Westminster Annotations, Ezekiel · Chapter 36
CHAP. XXXVI.
Vers. 1. THe mountains of Israel] Chap. 6. 2.
V. 2. the enemy] That is, the Idumean…, See Chap. 35. 10. Chap. 25. 3. & 26. 2.
had said against you] Hath triumphed and scoffed at your desolation.
the ancient high places] Heb. the everlasting hils. An epithet ordinarily given to high hils, Gen. 49. 26. Deut. 33. 15. Hab. 3. 6. by reason of their immoveable firmnesse: but by figure is chiefly meant the Church, founded upon Gods promises, and therefore the chiefest of all the world, Deut. 32. 13.
V. 3. Because] Heb. Because for because.
ye are taken up in the lips of talkers] Or, ye are made to come upon the lip of the tongue.
V. 4. rivers and to the valleys] Or, bottoms, or dales.
V. 5. which have appointed my land into their possession] They appointed with themselves to have it, and therefore came with Nebuchadnezzar against Jerusalem for this purpose.
V. 6. the shame of the heathen] Because you have been a laughing-stock unto them.
V. 7. I have lifted up mine hand] By making a solemn oath: reade Chap. 20. 5.
V. 8. ye shall shoot forth your branches] Ye shall be endowed with new fruitfulnesse, which my people shall enjoy, being shortly to come out of captivitie. A figurative description of the happinesse which shall be in the world under the Messias, in the behalf of the Church.
V. 11. at your beginnings] Which was accomplished under Christ, to whom all these temporall did direct them.
V. 12. walk upon you] That is, upon the mountains of Jerusalem.
and thou shalt no more henceforth bereave them of men] He attributeth the desolation which happened to his people, by hunger, pestilence, and warre, to the countrey: by a similitude of evil women that do kill their burden in their wombe.
V. 13. Thou land devourest up men] Thou art an accursed countrey, condemned to all manner of misery, the inhabitants of which cannot live, the Canaanites having first been rooted out of it, and since that the Israelites. This the enemy imputed as the reproach of the land, which God did for the sinnes of the people according to his just judgements, Numb. 13. 32.
V. 14. Therefore thou shalt devoure men no more] Thou shalt no more be subject to those frequent calamities which have made thee infamous.
bereave] Or, cause to fall.
V. 17. as the uncleannesse of a removed woman] Which is extremely abominable.
V. 20. they profaned my holy name] Isa. 52. 5. Rom. 2. 24. Through their misery, and slavery, occasioned by their own sins, they have given their enemies occasion of blaspheming me: as if I their God could not have saved them, or as if I were not faithfull in my promises.
V. 21. But I had pitie for mine holy name] Or, tendered mine. For to free my name from these imputations, I have resolved to forgive my people, and to reestablish them.
V. 22. but for mine holy names sake] This excludeth from man all dignitie, and meane to deserve any thing by, seeing that God referreth the whole to himself, and that only for the glory of his holy name, Deut. 7. 7. &c. Isa. 43. 25.
V. 23. I will sanctifie my great name] Chap. 28. 22. I will cause my divine perfections to be known by the effects, contrary to those slanders: that my holy name may be respected, and honoured by all men, as it ought to be.
their eyes] Or, your.
V. 24. I will take you from among, &c.] By the return from Babylon, is figured and comprehended the salvation of the Church by the Messias, together with the abundance of all spirituall graces.
V. 25. Then will I sprinkle clean water upon you] I will largely communicate my grace unto you, and grant you pardon, for all your sinnes, purchased with the price of my sonnes bloud, which was shed for the sinnes of the world, Eph. 5. 26. Heb. 9. 14. 1 Joh. 1. 7. Isa. 44. 2.
V. 26. A new heart also will I give you] Jer. 32. 39.
the stony heart out of the flesh] Namely, the hard heart, which hath been inflexible to my Spirit, insensible of my word and judgements, and impenetrable to my grace, Chap. 11. 19.
of flesh] Pliable, and capable of being inlived and governed by my Spirit; as amongst naturall bodies, there is none fitting nor apt to receive and containe the vitall spirit, but only the fleshly body.
V. 27. spirit within you] Chap. 11. 19.
V. 29. save you] By my free justification, I will free you from that punishment which your filthinesse deserves: and by the sanctification of my Spirit, I will free you from the corruption and slavery of sinne.
I will call for the corn] By mine Almightie word, I will cause all manner of good things to be brought forth unto you.
V. 31. Then shall ye remember your own evil wayes] Chap. 6. 9. & 20. 43.
lothe your selves] Ye shall come to true repentance, and thinke your selves unworthy to be of the number of Gods creatures for your ingratitude against him.
V. 32. Not for your sakes do I this] Not for any desert or worth that is in you: as vers. 22.
V. 35. the garden of Eden] Chap. 28. 13.
V. 36. shall know &c.] He declareth, that it ought not to be referred to the soile or plentifulnesse of the earth that any countrey is rich, and abundant, but only to Gods mercies, as his plagues, and curses declare, when he maketh it barren.
I the LORD have spoken it] Chap. 17. 24. & 22. 14. & 37. 14.
V. 37. I will yet] Though I have promised to bestow on them these good things, yet I will by prayer be sought unto for them, and will give them multitudes of people to enjoy them, as vers. 10, 11.
enquired] Or, sought to. as Isa. 55. 6.
V. 38. As the holy flock] H…b. flock of holy things. Which was brought into Jerusalem, at the three solemn feasts, for sacrifices, in innumerable quantitie.