Transcription
THE BOOK OF THE PROPHETEZEKIEL.THE STRUCTURE OF THE BOOK AS A WHOLE.(Introversion and Extended Alternation)Click to follow 23—33.34:1—31.35:1—48:35.THE DESOLATION.PROPHETS AND PROPHETESSES.ELDERS.THE LAND AND CITY. (JUDGMENT.)JERUSALEM. (DESERTED INFANT.)BABYLONIAN WAR. (PARABLE.)THE PEOPLE. PROVERB. (SOUR GRAPES.)THE PRINCES OF ISRAEL.ELDERS.THE LAND AND CITY. (JUDGMENTS.)JERUSALEM. (TWO SISTERS.)BABYLONIAN WAR. (PARABLE.)THE PEOPLE. SIGN. (WATCHMAN.)THE INHABITANT OF THE WASTES.SHEPHERDS AND FLOCK.THE RESTORATION.NOTES ON THE STRUCTURE OF THE BOOK OF EZEKIEL.For the Canonical order and place of the Prophets, see Ap. 1 and p. 1206.For the Chronological order of the Prophets, see Ap. 77.For the Inter-relation of the Prophetical Books, see Ap. 78.For the Formulae of Prophetic utterances, see Ap. 82.For the Chronological order of Ezekiel’s prophecy, see below.For the References to the Pentateuch in the Prophetical Books, see Ap. 92.For the Plan of Ezekiel’s temple, see Ap. 88.The Canonical order of Ezekiel’s prophecies is Logical, but not strictly Chronological. Later utterances and visions are recorded intheir logical connections rather than in their historical sequence. This latter is noted, so that we make no mistake. When this fact isobserved, and the records discriminated, the meaning becomes perfectly clear. See the table below.This is Page 1104/05 from The Companion Bible.The Companion Bible (Condensed): EZEKIEL: Page: 1
They may be set out as follows:—THE DATED YEARS IN EZEKIEL.These are thirteen in number, and cover a period of twenty-one years (a period of three sevens) : viz. from 484-3 to 463-2 B.C.Arranged chronologically, the seventh stands in the center, with six on either side.Reckoning the three in the 11th year as one year, and the three in the 12th year, as one year, we have nine several years: viz. the 5th, 6th,7th, 9th, 10th, 11th, and 12th (seven) : and then, after a break of thirteen years, we have two: viz. the 25th and 27th.Year of theCaptivity ofJehoiachin.All these prophecies wereuttered beforethe fall of Jerusalem.These prophecies were uttered at andafter the fallof Jerusalem.Month.Day.Chapters.B. C.5th5th6th7th9th10th11th4th Thammuz (July)4th Thammuz (July)6th Elul (Sept.)5th Ab (Aug.)10th Tebeth (Jan.)10th Tebeth (Jan.)1st Abid, or Nisan (April) 15th12th5th10th10th12th1st1:1, 23:168:120:124:129:126:148448448348248047911th1st Abid, or Nisan (April)7th30:2047811th12th12th12th25th27th3rd Sivan (June)12th Adar (March)12th Adar (March) 210th (Tebeth (Jan.)1st Abid, or Nisan (April)1st Abid, or Nisan 9:17477465463The 30th year of 1:1, 2 cannot be in succession to the 27th year of ch. 29:17-21, because the visions of ch. 1 and 10 had already beenseen, and the one recorded in ch. 10 is said to have been similar to that already seen in ch. 1. Moreover, if it be in succession to the 27thyear, why is it brought into the very beginning of the book without any reason being assigned, or hint given?The 30th year of 1:1 cannot have anything to do with Ezekiel’s age, or with the commencement of his service as priest; for this is tomisread Num. 4:3, which states that “all that enter into the host, to do the work of the tabernacle”, were taken after the end of the 29thyear, “from thirty years old and upward, even until fifty years”. Moreover, this thirty years’ rule was abrogated by Divine direction toDavid in 1 Chron. 23:24—27 (cp. 2 Chron. 31:17), and changed to “twenty years old and upward”.The 30th year cannot be fitted into any sequence of dates commencing with the fifth year of Jehoiachin’s Captivity (1:2), which, in33:21 and 40:1, he speaks of as “our captivity”.It must therefore be a cross-date to some unnamed terminus a quo, thirty years before the 5th year of the Captivity. This fixes it asbeing that epoch-making year 513 B.C., which was the year of Josiah’s great Passover, and of the finding the Book of the Law in the 18thyear of King Josiah. From 513 B.C. to 484 B.C. is exactly twenty-nine complete years. So also reckons the learned Prideaux(Connection, vol. 1, p.71, McCaul’s ed., No month is named; but, by comparing 30:20, it must be the 1st month.No month is named; but it was probably the same as in v. 1.This is Page 1105- from The Companion Bible.The Companion Bible (Condensed): EZEKIEL: Page: 2
