
Text -- Ezekiel 11:16 (NET)




Names, People and Places, Dictionary Themes and Topics



collapse allCommentary -- Word/Phrase Notes (per phrase)
In vindication of them.

Wesley: Eze 11:16 - -- The obstinate Jews at Jerusalem will call them apostates; but I the Lord sent them thither, and will own them there.
The obstinate Jews at Jerusalem will call them apostates; but I the Lord sent them thither, and will own them there.

Wesley: Eze 11:16 - -- Dispersed them in many countries which are under the king of Babylon: yet they are dear to me.
Dispersed them in many countries which are under the king of Babylon: yet they are dear to me.

Wesley: Eze 11:16 - -- A little one in opposition to that great temple at Jerusalem. To him they shall flee, and in him they shall be safe, as he was that took hold on the h...
A little one in opposition to that great temple at Jerusalem. To him they shall flee, and in him they shall be safe, as he was that took hold on the horns of the altar. And they shall have such communion with God in the land of their captivity, as it was thought could be had no where but in the temple.
JFB: Eze 11:16 - -- Anticipating the objection of the priests at Jerusalem, that the exiles were "cast far off." Though this be so, and they are far from the outer temple...
Anticipating the objection of the priests at Jerusalem, that the exiles were "cast far off." Though this be so, and they are far from the outer temple at Jerusalem, I will be their asylum or sanctuary instead (Psa 90:1; Psa 91:9; Isa 8:14). My shrine is the humble heart: a preparation for gospel catholicity when the local and material temple should give place to the spiritual (Isa 57:15; Isa 66:1; Mal 1:11; Joh 4:21-24; Act 7:48-49). The trying discipline of the exile was to chasten the outcasts so as to be meet recipients of God's grace, for which the carnal confidence of the priests disqualified them. The dispersion served the end of spiritualizing and enlarging the views even of the better Jews, so as to be able to worship God everywhere without a material temple; and, at the same time, it diffused some knowledge of God among the greatest Gentile nations, thus providing materials for the gathering in of the Christian Church among the Gentiles; so marvellously did God overrule a present evil for an ultimate good. Still more does all this hold good in the present much longer dispersion which is preparing for a more perfect and universal restoration (Isa 2:2-4; Jer 3:16-18). Their long privation of the temple will prepare them for appreciating the more, but without Jewish narrowness, the temple that is to be (Eze. 40:1-44:31).

JFB: Eze 11:16 - -- Rather, "for a little season"; No matter how long the captivity may be, the seventy years will be but as a little season, compared with their long sub...
Rather, "for a little season"; No matter how long the captivity may be, the seventy years will be but as a little season, compared with their long subsequent settlement in their land. This holds true only partially in the case of the first restoration; but as in a few centuries they were dispersed again, the full and permanent restoration is yet future (Jer 24:6).
Clarke -> Eze 11:16
Clarke: Eze 11:16 - -- Yet will I be to them as a little sanctuary - Though thus exiled from their own land, yet not forgotten by their God. While in their captivity, I wi...
TSK -> Eze 11:16
TSK: Eze 11:16 - -- Thus saith : Lev 26:44; Deu 30:3, Deu 30:4; 2Ki 24:12-16; Psa 44:11; Jer 24:5, Jer 24:6, Jer 30:11; Jer 31:10
as a : Psa 31:20, Psa 90:1, Psa 91:1, Ps...

