Ezekiel 20:1--48:35
seventh <07637> [A.M. 3411. B.C. 593. in the seventh.]
The seventh year of the captivity of Jeconiah, and according to Usher, Monday, Aug. 27, 3411.
some <0582> [that certain.]
sat <03427> [and sat.]
coming <0935> [Are.]
surely <02416> [As I.]
pronounce ....... pronounce judgment son ..... confront <08199 01121 03045> [judge them. or, plead for them.]
confront <03045> [cause.]
day ....................... land <03117 0776> [In the.]
swore ...................... swore <03027 05375> [lifted up mine hand. or, sware. (and so ver. 6, etc.]
Ex 6:8, 9.)
known <03045> [and made.]
Lord <03068> [I am.]
swore <05375> [lifted.]
out <03318> [to bring.]
land ...... land ..................... lands <0776> [into.]
flowing <02100> [flowing.]
beautiful <06643> [which is.]
get rid of <07993> [Cast.]
detestable idols <08251> [the abominations.]
defile <02930> [defile.]
Lord <03068> [I am.]
rebelled <04784> [they rebelled.]
one <0376> [they did.]
<0559> [then I.]
acted <06213> [I wrought.]
before .............. bringing <05869> [in whose.]
gave <05414> [I gave.]
revealed ... regulations <03045 04941> [shewed them. Heb. made them to know. which.]
gave <05414> [I gave.]
reminder <0226> [to be.]
Lord <03068> [I am.]
rebelled <04784> [rebelled.]
rejected <03988> [and they.]
one <0120> [which.]
Sabbaths <07676> [and my.]
decided <0559> [I said.]
swore <05375> [I lifted.]
flowing <02100> [flowing.]
rejected <03988> [they.]
hearts <03820> [for their.]
They still had a hankering after the idolatries they had learned in Egypt, to which they added new idols, which they had seen in countries through which they had travelled, as those of the Midianites, Amorites, etc.
<05869> [mine.]
make <06213> [neither.]
said <0559> [I said.]
practices <02706> [the statutes.]
defile <02930> [defile.]
Lord <03068> [the Lord.]
<03212> [walk.]
children <01121> [the children.]
one <0120> [if a man.]
pour out <08210> [I would.]
vent <03615> [accomplish.]
refrained from <07725> [I withdrew.]
acted <06213> [wrought.]
swore <05375> [lifted.]
scatter <06327> [that I.]
The predictions of the dispersion of Israel, delivered by Moses just before his death, are evidently here referred to: they received a partial accomplishment at the Babylonian captivity, but are more exactly fulfilling at this day.
observe <06213> [they had.]
eyes <05869> [their eyes.]
gave <05414> [I gave.]
The simple meaning of this place is, that when the Israelites had rebelled against God, despised his statutes, and polluted his sabbaths, in effect cast him off, and given themselves up wholly to their idols, then He, in a just judgment for their disobedience, abandoned them, "gave them up to a reprobate mind," (Ro 1:28,) and suffered them to walk after the idolatrous, cruel, and impious customs and ordinances of the heathen; by which they were ripened for the destruction which he intended to bring upon them, that they might learn to know God by his judgments, seeing they had despised his mercies. In the same sense God is said judicially to "send a strong delusion, that they should believe a lie," to those who "received not the love of the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness."
defiled <02930> [polluted.]
pass through <05674> [in that.]
first born <06363> [all that.]
know <03045> [to the end.]
speak <01696> [speak.]
fathers <01> [Yet.]
unfaithful <04603> [committed. Heb. trespassed.]
brought <0935> [when I.]
swore <05375> [the which.]
saw <07200> [they saw.]
aroma <05207> [their sweet.]
said <0559> [I said, etc. or, I told them what the high place was, or,]
Bamah. And the.
defile <02930> [Are ye.]
present <05375> [ye offer.]
seek ...................... seek <01875> [and shall.]
plan <05927> [that which.]
happen ...... be <01961> [We will.]
serve <08334> [to serve.]
powerful ..... outstretched <02389> [surely.]
bring <0935> [I will.]
judgment <08199> [and there.]
pass <05674> [pass.]
pass ......... bring <05674 0935> [I will.]
bond <04562> [the bond. or, a delivering.]
eliminate <01305> [I will purge.]
come <0935> [they shall.]
know <03045> [and ye.]
profaned <02490> [but.]
holy ............................................. holy things <06944> [in mine.]
These predictions received a partial accomplishment by the restoration of the Jews from the Babylonian captivity; but they seem chiefly to relate to the establishment of the Christian church, and more especially to the future conversion of the Jews, and their restoration to their own land.
house <01004> [there shall.]
choice <07225> [first-fruits. or, chief.]
aroma <05207> [with your.]
soothing aroma <07381 05207> [sweet savour. Heb. savour of rest. I bring.]
holiness among <06942> [and I will.]
know <03045> [ye shall.]
bring <0935> [when I.]
swore <05375> [for the which.]
remember <02142> [shall ye.]
despise <06962> [and ye shall.]
know <03045> [And ye shall.]
deal <06213> [when I.]
word <01697> [Moreover.]
This is the beginning of another prophecy, and properly belongs to the following chapter.
turn <07760> [set.]
south ....... south <01870 01864> [toward.]
Towards Judea, which lay south of Mesopotamia, where the prophet now dwelt.
speak out <05197> [and drop.]
open scrub <03293> [the forest.]
The city of Jerusalem, as full of inhabitants as the forest is of trees.
start a fire <03341> [I will kindle.]
I will send war; and it shall destroy all ranks and characters of the people.
green <03892> [green.]
flaming <03852> [the flaming.]
Negev ....................................................... Negev <05045> [from the south.]
speak <04911> [Doth.]
Is it not his usual custom to deal in enigmas? His figures are not to be understood; we should not trouble ourselves with them. God therefore commands the prophet to declare, in the next chapter, the same things in the plainest terms, so that they should not complain of his parables.
turn <07760> [set.]
speak <05197> [and drop.]
land <0127> [against.]
draw <03318> [Behold.]
draw <03318> [will draw.]
righteous <06662> [the righteous.]
everyone <01320> [against.]
everyone <01320> [all.]
sheathed <07725> [it shall.]
groan ........ groan <0584> [Sigh.]
aching <07670> [with the.]
eyes <05869> [before.]
groaning <0584> [Wherefore.]
report <08052> [For the.]
heart ............ everyone <03820 07307> [and every.]
hand <03027> [all hands.]
limp <03543> [faint.]
urine <04325 03212> [weak as water. Heb. go into water.]
come ............................. coming <0935> [it cometh.]
sword ... sword <02719> [A sword.]
sharpened <02300> [sharpened.]
<04178> [it is furbished.]
<0176> [should.]
scepter .... son ..... despises ... tree <03988 07626 01121 06086> [it contemneth the rod of my son, as every tree. or, it is the rod of my son, it despiseth every tree.]
gave ................... giving <05414> [to give.]
moan <03213> [howl.]
delivered up to <04048 0413> [terrors by reason of the shall be upon my. or, they are thrust down to the sword with my. smite.]
This was an expression of deep affliction.
testing <0974> [Because, etc. or, When the trial hath been, what then? shall they not also belong to the despising rod? a trial.]
despises <03988> [contemn.]
declares <05002> [it shall.]
strike <05221> [smite.]
hands ...... strike <05221 03709> [hands together. Heb. hand to hand. let the.]
surrounding <02314> [entereth.]
slaughter <019> [point. or, glittering, or fear. against.]
hearts <03820> [that their.]
made <06213> [it is made.]
drawn <04593> [wrapped up. or, sharpened.]
Cut sharply <0258> [Go.]
Swing <07760> [either.]
left <08041> [or on the left. Heb. set thyself, take the left hand.]
<05221> [smite.]
rage <02534> [and I.]
Rabbah <07237> [Rabbath.]
[Rabbah. the defenced.]
king <04428> [the king.]
fork <0517> [parting. Heb. mother. to use.]
arrows <02671> [he made.]
Or, as the Vulgate, "he mingled his arrows:" "They wrote on several arrows," says Jerome, "the names of the cities they intended to assault; and then putting them altogether promiscuously in a quiver, they drew then out thence as lots are drawn; and that city whose name was written on the arrow first drawn, was the city they first made war on."
arrows <02671> [arrows. or, knives. images. Heb. teraphim.]
battering rams ................. battering rams <03733> [captains. or battering rams. Heb. rams.]
shout out <07311> [to lift.]
set up ................. set up <07760> [to appoint.]
<07723> [as a.]
sworn solemn <07650 07621> [to them that have sworn oaths. or, for the oaths made unto them.]
accuse <02142> [but.]
accuse <02142> [call.]
transgressions <06588> [your transgressions.]
taken <08610> [ye shall.]
profane <02491> [profane.]
day <03117> [whose.]
off <05493> [Remove.]
<01361> [exalt.]
total ruin <05754> [I will overturn, overturn, overturn, it. Heb. Perverted, perverted, perverted, will I make it.]
arrives <0935> [until.]
son ................ Ammonites <01121> [concerning the.]
sword ... sword <02719> [The sword.]
seeing <02372> [they see.]
place <05414> [to bring.]
day <03117> [whose.]
Return <07725> [Shall I cause it to return. or, Cause it to return.]
judge <08199> [I will.]
place ......... land <04725 0776> [in the.]
pour <08210> [pour.]
blow <06315> [I will blow.]
<01197> [brutish. or, burning. and skilful.]
fuel <0402> [for fuel.]
blood <01818> [thy blood.]
remembered <02142> [thou shalt be no.]
This prophecy against the Ammonites was fulfilled about five years after the taking of Jerusalem; and their name has utterly perished from the face of the earth.
Lord <03068> [for I.]
pronounce judgment .... bloody <08199> [judge. or, plead for.]
bloody city <05892 01818> [bloody city. Heb. city of bloods.]
Then confront <03045> [thou shalt.]
[shew her. Heb. make her know. her abominations.]
spills <08210> [sheddeth.]
doom <06256> [that her.]
makes <06213> [and maketh.]
shed <08210> [that thou.]
day <03117> [and thou hast.]
make <05414> [have I.]
bad ... full ... turmoil <07227 04103 02931> [infamous and much vexed. Heb. polluted of name, much in vexation.]
princes <05387> [the princes.]
authority <02220> [power. Heb. arm.]
contempt <07043> [set.]
<06213> [dealt.]
oppressed <06233> [oppression. or, deceit.]
Slanderous men <07400 0582> [men that carry tales. Heb. men of slanders.]
eat <0398> [they eat.]
acts <06213> [they commit.]
sex <01540> [discovered.]
violate <06031> [humbled.]
obscenely <0376> [one. or, every one. committed.]
obscenely <0376> [another. or, every one. hath lewdly. or, hath by lewdness.]
sister <0269> [his sister.]
take bribes ............ charge <07810 03947> [taken gifts.]
take ............. charge .... extort <03947 01214> [thou hast.]
extort <01214> [greedily.]
forgotten <07911> [and hast.]
strike <05221> [I have.]
dishonest profit <01215> [thy dishonest.]
bloodshed <01818> [and at.]
heart <03820> [Thine heart.]
Lord <03068> [I the.]
scatter <06327> [scatter.]
<08552> [consume.]
profaned ...... sight <02490 05869> [take thine inheritance in thyself. or, be profaned in thyself.]
know <03045> [thou shalt know.]
house <01004> [the house.]
bronze <05178> [brass.]
in <08432> [in the midst.]
slag ..................... slag <05509> [dross. Heb. drosses.]
gather <06908> [I will.]
Jerusalem is here represented as the fining pot; all the people, who had become dross, are to be gathered together in it; and the fire of the Chaldeans, blown by the wrath of God, is to melt the whole. No ordinary means will avail to purge their impurities; the most violent must therefore be resorted to.
gathered <06910> [As they gather. Heb. According to the gathering. to blow.]
anger <0639> [in mine.]
blow <05301> [and blow.]
melted <05413> [and ye.]
know <03045> [ye shall know.]
princes <07195> [a conspiracy.]
roaring <07580> [like.]
tearing <02963> [ravening.]
That is, from the Saxon {reafian}, seizing and devouring it with eagerness and rapacity.
devoured <0398> [they have devoured.]
priests <03548> [priests.]
abuse <02554> [violated. Heb. offered violence to. profaned.]
distinguish <0914> [put no.]
ignore <05956 05869> [hid their.]
desecrated ................................ profaned <02490> [I am profaned.]
officials <08269> [princes.]
get dishonest <01214> [to get.]
prophets <05030> [prophets.]
The prophets employed all their ingenuity to varnish over the crimes of the princes, (the antecedent to them,) to palliate their offences, and to conceal their faults, while they were like ravening wolves, and took bribes to shed innocent blood. By these means they shared the dishonest gains with the princes, or availed themselves of their authority to gratify their avarice or revenge.
see <02374> [seeing.]
saying ...... sovereign ... says <0559 0136> [Thus saith the Lord.]
people <05971> [people.]
practiced extortion .............. oppressed <06231> [oppression. or, deceit. oppressed.]
justice <04941> [wrongfully. Heb. without right.]
looked <01245> [I sought.]
God, speaking after the manner of men, sought for some Moses, Phinehas, or Samuel, to stand in the gap on this occasion; but as he found none, its destruction was inevitable.
repair <01443> [make.]
poured <08210> [have I poured.]
hereby <01870> [their own.]
two <08147> [two.]
Egypt <04714> [in Egypt.]
youth <05271> [in their.]
name ........ name <08034> [the names.]
The kingdom of Israel, of which Samaria was the capital, containing ten tribes, and occupying a larger extent of country than that of Judah, is therefore called "her elder sister;" and Aholah, the name given to her, implies that the whole religious establishment in Israel was a human invention, a temple and service of their own, and not of God's appointment. Aholibah, the name given to Judah, implies that the worship established there was from God, and that His temple was truly at Jerusalem.
older <01419> [the elder.]
birth <03205> [they were.]
Oholah .......................... Oholah <0170> [Aholah. that is, His tent, or tabernacle.]
Oholibah ...................... Oholibah <0172> [Aholibah. that is, My tabernacle in her.]
Oholah <0170> [Aholah.]
The Israelites, in addition to their former gross idolatries, received the impure idolatrous worship of the Assyrians, who became their neighbours by the conquest of Syria.
lusted <05689> [doted.]
Assyrians <0804> [on the.]
desirable <02531> [all of.]
bestowed ... sexual favors <08457 05414> [committed her whoredoms with them. Heb. bestowed her whoredoms upon them.]
choicest young men ... Assyria <01121 0804 04005> [the chosen men of Assyria. Heb. the choice of the children of Asshur.]
idols <01544> [with all their.]
prostitution ..................... ravished <08457> [whoredoms.]
exposed <01540> [discovered.]
seized ........ her <03947> [they took.]
notorious <08034> [famous. Heb. a name.]
sister .............................. sister <0269> [her sister.]
corrupt .... lust <05691 07843> [was more corrupt in her inordinate love than she. Heb. she corrupted her inordinate love more than she. her sister in her whoredoms. Heb. the whoredoms of her sister.]
