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 MiNMMMMi 
 
 f ■■■■■1 ^
 
 U'J\ 
 
 y\-\
 
 ~ A 
 
 COMMENTARY 
 
 Upon the 
 
 Prophet EZEKIEL. 
 
 By William Lowth, B. D. 
 
 Prebendary of WINCH ESTER. 
 
 5" 
 
 L N Z> N: 
 
 Printed for W. Mears at the Lamb without 
 TcmflfBar. j MDCCXXIII.
 
 T O T H E 
 
 Moft Reverend Father in G O D, 
 
 WILLIAM, 
 
 By Divine Providence 
 
 Lord -Archbishop 
 
 ■ 
 O F 
 
 CANTERBURY, 
 
 Primate of All England, and 
 Metropolitan ; and One of his 
 Majesty's moft Honourable 
 Privy Council. 
 
 May it pleafeyour Grace, 
 
 [|N purfuance of my De- 
 fign to Explain the 
 Prophetical Writings, 
 I humbly offer to your 
 Grace the following Conimen- 
 A 2 tary 
 
 l5
 
 iv The DEDICATION. 
 
 tary upon the Prophet JEzekiel; 
 the Depth of whofe Thoughts 
 and Expreffions might juftly de- 
 ter me from undertaking a Work 
 of fo much Difficulty : But beg- 
 ging your Grace's and my Rea- 
 der's Pardon if I have been guilty 
 of leffer Miftakes, Ihope at leaft 
 that I have avoided committing 
 any dangerous Errors, by carefully 
 following thofe Directions, which 
 the Text itfelf, and the Labours 
 of feveral judicious Commenta- 
 tors upon it, have fuggefted to 
 me ; having had likewife the Af- 
 fiftance of fome very Learned 
 Friends, who have been pleafed 
 to communicate their Thoughts 
 to me upon the moll difficult 
 
 Paflages of it. 
 
 The
 
 The DEDICATION. 
 
 The moft remarkable Difficul- 
 ties of this Prophecy relate to the 
 Defcription of the Temple, repre- 
 fented to the Prophet in an Hea- 
 venly Vilion. By the general Con- 
 fent of Interpreters, this Vilion 
 in its Myftical Senfe, fets forth 
 a Model or Pattern of the Catho- 
 lick Church ofChrift, viewed in its 
 State of Perfection ; of its Large- 
 nefs and Extent, its Strength and 
 Compa6tnefs, its Beauty and Or- 
 der, and all thofe other Qualifi- 
 cations which are proper to Edi- 
 fy and Adorn this Spiritual Houfe 
 of the Living God, the Pillar and 
 Bafis of Truth. 
 
 Our Church, in Conformity 
 with that of the Firft and Pureft 
 
 Aaes,
 
 vi The DEDICATION. 
 
 Ages, hath always been careful to 
 maintain thofe Principles of Gz- 
 tholick Unity and Charity \ which, 
 if they w r ere generally embraced 
 and received, would render the 
 Chriftian Church like that Je~ 
 rufalem which was a Figure of it, 
 a City at Unity in it/elf. And lince 
 it hath pleafed the Divine Pro- 
 vidence to appoint your Grace 
 as a wife Mafter-Builder to pre- 
 iide over it, we may hope that 
 under his MAJESTY'S moft 
 Gracious Protection \ and your 
 Grace's Aufpicious Conduct, it 
 may receive New Acceflions of 
 Strength and Edification, and ac- 
 cording to the obliging Words of 
 the late R O Y A L Promife, be not 
 only in a Safe, but like wife in a 
 Flourifhing Condition. 
 
 That
 
 The DEDICATION. vii 
 
 That becoming Zeal which 
 your Grace expreffed againft 
 thofe dangerous Opinions which e- 
 very where fpread and abound, in 
 your excellent Speech at the Open- 
 ing of the Convocation^ as it gave 
 great Satisfaction to all thofe who 
 had the Honour to hear it ; fo it 
 may juftly be looked upon as a 
 certain Indication of your con- 
 tinual Care and Concern for the 
 Advancement of true Piety and 
 Religion among us. 
 . 
 
 That GOD who hath advan- 
 ced your Grace to this high Sta- 
 tion, may long continue you in 
 it, and may profper all your pious 
 Defigns for the promoting his 
 Glory , and the Good of his Church, 
 
 as
 
 viii The DEDICATION. 
 
 as it is the united Prayer of that 
 Great Body of the Clergy 
 placed under your Grace's Ju- 
 rifdi6tion ? fo it is of none more 
 earneftly than of Him who begs 
 Leave to fubfcribe himfelf, 
 
 My LORD, 
 
 Tour G r a c e \r 
 
 Mojl Dutiful and 
 Obedient Servant, 
 
 William Lowth. 
 
 THE
 
 THE 
 
 IX 
 
 PREFACE 
 
 Z E K I E L was a Trophet of the 
 c Prieflly Order, carried away into Ba- 
 bylon with federal other Jews in]z- 
 hoiachin.r Captivity, and therefore 
 dates his Prophecies by the Tears of 
 that Captivity. Clemens Alexandrinus tells us, 
 fome thought him contemporary with Pythagoras, 
 and that they had converfed together in Babylon, 
 Strom, lib. i. n. 15. This Opinion he rejecJs as 
 inconfiftent with the Age of Pythagoras, whom he 
 fuppofes to have flourished about the 6 2d Olym- 
 piad, ibid. n. 21. which was near 60 Tears after 
 Ezckiel was carried into Babylon. The late learn- 
 ed Bishop of Worcefter, in his Chronological Ac- 
 
 a count
 
 The P R E F A C E. 
 
 count of Pythagoras % Life, fuppofes him born a- 
 bont nine Tears after EzekicrV corning to Babylon, 
 and that Pythagoras himfelf came to Babylon at 
 eighteen Tears of Age -, but there is no Proof that 
 ever he comer fed with Ezekiel. Though it ap- 
 pears by the Teftimony tf/Hcrmippus, in Jofcphus, 
 jib. i. cont. Appion. n. 22. that he had Conver- 
 f at ion withfo?ne]zv/s ; and learned Men have ob- 
 ferved, that there is great Refemblance between 
 fever al of his Symbols, and fome of the precepts 
 of the J ewifh Law. 
 
 But whatever became of Pythagoras, the Ac- 
 counts of whofe Life are very uncertain : It is 
 certain that Ezckiel, being at Babylon, directed 
 many of his Prophecies to his Fellow Exiles there, 
 whoj as St. Jerom obferves in his Preface to Eze- 
 kiel, repined at their Ill-Fortune, and thought 
 their Countrymen, who remained in Judea, in a 
 ?nuch better Condition than themj elves. The 'Pro- 
 phet with Regard to thofe Circumftances fets be- 
 fore their Eyes that terrible Scene of Calamities 
 which God would bring upon Judea and Jem fa- 
 lem, which fhould end in the utter T^eftrutlion of 
 the City and Temple. He recounts the heinous Pro- 
 vocations of the Jews, which brought down thefe 
 heavy Judgments upon them, in ftrong and live- 
 ly Colours ; his Stile exactly anfwering the Cha- 
 racter
 
 The PREFACE. xi 
 
 racier the Greek Rhetoricians give of that Tart 
 of Oratory they call Aelvwais, which Qiiintilian 
 defines to be Oratio quse rebus afperis, indignis & 
 invidiofo vim addit, lib. vi. cap. 3 . its Troperty 
 being to aggravate Things in them/elves monftrous 
 and odious, and reprefent them with great Force 
 and Efficacy of Expreffion. For the fame Reafon 
 Rapin, in his Treatife of Eloquence, calls Eze- 
 kicl's Style Je Terrible, as having fomething in it 
 that fir ikes the Reader with an Holy Thread and 
 Aft oni foment. j^ 
 
 Jofephus lib. x. Antiq. cap. 6. divides this Tro- 
 phecy into two Books ; but it is generally fuppo fed > 
 that he took that Tart of the Trophecy which 
 contains a ^Defcription of the Temple, beginning 
 at the XLth Chapter, for a diftint~l Book from 
 the reft, as treating altogether of a different Sub" 
 jecJ. 
 
 St. Jerom hath more than once obferved } ( a ) 
 that the Beginning and latter Tart of this Tro- 
 phecy is more than ordinary difficult and obfeure, 
 and may juftly be reckoned among the AwrvoWTa, 
 or Things in Scripture which are Hard to be un- 
 derftood. To contribute what I could to the clear- 
 
 (a) Pratfat. in Ezek. & in Prolog. Galeato, 
 
 tng
 
 xii The P R E F A C E. 
 
 big of thefe 'Difficulties, I have took the Liberty 
 of transferring into the following Commentary 
 whatever I thought ufeful for that Turpofe in the 
 elaborate Work of Villalpandus, a Book which is 
 in very few Hands ; and in the later Obferva- 
 tions of Bcrnardus L'Amy, in his learned Book 
 de Tabernaculo Foederis. 
 
 But I muft not conceal the kind AJfiftance I 
 have received upon this and former Occafions, 
 from that Great Majler of 'Divine and Human 
 Learning, the Right Reverend Father in GOD; 
 E T> IV A R T), Lord Bifhop of Coventry and 
 Lichfield ; and I gladly embrace the Opportu- 
 nity of making my grateful Acknowledgments to 
 his Lordship in this Tublick Manner, for his- 
 many and conflant Favours. 
 
 A Com-
 
 ( • ) 
 
 A 
 
 COMMENTARY 
 
 O N T H E 
 
 Prophecy of EZEKIEL 
 
 t&®&&.&^&SX£&£G^ 
 
 CHAP. I. 
 
 The firfi Chapter contains a Defcription of God's 
 Appearing in a Glorious manner to Ezekiel, in . 
 order to the giving him a Commijjion to execute 
 the Prophetical Office. 
 
 Ver. ic ffiSSSl O ^ ** came t0 P a f s ~] The ^ e - Verfe r. 
 brew Text reads, And it came 
 to pafs, but it is ufual in that 
 Language to begin a Difcourfe 
 
 or Book with the Particle Vauox and\ Seejotiab 
 
 B Lit
 
 z ^Commentary 
 
 Chapter i. i. and the beginning of molt of the Hiflorical 
 J. Books of the Old Teftament ^ which Particle is ve- 
 V>^V>w/ ry properly tranflated in thofe places, Sow it 
 came to pafs : So that there is no ground for the 
 Fancy of Spinoza, who would conclude from 
 hence that this Book of E&ekiel is but a Fragment 
 of a larger Book, and contained feveral Prophecies, 
 now loft, which were in order of time before thofe 
 fet down in thefe and the following Chapters. 
 
 Ibid. In the Thirtieth Tear"] It is a great Queftion 
 from whence this Computation of Time commences 
 The molt probable Anfwers are ^ firlt that of Scalu 
 per, who fuppofes this Thirtieth Year to be meant 
 of the Years of Nabupola/fars Reign : who, as he 
 tells us from Berofus, quoted by Jofephus, l.i. Contr, 
 App, reigned 29 Years compleat : So the Thirti- 
 eth Year, here mentioned, was the lad Year of his 
 Reign and Life: And is likewifethe 13th Year cur- 
 rent of his Son Nabuchadne&zars Reign, who 
 reigned fo many Years together with his Father. 
 See Scaligers Canon I/agog. p. 281. 294. his Pro- 
 legom, ad Lib, de emend, Temporum j and his Notes 
 on the Greek Fragments, at the end of thofe Books. 
 
 But there is one confiderable Objeclion againft 
 this Opinion of Scaliger, that according to Berofus's 
 Account, as his words are quoted in another place 
 of Jofephus, Antiq, 1. x. c. ii. Nabupolaffar reigned 
 only 21 Years, the Greek Text reading by a little 
 Variation, tutcai i? for luyoi twice. Which is the fame 
 number of Years affigned to Nabupolaffar in the 
 uEra Nabonaffari, and agrees better with Berofus's 
 own ftory, viz, that when he had committed the 
 command of the Army to his Son, and fent him on 
 
 an
 
 upon E Z EKIEL ^ 
 
 an Expedition to Syria and Phoenicia, he died in a Chapter 
 Ihort time after. . j # 
 
 Villalpandus in like manner makes this Computa- 
 tion to commence from the beginning of Nabupo- 
 laffars Reign : See his Commentary upon Ezek. xl. 
 i. He allows 19 Years for his Reign diftin&from 
 that of his Son, and fuppofes Nebuchadnezzar to 
 reign two Years with his Father ^ which indeed a- 
 grees with the Scripture Computation. See the 
 Note on Jer. xxv. 1. But according to that very 
 Account, the 5th Year of Jehoiakhis Captivity will 
 be coincident with the 13th Year of Nebuchad?iez- 
 zars Reign. For the 19th Year of the fame Reign 
 is affigned for the Deftru&ion of Jerufalem^ Jer. 
 lii. 12. which was about fix Years afterwards. So 
 this Computation will make Jehoiakinis Captivity 
 to have happened not in the 30th, but in the 32d. 
 Year, reckoning fromthe beginning of Nabu/o- 
 lajfar's Reign. 
 
 A more probable Anfwer to this difficulty is 
 that which the Chaldee Paraphrajl, Arch-Bifhop 
 Ufber A. M. 3409. Dr. VrideauxzA an. A. C. 594. 
 and other Learned Men follow, viz, that thefe 
 Thirty Years are to be reckoned from the time 
 when Jofiah and all the People of Judah entred 
 into that folemn Covenant mentioned^ 2 Kings xxii. 
 3. which was in the 18th Year of Jofiah, Ibid, 
 from which time the fame Learned Writers com- 
 pute the 40 Years of Judah's Tranfgrellion, men- 
 tioned Chap. iv. 6. 
 
 Ibid. As I was among the Captives by the River 
 Chebai] Thofe which were carried away with Je- 
 hoiakin, King of Judah ^ fee the next Verfe. Thefe 
 were placed in Towns or Villages that lay upon 
 the River Chebar in Mefopctamia^ called by Ptolemy 
 B 2 and
 
 4- ^Commentary 
 
 Chapter and Strabo 7 Chaboras or Aboras y and by Pliny Lib. 
 
 I. I. c. xxvi. Cobaris. 
 o**v>0 Ver. 2. Which was in the Fifth Tear of Jehoia- 
 Verfe 2, £zVs Captivity] This was coincident with the Thir- 
 teenth Year of Nebuchadnezzar's Reign : For Je- 
 hoiakin was carried Captive in the Eighth Year of 
 his Reign :, fee 2 Kings xxiv. 12. the Hebrew Wri- 
 ters ufe feveral Computations of the beginning of the 
 Babylonifl Captivity: fee the Note upon J-erem. xxv. 
 1 1 .That under Jehoiakin^ wherein Ezekiel was made 
 a Captive, is the Computation he always follows in 
 the fucceeding parts of his Prophecy - ? fee Chap. 
 viii. 1.. xx. f. xxix 1, 17. xxxi. 1. xxxiii. 1. xl. 1. 
 Verfe 3. Ver. 3. The word of the Lord came exprejly 
 cxc] The word of the Lord fignifies any fort of 
 Revelation, whether by Vifion, fuch as is related 
 in the following Verfes, or by a Voice, as Chap. 
 ii. 3. 
 
 Ibid. And the hand of the Lord was there up- 
 on him~\ He feltfenfible Impreflions of God's pow- 
 er and Spirit. Compare Chap. iii. 14, 22. viii. 1. 
 xxviii. 1. xl. 1. i Kings xviii. 46.2 Kings iii. 15. 
 Verfe 4. Ver. 4. And I looked, and behold a Whirlwind 
 came out of the North] God's Anger and Judgments 
 are often compared to a Whirlwind ^ fee If a. xx ; . j. 
 Jerem. xxiii. 19. xxv. 32. Pfal. Iviii. 9. it isdefcri- 
 bed here as coming out of the North, becaufe of the 
 Northerly Situation of Babylon with refpect toju- 
 dea. Compare Jer. i. 13. iv. 6. vi. 1. and Chap. 
 xliii. 3. of this Prophecy. 
 
 Ibid. A great Cloud, and a Fire infoldi?ig itfelf 
 and a brightnefs was about it] The divine Pre fence 
 is ufually defcribed in Scripture, as a bright Light 
 or flaming Fire breaking out of a thick Cloud j fee 
 
 PfiL
 
 upon EZ BK I E L. 
 
 Pfah xviii. 2. 1. 3. xcviii. 2, 3. God alfo is defcribed Chapter 
 as & con fuming Fire, when he comes to execute his I. 
 judgment upon Sinners, Deut. iv. 24. Compare <^~*~^> 
 ver. 13. of this C/?#/>, Fire infolding it felf, is the 
 fame as appearing in folds, like one wreath within 
 another. 
 
 Ibid. And out of the midft thereof as the colour 
 of Amber] Compare Chap. viii. 2. Fire rekmbles the 
 colour of Amber, efpecially the lower Parts of it : 
 So in that Vifion of Chrift, defcribed Rev. i. 13. 
 &C. 'tis faid ver. 1 5. that his Feet, or lower parts, 
 were like unto fine Brafs, or rather unto Amber, as 
 Dr. Hammond rightly explains the Word ^AxoA/- 
 
 /3a vQ-» 
 
 -Ver. 5* Alfo out of the midfl thereof came the like-Vzxfe 5. 
 nefs of four living creatures'] Compare Rev. iv. 6. 
 where our Engliih Tranflation improperly renders 
 the word Zwa Beafts, whereas it mould be rendred 
 living Creatures, the better to diftinguifh them from 
 the Antic hriflian Be aft always expreffed in that 
 Book by Bw^'or. Thefe living Creatures were four 
 Cherubims that carried or fupported God's Throne 
 in the following Vifion : It may be in allufion to 
 the Triumphal Chariots of the Eailern Kings, which 
 were drawn by feveral forts of Beads ^ the Cheru- 
 bims as they were placed in the Temple being called 
 God's Chariot, 1 ChroniXXviu. 18. 
 
 Ibid. They had the likenefs of a Man"] Their 
 fhape was erect like the form of a Man. 
 
 Ver. 6. And every one had four Faces'] Of a Man, Verfe 6+ 
 of a Lion, of an Cxe, and of an Eagle, ver. ic. each 
 of .them refembled the Cherubims, which oversha- 
 dowed the mercy feat in the Temple^ fee Chap. x. 
 20. The Jewilh Tabernacle was a pattern of Hea- 
 venly
 
 6 ^ Commentary 
 
 Chapter venly things, Heb. viii. 5. Wifd. ix. 8. and the In- 
 I. campment of the 12 Tribes about the Tabernacle 
 
 Lx"V^s^ in the Wildernefs, was a reprefentation of the An- 
 gelical Miniftry about the Throne of God in Hea- 
 ven. So there is an Analogy between the Cheru- 
 bims, as they attended the Divine Prefence in the 
 Holieft of all, and as here defcribed, in a Figure of 
 their Heavenly Miniftry, and the body of the 
 Jetvifh Nation placed round about the Taberna- 
 cle, and divided into four Standards, and a feve- 
 ral Enfign allotted to each Standard, as you may 
 read AW. xi.2, 3, 10. 18. 25. What thofe Enfigns 
 were, that Text does not exprefs j but the Jewiih 
 Writers unanimoufly maintain that they were a 
 Lion for the Tribe of Judah , An Oxe for the Tribe 
 of Ephraim } a Man for the Tribe of Reuben, and 
 an Eagle for the Tribe of Dan, under which variety 
 each of thefe four Cherubims is here reprefented. 
 Compare Rev. iv. 7. Here likewife may be an Allu- 
 fion to the four Cherubims in Solomons Temple : 
 For re placed two others of larger Dimenfions ^ 
 one on each fide of the Ark and of the two Che- 
 rubims, which Mofes had placed in the Taberna- 
 cle. Compare 1 Kings vi. 24. with Exod, xxv. 17, 
 
 20. 
 
 ibid. And every one had four Wings'] See ver. ti. 
 
 y r Ver. 7. And their Feet were Jlreight Feet~] Like 
 
 a Man's, without fuch a middle joint as Beafts 
 
 have, the ufe of which is to fecure them againfi 
 
 rinefs j to denote their fteadinefs and refoiuti- 
 
 on in executing all God's Commands. 
 
 \. The fole of their Feet was like the Sole of 
 
 a ( ' // ' s i' r of) A Creature remarkable for its tread- 
 
 : and lure. Thefe living Creatures are a 
 
 fort
 
 upon EZ EK^IE L. 1 
 
 fort of Hicroglyphicks made up of feveral fhapes, Chapter 
 but yet they referabled mod that of an Oxe or a I. 
 Calf j and therefore were called Cherubims^ that ^-^v^o 
 word fignifyingan Oxe ^ in which fenfe it is taken, 
 Chap, x. 14. of this Prophecy, where the Face of 
 a Cherub is equivalent to the Face of an Oxe; at 
 the 10. ver. ot this Chapter* 
 
 Ibid. And they fparkled like the colour of humi- 
 fied Br afs~] Compare Da?i,x. 6, ReveL i. 15. The 
 appearance of their Feet was bright and flaming j 
 fee ver, 13. and Pfal, civ. 4. The Seraphims 
 have that name from their bright and flaming Co- 
 lour. 
 
 Ver. 8. And they had the hands of a Man under Verfe 8* 
 their Wings'] Compare Chap, x. 8. If a, vi. 6. This 
 denotes the prudence and dexterity of their ma- 
 nagement : The Hand being peculiar to Mankind 
 among all living Creatures, and the chief Inftru- 
 ment of a 1 Artificial Operations. 
 
 Ibid, They four had their Faces and their Win gs~\ 
 They had all the fame Appearances and Proporti- 
 ons : or, had Wings equal to their Faces. 
 
 Ibid. Their Wings were joyned one to another"] 
 See ver, 11. 
 
 Ibid. They turned not when they went] They 
 needed not to turn their Bodies, that their Faces 
 might fland th^ way they were to go-, for go which 
 way they would, they had a Face that looked that 
 way. This fignifies that nothing ever diverted 
 them from fulfilling God's Commands ^ fee the 
 Note on Chap, x. 11. where thefe living Creatures 
 are reprefetited as coming near to a fquare Figure, 
 which is equal on all (ides, the Emblem of Firmnefs 
 and Conftancy. 
 
 • Ver. 10.
 
 8 ^Commentary 
 
 Chapter Ver. 10. They four had the Face of a Man, and 
 1. of a Lion on the right fide, dcc.~] See the Note on 
 
 c^~vr\_j ver. 6. Grotius and Villalpandus by the word Face 
 
 Verfe 10. underftand the fhape cr appearance, and explain the 
 words to this fenfe : That thefe living Creatures 
 were like a Man with refped: to their vifage, or 
 their upper parts ^ they refembled a Lion with re- 
 fpect to their back parts } their Wings were like 
 the Wings of an Eagle, and their Feet like thofe 
 of an Ox. But this Exposition does not well agree 
 with what is faid here, that the Face of the Lion 
 was on the right fide, and that of the Ox on the 
 left : Or as Caflellio translates it, and I think to 
 a better and clearer fenfe, that the face of the Man 
 and the Lion were on the right fide, and the Face of 
 the Ox and Eagle on the left. And by comparing 
 the feveral parrs of this Defcription, their Figure 
 may be rather concluded to be Quadruple j and as 
 the Wheels were made to turn every way, fo the 
 living Creatures could move toward any point 
 without turning about. To fignifie, as I obferved 
 before, the fteadfaftnefs of their motions and pur- 
 pofe.9. Compare ver, 15,19, 20, of this Chapter, 
 with Chap. x. 1 1, <$Cc. 
 
 Verfe 11. Ver. 11. Their Wi?igs wereflretched upwards] In 
 a pofture of flying, to (how their readinefs to exe- 
 cute God's Commands. Compare ver. 24. with Chap. 
 x. 16. or they were flretched to cover their Faces, 
 as the \' Seraphim s are reprefented, Ifa. v-i. 2. Com- 
 pare ver. 23., of this Chapter. Some translate the 
 former part of the Verfe thus: Their Faces and 
 their Wings were flretched npward,to denote a pof- 
 ture of attention, and as if they were hearhiing to 
 the voice of God's Word, as the Angels are repre- 
 fented, Ffal. ciii. 20. Ibid.
 
 upon EZ EK^IBL. 9 
 
 Ibid. Two Wings of every one were joyned one to Chapter 
 another] Being thus ftretched out, they touched I. 
 one another, or the Wings of one living Creature w-^v\j 
 touched thofe of another, as the Wings of the 
 Cherubims did over the Mercy-Seat j fee i Kings 
 vi. 27. 
 
 Ibid. And two covered their Bodies'] See Ifa. vi. 
 2. Grotius upon ver. 6. of this Chapter, afligns a 
 Reafon why in that Text of Ifa. and Rev. iv. 6. 
 each Seraphim hath fix Wings alijgned him, where- 
 as the Jiving Creatures here have but Four, viz. 
 The Seraphims in thefe Texts make ufe of two of 
 their Wings to cover their Faces out of Reverence 
 to the Divine Prefence, before which they fland j 
 whereas here the living Creatures are fuppofed to 
 ftand under the Throne, as fupporting it j compare 
 Chap.x. 19. 
 
 Ver. 12. And they went every one firaight for* 
 ward] fee ver. 9. 
 
 Ibid. Whither the Spirit was to go, there they 
 went] that is, that Spiritual or Angelical Power, 
 which was the principle of all their Motions y fee 
 ver. 2C. 
 
 Ibid. And they turned not as they went] fee ver. 1 7. 
 
 Ver. 13. Their Appearance was like Burning* erfe 13. 
 Coals of Fire, &c.~| The Angels are always defcri- 
 bed of a bright and flaming Colour ^ fee ver. 4, 7. 
 But here the Coals of Fire and the Lightning break- 
 ing forth out of the Fire, denote God's Vengeance 
 coming in Flaming Fire to deflroy the City and 
 Temple of Jeritfalem^ compare Chap. x. 2. BfaL 
 xviii. Revel, iv. 12, 5. 
 
 Ver. 14. And the. living Creatures ran and re-VcviC 14. 
 turned, as the Appearance of Lightning] The fwift- 
 C nefs
 
 io ^Commentary 
 
 Chapter nefs of their Motions every way refembled the 
 
 I. Flafhes of Lightning:, compare Matth. xxiv. 27. 
 
 ^*sy^j Zech. iv. 10. 
 
 Verfe 15. y er# ^ j ?J6 j behold one Wheel [or the fame fort 
 
 of Wheel] upon the Earth by the living Creatures ^ 
 with his four faces'] or^on his four fides y that is, on 
 the four fides or Faces of the fquare Body as it flood : 
 So that a Wheel was before every one of the living 
 Creatures on the outlide of the Square. So Dr. 
 Lightfoot expounds the Words, in his Defiription 
 of the Temple, Chap, xxxviii. The Sentence may 
 be tranilated thus : Behold one Wheel upon Earth 
 by the living Creatures to each of the Creatures with 
 the four Faces j fo the word hearbang is ufed ver.. 
 ic. The word Wheel is certainly ufed Collectively 
 for each Wheel : As the Cherub Hands for Cheru- 
 bims, Chap. ix. 3. x. 4. and Living Creature figni- 
 fies the four living Creatures, ibid. ver. 15, 19. 
 That there were four Wheels, according to the 
 number of the living Creatures, is plain by com- 
 paring this Verfe with the 16 and 19 j and with 
 Chap. x. 9. The Wheels are reprefented here as 
 ftanding upon the Earth, or near the Earth : At 
 other times they appear'd as being lifted up above 
 it j, fee ver* 20, 21. and Chap. x. 17. 
 Yerfe 16. Ver. 16. The Appearance of the Wheels was like 
 unto the Colour of a Beryl] Azure, the Colour of 
 the Sky, mixed with a bright Green ; compare Dan. 
 
 x. 6. 
 
 Ibid. Their Appearance and their Work was as it 
 were a Wheel in the middle of a Wheel] as it were 
 one Wheel put crofs within another, like two Cir- 
 cles in a Sphere cutting one another at right An- 
 gles j to fignify the Stability and Uniformity of 
 
 their
 
 upon E Z EK.1 E L n 
 
 their Motions, and the fubferviency of one part of Chapter 
 Providence to another j fee the following Verfe, I. 
 and the Note upon ver* 9. i*>fv~>o 
 
 Ver. 17. When they went, they went upon their ^ er f e *• 
 four fide i] Each Wheel confided of four Semicir- 
 cles, eroding one another, as appears by the fore- 
 going Verfe, and each of thein had its proper 
 Motion. 
 
 Ibid. They returned not when they went] They ne- 
 ver went backward^ fee Chap. x. 11. to (ignify 
 that Providence doth nothing in vain, but always 
 accomplices its Ends: So God fpeaks of his Word 
 and Decree, If a. lv. 11. It flail not return unto me 
 void, but fli all accompli fl that which I pleafe. To 
 return by the way that he went, is a Proverbial 
 Speech fignifying a Man's miffing his aim, or not 
 accomplishing |his defignsj fee 1 Kings xiii. 9. 
 2, Kings xix. 33, 
 
 Ver. 1 8 As for their rings [or ftrakes] they were y c « 
 fo high -that they were dreadfully their Circumfe- 
 rence was fo vail as to caufe a Terrour in the Pro- 
 phet that beheld them : To fignify the vaft com- 
 pafs of Providence which reacheth from one end to 
 another mightily, Wifd. viii. 1. or as St. Prfz//expref- 
 feth it, the Heighth and Depth both of the Wifdom 
 and Knowledge of God, how unfearchable his "Judg- 
 ments are^ and his ways pafl finding out, Rom. xi. 33. 
 Dr. Lightfoot tranflates it, And they were Reverend, 
 that is, they were obfervant of that Prefence and 
 Glory upon which they waited, and watchfull to 
 obey it's Commands. 
 
 Ibid. And their Rijigs were full of Byes, about 
 thefe four] and fo were alfo the living Creatures 
 themfelves ^ compare Chap. x. 12. to (ignify that all 
 
 C 2 the
 
 iz J Commentary 
 
 Chapter the Motions of Providence are direded by a con- 
 
 I. fuminate W if dam and forelight. To the fame fenfe 
 
 l-^v^o the Angels who are the Inftruments of Providence, 
 
 are called the Eyes of the Lord, Zech. iv. 10. 
 
 Rev. v. 6. 
 
 v - Ver. 19, 20, 21. And when the living Creatures 
 
 Verle 1 9> went ^ the Wheels went by them 6Cc«] Both the living 
 
 20,21. Creatures and the Wheels were animated by the 
 
 fame Principle of Understanding and Motion, to 
 
 fignify, with what Readinefs and Alacrity all the 
 
 Inftruments of Providence concurr in carrying on 
 
 its great defigns and purpofes ^ compare Chap, x. 
 
 16, 17. 
 
 Ver. 20. The Wheels were lifted up over again ft 
 them] That is, the Wheels, which were placed juft 
 by them jfee ver. 15, 19. The word Leummatbatn 
 is rend red befides them. Chap.x. 19. xi. 22. 
 
 Ibid. For the Spirit of the living Creatures was in 
 the Wheels] that is, the Spirit of each living Crea- 
 ture, as the Word is ufed in the 22 ver. 
 _. r Ver, 22. And the likenefs of the Firmament upon 
 
 vrete 2 . ^ jj ea j s fth e U v i n g Creatures , was as the Colour 
 of the terrible Cryftal] Over the heads of all the li- 
 ving Creatures,or of this whole virion of living Crea^ 
 tures ( compare Chap. x. 1^, 20.) was the like- 
 nefs of a clear Sky or Firmament, where the 
 divine Glory appear'd as upon a Throne - fee ver. 
 26. and. Chap. x. 1. and compare Rev. iv. 2, 9. By 
 the terrible Cryft a /is meant fuch as dazles the Eyes 
 with its Luftre. 
 Verfe 23. Ver 2 3 . And under the Firmament were their Wings 
 Jlraight.] The Senfe is the fame with that of 
 Verfe 11. denoting that two of the Wings of 
 each living Creature were ftretcht upward, out 
 
 of
 
 tfon E Z E K I EL 15 
 
 of Reverenc e to the Divine Prefence, or to exprefs Chapter 
 their Readinefs to obey his Commands : See ver. I. 
 11. and 24, and with the two other they covered i^orv^ 
 their Bodies. 
 
 Verfe 24. And when they went, I heard the «0i/£ Verfe 2 4, 
 of their wings like the noife of many Waters, dec] 
 To denote the Terriblenefs of the Judgments 
 which they were to execute upon Jernfalem, and 
 the whole Jewilh Nation. Compare Chap-, xiiii. . 
 2. Dan.x, 6. Rev. i. 1 5. ; 
 
 ibid. A's the Voice of the Almighty v] It refem- 
 bled great and dreadful Thunder. Compare Job 
 xxxvii. 4, 5. Pf. xxix, 3. lxviii. 33. .St. Jero7n,'m 
 his Note upon the Place, tells us, ,1 hat the LXX. 
 translate thefe Words Qwvm lu Aoyv, The Voice of 
 the Aoyos, or Second Perfon in the BlefTed Trinity : 
 which Words are now in the Alexandrian Copy. 
 The Vatican Copy is defective,but the Alexandrian 
 
 Copy runs tllUS I &>s tyooi/riv 'iy.ce.ii* it TZ^\7ropevsSa.i ccvlcc 
 
 ^w^ ra AoV« as (pwvrilris <7Kip€{Afio?\7is. As the Voice 
 of the Almighty. When they went [there was^ the 
 Voice of Speech, like the Voice of an Hofl. This 
 Reading fhews that the LXX. defigned to tranflate 
 the following Words by qm » tv hdyv,, where we 
 read, The Voice of Speech : and then the Word 
 Key os may probably be taken in its ordinary Sig- 
 nification : Though we may certainly conclude, 
 that this was the Appearance of the Second Perfon 
 of the Bleiled Trinity, both becaufe he appears 
 under the Refemblance of a Man, Verfe 26. and 
 from what hath been faid upon this Subject in 
 the Note upon lfaiah, vi. 1. 
 
 Ibid. The Voice of Speech, like the noife of ani 
 Hofl.] Like the confufed Murmur of an Army f 
 
 either.
 
 i a. ^Commentary 
 
 Chapter ] either to denote the Army of the Babylonians that 
 I. fhould befiege the City, or to hgnify the Angels, 
 
 C*ors^ who are called God's Hod. 
 
 Ibid. And when they flood, they let down their 
 wings.] They put themfelves in a Poflure of heark- 
 ening to God's Voice y and as it were quietly 
 waiting to receive his Commands. See the next 
 Verfe. 
 
 Verfe 25. Ver. 2?. And there was a voice from the firma- 
 ment when they flood.] The Vulgar Latin renders 
 it, When there was a voice they flood: in an at- 
 tentive Pofture. Compare Pfahn ciii. 20. 
 
 Verfe 26. Ver. 26. And above the firmament was the like- 
 nefs of a throne, as the appearance of a fapphire- 
 flone.~\ God is defcribed in Scripture, as dwelling 
 in light, and cloathing himfelf with it. Compare 
 Exod. xxiv. 10. Rev. iv. 2, 3. Pfahn civ. 2. 1 Tim* 
 vi. 16. So the Throne of God here defcribed was 
 made up of Light, refembling the Colours and 
 Brightnefs of a Sapphire. 
 
 Ibid. And upon the likenefs of the throne was 
 the likenefs as oflthe appearance of a man above np~ 
 on it] When Mofes and the Elders faw the God of 
 Ifrael, Exod. xxiv. 8. or the Glory of God, as the 
 Targum explains it, they faw no determinate 
 Figure, but an inconceivably refpiendent Bright- 
 ness, that they might not think God could be re- 
 prefented by any Image, Beta. iv. 16. But in this 
 Vifion, the Form and Shape of a Man is directly 
 reprefented to Ezekiel, as a VrAudium or Figure 
 of the Incarnation, fee the Note on Jerem. i. 4. 
 
 y n Ver. 27. And 1 faw as the colour of Amber, as 
 
 the appearance of Eire round about within it, <3cc] 
 The upper part of this Appearance was of an Am- 
 ber
 
 upon E Z E K^l E L. if 
 
 ber Colour outwardly, but appeared more flaming Chapter 
 inwardly , the lower part of a deeper Red, en- I. 
 compailcd with a bright Flame, to reprefent God's 
 coming to take Vengeance of the Jews. See the 
 Notes on Verfe 4. 
 
