Westminster Annotations, Ezekiel · Argument – Chapter 2
THE ARGUMENT.
EZekiel of the Priestly race was carried to Babylon in the second captivitie, when King Iehoiachin, or Ieconiah was led thither with his mother, divers of his Princes and many of the people, namely, in the * eighth yeer King. …2.of Nebuchadnezzars reign over Iudah: His first yeer being that wherein Daniel and his three companions went (in the first captivitie) into Babel, which was in the fourth yeer of Iehoiakim King of Iudah; when also beganne the desolation of Ierusalem, and the rest of the Land for seventy yeers. In which seventy of Babels reign over Iudah (being the middle of time, Habak. 3. 2. between the Prophet Samuel and redemption by Christ) God did raise up Prophets to tell his people of their troubles, and to assure them that his Church should have deliverance at the time appointed; and that such enemies as either afflicted, or reioyced at their miseries, should be destroyed. Ieremie in Iudah taught that Ierusalem should be as Syloh, perswading the people of the Land to yeeld obedience to Nebuchadnezzar set up by God to be a Conquerour for their sinnes; telling also that Babel must reign for seventy yeers, Ier. 25. 7. And writing to Israel in Babylon, he bids them not to look for return till the seventy yeers foretold by him were ended. Ieremie was resisted by false Prophets: wherefore to countenance him, God stirreth up Ezekiel in Babylon to perswade the remnant by writing to yeeld to Babels yoak. This Prophets example, and two captivities already past might have warned Iudah not to stirre up more wrath, by provoking God against them, to give them so up into the Chaldeans hands, as to burn their Temple, raze their Citie, kill their Princes, disperse the people, and to extirpate out of Ierusalem all signes of Israels Church and Common-wealth, which God would suffer to be done, did they still resist. In divers Chapters he sheweth the causes of such evils to be the violation of all the Commandements both of the first and second Table of Gods Law, and that in a transcendent manner: and for them already in captivitie, he reproves them also of sinne sharply, exhorting them to repent, and to be confident of their return to Canaan, and of the restauration promised. Furthermore he prophecieth against the neighbour nations, who had been enemies to the Iews; especially Tyre▪ Egypt, and Edom; that they should be involved in the same Chaldean deluge. Then he goeth on to foretell the ruine of God and Magog, the last and cruellest enemies of the Iews before the first coming of Christ, that those enemies should be subdued, and the Church delivered. The effect of the one, and the other should be chiefly performed by Christ, of whom in this Book are many notable promises; and in whom the glory of the new Temple should perfectly be restored. He prophecied in Chaldea at the time Ieremie prophecied in Iudah, but began in the fifth yeer of Iehoiachins captivitie, thirtie yeers after the finding of the Book of the Law. Wherefore there is very great agreement in the argument of these two Prophets; in this they varie, that what Ieremie spake in a continued kind of speech plainly and openly to the Iews at Ierusalem, the same doth Ezekiel speake in Babylon covertly by figures and visions.
CHAP. I.
Vers. 1. IN the thirteenth yeer] After that the Book of the Law was found, which was the eighteenth yeer of the reign of Josiah, when the Covenant with God was renewed, Religion reformed, and a very solemne Passeover kept, 2 King. 23. 23. 2 Chron. 35. 19. the remembrance of such benefits gave the Jews occasion of this account.
among the captives] Heb. captivitie. When Jehoicahin or Jeconiah was led captive to Babel. 2 King. 24. 12. then Ezekiel, Chap. 40. 1. Mordecai, Est. 2. 6. and many of the people were also led away.
Chebar] A river of Mesopotamia, neer to which it should seeme, were appointed the habitations for the Jews, which were led into captivitie, Psal. 137. 1.
the heavens were opened] A kind of speech much used in the description of visions, Mat. 3. 16. Act. 7. 56. & 10. 11. Rev. 19. 11. to note a sudden breaking forth of light from above, created by God miraculously, as if it came out of heaven it self: in and through the midst of which were shewn the representation of divine things.
visions of God] That is, which God shewed: or, wherein I saw God: or, notable and excellent visions, so that it might be known it was no naturall dream, but came of God.
V. 2. fifth yeer] If to these five of Jeconiahs captivitie you adde eleven of Jehoiakim, and the fourteen last of Josiah, there will arise thirtie spoken of in the first verse, and so Ezekiel prophecieth thirty yeers after the finding of the Book of the Law, in the fifth yeer of Jeconiahs captivitie.
captivitie] 2 King. 24. 12.
