PUBLIC-DOMAIN CHRISTIAN BOOK
The Pulpit Commentary — Ezekiel — Volume 2
Edward Hayes Plumptre [1821-1891] · 422,810 words · 476 reading sections
The Pulpit Commentary — Ezekiel — Volume 2 — Section 1
THE PULPIT COMMENTARY, EDITED BY THE VERY REV. H. D. M. SPENCE, D.D., DEAN OF GLOUCESTER; AND BY TijE REV. JOSEPH S, EXELL, M.A. INTRODUCTIONS BY THE VERY REV. F. W. FARRAR, D.D., F.R.S., DE.A,N OF CANTERBURY. RIGHT REV. H. COTTERILL, D.D., F.R.S.E. VERY REV. PRINCIPAL J. TULLOCH, D.D. REV. CANON G. RAWLINS…
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forms of incest, l\gninet which the horror this Is followed both by tho Authorized flnfural.is of the heathen, as in the story of Version and the Revised Version (comp. Hippolytus, uttered its protost, would seem Isa. v. 6; Amos iv. 7). to hnve been common among the rorruptione Ver. 25.-A oonspiraoy of prophets. The…
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HOMILETICS. Ver. 7.-Bocial sins, The wickedness of Jerusalem we.e not confined to what might be calle<l sine of religion-idolatry, sabbath-breaklng, profanation of sacred things, etc. It was witnessed in gross outrages of social rights. Failure in religion leads to failure in society. Social wrongs are sine in the sig…
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not only the vulgar dishonesty that steals by direct robbery. Wo have our civilized and refinl'<l dishonesty-a dishonesty which contrives to keep on tho near side of tho law, and yet is not the Jess real theft. The" sweater" is a thief. The promoter or bubble c0mpanies is a robber on a colossal scale. The breadth of th…
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thee." Those days have not yet arrived. Thereforo we cannot comfort ourselves th~t we shall bo safe in the future because we are comfortable enough at present. Tho coming days will wear a new nspect. \Vo are not fortified against winter storms by the enjoyment of summer sunshine. The ease with which we glide down the s…
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Yer. 26.-lloly and p1·ofane. l. THE TRUE DISTINCTION BETWEEN HOLY AND l'ROl'ANE. The Jewish La,v made elaborate distinctions between tile clean and tho unclcnn, some of which were founded on moral differences, some on sanitnry require- ments, but others on merely symbolical and ceremonial points. Mo.ny of these dist…
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HOMILIES BY VARIOUS AUTHORS. Vera. 1-12.-The reproach of Jerusalem. Patriot as he was, Ezekiel was not, like some sincere patriots, blind to his country's faults. His conscience and judgment were enlightened, and his emotional nature was rendered especially sensitive, so that a jnst and cieep impression was made upon …
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Vers. 13-22.-The dross in thefurnace, God's mercy and kindness scarcely any- where Rppear more manifest than in his method of dealing with his erring people, whom he subjects to chastening and discipline with the view of purging away their faults. The figure employed by Ezekiel in this passage occurs in other of the pr…
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Vers. 1-16.-The pi·ophee on thefudgment-seat. AB among men there occurs, now and again, a great assize, when flagitious deeds are examined and flagrant offender~ judged, so God has his seasons when high-handed crime is arrested, and the offenders feel the reality of Divine justice. Penalties are not awarded in the dark…
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Lying intrigues, to encompass a rival's death, are plentiful as hnwe, Thie sin the Hebrews had copicJ from their neighbours. 8. Unchastity and adultery, "They commit lewdnes-s." The s:mctit.v of the marriage-tie disappeared. Virtuous 11ffcction wns strangled by animal lust. Incest and other abominations followed. 'l…
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I. ADULTERATED METAL. The see<l of Israel had sadly degenerated. They bad been, compared with other people, as silver and gold. Now they were, in God's esteem, nnly as dross, and "bis judgmont ie according to truth." What virgin gold is in a human kingdom, true righteousness is in the kingdom of God. Loyalty and love 1…
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princes, priests, and prophets acted basely in Israel, thereforo the IC people of the ll\11d used oppression and exercised robbery" (ver. 29). Vice is more contagious than fever. Rank give;; e.rtificial importance to its possessor, and exerts extensive influence either for evil or for good. As a monument attracts the …
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they exercised barbarously and bloodily. And there were those who were guilty of bloodshedding by reason of their false witness. "Slanderous men have been in thee tn shed blood." They were malignant slanderers of the innocent, who because of their afanders were adjudged to death. Moreover, mercenary and unjust judges c…
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when the evil-doers are ripe for judgment; and then the Divine executioners go forth against tht>m. II. THE DIVINE VISITATION ON ACCOUNT OF THE PEOl'LE'B BINS, 1. 'J.'hey bec01n5 a reproach among the nations. "Therefore have I made thee a reproach unto the nations, and a mocking to all the countries, Thoso that be …
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eilver le become dross, thy wine mixed with water." "How is the gold become dim I how is the most pure gold changed I" Thus the prophets Isaiah and Jeremiah lamented this deterioration. (1) There was degeneracy of moral character. Their affections wero corrupted; their principles were degraded; their conscience, having…