THE BOOK OF THE PROPHETEZEKIEL.1And it came to pass in the thirtieth year, in the fourth month, in thefifth day of the month, as I was among the captives by the river ofKhabour, that the heavens were opened, and I saw visions from God .2 In the 1fifth day of the month, which was the fifth year of kingJehoiachin's captivity,3 The word of the LORD came in reality unto Ezekiel the priest, the sonof Buzi, in the land of the Chaldeans by the river Chebar; and *the hand ofthe LORD became there upon him.4 And I looked, and, *behold, a whirlwind came out of the north, a greatcloud, and a fire taking hold of itself, and a brightness was about it, and outof the midst thereof as the colour of glowing metal, in the midst of the fire.5 Also out of the midst thereof came the likeness of four living creatures[the Cherubim]. And this was their appearance; they had the likeness of aman.6 And every one had four faces, and every one had four wings.7 And their feet were unjointed feet; and the sole of their feet was like thesole of a calf's foot: and they sparkled like the colour of burnished brass.8 And they had the hand of a man under their wings on their four sides;and they four had their faces and their wings.9 Their wings were joined one to another; they turned not when they went;they went every one straight forward.10 As for the likeness of their faces, they four had the face of a man, andthe face of a lion, on the right side: and they four had the face of an ox onthe left side; they four also had the face of an eagle.11 Thus were their faces: and their wings were spread out from above; twowings of every one were joined one to another, and two covered their bodies.12 And they went every one straight forward: whither the spirit was to go,they went; and they turned not when they went.13 As for the likeness of the living creatures, their appearance was likeburning coals of fire, and like the appearance of the lamp: it went up anddown among the living creatures; and the fire was bright, and out of the firekept going forth lightning.14 And the 5living creatures kept running and returning as the appearanceof a flash of lightning.15 Now as I beheld the living creatures, *behold one wheel upon the earth bythe living creatures, with his four faces.16 And the appearance of the wheels and their work was like unto the colourof a beryl: and they four had one likeness: and their appearance and theirwork was as it were a wheel in the middle of a wheel.17 When they went, they went upon their four sides: and they turned notwhen they went.18 As for their rings, they were so high that they were dreadful; and theirrings were full of eyes round about them four.19 And when the living ones went, the wheels went by them: and whenthe living ones were lifted up from the earth, the wheels were lifted up.The Companion Bible (Condensed): EZEKIEL: Page: 3Ezekiel. In Heb. Y heze el yehazzek-el Elis strong, or El strengthens (cp. Isra-el, Gen.32:28).Of the four greater prophets, Ezekiel andDaniel (who prophesied in Babylonia) arecompounded with “El” (Ap. 4. IV); whileIsaiah and Jeremiah (who prophesied in theland) are compound with “Jah”.Ezekiel was a priest (1:3), carried away elevenyears before the destruction of the city andtemple (1:2; 33:21. 2Kings 24:14). He dweltin his own house (8:1. Cp. Jer. 29:5). He wasmarried; and his wife died in the year whenthe siege of Jerusalem began.1. 1And. This is a link in the propheticchain. Cp. 1Pet. 1:10-12. 2Pet. 1:21. Ezekielhad doubtless received and seen the letter sentby Jeremiah (Jer. 29:1-31).thirtieth fourth. See notes on p. 1105.fifth day. Dates in Ezekiel are always of themonth, not of the week (1:1; 8:1; 20:1; 24:1;26:1; 29:1; 30:20; 31:1; 32:1; 40:1).2 Fifth year. B.C. 484. Cp. 2 Kings 24:12,15.Jehoiachin. Called also Jeconiah, andConiah. Cp. 2Kings 24:17-20; 25:1-21.3 Ezekiel. See the Title. the priest. Andcalled, as Jeremiah was, to the office asprophet as well. became. Cp. Elijah (1Kings18:46); Elisha (2Kings 3:15); Daniel (Dan.10:10, 18); and John (Rev. 1:17).4 whirlwind. Heb. ruach spirit, but it cameto be rendered “storm or whirlwind”. Note thethree symbols of Jehovah’s glory, Storm,Cloud, and Fire. Cp. Nah. 1:3. Rev. 4:5. outof the north. See note on Ps. 75:6, and Isa.14:13. taking hold of itself. Human andfinite language is unable to find words toexpress infinite realities. It may meanspontaneous ignition: i.e. without theapplication of external fire. Cp. Ex. 9:24.5 four living creatures. These are “theCherubim”. See Ap.41. The zoa of Rev. 4:6.7 unjointed. The living creatures did notmove by walking.8 hand. Heb. text reads “hand”. Somecodices, with two early printed editions andHeb. text marg., read “hands” (pl.), followedby A.V. and R.V. The sing. is to be preferred,and is so rendered in 10:17. Why not here?10 faces. See Ap.41.12 spirit. Heb. ruach. Ap.9.17 turned. The 1611 edition of the A.V.reads “returned”.18 high. In the sense of sublimity.19 the living ones. Cp. vv. 21, 22; 9:3;10:15, 20. The four were one.