Assyrians ............ horses <01121 05483> [upon.]
governors <06346> [captains.]
both <08147> [that they.]
carved ......... carved <02707 02710> [pourtrayed.]
bright red <08350> [vermilion.]
belts <0232> [with girdles.]
officers <07991> [all of.]
looking like <04758> [look to.]
That is, "princes in appearance;" which seem to have been the deified men worshipped by the Chaldeans. The inhabitants of Judah, like the Israelites, connected themselves with the Assyrians, and were enamoured with their idols; and then with the Chaldeans, and followed their idols; still retaining their attachment to the Egyptians and their idolatrous rites.
saw <05869 04758> [as soon as she saw them with her eyes. Heb. at the sight of her eyes.]
sent <07971> [and sent.]
Babylonians <01121> [Babylonians. Heb. children of Babel.]
<05315> [and her.]
disgusted <03363> [alienated. Heb. loosed, or disjointed.]
exposed <01540> [discovered.]
I <05315> [then.]
increased <07235> [multiplied.]
remembering <02142> [in calling.]
stir <05782> [I will raise.]
<05315> [from.]
bring <0935> [and I.]
Babylonians ............. Assyrians <01121> [Babylonians.]
Chaldeans <03778> [the Chaldeans.]
Pekod <06489> [Pekod.]
Babylonians ............. Assyrians <01121> [the Assyrians.]
desirable <02531> [desirable.]
weapons <02021> [with chariots.]
assign <05414> [I will set.]
direct <05414> [I will set.]
cut off <05493> [they shall take away.]
This refers to the severe vengeance which enraged husbands took on their faithless wives: and implies that God would employ the Chaldeans to destroy the princes and priests of Judah, for violating their covenants and treaties. Such punishments were anciently common; and such is the present practice in one of the South Sea Islands.
seize ... sons <03947 01121> [they shall take thy.]
survivors ................ survivors <0319> [thy residue.]
strip <06584> [strip.]
beautiful jewelry <03627 08597> [fair jewels. Heb. instruments of thy decking.]
obscene <02154> [will I.]
prostitution <02184> [and thy.]
practiced <05375> [so that.]
These severe judgments shall effectually deter you from idolatry, and make you abhor the least approaches to it. This often repeated prediction has received a most wonderful accomplishment. For neither the authority, frowns, examples, or favour of their conquerors or powerful neighbours, nor their own fears, hopes, interests, or predilection for the sensual worship of idols, could prevail with them to run into gross idolatry, either during the captivity, or ever afterwards, to the present day, a period of 2,414 years.
hate <08130> [whom thou.]
treat <06213> [deal.]
nakedness <06172> [the nakedness.]
prostitution <02181> [thou hast.]
polluting <02930> [because thou art.]
followed ....... so <01980> [walked.]
cup <03563> [her.]
drink <08354> [drink.]
scorned <06712> [thou shalt be.]
overcome <04390> [filled.]
cup ........ cup ... horror <03563 08047> [with the cup of astonishment.]
drain ... dry <08354> [drink.]
tear out <05423> [and pluck.]
forgotten <07911> [Because.]
completely disregarded <07993> [and cast.]
says ............. bear <0559 05375> [therefore.]
willing ... pronounce <08199> [wilt.]
willing ... pronounce <08199> [judge. or, plead for.]
Oholah <0170> [Aholah.]
declare <05046> [declare.]
adultery ........... adultery ...... their <05003> [they have.]
blood <01818> [and blood.]
sons <01121> [have also.]
done ........... desecrated <06213 02930> [they have.]
profaned <02490> [and have.]
came <0935> [they came.]
done <06213> [thus.]
sent ............. set out <07971> [ye have.]
arrived <0935> [to come. Heb. coming.]
bathed <07364> [thou didst.]
painted <03583> [paintedst.]
{Kachalt aineych,} rendered by the LXX. [estibizou tous ophthalmous sou;] "thou didst paint thine eyes with stibium," and Vulgate {circumlinisti stibio oculos tuos,} "thou didst paint round thine eyes with stibium," or lead ore; whence it is called in Arabic {kochl,} and in Syriac {kecholo,} and {koochlo.}
decorated yourself <05710> [and deckedst.]
magnificent <03520> [stately. Heb. honourable.]
table <07979> [a table.]
placed <07760> [whereupon.]
sound <06963> [a voice.]
This seems to be an account of an idolatrous festival, perhaps that of Bacchus; in which a riotous and drunken multitude assembled, adorned with bracelets and chaplets, accompanied with music, songs, and dances.
men <07230> [common sort. Heb. multitude of men. were brought.]
<05436> [Sabeans. or, drunkards. bracelets.]
worn out <01087> [old.]
immoral acts <08457> [whoredoms with her. Heb. her whoredoms.]
had sex .............. had sex <0935> [so went.]
But ....... appropriately <06662> [the righteous.]
The Chaldeans, so called, because appointed by God to execute his judgment on these criminals.
adulteresses <05003 04941> [after the manner of adulteresses.]
adulteresses <05003> [because.]
up <05927> [I will.]
terror ... plunder <0957 02189> [to be removed and spoiled. Heb. for a removing and spoil.]
army <06951> [the company.]
slash ..... swords <01254 02719> [dispatch them. or, single them out.]
kill <02026> [shall slay.]
burn <08313> [and burn.]
obscene ................... obscene <02154> [I cause.]
women <0802> [that.]
repay <05414> [they shall.]
punished <05375> [ye shall bear.]
know <03045> [and ye shall know.]
ninth year <08141 08671> [A.M. 3414. B.C. 590. the ninth year.]
This was the ninth year of Zedekiah, about Thursday, January 30, A.M. 3414, the very day in which Nebuchadnezzar began the siege of Jerusalem.
write <03789> [write.]
very ............. very <06106> [of this.]
Recite <04911> [utter.]
rebellious <04805> [the rebellious.]
Set on .... set ... on <08239> [Set.]
choice <04005> [the choice.]
heap up <01754> [burn. or, heap.]
Woe <0188> [Woe.]
pot <05518> [to the pot.]
removed <03318> [bring.]
lot <01486> [let no.]
blood <01818> [her blood.]
pour <08210> [she poured.]
anger <02534> [it might.]
placed <05414> [I have set.]
Woe <0188> [Woe.]
pile <04071> [I will.]
spices <07543> [spice.]
Set ... empty <05975 07386> [set it.]
uncleanness <02932> [that the filthiness.]
The pot was Jerusalem; the flesh, the inhabitants in general: every good piece, the thigh and the shoulder, Zedekiah, his family, and princes; the bones, the soldiers; the fire and water, the calamities they were to suffer; and the setting on of the pot, the commencement of the siege.
tried ... patience <03811> [wearied.]
thick <07227> [her great.]
rot ......... rot <02457> [her scum.]
The pot being polluted with the scum, must be heated, melted, and even burned with fire till purified; that is, Jerusalem shall be entirely levelled with the ground, as nothing short of this will purify it from the relics of its idolatrous abominations.
uncleanness ...................... uncleanness <02932> [thy filthiness.]
cleanse ............ cleansed <02891> [because.]
anger <02534> [till I.]
Lord .................................. sovereign <03068 0136> [the Lord.]
pity <02347> [neither will I spare.]
conduct <01870> [according to thy ways.]
delight <04261> [the desire.]
jolt <04046> [with a.]
mourn <05594> [yet.]
tears <01832> [thy tears.]
shed <0935> [run. Heb. go.]
Groan ... silence <01826 0602> [Forbear to cry. Heb. Be silent.]
perform <06213> [make.]
rites <02280> [bind.]
put <07760> [put.]
cover <05844> [cover.]
lip <08222> [lips. Heb. upper lip, and so ver.]
eat <0398> [eat.]
food <0582 03899> [the bread of men.]
{Lechem anoshim,} not "the bread of mourners," as some render, but "the bread of other men," i.e., such as was commonly sent to mourners on such occasions by their friends.
evening <06153> [and at.]
desecrate <02490> [I will.]
pride <01347> [the excellency.]
delight <04261> [the desire.]
in which ....... life's passion <04263 05315> [that which your soul pitieth. Heb. the pity of your soul. your sons.]
rot <04743> [but.]
groan <05098> [and mourn.]
Ezekiel <03168> [Ezekiel.]
happens <0935> [when.]
know <03045> [ye shall.]
stronghold <04581> [their strength.]
concern .... lives <05315 04853> [that whereupon they set their minds. Heb. the lifting up of their soul. their sons.]
speak <06310> [thy.]
object lesson <04159> [shalt be.]
toward <06440> [thy face.]
Son ....... Ammonites <01121> [the Ammonites.]
Say .................... said <0559> [thou saidst.]
tribes <01121> [men. Heb. children.]
Josephus expressly states, that five years after the destruction of Jerusalem, Nebuchadnezzar turned his arms against the Ammonites and Moabites, and entirely subjugated them; and it is probable, that the Arabs, and other nations east of Judah, then took possession of their cities, and enjoyed the fruits of their land. The country of Moab and Ammon is now inhabited by the Bedouin Arabs; where they pasture their flocks, and, no doubt, make the ruins of Rabbah, their one proud capital, "a stable for camels," and other cattle. See Note on 2 Sa 12:26.
east <06924> [of the east.]
eat <0398> [they shall eat.]
Rabbah <07237> [Rabbah.]
[Rabbath.]
pasture <05116> [a stable.]
know <03045> [and ye.]
clapped <04222> [thou hast.]
hands <03027> [hands. Heb. hand. stamped.]
feet <07272> [feet. Heb. foot. rejoiced.]
intense <05315> [heart. Heb. soul.]
stretched <05186> [I will stretch.]
hand <05414> [and will.]
<0957> [a spoil. or, meat.]
Moab <04124> [Moab.]
Seir <08165> [Seir.]
house <01004> [the house.]
flank <03802> [side. or, shoulder. Beth-jeshimoth.]
Baal Meon <01186> [Baal-meon.]
Ammonites .... tribes ........ Ammonites <01121> [the men.]
Ammonites .... tribes ........ Ammonites <01121> [with the Ammonites. or, against the children of Ammon.]
remembered among <02142> [may.]
execute <06213> [I will.]
Moab <04124> [upon.]
know <03045> [and they.]
Edom <0123> [Because.]
vengeance ............... vengeance <05359 05358> [taking vengeance. Heb. revenging, revengement.]
stretch <05186> [I will also.]
kill <03772> [and will.]
Teman <08487> [Teman.]
Dedan .... die .... sword <05307 02719 01719> [of Dedan shall fall by the sword. or, shall fall by the sword unto Dedan.]
hand <03027> [by the hand.]
This was fulfilled by the Maccabees, who not only entirely subjugated them, but obliged them to receive circumcision.
experience <03045> [and they shall know.]
Philistines <06430> [Because.]
exacted <06213> [dealt.]
destroy <04889> [to destroy.]
unrelenting hostility <0342 05769> [for the old hatred. or, with perpetual hatred.]
stretch <05186> [I will stretch.]
These predictions against the Philistines, Edomites, and others, seem to have been fulfilled by by Nebuchadnezzar during the siege of Tyre. Berosus states that he subdued Syria, Arabia, Phoenicia, and Egypt; and now their very names have no existence, except in history.
Cherethites <03774> [Cherethims.]
[Cherethites. and destroy.]
seacoast <03220> [sea coasts. or, haven of the sea.]
exact <06213> [I will.]
vengeance .................... vengeance <05360> [vengeance. Heb. vengeances. they shall.]
Tyre <06865> [Tyrus.]
Aha <01889> [Aha.]
gateway <01817> [the gates.]
broken .... swung <07665 05437 02717> [she is.]
Tyre <06865> [Behold.]
These verses (3-6) contain a summary prediction of what befel both the continental and insular Tyre, during a long succession of ages. The former was totally destroyed by Nebuchadnezzar, after a siege of thirteen years, B.C. 573; and the latter, which arose out of its ruins, after seventy years recovered its ancient wealth and splendour, as foretold by Isaiah, (ch. 23:15-17.) After it was taken and burnt by Alexander, B.C. 332, it speedily recovered its strength and dignity, and nineteen years afterwards withstood both the fleets and armies of Antigonus. Agreeably to the prophetic declarations, (Ps 45:12; 72:10. Isa 23:18. Zec 9:1-7,) it was early converted to Christianity; and after being successively taken by the Saracens, Christians, Mamalukes, and Turks, in whose hands it still remains, it became "a place for the spreading of nets."
Tyre <06865> [I am.]
many <07227> [many.]
sea <03220> [as the sea.]
destroy <07843> [destroy.]
scrape <05500> [I.]
make <05414> [make.]
place where fishing .... spread <04894> [the spreading.]
plunder <0957> [and it.]
daughters <01323> [her daughters.]
know <03045> [and they.]
bring <0935> [I will.]
King ..... king ... kings <04428> [a king.]
horses <05483> [with horses.]
build <05414> [he shall make.]
erect ... siege ramp <05550 08210> [cast a mount. or, pour out the engine of shot.]
horses <08229> [the abundance.]
shake <07493> [shake.]
enters ....... invade <0935 03996> [enter.]
invade .... city's broken <03996 05892 01234> [as men enter into a city wherein is made a breach. Heb. according to the enterings of a city broken up.]
hoofs <06541> [hoofs.]
streets ...... people ....... strong <02351 05971 05797> [thy.]
steal <07997> [make a spoil.]
merchandise <07404> [thy merchandise.]
luxurious homes <02532 01004> [thy pleasant houses. Heb. houses of thy desire.]
[they shalt lay.]
The ruins of old Tyre contributed much to the taking of the new city; for with the stones, timber, and rubbish, Alexander built a bank, or causeway, from the continent to the island, thereby literally fulfilling the words of the prophet.
make <05414> [I will.]
Old Tyre was never rebuilt after its destruction by Nebuchadnezzar; and there are now no traces left to mark its site. The new city, when visited by Maundrell, Bruce, and other travellers, was literally "a place for fishers to dry their nets on."
bare <06706> [like.]
built <01129> [be built.]
Lord <03068> [for I.]
shake <07493> [shake.]
princes <05387> [all the princes.]
vacate <03381> [come.]
clothe <03847> [clothe.]
trembling <02731> [trembling. Heb. tremblings. sit.]
tremble <02729> [tremble.]
shocked <08074> [be astonished.]
<05375> [take.]
perished <06> [How art.]
seas ......... sea <03220> [seafaring men. Heb. the seas. strong.]
coastlands ... tremble ......... coastlands <02729 0339> [the isles tremble.]
passing <03318> [at thy.]
up <05927> [bring.]
bring ... down .......... descend ........................ descend <03381> [I shall bring.]
ruins <02723> [in places.]
stand <05414> [and I shall set.]
earth ........................ land <0776> [in the land.]
terrors <01091> [a terror. Heb. terrors.]
sought <01245> [though.]
sits <03427> [O thou.]
Tyre was situated in the Mediterranean, at the nearest entrance to it from the interior and eastern part of Asia.
merchant <07402> [a merchant.]
perfectly <03632> [I am.]
perfectly beautiful <03308 03632> [of perfect beauty. Heb. perfect of beauty.]
heart <03820> [midst. Heb. heart.]
crafted <01129> [made. Heb. built.]
Senir <08149> [of Senir.]
[Shenir. cedars.]
oaks <0437> [the oaks.]
<01323> [the company, etc. or, they have made thy hatches of ivory well trodden.]
