Ezekiel 2

AND That sate upon the Throne Jesus Christ, whose messenger Ezekiel must be to the Jewish Captives, now gone into Captivity to Babylon. he said unto me, Son A phrase very familiar with Ezekiel in this Prophesie, and he useth it for distinction being now among Angels, perhaps to keep him humble who had such great Revelations, which might occasion him to think of himself above what was meet, as 2 Cor. 12.7. of man; Arise, resume thy wonted strength of Soul and Body which seem lost by thy fall to the ground. Fear not my coming to punish thee, I come to send thee forth a Prophet arise therefore and be as other Prophets, ready to receive the Divine Oracles, which usually came to Prophets standing, and with this command God sent forth a power enabling him to arise and stand. stand upon thy feet and I will speak Get thy self into a fit posture and readiness, and I will speak, what that was appears in what followeth, ver. 3. unto thee.

And So soon as the encouraging command went forth, immediately. the The vital Spirit or Soul of the Prophet (say some) but these suppose the Vision had strook Ezekiel dead, which neither can be supposed, other prophetick Visions did not prove deadly, nor did this; others will have it the Spirit of courage, some an Angel, but 'tis indeed the Spirit of God, the Holy Ghost, Ezek. 3.24. The same Spirit which actuated the living Creatures and Wheels, enters the heart of the Prophet. spirit Gave the Prophet special, and suitable qualifications for his Office. The Spirit entred that he might abide with the Prophet as a constant assister and guide to him. entred into me, when Either Christ who from the Throne spake to the Prophet, or the Holy Spirit newly entred into the Prophet. he spake unto me, and set me upon my feet that I heard him Opened his ear that he heard what was spoken, it is the Spirit which is the fountain of all our Abilities, and which also actuates them, without it there is neither Life, strength or motion. that spake unto me.

And Vid. ver. 2. he said Either vocally or by impression upon his mind. unto me, Son The Prophet had seen v. 26. of the former chapter, a very glorious person on a Throne above the Firmament, and now the Prophet is called Son of Man, perhaps as the Jews conjecture to encourage the Prophet in his prophetick work, and to assure him he should be owned by that glorious one, who appeared as a man, and calls Ezekiel Son of man, it is certain he would never forget what he had seen, and 'tis likely this as oft as it was spoken would mind the Prophet what relation it might have to the Vision. of man, I I am sending, or he that sendeth thee is whom thou sawest on the Throne advanced above Angels, who directs them in their course of ministry subserving the will of God, and who will give them charge of thee in thy way. send thee to the Heb. Sons, God gives them still the name of Sons and Children, he is not hasty to abdicate, to disinherit, and cast off. children of Israel Now in the low estate of Captives, the lessening name of Iacob had been too great one might think; but God tells the Prophet they were the Children of Israel, that Prince who wrestled with God and prevailed, Hos. 12.3, 4, 5. It is very likely they had some that feared, and sought the God of Iacob, and did wrestle as he had done before them; it insinuateth some hope however that God would redeem them Psal. 23.22. would be good unto them, Psal. 73.1. His Dominion was over them, Psal. 114.2. and they were a peculiar people, Ps. 135.4.12., to a rebellious Heb. Nations that are rebellious, very disobedient; as rebellion is the highest crime against the supream Magistrate, so were Israels sins against God: Hence some will have Ezekiel to be commissioned a Prophet to denounce Gods judgements against the Heathen, who are in Scripture called by the word here used. But though Ezekiel did Prophesie against the Nations, as against Egypt, Babylon, Gog and Ma dg, yet here these Nations in this third verse are the Jews who were like the Nations in their Idolatry and Manners, they had degenerated from their Father Israel, and rebelled against Israels God, if the Title I rael be comfort to the best, the appellation given to the rest they were a rebellious Nation, is terror and menace as well as rebuke to the worst, and God intimates they were what they accounted the Gentiles to be, polluted, prophane and hated of God. nation that has This was implyed in the former word, but thus expressely added to ascertain the charge, and to aggravate the crime of this people, who were from their fathers days to this very day rebelling against God. It was the glory of St. Paul he served God with pure Conscience, it is the shame of this Nation they have rebelled from their Fathers. rebelled against me: they and their fathers have transgressed against me, even unto this very day Their Fathers before them, and they with their Fathers, and all successively, God was provoked at once with two Generations of Rebels; Fathers who gave example, and Children which took it..

For they are impudent Shameless, who cannot blush else they could never have transgressed so highly, constantly, and obstinately; Sodom in her day did not hide her sin, nor blush, so did the Jews in Isaiahs times, so they did to the days of their Captivity, and under the Captivity. children and stiffe Hard hearted, resolute and strongly bent to do what ever liked them. Of disposition that relenteth not but rather more confidently going on in evil. hearted Who appeared in so much glory, and on the Throne.: I do Give thee Authority that thou mayest, and I give thee charge that thou must go to them, and say unto them, what I shall say unto thee. They will scoffe and persecute, but I command and remember whom thou hast seen, who is with thee. send thee unto them, and thou shalt say unto them Be sure to tell them who sends thee, read the Commission, T us says, &c., Thus says the LORD GOD.

