Il Say, I am your sign: like as I have done, so shall it be done unto them; they shall remove and go into captivity.

12 And the prince that is among them shall bear upon his shoulder in the twilight, and shall go forth: they shall dig through the wall to carry out thereby he shall cover his face, that he see not the ground with his eyes.

13 My net also will I spread upon him, and he shall be taken in my snare: and I will bring him to Babylon to the land of the Chaldeans; yet shall he not see it, though he shall die there.

14 And I will scatter toward every wind all that are about him to help him, and all his bands; and I will draw out the sword after them.

15 And they shall know that I am the LORD, when I shall scatter them among the nations, and disperse them in the countries.

16 But I will leave a few men of them from the sword, from the famine, and from the pestilence; that they may declare all their abominations among the heathen whither they come; and they shall know that I am the LORD.

17 Moreover the word of the LORD came to me, saying,

18 Son of man, eat thy bread with quaking, and drink thy water, with trembling and with carefulness;

19 And say unto the people of the and, Thus saith the Lord God of the nhabitants of Jerusalem, and of the and of Israel; They shall eat their read with carefulness, and drink their

[the captivity.

water with astonishment, that her land may be desolate from all that is therein, because of the violence of all them that dwell therein.

20 And the cities that are inhabited shall be laid waste, and the land shall be desolate; and ye shall know that I am the LORD.

21 And the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,

22 Son of man, what is that proverb that ye have in the land of Israel, saying, The days are prolonged, and every vision faileth?

23 Tell them, therefore, Thus saith the Lord God; I will make this proverb to cease, and they shall no more use it as a proverb in Israel; but say unto them, The days are at hand, and the effect of every vision.

24 For there shall be no more any vain vision nor flattering divination within the house of Israel.

25 For I am the Lord: I will speak, and the word that I shall speak shall come to pass; it shall be no more prolonged for in your days, O rebellious house, will I say the word, and will perform it, saith the Lord God.

26 Again the word of the LORD came to me, saying,

27 Son of man, behold, they of the house of Israel say, The vision that he seeth is for many days to come, and he prophesieth of the times that are far off.

28 Therefore say unto them, Thus saith the Lord GoD; There shall none of my words be prolonged any more; but the word which I have spoken shall be done, saith the Lord GoD. (N)

CHAP. XII. (N) Ezekiel again typically predicts the

captivity of Zedekiah and the people.-In this and the following chapters, the Pro

Ver. 11. I am your sign-that is, says Bp. Chand, a pattern of what shall befall you," as is here =plained.. They shall remove, &c.-Heb." By noving they shall go into captivity."

Ver. 12. He shall not see the ground-This is a rical intimation (though obscure) that he should ver see the land to which he went, as in ver. 13.

Ver. 13. My net also will I spread-that is, he all be taken, as in the snare of a hunter.

Ver. 16. A few men-Heb. " Men of number;" i. e. easily numbered.

Ver. 19. All that is therein-Heb. " The fulness thereof."

Ver. 22. The days are prolonged.-See chap. xi. 9, &c. and compare ver. 27, below.

Ver. 27. He seeth, &c.-Abp. Newcome remarks, "In ver. 21-25 there is a reference to the visions of all prophets; but ver. 26-28 refer particularly to Ezekiel's prophecy.

Judgments]

CHAP. XIII.

AND the word of the LORD came

unto me, saying,

2 Son of man, prophesy against the prophets of Israel that prophesy, and say thou unto them that prophesy out of their own hearts, Hear ye the word of the LORD;

3 Thus saith the Lord GOD; Woe unto the foolish prophets that follow their own spirit, and have seen nothing!

4 O Israel, thy prophets are like the foxes in the deserts.

5 Ye have not gone up into the gaps, neither made up the hedge for the house of Israel to stand in the battle in the day of the LORD.

6 They have seen vanity and lying divination, saying, The LORD saith: and the LORD hath not sent them: and they have made others to hope that they would confirm the word.

7 Have ye not seen a vain vision, and have ye not spoken a lying divination, whereas ye say, The LORD saith it; albeit I have not spoken?

8 Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD; Because ye have spoken vanity,

[against false prophets

and seen lies, therefore, behold, I am against you, saith the Lord GOD.