 In mod of our Englim Bibles the Stops are pla- 
 ced wrong in this Verfe j whereas the whole 
 Verfe fhould be pointed thus, And I faw as the 
 colour of Amber, as the appearance of fire round 
 about within it, from the appearance of his loyns 
 even upwards, and from the appearance of his loyns 
 even downwards, I faw as it were the appearance 
 of Fire, Sec,"] The Words mould be thus pointed, 
 as appears by comparing them with Chap. viii. 
 2. 
 
 Ver. 28. As. the appearance of the Cloud, See] Verfe 28. 
 The Light reflected from this Vifion had the ap- 
 pearance of a Rainbow, a Token of God's Cove- 
 nant of Mercy, Gen, ix. 11, &c. to denote that 
 God in the midft of Judgment would remember 
 Mercy, and not utterly deftroy his People, Com- 
 pare Revel, iv. 3. Efpecially this Vifion being an 
 evident Reprefentation of the WORD that was to 
 be made Flejh, whofe Incarnation is the Founda- 
 tion of God's Covenant of Mercy with Man- 
 kind ^ a Rainbow, the Symbol and Token of 
 Mercy was a very fit Attendant upon that Glo- 
 rious Vifion. Compare Revel, x. 1. 
 
 Ibid. This was the appearance of the likenefs 
 of the Glory of the LORD"] This is a Defcrip- 
 tion of that Glorious Vifion wherein God ap- 
 peared, and whereby he made manifeft his Attri- 
 butes and Perfections. 
 
 Mi:
 
 A C 
 
 OMMENTARY 
 
 Ibid. And when I faw it, 1 fell upon my FaceJ\ 
 Asftruck down with Fear and Aftonifhment, com- 
 pare Cjiap. xi. 2. iii. 23. Dan. viii. 17. Revel. L 
 1 7. Proftration was alfo a Pofture of Adoration 
 ufed upon any Token of the Divine Prefence* 
 SecGe?i. xvii. 3. Nitmb. xiv. 5* xvi. 4. 
 
 CHAP.
 
 upon EZEKIEL. 
 
 17 
 
 Chapter 
 II. 
 
 CHAP. II. 
 
 The Argument. 
 
 This Chapter contains Ezekiel'j" Commijfion for ex- 
 ecuting his Trophetical Office, and Iufiruclions 
 given him for the difcharge of it, 
 
 y er « I- IBSEfflfi^a|A^ D he [aid unto me, Son 0/Ver. i, 
 
 Man.~\ This Expreflion is com- 
 monly underftood to fignify 
 the fame with a common and 
 ordinary Man, as it is ufually 
 expounded in that Text, TJal. viii. 4. What is 
 Man that thou art mindful of him, or the Son of 
 Man that thou vifiteft him ? So here moil: Commen- 
 tators underftand it as applied to the Prophet, to 
 put him in Mind of his Frailty and Mortality, and 
 of the infinite Diftance between God and Man. 
 In which fenfe it is fuppos'd to be taken when fpo- 
 ken of Chrift in the New Teftament, implying 
 his great Humility in afTuming our Nature, and 
 appearing no other wife than an ordinary Man: 
 
 D And
 
 1 8 A Commentary 
 
 Chapter And (6 the Hebrew Phrafe 'Ben eAdam is plainly 
 II. ufed when it is oppofed to "Ben JJIj ; and is rightly 
 C/^v°0 tranflated Men of low degree, or mean Men : Tfal. 
 Ixix. 2. I/a. ii. 9. 
 
 But ibme Criticks have obferved that the 
 Phrafe Son of Man is likewife taken for a Man of 
 Dignity or Character, as in Tfal. lxxx. 17. The 
 Man of thy Right Hand, and the Son of Man whom 
 thou madeft j'o firong for thy J elf And Pjal. cxlvi. 
 g. Tut not your truft in Trinces, nor in the Son of 
 Man in whom there is no help. And there is no 
 incongruity in fuppofing that Chrift himfelf may 
 be called the Son of Man >&t s^x^j by way of 
 Eminence, as a Title denoting him to be that great 
 Perfon whom God promifed to raife up to be a 
 Trince aud a Saviour of his People. And fo the 
 Title of Son of Man may be given to the Prophet 
 in the Text, as one fet apart for the Prophetical 
 Office : in like manner as Daniel is called Son of 
 Man, Chap. viii. 17. who in the next Chapters hath 
 the Title of a Man greatly beloved. Chap. ix. 23. 
 x. 11. 
 
 Ibid. Stand upon thy Feet."] Put thy felf into a 
 Pofture of attending to what I fay : See Ver. 2. 
 and compare Daniel x. 11. 
 Ver. 2. Ver. 2. <And the Sprit entred into me, &c.] 
 
 God's Spirit revived me and gave me new Life 
 and Vigour, that I could attend to what was faid 
 unto me. See the Note on Chap. iii. 24. and com- 
 pare Ver. 1 2, and 1 4. of that Chapter. 
 Ver. j. Ver. 5. To a releUiom Nation^ The Hebrew 
 Word is Goiitn, Nations, the Word which is 
 commonly ufed to denote the Heathens, intimating 
 that the Jews had out done the wickednefs of the 
 Heathens. See Chap. v. 6, 7. Ver.
 
 upon EZEKIEL. 19 
 
 Ver. 4. For they are impudent Children and Chapter 
 ft ijf -hearted."] The Original might be more figni- II. 
 ficantly rend red, They are Children Impudent in L/WJ 
 their Count enarice, and hardened in their Hearts. * er * 4* 
 They are fo far harden'd in Wickednefs as to have 
 caft off all Shams, and even the very outward 
 Shew of Modefty. 
 
 Ver. 5. oAnd they, whether they will hear, 0r\r er , # 
 whether they will forbear, ffjall know that there 
 hath been a Trophet among them.~\ Whether they 
 will regard what is faid by thee or not : See Chap. 
 iii. 27. Yet the Event anfwering thy Predictions 
 fhall render thy Authority unqueftionable, and 
 them inexcufable for not hearkening to the Warn- 
 ings thou haft given them. See Chap, xxxiil. 33. 
 
 Ver. 6. oAnd thou Son of Man be not afraid 0/Ver. d. 
 them J] The Prophets and MeiTengers of God are 
 often exhorted to take Courage, and are promifed 
 a proportionable Afliftance in the difcharge of 
 their Office without fearing any Man's Perfon, 
 or ftanding in awe of any Man's Greatnefs. See 
 Chap. iii. 8, 9. Jerem. i. 8, 18. Mat. x. 28. Such a 
 prefence of Mind is exprefled by n<#rw» Tioldnefs 
 in the New Teftament, and is fpoken of as a pe- 
 culiar Gift beftowed upon the firft Preachers of the 
 Gofpel. See oAH iv. 1$, 29. Eph. vi. 19. Thil.L 
 20. called the Spirit of Might, or Courage, Col.'u 
 1 1. 2 Tim. i. 7. And they had need of great Pre- 
 fence of Mind who were to reprove Men hardened 
 in Sin, who are always impatient of Reproof, and 
 become the Enemies of thofe who tell them fuch 
 Truths as they have no Mind to hear. 
 
 Ibid. Tho* 'Briars and Thorns be with thee.~\ 
 Such as ftudy to vex and torment thee : Comp. 
 
 D 2 Micah
 
 2o A Commentary 
 
 Chapter \Hc<?h\\[. 4. The Prophets often denote the Wic" 
 {|. kcd by Briars and Thorns. See the Note on 
 L/"VNJ Ij'a. i\." iS. ■ 
 
 ]. cAnd thou dofl dwell among Scorpions.'] 
 Who woul 1 Ring thee to Death, and are as veno^ 
 mous as the worn: of Serpents : Compare Mat. iii. 
 7. xxiii. ??. 
 
 Ibid. '£>V not afraid of their Words, neither he 
 difmajed at their Looks.] Be not afraid of their 
 Threats wherewith they would affright thee : 
 neither be afraid of their Looks wherewith they 
 would Brow- beat thee. 
 Ver. 8. Ver. 8. Open thy Mouth, and eat what I give 
 
 thee.'] The Knowledge of Divine Truths is often 
 exprerTed by the Metaphors of bodily Food and 
 Nourishment : See lfa. lv. 1, 2. Joh. vi. 27. So to 
 eat the Words of this Prophecy, fignifles to coitit 
 mit them to Memory, to meditate upon them and 
 digeft them ; Compare Revel, x. 10. 
 Ver. 9. Ver. 9. ISehold an Hand wasfent unto me, Sec] 
 
 I faw a Hand ftretched out toward , me as from 
 that Divine Perfon which appear'd to me in the 
 Shape of a Man, Chap. I 26. Compare Chap. viii. 
 3. Jerem.i. 9. 1)an.x. 10. 
 
 Ibid. <*And lo a Roll of a 'Book was therein.] 
 Wherein was contained the Contents of the fol- 
 lowing Prophecy. Compare Rm v. 1. 
 
 The Antient way of Writing was upon long 
 Scrols of Parchment rolled upon Sticks : See lfa. 
 viii. 1. Jerem. $6. 1. 
 Ver. 10. Ver. 10. oAnd he fpread it before me.] That I 
 might underftand the Contents of it. 
 
 Ibid. oAnd it was written within and without^] 
 It was written on hoth fides, both that which was 
 
 in-
 
 upon EZEKIEL. 
 
 21 
 
 Jnnermoft when it was rolled up, and on the out- Chapter 
 fide alfo. To denote a large Collection of Prophe- IT. 
 eies. Compare Rev. v. i. tyV^ 
 
 Ibid. eAnd there was written therein Lamenta- 
 tions, and Mourning and Woe.~] All the Prophecies 
 contained therein confifted of God's Judgments 
 and Mournful Events, without any mixture of 
 Mercy, at leaft with refpect to the Jews of the 
 prefent Age, 
 
 u 
 
 . 
 
 CHAP 
 
 ±3
 
 22 
 
 A Commentary 
 
 ^^^^•^•^^^•fr^^^^*^**^**^**^*-^-fr*-$--^* 
 
 ^M$M$m$mmi 
 
 
 Chapter 
 
 III. 
 CVNJ 
 
 Ver. J- 
 
 CHAR III. 
 
 The Argument. 
 
 The Trophet hath more -particular InftruBions gi- 
 ven him for the discharge of his Office : and is 
 encouraged to undertake it by a Tromife of God's 
 efpecial oAffiftance. 
 
 Ver. i. Ver. i. 
 Ver. 2. 
 
 <A T this Roll.'] See Chap. if. 
 
 8,9- 
 Ver. 2. So I opened my 
 
 Mouth.] I readily complyed 
 
 \yith God's Command, which 
 
 this Vifion figuratively exprefTed. Compare Jerem. 
 
 xxv. 17. 
 
 Ver. 3. Caufe thy 'Belly to eat y and fill thy 
 
 'Bowels with this RoU.] The Belly often fignifies 
 
 in Scripture the Mind, or fecret Thoughts ; See 
 
 Job xxxii. 18. ¥rov. xviii. 8. xx. 27. John vii. $8. 
 
 So here the Expreflions denote the laying up this 
 
 Prophecy in his Memory. See Ver. 10. and the 
 
 Note on Chap. ii. 8. 
 
 Ibid. It *®>as in my Mouth as Honey for fweet- 
 
 V/j.] I toofc Delight in having God's fecret Coun- 
 
 fels
 
 upon EZEKIEL. 
 
 fels communicated to me, and in delivering his Chapter 
 Commands to my Brethren : and was pleafed III. 
 with the Hopes of being an Inftrument of their L/\*~^J 
 Converfion, and the Amendment offome of them : 
 But yet this Pleafure was afterwards very much 
 allayed by the heavy Tidings I was to be the Mef- 
 fenger of, and the ill Treatment I was to expe£h 
 See Ver. 14. Compare Jer.xv. 16, 17. Rev. x. 10. 
 
 Ver. 5. For thou art not fent to a Teofle of a Ver. 5; 
 /{range Speech.] It would be a great Addition to 
 the Burden of thy Office, if thou wert fent as a 
 Prophet to a Foreign Nation, and to a People 
 whofe Language thou couldft not underftand, nor 
 they thine, as Jonah was. 
 
 Ver. 6. Surely had I fent thee to them, they Ver. 6. 
 would have hearkened unto thee.~\ And yet in all 
 Appearance thofe Strangers would have hearken- 
 ed to thy Preaching fooner than the Houfe oflfrael 
 will, as the Ninevites did to Jonah's. Compare 
 Mat.xii. 41, xi. 21. The Particles Im lo are very 
 -well rend red furely : They are the form of an 
 Oath, the Words, aAs I live, being under/rood. 
 Compare Chap. v. 11. xvii. 19. Nuwb.x1v.2S. 
 
 Ver. 7. For they *uoill twt hearken unto me.~\ Ver. 7.' 
 They have fo long refitted the means of Grace that 
 I have offered them by the former Prophets ; See 
 Jerem. xxv. 4. that there is lefs Hopes of their Con- 
 version, than if they were Infidels. Compare 
 Mat. v. 1?. 
 
 Ver. 8. "Behold I have made thy Face ft?ong\fQ T .$. 
 againft their Faces."] I have given thee Courage 
 and Aflurance proportionable to the Hardinefs and 
 Impudence of thofe thou haft to deal with. See 
 Chap. ii. 6. and Ifa. 1. 7. 
 
 Ver.
 
 a* A Commentary 
 
 Chapter Ver. 10. Ml the Words that I flail fpeakttnto 
 III. thee, receive in they Heart, .]See the Note on Chap, 
 iyV>J ii. 8. 
 
 Ver. 10. y er> I2 . Tfo;/ the Spirit took me up.~] Carried 
 Ver. 1 2. me f rom t | ie pl aC e where I was before, when I 
 faw the Vifion mentioned Chap. i. 3, 4, See the 
 Note on Chap. viii. 3. 
 
 Ibid. o,4nd I heard behind me the Voice as of a 
 great ruffling.'] I heard a Voice fo loud that it 
 C fhook the Earth like Thunder. See Joh. xii. 27, 28. 
 Ibid. 'Bleffed be the Glory of the Lord from his 
 place."] Whatever Place God honours with his 
 efpecial Prefence is equivalent to his Temple, and 
 there the Angels always attend upon the Divine 
 Majefty, to give him the Honour due unto his 
 Name. Compare Gen. xxviii. ij, 16, 19. The 
 Words imply that tho' God fhould forfake his Tem- 
 ple Cfee the Note on Chap. ix. $ ) and deftroy the 
 Place that . is called by his Name, yet his Prefence 
 will make a Temple of every Place, and Multi- 
 tudes of the heavenly Hoft will always be ready to 
 do him Service. 
 Ver. 1 7. Ver. 13. I heard alfo the noife of the Wings of 
 the living Creatures.] See the Note, on Chap. 
 
 i. 20. 
 
 Ibid. The noife of the Wheels over againfl them,] 
 That is, befides them, as the Hebrew Phrafe is 
 elfewhere rendred : See the Note on Chap. i. 20. 
 Ver. 14. Ver. 14. So the Spirit lifted me uf.] See Ver. 
 12. and the Note upon Chap. viii. 3. xxxvii. 1. 
 
 Ibid. (And I went in bittemefs, in the heat of 
 my Spirit.] The Joy that I firft conceived in re- 
 ceiving the Divine Meflage, was quickly turned in- 
 to Grief and Anguilh of Mind. See Ver. 1 5. 
 
 Ibid.
 
 upon EZEKIEL. 25 
 
 Ibid. oAnd the Hand of the Lord was flrong Chapter 
 nfon me."] I was unable to refift the Impulfes of III. 
 God's Spirit. See Chap. i. 4. viii. 1. Jer. xx. 9. L/"V"VJ 
 
 Ver. 1 5. Then I came to them of the Captivity 0/Ver. 1 5. 
 Telabib, that dwelt by the River of Chebar J] Thefe 
 feem to be a diftincl: Colony of Captives from thofe 
 that are mentioned Chap. i. }. See Ver. 23. of 
 this Chapter. The King of 'Babylon carried away 
 ths-Jews by feveral Captivities : fome in the firft 
 Year of his Reign, Dan. i. 1. Some in the feventh, 
 Jertm. lii. 28. then followed Jechoniah's Captivity 
 in the eighth Year Of Nebuchadnezzar, 2 Kjngs 
 xxiv. 12. when Ezekiel himfelf was carried Cap- 
 tive. 
 
 Ibid. oAnd I remained there among them afloni- 
 Jhed [even Days.] Having my Spirit wholly caffc 
 down and amazed under the Apprehenfion of thefe 
 terrible Judgments, which were to come upon my 
 Nation, and of which I was to be the MefTenger. 
 Compare Jer. xxiii. 9. Habak. iii. 16. Seven T>ays 
 was the fpace of time appointed for Mourning. 
 See Gen. 1. 10. 1 Sam. xxxi. 13- Jobi'1.3. Ecclus. 
 xxii. 1 2. 
 
 Ver. 1 7. I have made thee a Watchman to the y ef t t -; 
 Houfe of Ijraeh] Prophets have the Title of 
 Watchmen given to them : See Ija, Ivi. 10. Jer em, 
 vi. 17. like Watchmen placed on the Tower, (fee 
 Habak. ii. 1.) They by their Prophetical Spirit 
 forefee the Evils coming upon the Ungodly, and 
 are bound to give People timely notice to avoid 
 them by a fincere Repentance. See the following 
 Verfe. 
 
 Ver. 1 8. When 1 fay unto the Wicked, Tho'ufhalt Ver. 1 8, 
 Jurelj die.] That is, unlefs he Repent, a Conditi- 
 
 E on
 
 q.6 './^Commentary 
 
 Chapter on generally to be underftood in fuch like Threat- 
 Ill, nings. See Chap, xviii. 27. 
 
 L^NTNJ Ibid. oAnd thou givefl him not warning, &x.] 
 We are to diftinguifli a Prophet's immedi- 
 ate Commiflion to go to any particular Perfon in 
 God's Name, from fuch a General Charge to in- 
 form others of their Duty, which is incumbent 
 upon all Paftors and Teachers. Thefe latter can 
 only give Men General Warnings, unlefs where 
 they have received fuch Informations as are a fuffi- 
 eient ground for a particular Reproof. 
 
 Ibid. The fame wicked Man fhall die in his Ini- 
 quity.] He fhall die in a ftate of Sin, and be con- 
 demned to thofe Punifhments to which Death tran- 
 slates Sinners. See John viii. 24 and the Note up- 
 on Chap, xviii. 4. 
 
 Ibid. "But his 'Blood will I require at thy Hand.] 
 Thou fhalt be accountable for the lofs of his Soul, 
 juft as a Man's Blood is laid to the Charge of him 
 that is any way acceflary to his Death. Compare 
 Gen. ix. 5. 
 
 Ver. 1 9. Ver. 1 9, 'But thou haft delivered thy Soul.] Thou 
 art clear from the Guilt of his Sin. Compare <Acl» 
 xx. 26. 
 
 Ver. 20* Ver. 20. eAnd I lay a (tumbling block lefore 
 him.] I caufe his Iniquity to become his Ruin 9 as 
 the Word Micjhol is translated.. Chap, xviii. 30. 
 
 Vet. 22. Ver. 22. cAnd the Hand of the Lokd was there 
 upon me.] See Ver. 14. and Chap. i. 3. 
 
 Ibid. oArife, Go into the Tlain.] As a Place 
 more retired and fitter for Contemplation. 
 
 ,Ver. 22. Ver. 2$. The Glory of the Lord flood there.] 
 See Chap. i. 28. 
 
 Ibid,
 
 upon EZEKJEL. iy 
 
 Ibid. qAs the Glory which I faw by the River Chapter 
 ■cfChebar.'] This part of that River feems diftant III. 
 from that Place where the former Vifion was L/"VNJ 
 fhewed him. Comp. Ver. 1 5. with Chap. i. j. 
 
 Ver. 24. Then the Spirit entredinto me, andfetVer. 24. 
 me upon my Feet, and jpake with me.~\ The Words 
 are literally to be tranflated thus : Then the Spirit 
 entred into me, and fet me upon my Feet ; and he 
 /pake unto me : for the laft Verb is in the Mafcu- 
 tine Gender, and the two former in the Feminine. 
 In like manner, the fifth Verfe of the Eleventh 
 Chapter fhould be read, aAnd the Spirit of the 
 L jr© fell upon me, and he faid unto me. The 
 Spirit or Power of God which the Prophet felt 
 within him, (called likewife the Hand of the 
 Lord, Ver. 14, and 22. of this Chapter, and 
 Chap. viii. 1.) being diftinguifh'd here from the 
 Divine Glory or Shekinah, which the Prophet faw, 
 as it is very plainly Chap. ii. 2. oAnd the Spirit 
 entred into me, when H e jpake unto me. 
 
 Ibid. Go JJmt thy felf within thy Houfe.'] Here- 
 by to represent the Siege oijerufalem. See Chap. 
 iv. 1, l$c. 
 
 Ver. 25. They fhall put "Bands upon thee, &c] Ver. 25. 
 Thou (halt be confin'd to lie fo many Days upon 
 thy right Side, and fo many upon thy left, as if 
 thou waft bound and not able to ftir : See Chap. 
 iv. 8. The LXX. and the Vulgar Latin read, 
 'Bands fhall be fut upon thee : and it is very com- 
 mon in the Hebrew X: LangmgQ to take the Verb 
 Tranfitive in an Imperjonal Senfe. See the Notes 
 onlfa xliv. 18. 
 
 Ibid. Thou Jhalt be dumb, and fialt not be to 
 them a Reprover.] EzekiePs Dumbnefs might pro- 
 
 E z ceed
 
 28 ^Commentary 
 
 Chapter ceed from two Caufes: Excefs of Grief, as we 
 IIL read Ver. t 5. of this Chapter, that he remained 
 
 iy'VNJ aftonied [even Days ; wherein he was a Type or 
 
 Figure of the Condition of the Jews when they 
 
 were to be aftonied one with another : Chap. iv. 
 
 17. Another caufe of his filence might be by way 
 
 of Reproo r to them for disbelieving what he had 
 
 before delivered by the commands of God. See 
 
 the Note on Chap, xxxii. 22. xxiv. 17. And be- 
 
 caufe they regarded not° the Words, which God 
 
 commanded him to fpeak to them, he was rfire&ed 
 
 to inftruct them only by Signs, fuch as are thofe 
 
 Emblems of the Siege contained in the next 
 
 Chapter. 
 
 Yer. 27* Ver. 27. l^ut when I fpeak with thee [or to 
 
 thee] / will open thy Mouth ] But when I bid thee 
 
 declare my Commands by Word of Mouth, thou 
 
 {halt have free Liberty to fpeak. See Chap. xi. 25. 
 
 Ibid. He that heareth, let him hear ; and he that 
 
 forbeareth, let him forhear.~\ The Turn of what thou 
 
 fhalt fay unto them is this : to let them know that 
 
 this is the laft Warning God will give them, and 
 
 therefore let them take it as fuch, and either give 
 
 heed to what is faid to them, or negleft it at their 
 
 utmoft Peril. Compare 1 Cor. xiv, 38. Revek 
 
 xxii. 11. 
 
 CHAE
 
 upon EZEKIEL.. 
 
 2 9 
 
 4. **♦♦**-♦*»+*-*-♦*-***-**+•*♦ + **♦»• 
 
 5*S: 
 
 
 CHAP. IV. ch / v P ter 
 
 1 he A R G U M E N T. 
 
 Tinder the Emblem of a Siege, and oftheflraitnefs 
 ofTrovifion during the Siege, is- (hewed the Mi- 
 series the Jews JhaU juffer when the City is be- 
 fieged: and by the "Prophets lying upon his Right 
 and heft fide a certain number of 'Days, is de- 
 clared of how long continuance thofe Sins were 
 which God did vijit upon that "People. 
 
 Ver. i. ^m^Hill^i^G/^ thee a Tile and lay it Ver.i, 
 
 before thee.~\ The Prophets 
 often forefhew impending 
 Judgments by fignificative 
 Emblems, being of greater 
 Force and EfHcacy than 
 Words. So Jeremy was commanded to go down 
 to the Potters Houfe, and fee how frequently Ve£ 
 fels were marred in his Han^s, Chap, xviii. and 
 to take one of thofe Earthen VeflTels and break it 
 in the fight of the Elders of the Jews. Chap. xix. 
 that they might thereby be fenfibly taught the 
 greatnefs of God's Power, and their own Frailty. 
 
 Sg
 
 
 ge A Commentary 
 
 Chapter So here God commands the Prophet to take a Tile, 
 IV. or fuch a Slate as the Mathematicians draw Lines 
 
 L/"VNJ or Figures upon, and there make a Pourtraiture of 
 'Jerujalem, thereby to reprefent it as under a Siege. 
 We may obferve that God often iuits Prophetical 
 Types and Figures to the Genius and Education of 
 the Prophets themfelves. So the Figures which 
 eAmos makes ufe of are generally taken from fuch 
 Obfervations as are proper to the Imploymentof a 
 Shepherd or an Husbandman. Ezekiel had a pe- 
 culiar Talent for Architecture, fo feveral of his 
 Reprefentations are fuitable to that Profeflion. And 
 they that fuppofe the Emblem here made ufe of 
 to be below the Dignity of the Prophetical Office, 
 may as well accufe oArchimedes of Folly for ma- 
 king Lines in the Duft. 
 
 Ver. 2. Ver. 2. oAnd lay Siege againfl it, &-c] Make 
 
 a Portraiture of a Siege, and of fuch warlike Pre- 
 parations as are neceffary to it. 
 
 Ver. 2. Ver. 3. Moreover take thou unto thee an Iron 
 
 Tan.'] A Plate or Slice, as the Margin reads. 
 This may either reprefent the Walls of Jerufalem 
 which were to be broken down, in order to the 
 taking of it, as the following Words may be 
 thought to imply : or elfe fome of thofe Works 
 which the Befiegers caft up for their own defence ; 
 fo this is another Reprefentation of the Siege men- 
 tioned Ver. 1. 
 
 Ibid. This Jhall he a Sign to the Houfe oflfraeh'] 
 Ezekiel often expreffed God's Purpofes by Signs. 
 See Chap. xii. 2-12. xxiv. 24, 27. and the Notes 
 upon the 17th Ver. of this Chapter. 
 
 Ver.
 
 upon EZEKIEL. 31 
 
 Ver. 4. Lie alfo on thy left Szde.~\ Lie on that Chapter 
 Side, without ftirring or moving thy felf: See IV. 
 Ver. 8. l/VNJ 
 
 Ibid. ^According to the Number of the T>ays thou Ver. 4. 
 (halt lie upon it, thou Jbalt bear their Iniquity, ,] By 
 lying on one fide thou fhak fignify (Ws Forbearing 
 their Punifhment for fo many Years : So the Words 
 are commonly explained ; but in my Opinion not 
 agreeably to the Genuine Senfe of the Phrafe, To 
 lear ones Iniquity ; which never fignifies, that I 
 can find, to forbear the Punifhment of Sin, but 
 on the contrary, always denotes the Bearing or dif- 
 fering the Punifhment due unto it : As alfo that 
 other Expreffion of Laying Iniquity ufon any, im- 
 ports the Imputing the Guilt of it, or inflicting the 
 Punifhment due unto it. So here the Prophet does 
 in Vifion bear the Punifhment due to the Idolatry 
 dilrael and Judab, which had continued, the one 
 for Three hundred and ninety, the other for Forty- 
 Yea rs. 
 
 The Circumftances of this Vifion prove that the 
 Prophet did really perform what is here related : 
 or elfe it could not have been a Sign unto the Houfe 
 of Ifrael, Ver. ^ unlefs they themfelves had been 
 Eye Witness of it. Compare Chap. xii. 7, n. 
 The chief Obje&ion againft this Opinion is, that 
 there is not the Diftance of Four hundred and 
 thirty Days between this Vifion, and that which 
 is next related, Chapter viii. 1. but that may be 
 a.ifwered by fuppofing this to be an Intercalary 
 Year, which may be fuppofed to have happened of- 
 ten in the Jewifh Computation of time, whofe 
 Years confifj red at moll but of Three hundred and 
 fixty Days, or as Tome think, were Lunar Years, 
 
 reduced
 
 22 A Commentary 
 
 Chapter redoced by Intercalations to the Solar Form. See 
 
 IV. Dr. Trideattx, St rip. Hi 'ft. Par. i. p. 281. 
 (_/"VsJ Ver. 5. Three hundred and ninety 'Days.'] The 
 Ver. 5. mo ft probable Computation of this time is, to date 
 its beginning from 'Jeroboam's firft fetting up 
 the Idolatrous Worfhip of the Golden Calves, to 
 the la ft Captivity of the Jews, in the Twenty 
 third Year of Nebuchadnezzar's Reign ; See Jer. 
 Mi. 30. This feems to have made an entire riddance 
 of the Natives of the Land, and confequently to 
 be the finifhing Stroke of the Jewifh Captivity. 
 Both Judah and Ifrael being now intirely carried 
 away, whereas before that time many of the Ten 
 Tribes lived in their own Habitations. See 2 Chron. 
 xxix. 14. xxxi. 11, 18. xxxii.}}. Ezra, vi. 17. 
 Ver. 6 Ver. 6. Thoujhak bear the Iniquity of the Houfe 
 
 of Judah Forty Days.] This Series of Time may 
 probably be computed from the Eighteenth Year 
 of Jofiah, at which time the King and People en- 
 tred into a folemn Covenant to ferve and wor- 
 fhip God, fo that the Idolatry they were afterward 
 guilty of received a new Aggravation, as being a 
 breach of this Solemn Covenant, the greater Part 
 of the People being ftill Idolatrous in their Hearts ; 
 See the Notes on Jeremiah iii. 6 — 10. The Thirti- 
 eth Tear mentioned in the beginning of this Pro- 
 phecy is fuppofed to take its Date from the Eigh- 
 teenth Year of Jofiah, which makes it probable 
 that the Prophet refers to the fame Mr a in this 
 Place. 
 
 Scaliger and fome others begin thofe Forty 
 Years from Jeremiah's Midi on as a Prophet, 
 which was in the Thirteenth Year ofjofiah, from 
 which time till the laft Year of Zjdekiah, when the 
 
 City
 
 upon EZEKIEL. 33 
 
 City and Temple were deftroyed, is juft Forty Chapter 
 Years. IV. 
 
 Ibid. / have appointed each 'Day for a Year.] L/^V^O 
 Days frequently ftand for Years in the Prophetical 
 Accounts of Time. See Numb. xiv. 34. aAfter 
 the Number of Forty 'Days, each 'Day for a Tear, 
 Jljall you bear your Iniquities, even Forty Tears, 
 'Dan. ix. 24. The Days of the Seventy Weeks muft 
 necerTarily be underftood in the fame Senfe, fo as 
 to make up the Sum of Four hundred and ninety 
 Years. And the One thoufand two hundred and 
 fixty Days mentioned Revel, xi. }. are according 
 to the Genius of the Prophetical Style, to be under- 
 ftood of fo many Years. 
 
 Ver. 7. Therefore thou jhalt fet thy Face toward Ver, 7. 
 the Siege of Jerufalem.l When thou lieft in one 
 Pofture, as is commanded thee, Ver. 4, 6. thou 
 fhdt (till have the Portraiture of the Siege of Je. 
 rufalem before thy Face, Ver. 1. or fetting thy 
 Face toward the Siege of Jerufalem, may fignify 
 looking earnestly, or with a threatning Vifage to- 
 ward it : as the Prophet is faid to fet his Face againfl 
 a Place, when he Prophecies againft it. See Chap- 
 ter vi. 2. 
 
 Ibid. aAnd thy oArm fljall be uncovered.'] or 
 ftretched out. Their Habits were anciently con- 
 trived fo that the Right Arm was difengaged from 
 the Upper Garments, that they might be the more 
 ready for A&ion. So ancient Statues and Coins 
 reprefent Heroes with their right Arm bare, and 
 out of the Sleeve of their Garments. Thus God 
 is faid to make bare his <Arm, Ifa. lii. 1 o. where 
 he is reprefented as fubduing his Adverfaries, and 
 bringing Salvation to his People. 
 
 F Ibid.
 
 34 A C M M E N T A R Y 
 
 Chapter Ibid. eAnd thou (I) ah Prophecy againft it.] By 
 IV. Signs, and not by Words. Seethe NoteonChap- 
 
 { m / m \ fm \J ter iii. 26. 
 
 Ver. 8. Ver. 8. J will lay 'Bands upon thee.~] See Chap- 
 
 ter iii. 25. 
 
 Ibid. Till thou haft ended the "Days of thy Siege."] 
 The Three hundred and ninety Days mentioned 
 Verfe 5, and 9, were defigned not only to fjgnify 
 the Years of IfraeVs Sin, but the Continuance of 
 the Siege of Jerufalem. That Siege lafted, from 
 the beginning to the ending of it, Seventeen Months, 
 as appears from 2 Kjngs xxv. 1-4. But the King 
 of Egypt coming to relieve the City was the occa- 
 fion of raifing the Siege for fome time, as appears 
 from Jeremiah xxxvii. 3. So that it may reafonably 
 be gathered from the Authority of the Text join- 
 ed to the Circumftances of the Story, that the 
 Siege lafted about Thirteen Months, or Three 
 hundred and ninety Days. See Archbifhop UJher's 
 eAnnals, ad oAnnum Mundi 5415. 
 
 Ver. 9. Ver. 9. Take thou alfo unto thee Wheat and 
 
 'Barley, &-c] In time of Scarcity 'tis ufual to mix 
 a great deal of the coarfe kinds of Grain with a 
 little of the better fort, to make their Provifions 
 laft the longer. Thus Ezekiel was commanded to 
 do, to fignify the Scarcity and coarfe Fare the In- 
 habitants fhould endure in the Siege of the City. 
 
 Ibid. ^According to the number of the c Days thou 
 Jhalt lie ufon thy fide, Three hundred and ninety 
 Days fhalt thou eat thereof] During which time 
 the Siege lafted, fee Ver. 8. The Forty Days men- 
 tioned Ver. 6. feem not to be reckoned into this 
 Account. Thefe denoted JudaFs Sin of Forty 
 Years Continuance^ from tne Eighteenth Year of
 
 upon EZEKIEL. 35 
 
 Jofiah, Ver. 6. And as they were fuperadded to Chapter 
 the Three hundred and ninety Days of the Siege, IV. 
 they may fignify the Days fpent in plundering the \y m \T s J 
 City, and burning the Temple, and carrying away 
 the Remnant of the People : Jerufalem was taken on 
 the Ninth Day of the Fourth Month, Jeremiah lii. 6. 
 and on the Tenth "Day of the Fifth Month, the Tem- 
 ple was Burnt, Ver. 12. and fo we may reafonably 
 conjecture by the Eighteenth of that Month which 
 was the Fortieth from the taking of the Place, the 
 whole City was Burnt, and the few Jews which 
 were left, were carried into Captivity. 
 
 Ver. 10. oAnd the Meat which thou (Jjalt eatVev. 10. 
 (hall he hy weight, twenty Shekels a 'Day.'] In 
 Sieges 'tis common to (tint every one to a certain 
 allowance, by which Means they can guefs how 
 long their Provifions will laft ; Twenty Shekels is 
 but Ten Ounces, a fhort Allowance for a Days 
 Suftenance. See Ver. 16. and Jeremiah xxxvii. 21. 
 
 Ibid. From Time to Time Jhalt thou eat itJ] This 
 fhall be thy daily Allowance during the whole 
 Three hundred and ninety Days. 
 
 Ver. 11. The fixth fart of an Hin.'] which is Ver. n« 
 fomething above a Pint and an Half of our 
 Meafure. See Bilhop Cumberland's Account of 
 Jewijh Weights and Meafures 9 placed at the End of 
 many Englifh Bibles. 
 
 Ver. 1 2. <And thou Jhalt eat it as TSarley Cakes.] Ver. 1 2. 
 Such as People make in haft, when they have not 
 time for preparing a fet Meal : See Exod. xii. 39. 
 This reprefents the Hurry and Diforder of a Siege. 
 
 Ibid. eAnd thou jhalt hake it with Dung, &c] 
 To fignify the Scarcity of all forts of Fewel : See 
 Ver. 1 5. 
 
 F 2 Ver. 1 j.
 
