethro, sacrifices.Withthisdedicationthe Moses’fatherinlaw,tookaburnt peopleweretobecomeonceagainofferingandsacrificesforGod:and God’sacceptedpeople(cp.xx.40:Aaroncame,andalltheeldersof 240 EZEKIEL XLIV.3—6

shallsitthereinasprincetoeatbreadbeforetheLORD;he shallenterbythewayoftheporchofthegate,andshallgo 4outbythewayofthesame.Thenhebroughtmethe wayofthenorthgatebeforethehouse; andIlooked,and behold,thegloryoftheLORDfilledthehouseoftheLORD: 5andI felluponmyface.AndtheLORDsaiduntome, Sonofman,1markwell,andbeholdwiththineeyes,and hearwiththinecarsallthatIsayuntotheeconcerningall theordinancesofthehouseoftheLORD,andallthelaws thereof; and1markwelltheenteringinofthehouse,with 6everygoingforthofthesanctuary.Andthoushaltsayto therebellious,eventothehouseofIsrael,Thussaiththe LordGen:0yehouseofIsrael,letitsufficeyouofall

1 Heb.actthineheartupon.

Israel,toeatbreadwithMoscs’4). Theordinances,thelaws,and fatherinlawbeforeGod.’Itishis theentrancesintoandgoingsout actofcommunionwithGod,andfromtheTemplehavealsobeen theexpressionremindsuswhohavealreadymentioned(xliii.11).In becomeakingdomandpriestsuntotheirnewandrestoredcondition God(cp.Rev.i. 6:v.10)ofourthepeopleareremindedthatthey communionswithHim.Ifwecommusthavedonewithalltheir parethispassagewithxlvi.2,12,it previoustransgressionswhichare seemsthattheprincesatinthespecified(cp.xlv.9and1 Pet.iv.3 porchofthegate,andanexception‘thetimepastmaysufficetohave wasmadeinhiscaseforthegateto wroughtthedesireoftheGentiles’). beopened,thoughhedidnotpassChiefofallwastheimportationof throughit. aliensintothesanctuary(cp.Neh. 4—9.Theexclusionofthealien.vii.64,65andthestrongmeasures TheprophetisagainmovedtotheadoptedbyNehemiahinthecase northgatewhichhasbeendescribedofTobiah,Neh.xiii.4, andthe earlier(xl.20),ifitbehereastheregrandsonofEliashibthehighpriest thegateoftheoutercourt.Fromwhowasofmixedblood,Neh.xiii. itheseesthegloryoftheLord28,29).Wemayrememberinthis fillingthehouse(xliii.5),anditfillsconnectiontheexcitementraised himwithreverencesothathe againstStPaulinJerusalembecause prostrateshimself(i.28),andin hewassupposedtohaveintroduced thatpositionreceivesinstructionGreeksintotheTemple(Actsxxi. fromtheLordHimself,impressed38).Thesealiensarelookedupon uponhimwithemphaticwords,asnotonlyuncircumcisedintheir almostidenticalwiththoseatthebodies,butalsospirituallyuncir commencementofthesevisions(xl. cumcised(cp.Jer.vi.10:ix.26: XLIV.6—n EZEKIEL 241

7yourabominations,inthatyehavebroughtinaliens, uncircumcisedinheartanduncircumcisedinflesh,tobein mysanctuary,toprofaneit,evenmyhouse,whenyeofl'er mybread,thefatandtheblood,and1theyhavebroken 8mycovenant,2toadduntoallyourabominations.And yehavenotkeptthechargeofmineholythings:butye havesetkeepersofmychargeinmysanctuaryforyour 9selves.ThussaiththeLordGOD,Noalien,uncircumcised inheartanduncircumcisedinflesh,shallenterintomy sanctuary,ofanyalienthatisamongthechildrenof 10Israel.ButtheLevitesthatwentfarfromme,when Israelwentastray,whichwentastrayfrommeaftertheir 11idols;theyshallbeartheiriniquity.Yettheyshallbe ministersinmysanctuary,havingoversightatthegatesof thehouse,andministeringinthehouse: theyshallslay theburntofferingandthesacrificeforthepeople,and theyshallstandbeforethemtoministeruntothem.

1 Mostancientversionshave,ye. 5 Or,inall

Actsvii.51,andStPaul’sdictumlong,wemaysuppose,asheis Rom.29‘circumcisionisthatof uncircumcisedinheartandflesh. theheart,inthespirit,notintheAninscriptionona tabletfrom letter’).Theirpresenceat theHerod’sTemplewarningoffthe sacrificeswasa profanation.ThealienfromthecourtoftheTemple word‘bread’heremustbegivena isstillinexistence.Itwasfound wideinterpretationasinLev.iii.11 byM.ClermontGanneauin1870; ‘itisthebread(RV.marg.)oftheitspurportis:‘Nostrangertoenter offeringmadebyfireuntotheLord.’withinthebalustraderoundthe ThemarginalreadingfromtheTempleandtheenclosure:andwho ancientversions‘yehavebrokeneveriscaughtshallberesponsible mycovenant’inv.7 iscertainlyforhisdeathfollowing.’Arepre right.Thiscouldnotbeattributedsentationofthisinscriptionmaybe tothealiens.SotooweshouldseeninToy’sEzekiel(p.193). translatewithRV.marg.‘inall 10—14.ThedutiesoftheLevites yourabominations.’Thesealienscircumscribedbecauseoftheirpre seemfromv.8 tohavebeenem vioustransgressions.Thislimita ployedasdeputiesbythosewhotionseemstoincludeallthetribe oughttohavedonetheworkthemofLeviexceptthesonsofZadok selves.Thecousequenceis laid(v.16:cp.xlviii.11):theyhadto downthatthealienisabsolutelyendurethepenalconsequencesof excludedfromthesanctuary,so theirsinsandonlyholdinferior B. 16 242 EZEKIEL XLI'V.11—14

12Becausetheyministereduntothembeforetheiridols,and becameastumblingblockofiniquityuntothehouseof Israel; thereforehaveIliftedupminehandagainstthem, saiththeLordGOD,andtheyshallbeartheiriniquity. 13Andtheyshallnotcomenearuntome,toexecutethe officeofpriestuntome,nortocomeneartoanyofmy holythings,untothethingsthataremostholy: butthey shallbeartheirshame,andtheirabominationswhich 14theyhavecommitted.YetwillI makethemkeepersof thechargeofthehouse,foralltheservicethereof,andfor allthatshallbedonetherein.

oflicesabouttheTemple,suchas rank,asinthedaysofKorah.We thatdescribedinxlvi.24.Theyreadofidolatrouspriests,suchas weresomeofthemtobeportersareindicatedhere,inthelastdays ordoorkeepers:itwillberememofthekingdomofJudah(2K.xxiii. beredthatin theregulations8,9).Theyweretobedisgraced ascribedtoDavid(1Chr.xxix.1) butstilltobegivenashareinthe theKorahites0rdescendantsof ministry.Thattheywereinorigin Korah(Numb.xvi.1)appearamongpriestsisclearfromthefactthatwe thecoursesofdoorkeepers.Therehavementionofachamberfor‘the is a recollectioninthepresentpriests,thekeepersofthechargeof verseofwhatMosessaidtoKorah:thehouse’(xl.45).In1Chr.xxiii. —‘Hearnow,yesonsofLevi:28,32theserviceofthehouseis seemethitbutasmallthinguntoassignedtothesonsofLeviinwait you,thattheGodofIsraelhathuponthesonsofAaron.Here separatedyoufromthecongregationcertainAaronichousesaredegraded ofIsrael,tobringyounearto andcountedwiththerestofthe himself;todotheserviceofthetribeofLevi.Nothingsaidhereor tabernacleoftheLord,andto elsewherecompelsustomaintain standbqforethecongregationto thateveryLevitewasa priest; ministeruntothem’ (Numb.xvi.9). thougheverypriestcertainlywasa ByministeringbeforeidolstheyLevite;thereismuchthatlooks hadledthepeoplewrong(cp.xiv.theotherway.Thedegradedpriests 3,4,7). Noneofthem,therefore,mentionedintheseverseshadful weretobepriests,thoughnodoubtfilledtheirofficeatthehighplaces someofthemwishedtohavethatoutsideofJerusalem(2K.xxiii.9).

XLIV.15—19 EZEKIEL 243 lxxxv.Thedutiesofthepriests,thesonsofZadok,in detail,andtheirpr'i'ln'legesandemohtments.xliv.15—31. 15 ButtheprieststheLevites,thesonsofZadok,that keptthechargeofmysanctuarywhenthechildrenof Israelwentastrayfromme,theyshallcomeneartome toministeruntome;andtheyshallstandbeforemeto offeruntomethefatandtheblood,saiththeLordGen: 16theyshallenterintomysanctuary,andtheyshallcomenear tomytable,toministeruntome,andtheyshallkeepmy 17charge.Anditshallbethatwhentheyenterinatthe gatesoftheinnercourt,theyshallbeclothedwithlinen garments;andnowoolshallcomeuponthem,whilesthey 18ministerinthegatesoftheinnercourt,and1within.They shallhavelinentiresupontheirheads,andshallhavelinen breechesupontheirloins;theyshallnotgirdthemselves 19withanythingthatcausethsweat.Andwhentheygoforth intotheoutercourt,evenintotheoutercourttothepeople, theyshallputofftheirgarmentswhereintheyminister, andlaythemintheholychambers,andtheyshallputon

1 Or,inthehouse

15,16.Generalintroductionto sweatwasaformofuncleanness: whatfollows.Onthedesignationtheremayalsobeareferencehere ofthesepriestsseexliii.l9,andon tothelegislationagainstmixed thereasonoftheirselection0.10:fabrics(Lev.xix.19‘neithershall xlviii.11. Theywerepermitteda therecomeupontheeagarmentof nearerapproachto God.Thetwokindsofstuffmingledtogether’: offeringofthefatandthebloodhascp.Deut.xxii.11‘Thoushaltnot beenalreadymentionedinv.7. Thewearamingledstufl',woolandlinen Lord’stablehasbeendescribedtogether’).‘Within’(v.17)is earlier(xli.22). equivalenttoR.V.marg.‘inthe l7—19.Specialsanctuarygar house.’Tireswerehead-dresses, mentsnottobewornelsewhere.somethinginthenatureofaturban. Thelinengarmentscorrespondto Alltheselinengarmentsweretobe thoseofAaronandhissons(Ex.laidasideandkeptinthepriests' xxviii.39,42:xxxix.27-29:cp. chambers,ashadbeendirected Lev.vi.10:xvi.4). Theywerenotalready(xlii.l4:cp.Lev.vi.1]). towearwoolatthesametime;a Theideawasthat,ifthepeople reasonforthisisgivenine.18:touchedthesesacredgannents,they 16—2 244 EZEKIEL XLIV.19—25

