Exposition of Ezekiel 6-13, Commentary on Ezechiel · Chapter 11 · Verse 3 – Verses 4-12
VERS. 3.
Which ſay it is not neare, let us build houſes.
THeſe words are variouſly rendered and interpreted; ſome expound them thus, many are carryed into captivity, the wrath of God is over-paſt, not near, let us therefore build houſes. The vulgar is, nonne dudum aedificatae ſunt domus? were not houſes built long ſince? and their meaning is this; why are you troubled about the ruine of the Citie, as if it ſhould ſuddenly be as Ieremie that falſe Prophet hath ſaid; the Citie is ſo farre from ruining, that you ſee long ſince it hath been increaſed, the old houſes ſtand, new have been added, and Jeremie is proved a lyar, therefore feare not, no ſuch evill ſhall come upon us. Nebuchadnezzar deſtroyed not the houſes heretofore, and can he doe it now? but this vulgar tranſlation ſuits not with the Text.
The Tigurine tranſlation is, non eſt in propinquo contritio, aedificemus igitur domus: and ſo Vatablus, onelyonly igitur he leaves out. Contrition, deſtruction is not near, let us therefore build houſes, this interpretation we condemn not. Montanus goeth that way,The Sept. have it foreign. and addes contritio in the margent. Nonne neviter aedificatae ſunt domus, are not houſes lately, or newly built.
The Heb. is, foreign it is not near to build houſes, here is an infinitive put for an imperative; to build, for let us build, or let houſes be built.
It is not near: what is not near? the deſolation threatned, that they ſaid was not near. Jer. had told them of the Lords wrath, and that a ſore captivity was at hand, and becauſe God had forbade him to marry and beget children, becauſe they ſhould be deſtroyed, as you have it, Jer. 16.2, 3. Thou ſhalt not take thee a wife, neither ſhalt thou have ſonnes or daughters in this place. For thus ſaith the Lord concerning the ſonnes, and concerning the daughters that are born in this place, and concerning their mothers that bare them, and concerning their fathers that begat them in this land, they ſhall dye of grievous deaths, they ſhall not be lamented, neither ſhall they be buried, but they ſhall be as dung upon the face of the earth, and they ſhall be conſumed by the ſword, and by famine, and their carkaſſes ſhall be meat for the fowls of heaven, and for the beaſts of the earth. Theſe ſad tidings had Jeremy made known as being given not only for himſelfe, but others, and hereupon he writ to the captives in Babylon, that they ſhould build houſes, plant gardens,Non prope eſt conſtruantur domus. Caſtal. Procul abſunt qua minantur, vates. Idem. take wives to themſelves, and ſonnes that they might encreaſe, and not diminiſh, as they were like to doe at Jeruſalem, Jer. 29.5, 6. Becauſe of theſe things the people were full of feares, refuſed to build and plant: hereupon theſe Princes of the people counſelled things contrary to God and the Prophet, and ſaid, it is not neare; what Jeremie threatens, or any other Prophet thoſe things they ſpeak of are far off, according to that in Ezek. 12.22. The dayes are prolonged, and every viſion faileth. And v. 27. Hee prophecieth of the times that are afar off, therefore fall a building, plant, multiply, and increaſe, there is no ſuch danger as you dream of.
Some carries i… thus; houſes are not to be built in nearneſſe to the City, and ſo make it military counſell, as if theſe Princes would not have any Suburbs, or neighbouring villages, which might advantage the enemy, if hee ſhould come and take them, and ſo ſhut up the City; therefore they conceive theſe words import thus much, houſes are not to be built neare; that is, they are to be pull'd downe, and the rubbiſh removed.
This Citie is the cauldron, and we be the fleſh.
Theſe words have their difficulty in them: If you take the laſt ſenſe of the former words, then you may underſtand theſe thus; wee are threatned to be boil'd in the ſiege of this City by the Chaldeans, as fleſh is boil'd in a cauldron; but we will take a courſe to prevent that; we will pull down all the houſes without the walls of the City, and near hand, ſo that the enemy ſhall not come neare us, and then we ſhall ſee what truth is in it, that this City is the cauldron, and we the fleſh. Had they ſuch an opportunity to ſit downe in the houſes, they would beſiege us ſtreightly, preſſe us with famine, be as a fire to this City, and conſume us to nothing.
