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Text -- Ezekiel 33:7-33 (NET)

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Context
33:7 “As for you, son of man, I have made you a watchman for the house of Israel. Whenever you hear a word from my mouth, you must warn them on my behalf. 33:8 When I say to the wicked, ‘O wicked man, you must certainly die,’ and you do not warn the wicked about his behavior, the wicked man will die for his iniquity, but I will hold you accountable for his death. 33:9 But if you warn the wicked man to change his behavior, and he refuses to change, he will die for his iniquity, but you have saved your own life. 33:10 “And you, son of man, say to the house of Israel, ‘This is what you have said: “Our rebellious acts and our sins have caught up with us, and we are wasting away because of them. How then can we live?”’ 33:11 Say to them, ‘As surely as I live, declares the sovereign Lord, I take no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but prefer that the wicked change his behavior and live. Turn back, turn back from your evil deeds! Why should you die, O house of Israel?’ 33:12 “And you, son of man, say to your people, ‘The righteousness of the righteous will not deliver him if he rebels. As for the wicked, his wickedness will not make him stumble if he turns from it. The righteous will not be able to live by his righteousness if he sins.’ 33:13 Suppose I tell the righteous that he will certainly live, but he becomes confident in his righteousness and commits iniquity. None of his righteous deeds will be remembered; because of the iniquity he has committed he will die. 33:14 Suppose I say to the wicked, ‘You must certainly die,’ but he turns from his sin and does what is just and right. 33:15 He returns what was taken in pledge, pays back what he has stolen, and follows the statutes that give life, committing no iniquity. He will certainly live– he will not die. 33:16 None of the sins he has committed will be counted against him. He has done what is just and right; he will certainly live. 33:17 “Yet your people say, ‘The behavior of the Lord is not right,’ when it is their behavior that is not right. 33:18 When a righteous man turns from his godliness and commits iniquity, he will die for it. 33:19 When the wicked turns from his sin and does what is just and right, he will live because of it. 33:20 Yet you say, ‘The behavior of the Lord is not right.’ House of Israel, I will judge each of you according to his behavior.”
The Fall of Jerusalem
33:21 In the twelfth year of our exile, in the tenth month, on the fifth of the month, a refugee came to me from Jerusalem saying, “The city has been defeated!” 33:22 Now the hand of the Lord had been on me the evening before the refugee reached me, but the Lord opened my mouth by the time the refugee arrived in the morning; he opened my mouth and I was no longer unable to speak. 33:23 The word of the Lord came to me: 33:24 “Son of man, the ones living in these ruins in the land of Israel are saying, ‘Abraham was only one man, yet he possessed the land, but we are many; surely the land has been given to us for a possession.’ 33:25 Therefore say to them, ‘This is what the sovereign Lord says: You eat the meat with the blood still in it, pray to your idols, and shed blood. Do you really think you will possess the land? 33:26 You rely on your swords and commit abominable deeds; each of you defiles his neighbor’s wife. Will you possess the land?’ 33:27 “This is what you must say to them, ‘This is what the sovereign Lord says: As surely as I live, those living in the ruins will die by the sword, those in the open field I will give to the wild beasts for food, and those who are in the strongholds and caves will die of disease. 33:28 I will turn the land into a desolate ruin; her confident pride will come to an end. The mountains of Israel will be so desolate no one will pass through them. 33:29 Then they will know that I am the Lord when I turn the land into a desolate ruin because of all the abominable deeds they have committed.’ 33:30 “But as for you, son of man, your people (who are talking about you by the walls and at the doors of the houses) say to one another, ‘Come hear the word that comes from the Lord.’ 33:31 They come to you in crowds, and they sit in front of you as my people. They hear your words, but do not obey them. For they talk lustfully, and their heart is set on their own advantage. 33:32 Realize that to them you are like a sensual song, a beautiful voice and skilled musician. They hear your words, but they do not obey them. 33:33 When all this comes true– and it certainly will– then they will know that a prophet was among them.”
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Names, People and Places, Dictionary Themes and Topics

Names, People and Places:
 · Abraham a son of Terah; the father of Isaac; ancestor of the Jewish nation.,the son of Terah of Shem
 · Israel a citizen of Israel.,a member of the nation of Israel
 · Jerusalem the capital city of Israel,a town; the capital of Israel near the southern border of Benjamin


Dictionary Themes and Topics: Wicked | Watches | TEACH; TEACHER; TEACHING | PLEDGE | MOUTH | LOVELY | LAY; LAYING | LAWFUL | INHERITANCE | IMPUTATION | HAND | GENESIS, 4 | Fast | Ezekiel, Book of | EZEKIEL, 1 | EVIL | CRIME; CRIMES | COVETOUSNESS | CONVERSION | Affection | more
Table of Contents

Word/Phrase Notes
Wesley , JFB , Clarke , Defender , TSK

Word/Phrase Notes
Barnes , Poole , Haydock , Gill

Verse Notes / Footnotes
NET Notes , Geneva Bible

Verse Range Notes
TSK Synopsis , MHCC , Matthew Henry , Keil-Delitzsch , Constable

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Commentary -- Word/Phrase Notes (per phrase)

Wesley: Eze 33:10 - -- The unpardoned guilt, and the unsupportable punishment of our sins, in the wasting of our country, burning our city, abolishing the publick worship of...

The unpardoned guilt, and the unsupportable punishment of our sins, in the wasting of our country, burning our city, abolishing the publick worship of God; we shall pine away, 'tis too late to hope.

Wesley: Eze 33:10 - -- How can it be better with us?

How can it be better with us?

Wesley: Eze 33:21 - -- Taken and plundered.

Taken and plundered.

Wesley: Eze 33:22 - -- Not that the prophet was utterly dumb before, for he had prophesied against many nations, only he was forbidden to say anything of the Jews, But now t...

Not that the prophet was utterly dumb before, for he had prophesied against many nations, only he was forbidden to say anything of the Jews, But now the spirit moved him to speak, and continued his motion, 'till the messenger came, and ever after.

Wesley: Eze 33:24 - -- Who were left behind, now come out of their holes, or returned from neighbouring countries, or permitted by the conqueror to stay and plant vineyards.

Who were left behind, now come out of their holes, or returned from neighbouring countries, or permitted by the conqueror to stay and plant vineyards.

Wesley: Eze 33:24 - -- Places once fruitful and abounding with people, but now, made a desolate wilderness.

Places once fruitful and abounding with people, but now, made a desolate wilderness.

Wesley: Eze 33:24 - -- Our father had a right to all this land, when but one; we his children though diminished, are many, and the divine goodness will surely continue to us...

Our father had a right to all this land, when but one; we his children though diminished, are many, and the divine goodness will surely continue to us both right and possession.

Wesley: Eze 33:24 - -- It was given by promise to us, the seed, as well as to our progenitor; nay more, 'tis given us in possession, whereas Abraham had not one foot of it.

It was given by promise to us, the seed, as well as to our progenitor; nay more, 'tis given us in possession, whereas Abraham had not one foot of it.

Wesley: Eze 33:26 - -- You trust to your sword; you do all with violence.

You trust to your sword; you do all with violence.

Wesley: Eze 33:26 - -- Idolatry.

Idolatry.

Wesley: Eze 33:30 - -- Captives in Babylon.

Captives in Babylon.

Wesley: Eze 33:31 - -- As if they were really the people of God.

As if they were really the people of God.

Wesley: Eze 33:31 - -- So we find the elders of Judah, Eze 8:1, so the disciples of the rabbis sat at their feet.

So we find the elders of Judah, Eze 8:1, so the disciples of the rabbis sat at their feet.

JFB: Eze 33:7 - -- Application of the image. Ezekiel's appointment to be a watchman spiritually is far more solemn, as it is derived from God, not from the people.

Application of the image. Ezekiel's appointment to be a watchman spiritually is far more solemn, as it is derived from God, not from the people.

JFB: Eze 33:8 - -- By a violent death, the earnest of everlasting death; the qualification being supposed, "if thou dost not repent."

By a violent death, the earnest of everlasting death; the qualification being supposed, "if thou dost not repent."

JFB: Eze 33:9 - -- Blood had by this time been shed (Eze 33:21), but Ezekiel was clear.

Blood had by this time been shed (Eze 33:21), but Ezekiel was clear.

JFB: Eze 33:10 - -- That is, their guilt remain on us.

That is, their guilt remain on us.

JFB: Eze 33:10 - -- If we suffer the penalty threatened for them in Eze 24:23, according to the law (Lev 26:39).

If we suffer the penalty threatened for them in Eze 24:23, according to the law (Lev 26:39).

JFB: Eze 33:10 - -- As Thou dost promise in Eze 33:5 (compare Eze 37:11; Isa 49:14).

As Thou dost promise in Eze 33:5 (compare Eze 37:11; Isa 49:14).

JFB: Eze 33:11 - -- To meet the Jews' cry of despair in Eze 33:10, Ezekiel here cheers them by the assurance that God has no pleasure in their death, but that they should...

To meet the Jews' cry of despair in Eze 33:10, Ezekiel here cheers them by the assurance that God has no pleasure in their death, but that they should repent and live (2Pe 3:9). A yearning tenderness manifests itself here, notwithstanding all their past sins; yet with it a holiness that abates nothing of its demands for the honor of God's authority. God's righteousness is vindicated as in Eze 3:18-21 and Eze. 18:1-32, by the statement that each should be treated with the closest adaptation of God's justice to his particular case.

JFB: Eze 33:12 - -- (2Ch 7:14; see Eze 3:20; Eze 18:24).

JFB: Eze 33:15 - -- (Luk 19:8).

JFB: Eze 33:15 - -- In the obeying of which life is promised (Lev 18:5). If the law has failed to give life to man, it has not been the fault of the law, but of man's sin...

In the obeying of which life is promised (Lev 18:5). If the law has failed to give life to man, it has not been the fault of the law, but of man's sinful inability to keep it (Rom 7:10, Rom 7:12; Gal 3:21). It becomes life-giving through Christ's righteous obedience to it (2Co 3:6).

JFB: Eze 33:17 - -- The Lord's way of dealing in His moral government.

The Lord's way of dealing in His moral government.

JFB: Eze 33:21 - -- A year and a half after the capture of the city (Jer 39:2; Jer 52:5-6), in the eleventh year and fourth month. The one who escaped (as foretold, Eze 2...

A year and a half after the capture of the city (Jer 39:2; Jer 52:5-6), in the eleventh year and fourth month. The one who escaped (as foretold, Eze 24:26) may have been so long on the road through fear of entering the enemy's country [HENDERSON]; or, the singular is used for the plural in a collective sense, "the escaped remnant." Compare similar phrases, "the escaped of Moab," Isa 15:9; "He that escapeth of them," Amo 9:1. Naturally the reopening of the prophet's mouth for consolation would be deferred till the number of the escaped remnant was complete: the removal of such a large number would easily have occupied seventeen or eighteen months.

JFB: Eze 33:22 - -- (see on Eze 33:2). Thus the capture of Jerusalem was known to Ezekiel by revelation before the messenger came.

(see on Eze 33:2). Thus the capture of Jerusalem was known to Ezekiel by revelation before the messenger came.

JFB: Eze 33:22 - -- That is, to my countrymen; as foretold (Eze 24:27), He spake (Eze. 33:2-20) in the evening before the tidings came.

That is, to my countrymen; as foretold (Eze 24:27), He spake (Eze. 33:2-20) in the evening before the tidings came.

JFB: Eze 33:24 - -- Marking the blindness of the fraction of Jews under Gedaliah who, though dwelling amidst regions laid waste by the foe, still cherished hopes of deliv...

Marking the blindness of the fraction of Jews under Gedaliah who, though dwelling amidst regions laid waste by the foe, still cherished hopes of deliverance, and this without repentance.

JFB: Eze 33:24 - -- If God gave the land for an inheritance to Abraham, who was but one (Isa 51:2), much more it is given to us, who, though reduced, are still many. If h...