V. 3. Ezekiel] Heb. Jehezkel.
land of the Chaldeans] That is, in Mesopotamia a part of Chaldea.
the hand of the Lord] That is, the Spirit of Prophecie, as Chap. 3. 22. and 37. 1. for this John saith, Rev. 1. 10. I was in the Spirit. See 1 King. 18. 46. 2 King. 3. 15.
V. 4. a whirlwind] Exod. 9. 24. A figure of the coming of the Sonne of God, eternall King of the Church, in judgement against the Jew; using the Chaldeans, which lay Northernly from Judea, for his instruments
infolding it self] Heb. catching it self.
V. 5. out of the midst thereof came] The meaning of this vision seems to be; that the Sonne of God who had established the Arke of the covenant, with all the things belonging to it, for a sign of his residence among his people, and for a figure of heaven where he dwelleth, and reigneth in glory amongst his Angels: doth here reveal his heavenly Majestie in formes and shapes answerable to the earthly figures of the Temple; appearing in judgement against his people, purposing to depart from them, and to destroy them; as it is declared, Ezek. 10. 17. 19. & 11. 23. untill the time appointed for the restauration of the Church, at which time he will return in the same forme, Ezek. 43. 3. See the like visions, Dan. 7. 9. Rev. 4. 6, 7.
living creatures] Living and moving bodies, which represented the Angels about Christ his throne, as likewise upon the Ark, and upon the wals on the outside and inside of the Sanctuary there were pictures of Cherubims; as these living creatures are also called, Chap. 10. 1. 15. 20. As Ezekiel seeth the glory of God and Christ; so also he seeth the ministerie of Angels, which in wit excell, in might are strong, in service unweary, in quicknesse fleet.
V. 7. their feet were] According to the Hebrew phrase, by feet are meant the legges and thighs, here described to be streight without any bending in the hamme, or hough, like unto the fore-legges of beasts.
streight feet] Heb. a streight foot.
sole of a calves foot] To signifie, as it should seeme, the indefatigable motion of Angels in the service of God, and of his Church.
V. 8. the hands] To shew the vertue and diversitie of the Angels operation.
foure sides] Namely on the foure sides of the waggon, on each side of which there was a Cherubim.
V. 9. wings were joyned] Namely, with which they did flie, vers. 11. did spread themselves and move alike, to shew the equall uniformitie of the Angels motions in Gods service.
they turned not] To wit, at their own will and pleasure, but according to the direction of him that sate upon the Throne, vers. 14. A figure of the constancie, perseverance, simplicitie, and uprightnesse of the Angels in all their service.
V. 10. their faces] The Angels he saw in formes of bodied weights, for every Cherubim had foure faces, the face of a man, and of a lion on the right side, and the face of an ox and an eagle on the left side.
V. 11. stretched upward] Or, divided above. Namely, above the shoulders where the foure faces did begin to divide themselves, and where the foure wings of the Cherubims were also divided; whereof two they used to flie with, and with the other two they covered the lowest parts of their bodies. The first two to signifie their swiftnesse, equalitie, and sublimenesse of their service; the second, their unspotted puritie, as Isa. 6. 2.
V. 12. spirit was to go] To wit, of him that sate upon the Throne, who did drive, and put forward live weights as the wheeles to the same kind of motion, vers. 20. for the Angels are his ministring Spirits, Heb. 1. 12.
V. 14. returned] Not in a tumultuary way, or by chance, or according to their own minds, but according as their head did guide them; and when they had executed his will: for afore they returned not, till God had changed the state of things.
V. 15. one wheel] The Ark, which was the figure of Gods Throne of glory▪ is called a charet, 1 Chron. 28. 18. to shew that God is not shut up in heaven, nor is not idle, but moves and works continually by his Spirit and power. So also he sets wheeles to the Celestiall Throne, Dan. 7. 9. The meaning here is, that the Prophet did see a wheel by every one of the living creatures, so that they being, there were also foure wheeles; and so there was the whole frame of a Cart or Waggon. See Chap. 10. 9.
upon the earth] Newly upon that floore which appeared in this vision.
foure faces] That is to say, sides, so that two Cherubims flew before the two first wheels, the other two by the Charet side, before the two last wheeles.