1. 20.EZEKIEL.20 Whithersoever the 12spirit was to go, they went, thither was their12spirit to go; and the wheels were lifted up over against them: for the12spirit of the living one was in the wheels.21 When those went, these went; and when those stood, these stood; andwhen those were lifted up from the earth, the wheels were lifted up overagainst them: for the 12spirit of the living one was in the wheels.22 And the likeness of the Oexpanse upon the heads of the livingcreature was as the colour of the terrible crystal, spread out over theirheads upward.23 And under the expanse were their wings level, the one toward theother: every one had two, which covered on this side, and every onehad two, which covered on that side, their bodies.24 And when they went, I heard the Onoise of their wings, like the noiseof great waters, as the noise of OTHE ALMIGHTY, the noise of tumult,as the noise of an host: when they stood, they let down their wings.25 And there was a noise from the expanse that was over their heads,when they stood, and had let down their wings.26 And above the expanse that was over their heads was the likeness ofa throne, as the appearance of a sapphire stone: and upon the likeness ofthe throne was the likeness as the appearance of a man above upon it.27 And I saw as the colour of glowing metal, as the appearance of fireround about within it, from the appearance of his loins even upward,and from the appearance of his loins even downward, I saw as it werethe appearance of fire, and it had brightness round about.28 As the appearance of Othe bow that is in the cloud in the day of rain,so was the appearance of the brightness round about. This was theappearance of the likeness of the glory of the LORD. And when I sawit, OI fell upon my face, and I heard a 24voice of One That spake.2And He Who was enthroned said unto me, Oson of Adam, Ostandupon thy feet, and I will speak unto thee.2 And Othe Ospirit entered into me when He spake unto me, and set meupon my feet, that OI heard Him That spake unto me.3 And He said unto me, Son of Adam, I am sending thee to the sons ofIsrael, to the revolting whole nation, Israel and Judah that hathrevolted against Me: they and their fathers have revolted against Me,even unto this very day.4 For they are hard of face sons and stubborn of heart. I do send theeunto them; and thou shalt say unto them, Thus saith Othe Lord GOD.5 And they, Owhether they will hear, or whether they will refuse tohear, (for they are Oa house of rebellion,) yet shall know that there hathbeen a prophet among them.6 And thou, son of Adam, be not afraid of them, neither be afraid oftheir words, though Obriers and thorns be with thee, and thou dost dwellamong Oscorpions: be not afraid of their words, nor be dismayed at theirlooks, though they be 5a house of rebellion.7 And thou shalt speak OMy words unto them, 5whether they will hear,or 5whether they will forbear: for they are most 5rebellious.The Companion Bible (Condensed): EZEKIEL: Page: 42. 7.22 expanse. As in Gen. 1:6.24 noise. Heb. “voice”, as in the next clause anynoise. Articulate speech not mentioned till v. 28 and2:1.THE ALMIGHTY. Heb. Shaddai. Ap.4.VII.28 the bow in the cloud. Ref. to Pent. (Gen.9:16). Ap.92. The only allusion to it in O.T. AfterGenesis. In N.T. cp. Rev. 4:3; 10:1.I fell upon my face. Ref. to Pent. (Num. 14:5;16:4, 22, 45).2. 