Rather, "thy benches have they made of ivory inlaid with box, from the isles of Chittim." Vulgate, {de insulis Itali‘,} "from the islands of Italy," which were always famous for box-trees.
<01323> [company. Heb. daughters. the isles.]
[Kittim.]
Fine linen <08336> [linen.]
blue ... purple <08504 0713> [blue and purple. or, purple and scarlet.]
Elishah <0473> [Elishah.]
Elis, part of the Peloponnesus, extending along the western coast of Arcadia, north of Messenia, and south of Achaia.
Sidon <06721> [Zidon.]
[Sidon.]
Arvad <0719> [Arvad.]
skilled men <02450> [wise.]
Gebal <01380> [Gebal.]
cracks <0919> [calkers. or, stoppers of chinks. Heb. strengtheners.]
Persia <06539> [Persia.]
Lud <03865> [of Lud.]
hung <08518> [they hanged.]
Arvadites <0719> [of Arvad.]
perfected <03634> [they have.]
Javan <03120> [Javan.]
Tubal <08422> [Tubal.]
slaves <05315> [the persons.]
merchandise <04627> [market. or, merchandise.]
Togarmah <08425> [Togarmah.]
Dedanites <01719> [Dedan.]
ivory <08127> [of ivory.]
Edom <0758> [Syria.]
[Aram.]
goods <04639> [the wares of thy making. Heb. thy works. agate. or, chrysoprase.]
wheat <02406> [wheat.]
Minnith <04511> [Minnith.]
balm <06875> [balm. or, rosin.]
Damascus <01834> [Damascus.]
Helbon <02463> [Helbon.]
The Chalybon of the Greeks and Romans, now called by the natives Haleb, and by us Aleppo, said to have been so celebrated for its wine, that the Persian kings would drink no other. It was a celebrated city of Syria, situated about 90 miles from the Mediterranean by way of Antioch, and 100 from the Euphrates, in lat. 36 degrees 11' 25" north, long. 37 degrees 9' east; and previous to its destruction by an earthquake in 1822, occupied, including its suburbs, eight small hills, with the intermediate valleys, comprehending a circuit of about seven miles; and its inhabitants were variously estimated at from 100,000 to 258,000 souls.
<02051> [Dan.]
<0235> [going to and fro. or, Menzal. cassia.]
Dedan <01719> [Dedan.]
saddlecloths <0899 02667> [precious clothes. Heb. clothes of freedom.]
Arabia <06152> [Arabia.]
Kedar <06938> [Kedar.]
trade partners ........ traded <03027 05503> [occupied with thee. Heb. were the merchants of thy hand. in lambs.]
Sheba <07614> [Sheba.]
Haran <02771> [Haran.]
[Charran. Canneh.]
[Calneh.]
[Calno.]
[Calneh. Eden.]
Sheba <07614> [Sheba.]
Asshur <0804> [Asshur.]
choice ... purple <04360 08504> [all sorts of things. or, excellent things. clothes. Heb. foldings.]
ships <0591> [ships.]
weighed down <03513> [glorious.]
rowers <07751> [rowers.]
surging <07227> [great.]
east <06921> [the east.]
heart <03820> [midst. Heb. heart.]
wealth <01952> [Thy riches.]
In these beautiful and expressive figures, Tyre is represented as a ship at sea, wrecked through the mistakes of her pilots and rowers; that is, destroyed by Nebuchadnezzar, and afterwards by Alexander, in consequence of her rulers having pertinaciously resolved to withstand those haughty conquerors. This vast ship, laden with all kinds of valuable wares, being wrecked, all her valuables, sailors, officers, etc. went to the bottom.
crew <06951> [and in all. or, even with all. shall fall.]
in ....... heart <08432 03820> [midst. Heb. heart.]
waves <04054> [suburbs. or waves. shake.]
handle <08610> [all that handle.]
descend <03381> [shall come.]
loudly <06963> [shall cause.]
All that were on land, seeing this gallant ship perishing with all her men and goods, are here represented as setting up a dismal cry at the heart-rending sight.
throw <05927> [cast.]
roll <06428> [they shall wallow.]
tear out ... hair <07144> [they shall make.]
weep <01058> [they shall weep.]
<05375> [take up.]
Tyre <06865> [What city.]
tower <01822> [the destroyed.]
products <05801> [thy wares.]
abundance <07230> [with the.]
inhabitants <03427> [the inhabitants.]
kings <04428> [their kings.]
hiss <08319> [hiss.]
horror <01091> [thou shalt.]
horror <01091> [a terror. Heb. terrors. never shalt be any more. Heb. shalt not be for ever.]
prince <05057> [the prince.]
Josephus states, on the authority of Menander, who translated the Phoenician annals into Greek, and Philostratus, that this prince was Ithobal.
heart .................... heart ................ think .... godlike <03820> [Because.]
god ....................... god <0410> [I am.]
sit <03427> [I sit.]
heart .................... heart ................ think .... godlike <03820> [in the midst. Heb. in the heart.]
man ........................................... man <0120> [yet.]
you <05414> [thou set.]
[thou are.]
secret <05640> [no secret.]
great skill <02451 07230> [thy great wisdom. Heb. the greatness of thy wisdom.]
trade <07404> [and by.]
heart <03824> [and thine.]
<05414> [Because.]
bring <0935> [I will.]
terrifying <06184> [the terrible.]
defile <02490> [defile.]
bring ... down <03381> [shall bring.]
violently <02491> [are slain.]
say <0559> [say.]
man <0120> [thou shalt.]
kills ..................... wound <02026 02490> [slayeth. or, woundeth.]
death <04194> [the deaths.]
hand <03027> [by the.]
sing <05375> [take up.]
sealer <02856> [Thou sealest.]
full <04392> [full.]
Eden <05731> [in Eden.]
precious <03368> [every.]
ruby <0124> [sardius. or, ruby. beryl. or, chrysolite. emerald. or, chrysoprase. the workmanship.]
created <01254> [thou wast.]
anointed <04473> [the anointed.]
<05414> [and I.]
holy <06944> [upon.]
stones <068> [stones.]
blameless <08549> [perfect.]
sin <05766> [till iniquity.]
abundance <07230> [the multitude.]
filled <04390> [filled.]
defiled <02490> [therefore.]
expelled <05526> [O covering.]
heart <03820> [heart.]
corrupted <07843> [thou hast.]
threw <07993> [I will cast.]
<05414> [I will lay.]
desecrated <02490> [defiled.]
sinfulness <05766> [by the iniquity.]
drew <03318> [therefore.]
you ... I ... you <05414> [I will bring.]
know <03045> [they.]
terrified <01091> [thou shalt.]
terrified <01091> [a terror. Heb. terrors.]
turn <07760> [set.]
Sidon <06721> [Zidon.]
Tyre was a colony of the Zidonians (see on Isa 23:12;) and consequently Zidon was a more ancient, though a less considerable city than Tyre; and it is probable that it was taken by the Chaldeans soon after the destruction of the latter. It was afterwards burnt to the ground by the inhabitants, to prevent it falling in the hands of Ochus.
[Sidon.]
Sidon <06721> [I am against.]
magnify <03513> [I will.]
reveal <06942> [shall be.]
send <07971> [I will send.]
know <03045> [and they shall.]
sharp <03992> [a pricking.]
know <03045> [and they.]
regather <06908> [When.]
reveal <06942> [be sanctified.]
live <03427> [then shall.]
servant <05650> [to my.]
live .............. live <03427> [and they shall dwell.]
[safety. or, with confidence.]
build <01129> [build.]
execute <06213> [when I.]
scorn <07590> [despise. or, spoil.]
live .............. live .................... know <03427 03045> [and they.]
[A.M. 3415. B.C. 589.]
turn <07760> [set.]
Pharaoh <06547> [Pharaoh.]
This was Pharaoh-hophra, or Apries, who, Herodotus informs us, agreeably to the character given him by the prophet, "proudly and wickedly boasted of having established his kingdom so securely, that it was not in the power of any God to dispossess him of it."
Egypt ......... Egypt <04714> [against all.]
Pharaoh <06547> [I am.]
great <01419> [the great.]
waterways ...... Nile <02975> [My river.]
put <05414> [I will put.]
fish ...................... fish <01710> [the fish.]
leave <05203> [I will leave.]
open field <07704 06440> [open fields. Heb. face of the field. I have.]
know <03045> [know.]
staff <04938> [a staff.]
grasped <08610> [they took.]
broke <07533> [thou didst.]
bring <0935> [I will.]
I will kill <03772> [cut.]
land <0776> [the land.]
said <0559> [because.]
turn <05414> [I will.]
utter ... ruin <02721 02723> [utterly waste. Heb. wastes of waste. from the tower of. from Migdol to.]
Syene <05482> [Syene. Heb. Seveneh.]
Now Essuan, situated at the southern extremity of Egypt, (as Migdol was at the northern,) on the confines of Ethiopia, near the tropic of Cancer, and about lat. 24 degrees N. long 32 degrees E.
human foot ......... foot <0120 07272> [foot of man.]
forty <0705> [forty.]
desolation .... midst ............ desolate .... midst <08077 08432> [desolate in.]
scatter <06327> [and I will scatter.]
We learn from Berosus that Nebuchadnezzar sent several captive Egyptians to Babylon; and from Megasthenes, that he transplanted others to Pontus; and it is probable, that at the dissolution of the Babylonian empire, about forty years after, Cyrus permitted them to return to their native country.
end <07093> [At the.]
Pathros <06624> [Pathros.]
[Pathrusim.]
origin <04351> [habitation. or, birth. base. Heb. low.]
insignificant <08217> [the basest.]
rule <07287> [rule.]
confidence <04009> [the confidence.]
reminder ... how <02142> [bringeth.]
know <03045> [but.]
[A.M. 3432. B.C. 572.]
Nebuchadrezzar <05019> [Nebuchadrezzar.]
hard <01419> [a great.]
Nebuchadnezzar was thirteen years employed in the siege. During this long siege, the soldiers must have endured great hardships; their heads would become bald by constantly wearing their helmets; and their shoulders be peeled by carrying materials to and from the works.
wages <07939> [yet.]
St. Jerome asserts, on the authority of the Assyrian histories, that when the Tyrians saw their city must fall, they put their most valuable effects on board their ships, and fled with them to the islands, and their colonies, "so that, the city being taken, Nebuchadnezzar found nothing worthy of his labour."
give <05414> [I will.]
carry off .... capture ... loot ... seize <07997 07998 0962 05375> [take her spoil, and take her pray. Heb. spoil her spoil, and prey her prey.]
compensation <06468> [labour. or, hire. served.]
make <06779> [I cause.]
right to be heard <06610> [the opening.]
know <03045> [they shall know.]
Wail <03213> [Howl.]
day ... near ... day ...... near ...... day <03117 07138> [the day is.]
clouds <06051> [a cloudy.]
time <06256> [the time.]
sword <02719> [the sword.]
panic <02479> [pain. or, fear.]
carry away <03947> [and they.]
foundations <03247> [and her.]
Ethiopia <03568> [Ethiopia.]
Put <06316> [Libya. Heb. Phut.]
<06153> [all the.]
people <01121> [men. Heb. children. that is.]
supporters <05564> [They also.]
Migdol ... Syene <04024 05482> [from the tower of Syene. or, from Migdol to Syene.]
know <03045> [shall know.]
ignite <05414> [when I.]
<07665> [destroyed. Heb. broken.]
messengers <04397> [messengers.]
overly confident <0983> [careless.]
panic <02479> [great.]
coming <0935> [lo.]
hordes <01995> [I will.]
hand <03027> [by the.]
terrifying <06184> [the terrible.]
fill <04390> [and fill.]
[Re 14.20 19.18]
will ......... land .......... land <05414 0776> [I will make.]
dry up <02724> [dry. Heb. drought. sell.]
everything <04393> [all that is therein. Heb. the fullness thereof.]
hand .... over to ................ hand <03027> [by the hand.]
destroy <06> [I will also.]
Memphis <05297> [Noph.]
[Memphis. Heb. Moph. there shall.]
make <05414> [put.]
Pathros <06624> [Pathros.]
Zoan <06814> [Zoan. or, Tanis.]
execute <06213> [will execute.]
pour out <08210> [I will pour.]
Pelusium <05512> [Sin. or, Pelusium.]
Now Tineh, a town of Egypt, situated at the eastern extremity of the Delta, twenty stadia from the Mediterranean, near the lake of Menzaleh, and upon a branch of the Nile, to which it gave name. It was the key of Egypt on the side of Judea and Syria, and was therefore strongly fortified and garrisoned; but it is now quite in ruins.
On <0206> [Aven. or, Heliopolis.]
Pi-beseth <06364> [Pibeseth. or Pubastum.]
Situated on the Pelusiac branch of the Nile, near the top of the Delta.
Tahpanhes <08471> [Tehaphnehes.]
[Tahapanes.]
[Tahpanhes. the day.]
dark <02821> [darkened. or, restrained. I shall break.]
pride <01347> [the pomp.]
cloud <06051> [a cloud.]
[A.M. 3416. B.C. 588.]
Son ... man <01121 0120> [Son of man.]
This prophecy was delivered soon after the Egyptians under Pharaoh-hophra had come to relieve Jerusalem, and some months before the city was taken, being the eleventh year of Jeremiah's captivity, and answering to April 26, A.M. 3416. When the king of Babylon took from the king of Egypt, in the days of Pharaoh-necho, all his dominions in Asia, one of his arms was broken. God now declared that he should never recover these territories, or gain any ascendancy in that part of the world; nay, that his other arm, which was now strong, should soon be broken, and rendered utterly useless. This was fulfilled when Hophra was dethroned and driven into Upper Egypt by Amasis; and then Nebuchadnezzar, taking advantage of this civil discord, invaded and conquered that kingdom, and enslaved, dispersed, and carried captive the Egyptians.
broken <07665> [I have.]
bandaged <02280> [it shall not.]
Pharaoh <06547> [I am.]
break ......... broken <07665> [will break.]
strong <02389> [the strong.]
break ......... broken <07665> [and that.]
sword <02719> [I will.]
strengthen ..................... break <02388 07665> [I will.]
place <05414> [and put.]
groan <05008> [he shall.]
know <03045> [they shall know.]
scatter <06327> [I will.]
know <03045> [they shall.]
first <0259> [in the eleventh.]
On Sunday, June 19, A.M. 3416, according to Usher; and about a month before the capture of Jerusalem.
say <0559> [speak.]
hordes <01995> [to his.]
like <01819> [Whom.]
Assyria <0804> [the Assyrian.]
cedar <0730> [a cedar.]
[with fair branches. Heb. fair of branches. of an high.]
water <04325> [waters.]
grow <01431> [made him great. or, nourished him. set. or, brought. little rivers. or, conduits.]
taller <06967> [his height.]
The Assyrian king, to whom Pharaoh is compared, from his great power, extensive dominion, and the protection he afforded, resembled the spreading branches, thick shade, and high stature of a flourishing cedar on mount Lebanon. The fruitful lands of Assyria; the immense revenues he drew from vast multitudes in his extensive territories; his lucrative commerce, by the river Tigris, with the countries on the Indian ocean; and all the various sources of his wealth and prosperity, resembled the rivers and streams which cause the trees planted by them to grow and flourish exceedingly; and hence the empire and its head were exalted above all the kingdoms of the earth.
shoots <07971> [he shot forth. or, it sent them forth.]
cedars <0730> [cedars.]
tree <06086> [nor any.]
made <06213> [made.]
trees <06086> [all the trees.]
envied <07065> [envied.]
says <0559> [Therefore.]
