The Pulpit Commentary — Ezekiel — Volume 2 — Section 460

me11t prophets still fast bound in shadow Another la eh. xx. 40-41, concerning which work." it mny suffice to quote Plumptre's words in II. VIEWS WDICH GROUND THEMSELVES this Commentary : "The fact that Israel ON A SYMBOLIC INTERPRETATION OJI' THE itself is said to be the • sweet savour' VISION. A literal interpreto.tion being im- (Revised Version) which Jehovah accepts possible, the only o.ltemo.tive is to ho.ve (comp. 2 Cor. ii. 15; Eph. v. 2; Phil. iv. 18), recourse to the method of symbolic exposi- suggests o. like epiritnal interpretation of the tion; and, in addition to who.t has been other offerings, though the literal meaning already said, some things B1Iggest themselves WBB probably dominant in the prophet's own BB strongly corroborative of this conclusion. thoughts." A third is eh. xxxvii. 26-28, First, there is the circumeto.nce tho.t the in which o. literal interpretation can he temple-plan, the rituo.l Torah, and the lo.nd mainte.ined only at the expense of truth. act formed three successive parts of one Sizthly, the analogy of similar prophetic extended "vision," which was shown to the adumbrations of Israel's future supports the prophet while in o. state of "trance " or idea that here also the writer's thought ecstasy, end were th1IB, as to mode of com- clothes itself in o. symbolic dress. Let the munication at least, totally unlike the pictures given by Jeremiah, Ezekiel's con- tabernacle model, the Levitioal code, and temporary (xxxi. 38-40; xxxiii. 17-22), the lo.nd arrangements which were directly by Isaiah (lx. 1-22), Joel (iii. 18), Haggai exhibited or imparted to Moses without the (ii. 7-9), and Zechariah (vi. 9-15; viii. intervention of a "vision." Besides, the 1-8; x:iv. 8-21) be attentively studied, obvious correspondence of this closing vision and the conviction will be hard to resist to the earlier vision or visions (oh. viii- that one and all they were designed in xi.), in which were represented the desecra- figurative language to foreshadow the tion and destruction of the first temple, spiritual blessings of a future time; and lends countenance to the inference that if such was the prophetio style generally, here also, as there, the tableaux presented it seems reasonable to infer that Ezekiel, to the prophet's inward eye were designed like hie predecessors, contemporaries, and BB symbols. Secondly, there is the absence successors, was accustomed to use the of o.ny instruction to tbe prophet, like that same. Seventhly, the symbolio interpretn- given to Moses, t.o see that all things were tion admits of being carried out, which is made, either by himself or others, according more than can be o.ffirmecl of the literal ; t.o the pattern which had been shown to him and this consideration should decide the in the mount. From the beginning to the question as to how the u vision" should bo end no hint is discoverable tho.t the prophet understood in favour of the former rather or hie countrymen were ex:pected t.o replace than of the latter mode of exposition. the building N ebuobadnezzar bad overthrown But now assuming the symbolic method by one fashioned after the pattern now dis- of interpretation to have been fully vindi- oloeerl. Thirdly, without emphasizing o.e cated as the only one properly npplicnble to 1trongly as Kliefoth does the numbers three, the temple-vision, a fresh inquiry rises- es11et1, and twelwe, that run through the Of what wns the vision meant to be symbolic? whole, the obvious symmetry maintained And the reply to this mo.y bo stnted in alike in the temple-buildings, sacrificial terms so general as to unite 1111 who favour ordinances, o.nd lo.nd o.rmn,:cements, speaks the ideal or nllegoriool method of interpre- for o. symbolic as ago.inst a litero.l interpre- tation. It may be said tho.t tlrn vision was tation; and this impression is confirmed designed to symbolize the grent nud gmcious rather than weakened by observing tho.t in ble;isings Jehovah purposed nt 11 future timo, respect both of the temple and the city, when he had turned again the cnptivity of only (or principally) gronnd-meosuremonte Israel, to bestow upon hie Church. So ft\r are recorded, while no allusion whatever is es the terminua ad quern of this period of made to either building mo.terillle or blessing is concerned, it is agreed by nil nrohitecturnl details. Fourthly, there are expositors that that is the consummntion of portions of this " vision " to which a nil things, when Israel's last ancl miglitiest eymboblio interpretation must of neoeeeity enemios, Gog and Magog, shall hnvo bceu be o.eeigncd, as e.g. the temple-river and destroyed; only then do interpreters foll the healing of the water& of the sea ; and out when the terminus a quo is inquired thie fact alone should be held as decisive, o.ftor. Some, like Diod11ti, Greenhill, nnd unless it should emerge that there are other Hongstenberg, find the point of depnrturo portions to which o. symbolic exposition is in tho return from Babylon ; others, oe inapplicable. Fifthly, antecedent passages in Luther, Calvin, Coccoius, Pfeiffer, Fnirbo.irn, Ezekiel, to whioh this temple-vision palpnbly Hilvemick, Kliefoth, and Curroy, begin looks back, declare more or less strongly with the Iucnrno.tion; while a third group, for II symbolic interpretation. One of these of whom Keil mny be regnrded WI tho repre- bas o.l1'86d,Y been referred to, eh. viii.-x:i. sentative, restrict the" vision" to the times of  4i6 THE BOOK OF TitE PROPHET EZEKIEL, [cm. xLvm. 1-:35,