Bible Commentaries

The hand of the LORD was upon me, and carried me out in the spirit of the LORD, and set me down in the midst of the valley which [was] full of ^a bones,

(a) He shows by a great miracle that God has power and will deliver his people from their captivity, in as much as he is able to give life to the dead bones and bodies and raise them up again.

Then said he to me, Prophesy to the wind, prophesy, son of man, and say to the wind, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Come from the four ^b winds, O breath, and breathe upon these slain, that they may live.

(b) Signifying all places where the Israelites were scattered that is, the faithful will be brought to the same unity of spirit and doctrine wherever they are scattered through the world.

And ye shall know that I [am] the LORD, ^c when I have opened your graves, O my people, and brought you out of your graves,

(c) That is, when I have brought you out of those places and towns where you are captives.

Moreover, thou son of man, take thee one stick, and write upon it, For Judah, and for the children of Israel his companions: then take ^d another stick, and write upon it, For Joseph, the stick of Ephraim, and [for] all the house of Israel his companions:

(d) Which signifies the joining together of the two houses of Israel and Judah.

Say to them, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I will take the stick ^e of Joseph, which [is] in the hand of Ephraim, and the tribes of Israel his fellows, and will put them with him, [even] with the stick of Judah, and make them one stick, and they shall be one in my hand.

(e) That is, the house of Israel.

And they shall dwell in the ^f land that I have given to Jacob my servant, in which your fathers have dwelt; and they shall dwell in it, [even] they, and their children, and their children's children for ever: and my servant David [shall be] their prince for ever.

(f) Meaning that the elect by Christ will dwell in heaven by Jerusalem, which is meant by the land of Canaan.