othergarments,thattheysanctifynotthepeoplewith 20theirgarments.Neithershalltheyshavetheirheads,nor suffertheirlockstogrowlong;theyshallonlypolltheir 21heads.Neithershallanypriestdrinkwine,whenthey 22enterintotheinnercourt.Neithershalltheytakefor theirwivesawidow,norherthatisputaway:butthey shalltakevirginsoftheseedofthehouseofIsrael,or 23awidowthatisthewidowofapriest.Andtheyshall teachmypeoplethedifferencebetweentheholyandthe common,andcausethemtodiscernbetweentheunclean 24andtheclean.Andinacontroversytheyshallstandto judge;accordingtomyjudgementsshalltheyjudgeit: andtheyshallkeepmylawsandmystatutesinallmy appointedfeasts;andtheyshallhallowmysabbaths. 25Andtheyshallcomeatnodeadpersontodefilethem selves:butforfather,orformother,orforson,orfor wouldtherebybecomededicatedto andthatheremarriagewitha theserviceofGod: thesameideaispriest’swidowisallowed. connectedwiththesacrifices(xlvi. 23.ThisregulationinLeviticus 20‘thattheybringthemnotforth(x.10)comesafterthatasregards intotheoutercourt,tosanctifythewine(cp.v.21)andisfollowedthere people’> bywordscorrespondingwiththe 20-22.Variouspersonalregucentralclauseofv.24.Neglectof lationswithreferencetothepriests.thesethingshadalreadybeen TheregulationsaboutthehairattributedtothepriestsbyEzekiel correspondtotheLeviticalregu(xxii.26). lations(Lev.xxi.5). Constant24.Thejudicialpowerhere shavingofthebodywasadistinctivegiventothepriestscorrespondswith markoftheEgyptianministry:it thatassignedtotheminDeutero wasbecauseofthis,perhaps,thatnomy(xvii.8,9)andisrecognised theoppositelawwasenforced.Theasbeingputinmotioninthedaysof regulationofwinefollowsthatof Jehoshaphat(2Chr.xix.8—10).The Leviticus(x.9),wheresomehavebreakingofthesabbathisnotedas heldthatNadabandAbihu’stransoneofthesinsofthepriests(xxii. gression(v.l)wnsduetoindulgence26)andwascommonamongthe inwine.Thechoiceofa wifeis people(Jer.xvii.22,24,27:cp. limitedasinLev.xxi.7,l3,14,the Neh.xiii.l5—‘2'2,whereNehemiah onlydifferencebeingthatmostof laysthedutyofsanctifyingthe theregulations,exceptthatof sabbathupontheLevites). marriagewithadivorcedwoman,25-27.Regulationsaboutap referthereonlytothehigh-priestproachinga deadbody,andthe XLIV.15—30 EZEKIEL 245 daughter,forbrother,orforsisterthathathhadnohusband, 26theymaydefilethemselves.Andafterheiscleansed,they 27shallreckonuntohimsevendays.Andinthedaythat hegoethintothesanctuary,intotheinnercourt,to ministerinthesanctuary,heshallofferhissinofl'ering, 28saiththeLordGOD.Andtheyshallhaveaninheritance; Iamtheirinheritance: andyeshallgivethemnoposses 29sioninIsrael; Iamtheirpossession.Theyshalleatthe mealoffering,andthesinoffering,andtheguiltoffering; 30andeverydevotedthinginIsraelshallbetheirs.And thefirstofallthefirstfruitsofeverything,andevery 1oblationofeverything,ofallyouroblations,shallbefor thepriests:yeshallalsogiveuntothepriestthefirstof your2dough,tocauseablessingtorestonthinehouse.

1 0r,heaveofl'en'ng’ Or,coarsemeal purificationnecessaryafterwards.29,30.Thepriests’shareofthe Theexceptionsofv.25correspondofferings.Theseregulationsanswer exactlywiththoseofLev.xxi.1—3.tothoseoftheLeviticallaw.For Thepurificationisregulatedasin themealofferingseeLev.vi.16, Numb.xix.11—14.Onhisreturnto 18;forthesinofl‘eringLev.vi.26, hisduties,attheendoffourteen29; fortheguiltofferingLev.vii.6, days,thepriestistooffera sin 7,9. Theassignmentofeveryde offering. votedthing,i.e.everyconsecrated 28.Thepriest’sinheritanceis thing,inIsraelisonlydefinitelymade notoflandorpropertybuta inNumb.xviii.14.Thefirstfruits spiritualinheritance(soNumb.xviii.areplainlysetapartforthepriestsin 20,24:Dentx.9:xviii.1,2:Josh.Lev.xxiii.20:Numb.xviii.12,13: xiii.33).ThisideaiskeptupwithDent.xviii.4. Therenderingof regardtoourownministry:theRV.marg.‘heaveofl'ering’rather wordclergybeingderivedfroma than‘oblation’istobepreferred; Greekwordxkfiposmeaningallotcp.Dent.6,ll‘theheaveofi'er mentTheyareGod’sportion:Heingofyourhand.’Theofl'eriugof istheirinheritance.ThusinthethedoughisenjoinedNumb.xv.20, Response‘BlessThineinheritance’21(cp.Neh.x. 38).Theexact aprayermaybesaidtobespeciallymeaningofthewordtranslated offeredfortheClergybythepeople,‘dough’(R.V.)isveryuncertain; justasthePriesthasimmediatelyothertranslationsare‘coarsemeal’ beforeprayedforthepeople‘0Lord,and‘kneadingtroughs.’Byofi'er saveThypeople.’ThepriestswereingthefirstofthefirstfruitstoGod, tohavejustroomenoughtodwelltheofl'ererexpressedahopethata in(xlv.4,5). blessingmightrestuponhishouse. 246 EZEKIEL XLIV.3i—XLV.4

31Thepriestsshallnoteatofanythingthatdiethofitself, oristorn,whetheritbefowlorbeast. lxxxvi.TheapportionmentoftheandfortheTemple,the priests,theLevites,thecityandtheprince.xlv.1-8. XLV.1 Moreover,whenyeshalldividebylotthe landforinheritance,yeshallofferanoblationuntothe LORD,1anholyportionoftheland:thelengthshallbe thelengthoffiveandtwentythousandreeds,andthe breadthshallbe2tenthousand:itshallbeholyinallthe 2borderthereofroundabout.Ofthisthereshallbeforthe holyplacefiverhundredinlengthbyfivehundredin breadth,squareroundabout;andfiftycubitsforthe 3asuburbsthereofroundabout.Andofthismeasureshalt thoumeasure,alengthoffiveandtwentythousand,anda breadthoftenthousand:andinitshallbethesanctuary, 4whichismostholy.Itisanholyportionoftheland;it shallbeforthepriests,theministersofthesanctuary, whichcomeneartoministeruntotheLORD;anditshall

1 Heb.holiness.1 TheSept.has,twenty.' Or,openspace 31.Whatthepriestsmaynotdivisionoftheland.Theoblation eat.Intheearlierlegislation(Ex.portionis regulatedas to its xxii.31)sucharulewasmadefor situationandmeasurementinxlviii. allalike:‘Yeshallbeholymen8—10.TheSeptuagintinthebest untome:thereforeyeshallnoteattexthas20,000forthebreadthhere anyfleshthatistomofbeastsinthebut25,000inxlviii.9:numbersor field’(cp.Lev. 24:xvii.l5:xxii.theirsymbolswereeasilyconfused 8,where‘thatwhichdiethofitself’withoneanotherintheuse.20,000 isadded).Ezekielclaimsthathe seemstobethecorrectmeasurement. hasabstainedfromthesethingsin Whatthese25,000and20,000were iv.14.TheregulationispartofthetheHebrewandGreekfailtotell wholeideaoftheJewishlegislationus.R.V.followsA.V.insupplying thatthereistobeadistinctsepara‘reeds’not‘cubits’;‘cubits’seems tionbetweenholyandprofane,certainlyright(seeonxlii.16): betweencleanandunclean. thereedwassixcubits(xl.5). XLV.1—8.ApartofthelandThespace500cubitssquarehas is tobeconsecratedforvariousbeenalreadydefinitelydescribed purposes.Chaptersxlvii.13—23:(xlii.16—20).Thefiftycubitsspace xlviii.arealsoconcernedwiththewasaclearingroundthe500cubits mm4—8 EZEKIEL 247

beaplacefortheirhouses,andanholyplaceforthe 5sanctuary.Andfiveandtwentythousandinlength,and tenthousandinbreadth,shallbeuntotheLevites,the ministersofthehouse,forapossessionuntothemselves, 6for1twentychambers.Andyeshallappointthepossession ofthecityfivethousandbroad,andfiveandtwenty thousandlong,sidebysidewiththeoblationoftheholy 7portion:itshallbeforthewholehouseofIsrael.And whatsoeverisfortheprinceshallbeontheonesideand ontheothersideoftheholyoblationandoftheposses sionofthecity,infrontoftheholyablationandinfrontof thepossessionofthecity,onthewestsidewestward,and ontheeastsideeastward:andinlengthanswerableunto oneoftheportions,fromthewestborderuntotheeast 8border.2Inthelanditshallbetohimforapossession inIsrael: andmyprincesshallnomoreoppressmy people;buttheyshallgivethelandtothehouseofIsrael accordingtotheirtribes.

1 TheSept.has,citiestodwellin. ' Or,A:touching square:thisiswhatismeantbythein’(R.V.marg.:cp.Josh.xxi.2): we word‘suburbs’here,anditwouldcanscarcelyimaginethenumberof bebettertofollowR.V.marg.‘openLevitesthatweresupposedtobein space.’V.3repeatsthestatementsattendancebeingaccommodatedin ofv.1 withtheadditionthatthetwentychambers.Thecityportion sanctuarywastobeincludedinit ismorefullydescribedin xlviii. (soxlviii.10),meaningthereby15—19.Lastlywehavethetwo especiallytheHolyofHolies,of sectionsassignedtotheprinceasin whichthemeasurementshavebeenxlviii.21,22,andonthepartof alreadygiven(seexli.4). Allisto thisprincetherewastobeno beincludedinthelargestarea.V.4oppressionastherehadbeenin mustbereadwithxlviii.ll,12andformerdays(cp.xxii.27: xlvi.l8): c.5withxlviii.13.Thelastwordsthelandwastobedividedtribally, ofthislastverseshouldbereadasitislateron(xlvii.13,21: xlviii. withtheSeptuagint‘citiestodwell1-7,23-29). 248 EZEKIEL XLV.9—“ lxxxvii.Enachnentsastoweightsandmeasures,amdas tooferingsfromthepeoplefortheprimetomake. xlv.9—17. 9 ThussaiththeLordGOD: Letitsufficeyou,Oprinces ofIsrael: removeviolenceandspoil,andexecute judgementandjustice;takeawayyour1exactionsfrommy 10people,saiththeLordGOD.Yeshallhavejustbalances, 11andajustephah,andajustbath.Theephahandthe bathshallbeofonemeasure,thatthebathmaycontain thetenthpartofanhomer,andtheephahthetenthpart ofanhomer: themeasurethereofshallbeafterthe 12homer.Andtheshekelshallbetwentygerahs:twenty 1 Heb.expulsiom. 9-12.Enactmentsastoweightsofdifl'erentlengthspecified(xl.5), andmeasurestopreventwrongbuthereitisorderedthatthere andexaction.From00.8,9itis shallbeonlyonestandard(cp. clearthattheprophetanticipatedDeutxxv.14,15)andtheproper notmerelyoneprincetocome,buttionsbetweenthemeasuresare alineofprinces,andupononeafterspecified.Thatbetweenthebath anotherofthesethefollowingin andthehomerisnotdefinedelse junctionsarelaid.Thereseemsno where:itshouldberemembered doubtfromtheliteralmeaningof thatinEx.xvi.36wearetoldthat theHebrewwordtranslated‘ex ‘anomeristhetenthpartofan aetions’(R.V.marg.‘Heb.expulephah’(cp.v.16),buttheHebrew sions’)thatwhatisdenouncedis wordthereisdifferentandonly theforcibletakingpossessionbytheoccursinthatchapter.Theshekel rulerofanyparticularlandhemightmentionedhereiscalled‘theshekel fancy(cp.xlvi.18).Samuelisre ofthesanctuary’(Ex.xxx.13: presentedaswarningthepeoplexxxviii.24:Lev.v.15:xxvii.3,25). thatthisiswhattheirkingwouldThelastpartoftheverseasit do(1Sam.viii.14),andthestoryof standsinRV.,representingthe Naboth’svineyard(lK.xxi.)illusHebrew,ismeaningless:thesense tratesthepractice.V.10correprobablyis:fiveshekelsshallgofor spondstoLev.xix.35,36(cp.Deut.fiveshekels(i.e.neithermorenor xxv.13-15:Prov.xi.1:xvi.11: less),tenshekelsforten,andyour xx.10:Am.viii.5:Mic.vi.11)butmanehshallbefiftyshekels.This herejustweightsareomittedandfollowstheAlexandrineMS.ofthe thebathtakestheplaceofthebin.Septuagint.Thevalueofthehomer Thereseematvarioustimestohavemaybeestimatedat80gallons,and beenvariationsofstandard:evenin oftheephahorbathat8gallons. thesechapterswehavetwocubitsItismoredifficulttodetermine XL'V.n—r7 EZEKIEL 249

