The Pulpit Commentary — Ezekiel — Volume 1 — Section 96

to us th11t it would have been out of harmony with the character of God to have used remarkable symbols to obscure his Word. 'l'hey were intended rather, we conceive, to arouse attontion, to stimulate inquiry, and impress upon the mind the truths shadowed forth by them. Fairbairn he.s well said, "As the meaning obviously did not lie upon the surface, it called for serious thought and inquiry regarding the purposes of God. A time of general backsliding and corruption is always a time of superficial thinking on spiritual things. And just as our Lord, by bis parables, that partly veiled while they disclosed the truth of God, so the prophets, by their more profound and enigma- tical discourses, sought to arouse the careless from their security, to awaken inquiry, and stir the depths of thought and feeling in the soul. It virtually said to them, 'You are in imminent peril; direct ordinary discourse no longer suits your case; bestir yourselves to look into the depths of things, otherwise the sleep of death shall overtake you.'" I!. ENDEAVOUR TO SET FORTH THE MEANING OF THESE REMARKABLE SYMBOLS. 1. Here is a representation of the siege of Jerusalem. (Vers. 1-3.) Directions are given to Ezekiel to portray a siege of the holy city; and to prepare the fort or siege-tower, and the mound, and the encampments, and battering-rams, and lay siege to it. Notice : (1) The great Agent in this siege. The prophet was to besiege it, acting as the repre- sentative of Jehovah. "If the prophet, as commissioned by God, enters on such a siege, the real besieger of Jerusalem is the Lord God; and the Chalrleans appear as mere instruments in the Divine hand" (Schroder). Nebuchadnezzar and his army unconsciously did the work of God. And the prophet was to do his work with resolu- tion and might (ver. 7). The uncovered arm indicates one about to en~age in vigorou.;; exertion (cf. Isa. Iii. 10). So the siege here foreshadowed would be prosecuted with determination and power. (2) 'l'he cause of this siege. The sin of the people has brought it upon them. 'l'his is indicated by the iron pan or plate which Ezekiel was to set up between himself and the city (ver. 3). "It is clear from the expression, between thee and the city, that a relation of separation, of division, between Jerusalem as portrayed upon the brick and the representative of God is meant to be expressed. Only on the ground of such a relation between God and Jerusalem can we explain alike the hostile attitude of the prophet's face, and especially the clause, and it is in siege, and along with that, vers. 1 and 2" (Schroder). "'fheir iniquities had separated between them and their God" (Isa. !ix. 2). That their calamitieR were caused by their sins appears also from the prophet being called to bear the iniquity of tho house of Israel and the house of Judah (vers. 5, 6). .And in the last verse it is expressly stated that they should "consume away for their iniquity." Sin is the one great cause of suffering and sorrow, of calamity and loss. 2. Here is a representation of the sufferings of the inhabitants of Jerusalem. (1) 'l'hese are symbolized by the prostrate attitude of tbo prophet bearing the sins of the people (vers. 4-6). ln the former portion of tho chapter Ezekiel represents the Lord; but here and in subsequent verses ho repre- sents the besieged and suffering people. His lying down, and inability to tum from ono sido to another, "is a fi~ure of the wretched condition of the people during the time of the siege" (cf. Ps. xx. 8; Isa. I. 11; Amos v. 2). (2) The miseries of the people are also represented by the scarcity of food and its loathsome associations. The prophet is directed to "take wheat, and barley, and beans," etc. (ver. 9). "It is suggested in this way that the besieged will in their distress be compelled to gather together everything that can possibly be turned into bread. This state of matters is represented yet more strongly by means of the one vessel, which shows that of each separate sort not much more is to be had" (Schroder). Ezekiel, moreover, has to take his food by weight and measure, and only at long intervals (vers. 10, 11). And although in that country less is needed to sustain life than in our colder climntc, yet the quantiry a:!owed the prophet is not more than half what is usually regarded us neces,nry. 'l'h"' 1uantity, as some one observes, was too much for dying, too littlo for living. So wc1.i1t the people suffer want and hunger during the long siege. From the scarcity of food wo proceed to it.s impurity. It is repr!ll;ented as having been baked with fuel of the most offensive kind-with human ordure (ver. 12). But in answer to a pathetic appeal of the prophet, he is allowed to use tho dried ordure of cattle instead thereof. 'l'o this he made no objection. "He was, in fact, used to it; for the dried dung of beasts is used for fuel throughout the East wherever wood is scarce, from Mongolia to l'alcstine. Its use, 84 THE BOOK OF 'l'HE PROPHET EZEKIEL. [on. v. 1-17