9 And mine hand shall be upon the prophets that see vanity, and that divine lies: they shall not be in the assembly of my people, neither shall they be written in the writing of the house of Israel, neither shall they enter into the land of Israel; and ye shall know that I am the Lord God.

10 Because, even because they have seduced my people, saying, Peace; and there was no peace; and one built up a wall, and lo, others daubed it with untempered morter:

11 Say unto them which daub it with untempered morter, that it shall fall: there shall be an overflowing shower; and ye, O great hailstones, shall fall; and a stormy wind shall rend it.

12 Lo, when the wall is fallen, shall it not be said unto you, Where is the daubing wherewith ye have daubed it?

13 Therefore thus saith the Lord GoD; I will even rend it with a stormy wind in my fury; and there shall be an overflowing shower in mine anger, and great hailstones in my fury to consume it.

phet endeavours, by a variety of types and parables, to convince those of the captivity, who are here called "a rebellious house," because of their unbelief, that their brethren, who were left behind to sustain the miseries of a siege and the insults of a conqueror, would be in a much worse condition than themselves, who were already settled in a foreign land. In the beginning of this chapter he signifies the approaching captivity of Judah, by removing his stuff,"as it is called; intimating the removal of the people into captivity, and particularly of Zedekiah and his adherents. He is commanded to eat his food with trembling and signs of terror, as

an emblem of the consternation of the Jews when surrounded by their enemies. He then reproves the objections and byewords of scoffers and infidels, who either disbelieved his threatenings, or supposed the accomplishment of them very distant.

Josephus (Antiq. xi. 10.) tells us that Zedekiah thought this prophecy of Eze kiel (ver. 13.) inconsistent with that of Jer. xxxiv. 3, and therefore resolved to believe neither. Both, however, in the issue were literally fulfilled. Thus, blinded by infidelity, sinners often "kick against the pricks," and rush on to that destruction against which they have repeatedly been

warned.

CHAP. XIII. Ver. 2. Them that prophesy, &c.Heb. "hem that are prophets out of their own hearts." See Nehem. vi, 8.

Ver. 3. That follow-Heb. "That walk after." Ver. 4. Foxes-Newcome, "Jackalls." Ver. 5. Made up the hedge- Heb. "Hedged up the hedge" or, "walled up the wall."

Ver. 6. Vanity (i. e. falsehood) and lying divination-Heb. Divination of a lie."-Hope to con

firm the word-that is, they hoped that their pre-
dictions might prove true.
Ver. 9. Assembly
The writing-Newcome,
shall return."

Marg. "Secret council."——
The roll of those abo

Ver. 10. One built up a well, &c.—that is, one gave out a pretended oracle, and the others attempted to support it. See ver. 16.

Ver. 11. A stormy wind-Heb. "A wind of storms.”

So ver. 13.

14 So will I break down the wall that ye have daubed with untempered morter, and bring it down to the ground, so that the foundation thereof shall be discovered, and it shall fall, and ye shall be consumed in the midst thereof and ye shall know that I am the LORD.

15 Thus will I accomplish my wrath upon the wall, and upon them that have daubed it with untempered morter, and will say unto you, The wall is no more, neither they that daubed it;

16 To wit, the prophets of Israel which prophesy concerning Jerusalem, and which see visions of peace for her, and there is no peace, saith the Lord GOD.

17 Likewise, thou son of man, set thy face against the daughters of thy people, which prophesy out of their own heart; and prophesy thou against them,

18 And say, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Woe to the women that sew pillows to all armholes, and make kerchiefs upon the head of every stature to hunt souls! Will ye hunt the souls of my people, and will ye save the souls alive that come unto you?

CHAP. XIII.

[prophetesses.

19 And will ye pollute me among my people for handfuls of barley and for pieces of bread, to slay the souls that should not die, and to save the souls alive that should not live, by your lying to my people that hear your lies?

20 Wherefore thus saith the Lord GoD; Behold, I am against your pillows, wherewith ye there hunt the souls to make them fly, and I will tear them from your arms, and will let the souls go, even the souls that ye hunt to make them fly.

21 Your kerchiefs also will I tear, and deliver my people out of your hand, and they shall be no more in your hand to be hunted; and ye shall know that I am the LORD.