shekels,fiveandtwentyshekels,fifteenshekels,shallbe 13yourmaneh.Thisistheoblationthatyeshalloffer; the sixthpartofanephahfromanhomerofwheat,andye shallgivethesixthpartofanephahfromanhomerof 14barley: andthesetportionofoil,ofthebathofoil,shall bethetenthpartofabathoutofthecor,whichisten 15baths,evenanhomer;fortenbathsareanhomer:and onelamboftheflock,outoftwohundred,fromthe1fat pasturesofIsrael;foramealoffering,andforaburnt offering,andforpeaceofferings,tomakeatonementfor 16them,saiththeLordGOD.Allthepeopleoftheland 2shallgiveuntothisoblationfortheprinceinIsrael. 17Anditshallbetheprince’sparttogivetheburntofferings, andthemealofl'erings,andthedrinkofferings,inthe feasts,andinthenewmoons,andinthesabbaths,inall theappointedfeastsofthehouseofIsrael:heshall preparethesinoffering,andthemealoffering,andthe burntoffering,andthepeaceofferings,tomakeatonement forthehouseofIsrael.

1 Heb.wellwatered.’ Heb.shallbefor. thevalueofthegerah,shekelandTestamentinthehundredbathsof _ manehrespectively,asthestandardoilandthehundredcoreofwheat varied.AlongdiscussionoftheofourLord’sparableoftheUnjust wholequestionistobefoundin Steward(Lk.xvi.6,7:cp.1 K.iv. Encycl.Bib.I.1200.Shekel: seealso22:Ezravii.22withR.V.marg.). thearticleManeh.ThemanehIn0.15themarginalrenderingof correspondstotheGreekminaof theHebrew‘wellwatered’might whichsixtywenttoatalent. justaswellhavefounditsplacein 13—17.Theseversesdefinethethetext.Themealofferingisdealt dueswhicharetobepaidbythewithinLev.ii.,theburntofferingin peopleinorderthattheprinceLev.i.,thepeaceofferingsinLev. maymaketheproperofferingsin iii.Theideaofatonementwas theirname.Theproportionofthechieflyconnectedwiththesin offeringtothewholeisdifferentin offeringandtheburntofferingin thevariouskindsofofferings,316in theLeviticalcode(cp.Lev.ix.7). thecaseofgrain,Timinthatofoil, Whilethepeopleprovidedthese #6oftheflocks.Inthecaseoftheofferings,itwasthedutyofthe liquidmeasurethecorandthepriesttopresenttheirofferings homerareidenticaLThebathandhimself.In2Chronicles(xxx.24: thecorbothoccurintheNewxxxv.7)wefindthetwogoodkings

\ 250 EZEKIEL XLV.18—11

lxxxviii.Ofthetwohalf-yearlyfactsandfestivals,which areawarentlyintended,onebeingstillthepassover,to taketheplaeeoftheDayofAtonement,andthethree greatfeastsoftheTorahlegislation.xlv.18—25. 18 ThussaiththeLordGOD:Inthefirstmonth,inthe firstdayofthemonth,thoushalttakeayoungbullock withoutblemish;andthoushaltcleansethesanctuary. 19Andthepriestshalltakeofthebloodofthesinoffering, andputituponthedoorpostsofthehouse,anduponthe fourcornersofthe1settleofthealtar,andupontheposts 20ofthegateoftheinnercourt.Andsothoushaltdo2on theseventhdayofthemonthforeveryonethaterreth, andforhimthatissimple:soshallyemakeatonement 21forthehouse.Inthefirstmonth,inthefourteenthdayof themonth,yeshallhavethepassover,afeastofseven

1 Or,ledge ’ TheSept.reads,intheseventhmonth,onthefirstdayofthemonth. HezekiahandJosiahprovidingwasthecasewiththepostsofthe animalsforsacrifice,butthisdwellinghouses(Ex.xii.7),and is notcontemplatedhere.Thethepostsofthegateoftheinner drinkofferingsareconstantlymencourt(xlvi.1)weretobesprinkled tionedinthePentateuch(e.g.Ex.withblood.Forthesettleofthe xxix.40:Lev.xxiii.13:Numb.vi. altarseexliii.14.In0.20,which 15:cp.Gen.xxxv.14). providesfortheseconddayofatone 18—20.Thetwodaysofatonement,thereadingoftheSeptuagint ment,oneeverysixmonths,to (seeRV.marg.)shouldbepre taketheplaceoftheoneontheferred.By‘thesimple’ismeant tenthdayoftheseventhmonththosethatareeasilyledastrayand (Lev.xvi.29).Thesanctuarywassocommitsinunwittingly(seeLev. tobecleansed,justastheholyiv.). placeandthetentofmeetingwere 21—25.Thepassoverandone tobemadeatonementfor(Lev.otherfeastsixmonthslater.The xvi.16:cp.Heb.ix.23‘itwasPentateuchallegislationconcerning necessarythereforethatthecopiesthePassoveris evidentlypresup ofthingsintheheavensshouldbe posedin theseverses:butthe cleansedwiththese’).Theritualactualofferingsaredifferentin ofv.19islikethatforthealtarNumb.xxviii.16,25,theonlyplace (xliii.26)withtheadditionthatinthePentateuchwherethesacri herethedoorpostsofthehouse,ficesarespecified.Therethedaily asintheofferingofthepassoverburntofferingistobetwoyoung XLV.aI—XL'VI.I EZEKIEL 251 22days;unleavenedbreadshallbeeaten.Anduponthat dayshalltheprinceprepareforhimselfandforallthe 23peopleofthelandabullockforasinofl'ering.Andthe sevendaysofthefeastheshallprepareaburntofferingto theLORD,sevenbullocksandsevenramswithoutblemish dailythesevendays;andahe-goatdailyforasinoffering. 24Andheshallpreparea mealoffering,anephahfora bullock,andanephahforaram,andanhinofoiltoan 25ephah.Intheseventhmonth,inthefifteenthdayofthe month,inthefeast,shallhedothelikethesevendays; accordingtothesinoffering,accordingtotheburnt offering,andaccordingtothemealoffering,andaccording totheoil.

lxxxix.Regulationsabouttheentryofthepriestand variousfestivals.xlvi.1—15. XLVI.1ThussaiththeLordGOD: Thegateofthe innercourtthatlookethtowardtheeastshallbeshutthe sixworkingdays; butonthesabbathdayitshallbe opened,andinthedayofthenewmoonitshallbeopened. bullocks,oneramandsevenhe correspondwiththoseofthepass lambs:hereitistobesevenbul over:inNumbersvii.eachday’s locksandsevenrams:thesinofferingofferingsaredifferent,andaneighth isthesame.Themealofferingsare dayisaddedtothefeast.Itisto likethoseforthesabbathandthebenoticedthatEzekielomitsany newmoon(xlvi.5, 7). ThechiefreferencetotheFeastofWeeks, legislationaboutthemealofferingorPentecost,asalsototheFeastof istobefoundinLev.ii.:thepro Trumpetswhichwashelda fort portionsbetweentheoilandthenightbeforetheFeastofTaber flourseemtohavevaried(cp.nacles. Numb.xv.4,6,9). ThesecondXLVI.1,2.Thetimeforopening feastordainedhereis thesamethegateandtheentranceofthe astheFeastofTabernacles(cp.Lev.prince.Thegateoftheinnercourt xxiii.34:Numb.xxix.12),avery(hereandinxlv.19)isthesameas popularfeastinpostexilictimes‘theoutergateofthesanctuary’ (Ezraiii.4:Neh.viii.14:cp.Hos.(xliv.l: cp.xliii.l)whichwasnever xii.9:Zech.xiv.16)andonekepttobepassedbymanbecausetheGod byourLord(Johnvii.2,10,14,37).ofIsraelhadenteredthatway(xliv. Heretheofferingsaremadeto 1-3).Bysayingthatitwastobe 252 EZEKIEL xnvr.1-7 2Andtheprinceshallenterbythewayoftheporchofthe gatewithout,andshallstandbythepostofthegate,and thepriestsshallpreparehisburntofferingandhispeace ofl‘erings,andheshallworshipatthethresholdofthegate; thenheshallgoforth:butthegateshallnotbeshut 3untiltheevening.Andthepeopleofthelandshall worshipatthedoorofthatgatebeforetheLORDinthe 4sabbathsandinthenewmoons.Andtheburntoffering thattheprinceshallofferuntotheLORDshallbeinthe sabbathdaysixlambsWithoutblemishandaramwithout 5blemish;andthemealofferingshallbeanephahforthe ram,andthemealofferingforthelambsasheisableto 6give,andanhinofoiltoanephah.Andinthedayofthe newmoonitshallbeayoungbullockwithoutblemish; andsixlambs,andaram; theyshallbewithoutblemish: 7andheshallprepareamealoifering,anephahforthe shutismeantthatnonewereto sacrificesandofferingswasassigned passthroughit:atthesametimetohim(xlv.17).Itwillbenoticed onthesabbathdayandthenewthattotheprinceisassigneda moonitwastobesetopen.Inthismuchhumblerpositionin the entrancetheprincewastotakehis Temple,thanthatwhichSolomon place,ashadbeenalreadylaidisrepresentedashavingassumed. down(xliv.3). Hewastostandby Thepositiontobetakenupbythe thepostofthegate,oneofthepostsprincehereremindsusofwhat alreadymentioned(xlv.19).ClosehappenedwhenJoashthesonof tothesepostswastheplacewhereAhaziahwaspresentedto the theburntofferingwaswashed,andpeople,uponthedepositionof thetablesstoodforthesinofl'eringAthaliah:see2K.xi.l4:20hr. andtheguiltofl'ering(xl.38,39).xxiii.13‘thekingstoodbyhis Whilsttheofferingswerebeingpillarattheentrance.’ preparedtheprincewastostand 4,5. Thesabbathofferingofthe closebyandworshipandthentogo princeinthenameofthepeople. outagain,withoutpassingthroughTheburntofferingforthesabbath thegate,whichwastoremainopeninthelawwastwohe-lambsofthe tilltheevening.Nearthedoorwayfirstyear(Numb.xxviii.9,10):the ofthegateinwhichtheprincestoodofl'eringhereismuchmoremagni thepeopleweretoworshipon ficent.Asfortheproportionsof sabbathsandnewmoons;thesetwothemealofferingseexlv.24. feastsarecombinedbyIsaiah(i.13) 6,7. Thenewmoonofferingsare andhavealreadybeenmentionedgreaterthanthoseofthesabbathby herewhentheprince’spartinthea youngbullock.Thenewmoon XLV'I.7—n EZEKIEL 253

bullock,andanephahfortheram,andforthelambs accordingas1heisable,andanhinofoiltoanephah. 8Andwhentheprinceshallenter,heshallgoinbythe wayoftheporchof'thegate,andheshallgoforthbythe 9waythereof.Butwhenthepeopleofthelandshallcome beforetheLORDintheappointedfeasts,hethatentereth bythewayofthenorthgatetoworshipshallgoforthby thewayofthesouthgate; andhethatenterethbythe wayofthesouthgateshallgoforthbythewayofthe northgate:heshallnotreturnbythewayofthegate wherebyhecamein,butshallgoforthstraightbeforehim. 10Andtheprince,whentheygoin,shallgoininthemidst ofthem;andwhentheygoforth,2theyshallgoforth 11together.Andinthefeastsandinthe3solemnitiesthe mealofferingshallbeanephahforabullock,andan ephahforaram,andforthelambsasheisabletogive, 12andanhinofoiltoanephah.Andwhentheprinceshall preparea freewilloffering,aburntofferingorpeace offeringsasafreewillofferinguntotheLORD,oneshall openforhimthegatethatlookethtowardtheeast,and