The allegory and its interpretation are here combined; and the Assyrian monarch, though already destroyed, is poetically addressed.
tall <01361> [Because.]
proud <03824> [and his.]
gave <05414> [delivered.]
leader <0410> [the mighty.]
Nebuchadnezzar, the subverter of the Assyrian empire.
has <06213> [he shall surely deal with him. Heb. in doing he shall do unto him.]
out <01644> [I have driven.]
Foreigners <02114> [strangers.]
mountains <02022> [upon.]
down <03381> [gone.]
trees <06086> [the end.]
high ........ appointed <05975 01363> [stand up in their height. or, stand upon themselves for their height. delivered.]
lower parts <08482> [the nether.]
lament <056> [I caused a.]
The deep and all the mighty rivers which cherished this fair tree are here described as mourning at his downfall: they stop their usual courses to bewail his fate, and Lebanon with all its stately trees, (his confederates and allies,) sympathise with him in his misfortunes.
black <06937> [mourn. Heb. be black.]
nations <01471> [made.]
down ........ descend <03381> [When I.]
trees <06086> [and all.]
comforted <05162> [shall be comforted.]
went down <03381> [went.]
allies <02220> [that were.]
lived <03427> [dwelt.]
like <01819> [To whom.]
Pharaoh is here called upon to look in his mirror, and see the termination of his glory and greatness.
like <01819> [art thou.]
trees .................. trees <06086> [with the.]
lie <07901> [thou shalt.]
Pharaoh <06547> [This is.]
That is, the judgment that befel the king of Assyria, is an exact representation of the destruction that remains for Pharaoh and all his people.
month ....... month <08147 02320> [A.M. 3417. B.C. 587. in the twelfth.]
On Wednesday, March 22, A.M. 3417, the twelfth year of Jeconiah's captivity, about a year and half after the destruction of Jerusalem, and at a time when Pharaoh was in power and prosperity.
sing <05375> [take up.]
like <01819> [Thou art like.]
monster <08577> [and thou art as.]
monster <08577> [whale. or, dragon. and troubledst.]
put <05414> [And I.]
To represent the power, rapaciousness, and cruelty of Pharaoh, he had been compared to a fierce young lion, and also to an immense, overgrown sea-monster, or crocodile; and here it is predicted that God would cast a net over him, by which many companies of people should drag him out of his rivers, and cast him into the open field, mountains, valleys, etc., to be devoured by birds and beasts of prey; that is, his ruin would be complete, and attended with terrible miseries to the Egyptians, and afford a large booty to their enemies.
drench <08248> [water.]
land <0776> [the land.]
Egypt, so called because interspersed by numerous canals, and overflowed annually by the Nile.
flow <06824> [wherein thou swimmest. or, of thy swimming.]
extinguish <03518> [put thee out. or, extinguish thee.]
cover ... sky ......... cover <03680 08064> [I will cover the heaven.]
Destroy the empire.
darken <06937> [make.]
Overwhelm the dependent states.
sun <08121> [the sun.]
The king.
moon <03394> [the moon.]
The queen, or some state less than the kingdom.
lights .... sky <0216 08064 03974> [bright lights of heaven. Heb. lights of the light in heaven.]
darken <06937> [dark. Heb. them dark.]
darken <02822 05414> [set darkness upon.]
Involve the whole land in desolation and woe.
disturb <03707> [vex. Heb. provoke to anger, or grief.]
bring <0935> [when.]
I will shock <08074> [amazed.]
sword <02719> [my sword.]
tremble <02729> [and they.]
sword <02719> [The sword.]
terrifying <06184> [the terrible.]
devastate <07703> [they shall.]
destroy <06> [destroy.]
foot <07272> [neither.]
streams <05104> [and cause.]
The neighbouring countries shall be in a state of quietness, like a river that smoothly glides along, having no longer a political crocodile to foul their waters, or to disturb their peace.
everything <08074 04393> [destitute of that whereof. Heb. desolate from the fulness thereof.]
know <03045> [then.]
<08147> [in the twelfth.]
fifteenth <02568> [the fifteenth.]
That is, of the twelfth month, just a fortnight after the preceding prophecy.
wail <05091> [wail.]
down ...................... descend <03381> [cast.]
That is, predict that they shall be cast down.
daughters <01323> [the daughters.]
The cities and colonies of the celebrated nations afterwards enumerated.
lower parts <08482> [unto the.]
surpass <05276> [dost.]
down <03381> [go.]
uncircumcised <06189> [with.]
fall <05307> [fall.]
by ... sword ... sword <05414 02719> [she is delivered to the sword. or, the sword is laid. draw.]
bravest <0410> [strong.]
Pharaoh is here represented as descending into the regions of the dead, whither many mighty warriors and potentates had gone before him, who welcome him to their dreary mansion.
down <03381> [gone.]
[Assur.]
graves <06913> [graves.]
The niches in the sides of the subterranean burying places.
spread <05414> [which.]
terror <02851> [terror. or, dismaying. the land.]
Elam <05867> [Elam.]
down ............................. descend <03381> [which are.]
spread <05414> [which caused.]
bear <05375> [borne.]
made ... bed .............................................. placed <05414 04904> [set her.]
bed <04904> [a bed.]
A cell, or bier, in the sepulchral vault, in which the corpse was deposited.
uncircumcised <06189> [all of them.]
terror <02851> [though.]
Meshech-Tubal <04902> [Meshech.]
Supposed to be the Moschi, a people between Iberia and Armenia, from whom, probably the Muscovites are descended.
Meshech-Tubal <08422> [Tubal.]
Probably the Tibarenians, a people of Pontus, west of the Moschians.
uncircumcised <06189> [all of.]
spread <05414> [caused.]
lie <07901> [shall not.]
Sheol <07585> [to hell.]
That is, to the grave; and are buried in their armour, with their weapons lying by their sides, as was a very ancient practice in various nations.
weapons ... war <04421 03627> [their weapons of war. Heb. weapons of their war.]
shields <05771> [but.]
Edom <0123> [Edom.]
Despite <05414> [laid. Heb. given, or put.]
leaders <05257> [the princes.]
The kings of Media, Armenia, and other nations north of Chaldea, or of the Syrians and others north of Judah, with "all the Zidonians," kings of Zidon, Tyre, and other cities of Phoenicia.
bear <05375> [and bear.]
Pharaoh ... see ................ Pharaoh <06547 07200> [Pharaoh shall.]
Pharaoh, who said he was a god, shall be found among the dead.
consoled <05162> [shall be.]
Shall console himself, when he sees all these mighty nations and proud conquerors in the same condition as himself.
speak <01696> [speak.]
bring ... sword .... land ....... land ... one <02719 0776 0259 0935> [When I bring the sword upon a land. Heb. A land when I bring a sword upon her.]
make <05414> [set.]
blows <08628> [he blow.]
[Am 3.6 1Co 14.8]
hears <08085> [whosoever heareth. Heb. he that hearing heareth.]
death <01818> [his blood.]
heard <08085> [heard.]
himself <01818> [his blood.]
warning ............. warning <02094> [But.]
blow <08628> [and blow.]
takes ........ swept away <03947> [he is.]
<01818> [his blood.]
I ... made you <05414> [I have.]
hear <08085> [thou shalt.]
wicked ... wicked ............. wicked ...... wicked man ....... but <07563> [O wicked.]
about <01696> [if thou.]
wicked ... wicked ............. wicked ...... wicked man ....... but <07563> [that wicked.]
warn <02094> [if thou.]
change ........ change <07725> [if he.]
saved <05337> [thou hast.]
rebellious <06588> [If our.]
The impenitent Jews seem to have charged the prophet's messages with inconsistency: for 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.
live <02421> [how.]
surely <02416> [As I live.]
pleasure <02654> [I have.]
change ....... back ... back .... evil <07725 07451> [turn ye.]
say <0559> [say.]
righteousness <06666> [The righteousness.]
wickedness <07564> [as for.]
righteous .......................... righteous <06662> [neither.]
confident <0982> [if he.]
die <04191> [he shall die.]
must certainly die <04191> [Thou shalt.]
turns from <07725> [if he.]
just ... right <04941 06666> [that which is lawful and right. Heb. judgment and justice.]
returns <07725> [restore.]
"The sin is not forgiven, unless that which is taken away be restored," says Augustine.
pays <07999> [give.]
<01980> [walk.]
certainly live ..... die <02421 04191> [he shall.]
say <0559> [Yet.]
judge <08199> [I will.]
<08147> [in the twelfth.]
This was on Wednesday, January 25, A.M. 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 MSS. and the Syriac read the eleventh.
refugee <06412> [one.]
city <05892> [The city.]
This was the very message which God had promised to the prophet.
hand <03027> [the hand.]
mouth .............. mouth <06310> [and my.]
living <03427> [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.
ruins <02723> [wastes.]
Abraham <085> [Abraham.]
many <07227> [but we.]
eat <0398> [Ye eat.]
pray <05375> [lift up.]
shed <08210> [and shed.]
possess <03423> [shall ye.]
rely <05975> [stand.]
commit <06213> [work.]
defiles <02930> [and ye.]
possess <03423> [and shall.]
ruins <02723> [surely.]
give <05414> [will I.]
food <0398> [to be devoured. Heb. to devour him. in the caves.]
I ... turn <05414> [I will lay.]
desolate ruin <04923 08077> [most desolate. Heb. desolation and desolation. and the pomp.]
mountains <02022> [and the mountains.]
know <03045> [shall.]
abominable deeds <08441> [because.]
son ..... people <01121> [the children.]
[against thee. or, of thee. Come.]
crowds ........... people <03996 05971> [as the people cometh. Heb. according to the coming of the people.]
crowds .... sit ... front ...... people <06440 05971 03427> [they sit before thee as my people. or, my people sit before thee. and they.]
talk <06310> [for with.]
obey ...... lustfully <05690 06213> [shew much love. Heb. make loves, or jests.]
heart <03820> [but their.]
beautiful <03303> [of one.]
beautiful voice <06963 03303> [a pleasant voice. Heb. a song of loves.]
comes ...... will <0935> [when.]
know <03045> [shall.]
shepherds ........... shepherds ............ shepherds ....... feeding themselves .... shepherds feed <07462> [the shepherds.]
The shepherds of Israel, signify their kings and princes, priests and prophets; the flock, the whole of the people; the fat and wool, the tithes and offerings, taxes and imposts: these they exacted with great rigour, and even oppressed and destroyed the people to enrich themselves; but they bestowed no pains to provide for the welfare of the state, or for the souls of those entrusted to them. They knew nothing about their flock: it might be diseased, infirm, bruised, maimed, strayed, or lost, for they watched not over them.
Woe <01945> [Woe.]
shepherds ........... shepherds ............ shepherds ....... feeding themselves .... shepherds feed <07462> [feed.]
eat <0398> [eat.]
slaughter <02076> [ye kill.]
weak .... sick <02470> [diseased.]
sought <01245> [sought.]
force <02394> [but with.]
scattered .............. beast <06327> [they were.]
shepherd <07462> [because there is no shepherd. or, without a shepherd, and so ver.]
food <0402> [and they became.]
wandered <07686> [wandered.]
sheep ............. sheep <06629> [my flock.]
searching <01875> [and none.]
prey <0957> [prey.]
shepherd .... shepherds ...... my .... fed ...... feed <07462> [the shepherds.]
shepherds .................. shepherds ...... feed <07462> [I am.]
demand <01875> [and I will.]
no longer <07673> [and cause.]
shepherds .................. shepherds ...... feed <07462> [neither shall.]
rescue <05337> [for I will.]
seek <01875> [I.]
seek <01875> [search.]
shepherd seeks <07462 01243> [As a shepherd seeketh out. Heb. According to the shepherd's seeking of, etc.]
cloudy <06051> [in the cloudy.]
out <03318> [I will bring.]
feed <07462> [and feed.]
good ..... feed ................... lush ...... feed <07462 02896> [feed them.]
lie <07257> [there shall.]
seek ... lost <01245 06> [seek that.]
destroy <08045> [but I.]
feed <07462> [I will feed.]
judge <08199> [I judge.]
sheep ... another <07716> [cattle and cattle. Heb. small cattle of lambs and kids. he goats. Heb. great he goats.]
not enough <04592> [a small.]
feed .................... drink <07462 08354> [to have.]
[bread.]
judge <08199> [Behold.]
thrust ........... scatter <01920 06327> [ye have.]
at ..... sheep <05055> [pushed.]
save <03467> [will I.]
judge <08199> [and I.]
set <06965> [I will.]
servant <05650> [my servant.]
David king of Israel had been dead upwards of 400 years; and from that time till now there never has been a ruler of any kind in the Jewish nation of the name of David. By David, then, we must understand the Messiah, as the Jews themselves acknowledge, so called because descended from him, and also as being the well beloved, [o agapetos,] Son of the Father, as the name imports, and in whom all the promises made to David were fulfilled. See the references.
Lord ..... God ............. Lord <03068 0430> [I the Lord will.]
prince <05387> [a prince.]
make <03772> [I will make.]
<07451> [and will.]
live <03427> [and they.]
I ... turn ...... around <05414 05439> [make them.]
hill <01389> [my hill.]
showers .......... showers <01653> [I will cause.]
showers .......... showers <01653> [showers.]
trees <06086> [the tree.]
know ...... Lord <03045 03068> [know that.]
break <07665> [when I.]
enslaved <05647> [served.]
prey ............... live <0957 03427> [they shall.]
It is evident that this prophecy could at most have only a typical accomplishment in the return from captivity under Zerubbabel, and in their consequent prosperity; but the restoration of the Jews from their present captivity, and the consequent peace and prosperity of the church and world, fully answer to this energetic language.
beasts <02416> [neither.]
prepare <06965> [I will.]
healthy <08034> [of renown. or, for renown.]
victims <0622> [consumed. Heb. taken away.]
bear <05375> [neither.]
you ... sheep ... sheep <0859 06629> [ye my.]
God <0430> [I.]
turn <07760> [set.]
Mount <02022> [mount.]
prophesy <05012> [and prophesy.]
stretch <05186> [I am.]
stretch <05186> [and I will stretch.]
desolate ruin <08077 04923> [most desolate. Heb. desolation and desolation.]
lay <07760> [lay.]
desolate ..... know <08077 03045> [and thou.]
unrelenting <05769> [thou hast had.]
unrelenting hostility <0342 05769> [perpetual hatred. or, hatred of old.]
poured ... people <05064 01121> [shed the blood of. Heb. poured out. force. Heb. hands.]
time ....... time <06256> [in the.]
<06213> [I will.]
Since <0518> [sith.]
desolate ruin <08077> [most desolate. Heb. desolation and desolation.]
passes <05674> [passeth.]
<05414> [I will make.]