If God gave the land for an inheritance to Abraham, who was but one (Isa 51:2), much more it is given to us, who, though reduced, are still many. If he, with 318 servants, was able to defend himself amid so many foes, much more shall we, so much more numerous, retain our own. The grant of the land was not for his sole use, but for his numerous posterity.

JFB: Eze 33:24 - -- Not actually possessed it (Act 7:5), but had the right of dwelling and pasturing his flocks in it [GROTIUS]. The Jews boasted similarly of their Abrah...

Not actually possessed it (Act 7:5), but had the right of dwelling and pasturing his flocks in it [GROTIUS]. The Jews boasted similarly of their Abrahamic descent in Mat 3:9 and Joh 8:39.

JFB: Eze 33:25 - -- In opposition to the law (Lev 19:26; compare Gen 9:4). They did so as an idolatrous rite.

In opposition to the law (Lev 19:26; compare Gen 9:4). They did so as an idolatrous rite.

JFB: Eze 33:26 - -- Your dependence is, not on right and equity, but on force and arms.

Your dependence is, not on right and equity, but on force and arms.

JFB: Eze 33:26 - -- Scarcely anyone refrains from adultery.

Scarcely anyone refrains from adultery.

JFB: Eze 33:27 - -- The very object of their confidence would be the instrument of their destruction. Thinking to "stand" by it, by it they shall "fall." Just retribution...

The very object of their confidence would be the instrument of their destruction. Thinking to "stand" by it, by it they shall "fall." Just retribution! Some fell by the sword of Ishmael; others by the Chaldeans in revenge for the murder of Gedaliah (Jer. 40:1-44:30).

JFB: Eze 33:27 - -- (Jdg 6:2; 1Sa 13:6). In the hilly parts of Judea there were caves almost inaccessible, as having only crooked and extremely narrow paths of ascent, w...

(Jdg 6:2; 1Sa 13:6). In the hilly parts of Judea there were caves almost inaccessible, as having only crooked and extremely narrow paths of ascent, with rock in front stretching down into the valleys beneath perpendicularly [JOSEPHUS, Wars of the Jews, 1.16.4].

JFB: Eze 33:28 - -- (Jer 4:27; Jer 12:11).

JFB: Eze 33:28 - -- From fear of wild beasts and pestilence [GROTIUS].

From fear of wild beasts and pestilence [GROTIUS].

JFB: Eze 33:30 - -- Not only the remnant in Judea, but those at the Chebar, though less flagrantly, betrayed the same unbelieving spirit.

Not only the remnant in Judea, but those at the Chebar, though less flagrantly, betrayed the same unbelieving spirit.

JFB: Eze 33:30 - -- Though going to the prophet to hear the word of the Lord, they criticised, in an unfriendly spirit, his peculiarities of manner and his enigmatical st...

Though going to the prophet to hear the word of the Lord, they criticised, in an unfriendly spirit, his peculiarities of manner and his enigmatical style (Eze 20:49); making these the excuse for their impenitence. Their talking was not directly "against" Ezekiel, for they professed to like his ministrations; but God's word speaks of things as they really are, not as they appear.

JFB: Eze 33:30 - -- In the public haunts. In the East groups assemble under the walls of their houses in winter for conversation.

In the public haunts. In the East groups assemble under the walls of their houses in winter for conversation.

JFB: Eze 33:30 - -- Privately.

Privately.

JFB: Eze 33:30 - -- Their motive was curiosity, seeking pastime and gratification of the ear (2Ti 4:3); not reformation of the heart. Compare Johanan's consultation of Je...

Their motive was curiosity, seeking pastime and gratification of the ear (2Ti 4:3); not reformation of the heart. Compare Johanan's consultation of Jeremiah, to hear the word of the Lord without desiring to do it (Jer. 42:1-43:13).

JFB: Eze 33:31 - -- That is, in crowds, as disciples flock to their teacher.

That is, in crowds, as disciples flock to their teacher.

JFB: Eze 33:31 - -- On lower seats at thy feet, according to the Jewish custom of pupils (Deu 33:3; 2Ki 4:38; Luk 10:39; Act 22:3).

On lower seats at thy feet, according to the Jewish custom of pupils (Deu 33:3; 2Ki 4:38; Luk 10:39; Act 22:3).

JFB: Eze 33:31 - -- Though they are not.

Though they are not.

JFB: Eze 33:31 - -- (Mat 13:20-21; Jam 1:23-24).

JFB: Eze 33:31 - -- Literally, "make love," that is, act the part of lovers. Profess love to the Lord (Mat 7:21). GESENIUS translates, according to Arabic idiom, "They do...

Literally, "make love," that is, act the part of lovers. Profess love to the Lord (Mat 7:21). GESENIUS translates, according to Arabic idiom, "They do the delights of God," that is, all that is agreeable to God. Vulgate translates, "They turn thy words into a song of their mouths."

JFB: Eze 33:31 - -- The grand rival to the love of God; therefore called "idolatry," and therefore associated with impure carnal love, as both alike transfer the heart's ...

The grand rival to the love of God; therefore called "idolatry," and therefore associated with impure carnal love, as both alike transfer the heart's affection from the Creator to the creature (Mat 13:22; Eph 5:5; 1Ti 6:10).

JFB: Eze 33:32 - -- Literally, a "song of loves": a lover's song. They praise thy eloquence, but care not for the subject of it as a real and personal thing; just as many...

Literally, a "song of loves": a lover's song. They praise thy eloquence, but care not for the subject of it as a real and personal thing; just as many do in the modern church [JEROME].

JFB: Eze 33:32 - -- Hebrew singers accompanied the "voice" with the harp.

Hebrew singers accompanied the "voice" with the harp.

JFB: Eze 33:33 - -- When My predictions are verified.

When My predictions are verified.

JFB: Eze 33:33 - -- Rather, "lo it is come" (see Eze 33:22).

Rather, "lo it is come" (see Eze 33:22).

JFB: Eze 33:33 - -- Experimentally, and to their cost. Having in the thirty-third chapter laid down repentance as the necessary preliminary to happier times for the peop...

Experimentally, and to their cost.

Having in the thirty-third chapter laid down repentance as the necessary preliminary to happier times for the people, He now promises the removal of the false shepherds as preparatory to the raising up of the Good Shepherd.

Clarke: Eze 33:10 - -- If our transgressions and our sins be upon us - They are upon us, as a grievous burden, too weighty for us to bear: how then can we live under such ...

If our transgressions and our sins be upon us - They are upon us, as a grievous burden, too weighty for us to bear: how then can we live under such a load

Clarke: Eze 33:10 - -- We pine away in them - In such circumstances how consoling is that word: "Come unto me, all ye who are heavy laden, and I will give you rest!"

We pine away in them - In such circumstances how consoling is that word: "Come unto me, all ye who are heavy laden, and I will give you rest!"

Clarke: Eze 33:11 - -- As I live, saith the Lord God, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked - From this to the twentieth verse inclusive is nearly the same with Ez...

As I live, saith the Lord God, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked - From this to the twentieth verse inclusive is nearly the same with Ezekiel 18, on which I wish the reader to consult the notes.

Clarke: Eze 33:13 - -- If he trust to his own righteousness, and commit iniquity - If he trust in his acting according to the statutes and ordinances of religion, and acco...

If he trust to his own righteousness, and commit iniquity - If he trust in his acting according to the statutes and ordinances of religion, and according to the laws relative to rights and wrongs among men, and in other respects commit iniquity, he shall die for it.

Clarke: Eze 33:19 - -- He shall live thereby - "The wages of sin is death;"the "gift of God is eternal life."It is a miserable trade by which a man cannot live; such a tra...

He shall live thereby - "The wages of sin is death;"the "gift of God is eternal life."It is a miserable trade by which a man cannot live; such a trade is sin.

Clarke: Eze 33:21 - -- In the twelfth year of our captivity, in the tenth month, in the fifth day of the month - Instead of the twelfth year, the eleventh is the reading o...

In the twelfth year of our captivity, in the tenth month, in the fifth day of the month - Instead of the twelfth year, the eleventh is the reading of seven of Kennicott’ s MSS., one of De Rossi’ s, and the Syriac. My own, mentioned in the preceding chapter, reads with the present text. This was on Wednesday, Jan. 25, A.M. 3416 or 3417

Clarke: Eze 33:21 - -- One that had escaped out of Jerusalem - After it had been taken by the Chaldeans

One that had escaped out of Jerusalem - After it had been taken by the Chaldeans

Clarke: Eze 33:21 - -- Came unto me, saying, The City Is Smitten - This very message God had promised to the prophet, Eze 24:26.

Came unto me, saying, The City Is Smitten - This very message God had promised to the prophet, Eze 24:26.

Clarke: Eze 33:22 - -- My mouth was opened - They had now the fullest evidence that I had spoken from the Lord. I therefore spoke freely and fully what Good delivered to m...

My mouth was opened - They had now the fullest evidence that I had spoken from the Lord. I therefore spoke freely and fully what Good delivered to me, Eze 24:27.

Clarke: Eze 33:24 - -- Abraham was one - If he was called to inherit the land when he was alone, and had the whole to himself, why may we not expect to be established here...

Abraham was one - If he was called to inherit the land when he was alone, and had the whole to himself, why may we not expect to be established here, who are his posterity, and are many? They wished to remain in the land and be happy after the Chaldeans had carried the rest away captives.

Clarke: Eze 33:25 - -- Ye eat with the blood - Abraham was righteous, ye are unrighteous. Eating of blood, in any way dressed, or of flesh from which the blood had not bee...

Ye eat with the blood - Abraham was righteous, ye are unrighteous. Eating of blood, in any way dressed, or of flesh from which the blood had not been extracted, was and is in the sight of God abominable. All such practices he has absolutely and for ever forbidden. Let the vile blood-eaters hear and tremble. See the note on Act 15:20, and the passages in the margin.

Clarke: Eze 33:26 - -- Ye stand upon your sword - Ye live by plunder, rapine, and murder. Ye are every way impure; and shall ye possess the land? No.

Ye stand upon your sword - Ye live by plunder, rapine, and murder. Ye are every way impure; and shall ye possess the land? No.

Clarke: Eze 33:27 - -- They that are in the wastes - He seems to speak of those Jews who had fled to rocks, caves, and fortresses, in the mountains; whose death he predict...

They that are in the wastes - He seems to speak of those Jews who had fled to rocks, caves, and fortresses, in the mountains; whose death he predicts, partly by the sword, partly by wild beasts, and partly by famine.

Clarke: Eze 33:30 - -- The people still are talking against thee - בך bach should be rather translated, "concerning thee,"than "against thee;"for the following verses...

The people still are talking against thee - בך bach should be rather translated, "concerning thee,"than "against thee;"for the following verses show that the prophet was much respected. The Vulgate translates, de te ; the Septuagint, περι σου, "concerning thee,"both right

Talking by the walls and in the doors of the houses is not a custom peculiar to the Copts, mentioned by Bp. Pococke, it is a practice among idle people, and among those who are resting from their work, in every country, when the weather permits. Gossiping in the inside of the house is not less frequent, and much more blamable.

Clarke: Eze 33:31 - -- As the people cometh - As they are accustomed to come on public days, Sabbaths, etc

As the people cometh - As they are accustomed to come on public days, Sabbaths, etc

Clarke: Eze 33:31 - -- With their mouth they show much love - They respected the prophet, but would not bend themselves to follow his precepts. They loved earthly things, ...

With their mouth they show much love - They respected the prophet, but would not bend themselves to follow his precepts. They loved earthly things, and did not relish those of heaven.

Clarke: Eze 33:32 - -- As a very lovely song - They admired the fine voice and correct delivery of the prophet; this was their religion, and this is the whole of the relig...

As a very lovely song - They admired the fine voice and correct delivery of the prophet; this was their religion, and this is the whole of the religion of thousands to the present day; for never were itching ears so multiplied as now.

Clarke: Eze 33:33 - -- When this cometh to pass - then shall they know that a prophet hath been among them - What I have predicted, (and it is even now at the doors), then...

When this cometh to pass - then shall they know that a prophet hath been among them - What I have predicted, (and it is even now at the doors), then they will be convinced that there was a prophet among them, by whose ministry they did not profit as they ought.