1 son of Adam. Heb. ben adam. Ap.14.I. Usedof Ezekiel (exactly one hundred times) by Jehovah,always without the Article. In N.T. used by Christ(of Himself) eighty-six times in A.V. (eighty-threetimes in R.V., omitting Matt. 18:11; 25:13. Luke9:56). Used by others of Christ twice (John 12:34),making the A.V. total eighty-eight, and the R.V.total eighty-five. Always with the Article in N.T.see notes on Ps. 8:4, Matt. 8:20, and Rev. 14:14.Without the Article it denotes a human being, anatural descendant of Adam. In Ezekiel it is used incontrast with the celestial living creatures (ch. 1).With the Article (as used of Christ) it denotes “thesecond Man”, “the last Adam”, taking the place,dispensationally, which “the first man” hadforfeited, and succeeding, therefore, to the universaldominion over the earth which had been committedto Adam (Gen. 1:26. Ps. 8:4-8). In the N.T., outsidethe Four Gospels, it is used only in Acts 7:56. Heb.2:6. Rev. 1:13; 14:14. And, beside Ezekiel, it isused in O.T. only of Daniel (Dan. 8:17).stand, &c. Cp. Dan. 10:11. Rev. 1:17. Remindingus that he was not a false prophet, or self-called andsent. Such spake “out of their own heart” (13:2, 3).Cp. Jer. 23:16.2 the spirit entered He spake. Entered with theword. Cp. Gen. 1:2, 3. The Divine summons isaccompanied by Divine preparation. Cp. 3:24. Rev.1:17.spirit. Heb. ruach. I heard. This is ever theDivine qualification.4 the Lord God. Heb. Adonai Jehovah. Ap.4.VIII(2), and II. This title is characteristic of theprophecies of Ezekiel, being used 214 times. Veryrarely in the other prophets. Ezekiel is in exile.This title is to remind him that Jehovah is still thesovereign Lord over all the earth, though Israel be“Lo-ammi” not My People.5 whether they will hear, or forbear. The latteris evidently assumed, and to be expected; as in 2Tim. 4:3. But no alternative is given.a house of rebellion. Not the same word as in v. 3.Heb. meri, from marah, to be bitter, perverse,refractory. Ref. to Pent. (Num. 17:10, &c.)6 briers and thorns scorpions. Put by Fig.Hypocatastasis, for the rebellious.7 My words. Nothing less, nothing more, nothingdifferent. Cp. Gen. 3:2, 3, and 2Tim. 4:2, under asimilar warning in the following verse. Cp. v. 5,note.
2. 8.EZEKIEL.8 But thou, Son of Adam, hear what I say unto thee; Be not thou 5rebellious likethat 5rebellious house: open thy mouth, and eat that I give thee.9 And when I looked, *behold, an hand was sent unto me; and, *lo, a scroll wastherein;10 And He spread it before me; and it was written within and without: andthere was written therein lamentation, and mourning, and woe.3Moreover He said unto me, Son of Adam, eat that thou findest; eat thisscroll, and go speak unto the house of Israel.2 So I opened my mouth, and He caused me to eat that roll.3 And He said unto me, Son of Adam, cause thy belly to eat, and fill thy bowelswith this roll that I give thee. Then did I eat it; and it was in my mouth ashoney for sweetness.4 And He said unto me, Son of Adam, go, get thee unto the house of Israel, andspeak with My words unto them.5 For thou art not sent to a people of a strange speech and of an hard language,but to 1the house of Israel;6 Not to many peoples of a strange speech and of an hard language, whose wordsthou canst not understand. Surely, had I sent thee to them, they would havehearkened unto thee.7 But 1the house of Israel will not be willing to hearken unto thee; for they arenot willing to hearken unto Me: for all the house of Israel they are hard of faceand stubborn of heart.8 *Behold, I have made thy face strong for endurance against their faces, andthy forehead harder against their foreheads.9 As an adamant harder than flint have I made thy forehead: fear them not,neither be dismayed at their looks, though they be a house of rebellion.10 Moreover He said unto me, Son of Adam, all My words that I shall speakunto thee receive in thine heart, and hear with thine ears.11 And go, get thee to them of the captives, unto the sons of thy People, andspeak unto them, and tell them, Thus saith the Lord GOD; whether they willhear, or whether they will forbear.12 Then the spirit laid hold on me, and I heard behind me a sound of a greatrushing, saying, Blessed be the glory of the LORD from His place.13 I heard also the noise of the wings of the living creatures that