After being subdued by Nebuchadnezzar, about five years after the destruction of Jerusalem, many of the Edomites, during the Babylonian captivity, being driven from their ancient habitation by the Nabatheans, seized upon the south-western part of Judea; but afterwards they were conquered by Hyrcanus, and reduced to the necessity of embracing the Jewish religion; and at last became either incorporated with that nation, or swallowed up and lost among the Nabathean Arabs, so that the very name was abolished and disused about the end of the first century after Christ. Their country is now barren; and their cities, even Bozra and Petra, totally demolished and in ruins.
perpetual <05769> [perpetual.]
know <03045> [and ye.]
said <0559> [thou hast.]
Lord <03068> [whereas. or, though.]
deal ................ acted <06213> [I will even.]
reveal <03045> [and I.]
know <03045> [And thou.]
heard <08085> [I have heard.]
given <05414> [they are given.]
food <0402> [consume. Heb. devour.]
speech <06310> [with.]
exalted <01431> [boasted. Heb. magnified. have multiplied.]
heard <08085> [I have.]
rejoiced <08057> [didst.]
desolate <08077> [shalt.]
Edom <0123> [Idumea.]
know <03045> [and they.]
mountains ....... mountains <02022> [the mountains.]
hear <08085> [hear.]
enemy <0341> [Because.]
ancient <05769> [even.]
[our's.]
desolate <08074> [Because. Heb. Because for because.]
desolate <08074> [they have made.]
crushed <07602> [swallowed.]
become <05927> [and ye.]
become ..... gossip <08193 03956 05927> [taken up in the lips of talkers. or, made to come upon the lip of the tongue. and are.]
mountains .................... mountains <02022> [mountains.]
ravines <0650> [rivers. or, bottoms, or dales. desolate.]
prey <0957> [a prey.]
fire <0784> [Surely.]
rest <07611> [against the.]
Edom <0123> [against all.]
made <05414> [appointed.]
joy <08057> [with the.]
utter <07589> [with despiteful.]
endure <05375> [I have lifted.]
nations <01471> [the heathen.]
grow <05414> [ye shall.]
<07126> [for.]
The Edomites, and other enemies of the Jews, who thought they would soon be in possession of the whole land of Judea, might be assured that the predicted seventy years of the captivity were wearing away, and the time would soon arrive when the Jews would repossess and cultivate their own land, and eat its fruits.
<07126> [at hand.]
multiply <07235> [I will.]
ruins <02723> [the wastes.]
increase ............ increase <07235> [I will multiply.]
inhabited <03427> [and I will settle.]
The circumstances of the Jews were never so prosperous after the captivity as they had been before; hence this prophecy must refer to the times of the Gospel and the future conversion and restoration of the Jews.
more good <02895> [will do.]
know <03045> [and ye.]
people <0120> [I will cause.]
The prophet is still personifying the mountains, valleys, and wastes of Judea.
possess <03423> [they shall.]
<03254> [no more.]
<07921> [no more.]
<07921> [bereave. or, cause to fail.]
I ..... subject <08085> [men.]
bear <05375> [thou bear.]
defiled <02930> [they defiled.]
uncleanness <02932> [as the.]
poured ........... shed <08210> [I poured.]
blood <01818> [for the.]
scattered <06327> [I scattered.]
behavior <01870> [according to their way.]
profaned <02490> [they profaned.]
The Jews, when thus scattered, appeared to them an abject and wretched company of people. They were recognized as the worshippers of Jehovah wherever they went; but they were looked upon as a viler and more worthless race than any of the idolaters among whom they were driven. Many would ascribe their wickedness to the tendency of their religion, which they abhorred, and not to their having acted inconsistently with it; and regard their miseries, not as the punishment of their sins, but as proofs of God's inability to protect them. This profanation of his holy name, Jehovah was determined to wipe away, by shewing mercy unto them.
people <05971> [These.]
magnify ................................. magnify <06942> [sanctify.]
nations ......... nations <01471> [and the heathen.]
magnify ................................. magnify <06942> [when I shall.]
sight <05869> [their. or, your.]
sprinkle .......... clean ........ purify <02236 02891> [will I.]
impurities <02932> [filthiness.]
idols <01544> [from all your idols.]
new heart ....... new ......... heart ........... heart <03820 02319> [new heart.]
stone <068> [the stony.]
put <05414> [I will.]
initiative .......... observe <06213> [cause.]
live <03427> [dwell.]
[be people.]
save <03467> [save.]
call <07121> [call.]
disgrace <02781> [reproach.]
remember <02142> [shall ye.]
loathe <06962> [shall lothe.]
act ............ behavior <06213 01870> [for your.]
ashamed <0954> [be ashamed.]
populate <03427> [cause.]
ruins <02723> [wastes.]
say <0559> [they shall.]
garden <01588> [like the.]
know <03045> [know.]
Lord ............. Lord ... spoken <03068 01696> [I the Lord have.]
ask <01875> [I will yet.]
multiply <07235> [I will increase.]
sheep ... offerings .... sheep ................ flocks <06629 06944> [holy flock. Heb. flock of holy things. as the flock.]
ruined <02720> [the waste.]
hand <03027> [hand.]
In this vision, the dry bones aptly represent the ruined and desperate state of both Israel and Judah; and the revivification of these bones signifies their restoration to their own land after their captivity, and also their recovery from their present long dispersion. Although this is the primary and genuine scope of the vision, yet the doctrine of a general resurrection of the dead may justly be inferred from it; for "a simile of the resurrection," says Jerome, after Tertullian and others, "would never have been used to signify the restoration of the people of Israel, unless such a future resurrection had been believed and known; because no one attempts to confirm uncertain things by things which have no existence."
out <03318> [carried.]
valley <01237> [valley. or, champaign.]
great .......... very <03966> [they were.]
bones <06106> [can.]
Sovereign Lord <0136 03069> [O Lord God.]
Prophesy <05012> [Prophesy.]
Dry <03002> [O ye.]
breath <07307> [I will.]
put ................. put <05414> [I will.]
live ..... know <02421 03045> [ye shall.]
prophesied ..... commanded ........ prophesied <05012 06680> [I prophesied as.]
sound <06963> [there.]
breath .......... breath ............. winds ... breath <07307> [wind. or, breath. Come.]
breath <07307> [the breath.]
house <01004> [whole house.]
bones ............. bones <06106> [Our bones.]
prophesy <05012> [Therefore.]
open <06605> [I will open.]
This is a pointed allusion to the resurrection; under which figure Isaiah (ch. 26:9) also describes the restoration of the house of Israel, when he says, "thy dead men shall live;" at which time their bones are said to flourish, (ch. 66:14,) or to be restored to their former strength and vigour; and, in like manner, St. Paul, (Ro 11:15,) expresses their conversion by "life from the dead." In the land of their captivity, they seemed as absolutely deprived of their country as persons committed to the grave are cut off from the land of the living; but when Cyrus issued his proclamation, Jehovah, as it were, opened their graves, and when he stirred up their spirits to embrace the proffered liberty, he put his Spirit within them, that they might live; and their re-establishment in their own land evinced the truth of God in the prediction, and his power in its accomplishment.
bring <0935> [and bring.]
place <05414> [shall put.]
Lord ........... Lord <03068> [I the Lord.]
take one ................. take another <03947 0259> [take thee.]
Judah <03063> [For Judah.]
Joseph <03130> [For Joseph.]
tell <05046> [Wilt.]
take <03947> [Behold.]
hand <03027> [in thine.]
make <06213> [I will make.]
one ............ one <0259> [and one.]
It is evident that the grand union of Israel and Judah here predicted, and their government under one king, and that king to be David, must still be future; for, politically speaking, they never had a king from that day to this, far less a king or prince of that name. (See on ch. 34:23.)
defile <02930> [shall they defile.]
save <03467> [but.]
purify <02891> [will cleanse.]
people <05971> [they be.]
David <01732> [David.]
one <0259> [one.]
<03212> [they shall.]
live .... land ............ lived .... live <03427 0776> [they shall dwell in.]
children .... grandchildren <01121> [even they.]
servant ....................... servant <05650> [and my.]
make <03772> [I will make.]
increase <07235> [multiply.]
I will ...... numbers <05414> [set.]
dwelling place <04908> [tabernacle.]
God <0430> [I will.]
nations <01471> [the heathen.]
sanctify <06942> [sanctify.]
Son <01121> [Son.]
turn <07760> [set.]
Gog <01463> [Gog.]
Rather, "Gog (the prince) of the land of Magog, the prince of Rosh, Meshech, and Tubal." By Magog is most probably meant the Scythians or Tartars, called so by Arabian and Syrian writers, and especially the Turks, who were originally natives of Tartary; and by Rosh, the Russians, descendants of the ancient inhabitants on the river Araxes or Rosh.
Magog <04031> [Magog.]
chief prince <07218 05387> [the chief prince of. or, prince of the chief of. Meshech.]
Gog <01463> [I am.]
turn ... around <07725> [I will turn.]
horses <05483> [horses.]
armed ............. armed <03847 08610> [all of them.]
armed <08610> [handling.]
Persia <06539> [Persia.]
Put <06316> [Libya. or, Phut.]
[Put.]
Gomer <01586> [Gomer.]
Togarmah <08425> [Togarmah.]
many days ....................... many <03117 07227> [many days.]
summoned <06485> [thou shalt be.]
land <0776> [into the land.]
mountains <02022> [the mountains.]
brought out <03318> [it is.]
living <03427> [and they shall.]
advance <05927> [shalt ascend.]
storm ....... cloud <07722 06051> [like.]
troops <0102> [all thy.]
day <03117> [that at.]
thoughts .......... devise ... evil <07451 04284 02803> [think an evil thought. or, conceive a mischievous purpose.]
invade <05927> [go up.]
advance ..... quietly <0935 08252> [go to.]
security <0983> [safely. or, confidently.]
loot ... plunder <07997 07998 0962 0957> [take a spoil, and to take a prey. Heb. spoil the spoil, and to prey the prey.]
attack <07725> [turn.]
ruins <02723> [the desolate.]
people <05971> [and upon.]
center <02872> [midst. Heb. navel.]
Sheba <07614> [Sheba.]
young warriors <03715> [with.]
day <03117> [in that.]
when ...... living <03427> [dwelleth.]
notice <03045> [shalt.]
place <04725> [thy place.]
many ................ vast <07227> [and many.]
cloud <06051> [as a cloud.]
latter <0319> [it shall be.]
Though it is not generally agreed what people or transactions are here predicted, yet it seems evident that the prophecy is not yet accomplished. Nothing occurred in the wars of Cambyses, or Antiochus Epiphanes with the Jews, that answers to it; and the expression here used, in the latter days, plainly implies that there should be a succession of many ages between the publication of the prediction and its accomplishment. It is therefore supposed, with much probability, that its fulfilment will be posterior to the conversion of the Jews and their restoration to their own land; and that the Turks, Tarters, or Scythians, from the northern parts of Asia, perhaps uniting with the inhabitants of some more southern regions, will make war upon the Jews and be cut off in a manner predicted here.
nations <01471> [that the.]
spoke <01696> [whom.]
by <03027> [by. Heb. the hands of.]
rage <02534> [that.]
zeal <07068> [in my.]
day <03117> [Surely.]
fish <01709> [the fishes.]
cliffs <04095> [steep places. or, towers, or stairs.]
call <07121> [I will.]
man's <0376> [every.]
judge <08199> [I will plead.]
plague <01698> [with pestilence.]
torrential <07857> [an overflowing.]
magnify <01431> [magnify.]
reveal ......... know <03045> [and I.]
son <01121> [son.]
Gog ................. Gog <01463> [Behold.]
chief prince ... Meshech ... Tubal <07218 05387 04902 08422> [the chief prince of Meshech and Tubal.]
Or, "prince of Rosh, Meshech, and Tubal."
turn ... around <07725> [I will.]
It is probable that none of the invaders will escape: but perhaps the inhabitants of Magog in general are meant. The immense army of Gog, led forth against Israel, will almost empty his land; and the subsequent judgments of God upon those that remain at home, will reduce them to a sixth of the whole.
drag ... along .... lead ... up <08338 05927> [leave but the sixth part of thee. or, strike thee with six plagues; or, draw thee back with a hook of six teeth, as ch.]
38:4. and will cause.
remotest parts .... north <03411 06828> [north parts. Heb. sides of the north.]
fall dead <05307> [fall.]
give <05414> [I will.]
kind <03671> [sort. Heb. wing. to be devoured. Heb. to devour.]
open field <07704 06440> [open field. Heb. face of the field.]
send <07971> [I will.]
Some terrible judgment will destroy the countries whence the army of Gog was led forth, about the same time that the army itself shall be cut off.
securely <0983> [carelessly. or, confidently.]
coastlands <0339> [in the isles.]
holy ................ holy <06944> [will I.]
profaned <02490> [and I will.]
nations <01471> [the heathen.]
Holy One <06918> [the Holy.]
coming <0935> [it is come.]
The prophet, seeing in vision the accomplishment of the prediction, speaks of it as already come and done.
day <03117> [this.]
go out <03318> [shall go.]
use ................. burn <01197> [and shall.]
use ................. burn <0784 01197> [set on fire.]
The language here employed seems to intimate that the army of Gog will be cut off by miracle, as that of Sennacherib; for the people are described as going forth, not to fight and conquer, but merely to gather the spoil, and to destroy the weapons of war, as no longer of use.
war clubs <03027> [hand staves. or, javelins. and they.]
When the immense number and destruction of the invaders are considered, and also the little fuel comparatively which is necessary in warm climates, we may easily conceive of this being literally fulfilled.
use ................. burn <0784 01197> [burn them with fire. or, make a fire of them.]
take the loot ..... looted <07997> [shall spoil.]
valley ................................ valley <01516> [the valley.]
Probably the valley near the Sea of Gennesareth, as the Targum renders, and so called because it was the great road by which the merchants and traders from Syria and other Eastern countries went into Egypt. Perhaps what is now called the plains of Haouran, south of Damascus.
east <06926> [on the east.]
travel ............. travelers <05674> [noses. or, mouths. Hamon-gog. that is, The multitude of]
Gog.
cleanse <02891> [cleanse.]
memorial <08034> [a renown.]
day <03117> [the day.]
designate <0914> [they shall.]
continually <08548> [continual employment. Heb. continuance. to cleanse.]
<01129> [set. Heb. build.]
valley <01516> [in the.]
Hamonah <01997> [Hamonah. that is, The multitude. cleanse.]
says <0559> [Speak.]
bird <06833 03671> [every feathered fowl. Heb. the fowl of every wing. to my.]
slaughter ............ slaughter <02077 02076> [sacrifice. or, slaughter.]
eat <0398> [eat.]
goats <06260> [goats. Heb. great goats.]
bulls <06499> [of bullocks.]
fattened animals <04806> [fatlings.]
I will display <05414> [I will set.]
power <03027> [and my.]
know <03045> [know.]
nations <01471> [the heathen.]
hid ... face <05641 06440> [hid I.]
handed them over <05414 03027> [gave them.]
restore <07725> [Now will.]