22 Because with lies ye have made the heart of the righteous sad, whom I have not made sad; and strengthened the hands of the wicked, that he should not return from his wicked way, by promising him life:

23 Therefore ye shall see no more vanity, nor divine divinations; for I will deliver my people out of your hand and ye shall know that I am the LORD. (0)

(0) Awful denunciations against false rophets.-This chapter denounces heavy dgments against deceivers, who flattered he people in the midst of sin and dauger, with false hopes of peace and security.

Themselves, or their attempts rather, re compared to a rude wall of loose stones, adly cemented by mortar not properly repared, (as Professor Michaelis underauds it,) and which therefore could not ithstand the battering artillery of heaven.

The prophet Ezekiel then reproves the various arts which his opponents employed to seduce the people to idolatry: consisting partly in its indulgences, and partly in its attractions; particularly in the gaiety and splendour of its rites. By these the idle and the voluptuous were seduced (or, hunted) into the temples of their idols,. where every kind of vice was perpetrated. destructive to the souls of either priests or people. The absurdity of idolatry is not more evident than its immoral tendency.

Ver. 15. The mall is no more-Heb. " Is not; and ey....are not."

Ver. 17. Out of their own heart.-See ver. 2.
Ver. 18. Sew pillows - Or, “ apply cushions."

come.

The Persians and Asiatics are very arious in cushions, both to sit on, and to support ir arms See Orient. Customs, No. 311.-And ke kerchiefs upon the head of every stature.mese kerchiefs were probably of silk, very elegant, d adapted to persons of every stature. nk that they were used as amulets, or charms. least they were intended to attract, and to draw sons into idolatry. Will ye save the souls

Some

alive that come unto you? - Newcome, "Will ye save your own souls alive?"

Ver. 19. For handfuls of barley?—that is, for a very small reward. See Prov. xxviii. 21.

Ver. 20. Wherewith ye there hunt the souls.-This alludes to the suares of the sport man, used in hunting To make them fly--Newcome, "That they may escape;" that is, the Lord would take away the cushions," and other instruments of seduction, that his people might escape their snares.

Ver. 22. By promising him life --- Heb. "By ́ quickening him ;" i. e. animating and encouraging him in his evil ways.

THEN came certain of the elders of Israel unto me, and sat before

me.

[against idolatry.

and I will stretch out my hand upon him, and will destroy him from the midst of my people Israel.

3 Son of man, these men have set up their idols in their heart, and put the stumbling-block of their iniquity before their face: should I be inquired of at all by them?

4 Therefore speak unto them, and say unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Every man of the house of Israel that setteth up his idols in his heart, and putteth the stumbling-block of his iniquity before his face, and cometh to the prophet; I the LORD will answer him that cometh according to the multitude of his idols;

5 That I may take the house of Israel in their own heart, because they are all estranged from me through their idols.

6 Therefore say unto the house of Israel, Thus saith the Lord GoD; Repent, and turn yourselves from your idols; and turn away your faces from all

your abominations.

7 For every one of the house of Israel, or of the stranger that sojourneth in Israel, which separateth himself from me, and setteth up his idols in his heart, and putteth the stumblingblock of his iniquity before his face, and cometh to a prophet to inquire of him concerning me; I the LORD will answer him by myself:

8 And I will set my face against that man, and will make him a sign and a proverb, and I will cut him off from the midst of my people; and ye shall know that I am the LORD.

9 And if the prophet be deceived when he hath spoken a thing, I the LORD have deceived that prophet,

the punishment of him that seeketh unto him;

11 That the house of Israel may go no more astray from me, neither be polluted any more with all their transgressions; but that they may be my people, and I may be their God, saith the Lord God.

12 The word of the LORD came again to me, saying,

13 Son of man, when the land sinneth against me by trespassing griev ously, then will I stretch out mine hand upon it, and will break the staff of the bread thereof, and will send famine upon it, and will cut off man and beast from it:

14 Though these three men, Noah, Daniel, and Job, were in it, they should deliver but their own souls by their righteousness, saith the Lord GOD.

15 If I cause noisome beasts to pass through the land, and they spoil it, so that it be desolate, that no man may pass through because of the beasts:

16 Though these three men were in it, as I live, saith the Lord GOD, they shall deliver neither sons nor daughters; they only shall be delivered, but the land shall be desolate.