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things, God oft sent sweeping and fierce judgments amongst them, famine, sword pestilence; and notwithstanding all these, they returned not to the Lord, but the Jana' that is, the people of it, did remain uncleansed, they were like a land wherein wa~ nothing but weeds, nettles, briars, and thorns." 2. In its pernici…
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to treat. And they thus injured those whom they should have protected, viz. '' the poor and needy and the stranger." Frequently these were specially commended to the care of the Israelites; and God bad taken them under his own special guardianship (cf, Exod. xxii. 21; Deut. x. 18, 19; xxvii. 19; Ps. x. 14; xii. 1; ex!.…
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the only other instance. Their meaning is Vere. 7-10.-The next two versos pl\int 1m:flkicntly clenr. Ahola.h (but both names the consequence of the allil\nco first with should begin with O rather than .A) means Assyria. and then with Egypt. She orlopted •• Her tent;" Aholibah, '' My tent is in her." the religion of …
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mission of Morodnch - Ba.ladan wonld be form Inscriptions,' ii. pp. 32,117,120, where nntura.lly followed by e. return em baBBy from Shoa e.n<l Koa a.re identified with Medo- Jud11h, A later ineto.nce under Zedekiah Elamite tribes east of the Tigris), bnt the meets ue in Jer. :nix. 3. other names are unknown to history…
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xxiii. 5; Isa. li. 17; Jer. xxv. 15; Matt. paid to them. With the men of the oommon xx. 22; xxvi. 89.) Tile cup, in this case, wo.s sort; literally, as in the margin, o/ the mul!i• to be deep and large as that of Sam11ria. The tud<J of men. Sabean■ from the wilderneBB, adulteress was to bo "drunk, but not with The Revi…
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IIOMILETICS. Ver. 4.-Aliolah and Aholibah. "Her tent" and "My tent is in her." These n11mce stand respectively for Israel and Judah. Israel, the northern kingdom, had her own tent, i.e. she was independent after secession from Judah, like a woman who has left her mother's tent and has one of her own. Judah retained th…
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to forSRke the spirit of the world, to renounce its evil practices, and to repudiate its luw, material, sensuous tone of life. II. THE WORLD ENDEAVOURS TO ENSNAilE TIIE PEOPLE OF Goo. It is not content to let them stand aloof; it appears 8.ll a tempter trying to charm the bride of Christ into infidelity. We cannot af…
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to blame rather than the man who imitates H. 3. Because of onts own advantages. Judah might plead that she was sorely tempted by her sister's example. But then she possessed higher privileges than Israel. She was Aholibah, while her sister was only Aholah. She had the temple of God in her midst, while Israel was left t…
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Ver. 36 (last clause).-Aoominations declared. I. ABo:r,HNATIONB MAY BE BIDDEN. 1. They may be committed in secret. Then they are unknown to every one but the guilty persons and their accompiices. •2. Their corrupt character may not be admitted. 'l'hen they may be done in open daylight without shame or rebuke. Not on…
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HOMILIES BY VARIOUS AUTHORS. Vars, 1-49.-Inexcusable infidelity. What it must have cost the patriotic prophet to write this chapter passes our power to imagine. The Jew was naturally and pardon- ably proud of hie country and of its history. No thoughtful Jew could, indeed, be insensible to imperfections and flaws in t…
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husband. This is the relationship to which the text points, and which is treated of in eh. xvi. It is great condescension on the part of God to authorize the prophets thus to represent his relation to hie people. "Thy Maker is thy Husband; the Lord of hosts is his name" (lea. liv. 5). "Return, 0 backsliding children, s…
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3. Heinou.• infidelity, This is the aspect of Israel's sin to which prominence is given in the text. Iu forsaking the Lord God for idols they committed a treacherous brench of a sacred engagement, Their conduct is an illustration of the action of those who having avowed their allegiance to him, turn their backs upon hi…
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and with the moral constitution which he has given to man. But one thing he will not do-he will not compel men to forsake their own evil ways and walk in his way of holiness. And if men were forced into righteousness of action, what would such righteousness be worth? The obedience which is not willing is mechanical, no…
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n time, the sinf\ll practice broke out vigorously again. And in consequence, the complete destruction of Jerusalem, the utter overthrow of the kingdom, and the captivity of the people, are declared to be at band. And the text asserts that, by means of thie severe judgment, the people wo~ld be fi?ally and for ever fre…
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judgments upon the people could not have led Ezekiel to have predicted such a result of the C11ptivity, but one of an opposite character. The character of the people and the circumstances of their captivity were not calculated to inspire a declaration like this. It could not have been the product of mere human genius i…