collapse allCommentary -- Word/Phrase Notes (per Verse)
Barnes -> Eze 11:16
Barnes: Eze 11:16 - -- As a little sanctuary - Rather, I will be to them for a little while a sanctuary. The blessing was provisional, they were to look forward to a ...
As a little sanctuary - Rather, I will be to them for a little while a sanctuary. The blessing was provisional, they were to look forward to a blessing more complete. For a little while they were to be satisfied with God’ s special presence in a foreign land, but they were to look forward to a renewal of His presence in the restored temple of Jerusalem. "sanctuary"means here strictly the holy place, the tabernacle of the Most High: Yahweh will Himself be to the exiles in the place of the local sanctuary, in which the Jews of Jerusalem so much prided themselves (compare the margin reference). Here is the germ from which is developed Ezek. 40\endash 48, the picture of the kingdom of God in its new form.
Poole -> Eze 11:16
Poole: Eze 11:16 - -- Therefore in apology and vindication of them, backed with excellent promises in the following verses.
Say say to them, and of them in Babylon.
Alt...
Therefore in apology and vindication of them, backed with excellent promises in the following verses.
Say say to them, and of them in Babylon.
Although I have cast them far off: the obstinate Jews at Jerusalem will call them apostates and renegades; but let such false accusers know that they were sent thither, and that I the Lord sent them thither, and will own them there too.
Far off not from myself, but from you, your polluted land, and dreadful approaching judgments.
Among the heathen the Chaldeans, or such as the Chaldeans placed them among.
Scattered them dispersed and separated them from one another in many countries which were under the king of Babylon. Yet they are dear to me, and my purposes are for them more gracious than yours are for them, or than mine are for you.
As a little sanctuary for a little while, i.e. during the seventy years’ captivity; or for a few of them, the remnant was ever little: or, as it refers to the sanctuary, a little one in opposition to that great, rich, splendid, and admired temple at Jerusalem, which when they need most, shall help least; but I, saith God, will be really to my captives what the proud self-deceiving Jews promise their temple shall be to them, both for glory, defence, and for worship, which shall with heart and love be given by these I have sent away; and wherever they are, their prayers, synagogue worship, and obedience shall be to me as well-pleasing as they shall desire. They at a distance weep on Chebar banks; you, O rebellious! pollute the temple by your idolatries. I will comfort the mourners; I will punish you polluters of my temple and worship.
Haydock -> Eze 11:16
Haydock: Eze 11:16 - -- A little. Hebrew, "for a short time, a sanctuary," or temple. They shall find all things in me. The Christian Church was never more pure than duri...
A little. Hebrew, "for a short time, a sanctuary," or temple. They shall find all things in me. The Christian Church was never more pure than during the first persecutions, when her children could not assemble freely, or build temples. (Calmet) ---
God will never totally abandon her, Jeremias iv. 27., &c. (Worthington)
Gill -> Eze 11:16
Gill: Eze 11:16 - -- Therefore say, thus saith the Lord God,.... Since they were so insulted and ill treated by their brethren the Jews:
although I have cast them afar ...
Therefore say, thus saith the Lord God,.... Since they were so insulted and ill treated by their brethren the Jews:
although I have cast them afar off among the Heathen; both the ten tribes, even all the house of Israel, who were carried into Assyria, and placed in the cities of the Medes, in Halath and Habor, by the river Gozan, 2Ki 17:6; and those of the Jews in Jeconiah's captivity, among whom were Ezekiel, and his brethren, and his kindred:
and although I have scattered them among the countries; and therefore, what with the distance of the place where they were, and the dispersion of them among the people where they resided, their case might seem to be desperate; and that there was no probability, and scarce any possibility, of their being preserved as a people, and of their restoration to their own land:
yet will I be to them a little sanctuary in the countries where they shall come; their dwelling place, as he has been to his people in all generations their protection from all their enemies, in whom, and by whose power, they should be safe; and whose presence they should enjoy, though deprived of public ordinances, of temple worship and service; though they were at a distance from the great sanctuary, the temple, the inhabitants of Jerusalem boasted of, yet the Lord would make up the want of that to them with himself. The Targum, Jarchi, and Kimchi m interpret this of the synagogues, which were second to the temple, the Israelites had in foreign countries, where they prayed to the Lord, and worshipped him, and enjoyed his presence. It may be rendered, "the sanctuary of a few" n; they being but few, especially that were truly godly, that were carried captive: or, "a sanctuary for a little while" o; that is, during seventy years, and then they should be returned, as follows. The Targum is,
"I have given them synagogues, second to my sanctuary, and they are as few in the provinces where they are carried captive.''

expand allCommentary -- Verse Notes / Footnotes
NET Notes -> Eze 11:16
NET Notes: Eze 11:16 Or “have been partially a sanctuary”; others take this as temporal (cf. NASB, NIV, NRSV “a little while”).
Geneva Bible -> Eze 11:16
Geneva Bible: Eze 11:16 Therefore say, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Although I have cast them far off among the nations, and although I have scattered them among the countries, y...

expand allCommentary -- Verse Range Notes
TSK Synopsis -> Eze 11:1-25
TSK Synopsis: Eze 11:1-25 - --1 The presumption of the princes.4 Their sin and judgment.13 Ezekiel complaining, God shews him his purpose in saving a remnant;21 and punishing the w...
MHCC -> Eze 11:14-21
MHCC: Eze 11:14-21 - --The pious captives in Babylon were insulted by the Jews who continued in Jerusalem; but God made gracious promises to them. It is promised, that God w...
Matthew Henry -> Eze 11:14-21
Matthew Henry: Eze 11:14-21 - -- Prophecy was designed to exalt every valley as well as to bring low every mountain and hill (Isa 40:4), and prophets were to speak not only conv...
Keil-Delitzsch -> Eze 11:14-21
Keil-Delitzsch: Eze 11:14-21 - --
Promise of the Gathering of Israel out of the Nations
Eze 11:14. And the word of Jehovah came to me, saying, Eze 11:15. Son of man, thy brethren,...
Constable: Eze 4:1--24:27 - --II. Oracles of judgment on Judah and Jerusalem for sin chs. 4-24
This section of the book contains prophecies th...

Constable: Eze 8:1--11:25 - --B. The vision of the departure of Yahweh's glory chs. 8-11
These chapters all concern one vision that Ez...

Constable: Eze 11:1-25 - --4. The condemnation of Jerusalem's leaders ch. 11
Ezekiel's vision of the departure of Yahweh's ...
