Exposition of Ezekiel 6-13, Commentary on Ezechiel · Chapter 9 · Verse 1
VERSE I.
He cryed alſo in mine eares with a loud voyce, ſaying, cauſe them that have charge over the City, to draw neere, even every man that hath his deſtroying weapon in his hand.
IN the eighth Chapter Ezekiel ſaw in a viſion the ſinnes of the City Jeruſalem; here the viſion proceeding, he ſees the judgements of God to be executed upon them for thoſe ſins, and by whom.
The Chapter conteins,
1. A narration of judgement to be executed upon Jeruſalem in the firſt ſeven verſes.
2. The Prophets interceſſion for Iſrael, verſ. 8.
3. An anſwer thereunto, verſ. 9, 10.
4. A report of what was done, verſ. 11.
In the Narration you have,
1. A commiſſion given to the Prophet to cauſe Military men to appeare, verſ. 1.
2. Their number and manner of appearing, verſ. 2.
3. A mandat given,
1. To mark the mourners, verſ. 4.
2. To ſlay the reſt, verſ. 5, 6, 7.
4. Mention of the glory of God departing, verſ. 3.
The firſt verſe hath in it,
1. The author of this Commiſſion: He.
2. The manner of giving it out by way of cry, and that with a loud voyce.
3. The witneſſe before whom it was done, and that was Ezek. In mine eares.
4. The Commiſſion it ſelfe, Cauſe them that have, &c.
Where we have,
1. The perſons ſpecified, and they are ſuch as have charge over the City.
2. What they are to doe; to draw neare.
3. The manner; with a deſtroying weapon in each hand.
He cryed.
Not an Angell, but the Lord, whoſe glory he had ſeen at the Temple, who had ſhewn him the ſeverall abhominations …f the people, and who had authority to call for excutioners of his fury upon theſe notorious delinquents.
He cryed.
Crying in man is intenſe or loud ſpeaking, when it's expres'd by a loud voyce: but God cryeth not as man. His crying is the efficacy of his Spirit, or force of his providence ſtrongly moving the creature to the execution of his will, Zech. 7.7. The Lord cryed by the Prophets, his Spirit mov'd them to cry unto the people. And 2. Sam. 16.10. God ſaid unto Shimei, curſe David; that is, Divine providence mov'd him to doe ſo. God cryes to the Miniſters of Juſtice, when he moves their wills to come and do execution upon a ſinfull people. Here God ſpake to the Prophet, not providentially, but by the inward language of his Spirit, and viſionally.
The reaſons of his calling or crying aloud were,
1. To declare the weightineſſe of the thing hee was now about namely to bring a final deſtruction upon Church and State according to that Chap. 7.6. An end is come, and this was a buſineſſe of high concernment, that that people which had beene ſo belov'd, ſo honour'd, ſo deliver'd, ſo obſerv'd in the world, ſhould now be utterly ruin'd: So when the 7. thunders were to be, the Angell, Rev. 10.3. cryed with a loud voyce.
2. Gods ſerious intentions to deſtroy them, he was impatient now of bearing any longer with them, he was burthened, wearied with their iniquities, therefore cried out of them, and called for deſtroyers, Iſa. 1.14. Ah, I will eaſe me… of mine Adverſaries.
3. To quicken and haſten the inſtruments hee ſhould uſe in that ſervice. When great perſons are intenſe in their voyces and commands, it edges their ſpirits who are employed, and makes them quick, active, loud cries leave deep impreſſions.
4. In reference to the wickeds ſins, and mourners prayers, the ſins of the one, and prayers of the other cryed aloud in Gods eares, and now God cries too, and addes cry to cry: they cryed for vengeance, and vengeance they ſhall have. Come, Ezekiel, ſend for ſuch and ſuch men which may deſtroy the wicked, and deliver the mourners.
In mine eares.
That i…, I hearing, the Lord ſpake aloud, and the Prophet heard him. So the like phraſe in Gen. 2.8.44.18. is to be underſtood. God honour'd Ezekiel here with the knowledge of what he was about, and ſingled him out to be a witneſſe of his proceedings.
Cauſe them that have charge over the City to draw near.
The Hebrew is, the viſitations of the City have drawn neare; or let the viſitations of the City draw neare. Here is the abſtract put for the concrete, Viſitation for viſiters, which is frequent in Scripture, as Col. 1.16. Thrones are put for Kings, Dominions for Lords, Rulers, Principalities and powers for them are in chiefe places, Iſa. 60.17. I will make thy Officers pe…ce. The Heb. is, thy viſitation in the abſtract, and rendered in the concrete, officers or viſiters, and ſo here. Some read it the men of viſitation; others the viſiters of the City: our tranſlation,Praefecti urbi…. thoſe have charge over the City, eſpecially the Military affairs.