Others think theſe words ſpoken ſcoffingly againſt Jeremiah, who Chap. 1.13. had ſaid, I ſee a ſeething pot, it's the ſame word is here foreign and here it's foreign the cauldron, the ſeething pot: Jeremie had prophecyed that the enemy ſh…uld come from the North, and beſiege them in the City, that they ſhould be as fleſh in a cauldron, boiled with the Chaldean fire till they were conſumed; this they mock at; This City is the cauldron, and we are the fleſh, ſaith that falſe and lying Prophet; for you ſee wee are as before, we ne…d not fear Chaldeans.
A cauldron, 1. is made of ſtrong materials, as braſſe, or the like.
2. It will endure the fire many yeares before it be conſum'd.
3. It conteins the fleſh put into it, and that is not to be taken out till it be throughly boyl'd.
Hence upon theſe grounds they ſcoffed at Jeremie: If the City be the cauldron, it's a ſtrong City, and hath brazen walls, it will endure the fire; let the Chaldeans come as thou ſayeſt, if we be a cauldron, their fire will not melt us: and though they doe boile us, yet we ſhall not be taken out of this cauldron to be eaten before we are throughly boyl'd, till old age & death it ſelfe take us out of it. Thus did theſe Princes prophane that Propheſie, & bred ſecurity in the hearts of the people, & fed them with hopes of liberty and long life. Or thus you may take it, if this Citie be the cauldron, and we the fleſh, we will rather be boyled in it, then be deſtroyed by the ſword; we wil rather dye in the fire, be boyl'd to death, then fall into the hands of our enemies; we will rather dye here, then yeeld our ſelves into their hands, be ſlain out of the City, or be carryed into Babylon, but we feare no ſuch thing: Thus theſe Princes eluded the Propheticall threats, hardned the people in their ill waye, and ripen'd them for deſtruction.
Our Prophet was acted in theſe viſions by the Spirit;Obſer. 1. ſometimes it entered into him, ſometime it fell upon him, and ſometime it lifted him up, Chap. 2.2. Chap. 3.24. The ſpirit entered into me. Chap. 1.3.8.1. The hand of the Lord (that is, the Spirit) came upon me, fell upon me: and Chap. 3.12. The ſpirit tooke mee up: and here, the ſpirit lift me up. The Spirit had much to doe with our Prophet, and ſo with all the Prophets, they were acted by the Spirit in all their viſions and propheſies, they were lift up above themſelves, and out of themſelves, when they were to have cognizance of Divine things.
2. The Spirit is God, it knows men and their ways, it diſcoverd them unto the Prophet. Here the Spirit took notice of theſe men, what deviſes they had in their heads, what counſell they gave, and acquainted the Prophet with them: ſo before in the 8. Chap. the Spirit ſhewed him the Image of Jealouſie, the 70. men that were offering Incenſ… to the Idolls, the women that wept for Tammuz, the 25. men that worſhipped the Sunne, and put the branch to their noſe: as it's ſaid of the Sun, Pſal. 19.6. there is nothing hid from the heate thereof. So much more of the Spirit, there is nothing hid from his knowledge, 1 Cor. 2.10. The ſpirit ſearcheth all things; all in heaven, and all in earth, all things in the cloſets, in the heart, Pſal. 139.7. Whither ſhall I goe from thy Spirit. David could not hide himſelfe from the ſight and preſence of Gods ſpirit, neither can we. Let us looke well therefore unto our wayes, the ſpirit may make them known to the Prophets and ſervants of God.
3. That men chiefe in dignity and place are for the moſt part corrupt: Here were the 25. who bare the ſway in the City, and had great power, all confederate in wickedneſſe, Iſa. 1.10. he calls their Rulers rulers of Sodome, becauſe of their extream wickedneſſe, and he excepts none, they were generally ſuch: ſo Neh. 13.11. I contended with the rulers, and ſaid, why is the houſe of God forſaken? They kept away the portions of the Levites, and therefore they left the houſe of God: ſo verſ. 17. The Nobles of Judah they prophaned the Sabbath day, and brought wrath upon Iſrael. 2 Chron. 24.17, 28. The Princes of Judah were all idolatrous, and led Joaſh into idolatrous practiſes, (but they were quickly after all ſlain for it, v. 23.) John 7.48. Have any of the Rulers believed in him: They were ſo wicked even all of them, that they could make their boaſt; have any of them believed in him? No, no, they are not for Chriſt and his wayes, Jer. 5.5. I will get, me unto the great men, and will ſpeak unto them, for they have known the way of the Lord, and the judgement of their God; but theſe have altogether broken the yoke, and burſt the bonds. The Prophet thought the great ones, who had great obligations upon them to honour God, who knew what pertein'd to worſhip & juſtice, that they would hearken to h…m; but they caſt off all reſpect, ſubjection, and obedience to the law of God; they followed their owne wills, luſts, humours, they regarded neither equity nor honeſty, they were farre worſe then the poorer ſort whom the Prophet had tryed alſo. Luke mentions but one Judge, and he was an unjuſt one: Are not too many of the great ones among us corrupt, looſe, and enemies to Chriſt and his Kingdome?