The return of a few Jews from Babylon, and their continuance, increase, partial reformation, and prosperity, till the days of Christ, followed by their present long continued dispersion, under the frown of God, and destitute of his Spirit, could in no degree answer to these predictions. Hence we must conclude, that some future events, exactly suitable to them, shall yet take place relative to the nation of Israel.
house <01004> [the whole.]
zealous <07065> [and will.]
bear <05375> [they have borne.]
live <03427> [when they.]
back <07725> [I have.]
magnify <06942> [and am.]
know <03045> [shall they.]
exile <01540> [which caused them. Heb. by my causing of them, etc.]
any <03498> [and have.]
hide <05641> [hide.]
pour <08210> [for.]
twenty-fifth <02568> [In the five.]
On Tuesday, April 20.
after <0310> [after.]
very <06106> [selfsame.]
hand <03027> [hand.]
visions <04759> [the visions.]
There can be little doubt, that the grand outlines of the description of the temple, in the following extraordinary vision, were taken from that of Solomon's, with all the additions made to it in after ages; and we may suppose that Zerubbabel and the other Jews had respect to it, as far as circumstances would permit, in rebuilding the temple after the captivity. There are, however, many circumstances which conclusively shew, that something infinitely superior to either the first or second temple was intended; and that the external description must be considered as a figure and emblem of spiritual blessings. Probably the more immediate accomplishment of the prophecy will be subsequent to the conversion and restoration of the Jews, the destruction of Gog and Magog, and the pouring out of the Spirit, mentioned at the close of the last chapter; but whether there will be any external forms analogous to these cannot be determined, though in some respects it seems improbable.
very <03966> [a very.]
structure <04011> [by. or, upon. as the.]
structure <04011> [frame.]
south <05045> [on the south.]
appearance ... like <04758> [whose.]
cord <06616> [with.]
watch ........... show ............. show ............ see <07200> [behold.]
Tell <05046> [declare.]
wall <02346> [a wall.]
feet <0520> [by.]
measured <04058> [so he.]
gate .............. gate <08179> [unto.]
facing <06440> [which looketh. Heb. whose face was the way. stairs.]
climbed ....... threshold <05592> [threshold.]
10½ feet <07070 0259> [one reed.]
jambs <0352> [the posts.]
alcoves <08372> [the little.]
three ........... three <07969> [they three.]
The entrance into the outer court seems to have been through a porch with doors at both ends; and on each side of this porch were three small chambers, or rooms, for the use of the porters, a reed square in size, with a passage of five cubits between them. The common cubit, termed the "cubit of a man," (De 3:11,) was about 18 inches; but the cubit used by the angel was, as we learn from ch. 43:13, "a cubit and a hand breadth," or about three inches more than the common cubit, that is 21 inches. Hence the measuring reed, which was "six cubits long, by the cubit and the hand breadth," (ver. 5,) must have been about 10« feet
barrier <01366> [space. Heb. limit, or bound.]
gateway <08179> [the gate.]
The whole arch of the east gate, measured from the southern extremity of one room to the northern extremity of the opposite room, was 25 cubits; including the dimensions of the two rooms, or twelve cubits, (ver. 7;) the spaces before the rooms, or two cubits, (ver. 12;) and the breadth of the entrance, ten cubits, (ver. 11;) making all 24 cubits, leaving one cubit for the thickness of the walls.
courtyard <02691> [the court.]
front ..... gate ........ gate <08179 06440> [the face of the gate.]
This was the whole length of the porch, from the outward front, (ch. 41:21, 25,) to the inner side which looks into the first court, (ver. 17,) including the thickness of the walls, (ver. 6,) chambers, (ver. 7,) and spaces between them.
closed <0331> [narrow. Heb. closed.]
alcoves <08372> [the little.]
porches <0361> [arches. or, galleries, or porches.]
within ................. inside <06441> [inward. or, within. palm trees.]
outer <02435> [the outward.]
chambers ............. chambers <03957> [there were.]
thirty <07970> [thirty.]
before ....... front <06440> [unto the.]
exterior <02351> [without. or, from without.]
gate <08179> [the gate.]
faces <06440> [that looked. Heb. whose face was.]
alcoves <08372> [the little.]
porches <0361> [arches. or, galleries, or porches.]
measurement <04060> [after.]
decorative palm trees <08561> [palm trees.]
up <05927> [and they.]
faced ............. in front of <06440> [before them.]
Or, "suitable to them," that is, to the arches of the east gate. The north gate into the outward court, and every thing belonging to it, were exactly the same as the east gate.
gate .......... gate .... inner ........ gate ... gate <08179 06442> [the gate of.]
That is, the gate of the inner court was opposite, and exactly answered to the gate of the outward court, both on the north and east side; and between the gates of the outward and inner court was a space of an hundred cubits.
measured <04058> [and he.]
gate <08179> [and behold.]
measured <04058> [and he.]
dimensions <04060> [according.]
That is, according to the measures of the eastern and northern gates. There does not appear to have been any gates on the west, though the courts seem to have extended to the western wall
windows .......... windows <02474> [windows.]
long <0753> [the length.]
seven <07651> [seven.]
decorative palm trees <08561> [palm trees.]
inner <06442> [in the.]
measured <04058> [and he.]
brought <0935> [he brought.]
As the outward court inclosed the inner, the prophet was led from the south gate of the outward court to the south gate of the inner, which was opposite it, and so into the inner court itself.
dimensions <04060> [according.]
alcoves <08372> [the little.]
The entrance into the inner court seems to have been through a portico, exactly like that at each gate of the outward court; but the ascent was by eight steps, instead of seven.
windows <02474> [and there.]
porches <0361> [the arches.]
These are supposed to have been built over the spaces which separated the little chambers, or porters' lodges.
43¾ ..... 8¾ <02568 06242> [five and.]
43¾ feet .... 8¾ feet <0520 02568> [five cubits.]
Instead of five cubits, it seems evident, from the parallel places, that we should read twenty-five: the word {ˆsrim} appears to have been lost out of the text.
wide <07341> [broad. Heb. breadth.]
decorative palm trees <08561> [and palm.]
eight <08083> [eight.]
inner <06442> [into the.]
87½ <02572> [it was.]
decorative palm trees <08561> [palm trees.]
That is, probably, the capital of each pillar was ornamented with sculpture, representing leaves or branches of the palm tree.
eight steps <04609 08083> [eight steps.]
north <06828> [to the.]
measured <04058> [measured.]
The north gate, as well as the east, was built in the same manner, and of the same dimensions, as the south gate. See the parallel passages.
alcoves <08372> [little.]
jambs .............. jambs <0352> [the posts.]
outer court <02691 02435> [the utter court.]
That is, "the outer court," as the word utter primarily denotes.
chamber <03957> [the chambers.]
washed <01740> [where.]
This place, where the legs and entrails of the sacrifices, especially of the burnt offerings, were washed, was just within the portico of the north entrance to the inner court, or court of the priests. An allusion to this is most probably made by the inspired apostle when writing his Epistle to the Hebrews, at the 10th chapter and 22nd verse. "Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water."
tables ........ slaughter <07979 07819> [tables on that.]
burnt offering <05930> [the burnt.]
sin offering <02403> [the sin.]
guilt offering <0817> [the trespass.]
outside ....................... side <03802> [at the side.]
Two tables were on each side, as you come into the porch of the gate; and two on each side of the inner part of the gate that looked towards the altar; in all eight tables, on which they slew and cut up the victims. It does not appear that any such tables were used either in the tabernacle or temple; and this seems to intimate the introduction of a new and more spiritual dispensation: See the referemces.
goes up <05927> [as one goeth up. or, at the step.]
house <01004> [within.]
These were probably for hanging up the victims in order to flay them.
hooks <08240> [hooks. or, end-irons, or, the two hearth-stones. upon.]
inner .......... inner <06442> [the inner.]
chambers <03957> [chambers.]
chamber <03957> [chamber.]
The word chamber probably here denotes a row of chambers, of which there seems to have been three: one for the singers; one for the priests who in their courses took charge of the sacred vessels and treasures; and one for the priests who attended on the altar and sacrifices.
faces <06440> [whose.]
keep <08104> [the keepers.]
charge <04931> [charge. or, ward, or, ordinance, and so ver.]
keep <08104> [the keepers.]
descendants ...... descendants <01121> [these.]
approach <07131> [which come.]
court <02691> [court.]
This was the inner court, or court of the priests, which was of the same dimensions with each division of the outer court; and the altar stood directly before the porch of the temple.
175 ... long ... 175 feet <03967 0520 0753> [an hundred cubits long.]
porch ........... porch <0197> [the porch.]
The length of the porch was twenty cubits, the same as the breadth of the temple, and the breadth eleven cubits, that is, one cubit more than in Solomon's temple. Two bivalve, or folding doors, each leaf of them being three cubits wide, seem to have formed the entrance; which, with five cubits, perhaps of brick or stone work, one each side, called "the post of the porch," amount to sixteen cubits; and the other four cubits may be supposed to have been the distance from these posts to the outside walls of the temple.
steps <04609> [The steps.]
This was a flight of steps which led from the inner court into the temple.
pillars <05982> [pillars.]
brought <0935> [he brought.]
outer sanctuary <01964> [to the temple.]
jambs <0352> [the posts.]
These were probably a sort of door-case on each side of the entrance; and the tabernacle perhaps was a kind of covering to the door, of the same dimensions.
entrance .......... entrance <06607> [the door. or, the entrance.]
This was the door out of the porch into the sanctuary, which seems to have been wider than that from the court to the porch.
length <0753> [the length.]
3½ feet ..... 10½ feet ......... 12¼ feet <08147 0520> [two cubits.]
This was the thickness of the partition wall between the sanctuary (ver. 2) and holy of holies (ver. 4); the breadth of the wall on each side of the gate being seven cubits, and the entrance into the holy place six cubits in width.
35 feet ...... 35 feet <0520 06242> [twenty cubits.]
most holy <06944> [This.]
chambers <06763> [side chamber.]
side chambers ..... stories ........................ side chambers <06763> [one over another. Heb. side chamber over side chamber. thirty in order. or, three and thirty times, or feet.]
We find by Josephus, that around Solomon's temple were chambers three stories high, each story consisting of thirty chambers; which are supposed to have been on the north, south, and east sides of the temple.
offsets <0935> [and they.]
[have held. Heb. be holden.]
supports ......... supports <0270> [but.]
That is, the beams or supporters, of the chambers were not let into the main wall of the temple; but rested on projections of the outer wall, which became a cubit narrower at every story, leaving a ledge of one cubit, to support the beams.
wider <07337> [there was. Heb. it was, made broader, and went round.]
wider <07337> [an enlarging.]
In the same proportion in which the thickness of the wall decreased, the chambers increased, so that the middle story was one cubit larger, and the upper story two cubits larger, than the lower rooms; and a winding staircase, which widened in the same manner as the rooms, ascended from the bottom to the top.
full <04393> [a full.]
8¾ <02568> [was five.]
<03240> [that which.]
This appears to have been a walk, or gallery of communication between the chambers, five cubits broad, into which the doors opened.
chambers <03957> [the chambers.]
As the word rendered chambers is different from that used before, it is supposed there was another row of buildings, parallel with the side chambers, with a passage of twenty cubits between.
width <07341> [and the breadth.]
temple courtyard <01508> [separate.]
wall <07023> [the wall.]
This appears to have been a building erected at the west end of the temple.
measured <04058> [he measured.]
These verses (13-15) seem to intimate, that all the buildings of the temple occupied an area of 100 square cubits.
galleries <0862> [galleries. or, several walks, or walks with pillars.]
interior <06442> [with the.]
narrow <0331> [narrow.]
[ceiled with wood. Heb. ceiling of wood.]
windows .................... ground ..... windows .... windows <02474 0776> [from the ground up to the windows. or, the ground unto the windows. covered.]
Probably either by jutting out of the main wall of the temple; or by lattice work, or curtains, or by both.
entrance <06607> [To that.]
That is, the windows were placed above the height of the door, at the east end of the temple, and thus continued, at the same height, and at measured distances, along both sides of the holy place, to the wall of the inner sanctuary, in which there were no windows.
measurement <04060> [measure. Heb. measures.]
cherubim ............ cherub ... cherub <03742> [with cherubims.]
decorative palm trees .... palm tree <08561> [palm trees.]
cherubim ............ cherub ... cherub <03742> [and every.]
doorposts <04201> [posts. Heb. post.]
altar <04196> [altar.]
This must signify the altar of incense; which, both in the tabernacle and Solomon's temple, was covered with plates of gold. It is very remarkable, that in this temple described by Ezekiel, there is not the least mention of gold or silver, though there was such a profusion of these metals in the former; which may probably imply, that a glory of a more spiritual nature was intended under these emblems.
table <07979> [This is.]
before <06440> [before.]
cherubim <03742> [cherubims.]
out .......... brought <03318 0935> [he brought.]
outer court <02691 02435> [the utter court.]
chamber <03957> [chamber.]
This seems to denote a row of chambers in three stories; which appear to have been situated in the inner court, (here called the outer court in reference to the temple, ver. 13, 14,) just before the separate place, at the entrance from the north.
<06440> [Before.]
Perhaps this means, that the north door was 100 cubits from the entrance into the court; and that the door-way, or portico, was 50 cubits in length; or, that it faced one of the cloisters, the length of which was 100 cubits, and its breadth 50, which was the proportion of all the cloisters.
35 feet ........... pavement <06242 07531> [Over.]
One side of these buildings looked upon the void space about the temple of twenty cubits, and the other toward the pavement belonging to the outer court.
35 feet <06242> [the twenty.]
pavement <07531> [the pavement.]
gallery faced gallery <06440 0862> [gallery against.]
front <06440> [before.]
These seems to have been two rows of these chambers, and a walk between of ten cubits in width; with an entrance into it from the chambers, of one cubit in width.
walkway <04109> [a walk.]
distance <01870> [a way.]
space ... them <0398 02007> [were higher than these. or, did eat of these.]
lower ... middle ..... building <08481 08484 01146> [than the lower, and than the middlemost of the building. or, and the building consisted of the lower and the middlemost.]
# 6
facing <06440> [before.]
Passing from the north to the south side of the temple (ver. 11, 12,) the prophet was shewn that the space of ground, which was before the temple on the east, measured 100 cubits.
chambers <03957> [from under. or, from the place of.]
passage <03996> [the entry. or, he that brought me. as one goeth. or, as he came.]
beginning <07341> [the thickness.]
Rather, "the breadth of the wall," that is, the breadth of ground which it enclosed.
facing <06440> [over against.]
These south chambers were exactly like those on the north.
opening <06607> [was a door.]
holy ............. most holy ........ most holy <06944> [they be holy.]
approach <07138> [approach.]
holy ............. most holy ........ most holy <06944> [the most holy.]
out <03318> [they not go.]
put on <03847> [and shall put.]
measuring <04060> [measuring.]
gate <08179> [gate.]
side <07307> [side. Heb. wind. the measuring reed.]
Estimating the reed at 10« feet, 500 reeds will be nearly equal to a mile; so that from this statement we find the temple, with its outbuildings, was built on a square, nearly an English mile on each side, and four miles in circumference. This not only far exceeds the size of Solomon's temple, or that after the captivity, which was only 500 cubits, or a furlong, on each side, and exactly half a mile in circuit; but is nearly equal to the whole extent of Jerusalem itself, which, when greatest, was but 33 furlongs in circumference, somewhat less than 4¬ miles. This seems clearly to intimate, that the vision cannot be explained of any temple that has hitherto been built, or indeed of any literal temple, but figuratively and mystically of the spiritual temple, the church under the gospel, and its spiritual glory.
wall <02346> [it had.]
