Westminster Annotations, Ezekiel · Chapter 28
CHAP. XXVIII.
Vers. 2. I Am a god] Thou art grown vain, and hast exalted thy self, through thy glory, wisdome, and happinesse, as if thou wert no more a mortall man, but a petty god.
I sit in the seat of God] I reign in a most strong place, full of glory, and delights: which are the properties belonging to heaven, which is Gods habitation.
midst of the seas] Heb. heart. Chap. 27. 4.
yet thou art a man and not God] Isa. 31. 3.
though thou set thine heart as the heart of God] Thou diddest think thy self to be endowed with divine and more then humane understanding and wisdome; the Tyrians wisdome being very famous, Zach 9. 2.
V. 3. Behold] Zach. 9. 2.
wiser] In thine own conceit and opinion.
Daniel] Who for the incomparable gifts of Gods holy Spirit, as well in prophesie as in counsell and wisdome, Dan. 1. 17. & 4. 9. was by a common proverb set as a pattern of wisdome in Babylon where Ezekiel then prophesied. See Chap. 14. 14.
V. 4. riches] Or, power.
V. 5. By thy great wisdome] Heb. by the greatnesse of thy wisdome.
V. 7. the terrible] Chap. 30. 11.
against the beauty] By strength they will overcome all thy counsels, and arts of prevention and defence. Or, they will kill thee, not respecting thy wisdome, which maketh thee so majesticall and venerable.
V. 8. the deaths] Namely, of all kinds of violent death, in the generall slaughter of thy people. See Isa. 14. 19.
V. 9. slayeth] Or, woundeth.
V. 10. the uncircumcised] …ake the rest of the heathen and infidels, which are Gods enemies: for circumcision was a signe of the covenant of saving grace. Others, like to the ancient Canaanites condemned to a curse. See Chap. 32. 21.
V. 12. Thou sealest up] Or, thou makest up the account. A terme taken from them which tell money, and make up what is wanting of the whole sum.
wisdome and perfect in beauty] He derideth the vain opinion and confidence that the Tyrians had in their riches, strength and pleasures.
V. 13. in Eden] Like to a tree planted in an earthly paradise, Gen. 2. 8. Chap. 31. 8, 9.
sardius] Or, rubie.
beryll] Or, chrysolite.
emerald] Or, chrysoprase.
workmanship] He hath relation to that, that the art of Musick was alwayes held in great esteem amongst the Tyrians, Esa. 23. 16. Chap. 26. 13.
in the day that thou wast created] Even at the first founding of thy state, musick began to flourish in thee.
V. 14. anointed] Endowed by God with severall prerogatives.
cherub] Amongst the great ones of the world, which are Gods Ministers upon earth, thou wast exalted in glory, even as the heavenly Cherubims are.
covereth] Being a secure defence to thy people, covering them with thy wings, which are attributed to this King, because he is called Cherub, whose shape and forme is set down in the Scripture with wings, which shadowed the Arke.
the holy mountain] Having likened him to a Cherub, he compares his seat, being full of magnificence, to mount Sinai, where God appeared with millions of his Angels, having a fiery pavement under his feet, Exod. 24. 10.
the stones of fire] To wit, among my people Israel which shined as precious stones. Or, clad with a garment of shining pearles, such as were in the brest-plate of Israels high Priest; as appeareth by comparing with this the verse before.
V. 15. perfect in thy wayes] Which may be also understood of the state and condition, or of the enterprises.
from the day that thou wast created] From the time thou wast first a setled Kingdome, as vers. 13. He seemeth to allude to the fall of wicked angels.
till iniquity was found in thee] Whilst thou hast continued in justice and integritie, I have borne thee up: But since thou and thy citie have given your selves to violences, deceits, and other manner of wickednesses, thy ruine hath beene ready at hand.
V. 16. I will cast thee] That is, I will subvert thy glorious state.
the mountain of God] Thou shalt have no part among my people.
O covering cherub] Vers. 14.
V. 17. hast corrupted thy wisdom] Thy glory and greatnesse have caused thee to lose thine understanding and wise carriage, for which thy predecessors were admired; and thine own splendour hath dazled thee.
V. 18. defiled thy sanctuaries] Thou hast made thy chiefe citie, which ought to have been a holy seat of justice and vertue, a den of theeves, and of all manner of wickednesse.
the midst of thee] He seems to intimate, that the occasion of the ruine of Tyre did proceed from it selfe, by some meanes, or accident, which the History doth not specifie.
V. 19. thou shalt be a terrour] Heb. terrours. Chap. 26. 21. & 27. 36.
V. 21. set thy face against Zidon] Isa. 23. 4. 12. Jer. 25. 22. & 27. 3.
V. 22. I will be glorified] Exod. 14. 4. In the manifestation of my justifie and power exercised over thee.
be sanctified in her] Levit. 10. 3. I shall give sufficient cause to be feared and worshipped; yea, blessed and praised.
V. 24. a pricking brier] Num. 33. 55. Josh. 23. 13.
V. 25. when I shall have gathered] This prophesie hath in part, and according to the letter, a relation to the return from the captivitie of Babylon; but perfectly and in spirit, to the spirituall re-establishment of the Church by the Messias.
sanctified in them] He sheweth for what cause God will assemble his Church, and preserve it still, though he destroy his enemies; to wit, that they should praise him, and give thanks for his great mercies.
V. 26. safely] Or, with confidence.
despise] Or, spoil.