 36 
 
 A Commentary 
 
 Chapter Ver. 13. Even thm (/mil the Children of Ifrael 
 IV. eat their defiled 'Bread among the Gentiles, &c] 
 t/WJ Their Circumftances in their Captivity fhall not 
 Ver. 1 3. permit them to obferve the Rules of their Law re- 
 lating to Unclean Meats, and they will be 
 con ft rained to partake of Meats, part of which 
 hath been offered unto Idols. Compare Hof. ix. 1. 
 'Dan. i. 8. Bread is often ufed in the Hebrew for 
 all forts of Food. See Gen. xliii. 31. 
 Ver. 14. Ver. 14. 'Behold my Soul hath not leen polluted, 
 &c] I have always carefully obferved the Piftin- 
 ction between Meats Clean and Unclean : I be- 
 feech thee command me not now to eat any Thing 
 fo contrary to my former Praftice. 
 
 Ibid. Neither came there abominable Flejh into 
 my Mouth.] The Hebrew Word Tiggut abomina- 
 ble, is properly ufed of fuch Meats as are forbid- 
 den by the Law. See Levzt, vii. 18. xix. 7. Ifa. 
 Ixv. 4. Such are thofe here mentioned. See the 
 Texts quoted in the Margin of our Bibles. 
 Ver. 16. Ver. 16. I will break the Staff of 'Bread in Je~ 
 rufalem.] The Siege fhall produce a Scarcity of 
 Bread in Jerufalem, 2 Kjngs xxv. $. and deprive 
 you of the chief Support of Man's Life. Compare 
 Levit.xiv. 1 $. xxvi. 26, Ifa, iii. 1. 
 
 Ibid. They fhall eat their 'Bread by Weight and 
 with Care, 8cc] See Ver. 10, 1 1. When they have 
 confumed their laft Allowance, they fhall be in 
 great Care where to get more for the next Meal ; 
 and fome of you be forced to eat the Flefh of their 
 neareft Relations : See Chapter v. 1 o. 
 Ver» 17. Ver. 17. <And be aftonied one with another, and 
 confume away in your Iniquities,'] Look one upon 
 another as Perfons under aftonifhment for the 
 
 Great-
 
 upon EZEKIEL. 
 
 Greatnefs of your Calamities, and pining away or 
 dying a lingring Death thro' Famine and other 
 Hardfhips. See Chapter xxiv. 23. 
 
 37 
 
 
 "•^^t w^^, V£^ *^, V*v fS~ 
 
 Chapter 
 
 V. 
 L/V\J 
 
 Ver. 1. 
 
 CHAR V. 
 
 The Argument. 
 
 The Trofhet is commanded to [have his Hair, and 
 then consume it, to fignify thereby God's Judg- 
 ments upon Jerufalem for her repeated provoca- 
 tions, by Famine, Sword and T)iff>erfion. 
 
 oAke thee a fiarp Kjiife^ takeV^* l 
 thee a 'Barber's Rajbr.'] The 
 latter Expreflion explains the 
 Former: Hair being an Or- 
 nament, and Baldnefs a token 
 of Sorrow, thereupon Shaving denotes a great Ca- 
 lamity or Defolation. Compare Ifd. vii. %o. Maimo- 
 nides Moreh Nevoch. /. 2. ' c. 46. obferves ; .upori this 
 Place, that the Priefts were forbidden to. .(have 
 their Heads ; fee Chapter xliv. 20. and not allow- 
 ed to do it in the time of Mourning, Levit. xxi. f. 
 From whence that Author concludes that what the 
 Prophet is here commanded, was performed only
 
 g8 A Commentary 
 
 Chapter in Vifion; But there is no need of fuch an Evafi- 
 V. on to anfwer that Difficulty. For the immediate 
 ty^\ < "NJ Command of God to any Prophet is a fufficient 
 Difcharge from any Obligations of the Ceremonial 
 Law. So Elijah offered Sacrifice upon Mount 
 Carmel : i Kjngs xviii. 20. contrary to the Rule of 
 the Law, '"Deut. xii. 5. 
 
 Ibid. Then take thee ^Balances, &x.] To fignify 
 the Exaftnefs of the Divine Juftice. 
 "'Ver. 2. Ver. 2. aAnd thou (halt burn a third fart in the 
 
 midft of the City J) Of that Portraiture of the City 
 which the Prophet was commanded to make, 
 Chapter iv. 1. This fignifies the Deftru&ion of the 
 Inhabitants within the City by Famine and Pefti- 
 lence. See Ver. 12. and Chapter vii. n. 
 
 Ibid. aAnd thou fhalt take a third Tart, and finite 
 it about with a Kjtife.'] To (hew that a third Part 
 of the Inhabitants (hall be (lain with the Sword, 
 juft after they have efcaped out of the-City : See 
 Ver. 12. This was remarkably fulfilled in the 
 Slaughter of ZgdeteaWs Sons, and the reft of his 
 Retinue. Jeremiah lii. 1 o. 
 
 Ibid. <And a third fart thou Jhalt fcatter in the 
 Windy and I will draw out a Sword after them.~\ 
 The reft fhall be difperfed to all the Four Winds : 
 See Chapter vi. 8. and even my Vengeance (hall 
 purfue many of them in their Difperfions ; fee Ver. 
 12. and Compare Levit.xxvi. 33. Jeremiah xxiv. 
 10. xliv. 12. (Amos ix. 4. 
 Ver. 3. Ver. 3. <And bind them in thy Skirts.'] The He- 
 brew reads, in thy Wings : to fignify that they 
 fhould be placed under the Divine Protection : See 
 pf. xci. 4. This denotes thofe that fhould be left 
 in the Land under Gedaliah, Jeremiah xl. 5,^. 
 
 Ver.
 
 upon EZEKIEL. 39 
 
 Ver. 4. Then take of them again, and cafl them Chapter 
 into the midft of the Fire."] This denotes the Con- V. 
 fpiracy with Ifmael formed againft Gedaliah, and L/W) 
 the Calamities that followed thereupon. ^ er * 4- 
 
 Ibid. For thereof Jhall come a Fire forth into all 
 the Houfe ofIfrael.~\ This was the Occafion of the 
 utter Ruin of that poor Remainder of the Jews 
 which were left in their Native Country. There- 
 upon fome of them went down into Egypt, where 
 they were all confumed, according to Jeremiah's 
 Prophecy againft them : See Chapter xliv. 1 1, &c. 
 and the reft that remained in the Land were entire- 
 ly carried away Captive by Nehizaradan. See Je- 
 remiah lii. 30. 
 
 Ver. 5. This is Jerufalem, I have fet it in the Ver. 5. 
 midft of the Nations.] This Jerufalem thou doft 
 now Prophecy againft, was placed in the midft of 
 the Heathen Nations ; it made a Figure among 
 them for the fake of my Temple, and the vifible 
 Tokens of my Prefence there. See Chapter xvi. 14. 
 1 Kings viii. 41, 42. It was a City fet on a Hill, 
 on purpofe that it might be a pattern of Religion 
 and Vertue to them. Compare Matt. v. 14. 
 
 Ver. 6. &4ndfte hath changed my Judgments into Ver. 6. 
 Wickednejs.] or, fhe hath rebelled againft my Judg- 
 ments, for the fake of IVickednefs ; that is, to ful- 
 fil her wicked Pefifes?': for fo the Verb Mar ah is 
 rightly translated Chapter xxx. 8. 
 
 Ibid. More than the Nations."] She hath finned 
 againft a clearer Light and greater Convictions. 
 Compare Chap. xvi. 4S! and Matt. xii. 41, 42. 
 
 Ibid. For they have re fujed my Judgments.] The 
 Reafon why the Heathen have rejected my Laws,, 
 is becaufe they have kept conftant to the Relteion 
 
 °of
 
 40 A Commentary 
 
 Chapter of their Forefathers: whereas the Jews have for- 
 V. faken that Religion /which their Forefathers Re- 
 
 iyv~\J ceived from me. See the next Verfe. 
 
 Ver, 7. Ver. 7. Hecaufe you have multi-plied more than 
 
 the Nations .] The French Translation reads, 'Be- 
 caufe thou haft multiplied thy Wickednejjes : Some 
 fiich Word ought to be added to fupply the Senfe. 
 Void. Neither have done according to the Judgments 
 of the Nations round about you. ~\ or rather, eAccor- 
 ding to the manner of the Nations round about you: 
 as the very fame Phrafe is tranflated, Chapter xi. 
 12. You have not been fo conitant and zealous for 
 the true Religion as they are in a Falfe one. Com- 
 pare Chapter xvi. 47. Jeremiah ii. 10, 11. Micah 
 iv. 5. 
 
 Ver. 9. Ver. 9. oAnd I will do unto thee that which I 
 
 have not done.'] As your Sins have particular Ag- 
 gravations above thofe of other Nations, fo your 
 Punifhment fhall be proportionably greater. See 
 'Dan. ix. 12. Lam. iv. 6. oAmos iii. 2. 
 
 Ibid. oAnd I will not do any more the Like.] The 
 Punifhments you fhall fuffer fhall be more re- 
 markable for their Greatnefs than thofe I fhall at 
 any time infliQ: upon other Nations. The Punifh- 
 ment due to the Sins of IJrael and Judah, which 
 the Prophet was to bear for Four hundred and 
 thirty Days by way of Type or Vifion, may pro- 
 bably fignify a Judgment to continue for fuch a 
 length of time as is not yet expired : according to 
 God's Threatnings, that for their Obftinacy and 
 Irreclaimablenefs, he would go on to punifh them 
 [even times more for their Sins, Levit. xxvi. 18, 
 28. Multiplying the length of their Calamities by 
 a Seven fold Proportion. And taking the Words 
 
 in
 
 upon EZEKIEL. 41 
 
 in this large extent, Co as to comprehend all the Chapter 
 Marks of God's Indignation, which have already V. 
 lain upon that People for above Sixteen Hundred L/"VNJ 
 Years, and how much longer they may continue 
 we know not, it may truly be faid that none of 
 God's Judgments have been like it. 
 
 Ver. 10. Therefore the Fathers [hall eat the Sons Ver. 10. 
 in the midft of thee."] A terrible Judgment threat- 
 ned by Mofes, Levit. xxvi. 29. T)eut. xxviii. 53. 
 and afterwards by Jeremy, Chap. xix. 9. and ac- 
 tually fulfilled in the Famine that attended the 
 Siege of Jerufalem. See Lament, ii. 20. iv. 10. 
 
 Ibid. aAnd the whole remnant of them will I 
 fcatter into all the Winds."] This is another Judg- 
 ment threatned againft them by Mofes : T>eut. 
 xxviii. 65. and remarkably fulfilled in this their laft 
 Difperfion, when every known part of the World 
 hath fome Share of them, and yet they live every 
 where like Strangers, only upon fufferance. 
 
 Ver. 11. "Becaufe thou haft defiled my Sanffuary Ver. 11. 
 with all thy deteftable things', and with all thy 
 ^Abominations.] Thou haft profaned my Temple, 
 by placing Idols in it : See Chap. vii. 20. viii. 5. 
 xxiii. 38. 2 Chron. xxxvi. 14. Deteftahle things 
 and cAbominations are Words of the fame fignifi- 
 cation, denoting Idols: See Chap. xi. 21. 
 
 Ibid. Therefore will I alfo diminif) thee, neither 
 Jhall mine Eye [fare, 8cc] or, J will deftroy thee 
 (for fo this Word is ufed, Numb, xxvii. 4.) with- 
 out jhewing any pity or companion : See Chap. vii. 
 4,9. viii. 18. ix. 10. xxiv. 14. 
 
 Ver. 1 2. <A third part of thee flail die by' the Ver. 1 2. 
 Teftilence, (See Chap. xiv. 22.) and with the Fa- 
 
 G mine.
 
 42 A C O M M E N T A R Y 
 
 Chapter mne. &c] See Ver. 2. and Chap. vi. 12. *ferem, 
 V. xv. 2. xxi. 9. 
 
 L>^V *^J Ibid. e^W 7 zjy/fl toiw out a Sword after them.'] 
 And thereby fulfil that Threatning denounced 
 againft them, Levit. xxvi. 33. Compare likewife 
 xVdft xxviii. 65. e/2///0i i*. 4. All which Places 
 import, that God's Anger fhould ftill purfuethem 
 even into the Countries whither they were bani- 
 fhed and carried Captive. This was particularly- 
 fulfilled in thofe that went into Egypt : See Jerem. 
 xliv. 7. and it was remarkably verified in the fe- 
 veral Perfecutions and Maffacres they have under- 
 gone at different times, in mod of the Countries 
 of Europe in latter Ages : Of which fee an Ac- 
 count in 'Bafnage^s Continuation of Jofephus. 
 Ver. 1 ?. Ver. 1 }. I will caufe my Fury to reft upon them."] 
 See the Note on Chap. viii. 18. The Words may 
 be rend red thus, / will caufe my Fury toward them 
 to reft, as the Phrafe is tranflated, Chap. xvi. 42. 
 that is, my Anger fhall be appeafed toward them, 
 after I have executed due Punifhment upon their 
 Sins. 
 
 Ibid. aAnd I will le comforted."] This and the 
 former Ex predion is borrowed from Men's Paffi- 
 ons, who find fome Eafe and Reft in their Minds 
 upon their venting them, and bringing Offenders 
 to condign Punifhment. So God is here defcribed 
 as feeling Eafe and Satisfaction in executing his Ju- 
 ftice upon obftinate and incorrigible Sinners. Comp. 
 Chap. xvi. 42. xxi. 17, If a. i. 24. 
 
 Ibid. They (hall know that 1 the Lord havefpo- 
 "ken. it in my ZjaL] Out of a juft Concern for mine 
 own Honour and Authority which they have 
 flighted and defpifed. See Chap, xxxvi. 5, 6. 
 
 xxxviiL
 
 upon EZEKIEL. to 
 
 xxxviii. 17. The Word may likewife be taken Chapter 
 here for that Paffion of Jealoufy that is proper to a V. 
 Husband when his Wife proves falfe to him, and is L/"VNJ 
 applied to God when his People forfake his Wor- 
 ship and ferve Idols, Chap. xvi. 35, 42 xxiii. 25. 
 The Covenant between God and his People, is 
 often reprefented under*the Notion of a Marriage 
 Contracl: : See Chap. xvi. 8. whereupon Idolatry 
 is called Going a Whoring after other Gods, and 
 committing oAdultery with Stocks and Stones : Je- 
 rem. iii. 9. 
 
 Ver. 14. I will make them wafle and a reproach Ver. 14. 
 among the Nations, hc.~] See T)eut. xxviii. ?y. 
 1 KJngs ix. 7. Tfal. Ixxix. 4. Jerem. xxiv. 9. Lam, 
 ii. ; 5. 
 
 Ver. 1 5. So itfiaU be-.-an inftruBion to the A 7 a~ Ver. 1 5. 
 tions.~] They fhall learn from fuch an Example of 
 Vengeance, to hear me and be afraid of my Judg- 
 ments. 
 
 Ibid. In furious rebukes. ~] See Chap. xxv. 1 7. 
 Ver. 16. When I pall [end upon them the evilVev. 16. 
 oArrows of Famine, &c] God's Judgments are 
 eifewhere exprefled by Arrows : See T)eut. xxxii. 
 2$. Tfal. vii. 13. lxiv. 7. xci. 5. 
 
 Ibid. eAnd I will break the fiaff of your 'Bread.] 
 See Chap. iv. 16. 
 
 Ver. 17. So I will fend upon you Famine and evil Ver. if. 
 c Beafts.~] Wild Beafts multiply in a Land when it 
 is become uninhabited, Exod. xxiii. 29. This is 
 likewife a Punifhment threatned againft the Jews 
 among other Defolations. See Levit. xxvi. 22. 
 Deut. xxxii. 24. and Comp. Chap. xiv. 2i.xxxiiL 
 27. xxxiv. 25. of this Prophecy. 
 
 G 2 Ibid.
 
 44 
 
 Chapter 
 
 V. 
 l/V\) 
 
 A Commentary 
 
 Ibid. <And Teftilence and 'Blood fhall fafs 
 through thee.~] Blood fignifies any unufual fort of 
 Death, and dei M:es here fuch a PeMilence as will 
 deftroy Multitudes. Comp. Chap. xiv. 19. Or it 
 may be equivalent to the Sword which is joyned 
 with the Peftilence, Ver 12. See Chap, xxxviii. 22. 
 
 CHAP.
 
 upon EZEKIEL. 
 
 45 
 
 <*- * 4- <* <* *•-*•♦ ■*• «► ******--*-4-4- ♦♦ *■♦♦**•♦•■ 
 
 ♦ ♦•*■♦■*•+■■*•♦♦*♦*■*•*■ *•*"»■ -*•*-"•+•* + ♦ * 4 * ■* * 
 
 CHAP. VI. 
 
 The Argument. 
 
 The Trophet continues to denounce God's fevere 
 Judgments upon the Jews for their Idolatry : 
 but tells them that a Remnant fnall he faved, 
 and by their <>,4ffliclions Jhall be brought to afenfe 
 of their evil doings. 
 
 Chapter 
 
 VI. 
 U"V\J 
 
 Ver. 2. 1 BRET thy Face towards theVer*2.- 
 
 Mountains oflfraeL'] Direct 
 thy Face and thy Speech to- 
 ward the Mountains in the 
 Land of Judea : Compare 
 Chap. iv. 7. xx. 46. xiii. 1 7. 
 xxi. 2. xxv. 2 xxxvni. 2. 
 
 Ibid. Toward the Mountains of lfrael.~\ Judea 
 was an hilly Countrey, See Joflj. xi. 21. xx. 7. So 
 the whole Land of Judea is exprefled here and elfe- 
 where by the Mountains of JJ'rael : See Chap, xix; 
 9. xxxiii. 18. xxxiv. 14. xxxv. 12. xxxvi. 1. 
 xxxvii. 11. Ifa. lxv. 9. Micah vi. 1. The Pro- 
 phets fometimes direct their Difcourfe to the ina- 
 nimate
 
 4<J 
 
 A Commentary 
 
 Chapter nimate Parts of the Creation, thereby to upbraid 
 
 Vf. the Stupidity of Men : See If a. i. 2. 
 L/"Y~\J Ibid. &4nd Prophecy againft them.~] Asthemoft 
 confpicuous Parts of the Land : But the Judgments 
 denounced extend to all the other Parts of the 
 Country, as appears in the following Verfe. 
 Ver. 3. Ver. 3. Thus faith the Lord God to the Moun- 
 
 tains and to the Hills, to the Rivers and to the 
 Valleys.'] Every part of the Countrey had been de- 
 filed with Idolatry : The Altars built for Idol- 
 Worfbip were commonly placed upon Mountains 
 and Hills: See Chap. xvi. 16, 24. ferem. ii. 20. 
 iii. 6. The fhady Valleys and River fides were 
 likewife made ufe of for the fame purpofe : Ibid. 
 Ver. 25. particularly for the facrificing of Children 
 / offered to Moloch. See If a, lvii. 5. Jerem. vii. 31. 
 
 So the Prophet denounces a general Judgment 
 againft the whole Countrey. 
 Ver. 4. Ver. 4. Tour cAltars JJjall be defolate, and your 
 
 Images (Jjall be broken, &x.] The Verfe is plainly 
 taken from Levit. xxvi. 30. where Mofes denoun- 
 ces the fame Judgments againft the Jews upon 
 their Provocations. The Word Hamannim, Ima- 
 ges, is generally fuppofed to fignify fuch as were 
 erected to the Honour of the Sun, and is accor- 
 dingly tranflated Sun-Images in the Margin. Comp. 
 2 Chron. xxxiv. 4. Ifa. xvii. 8. 
 
 Ibid. I will caft down your /lain Men before your 
 Idols.] So that their Sin may be read in the man- 
 ner of their Punifhment. See Levit. xxvi. 30. 
 Ver 7 ^ er# 7' &4%dyejhall knowthat I amthelLoRD.] 
 
 ' An Epifho?iema y or Conclufion of a fevere Denun- 
 
 ciation often repeated by this Prophet ; importing 
 that the Judgments God intended to bring upon 
 
 the
 
 upon EZEKIEL. 47 
 
 the Jews, would make the mod hardned and ftupid Chapter 
 Sinners fenfible that this was God's Hand. VI. 
 
 Ver. 8. / will leave a remnant, &c.] A graci- L/'VNJ 
 ous Exception that often occurs in the Prophets, Ver. 8. 
 when they denounce general Judgments againft 
 the Jews : Implying that God will (till referve a 
 Remnant of that People to whom he will fulfil the 
 Promifes made to their Fathers. See Chap. xiv. 
 22. and the Notes upon Ifa.iv. 2. Jerem. xiiv. 14. 
 
 Ver. 9. oAnd they that ej'cape of you (hall remem- Ver. g. 
 her me among the Nations 7\ Their Afflictions fhall 
 bring them to the Senfe of themfelves, and their 
 Duty to me. See Hof. v. 1 5. 
 
 Ibid. 'Becauj'e I am broken with their whorifh 
 HeartJ] My Patience is tired out with this People's 
 Idolatries, called in Scripture fpiritual Whoredom. 
 Seethe Note on Chap. v. 13. 
 
 God is here introduced, as fpeaking after the 
 manner of Men, whofe Patience is tired out by the 
 repeated Provocations of others, efpecially when 
 they fee no hopes of Amendment. Compare Ifa. 
 xliii. 24. 
 
 Ibid. e/Lud with their Eyes which go a whoring 
 after their Idols. .] The Eyes are the Seat of lafci- 
 vious Inclinations : See 2 Tep. ii. 14. So in purfu- 
 ance of the fame Metaphor, they are faid to be en- 
 ticed to Idolatry : being often tempted to Idola- 
 trous Worfhip, by the Coftlinefs of the Images, 
 and the fine Shew which they make. See Jerem. 
 X. 4, 9. 'Dan. xi. 38. 
 
 Ibid. oAnd they (hall loath themfelves for the 
 Evils which they have cupimitted.'] They fhall ab- 
 hor themfelves^ as Job fpeaks Chap. xlii. 6. when 
 
 they
 
 4 8 
 
 A Commentary 
 
 Chapter they fefle8: upon their manifold Provocations : See 
 VI Chip vii. 16. xii. 16. xx. 43. xxx i. $1. 
 
 tyv*"\J Ver 10. oAnd that I have not j'aid in vainj] Or 
 
 \ cr. 10. without cauje, as the Word Hinnam is more fig- 
 nificantly tranflated, Chap. xiv. 22. 
 
 Ver. 11. Ver. 1 1. Smite with thy Hand, and fi amp with 
 thy Foot, &c] Join to thy Words the Geftures 
 which are proper to exprefs Grief and Concern at 
 the Wickednefs of thy People, and for their Cala- 
 mities that will enfue. Comp. Chap. xxi. 12,14. 
 Numb, xxiv. 10. 
 
 Ibid. For they Jh all fall by the Sword, &o] See 
 Chap. v. 12. 
 
 Ver. 1 2. Ver. 1 2. He that is far off."] He that is out of 
 the reach of the Siege. 
 
 Ver. 13. Ver. 13. When their jlain Men fhall be round 
 about their (Altars, &c] See Ver. 4, 5. 
 
 Ibid. Upon every high Hill in all the tops of the 
 Mountains, &c] Thefe were the noted Places for 
 Idolatrous Worfhip : See Jerem. ii. 20. Hof iv. 13. 
 and the Notes upon Ver. 3. of this Chapter. 
 
 Ibid. oAnd under every green Tree, and under 
 every thick Qak.~\ The offering Sacrifice in Groves 
 and fhady Places was another ancient Rite of Ido- 
 latry : See the Note on If a. i. 29. upon which Ac- 
 count Groves and Images are often joined together 
 by the facred Writers. 
 Ver. 14. Ver. 14. Tea more de folate than theWildemefs 
 towards c Diblath^\ Diblath was part of the De- 
 fart in the Borders of Moab ; See Numb, xxxiii. 46. 
 Jerem. xlviii. 22. 
 
 CHAP.
 
 upon EZEKIEL. 
 
 49 
 
 
 Chapter 
 
 VII. 
 WW 
 
 CHAR VII. 
 
 The Argument. 
 
 The Trophet denounces the irreverfibJe Judgment of 
 Captivity, and final Defolation upon the Jews 
 for their Idolatry and other heinous Sins. 
 
 Ver. 2. IBSBSBEapONthe Land of Ifrael.-] This Ver. 2, 
 comprehends the whole Coun- 
 trey of Judea : Comp. Chap. 
 xii. 22. xiii. 9. xviii 2. Ifrael 
 is often put for Judah after the 
 Captivity of the Ten Tribes. See Micah i. 14. iii. 
 9, 10. Malach. i. 1. ii. 11. They that were left 
 of the Ten Tribes, joining themfelves to the Tribe 
 of Judah. See 2 Chron. xxx. 11, 18. Dr. 'Prideaux 
 fuppofes that Manajjes and his Succelfors in the 
 Kingdom of Judah had the Dominion ofthewrnle 
 Land of Canaan, formerly divided into the two 
 Kingdoms of Judah and Ifrael, as Tributaries un- 
 der the Kjngs of eAJyria. See his Connection of 
 Scripture Hi/lory, Part 1. p. 34. 
 
 H Ibid.
 
 £o ^Commentary 
 
 Chapter Ibid. The End is come ufon the Four Corners of 
 VII. the Land.'] Upon the whole Country : Compare 
 
 U'^VNJ Numb. xxiv. 17. 
 
 Ver. 4. Ver. 4. iW»/f £)'? flail not ffare thee 8rc] See 
 
 Chapter v. 17. 
 
 Ibid. eAnd ye flail know that I am the Lord.] 
 See Chap. vi. 17. 
 
 Ver. 5. Ver. 5. e/tf# 00/7 Evil, behold, is come.] Such 
 
 an Evil as fhall comprehend all other Calamities 
 in it. 
 
 Ver. 6. Ver. 6. (An End is come J] A Deftru&ion which 
 
 fhall be fatal to a great part of thofe that go into 
 Captivity, as well as to thofe who are confumed 
 in their own Country. See Chapter v. 1 2. vi. 8. 
 Jerem. xliv. 27. 
 
 Ver. 7. Ver. 7. The Morning is come nfon thee.'] God's 
 
 Judgments fhall overtake thee fpeedily and unex- 
 pectedly : Compare Tfal. xlvi. 9. The Expreflion 
 alludes to the time, when the Magiftrates ufe to 
 give Sentence againft Offenders, which was in the 
 Morning. See the Notes upon Jerem. xxi. 12. 
 
 Ver. 7. Ver. 7. The Time is come.] The Time of God's 
 
 Vengeance, called elfe where the Day of the Lord. 
 Compare Ver. 12. Chapter xxi. 25. xxx. $• Jerem. 
 xvii. 7. 
 
 Ibid. And not the founding again of the Moun- 
 tains.] The found of War and Tumults : not fuch a 
 joyful Sound as ufeth to eccho from the Mountains, 
 by which the Treaders of Grapes exprefs their Sa- 
 tisfaction at the time of the Vintage : which the 
 Hebrew Word Hed or Heidad properly fignifies ; 
 See Ifa.xvL 9. Jerem. xxv. 30. xlviii. $j. 
 
 yer.
 
 upon EZEKIEL. $i 
 
 Ver. 10. The Rod hath blojjomed, Tride hath Chapter 
 budded.'] Wickednefs daily fpreads and increafes, VTT. 
 till it becomes ripe for Judgment. 0""V~NJ 
 
 Ver. 11. Neither [hall there be any wailing jfcrVer. IO « 
 them.] In an utter Deftruction there fhall none Ver. n. 
 efcape to bewail the Calamities of their Brethren : 
 or they fhall ufe no ExprefTions of Sorrow, as Per- 
 fons that are aftonifhed under the greatnefs of their 
 Afflictions. Compare Chapter xiv. 16, 22. Deut. 
 xxviii. 28, $4. 
 
 Ver. 1 2. Let not the IBuyer rejoice, nor the Seller Ver. 1 2. 
 mourn.'] The Buyer will have no Reafon to rejoice, 
 becaufe he will not enjoy what he hath bought ; 
 nor the Seller caufe to mourn for the lofs of his 
 PofTeflions, which the approaching Captivity will 
 for ever deprive him of. 
 
 Ver. 1$. For the Seller JJjall not return to that\j QXt t * 
 which is fold, althd* they were yet alive.] The 
 Year of Jubilee fhall be no advantage to the Sell- 
 ers, when once they are gone into Captivity : For 
 tho' they fhould live fo long, yet they fhall not 
 enjoy the Benefit of the Law, Levit. xxv. 1 3. nor 
 return any more to their PofTeflions. 
 
 Ibid. Neither flail any fire ngthen himfelf in the 
 Iniquity of his Life.] And tho' they harden them- 
 felves in Sin, and fhut their Eyes againft the Judg- 
 ments which hang over their Heads, thefe will at 
 laft unavoidably overtake them. 
 
 Ver. 14. They have blown the Trumpet [See Je- Ver. 14. 
 remiah vi. 1.] but nonegoeth to the "Battle.] Mens 
 Hearts fail them, as looking upon themfelves as 
 given up to Deftru&ion. See Ver. 17. 
 
 Ver. 15. The Sword is without, the Teft Hence y er# x * 
 and the Famine within.] See Chapter v. 2, 12. 
 
 H 2 Ver.
 
 $2 ^Commentary 
 
 Chapter Ver. 16. "But they that are efcafed of them Jhall 
 VII. e(caf>e.~] Some few of them fhall have the Favour of 
 t/"VNJ efcaping the common Calamity, called eliewhere 
 Ver. 16. tne EfcaPed or the Remnant, from whence is deri- 
 ved the Phrafe «* 2»?6/«w in the New Teftament, 
 /#cft ^j <zrf or -fhould be faved: See the Note on 
 If a. 1.9. and 'Jeremiah xliv. 14. 
 
 Ibid, g^?/^ yM/ Z 7 ^ #p<?# ££e Mountains like 
 Troves in the Vallies, &c.D When they flee from 
 the Enemy to the Mountains [Compare *P/#/. xi. 
 1. Matth. xxiv. 16.] and are efcaped out of the 
 imminent Danger that threatned them, they will 
 then reflect upon their former Provocations, and 
 bemoan themfelves and their Calamities the Ef- 
 fects of them. See Chapter vi. 9. and compare 
 If a. xxxviii. 14. lix. 1 1. 
 
 Ibid. Ml of them mourning.~] St. Jerom renders 
 it, eAll of 'them trembling : an Epithet afcribed to 
 Doves, Hof xi. 1 1. who are by Nature exceeding ti- 
 merous : This Interpretation implies, that their 
 Guilt fhould make them very apprehend ve of God's 
 Judgments, and fearful of what fhould befal them. 
 Ver. 17. Ver. 17. oAll Hands fhall be feeble , andallKjtees 
 flail be weak as Water r^ Weaknefs and failing of 
 Spirits doth caufe Feeblenfs in the Hands and 
 'Knees. Compare Chapter xxi. 7. If a, xxxv. 3. 
 Job iv. j, 4. 
 Ver. 1 8. Ver. 1 8. Horror fhall Cover them,'} or, Over- 
 whelm them, as the Phrafe is tranflated, Tjal. Iv. 6. 
 Ibid. Shame fhall be ufonall Faces.'] The Marks 
 of Confufion and Mifery, covering the Face, or 
 Shaving the Head, and making it bald; as it fol- 
 lows ; See the Note on Ifa. xv. 2* 
 
 Ver,
 
 upon EZEKIEL. 53 
 
 Ver. 19. They fljall cafi their Silver into the Chapter 
 Streets, and their Gold (hall be removed."] or, Shall VII. 
 le accounted an unclean Thing ; fo the Margin l^VNJ 
 renders the Word Leniddah, in the following Verfe : Ver. 19. 
 it fhall be valued no more than Dung or Filthi- 
 nefs, as being made a Prey to the Conquerors. 
 
 Ibid. They fhall not fatisfy their Souls, nor fill 
 their 'Bowels.'] Their Wealth will not procure 
 them the NecefTaries of Life under the Streights 
 of Famine, or Miferies of Bondage. 
 
 Ibid. Becauje it is the /tumbling 'Block of their 
 Iniquity.] They laid out their Silver and Gold in 
 making Ornaments for their Idols : Compare 
 Chapter xiv. 2. xvi. 17. xliv. 12. 
 
 Ver. 20 oAs for the 'Beauty of his Ornament, he Ver. 2©. 
 fet it in Majefty, &c] The Expreffions may moft 
 probably be underftood of the Glory and Magnifi- 
 cence of the Temple, called elfewhere the 
 Beauty of Holinefs : Compare Verfe 22. This ve- 
 ry Place they have defiled with Idolatry. See 
 Chapter v. 1 1 therefore I have given it into the 
 Hands of the Gentiles to profane and pollute it. 
 For to that Senfe the Marginal reading rightly 
 tranflates the following Words. The PreterperfecT: 
 Tenfe is often ufed by the Prophets for the Future ; 
 who to denote the Certainty of the Event, fpeak 
 of what is to come, as if it were already done. See 
 the Note upon If a. xxi. 9. The fame Senfe is ex- 
 prefTed in the following Verfe, 1 will give it into 
 the Hands of Strangers, &c. 
 
 Ver. 21. To the Wicked of the Earth.] See Ver. 2 r. 
 Ver. 24. 
 
 Ver. 22.. My Face alfo will I turn from them, &o] Ver. 22, 
 I will not hear them when they cry to me in their 
 
 Di-
 
 54 ^Commentary 
 
 Chapter Diftrefs : See Chapter viif. 18. but will deliver up 
 VII. the Holieft Part of the Temple, where none but 
 
 L/*V*NJ the High Prieft ufed to enter, into the Hands of 
 the Chaldeans that fhall profane and plunder it. 
 
 Ver. 2?. Ver. 23. Make a Chain.'] The Prophets fore- 
 told Things by Actions as well as by Words. So 
 Jeremiah is commanded to make Bonds and Yokes, 
 Jeremiah xxviii. 2. and Ezekiel here to make a 
 Chain, to forefhew the approaching Captivity, 
 when King and People fhould be carried in Chains 
 to 'Babylon. See 2 Kings xxv. 7. Jerem. xl. \. 
 
 Ibid. For the Land is full of bloody Crimes.] The 
 innocent Blood that has bin fhed in it, cries aloud 
 for Vengeance. See Chapter ix. 9. xxiii. 27. 
 xxvi. 18. 
 
 Ver. 24. • Ver. 24. Therefore will I bring the worft of the 
 Heathen?] The Chaldeans, who were at that time 
 the great OpprefTors of the World, and a Terror 
 to all the Countries round about them. See Chap- 
 ter xxviii. 7. xxx. 11. 
 
 Ibid. / will make the Tomp of the Strong to 
 ceafe.] All the State and Magnificence of the 
 Mighty Men fhall be brought to nothing. Com- 
 pare Chapter xxxviii. 28. 
 
 Ibid. (And their Holy Places Jhall be defiled.'] 
 The Word Holy Places being in the Plural Num- 
 ber, denotes the Temple and all its outward Courts, 
 where the People affembled for the Worfhip of 
 God, and thereupon were accounted Holy. Com- 
 pare Chapter ix. 7. xxi. 2. Tfal. lxviii. 35. lxxiii. 
 17. Jeremiah li. 51. 
 
 Ver. 26. Ver. 26. Then fiall they feek a Vifton from the 
 Trophet.] Men are defirous to hear what the 
 
 Event
 
 upon EZEKIEL. $5 
 
 Event fhall be in Times of Perplexity : See Chap- Chapter 
 terxiv. 9. xx. 1. xxxviii. 17. VII. 
 
 Ibid. But the Law (hall feriflj from the Priefl, L^VNJ 
 and Counfel from the <*Ancients.~] Jeremiah, Da- 
 niel and Ezekiel himfelf (hall go into Captivity. 
 So there fhall either be no Prophet left among you, 
 or if there be any left, they fhall not be favoured 
 with Divine Revelations. See Lamen. ii. 8. 
 
 Ibid. oAnd Counsel from the oAncienPs.'] or the 
 Elders, as the Word is elfewhere tranflated ; Chap- 
 ter" viii. 1. xiv. 1. xx. 1. Men of Authority and 
 famous for Wifdom, whofe Advice they asked in 
 all Cafes of Difficulty : See TJal. cxix. 1 00. Ifa. iii. 
 2.. In like manner the Trofhet, the Trieft, and the 
 Wife Men are joined together, Jeremiah xviii. 1 8. 
 