875 ..... 875 <02568 03967> [five hundred.]
separate <0914> [a separation.]
gate ... faced <08179 06437> [the gate that.]
glory ........................ glory <03519> [the glory.]
coming <0935> [came.]
sound ...... rushing <06963> [and his voice.]
earth <0776> [the earth.]
like ... vision ............. vision <04758> [according to the appearance.]
destroy ... city <07843 05892> [to destroy the city. or, to prophesy that the city should be destroyed.]
River <05104> [the river.]
glory <03519> [the glory.]
Though the personal presence of Immanuel in the second temple rendered it more glorious than that of Solomon, (Hag 2:5-9,) yet this part of the vision rather relates to the times predicted in the whole of this description, those which shall succeed the conversion of the Jews, and their restoration to their own land.
came <0935> [came.]
wind <07307> [the spirit.]
brought <0935> [and brought.]
glory <03519> [the glory.]
heard <08085> [I heard.]
man <0376> [the man.]
place .... throne .... place <04725 03678> [the place of my throne.]
place ....... place <04725> [and the place.]
live <07931> [where I.]
profane <02930> [no more.]
pillars <06297> [by the carcases.]
placed <05414> [setting.]
wall ....... profaned <07023 02930> [and the wall between me and them. or, for there was but a wall between me and them.]
put away ... spiritual ......... far ... me <07368> [Now let.]
Rather, "Now shall they put away their whoredom and the carcases of their kings far from me, and I will dwell in the midst of them for ever." It is a prediction and promise, and not an exhortation.
pillars <06297> [the carcases.]
live <07931> [and I.]
describe <05046> [shew.]
ashamed <03637> [that they.]
pattern <08508> [pattern. or, sum, or number.]
design .............. design ....... design .................... design <03045 06699> [shew them.]
statutes ........................... statutes <02708> [all the ordinances.]
done ................................................... do <06213> [and do.]
top <07218> [Upon.]
measurements <04060> [the measures.]
1¾ feet .... 1¾ feet <0520> [The cubit.]
base <02436> [bottom. Heb. bosom. edge. Heb. lip.]
lower edge .............. ledge ..... edge <05835 08481> [the lower settle.]
These settles were ledges by which the altar was narrowed towards the top; and the whole of it may thus be computed:-- Height Cubits Base, ver. 13. . . . . . . . . . 1 To first ledge, ver. 14. . . . . . . 1 To upper ledge, ver. 14. . . . . . . 4 To hearth, ver. 15.. . . . . . . . 4 --- In all 10 Breadth Cubits Upper ledge, ver. 17. . . . . . . . 14 For higher ledge, ver. 14. . . . . . 2 For lower ledge, ver. 14.. . . . . . 2 For base, ver. 13. . . . . . . . . 2 --- In all 20 Hence the upper part of the altar was only twelve cubits square (ver. 16,) the upper settle, or ledge, being in all fourteen cubits, (ver. 17,) deducting two cubits from its dimensions. Though this altar was the same in height, and breadth with that of Solomon, yet it differed materially from it in having settles or ledges; on which the priests walked round the altar, to officiate in offering sacrifices.
altar hearth ....... altar hearth <0741> [the altar. Heb. Harel, that is, the mountain of God.]
Probably so called in opposition to the idolatrous high places.
altar hearth ....... altar hearth <0741> [the altar. Heb. Ariel, that is, the lion of God.]
Rather, "the hearth of God," from the Arabic {irat,} or {iryat,} a hearth, and {ail,} God.
7 feet ....... four horns <07161 0702> [four horns.]
21 ... long ... 21 <08147 0753> [twelve cubits.]
square <07251> [square.]
border <01366> [and the border.]
steps <04609> [his stairs.]
Rather, "its ascents," {m„ƒlothehoo,} probably an inclined plane; for the law ordained that the priest should not ascend by stairs.
face east <06437 06921> [look toward.]
up <05927> [to offer.]
priests <03548> [the priests.]
approach <07138> [which approach.]
young <01121> [a young.]
take <03947> [take.]
four ........ four <0702> [and on the four.]
cleanse <02398> [thus shalt.]
burned <08313> [burn.]
male <08163> [a kid.]
purify ....... purified <02398> [and they.]
them ......... scatter salt ... them .... them <04417 07993> [cast salt.]
consecrate <04390> [they shall.]
consecrate <04390> [consecrate themselves. Heb. fill their hands.]
eighth <08066> [that upon.]
offer up <06213> [make.]
peace offerings <08002> [peace offerings. or, thank offerings. I will accept.]
outer <02435> [the outward.]
So called in opposition to the temple itself, which was the inner sanctuary.
faces <06437> [looketh.]
Lord ........................ Lord <03068> [because.]
prince <05387> [for.]
prince <05387> [the prince.]
It is probable that the prince mentioned here and elsewhere, does not mean the Messiah, but the ruler of the Jewish nation for the time being. For it is not only directed where he should sit in the temple, and eat his portion of the sacrifices, and when and how he should go out; but it is also ordered (ch. 45:22,) that at the passover he shall offer a bullock, a sin offering for himself and the people; and to guard him against any temptation of oppressing the people, he had a provision of land allotted to him, (ch. 45:8,) out of which he is to give an inheritance for his sons, (ch. 46:18.) These appear plainly to be political rules for common princes, and for a succession of them; but as no such rules were observed under the second temple, the fulfilment of it must still be future.
eat .... meal <0398> [to eat.]
enter <0935> [he shall enter.]
way <01870> [the way.]
glory <03519> [the glory.]
threw <05307> [and I fell.]
[mark well. Heb. set thine heart.]
statutes <02708> [concerning.]
pay attention ........................ Pay attention <07760 03820> [and mark well.]
entrances <03996> [the entering.]
Say <0559> [thou shalt say.]
Enough <07227> [let it suffice.]
bring <0935> [ye have brought.]
foreigners <01121> [strangers. Heb. children of a stranger.]
uncircumcised ... heart <06189 03820> [uncircumcised in heart.]
The introduction of uncircumcised persons to eat of the peace offerings and oblations, would have been a gross violation of the Mosaic law; but, as there was no law to exclude "the uncircumcised of heart," who were circumcised and ritually clean, this seems to point out a new and different constitution.
offer <07126> [when.]
fat <02459> [the fat.]
broken <06565> [broken.]
kept ............. keep <08104> [ye have not.]
charge ............. charge <04931> [charge. or, ward, or ordinance, and so ver.]
Levites <03881> [the Levites.]
<05375> [bear.]
ministers .............. serving ....................... minister <08334> [they shall be.]
As few, if any, of those who, before the captivity, had been guilty in these respects, lived to witness the restoration of the temple service; and as it does not appear that their descendants were thus degraded for the idolatry of their ancestors; it is probable that a thorough reformation of the whole church, or the prevalence of pure religion among the converted Jews, is here predicted.
oversight <06486> [having charge.]
slaughter <07819> [shall slay.]
stand <05975> [and they.]
minister <08334> [they ministered.]
sinful obstacle .... house ... Israel ..................... sin <03478 04383 05771 01004> [caused the house of Israel to fall into iniquity. Heb. were for a stumbling-block of iniquity unto, etc.]
consequently .............. they .... responsible <05375> [therefore.]
consequently .............. they .... responsible <05375> [and they shall.]
come near ........... come near <05066> [they shall not.]
They ... bear <05375> [bear.]
descendants ............. people <01121> [the sons.]
descendants ............. people <01121> [when.]
stand <05975> [they shall stand.]
fat <02459> [the fat.]
blood <01818> [the blood.]
enter <0935> [They shall enter.]
table <07979> [to my table.]
To place the shew-bread there. It is observable, that the table in the sanctuary is mentioned rather than the altar of incense; perhaps intimating the change in the external institutions of Divine worship which should take place before the accomplishment of the prophecy. It is not easy to determine, whether any external regulations, with respect to Divine ordinances, answerable to these predictions, will be made among the converted Jews, when reinstated in their own land, or not.
keep <08104> [keep.]
wear <03847> [they shall.]
turbans <06287> [bonnets.]
Linen ......... linen undergarments <04370 06593> [linen breeches.]
[with anything that causeth sweat. or, in sweating places.]
Heb. in, or with sweat.
remove ................. put on <06584 03847> [they shall put.]
transmit holiness <06942> [sanctify.]
shave <01548> [shave.]
hair <06545> [nor suffer.]
marry <03947> [Neither.]
This was prohibited only to the high priest under the law; but is here extended to all the priests, perhaps to intimate the superior sanctity of the times to which it refers.
widow .................. widow <0490> [a widow.]
divorcee <01644> [put away. Heb. thrust forth.]
priest's <03548> [that had a priest before. Heb. from a priest.]
controversy <07379> [in controversy.]
This seems to intimate, that controversies, in the period predicted, will be generally decided by arbitration, according to the law of God; and not by litigations before human tribunals, according to the laws of man.
observe <08104> [they shall keep.]
festivals <04150> [in all.]
<06942> [and they shall hallow.]
inner <06442> [unto the inner.]
offer <07126> [he shall offer.]
inheritance ..... inheritance <05159> [I am their inheritance.]
eat <0398> [eat]
devoted <02764> [dedicated. or, devoted.]
first .......................... first portion <07225> [first. or, chief. all the first-fruits.]
blessing <01293> [that he may.]
When ... allot ... land .................. land <05307 0776> [shall divide by lot. Heb. cause the land to fall by lot.]
offer <07311> [ye shall offer.]
holy ........................... holy <06944> [an holy portion. Heb. holiness.]
length ........ miles <0753> [the length.]
That our translators rightly added the word reeds, is evident from the length and breadth of the sanctuary being exactly the same as before, (comp. ver. 2, with ch. 42:16-19.) Estimating the reed at 3« yards, this holy oblation would constitute a square of nearly fifty miles on every side. From the north side a portion of nearly twenty miles in width, and nearly fifty in length, was appointed for the priests; and in the midst of this portion, the area of the sanctuary, about a mile square, to be enclosed by a wall, (ver. 1, 2.) Next to this, on the south, was the Levites' portion, of the same dimensions as that of the priests', (ver. 5;) and south of this was the portion for the city, of the same length as those of the priests and Levites, but only half the width, (ver. 6.) These three formed the square of 25,000 reeds, or nearly fifty miles; and that set apart for the prince, the breadth of which is not mentioned, extended in length from north to south, along the east and west sides of the square. As Canaan would not admit of so large a portion for the sanctuary, etc., this was no doubt intended to intimate the large extent of the church in the glorious times predicted.
875 <02568 03967> [five hundred in length.]
open space <04054> [suburbs. or, void places.]
sanctuary <04720> [and in it.]
holy ..... land <06944 0776> [holy portion.]
approach <07131> [which.]
eight and a quarter miles <02568> [the five.]
minister <08334> [the ministers.]
place <0272> [for a possession.]
city <05892> [the city.]
princes <05387> [and my princes.]
In the predicted period, not only shall the ministers and worshippers of God be liberally provided for, but the princes will be both able and willing to defray the expenses of government, without oppressing their subjects, and will rule over them with equity and clemency, as the vicegerents of God; while the people will submit to them conscientiously, and live in peace, prosperity, and holiness. These things seem to be represented in language taken from the customs of the times in which the prophet wrote. Tithes are not mentioned in part of the vision, which shows that the ritual Mosaic law will not be in force.
tribes <07626> [according.]
Enough <07227> [Let it.]
Put away <05493> [remove.]
do <06213> [execute.]
Put an end <07311> [take away.]
evictions <01646> [exactions. Heb. expulsions.]
dry .................... ephah <0374> [ephah.]
The {ephah} was a dry measure, and the {bath} a liquid measure, containing about seven gallons, four pints, or three pecks, three pints; and the {homer} about seventy-five gallons, five pints.
shekel ...... Sixty shekels <08255> [the shekel.]
shekel .... twenty ... Sixty shekels <06242 08255> [twenty shekels.]
That is, 20 + 25 + 15 = 60; for the {maneh} as a weight was equal to sixty shekels, though as a coin it was only equal to fifty, weighing about 2 lb. 6 oz.; and reckoning the shekel at 2s. 6d. being in value 6Å“. 5s.
one tenth <04643> [the tenth.]
sheep <07716> [lamb. or, kid. out of the fat.]
peace offering <08002> [peace offerings. or, thank offerings.]
atonement <03722> [to make.]
people <05971> [the people.]
offering <08641> [shall give this. Heb. shall be for. for. or, with.]
prince <05387> [the prince's.]
The prince is never mentioned in the ritual appointments of Moses, but here he is required to provide the oblations; and the variations in the Mosaic law, in the number of the several sacrifices, and the proportion of the meat offering to each, being ten times as much as the law prescribed, with several other circumstances, seem more like enacting a new law, than enforcing that of Moses. These variations may intimate a change in the external constitution of the church; and it is probable that they are to be understood emblematically.
festivals <02282> [in the feasts.]
provide <06213> [he shall prepare.]
peace offerings <08002> [peace offerings. or, thank offerings.]
first ..... first <07223 0259> [In the first month.]
This seems to enjoin, not a mere dedication, but an annual purification of the sanctuary; of which there is nothing said in the Mosaic law.
unblemished <08549> [without blemish.]
purify <02398> [and cleanse.]
four corners <0702 06438> [and upon the four corners.]
anyone <0376> [every one.]
ignorance <06612> [that is simple.]
Who wants understanding to conduct himself properly.
atonement <03722> [so shall.]
Passover <06453> [ye shall.]
prince <05387> [the prince.]
bull <06499> [bullock.]
during ... seven days ............... seven .... seven ...... on each .... seven days ...... daily <03117 07651> [seven days.]
burnt offering <05930> [a burnt.]
seven ................ seven bulls ... seven .......... seven <07651 06499> [seven bullocks.]
seventh ................................... seven <07651> [In the seventh.]
The prince shall do at the feast of tabernacles the same thing he was desired to do on the passover.
<0559> [Thus saith.]
Whether the rules for public worship here laid down were designed to be observed in those things wherein they differed from the law of Moses, in the ministrations of the second temple, is not certain. In the latter history of the Jewish church, the law of Moses only was followed, except in the corruption of following the traditions of the fathers.
gate <08179> [The gate.]
The prophet had before observed that the east gate of the outer court was shut, and was told that it must only be opened for the prince; and now he is informed that the gate of the inner court on the east was also shut, and is to be opened only on the sabbath and new moons, till the evening.
closed <05462> [shall be shut.]
six working <04639 08337> [six working.]
Sabbath <07676> [on the sabbath.]
porch <0197> [the porch.]
doorpost <04201> [by the post.]
priests <03548> [the priests.]
provide <06213> [prepare.]
Or, "offer," as the word {Æ’sah} frequently denotes. The whole of this seems to intimate the constant, reverential, and exemplary attendance of kings on the pure ordinances of religion, in the approaching flourishing days of the church.
bow <07812> [he shall worship.]
gate ............. gate ....................... gate ........ gate <08179> [but the gate.]
burnt offering <05930> [the burnt.]