And they Though the omniscient God knows which they will do, yet le not the Prophet know, but enjoyns him his duty, affords these sinners the mercy of warnings, and calls and expects that they act like men, hear and obey., whether they will They only hear that comply with Gods Counsel, and as for others they hearing hear not. hear, or whether they will Either forbear their ways of sinning, and cease to do evil, or forbear to hear thee, be not too much dejected about it, some perhaps may hear and forbear to sin, others will forbear to hear thee but not forbear to sin, the greatest part will show themselves a rebellious house. forbear (for they are a rebellious Family, House put for the whole Nation; yet wait the event, do thy duty. house) yet shall All of them shall know, they that hear and obey shall know by the good that I will do to them, I will blesse them and bring them back. Those that will neither hear what they should do, nor forbear doing what they should not do, shall know by the evil which I will bring upon them. know there has been a Prophet Thy Truth, and name will I vindicate and prove thee a Prophet, to the comfort of thy self and others, who are obedient, but to the same and confusion of the evil and wicked. among them.

And thou Son Thou a Prophet, sent by him whose Throne is highest, whom thou sawest as the appearance of a Man in glory, and provided with power to protect thee. of man be not afraid Cast away discouraging fear, be not dismayed at their Persons; Rulers, Priests, and pretended Prophets will oppose, but yet in the delivery of thy message fear none of them. of them, neither be afraid of their Heb. Will bear Counsels, or words, misr ports, accusations, threats, flouts, or whatever else an envious and malicious heart can suggest to the Tongue. words, though briers Here two words in the Heb. are used the first used only in this place, though frequently used in the Chalde Paraphrase, where it expresseth con umacy, as Exod. 7.14. of Pharaoh refusing to let Israel go, and Ier. 5.3. Obstinate refusing to learn. But our Translators guided by the proper signification of the other word have rendred it Briars, which usually run up among Thorns and are a very fit Emblem of the frowardness, and keenness of sinners against God and his Prophet, and of the sure destruction which will befall these Briars and Thornes when God shall send his Judgments like Fire amongst them. and thornes be with Against thee. thee, and thou dost dwell among scorpions Some say this is an Herb which because it is every way armed with sharp, pricking stings has this name given it; but if we retain the more common interpretation, it Speaks the rage, and heat: The poysonous malice, and the sly lurking craft, and irreconcileableness of these Apostate Jews, and of all other, contemners of God and Religion. These men like Scorpions undiscerned wound, torment and kill.: be not afraid The admonition against sinful fear is repeated, least Ezekiel should forget, or we in like case should fail of our duty, it is four times given in charge. of their words, nor be dismayed at their looks though they be a rebellious house.

And thou shalt speak my words Declaring what I shall show thee and in words, which I will put into thy mouth. unto them whether Vid. ver. 5. they will hear, or whether they will forbear, for they are most Heb. Rebellion in the abstract by which the Heb. (as some other Languages do) expresseth the superlative degree, as we have it rightly Translated. rebellious.

But thou Son of Man, hear Obey when thou hearest. what I say unto Harden not thy self in a seeming modest declining the Office of a Prophet, wed not thine own resolution herein. thee; Be not thou rebellious House of Rebellion, as verse 7. like that rebellious house: open Some take this figuratively, as if here the Prophet had been called to open the Powers of his Soul and mind, to receive, retain all that God speaks, but I rather think that the Prophet is required to open his mouth to eat what was put into his hand, i. e. the Book, insinuating his divine call and inspiration, and the bitterness of the Jews calamity. A visionary book and a visionary eating here is spoken of. thy mouth and eat that I give thee.

And when I looked The Prophet newly come out of that astonishing trance wherein he lay, and gotten upon his feet, hearing what was spoken, and possibly looking if he might see who spake, he discovers an hand., Behold, an hand Either of one of those Angels which Ministred before the Lord, or the hand of God, or of Christ this might fortifie the Prophet when he saw a hand, so soon with him as he was ready to hear and obey, power and skill to defend and guide him will ever be as ready. was sent An Eastern idiome of speech. unto me, and lo, a roll Their Books were not of that fashion and make as ours now are, but written in Parchment and in the length of it, and so one piece fastened to other, till the whole would contain what was to be written, and then was it wrapt or rolled about a round piece of wood, fashioned for that purpose hence Books are Volumes. of a book was therein.

And Ver. 9. 'Twas the hand, here 'tis the Person, he who held out his hand. he spread Unrolled it within that distance the Prophet might read what was written therein. it before me, and it was written within On both sides, on that side which was inward when rolled upon its roundle, and on that side also that was outward, and as 'twere the back side. A long Roll, and full on both sides, so would the sorrows of the Jews be. and without, and there was written therein Such things as would make the stoutest heart lament; inwardly grieve, and mourn, express it in visible tokens; and wo; sad thoughts and guesses at worse to come; so this Prophets message would be a most heavy burthen to the Jews and other Nations against which he prophesied. lamentations, and mourning, and wo.