Westminster Annotations, Ezekiel · Chapter 24 – Chapter 25
CHAP. XXIIII.
Vers. 1. IN the ninth yeare] Of the second captivitie, since Jeconias, Mordecai and Ezekiel were carried captives and Zedekiah made King: the tenth monethmonth, and the tenth day of the monethmonth, Ezekiel is told in Mesopotamia, that Nebuchadnezzar that very day in Judea laid siege to Jerusalem, 2 King. 25. 1. Jer. 39. 1. & 52. 4.
in the tenth monethmonth] Called Tebeth, which containeth part of December, and part of January.
V. 2. this same day] Jer. 52. 4.
V. 3. Set on a pot] That is, set a pot on the fire. See such a similitude, Jer. 3. 13. Ezek. 11. 3. The pot is Jerusalem: the flesh, and the fat pieces are the chief, the richest, and the noblest that are in her: the fire are Gods judgements, by which he would have humbled, and mollified his peoples hearts, to bring them to repentance; but that having taken no effect, by reason of their obstinate rebellion, he would convert those judgements into a totall consumption.
V. 5. burn] Or, heap.
bones under it] Meaning of the innocents, whom they had slain, who were the cause of kindling Gods wrath against them.
seethe the bones of it therein] It seemes that the bones were put into the bottome of the pot, vers. 4. 10. and not, as others have understood it, without the pot, to kindle the fire. And by the bones are meant the great ones and governours, which bear up the body of the State.
V. 6. Wherefore] To make the accomplishment answerable to the figure.
Wo to the bloudy citie] Chap. 22. 2. Nah. 3. 1.
to the pot whose scum] Namely, to Jerusalem that hath not been cleansed by my punishments. See Jer. 4. 11. & 6. 29. Chap. 22. 24.
bring it out] Let all the people without any difference be driven out of it, and carried away; let none be pardoned: for in warres oftentimes they cast lots, to slay some, and to save some.
V. 7. her bloud is in the] She is full of mis-deeds, especially of murders and oppressions.
she set it upon] This Citie shewed her crueltie to all the world, and was not ashamed thereof, neither hid it: contrary to what God had commanded; namely, that the very bloud of beasts should be covered over with dust, Lev. 17. 13. Deut. 12. 16. 24.
V. 8. set her bloud upon the top of a rock] I will punish her openly, and the signes and monuments thereof shall remaine for ever.
V. 9. Wo to the bloudy citie] Nah. 3. 1. Hab. 2. 12.
I will even make the pile] That is, what I have commanded thee to do for a sign, do thou also in act, making ready the Chaldeans great fire, Jer. 1. 13.
V. 10. kindle the fire] Meaning, that the Citie should be utterly destroyed; and that he would give the enemies an appetite thereunto.
V. 11. set it emptie] To signifie that Jerusalem after the inhabitants were gone out of it should be burnt by the Chaldeans, as it were to cleanse it perfectly from all its excrements.
V. 12. She hath wearied] In stead of the onelyonly means of deliverance, which was repentance, and conversion, she hath with great care sought out other worldly and unprofitable means.
V. 13. lewdnesse] Thy wicked obstinacie hath been the onelyonly cause that thou hast not been cleansed.
I have purged thee] I laboured by sending my Prophets to call thee to repentance; but thou wouldest not.
till I have caused] Chap. 16. 42.
V. 14. shall they judge thee] That is, the Babylonians. See Chap. 23. 45.
V. 16. the desire of thine eyes] Namely, thy deare wife, as vers. 18.
with a stroke] By a sudden death, proceeding from some supernaturall and divine cause: for whom he is forbid to mourn, signifying that his peoples sorrow for the children of Jerusalem should be greater then open mourning might expresse, Jer. 22. 10.
runne] Heb. go.
V. 17. Forbear to crie] Heb. be silent.
bind the tire of thine head upon thee] Shew no sign at all of mourning, such as those were of going bare headed, Lev. 10. 6. and 21. 10. and bare footed, 2 Sam. 15. 30. Isa. 47. 2. of coverings ones face, Levit. 13. 45. Mic. 3. 7. and eating of food brought in and given by neighbours and friends, Jer. 16. 5. 7.
lips] Heb. upper lip: and so vers. 22.
V. 18. morning] Meaning, the morning following.
V. 21. I will profane my sanctuarie] By sending the Chaldeans to destroy it, as Chap. 7. 22.
the excellencie of your strength] Namely, the Temple, the Ark, and other signes of my presence, wherein consisted the glory, and the strength of your subsistence and defence.
the desire of your eyes] Namely, your wives.
that which your soul pitieth] Heb. the pitie of your soul. That which you are most jealous and tender of.
your daughters whom ye have left] In Judea: for the Prophet spake to those which had been carried away prisoners with Jehoiachin.
V. 22. ye shall do as I have done] You shall be forced to digest all these sorrowes, not daring so much as to seeme to be grieved thereat, for feare of angring your enemies: Or because that in such a great desolation every one shall think upon himself, without taking any care for others: Or because that there will an expresse curse of God be perceived in it: Or for that there will be more cause of weeping for those that are alive, and languish in sorrow, then for the dead. See Job 27. 15. Psal. 78. 64. Jer. 16. 5. Amos 6. 10. & Jer. 22. 10.
ye shall not cover] Jer. 16. 6▪ 7.
