Westminster Annotations, Ezekiel · Chapter 22
CHAP. XXII.
Vers. 2. VVIlt thou judge] Or, plead for. Chap. 20. 4. & 23. 36. Art thou ready to execute thy charge which I commit unto thee against Jerusalem, that murdereth the Prophets, and them that are godly?
bloudie citie] Heb. citie of blouds. Chap. 24. 6, 9. Nahum 3. 1.
yea thou shalt shew her] Or, wilt thou shew her. Heb. make her know.
V. 3. her time] The time of her destruction.
against her self] To her own undoing.
V. 4. thou hast shed] 2 King. 21. 16.
reproach] Deut. 28. 37.
V. 5. infamous, and much vexed] Heb. polluted of name, much in vexation. Whose very name all men hate.
much vexed] Thou shalt be famous for the greatest desolation that ever befell any Citie.
V. 6. power] Or, arm.
V. 7. have they dealt] He meaneth hereby that there was no kinde of wickednesse which was not committed in Jerusalem, and therefore the plagues of God should speedily come upon her.
oppression] Or, deceit.
V. 9. men that carry tales] Heb. men of slanders. Exod. 23. 1. Levit. 19. 16.
they eat upon the mountains] Chap. 18. 6.
V. 10. they discovered] Levit. 18. 8. & 20. 11.
was set apart] Levit. 18. 19.
V. 11. And one] Or, And every one.
committed abomination with his neighbours wife] Levit. 18. 20. Jer. 5. 8.
another hath] Or, every one hath.
lewdly] Or, by lewdnesse.
humbled his sister] Levit. 18. 9. & 20. 17.
V. 12. have they taken gifts] Exod. 23. 8. Deut. 16. 19. & 27. 25.
thou hast greedily gained] Exod. 22. 25. Levit. 25. 36. Deut. 23. 19.
V. 13. I have smitten mine hand] Chap. 21. 17. In token of my wrath and vengeance; a sign either of great joy, or of extreme sorrow and anger; as in this place.
V. 14. Can thine heart endure] Wilt thou have courage and strength enough to withstand my judgements, or be able to defend thy self?
V. 15. I will scatter thee among the heathen] Deut. 4. 27. & 28. 25. 64.
and will consume] Chap. 23. 27, 48. I will take away the occasion of thy wickednesse: Others, I will cause thee to perish, that thou maist no more provoke me by thine enormities.
V. 16. And, &c.] Thou shalt be no more the inheritance of the Lord, but forsaken; or Heb. And thou shalt be profaned, or defiled; that is to say, filled with blood, desolated, not regarded as a holy Citie, but like a wicked place, which God hath cast off.
V. 18. the house of Israel, &c.] Isa. 1. 22. Jer. 28. 29, 30. It is quite degenerate, like to good silver turned to drosse.
are brasse] They have some appearance of goodnesse and holinesse, but in effect they are wicked, like to a masse of base silver, mixed with all manner of base metals.
in the midst of the furnace] Namely, in Jerusalem, where I will melt and consume them by the fire of my judgements, as in a furnace. See Chap. 24. 10.
drosse] Heb. drosses.
V. 20. As they gather] Heb. According to the gathering.
V. 24. say unto her] Namely, to the Jewish nation, or to Jerusalem.
not cleansed] The fire of my judgements hath not cleansed thee from thy filthinesse, and there is nothing sound nor good in thee; therefore I will lay a most extream burthen upon thee, and use no elemency at all towards thee. See Jerem. 4. 11. & 6. 29. Chap. 24. 6.
V. 25. There is a conspiracie] All this may have relation to the persecutions which the false prophets by plots and conspiracies used against good men. See Jer. 20. 2. & 26. 8, 20. & 29. 25, 26. Lam. 4. 13.
they have devoured souls] Mat. 23. 14.
V. 26. violated] Heb. offered violence to.
they have put no difference] Jer. 15. 19. Chap. 44. 23.
have hid their eyes, &c.] They have winked at the violation of my sabbaths; …or they themselves have framed pretences whereby they might safely violate it. Contemned and dishonoured, without any reverence to my sacred Majestie.
V. 27 Her princes] Mic. 3. 11. Zeph. 3. 3.
V. 28. And her prophets] Chap. 13. 10. They which should have reproved them, flattered them in their vices, and covered their doings with lies. Chap. 13. 10.
V. 29 oppression] Or, deceit.
wrongfully] Heb. without right.
V. 30. And I sought] Jer. 5. 1.
that should make up the hedge] Chap. 13. 5. Which should shew himself zealous in my cause by resisting vice, Isa. 59. 16. & 63. 5. See Jer. 5. 1. Chap. 13. 5. and also pray unto me to withhold my plagues. Psa. 106. 23.
V. 31. their own way] Their evill deeds have I punished, at Chap. 16. 43.