Westminster Annotations, Ezekiel · Chapter 37
CHAP. XXXVII.
Vers. 1. THe hand of the LORD was upon me] Chap. 1. 3.
full of bones] He sheweth by a great miracle, that God hath power, and also will deliver his people from their captivitie, in as much as he is able to give life unto the dead bones▪ and bodies, and to raise them up again.
V. 2. valley] Or, champian.
V. 3. can these bones live] By any way or naturall power that thou knowest?
V. 4. Prophesie upon these bones] Be thou the instrument of mine Almightie word, by which in vision these bones shall seeme to thee, to have life put into them: for a signe, that by my power, my people shall be reestablisht in their former estate.
V. 7. there was a noise] A signe of Gods glorious presence, shewing his power, in a miraculous and supernaturall work.
bone to his bone] Joyning themselves again into their naturall joynts.
V. 9. wind] Or, breath.
and say to the wind] According to some, to the soul of man: and according to others, to the holy Ghost it selfe, whose personall propertie is to quicken, and cause all things to live. Psal. 104. 30.
come from the foure winds] For to signifie the restauration of the people from all those places where they had been scattered.
and breathe upon these slain] Send the soul and spirit of life into every one of these dead bodies, by the operation of thy divine power. He seemes to have respect to the manner of the creating, and infusing the soule into Adam, described Gen. 2. 7.
V. 11. Our bones are dried] We are destroyed beyond hope of restauration: We are in Babylon like dried bones in a sepulchre, Psal. 141. 7.
V. 12. I will open your graves] Isa. 26. 19. Hos. 13. 14. Joh. 5. 28, 29.
V. 13. when I have opened your graves] That is, when I have brought you out of those places and townes, where you are captive.
V. 16. then take another stick] Which signified the joyning together of the two houses of Israel and Judah.
V. 19. I will take] That is, I will gather together, and unite all mine elect, of what nation soever they be, into one spirituall body: annihilating by the crosse of Christ, the divisions and enmities of the nations, as of Judah, and of the ten tribes, oftentimes used by the Prophets for a figure of the division which was between the Jews and the Gentiles. Isa. 11. 13. Eph. 2. 14, 15, 16.
stick of Joseph] Of the ten tribes, represented by this stick of Joseph, by reason that the tribe of Ephraim had ruled over them.
V. 22. And I will make them one nation] Isa. 11. 13. Jer. 3. 18. Hos. 1. 11.
one▪ king shall be king to them all] Joh. 10. 16. That is, the Messias.
V. 23. their dwelling places] Wheresoever they shall be, in exile or captivitie, as in Babylon, in Egypt, and other places of the world, where either willingly, or by compulsion, they have been partakers of Pagan idolatries. Jer. 44. 8. Ezek. 14. 3. & 20. 30. 39.
V. 24. David my servant shall be king over them] Isa. 40. 11. Jer. 23. 5. & 30. 9. Chap. 34. 23. Dan. 9. 24. Hos. 3. 5. Jesus Christ, the sonne of David according to the flesh.
and they all shall have one shepherd] Joh. 10. 16.
V. 25. land that I have given unto Jacob] Meaning that both Judah and Israel shall returne to Canaan, a type of the heavenly Jerusalem, wherein all the elect by Christ shall dwell.
V. 26. covenant of peace with them] Psal. 89. 3. Chap. 34. 25.
multiply them] Chap. 36. 37.
and will set my sanctuary in the midst of them] I will be present in my grace, word, and spirit, in their assemblies, and in their heart: of which spirituall presence the Tabernacle, and Sanctuary, heretofore were signes, and pledges. Lev. 26. 11, 12. 1 Cor. 3. 16. 2 Cor. 6. 16. Eph. 2. 21, 22.
V. 27. I will be their God] Chap. 11. 20. & 14. 11.
V. 28. do sanctifie Israel] That is, do take it, and consecrate it to my selfe, and by my presence do keep it holy, and inviolable, against all manner of injuries and offences.