Defender: Eze 33:9 - -- Ezekiel, called as a watchman to warn Israel, was responsible to do his duty; otherwise he would be responsible for the deaths of the people and would...

Ezekiel, called as a watchman to warn Israel, was responsible to do his duty; otherwise he would be responsible for the deaths of the people and would be punished accordingly. In parallel manner, the Christian disciple is called to bear witness to the saving gospel of Christ. If he fails in this, and those to whom he could have witnessed are lost then he must be judged - not for salvation, but for rewards, "he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire" (1Co 3:15).

Defender: Eze 33:9 - -- The ungodly man who fails to hear the gospel is headed for hell - not because he did not hear and so does not know how to be saved, but because of his...

The ungodly man who fails to hear the gospel is headed for hell - not because he did not hear and so does not know how to be saved, but because of his rejection of the witness of God in nature and conscience (Rom 1:20; Rom 2:15). His ungodly behavior is evidence enough that he has refused whatever light was available, and he is "without excuse" (Rom 1:20). He cannot blame disobedient watchmen for not warning him."

Defender: Eze 33:16 - -- When a sinner repents and turns to God in Christ for salvation, God "pardoneth iniquity ... because he delighteth in mercy. He will ... cast all their...

When a sinner repents and turns to God in Christ for salvation, God "pardoneth iniquity ... because he delighteth in mercy. He will ... cast all their sins into the depths of the sea" (Mic 7:18, Mic 7:19). God can do this in perfect justice because Christ is "the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world" (Joh 1:29)."

Defender: Eze 33:18 - -- A perfectly righteous man could be saved, but there is "none righteous" (Rom 3:10). Thus, all must come as sinners in repentance and faith if they com...

A perfectly righteous man could be saved, but there is "none righteous" (Rom 3:10). Thus, all must come as sinners in repentance and faith if they come at all."

TSK: Eze 33:7 - -- I have : Eze 3:17-21; Son 3:3, Son 5:7; Isa 62:6; Jer 6:27, Jer 31:6; Mic 7:4; Eph 4:11; Heb 13:17 thou shalt : Eze 2:7, Eze 2:8; 1Ki 22:14, 1Ki 22:16...

TSK: Eze 33:8 - -- O wicked : Eze 33:14, Eze 18:4, Eze 18:10-13, Eze 18:18, Eze 18:20; Gen 2:17, Gen 3:4; Pro 11:21; Ecc 8:13; Isa 3:11; Jer 8:13 if thou : Eze 13:9, Eze...

TSK: Eze 33:9 - -- if thou : Eze 3:19, Eze 3:21; Act 13:40, Act 18:5, Act 18:6, Act 28:23-28; Gal 5:19-21, Gal 6:7, Gal 6:8; Eph 5:3-6; Phi 3:18, Phi 3:19; 1Th 4:3-8, 1T...

TSK: Eze 33:10 - -- If our : The impenitent Jews seem to have charged the prophet’ s messages with inconsistencycaps1 . fcaps0 or whilst he warned them to repent, a...

If our : The impenitent Jews seem to have charged the prophet’ s messages with inconsistencycaps1 . fcaps0 or whilst he warned them to repent, and assured the penitent of forgiveness, he also predicted that the people ""would pine away in their transgressions.""The prediction, however, merely implied that God foresaw that the people in general would be impenitent, though some individuals would repent and be pardoned. Eze 24:23; Lev 26:39

how : Eze 37:11; Psa 130:7; Isa 49:14, Isa 51:20; Jer 2:25

TSK: Eze 33:11 - -- As I live : Eze 5:11, Eze 14:16-18, Eze 16:48; Num 14:21, Num 14:28; Isa 49:18; Jer 22:24, Jer 46:18; Zep 2:9; Rom 14:11 I have : Eze 18:23, Eze 18:32...

TSK: Eze 33:12 - -- say : Eze 33:2 The righteousness : Eze 33:18, Eze 3:20,Eze 3:21, Eze 18:24-26 as for : Eze 33:19, Eze 18:21, Eze 18:27-32; 1Ki 8:48-50; 2Ch 7:14; Mat ...

TSK: Eze 33:13 - -- if he : Eze 3:20, Eze 18:24; Luk 18:9-14; Rom 10:3; Phi 3:9; Heb 10:38; 2Pe 2:20-22; 1Jo 2:19 he shall die : Eze 18:4, Eze 18:24

TSK: Eze 33:14 - -- Thou shalt : Eze 33:8, Eze 3:18, Eze 3:19, Eze 18:27; Isa 3:11; Jer 18:7, Jer 18:8; Luk 13:3-5 if he : Pro 28:13; Isa 55:7; Jer 4:1; Hos 14:1; Act 3:1...

Thou shalt : Eze 33:8, Eze 3:18, Eze 3:19, Eze 18:27; Isa 3:11; Jer 18:7, Jer 18:8; Luk 13:3-5

if he : Pro 28:13; Isa 55:7; Jer 4:1; Hos 14:1; Act 3:19

that which is lawful and right : Heb. judgment and justice, Eze 18:21, Eze 18:27; Mic 6:8; Mat 9:13

TSK: Eze 33:15 - -- restore : ""The sin is not forgiven, unless that which is taken away be restored,""says Augustine. Eze 18:7, Eze 18:12, Eze 18:16; Exo 22:26, Exo 22:2...

restore : ""The sin is not forgiven, unless that which is taken away be restored,""says Augustine. Eze 18:7, Eze 18:12, Eze 18:16; Exo 22:26, Exo 22:27; Deu 24:6, Deu 24:10-13, Deu 24:17; Job 22:6, Job 24:3, Job 24:9; Amo 2:8

give : Exo 22:1-4; Lev 6:2-5; Num 5:6-8; Luk 19:8

walk : Eze 20:11, Eze 20:13, Eze 20:21; Lev 18:5; Psa 119:93; Luk 1:6

he shall : Eze 18:27, Eze 18:28; Rev 22:12-14

TSK: Eze 33:16 - -- Eze 18:22; Isa 1:18, Isa 43:25, Isa 44:22; Mic 7:18, Mic 7:19; Rom 5:16, Rom 5:21; 1Jo 2:1-3

TSK: Eze 33:17 - -- Eze 33:20, Eze 18:25, Eze 18:29; Job 35:2, Job 40:8; Mat 25:24-26; Luk 19:21, Luk 19:22

TSK: Eze 33:18 - -- Eze 33:12, Eze 33:13, Eze 18:26, Eze 18:27; 2Pe 2:20-22; Heb 10:38

TSK: Eze 33:19 - -- Eze 33:14, Eze 18:27, Eze 18:28

TSK: Eze 33:20 - -- Yet : Eze 33:17, Eze 18:25, Eze 18:29; Pro 19:3 I will : Eze 18:30; Psa 62:12; Ecc 12:14; Mat 16:27; Joh 5:29; 2Co 5:10; Rev 20:12-15, Rev 22:12

TSK: Eze 33:21 - -- in the twelfth : This was on Wednesday, January 25, am 3416 or 3417. According to the date here given, this escaped Jew did not come to the prophet, w...

in the twelfth : This was on Wednesday, January 25, am 3416 or 3417. According to the date here given, this escaped Jew did not come to the prophet, with intelligence of Jerusalem being smitten, till about eighteen months after the event; but instead of the ""twelfth year,""eight manuscripts and the Syriac read the eleventh. Eze 1:2

one : Eze 24:26, Eze 24:27

The city : This was the very message which God had promised to the prophet. Eze 24:26; 2Ki 24:4-7; 2Ch 36:17-21; Jer 39:2-8, Jer 52:4-14

TSK: Eze 33:22 - -- the hand : Eze 1:3, Eze 3:22, Eze 37:1, Eze 40:1 and my : Eze 3:26, Eze 3:27, Eze 24:26, Eze 24:27

TSK: Eze 33:24 - -- they that : The small remnant which continued in the land under Gedaliah, after the desolation of Jerusalem, flattered themselves, notwithstanding all...

they that : The small remnant which continued in the land under Gedaliah, after the desolation of Jerusalem, flattered themselves, notwithstanding all their crimes, that they should inherit the whole land. Eze 33:27, Eze 5:3, Eze 5:4, Eze 34:2; Jer 39:10, Jer 40:7

wastes : Eze 33:27, Eze 36:4

Abraham : Isa 51:2; Act 7:5

but we : Mic 3:11; Mat 3:9; Luk 3:8; Joh 8:33, Joh 8:39; Rom 4:12, Rom 9:7; 1Th 5:3

TSK: Eze 33:25 - -- Ye eat : Gen 9:4; Lev 3:17, Lev 7:26, Lev 7:27, Lev 17:10-14, Lev 19:26; Deu 12:16; 1Sa 14:32-34; Act 15:20,Act 15:21, Act 15:29, Act 21:25 lift up : ...

TSK: Eze 33:26 - -- stand : Gen 27:40; Mic 2:1, Mic 2:2; Zep 3:3 work : Eze 18:12; Lev 18:26-30, Lev 20:13; 1Ki 11:5-7; 1Pe 4:3; Rev 21:8, Rev 21:27 and ye : Eze 18:6, Ez...

TSK: Eze 33:27 - -- surely : Eze 33:24, Eze 5:12-17, Eze 6:11-14; Jer 15:2-4, Jer 42:22, Jer 44:12 will I : Eze 39:4 to be devoured : Heb. to devour him in the caves : Jd...

surely : Eze 33:24, Eze 5:12-17, Eze 6:11-14; Jer 15:2-4, Jer 42:22, Jer 44:12

will I : Eze 39:4

to be devoured : Heb. to devour him

in the caves : Jdg 6:2; 1Sa 13:6, 1Sa 22:1, 1Sa 23:14, 1Sa 24:3; Jer 41:9

TSK: Eze 33:28 - -- I will lay : Eze 6:14, Eze 12:20, Eze 15:8, Eze 36:34, Eze 36:35; 2Ch 36:21; Isa 6:11; Jer 9:11, Jer 16:16; Jer 25:11, Jer 44:2, Jer 44:6, Jer 44:22; ...

I will lay : Eze 6:14, Eze 12:20, Eze 15:8, Eze 36:34, Eze 36:35; 2Ch 36:21; Isa 6:11; Jer 9:11, Jer 16:16; Jer 25:11, Jer 44:2, Jer 44:6, Jer 44:22; Mic 7:13; Zec 7:13, Zec 7:14

most desolate : Heb. desolation and desolation

and the pomp : Eze 7:24, Eze 24:21, Eze 30:6, Eze 30:7

and the mountains : Eze 6:2-6, Eze 36:4

TSK: Eze 33:29 - -- shall : Eze 6:7, Eze 7:27, Eze 23:49, Eze 25:11; Exo 14:18; Psa 9:16, Psa 83:17, Psa 83:18 because : Eze 6:11, Eze 8:6-15, Eze 22:2-15, Eze 22:25-31, ...

TSK: Eze 33:30 - -- the children : Jer 11:18, Jer 11:19, Jer 18:18 against thee : or, of thee Come : Isa 29:13, Isa 58:2; Jer 23:35, Jer 42:1-6, Jer 42:20; Mat 15:8, Mat ...

the children : Jer 11:18, Jer 11:19, Jer 18:18

against thee : or, of thee

Come : Isa 29:13, Isa 58:2; Jer 23:35, Jer 42:1-6, Jer 42:20; Mat 15:8, Mat 22:16, Mat 22:17

TSK: Eze 33:31 - -- as the people cometh : Heb. according to the coming of the people, Eze 8:1, Eze 14:1, 20:1-32; Luk 10:39; Act 10:33 they sit before thee as my people ...

as the people cometh : Heb. according to the coming of the people, Eze 8:1, Eze 14:1, 20:1-32; Luk 10:39; Act 10:33

they sit before thee as my people : or, my people sit before thee

and they : Jer 6:16, Jer 6:17, Jer 43:1-7, Jer 44:16; Mat 7:24-27; Luk 6:48, Luk 6:49, Luk 8:21, Luk 11:28; Jam 1:22-24

for with : Deu 5:28, Deu 5:29; Psa 78:36, Psa 78:37; Isa 29:13; Jam 2:14-16; 1Jo 3:17, 1Jo 3:18

show much love : Heb. make loves, or jests, Isa 28:13; Jer 23:33-38; Luk 16:14

but their : Mat 6:24, Mat 13:22, Mat 19:22; Luk 12:15-21; Eph 5:5; 1Ti 6:9, 1Ti 6:10

TSK: Eze 33:32 - -- of one : Mar 4:16, Mar 4:17, Mar 6:20; Joh 5:35 a pleasant voice : Heb. a song of loves

of one : Mar 4:16, Mar 4:17, Mar 6:20; Joh 5:35

a pleasant voice : Heb. a song of loves

TSK: Eze 33:33 - -- when : 1Sa 3:19, 1Sa 3:20; Jer 28:9 shall : Eze 2:5; 2Ki 5:8; Luk 10:11

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Commentary -- Word/Phrase Notes (per Verse)

Barnes: Eze 33:21 - -- The date shows an interval of 112 years from the taking of Jerusalem Jer 52:12. The general news that the city was taken must have reached them, but...