Who theſe were is to be examin'd; not the Antients of Iſrael, mentioned in the former Chapter, who were to be deſtroyed, and not to deſtroy; but they were certain Angels or Arch-Angels, to whom the Lord had committed the cuſtody of Jeruſalem; For Angels have the care of Kingdoms, Provinces, and Cities,Angels or Chaldeans they were ſuch as were appointed to execute divine wrath. and theſe God cals for, and empl…yes yet to fetch in the Chaldeans for deſtruction of the City, and inhabitants of it.
Angels are defenders and deſtroyers of Cities. Chaldie is qui conſtituti ſunt ut perdant civitatem.
Every man with his deſtroying weapon in his hand.
A man in the Hebrew, it is not every man; but the meaning is, that not any ſhou…d appeare without his weapon, every one that came ſhould bring it in his hand.
Deſtroying weapon;
Heb. Inſtrument of his deſtruction; that is, not with an inſtrument to deſtroy himſelfe, but with an inſtrument to deſtroy othe…s, a deadly inſtrument.
Obſerv. 1.The Lord will not alwayes be ſilent, and beare with ſinners, he will cry out againſt them; the longer he hath been ſilent, the louder he will cry at laſt; here God held his peace long, or ſpake in ſecret to the Prophet, ſhewing him the ſins of this City, how grievous they were, what abhominations they had committed: and that being done, he cryes out of them, calls for executioners to be avenged on them, Iſa. 42.14. I have long time holden my peace, I have beene ſtill, and refrained my ſelfe: now will I cry like a travailing woman, I will deſtroy and devour at once. A travailing woman feeles paine; but keepes as long as ſhee can from diſcovering the ſame; but when her throwes and pangs come ſtrongly upon her, ſhe cryes out of her pains, and cals for help: So God had borne with their ſins, reſtrain'd his fury and vengeance; but being overcome with the greatneſſe of their ſins, wearied with their iniquities, he cryes out and cals for help of Angels and men to avenge him of his adverſaries, Mica 6.9. The Lords voyce cryeth unto the City. He called aloud unto them, his patience was expired, Sp…ri… exaſperated, his voyce was now intended, as being in a ſtreight, and deceſſic…ed to proceede to judgement, Amos 2.13. Behold, I am preſſed under you, as a cart is preſſed that is full of ſheaves. A cart is long a loading, and when its greatly loaded, oft it breake, and all is laid in the duſt: So God, being preſſed, breaks ſilence, brings in dreadfull and inevitable judgements, therefore the flight ſhall periſh from the ſwift, &c.
2. The Lord uſually makes known his judgements before he executes them. He cryed in mine eares.
Ezekiel ſhall know the Lords intendments, before he doth any thing againſt the City & people; before notable judgements come upon men, Gods method is to reveale them: God told Noah of the flood, Gen. 6.13.17. The captivity of the tenne Tribes was not hid from the Prophets, 2 Kings 17.14, 15, 16. This Babyloniſh captivity was known to Iſaiah, Jeremiah, Amos 7.7, 8, 9.Ezekiel and others, 2 Chron. 36.15, 16, 17. Chriſt told the Apoſtles of the deſtruction of the Temple, and miſeries that ſhould befall the City, before they fell out, Mat. 24.1, 2. Luke 19.41, 42, 43, 44. Upon this ground Amos is bold, and ſaith, Surely the Lord God will doe nothing: but he revealeth his ſecrets unto his ſervants the Prophets, Chap. 3.7. There is no neceſſity upon God for revealing his judgments; he doth execute many ſecretly, and openly, which were never heard of, till felt; but Gods ordinary way with his people was, to let them heare of his judgements before-hand, he made them known to the Prophets and Propheticall men. Joſeph had the 7. yeares famine reveal'd to him, Gen. 41. And God would not hide his purpoſe of ruining Sadome from Abraham, Gen. 18.17. Shall I hide from Abraham that thing which I doe? No, I will not, Abraham is my friend, he ſhall know my thoughts. Jonas is acquainted with Gods intentions touching Nineveh, that great City: and the judgments now upon us were not unfore-ſeen; the ſervants of the Lord had notice of them many yeares ſince, and ſpake of theſe tempeſtuous dayes. This God doth to ſtop the mouth of iniquity, that wicked men may not object God came upon them without warning. This Lyon roares before he devoures the prey: The Lord of Hoſts ſounds the Trumpet before he comes to battaile; hee tels his Prophets and Miniſters of Juſtice, that they may give warning unto others, that they may prepare to meete the Lord, that they may tremble at his judgements, repent, reform, return to God, or elſe periſh moſt juſtly: and that the godly ſeeing his care herein, for ye might work out your ſalvation with feare and trembling, draw others out of their dangerous conditions, exerciſe their graces more fully, and intercede earneſtly with God for averting, mitigating, removing or ſanctifying of his judgements. Abraham intreated for Sodome, and Jeremiah for the Jewes, when they knew GODS minde was to deſtroy them.