 Ver. 27. The Kjng (liall mourn, andtheTrincesVev. 27, 
 fhall be c loathed with Dejolation, and the Hands of 
 the Teofle fhall be troubled.'] There fhall be a ge- 
 neral Confirmation of all Ranks and Degrees of 
 Men. They that are in Authority fhall want Pre- 
 fence of Mind to give Counfel and Directions, and 
 the Inferiors fhall have no Heart to put them in 
 Execution. The Word 'Prince is Synonymous with 
 the King, as may appear by comparing Chapter 
 xii. 10, 12. xxi. 25. 
 
 CH A P.
 
 tf 
 
 A Commentary 
 
 Chapter 
 VIII. 
 
 CHAP. VIII. 
 
 The Argument. 
 
 The Trophet is carried in Vifion to 'Jerufalem, and 
 there Jhewed the Idolatries committed by the 
 Jews within the Trecintls of the Temple. 
 
 Ver. i. Ver. i. 
 
 NT) it came to fafs in the fixth 
 Tear.'] of Jehoiakin*s Captivi- 
 ty. See Chapter i. 2. 
 
 Ibid. eAnd the Elders of jf#- 
 dah.~\ Men of Note for their 
 Age or Authority, perhaps fuch as had been Mem- 
 bers of the Greater or Letter Confiftories before 
 their Captivity. Thefe Elders came to me to in- 
 quire of the Lord concerning their preient State of 
 Affairs: Compare Chapter xiv. 1,4. xxxiii. ji. It 
 is probable that they together with the Priefts of 
 the Captivity often met together to confult about 
 the Publick Affairs, or to make Orders and Rules 
 for the better Government of the People. So when 
 Sharezer and Regemmekch came to Jerufalem to 
 
 ask
 
 upon EZEKTEL. 57 
 
 ask Counfel of the Prophets and Priefts about obfer- Chapter 
 ving the Fafts relating to their former Calamities, VIII. 
 Zfch. vii. 2, 3. it is highly probable that they were L/~V*NJ 
 fent by the Elders and Priefts that met in ^Babylon 
 for this purpofe. See Dr. Trideaux Connex, of Scrip. 
 Hift, Part i. p. 272. 
 
 Ibid. Sat before me.~] This was the Pofture of 
 thofe that came to hear the Inftru&ions of any Pro- 
 phet or Teacher. Compare Chapter xiv. 1. xx. 1. 
 xxxiii. 31.2 Kjngs iv. 58. In after Times the Tea- 
 chers fat in a Chair or eminent Seat,, and the 
 Hearers fat on lower Forms at the Feet of their 
 Matters : See Luke x. 39. oAcl. xxii. ?. 
 
 Ibid. That the Hand of the Lord fell up ] on me ] 
 See Note on Chapter i. 3. 
 
 Ver. 2. / beheld,~\ A Divine of great Learning Ver. 2. 
 and Character thinks the Hebrew Words fhould be 
 underftood of the time Paft, and tranflated / had 
 beheld: and that we are not to fuppofe the Prophet 
 began to fee this Vifion while the Eiders were be- 
 fore him, but related to them by God's Direction 
 what he had formerly feen in the Fourth Month, 
 the Seafon fet apart for the Worfhip of the Idol 
 Tammuz: See the Note on Verfe 14. This Senfe 
 is confirmed by comparing the Place with Chapter 
 xi. 25. Then, or, Thus Ifpake to them of the Cap- ~ 
 tivity all the Things that the Lord had fie wed 
 me. 
 
 Ibid, oAnd lo, a Likenefs as the eAppearance of 
 Fire, &-c.] See the Note on Chapter i. 27. 
 
 Ver. 3. He put forth the form of an Hand.~] Juft Ver. 3. 
 as the form of an Hand appeared writing upon the 
 Wall, Dan, v. 5. 
 
 I Ibid.
 
 58 A Commentary 
 
 Chapter Ibid. aAnd the Spirit lift me up, and brought me 
 VIII. in the Vifion of God to Jerufalem.'] This Expref- 
 
 CVNJ Hon in the Vifions of God, (which is like-wife ufed 
 again at the End of the Recital of this Prophecy, 
 Chapter xi. 24. and Chapter xl. 2.) may import 
 that all this Reprefentation was performed only in 
 1 Vifion : that is, by a lively Reprefentation to the 
 Mind, as if the Prophet had been perfonally pre- 
 fent at Jerufalem. In the fame manner ElifJja was 
 prefent with Gehazi when he took Naamarfs Pre- 
 sent, 2 KJngsv.26. and heard the Words that 
 were fpoken in the King of Syria's Bedchamber: 
 Ibid. Chap. vi. 12. and St. Taut, tho' he was ab- 
 fent in *Body yet was prefent in Spirit at the 
 Church of the Coloffians, beholding their Order, 
 £§e. Colof ii. 5. But the Words may alfo fignify 
 a local Tranflation of the Prophet from Chaidea to 
 Jerufalem; Compare Chapter iii. 14. xl. 1. 
 
 This latter Interpretation is confirmed by the Spi- 
 rits lifting him up between Heaven and Earthy 
 and bringing him to jerufalem, and afterward car* 
 vying him back into Chaidea, Chap. xi. 24. 
 
 Ibid. To the lDoor of the inner Gate.] The En- 
 trance that goes into the inner Court, called the 
 Court of the Triefis, where the Altar of Burnt- 
 ^ offerings flood : See Ver. 5. The Prophet flood at 
 the outfide of this Door, and view'd the Image 
 here mentioned, placed in fome outward Verge 
 of the Temple : which yet was all accounted Ho- 
 ly Ground, and called in Scripture the Mount of 
 the Lord, or the Holy Mountain. See Chap. \iu 
 
 2 4- 
 
 Ibid. Wloer e was the Image of Jealoufy, that 
 
 provoketh to Jealoufy.] An Image fet up within 
 
 the
 
 upon EZEKTEL. 59 
 
 the PrecinQs of the Temple, to provoke God to Chapter 
 Jealoufy, by fetting up a Rival ag£j >(t him in the VIII. 
 place dedicated to his own Worfhip. See the i^/'VNJ 
 Note on Chap. v. n. 
 
 Ver. 4. oAnd behold the Glory of the God of If. Ver. 4. 
 rael was there, ,] To fhew that that was the place 
 of his peculiar Refidence. 
 
 Ver. 5. Northward at the Gate of the aAltar.] Ver. 5. 
 Northward of the Gate or Entrance that was over- 
 againft the Altar. 
 
 Ver. 6. That I fjould go far off from my Sanffu~Vev. 6* 
 ary.] That I fhould forfake it, and deliver it up 
 to be polluted by the Heathen, Chap. vii. 21, 22. 
 which is fignificantly reprefented by the departing 
 of the Divine Glory from the Threfiold of the Tern- 
 fie, Chap. x. 1 8. 
 
 Ibid. oAnd thou /halt fee greater eAbominations.] 
 Becaufe committed by Perfons of greater Authority, 
 and nearer the place of my immediate Prefence. See 
 Verfes 11. 14, 16. 
 
 Ver. 7. ctAnd he brought me to the Door of the Yer. j\ 
 Court.] This Dr. Light foot, of the Temple, Chap. 
 28. underftands of the Eaft Gate of the Inner 
 Court, called the Gate of Nicanor, over -which 
 was the Council-Chamber where the Sanhedrim 
 ufed to meet, and in fome of the Rooms near it * 
 they fecretly practifed Idolatry, as God difcovered 
 to the Prophet, Ver. 11. 
 
 Ibid. "Behold an Hole in the Wall'] Thro' which 
 I could look in, and fee what Abominations were 
 committing there. 
 
 Ver. 8. Then /aid he unto me, Dig now in the y er# $. 
 Wall] This was done only by Vifion, to give the 
 clearer Proof and Conviction of the Idolatries there 
 
 I 2 com-
 
 6o A Commentary 
 
 Chapter committed, by thus introducing him into the 
 
 VIIL Rooms where they were pra&iied. 
 L/"V*VJ Ibid. oAnd when I had digged in the Wall, be- 
 hold a c Door.~] Whid had been -made up, and ano- 
 ther more fecret Entrance contriv'd, that they 
 might go in and out unobferv'd. 
 Ver. 9. Ver. 9. oAnd he [aid unto me, Go in, &c] To- 
 
 give me the fulleft Conviction I did not only peep 
 thro' the Hole, mentioned Ver. 8. but went into 
 the very Room where theie Idolatries were com- 
 mitted. 
 Ver. 10. Ver. 10. So I went in and beheld—every form of 
 creeping things and abominable 'Beafts pourtrayed 
 upon the Walls round about. ,] Pictures were as much 
 prohibited by the Law as Carved Images : See 
 Numb, xsxiii. $3. 
 
 The worfhipping Serpents and other brute Crea- 
 tures were Idolatries pra&ifed in Egypt, and upon 
 that Account particularly forbidden by Mojes * 
 'Deut. iv. 17, 18. 
 Ver. 11. Ver. 11. cAnd there flood before them feventy 
 Men of the oAncients of the Houfe oflfraelj] Thofe 
 probably were the Members of the Sanhedrim, or 
 great Council of the Jews. See the Note on Je- 
 rem. xxvi. 19. The place of this Idolatry was 
 » near the Council-Chamber where they ufed to fit : 
 See Ver. 7. 
 Ver. 12. Ver. 12. Haft thou feen what the eAntients of 
 the Houfe of Ifrael do in the dark.'] See Ver. 7. 8. 
 Ibid. For they fay, The Lord feeth us not, the 
 Lord hath forfaken the Earthy They either deny 
 the Being and Providence of God, See Chap. ix. 
 9. or elfe they fay in their Hearts, God hath caft 
 us off, and withdrawn his wonted Protection from 
 
 us.
 
 upon EZEKIEL. 61 
 
 us. They feem to have been of the fame Mind Chapter 
 with King <Ahaz, who refolved to worfhip the VIII. 
 Gods of the Syrians his Conquerors : 2 Chron. L/^V^J 
 xxviii. 23. So thefe Men worfhipped the Idols of 
 their Neighbours whom they faw more profperous 
 than themfelves. 
 
 Ver. 14. Then he brought me to the Door of they&, 14. 
 Gate of the Lord'; Houfe, which was toward the 
 North.'] Which was over-againft the Temple : 
 Dr. Lightfoot (ubi fufra) diftinguifhes this Door 
 from that mentioned Ver. 5. that this was the 
 Upper North-Gate, and that the Lower: this be- 
 ing juft over againft the Temple it felf, whereas 
 that was oppofite to the Altar 
 
 Ibid. oAnd behold there [at Women weeding for 
 Tamuz.~] St. Jerom by Tamuz underftands oAdonis, 
 which learned Men fuppofe the fame with OJyris : 
 See Voffius de Iaololatvia, lib. 2. c. 4, 10. By Ojjris 
 is generally underftood the Sun, whom they be- 
 wailed when he was going to leave them at the 
 Winter Seafon. 
 
 This Idolatry was ct jderived from the Egyptians, 
 and afterwards the T'hoenicians and Greeks impro- 
 ved it by the Addition of a new Fable, viz, of Ve- 
 nus'* mourning for the Death oiaAdonis. 
 
 The fourth Month of the Jews, which anfwere*d 
 part of our June and July, was called Tamuz, from 
 a Feaft dedicated to this Idoi In that Month. The 
 Egyptian Year confifted but of Three hundred and 
 Sixty five Days, without any 'Bijfextile, which 
 was afterwards added in the Julian Year. By this 
 means they loft a Day every four Years, which in 
 procefs of time made a great change in the begin- 
 ning of their Year, and a Variation in their FeiH- 
 
 vaJs,
 
 62 A Commentary 
 
 Chapter vals which muft confequently remove fiom one 
 VI1|. Seafon of the Year to another. It is therefore pro- 
 L/"V > bable that under the Idolatrous Kings -of Jndah, 
 •who brought in the Worfhip of Tamuz, this Fe- 
 stival fell in the Month that anfwered the Fourth 
 Month of the Jews, and gave that Month this 
 Name: in which Month Ezekiel probably faw 
 this Vifion : See the Note on Verfe 2. and Selden 
 de 'Diis Syri*, Syntagm.i. c, ir. 
 Ver. 16. Ver. 16. oAt the 'Door of the Temple of the 
 L r iRD between the Torch and the (Altar. ~\ Near 
 the Entrance into the Temple, where the Brazen 
 Altar flood, in the middle of the Court before the 
 Houfe of the Lord. See 2 Chron. viii. 7. 2 Kjngs 
 xvi. 14. 
 
 Ibid. Were about five and twenty Men with their 
 'Backs toward the Temple of the Lord, and their 
 Faces toward the Eaft, &c] So they turned their 
 Backs to God Almighty, and their Faces toward 
 the Sun. Perhaps Hezekiah may allude to fome 
 fuch Idolatrous Practice, in that Confeflion of his, 
 2 Chron. xxix. 6 Our Fathers have done Evil in 
 the Sight of the Lord, and have forfaken him, and 
 turned away their Faces from the Habitation of the 
 Lord, and turned their ''Backs. 
 
 They turned their Back to God, and not their 
 Face ; as Jeremy exprefTes their Contempt toward 
 him, Chap. ii. 27. xxxii. $3. Comp. Chap, xxiii. 
 35. of this Prophecy. For this Reafon the People 
 were commanded to come in at the North or 
 Southern Gates of the outward Court of the Tem- 
 ple, when they came to Worfhip, that they might 
 not at their Return turn their Backs upon 
 God. SeeChap.xlvi.9. God ordered the Holy 
 
 of
 
 upon EZEKIEL. 63 
 
 of Holies in his Temple to be placed toward the Chapter 
 Weft, in Oppofition to this Species of Heathen VIII. 
 Idolatry, which confided in worfhipping the Rifing L/^/"NJ 
 Sun. And the Jews always turned their Faces to- 
 ward the Temple, when they worshipped. See 
 Dr. Spencer, De Legib. Hebr. lib. $. c. 2. Setf.4. 
 
 Ver. 17. For they have filled the Land with Vio- Ver. 1 7. 
 lence, and have returned to provoke me to anger. ] 
 Or, eAgain they provoke me to oAnger. See the 
 Note on If a. vi. 1$. After their repeated A£te of 
 Injuftice and OpprefTion, (See Chapter xxii. 6, 7.)° 
 They add new Aggravations to their Wickedneft 
 by committing thefe heinous Provocations of Ido- 
 latry. 
 
 Ibid. *And lo they put the 'Branch to their 
 Noje.~\ Thofe that tranflate the Words to this 
 Senfe, fuppofe them to relate to fome Cuftom 
 among the Idolaters, of dedicating a Branch of 
 -Laurel, or fome other Tree, to the Honour of the 
 Sun, and carrying it in their Hands at the time of 
 their Worfhip. But this Text is one of thofe 
 which the Rabbins reckon among the Tikkun So- 
 fherim, or fuch as have been corrected by their 
 Scribes and learned Men : and the Original Read- 
 ing, fay they, was oApfi, to my Noje, or Face, 
 inftead of the prefent Reading oAppanj. Accor- 
 ding to which Reading the Senfe will be, oAnd 
 they put a ft ink to my Noje, that is, they put an 
 open Affront upon me, by turning their back 
 Parts to me in the place dedicated to my Wor- 
 fhip. 
 
 To this Senfe the LXX render it, *vjoi »% y.vK\*<d- 
 Z*SIh, They are as thofe that mock me, or publickly 
 affront me. 
 
 © ■ Dr.
 
 64 ^Commentary 
 
 Cha pter Dr. Lightfoot upon John x v. 6. renders the place, 
 VTIL They fut the 'Branch to my Wrath, or, to their 
 
 t/*VNJ Wrath: that is, they add more Fewel to my 
 Wrath, which will burft out like a Flame to con- 
 fume them : juft as if one (hould lay an Heap of 
 dry Sticks upon a Fire. Compare Chap. xv. 6, 
 
 Ver. 1 8. Ver - *%' Therefore will I alfo deal in Fury.~] 
 God's unalterable Decree of executing Vengeance 
 upon them for their heinous Iniquities, is defcribed 
 like the Fury of an enraged Perfon, which cannot 
 ° be appeafed but by bringing the Offender to con- 
 dign Punifhment. See Chap. v. 13. xvi. 42. xxiv, 
 
 CHAR
 
 upon EZEKIEL. 
 
 *$ 
 
 CHAR IX. ch $ ter 
 
 The Argument. 
 
 This part of the Vifwn reprefents the Deftruclion 
 of the Inhabitants of Jerufalem, beginning with 
 thofe that were- nearejt the Temple. 
 
 Ver. i. X\ ^^p|£ alfo cried in mine Ears 'with Ver. r. 
 
 a loud Voice,'] To denote the 
 Terriblenefs of God's Judg- 
 ments : See Chap. i. 24. Rev, 
 xiv. 7, 9, 15. 
 
 Ibid. Cauje them who have 
 a Charge over the City to come near.'] The Angels 
 who had the Charge of executing God's Judg- 
 ments upon the City. Compare 2 IQlftgs x. 24. 
 
 Ver. 2. Six Men came from the Way of the upper y Q 
 Gate, which Jieth toward the NorthJ] See the 
 Note on Chapter viii. 14. There is mention of the 
 Higher or Upper Gate of the Lord's Houle which 
 Jotham built or repaired, called the New Gate, 
 Jeremiah xxvl. 10. 1 Kings xv, 35. But that is ge- 
 nerally thought to be at the Eaft fide of the Tem- 
 ple, and the fame with that which was afterward 
 
 K called
 
 66 ^Commentary 
 
 Chapter called the Gate ofNicanor : whereas this is fuppo 
 IX. fed to be on the North fide of the Temple and 
 tyVSJ Altar, becaufe there the Sacrifices were ordered 
 to be flain. See Levit, i. n. and the Note upon 
 the following Words. Six Slaughtermen came like 
 fo many Levites, expecting an Order from the 
 chief facrificing Prieft, which Beaft to flay, and 
 at what time. 
 
 Ibid. oAnd one Man among them was cloathed 
 with Linnen.~] That is, an Angel (See Ver. 4. 
 and compare Chap. xl. 5. xliii. 6.) who was to 
 fupply the Place of the ch ief facrificing Pried. An- 
 gels as Miniftring Spirits always attending upon 
 God's Service, are fometimes defcribed in the Ha- 
 bit of Priefts, fee Revel, xv. 5, 6. As God's Mini- 
 fters for the fame Reafon have the Title of Angels 
 given them, Revel, i. 20. 
 
 Ibid. With a Writers Inkhorn by his fide.~] To 
 fet a Mark on thofe that were to be faved from the 
 common Deftruttion. But the LXX tranflate the 
 "Words, With a Girdle of Saphire, or Embroidery 
 upon his Loins : which agrees better with what 
 goes before, as being part of the Prieft's Habit, 
 Exod* xxviii. 8. and the above-cited place in the 
 Revelation. And this Interpretation of the Phrafe 
 Dr. Caflell follows in his Lexicon, in the Word 
 Kffeth. 
 
 Ibid. (And they went and flood by the brazen 
 &4ltar.~\ To denote that the Men ordained to De- 
 ftru&ion were offered up as fo many Sacrifices, to 
 make an Atonement to God's Juftice. The de- 
 ftrufrion of the Wicked is elfewhere expreffed by 
 the Name of a Sacrifice: See Chap, xxxix. 17. 
 Ifa. xxix. 2. xxxiv. 6. 
 J Ver.
 
 upon EZEKIEL. 6j 
 
 Ver. 3. <An<l the Glory of the Godoflfrael was Chapter 
 gone up from the Cherub whereupon he was, to IX. 
 the Threfhold of the Houfe.~\ Ezekiel faw the Glo- L/V"\J 
 ry of God depart out of the inner Sanctuary to the Ver. h 
 Threfhold, or Door of the Temple ; to fhew that 
 God would fhortly forfake his Temple. Compare 
 Chap. x. 4, 18, 19. xi. 2}. The Word Cherub 
 ftands for Cherubims, as Chap, x 2. We are to di- 
 ftinguifh this Apparition of the Divine Glory, 
 which had its conftant Refidence in the Temple, 
 from that which was fliewed particularly to Eze- 
 kiel: Chap. i. 26. iii. 23. viii. 24. x. 1. 
 
 Ibid. (And he called to the Man, &c] The Lo- 
 gos, or fecond °Perfon of the Blefled Trinity gave 
 his Commands to the Angel mentioned Ver. 3. 
 
 Ver.. 4. Set a Mark upon their Foreheads.~\ Com- Ver. 4, 
 pare Revel, vii. 3;. The Expreflion alludes to the 
 Cuftom of the Eaftern Nations to mark their Ser- 
 vants in the Forehead : See Gvotins upon that place 
 of the Revelations. The . Vulgar- Latin renders 
 the Words, Mark with the Letter Thau the Fore- 
 heads : and 'tis very probable the ancient Reading 
 in the LXX was 7*v Saw© m tho'-the prefent Copies 
 read t3 2»u«"V. See Hueiius 'Demonft. Evang. Trop. 
 
 9- 
 
 It was the general Opinion of the Fathers, that 
 
 the Ancient Samaritan Letter -Thau was made in 
 the Form of a Crofs : and St. Jerom (a very com- 
 petent Judge in this matter") does.attetl the fame 
 in his Commentary on this place. 
 
 This Opinion Scaliger reie&s in his Notes upon 
 Eufebius\ Chronkon, p. 109. but Bifhop Walton 
 defends it at large in his Third ^Prolegomenon, .N* 
 36. and in the DilTertation upon the ancient He- 
 
 K 2 brew
 
 68 ./^Commentary 
 
 Chanter brew Skies in his (Apparatus to the Tolyglot'Bi 
 IX. Me, p. 36, 38. The Ethiofick Letter T^w/ or T^a 
 
 0*V^O ftill retains the Form of a Crofs; and the learned 
 Ludolphus fuppofes, that the Etbiopick Letters 
 were borrowed from the Samaritans. The Cop- 
 tick Letter of that Sound is in the fame Form. 
 The Modern' Antiquaries do all agree, that the Sa- 
 maritan Thau was in the Form of a Greek X. But 
 whether their Authority be fufficient to outweigh 
 that of St. Jerow, muft be left to the Learned to 
 judge. - It is obfervable, that the High Prieft was 
 anointed upon the Forehead, in the Form of a X, 
 as 6 el den allures us, lib. 2. de Saccefs. in Tontif. 
 c. 9. 
 
 Ibid. Of the Men that figh and cry for all the 
 x&Abominations that are done in the midft thereof. ~\ 
 The irreclaimable Temper of Sinners that hate to 
 be reformed, is juft matter of Grief to good Men. 
 See TJal. cxix. i$6. Ija.Hu. 18. Jerem. xiii. 17. 
 2 Cor. xii. 21. 2 Tet.ti. 8. And when the Num- 
 ber of fuch Mourners is not fufficient to divert 
 God's Judgments from a Nation, they fhall at 
 leaft deliver their own Souls. See Chap. kiv. 14. 
 
 Ver. 5. . Ver. 5. Let not your Eye /pare, &c] See Chap. 
 v. 11. 
 
 Ver. 6. Ver. 6. Slay utterly old and young, &c] This 
 
 Denunciation was executed by the Chaldeans : See 
 2 Chron. \xxvi. 17. 
 
 Ibid. eAnd begin at my Santluary.'] Judgment 
 often begins at the Houfe of God, 1 Pet. iv. 17. be- 
 caufe fuch Perfons fin againft greater Light and 
 clearer Convictions. See oAmos iii. 2. Luke xii- 
 47. 
 
 Ibid.
 
 upon EZEKIEL. 69 
 
 Ibid. Then they began with the ancient Men that Chaprer 
 were before the Houfe.~\ Who committed Idolatry IX. 
 in the feveral Courts and A partments belonging LyV*NJ 
 to the Temple. See Chap. viii. n, 12, 16. 
 
 Ver. 7. Defile the Houfe, and fill the Courts Ver. 7. 
 with the /Iain.'] God declares he will own the Tem- 
 ple no longer for his place of Refidence. See Ver. 
 3. as having been polluted with Idolatry, Chap. 
 viii. 10, &c. and therefore delivers up both the in- 
 ner and outer Courts belonging to it (Compare 
 Chap. x. 3 5.) to be polluted by Blood arid Slaugh- 
 ter. 
 
 Ver. 8. eAnd I was left."] The Prophet thought Ver. 8. 
 himfelf preferved alone out of the common Deftru- 
 ftion, the Slaughter was fo great : altho' thofe 
 who had a Mark fet upon them were certainly pre- x 
 ferved, as well as he. 
 
 Ibid. / fell upon my Face."] In a pofture of fup- 
 plication to deprecate God's Anger, (See Numb. 
 xii. 5. xvi. 4, 22,45.) an ^ t0 befeech him not to 
 make an utter Deftruction of thofe fmall Remains 
 that were left of the Nation : Jerufalem being al- 
 moft the only place which was not in the Enemies 
 Power. See Chap. xi. 1 ?. 
 
 Ver. 9. The Land is full of Woody and the City Ver. 9. 
 cfTerverfenefs.'] See Chap. viii. 2$. 
 
 Ibid. The Lord hath forfaken the Earth, &c] 
 See Chap. viii. 1 2. 
 
 CHAP.
 
 70 ^Commentary 
 
 
 Chapter CHAR X. 
 
 The Argument. 
 
 Tfo J 7 //?^ of the Cherubims, which the Trofhet 
 faw at the beginning of this Trophecj, is here 
 renewed : from whence Coals are fcattered over 
 the City, to denote its Deftrutlion by Fire, <*At 
 the End of the Chapter the Divine Glory is de- 
 fer He d as ft ill removing further from the Temple. 
 
 Ver i Ver. i. SBiiiPBBil^ ^ e Firmament that was 
 
 above the Head of the Che- 
 rubims, &c] See the Note 
 on Chap. i. 26. 
 Ibid. eAs the oApfearance 
 of the likenefs of a Throne^ 
 And God fitting upon it. Hid. 
 Ver. 2. Ver. 2. Go in between the Wheels, even, under 
 
 the Cherubims."] Or, "Between the Cherubims, as 
 Noldim tranflates the Phrafe, N. 3, 98. according 
 to the Explication given of it Ver. 7. 
 
 Ibid. <Andfill thine Hand with Coals of Ere 
 from between the Cherubims, andfeatter them over 
 the City.l For the Coals of Fire fparkled and ran 
 
 up
 
 uponEZEKIEL. ii 
 
 up and down between the Living Creatures : See Chapter. 
 Chap. i. 13. This part of the Vifion was to repre- X. 
 fent the Burning of the City. Coals of Fire do L/W m \J 
 elfewhere denote the Divine Vengeance : See Pfal. 
 cxx. 4. cxl. 10. Revel, viii. 5. 
 
 Ver. $. Now the Cherubims flood on the right Ver. 3. 
 fide of the Houfe.'] The Cherubims which were 
 Part of the Vifion fhewed to Ezekiel : See Ver. 1. 
 and the Note upon Chapter ix. 3. they itood now 
 in the Inner Court, on the North Side of the 
 Houfe. See Ver. 18. The Chaldee Paraphrafe 
 underftands it of the South Side of the Houfe, but 
 then it is fpoken with refpect to thofe that came out 
 of the Temple. See Chap, xlvii. 1. 
 
 Ibid. oAnd the Cloud filled the Inner Court .] 
 This bright Cloud feems to be an Attendant upon 
 that Glory which was reprefented in this Vifion to 
 Ezekiel, Chapter viii. 4. x. 1. Or elfethe Words 
 may be underftood of the Cloud or Shekinah, re- 
 moving from the inner San&uary, and coming to- 
 ward the Door of the Houfe : See the following 
 Verfe. 
 
 Ver. 4. The Glory of the Lord went up from Ver. 4. 
 the Cherub, &:c] The Words may better be tran- 
 flated thus, Now, (or, For) the Glory of the Lord 
 was gone uf, Sec. For the Prophet repeats here 
 what he had related before, Chap. ix. 3. 
 
 Ibid. oAnd the Houfe was filled with the Cloud, 
 and the Court was full of the "Bright nefs of the 
 Lord'j Glory."] A bright Cloud was the Sign of 
 God's Prefence, which firft filled the Tabernacle, 
 Exod. xl. 35. afterward the Temple, 1 KJngs viii. 
 10. where it fixed it felf upon the Mercy Seat, 
 Levit. xvi. 2, From whence God is faid fo often to 
 
 ' dwell
 
 72 ^Comment a r y 
 
 Chapter dwell hetween the Cheruhims. This Glory now 
 X. removed from that its Refidence in the Inner Sanc- 
 L/"VV) tuary, and came down toward the Porch of the 
 Temple, ancpfixt it felf partly in the Temple, and 
 partly in the Inner Court adjoining to it : to denote 
 God's being juft about to leave the Temple and 
 dilbwn any Relation to it. See the Note on Chap- 
 ter viii. }. The Shekinah, or Divine Glory is re- 
 prefented as a bright Flame breaking out of a 
 thick Cloud : See the Note on Ifa. vi. i . So both 
 together make up the Defcription of it. 
 
 Ver. 5. Ver. 5. oAndthe Sound of the Cheruhims Wings 
 
 was heard even to the utter Court, &x.] See Chap- 
 ter i. 24. The Cherubims in Ezekiel's Vifion feem 
 to have moved to attend upon the Shekinah, which 
 now had took it's Refidence at the Threfhold of 
 the Houfe. Compare Verfes 18, 19. and Chapter 
 xi. 22. 
 
 Ver. 7. Ver. 7. Who took it and went out J\ To fignify 
 
 the putting the Command in Execution. 
 
 Ver. 8. Ver. 8. ,&And there appeared in the Cheruhims 
 
 the form if a Man's Hand.~\ See Chapter i. 8. 
 
 Ver. 9, 10, £ 1, 12. The fame in Subftance which 
 was defcribed Chapter i. 16, 17, 12, 18. 
 
 Ver. 11. Ver. 11. To theTlace where the Head looked, 
 they followed it.] Each Wheel confifted of four 
 Semicircles (fee the Note on Chapter I 16,17.) 
 in correfpondence to the Four Heads 0^ each 
 Animal. 
 
 Ver. 1 j. Ver. 15. It was cried to them in my hearing, 
 Wheel.'] Or, Move round, as fome render the Word. 
 They are putln mind of continually attending up- 
 on their Duty : for the Wheels and living Crea- 
 tures were animated with the fame Principle of 
 
 Under-
 
 upon EZEKIEL. 73 
 
 Underftanding and Motion. See Chap. i. 19, 20, Chapter 
 21. X. 
 
 Ver. 14. eAnd every one had four Faces, &c] L/^\~\J 
 See Chap. i. 6,10. Ver. 14. 
 
 Ibid. The fir ft had the Face of a Cherub.'] That 
 is, of an Ox, as appears by comparing thisVerfe 
 with Chap. i. 10. The Word Cherub does origi- 
 nally fignify an Ox : See Dr. Spencer de Legib. 
 Hebr. /. 3. c. 3. SeB. 1. The feveral Faces 
 are here reprefented in a different Order from the 
 Defcription given of them Chap. i. 1 o. of which 
 Difference this Reafon may be afligned. In the 
 Firft Chapter the Prophet faw this Vifion coming 
 out of the North, and advancing Southward, Ver. 
 4. where the Face of a Man being placed on the 
 South-fide, was firft in View : a Lion was Weft- 
 ward, an Ox Eaftward, and an Eagle Northward. 
 Whereas in this Chapter, the living Creatures 
 are reprefented as they ftood in View in the In- 
 ward Sanctuary: which being placed toward the 
 Weft, the Ox was firft in View looking Eaftward; 
 the Man was toward the South, the Lion was 
 toward the Weft, and the Eagle toward the 
 North. 
 
 Ver. 1 5. oAnd the Cherub ims were lifted up."] Ver. 1 5. 
 To attend upon the Divine Glory where ever it 
 went, and particularly at its Removal from the 
 Temple. See Ver. 5. and 19. 
 
 Ver. 16, 17. See Chap. i. 19, 20, 21. 
 
 Ver. 18. Then the Glory of the Lord departed Ver. 1$. 
 from off the Threjhold of the Houfe, and ftood over 
 the Cherubims.~\ The Divine Prefence here makes 
 a further remove from the Temple : See Ver. 4. 
 It nqw quite leaves the Houfe it felf, and fettles 
 
 L upon
 
 74 
 
 A Commentary 
 
 Chapter upon the Cherubims which flood in the Court ad- 
 
 X. joining to it: Ver. }. 
 C/^V'NJ Ver. 19. The Cher ubims lift up their Wings 
 
 Ver. 1 9. tfo e iy rJee i s a \r were /^y/^ them.'] See Chap. i. 1 9, 
 
 Ibid, g/4/z d every one of them flood at the Door 
 of the Eafi Gate of the Lord'j Houfe.'] This is 
 ftill a further Remove of God's Prefence from the 
 Temple : for the Eaft Gate was juft at the Entrance 
 into the Inner Court before the Temple. See the 
 Note on Chap. viii. 7. and compare xliii. 4. 
 
 Ver. 20. Ver. 20. This is the likenefs of the living Crea- 
 tures that I Jaw under the God of Ifrael, &c] See 
 Chap. i. 22, 23, 26. 
 
 Ibid. <And I knew that they were the Cheru- 
 1ims.~] Having often feen that Form, which was 
 carved in feveral Places upon the Walls and Doors 
 and Utenfils of the Temple: 1 Kjngs vi. 29, 35, 
 vii. 29, 36. 
 
 Ver. 2i ? Ver* %i> 22. See Chap. i. 8, 10, 12. 
 
 22, 
 
 CHAP.
 
 upon EZEKIEL. 
 
 75 
 
 CHAP. XL cfl 4? tel 
 
 Ihe Argument. 
 
 God denounces his Judgments upon thofe Wicked 
 Men who remained in the City, and made a 
 Mock of the Judgment of the Trophets • He 
 promifes to favour thofe who are gone into Cap' 
 tivity, and truly turn to him : Intimating like- 
 wife that there f mil be a general Reftoration of 
 the Nation in oAftertimes. Then the Divine 
 Glory leaves the City, denoting God's pitting it 
 out of his Troteclion. 
 
 Ver. i. JSgafimm^Preover the Spirit lift me «f.] Ver. i. 
 See Chapter in. 12, 14. viii. 5. 
 Ibid, o/lnd brought me unto 
 the Eaft Gate of the Lord'j- 
 Houfe. - ] Where the Divine Glo- 
 ry had then placed it felf, Chapter x. 19. 
 
 Ibid. Five and twenty Men.~] The fame proba- 
 bly that came thither to worfhip theSuri: Chap- 
 ter viii. 16. 
 
 L 2 Ibid.
 
 j6 A Commentary 
 
 Chapter Ibid. 'Princes of theVeople.] Members of the 
 XT. Great Sanhedrim. Compare Chapter viii. 1 1. and 
 
 tyV^O fee the Note on Jeremiah xxvi. 10. 
 
 Ver. j. Ver. $. Which fay, It is not near : Let us build 
 
 Houfes.] They were fuch as put the evil 'Day far 
 from them : aAmos vi. $. Were not willing to be- 
 lieve that the Judgments threatned would fbon 
 overtake them. Compare Chapter xii. 27. and lb 
 fecurely went on in Building new Houfes, and 
 making fuch like Improvements. 
 
 Ibid. This City is the Caldron, and we are the 
 FleJJj.] Jeremiah had foretold the Deftru&ion of 
 Jerufalem under the Figure of a ^eething Caldron: 
 Jeremiah i. 13. and Ezekiel himfelf ufes the fame 
 Metaphor Chapter xxiv. $, 4, 65V. So thefe Infi- 
 dels made ufe of the fame Expreflion on purpofe to 
 deride the Menaces of the Prophets : as if they had 
 faid, Tf this City be a Caldron, we had rather take 
 our Chance of being confumed in it, than leave 
 our fine Houfes and other Accommodations, and 
 run the rifque of War or Captivity. Compare Ver. 
 7,8,11. 
 
 Ver. <. Ver. 5. <*And the Spirit of the Lor d fell upon me, 
 
 and laid unto me."] See the Note on Chap. iii. 24. 
 
 Ver. 6* Ver. 6. Te have multiplied your Slain in this Ci- 
 
 ty,'] See Chapter xxii. }, 4. 
 
