Westminster Annotations, Ezekiel · Chapter 18 – Chapter 19
CHAP. XVIII.
Vers. 2. THe fathers have eaten] That is, have sinned, and the children have suffered for it; as the sinnes of Manasseh are remembred upon Judah, and the sinnes of Jeroboam upon the ten Tribes. See Lament. 5. 7. See more Jer. 31. 29.
V. 3. any more] Since ye make my patience an argument whereupon to taxe my judgements, I will hereafter bring them presently upon him that sinneth, and lay open your iniquities like unto the iniquities of your forefathers, for which I have heretofore punished them.
V. 4. all souls are mine] I am equally God, and Judge of all, not accepting of persons; and if I do delay my generall punishments, it is out of my superabundant goodnesse; and if the children do bear the iniquities of the fathers, it is according to justice, either by reason of their imitating them, or in so much as I punish them in their body and goods, which they had from their fathers; but the judgements upon the soul, which proceeds absolutely from me, and is mine, have no other cause nor foundation, but every ones owne works.
V. 5. that which is lawfull and right] Heb. judgement and justice.
V. 6. hath not eaten] Namely, of the idols sacrifices, whose service was done upon hils and mountaines, Ezek. 22. 9. See Deut. 32. 38. Psal. 106. 28. 1 Cor. 10. 20, 21.
hath lift up his eyes] That is to say, shall have detested them with all his heart. defiled his neighbours wife] Levit. 18. 20. By adultery.
to a menstruous woman] Levit. 18. 19. & 20. 18.
V. 7. And hath not oppressed any] Exod. 22. 21. Levit. 19. 15. & 25. 14.
pledge] Exod. 22. 26. Deut. 24. 12.
hath given his bread to the hungry] Deut. 15. 7. Isa. 58. 7. Matth. 25. 35.
V. 8. upon usury] Exod. 22. 25. Levit. 25. 36, 37. Deut. 23. 19. Psal. 15. 5. Usury and increase: the first word in Heb. properly signifieth biting, from the effect, because it doth bite or eate out a mans estate; the latter word signifieth multiplication or increase; in Greek it is foreign, Mat. 25. 27. Luk. 19. 23. a birth, because hereby money begetteth money, as Arist. shewes, in Polit. Book 1. Chap. 7. Thus money was not to be lent to the poor, Exod. 22. 25. Levit. 25. 36. 37.
V. 10. robber] Or, breaker up of an house.
that doth the like to any one of these] Or, that doth to his brother besides any of these; or, any one of these.
V. 11. And that doth not any of those] Or, though he hath not done any of these things. Hath not done all the good deeds set down before, vers. 7, 8, 9. Or, hath not committed those sins mentioned vers. 10. but some of those after following, vers. 11, &c.
even] Or, either.
and defiled] Or, or defiled.
V. 12. Hath oppressed] Or, or hath.
hath spoiled] Or, or hath spoiled.
hath not restored] Or, or hath not restored.
and hath lift] Or, or hath lift.
hath committed] Or, or hath committed.
V. 13. Hath given] Or, Or hath given.
and hath taken] Or, or hath taken.
he hath done] Or, if he hath done.
all these abominations] Or, any.
he shall surely die] He sheweth how the sonne is punished for his fathers fault; that is, if he be wicked as his father was, and doth not repent, he shalbe punished as his father was; or else not.
his bloud] Or, his blouds. He shall suffer capitall punishment for his own sin, and he shall be the cause of his own death. Lev. 20. 9. Act. 18. 6.
V. 16. hath not withholden the pledge] Heb. hath not pledged the pledge, or taken to pledge.
V. 17. hath taken off] That is, keeps himself from wronging or oppressing, though he might have some reason to do it.
V. 19. Why? doth not the sonne] He sheweth that those profane men contending wit the Prophets, did seek to catch them, and make them confesse, either that Gods judgements were not just, in punishing the children for the fathers sinnes; or that the Prophets limitations and expositions were contrary to Gods Law. Exod. 20. 5. Deut. 5. 9.
the son hath done] The meaning of my law is, that I will punish the sinnes of the father upon the children, in case that they follow their fathers examples; which I doe often suffer to fall out so, through my secret judgement; and if through my speciall grace I do sanctifie them, so that they do not follow their fathers steps, they shall also be exempted from the punishment.
the sonne shall not bear] Deut. 24. 16. 2 King. 14. 6. 2 Chron. 25. 4. Jer. 31. 29. Namely, the innocent sonne, who is by my Spirit purged from his fathers wickednesse. Yet this is no generall rule in respect of the body and bodily goods, in which God in all seasons hath visited the Children for the fathers sins; but must be understood of the everlasting punishment of the soul, or especially of the temporall punishments of those times.
the righteousnesse] That is, every one shall receive either a reward for his good workes, or punishment for his evill works.
V. 21. But if the wicked] Chap. 33. 12.
statutes] He joyneth the observation of the Commandement with repentance: for none can repent indeed, except he labour to keep the Law.
V. 22. he shall live] He shall be delivered from the common evils of this world, and shall attain to everlasting life, to which the true way and direction is the pure conversion of a sinner, and perseverance.