1 Heb.hishandshallattainunto. ' Someancientauthoritieshave, heshallgoforth.' Or,appointedfeat: feastinthelaw(Numb.x. 10:Thefeastsarethosespecifiedin xxviii.11)hadgreaterofferingsxlv.21—25,thesolemnitiesorap thanthosementionedhere:—twopointedfeasts(RV.marg.)arethe youngbullocks,oneram,withtheirsabbathsandnewmoons. mealofferingsanddrinkofferings,12-15.Regulationsaboutvarious andahe-goatforasinoffering. offerings.Theritualfortheprince 8—10.Theentrancesofprinceandistobethesameasonthesabbath people.Theprincewastogooutornewmoon(v0.1,2),ifheoffersa bythesamegateatwhichheenteredfreewilloffering,whetheritbea in;but,inordertoavoidconfuburntofferingorpeaceofl'erings. sion,thepeoplewhowentinbyoneUnderthelawthefreewillofferings gateweretogooutbytheoppositeseemtohaveseldomtakentheform one.Inthiswaytheyallappearedofburntofferings.Theonlydiffer beforetheLord(Ex.xxiii.17),princeenceintheceremonialwasthatthe andpeoplealike,andhewastomixgatedidnotremainopentillthe withthepeople. eveningbutwasshutassoonasthe 11.Theregulationsabouttheprincewentaway.Inor.13-15we mealofferingarerecapitulated.havetheregulationsforthedaily 254 EZEKIEL XLVI.n—r7

heshallpreparehisburntofferingandhispeaceofferings, ashedothonthesabbathday:thenheshallgoforth; 13andafterhisgoingforthoneshallshutthegate.And thoushaltpreparea lambofthefirstyearwithout blemishfora burntofferinguntotheLORDdaily: 14morningbymorningshaltthouprepareit. Andthou shaltprepareamealofferingwithitmorningbymorning, thesixthpartofanephah,andthethirdpartofanhinof oil,to1moistenthefineflour;amealofferinguntothe 15LORDcontinuallybyaperpetualordinance.Thusshall theypreparethelamb,andthemealoffering,andtheoil, morningbymorning,foracontinualburntoffering.

10.Regulationsastotheinheritanceofland. xlvi.16—18. 16 ThussaiththeLordGOD:Iftheprincegivea gift untoanyofhissons,itishisinheritance,itshallbelong 17tohissons;itistheirpossessionbyinheritance.Butif hegiveofhisinheritanceagifttooneofhisservants,it shallbehistotheyearofliberty; thenitshallreturnto theprince; butasforhisinheritance,itshallbeforhis

1 Or,mixwith morningburntoffering:nopro (a)Agiftmadebytheprinceto visionismadeforaneveningone,anyofhissonsisirrevocable.(b)One suchaswasorderedbythelaw(Ex.madetoanyofhisservantscomes xxix.38—42:Numb.xxviii.3—8:backtohim.Theprince’sallotted cp.l K.xviii.29,wheretheeveningsharehasbeendescribedalready oblationisreferredto,and2 K. (xlv.7,8). Theyearoflibertyis xvi.15,where‘themorningburntthefiftiethyear,theyearofjubile, offering,andtheeveningmealwheneveryone’spossessionreturned ofi'ering’arementioned).Thepro tohim.ThelandwasGod’s:there portionsofthemealofferingareforeitcouldnotbesoldinperpetuity differentherefromthoseinExodus(Lev.xxiii.).Theseventhyearwas (xxix.40),wherewefind11;;ofan theyearoflibertyforpersonsbut ephahoffineflourand1*ofanhinnotforland(Ex.xxi.2).(c)A ofbeatenoil,withanadditionofj;of furtherprovisionthatnooneshould anhinofwineforadrinkofl'ering.beforciblydeprivedofhisinheri 16—18.Regulationsaboutland.tance(cp.xlv.8). Itisclearfrom XLVI.r7—13 EZEKIEL 255

18sons.Moreovertheprinceshallnottakeofthepeople’s inheritance,to1thrustthemoutoftheirpossession;he shallgiveinheritancetohissonsoutofhisownposses sion:thatmypeoplebenotscatteredeverymanfromhis possession.

xci.Provisrbnofplacesforcookingthesacrifices. xlvi.19—24. 19 Thenhebroughtmethroughtheentry,whichwasat thesideofthegate,intotheholychambersforthepriests, whichlookedtowardthenorth:andbehold,therewasa 20placeonthehinderpartwestward.Andhesaiduntome, Thisistheplacewherethepriestsshallboiltheguilt offeringandthesinofl'ering,wheretheyshallbakethe mealofl'ering;thattheybringthemnotforthintothe 21outercourt,tosanctifythepeople.Thenhebroughtme forthintotheoutercourt,andcausedmetopassbythe fourcornersofthecourt;andbehold,ineverycornerof 22thecourttherewasacourt.Inthefourcornersofthe courttherewerecourts2inclosed,fortycubitslong,and thirtybroad:thesefourinthecornerswereofone 23measure.Andtherewasarowofbuildingroundabout

‘ Heb.oppress. 9 Or,joinedon v.18thatthekingshaddeprivedorbybakinginthecaseofthemeal theirsubjectsoftheirpossessionsto offering(cp.Lev.ii. 4, 5). The providefortheirsons.Wemaysamereasonisgivenforthisuseof comparealsothestoryofNaboth’sthesechambersasforthekeeping vineyardin1 K.xxi. thepriestlygarmentsintheholy 19-24.Theseversesconnectthemchambers(xliv.19).Theplacesfor selvesnaturallywiththeaccountof cookingbythepriestsandbythe thepriests’‘holychambers’inxlii.Levitesofthepeople’spartofthe l2,13.Theydescribetheplacessacrificesseem,sofarascanbe setapartforthecookingofthegatheredfromthepresentpassage, sacrifices,whetheritwasbyseethingtohavebeendistinctV.21means orboiling(bothwordsrepresentthethatinthefourcornersoftheouter sameHebrew;cp.1Sam.ii.13—15:courttherewereentrancestoother 2Chr.xxxv.13),inthecaseofthecourtswherethepeople’ssacrifices guiltofferingandthesinofl'ering,werecooked,roundthesidesof 256 EZEKIELXLVI.ag—XLVII.1 inthem,roundaboutthefour,anditwasmadewith 24boilingplacesundertherowsroundabout.Thensaidhe untome,Thesearetheboilinghouses,wheretheministers ofthehouseshallboilthesacrificeofthepeople. xcii.Missionofthewatersthatcmneoutofthekmweto makethelandproductive.xlvii.1—12.

“Easttheforefrontofhabitationsholy GleamedtoEngedi,shonetoEneglaim: Softlythereoutandfromthereunderslowly Wanderedthewaters,anddelayed,andcame. Thenthegreatstream,whichhavingseenheshoweth, Hidfromthewisebutmanifesttohim, Flowedandarose,aswhenEuphratesfioweth, Rosefromtheanklestillamanmightswim. Evenwithsosoftasurgeandanincreasing, Drunkofthesandandthwartedoftheclod, Stilledandastirandcheckedandneverceasing— SpreadeththegreatwaveofthegraceofGod; Bearstothemarishesandbitterplaces Healingforhurtandfortheirpoisonsbalm, Isleafterisleininfiniteembraces Floodsandenfoldsandfringeswiththepalm.” #- * i i i * Myers,SaintPaul,p.22.

XLVII.1Andhebroughtmebackuntothedoorof thehouse; andbehold,watersissuedoutfromunderthe thresholdofthehouseeastward,fortheforefrontofthe whichwerecolonnadeswithboilingfertilityofallthelandinitsnew placesunderneath;thisisthemeanconditionandunderitsnewleader ingofthe‘rowofbuilding’(a.23 istocomefromGod.Perhapsthe av).‘Theministersofthehouse’germoftheidea,whichismore wereallthemembersofthetribefullydevelopedhere,istobefound ofLeviexcepttheZadokites.TheinthewordsofthePsalmist: cookingoftheofferingsofthe ‘Thereisariver,thestreamswhereof peopleisspeciallyreferredtoin makegladthecityofGod, 2Chr.xxxv.13. Theholyplaceofthetsbernaclesof XLV'II.1—6.Thesourceofthe theMostHigh.’ watersisunderthehouse.The (Ps.xlvi.4.) XLVII.l—6 EZEKIEL 257 housewastowardtheeast:andthewaterscamedown fromunder,fromtherightsideofthehouse,onthesouth 2ofthealtar.Thenbroughthemeoutbythewayofthe gatenorthward,andledmeroundbythewaywithout untotheoutergate,bythewayofthegatethatlooketh towardtheeast;andbehold,there1ranoutwatersonthe 3rightside.Whenthemanwentfortheastwardwiththe lineinhishand,hemeasuredathousandcubits,andhe causedmetopassthroughthewaters,watersthatwere 4totheankles.Againhemeasuredathousand,andcaused metopassthroughthewaters,watersthatweretothe knees.Againhemeasuredathousand,andcausedmeto passthroughthewaters,watersthatweretotheloins. 5Afterwardhemeasuredathousand;anditwasariverthat Icouldnotpassthrough:forthewaterswererisen,waters 6toswimin,ariverthatcouldnotbepassedthrough.And hesaiduntome,Sonofman,hastthouseenthis?Then

1 OrItrickledforth

Asimilarideaistobefoundin whichtheriverofEdenparted Joel(iii.18):‘afountainshallcome(Gen.ii.10)wereheldtobetypical forthofthehouseoftheLord,andoftheFourGospels.Thewaters shallwaterthevalleyofShittim’:cametolightunderthethresholdof andinZech.xiv.8 ‘livingwaterstheTempleandwentawaytothe shallgooutfromJerusalem.’Again,eastonthesouthsideofthealtar; inStJohn’sGospel(vii.38)we thiswouldbeinthedirectionofthe have‘rivcrsoflivingwater’flowingJordan.Theprophetistakenout forthfromthebelievertobea oftheenclosurebythenorthgate sourceofblessingtoothers.In andledroundtotheeastgate,— therealJerusalemtherewerethehecouldnotgothroughthatgate watersofShiloahthatgosoftlybecauseitwaskeptshut(xliv.l,2: (Is.viii.6:cp.Johnix.7,11),andxlvi.l)——wherethewatersranout. intheidealCityofGod,thenewHeisaccompaniedbytheangel Jerusalem,oftheApocalypsetherewiththelinewhoisintroducedatthe is‘ariverofwateroflife,brightas beginningofthesechapters.When crystal,proceedingoutofthethronetheyhavepassedalongthesideof ofGodandoftheLamb’(Rev.xxii.thestreamfora thousandcubits, l). MysticalinterpretersoftheOldtheprophetfordsthestreamand Testamenthaveseenintheseversesfindsitcomesuptohisankles.At a prophecyofthespreadoftheanotherthousand,hefordsthe Gospeljustasthefourriversintostreamagainwhereitcomesupto