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EXPOSITION. CHAPTER XXIV. better, with the Vulgate and Revised Ver- sion, pile the bones. The bones of animals Ver. 1.-In the ninth yea.r. We pass from were often use,l as fuel. Currey quotes an the date of eh. XL I (B.O. 593) to B.O. 590, interesting passage from Livingstone's • Last and the very day is identifie…
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t11a broth (Revised Version). The verb is used tho.n those of the husband, and his personal in Exod. xxx. 33, 35, of the concoction of berenvement seemed as a small thing com- the anointing oil, and the cognate adjecti vo pared with the desolation of bis country. in Job xli. 81 for the "boiling" of the He wns to refrai…
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When th&t temple should be profaned, when Vers. 26, 27.-Yet¬hersign w11s gil'en, Bone and d1mghters should fall bv the sword, not to the people, but to the prophet himeelr. then they would do as the prophet h&d done. For the present there was to be the silence Tbey would Jenrn th&t there is & sorrow of unutterabl…
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I. TnE ooou~nENCE OF MEMORABLE DAYB. In themselves e.11 days may be equally sacred (Rom. xiv. 6). Nevertheless, a. difference of character, history, and a8sociations will divide our days out into very various cla.ss,,s, and will mark some for especial interest. Thero a.re de.ye that stand out in history like great prom…
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iacrifices of expiation. The history of religion is full of such sacrifices-sacrifices which constitute a leading element in the Old Testament economy. III. THE ATTEMPT TO REMOVE THE RUST OF BIN IS A WEARY TASK. 1. New cir- cumstances do not destroy old sins, Though the vessel be taken out of the damp atmosphere which…
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Ver. 16.-" The desire of thine eyes." I. A PICTURE OF DOMESTIC LOVE. Ezekie1'11 wife is called "the desire of his eyes." God has ordained marriage, and the blessedness of the true union of husband and wife is from him. It is in itself good and a source of further blessings. It is not the doctrine of the Bible that monk…
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Poets are not always inspired. 2. Wlien men will not hear. Ezokiel's repeated dis- courses, and even his striking illustrative actions, had beo11 treated with indifference by the Jews. It is useless to "cast pearls before swine," 3. When events are speak- ing. God ~ays, "Be still, and know that I am God" (P$. xlvi. …
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II. THE JUIJGMENT OP THE CITY, As the flesh and bones are placed in the cauldron, and boiled and seethed by the fire being applied beneath, so tbe inhabitants of Jerusalem are enclosed within the walls, the besieging army surronnds them, and the citizens are abandoned to all the privations and fears and sufferings, and…
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the same is the case with nations. Israel had to wander and to fight in the wilderness. England has only reached her present position by means of many generations of conflict and many epochs of adversity. God has "purged" his people, not because he is indifferent to their sufferings, but because he is solicitous for …
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himself acknowledged and felt; it was God who deprived him of the desire of his eyes. 'l'he dead return n'lt to their place, which knows them no more. Thie fact gives keen- nres to the sorrow, whilst it aide submission. Ezekiel's fellow-countrymen were to learn that it was the Divine purpose to inflict upon Jerusalem t…
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e.lrendy come. By prophetic inspiration Ezekiel knew that on that identical dny on 'l\·hich he spoke to the people in Chaldea, N ebuchadnczzar lay siege to J crusalem. Tbo veri6cation of this fact would impart a weight of authority to Ezekiel's mission ns n prophet of Jehovah. It was now too late to evade, by repent…
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tmmmels of the flesh is not known. In all likelihood, cnpacity of mind and feeling will be enlarged, but will still be lirnite<l. If grief be indulged for minor losses, the soul will have no power of grief remaining for heavier demands. Therefore effort of will should be employed to restrain, and not to excite, our gri…
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have no fuel; the ox thus boils himself." The parable and its interpretation as given by Ezekiel suggest the following observations. I. THE TIME Fon TRE EXECUTION OF TlIE DIVINE JUDGMENTS MAY BEEi,[ TO MEN TO DE LONG DELAYED, DUT ITS ARRIVAL IS 0ERTAIN, (Vers. 1, 2.) This judgment against Jerusalem had been spoken …
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la lhe administration of the Divine government there is a close relation and proportion between sin and its punishment. "It is fit," says Matthew Henry, "that those who sin before all should be rebuked before all, and that the reputation of those should not be consulted by the concealmeut of their punishment who were s…
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virtues-his casket of jewels. Her voice is sweet music; her smile, his brightest day; her kiss, the guardian of his innocence ; her arms, the pale of his safety, the balm of his health, the balsa1:1 of ~is ~ife; her industry, his surest wealth ; her economy, his safest stewa.rd; her hps, bis faithful counsellors; her …
