The Pulpit Commentary — Ezekiel — Volume 2 — Section 9

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. Good men see clearly the equity of the proceeding and the extreme patience of th~ Judge. God places his doings in the public light. I. THE nIDICTMENT. It is a long Indictment, and embraces all classes of people. 1. Gross abuse rf power. The princes-i.e. heads of tribes-used their power for the destruction of life, nC1t to preserve it. The sceptre was turned into a dagger. Even neglect to,protect innocent life becomes murder. 2. Idolatry. "The city maketh idols against herself." In Israel idolatry was treason. It was the rejection and humbling of their proper King. 3. Murder. "The city sheddeth blood." He who begins to despise God soon learns to under-value human life. Their children were made to pass through the fire. Violence against property and life abounded. 4. Filial disobedience. "In thee have they set light by Cather and mother." The slaughter of innocent children soon produced its natural fruit. Children grew up without natural affection. If the central sun be destroyed, the planets will soon rush headlong to mutual destruction. 5. Tyranny, "They have dealt by oppreBsion with the stranger: they have ,exe,l the fatherless and the widow." All regard for humane virtues, for common mornlity, had vanished. It is the custom throughout the East to show hospitality to strangers. This is considered a virtue of the Ii.rat order; yet even this ordinary virtue was trarnplt'd underfoot. 6. Profanity. "'l'hou hast despised mine holy things, nnd hast prnfancd my sabbaths." In Israel this was a most flagrant sin. God had given them tokens of his presence and favour which he had not given unto others; therefore to profane these sacred tokens was to disgrace God in the eyes of the surrounding heathen. It was as if a soldier on the battle-field trailed his country's flag in the mire. It was as if a married woman should fling her wedding-ring into the fire. 7. Murderous intrigues. "Men carry tales to shed blood." Untruthfulness is a common sin among the Orientals.  10 THE BOOK OF THE PROPHET EZEKIEL. [orr. xxn. 1-31.