17 Or if I bring a sword upon that land, and say, Sword, go through the land; so that I cut off man and beast from it:

18 Though these three men were in it, as I live, saith the Lord God, they shall deliver neither sons nor daughters, but they only shall be delivered themselves.

Ver. 9. I have deceived that prophet that is, "When any false prophet is deceived, the probable event proving contrary to his prophecy; I, Jehovah,

19 Or if I send a pestilence into

have so superintended the course of things as to deceive that prophet." Newcome.

and

Ver. 13. Then will I.---“. And I stretch break....and send." Abp. Secker. That is," When the inhabitants of a land have filled up the mea、ere of their iniquities, the few righteous shall not de liver it." Mr. Preb. Lowth.

that land, and pour out my fury upon it in blood, to cut off from it man and beast:

20 Though Noah, Daniel, and Job, were in it, as I live, saith the Lord GOD, they shall deliver neither son nor daughter; they shall but deliver their own souls by their righteousness.

21 For thus saith the Lord GOD; How much more when I send my four sore judgments upon Jerusalem, the sword and the famine, and the noisome beast, and the pestilence, to cut off from it man and beast?

22 Yet, behold, therein shall be left a remnant that shall be brought forth, both sons and daughters; behold, they shall come forth unto you, and ye shall see their way and their doings: and ye shall be comforted concerning the evil that I have brought upon Jerusalem, even concerning all that I have brought upon it.

23 And they shall comfort you, when ye see their ways and their doings: and

CHAP. XIV.

[the fruitless vine.

ye shall know that I have not done without cause all that I have done in it, saith the Lord GOD. (P)

ΑΝ

CHAP. XV.

ND the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,

2 Son of man, What is the vine tree more than any tree, or than a a branch which is among the trees of the forest?

3 Shall wood be taken thereof to do any work? or will men take a pin of it to hang any vessel thereon?

4 Behold, it is cast into the fire for fuel; the fire devoureth both the ends of it, and the midst of it is burned. Is it meet for any work?

5 Behold, when it was whole, it was meet for no work: how much less shall it be meet yet for any work, when the fire hath devoured it, and it is burned?

6 Therefore thus saith the Lord. GOD; As the vine tree among the trees of the forest, which I have given

(P) The Idolators exhorted to repentance, norder to avert the judgments threatened. By comparing this with other passages in he same book, it appears that certain of he elders of Israel were so convinced of he divine mission of the prophet, that hey attended frequently, if not statedly pon his ministry. (See ch. viii. 1., xx. 1, xxiii. 31.) Their attendance was, howver, merely formal and hypocritical: they ad set up their idols on the throne of heir heart; and had their images (the tumbling block of their iniquity) before heir faces: Should I be inquired of at ll by them?" saith the Lord. Nothing an surely be a greater insult to the Deity han such presumption; and if they receive n answer, it shall be, says the Lord, "acording to the number of their idols:" he more idolatry, the severer vengeance. The most gross Idolators are not, however,

beyond the boundary of divine mercy. Let them repent and return, and then will the ear of God be open to their inquiries.

God can only deceive man by ordering the events of his providence contrary to all human expectation, and such disposal of events can in no case excuse man's presumption. Those who predict from apparent circumstances, will often be thus deceived; but that God is not the proper cause of man's sin, see our Exposition of Jer. iv.

The latter part of the chapter represents the guilt of this nation so aggravated, that neither prophet nor patriarch could be heard on their behalf; though at the same time we are given to understand, that such have great power to prevail with God. We happily, however, have an advocate more powerful than Patriarchs, Prophets or Apostles-whom "the Father heareth always."

Ver. 16. In it---Heb. " In the midst of it." Ver. 21. How much more---that is, “If it be just at the good alone should escape punishment; how uch more so with respect to Jerusalem, after such peated warnings and admonitions ?" Newcome. Ver. 22. That shall be brought forth --- Houbiant, after the ancient versions, (by the insertion of rod only) reads, "That shall bring forth sons and ughters

Ver. 23. When ye see their way---that is, the reformation wrought in them.

CHAP. XV. Ver. 2. What is the vine tree? Newcome, "What is the wood of the vine more than any (other) branching wood," &c.

Ver. 4. Is it meet ---Heb. "Will it prosper for any work?" namely, to build with,