The proportions of the burnt offerings, and also of the meat and drink offerings, are very different here form those prescribed in the Mosaic law. The meat offering, under the law, was only three tenths of an {ephah} to a bullock, two tenths for a ram, and one tenth for a lamb, with the fourth part of a {hin} of oil.
grain offering ........... grain offering <04503> [the meat.]
able ... give <03027 04991> [as he shall be able to give. Heb. the gift of his hand.]
enters .... come ............ go out <0935 03318> [he shall go.]
people <05971> [when the people.]
This may intimate, that every thing should be regulated, in divine worship, so as to prevent disorder and interruption, and also that men should go forward and make progress in religion, and not turn their backs upon God.
come before ......... enters .................... enters ........................... entered <06440 0935> [come before.]
come .......... enters ... way ............ way ....... enters ... way .......... way ........... way ...... entered <0935 01870> [he that entereth in.]
festivals <02282> [in the feasts.]
grain offering <04503> [the meat.]
freewill offering .......... voluntary offering <05071> [a voluntary.]
gate ...... opened ............................. gate <06605 08179> [open him.]
provide ............ did <06213> [as he did.]
daily <03117> [Thou shalt daily.]
It is observable, that there is nothing said about the evening sacrifice, or the additional lamb, morning and evening, on the sabbath, which makes an important difference between this and the old laws; and is probably an intimation of that change in the external forms of religion which the coming of the Messiah should introduce.
a year <01121 08141> [of the first year. Heb. a son of his year.]
morning ... morning <01242> [every morning. Heb. morning by morning.]
sixth <08345> [the sixth.]
perpetual <08548> [a continual.]
prince <05387> [If the prince.]
year <08141> [to the year.]
That is, the year of Jubilee, called the year of liberty, because there was then a general release: all servants had their liberty; and all alienated estates returned to their former owners.
prince <05387> [the prince.]
oppressively <03238> [thrust.]
inheritance ...... from their property ........ inheritance .... own possessions .............. property <05159 05157 0272> [inheritance out.]
people's ........................ people <05971> [my people.]
entrance <03996> [the entry.]
This entry was at the west side of the north gate of the inner court.
place <04725> [a place.]
This place was at the west corners of the inner court, or court of the priests; where they prepared the most holy things, the trespass and sin offering, which none but the priests might eat; that they might not "bear them out into the utter court, to sanctify the people," that is, by touching them incapacitate them from discharging their ordinary occupations.
boil ... guilt offering <01310 0817> [boil the trespass.]
bake ... grain offering <0644 04503> [bake the meat.]
holiness <06942> [to sanctify.]
court ........ corners .... court ....... every corner .... court ..... court <02691 04740> [in every corner of the court there was a court. Heb. a court in the corner of a court; and a court in a corner of a court.]
court .... courts <02691> [courts.]
These courts in the corners of the outer court, or court of the people, appear to have been a kind of uncovered apartments, surrounded with little chambers for the cooks, and used for dressing the peace offerings of the people. On these their families and friends feasted; and portions were sent to the poor, the widow, and the orphan; and thus the spirit of devotion preserved the spirit of mercy, charity, and benevolence, in the land.
small <07000> [joined. or, made with chimneys. corners. Heb. cornered.]
entrance <06607> [the door.]
water .................... water <04325 03318> [waters issued.]
Solomon's temple and the second temple were doubtless well supplied with water, probably conveyed there by means of pipes; but these waters flowed from the temple, not as a common sewer, but as a fertilizing river. A fountain producing abundance of water was not in the temple, and could not be there on the top of such a hill; and consequently these waters, as well as those spoken of by Joel and Zechariah, must be understood figuratively and typically. These waters doubtless were an emblem of the "gospel preached with the Holy Ghost sent down from heaven;" and their gradual rise beautifully represents it progress, from small beginnings to an immensely large increase; and the latter part of the representation may relate to the times when it shall fill the earth, and produce the most extensive and important effects on the state of making in every nation.
threshold <04670> [from under the threshold.]
north <06828> [northward.]
man <0376> [the man.]
water <04325> [waters were to the ancles. Heb. waters of the ancles.]
water ..... knee .............. water <04325 01290> [the waters were to the knees.]
water ......... swim <04325 07813> [waters to swim in. Heb. waters of swimming.]
seen <07200> [hast thou.]
banks <08193> [bank. Heb. lip.]
vast <07227> [many.]
flow down <03381> [and go down.]
Arabah <06160> [desert. or, plain.]
Sea .... sea <03220> [the sea.]
This was the Dead sea, or sea of Sodom, east of Jerusalem, in which it is said no living creature is found; or, at least, from its extreme saltness, it does not abound with fish like other seas. The healing of these waters denotes the calling of the Gentiles.
waters .......................... waters <04325> [the waters.]
creature ........................... live <05315 02425> [every thing.]
river ......................... river <05158> [rivers. Heb. two rivers.]
live ................... live <02421 02425> [shall live.]
many <07227 03966> [a very great.]
[Greek. for they.]
Fishermen <01728> [fishers.]
Apostles and preachers of the gospel.
Engedi <05872> [En-gedi.]
fish .... fish <01710> [the fish.]
Great quantities of all kinds of fish usually caught in the Mediterranean, genuine converts of all nations, kindreds, and people.
Great Sea <03220 01419> [the great sea.]
<03966> [exceeding.]
swamps <01207> [the miry places.]
Those who reject, neglect, or pervert the gospel.
[shall not be healed, they shall be. or, and that which shall not be, shall be, etc.]
<05414> [given.]
river's <05158> [by the river.]
<05927> [grow. Heb. come up. trees for meat.]
Probably, believers, "trees of righteousness," who still bring forth, "fruit unto holiness," and "whose end is eternal life."
leaves ................................. leaves <05929> [whose.]
fruit <01069> [new. or, principal. medicine. or, bruises and sores.]
Here .... borders <01454 01366> [This shall.]
Joseph <03130> [Joseph.]
vowed <03027 05375> [lifted up mine hand. or, swore.]
assigned <05307> [fall.]
border <01366> [And this.]
Hethlon <02855> [Hethlon.]
Zedad <06657> [Zedad.]
Hamath ............... Hamath <02574> [Hamath.]
Berothah <01268> [Berothah.]
[Berothai. Damascus.]
Hazer-hattikon <02694> [Hazar-hatticon. or, the middle village. Hauran.]
The district of Auranitis, now Haouran, S. W. of Damascus.
border ...... sea ...... border .......... border <01366 03220> [the border from.]
The Holy Land, as here described, extended from about 31 degrees to 35 degrees N. lat. and from 34 degrees to 37 degrees E. long.; being bounded on the north by a line drawn from the Mediterranean to Hamath; on the east by Damascus, Hauran, Gilead, and the land of Israel east of Jordan, unto the south of the Dead sea; on the south by Tamar and Kadesh, unto the river of Rhinocorura; and on the west by the Mediterranean sea, from the same point northward "till a man came over against Hamath;" and its length from north to south would be about 280 miles, and its breadth about 150 miles. The ten tribes, as well as Judah and Benjamin, were to be admitted to a full share in this inheritance, which seems to imply, that the future restoration to the promised land is predicted; while the admission of strangers who sojourned in the land to a share in the inheritance, as if native Israelites, plainly intimates the calling of the Gentiles into the church, and their joint inheritance of its privileges, and of the heavenly felicity.
Hazar-enan <02703> [Hazarenan.]
between ...... between ................. border <0996 01366> [from. Heb. from between. from Gilead.]
[Galead.]
Jordan <03383> [Jordan.]
Tamar <08559> [Tamar.]
Meribath <04808> [strife. or, Meribah.]
river <05158> [river. or, valley.]
south ....................... south <08486 05045> [southward. or, toward Teman.]
allot .................................... allotted <05307> [ye shall divide.]
foreigners <01616> [and to the strangers.]
allot .................................... allotted <05307> [they shall have.]
names <08034> [the names.]
northern ....................... north <06828> [From.]
[a portion. Heb. one portion. Dan.]
Asher <0836> [Asher.]
Naphtali <05321> [Naphtali.]
border <01366> [by the border.]
In this division of the Holy Land, a portion is laid out for each of the twelve tribes directly across the country, from east to west; and deducting the square of 25,000 reeds, or nearly fifty miles on each side, between Judah and Benjamin, for the priests, Levites, city, and temple, with the inheritance of the prince to the east and west, (see on ch. 45:1,) from 280 miles, the length of the country from north to south, there will remain for each tribe a portion of less than twenty miles in width, and 150 in length. This division of the land entirely differs from that which was made in the days of Joshua, in which the tribes were not only differently placed, but confused and inter-mixed; while here distinct lots are assigned to each of the twelve tribes, in a regular mathematical form. Literally such a division never took place: it seems to denote the equality of privileges which subsists among all the tribes of Believers, of whatever nation, and whatever their previous character may have been.
Manasseh <04519> [Manasseh.]
Ephraim <0669> [Ephraim.]
Reuben <07205> [Reuben.]
Judah <03063> [Judah.]
allotment <08641> [the offering.]
sanctuary <04720> [the sanctuary.]
priests <03548> [for the priests.]
sanctuary <04720> [and the sanctuary.]
priests ..... apart <03548 06942> [It shall be for the priests that are sanctified. or, The sanctified portion shall be for the priests. the sons]
charge <04931> [charge. or, ward, or ordinance.]
Levites <03881> [as the Levites.]
most holy <06944> [a thing.]
eight and a quarter miles ..... three and one-third .......... eight and a quarter miles ..... three and one-third miles <06242 0505 02568> [five and twenty thousand in.]
sell <04376> [they shall.]
set apart <06944> [for.]
common <02455> [a profane.]
city ......... city <05892> [for the city.]
The holy oblation of 25,000 square reeds, or near fifty square miles, was divided into three parts from north to south (see on ch. 45:1): a portion on the north of 10,000 reeds in width, and 25,000 in length, for the priests, in the midst of which was the sanctuary or temple, surrounded by a wall 500 reeds square, (ver. 9, 10; see on ch. 42:15;) next to this another portion of the same dimensions for the Levites, (ver. 13, 14;) and on the south another portion of the same length, but only 5,000 reeds in breadth, for the city (ver. 15.) The city was situated in the midst of this portion, being 4,500 reeds, or about nine miles square, (see on ver. 30,) having a suburb of 250 reeds, or about half a mile, on each side, (ver. 17,) leaving 10,000 reeds or nearly ten miles, on the east side, and the same on the west side, for the profit of those who serve the city out of all the tribes, (ver. 18, 19.) On the east and west sides of this square of 25,000 reeds, is the portion of the prince; each of which, estimating the breadth of the land at 150 miles, would form a square of fifty miles. Thus the whole plan of the division of the country, laying out of the city, temple, and all its appendages, is perfectly regular and uniform; and would therefore convey to the minds of the Jews the most complete idea they were capable of conceiving of the most perfect church, commonwealth, city, temple, and conveniences, on the largest and grandest scale for the Divine worship; and it doubtless ultimately points out the land of Immanuel, the city of the New Jerusalem, and his temple, the Christian church, the house of the living God.
workers <05647> [that serve.]
workers ............ cultivate <05647> [shall serve.]
square <07243> [four-square.]
rest <03498> [the residue.]
westward ........... west <03220> [and westward.]
Benjamin <01144> [Benjamin.]
[a portion. Heb. one portion.]
Simeon <08095> [Simeon.]
Issachar <03485> [Issachar.]
Zebulun <02074> [Zebulun.]
Gad <01410> [Gad.]
Tamar <08559> [from Tamar.]
Meribath Kadesh <06946 04808> [strife in Kadesh. Heb. Meribah-kadesh.]
Stream <05158> [the river.]
Great Sea <03220 01419> [the great sea.]
exits <08444> [the goings.]
one and one-half miles <0702> [four.]
It is certainly most obvious to interpret these measures, not of cubits, but of the measuring reed which the prophet's conductor had in his hand; according to which, the city would be about thirty-six miles in circumference, and nine miles on each side of the square; which was nearly nine times larger than the greatest extent to which Jerusalem ever attained, (See on ver. 15; ch. 42:16.) The large dimensions of the city and land were perhaps intended to intimate the extensive and glorious propagation of the gospel in the times predicted; and the land was not called Canaan, nor the city Jerusalem, probably because they were figurative of spiritual blessings to the church and to Israel.
name <08034> [and the name.]
<03074> [The Lord. Heb. JEHOVAH shammah.]
CONCLUDING REMARKS ON THE BOOK OF EZEKIEL. 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 in elegance; in sublimity he is not even excelled by Isaiah; but his sublimity is of a totally different kind. He is deep, vehement, tragical; his sentiments are elevated, animated, full of fire and indignation; his imagery is crowded, magnificent, terrific; his language is grand, solemn, austere, rough, and at times unpolished; he abounds in repetitions, not for the sake of grace or elegance, but from vehemence and indignation. Whatever subject he treats of, that he sedulously puruses; from that he rarely departs, but cleaves, as it were, to it; whence the connexion is in general evident and well preserved. In other respects he may perhaps be exceeded by the other prophets; but, for that species of composition to which he seems adapted by natural gifts, the forcible, impetuous, grave, and grand, not one of the sacred writers is superior to him. His diction is sufficiently perspicuous; all his obscurity arises from the nature of his subjects. Visions (as for instance, among others, those of Hosea, Amos, and Zechariah,) are necessarily dark and confused. The greater part of Ezekiel, particularly towards the middle of the book, is poetical, whether we regard the matter of the language." Abp. Newcombe judiciously observes, The Prophet is not to be considered merely as a poet, or as a framer of those august and astonishing visions, and of those admirable poetical representations, which he committed to writing; but as an instrument in the hands of God, who vouchsafed to reveal himself, through a long succession of ages, not only in divers parts constituting a magnificant and uniform whole, but also in different manners, as by voice, by dreams, by inspiration, and by plain or enigmatical vision. "Ezekiel is a great poet, full of originality; and, in my opinion, whoever censures him as if he were only an imitator of the old prophets, can never have felt his power. He must not, in general, be compared with Isaiah, and the rest of the old prophets. Those are great, Ezekiel is also great; those in their manner of poetry, Ezekiel in his." To justify this character the learned prelate descends to particulars, and gives apposite examples, not only of the clear, flowing, and nervous, but also of the sublime; and concludes his observations on his style, by stating it to be his deliberate opinion, that if his "style is the old age of Hebrew language and composition, (as has been alleged,) it is a firm and vigorous one, and should induce us to trace its youth and manhood with the most assiduous attention." As a Prophet, Ezekiel must ever be allowed to occupy a very high rank; and few of the prophets have left a more valuable treasure to the church of God than he has. It is true, he is in several places obscure; but this resulted either from the nature of his subjects, or the events predicted being still unfulfilled; and, when time has rolled away the mist of futurity, successive generations will then perceive with what heavenly wisdom this much neglected prophet has spoken. There is, however, a great proportion of his work which is free from every obscurity, and highly edifying. He has so accurately and minutely foretold the fate and condition of various nations and cities, that nothing can be more interesting than to trace the exact accomplishment of these prophecies in the accounts furnished by historians and travellers; while, under the elegant type of a new temple to be erected, a new worship to be introduced, and a new Jerusalem to be built, with new land to be allotted to the twelve tribes, may be discovered the vast extent and glory of the New Testament Church.