 Ver. 7» Ver. 7* Tour {lain isohom ye have laid in the midfl 
 
 of it, they are the Fle/b, and this City is the Cal- 
 dron.] The comparing of the City to a Caldron 
 may fitly be applied to the Slain, whom you have 
 butchered in your Streets, and cut in Pieces in the 
 midft of it, juft as pieces of Flefh prepared for the 
 Caldron. See Chapter xxiv. 6. and Compare 
 
 Micah iii. g. 
 
 Ibid.
 
 upon EZEKIEL. 77 
 
 Ibid. 'But I will bring you out of the midft of it.] Chapter 
 You fhall not die there, but I will referve you for XL 
 another Punifhment. See Ver. 9, 11. t/"VNJ 
 
 Ver. 9, 10, / will bring you out of the midft Ver* 9,10. 
 thereof and deliver you into the Hands of Stran- 
 gers^ Ye fhall be carried out of the City by the 
 Chaldeans, and afterwards be (lain by them in the 
 Land of Hamath : See Jerem. xxxix. 6. 2 Kjngs 
 xxv. 19, 20, 21. Which is called the entrance of 
 Hamath, 1 Kjngs viii. 65. 2 Kjngs xiv. 25. be- 
 caufeit was juft upon the Borders of Judea. 
 
 Ver. 12. "But have done after the Manners of they ^ t I2 . 
 Heathen.] Have defiled your (elves with their Ido- 
 latries. See Chap. viii. 10, '4,16. 
 
 Ver. 13 Then 1 f?ll down uf on my Face, andy e ^ j* 
 cried with aloud Voice, &"c] The Prophet thought 
 this an Earneft of the common Deflruclion which 
 was coming upon all the Inhabitants of the City, 
 and thereupon he tarnefHy deprecated To fevere a 
 Judgment. See Chap. ix. 8. 
 
 Ver. 15. Thy 'Brethren, the Men of thy Kjn- Ver. 15* 
 dred~] Thofe of thy Kindred and Acquaintance 
 who are carried away captive with thee. 
 
 Ibid.' To whom tot Inhabitants of Jernfalem, ^ 
 have fatd, Get ye far from r^Lv*i>, &C.] The 
 Jews who were left in their Own Countrey, 
 thought themfelves more in God's Favour, than 
 thole who were carried away Captive : whom 
 tliey.look'd upon as Out cafts, and Inch as had no 
 right either to the Priviledges of -Jews, or the 
 Land of Judea: Seethe Nore on Jtrem. xxiv. 5. 
 
 Ver. 16. Tet will I be to them a little Santiu- y er , x & 
 ary.~] The Jews were under God's immediate Pro- 
 tection, exprefled in Scripture by dwelii?ig under 
 
 the
 
 7 8 
 
 A Commentary 
 
 Chapter the Shadow of his Wings. The Phrafe alluding to 
 XL- the Wings, of the Lf)erul\m.s covering the Mercy 
 L/"VNs? Seat, arid fi^nirying God's Prcfence among them, 
 and Protection over his People. Therefore to com- 
 fort tbole who Avere under a State of Exile and 
 Captivity, God tells them that altho' they were de- 
 prived of the Benefit of attending upon his Sanctu- 
 ary, and being placed under that Protection his 
 Pretence there did import, yet he would fupply 
 that by being a conftant Refuge and Defence to 
 them in the Countries where they were fcattered. 
 Compare Tfal. xxxi. 20. xci. 1. Jfa. viii. 14. 
 Ver. 17. Ver. 17. / will even gather them from theTeo- 
 fle.~] This may be in fome. degree fulfilled in thofe 
 that returned- from Captivity, but the utmoft Com- 
 pletion of this and the following Verfes, muft be 
 expelled at the general Reftoration of the Jewifb 
 Nation. See the following Notes, and Compare 
 Chap. xx. 4. xxviii. 25. xxxiv. 1 }. xxxvi. 24. 
 Ver. 18. Ver. 18. They Jball .take away all the deteftable 
 things thereof^] They fhall live pure from all the 
 Pollutions o( Idolatry, wherewith the Land had 
 been formerly defiled. See Chap, xxxvii. 25. 
 Ver. 19. Ver.* 9. oAna I will give them one Heart.] 
 They fhall ferve me with one Confent, %fph. iii. 
 9. and not be diitra&ed by the feveral Idolatrous 
 Worfhips which were fet up in oppofition to God's 
 true Worfhip, when the Ten Tribes feparated them- 
 felves from Judah. Compare Jeremiah xxxii. 39. 
 Hof. x. 2. Tfal. lxxxvi. 11. 
 
 Ibid. J will put a new Spirit within them."] 
 Thefe Promifes chiefly relate to the general Con- 
 verfion of the Jews : When God fhall pour out up- 
 on them the Sfirit of Grace, in order to their Con- 
 
 verfion,
 
 upon EZEKJEL. 79 
 
 verfion, Zj*cb. xii. 10. Compare Chap, xxxvi. 26, Chapter 
 27. and fee the Notes upon Jerem. xxiv. 7. xxxi. XI. 
 33, 34. xxxii. 39. Converfion is commonly fpo- L^>TNJ 
 ken of in S-:riprure as if it were a New Creation, 
 becaufe of the New Difpofitions and Powers which 
 accompany it. SzeTjal. li. 10. zCor. v. 17. G^/. 
 vi. r$. and the Note upon Chap, xviii. $1. 
 
 Ibid. I will take the ftony Heart out of their 
 Fleffj.] Men's Infenfibility as to religious Matters, 
 is often afcribed to the hardnefs of their Hearts, 
 being fuch as will receive no Impreffion. Here 
 God promifes to give them teachable Difpofitions, 
 and to take away the Veil from their Hearts, as St. 
 Taul expreffes it, ipeaking of this Subject, 2 Cor. 
 ill 16. The fame Temper being indifferently ex- 
 preiTed either by Blindnefs, or hardnefs of Heart. 
 
 Ver. 20. They fhall.be my 'People.'] They fhall Ver-20. 
 never Apoftatize any more from me to ferve Idols, 
 but fhall conftantly adhere to my Worfhip: and 
 I will own them as my People, thofe who are un- 
 der my immediate Protection. Compare Chapter 
 xiv. 11. xxxvi. 28. xxxviii. 27. jerew. xxx. 22. 
 
 Ver. 21. but as for them whoje Heart goeth /if Verr 2 1» 
 t er the Heart of their detectable things, 8rc] The 
 Prophet fpeiketh of ldoJs,called here their det eft able i 
 things, as Vcr 18. the Prophet mentions the 
 Heart of their det eft able things, as \i their Idols 
 had an Underftanding and Appetites, becaufe their 
 \Vorfhippers applied to them as fuch, and becaufe 
 evil Spirits who were worfhipped in and by them, 
 were pleafed with the Devotions in that manner 
 paid to them, 
 
 Ibid,
 
 8o ^Commentary 
 
 Chapter Ibid. I will recommence their Way upon their 
 XI. .'own Heads. ,] SeeVer. 9, 10. and the Notes up- 
 
 1/V\) on Chapter xx. $8. 
 
 Ver. 22. Ver. 21. See Chapter i. 19, 26. x. 19. 
 
 Ver. 23. Ver. 2$. oAnd the Glory of the Lord went up 
 from the midfl of the City.'] God's Prefence was be- 
 fore departed from the Temple, Chap. \. 19. and 
 now it quite left the City, to fignify that he would 
 acknowledge no longer his Relation to either, but 
 deliver them up to be profaned by Heathens. 
 
 Ibid. aAnd flood upon the Mountain which is on 
 the Eafl fide of the City.'} That is, the Mount of 
 Olives: from whence it is defcribed returning, 
 when God (hall again make the City and Temple 
 the Seat of his Prefence. See Chapter xliii. 2. 
 Zfch. xiv. 4. 
 
 Ver. 24. Ver. 24. ^Afterward the Spirit took me up, &c] 
 See the Notes on Chapter viii. $. 
 
 Ibid. oAnd brought me in Vijion by the Spirit of 
 God into ChaldeaJ] Returned me back into ChaU 
 dea, in the fame manner as it carried me away 
 from thence, being frill under the Power of a Di- 
 vine Ecftafy, add the immediate Influences of 
 God's Spirit. 
 
 Yer. 25. Ver. 25. Then I [pake to them of the Captivity, 
 &c] See the Note on Chapter viii, 2. 
 
 CHAP.
 
 upon EZEKIEL. 
 
 81 
 
 CHAP. XII. 
 
 The Argument. 
 
 Chapter 
 XII. 
 
 Ezekiel being commanded to remove his HouJIiold 
 Stuff, and to take his Sufteuauce with Quaking 
 and Trembling, is a Type of the Captivity both 
 of King and Teople, and of the Con/ler nation 
 which their Calamities will bring upon them ; 
 he afterwards reproves the Infidelity ofthofe who 
 disbelieved his Trophecies. 
 
 Ver. 2. 1 
 
 ON of Man.] See Chapter yen 
 
 n. i 
 
 Ibid. Thou dwellefl in the 
 ?nidft of a rebellious Houfe.'] 
 See Chapter ii. 3, 6, 7. The 
 Prophet applies himfelf to 
 thofe of the Captivity among whom he dwelt. 
 They faw Jerusalem Hill inhabited, and under the 
 Government of its own King. And as they that 
 were left at home infulted over the Exiles : See 
 Chap. xi. 1 5. So thefe repin'd at their own ill 
 
 M Fortune,
 
 82 A Commentary 
 
 Chapter Fortune, and thought thofe who dwelt at Jerufa- 
 XI L * lem in a much better Condition than themfelves. 
 C-^V^NJ Therefore the following Parables are defigned to 
 fhew, that they who are left behind to endure the 
 Miferies of a Siege, and the Infults of a Conque- 
 ror, will be in the worfe Condition of the two. 
 
 St. Jercm in his Treface to Ezekiel, obferves 
 this was the Temper of thofe Captives to whom 
 Ezekiel prophefied ; lis qui cum eo Captivi fuerant 
 prophet avit, pcenitentibus quod ad Jeremia vat hi- 
 nium fe ultro adverfariis tradidiffent, fcjf viderent 
 adhuc urbem Hierojolymam flare, quam ille c a fur am 
 effe pradixerat. 
 
 Ibid. Which have Eyes, and fee not, &c] Who 
 will not make ufe of that Senfe and Underftanding 
 that God hath given them. See Ifa. vi. 9. Jerem. 
 v. 21. 
 Ver. j. Ver. 3. T rep are thee fluff for removing, &c.] 
 
 Get all thy Goods together, and pack them up as 
 thofe do that move from one Houfe to another. Do 
 this openly and at Noon day, that they may all fee 
 and take Notice of it. The Prophets often prophe- 
 fied by Signs, as being of greater Force and Effi- 
 cacy than Words. See Chap. iv. 1. 
 Ver. 4. Ver. 4. Thou fhalt go forth at Even in their 
 
 Sight, as they that go forth into Captivity.'] As 
 Men do that would go off by Stealth : To fignify 
 alfo that Zj:de\iah and his Retinue fhouid efcape 
 out of the City by Night, 2 Kings xxv. 4. 
 Ver. 5. Ver. 5. Dig thou thro"* the Wall in their Sight.] 
 
 To fhew that the King fhall make his efcape by the 
 fame Means : See Ver. 1 2. 
 
 Ibid, and Ver. 6. (And carry out thereby. In 
 
 their fight thou fhalt hear it upon thy Shoulders 
 
 in
 
 upon EZEKIEL. 83 
 
 in the Twilight.'] This which the Prophet was Chapter 
 commanded to carry out in the Twilight, was XII. 
 fomething different from the Goods he removed in (^V"NJ 
 the Day time, See Ver 4, 7. and therefore muft 
 mean neceffary Provifion for his prefent Subfiftance. 
 
 Ibid. Thou (halt cover thy Face, that thou fee not 
 the Ground-'] As Zsdekiah fhall do, that he might 
 not be difcovered. 
 
 Ibid. J have fet thee for a Sign to the Houfe of 
 IfraeL] See Ver. 12. and Chap. iv. j. 
 
 Ver. 9. Hath not the Houfe of Ifrael, the relellu Ver. 9. 
 ous Houfe f aid to thee, What doft thou ?] They en- 
 quire by way of Derifion and Contempt, what 
 thefe Signs mean. Compare Chap. ii. 5. xvii. 12. 
 xx. 49. xxiv. 19. 
 
 Ver. 10. This 'Burden concerneth the 'Prince in y er I0 
 Jerufalem.] King Zsdekiah : See Chap. vii. 27. 
 
 Ver. 1 2. oAnd the Trince that is among them y er 
 fljall bear upon his Shoulder in the Twilight.] He 
 fhall be glad to carry what he can with him in the 
 dusk of the Evening, and his Retinue fhall make 
 a private wayito get out of the City, that they may 
 not be difcovered. See Jerem. xxxix. 4. 
 
 Ibid. He fhall cover his Face, &c] That no bo- 
 dy may know or difcover him, till he is got beyond 
 his Enemies Camp. 
 
 Ver. 1 3. My Net alfo will 1 jf read uponhimfoc] \r er , j ? 
 Tho 1 he thinks to efcape, yet I will bring his Ene- 
 mies upon him, who fhall encompafs him and flop 
 his Flight, as when a wild Beaft is entangled in a 
 Net, 2 Kjngs xxv. 5, 6, 7. and compare Chapter 
 xvii. 20. xix. 8. xxxii. $. of this Prophecy. 
 
 Ibid. Tet he fljall not fee it, tho* he fljall die tfere.] 
 Having his Eyes put out before he came thither : 
 
 M 2 Ibid.
 
 8 4 
 
 A Commentary 
 
 Chapter Ibid. Jofephus tells us oAntiq. lib. ii. c. 10. that 
 XII. Zsdefoah thought this Prophecy inconfiftent with 
 L/V"^ that of Jeremiah, Chap, xxxiv. 3. That ZedekiaWs 
 Eyes fhould fee the E)es of the King of 'Babylon : 
 and therefore believed neither. But they both ac- 
 tually came to pifs,. as the facred Story allures us : 
 The King of "Babylon parling Sentence upon him 
 at Riblah, as one that had broke the Oath and Co- 
 venant he had made with him, and then putting 
 out his Eyes and carrying him to "Babylon. 
 Ver. 14. Ver. 14. oAndl will fcatter toward every Wind 
 all that are about him to help him.~\ See 2 Kings 
 xxv. 4, 5. 
 
 Ibid. eAnd I will draw out the Sword after 
 them.'} See the Note upon Chap. v. 12. 
 Ver. 16. Ver. 16. "But I will leave a few Men of them, — 
 that they may declare their ^Abominations among 
 the Heathen^ And there juftify my Proceedings 
 againft them. See Chap. vi. 8, 9, 10. 
 Ver. 1 8. Ver. 1 8. Eat thy ^Bread with quaking, and drink 
 thy Water with trembling and carefulnefs.-] Shew 
 all the Signs of Anxiety and Confternation, when- 
 ever thou takeft thy common Suftenance. 
 Ver. 19. Ver. 19. Thus faith the Lord God of the Inha. 
 hitants of Jerufalem, and of the hand of Ifrael.'] 
 This was defigned to inform the Captives, that 
 they were not in a worfe Condition than thofe that 
 were left behind in Judea. Seethe Note on Ver. 1. 
 Ibid. They (hall eat their "Bread with carefulnefs, 
 &c.] See Chap. iv. 16, 17. 
 Ver. 20. Ver. 20. eAnd ye (hall know that lam the Lor d.] 
 
 See Chap. vi. 7. 
 Ver. 22. Ver* 22. In the Land of 'Ifrael.l See the Note on 
 Chap. vii. 2. 
 
 Ibid.
 
 upon EZEKIEL. 85 
 
 Ibid. The Days are prolonged, and every Vifion Chapter 
 failethr\ Words of the fame import with thofe at XII. 
 Ver. 27. and Chap. xi. 5. Both of them the Words <LS\~^J 
 of Infidels who turn the Grace of God into Wan- 
 tonnefs, and take Incouragement from his Patience 
 and Long-fuffering to defpife his Threatnings, as 
 if they would never be fulfilled. Comp. Ifa. v. 1 9. 
 oAmosvi. 18. 2 Tet. iii. }, 4. 
 
 Ver. 23. The days are at hand.~\ The fame isVer. 2j. 
 elfe where expreffed by the day of the Lord is at 
 hand: See Joel \l 1. Zfph. i. 14. The time when 
 God will (hew his Wrath, and make his Tower and 
 Juftice known to the World. See Ver. 25. 
 
 Ver. 25. For there fljall he no more any vain Vi- Ver. 25. 
 fion, 8cc] The falfe Prophets who foretold Peace 
 and Safety, fhall fee their Prophecies fo confuted 
 by the Events quite contrary to what they foretold, 
 that they will never pretend any more to publifh 
 new Prophecies. Compare Chap, xiii 23. 
 
 Ibid. It fhall be no more ■prolonged.'} My Threat- 
 nings fhall come to pafs in your own Days, and ye 
 fhall have ocular Demonftrarion of their Truth. 
 
 Ver. 27, 28.. See Ver. 22, 25, 25. 
 
 CHAP.
 
 86 
 
 A Commentary 
 
 *♦*♦♦•**«►*<♦♦*♦♦♦**•♦***♦♦*♦ 
 
 *•*■** 
 
 * ♦ ♦;♦♦ * 4" ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦♦■♦*♦**♦*♦♦♦♦ 
 
 Chapter 
 XIII. 
 
 CHAP. XIII. 
 
 The Argument. 
 
 the Trophet denounces God's Judgments againft 
 falfe Trofhets who made a gain of their Trofejfi- 
 on, and encouraged Men to go on in their Sins, 
 by giving them falfe Vifions ofTeace and Securi- 
 ty : and at the fame time difheartened the truly 
 Pious, and difcouraged them from continuing in 
 the ways ofHolinefs, 
 
 Ver. 2. Ver.2. 
 
 Ver. 4. 
 
 oA T thou unto them that Tro- 
 fhecy out of their own Heart s.~\ 
 The true Prophets often de- 
 nounce God's Judgments a- 
 gainft the falfe ones : laying to 
 their Charge many Mifdemeanors in their private 
 Converfation, and upbraiding them for Unfaithful- 
 nefs in the Office they undertook of guiding and di- 
 recting Men's Confciences. See Chap. xxii. 25, 
 28. Jeremiah vi. 14. xxiii. 11, &c. xxviii. 14. 
 xxix. 8, 22, 2$. Micah iii. 5. 
 
 Ver. 4. Ifrael, thy Trophets are like the Foxes 
 in the Vefarts.'] "Deceitful Workers, as the Apo- 
 
 ftle
 
 upon EZEKIEL. 87 
 
 file ftyles fuch Perfons, 2 Cor. xi. 1 3. who craftily Chapter 
 infinuate falfe Doctrines into weak and unftable XIII. 
 Minds ; and withal hungry and ravenous, and fuch L^V"\J 
 as greedily catch at any Appearance of Advantage. 
 Compare Chap. xxii. 25. 
 
 Ver. 5. Te have not gone up into the Gaps. 2 Or, Ver. 5. 
 flood in the Gap, or 'Breach, as it is expreffed Chap, 
 xxii. 30. Tfal. cvi. 2$. Which place alludes to the 
 Intercefllon which Mofes made for the JJraelites, 
 whereby he withheld God's Hand, as it were, when 
 it was juft ftretched out to take Vengeance upon 
 the People for their heinous Sin, 'in making the 
 Golden Calf. See Exod. xxxii. 10, 11. 
 
 The Phrafe is taken from thofe that put a ftop 
 to the Enemy when he is juft entring in at a Breach. 
 In like manner, it was the Office and Duty of thofe 
 Prophets, if they had truly been what they pre- 
 tended, by their Prayers and Interceilions to put a 
 ftop to God's Vengeance when it was juft ready 
 to be poured out upon a finful People. 
 
 Ibid. Nor made tip a Fence for the Houfe of If- 
 rael.~\ Or, made up a Wall, as the Vulgar Latin 
 translates it. Another ExprefTion taken from thofe 
 that are befieged, and if a Breach be made in a 
 Wall, prefently make it up, or build up a new one 
 within it: to prevent the Enemy from entring, 
 and becoming Matters of the City. The Word 
 Geder, Fence, (ignifies another fort of Fortification : 
 See Tfal. lxii. 3. i x. ix. 40. 
 
 Ibid. To /land in the 'Battle in the day of the 
 Lord.] When God fhall come like a Leader or 
 General, at the Head of his Army, /. e. his Judg- 
 ments, ro execute Vengeance upon his Enemies.. 
 Compare Jer. xxv. 30. Joel ii. 1 1. 
 
 Ver,
 
 88 A Com m entary 
 
 Chapter Ver. 6. They have feen Vanity and lying Divina* 
 XIII. tions.~\ Concerning Peace and Profperity : See Ver. 
 
 UTV^O 10. and Chap. xif. 23, 24. 
 
 Ver. 6. Ibid. oAnd they have made others to hope that 
 
 they would confirm the Word.~] Or, that the Word 
 fiould le confirmed : the Tranfitive Verb being of- 
 . ten taken in an Imperfonal Senfe : See the Note on 
 Jfa. xliv. 18. their fpeaking with fo much AfTu- 
 rance made others confidently expect that the E- 
 vent would anfwer their Predictions : and fome- 
 times even impos'd upon the true Prophets for a 
 time ; as Hananiah did upon Jeremiah : See Jen 
 xxviii. 6. 
 
 Ver. 9. ^ er ' 9* They Jliall not he in the eAfembly of my 
 
 TeopleJ] They (hall not be Members of the Church 
 here, nor partake of the Communion of Saints in 
 Heaven. The Hebrew Word Sod, fignifies a fe- 
 cret AfTembly or Privy Council: Such as are ac- 
 quainted with the moil inward Thoughts and fe*. 
 cret Intents of a Prince : and from thence it is ap- 
 plied to God's chofen People, thofe that are ac- 
 quainted with the whole Counfel of God, and whom 
 he inftructs by the fecret Directions of his Holy 
 Spirit. See Tfal. xxv. 14. Je rem. xxiii. 18. So the 
 Prophet tells thefe Men that pretended to know 
 fo much of the Secrets of the Almighty^ that they 
 fhould never be of the Number of thofe Favourites 
 of Heaven, to whom God will reveal himfelf and 
 his Counfels. 
 
 Ibid. Neither Jhall they be written in the Wri- 
 ting of the Houfe of Ifrael.'] The Senfe is much the 
 fame with that of the foregoing Sentence : the Ex- 
 preffions being an Allufion to the Regifters that 
 ufe to be kept of the Members of any City or Cor- 
 poration,
 
 -upon ezekiel: 89 
 
 poration, the Privileges' of which Society none can Chapter 
 pretend to, but they whofe Names are entred into XIII. 
 fuch Registers. Comp. Ezra. ii. 61. Tfal. lxix. 28. L/W-J 
 Exod. xxxii. 3 2. Luke x. 20. Thil. iv. 2. Heb. xii. 
 23. It may bethefe Falfe Prophets foretold a fpee- 
 dy return to the Exiles ; whereupon God tells them 
 that they (hall never live to fee it, nor fhall their 
 Names be entred into the Regifter of thofe that 
 Return Home. See Nehem. vii. 5. 
 
 Ibid. Neither flail they enter, into the Land of 
 Ifrael.~] They fhall never fee their own Country 
 again, nor fhall they have a fhare among the true 
 lfraelites. See the Note on Chap. xx. 38. 
 
 Ver. 10. They have [educed my Teople, faying, y er . IOr 
 Teace, and there were no Teace.'] They have de- 
 ceived my People by telling them that none of 
 thofe Judgments fhould overtake them which Je- 
 remy and the other true Prophets threatened 
 them with, and they have fpoke Peace to Men's 
 Confciences upon falfe Grounds and Principles: 
 See Jeremiah iv. 10. vi. 14. xxiii. 14,17. 
 
 Ibid. cAnd one built a Wall, and lo others daub- 
 ed it with untemfered Mortar. ~] Inftead of provi- 
 ding fuch a Fence and Bulwark as might fecure 
 the People againft the Judgments that threaten 
 them, See Ver. 5. They have made a flight Wall 
 without any Mortar, or Cement to bind and 
 ftrengthen it: that is, they have applied flight 
 and palliating Remedies to publick Calamities, 
 which will never give true Peace to Mens Confci- 
 ences, nor (land them in any ftead when God vi- 
 fits for their Iniquities. Juft as i^ an unskilful 
 Builder fhould undertake to fet up a Wall, and his 
 
 N Fellow-
 
 po A Commentary 
 
 Chapter Fellow-Workmen fhould, daub it with untempered 
 
 Xlfl. Mortar. See Verfes 1 1 , 1 2, 1 6. 
 C/'VNJ Ver. 11. There fiall be an overflowing Shower, 
 
 Ver, 11. and ye, great Hailftones jhall fall, &c.j God's 
 Judgments are often compared to Storms and Tem- 
 pefts, the Artillery of Heaven : See Chapter xxxviii. 
 22. Job xxvii. 2c. TfaL xi. 6. xviii. ; 3, 14. Efpe- 
 cjally when he executes his Judgments by a Victo- 
 rious Army : See Ifa. xxviii. 2. xxix. 6. Jeremiah 
 iv. ij. Compare Ecclus. xlix; 9. 
 
 Ver. 13. Ver. 13. Jro/ff r^J z> with a ft or my Wind in 
 my Fury, t 8cc] Under thefe Metaphors is proba- 
 bly foretold the Deftru&ion of Jerusalem by the 
 Chaldean Army. Thus the Chaldee Taraphrafe 
 expounds it : / will bring a mighty Kjng with the 
 Force of a Whirlwind, and deflroying Teople as it 
 were an overflowing Storm, and powerful Princes 
 like great Hailftones. 
 
 Ver. 14. Ver. 14. So will I break down the Wall, and 
 Iring it down to the Ground, &- c] The Chaldee 
 explains this Verfe to the fame Senfe : 1 will de- 
 ftroy the City wherein ye have uttered thefe falfe 
 Prophecies ; Which Expofition is confirmed by the 
 following Words, oAnd ye (hall be consumed in the 
 midft thereof, that is, you fhall be deftroyed in the 
 fame common Calamity. 
 
 Ibid. oAnd ye fhall know that I am the Lor d.J 
 See Chapter vi. 7. . [ 
 
 Ver. 15. Ver. 15. The Wall is no more, not they that 
 daubed it y] The Chaldee Expounds it, The City is 
 no more, nor the Falfe Trophets. 
 
 Yer. 16, Ver. 16. See Vijions ofTeace, and there i$ no 
 Teace*2 See Jeremiah vi. to, viii. 11. 
 
 Ver,
 
 upon EZEKIEL. pr 
 
 Ver. 17. Set thy Face again ft the 'Daughters of Ch p^er 
 ^ Teople, that frophefyj] Direft thy DifeoiH'e M* r 
 againft thofe She ptten'lers to Psophecy: Comp. t^V^O 
 Chap. xx. 46. >.xi. 2. God did tbmenmes beftov/^ Cl « l 7» 
 the Gift of' Prophecv upon Women : See EocoJ. xv. 
 20. Judg iv. 4. 2 fangs XNi'i. 14. This encoura- 
 ged others of that S x to pretend to the fame Gift. 
 Compare Revel, ii. 20. 
 
 Ver. 18. Wo to the Women that fow TWows to y e r. 18. 
 all eArmholejy &c] As the Prophet compares the 
 deceitful Practices of the falfe Prophets to the dau- 
 bing of a Wall, lb he repiefenrs the Artifices of 
 thefe Female Seducers by fowing Pillows under 
 their Hearers Elbows, that they might reft fecure- 
 ly in their evil Ways : and by covering their Faces 
 with Veils, or Kerchiefs, Ornaments proper to 
 Women, thereby to keep them in Blindnefs and 
 Ignorance. 
 
 Ibid. To the Head of every Stature.] Of every 
 eAge, both great and imall : So the Greek Word 
 ha/ki'*, ufed by the LXX here, .fignifies Age as well 
 as Stature. See Dr. Hammond upon Matth. vi. 27. 
 
 Ibid. To hunt Souls,] That they may drive them 
 into thofe Nets and Snares that they have laid for 
 them, and make them ttoeir Prey. Gomp. Chap. 
 xxv. 2<;, Micah ii. 7. 2 Tet ii. §4. 
 
 Ibid. Will ye hunt the Souls of my Teople, and 
 will ye fave the Souls alive that come to you .?] Or, 
 Will ye fromij'e life unto thofe that come to you ? 
 See Verfes 19, 22. that is, will ye make a Prey 
 of Men's Souls foyjdeluding vtheffit wkh fair Hopes 
 and Promifes ? 
 
 Ver. 1 9. (And will ye pollute me among my Peo- Ver. 1 9. 
 &c.J Will ye profane my Name by making ufe 
 
 N 2 of
 
 p 2 A Commentary 
 
 Chapter of it to give Credit to your own Dreams and Lies ? 
 
 XI II. See Ver. 7. 
 L/V^J Ibid, for handful] s of "Barley, and for pieces of 
 'Bread.'] For the meaneft reward : See Trov. 
 xxviii. 21. So greedy are they of making gain to 
 themfelves. Compare Chap. xxii. 25. Mkah'm. 5. 
 Ibid. To flay the Souls that fljould not die, &x ] 
 Thus they threatned Death to thofe that yielded 
 themfelves to the Chaldeans in Jechoniahh Capti- 
 vity : and yet God preferved them alive. See Je- 
 rem. xxix. 5, 6. and they have encouraged thofe 
 that remain at Jerufalem with Promifes of Peace 
 and Safety, who fhall all bedeftroyed. See Chap. 
 v. 12. or the Words may be meant in general of 
 difcouraging the Godly and confirming the Wicked 
 in their evil Ways. See Ver. 22. and compare 
 Jerem. xxiii. 14, 17. 
 
 To flay and to make alive, fignify here to pro- 
 mife Men Life, or threaten them with Death : 
 See Ver. 22. So the Prophet faith he came tode- 
 ftroy the City, Chap.xliii. $. that is, to pronounce 
 the Sentence of Deftru&ion upon it. And the Prieft 
 is faid to make the Leper unclean, Levit. xiii. j. 
 that is, to -pronounce him unclean, as our Tranfla- 
 tion rightly exprefles the Senfe. 
 Ver 20 ^ er ' 2 °* Wherewith ye hunt the Souls to make 
 L ' * them fly.] To make them run into thofe Nets and 
 Snares that you have laid for them: See Ver. 18. 
 The Metaphor is continued from the manner of 
 hunting and purfuing living Creatures, by that 
 means to drive them into th&rToils prepared for 
 them. 
 
 Ibid.
 
 upon EZEKIEL. 93 
 
 Ibid. I will tear them from pur oArms.'] I will Chapter 
 make your Cheats and Impoftures appear fo evi- XIII. 
 dently, that no body fhall be in danger of being L/"VNJ 
 feduced by you any more. See Ver. 2$. 
 
 Ver. 22. K BecauJ'e with Lies ye have made theVev. 22» 
 Heart of the Righteous fad, &c] As you have de- 
 luded the Wicked with vain Hopes (See Ver. 10.) 
 fo you have difheartned the Righteous with 
 groundlefs Fears: Ver. 19. and compare Chapter 
 xx ii. 25. 
 
 CHAP.
 
 94- 
 
 A Commentary 
 
 
 Chapter 
 XIV. 
 
 Ver. i. 
 Ver. $. 
 
 CHAR XIV. 
 
 The Argument. 
 
 Xfo Trophet denounces God's Judgments againft 
 thofe Hypocrites who pretended to be his Wor- 
 ffjippers, and at the fame time fccretly practiced 
 Idolatry. He afterward Jets forth God's Mercy 
 toward the Jews in [paring a few of that finful 
 Nation, and thofe no better than the reft that 
 were de/troyed, when he might in Juftice have 
 involved all of them in one common c J)eftruclion. 
 
 Ver. 1. ^iiiSSiSSS^^ came certain of the El- 
 ders ofIfrael y hc~] See Chap, 
 viii. i. 
 Ver. j. Thefe Men have fet 
 up their Idols in their hearty 
 SS&SSSSi and put the Stumbling-block 
 cf their Iniquity before their Face.] They are not 
 only Idolaters in their Heart, but they have actu- 
 ally fet up Idols and worfhipped them : and there- 
 by have fallen into that great Sin of Deferting me 
 and my Worfhip. See Chap. vii. 19. 
 
 Ibid. Should I be enquired of at all by them ?3 
 ThO' tiley have the Impudence to come to ask 
 
 Counfel
 
 upon EZEKIEL. 95 
 
 Counfel of God, (See Chap. vii. 26.) they fhall not Chapter 
 
 receive a favourable Anfwer, but (uch a one as XIV. 
 
 their Hypocrify deferves. See the following Verfe, l/'VSJ 
 
 and compare Chap, xxxvi. 37. 
 
 Ver. 5. That I may take the Houfe of Ifrael in Ver. ?. 
 
 their own Heart.'} That I may deal with them 
 
 according to their Deferts, and thereby convince 
 
 them that I am a fearcher of Hearts, and know 
 
 the inward and fecret Wickednefs of their 
 
 Thoughts. 
 
 Ver. 6. From all your ^Abominations.} Your Ido- Ver. 6. 
 
 la tries : See Chap. viii. 10. xvi. 2. 
 
 Ver. 7. Or of the Stranger that fo jour neth inlfYQv.j. 
 
 rael.} The Stranger within thy Gates, as it is ex- 
 prefTed in the Fourth Commandment. Thefe, 
 tho' they were not all of them circumcifed, yet de- 
 voted themfelves to the Service of the one True 
 God, for which Reafon they are ftyled the Wor- 
 flippers of God, oAtt*xvi. 14. ^ viii. 7. 
 
 Ibid. Who feparates himfelf from me.~] Who 
 turns Apoftate from me and my Service ; for Men 
 cannot ferve God and Idols: he having declared 
 himfelf a Jealous God, that will not admit any Ri- 
 val in his WOrfhip. See J //;. xxiv. 1 9. 
 
 Ibid. / the Ljro will anjwer him by my felf.} 
 I will punifh him immediately by my own Hand : 
 See the following Verfe. 
 
 Ver. 8. eAnd 1 will jet my Face againft that Man.} y o 
 I will make him a Mark of mine Indignation. See 
 Chap. xv. 7. Jerem. xliv. 1 1. 
 
 Ibid. &4nd will make him a Sign and a Tr overt?,} 
 I will make him a fignal and remarkable Inftance 
 of my Vengeance. Comp. Numb. xxvi. 10. Deut. 
 xxviii. 38. 
 
 Ibid.
 
 9 6 
 
 A Commentary 
 
 Chapter Ibid. aAnd will cut. him off from the midfl of 'my 
 XIV. Teo^le.] By a fudden Death attended with Extra- 
 
 C/W) ordinary Circumftances : See Levit. xx. 6, 17, 1 8. 
 Ver. 9. Ver. 9. oAnd if a Trophet be deceived.'] This is 
 
 to be underftood of the Falfe Prophets, whofe Pra- 
 ctices are reproved throughout the whole forego- 
 ing Chapter. 
 
 Ibid. J^fLoRD have deceived that Trophet."] 
 I have fuffered him to be deceived : See the Note 
 on I fa. hiii. 17. I have given him up to ft rong T)e- 
 lufions, as a juft Judgment upon him for going af- 
 ter Idols, and fetting up falfe Pretences to Infpira- 
 tion. See Chap. xiii. 2, 7, 2$. Jerem. iv. 10. 
 1 KJngs xxii. 2$. and compare 2 Theff. ii. 11, 12. 
 Or the Words may be explained to this Senle : I 
 will difappoint the Hopes and Expectations of thofe 
 Prophets who feduce my People by fpeaking Teace 
 to them, Chap. xiii. 10. Fori will bring upon 
 them thofe Evils which they with great Aflurance 
 have declared fhould never come to pafs. To this 
 purpofe it follows, / will ftretch out my Hand upon 
 him, 8cc. /. e . I will fend fuch a Judgment upon 
 him, as I inflicled upon Hananiah the Falfe Pro- 
 phet, Jerem. xxviii. 16, 17. 
 