touched oneanother, and the noise of the wheels over against them, and a noise of a greatrushing.14 So the 12spirit lifted me up, and took me away, and I went in bitterness, in theheat of my 12spirit; but the hand of the LORD was 8strong upon me.15 Then I came to them of the captivity at Tel-abib, that dwelt by the river ofChebar, and I dwelt where they dwelt, and remained there astonished amongthem seven days.16 And it came to pass at the end of seven days, that the word of the LORD cameunto me, saying,17 Son of Adam, I have given thee [to be] a watchman unto the house ofIsrael: therefore hear the word at My mouth, and give them warning from Me.The Companion Bible (Condensed): EZEKIEL: Page: 53. 17.8 eat. See 3:1-3. Cp. Rev. 10:9, 10.9 a scroll. Cp. Jer. 36:2. Ps. 40:7.10 within and without. Contrary tothe usual custom (within only), to showthe abundance and completeness of hisprophecies. Cp. Rev. 5:1.3. 1eat. Cp. v. 10. Also Job 23:12,Ps. 119:103, Jer. 15:16.the house of Israel. See note on Ex.16:31. house. Some codices, with oneearly printed edition, Syr., and Vulg.,read “sons”.3 Then did I eat. Cp. Rev. 10:10.as honey, &c. Cp. Pss. 19:10; 119:103.Jer. 15:16.4 speak with My words. This isinspiration. See note on 2:5, 7.Ezekiel’s voice and pen, but Jehovah’swords.8 harder. Heb. hazak. Cp. the nameEzekiel in Title.10 all My words. See note on 2:7.11 whether, &c. See note on 2:7.12 spirit. Heb. ruach. Ap.9. See noteson 8:3. [Probably an Angel].behind me. Therefore the prophet musthave been facing south, as the gloryappeared from the north (1:4).saying, &c. By reading berum (arose)instead of baruk (Blessed), Ginsburgthinks the meaning should be “[when]the glory of Jehovah arose (or was liftedup) from its place” (cp. 10:4, 17, 19):i.e. when the vision was withdrawn.14 lifted me up, &c. Cp. Acts 8:39,40. 2Cor. 12:4. Rev. 1:10. Cp.Obadiah’s fear (1Kings 18:12).15 Chebar. Not the Chebar of 1:3.That was where he dwelt. This was theChebar whither he was sent.17 given. God’s prophets and ministerswere His “gifts” (Eph. 4:11).watchman. One who looks out orviews from a height, with the object ofwarning. Heb. zaphah. Cp. 33:2, 6, 7.Isa. 52:8; 56:10. Jer. 6:17. Notshamar, to keep in view with the objectof guarding, as in Song 3:3; 5;7. Isa.21:11; 62:6. These are the two spheresof the pastoral office.give them warning. Heb. zahar, to givea signal by a beacon or other fire (Jer.6:1). Occurs fourteen times in Ezekielin connection with the prophet’s orpastor’s care. Cp. vv. 18, 18, 19, 20, 21;33:3, 4, 5, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 9.
3. 18.EZEKIEL.18 When I say unto the lawless, Thou shalt surely die; and thou givest him notwarning, nor speakest to warn the lawless from his lawless way, to save himselfalive; the same lawless man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood will I require atthine hand.19 Yet if thou warn the lawless, and he turn not from his lawlessness, nor from hislawless way, he shall die in his iniquity; but thou hast delivered thyself.20 Again, When a righteous man doth turn from his righteousness, and commitiniquity, and I lay a stumblingblock before him, he shall die: because thou hast notgiven him warning, he shall die in his sin, and his righteousness which he hath doneshall not be remembered; but his blood will I require at thine hand.21 Nevertheless if thou warn the righteous man, that the righteous sin not, and hedoth not sin, he shall surely live, because he took warning; also thou hast deliveredthyself.22 And the hand of the LORD was there upon me; and He said unto me, Arise, goforth into the valley, and I will there talk with thee.23 Then I arose, and went forth into the valley: and, *behold, the glory of theLORD stood there, as the glory which I saw by the river of Chebar: and I fell on myface.24 Then the 12spirit entered into