The date shows an interval of 112 years from the taking of Jerusalem Jer 52:12. The general news that the city was taken must have reached them, but it was only when the messenger arrived that the prophet’ s mouth was opened. It is not improbable that a body of men after the destruction of the city joined their brethren in Chaldaea; if so this would account for the lapse of time, and supply a reason why Ezekiel on their arrival should commence a new series of prophecies.

Barnes: Eze 33:22 - -- Was upon me ... was opened - For was read "had been."The prophet was under the hand of God in ecstatic trance on the evening preceding the arri...

Was upon me ... was opened - For was read "had been."The prophet was under the hand of God in ecstatic trance on the evening preceding the arrival of the messenger, and continued in this state until his arrival.

Barnes: Eze 33:23-33 - -- The exhortation to repentance. Ezekiel first addresses the remnant that still linger in their ancient home, and warns them against presumptuous hope...

The exhortation to repentance. Ezekiel first addresses the remnant that still linger in their ancient home, and warns them against presumptuous hopes resting on false grounds Eze 33:23-29; then he turns his eyes to those near him, and points out that their apparent attention to his words was illusory.

Eze 33:24

Those wastes - The places in the holy land devastated by the conqueror.

Abraham - The argument is, Abraham was but one man, and he had the promise of the land, though he did not at once possess it; much more shall we, the descendants of Abraham, being many, retain this promise and possess the land, though for a time we are depressed and subject. Compare Mat 3:9; Joh 8:33, Joh 8:39.

Eze 33:25

To eat flesh with the blood was forbidden (see the marginal references). It seems to have been connected with the idolatries of Canaan. The prohibition was, on account of its connection with idolatry, continued in the enactment of the Council of Jerusalem Act 15:29.

Eze 33:26

Ye stand upon your sword - Ye put your trust in your swords.

Eze 33:30-33

God warns the prophet against being misled by the compliance of the people.

Eze 33:30

Against thee - Rather, about "thee.""by the walls"Rather, within "the walls."

Eze 33:31

As the people cometh - literally, as in the margin, i. e., in crowds. Render it: they shall come "unto thee"like the coming of a people,"and"shall "sit before thee as My people"etc., i. e., they assume the attitude of God’ s people listening to His prophet. Compare Eze 14:1; Eze 20:1.

Eze 33:33

And when this - But when this.

Poole: Eze 33:9 - -- These three verses are the same with the 17th, 18th, 19th verses of the third chapter, where see them explained.

These three verses are the same with the 17th, 18th, 19th verses of the third chapter, where see them explained.

Poole: Eze 33:10 - -- Speak declare from me, unto the house of Israel the residue of the two tribes, which are brought to Babylon; or else to those already there, and he...

Speak declare from me,

unto the house of Israel the residue of the two tribes, which are brought to Babylon; or else to those already there, and here their brethren are on the way thitherward, since Jerusalem was taken.

Thus ye speak thus ye discourse among themselves, object against God, and his prophet, and your own duty, some of you out of infirmity, others out of perverseness.

If our transgressions and our sins be upon us the unpardoned guilt and the unsupportable punishment of our sins, who were warned and took not warning, do thus, as in the wasting our country, burning our city, abolishing the public worship of God, come upon us, we shall pine away, consume; it is too late to hope it will be better with us now, we should have heard and followed the counsel earlier, if we would have delivered our own souls. If the prophet spake true at first, there is no hope, say the weaker; if there be hope now after so peremptory menaces and so great execution, the prophet did not speak truth, say the perverse, and so concluded they would as they were run the hazard.

How should we then live? how can it be better with us? if the threats be true and sure, it will be worse; if not true, how are his promises to be rested on, that it will be better.

Poole: Eze 33:11 - -- As I live, saith the Lord God: see Eze 5:11 16:48 17:16 . I have no pleasure: see Eze 18:23,32 . But that the wicked: here is an ellipsis; but I ...

As I live, saith the Lord God: see Eze 5:11 16:48 17:16 .

I have no pleasure: see Eze 18:23,32 .

But that the wicked: here is an ellipsis; but I have pleasure in the seasonable return the sinner makes from sin to holiness, and from death to life.

Turn ye O leave sin, cease to do evil, be persuaded to repent; it will please me to pardon your faults, and to throw away the rod, and to save your persons.

Why will ye die? death is your choice, not mine, so long as you go on in the way that is not good; whoso sinneth against me wrongeth his own soul, and love to sin is interpretatively a love and choosing of death. It is your culpable will, not my severe resolution, that you die.

Poole: Eze 33:12 - -- As for the wickedness of the wicked & c.: see Eze 3:20 18:20-22,24 , where the same things are explained.

As for the wickedness of the wicked & c.: see Eze 3:20 18:20-22,24 , where the same things are explained.

Poole: Eze 33:13 - -- The righteous who hath in his life that is past kept the law and forborne evil, hath done what is right and good, and not done what is evil, both whi...

The righteous who hath in his life that is past kept the law and forborne evil, hath done what is right and good, and not done what is evil, both which parts of this righteousness are described in Eze. xviii, 5-9.

He shall surely live make him promise of doing him good, and giving him life, peace, every blessing, and happiness. If he trust to his own righteousness ; if he conclude former righteousness is sufficient, and therefore turn to ways of sin, pleasing to an evil heart.

Commit iniquity give himself to doing evil, as it were his work.

Shall not be remembered no regard shall be had to what he had done, he doth himself practically renounce it, and interpretatively recant his doing it.

His iniquity that he hath committed in his apostacy and backslidden state.

He shall die shall be punished, his comforts shall be taken away or die in his hand, he shall live and die miserably.

For it his iniquity and punishment of it, and this is emphatically repeated, as Eze 18:26 .

Poole: Eze 33:14 - -- See Eze 18:21 .

See Eze 18:21 .

Poole: Eze 33:15 - -- See Eze 18:7,9 . Without committing iniquity: it is not a sinless life here required or supposed, but a life in which a man doth not habitually an...

See Eze 18:7,9 .

Without committing iniquity: it is not a sinless life here required or supposed, but a life in which a man doth not habitually and wilfully work iniquity.

Poole: Eze 33:16 - -- As the threat against a righteous man that proves a presumptuous apostate was stated in the former part of the 12th, and in the whole 13th verse, so...

As the threat against a righteous man that proves a presumptuous apostate was stated in the former part of the 12th, and in the whole 13th verse, so in these three verses the case of a repenting and reforming sinner is stated and determined to his encouragement and comfort, and they are the same with Eze 18:21,22,27,28 , which see.

Poole: Eze 33:17 - -- These impious, obstinate quarrellers will accuse and do condemn the just and holy God, that they may acquit themselves. See this verse explained, S...

These impious, obstinate quarrellers will accuse and do condemn the just and holy God, that they may acquit themselves. See this verse explained, See Poole "Eze 18:25" , See Poole "Eze 18:29" .

Poole: Eze 33:19 - -- In these two verses the cases are so clearly stated, that it is as clear as the sun the ways of God are very just, and that none but ignorant atheis...

In these two verses the cases are so clearly stated, that it is as clear as the sun the ways of God are very just, and that none but ignorant atheists would think or surmise otherwise.

Poole: Eze 33:20 - -- Still blinded prejudice quarrels. Judge call you to account, plead with you, and pass sentence. Every one: this is added to rouse every one up t...

Still blinded prejudice quarrels.

Judge call you to account, plead with you, and pass sentence.

Every one: this is added to rouse every one up to repent of all sins, and of this particularly.

After his ways a terrible threat, and I know not how a greater could be denounced against sinners than this. God, infinitely holy and perfectly just, will judge them according to their unequal, unrighteous, sinful ways, and according to his inflexible justice. And if God enter thus into judgment, who can stand in his sight?

Poole: Eze 33:21 - -- In the tenth month, in the fifth day of the month that is one year and five months after the thing was done, and temple burnt, and the city sacked. ...

In the tenth month, in the fifth day of the month that is one year and five months after the thing was done, and temple burnt, and the city sacked.

One that had escaped one whose own care, but God’ s wonderful providence had much more, befriended him; perhaps it might be one of those that yielded to the Babylonians before, but was resolved to see the upshot of all.

Saying likely giving a particular account of the whole.

The city Jerusalem. Smitten; taken and plundered, the inhabitants slain or captives, and the city sacked, razed, and burnt.

Poole: Eze 33:22 - -- The hand of the Lord was upon me the powerful influence of the prophetic Spirit inspired me, and prepared me for what followed. Had opened my mouth ...

The hand of the Lord was upon me the powerful influence of the prophetic Spirit inspired me, and prepared me for what followed.

Had opened my mouth not that the prophet was dumb through impotence and inability to speak, for he had prophesied against many nations, but he was forbidden to say any thing of the Jews, to threaten, warn, counsel, or command, Eze 24:25-27 29:21 ; but now the Spirit moved me to speak, and continued his motion till the messenger came, and ever after, for God did not command him silence any more.

Poole: Eze 33:24 - -- They that inhabit who were left behind, having either hid themselves, but now come out of their holes, or returned from neighbour countries, whither ...

They that inhabit who were left behind, having either hid themselves, but now come out of their holes, or returned from neighbour countries, whither they fled, or permitted by the conqueror to stay and plant vineyards.

Wastes places once very fruitful and abounding with people, but now by the spoil of the soldiers emptied of inhabitants. and made as a desolate wilderness.

Speak, saying thus think and speak; thus with vain reasonings they deceive them. selves.

He inherited the land our father had hereditary right to all this land when but one, and he multiplied to a great company, and so they possessed the land; we children of Abraham, though diminished, are many, and the Divine goodness will surely appear then, and continue to us both right and possession, and we shall fill the land, and recover our former state and privileges.

Is given us it was given by promise to us the seed, as well as to our progenitor; nay more, it is given us in possession, we dwell in it, when Abraham had not one foot of it in his possession.

For inheritance the perpetual inheritance is ours. Thus with vain, fallacious arguments they cheat one another.

Poole: Eze 33:25 - -- Say unto them remove them from this dangerous carnal confidence, and show them what they do, and by that what they are, how far from Abraham’ s ...

Say unto them remove them from this dangerous carnal confidence, and show them what they do, and by that what they are, how far from Abraham’ s seed, his genuine seed.

Ye eat with the blood: whatever might be the reason why, it is most certain this was forbidden, Gen 9:4 Lev 17:14 19:26 : they sinned by violating this law.

Lift up your eyes honouring, praying, depending on, and committing yourselves to the protection and guidance of those dumb idols: see Eze 18:6 . Shed blood, innocent blood, ye are murderers.

Shall ye possess the land polluted with such and many other heinous sins? and what colour of hope can you have, that you shall possess the land? The question includes a peremptory denial.

Poole: Eze 33:26 - -- Ye stand upon your sword you trust to your sword, and stand with it as it were drawn ready to kill and slay, you do all with violence and force, not ...