 Ver. 10. Ver. 10. The punishment of the Trophet Jball be 
 even as the punishment of him that feeketh to him.] 
 Becaufe both Parties are equally guilty of going 
 aftray from me, and feeking after Idols, and other 
 unlawful Means of Divination. See Ver. 11. and 
 compare z KJngs i. 3, 4. 
 
 Ver. 1 U Ver. 1 1. That the Houfe oflfrael may go no more 
 aftray from me.'] The Judgments I inflict upon the 
 Falfe Prophets and thofe that confult them, (hall 
 be an Inftru&ion to my People to keep clofe to me 
 
 and
 
 upon EZEKTEL. 97 
 
 and my Worlhip, and not hanker aften the Idola- Ch^prer 
 trous Practices of the Neighbouring Nations. XIV. 
 
 Ibid. 'But that they may be my Teofle, &c] See L/"V"\J 
 the Note on Chap. xi. 20. 
 
 Ver. 1$. When the Land trefpajjeth grievot/JIy, Yewi^, 
 &c.] Or, when a Land— -The defign of this and 
 the following Verfes is to fhew, that when the In- 
 habitants-of a Land have filled up the Meafure of 
 their Iniquities, and God arifeth to execute Judg- 
 ment upon, them, the few Righteous that are left 
 among them fhall not be able by their Prayers and 
 Interceflions'to deliver the Nation from the Judg- 
 ments decreed againft it. They fiatt but deliver 
 their own Souls : as we fee in the Cafe of Sodom, 
 where there was none Righteous but Lot and his 
 Family: thofe juft Perfons faved them fel'ves, but 
 no Interceflion could avail to fave the City. See 
 the following Verfe. 
 
 Ibid. oAnd break the Staff of the "Bread thereof.'] 
 See Chap. iv. 16. 
 
 Ver. 14. Tho 1 thefe three Men, Noah, TW/V/,Ver. 14, 
 and Job were in it. .] All of them Perfons eminent 
 for their Piety : Noah and Ills Family were faved 
 out of the Univerfai Deluge, and obtained a Pro- 
 mife from God that he would never deftroy the 
 "World fo again, Gen. viii. 21. 'Daniel interceded 
 with God for the whole Nation of the Jew's, and 
 obtained a Promife of their Reftoration, T)a;i. i.\. 
 Job was appointed by God to make Interceflion 
 for his Three Friends, Job xlii. 8. But when God's 
 irreversible Decree is gone out againft a Nation, 
 even the Prayers of fuch Men will be ineffectual 
 toward their Deliverance. Compare Jer. xv .1. 
 
 O ' We
 
 o8 ^Commentary 
 
 Chapter We may obferve how early the Fame of Tiani- 
 XIV. el\ Piety was fpread owChaldea, who was at t his 
 
 Ly r \" N time not above Thirty Years of Age : it being but 
 Thirteen Years asp fince he was carried Captive to 
 'Bahvhn when he was very young. See Dan. I. 
 1—4, t$c 
 
 Ver. 1 5. Yki. 1 <f. If I caufe noifome Beafts to pafs thro* 
 the Land7\ See Chap. v. 17. 
 
 Ver. 17. Ver. 17. O if I bring a Sword upon the Land.~\ 
 If I deliver it inro the Hands of a cruel and bloody 
 Enemy. See Chap. v. 12. vii 15. xxi. 9, 16. The 
 Conqueror's Sword is often called the Sword of the 
 Lord, in the Piophe^s ; becaufe they are the Exe- 
 cutioners of God's Judgments. See Ifa. x. 1 5. Jer. 
 xxv. 9. xlvii. 6. 
 
 Ibid. oAnd fay, Sword go through the Land."] 
 So God is faid to call for a Sword upon Gog : 
 Chap, xxx viii. 21. 
 
 Ibid. So that I cut off Man and 'Be aft from it.~\ 
 The Men are deftroyed by the Sword, and the Cat- 
 tle are drove away by the Enemy ; Or elfe confu- 
 med by Peftilence, arifing from the Air's being cor- 
 rupted thro' the Stench of dead Bodies. Compare 
 xxv. 15. xxix 8. xxxii. 13. Hof. iv 3. Zjfh. i. $, 
 
 Ver. 19. Ver. 19. Or if I fend a Peftilence up>on that 
 Land.] See Chap. v. 12. 
 
 Ibid. aAnd four out my Fury upon it in 'Blood.'] 
 "With great Deftruclion of Men's Lives, as the 
 Chaldee Paraphrafe explains it. Compare Chap, 
 xxxv iii. 22. 
 
 Ver. 21. Ver. 21. How much more [fhould there be an ut- 
 ter Deft ruction] when I fend my four fore Judg- 
 ments upon Jerufalem, &c] See Chap. v. 12. vi. 
 12. xii. 16. Jer em. xv. 2. The particles e4ph KJ 9 
 
 are
 
 upon EZEKIEL. 99 
 
 are very properly tranflated here, How much more : Chanter 
 in which Senfe they are plainly taken, 2 Sam. i v. 1 1 . XI V. 
 Trov. xi. 31. 2x1. 15. (-/"V\J 
 
 Ibid. The noifome f Beafi.~} See Chap. v. 17. 
 xxxiii. 27. 
 
 Ver. 22. Tet behold therein /hall be left a Rem- Ver. 22. 
 7ia'ni that frail be brought forth. ~] Notwithstanding 
 thefe Four fore Judgments, fome fhall efcape, and 
 be brought into Chaldea to be your Companions 
 in Captivity. Compare Chap. vi. 8. Jerew. lii. 
 29, jo. 
 
 Ibid. "Both Sons and Daughters.! See Ver. 16", 
 18, and 20. of this Chapter. 
 
 Ibid. eAndye (hall fee their Ways and their Do- 
 ings.'] Their Afflictions fhall bring them to a due 
 Senfe of their former Iniquities, and they fhall 
 humbly confefs their own Sins, and the Sins of thofe 
 who were confumed in the Deftru&ion of the Ci- 
 ty : whereby it will appear that I have not punifh- 
 ed them beyond what their Sins have deferved. See 
 Chap. vi. 9. xx. 4$. xxxvi. ji. 
 
 Ibid. (And ye fhaU be comforted concerning the 
 Evil that I have brought upon Jerufalem.^ This 
 will compofe your Minds and make you give Glory 
 to God, and acknowledge his Judgments to be 
 Righteous, tho' they touch you very nearly in the 
 Deftru&ion of your Friends and Countrey. 
 
 Ver. 2 j. oAndye fhall know that I have not done Ver. 2?* 
 without Caufe, kcq Seethe Note on Chap. vi. 10. 
 
 O 2 CHAP.
 
 100 
 
 A Commentary 
 
 Chapter 
 
 XV. 
 L/-VNJ 
 
 Ver. j. 
 
 CHAP. XV. 
 
 The Argument. 
 
 Under the T* arable of a Vine, which when it is 
 barren, is Unfit for any life , isfiewedthe utter 
 Rejection 0/Jerufalem. 
 
 Ver. 2. fii m^lHoA T is the Vine-tree more 
 
 than any other Tree, or than 
 a 'Branch which is among the 
 Trees of the For eft?'] The 
 latter part of the Verfe may 
 be better Tranflated thus, If 
 it le as a 'Branch which is among the Trees of the 
 Tore ft y i. e. if it prove unfruitful : See Dr. Lightfoot 
 upon Jok, xv. 6. The Jewifh Church is often 
 compared to a Vine in the Sacred Writers. See Ifa. 
 v.i.Vfallxxx. 8, fcc. 
 
 Ver. 3. Shall Wood le taken -thereof to do any 
 Work, &c] The Wood of a Vine is of no ufe for 
 Building, or making any Utenfil. The Works of 
 that Kind which Tliny takes notice of, Nat. Hift- 
 7. xiv. c. 1. are rather to be lookt upon as Rarities, 
 
 than as things of common Ufe. 
 
 Ver.
 
 upon EZEKIEL. 101 
 
 Ver. 4. "Behold it is en ft into the Fire for Fuel.'] Chapter 
 The only Ufe that Dead Vine-Branches can be put XV. 
 to : See Joh. xv. 6. ^r rsr ^ J 
 
 Ibid. The Fire devour eth loth the Ends of it, and^ Qi '- 4- 
 the Midft of it is burnt.'] A fit Reprefentation of 
 the p relent State ofjudea, when both its Extremi- 
 ties were confumed by the Ravages of a Foreign 
 Enemy, and the midft of it, where the Capital Ci- 
 ty ftood, is ready to be deftroyed : Juft as the Fire 
 ftill fpreads toward the Middle Part of a Stick, 
 when once both Ends are lighted. 
 
 Ver. 7. (And they fiall go out from one Fire, and Ver. 7. 
 another Fire fhali devour them.] Flying from one 
 Evil, another fhall overtake them. Fire fome- 
 times fignifies any Judgment or Calamity inflicted 
 by God. See &4mos I 4, £$c. and the Note upon 
 Jerem. vii. 20. 
 
 
 ' " , >- 
 
 Chap:
 
 102 
 
 A Commentary 
 
 i 
 
 Chapter 
 XVI. 
 
 CHAP. XVL 
 
 The Argument. 
 
 God fets forth his Free Love toward the Church 
 and Nation of the Jews, represented here by Je- 
 rufalem, under the Emblem of a T erf on that 
 fljould take up an expofed Infant, breed her up, 
 and afterward Marry her. He then upbraids 
 their monflrow Ingratitude in departing from his 
 Worflrip, and being polluted with Heathemjh Ido- 
 latries : which the Trophet illujtrates by the 
 Kefemblance of a Lewd Woman that proves Falfe 
 to a KJnd and Indulgent Husband. For which 
 God threatens to deal with her as abufed Hus- 
 bands ufe to deal with Wives convicted of eAaul- 
 tery. Notwithftanding all thefe Provocations, 
 he promifes in the End to (J)ew them Mercy. The 
 Metaphor of defcribing Idolatry as Spiritual eA- 
 dultery, often made'ufe of in the Trophet s, is 
 here and in the xxiii. Chapter purfued with 
 great Force, and in a lively way of Reprejenta- 
 tiom 'Both Chapters being a Remarkable In- 
 flame
 
 upon EZEKIEL. iog 
 
 fiance of that Vehemence of Exprejfion, which Chapter 
 the Rhetoricians call by the Name of &/&&<• XVT. 
 
 V en 2 « ISoS^SI^^^ Jerusalem to know her qA- Ver. 2. 
 Dominations^ This might pro- 
 bably be dene by way of Let- 
 ter, as 'Jeremiah fignified the 
 mm ^Yj|] f God to the Captives 
 ^t 'Babylon, ferem.nxh. i. God particularly up- 
 braids Jerufalem for her Iniquities, becaufe it was 
 the Place he had chofen for his peculiar Refidence, 
 and yet the Inhabitants had defiled that very Place,, 
 nay, and the Temple itfelfwith Idolatry: the Sin 
 particularly denoted by the Word ^Abomination* 
 See Chap. viii. 10. xiv. 6. 
 
 Ver. }. Thy "Birth and thy Nativity is of theVev. j. 
 Land of Canaan."] As your Fathers fojourned in 
 the Land of Canaan, before they came to have 
 any Right or Property in it, fo you their Pofterity 
 have all along refembled the Manners of Ca?iaan, 
 more than thofe of oA.br aham, Ijaac, and Jacob 
 your Ancefrors. 
 
 Ibid. Thy Father was an Hitiite, and thy Mo- 
 ther an iAmovite.'] Thofe are (aid to be our Pa- 
 rents in the Scripture Dialect, whofe Manners we 
 reiemble. Sec Ve i . 4 5. of this Chapter : Job. viii. 
 44. Mat. iii. 7. 1 here is an HxprefEon of the fame 
 import in the HHlory of Snfannah, Ver. 56. that 
 feems to he copied from this Text, thou Seed of 
 Canaan, and not of Juda, 'Beauty hath deceived 
 thee ) and Lurt hath perverted thy Heart. 
 
 Ver. 4. 5. In the "Vav when thou waff horn, & r c] Ver- 4 c» 
 The Prophet defcribes the fonorn Condicion of the 
 Ifraelites in Egypt under the Similitude of a New- 
 born
 
 104I A Commentary 
 
 Chapter born Infant expofed in its Native Filthinefs, with- 
 XVI. out any Friend to pity his Condition, or take the 
 L/*V^O leaft Care of it. 
 
 Ver. 6. Ver. 6. I [aid unto thee when thou waft in thy 
 
 'Bloody Live.'] Whilft as yet no Body took (b 
 much care of thee, as to wafh thee from thy Na- 
 tive Filthinefs, Ver. 4. 1 took pity on thee ; as a Tra- 
 veller that paries by, and fees an Infant lie expofed ; 
 and I provided all Things neceffary for thy Support. 
 Ver. 7. Ver. 7. i" have cauf'ed thee to Multiply, &x.] 
 
 The Prophet defcribes the Peoples increafing in 
 Egypt under the Metaphor of a Child's growing to 
 Woman's Eftate. Com p. Exod. i. 7. 
 Ver. 8. Ver. 8. 'Behold thy Time was the Time of Love, 
 
 &c] I thought it now a proper Time to betroth 
 thee to my felf : The Jews Deliverance out of 
 Egypt is elfewhere defcribed as the Time of God's 
 Efpoufing them tohimfelf : Setjerew. ii. 2, &c. Hof. 
 ii.i 5,19. and his entring into Covenant with them, 
 is commonly reprefented by a Marriage Contract: : 
 See If a. liv. 5. Jerem. iii. 1 — 14. and Bifhop Pa- 
 trick's Preface to his Commentary on the Can- 
 ticles. 
 
 Ibid. I fpread my Skirt over thee, .] I took thee 
 under my Prote&ion, as a Husband doth the Wife. 
 See Ruth iii. 9. 
 
 Ibid. eAnd covered thy NakednefsJ] Inriched 
 thee with the Goods and PofTeflions of the Egypti- 
 ans and Canaanites : See Ver. 10, 1 1, &c. 
 
 Ver. 9. Ver. 9. Then I wafied thee with Water, and 
 
 anointed thee with 0/7.] I added every Thing that 
 could contribute to thy Beauty and Ornament. 
 The Anointing with Oil was reckoned a necelTary 
 Ingredient in a Feftival Drefs. See Ruth iii. 3. If a. 
 IxL $. Mat, vi. 17. Ver.
 
 upon EZEKIEL. 105 
 
 Ver. to. / food- thee with 'Badgers Skin); &rc] Chapter 
 Or, with Sandals of a Purple Colour, as Bochart XVI. 
 e- pounds the Word Tahafh. This and the following LS\~K) 
 Verfes allude to thofe Parts of Womens Attire, ^ er# IO * 
 which ferve not only for Ufe, but for Ornament 
 :too : and import ttifct God did not only provide the 
 Jews with Neceffaries,. but likewife with Superflu- 
 ities . 
 
 Ibid. I girded thee with fine Li?wen.] This 
 Manufa&ure Egypt wa^ famous for; See Chapter 
 xxvii. 7. it was one of J the principal Ornaments oF 
 Women; Seel/a. iii. 16. as well as of Great Men. 
 
 Ver. n. I fut 'Bracelets upon thy Hands, and a Ver. u. 
 Chain about thy Neck.'] Thefe •■ were Ornaments 
 that none but Perfons of better Quality ufed to wear'. 
 See Gen. xxiv* 47. Trov. i. 9.' 
 
 Ver. 12. eAnd I pit a Jewel on thy Forehead.]^ ^* 12. 
 The fame which is called a Nofe-jewel, I/a. in. 
 21. where- the Words might as well be translated 
 a Jewel for .'the Bane, or 'Forehead. -Compare like- 
 wife Gen. xxiv. 47. • » 1 : 
 
 Ibid. aAnd a beautiful Crown upon thy Head.'] 
 Crowns or Garlands were ufed in times of Publjck 
 Rejoicing.; from whence is derived that ExprefFiQii 
 tff St.'<TW, oA Crown af Rejoicing ; 1 Thef.il to. 
 Compare J/tf. xxxv. 1 o. Virgins were ' fdmetimes^ 
 adorned with Crowns. See Baruch vi. 9. and thev 
 were commonly put upon the Heads of Perfons 
 newly Married : See. Cantic. \\u 11. -§ 
 
 Ver. 13. Thou didft eat fine Flower y Honey UflSpVer. 15. 
 Oil.'] Thy Country afforded all manner of Plenty 
 and Delicacies. Compare Deut. xxxii. 1 ?, 1 4. 
 
 Ibid. aAud didji proffer nito a Kjngtfofnt] Thou' 
 waft advanced to,be'the Seat of a. Kingdom* an# 
 
 P the
 
 106 A Commentary 
 
 Chapter the City of the Great KJng of Heaven and Earth, 
 XV7. TJal.xlviii.2. 
 
 KS~V~\J Ver. 14. <*And thy Renown went forth among the 
 
 Ver. 14. Heathen for thy 'Beauty.'] For the Magnificence 
 of the Temple, called the Beauty of Holinels, and 
 honoured with God's efpecial Prefence. Compare 
 Lam. ii. 15. Tjal. >lviii. 2. 
 
 Ver. 1 5. Ver. 1 5. 'But thou didft truft in thy own T3eauty r 
 and flayedft the Harlot, lecaufe of thy Renown.] 
 Women that are proud of their Beauty, are eafily 
 tempted to Lewdnefs, if they have not a ftri£t 
 Guard upon themfelves : So you abufed thofe Ho- 
 nours and Advantages which I had bellowed upon 
 you, and made them an Occafion of forfaking me 
 your Benefactor, and ferving Idols. You prefumed 
 upon that very Favour which I had fhewed to Je- 
 rufalem in choofing it for the Place of my Refi- 
 dence : as if that would fecure you from my Ven- 
 geance, let your Idolatries and other Wickednefs 
 be never fo Great. See Jerem. vii. 4. Micah 
 in. 11. 
 
 Ibid. oAnd flayedft the Harlot J] Idolatry is 
 commonly defcribed by the Metaphor of Spiritual 
 Adultery, as hath been already obferved. See the 
 Note on Ver. 8. and compare Chapter xxiii. j, 8, 
 11. Ifa. lvii. 8. Jerem. ii. 20. iii. 2,6, 20. 
 
 Ver. 16. Ver. 16. oAnd of thy Garments thou didft take, 
 and deckedft thy High Tlaces, &c,3 This was a 
 great Aggravation of their Ingratitude, that they 
 applied thole very Bleflings which God had given 
 them, to the Worfhip of Idols. Compare Hof. ii. 8. 
 Ibid. <An d deckedft thy High-Places with divers 
 Colours.] Or, Madeft High-Tlaces, or, Images of 
 divers Colours: as the LXX explain the Senfe. 
 
 Thou
 
 upon EZEKIE L. 1 07 
 
 Thou madeft little Shrines, Chappels or Altars for Chapter 
 Idols, and decked ft them with Hangings of divers XVI. 
 Colours : Ver. 18. See 2 Kjngs xxiii. 7. The Word U^V^O 
 'Bamah is fometimes tifed for an Altar, becanfe Al- 
 tars were commonly fet upon Eminent Places ; See 
 Ver. 24, 2$. In that Senfe the Chaldee Tarafhrafe 
 underftands it, Jerew. xlviii. 35. and fo it may be 
 beft underftood, Chap. xx. 29. of this Prophecy. 
 
 Ibid. The like Things (hall not come, neither (I) all 
 it be fo.~] I will utterly deftroy thofe Idolatries, and 
 thofe that commit them. 
 
 Ver. 1 7. Thou haft alfo taken thy fair Jewels of Ver. 1 7. 
 my Gold, and my Silver, -and madeft to thy fe If Ima- 
 ges of Men.'] The Wealth I had beftowed upon 
 thee thou haft laid out in doing Honour to Idols : 
 See Chapter vii. 19. Hof.W. 8, 1$. and particularly 
 in fetting up Images to deified Heroes ; Sec Chap, 
 xxiii. 14, 15. 
 
 Ver. 18, 19. <And thou haft fet mine Oil andVQv.i2,i<) 
 mine Incenfe before them, my Meat alfo which I 
 gave thee, fine Flour and Oil and Honey, &cj 
 Thou offeredft thefe my Creatures as a Meat-offe- 
 ring unto Idols. The Meat-offering is called an 
 Offering of a fweet Savour, becaufe of the Frank- 
 incenfe that was put upon it : See Levit.iu 2. The 
 Oblation here mentioned, differs from thofe offer- 
 ed to God in one Particular, viz. That Honey was 
 mixt with it, which God had exprefly forbidden 
 to be ufed in his Service, Levit. ii. 1 1. 
 
 Ver. 20. Moreover thou haft taken thy Sons and y er# 2 o. 
 thy "Daughters—- and thefe thou haft facrificed unto 
 them to be devoured] Thefe inhuman Sacrifices 
 were offered to the Idol Moloch, in the Valley of 
 
 P 2 Hin*
 
 io8 A Commentary 
 
 Chapter Hinnom: See Ver. 36. xx. 26, 21. xxiii. 37. j&rj 
 
 XVI. mhfh 
 iS~V^J Ibid. W 7 Z)5^ fta haft born to me.'] B*ng Mar- 
 ried to me by a Spiritual Contract, Ver. 8. Comp. 
 Chap, xxiii. 4. The Children whom I bleffed thee 
 with are mine, being entred'into the fame HOove- 
 nant with their Parent, and devoted to my Ser- 
 vice : See Deaf. xxix. 11, 12. 
 Ver. 21. Ver. 21. Thou haft {lain my Children to caufe 
 them to faf thro* the Fire, 8fc/|- See the Note on 
 Jerem. xxxii. $5. By Children are meant here 
 the Firft-born, who were fet apart to be God's Pro- 
 perty in a peculiar manner, Exoti.xui.2. and yet 
 even thefe they fometimes facrificed to their Idols : 
 See Micah vi. 7. I 
 
 Ibid. To caiftthem to-fafs thro" the The.-] The 
 Verb Henebir, tranflated to caufe them to fajs 
 thro* the Fire, ftgnifies alfo to dedicate, and de- 
 notes the confecrating the Firft-born unto God, 
 Exod. xiii. 12. So the Words imply, that the 
 Jews inftead of dedicating their Firft-born to God,, 
 as the Law required, offered them up a Sacrifice 
 to the Devil that was worfhipped in their Idols. 
 Ver. 22. Ver. 22. Thou haft not remembred the 1)ays of 
 thy Touth,.&;c.\ That miferable Condition from 
 which I refcued thee, when I firft took Notice of 
 thee, and fet thee apart for my own People : See 
 Ver. 5, l$c. .and compare Ver. 43, 60. 
 Ver. 24. Ver. 2 4- Thou haft alfo buih to thee an eminetit 
 place in every Street.] Manajjeh filled Jerufalem 
 with Idols. See 2thron. xxxiii. 4, 5, 15. many of 
 which were worfhipped upon high or eminent 
 Places. Compare Ver. 16, }i. and z lyings xxiil 
 
 5; I2 >
 
 upon EZEKIEL. 109 
 
 5, 12, 1$. The LXX render the Hebrew Word Chapter 
 Gab, a 'Brothel-houje : and 'tis certain, that the XVI. 
 Worfhip of fome of the Heathen Idols confifted in L/V"NJ 
 committing all manner of Uncleannefs. See 2 Kjngs 
 xxiii. 7. and the Note upon Ver. 26. 
 
 Ver. 25. Thou haft aljo built thy high place at Ver. 25. 
 the Head of every way, hc.~\ Thefe and the fol- 
 lowing Expreffions allude to the Practices of com- 
 mon Harlots, whoufe to frequent the mod publick 
 Places, to allure Paifjagers to them : See Gen, 
 xxxviii. 21. Trov. ix. 14, 15. Idolatry being in 
 this Chapter and elfewhere compared to the rage 
 of Lufr. See If a. lvii. 5. Jerem. ii. 23, 24. iii. 2. 
 
 Ver* 26. Thou haft aljo committed Fornication y ert 2 6. 
 with the Egyptians thy Neighbours.'] While the 
 Ifraelites fojourned in Egypt, they learned to pra- 
 ctice their Idolatries. See Chap. xx. 7, 8. Ltvit. 
 xx. $. 'Dent. xxix. 16, 17. Jofb.xxiv. 14 From Jo- 
 fiah*s time the Jsws were in a Ariel Confederacy 
 with the Egyptians, and to ingratiate themfelves 
 with them, practifed their Idolatries. Compare 
 Chap, xxiii. 19.20,21,40,41.. And the Worfhip of 
 Tamux, the IdoUtrv they are uphraided with, Chap, 
 viii. 14. was derived from' the fame Country; 
 
 Ibid Great of FlefJ), an I haft increafrd thy ■ 
 Whoredoms.] Compare Ch p. > x'ii. 20- The Rx- 
 preflions may allude to the ^Whoredoms which 
 were committed in the Worfhip of leme of their 
 Idols. See Chap, x ii. 9. Numb. xxxi. 16. Hofi 
 iv. 4. e Baruch vi. 4^. 
 
 Vex. 27. / have] , i retched out my Hand over thee, Ver. 27. 
 ana nave dimiuifljed t hi fie online; y Food.] I have 
 abridged thee of many NeceiTaiies and Conveni- 
 ences,
 
 no A Commentary 
 
 Chapter ences, by giving thy Country into the Hand of 
 
 XVI. thine Enemies, as it follows. 
 C/"V"\J Ibid. (And delivered thee into the Will of them 
 that hate thee, the 'Daughters of the ThiU/tines.*] 
 As a Punifhment of the Idolatries which King 
 oAhaz introduced among you: See Ver. 57. and 
 xChron. xxviii. 18, 19. The Daughters of the 
 Thiliftines are put here for the l*hiliftines, as the 
 Daughters of Samaria, Sodom and the S) riatis ftznd 
 for the People of thofe Places, Ver. 46, 47, 57. to 
 carry on the Allegory and Comparifon between 
 them and Jerufalem, being all of them defcribed as 
 fo many Lewd Women proftituting themfelves 
 to Idols. See Ver. 41. By the fame Metaphor 
 Samaria and Sodom are called Sifters to Jerujalem, 
 Ver. 46. 
 
 Ibid. Which are aflame d of thy lewd Way.~\ 
 Thofe have not forfaken the Religion of their Coun- 
 trey as you Jews have done, nor have been fo fond 
 of Foreign Idolatries : Compare Chap. v. 7. and 
 Jerem. ii. 11. The Chaldee Paraphrafe explains 
 the Words to this Senfe, // 7 had fent my Trophets 
 to them, they would have been afiamed, but thou 
 art not converted. See Ver. 47, 48. 
 Ver. 28. Ver. 28. Thou haft flayed the Whore alfo with 
 the eAjfyrians.'] The Jews courted the Alliance of 
 their two potent Neighbours, the Egyptians and 
 eAjfyrians, as it ferved their prefent turn ; and to 
 ingratiate themfelves with them ferved their Idols : 
 See Jer. ii. 1 8, $6. This is particularly recorded of 
 eAhaz : See 2 Kjngs wi. 10. 2 Chron. xxviii. 23. 
 Ver- 10. Ver. 29. Moreover thou haft mult if lied thy For- 
 nication in the Land of Canaan unto Qhaldea.'] Or, 
 
 with
 
 upon EZEKIEL. m 
 
 with the 1 .and of Canaan, as Noldius tranflates the Chapter 
 Particle El % in his Concordance, p. 59. The Senfe XVI. 
 is, thou haft defiled thy felf with all the Idolatries L/V^SJ 
 of the Heathen, beginning with thofe which were 
 practiced by the former Inhabitants of Canaan, and 
 by degrees learning new Species of Idolatry derived 
 from diftant Countries, fuch as Chaldea was rec- 
 koned. See Jerem. v. 15. Compare this Verfe 
 with Chap, x iii. 16, 17. 2 Kjngs xvii. 16, 17. 
 xxi. 3, &c. xxiii 5, &c. 
 
 Ver. 30. //(9W w^& is thine Hearty Not only 
 unftable as to Good Refolutions, but even Reftlefs 
 and Unfettled in Evil Practices ; ftill hankering af- 
 ter fome New kind of Idolatry? and refolved to 
 indulge a Wand ring Appetite ; See Ver. 28, 29. 
 
 Ver. $1. In that thou buildejl thine eminent Ver. ri~ 
 'Place.'} See Ver. 16, 24. 
 
 Ibid. oAnd haft not heen as an Harlot, in that 
 thou fcorneft Hire.] Or, To froftitute thy [elf for 
 Hire : as Tome tranflate the Words. 
 
 Ver. }}. "But thou giveft thv Gifts to all tfyy QVt ^ o 
 Lover j.] The Jews are often upbraided for mak- 
 ing Leagues with Idolaters, and courting their Fa- 
 vours by Prefents, and by complying with their 
 Idolatries. See If a xxx. 6. Ivii. 5—9. Jerem. ii. 
 18, 25, 36. and the Notes upon rhefe Texts. 
 
 Ver. 36. aAnd by the "Blood of thy Children."] See Ver. -$6. 
 Ver. 2o. Jerem. ii. $4. 
 
 Ver. 37. 'Behold therefore I will gather all thy Ver. 27. 
 Lovers."] Thole Allies whofe Fnendihip thou halt 
 courted by complying with their Idolatries. See 
 Chapter xxiii. 9, 22. Jerem.ii. 25. iv. 30. xxii. 20. 
 Lament, i. 8. HoJ. ii. 10* 
 
 Ibid.
 
 ii2 ^Commentary 
 
 Chapter Ibid. VSith all them that thou ha? 1 hatedi] Compare 
 XVI. Ver. 41. fuch were Edom, Ma , and oAmm^n: 
 
 VV^O who always bore a Spight to the Jews, and inful- 
 ted over their Calamities. See Chao. xxv. 3, 8, 12. 
 Ibid. (And will dif cover thy Nake duel's unto 
 them.~\ They fhall fee thee carried away Captive, 
 ftriptand bare, (fee Ver. 59.)' without any Cover- 
 ing to thy Naked nefs, according to the Barbarous 
 Cuftom of Conquerors ; See the Notes On la. iii. 
 17. xx. 4. The Words aljude to the Punifhment 
 that ufed to be inflicted upon Common Harlots 
 and AdulterefTes, which was to drip them Naked, 
 and expofe them to the World. Compare Chap, 
 xxiii. 29. Jerem. y.iii. 22, 26. HoJ. ii. 3. 
 
 Ver. 38. Ver. 38.. (And I will judge thee as Women that 
 Ire ak Wedlock.^ Whofe Punifhment was Death by 
 the Law, Levit. xx. 10. 'Deut. xxii. 22. 
 
 Ibid. aAnd foed 'Bloody See Ver. io, zi, 26. 
 This was likewife a Capital Crime: See. Exod. 
 xxi. 11. In thefe two Parts of Jerufaleni's Cha- 
 racter, Hie was a Type of the Antichriftian Whore, 
 who was likewife Drunk with the 'Blood of the 
 Saints, Revel, xvii. 5, 6. 
 
 Ibid. oAnd I will give thee 'Blood in Fury and 
 Jealouf)r~\ I will make an utter Deft rufr ion of thine 
 Inhabitants: See Chapter xiv. 19. Or, I will 
 foyr out the "Blood of thy Slain like Water, Tfal. 
 lxxix. 3. Jealoufy is the Rage of a Man, Trov.v'u 
 94. Such Indignation will God fhew againft the 
 Idolatry of his own People, who hath declared 
 himfelf a Jealous God, and very tender of his Ho- 
 nour, which is highly injured by the Worfhip of 
 Idols, fet up as his Rivals. See the Note on Chap. 
 v. 1?. 
 
 Ver.
 
 upon EZEK TEL. 1 1 3 
 
 Ver. 39. They (ball throw down thine eminent Chapter 
 Tlaces.-] They fhall deftroy all thy High Walls XVI. 
 and Fortifications: the Expreflion alludes to the tyV^U 
 high Places dedicated to Idolatrous Worfhip. See Ver. 3 9- 
 Ver. 24, 31. 
 
 Ibid. They Jlmll fir if thee of thy Clothes , &c] 
 They fhall firft plunder thee before rhey carry 
 thee away Captive. See Ver. 37. and Chap, xxiii. 
 26. 
 
 Ver. 40. (And they foall bring a Company again/1 Ver. 40. 
 thee, and they Jhall fto?ie thee with Stones.] The 
 Chaldean Army fhall beat down thy Walls and 
 Houfes with Stones flung out of Battering Engines. 
 See Jer. x xxiii. 4. The Expreflion alludes to the 
 Punifhment inflicted upon AdulterefTes, which was 
 ftoning : See Joh. viii. 5. The particular fort of 
 Death which they were to fuffer is not exprefled 
 in the Law : fo the Conjecture of Grot ins upon 
 that Place of St. John is not improbable ; that in the 
 latter times, as Wickednefs increafed, the Sanhe- 
 drim exchanged the milder Punifhment of Stran- 
 gling ufed before, for the feverer Death of ftoning. 
 
 Ibid. eAnd thruji thee thro'* with their Swords.'} 
 See Chap. v. 12. xxiii. 10, 47. xxiv. 21. 
 
 Ver. 41. oAnd they Jhall bunt thy Houfes tcj/VA Ver. 41/ 
 Fire."] The Punifhment allotted to an Idolatrous 
 City, Deut. xiii. 16. The Words may likewife 
 allude to the Punifhment of Burning, anciently in- 
 flicted upon Harlots : See Gen, xxxviii. 24. 
 
 Ibid. oAnd execute Judgment upon thee in the 
 fight of many Women!] The Syrians, Thilifiines, 
 and other Neighbouring Nations. See Ver. 37. and 
 the Notes upon Ver. 27. The Judgment I will 
 execute upon thee fhall be for an Inftru&ion to 
 
 Q, other
 
 H4 ^Commentary 
 
 Chqoter other Nations, how they follow thine ill Practices* 
 
 XVI. See Chap, xxiii. 48. 
 L/^* n O Ibid. oAnd I will caufe thee to ceafefrom flaying 
 the Harlot.] See Chan, xxiii. 27. 
 
 Vet*. 42. Ver. 42. So will I make my Fury, toward thee to 
 reft , and my Jealoufy fljall depart from thee, &c] 
 See Ver. 38. and the Note upon Chap. v. 1^. 
 
 Ver. 45. Ver. 4$. Ttecaufe thou haft not remembred the 
 Days of thy TouthJ] See Ver. 22. 
 
 Ibid. o,4nd thou fJmlt not commit this Lewdnefs 
 above all thine ^Abominations.] Thou (halt not add 
 thefe manifold and fhamelefs Practices of Idolatry 
 to all thy other Wickednefs. But the Words may 
 be rend red, Neither haft thou laid to Heart all 
 thefe thine ^Abominations. 
 
 Ver. 44. V er » 44- Toehold every o?ie that ufeth Troverbs, 
 fhall ufe this Troverb againfi thee, &c] They that 
 love to apply the. memorable Sayings of former 
 Ages to the prefent Times, fhall apply that com- 
 mon Saying to thee, that the Daughter follows 
 her Mother's Steps, and JeruJ'alem is no better than 
 the oAmorites whofe Land they inhabit, and whofe 
 Manners they imitate : See Ver. $. 
 
 Ver. 45. Ver. 45. Thou art thy Mothers Daughter, that 
 lotheth her Husband and her Children.'] Both thefe 
 Qualities are the Property of an Harlot, and were 
 verified in the Jews, who abhorred God their Hus- 
 band, Ver. 8. and caft off all natural Affection to 
 their Children, facriflcing them in the Fire to the 
 $ Honour of their Idols : Ver. 20. 
 
 Ibid. oAnd thou art the Sifter of thy Sifters;] 
 Samaria and Sodom : Ver. 46. The Worfhip of 
 Moloch was generally pra&ifed by the Ten Tribes 
 whofe Metropolis was Samaria, See 2 Kjngs xviL 
 
 17,
 
 upon EZEKIEL. 1 1 $ 
 
 17. as it was by the Ammonites, who derived Chapter 
 their Original from Lot, an Inhabitant of Sodom. XVI. 
 See 1 Kings xi. 7. O'V'NJ 
 
 Ibid. Tour Mother was an Hittite, &:c] See 
 Ver. $. 
 
