Westminster Annotations, Ezekiel · Chapter 13
CHAP. XIII.
Vers. 2. THem that prophecie out of their own hearts] Heb. them that are prophets out of their own hearts.
hearts] Jer. 14. 14. & 23. 16.
V. 3. follow their own spirit] Heb. walk after. That doe meddle with prophecying of their own proper motion, being driven thereunto by their own carnall affection, and declare nothing but their own imaginations and inventions.
and have seen nothing] Or, and tings which they have not seen.
V. 4. foxes] Which have spoiled the Lords Vine-yard, as Foxed do, when the inclosures of mud wals, as are made in those Countreys, are broken down, Cant. 2. 15.
deserts] Heb. in dry places. Where no poultrey or other birds are to feed on, whereupon being hungry they greedily gape after prey.
V. 5. Ye have not gone up] Manners of speech taken from siegers, in which the duties of Captains are to repaire and fortifie the place, and then stand to defend it, if there be any breach made. The true strength of the Church is faith, obedience, piety, &c. The defence is invocation, intercession, repentance, and zeal to represse the wicked, &c. Psal. 106. 23. 30. Chap. 22. 30. The false Prophets are here reproved for fayling in both these duties, Psal. 106. 23.
gaps] Or, breaches.
made up the hedge] Heb. hedged the hedge.
day of the LORD] Of his judgements.
V. 6. word] Namely, their false predictions.
V. 7. saith it] Ye promised peace to this people, and now ye see their destruction: so that it is manifest, that ye are false Prophets. See Jer. 23. 21. 31.
V. 9. they shall not be] I will root them out of the world, so that they shall not onelyl be debarred from having any voice in publique Assemblies, as the Prophets in those dayes had, Jer. 26. 7. that they shall not so much as be members of the people, which were all numbred, and set down, Exod. 30. 12. Nor they shall not be suffered to dwell the holy Land. which was not denied even to strangers.
assembly] Or, secret, or counsel.
V. 10. Peace] Jer. 6. 14. & 8. 11.
built up a wall] Or, a slight wall. Whereas the true Prophets prophecied the destruction of the Citie to bring the people to repentance; the false prophets spake the contrary, and flattered them in their vanities: so that what one false prophet said, (which is here called the building of the wall) an other false prophet would affirme, though he had neither occasion nor good ground to bear him.
daubed it with untempere morter] Chap. 22. 28.
V. 11. overflowing showre] Hereby are meant Gods extreme judgements.
V. 12. shall it not be said unto you] You will bear the just reproofes of your flattering predictions.
V. 14. midst thereof] You shall be enfolded in the ruines of it.
V. 15. untempored morter] Whereby is meant whatsoever man of himself setteth forth under the authoritie of Gods word.
The wall is no more] I will presently destroy both the wall and the daubers thereof.
V. 17. which prophecie] See vers. 2.
V. 18. women that sow] They were certain false Prophetesses, that did use these signes and ceremonies after the manner of the Prophets: and it should seem that the pillows were a signe of peace and ease for the one; and the vailes of mourning and calamitie for the other: according to the custome of covering their faces in the like cases, 2 Sam. 15. 30. & 19. 4. Esth. 6. 12. & 7. 8. Job 9. 24. and to this, that which is spoken verse 19. & 22. seems to have relation.
to all] Indifferently to whom they please, without regarding either Gods will, or the worth, or unworthinesse of men.
arm-holes] Or, elbows.
every stature] Namely, of all conditions and qualities, great and small, young and old.
hunt soules] To ensnare them in errour, and consequently in perdition, at their pleasures.
V. 19. pollute me] Ma…ing me the Authour and maintainer of your lies, and deceits, without any respect to my most holy Name.
handfuls of barley] For any slight reward, Mic. 3. 5.
slay the souls] D…nouncing death and unhappy chances to good men, and raising persecution against them among the people: and contrariwise promising life and prosperitie to wicked men, and defending them against the justice of men.
V. 20. Behold, I am against your pillows] I will quickly cause you and your false ceremonies to perish.
to make them fly] Or, into ga…dens.
souls that ye hunt] That is, to cause them to perish, and that they should depart from the body.
V. 22. heart of the ri…hteous sad] By threatning them that were godly, and upholding the wicked.
strengthened the hands of the wicked] …er 23. 14.
by promising him life] Or, that I should save his life. Heb. by quickening him.
V. 23. see no more vanitie] I will root you out, that you may no more seduce my people with your deceits.