4. It's matter of mourning when thoſe are ſet over others to be puniſhers of the wicked, countenancers of the godly, examples of piety & vertue, and ſhould ſeek the good of the publique, prove cleane otherwiſe, and are actors and patrons of wickedneſſe; the Spirit here is affected with it, and affects the Prophet. Sonne of man, theſe are the men that doe ſo, theſe pervert, obſtruct juſtice, theſe encourage evill doers, theſe ſad the hearts of the godly, theſe hinder good deſignes, theſe are the men that ſeeke themſelves, that cry, give, give, and love to have it ſo, theſe be the men that pretend the good of the eſtate and people, but are the ruine of both. This was matter of griefe to heaven and earth, Iſa. 1.10. when the Prophet had tearm'd them rulers of Sodome, he complains, verſ. 23. ſaying, Thy Princes O Jeruſalem are rebellious, and companions of thieves, every one loveth gifts, and followeth after rewards, they judge not the fatherleſſe, neither doth the cauſe of the widow come unto them. They ſought themſelves, not the good of particulars, or the publique, and this troubled the Prophet, and not only him, but the Lord alſo; for it follows in the next verſ. Therefore ſaith the Lord, the Lord of haſts, the mightie one of Iſrael, Ah, I will eaſe me of mine adverſaries, and avenge me of mine enemies. God had beene wearied a…d grieved with them a long time, and though they were many, and mighty, yet hee was the Lord of Hoſts &c. This argument did affect God much, and hee was oft upon it, Iſa. 3.12. As for my people, children are their oppreſſors, and women rule over them. O my people, they which lead thee, cauſe thee to erre, and deſtroy the way of thy path, they deſtroyed Juſtice and Religion.
5. There will never be wanting in any place men to deviſe miſ…; In Jeruſalem there were men whoſe hearts, heads, and tongues were at worke.Dan. 6.7. All the Preſidents of the Kingd. Governours, Princes, Councellors, Captains, deviſed a plot againſt Daniel. In the 8. Chap. he tels you of the 70. Antients, & of the 25. who had all deviſed, and were practiſing miſchiefe. In Shuſhan was not wanting a Haman to deviſe miſchiefe againſt the Jewes, Eſt. 8.3. Pharaoh and his Courtiers deviſed miſchiefe againſt the Jewes, Exod. 1. There were thoſe deviſed to take away Davids life, Pſal. 31.13. They imagined a miſchievous deviſe, Pſal. 21.11. No City, no Kingdome was ever free from men of deceitfull, wicked, and miſchievous devices, and no time ever abounded more with ſuch men, and ſuch devices, then our times: & if I ſhould ſay no place more then this Kingdome, I ſhould not much fail. Who can reckon up the miſchievous devices have been againſt the Eſtates, Lawes, Liberties, Religion and Conſciences of the people of this Kingdome. Ship money was a cunning deviſe to dry up their eſtates: Prerogative was cryed up to bring the lawes and liberties of the Subject downe. Innovations and new Cannons were Prelaticall devices to rid you of your Religion and Conſciences, to make way for Popery. What wicked devices have been againſt the Parliament, againſt this Citie, againſt this Kingdome; what ever hath been deviſed for the good of all, hath met with Anti-croſſe devices. There be thoſe deviſe as ſtrongly and ſpeedily to ruine us, as any doe to relieve us. The device againſt Ireland was a bloody and miſchievous device, and bloody devices are in mens heads againſt us: but here is the comfort, Job. 5.12. God diſappointeth the devices of the crafty, ſo that their hands cannot performe their enterprize. They deviſe to undoe all, but they cannot, Mic. 2.1. Woe to them that deviſe iniquity. God hath threatned, and though they cannot accompliſh their devices, yet he will accompliſh his threats, Prov. 12.2. A man of wicked devices will be condemn. Many of wicked devices have been amongſt us, and hath not the Lord condemn'd them?