R. 17 258 EZEKIEL XLVII.6—9

hebroughtme,andcausedmetoreturntothebankof 7theriver.NowwhenI hadreturned,behold,uponthe bankoftheriverwereverymanytreesontheoneside 8andontheother.Thensaidheuntome,Thesewaters issueforthtowardtheeasternregion,andshallgodown intotheArabah: andtheyshallgotowardthesea;into theseashallthewatersgowhichweremadetoissue 9forth; andthewatersshallbehealed.Anditshallcome topass,thateverylivingcreaturewhichswarmeth,in everyplacewhitherthe1riverscome,shalllive;andthere shallbeaverygreatmultitudeoffish:forthesewaters arecomethither,2andthewatersoftheseashallbe

1 Heb.tworivers. 2 Or,thatallthingsmaybehealedandlive hisknees.AtthethirdthousandJosh.iii.16),andintoitthewaters hepassesthroughagainandtheweretofindtheirwayandbythem waterscometohisloins.Atthethewatersoftheseaweretobe fourththousandtheriverisunfordhealed,i.e.sweetened.Theword able.Theprophet’sattentionis usedisthesameasthatin2K.ii. directedtothisconstantdeepening21 ‘Ihavehealedthesewaters.’ ofthewatersasnotbeingin Theresultwouldbeseeninthe accordancewiththeordinarycourseabundanceoffishandotherforms ofnature,becausetherehadbeenno ofwaterlifethatwouldbeproduced. tributarystreamstoincreasethem.Theplural‘rivers’isanerrorofthe 7—12.Uptothispointthepro Hebrewscribefor‘river’(soSeptua phet’sattentionhasbeenentirelygint).En-gediwashalfwaydown occupiedwiththebulkofthethewesternshoreoftheDeadSea. waters.Nowhepaysregardtothe Itwasastrongplaceintheportion bankswhicharecoveredwithtrees.ofJudah(Josh.xv.62)resortedto Thelanguageoftheseversesis byDavidinhiswanderings(1Sam. takenupagaininRevelation(xxii.xxiii.29:xxiv.I)andidentifiedwith 2):‘OnthissideoftheriverandHazazon-tamar(2Chr.xx.2).The onthatwasthetreeoflife,bearingvineyardsofEn-gediarementioned twelvemanner(R.V.ma/rg.crops)intheSongofSongs(i.14),andthe offruits,yieldingitsfruiteveryplaceislikeanoasisinthedesert. month:andtheleavesofthetreeThemeaningofthenameis‘fountain wereforthehealingofthenations’ofthekid.’Thereisprobablyan ThewatersweretogodownintoallusiontotheplaceintheApocry theArabah,thedepressionofthe pha(Ecclus.xxiv.14)whereforthe valleyoftheJordannorthofthe morecommonreading‘onthesea DeadSeaandalsosouthofit shore’thereisread‘Iwasexalted (Deut.i.1). TheDeadSeaiscalledlikeapalmtreeinEngaddi.’For theseaoftheArabah(Deut.iii.17: En-eglaiintheRV.referencessend XLVILg—n EZEKIEL 259

healed,andeverythingshalllivewhithersoevertheriver 10cometh.Anditshallcometopass,thatfishersshallstand byit: fromEn~gedievenuntoEn-eglaimshallbeaplace forthespreadingofnets;theirfishshallbeaftertheir 11kinds,asthefishofthegreatsea,exceedingmany.But themiryplacesthereof,andthemarishesthereof,shall 12notbehealed;theyshallbelgivenuptosalt.Andby theriveruponthebankthereof,onthissideandonthat side,shallgroweverytreeformeat,whoseleafshallnot wither,neithershallthefruitthereoffail:itshallbring forth2newfruiteverymonth,becausethewatersthereof issueoutofthesanctuary: andthefruitthereofshallbe formeat,andtheleafthereofforhealing.

1 Or,givenforsalt ' Heb.firsifruits. ustoIs.xv.8butthenameEglaimthosepartsoftheshoresofthe thereis speltdifferentlyintheDeadSeafromwhichthewaters Hebrew.Thesiteisunknownunlessretreatafierthespringfloods(cp. itbeidentifiedwithAinHajlchJosh.iii.15)havesubsided.On nearthenorthernendoftheDeadthemisleftadepositofsalt.V.12 Sea(seeTristranr,BiblePlace:p.93 isconnectedwithe. 7 andlooks quotedinEncycl.Bib.1292).ThebacktoGen.ii.9 (‘everytreethat prophethadprophesied(xxvi.14),in is...goodforfood’)andispractically a verydifferentwayfromthatin reproducedinRev.xxii.2. The whichthewordsareusedhere,thatwordsofPs.i. 3 resemblethose Tyrewastobecome‘aplacefortheherez—‘heshallbelikea tree spreadingofnets.’The‘greatsea’plantedbythestreamsofwater, istheMediterranean(Numb.xxxiv.Thatbringcthforthitsfruitinits 6).Thoughthewatersofthesea season,Whoseleafalsodothnot weretobemadefresh,thesalinewither’(cp.Jer.xvii.8). The marshesweretoremaintopro abundanceofthefruitisattributed videsaltforthepeople,saltbeingtothesourcefromwhichit is anindispensablearticle.Thetri nourished—thespringsfromunder buteofsaltandthesalt-pitsof thesanctuary.Thefruitisforfood, Judaeaarementionedinl Mace.x. theleafforhealing(‘theleavesof 29:xi.35;andsaltisreckonedthetreewereforthehealingofthe among‘thechiefofallthingsnations’Rev.xxii.2:cp.2 Esdr. necessaryforthelifeofman’ bythevii.53[123]‘aparadise,whosefruit sonofSirach(Ecclus.xxxix.26:cp. endurethwithoutdecay,whereinis Jobvi.6:Mk.ix.50).The‘miryabundanceandhealing’).Theheal places’andthe‘marishes’—marishesingherewouldbethatfromthe beinganoldformformarshes—areprecedingcurse. 17—2 260 EZEKIEL XLVII.r3—16

xciii.Thebordersofthelandwhichistobedividedby lot.xlvii.13—23. 13 ThussaiththeLordGOD:Thisshallbetheborder, wherebyyeshalldividethelandforinheritanceaccord ingtothetwelvetribesofIsrael:Josephshallhave 141portions.Andyeshallinheritit,oneaswellasanother; 2concerningthewhichI liftedupminehandtogive ituntoyourfathers:andthislandshallfalluntoyoufor 15inheritance.Andthisshallbetheborderoftheland:on thenorthside,fromthegreatsea,bythewayofHethlon, 16untotheenteringinofZedad;Hamath,Berothah,Sibraim, whichisbetweentheborderofDamascusandtheborder

1 Someancientversionshave,twoportiom.’ Or,forthatIliftedup

13,14.Thedivisionofthelandtage’)andthepromisestothe amongthetribeshadalready(xlv.8) threepatriarchsaretobefoundin beenprescribed: itis(arriedoutin Genesis(Abrahamxii.7:xiii.15: xlviii.1—7,23—28,butfirstthexv.182xvii.8:Isaacxxvi.3: boundariesofthewholelandhaveJacobxxviii.l3:xxxv.12). tobedescribed,andanexpress15-20.Thebordersoftheland injunctionismadethatmorethanaredefinitelydescribed: theyshould oneportionistogotoJoseph,i.e.to becomparedwiththoseinNumb. EphraimandManasseh(cp.xlviii.xxxiv.Theextremenorthernborder 4-6,andGen.xlviii.'22‘Ihavegivenisdescribedfromwesttoeast;the totheeoneportionabovethydetailsdonotexactlyagreeeither brethren’:Josh.xvii.14—18).Thewiththoseinxlviii.l orthosein meaningofR.V.‘portions,’i.e.moreNumb.xxxiv.7—9.Itstartsfrom‘the thanoneportion,ispracticallyidentigreatsea,’i.e.theMediterranean, calwithR.V.marg.‘twoportions.’andgoesbyHethlon(cp.xlviii.1:not Thepersonsaddressedinc.13are inNumb),aplacenotknownexcept notdefinitelynamed:inv.14,at here.Thenameisnotrecognized anyrate,thewholepeoplearein bytheSeptuagint,whichseemsto cluded.Thewords‘oneaswellas havethoughtofthewordasin» another’implyanequaldistribution.dicatingthedescentfromacleftor Theliftingupthehandwasthetokenpassinthemountains(ofLebanonY). ofsolemnpromise:thephraseoccursIfHethlonisarealnameitmay inthesameconnectioninExodusbethatavillagenorthofTripoli, (vi.8‘thelandconcerningwhichI calledHeitela,shouldbeidentified liftedupmyhandtogiveitto withit Otherswouldamendthe Abraham,toIsaac,andtoJacob;textbothhereandinNumb.and andIwillgiveityouforanheri bringinHadrach,thenameof XLVII.16-i8 EZEKIEL 261

ofHamath;1Hazer-hatticon,whichisbytheborderof 17Hauran.AndtheborderfromtheseashallbeHazar-enon attheborderofDamascus,andonthenorthnorthwardis 18theborderofHamath.Thisisthenorthside.Andthe eastside,betweenHauranandDamascusandGilead,and thelandofIsrael,shallbeJordan; fromthenorthborder untotheeastseashallyemeasure.Thisistheeastside.