 Ver. 46. e/^/J £&/#? tfZ^r 5i/?^r is Samaria, fie Ver. 46. 
 and her 'Daughters that dwell at thy Left Hand, 
 &-C.] Samaria is called the elder Sifter to Jerufa- 
 lem, as being the Capital City of the Kingdom of 
 IJrael, a more large and potent Kingdom than that 
 ofjudah, of which Jerufalem was the Metropolis. 
 She likewife led the way to that Idolatry which af- 
 terward infecled the whole Nation, forfaking the 
 Worfhip which God had appointed in his Temple, 
 and fetting up the Idolatry of the Golden Calves. 
 Samaria lay Northward of 'Jerufalem, and Sodom 
 Southward, which two Quarters of the World are 
 exprefled by the Right and Left, in the Hebrew 
 Language, being placed in fuch a Pofition to thofe 
 that fet their Faces Eaftward. So the Phrafe is to 
 be underftood, Gen. xiii. 9. If thou wilt go to the 
 Left Hand, I will go to the Right : where the 
 Targum expounds the Words, If thou wilt go to 
 the North, I will go to the South. The fame way 
 of Speaking is (till ufed in the ancient 'BritiJJ; or 
 Weljh Language, as Archbifhop Ufier obferves 
 in his Trimord. EccL "Brit an. p. $06. Edit. Fol, 
 
 Samaria and Sodom are defcribed as Metropoles, 
 or Mother Cities : So their Daughters may be ex- 
 pounded not only of the Inhabitants of each City, 
 but likewife of the leller Towns which were an- 
 tiently under the Jurifdi&ion of the greater. Com- 
 pare Chap. xxvi. 4, 6. Jerem, xlix. 2. 
 
 Q, 2 Ver.
 
 n6 ^Comment \ry 
 
 Chapter Ver. 47. Tet thou haft not walked after their 
 XV L Ways, &c] See Chap. v. 7. 
 
 C/V^^ Ibid. Thou waft corrupted more than they, &X.3 
 
 Ver. 47- See Ver. 48, 51. ' 
 
 Ver. 48. Ver. 48. Sodom thy Sifter hath not done as thou 
 haft done.~_\ Their 'Sins were not committer! wich 
 filch Aggravations of Ingratitude : nor did I u(e 
 fuch powerful Methods to convince them of theip 
 Wickednefs, as I have done toward you. Comp. 
 Chap. v. 6. Math. x. 15. xi. 24. 
 
 Ver. 49. Ver. 49. 'Behold this was the Iniquity of <c .odom, 
 Tride, fulnefs of'Bread^and abundance of Idlenefs.^ 
 Sodom abufed that Plenty which God gave them to 
 Pride and Idlenefs, which gave rife to thofe Enor- 
 mities which they afterward were guilty of. The 
 Scripture takes Notice of the Fruitfulnefs of the 
 Soil where Sodom flood : Gen. xiii. 10. 
 
 Ibid. Neither did (he (trengthen the Hand of the 
 Toor and Needy, .] Pride and Luxury make Men 
 expenfive in their own way of Living, and re- 
 gardlefs of the Wants and Miferiesof others. See 
 Luke xvi. 2.0, 21. 
 
 Ver. 51. Ver. 51. Neither hath Samaria committed half 
 thy Sins.~\ The Ingratitude of Jerufalem was grea- 
 ter than that of Samaria^ becaufe God had placed 
 his Name there, whofe Worfhip fhe forfook, and 
 profaned the Temple by placing Idols in it ; which 
 was a Degree of Idolatry beyond any Thing the 
 Ten Tribes had been guilty of. See Chapter v. 11. 
 vii. 20. viii. 6, 15. xxiii. 38, 39. xliii. 8. 2 Kings 
 xvi. 1 4. xxl 7, 9. 
 
 Ibid. Thou haftjuftified thy Sifters in all thine eA- 
 lominations.~} Thou haft made them appear tefo 
 Guilty : See Jerem. iii. 11. Another Aggravation 
 
 of
 
 upon EZEKIEL. 1 1 7 
 
 of thy Sinconfifts in this, that thou wouldeft not Chapter 
 take Warning by the Judgments God brought up- XVI. 
 on them : See ibid. Ver. 8. U'VNJ 
 
 Ver. 52. Thou alfo which haft judged thy Sifters, Ver. 52. 
 tear thine own Shame.'] Becaufe wherein thou haft 
 judged them, or declared them defervedly punifhed, 
 thoft haft condemned thy felf, having been Guilty 
 of the fame Sins, and thofe accompanied with grea- 
 ter Aggravations. 
 
 Ver. 5}. When I flail bring again their Captivi-Yer. 53. 
 ty, the Captivity of Sodom, and her Daughters, 
 &o] When the Fulnefs of the Gentiles fhall come 
 into the Church, fomeof whom may be compared 
 with Sodom for Wickednefs v (See Ifa. i. 9.) then 
 will I alfo remember you, who were my ancient 
 People. St. Taul tells us, that the Jews will be 
 provoked to Emulation by the Gentiles coming in- 
 to the Church, and thereby induced to acknow- 
 ledge the Truth. See Rom. xi. 1 1, 12, 15, 25, $1. 
 The Converfion of th Gentiles is exprefTed in Je- 
 remy, by returning the Captivity of Moab, (Am- 
 man and Elam, Chap, xlviii. 47. xlix. 6, 39. and 
 by the Egyptians, <>AfJ\rians, Ethiopians and yri- 
 ans bringing Prefects to God, and acknowledging 
 themfelves his Servants, in rhe Prophecy of Ifaiah, 
 Chap, xviii. 7. xix. 24,25. xxiii. 18. And by the 
 fame Analogy we are to underftanH the returning 
 of the Captivity of Sodom here, ot che Gentiles com- 
 ing into the Church. 
 
 Ver. 54. That thou ?nay[i bear thine own Shawe,Yer. 54. 
 &c] In the mean time thou fhalt bea \ the Shame 
 and Punifhment due to thy Sins, and (halt be fome 
 fort of Comfort to thy Neighbours, in being a 
 
 Com-
 
 1 1 8 y^CoMMENTARr 
 
 Chapter Companion with them in Punifhment, as thou haft 
 XVI. been in Wickednefs. 
 
 C/\"\J Ver. 55. When Samaria and her 'Daughters JJjall 
 
 Ver. 55. return to their former Efiate, then thou and thy 
 daughters (hall return to your former EfiateJ] 
 When the Prophets foretel the General Converfion 
 and Reftoration of the Jewifi Nation, they always 
 join Judah and Jfrael together, as equal Sharers in 
 that Blefling. See Chap, xxxvii. 16— 22. and the 
 Notes there. 
 
 Ver.56^7 Ver. 56, 57. For thy Sifter Sodom was not men- 
 tioned by thy Mouth in the Day of thy Tride, 'Be- 
 fore thy Wickednefs was difcovered.~\ Thefe Words 
 fhould be joined together in the fame Verfe or Sen- 
 tence : God faith to Jerufalem, that in the height 
 of her Profperity, before her Wickednefs fo fully 
 appeared to the Eyes of the World, by the extra- 
 ordinary Judgments brought upon her, fhe did 
 not refleQ: upon the terrible Vengeance which be- 
 fel Sodom, and was defigned for an Example or 
 Warning to thofe that fhould afterward live Un- 
 godly ; 2 Tet. ii. 6. 
 
 Ver.57,58 Ver. 57, 58. oAs at the time of thy Reproach of 
 the 'Daughters of Syria, &c] The Words begin a 
 New Sentence, which may be tranflated more 
 perfpicuoufly thus, joining them to the following 
 Verfe : 'But when it was the time of thy becoming 
 the Reproach of the Daughters of Syria, &c. The 
 Particle I\fmo, fometimes (ignifies When : See NoU 
 dius, p. 43 1. The Words, with regard to what goes 
 before,import thus much : In thy Profperity thou didft 
 defpife thofe who. are no worfe than thyfelf: But 
 fince thou haft been infulted and invaded by thy 
 
 Neigh-
 
 upon EZEKIEL. 119 
 
 Neighbours, both Syrians and Philifiines, whom Chapter 
 God hath made ufe of as Executioners of his Judg- XVI. 
 ments upon thee, thou haft been a remarkable In- U^VNJ 
 fiance of his Vengeance, and God's Hand hath bin 
 heavy upon thee for all thine Idolatries and Abomi- 
 nations. The Words relate to the frequent In- 
 roads the Syrians and Thiliftines made into Judea 
 in. the time of King cAhaz. See 2 Kjngs xvi. 5. 
 2 Chron. xxviii. 1 8. 
 
 Ver. 59 J will even deal with thee as thou haft Ver. $9* 
 done, which haft defpifed the Oath in breaking the 
 Covenants That folemn Oath and Covenant you 
 entred into with me to be my People, and ferve 
 no other God befides : See 'Deut. xxix. 12, 14. 
 which is likewife reprefented in this Chapter, and 
 many other Places under the Solemnity of a Mar- 
 riage Contract. Hereupon God threatens her, 
 that fince fhe had broke her Oath and Promife, he 
 fhould not think himfelf obliged to make good any 
 of the Promifes of Favour and Protection which 
 he had made to her, but would give her up to Ru- 
 in and Defolation. See Numb. xiv. 34. 
 
 Ver. 60. Nevertheless 7 will remember my Cove- Ver. 60. 
 nant with thee in the TDays of thy Touth.~] I will 
 have fome Regard for you, becaufe you were for- 
 merly my People, by Virtue of the Covenant that 
 I made with you at your coming out of Egypt. 
 Compare Ver. 4, and 22. of this Chapter, and Ho/i 
 ii. 15. xi. 1. Jerem.ii. 2. at which time God chofe 
 them to be his peculiar People : See Exod. xix. 5, 6. 
 
 Ibid. oAnd I will eftablifjj with ihee an everlaft- 
 tng Covenant^ Such a one as (hall never be abo- 
 lifhed, viz. that of the Gofpel : See Jerem. xxxiL 
 40. and the Note upon that Place. 
 
 Ver,
 
 120 A Commentary 
 
 Chapter Ver. 61. Then Jhalt thou remember thy Ways, and 
 XVI. he ajhamed.] The Jews (hall be touched with a 
 
 ^y~v X-* deep Senfe and Remorfe for their former Provoca- 
 
 Ver. 61. tions, as anecelTary Preparation for their Conver- 
 
 fion : Compare Chap. xx. 4$. xxxvi. 31. Jerem. 
 
 xxxi. 9. 1. 5. and fee the Notes upon thofe Places. 
 
 Ibid. When thou fialt receive thy Sifters, thine 
 
 Elder and thy Touuger.] See Ver. 53. 
 
 Ibid. oAnd I will give them to thee for 'Daugh- 
 ters.'] Jerusalem thus reftored fhall be a Type of 
 that Heavenly Jerufalem, which is the Mother of 
 us all, Galat. iv. 26. And even in the Times of the 
 Apoftles there was a particular Deference paid to 
 the Church of Jerufalem, as the Mother Church 
 of the Chriftian World : See Rom. xv. 26, 27. Ac- 
 cordingly file is firiled the Mother of all Churches, 
 by the Second General Council, in their Sy nodical 
 Epifile : See The odor it. Rift. Kcclef. lib. 5. c. 9. A 
 Title which the Church of Rome now afTumes, 
 without any Pretence from Scripture or Anti- 
 quity. 
 
 Ibid. 'But not by thy Covenant. ~\ Not by Ver- 
 tue of that Covenant mentioned Ver. 60. You ha- 
 ving forfeited all your Title to its Privileges, Ver. 
 89. but by Virtue of that New Covenant which 
 I will make with you, thro' the Mejfias : See Je- 
 rem. xxxi. 31. 
 
 Ver. 62. V er - 62. oAnd thou fhalt know that 1 am the 
 Lord.] I will be then as confpicuous in my Mer- 
 cies, as I was before in my Judgments. See the 
 Note on Chap. vi. 7. 
 
 Ver. 6?. Ver. 6$. That thou may ft remember, and be con- 
 founded.^ Be Confounded at the Remembrance of 
 thy former Wickednefs : See Ver. 61 » 
 
 Ibid.
 
 upon EZEKIEL. 
 
 121 
 
 Ibid. $And never o-pen thy Mouth more hecaufe of Chapter 
 thy Shame.] The Mercies of the Gofpel in calling XVI. 
 Sinners to Repentance, and accepting them, not- L/'VNJ 
 withftanding their many Imperfections, do unan- 
 fwerably confute all Claim or Pretence to Merit. 
 See Rom. iii. 1 9. 
 
 P 
 
 CHAP.
 
 122 
 
 A Commentary 
 
 si 
 
 51 
 
 
 Chapter 
 XVII. 
 
 CHAR XVII. 
 
 The Argument. 
 
 Under the Tarable of two Eagles and two Vine 
 Branches, the Trophet figuratively exprefles the 
 carrying away Jehoiakin into Captivity by the 
 Kjng of Babylon, who made Ztdtkiah Kjng in 
 his Stead, He afterward revolted from the Kjng 
 of Babylon whofe Vafjal he wa±, and entred into 
 aneAlliance with the Kjng of Egypt, for this 
 ^Breach of his Oath and fidelity, God threatens 
 to make him Captive to that very Kjng from 
 whom he had revolted. 
 
 Ver. 2. Ver. 2. 
 
 UT forth a Riddle^ i. e. A 
 continued Metaphor or figu- 
 rative Speech, ft ill purfuing 
 the Allegory of an Eagle and 
 Vine in the feveral Parts of 
 the Parable: This perhaps 
 may make the Hearers more attentive to what thou 
 
 fpeakeft. 
 
 Ver.
 
 upon EZEKTEL. 123 
 
 Ver. j. oAn Eagle with great Wing*.'] That is, Chapter 
 the King of "Babylon: See Ver. 12. Conquerors XV II. 
 are elfewhere reprefented by Eagle's, who are L/*v*~N^ 
 Birds of Prey, and remarkable for their Swirtnefs. Ver. 3. 
 See T)euL xx^iii. 49. Jer. iv. 13. Hof. viii. 1. 
 
 Ibid. Lom~ wing\t.~] The LXX and other Inter- 
 preters trap (lite the Word from the Chaldee Seufe 
 of it, Of a great fize : to avoid the Repetition of 
 the fame Senfe over again. 
 
 Ibid. Came to Lebanon, and croft off the higheft 
 'Branch of the Cedar .] i. e. Invaded Judea, or in- 
 verted Jerufalem and took King Jehoiakin Cap- 
 tive : See Ver. 1 2. and compare Jer. xxii. 23. 
 
 Ver. 4. oAnd carried it into a Land of Traffich"} Ver. 4. 
 'Babylon and the Countrey about it, being the Seat 
 of an Univerfal Monarchy, muft needs have been 
 a place of great Trading. Strabo takes notice, 
 that the Merchants who travelled by Land to 'Ba- 
 bylon, went thro' the Countrey of the ^Arabians 
 called Scenita : lib. xvi. p. 747. and Veflels of great 
 Burden came up to the Walls of it from the Terfian 
 Gulph up the River Euphrates. See Tliny's Nat. 
 Hifi. /.vi. c. 26. 
 
 Ver. 5. He took alfo of the Seed of the LandS] Ver. 5. 
 Of the King's Seed, as it is explained Ver. 13. /'. e. 
 Zedekiah. 
 
 Ibid. aAnd planted it in a fruitful field, he pla- 
 ced it by great Waters, andfet it as a Willow Tree '.] 
 Judea was a fruitful Countrey, and well watered, 
 See T>eut. viii. 7. where Zedekiah flourifhed as a 
 Willow Tree that thriveth beft in a moift Ground. 
 See Ifa. xliv. 4. 
 
 Ver. 6. cAnd it grew and became a fp reading Ver. 6. 
 Vine of low Stature, whofe branches turned to- 
 
 R 2 ward
 
 124. A Commentary 
 
 Chapter ward him, and the Roots thereof were under him.] 
 XVII. Tho' he flourifhed, yer he enjoyed but a Tributary 
 
 C/"VNJ Kingdom under the King of 'Babylon, and ack- 
 nowledged him as his Lord and Sovereign : See 
 Ver. 14. 
 
 Ver. 7. Ver. 7. There was alfo another great Eaglefec.J 
 
 Tharaoh King of Egypt, with whom Zedekiah 
 made an Alliance: whereupon that King fent an 
 Army to raife the Siege ofjerufalem : See 2 Chron. 
 xxxvi. 1$. Jerem, x:>xvii. 5, 7. 
 
 Ibid. This Vine did betid her Roots toward hm y 
 and (hot forth her 'Branches toward him, &c] Zf- 
 dekiah defired the King of Egypt's Afliftance and 
 Protection. Some render the Words thus, Shot 
 forth her 'Branches under him from the Furrows 
 where jhe was planted, that he might water it. 
 
 Ver. 8. Ver. 8, It was planted in a good Soil, &x\] 
 
 The Words are to the fame Purpofe with Ver. 5. 
 to fhew that Zsdekiafrs Condition was fo good 
 under the King of 'Babylon, that he needed not to 
 have broke his Oath, out of a Defire to better it : 
 whereby he involved himfelf and his Countrey in 
 Ruin. See 2 KJngs xxiv. 20. and the Note upon 
 Jer. xvii. 25. 
 
 Ver. 9. Ver. 9. Shall he not full up the Roots thereof 8rc] 
 
 Nebuchadnezzar in return for this Perfidioulhefs, 
 jQiall deftroy him and his Family. See 2 Kjngs 
 xxv. 7. 
 
 Ibid. Even without great Tower."} God will ap- 
 pear vifibly on the Chaldeans Side, fo there will 
 be no need of great Force to fubdue their Enemies. 
 See Jer. xxi. 4. xxxvii. to. 
 Ver, 10. V er » i°* Shall it not utterly wither when the 
 Eafi Wind toucheth it . ? j The Prophet compares the 
 
 ChaL
 
 upon EZEKIEL. 125 
 
 Chaldean Army to a parching Wind that blafts Chapter 
 the Fruits of the Earth, withers the Leaves of the XVII. 
 Trees, and m?kes every thing look naked and bare. L/VNJ 
 See Chap. xix. 12. Ifa. xxvii. 8. Jerem. iv. 11. Hof. 
 xiii. 15. 
 
 Ver. 12. Say now to the rebellious Houfe.~] See Ver. 12. 
 Chap. ii. 5. xii. 9. 
 
 Ibid. Kjtow ye not what thefe things mean ?] 
 Will ye not apply your Minds to underftand what 
 God fpeaks to you ? And that whether he directs 
 his Speech to you in plain Words, or delivers his 
 Mind in Riddles and Parables? See Chap. xii. 2, 9. 
 xx. 49. 
 
 Ibid, oAndhath taken the King thereof, and the 
 'Princes t here of. ~] Jechoniah and all his Princes and 
 Officers. See 2 Kjngs x . iv. 1 2. 
 
 Ver. i ?. <And hath taken of the Kjngs Seed,— Ver. 1 7. 
 and hath taken an Oath of him.~\ Hath made %e- 
 dehah fwear an Oath of Fealty to him. See 
 2 Chron. xxxvi. i}. 
 
 Ibid. He hath alfo taken the mighty of the Land.3 
 As Hoftages for the Performance- of the Covenants 
 agreed between him and Zjdekiab. 
 
 Ver. 14. That the KJngiom might be bafe, &r.l Ver. 14. 
 %S iekiah by this Means became only a Tiibutary 
 King (Compare Chap. xxix. 1^.) and consequently 
 not in fo honourable a Co ; i<'rion as his PredjCtiTors 
 had been : but yet this was :he on!v Means under 
 the prefent Circumitances to fupport himfelf and 
 his Government;. 
 
 Ver. 15. 'But he rebelled againfi him in fending Ver. 15. 
 his oAmbajfadors into P-g)f( , that they might give 
 him Horjes and m it.cn 'People.'] See the Note on 
 Ver. 7. Egypt was a Country that abounded in 
 
 Horfes,
 
 126 A Commentary 
 
 Chapter Horfcs, of which there was great Scarcity in fu- 
 XVIIJ dea. See i Kjitgs i :. 28. Ifa. xxxi. 1. xxxvi. 9. 
 C/"V"V Ibid. Shall he proffer, &c.] This was not only a 
 Violation of his Oath and Covenant, but likewife 
 a Breach of that part of the JewiJJj Law, T>eut. 
 ■ xvii. 16. which ex jprefly forbad their King to fetch 
 Horjes out of Egypt, or ftrengthen himfelf with the 
 Alliance of that People. 
 Ver. 16. Ver. 16. In the midft of 'Babylon he flmll die.] 
 Whither he fhall be carried Prifoner. See Chapter 
 xii. 1 3. 
 Ver. 17. Ver. 17. Neither fhall Tharaoh with his mighty 
 nArmy make for him.] See Jer. xxxvii. 7. < 
 
 Ibid. "By € aft big up Mounts J] See Je r. xxxii. 14. 
 Ver. 18. Ver. 18. Whenlo he hath given his Land.'] In 
 token of entring into a mutual League and Cove- 
 nant, See Ifa.xli. i$. Particularly it was a Cere- 
 mony ufed when an Inferior made Profeflion of his 
 Subjection to his Superior 3 See Jerem. 1. 1 5. Lam. 
 v. 6. 1 Chron. xxix. 24. where we read that the 
 Tr bices and mighty Menfulmitted themfelves to So* 
 lomon the King : but in the Original, it is, They 
 gave the Hand under Solomon. . 
 Yffti 20. Ver. 20. eAnd I will fpreadmy Net upon him.'] 
 See Chap. xii. 1 $. 
 
 Ibid. oAnd will fie ad with him therefor his Tref- 
 pafs.] God is faid to plead with Men, when he 
 places their Sins before their Eyes, and convinces 
 them of their Difobedience by manifeft Tokens of 
 his Vengeance. See Chap. xx. 36. xxxviii. 22. 
 Ver. 21. Ver. 21. <*And all his Fugitives with all his 
 "Bands fiall fall by the Sword.] See Chap. xii. 14. 
 Ver. 22. Ver. 22. / will alfo take of the highefi 'Branch of 
 the high Cedar > and will fet it.] The Prophet 
 
 purfuing
 
 upon EZEKIEh. 127 
 
 purfuing the fame Metaphor, foretels the Reftora- Chapter 
 tion of the Royal Family ofDavidy in fuch Terms XVII. 
 as mi^htin fome Degree be fulfilled at the Return L/~\T\) 
 from the Captivity, when Xorobdbel of the Line- 
 age of David had a Shadow of Kingly Authority 
 among the Jews, and by his Means their Church 
 and Conftitution was again reftored. But the 
 , Words do more properly belong to Chrift and his 
 Kingdom, which fhall be extended over all the 
 World. 
 
 Ibid. / will crop off from the young Twigs a ten- 
 der one.] This Defcnption may fitly be applied to 
 our Saviour, in refpecT: to the low Eftate to which 
 the Family o£T)avidwas then reduced, with great 
 Humility acknowledged by his Mother, Luke i. 48.. 
 Themeannefs of his outward Condition and Ap- 
 pearance is reprefented by the Prophet Ijaiah, under 
 the fame Expreflions, Chap liii. 2. 
 
 Ver. 23. In the Mount of the height oflprael w/7/Ver. 2?^ 
 1 plant it.'] The Temple flood upon Mount Mori- 
 ah, 2 Chron. iii. 1. thence ityled G^d's Hoi) Moun- 
 tain : which Expreffion is often uled in the Pro- 
 phets to denote the Chriftian Church: which is 
 defcrihed as a City jet on an H?H, and contpi :uous 
 to all the World See Chap. xx. 40. and the Note 
 upon Ijd. ii. 2* 
 
 Ibid. e.4nd it ([jail hrbtg forth *Boughi and hear 
 Fruit."] The living Members of the Church are 
 compared to fruitful Ttees, a*~d flourishing Bran- 
 ches: See Job. xv. 5, 8. Vjal. 1.3 xz'v. 2. 
 
 Ibid. aAnd under it fbnll dwell all towl of every 
 Wing.~] i. e. Of every Kind. A powerfu', dpeci- 
 ally if it be an eafy Gov xqment, is a Sncltrr and 
 Security to all its Subjects. Comp.Chap. xxxi. 6. 
 
 'Dan,
 
 128 
 
 A Commentary 
 
 Chapter 'Dan. iv. 12. Such {hall be the Kingdom of Chrift 
 XVII. to all that fubmit themfelves to his Laws. 
 t^V^O 1 Ver. 24. <A?id all the Trees of the Field flail 
 Ver. 24. 'know that I the Lord have brought down the 
 hJghTree y have exalted the lowTree, 8rc.H Chrift's 
 Kingdom fhall by degrees exalt it felf above all the 
 Kingdoms of the World : and fhall at length put 
 an end to them, and it felf continue unto all Eter- 
 nity. See Dan.iv. 35,44. vii. 27. Luke i. 33. 
 1 Cor. xv. 24. 
 
 Ibid. I the Lord have Spoken it, and have done 
 itr\ The Prophets often (peak of Future Events as 
 if they were already accomplifhed, to allure us that 
 they fhall certainly come to pals. See the Note 
 upon Ifa. xxi. 9. 
 
 CHAP.
 
 upon EZEKIEL. 
 
 129 
 
 CHAP. XVIII. 
 
 The Argument. 
 
 The Calamities which ufiered in and attended the 
 Captivity of the Jews, were exprefly threatned as 
 Tunijhments of the Idolatries and other Sins of 
 their oAnceftors : See Jerem. xv, 4. This made 
 the Jews of the prefent oAge complain of God's 
 dealing hardly with them in punifring them for 
 the Sins of their forefathers. This Chapter con- 
 tains an eAnfwer to the Objection, importing 
 that even under their Captivity they jfjould find 
 their Condition 'Better or Worfe, according as 
 they behaved themselves : and withal laying be- 
 fore them God's Eternal Rules of Jufiice, with 
 Regard to the Rewards and Tunifiments of the 
 next Life, when he will Judge every Man ac- 
 cording to his Works, and every Man fhall 
 bear his own Burden. 
 
 Chapter 
 XVIII. 
 
 Ver. 2.
 
 130 
 
 Chapter 
 XVIII. 
 
 Yen 2. 
 
 Yetvj. 
 
 A Commentary 
 
 Ver. 2. 1\HgA T mean ye that ye ufe 
 
 this Troverb concerning the 
 Land of lfrael?~\ With re- 
 fpeft to the Defolations made 
 in it by Sword, Famine and 
 Peftilence. See Chap. vi. 2, 
 3, he. vii. 2. 
 
 Ibid. The Fathers have eaten fower Graces , and 
 the Childress Teeth are fet on Edge J] i. e. The 
 prefent Generation is punifhed for the Offences 
 committed by their Forefathers, particularly for 
 the Sins committed in the time of Manaffeh King 
 of Judah : See Jerem. xv. 4. xxxi, 29. Lament, v. 
 7. 2 Kjngs xxiii. 26. This Proverb had likewife a 
 profane Senfe implied in it, and infinuated that the 
 prefent Age was not remarkably worfe than thofe 
 that had gone before it, and fo did not deferve to 
 be made an extraordinary Example of God's Ven- 
 geance. 
 
 Ver. 3. qAs I live, faith the Lord, ye {hall not 
 have occafion to tije this Troverb any more in If- 
 raelJ] I will make fuch 'avifible Difcrimination 
 between the Righteous and th* Wicked, between 
 thofe that tread in the Steps of their Forefathers, 
 and thofe who take warning by their Examples, 
 that you fhall not have any farther Occafion to ufe 
 this Proverb among you. God expreQy threatens 
 to Vifit the Sins of the Fathers ufon -the Childre?i 
 both in the Old and New Teftarnent ; See Exod. 
 xx. 5. Matth. xxiii. 35. But this is to be underftood 
 only with refpect to the temporal Punifhments of 
 this World, (and thefe he doth not always inflict in 
 an exact Proportion to the Demerits of thofe that 
 
 fuf-
 
 upon EZEKIELl 131 
 
 fuffer) not with refpe£r, to the Eternal Punifh- Chapter 
 
 ments of the next. See Bifhop Sanderfon's Third XVIII. 
 
 Sermon upon i Kjngs xxi. 29. " The Scripture l/VNJ 
 
 " takes notice of a certain Meafure of Iniquity, 
 
 " which is filling up from one Generation to ano- 
 
 " ther, 'till at laft it makes a Nation or Family 
 
 u ripe for Deftru&ion. And altho' thofe Perfons 
 
 " on whom this Vengeance falls, fuffer no more 
 
 " than their own Perfonal Sins deferved ; yet be- 
 
 " caufe the Sins of former Generations which they 
 
 " equal or out-do, make it time for God utterly to 
 
 " deftroy them, the Punifhments due to the Sins of 
 
 " many Ages and Generations are faid to fall upon 
 
 " them. See Matth. xxiii. 35, 56. Dr. Sherlock of 
 
 " Providence, Chap. 8. 
 
 Ver. 4. "Behold all Souls are mine,"] As they are Ver. 4. 
 all equally my Creatures, fo my Dealings with 
 them fhall be without Prejudice or Partiality. 
 
 Ibid. The Soul that fmneth, it fiall die. .3 Death 
 is the Wages of Sin, and all Men being Sinners, 
 the Sentence of Temporal Death paffes equally up- 
 on them all. But as Life fignifies in general all 
 that Happinefs which attends God's Favour, fo 
 Death denotes all thofe Punifhments which are the 
 Effe&s of the Divine Difpleafure. See 2 Sam. xli. 
 1 3. under which are comprehended the Miferies of 
 the next World ; and thefe fhall be allotted to Men 
 according to their Deferts, without any regard to 
 the Faults of their Anceftors, which fhall not then 
 be laid to their Charge, or taken into Account to 
 aggravate their Guilt. 
 
 As the Prophets inftruct: Men in the Practice of 
 Inward and Evangelical Righteoufnefs, and in or- 
 der to it fpeak flightingly of the meer External Du- 
 
 S 2 ties
 
 132 ^Commentary 
 
 Chapter ties of Religion : SceJfa. i. 11, &-c. Jer. vif. 22, 2£. 
 
 XVIII. To they raife Men's Minds to look beyond the Tem- 
 
 tyVNJ poral Promifes and Threatnings of the Law, to the 
 Eternal Rewards and Punifhments of another Life : 
 See Ifa. lxvi. 24. 'Dan. xii. 2. In both which Re- 
 flects they prepared Mens Minds for the Recepti- 
 on of the Gofpel, when it fhould be Revealed. 
 
 Ver. 6. Ver. 6. <*And hath not eaten upon the Moun- 
 
 tains.'] Idolatrous Worfhip was commonly perfor- 
 med upon Mountains or High Places : See Chap. 
 vi. 1$. xvi. 16, 24. xx. 28. and eating part of the 
 Sacrifice was properly maintaining Communion 
 with the Idol to whom it was offered. See Exod. 
 xxxiv. 15. 1 Cor. x. 20, 21. 
 
 Ibid. Neither hath lift up his Eyes 'to the Idols 
 of the Hottfe of IfraelJ] Lifting up the Eyes is a 
 Pofture of Religious Worfhip or Adoration : See 
 'Deut.lv. 19. Tfal. cxxi. 1. cxxiii. 1. 
 
 Ver. 7. Ver. 7. Hath refioredto the Debtor his Tledge.] 
 
 God commanded the Jews not to detain any Pledge 
 they took from a poor Man all Night : which was 
 in effect to enjoyn them to lend to the Poor with- 
 out either Pawn or Ufury. See Exod. xxii. 25, 26. 
 'Deut.xxiv. 12, 15. 
 
 Ver. 8, Ver. 8. He that hath not given ufon Ufury, nei- 
 
 ther hath taken any increafe.~\ Ufury when it is 
 exacted from the Poor, hath bin generally cried out 
 upon as no better than Oppreflion : and is particu- 
 larly forbidden by the Law : See Exod. xxii. 1 5. 
 Levit. xxv. 3 5, 36. Nehem. v. 1 — 7. Jerem. xv. 10. 
 It is probable that this fort of Ufury is chiefly 
 here meant, becaufe it is joined with Oppreflion, 
 Violence, and want of Charity. 
 
 Ver.
 
 uponEZEKIEL. 133 
 
 Ver. 9. He Jhall furely live.'} See the Note on Chapter 
 Chap. xx. 11. XVII L 
 
 Ver. 13. His 'Blood (I) all be ufon him.} His De- iy"V^J 
 ftruction is owing wholly to himfelf. See Chap. Ver. 9. 
 xxxiii. 4. Ver. ij. 
 
 Ver. 1 9. Tet fay ye, why ? doth not the Son bear Ver. 1 9. 
 the Iniquity of the father ?] The Jews ftill appeal- 
 ed to their own Experience, as the Ground of their 
 Complaint mentioned Ver. 2. 
 
 Ibid. When the Son hath done that which is law- 
 ful and right,- — he fiall furely live.} In like man- 
 ner if ye had forfaken your Fathers Sins, you might 
 have efcaped thofe Judgments I denounced againfl: 
 your Fathers : See the Note upon Jerem. xvii. 25. 
 But fince ye have continued in their Abominations, 
 the Punifhments due to them juftly come upon you. 
 
 Ver. 20. The Soul that finneth, it (I) all die.} See Ver. 20. 
 the Notes upon Ver. 3,4. 
 
 Ver. 22. They fjjall not be mentio?iedto him.~] Or, Ver, 22. 
 Remembred againfl him : God is faid in Scripture 
 to remember Men's Sins, when he punifhes them : 
 See Jer. xiv. 10. Hof viii. 1 3. and to forget them 
 when he pardons them : oAmos viii. 7. Jeremiah 
 xxxi. 34. 
 
 Ver. 2 ?. Have I any fleafure at all that the Wic~ Ver. 23. 
 kedjhould die, &c] In conformity to this Doctrine 
 the New Teftament inftrtidts us, that God would 
 have all Men to be Javed, and is not willing that 
 any (J)oul(l perijh, 1 Tim. ii. 4. zTet. iii. 9. 
 
 Ver. 24. oAll his Right eoufnefs that he hath done Ver. 24. 
 Jhall not be mentioned.} For better had it been for 
 him not to have known the way of Right eoufnefs, 
 than after he hath known it, to turn afide from the 
 holy Commandment > 2 Pet, ii. 21. Such a one fins 
 
 againft
 
 134 ^Commentary 
 
 Chapter againft a clearer Light and greater Convictions, 
 XVXIL and withal is guilty of the higheft Ingratitude in 
 
 C/VNJ doing defpite unto the Spirit of Grace. 
 
 Ver. 25. Ver. 25. Tet ye fay, The way of the Lord is not 
 equal, &c] The Declarations I have fo often re- 
 peated concerning the eternal Rewards and Pu- 
 nifhments allotted to the Righteous and the Wick- 
 ed, are fufficient to vindicate the Juftice of my 
 Proceedings, againft all your Objections. 
 
 Ver.26,27 Ver. 26, 27. When a righteous Man turneth 
 away from his Right eoufnefs, &c.] It is an Opini- 
 on that prevails among the Jews even till this Day, 
 that at the Day of Judgment a confiderable Num- 
 ber of good AQions (hall overballance Men's evil 
 ones. See Chap, xxxiii. 13. So they thought it a 
 hard Cafe for a Man who had been Righteous the 
 far greateft part of his Life, if he did at laft com- 
 mit Iniquity, that his former Righteoufnefs fhould 
 avail him nothing. In oppofition to this Do&rine, 
 God here declares, that a righteous Man finning, 
 and not repenting, fhould die in his Sins ; and that 
 a wicked Man upon his Repentance fhould fave 
 his Soul alive. 
 
 Ver. 70. Ver. $0. Therefore I will judge you, Houfe of 
 Ifrael, every one according to his Ways.~] You com- 
 plain of the Injuftice of my Ways, or Proceedings ; 
 but if I judge you- according to the Defert of your 
 Ways, you will certainly be all found guilty : and 
 nothing but Repentance and true Contrition can 
 avert that Ruin your Sins threaten you with. 
 
 Ver. 21. Ver. 3 1 . oAnd make you a new Heart and a new 
 Sprit. ~\ The Prophets often exhort the Jews to an 
 inward Purity and Holinefs, thereby to take them 
 off from relying upon an outward legal Righteouf- 
 nefs,
 
 upon EZEKIEL. 135 
 
 nefs, and an Exa&nefs in the Obfervance of the Chapter 
 ritual Parts of the Law : See the Note upon Ver. XVIII. 
 4. By thus in (trusting them in a more excellent L/^V^J 
 way of ferving God, than the Ceremonial Law did 
 direclly prefcribe, they prepared their Minds for 
 receiving thofe Truths which the Gofpel would 
 more fully difcover. God promifes Chap, xxxvi. 
 26. to give them a new Heart, and to put within 
 them a new Spirit : here he exhorts them to make 
 themfelves a new Heart and a new Spirit. Which 
 difference of Expreffion is thus to be reconciled, 
 that altho' God works in us to will and to do, and 
 is the firft Mover in pur Regeneration, yet we 
 muft work together with his Grace, at leart wil- 
 lingly receive it, and not quench or reftft its Motir 
 ons. See the Note upon Jer. xxxi. 18. 
 