6. Men in place being evill, they make others evill; they doe not only deviſe miſchiefe, but communicate miſchiefe, they give and obtrude ill counſell upon others: Theſe that were in place, eſpecially Jaazaniah and Pelatiah the Princes, they gave out ill counſell to the people: They and ſuch men doe the greateſt hurt, their power, honour, eſtates, examples, are prevalent with the people, and when they counſell corruptly, their counſell takes and infect a multitude quickly. Jeroboam tels the people it was too much for them to goe up to Jeruſalem, that was a long journey, would be very chargeable, and might prove dangerous, therefore he had taken a better courſe for them, he had made Calves, ſet them up for gods at Dan and Bethel, and now they ſhould neede to goe no further for to worſhip; this counſell took. Balack being adviſed by Balaam, counſels the Moabitiſh women to entice the Iſraelites to folly, which tooke; and they drew them both to whoredome and idolatry, Numb. 25.12. with Chap. 31.16. Ill counſell from great ones doth great miſchiefe, Nah. 1.11. There is one come out of thee that imagineth evill againſt the Lord, a wicked Councellour: It's ſpoken of Nineveh concerning Senacherib: Wee have many come out of us that are wicked Councellors, and prevaile with the people to doe what they counſell. Did not Prelates, Judges, Nobles, Princes, lately give ill counſels, and were not the people too forward to hearken. All counſels that ſeeme good are not alwayes ſafe, men ſhould therefore examine others counſels, whethey they be ſuch as agree with the word of God, are really for the good of Church or State, before they approve or entertain th…m.
Take heed what counſels you take from great ones that are corrupt; this hath endangered Cities, Churches, whole Kingdomes. Take counſell of the great God, who daſheth all wicked counſels, and eſtabliſheth his owne, Pſal. 33.10, 11. He brings the counſels of men to nought, but the counſell of God endures for ever.
7. That great ones are greatly ſecure, they put the evill day far from them, It is not neare. They are laviſh to entertain thoughts that may diſquiet their hearts, or ſhake their foundations. Honours, pleaſures, …ecular affairs take them up ſo, that they feare not changes, they conſider not the evill day, they are as quiet as men that are in Covenant one with another. Iſa. 28, 14, 15. Thoſe rul'd the people, they ſaid, Wee have made a covenant with death, and with hell are we at agreement. When the overflowing ſcourge ſhall paſſe through, it ſhall not come unto us. The great ones were Covenanters, ſuch as rul'd the City; but with whom did they covenant, with Death and Hell, and now fear'd not any threatnings of them by the Prophets. Although the Prophets threatned Death, Hell to them, it was as nothing, they feared not. Some think they being Idolatrous, ſacrificed to Pluto, fatum Atropos, thoſe gods they conceived had power over Death and Hell, and ſo had them their friends, and liv'd without fear, Amos 6.3. Hee tels you of ſome put farre away the evill day; but who were they? Men of place and power, they were ſuch as cauſed the ſeate of violence to come near, that lay upon beds of Ivory, that ſtretched themſelves upon their couches, and did eate the lambs out of the flocks, and Calves out of the midſt of the ſtall; they were dauncers, drinkers, and ſuch as anointed themſelves wi…h the chiefeſt oyntments. Theſe are men ſetled on their lees, as Zeph. ſpeaks, Chap. 1.12. They were like wine in veſſels, not emptied from veſſell to veſſell, but ſetled in their ſinfull ſecurity: and not only great ones are ſecure, but Zach. 1.11. The Angell told the man among the myrtle trees, that all the earth ſate ſtill and was at reſt. Security is an epidemicall diſeaſe.
8. See the impiety and prophaneſſe of theſe men:
1. They oppoſe God, and give contrary counſell to what he had given by Jeremie, that they ſhould not build houſes in that place, but in Babylon, Jer. 29.5, 6. and that becauſe of the great judgment was comming upon them; but they ſay it is not neare, let us build houſes, there is no danger: or if the enemy ſhould come, we had need build and ſtrengthen our ſelves; thus they counſell contrary to the Prophet, and to God.