1 Or,themiddleHaur a districtinSyria(Zech.ix.1). uncertainname: theSeptuagintread ZedadandHamathareinthewrongHazar-enan.Itisplacedbythe orderhere(cp.xlviii.l: Numb.xxxiv.borderofHauran.TheHauranof 8):‘theenteringinofHamath’is to-day,calledAuranitisbythe a recognizedexpressionelsewhereRomans,isconsiderablytothesouth (Numb.xiii.‘21:Josh.xiii.5:l K. ofDamascus.Finallythenorth viii.65:2 K.xiv.25)andisan borderendsatHazar-enonor-enan indefinitepointontheborderofthe(xlviii.l:Numb.xxxiv.9,10),another Hamathitekingdom.Hamath,a unidentifiedspot.Thelastwordsof stillexistingcityof50,000inhabiv.17implythatacrosstheborder tants,isontheriverOrontcs.In werethenearestdistrictsofHamath. Amos’timeitwascalled‘HamathThelanguageinv. 18isa little thegreat’(Am.vi.2). Thenextconfusedbutthesenseisobvious: pointontheboundarylineis theJordanistheeastboundary; Zedad(Numb.xxxiv.8),perhapsto ononesideofitisthelandof beidentifiedwithSadadontheroadIsrael,ontheotherDamascus,the betweenRiblah—whichwasonthe Hauran,andGilead:nopartofthe outskirtsofHamath—andTadmorlandistobeeastofJordan.The orPalmyra.BerothahorBerothaicastborderisdifl'erentlydefinedin (2Sam.viii.8)wasinthekingdomNumbers(xxxiv.10—12).Thecast ofSyria,andisofuncertainsituation.seaisanothernamefortheDead ‘Bereitan’betweenDamascusandSea(cp.Joelii.20:Zech.xiv.8). Baalbec(Baedeker’sPalestineandThesouthernborderis reckoned Syria,p. 369)seemshardlyin fromeasttowest,andbeginsat therightdirection.Sibraimis Tamar(xlviii.28).Thismaybe anotherunknownplace: itseemsto identicalwithHazazon-tamar(Gen. correspondwithZiphron(Numb.xiv.7:2Chr.xx.2),whichisthe xxxiv.9)whichhasbeenidentifiedsameasEn-gediaplacehalfway withZaferaneh,whichliessomemilesdownthewestsideoftheDead tothesouthofHamath.ButtheSea,butweshouldhaveexpectedto identificationofallthesethreeplaceslookfortheboundarylinestill isveryuncertain;theprophetusesmoretothesouth.Thewaters nameswellknownatthetimethatfit ofMeriboth(-bath,xlviii.28)-ka inwithhisideal.Hazer-hatticon(i.e.desh,identifiedwiththewatersof themiddlevillage)isanotherveryMeribah(i.e.strife)(Numb.xx.13), 262 EZEKIEL XLVIL19—13

19AndthesouthsidesouthwardshallbefromTamarasfar asthewatersofMeriboth-kadesh,tothebrookofEgypt, untothegreatsea.Thisisthesouthsidesouthward. 20Andthewestsideshallbethegreatsea,fromthesouth borderasfarasoveragainsttheenteringinofHamath. 21Thisisthewestside.Soshallyedividethislandunto 22youaccordingtothetribesofIsrael.Anditshallcome topass,thatyeshalldivideitbylotforaninheritance untoyouandtothestrangersthatsojournamongyou, whichshallbegetchildrenamongyou;andtheyshallbe untoyouasthehomebornamongthechildrenofIsrael; theyshallhaveinheritancewithyouamongthetribesof 23Israel.Anditshallcometopass,thatinwhattribethe strangersojourneth,thereshallyegivehimhisinheritance, saiththeLordGOD. wereatKadeshorKadesh-barnea13:cp.Josh.xiv.—xix.).Here,how (cp.Numb.xxxiv.4):thisplaceis ever,theresidentstrangeristohave identifiedwiththemodernAin hisshare(cp.Lev.xix.34:Is.xiv.l kadestothesouth-westofthe‘thestrangershalljoinhimselfwith southernendoftheDeadSea,andthem[i.e.JacobandIsrael],and itfitsinwiththedescriptionheretheyshallcleavetothehouseof andinNumbers(xxxiv.4). TheJacob’:Zech.viii.22,23:andunder brookofEgyptwastheWadyel theNewTestamentdispensation ArishwhichdischargesintotheEph.ii.11—19:iii.6‘theGentiles Mediterranean(cp.Numb.xxxiv.5). arefellow-heirs,andfellow-members Thewords‘ofEgypt’aresuppliedofthebody,’cp.Rom.x.12: Gal.iii. byR.V.tomakethesentenceclear28: Col.iii.11‘therecannotbeGreek (cp.Is.xxvii.12).ItwascalledandJew’),andistostandonan RhinocorurainGreek.Aboutthe equalfootingwiththeJew:justas westbordertherecouldbeno thestrangerundertheLaw,upon question.ItwastheMediterraexpressinghiswishtodoso,was, nean.Thedivisionashadbeenafterbeingcircumcised,tobeallowed alreadyenjoined(xiv.1:cp.xlviii.tokeepthepassover(Ex.xii.48,49). 29)wastobebylot,justashadHereheistohavehisinheritance beenthecaseintheoriginaldivisioninthetribeinwhoseterritoryhe oftheland(Numb.xxxiii.5:xxxiv.takesuphisabode. XLVIII.1—7 EZEKIEL 263

xciv.Theportionsofseventribestothenorthofthe consecratedportion.xlviii.1—7. ItisimpossibletodelineateonanymapofPalestinetheseidealsections ofterritoryassignedtoeachtribeintheidealland.Theycouldonlybe representedbyhorizontallinesdrawnacrossthecountry,andwouldnotfit inwiththenaturalfeaturesoftheland.Allisplainlyideal. XLVIII.1Nowthesearethenamesofthetribes: fromthenorthend,besidethewayofHethlontothe enteringinofHamath,Hazar-enanattheborderof Damascus,northwardbesideHamath; andtheyshall 2havetheirsideseastandwest;Dan,oneportionAndby theborderofDan,fromtheeastsideuntothewestside; 3Asher,oneportion.AndbytheborderofAsher,fromthe eastsideevenuntothewestside; Naphtali,oneportion 4AndbytheborderofNaphtali,fromtheeastsideunto 5thewestside;Manasseh,oneportion.Andbytheborder ofManasseh,fromtheeastsideuntothewestside; 6Ephraim,oneportion.AndbytheborderofEphraim, fromtheeastsideevenuntothewestside; Reuben,one 7portion.AndbytheborderofReuben,fromtheeast sideuntothewestside; Judah,oneportion

XLVIII.1—7.V.lrepeatsvery(ii.25-31)thenorthernsideofthe muchwhathasbeensaidaboutthehostwasledbythestandardofthe borderofthelandinxlvii.15—17.campofDan,withwhomwere Hazar-enanisonlyanotherformof rangedAsherandNaphtali,justas Hazar-enon(xlvii.17).Therelativetheyfollowhere.Further,anorth positionofthetribesissomewhatwardmigrationofDanisdescribed altered.Tobeginwith,asEzekiel’sinJudgesxviii.and‘fromDanto idealdivisionplacesallthetribesBeersheba’wasonewayinwhich onthewestofJordan,roomhasto thelimitsofthelandweredefined befound,tosaynothingofhalfthe(Judg.xx.1). ManassehandEph tribeofManasseh,forReubenandrairn,thetwoportionsofJoseph, Gad.Takingthetribesintheordercomenext,displacingZebulunand inwhichtheystandhere,Danis Issachar,whoareplacedinthe removedfromthesouth,whereits south,Issacharbeingnorthof territorylaytothewestofEphraimZebulun.SouthofEphraimcomes andBenjaminandmadethemostReuben,broughtoverfromthe northernofthetribes.Thismaynorth-easternsideoftheDeadSea; beduetothefactthatinNumberstothesouthofReubenisplaced 264 EZEKIEL XLVIII.8—13

XCV.Theconsecratedportionwithitsvariousdivisions. xlviii.8—22. 8 AndbytheborderofJudah,fromtheeastsideunto thewestside,shallbetheoblationwhichyeshallofi'er, fiveandtwentythousandreedsinbreadth,andinlength asoneoftheportions,fromtheeastsideuntothewest 9side:andthesanctuaryshallbeinthemidstofit. The oblationthatyeshallofferuntotheLORDshallbefiveand twentythousandreedsinlength,andtenthousandin 10breadth.Andforthese,evenforthepriests,shallbethe holyoblation; towardthenorthfiveandtwentythousand inlength,andtowardthewesttenthousandinbreadth, andtowardtheeasttenthousandinbreadth,andtoward thesouthfiveandtwentythousandinlength:andthe 11sanctuaryoftheLORDshallbeinthemidstthereof.1R shallbefortheprieststhataresanctifiedofthesonsof Zadok,whichhavekeptmycharge;whichwentnotastray whenthechildrenofIsraelwentastray,astheLevites 12wentastray.Anditshallbeuntothemanoblationfrom theoblationoftheland,athingmostholy,bytheborder 13oftheLevites.Andanswerableuntotheborderofthe

1 Or,Thesanctifiedportionshallbeforthepriestsofthesom(to.

Judah,whileBenjaminisremovedportionofthepriests(cp.xlv.4) fromthenorthsideofJerusalemto withtheactualsanctuaryinthe thesouthoftheconsecratedportionmiddle.V.9howeverintheSeptua oftheland. gintismadetogivethesamesum 8. Theconsecratedportionis ofthemeasurementsasinv.20,for describedasawhole.Itwassitu thebreadthisstatedtobe25,000. atedtothesouthoftheportionof Therenderingandreadinginv.11 thetribeofJudah.InstructionsofRV.marg.istobepreferrai. abouttheoblationoflandhadbeenHereasbeforethepriestsare alreadygiven(xlv.1—8).ForthelimitedtothesonsofZadok(cp.xl. insertionoftheword‘reeds’which46:xliii.19:xliv.15).Alltherest isnotintheHebrewseexlv.1. It areclassedwiththeLevites(cp. shouldberememberedthatthe xliv.10). breadthmeasurementsgivenhere 13.TheportionoftheLevites arethroughoutfromnorthtosouth.(cp.xlv.5). Thedifferenceofread 9—12.TheseversesdescribetheingbetweentheGreekandHebrew

,,__,l—(“a::~---_,.g XLVIII.13—18 EZEKIEL 265

priests,theLevitesshallhavefiveandtwentythousandin length,andtenthousandinbreadth:allthelengthshall befiveandtwentythousand,andthebreadth1tenthousand. 14Andtheyshallnotsellofit,neitherexchangeit,norshall thefirstfruitsofthelandbealienated:foritisholyunto 15theLORD.Andthefivethousandthatareleftinthe breadth,infrontofthefiveandtwentythousand,shallbe forcommonuse,forthecity,fordwellingandforsuburbs: 16andthecityshallbeinthemidstthereof.Andthese shallbethemeasuresthereof;thenorthsidefour thousandandfivehundred,andthesouthsidefour thousandandfivehundred,andontheeastsidefour thousandandfivehundred,andthewestsidefour 17thousandandfivehundred.Andthecityshallhave suburbs;towardthenorthtwohundredandfifty,and towardthesouthtwohundredandfifty,andtowardthe easttwohundredandfifty,andtowardthewesttwo 18hundredandfifty.Andtheresidueinthelength, answerableuntotheholyoblation,shallbetenthousand eastward,andtenthousandwestward:anditshallbe answerableuntotheholyoblation;andtheincrease

1 TheSept.has,twenty.

iscausedbytheGreektreatingtheThesuburbsweresimplyopenspaces lastwordsassummarisingallthatnotbuiltoverwhichcouldbeculti hasgonebefore,whiletheHebrewvated(cp.xlv.2). In0.16wehave issimplya repetitionofthepre themeasurementsofthecity:it cedingclause. willberememberedthatinRevela 14.Sellingorevenexchangeor tion(xxi.16)measurementsofthe alienationofthecropsoftheconsenewJerusalemaregiven.In1:.17 cratedlandisnotpermittedThisthemeasurementsoftheopenspaces regulationfollowsthespiritofthefollow.Theremainderoftheland Leviticallaw(Lev.xxvii.10,28,33).is apportionedforcultivationto 15—20.Theportionforthecityprovidefoodfortheinhabitantsof anditssuburbs:theproduceofit thecity,whoaretoberepresentatives istofeedtheinhabitantsoftheofallthetribes(cp.xlv.6‘itshall city(cp.xlv.6).TheexpressionbeforthewholehouseofIsrael’) ‘eommonuse’ meansthatthispartandaretotillthelandforthem wasnottocountasdirectlycon selves.Thewords‘anditshallbe secratedtotheserviceofGod.answerableuntotheholyoblation’ 17—5 266 EZEKIEL XLVIIL18—05 thereofshallbeforfooduntothemthatlabourinthecity. 19Andtheythatlabourinthecity,outofallthetribesof 20Israel,shalltillit. Alltheoblationshallbefiveand twentythousandbyfiveandtwentythousand:yeshall offertheholyoblationfoursquare,withthepossessionof thecity. 21 Andtheresidueshallbefortheprince,ontheone sideandontheotheroftheholyablationandofthe possessionofthecity,infrontofthefiveandtwenty thousandoftheoblationtowardtheeastborder,and westwardinfrontofthefiveandtwentythousandtoward thewestborder,answerableuntotheportions,itshallbe fortheprince:andtheholyoblationandthesanctuaryof 22thehouseshallbeinthemidstthereof.Moreoverfrom thepossessionoftheLevites,andfromthepossessionof thecity,beinginthemidstofthatwhichistheprince’s, betweentheborderofJudahandtheborderofBenjamin, shallbefortheprince.