V. 23. Have I any pleasure at all] Chap. 33. 11. He speaketh this to commend Gods mercy to poore sinners, who rather is ready to pardon then to punish, as his long suffering declareth, Chap. 33. 11.
V. 24. But when the righteous] Chap. 3. 20. & 33. 12, 13.
his righteousnesse that he hath done] That is, the false opinion that the hypocrites have of their righteousnesse shall not move God to spare them. See vers. 22.
V. 25. Yet ye say] Or in Heb. and will ye say? Will you yet dare to tax, either mine actions with injustice; or my words, and my law with contradiction?
The way of the Lord is not equall] Chap. 33. 20. In punishing the father with the children.
are not your wayes unequall] All the injustice is in you, who follow your fathers wayes, and not in me: my Law agreeth well with this doctrine, but your understanding is perverted.
V. 26. When a righteous man] This is the rule of my so veraign justice, that the death of every one shall be punishment of his own proper sinne: as the order of my mercy is, to give a sinner hope that he shall be restored by repentance. Both the one and the other is well enough known unto you, but that in this contestation you sight against your own consciences.
V. 30. every one according to his wayes] And not for the sinnes of their fathers, as you impute it to me.
repent] Matth. 3. 2.
your selves] Or, others.
ruine] Heb. a stumbling-block; to cause the ruine.
V. 31. make you a new heart] Jer. 32. 39. Chap. 11. 19. and 36. 26. Give way to the Spirit of grace, to whom it properly belongeth to regenerate a man, who cannot do it of himselfe, Jer. 13. 23. Ezek. 11. 19. & 36. 26.
V. 32. I have no pleasure in] Chap. 33. 11. 2 Pet. 3. 9. your selves] Or, others.
CHAP. XIX.
Vers. 1. THe princes of Israel] Namely, for Jehoahaz, Jehoiakim, Jehoiachin, and Zedekiah, last kings of Judah, in whom consisted the remainder of the princes of Israel.
V. 2. What is thy mother] Namely, the mother of every one of these kings, or the royall stock: Or nation of the Jews: Jerusalem wherein you have been born and bred, hath for a long time been a citie of blood and violence: and hath brought forth kings of the same nature.
V. 3. up one of her whelps] Namely, Jehoahaz, who was made king three moneths in Jerusalem, 2 King. 23. 30, 31.
V. 4. he was taken in their pit] Or net: A terine taken from the manner of hunting of Lions. Pharaoh Necho carried him to Egypt, and put him in chaines, 2 King. 23. 33. Of him Jeremie told he should returne no more to his native countrey, but die in Egypt. Jer. 22. 10, 11, 12. So it fell out, 2 King 23. 34.
Egypt] See 2 King. 23. 34. Jer. 22. 11, 12.
V. 5. when she saw that he had waited] Namely, Jerusalem, when she saw that there was no hope that Jehoahaz should be restored.
another of her whelps] Namely, Jehoiakim, appointed to be King by the King of Egypt, 2 King. 23. 34.
V. 6. he went up and down] A description of Jehoiakims treaties with other Kings, and chiefly with the King of Egypt: which was also the cause of his ruine.
devoured men] He slew of the Prophets, and them that feared God, and ravished their wives.
V. 7. And he knew] That is, Jehoiakim visited and spoiled the palaces of those whom he did destroy, or in hostile manner slew with the sword. Vers. 6.
their desolate palaces] Or, their widows.
he laid wast their cities] Namely, the Cities of his people, by his extortions and violencies, 2 King. 24. 4. Jer. 22. 17.
noise of his roaring] By his cruel and tyrannicall commands.
V. 8. the nations set against him] 2 King. 24. 2. Nebuchadnezzar with his great armie, which was gathered of divers Nations, 2 King. 24. 2.
and spread their net] 2 Chron. 36. 6. Jer. 22. 18.
V. 9. in chains] Or, books.
into holds] In some strong tower, or rock, where he died, and his body was afterward thrown out upon a dunghill. See 2 Chron. 36. 6. Jer. 22. 18, 19.
V. 10. Thy mother is like a vine] After thy tyrannie was ceased, which was signified by the lions roaring, Jerusalem seemed to flourish again, especially under Zedekiah, who had many sonnes sitting to succed him in his kingdome, and to prop him up; which is signified by the following termes.
in thy bloud] Or, in thy quietnesse; or, in thy likenesse.
V. 12. cast-wind] Hos. 13. 15. Ezek. 17. 10. Meaning, that the Chaldeans should destroy them, as the East wind doth the fruit of the Vine: See Chap. 17. 10.
her strong rods were broken] Namely, all the young men, and the royall issue. See 2 King. 25. 7.
V. 13. she is planted in the wildernesse] The whole body of the Nation shall within a short while be carried away into Babylon, to live there in extreme misery.
V. 14. out of a rod of her branches] Namely, out of Zedekiah, who through his perfidiousnesse, and rebellion against Nebuchadnezzar, shall be the cause of the last desolation, 2 Chron. 36. 13. So that none of Judahs Kings were strong, nor after should be, till Christ came, to whom the Kingdome did belong.
and shall be for a lamentation] Not onelyonly at the present time, but in after ages likewise.