Bible Commentaries

the LORD. Hebrew. Jehovah. App-4.

Son of man. See note on Ezekiel 2:1.

holy. See note on Exodus 3:5.

the land of Israel = the soil of Israel, Hebrew. "admath Israel. See note on Ezekiel 11:17.

Behold. Figure of speech Asterismos. App-6.

draw forth My sword, See note on Ezekiel 5:2, Ezekiel 5:17, and Ezekiel 12:14.

the righteous, &c. Therefore Ezekiel 18:2, Ezekiel 18:3, is not yet ful filled, but corresponds with the green tree and the dry of Ezekiel 20:47.

the righteous = a righteous one.

the wicked = a lawless one. Heb, rasha". App-44.

it shall not return, &c.: i.e. until it has executed its mission.

spirit. Hebrew. ruach, App-9.

saith the Lord GOD = [is] Adonai Jehovah's oracle. See note on Ezekiel 2:4.

the LORD = Jehovah. App-4. Some codices, with three early printed editions (one Rabbinic in margin), read Adonai. App-4.

A sword, a sword. Figure of speech Epizeuxis (App-6), for emphasis = a great or sharp sword.

make a sore slaughter. Figure of speech Polyptbton (App-6), for emphasis. Hebrew to slay a slaughter.

glitter = flash as lightning.

should we then make mirth? or, "should we flourish [the sceptre of My son (i.e. of Judah? "

it, &c. i.e. "Jehovah's sword despiseth the [wooden] sceptre of My son (i.e. Judah), as [it despiseth] every tree". The Ellipsis is to be thus supplied.

rod = sceptre.

the slayer: i.e. the king of Babylon.

it: i.e. the sword of Jehovah, the king of Babylon.

princes = leaders.

be = come.

terrors by, &c. = who shall be delivered to the sword with My People.

smite therefore, &c. This was the symbol of grief in man, as beating the breast was in woman.

it is a trial = sit (Jehovah's sword) has been tried (or proved).

and what, &c. = and what [will happen or be the result] if [Jehovah's sword shall not despise] the [wooden] sceptre?

it shall be no more = it will not [despise it.

saith the Lord GOD = [is] Adonai Jehovah's oracle.

smite thine hands together, &c. A sign of disappointment or grief in men. Reference to Pentateuch (Numbers 24:10).

their ruins = the overthrown. So the Septuagint and Syriac. Compare Jeremiah 18:23.

bright = bright as lightning.

wrapped up keen, or sharp.

Go thee. Figure of speech Apostrophe. App-6. Addressedto the sword.

thee: i.e. the sword. Not Ezekiel. It is feminine, not masculine: = Go to the right, turn to the left: or, One stroke to the right, another to the left, &c.

thy face = thine edge.

I will also smite, &c. Figure of speech Anthropopatheia. App-6.

that the sword . . . may come = for the sword to come.

both twain = the two ways.

choose thou a place = grave a hand: i.e. set up a

sign = post.

stood = bath come to a stand.

to use divination = to divine a divination.

made his arrows bright = hath shaken his arrows. This was one of the modes of divination by which the arrow (marked like a lot), gave the decision.

images = teraphim.

looked in, &c. = inspected the liver; another mode of divination. It healthy or double and the lobes inclined inward, the omen was favourable; but if diseased or too dry, or without a lobe or a band between the parts, the omen was unfavourable.

appoint captains = set up battering-rams. Compare Ezekiel 4:2.

the mouth in the slaughter = a hole by a breach.

shouting = a war shout.

and. Some codices, with four early printed editions (one Rabbinic in margin), Aramaean, Septuagint, and Syriac, read this "and" in the text.

a fort = a siege wall.

them: i.e. Zedekiah and the rulers in Jerusalem. sworn oaths. Referring to Zedekiah's reacherous breach of faith with the king of Babylon. See Ezekiel 17:11-21.

iniquity = treachery. Hebrew. "avdh. App-44.

transgressions = rebellion (plural of Majesty) = great rebellion. Hebrew. pasha". App-44.

sins. Hebrew. chata". App-44. plural of Majesty = great sin.

with the hand = captured, or made captives.

profane = pierced through: i.e. deadly wounded

one. Zedekiah a type of the future Antichrist. Compare Revelation 13:3.

wicked = lawless. Hebrew. rasha . App-44. x,

iniquity . . . an end. Figure of speech Hypallage. App-8, Hebrew "iniquity of the end" = an end

of the iniquity. Hebrew. "avah, as in Ezekiel 21:23.

be the same: or, endure. They might exalt and abase. but Jehovah would not recognise it.

overturn, &c. Figure of speech Epizeuxis (App-6), for great emphasis.

until He come: i.e. the promised Messiah Reference to Pentateuch (Genesis 49:10). App-92. See Isaiah 9:6, Isaiah 9:7; Isaiah 42:1. Jeremiah 23:5; Jeremiah 33:17. Zechariah 6:12, Zechariah 6:13, &c.

their reproach. Brought against Jerusalem. See Jeremiah 49:1. Zephaniah 2:8.

to consume = that when it beginneth it may flash like lightning.

the wicked = wicked ones (plural) their. Refers to "them" (Ezekiel 21:23).

men. Hebrew, plural of "enosh. App-14.