xcvi.Theportionoftheremainingtribestothesouth ofthesacredenclosure.xlviii.23—29. 23 Andasfortherestofthetribes:fromtheeastside 24untothewestside;Benjamin,oneportion.Andbythe borderofBenjamin,fromtheeastsideuntothewestside; 25Simeon,oneportion.AndbytheborderofSimeon,from

probablymeanthattheinneruntotheportions’seetheexplana borderofthesecitylandswasto tionofasimilarphraseinv.18. marchwiththeborderofthededi 23—29.Intherelativepositions catedlands.V.20givestheareaofthesefivetribes,ascompared includedaltogetherwhichistobe withtheactualdistributionaccord foursquare(ep.Rev.xxi.16‘theingtotheallotmentinJoshua’stime, cityliethfoursquare’). BenjamintakestheplaceofJudah 21,22.Theprince’sportionformstothesouthoftheHolyCity: twoblocksontheeastandwestof Simeonfollows:Issacharisbrought thewholededicatedland(cp.xlv.fromthenorthofManassehtolie 7, 8). It occupiestheoutsidenext: Zebuluncomesnext,formerly spacesbetweenJudahandBenjainthenorthwedgedinbetween min.Forthewords‘answerableAsherandNaphtali;andGad

. ___Q_ XLVIII.'15—31 EZEKIEL 267

theeastsideuntothewestside;Issachar,oneportion. 26AndbytheborderofIssachar,fromtheeastsideuntothe 27westside;Zebulun,oneportion.Andbytheborderof Zebulun,fromtheeastsideuntothewestside; Gad,one 28portion.AndbytheborderofGad,atthesouthside southward,thebordershallbeevenfromTamaruntothe watersofMeribath-kadesh,tothebrookofEgypt,unto 29thegreatsea.Thisisthelandwhichyeshalldivideby lotuntothetribesofIsraelforinheritance,andtheseare theirseveralportions,saiththeLordGOD.

xcvii.Thegatesofthecitywnditsname.xlviii.30-35.

30 Andthesearethegoingsoutofthecity;onthenorth sidefourthousandandfivehundredreedsbymeasure: 31andthegatesofthecityshallbeafterthenamesofthe tribesofIsrael;threegatesnorthward:thegateof

followslast,formerlyontheeastof gates;andonthenorththreegates; JordanbetweenReubenandtheandonthesouththreegates;and halftribeof Manasseh.Theonthewestthreegates.’Itis southernboundaryofGadisdes curiousthathere,notwithstanding cribedalmostexactlyasthesouthernthewayinwhichthelandhasbeen boundaryofthewholelandwasdivided,Leviis assigneda gate described(xlvii.19),Meriboth-kadeshamongthefirstthree,andinconse becominghereMeribath-kadesh.quenceEphraimandManassehhave Theoriginofthenameisrelatedin onlyonegatebetweenthemwhich Numb.xx.13:xxvii.l4:Deut.iscalledthegateofJoseph.This xxxii.51.V.29correspondswithisclearlytoshewthatLeviwasnot xlvii.21,22. toloseitsshareinthenationallife 30—35.Thegoingsoutofthebecauseofitsnothavingaportion cityareitsoutsideboundaries:assigneditwiththeothertribes. theirmeasurementshavebeenReuben,Judah,Levithethreewho alreadygiven(v.16).Thenamesarementionedfirstherecomefirst andpositionsofthegatesareintheblessingofthetwelvetribes identicalwiththoseintheApoascribedtoMoses(Deut.xxxiii.6—8). calypse(Rev.xxi.12,13):‘twelveThenameoftheCityconcludesthe gates,andatthegatestwelveangels;book: itindicatestheRealPresence andnameswrittenthereon(i.e.on ofGodwithHisrestoredpeople.So thegates),whicharethenamesof Isaiah(Ix.l4):—‘theyshallcallthee thetwelvetribesofthechildrenof ThecityoftheLord,TheZionof Israel:ontheeastwerethreetheHolyOneofIsrael.’Weare

WJ'W..-~_.__ 268 EZEKIEL XLVIIL31—35

Reuben,one;thegateofJudah,one;thegateofLevi, 32one:andattheeastsidefourthousandandfivehundred reeds;andthreegates:eventhegateofJoseph,one;the 33gateofBenjamin,one; thegateofDan,one: andatthe southsidefourthousandandfivehundredreedsby measure; andthreegates:thegateofSimeon,one;the 34gateofIssachar,one;thegateofZebulun,one:atthe westsidefourthousandandfivehundredreeds,withtheir threegates: thegateofGad,one; thegateofAsher,one; 35thegateofNaphtali,one.Itshallbeeighteenthousand reedsroundabout:andthenameofthecityfromthatday shallbe,1TheLORDisthere.

1 Heb.Jehovah-shammah.SeeEx.17.15. remindedbytheformofthenametothisabidingpresenceofGodthat oftheJehovahtsidhkenu(‘theLordthewholeofEzekiel’sdescriptionof ourrighteousness’)ofJeremiahtheidealcityhasledup,andinit (xxiii.6:xxxiii.16).Inpre-exilicitfindsitsconsummation.Soin times‘theLordwasthere’(xxxv.theGospel,speciallyintendedfor 10):HispresencehadonlybeenJews,thenarrativebeginswitha temporarilywithdrawn:therestoredrevelationofImmanuel,Godwith JerusalemistohaveHimdwellingus,andendswithapromiseofaper andabidinginit;justasinthe petualpresencewiththeredeemed Apocalypseitissaidof‘theholyrace:‘10,Iamwithyoualway,even city,newJerusalem,’‘thetabernacleuntotheendoftheworld’(Matth.i. ofGodiswithmenandHeshall21-23:xxviii.20). dwellwiththem’(Rev.xxi.3). Itis

‘ _*‘1‘“4-~_W:— ___-_\.

t! < O I |,_ I CI 0 l Z

‘IQO. tANOFTHETEMPLEANDITSCOURTS

W in

II, 4! ‘ ' m

.. . 5' .5. .it" I'"m i " Ill '.-" I.

‘

wliiziLl{(2 IOCUB'TS

[IL—SIDEELEVA'l‘lONOFTHEALTAROFBURNTOFFERINGS

INDEX

Abarim,210 Arvad,141,142 Abib,13 Asel,145 Abominationsoftheireyes,95 Asher,263,268 Abrahams,Prot,xlii Ashtorsth,xli Achbor,38 Asshur,147,175,177 Adamant,11 Assom‘m,158 Adonai,xxxii,9 Assyria,116 Adonis,xli,39 Assyrians,73 Aesehylus,91 Astonishment,21 Agabus,17 Aven,166 Agate,144 Awning,140 Ahaz,19,73,79,117 Axes,135 Alienationofcrops,265 Azal,145 Aliens,exclusionof,240 Azzur,46 Allegory,81 Altar,the,236 Baal-hamman,26 Amber,4 Baslis,130 ‘Amman,107 Baal-meon,131 Ammonites,107,109,110,128 Babylon,81 Amorite,68 Badgers,70 Amurru,69 Baedeker,129,134,138,145,261 Anathoth,:1 Balm,145 Angels,xxxvi Bamah,99 Animalworship,35 Bashan,140,212 Anthropomorphiolanguage,x-xxii,Basil,St,91 46 Bath,24s Antimony,122 Beel-zebul,27 Apis,96 Belomancy,107 ApoeryphaandEzekiel,nix Benaiah,46 Apollyon,42 Benches,140 Arabah,258 Benjamin,266,268 Arabia,146 Bereitan,261 Aram,177 Berothah,260 Ariel,236 Beryl,5,43,152 270 INDEX

Beth-jeshimoth,131 Coral,144 Blasphame,meaningof,98 Cornill,Prof.,xiv Boxwood,140 Costus,146 Branchtothenose,39 Covenant,aneverlasting,80 ‘Bread,’meaningof,241 Coverthelips,126 Breakingofloins,103 Cretans,133 Briersandthorns,9 Crystal,6 BrookofEgypt,262,267 Cub,162 Brutish,109 Cubit,216,232 Bubastis,166 Cush,206 Burden,53 Cypress,139 Buzi,xi,2 Cyrus,decreeof,19

Calamus,146 Damascus,145,260,263 Caldron,47,123 Dan,263,268 Calkers,141 Daniel,xxxviii,64;andEzekiel,xxv CallofEzekiel,8 Daphnae,166 Canaan,68,74,81 Dal-6m,102 Canneh,146 David,xxxvii,188,203 Cappadocia,206 Davidson,thelateA.B.,xxxv,79, Carbuncle,144,152 93,105,151,178,228 Carchemish,xxxviii DayoftheLord,xxxvi,58,162 Carefulness,55 Dedan,132,143,146,207 Carnelian,152 DedicationoftheAltar,237 Carpets,147 Deputies,117 Cassia,146 Despiteofson],130 Cedar,81 Destroyingangels,40 Chain,34 ChambersoftheTemple,221 Diamond,152 Diaspora,23 Chasdim,51 Diblah,29 Chebar,xii,2,13,16,45 Diospolis,165 Chemosh,xli Dispersion,23 Cherethites,133 Cherub,cherubim,3,45,153 Divination,55 Divinityofkings,150 Chesed,51 Doom,31 Cheats,147 Doughty,18 Cheyne,Prof.T.K.,13,38,122, Dragon,157 142 Driver,Prof.,6,23,139,167,214 Chiefofspices,146 Dross,113 Childrenoftheeast,129 Chilmad,147 Drybones,valleyof,199 Dumnzi,39 Chipiez,215 China,36 Chrysoprase,144 Eagle,81 Cimmerians,206 Eastsea,the,261 Colonnade,218 Ebony,144 Coniah,xxxviii Eden,146,147;gardenof,151,197 Cor,249 Edom,181,145,177,190,193 INDEX 271