2. Their prophaneſſe, they ſcoffe at the word of God: This Citie is the cauldron, we are the fleſh. Jeremie had told them that God would bring the Chaldeans upon them, and boyle them in that City like fleſh in a Cauldron: This they ſcoffe at, ſtrengthening their malice and prophaneneſſe from abuſe of the word of God.This made Jer. ſay, I am in deriſion daily, every one mocketh me, & the word of the Lord was made a reproach unto me, and a deriſion daily, Jer. 20.7, 8. There is ſuch corruption in the heart of man, that it turnes the beſt things of all into bitterneſſe. Iſa. 28.14, 15. Heare the word of the Lord yee ſcornefull men. The Hebrew is, foreign viri deriſionis, they mock'd and ſcoffed at what was prophecyed; what ever the Prophet threatned, they derided it, therefore verſ. 22. Be not mockers, leſt your bands be made ſtrong, leſt you have double fetters, double judgements, 2 Chron. 36.16. They mocked the meſſengers of God, and deſpiſed his words, all his threatnings. And Peter, 2 Pet. 3.3, 4. tels us, there ſhall come ſcoffers, walking after their own luſts, ſaying, where is the promiſe of his comming. Thoſe under the law ſcoffed at the threatnings; theſe under the times of the Goſpell ſcoffe at the promiſes. Thoſe of Chriſts comming, of the reſurrection, laſt judgement, the end of all, and life eternall, ſuch as theſe walk after their own luſts, they bring a Citie into a ſnare, Prov. 29.8. The Sept. tranſlates the word ſcornfull, Pſal. 1.1. foreign peſtes, foreignbecauſe ſuch men are peſtilent men, the very plagues of Church and State, contemners of God & men. Jude ſaid it long ſince, that there ſhould be mockers in the laſt time, and we have found it true; there be as prophane, bitter ſcoffers amongſt us, as ever were; even the truths of God are ſcorn'd and ſcofft at.
9. No devices, counſels, attempts of men can null or fruſtrate the purpoſes of God: They deviſe miſchief, give ill counſell, ſcoffe at the truths of God, put the people upon contrary deſignes, yet all this would not doe, deſolation was neare, the Chaldeans came, they were beſieged in that Citie, boil'd in it as fleſh in a Cauldron, and Gods counſels, truths, threats tooke place, notwithſtanding all their counſels and endeavours to the contrary. Balaam was hired by Balack to croſſe Gods deſigne in curſing of his people, he attempted to doe it, but God overpowred him, he could not do or ſpeak ought to their prejudice, Numb. 23.38. therefore he profeſſed, Chap. 23.23. Surely there is no inchantment againſt Jacob, neither is there any divination againſt Iſrael: according to this time it ſhall be ſaid of Jacob and of Iſrael, what hath God wrought. Man would have wrought miſchief, but could not; what hath God wrought? he hath wrought, and none could hinder; therefore Iſa. 14.27. its ſaid, the Lord of Hoſts hath purpoſed, and who ſhall diſannul it; not Balack or Balaam, not Jaaz…niah or Pelatiah, not the 25. Rulers in Jeruſalem: his hand is …tretched out, and who ſhall turn it back? It's not in the power of Princes, no not the Prince of darkneſſe, to let his worke, to alter his counſels, what God hath determined, ſhall ſo come to paſſe as he hath determined, v. 24. Surely as I have thought, ſo ſhall it come to paſſe, and as I have purpoſed, it ſhall ſtand, and all his pleaſure ſhall be done, Iſa. 46.10. ſo that there is no wiſdom, nor underſtanding, nor counſell againſt the Lord, Prov. 21.30.
VERS. 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12.
Therefore propheſie againſt them, propheſie, O Son of man.
And the Spirit of the Lord fell upon me, and ſaid unto me, Speake, Thus ſaith the Lord: Thus have ye ſaid, O houſe of Iſrael: for I know the things that come into your mind, every one of them.
Ye have multiplyed your ſlain in this Citie, & ye have filled the ſtreets thereof with your ſlain.
Therefore thus ſaith the Lord God, Your ſlain, whom ye have laid in the mids of it; they are the fleſh, and this Citie is the cauldron: but I will bring you forth out of the midſt of it.
Ye have feared the ſword, and I will bring a ſword upon you ſaith the Lord God.
And I will bring you out of the midſt thereof, and deliver you into the hands of ſtrangers, and will execute judgements among you.
Ye ſhall fall by the ſword, I will judge you in the border of Iſrael, & ye ſhall know that I am the Lord.
This City ſhall not be your cauldron, neither ſhall ye be the fleſh in the midſt thereof, but I will judge you in the border of Iſrael.
And ye ſhall know that I am the Lord, for ye have not walked, in my ſtatutes, neither executed my judgements, but have done after the manners of the heathen that are round about you.
IN theſe verſes is contain'd the denunciation of judgement againſt theſe deviſers of miſchiefe, and wicked Counſellors. The parts are theſe.
1. A command, Propheſie againſt them, verſ. 4.
2. A diſcovery of their thoughts and counſels, v. 5.
3. Demonſtration of their wickedneſſe, v. 6. Thoſe hearkned not to their counſels, they ſlew.
4. The death of theſe Counſellors, and place where it ſhould be, not in Jeruſalem, but in the borders of Iſrael, v. 8, 9, 10, 11.
5. The end of God in it, v. 11, & 12.
6. The ground of G ds proceeding thus with them, v. 12. For yee have not walked, &c.