Ye stand upon your sword you trust to your sword, and stand with it as it were drawn ready to kill and slay, you do all with violence and force, not regarding what is right and equal, and fear no restraints or punishments.

Abomination idolatry, or other wickedness not to be named.

Ye defile every one his neighbour’ s wife: adultery is so common among you, that it is no bold hyperbole to say every one defiles his neighbour’ s wife.

Shall ye possess the land? Can such sinners flatter themselves that they shall inherit the land promised to a holy and good father, and to the like seed? Will not the land spew Jewish sinners out, as it did spew out such Canaanitish sinners?

Poole: Eze 33:27 - -- The wastes the ruinous heaps of cities or towns, in which some sorry habitations might possibly be found by them. Shall fall the Chaldean soldier r...

The wastes the ruinous heaps of cities or towns, in which some sorry habitations might possibly be found by them.

Shall fall the Chaldean soldier ransacking all places, and either expecting or by chance finding them there, shall kill in revenge of Gedaliah’ s death and Ishmael with others shall destroy some of them.

That is in the open field that wanders in the fields, shall be a prey to lions, or other ravenous beasts, that will multiply in that ruined country.

In the forts out of the reach of men and beasts my hand shall reach, I will send the pestilence, that shall sweep them away.

Poole: Eze 33:28 - -- I will lay the land I do purpose to destroy utterly all in this land; and what can escape, when savage beasts, cruel men, and a pestilential air all ...

I will lay the land I do purpose to destroy utterly all in this land; and what can escape, when savage beasts, cruel men, and a pestilential air all concur to ruin the land? The pomp of her strength; the stately and pompous shows of her strength, and her former riches and power.

The mountains of Israel on which were vineyards and oliveyards, where the joyful sounds of the vintage and harvests did glad the heart, there shall be utter desolation.

None shall pass through no man daring to venture for fear of wild beasts, or pestilential air, or famine in those wasted mountains.

Poole: Eze 33:29 - -- I would have had them acknowledge me to be the Lord by my blessings which beautified the land, by my holy precepts which directed to piety and justi...

I would have had them acknowledge me to be the Lord by my blessings which beautified the land, by my holy precepts which directed to piety and justice, by my mercy and kindness towards them; but they despised my mercy, broke my law, abused my bounty; and now by the punishment of their sins, as I threatened, and by laying the land most waste, they shall be constrained to own and submit to me as the Lord.

Poole: Eze 33:30 - -- The children captives in Babylon. Thy people; thy not my people; God doth debase, degrade, and disown them. By the walls as men now do in citie...

The children captives in Babylon.

Thy people; thy not my people; God doth debase, degrade, and disown them.

By the walls as men now do in cities or towns, so then they stood up to the wall, when, meeting in the streets, they would talk together.

In the doors of the houses others got into the porches or doors of their houses, this they did to tell each other what news of their country.

Speak one to another: and all ends in this at last: Come, I pray, let us go up to the prophet, the true prophet, and inquire what God hath revealed to him, and what he may reveal unto us, whether any, or when will that end of our sorrows be.

Poole: Eze 33:31 - -- Flocking to the school of some famous doctor, or as men and women flock to hear some famous preacher, or as they were wont to the synagogues to hear...

Flocking to the school of some famous doctor, or as men and women flock to hear some famous preacher, or as they were wont to the synagogues to hear their learned scribes. So we find the elders of Judah, Eze 8:1 , which see; so the disciples of the great rabbies sat at their feet; so is Saul said to be brought up at the feet of Gamaliel. By their outward deportments, you might judge them to be my people, and hear seemingly very attentive. They do only hear what thou sayest, but they will not do it. All their love is but from teeth outward, either to me, my word, or my prophet, saith God.

Their heart goeth after their covetousness their desire, love, and care is about their gain, how to make thriving bargains, how to place out and secure their money with excessive and intolerable usury and increase.

Poole: Eze 33:32 - -- These Jews esteem and regard thee and what thou sayest, as men regard a skilful musician, who to a well-tuned instrument hath sung the praises of vi...

These Jews esteem and regard thee and what thou sayest, as men regard a skilful musician, who to a well-tuned instrument hath sung the praises of virtue or of virtuous men; it pleaseth their ear, but it doth not frame their hearts and life to virtue. They loved him for his eloquent lamentation, and reproof of their enemies, and for foretelling that they should fall, and saying nothing against them and their sins for these three years past; but when he exhorts them to duty, or dissuades from sin, they will hear, not do.

Poole: Eze 33:33 - -- When all thou hast prophesied against the Jews shall, as that thou prophesiedst against the nations, come to pass to their ruin, they shall know tho...

When all thou hast prophesied against the Jews shall, as that thou prophesiedst against the nations, come to pass to their ruin, they shall know thou wast no musician, but a prophet sent of God, to forewarn them to flee from wrath; not employed by men, to please their wanton ear and fancy.

Haydock: Eze 33:8 - -- Surely die a temporal, (Theodoret) or rather an eternal death. (St. Jerome)

Surely die a temporal, (Theodoret) or rather an eternal death. (St. Jerome)

Haydock: Eze 33:10 - -- Live? They suppose their case to be desperate, as their fathers had sinned, chap. xviii. The prophet shews that none are punished except for their ...

Live? They suppose their case to be desperate, as their fathers had sinned, chap. xviii. The prophet shews that none are punished except for their own faults, (Calmet) and that "each one has free-will to be saved or to be lost." (St. Jerome)

Haydock: Eze 33:11 - -- Desire. The sinner's damnation is not an object of God's pleasure, chap. xviii. 23. (Calmet) --- He has an antecedent will to save all. He knock...

Desire. The sinner's damnation is not an object of God's pleasure, chap. xviii. 23. (Calmet) ---

He has an antecedent will to save all. He knocks at the door of our heart, (Apocalypse iii. 20.) and if man do what depends on him, nothing will be wanting on the part of God. (St. Thomas Aquinas, [Summa Theologiae] i. 2. q. 109. and 112.) (Worthington)

Haydock: Eze 33:12 - -- Hurt him. God effaces all past crimes: yet a relapse makes them as it were revive, and is pardoned with more difficulty, Matthew xviii. 35. Some re...

Hurt him. God effaces all past crimes: yet a relapse makes them as it were revive, and is pardoned with more difficulty, Matthew xviii. 35. Some read, "In what day the converted sinner groans, he shall be saved," as if they had taken in part of Isaias xxx. 15.

Haydock: Eze 33:17 - -- Equitable; as we are much more inclined to vice than to virtue. This argumentation is inconclusive, as God owes nothing to man; and what good the la...

Equitable; as we are much more inclined to vice than to virtue. This argumentation is inconclusive, as God owes nothing to man; and what good the latter does, is an effect of His grace. The propensity to evil is no excuse, as man is still free. He is judged according to the dispositions in which he is found at the hour of death; yet we must not infer, that those who have spent their lives in sinning will be no worse treated than the person who dies guilty of a single crime.

Haydock: Eze 33:21 - -- Twelfth. Roman Septuagint, "tenth." Syriac, "eleventh year,...in the twelfth month;" which Theodoret thinks more probable, as the city was taken in...

Twelfth. Roman Septuagint, "tenth." Syriac, "eleventh year,...in the twelfth month;" which Theodoret thinks more probable, as the city was taken in the ninth of the fourth month of that year. Yet even so, it is strange that the news should not arrive before. Some think (Calmet) that the messenger came also to announce what happened after the death of Godolias. (Sanctius) ---

Captivity. Here it is evident that the prophet dates from that event, chap. i., &c. (Haydock) ---

As he prophesied on the very day when the city was besieged, (chap. xxiv. 2.) so ([chap. xxiv.] ver. 26.) he foretold that one should come three years after to inform him of the capture. (Worthington) ---

Then the people would believe him, (ibid.[chap. xxiv.] ver. 27.; Calmet) and he would open his mouth boldly, ver. 22. (Haydock)

Haydock: Eze 33:24 - -- Places. He has answered those who despaired, ver. 10. Now he turns to the presumptuous, who expected to be treated like Abraham, though they did no...

Places. He has answered those who despaired, ver. 10. Now he turns to the presumptuous, who expected to be treated like Abraham, though they did not imitate his virtues. (Calmet) ---

They perhaps entertained these sentiments before the death of Godolias, thinking to establish themselves in the land. Afterwards the prophet Jeremias could not prevail on them to remain, though God promised them security.

Haydock: Eze 33:25 - -- To them. Grabe marks to ver. 27., Thus saith, &c., as wanting in the Septuagint, though not in the Alexandrian copy. St. Jerome reckons eight ver...

To them. Grabe marks to ver. 27., Thus saith, &c., as wanting in the Septuagint, though not in the Alexandrian copy. St. Jerome reckons eight verses or lines omitted. (Haydock) ---

The Complutensian and Theodoret read them with some variations. ---

The blood. It must be carefully extracted, Genesis ix. 4., and Leviticus vii. 26. ---

Uncleannesses; idols, in which you trust.

Haydock: Eze 33:26 - -- Swords, thinking to live thereby, (Genesis xxvii. 40.) and to be secure. But I will disarm you. The pestilence shall find out those in the rocks,...

Swords, thinking to live thereby, (Genesis xxvii. 40.) and to be secure. But I will disarm you. The pestilence shall find out those in the rocks, ver. 27.

Haydock: Eze 33:30 - -- Walls, the resort of idle people. (Calmet)

Walls, the resort of idle people. (Calmet)

Haydock: Eze 33:31 - -- In to a religious meeting. (Chaldean) Perhaps they came on the sabbath to his house. Yet they made a just and song of his instructions. (Calmet...

In to a religious meeting. (Chaldean) Perhaps they came on the sabbath to his house. Yet they made a just and song of his instructions. (Calmet) ---

They heard them with pleasure, but did not reform their lives. (Haydock)

Haydock: Eze 33:33 - -- Coming. The desolation of Jerusalem, (Haydock) and what I have foretold, hath already taken place; or, the news will presently arrive: as it did the...

Coming. The desolation of Jerusalem, (Haydock) and what I have foretold, hath already taken place; or, the news will presently arrive: as it did the following morning, ver. 21. (Calmet)

Gill: Eze 33:7 - -- So thou, O son of man,.... Here begins the application of the parable to the prophet himself, describing his office and his duty: I have set thee a...

So thou, O son of man,.... Here begins the application of the parable to the prophet himself, describing his office and his duty:

I have set thee a watchman unto the house of Israel; which is repeated from Eze 3:17; see Gill on Eze 3:17. The Targum is,

"I have appointed thee a teacher;''

a spiritual watchman; so pastors, teachers, ministers of the Gospel, are watchmen, 2Ti 4:5,

therefore thou shalt hear the word from my mouth, and warn them from me. The Targum is,

"thou shalt receive the word from my Word, and warn them from sinning before me.''

Gill: Eze 33:8 - -- When I say unto the wicked, O wicked man,.... Order the prophet to say so to him, and as follows; See Gill on Eze 3:18.

When I say unto the wicked, O wicked man,.... Order the prophet to say so to him, and as follows; See Gill on Eze 3:18.

Gill: Eze 33:9 - -- Nevertheless, if thou warn the wicked of his way,.... See Gill on Eze 3:19.

Nevertheless, if thou warn the wicked of his way,.... See Gill on Eze 3:19.

Gill: Eze 33:10 - -- Therefore, O thou son of man, speak unto the house of Israel,.... Such of them as were with him in the captivity: thus ye speak, saying; reasoning and...

Therefore, O thou son of man, speak unto the house of Israel,.... Such of them as were with him in the captivity: thus ye speak, saying; reasoning and arguing within and among themselves; which the Lord heard, and made known to the prophet, who is bid to repeat it to them in order to give an answer:

if our transgressions and our sins be upon us, and we pine away in them; as the prophet said they should, Eze 24:23, with which he had concluded his prophecies to them; and now they take it up, and argue against themselves, and against him; if our sins and transgressions are laid upon us, and we must answer for them; if the guilt of them is charged on us, and they are unexpiated and unatoned for; and the punishment of them is, or will be, inflicted on us, and we do, and must pine away, and be consumed in them, and by them:

how should we then live? as thou promisest us upon repentance; it is all over with us; there is no hope for us; what signify our repentance, or thy promises of life unto us? these things can never hang together, that we should live, and yet pine away in our sins; so that these are the words of persons both despairing, and making the prophet to say things opposite and contradictory, and which would not admit of a reconciliation; see Eze 37:11.