Egypt,156,162a;idolsof,96; Falseprophets,56,58 intercoursewith,83 Felloes,5 E],xxx Fillets,60 Elam,175 Filthiness,75 EldersofJudah(Israel),86,37 Fir,139 Electrum,4 Fireofjealousy,193 Elialn'm,92 Firmament,6 Elishah,140 Foolish,57 Elohim,xxx,9 Forest,102 El-Bhaddai,xxx Fornication,spiritual,71,115 Embroideredsails,140 Freewill,9 Emeralds,144,152 Fulfilmentofprophecy,66 Eminentplace,73 Furnaceofamiotion,113 EncyclopsediaBiblica,xiv,13,17, 1s,36,39,70,119,122,141,Gad,266,268 142,150,176,192,205,216,Galleries,227 249,259 Gammadim,142 En-eglaim,258 Gatesofcity,267 En-gedi,258 Gebal,141 Ephah,248 Gedsliah,xxxix Ephraim,263 Gehenna,26 EschatologicaldiscoursesofourLord,Gel-ah,248 56 Gezer.72 Ethbaal,134 Gilead,261 Exactions,248 Girded,70 Exiles,lifeof,xxxix,xli Glaser,145 Eztiapez,170 Gog,204,209 Ezekiel,andApocryphs,xxix;andGomer,142,177,205 BookofCommonPrayer,xxix;Greatofflesh,73 andDaniel,xxv;andJeremiah,Greatsea,the,259,262,267 xxiv;andStPaul,xxv;andthe Greenanddrytree,85,102 ApocalypseofStJohn,xxv;andGrifin,45 theNewTestament,xxviii;andGuardrooms,216 thePeutateuch,xxi;anidealist, xiii;chargegivento,9, 11,14; HalicoreHemprichii,70 chronologyof,xv;deCivitsteDei,Hamath,260,263 214;hiscall,8; hischaracter,xi; Hammanim,26 hisDayoftheLord,xxxvi;his Hamonah,211 doctrineofsin,xxxiv;hisgeo~Hamon-gog,211 graphicalknowledge,xiii;hisideaHamutal,91 ofGod,xxx;hisidealism,xxiii;his Hananiah,x1 life,xi; hisMessianicideas,xxxvii;Handstaves,210 hisstyle,xvi;specimensof,xvii;Hannah,songof,108 hissymbolicsets,xii;histheology,Haran,146 xxx;histitle,sonofman,xiii;Here],236 hisvisions,xii;hiswife’sdeath,Har-Magedon,205 126;meaningofname,xi; textof, Hastings,Dr,8,70,141,211 xiv Hauran,261 272 INDEX

Hazar-enan,263 Jebusite,68 Hazar-enon,261 Jeooniah,xxxviii,88,46 Hazer-hattieon,261 Jehezkel,xi He-goat,188 Jehoahaz,91 Helbon,145 Jehoiachin,xxxviii,2,81,106 Heliopolis,166 Jehoiakim,xxxviii,92,106 Hepatoscopy,107 Jehovah,xi,uxi,9;-shammah,268 Hermon,139 Jerahmeel,119 Hethlon,260,263 Jeremiah,xxxviii,xxxix,17,18;and Hezekiah,:11 Ezekiel,xxiv Bin,20 Jeroboam11.,116 Hinnom,26 Jerusalem,111,117; historyof,68; Hittite,68 fallof,181 Hivite,68 JewsinBabylon,xxxix;inEzekiel’s Homer,248 time,xxxviii Honey,145 Job,64 Hooks,92 Jonah,8 Horace,139 Joseph,gateof,268 Hordes,barbarian,204,206 Josephus,37,206 Hosea,116 Josiah,xxxviii,xli Hoshea,116 Judah,37,263,268 Huldah,38 Judgements,23 JustinMartyr,91,181 Ice,6 Idolatry,xxxi Kaiwan,36 Imageofjealousy,85 Ksldu,51 Images,165;ofmen,72 Kassi,206 IncommunicableName,xxxii Keble,ChristianYear,94 Increase,86 Kedar,146 Individualresponsibility,xxxiv,178 Kennett,xxi Infantsacrifices,72,98 Kerehiefs,60 Inheritance,ofland,254;ofpriests,Kinah,inEzekiel,xvi 245 King,35;ofkings,134 Innercourt,220 Kiriathaim,131 Inspiration,11,57 Koa,119 Ironpan,16 Isaiah,x1,16,83 Lanciani,Dr,1 Ishmael,119 Lapislazuli,152 Isles,209 Lntticedwindows,217 Israel,94 Lebanon,81 Issachar,266,268 Levi,268 Ithobaal,149 Levites,xxiii;portionof,264 Ivory,144 Lifeafterdeath,xxxvi Liftingupofthehand,194 Jaazaniah,3B,46 Linemeasuring,215 Jambsofporch,216 Lion,91,183,207 Jasper,144,152 Livingcreatures,Four,4 Javan,143,145 Lodges,216 INDEX 273

Lovesong,183 Newmoonoflerings,252 Lnd,141,205 NewTestamentandEzekiel, No,165 Magnificat,108 Noah,64 Magog,204,209 Non-fulfilmentofprophecy,187 Malachite,144,146,152 Noph,164 Man,xxxiv;hisresponsibility,xxxiv,North,the,3 178;hissinfulness,xxxiv Nose-jewel,71 Manasseh,263 Numberofexiles,xlii Maneh,249 Numbers,diflicultyasto,18 Mantles,147 Massebah,135 Oak,28;oaks0!Bashan,140 Mattaniah,xxxix Obadiah,xxxviii Meat,20 Obelisks,135 Media,147 Occupy,141 Medians,142 Oholah,115 Memphis,165 Oholibah,115 Menahem,116 On,166 Meribath-kadesh,267 Onyx,152 Meriboth‘kadesh,261 Oracle,the,225 Meshech,143,176,205,209 Ordinances,23 MessianicIdeas,xxxvi,109 Outercourt,218 Micah,57 Migdol,158 Pannag,144,145 Migdon,205 Parable,81 Miletus,145 Passover,250 Millet,145 Pathros,141,159,165 Mingledpeople,162 Pattern,235 Minnith,144 Pavement,218 Mischief,34 Pearls,144 Mitre,108 Peeled,160 Mitznepheth,108 Pekah,116 Mizpah,xxxix Pekod,119 Moab,130 Pelatiah,46,49 Molech,xli Pelusium,165 Mbller,AretheCritic:RightI,xxii PentateuchandEzekiel,xxi Mosehi,143 Persia,141,205 MountofOlives,5 PharaohHophra,xxxix,82,84,156, Myers’SaintPaul,256 168,171;Necoh,xxxviii,91;of Exodus,14,64 Nabal,57 Philadelphia,107 Nabopolassar,2,51 Philistines,132 NamesofGod,xxx,xxxiii Pi-beseth,166 Naphtali,263,268 Pillars,135 Nehuchadrezzar,xxviii,81,164,173 Pillows,60 Negeh,102 Pistacia.terabinthm,28 Nehnshtan,99 Pit,175;pitsforwildanimals,91 Newheart,91 Plain,the,15 274 INDEX

Playuponwords,30 Rod,104 Pledges,87 Rollofabook,10 PoliticalpartiesinJerusalem,xxxix,Roller,167 48 Bosh,205,209 Populuseuphratica,82 Ruby,144,152 Porchofthegate,216;of the Rust,124 Temple,223 Porpoise-skin,70 Sabaeans,122 Postsofporch,216 Sabbathbreaking,96,112;oflering PrayerBookandEzekiel,xxix on,252 Priests,portionof,264 Saddlecloths,146 Prince,35;hisentrytoTemple,239;StPaul,8;andEzekiel,xxxv hisportion,264 Sais,166 Prophecy,non-fulfilmentof,137 Salt,69,238 Prophetesses,59 Saltingofinfants'bodies,69 Propheticoffice,14 Samaria,77,116 Proverb,55,85 Sanctuaries,103 Provocation,98 Sanday,Prof.,57 PtolemyPhiladelphus,107 Sapphire,7,43,152 Pul,116 Sardius,152 Purple,144 Sayoe,Prof.,69 Put,141,205 Scorpion,9,10 Pygmies,142 Scum,124 Scythians,205 Baamah,146 Scythopolis,205 Rabbah,106,129 Sealskin,70 Rabshakeh,xl Seir,130;Mount,190 Raphael,1 Senir(Hermon),139 Basis,205 Separateplace,227 Basses,205 Settingsofstones,153 Ravening,114 Settle,236 Bebellioushouse,9,52,83,124 Seven,211 Redemption,menofthy,49 Seveneh,163 Reed,measuring,215,232 Shaddai,xxx,xxxiii,6 Regeneration,xxxv Shallum,92 Rehoboth,119 Shalmaneser,116 Beach,Agrapha,91 Shamir,11 Responsibilityofman,xxxiv,85, Shaphan,38 178 Sheba,146,207 RestorationofIsrael,195,212 Shechinah,41 Resurrectionofthenation,199 Shekel,20,248 Reuben,263,268 Shemaiah,xxxix,59 Rhabdomancy,107 Sheol,175 Rhodians,143 Shepherd,thegood,186 Riblah,29,54 Shepherdsofthepeople,184 Riddle,81 Sherbtn,168 Righteousness,xxxv Shiloh,109 Riversofwater,257 Shipofthestate,figureof,139 INDEX 275

Shoe,119 Taphas,166 Shroud,168 Tarshish,142,147,205,207 Sibraim,260 Tarsus,142 Side-chambers,225 Tartessus,142 Silenceoftheprophet,17 Tehaphnehes,166 Silk,70 Tel-abib,xii,2,12,13,15 Simeon,266,268 Teman,132 SimeonStylites,16 Thain,102 Sin,xxxiv,85 Temple,theideal,216,224 Sin(place),165 Teraphim,107 Sith,191 Terebinth,28 Sittingupontheground,136 Terror,a,137 Slavetrade,143 Thebes,165 Smith,W.Robertson(thelate),38, Thiras,205 39 Tibareni,143 Smitingwiththehand,28 Tiele,Prof.,141 Sodom,77 Tiglath-pileser,74,116,117 Solomon,xl Tile,16 Sonofman,meaningoftitle,xiii,8 Tires,243 Souls,61,86 Togarmah,143,177,206 Sourgrapes,85 Topaz,152 South,the,102 Toy'sEzekiel,17,40,77,92,93,119, Spirit,new,197 215,224,228,241 Spiritualwhoredom,115 Trafiic,74 Sprinkling,196 Tree-worship,28 Staffofbread,21 Tristram,BiblePlaces,259 Stampingwiththefoot,28,130 Tubal,143,176,205,209 Statutes,23 Tumult,31 Sticks,symbolical,202 Tyre,133,134,138,149,160 Stonesoffire,153 Tyrseni,142 Suburbs,148,246 Sum,235 Uncircumoised,175 Sunimages,26;worship,xxxi,35, Untemperedmortar,59 39 Usury,86 Supple,to,69 Uzal,145 Sweetsavourofsacrifice,29 Swete,Prob,xxv,44 Vedan,145 Syene,158 Vergil,145 Symbolicactions,xii,xvi,16,18,21; Vermilion,118 visions,xii,xvi Vine,67,93 Syria,79 Wadys,26 Tablesforkillingsacrifices,221 Wagons,119,135 Tacitus,37 Wallowinashes,148 Tahpanhes,166 War-horses,143 Tamar,261,267 Watercourses,26 Tammuz,xxxi,xli,35,39 Watson,thelateDrF.,57 Tanis,165 Weekaswater,33 276 INDEX

Weightsandmeasures,20,248 Zachar,145 Weltering,69 Zadok,xxiii,223;dutiesofsonsof, Wheels,5,44 243 W'horedoms,spiritual,115 Zeal,25 Whoring,togoa,27 Zebidsh,92 Willow,82 Zebulun,266,268 “chworth,"162 Zedad,260 Word,68 Zedekish,xxxix,19,52,53,54,81, Worldpowers,finalstruggleof,204 83,B4,92,106,108 Wrestingofjudgement,42 Zemarite,142 Wroughtiron,145 Zidon,133,140,154,177 Zidonians,177 Yen,145 Zoan,165

CAMBRIDGE:PRINTEDBYJOHNCLAY,X.A.ATTHEUNIVIBBIT!PRESS.