me, and set me upon my feet, and spake with me,and said unto me, Go, shut thyself within thine house.25 But thou, O son of Adam, *behold, they shall put bands upon thee, and shall bindthee with them, and thou shalt not go out among them:26 And I will make thy tongue cleave to the roof of thy mouth, that thou shalt bedumb, and shalt not be to them a man of reproof: for they are a house of rebellion.27 But when I speak with thee, I will open thy mouth, and thou shalt say unto them,Thus saith the Lord GOD; He that is minded to hear, will hear; and he that is mindedto forbear, will forbear: for they are a house of rebellion.4Thou also, son of Adam, take thee a brick, and take it before thee, and graveupon it the city, even Jerusalem:2 And take siege against it, and build a siege tower against it, and cast aembankment against it; set the camp also against it, and set battering rams against itround about.3 Moreover take thou unto thee a flat plate, as used for baking, and set it for a wallof iron between thee and the city: and set thy face against it, and it shall bebesieged, and thou shalt lay siege against it. This shall be a sign to the house ofIsrael [less Judah].4 Lie thou also upon thy left side, and place the iniquity of 3the house of Israel uponit: according to the number of the days that thou shalt lie upon it thou shalt[symbolically] endure the punishment due to their sin.5 For I have laid upon thee the years of their iniquity, according to the number of thedays, three hundred and ninety days [which represent 390 literal years]: so shaltthou 4endure the punishment due to their sin of 3the house of Israel.6 And when thou hast accomplished them, lie a second time on thy right side, andthou shalt [symbolically] endure the punishment due to the sin of the house ofJudah forty days: I have given thee each day for a year.7 Therefore thou shalt set thy face toward the siege of Jerusalem, and thine armshall be uncovered, and thou shalt prophesy against it.The Companion Bible (Condensed): EZEKIEL: Page: 64. 7.20 righteousness. Heb. is pluralin marg., but some codices, withone early printed edition, read“righteous deeds” (pl.) in text andmarg.23 the glory, &c. See note on1:28.4. 1brick. A Babylonian brick, asused for inscription, was about 14inches by 12.3 set thy face. Ref. to Pent. (Lev.17:10; 20:3, 5, 6; 26:17).the house of Israel. See note onEx. 16:31. To be carefullydistinguished here from Judah.4 according to the number, &c.Ref. to Pent. (Num. 14:34). This isno evidence that in propheticscriptures there is a “year day”theory. These exceptions prove theopposite rule. In all them “day”means “day”, and “year” means“year”.5 three hundred and ninety days.These were to be literal “days” toEzekiel, and were to represent 390literal “years”. The date of thecommand is not material to theunderstanding of this prophecy.The meaning of the expression“bear their iniquity [endure thepunishment due to their sin]” (seenote on v. 4) determines theinterpretation as referring to theduration of the punishment, and notto the period of iniquity whichbrought it down. The 390 daysstand for 390 years, and the 40 daysfor 40 years, the duration of thepunishment of Israel and Judahrespectively. As this has to do withthe city of Jerusalem (vv. 1-3), theperiods must necessarily beconterminous with something thataffects the ending of itspunishment. This was effectedsolely by the decree for therestoration and rebuilding ofJerusalem in 454 B.C. (Ap.50), &c.This symbolical action of Ezekielshows us how long Jerusalem’spunishment lasted, and when itended.6 a second time. Showing thatthey are not necessarily consecutiveor continuous, but areconterminous, though notcommencing at the same time.forty days. See note on v. 4.7 the siege of Jerusalem. This isthe point which determines theinterpretation, as do vv. 1-3.
