Bible Commentaries

Ezekiel 15:1 And the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,

Ver. 1. And the word of the Lord came unto me.] This shortest chapter is added to all the foregoing as a corollary. It consisteth of a type or simile, and the application thereof. It is God’s usual way, and should be ours, to teach by similitudes. See Hosea 12:10. {See Trapp on "Hosea 12:10"}

Ezekiel 15:2 Son of man, What is the vine tree more than any tree, [or than] a branch which is among the trees of the forest?

Ver. 2. What is the vine tree more than any tree?] The Jews took upon them, because a "vine brought out of Egypt," and such as God’s own right hand had planted. But insomuch as they were now become fruitless and also useless "trees twice dead, plucked up by the roots," [ 1:12] what had they to glory in above other nations? Surely they were therefore worse than others, because they ought to have been better. True it is that a vine in itself, considered with the fruit it beareth, is no contemptible tree. But if it be withered or pulled out of the earth, it is no way comparable to other trees or shrubs, which, when felled, are put to sundry good uses that the vine - lignum tenus, gibbosum et tortuosum - a crooked, low, writhen thing - will never serve to; as to make spears, doors, tables, ships, houses, &c.

Ezekiel 15:3 Shall wood be taken thereof to do any work? or will [men] take a pin of it to hang any vessel thereon?

Ver. 3. Shall wood be taken thereof to do any work?] No, hardly. It is good for nothing; no, not so much as to make a pin or a peg of to hang a hat or bridle on, because it is a sappy and brittle wood. Think the same of that empty vine, the profligate professor, being abominable, disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate. [Titus 1:16]

Ezekiel 15:4 Behold, it is cast into the fire for fuel; the fire devoureth both the ends of it, and the midst of it is burned. Is it meet for [any] work?

Ver. 4. Behold, it is cast into the fire for fuel.] But then it must be taken before it be overly dry; and so Cornelius A Lapide testifieth that they burn little else in Italy but fagots made of vine branches. See John 15:6. {See Trapp on "John 15:6"}

The midst of it is burned.] Ustulatum; scorched and seared, so that it is altogether unuseful, and is therefore cast again into the fire, out of which, for some other purpose, it had been pulled. Woe to apostates; the hottest fire in hell abideth them.

Ezekiel 15:5 Behold, when it was whole, it was meet for no work: how much less shall it be meet yet for [any] work, when the fire hath devoured it, and it is burned?

Ver. 5. Behold, when it was whole.] The Jews, when at best, were too too bad; a foolish people and unwise, disobedient and gainsaying all the day long. How much more then now that they are hardened and seared with so many judgments?

Ezekiel 15:6 Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD As the vine tree among the trees of the forest, which I have given to the fire for fuel, so will I give the inhabitants of Jerusalem.

Ver. 6. As the vine tree.] Adaptat parabolam. Here beginneth the apodosis or application of the parable. That which is not for fruit is for the fire. Salt which hath lost the savour is thrown out.

So will I give the inhabitants of Jerusalem.] Those sinners in Zion; [Isaiah 33:14] those sacrificing Sodomites; [Isaiah 1:10] I will make them a fiery oven in the time of mine anger; I will swallow them up in my wrath; [Psalms 21:9] besides that, hell gapeth for them.

Ezekiel 15:7 And I will set my face against them; they shall go out from [one] fire, and [another] fire shall devour them; and ye shall know that I [am] the LORD, when I set my face against them.

Ver. 7. And I will set my face aguinst them.] See Ezekiel 14:8, Leviticus 17:10.

They shall go out from one fire.] And then think themselves safe and happy; but this is but gaucdium lachrymosum; their preservation is but only a reservation; for

Another fire shall devour them.] A man pulleth a brand out of the fire sometimes, and then presently casteth it in again. He gathereth up the stick ends, but it is to cast them into the middle of the fire. So dealeth God often with the wicked; to whom also whatsoever they suffer here is but a typical Tophet. See Amos 5:19, Jeremiah 48:43.

And ye shall know that I am the Lord,] i.e., True of my word, and terrible in mine executions. The prophets could not get you to believe that your sins were so heinous, that my wrath was so hot, that your judgments were so heavy, &c.; but now ye shall surely feel what you would not then believe, and cry out, Nos insensati, &c. Oh we fools, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets had spoken unto us.

When I set my face against them.] As being fully resolved to have my full blow at them, and to pay them home.

Ezekiel 15:8 And I will make the land desolate, because they have committed a trespass, saith the Lord GOD.

Ver. 8. And I will make the land desolate.] The land itself often suffereth, propter incolarum inemendabilem malitiam, "for the wickedness of them that dwell therein." [Psalms 107:4] Idolatry especially is a land desolating sin.

Because they have committed a trespass.] A grand trespass, a wickedness with a witness; they have deeply revolted, and backslidden with a perpetual backsliding. Apostates, as they sin not common sins, so, with Korah and his complices, they die not common deaths many times.