Gill: Eze 33:11 - -- Say unto them, as I live, saith the Lord,.... The following is the answer returned from the Lord by the prophet to their above complaint and reasoning...

Say unto them, as I live, saith the Lord,.... The following is the answer returned from the Lord by the prophet to their above complaint and reasoning; to which is premised the oath of God, showing the certainty, reality, and sincerity of what is said, which might be depended on as true:

I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked, &c. See Gill on Eze 18:23, Eze 18:31, Eze 18:32,

Gill: Eze 33:12 - -- Therefore, thou son of man, say unto the children of thy people,.... See Gill on Eze 33:2. The purport of what the prophet is bid to say in this and s...

Therefore, thou son of man, say unto the children of thy people,.... See Gill on Eze 33:2. The purport of what the prophet is bid to say in this and some following verses is, that the righteousness of a man that trusts in it, he sinning and not repenting, shall not save him; and that the wickedness of a repenting sinner shall not damn him:

the righteousness of the righteous shall not deliver him in the day of his transgression; this must be understood, not of a truly righteous man, or of the righteousness of Christ, by which such an one is made so; for that righteousness does deliver those to whom it is imputed, from sin and the condemnation of it, even in the day of his transgression, which is every day of his life; for there is not a just man that does good, and sinneth not; and in the day when his sin is shown him, and he is convinced of it, this removes the guilt of it; and in the day it will be sought for, or he may be charged with it, and when the sins of others will be brought to an account, the righteousness by which he is justified will deliver him from avenging justice; from the curse of the law; from the wrath of God; from eternal death, and everlasting damnation; but this is to be interpreted of one that is not truly righteous, and of a man's own righteousness; and which he trusts to, as is afterwards expressed; and may and does turn from: this can never deliver a man in the day of his transgression from the guilt and condemnation of it; for a man's own righteousness is but what he ought to do; and, was it ever so perfect, yet, should he commit one single sin, it would not justify him from it, or deliver him from the curse of the law and wrath of God due unto it:

as for the wickedness of the wicked, he shall not fall thereby in the day that he turneth from his wickedness; when he is truly convinced of his sin, and the evil of it; is heartily sorry for it, after a godly sort; ingenuously confesses it, and departs from it; applies to Christ, to his blood and righteousness, for pardon and acceptance; though his wickedness has been ever so great, or attended with ever such aggravating circumstances, yet it shall not damn him; or he shall not fall by it into hell and everlasting perdition; but shall be saved in the Lord with an everlasting salvation:

neither shall the righteous be able to live for his righteousness in the day that he sinneth; he cannot live by it, nor for it; as it cannot justify him, it cannot save him, or bring him to heaven, or entitle him to eternal life; he is not able to live comfortably now; when his sin is charged upon him, his righteousness will not relieve him; and much less will he be able to live happily hereafter; he must and will die in his sins, being found in them, for anything his own righteousness can do for him: this is the same with the former clause, and is repeated in different words for the confirmation of it; self-righteous persons not being easily convinced of the truth of these things.

Gill: Eze 33:13 - -- When I shall say to the righteous, that he shall surely live,.... A happy life, here and hereafter; an eternal life, and not die the second death: thi...

When I shall say to the righteous, that he shall surely live,.... A happy life, here and hereafter; an eternal life, and not die the second death: this must be understood, should he appear a truly righteous person; one that does not trust to his own righteousness, but to the righteousness of Christ, and lives by faith on that; looking for the hope of righteousness through it, and behaving agreeably to his character:

but if he trust to his own righteousness, and commit iniquity; as he will by trusting to it; if he trusts to it for acceptance with God, and justification in his sight, and thinks himself proof against all temptation to sin on account of it; and that he has righteousness enough to make amends for sins committed, or for other sins he may commit; and which he may venture upon through this false notion, and so be led on to an open course of sinning, and series of committing iniquity:

all his righteousness shall not be remembered; God will take no notice of it; it shall be of no avail to justify him from sin, and secure him from wrath; it will be as if it never had been:

but for his iniquity that he hath committed, he shall die for it; an eternal death, which is the just wages of sin; from which a man's own righteousness can never deliver him, though the righteousness of Christ does deliver from it; see Pro 10:2.

Gill: Eze 33:14 - -- Again, when I say unto the wicked, thou shalt surely die,.... That is, provided he continues in the same course of life, impenitent and unbelieving: ...

Again, when I say unto the wicked, thou shalt surely die,.... That is, provided he continues in the same course of life, impenitent and unbelieving:

but if he turn from his sin; repent of it, and forsake it:

and do that which is lawful and right; or "judgment and justice"; do that which is agreeably to the law of God, and what is right between man and man; lives soberly, righteously, and godly, as well as denies ungodliness and worldly lusts; whereby it appears that his repentance is genuine and true.

Gill: Eze 33:15 - -- If the wicked restore the pledge,.... His neighbour's raiment, which he has taken as a pledge for money lent him; and which, according to the law, was...

If the wicked restore the pledge,.... His neighbour's raiment, which he has taken as a pledge for money lent him; and which, according to the law, was to be restored before sunset, Exo 22:26 which wicked men did not attend unto; but when such a man is brought to a sense of his wickedness, and repentance for it, as an evidence of it he would restore the pledge:

and give again that he had robbed; to him whom he had robbed; as a thief was obliged to do, four or five fold, according to the law, Exo 22:1, and which, when a man did voluntarily, from the convictions of his own mind, and not by force of the civil magistrate, it was a sign of true repentance; see Luk 19:8,

and walk in the statutes of life; the rule of life and conversation, and to the keeping of which the promise of long life is annexed; and which preserve persons from dying a shameful death by the hand of the civil magistrate; statutes, which, if a man do, he shall live in them; see Eze 20:11,

without committing iniquity; not living entirely without sin, which the best of men do not; but without committing grosser sins, as before; and without making a trade of sinning, and living in it:

he shall surely live, he shall not die; he shall live comfortably now, and happily hereafter; he shall live a spiritual life, and not die the second death.

Gill: Eze 33:16 - -- None of his sins that he hath committed shall be mentioned unto him,.... Imputed to him; placed to his account; charged upon him, or ever be spoke of ...

None of his sins that he hath committed shall be mentioned unto him,.... Imputed to him; placed to his account; charged upon him, or ever be spoke of to him, either now, or at the day of judgment, by way of accusation and complaint, or to his condemnation:

he hath done that which is lawful and right; has repented of his sin; looked to Christ by faith for the pardon of it; and laid hold on his righteousness for his justification; and being influenced and assisted by the grace of God, has done that which is right and good in the sight of God and man:

he shall surely live; he now lives a life of faith and holiness; he shall continue to live, and persevere to the end, and inherit eternal life; see Eze 18:21.

Gill: Eze 33:17 - -- Yet the children of thy people say,.... "Not my people"; for surely the children of God could never say what follows; and one would think that even no...

Yet the children of thy people say,.... "Not my people"; for surely the children of God could never say what follows; and one would think that even no man could say it, after so much had been said by the Lord concerning the righteous and the wicked, and his dealings with them, which must appear to be just and right, good and gracious; and yet such were the atheism, the perverseness and peevishness of these people, they went on to say as they had done before:

the way of the Lord is not equal: is not according to the rules of justice and equity. The Targum is,

"the ways of the goodness of the Lord are not made plain (or exposed) unto us.''

The answer to which is,

but, as for them, their way is not equal; according to the rule of the divine word; as for God, his way and methods, both of providence and grace, were right and good; See Gill on Eze 18:25.

Gill: Eze 33:18 - -- When the righteous turneth from his righteousness,.... This and what is said in the following verse are clear instances of the equality, justness, and...

When the righteous turneth from his righteousness,.... This and what is said in the following verse are clear instances of the equality, justness, and goodness of the ways of God; and are again repeated, if possible, to make it clear and plain to them that their charge and complaint were groundless; See Gill on Eze 18:24, Eze 18:26.

Gill: Eze 33:19 - -- But if the wicked turn from his wickedness,.... See Gill on Eze 18:27.

But if the wicked turn from his wickedness,.... See Gill on Eze 18:27.

Gill: Eze 33:20 - -- Yet ye say, the way of the Lord is not equal,.... Still obstinately persisting in their false charges, notwithstanding plain proofs to the contrary: ...

Yet ye say, the way of the Lord is not equal,.... Still obstinately persisting in their false charges, notwithstanding plain proofs to the contrary:

O ye house of Israel, I will judge you everyone after his ways; See Gill on Eze 18:30.

Gill: Eze 33:21 - -- And it came to pass in the twelfth year of our captivity,.... Of Jeconiah's captivity, when Ezekiel with others were carried into Babylon; see Eze 1:2...

And it came to pass in the twelfth year of our captivity,.... Of Jeconiah's captivity, when Ezekiel with others were carried into Babylon; see Eze 1:2.

in the tenth month, in the fifth day of the month; which was a year, four months, and some days, after the city of Jerusalem was taken; for that was destroyed in the eleventh year of Zedekiah, and so of the captivity, and in the fifth month, and tenth day of the month. 2Ki 25:2. It is much it was not known at Babylon before; though so it might, and yet not one that escaped came to Ezekiel sooner to give him an account of it, which he had seen with his eyes. The Syriac version reads it, in the "eleventh year"; and so makes it but a few months after the destruction; and it may be observed that it is promised by the Lord, Eze 24:26, that on the day the city was taken, one should escape, and bring the prophet the news; that is, directly, immediately, in a very short time, as soon as it was possible that he could arrive to him; and yet, as taken notice, here were a year and almost five months before he reached him, which seems pretty strange. The difficulty may be solved in this manner: Ezekiel reckons from the captivity of Jeconiah, which began in the month Chisleu; and the computation in 2Ki 25:2, is from Zedekiah's reign, which is to be reckoned from the month Nisan, and from the first Nisan of his reign; for it is a rule with the Jews, h that the beginning of the year for kings is the first of Nisan; so that the tenth month from the captivity is the sixth from Nisan; whence it appears there was not a full month from the city being burnt to the news being brought to Ezekiel; which was time short enough, in such a troublesome season, to take a journey from Jerusalem to Babylon; for Zedekiah not being crowned before the Nisan following the captivity, the computation of his reign did not begin till that Nisan, which makes this difference in the chronology. According to Bishop Usher i, this messenger came to Ezekiel the twenty fifth of January, the fourth day of the week (Wednesday), in 3417 A.M. or before Christ 587:

that one that had escaped out of Jerusalem came unto me; as it was foretold and promised he should, Eze 24:26,

saying, the city is smitten; the city of Jerusalem; the walls were broken down, the houses burnt, and the whole destroyed.

Gill: Eze 33:22 - -- Now the hand of the Lord was upon me in the evening, afore he that was escaped came,.... The prophet felt a divine impulse on his mind; he was under t...

Now the hand of the Lord was upon me in the evening, afore he that was escaped came,.... The prophet felt a divine impulse on his mind; he was under the influence of a spirit of prophecy, and knew before the messenger came to him what his message was, and was prepared to receive it, and to prophesy upon it; for this is to be understood of prophecy, as the Targum,

"prophecy from before the Lord was with me in the evening k;''

see Isa 8:11,

and had opened my mouth, until he came to me in the morning; the hand of the Lord, or the power of the Lord, had done it, as he promised he would, Eze 3:27 so that he spoke freely and boldly, and continued to do so from the evening, to the time the messenger came to him in the morning, to all those that were with him:

and my mouth was opened, and I was no more dumb: as he had been for three years past; for though he had been prophesying against several nations, yet these prophecies were not delivered, it is very likely, by word of mouth, but by writing, and sent into those countries by proper messengers; but now the prophet's mouth is opened by the Spirit of God, as it was said it should, when this messenger should come to him, Eze 24:27 and from this time he was not silent, but prophesied to his people, the Jews, verbally, as he was bid to do by the Lord.