4. 8.EZEKIEL.8 And, *behold, I will 1lay bands upon thee, and thou shalt not turn theefrom one side to another, till thou hast ended the days of thy siege.9 Take thou also unto thee wheat, and barley, and beans, and lentiles, andmillet, and fitches [a kind of corn], and put them in one vessel, and makethee bread thereof, according to the number of the days that thou shalt lieupon thy side, three hundred and ninety days shalt thou eat thereof.10 And thy meat which thou shalt eat shall be by weight, twenty shekelsa day: from time to time shalt thou eat it.11 Thou shalt drink also water by measure, the sixth part of an hin: fromtime to time shalt thou drink.12 And thou shalt eat it as barley cakes, and thou shalt bake it upon dungthat cometh out of man, in their sight.13 And the LORD said, Even thus shall the sons of Israel eat their defiledbread among the nations, whither I will drive them.14 Then said I, Ah Lord GOD! *behold, my soul hath not been polluted:for from my youth up even till now have I not eaten of that which dieth ofitself, or is torn in pieces; neither came there abominable flesh into mymouth.15 Then He said unto me, *Lo, I have appointed thee cow's dung for man'sdung, and thou shalt prepare thy bread thereupon.16 Moreover He said unto me, Son of Adam, *behold, I will break thestaff of bread in Jerusalem: and they shall eat bread by weight, and withcare; and they shall drink water by measure, and with astonishment:17 That they may want bread and water, and be astonied one with another,and consume away for their iniquity.5And thou, son of Adam, take thee a sharp sword, as a barber’srasor shalt thou take it, and cause it to pass upon thine head and upon thybeard: then take thee balances to weight, and divide the hair.2 Thou shalt burn with fire a third part in the midst of the city, when thedays of the siege are completed: and thou shalt take a third part, and smiteabout it with the sword: and a third part thou shalt scatter to the wind; andI will draw out a sword after them.3 Thou shalt also take thereof a few in number, and bind them in thy skirts.4 Then take of them again, and cast them into the midst of the fire, andburn them in the fire; for thereof shall a fire come forth into all the houseof Israel [less Judah].5 Thus saith the Lord GOD; This is Jerusalem: I have set it in the midstof the nations and countries that are round about her.6 And she hath rebelled against My judgments into wickedness morethan the nations, and My statutes more than the countries that are roundabout her: for the nations and the countries have refused My judgmentsand My statutes, they have not walked in them.7 Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD; Because ye rebelled more than thenations that are round about you, and have not walked in My statutes,and have not kept My judgments, and according to the statutes of thenations which are round about you have not done;The Companion Bible (Condensed): EZEKIEL: Page: 75. 7.9-179—12.13.14, 15.16, 17.FOOD. (Alternation.)Sign. Food.Signification.Sign. Food.Signification.9 fitches. In English, is another spelling ofvetches, a plant having tendrils. But the Heb. kussemeth is defined as triticum spelta, or spelt,a kind of corn, always distinguished from wheat,barely, &c. Cp. Ex. 9:32. Isa. 28:25. Here, inplural.10 shekels. See Ap.51. II.5.14 that which dieth of itself. Ref. to Pent. (Ex.22:31. Lev. 11:39, 40; 17:15).abominable flesh. Ref. to Pent. (Lev. 7:18;19:7). Elsewhere, only in Isa. 65:3.16 I will break. Ref. to Pent. (Lev. 26:26).Occurring again in 5:16; 14:13; but nowhereelse in O.T.17 consume away, &c. Ref. to Pent. (Lev.26:39). Cp. 24:23; 33:10 (“pine away”).5:1-171.2.3, 4.5-11.12.13-17.HAIR. (Extended Alternation.)Shaving. (The fourth sign.)Third part. Burning, &c. The Sign.Binding in skirts.Judgments.SignificaThird part. Death, &c.tion.Anger accomplished.5. 1sword. As in v. 12, and 11:8, 10.as a barber’s razor, &c. This is the sign of theAssyrian army (Isa. 7:20).2 in the midst of the city. Which he hadgraven on the brick. See the signification in v.12. draw out a sword, &c. Ref. to Pent. (Lev.26:33).4 the house of Israel. As in 4:3.5 This is Jerusalem. Cp. 4:1.6 rebelled against. Cp. 20:8, 13, 21. Num.20:24; 27:14. Heb. marah. Occurs forty-twotimes in O.T., and rendered “changed” only here.they. i.e. the nations and the countries.7 statutes. See note on Gen. 26:5. Deut. 4:1.and according to the statutes have not done.Some codices, with two early printed editionsand Syr., omit this “not”. Cp. 11:12.
5. 8.EZEKIEL.8 Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD; *Behold, I, even I, am against thee, andwill execute judgments in the midst of thee in the sight of the nations.9 And I will do in thee that which I have not done, and whereunto I will not doany more the like, because of all thine abominations.10 Therefore fathers shall eat the sons in the midst of thee, and the sons shalleat their fathers; and I will execute judgments in thee, and the whole remnant ofthee will I scatter into all the winds.11 Wherefore, *as I live, is Jehovah’s oracle; Surely,
The Companion Bible (Condensed): EZEKIEL: Page: 2 They may be set out as follows:— THE DATED YEARS IN EZEKIEL. These are thirteen in number, and cover a period of twenty-one years (a period of three sevens) : viz. from 484-3 to 463-2 B.C. Arranged chronologically, the seventh stands in the center, with six