V. 16. a beryll] The Hebrew word is Tarshish, meaning that the colour was like the Cilician Sea, or a precious-stone so called. Also it is the Metropolitane Citie of Cilicia, neer to the Sea, whither Jonas fled, Jon. 1. 3. the Apostle Pauls Countrey, Act. 21. 39. & 22. 3.
a wheel in the middle] Not in manner of a Sphere, two circles cutting one another by direct angles, which would be absurd in a Chariot; but one wheele being doubled upon the other, to signifie, as it should seem, either the severall Sphericall compasses of the heavens, upon which Gods Majestie is carried: or the two orders of Gods manner of working; namely, the order of Nature, and the order of Grace: or his two orders of Government; namely, the Temporall and Spirituall order, joyned together in his Church. Or, as some say, having foure sides touching one another in right angles, looking toward the foure quarters of the world; East, North, West, and South.
V. 17. return] They did not move out of the direct tract wherein the living creatures did lead them; but even as the live creatures were led by their Chief, so did they also guide the wheeles: see vers. 10. 20. A figure of the agreeing harmonie which is in all the works of Gods providence towards his Church.
V. 18. rings full of eyes] Or▪ strakes. In stead of great nayles wherewith Cart-wheels are garnished, here were eyes for to represent either the starres of Heaven; or more particularly the providence of God in all parts of his Governm…nt, or the gifts of the Spirit, in the instruments which are thereunto employed. See Zech. 3. 9. Rev. 4. 6.
V. 20. for the spirit of the living] Or, of life. That is to say, the same divine inspiration which did drive the live weights, did also give a motion to the wheeles, to signifie that God is present effectually in all the instruments of his providence, and that Christ doth do all in all in his Church, 1 Cor. 12. 6. Ephes. 1. 11. Col. 3. 11.
V. 22. firmament] See Gen. 1. 6. By this is meant Christs celestiall glory, who is King of the Church.
V. 23. wings streight] Namely, when they did flie, for when they stood still they did let down their wings.
V. 24. Of their wings] Which declared the swiftnesse, and the fearfulnesse of Gods judgements.
of great waters] See Revel. 1. 15.
they let down] Which signified that they had no power of themselves, but onelyonly waited to execute Gods commandement.
V. 26. a m…n] Which represented the Sonne of God, head of the Church, and King of the Universe: who at the appointed time was to take upon him humane flesh, See Isa. 6. 1. Joh. 12. 41. and was the same which was personally present upon the Ark of the Covenant.
round about] Whereby was signified a terrible judgement toward the earth.
V. 28. I fell] Astonished, and affrighted at the sight of Gods Majestie, alwaies terrible to sinfull men during this mortall life: see Dan. 8. 17. and 10. 8, 9. Rev. 1. 17.
CHAP. II.
Vers. 1. HE said] That is, the Lord Christ who sate upon the Throne, Chap. 1. 26. this may be perceived by the third verse following.
sonne of man] Meaning, man, which is but earth and ashes, which was to humble him, and cause him to consider his own state and Gods grace, being apt to be puft up with multitude of visions, 2 Cor. 12. 1.
V. 2. the Spirit] So that he could not abide Gods presence till Gods Spirit did enter into him, Dan. 10. 10.
V. 3. nation] Heb. nations. The Jews did, and yet do account other people as Gojim, which word for the most part is spoken of abominable Nations, or Infidels; and God now styles the twelve Tribes then divided into Jews and Israelites by that hatefull name, to intimate to them that now they were like in impiety to other profane Nations.
V. 4. impudent] Heb. hard of face. That is to say, such as are not ashamed of any thing, Jer. 6. 15. & 8. 12.
V. 5. shall know that there] Ezek. 33. 33. This declareth on the one part Gods great affection to his people, that notwithstanding their rebellion, yet he will send his Prophets among them, and admonisheth his Ministers on the other part, that they cease not to do their dutie, though the people be never so obstinate: for the word of God shall be either to their salvation, or greater condemnation, 2 Cor. 2. 16.
V. 6. be not afraid of them] Jer. 1. 8. 17. He sheweth that for no afflictions they should cease to do their duties.
briers and thorns] Or, rebels. Mic. 7. 4.
scorpions] That is, among craftie and hurtfull men. See Rev. 9. 3.
V. 7. most rebellious] Heb. rebellion.
V. 8. eat that I give thee] Revel. 10. 9. He doth not onelyonly exhort him to his dutie, but also giveth him the means wherewith he may be able to execute it.
V. 9. roll of a] Namely, a Book, or a Volume wrapped and rolled up upon a stick according to the ancient fashion, Isa. 8. 1. Now this Book did set forth the subiect of these ensuing Prophecies, full of threatnings and curses. See Jerem▪ 36. 2.