Gill: Eze 33:23 - -- Then the word of the Lord came unto me,.... After the messenger had delivered his message, and he had received it, and conversed with him about it: ...

Then the word of the Lord came unto me,.... After the messenger had delivered his message, and he had received it, and conversed with him about it:

saying: as follows:

Gill: Eze 33:24 - -- Son of man, they that inhabit those wastes of the land of Israel,.... The places which were laid waste by Nebuchadnezzar's army, going and returning, ...

Son of man, they that inhabit those wastes of the land of Israel,.... The places which were laid waste by Nebuchadnezzar's army, going and returning, in and about Jerusalem, and in several parts of Judea; these were they that were left in the land after the destruction, to people and plant it; or who, having fled to distant parts, were now returned, and took possession of it, though it was in a wretched condition, a mere waste or desert; and yet they were lifted up with it, and proud and haughty, as their language shows: for thus they speak,

saying, Abraham was one, and he inherited the land; he was but one, and had no child, when the promise of inheriting the land was made unto him; and he was but a single worshipper of God, and yet he had this favour and privilege:

but we are many; the land is given us for inheritance: so they oppose themselves to Abraham, and argue from the lesser to the greater; that if a single person was vouchsafed to inherit it, then much more many, and those of his seed; and to whom the land was particularly given for an inheritance, and who were now in the possession of it, as Abraham never was; and, being many, were able to defend their right, and secure themselves in the enjoyment of it; all which reasoning shows their pride and vanity, though they were under such humbling circumstances; their land being waste, their numbers lessened, and the enemy had but just left it, having made dreadful devastations in it; and which had had no influence upon them to reform them, or bring them to repentance, as the following verses show.

Gill: Eze 33:25 - -- Wherefore say unto them, thus saith the Lord God,.... Send them this message in writing, as from the Lord; for the prophet was now in Chaldea, and cou...

Wherefore say unto them, thus saith the Lord God,.... Send them this message in writing, as from the Lord; for the prophet was now in Chaldea, and could not deliver it by word of mouth to those that inhabited the wastes of Israel; but he could tell it to the messenger that came to him, who had escaped from Jerusalem; or send it by him, or some other:

ye eat with the blood; or rather "upon", or "by" the "blood" l; contrary to the law in Lev 19:26 which is a different law from that in Gen 9:4, and from that in Lev 3:17 and refers to an idolatrous practice of the Heathens, which these Jews imitated; who, having slain and offered their sacrifices to devils, sat down round about the blood of them, and ate their food or part of their sacrifice by it, as Kimchi on the text observes. The account Maimonides m gives of the Zabians is this,

"you must know (says he) that the blood is reckoned very unclean and impure by the Zabians, yet is eaten by them, because they think it is the food of devils; and that he that eats it by this means obtains some communications with them; so that they converse familiarly with him, and reveal things future to him, which the vulgar commonly attribute to devils: notwithstanding there were some among them, with whom it seemed very grievous and difficult to eat blood (for it is a thing which the nature of man abhors); these used to slay some beast, and take its blood, and put it in a vessel, or in a hole dug in the earth, and eat the slain beast, sitting in a circle about the blood; imagining to themselves, in so doing, while they ate the flesh the devils ate the blood, and that this is their food; and by this means friendship, fraternity, and familiarity were contracted between them, because they all ate at one table, and sat on one seat; besides, they were of opinion that the devils appeared to them in dreams, and told them things to come, and were of much advantage to them;''

and accordingly it follows:

and lift up your eyes towards your idols; make your devotion, and pray unto them, and worship them, and expect help and assistance from them:

and shed blood; innocent blood, as the Targum; they were guilty of murder as well as of idolatry, or shedding of blood, in sacrifice to idols:

and shall ye possess the land? can such wretches as you, such gross idolaters and murderers, ever think that you are the children of Abraham, and have a right to the inheritance of this land, or shall long continue in the possession of it, living in such abominable iniquities as these?

Gill: Eze 33:26 - -- You trust in it, and think to support yourselves by it, and secure your possession and right of it by that means. So the Targum, "you stand in your...

You trust in it, and think to support yourselves by it, and secure your possession and right of it by that means. So the Targum,

"you stand in your strength:''

ye work abomination; that which is abominable to God, and not fit to be named among men; Jarchi interprets it of sodomy: the word is in the feminine gender, and may be rendered, "ye women work abomination"; referring to that unnatural lust the apostle speaks of, Rom 1:26 so Ben Melech:

and ye defile everyone his neighbour's wife; were guilty of adultery; and which was so common, that scarce any were free from it, and therefore is charged upon the whole body of them:

and shall ye possess the land? such vile creatures as these, guilty of the abominations for which the land formerly spewed out its ancient inhabitants, the Canaanites? and the present possessors might expect the same, as being very unworthy inheritors of it, whatever high thoughts they might have of themselves.

Gill: Eze 33:27 - -- Say thou thus unto them, thus saith the Lord God,.... Send or write unto them in the name of the Lord, after this manner, as I live, which is the f...

Say thou thus unto them, thus saith the Lord God,.... Send or write unto them in the name of the Lord, after this manner,

as I live, which is the form of an oath; the Lord swears by himself his life, because he could swear by no greater, and for the confirmation of what follows:

surely they that are in the wastes shall fall by the sword; by their own sword, falling out one with another; or by the sword of Ishmael Jer 41:2 or by the sword of the Chaldeans, who revenged the death of Gedaliah and others; even such who dwelt amidst the ruins of the city of Jerusalem, and other places, that were become desolate through the ravages of the enemy:

and him that is in the open field will I give to the beasts to be devoured; of which it may be supposed there were the greater numbers, since the land was so depopulated: and they that be in the forts, and in the caves, shall die of the pestilence; such as were in fortified cities, or in caverns of the earth, dug in rocks and mountains, where, in neither of them, men and beasts could easily come at them; here the Lord would send his arrow, the plague, that flies by day, and reach them, and destroy them; none can escape his hands; these are three of the Lord's sore judgments, the sword, pestilence, and noisome beasts.

Gill: Eze 33:28 - -- For I will lay the land most desolate,.... Or, "desolation" and "desolation" n; one desolating judgment shall follow upon another, until it is complet...

For I will lay the land most desolate,.... Or, "desolation" and "desolation" n; one desolating judgment shall follow upon another, until it is completely desolate; it was very desolate already, through the ravages of the Chaldean army; but it should become more so, through other judgments here threatened them:

and the pomp of her strength shall cease; some understand this of the temple, which was the most pompous building in the land, and in which they placed their strength and confidence: but this was destroyed already: it is rather to be interpreted of whatsoever riches, power, and glory, were yet remaining, which should be removed:

and the mountains of Israel shall be desolate; which used to abound with vines and olives, with flocks and pastures:

that none shall pass through; not only there should be no inhabitant, but no traveller in it, or very few, because of the sword in one part, the pestilence in another, and wild beasts in other places, and a general barrenness and unfruitfulness; so that a traveller would be both in great danger, and in want of provisions to supply himself and cattle.

Gill: Eze 33:29 - -- Then shall they know that I am the Lord,.... An omniscient Being, that could foresee and foretell what would come to pass; and omnipotent, able to do ...

Then shall they know that I am the Lord,.... An omniscient Being, that could foresee and foretell what would come to pass; and omnipotent, able to do whatever he pleased, and true and faithful to his word; and a sovereign Lord, whose will cannot be resisted; this they should see, own, and acknowledge:

when I have laid the land most desolate, because of all their abominations which they have committed: for though he is a sovereign Lord, yet he does not execute his judgments in an arbitrary way, merely cause it is his will, but because of the abominable sins committed by men, which provoke the eyes of his glory.

Gill: Eze 33:30 - -- Also, thou son of man,.... I have something to say to thee, and inform thee of, not only concerning the Jews in Judea, what they say, and what will be...

Also, thou son of man,.... I have something to say to thee, and inform thee of, not only concerning the Jews in Judea, what they say, and what will befall them; but concerning those that are with thee, and what they say of thee, and what will be the issue of it:

the children of thy people still are talking against thee; not the Lord's people, but his own people, which was the more cutting to him to hear of, and the more ungrateful in them; though indeed they were but children, who acted a weak part, and the less to be regarded; these spake against the prophet: they could not say he was no prophet, he had his credentials and commission from the Lord, which were well known, and many of his prophecies had been fulfilled; they could not speak against his doctrine, which was of God; nor against his conversation, which was agreeable to his character and office; but they said some things in a ludicrous and jocose manner, in a slighting and contemptuous way, as showed they had little reverence and respect for him, and were careless and indifferent about hearing him; at least had little regard to this matter, or the subject of his ministry, which they had no great value for: and this they did still; they had been long at it; it was their common talk and constant business, though the prophet knew nothing of it, and thought they had the greatest respect for him, speaking fair to his face, and behaving with decency towards him; but the Lord knew it, and resented it, and informs him of it: and this they did continually, from time to time,

by the walls, and in the doors of the houses; privately and secretly; "by the walls", where they used to get together and sun themselves, and pass away their time, by talking against the prophet; and, when they did, would place themselves against the walls, that nobody might overhear them; and they would sometimes stand in the porches of their houses, and, as their neighbours and acquaintance passed by, would call them in, and hold a chat about the prophet; and jeer and laugh at him, and what he had said: and speak one to another,

every man to his brother, saying, come, l pray you, and hear what is the word that cometh forth from the Lord; let us go and amuse ourselves for an hour or two with what the prophet says; perhaps we shall hear some new thing, which may be pleasing and diverting: for, not their spiritual profit did they seek, but to have their ears tickled, and their fancies pleased.

Gill: Eze 33:31 - -- And they come unto thee as the people cometh,.... As the people of God, who came to the prophets's house to hear him preach the word, and explain it f...

And they come unto thee as the people cometh,.... As the people of God, who came to the prophets's house to hear him preach the word, and explain it for their spiritual profit and edification these came when they did, and as early and constantly, and with seeming pleasure:

and they sit before thee as my people; with great decency and reverence, and very gravely and demurely, and with seeming devotion, and stay the time out till the whole service is over; as scholars sit at the feet of their masters, to hear and learn their doctrines. So the Targum,

"and they come unto thee as the men the disciples come:''

and they hear thy words, but they will not do them; they gave him the hearing, and seemed attentive, but did not understand what they heard, at least did not put it in practice; they were only hearers, and not doers of the word, and like to the foolish man in Mat 7:26,

for with their mouth they show much love: by the motions of their lips while hearing, and other gestures, as well as by what they said afterwards, they seemed pleased and delighted with what they heard; made huge encomiums upon it, and spoke much in the praise of the preacher. The Targum is the reverse,

"they made game with their mouth.''

But their heart goeth after their covetousness;

"after the money they had taken away by force,''

as the Targum; after the world, and the things of it; after their secular affairs, so that they wished the sermon over, that they might be at them; or, however, did not so diligently attend to what was said, but the cares of the world choked the word, and made it unfruitful to them; these were like the seed that fell among thorns, the thorny ground hearers, Mat 13:22.

Gill: Eze 33:32 - -- And, lo, thou art unto them as a very lovely song of one that hath a pleasant voice,.... Whose voice, and the music of it, are regarded, and not the m...

And, lo, thou art unto them as a very lovely song of one that hath a pleasant voice,.... Whose voice, and the music of it, are regarded, and not the matter of the song, but the manner in which it is sung; so these people did not so much attend to what the prophet said as the manner of his delivery; they were delighted with the harmony of his voice, the eloquence of his speech, the propriety of his expressions, the eloquence and aptness of his diction, and the cadency of his words, and not with the excellent doctrines he delivered; they were affected and pleased no otherwise than if they had been at a concert of music; or had been entertained by one that understood not only vocal music, but could "play well on an instrument" at the same time, and make both agree together; which yields much pleasure to lovers of music. The Gospel is a lovely song indeed; "a song of loves" o, as it may be rendered; of the love of God, and of the love of Christ; and the voice of a Gospel minister is a pleasant charming voice to those that understand it, but to others it is a voice, and nothing else; they may be delighted with his accents, but not with his matter: for they hear thy words, but they do them not; which is repeated, that it might be observed.