V. 23. but ye shall pine away for your iniquities] Lev. 26. 39. Ezek. 33. 10. Ye shall be busied in weeping for your own sinnes and miseries.
V. 24. a signe] Chap. 12. 6. & 4. 3.
V. 25. in the day when I take] When I shall have fulfilled these prophecies, by the taking, and ruine of Jerusalem, I will cause tidings thereof to be brought unto thee, and then shalt thou put the people in mind of these things, for their instruction and conviction.
that whereupon they set their minds] Heb. the lifting up of their soul. That is, that which they desire and hope for; namely, to see and enjoy their children again.
V. 26. he that escapeth in that day] Chap. 33. 21, 22.
V. 27. dumbe] The Prophet as he was speaking these things became dumbe in an instant, by miracle: but when th…se things were fulfilled, he recovered his speech: to assure the Jewes that all proceeded from God. See Chap. 3. 26, 27. and 33. 22. Others do take this of becoming dumbe, for holding his peace: as if he said, Thou hast spoken enough to this people, for to warn them; let them alone, untill that by the bringing to passe of these things, thou mayest convince and waken them again.
CHAP. XXV.
Vers. 2. AGainst the Ammonites] Jer. 49. 1, &c. Ezek. 2…. 28. Amos 1. 13. Zeph. 2. 8.
V. 3. thou saidst, Aha] Because thou hast injuriously scoffed, Chap. 21. 28. Zeph. 2. 8.
V. 4. to the men of the east] Heb. children. That is, to the Babylonians. Others to the Arabians, who after the Chaldeans had spoiled the Ammonites Countrey, and had slain and carried away the inhabitants into captivitie, did come and possesse the land.
palaces in thee] Namely, their holds, fitted for warre, and for defence of the Countrey; for they dwelt for the most part in tents, often changing their abodes, according to the commodiousnesse of their pastures.
V. 5. Rabbah] Called also Philadelphia, which was the chief citie of the Ammonites, and full of conduits, 2 Sam. 2. 26, 27.
camels] Wherein the Arabians do abound, for to carry their housholds, their stuffe, and merchandize. Or caravans for camels and travellers.
V. 6. clapped thine hands] Heb. hand. This here is a signe of joy, derision, and insulting.
feet] Heb. foot.
heart] Heb. soul.
V. 7. a spoil] Or, meat.
V. 8. Because that Moab] Jer. 48. 1, &c. Amos 2. 1.
Seir] This was the Idumeans countrey, Gen. 36. 8. bordering upon the Moabites: whereby these nations did oftentimes joyn against the Jews.
house of Judah] Though she boast of having alone the true God, yet he hath not protected her, no more then the Gods of other nations have protected them: words of contempt and blasphemy against God himself, as 2 King. 18. 33.
V. 9. I will open the side of Moab] Heb. shoulder of Moab. I will cause the Chaldeans to break through that part of the Countrey, where the strong and frontier cities are, which are here under named: for a difference between that, and the other part of the land, which lay open, and was not fortified.
from his cities] Others translate it, towards the cities of Ar. See Num. 21. 28. Josh. 12. 2.
Bethjeshimoth] Josh. 13. 20.
Baal-meon] Num. 32. 38.
Kiriathaim] Num. 32. 37.
V. 10. with the Ammonites] Or, against the children of Ammon.
V. 12. Because that Edom] Jer. 49. 7, 8. Ezek. 35. 2. Amos 1. 11. Obad. 11.
by taking vengeance] Heb. by revenging revengement. For the title of birth-right, which Jacob did get away from Esau the father of the Edomites: Or of Davids conquering of Edom, 1 Chron. 18. 13 See Ezek. 35. 5. Amos 1. 11.
and hath greatly] Psal. 137. 7.
V. 13. Teman] Jer. 49. 7, 8.
they of Dedan shall fall by the sword] Or, they shall fall by the sword unto Dedan.
V. 14. I will lay my vengeance] We read nothing of this execution done by the Jews upon the Edomites, but onelyonly 1 Mac. 5. 3. & 2 Mac. 10. 16, 17. Some do understand this spiritually, of the Churches victory over her deadly enemies, as the Edomites were to the Jewes; as Isa. 11. 14. Jer. 49. 2.
they shall know] Namely, my people: Or Edom.
V. 15. Because the] Jer. 25. 20. & 47. 2.
have dealt by revenge] See 2 Chron. 28. 18. Amos 1. 6.
for the old hatred] Or, with perpetuall hatred.
V. 16. Cherethims] Which were a part of the Philistines, whereof mention is in the verse before. Conferre with this 1 Sam. 30. 14. 16. Zeph. 2▪ 5. Of the Cherethims David also had a guard, 2 Sam. 8. 18.
sea coast] Or, haven of the sea. Upon which was the Philistines land.
V. 17. vengeance] Heb. vengeances.