Westminster Annotations, Ezekiel · Chapter 12
CHAP. XII.
Vers. 2. HAve eyes to see] Isa. 6. 9. & 42. 20. Which is taught and illuminated in the knowledge of my will, but make no use of this gift, but doth out of meere malice withstand it, and endevours and strives as much as it can to put it out; wherefore the sinne is so much the more aggravated, Joh. 9. 41. Ephes. 4. 18.
V. 3. prepare thee] This is a sign, whose interpretation is set down, vers. 10, 11.
stuffe] Or, instruments. As thy hat, thy cloak, thy shoes, and thy staffe, &c. See Matt. 10. 9, 10.
they be a rebellious house] Because they are not touched with thy plain ordinary preaching, therefore adde this expresse signe thereunto.
V. 4. bring forth thy stuffe] Take all these things which thou hast prepared out of thy chests, to have them all ready at thy need.
as they that go forth into captivitie] Heb. as the goings forth of captivitie.
V. 5. Dig thou through] Heb. Dig for thee.
the wall in their sight] Of the court of the house.
V. 6. in the twilight] Now by night Zedechias fled through the Kings garden, and through the gate between the two wals; and he went through the fields: the Chaldeans took him at Jericho, brought him to Riblah, condemned him, slew his children before his eyes, and brought him to Babel: but he never saw Babel, being made blinde before.
a sign unto the house of Israel] Thus the wheeles of Gods government appear full of eyes, that so accordingly ruled Zedechia's case.
V. 7. digged through the wall] Heb. digged for me.
V. 9. What doest thou] Do not they deride thy doings?
V. 10. This burden] A Propheticall sign of threatning, and calamitie, Isa. 13. 1.
prince in Jerusalem] Namely, Zedechiah.
among them] To wit, among the inhabitants of Jerusalem.
V. 11. I am your sign] Chap. 4. 3. Isa. 8. 18.
they shall remove] Heb. by removing go into captivitie.
captivitie] That is, into the Babylonish captivitie. See the accomplishment of this, 2 King. 25.
V. 12. prince that is] To wit, Zedechiah with his Courtiers shall flie in the night-time, by some secret gate, which ordinarily was walled up, and then opened: and in the habit of a poore traveller, his face covered, either that he might not be known; or by reason of sorrow and grief: see 2 King. 25. 4. Jer. 39. 4.
V. 13. net also will I spreade] Chap. 17. 20. When the King shall think to escape by flying, I will take him in my net, as Chap. 17. 20. & 32. 3. by sending after him the Chaldean souldiers, which shall pursue and catch him, 2 King. 25. 5.
not see it] For his eyes were put out at Riblah, 2 King. 25. 7.
V. 14. And I will scatter] 2 King. 25. 5.
draw out the sword after them] Chap. 5. 2. 12.
V. 16. a few men] Heb. men of number. That is, which may easily be numbred; or few in number, as Gen. 34. 30.
declare all their abominations] That is, confessing their sinnes and idolatries, give testimonie for Gods judgements against them.
V. 18. eat thy bread with quaking] That is, in the taking of thy food, seem to be an affrighted, and perplexed person.
V. 19. people of the land] Namely, the common sort of people of Judah, which are in captivitie.
They shall eat their bread with carefulnesse] During the distresse of the siege; by the means of which, and after which all the Countrey shall be wasted, according to my decree.
that her land] Belonging to Jerusalem.
all that is therein] Heb. the fulnesse thereof.
V. 22. saying] Chap. 11. 3. Amos 6. 3.
The dayes are prolonged] Of Gods judgements, foretold by the Prophets, shall either be prolonged or disannulled and brought to nothing. Because they did not immediately see the prophecies accomplished; they contemned them as though they should never be fulfilled.
V. 23. effect of every vision] That is, the things fore-told and signified by the visions.
V. 24. there shall be no more] I will confound and disannull all false prophecies, made according to every ones fancies, and for to gain favor; by the accomplishment of my true prophecies.
vain vision] Chap. 13. 23.
V. 27. for many dayes to come] 2 Pet. 3. 4. That is, it shall not come to passe in our days, and therefore we care not for it: thus the wicked ever abuse Gods patience and berugnitie.