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Hnnt writes, "Tears enable sorrow to vent itself patie-ntly. Tears hinder sorrow from becoming dospe.ir and madness." But in this painful bereavement Ezekiel must neither weep nor shed tears, in order that he may be a more impressive sign unto bis fellow-exiles. Exceedingly severe were his trials. But for us in our sor…
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was about to allow the idolatrous Chaldeans to enter into it and destroy it. Their calamities were caused by their crimes. Their sufferiugs were the righteous retribu- tion of their sins. II. A PEOPLE THAT SHOULD NOT MOURN THE LOSS OF EVEN THEm HOST PRECIOUS POSSESSIONS. ".And ye shall do as I have doue: ye shall n…
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EXPOSITION. OHAPTER XXV. may have been personally fnourcd by Nebuchadnezzar and bis officials; anrl The section on which we now enter-the Daniel, whom be mentions with honour great " parenthesis," as I have called it, of (eh. xiv. 14), and whom he may havo known Ezekiel'e prophetio work-contains messages personally,…
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but probably means "food." The Hebrew from the llfonbites before Ismel obto.ined Keri, i.e. it.a marginal reading, gi~es the possession of them, o.nd they were afterworda ea.me word as that rendered "spoil" in eh. claimed as belonging to the Israelites by xxvii. 5. The meaning is substantially the right of conquest …
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nnme appenre 11e that of a son or Eean (Gen. Ver. 15.-The sin of the Philistines ia :uxvi, 11). In Jeremiah (loc. cit,) Teman ie virtually the same as that of the Edomites. nnmed as famous for its wisdom. Declan is They also had a perpetual hatred. Cen- 11nmed os n gre.ndson of Oush in Gen. x. 7, tury after century the…
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to the Romans that t.he heathen would be subject to it (Rom, i. 18). 'l'hese and other expressions show us that those people who had not light ~nd law would not be judged by the high standard of the more mstructed, but that their own consciences would bo the measure of their guilt. The heathen know sin. Unbelievers can…
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individual sin is individual death, so a nation's sin is punished by national destru~tion. 'l'he wicked Roman empire was destroyed. It depends on our national conduct whether the same fate will come on the Brilish empire. Vers. 8-11.-The sceptical nation. The sister nation of Moab, lying just to the south of Ammon, co…
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among the nalions." ,ve have the name of this little nation preserved, but even that only reaches us through its connection with Israel; or if archaiologists can point Hout to us on ancient inscriptions, no history of value, nothing to identify the race, remains, It is, indeed, a forgotten people. Let us consider ho…
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were e. heo.then nation. Much more, then, is revenge sinful in a Christian. We have the clearer New Testament light; we have also the wonderful example of Christ to deter us from revenge. For us to behave as the Edomites is to merit their doom twice over. 4. Vengeance is mean-spir#ed. Apart from all the above-named con…
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HOMILIES BY VARIOUS AUTHORS. Vers. 1-7.-Malignity. The prophet, having been enjoined to silence for a season with regard to Israel, turns to the several heathen nations by which his countrymen were encompassed. His mission to them must have been one very painful to dis• charge; for he was called upon to rebuke thei…
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is every renson for believing that the same sin is ever regarded with the same dis- npprove.l nnd meets with e. similnr retribution. Malignity reached its deepest depthR when the holy Jesus wns hnted by scribes, Pharisees, and religions leaders, who found in his goodness the reproach of their sin. Israel rejected Israe…
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Vera. 15-17.-T/,e old hatred. Between the Israelites, the children of light, and the Philistines, the children of darkness, there existed for centuries almost uninter- rupted hostility. Their position upon the coast, their powerful cities, their formidable warriors, their imposing yet debasing religion, concurred to ma…
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Vel'B, 1-17.-The tribunal of nations. The Hebrews in captivity rni:sM, with probability, eupposo that, since God had employed other armies to chastise Israel, auch nations were without ein, or else their sins had been condoned by God. Nothing of the sort. God is no Respecter of nations. Righteousness everywhere is ·acc…
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V. THE FmAL AIM. "They shall know that I am the Lord." This conviction of God's existence and God's active righteousness will surely come at length, but in many cases will not come in time to avert the great catastrophe. Every such national over• throw will be a monument to God's power and God's veracity. "Being dead, …
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worshippers. Thus they were guilty of blasphemy against the Lord God. 2. &ulta-- tion in the miseries of others with cruel animosity. "Thou hast rejoiced with all the despite of thy soul against the land of Israel" (ver. 6). They rejoiced" with the soul, with passion, therefore with the whole heart's contempt of which"…
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Historical Christian writing; not Scripture.