Gill: Eze 33:33 - -- And when this cometh to pass,.... The prophecy before delivered out, concerning the desolations in the land of Israel, by the sword, pestilence, and w...

And when this cometh to pass,.... The prophecy before delivered out, concerning the desolations in the land of Israel, by the sword, pestilence, and wild beasts:

lo, it will come; whatever is predicted by the Lord; in the mouth of his prophets, certainly comes to pass: then shall they know that a prophet hath been among them; and acknowledge it; and particularly that Ezekiel was one, a true prophet of the Lord, by the exact accomplishment of his predictions.

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Commentary -- Verse Notes / Footnotes

NET Notes: Eze 33:7 Jeremiah (Jer 6:17) and Habakkuk (Hab 2:1) also served in the role of a watchman.

NET Notes: Eze 33:8 Heb “and his blood from your hand I will seek.”

NET Notes: Eze 33:9 Heb “and he does not turn from his way.”

NET Notes: Eze 33:10 Heb “(are) upon us.”

NET Notes: Eze 33:11 Heb “ways.” This same word is translated “behavior” earlier in the verse.

NET Notes: Eze 33:12 Heb “in the day of his sin.”

NET Notes: Eze 33:15 Heb “and in the statutes of life he walks.”

NET Notes: Eze 33:16 Heb “remembered.”

NET Notes: Eze 33:17 The Hebrew verb translated “is (not) right” has the basic meaning of “to measure.” For a similar concept, see Ezek 18:25, 29.

NET Notes: Eze 33:20 Heb “ways.”

NET Notes: Eze 33:21 Heb “smitten.”

NET Notes: Eze 33:22 Ezekiel’s God-imposed muteness was lifted (see 3:26).

NET Notes: Eze 33:24 Outside of its seven occurrences in Ezekiel the term translated “possession” appears only in Exod 6:8 and Deut 33:4.

NET Notes: Eze 33:25 Heb “Will you possess?”

NET Notes: Eze 33:26 Heb “stand.”

NET Notes: Eze 33:27 Heb “fall.”

NET Notes: Eze 33:29 The judgments of vv. 27-29 echo the judgments of Lev 26:22, 25.

NET Notes: Eze 33:30 Heb “comes out.”

NET Notes: Eze 33:31 The present translation understands the term often used for “unjust gain” in a wider sense, following M. Greenberg, who also notes that th...

NET Notes: Eze 33:32 Similar responses are found in Isa 29:13; Matt 21:28-32; James 1:22-25.

NET Notes: Eze 33:33 Heb “behold it is coming.”

Geneva Bible: Eze 33:7 So thou, O son of man, I have set thee a watchman to the house of Israel; therefore thou shalt hear the word at my ( c ) mouth, and warn them from me....

Geneva Bible: Eze 33:8 When I say to the wicked, O wicked [man], thou shalt surely die; if thou dost not speak to warn the wicked from his way, that wicked [man] shall die i...

Geneva Bible: Eze 33:10 Therefore, O thou son of man, speak to the house of Israel; Thus ye speak, saying, If our transgressions and our sins [are] upon us, and we pine away ...

Geneva Bible: Eze 33:11 Say to them, [As] I live, saith the Lord GOD, ( f ) I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked; but that the wicked should turn from his way and li...

Geneva Bible: Eze 33:12 Therefore, thou son of man, say to the children of thy people, The ( g ) righteousness of the righteous shall not deliver him in the day of his transg...

Geneva Bible: Eze 33:14 Again, when I say to the wicked, Thou shalt surely die; if he shall turn from his sin, and do that which is lawful and ( h ) right; ( h ) By this he ...

Geneva Bible: Eze 33:21 And it came to pass in the twelfth year of our ( i ) captivity, in the tenth [month], in the fifth [day] of the month, [that] one that had escaped out...

Geneva Bible: Eze 33:22 Now the ( k ) hand of the LORD was upon me in the evening, before he that had escaped came; and had opened my mouth, until he came to me in the mornin...

Geneva Bible: Eze 33:24 Son of man, they that inhabit those wastes of the land of Israel speak, saying, ( m ) Abraham was one, and he inherited the land: but we [are] many; t...

Geneva Bible: Eze 33:25 Wherefore say to them, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Ye eat with the ( n ) blood, and lift up your eyes toward your idols, and shed blood: and shall ye pos...

Geneva Bible: Eze 33:26 Ye stand upon your ( o ) sword, ye work abomination, and ye defile every one his neighbour's wife: and shall ye possess the land? ( o ) As they that ...

Geneva Bible: Eze 33:30 Also, thou son of man, the children of thy people still are ( p ) talking against thee by the walls and in the doors of the houses, and speak one to a...

Geneva Bible: Eze 33:31 And they come to thee as the people come, and they sit before thee [as] my people, and they hear thy words, but they will not do them: for with their ...

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Commentary -- Verse Range Notes

TSK Synopsis: Eze 33:1-33 - --1 According to the duty of a watchman in warning the people,7 Ezekiel is admonished of his duty.10 God shews the justice of his ways towards the penit...

MHCC: Eze 33:1-9 - --The prophet is a watchman to the house of Israel. His business is to warn sinners of their misery and danger. He must warn the wicked to turn from the...

MHCC: Eze 33:10-20 - --Those who despaired of finding mercy with God, are answered with a solemn declaration of God's readiness to show mercy. The ruin of the city and state...

MHCC: Eze 33:21-29 - --Those are unteachable indeed, who do not learn their dependence upon God, when all creature-comforts fail. Many claim an interest in the peculiar bles...

MHCC: Eze 33:30-33 - --Unworthy and corrupt motives often lead men to the places where the word of God is faithfully preached. Many come to find somewhat to oppose: far more...

Matthew Henry: Eze 33:1-9 - -- The prophet had been, by express order from God, taken off from prophesying to the Jews, just then when the news came that Jerusalem was invested, a...

Matthew Henry: Eze 33:10-20 - -- These verses are the substance of what we had before (Eze 18:20, etc.) and they are so full and express a declaration of the terms on which people s...

Matthew Henry: Eze 33:21-29 - -- Here we have, I. The tidings brought to Ezekiel of the burning of Jerusalem by the Chaldeans. The city was burnt in the eleventh year of the captivi...

Matthew Henry: Eze 33:30-33 - -- The foregoing verses spoke conviction to the Jews who remained in the land of Israel, who were monuments of sparing mercy and yet returned not to th...

Keil-Delitzsch: Eze 33:1-9 - -- Calling of the Prophet for the Future - Ezekiel 33:1-20 The prophet's office of watchman. Eze 33:1. And the word of Jehovah came to me, saying, ...

Keil-Delitzsch: Eze 33:10-20 - -- As watchman over Israel, Ezekiel is to announce to those who are despairing of the mercy of God, that the Lord will preserve from destruction those ...

Keil-Delitzsch: Eze 33:21-22 - -- Tidings of the Fall of Jerusalem, and the Consequences with Regard to the Prophet Eze 33:21. And it came to pass in the twelfth year, in the tenth...

Keil-Delitzsch: Eze 33:23-33 - -- Preaching of Repentance after the Fall of Jerusalem The first word of God, which Ezekiel received after the arrival of the fugitive with the inte...

Constable: Eze 33:1--48:35 - --IV. Future blessings for Israel chs. 33--48 "This last major division of the book focuses on the restoration of ...

Constable: Eze 33:1-20 - --A. A warning to the exiles 33:1-20 Since this message is undated, it may have come to Ezekiel about the ...

Constable: Eze 33:1-9 - --1. An exhortation to heed the watchman 33:1-9 This part of Ezekiel's message of warning to the exiles is similar to 3:16-21. Yahweh recommissioned Eze...

Constable: Eze 33:10-20 - --2. An exhortation to turn from evil 33:10-20 This part of Ezekiel's warning to the exiles is similar to 18:21-32. 33:10-11 The Israelites seem to have...

Constable: Eze 33:21--40:1 - --B. Restoration to the Promised Land 33:21-39:29 "The concept of the land is particularly significant to ...

Constable: Eze 33:21-22 - --The date and setting of the six messages about Israel's restoration to the Promised Land 33:21-22 Ezekiel's last prophecy about the judgment coming on...

Constable: Eze 33:23-33 - --The first message of hope 33:23-33 This first message dealt with a serious defect in the...

Constable: Eze 33:23-29 - --The attitude of the Jews in Judea 33:23-29 33:23-24 The Lord informed the prophet about the attitude of the Jews still in the land. The few Jews who s...

Constable: Eze 33:30-33 - --The attitude of the Jews in Babylon 33:30-33 33:30-31 God also told Ezekiel that the exiles were speaking to one another about him privately and publi...

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Introduction / Outline

JFB: Ezekiel (Book Introduction) The name Ezekiel means "(whom) God will strengthen" [GESENIUS]; or, "God will prevail" [ROSENMULLER]. His father was Buzi (Eze 1:3), a priest, and he ...

JFB: Ezekiel (Outline) EZEKIEL'S VISION BY THE CHEBAR. FOUR CHERUBIM AND WHEELS. (Eze. 1:1-28) EZEKIEL'S COMMISSION. (Eze 2:1-10) EZEKIEL EATS THE ROLL. IS COMMISSIONED TO ...

TSK: Ezekiel (Book Introduction) The character of Ezekiel, as a Writer and Poet, is thus admirably drawn by the masterly hand of Bishop Lowth: " Ezekiel is much inferior to Jeremiah ...

TSK: Ezekiel 33 (Chapter Introduction) Overview Eze 33:1, According to the duty of a watchman in warning the people, Eze 33:7, Ezekiel is admonished of his duty; Eze 33:10, God shews th...

Poole: Ezekiel (Book Introduction) BOOK OF THE PROPHET EZEKIEL THE ARGUMENT EZEKIEL was by descent a priest, and by commission a prophet, and received it from heaven, as will appea...

Poole: Ezekiel 33 (Chapter Introduction) CHAPTER 33 According to the duty of a watchman in warning the people, Ezekiel is admoished of his duty in warning sinners, Eze 33:1-9 . God showeth...

MHCC: Ezekiel (Book Introduction) Ezekiel was one of the priests; he was carried captive to Chaldea with Jehoiachin. All his prophecies appear to have been delivered in that country, a...

MHCC: Ezekiel 33 (Chapter Introduction) (Eze 33:1-9) Ezekiel's duty as a watchman. (Eze 33:10-20) He is to vindicate the Divine government. (Eze 33:21-29) The desolation of Judea. (Eze 33...

Matthew Henry: Ezekiel (Book Introduction) An Exposition, with Practical Observations, of The Book of the Prophet Ezekiel When we entered upon the writings of the prophets, which speak of the ...

Matthew Henry: Ezekiel 33 (Chapter Introduction) The prophet has now come off his circuit, which he went as judge, in God's name, to try and pass sentence upon the neighbouring nations, and, havin...

Constable: Ezekiel (Book Introduction) Introduction Title and Writer The title of this book comes from its writer, Ezekiel, t...

Constable: Ezekiel (Outline) Outline I. Ezekiel's calling and commission chs. 1-3 A. The vision of God's glory ch. 1 ...

Constable: Ezekiel Ezekiel Bibliography Ackroyd, Peter R. Exile and Restoration. Philadelphia: Westminster Press, 1968. ...

Haydock: Ezekiel (Book Introduction) THE PROPHECY OF EZECHIEL. INTRODUCTION. Ezechiel, whose name signifies the strength of God, was of the priestly race, and of the number of t...

Gill: Ezekiel (Book Introduction) INTRODUCTION TO EZEKIEL This book is rightly placed after Jeremiah; since Ezekiel was among the captives in Chaldea, when prophesied; whereas Jerem...

Gill: Ezekiel 33 (Chapter Introduction) INTRODUCTION TO EZEKIEL 33 This chapter treats of the prophet's duty, and the people's sins; contains a vindication of the justice of God; a threat...

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