3. No judgments, evils, come upon any States or Churches but at the Lords call and appointment: Let the viſitation of the City draw neare; or, cauſe the viſiters to come. God hath ſoveraign authority over all creatures, he is Lord of Hoſts, and when he gives out the word, then judgements ſtep forth, and the executioners of them appear, 2 K. 8. 1. There was a ſeven yeares famine in the Land, and how came this? Eliſha tels the Shunamite woman, that the Lord had call'd for it, he commanded it to come forth of his treaſury of judgements. When David had ſin'd in numbring the people, God ſent him a ſad meſſage by Gad his ſeer, which was this: Shall ſeven years famine come unto thee in thy land? or wilt thou flee three moneths before thine enemies while they purſue thee? or that there be three dayes peſtilence in the Land▪ One of theſe David was to chuſe, and the Peſtilence he chuſeth, which God ſent amongſt them, 2 Sam. 24.12, 13.14, 15. Judgements are in Gods hand, and let out at his pleaſure. He cals for the ſword, and gives it commiſſion to goe up and downe, Ez…k. 14.17. He ſaith ſword goe through the Land. Hoſ. 11.6. Abide on the Cities. He cauſeth his ſword to devour fleſh, and his arrowes to be drunk with blood, Deut. 32.42. Judgements come not till God call them, they goe not but where he directs them, they hurt not any, or more then he appoints, nor ceaſe till he command: There is nothing caſuall, accidentall in them, but they are by the determinate counſell and will of God.
4. When the Lord is in his fury, he is not only intenſe upon, but haſtning of judgements: He cryed with a loud voyce, which ſets out his intention; he would have executioners of his judgements draw neer.foreign Polan: renders the word appropinquate celeriter ſeu omni conatu & ſtudio, make ſpeed and haſten, Zeph. 1.14. The great day of the Lord is neare: it is neare, and haſteth greatly. The time was neare, and all things in heaven and earth making haſt to their deſtruction, yea great haſt. God brings on judgments ſooner then they are expected. Did not the Chaldeans come with ſpeed and haſt upon them, his horſes were ſwifter then Eagles, Jer. 4.13. Then Leopards, Hob. 1.8. And are any creatures ſwifter for wing or foote then the Eagle or Leopard, yet the Chaldeans judgement was ſwifter then they. Jeremiah, Lam. 4.19. Our perſecuters are ſwifter then the Eagles of heaven, they made great haſt. Sinners are ſecure, and dunk judgments ſlumb…r, when they are upon their march, upon the wing, Jerem. 48.16. Moabs affl ction haſted faſt, it came flying: And Iſa. 5.26. God hiſſed for the Chaldeans, and they came with ſpeed ſwiftly; God haſtneth judgement, and no marvail, he is provoked to it, as an Army is provoked ſometime to fight, when there was no intention; or if intention, being ſtir'd, fals to fight immedia ly, Iſa. 5.19. Wicked men ſay, let him make haſt, and haſten his work that we may ſee it, and let the Counſell of the holy one of Iſrael draw nigh and come, that we may know it. They mocked the Prophet that told them of judgement, captivity, and deſtruction. You ſay ſuch things are decreed in heaven, and muſt take place; let us ſee them, let them come, Jeruſalem is ſtrong, wel fortified, &c. As theſe provoke him by their ſins, ſo the godly importune him by their prayers, Luke. 18.8. He will avenge them ſpeedily.
5. That Angels have the care of Cities, Kingdomes, & Communities committed to them. Cauſe th…ſe have the charge over the City: That was the Angels, ſay interpreters: and in the opening of the firſt Chapter, I ſhewed you, that Angels were employed in the government of the world, Deut. 32.8.Juxta numerum Angelorum dei. He ſet bounds according to the number of the child…en of Iſrael. The Sept. hath it, according to the number of the Angels of God, as if they had the land divid d firſt among them, and then the people were ſetled according to thoſe diviſions: That in Dan. 10.20.Per gentes & civitates diviſae ſunt Angelorum praefecturae. Clem. Alex. l. 6. S…rom l. 7. juſſu divino & antiquo per gentes ſunt diſtributi Angeli. is more cleare and full, where the Angel tels Daniel, that hee would fight with the Prince of Perſia, he would prevent his hindering their return to Jeruſalem, and when he ſhould goe forth and leave the care of that Country, the Prince of Greece ſhould come, namely Al…xander the Great, and overthrow that Monarchy, Clemens ſaith, the charge of Angels was divided by Nations and Cities. And Epiphan. Horeſ. 51. regna & gentes ſub Angelis poſita ſunt.
6. When God calls Angels or any creatures, at his command they come, and are willing to contribute any power or ſtrength they have, to damnifie and deſtroy Gods enemies, Pſal. 78.49. 2 Chron. 32.21. 2 Sam. 24.16. It was at Gods command that the waters drown'd the world, that fire and brimſtone conſum'd Sodome, that the ſtarres fought againſt Siſera, and that the earth opened her mouth, and ſwallowed up Corah, Dathan, and Abiram.