 [ 
 
 CHAP. 

 
 i%6 
 
 A Commentary 
 
 C ^r CHAP. XIX. 
 
 ""^ TheARGUMENT. 
 
 Under the Tar able of a Lion's Whelps, the Trophet 
 defcribes the fad Cataftrophe of the two Kjngs of 
 Judah, Jehoahaz and Jehoiakim : and under the 
 figure of a Vi?ie he reprefents the TDefolation 
 and Captivity of the whole Teople. 
 
 Ver. i. Ver. i. ili||liiilll|5e / 4^ thou up a Lamentation 
 
 ffi f or the Trinces of Ifrael."] 
 The Expreflion alludes to 
 the mournful Ditties ufed at 
 Funerals : Compare Chap. 
 xxvi. 17. xxvii. 2. Such a 
 Lamentation the Prophet is directed to apply to the 
 mournful Eftate of the Royal Family of Judah : 
 particularly with refpect to Jehoahaz and Jehoi- 
 akim. 
 Ver. 2. Ver. 2. What is thy Mother . ? ] The Prophet pro- 
 
 pofes a Queftion that may be applied to each Prince 
 diftindly. 
 
 Ibid. What is thy Mother ? a Lionefs, 8cc] The 
 Land of Judea thy native Country, See Ver. 1 o. 
 
 is
 
 upon EZEKIEL. 137 
 
 is become cruel and bloody, compare Tfal. xxxiv. Chapter 
 10. Nahum ii. u, 12. and harh taught her Princes XIX. 
 and Rulers to govern by Cruelty and Oppreflion. Ly^\^\J 
 See Chap. vii. 23. xxii. 27. Jerem. xxif. 17. Zeph. 
 iii. }. 
 
 Ver. 3. She brought up one of her Whelps, ity eVm ? , 
 became a young Lion.~] Compare Ver. 6. This is 
 meant of Jehoahaz, who followed not the good 
 Example of his Father Jofiah, but the evil Practices 
 of the wicked Kings his PredecefTors. See 2 Kjngs 
 xxiii. 32. 
 
 Ver. 4. The Nations aJfo heard of him, &x\] Ver. 4. 
 Tharaoh Necoh King of Eg^tf hearing his ill Cha- 
 racter, depofed him, and made him a Prifoner : 
 See 2 Kjngs xxiii. 3$. 2 Chron. xxxvi. 4. 
 
 Ibid, .fife wtf.f ?<z£f» in their TitJ] The Ex- 
 preiTion alludes to thofe Pit-falls and Snares which 
 are made to take wild Beafts. 
 
 Ver. 5. Then {he took another of her Whelp s.~\ Ver. 5. 
 Jehoiakim was fet up King in his Brother's Stead 
 by the King of Egypt, who by his Victory over 
 Jo/iah had made himfelf Matter ofjudea : 2 Kjngs 
 xxiii. 33, 34. But yet Tharaoh feems to have 
 done this by the joint Confent of the People, who 
 had before fet upjehoi aki w's younger Brother with- 
 out asking the King of Egypt's Confent. 
 
 Ver. 6. He went up and down among the Lions, Ver. 6. 
 &c.] He learned and pra&ifed all the Methods of 
 Tyranny and Oppreflion : See Jerem. xxii. ij-17. 
 xxxvii. 2. 
 
 Ver. 7. oAnd he knew their defolate TIaces.'] 
 Or, He knew their Talaces, as the Word aArmenoth 
 is tranflated, oAmos i. 7. And the Word oAlme- 
 noth here ufed is equivalent to oArmenoth. See 
 
 T Ifa.
 
 138 A Commentary 
 
 Chapter Ifa. xiii. 22. Jehoiahm made himfelf Matter of the 
 XIX. Riches and pleafant Seats of the Great Men of the 
 1>*V\J Land. 
 
 Ver. 8, 9. Ver. 8, 9. Then the Nations fet againft him on 
 every fide ', Sec] The Chaldeans, and their Neigh- 
 bours and Allies invaded Judea, and afteward be- 
 fieged Jerufalem, and took Jehoiahm Prifbner : 
 See 2 Kjngs xxiv. 2. 2 Chron. xxxvi. 6. 
 
 Ibid. <&/lnd fpread their Net over him, he was 
 taken in their Pit.] See Ver. 4. and Comp. Chap, 
 xii. 13. 
 
 Ver. 9. Ver. 9. That his Voice fijould no more he heard 
 
 upon the Mountains oflfrael.] The Words allude 
 to a Lion's feeking his Prey upon the Mountains. 
 Ezehel often exprefles the Land oflfrael, by the 
 Mountains of Jfraeh See the Note upon Chapter 
 vi. 2. 
 
 Ver. 10. Ver. 10. Thy Mother is like a Vine in thy 'Blood, 
 &c] The Country ofjudea from whence the Roy- 
 al Family have their Original, was like a fruitful 
 Vine in a very flourifhing Condition. See Chap, 
 xvii. 5, 6. 
 
 Ver. 11. Ver. 11. cAnd Jbe hadftrong Rods for the Scep- 
 ters of them that hare Rule.] From her fprung So- 
 vereign Princes, who were themfelves very power- 
 ful, and made their People appear confiderable 
 among their Neighbours. A Rod or Scepter is an 
 Emblem of Authority. See lfa. ix. 4. x. 5. Je- 
 rem.xlviii. 17. 
 
 Ibid. Her Stature was exalted among the thick 
 'Branches.'] Compare Chap. xxxi. 3. Dan. iv. 11. 
 
 Ver. 12. Ver. 12. 'But fie was plucked up in Fury.'] God 
 in his Anger removed her out of her Land : Com- 
 pare Jer. xii. 14. TjaL iii. 5. 
 
 Ibid.
 
 upon EZEKIEL. igp 
 
 Ibid. The Eafi Wind dried u£ her Fruit.'] See Chapter 
 Chap. xvii. 10. XIX. 
 
 Ibid. Her jlrong Rods were Iroken and wither- L/^v^NJ 
 ed.~] Her Kings and Princes were fubdued and 
 made Captives. 
 
 Ibid. The Fire consumed them.] God's Anger 
 deftroyed them, as Fire confumeth the Branches of 
 a Tree when it is withered. See Chap. xv. 4. God's 
 Wrath is often compared to Fire. See Chap. xxx. 8. 
 
 Ver. 13. (And now fie is planted in the Wilder- y er# I? . 
 nefs, in a dry and thirfty Land.] A great Part of 
 her People are carried Captive, where their Con- 
 dition is as much different from what it was for- 
 merly, as the Condition of a Tree is when it is 
 removed out of a rich Soil into a dry and barren 
 Ground. The Jews fuffered feveral Captivities be- 
 fore that Final one which ended in the Deftruction 
 of their Temple and Government. See T)an. i. ?. 
 2 Kings xxiv. 12. Jer. lii. 28. 
 
 Ver. 14. aAndFire is gone out of a Rod 0/ for Ver. 24J 
 branches, which hath devoured her Fruit, &C.] 
 ZsdehaWs breaking his Oath of Fealty to the King 
 of "Babylon, hath been the Occafion of the utter 
 Deftru&ion of the Royal Family, and the entire 
 Ruin of the Government. See Chap. xvii. 18, 19. 
 2 KJngs xxiv. 20. 
 
 Ibid. This is a Lamentation, ayd JI;alI be for a 
 Lamentation.] This is Matter of prefent Lamen- 
 tation, and fhall be fo to after Times. 
 
 CHAP.
 
 140 
 
 A Commentary 
 
 4? +* * * ^ .> 4^4- 4* ij> *• ♦ * * #►* 4- * *;*• #■♦♦##■♦# 
 
 Chapter 
 XX. 
 
 :. 1. 
 
 Ver. 5. 
 
 Ver. 4. 
 
 ********* v****-*--*-***-**--**-*-***'* 
 
 CHAP. XX. 
 
 The Argument. 
 
 This Chapter contains a Rehearfal of the Rebellions 
 and Idolatries of the Jews from their going out 
 ©/Egypt to that very 'Day. The Trophet after- 
 wards foretels their Converfion and Reftaura- 
 tion. The laft Five Verfes contain a Trophecy 
 againft Jerufalem. 
 
 Ver. 1. igfeagg^ggsa l NT> it came to fafs in the fe- 
 venth Tear, &c.] Ofjehoiakirfs 
 Captivity : Compare Chap. 1. 
 2. viii. 1. All the Prophecies 
 recorded from the Eighth Chap- 
 ter to this, probably belong to the fixth Year of that 
 Captivity. 
 
 Ibid. Certain of the Elders of Ifraelcame to en- 
 quire of the Lord, 8cc] See the Note on Chap, 
 viii. 1. 
 
 Ver. $. / will not he enquired of by you.'] You 
 {hall not receive fuch an Anfwer as you ex peel, 
 but fuch as your Hypocrify deferves. See Ver. 31. 
 and Chap. xiv. j, 4. 
 
 Ver. 4. Wilt thou judge them ?~\ Wilt thou flead 
 for them as our Margin reads, or defend their 
 
 Caufe ?
 
 upon EZEKIEL. 141 
 
 Caufe? But the Words may perhaps be more fig- Chapter 
 nificantly tranflated, Wilt thou not judge them ? XX. 
 it e. Wilt thou not reprove, or condemn them ? i/*WJ 
 Noldiw obferves in his Concordance, p. 2}}. that 
 He the Particle of Interrogation, which anfwers 
 the Latin Particle &4n? is often equivalent to the 
 Negative oAmmi, and is to be tranflated, h it not ? 
 See Ver. 30. of this Chapter, and Chap, xxxviii. 
 17. In which Senfe it is underftood by our Tran- 
 slators, 2 Sam. xxiii. 17. and fo it fhould be ren- 
 dred 1 Sam. ii. 27. "Did I not -plainly appear to the 
 Houfeofthy Father, &c. 
 
 Ibid. Son of Man. ,] See Chap. ii. 1. 
 
 Ver. 5. In the 'Day when I lifted up my HandVew 5, 
 to the Seed of the Houfe ofJacob.~\ When I entred 
 into a iblemn Covenant with them, purfuant to the 
 Oath which I had fvvorn to their Fathers : See 
 Exod. vi. 8. Lifting up the Hand was a Ceremony 
 ufed in taking an. Oath., See Gen. xiv. 22.. and 
 thereupon applied to* God himfelf, 1)eut. xxxii. 4.0. 
 The fame ExpreflTion is ufed Ver. 6, 15, 2^, 42. of 
 this Chapter. The fame Ceremony in taking an 
 Oath, is mentioned by Homer, iv^Jo ^aitLv^ v . 
 
 Ibid. oAnd made my felf known unto them.'\ By 
 appearing unto Mofes, and fhewing my felf prefent 
 among them by the Wonders I Wrought for their 
 Deliverance. 
 
 Ibid. Saying, I am the Lord your God.~] I am 
 the God whom you ought to ferve, and none elfe. 
 See Exod. xx. 2, 3. 
 
 Ver. 6. Into a Land which I had efpied for Ver. 6. 
 them.'] I performed the Office of a Spy, before 
 thofe that were fent to fearch out the Land, Numb. 
 xiii. 16. and chofe it out of all others to beftow it 
 
 upon
 
 142 A Commentary 
 
 Chapter upon them. So £od h fa id to go before them to 
 XX. fearch out a place to fitch their Tents in] Deut. 
 L/VNJ i. 3$. Numb, x. 33. The E \preflions in both Pla- 
 ces import, that every Step the People took till 
 their Settlement in the Land of Canaan, was 
 under the immediate Care and Conduct of Provi- 
 dence. 
 
 Ibid. Flowing with Milk and Honey, which is 
 the Glory of all Lands. ~] Judea is often called a 
 Land Flowing with Milk and Honey, both upon 
 Account of its own Fruitfulnefs, the Seed fown 
 frequently bringing forth an Hundred Fold : See 
 Gen. xxvi. 12. Matth. xiii. 8. and alfo from God's 
 particular Blefling upon it : See Deut. xi. 12. The 
 great Numbers of Inhabitants which it nourifhed 
 is an evident Proof of its Fertility. See the Note 
 on Jerem. xxxiii. 22. It might juftly be called the 
 Glory of all Lands becaufe it was the Place of God's 
 efpecial Refidence. See *P/#/. xlviii. 2. "Dan. xi. 
 16,41,45. 
 Ver. 7. Ver. 7. Caftye away every Man the (Abominati- 
 
 ons of his Eyes.'] Lift not up your Eyes to Idols : 
 See Chap, xviii. 6. One of the chief Allurements 
 to the Worfhip of Images is, that by way of In- 
 dulgence to Men's Imaginations, they exhibit a 
 vifible Object of Adoration. This was what the 
 Israelites were fo fond of when they faid to oAaron, 
 Make us Gods to go before us,Exod. xxxii. 1. 
 
 Ibid. c/Lnd defile not your [elves with the Idols of 
 Egypt.] The Ifraelites, while they dwelt in Egypt 9 
 learned the Idolatries of that Couhtrey. See Chap, 
 xxiii. $, 8. Levit.xvii.j. xviii. 3. Deut. xxix. 16. 
 S^.xxiv. 14. Some Learned Men fuppofe that 
 
 the
 
 upon EZEKIEL. 143 
 
 the Golden Calfwte copied from the Egyptian Tdo- Chapter 
 latry : See Selden de Diis Syris, Syntagm. I. i.e. 4. XX. 
 
 Ver. 8. Then Ifaid, I will four out my fury up- U^VNJ 
 on them,— --in the midft of the Land of Egypt.'] SuchA er, 8- 
 a Threatning as this, is no where recorded in 
 Scripture, no more than that which follows Ver. 
 23. of this Chapter. Without Queftion God might 
 have juftly cut them off in Egypt, for the Idolatries 
 and other Sins they had there committed, and ne- 
 ver exerted his Power for their Deliverance. 
 
 Ver. 9. 'But I wrought for my Name^sfake, that Ver. 9. 
 itflwuld not he polluted, &c] This is el fe where af. 
 figned as the Reafon why God did not punifli the 
 Ifraelites according' to their Deferts : viz. Becaufe 
 it would turn to God's Dishonour in the Judgment 
 of the Heathen World, as if he were not able to 
 make good thofe gracious Promifes he had given 
 them. See Chap, xxxvi. 21, 22. Exod. xxxii. 12. 
 Numb. xiv. j}, &:c. Deut. ix. 28. This was a pro- 
 per Consideration to check the vain Preemption of 
 the Jews, who imagined that God's gracious Deal- 
 ings with them were owing to their own Deferts. 
 See Ver. 44. of this Chapter, and Chap, xxxvi. 22. 
 
 Ver. 11. oAnd I gave them my Statutes.'] A Fa- Ver. 11. 
 vour not afforded to other Nations : See l Deut. iv. 
 8. Tfal. cxlvii. 20. Such a Treafure as David 
 prizes above Thoufands of Gold and Silver .« Tfal. 
 cxix. 72. 
 
 Ibid. Which if a Man do, he fhall even live in 
 them.] By Life is meant in the Old Teitament all 
 that Happinefs which is contained in the Literal 
 Senfe of the Promifes belonging to that Covenant : 
 Comp.Ver. 25. and T>eut.xxx. 15, &c. TfalAxix. 
 3 2. o/Lmos v. 4. Under thefe were Myftically com- 
 prehended
 
 144 ^Commentary 
 
 Chapter prehended the Promifes of a Better Life, wherein 
 
 XX. God will beftow upon his Servants the peculiar 
 L/"V~\J Marks of his Favour. See TfaJ. xvi. n. Thefe 
 Promifes were made over to the Jews upon Condi- 
 tion of their punclual Obedience to the whole Law : 
 Levit.xviiu 5. xxvi. 3,&c. Deut. xxvii.26. Andfe- 
 veral Perfons under that Difpenfation are ftyled 
 Blamelefs by reafon of the Sincerity of their Obedi- 
 ence,tho' it was not Perfect or Un finning : See Luke 
 i.6.Thilip.ui.6. But if we underftand the fore- 
 mentioned Condition in its rigorous Senfe, as im- 
 plying an Exact and Unfinning Obedience, and as 
 the Word Life contains thePromife of Eternal Life 
 under it : which Promife the Jews expected and 
 hoped to obtain : See Matth. xix. 16, 17. oAft. 
 xxvi. 6, 7. I fay the Condition of the Old Cove- 
 nant thus expounded^ as it was impoffible to be 
 performed, fo no Perfon could lay claim to Eternal 
 Life by Virtue of any Promife therein contained. 
 From whence St. Taul infers the Neceflity of feek- 
 ing to Chrift, and laying hold of the Promifes of his 
 Gofpel for the obtaining Juftification and Eternal 
 Life : Gal. in. 12, 11. 
 Ver. 12. Ver. 12. Moreover I gave them my Sabbaths, to 
 be a Sign between me and them, &c] The fetting 
 apart the Seventh Day for God's Worfhip, was a 
 Sign of his fetting apart the Jews to be his peculiar 
 People, andtheWorfhippers of the true God, who 
 in Six Days made Heaven and Earth, and refted 
 the feventh Day. See EW.xxxi. 13, 17. Nehem. 
 ix. 14. 
 Ver. 1 3. Ver. 1 }. "But the Hotife of Ifrael rebelled again/1 
 me in the Wilderness. ~\ See Numb. xiv. 22. TfaL 
 
 lxxviii.40. xcv. 8, 9, 10. 
 
 Ibid.
 
 upon EZEKIEL. 145 
 
 Ibid. eAnd my Sabbaths they greatly polluted.'] Chapter 
 Particularly in their going to gather Manna on that XX. 
 day againft my exprefs Command,confirmed by an L/V^O 
 extraordinary Defcent of the Manna on the Day 
 foregoing ; Exod. xvi- 25, &c. 
 
 Ver. 14. "But I wrought for my N&me'sfake 7 &c.] Ver. 14. 
 See Ver. 9. 
 
 Ver. 1 5. Tet alfo I lifted up my Hand to them in Ver. 1 5. 
 the Wildernefs, that I would not bring them into 
 the Land which I had given them,'] I folemnly 
 fwore, (fee Ver. 5.) they fhould not enter into that 
 Reft which I .had defigned for them. See Numb, 
 xiv. 28. TfaL xcv. 11. cvi. 26. 
 
 Ver. 1 6. For their Heart went after their Idols J] Ver. 16. 
 They ftill had a hankering after the Idolatries they 
 had learned in Egypt, to which they added new 
 Idols which they had feen in the Countries thro' 
 which they traveled, viz. the Idols of the Midian- 
 ites, oAmorites, &c. See Numb, xv. 39. xxv. 2. 
 *Deut. xxix. 16, 17. oAmos v. 25, 26. Compared 
 with qABs vii. 42. 
 
 Ver. 17. Neverthelefs mine Eyes fpared them,Nzv» 17. 
 &c] See Pfal, lxxviii. 38. 
 
 Ver. 18. *But I [aid unto their Children in the Vev. iS, 
 Wildemefs, Walk ye not in the Statutes of your Fa- 
 thers, 8cc] This refers to the many Pathetical Ex- 
 hortations contained in the Book of Deuteronomy, 
 particularly thofe in xxix, xxx, xxxi, and xxxii, 
 Chapters, which were uttered after that rebellious 
 Generation were all confumed, according as God 
 had threatned them : (See Numb. xiv. 32, 33. xxvi. 
 64,65.) and were defigned as Warnings to fuc- 
 ceeding Generations. See 7)eut, xxxi. 16—21. 
 
 U Ver,
 
 i^\.6 ^Commentary 
 
 Chapter Ver. 21. Notwithft anting the Children reheJIed 
 XX. againft me.~\ See Numb. xxi. 5. xxv. 2. Dent. ix. 
 
 C/%*"\J 24. xxi*. 18, 19. xxxi. 27. *P/tf/. Ixxviii. 32. 
 
 Ver. 21. Ibid. 77^ polluted my Sabbaths.'] Profaning 
 the Sabbath and committing Idolatry are often 
 joined together : See Ver. 16, 24. Chap. xxii. 8, 9. 
 xxiii. 37,38. 1 Maccab. i. 45. one great End of 
 inttituting the Sabbath being topreferve the Jews 
 from falling into Idolatry. See Ver. 12. 
 
 Ibid. Then I [aid, I will four out my Fury upon 
 them, &c] God did punifh the Pofterity of that 
 rebellious Generation very feverely for their Sins, 
 particularly for their Idolatry aud Fornication in 
 the matter of Teor, Numb. xxv. 5, 9. 
 
 Ver. 23. Ver. 23. I lifted up my Hand unto them alfo in 
 the Wildernefs, that I would fcatter them among 
 the Heathen, &:c] St. Jerom obferves upon the 
 place, that we do not read of any particular Threat- 
 ning denounced againft the Children of that rebel- 
 lious Generation. But the Words may relate to 
 thofe general Denunciations againft their Difobe- 
 dience which we find recorded Levit. xxvi. Deut. 
 xxviii, xxix. 20, &c, xxxi. 17. xxxii. 22, &c. 
 
 Ver. 2 <. Ver. 2 5. Wherefore I gave them alfo Statutes that 
 were not good, &c] This fome underftand of the 
 Ceremonial Law, as if it were given purely to 
 be a Check and Reftraint to that perverfe People, 
 confifting of numerous Rites and Obfervances, ma- 
 ny of which had no intrinfick Goodnefs in them. 
 But I conceive the Statutes here fpoken of, to be of 
 a different Nature from thofe mentioned Ver. 11. 
 becaufe they have a quite contrary Character gi- 
 ven them ; therefore I take the Words to import, 
 that God in a juft Judgment for their Difobedience 
 
 to
 
 upon EZEKIEL. 147 
 
 to his own Laws, gave them up to a reprobate Chapter 
 Mind, and fufFered them to walk after the idola- XX. 
 trous and impious Cuftoms of the Heathens round L/^NJ 
 about them. And whereas by obeying the Laws 
 and Ordinances which he had given them, they 
 might have lived happily, Ver. n. they became 
 Slaves to the vile and cruel Practices of the Hea- 
 then Idolatries, fo as to offer up their very Chil- 
 dren in Sacrifice to Idols, to the utter Deft ru c~t ion 
 of themfelves and their Pofterity, Ver. 16. This 
 will appear to be the Senfe of the Text, if we com- 
 pare it with Ver. 39. and with Dent. iv. 28. xxviii. 
 36. Jerem. xvi 1$. in which Texts God threatens 
 them as a Punifliment for their Neglect of his 
 Worfhip, to difperfe them into the Heathen Coun- 
 tries, and thereby deprive them of an Opportuni- 
 ty of ferving him in Publick, and expofe them to 
 the Peril of being feduced to Tdols. Juft as David 
 complains to Saul of the Hardfhip of his Exile, that 
 it did lay him open to the Temptation of ferving 
 the Heathen Gods, 1 Sam, xxvi. 19. 
 
 Ver. 26. &4nd I polluted them in their own Ver. 16. 
 Gifts.'] I fufTered them to pollute themfelves (fo 
 the Form Hiphil is elfewhere nfed in the Senfe of 
 PermirTion : See the Note on Ifa. Ixiii. 17.) in thofe 
 very Gifts which by the Law they were to dedi- 
 cate to my Service. See Ver. 31. and Chap. xvi. 
 20, 21. 
 
 Ibid. In that they caufed to fafs thro"* the Fire all 
 that opens the Womh."] In offering their Firftborn 
 Sons in Sacrifice to Moloch: the Expreffion of 
 faffing thro"* the Fire, is explained in the Note upon 
 jte/ftw. xxxii. 35. 
 
 U 2 Ibid.
 
 148 
 
 A Commentary 
 
 Chapter Ibid. That I might make them de folate. ~\ Their , 
 
 XX. Sin brought its own Punifhment along with it, 
 ^/"Y^O deftroying the Hopes of Families, and bringing 
 them to utter Defolation. 
 
 Ibid. To the end that they might know that I 
 am the Lord.] See the Note upon Chap. vi. 7. 
 Ver.27,28 Ver. 27, 28. Tet in this your Fathers have blaf- 
 fhemed me, 8tc] Or, Moreover in this, & c. The 
 Prophet proceeds to fpeak of other Inftances of Ido- 
 latry which their Fathers were guilty of after their 
 Settlement in the Land of Canaan : and in which 
 their Pofterity imitated them. 
 
 Ibid. Then they faw every high Hill and all the 
 thick Trees, &-c] Offering Sacrifice upon Moun- 
 tains or high Places was a piece of Service at firft 
 performed by the Jews to the true God, before 
 the Temple was built : See 1 Kjngs iii. 2. and af- 
 terwards was permitted for that Purpofe by godly 
 Kings who were zealous in putting down all forts 
 of Idolatry : See 1 Kjngs xv. 14. xxii. 43. 2 Chron. 
 xxxiii. 17. But by degrees thofe Places became 
 appropriated to idolatrous Worfhip, and upon that 
 Score are feverely condemned. See Chap. vi. 1 j. 
 xviii. 6. Ifa. Ivii. 5. 2 Kjngs xxiii. 5. 
 
 Ibid. There they frefented the Provocation of 
 their Offering : there alfo they made their fweet 
 Savour .] This is to be underftood of their Meat- 
 offerings, being diftinguifhed from their Sacrifices 
 already mentioned. The Word in the Hebrew is 
 Min-chah, which might more properly be render'd 
 "Bread-offering, as appears by the feveral kinds of 
 it reckoned up Levit. ii. and anfwers to the Mola 
 or Fartum of the Romans. The Meat-offering was 
 particularly ftyled, an Offering of q fweet Savour. 
 
 See
 
 upon EZEKJEL. 149 
 
 See Chap. xvi. 19. but being offered to Idols, it Chapter 
 became abominable, and was turned into a Provo- XX. 
 cation. L/^NJ 
 
 Ver. 29. WHoat is the high place whereunto j^Ver. 29. 
 go, &-c] The Word t Bamah fignifies an Altar as 
 well as an high place : See the Note on Chap. xvi. 
 16. So the Senfefeems to be, What Name is this 
 Altar called by, which you frequent ? meaning, it 
 is likely, the very Altar belonging to the Temple: 
 is it not called ( Bamah at this very time, which 
 "Word properly denotes an high place ? An evident 
 Token that Idolatry is fo much practifed among 
 you, that it hath occafioned the changing the very 
 Names of the Places and Things dedicated to God's 
 Worfhip. So that inftead of the Word Mizbeach, 
 the Name which God appropriated to his own 
 Altar, the place is ufually called IBamah, a Name 
 taken from an idolatrous Cufrom. 
 
 Ver. $o. <*Are ye -polluted after the manner 0/Ver, 30- 
 your Fathers, &C.3 The Reproof would be more 
 vehement if the Words were render'd thus, aAre 
 ye not -polluted after the manner of your Fathers, 
 and do ye not commit Whoredom, &-c] i. e. Do ye 
 not walk in your Fathers Sins and Idolatries? 
 Notwithstanding all the Warnings I have given 
 you, and the (bvere Instances of my Difpleafure 
 againft their Practices, which ought to have terri- 
 fied you from following their ill Example. The 
 Particle of Interrogation often implies a Negative 
 in it, as hath been obferved upon the Fourth Verfe 
 of this Chapter : to which Senfe the Vulgar Latin 
 renders this Verfe, 
 
 Certe in viis fatrum veflrorum ^oUuimifti, &cc, 
 
 Ver.
 
 i$o A Commentary 
 
 Chapter Vcr. 31. For when you offer pur Gifts, &c] 
 XX. See Ver. 16. 
 
 \tS*\~^ Ibid. eAnd pall I be enquired of by you f] See 
 
 Ver. 31. Ver. p 
 
 Ver. 32. i Ver. 32. cAnd that which comes hit your Mind 
 Jhall not be at all, &cj We find by the Scripture 
 Hiftory that the Jews had all along a fond Defire 
 of worfhipping the Gods of their Neighbours, and 
 could not bear that Imputation of Singularity which 
 their peculiar way of Worfhip expofed them to. 
 They thought likewife by this means to live more 
 undifturbedly among the Heathens whither they 
 were led Captive. God tells them here that he will 
 prevent this Purpofe of theirs from taking effecT. 
 And we find from the very time of their Return 
 from the c BabyloniJh Captivity, they have been ve- 
 ry cautious of committing Idolatry, and fcrupulous 
 of making the leaft Approaches toward it. 
 
 Ver. ??. Ver. 33. Surely with a mighty Hand and fir etch- 
 ed out eArm, and with Fury poured out will I rule 
 over youJ] I will no longer try to reclaim you by 
 the gentle Methods of Patience and Forbearance, 
 but will govern you as Matters do ill Servants by 
 Stripes and Corrections, and by this Means cure 
 you of your hankering after the Heathen Cuftoms 
 and Idolatries. 
 
 Ver. 24. Ver. 34. eAnd I will bring you out from the Teo- 
 ple, and gather you out of the Countries wherein ye 
 are fcattered, with a mighty Hand, &c] This 
 fome underftand of God's bringing his People out 
 of the Countries of the Moabites, eAmmonites, and 
 other Neighbouring Nations, whither many of 
 them were carried Captive, or went as voluntary- 
 Exiles before the general Captivity by the Chalde- 
 ans:
 
 upon EZEKIEL. 1 5 r 
 
 ans: Seejerem. xii. 14. xl. 11. But I conceive Chapter 
 it is rather to be underftood of the general Reftora- XX. 
 tion of the JewiJI) Nation from the feveral Parts L/"V"NJ 
 of the World where they are difperfed : an Event 
 often fpoken of in the Prophets: See Ver. 38, 41. 
 and compare this and the following Verfes with 
 feveral PafTages in the xxxiv, xxxvi, and xxxvii 
 Chapters of this Prophecy. 
 
 Ver. 35. Qs4.tid I will bring you into the Wilder- Ver. 25. 
 tiefs of the Teople.] The Wildernefs of the Teople 
 may be equivalent to the Countrey where they fo* 
 journ^ Ver. }8. fo as to fignify either the feveral 
 Difperfions of the Jewijb Nation ; or rather fome 
 particular Place or Countrey thro' which they are 
 to pafs, in order to their Return into their own 
 Land. The DifTolution of a Government is ex- 
 preffed in Scripture by a Wildernefs State : See 
 Chap. xix. 13. The Jews going into Captivity 
 are faid to go out of the City, and dwell in the Field y 
 Micah iv. 10. And the Church .under Perfecution 
 is reprefented as flying into the Wildernefs, Revel. 
 xii. 14. The Phraie does likewife allude to the 
 Wildernefs thro' which the Jews pafTtd to the Land 
 of Canaan, in order to the Tryal of the Obedient, 
 and the Deftru&ion of the Rebellious. Compare 
 Ver. 36, 38. Chap, xxxvia 8. and Hof.'n. 14. 
 
 Ibid. oAnd there z-jill J tfeid with you face t& 
 'Face,'] I will convict you of your Crimes, fo that 
 you fhall not be able to deny your Guilt, but fhall 
 humbly acknowledge that you have deferved thofe 
 Punifhments I have, or fhall bring upon you. 
 Compare Chap. xvii. 20. xxxviii. 22. and fee the 
 Note upon Jerem. ii. 9. 
 
 Ver.
 
 i£2 ^Commentary 
 
 Chapter Ver. $<5. Like as I pleaded with your Fathers in 
 XX.- the Wilder nefs of the Land of Egypt."] This relates 
 L/*V"\J , to . that folemn Sentence confirmed by an Oath, 
 VeT. 36. - w hereby God irreverfibly doomed the Rebellious 
 Jfraelites to perifh in the Wi'.dernefs, and never to 
 enter into the Land of Promife : Numb, xiv. 18, 8rc. 
 Ver. 57. Ver. 37. &4nd I will caufe you to pafs under the 
 Rod.] I will take an exact Account of you as a 
 Shepherd does of his Flock, ancl will fever between 
 the Good and the Bad, between the Sheep and the 
 Goats; See Chap, xxxiv. 17. The ExpreMion al- 
 ludes to the Cuftom of the Shepherds who Number 
 their Cattle by linking every one of them with a 
 Rod. See Levit. xxvii. 32. Je re m. xxxiii. 1$. 
 
 Ibid. oAnd I will bring you into the "Bond of the 
 Covenant."] I will make you fenfible that I have 
 not forgotten my Promifes to your Fathers, tho* 
 you have forgotten your Obligations to me, and the 
 Engagements implied in your entring into Cove- 
 nant with me. The Words may be rendred, I will 
 bring you into the T>iJ'cipline of the Covenant ; the 
 Hebrew Verbs Tafar and oAfar being of prqmifcu- 
 ous Signification : and then the Senfe will be, I will 
 revenge upon you the Quarrel of my Covenant, 
 Levit. xxvi. 25. and affert my Authority over you 
 by bringing you under Chaflifement in order to 
 your Correction. See oAmos iii. 2. 
 Ver. 38. Ver. 38. <And I will purge out from among you 
 the Rebels,] I will feparate the Righteous from 
 the Wicked, (See Ver. 37.) in order to deftroy the 
 latter, as I did the rebellious Jfraelites in the Wil- 
 dernefs : Numb. xiv. 29, 30. Compare Ezek.xi. 21. 
 xxxiv. 17,2 c. 
 
 Ibid.
 
 upon EZEKIEL. 1^3 
 
 Ibid. Iwilllring them forth out of the Country Ch 
 where they So]ourn, and they fball not enter into XX. 
 the Land of IfraelJ] See the Note on V et\ 3 <>. The L/'VXJ 
 Word Country in the Singular Number may be 
 equivalent to . Countrie s in the Plural Ver. 41. 
 The Sentence alludes as the former does, to the 
 Judgment denounced upon the rebellious Israelites, 
 that their Carcaffes fhould fall in the Wildernefs, 
 and themfelves never enter into the Land oiCa?ia- 
 an ■: which fhall be only a Portion for the Righte- 
 ous among them. This Text among many others 
 favours the Opinion maintained by feveral Authors 
 both Ancient and Modern, that the Jews upon 
 their Converfion fhall return into their own Land. 
 Comp. Chap. xi. 14. xxviii. 25. (See the Note 
 there) xxxiv. 1$. xxxvi. 24. 
 
 Ver. 3 9. oAs for you, Houfe of Ifrael.1 You Ver. 3 9. 
 of the prefent Generation. 
 
 Ibid. Go ye, ferveye every one his Idols, &:c.] An 
 Ironical Permiffion full of Indignation and Rebuke, 
 fharply upbraiding them for defpifing thofe many 
 Warnings God had given them : and implying 
 that he was now refolved to forfake them, and 
 give them up to prong ^Delufions, as a juft Judg- 
 ment for their abufe of the Means of Grace fo long 
 offered to them, and frill reje&ed by them. Com- 
 pare eAmos iv. 4. Tfal. lxxxi. 11,12. Rom.i. 28. 
 2 Thef.il 11. and fee the Note upon Ver. 25. of 
 this Chapter. 
 
 Ibid. t But pollute ye my Name no more with your 
 Gifts, and with your Idols. ~\ Whilft you offer your 
 Gifts, and make a Prefent of your Children to 
 Idols, See Ver. 26, 31. do not call your felves any 
 longer my Servants, nor pretend to pay your De- 
 
 X votions
 
 1 54 A Commentary 
 
 Chapter votions in my Temple, and thereby bring a Re- 
 XX. proach upon my Name and Worfhip. See Chap. 
 L/V^O xxiii. 37, $8, 39. 
 
 Ver. 40. Ver. 40. For in my holy Mountain, in the Moun- 
 tain of the height of Ifrael.~\ In the Chriftian 
 Church, called God's holy Mountain in alluflon to 
 the Temple at Jerufalem, built upon Mount Mori- 
 ah: See the Notes upon Chap. xvii. 23. and Ifa. 
 ii. 2. The Prophet fpeaks here of the Jews as con- 
 verted and united to the Chriftian Church : tho* 
 fome Learned Men are willing to believe that up- 
 on their Converfion and Return to their own 
 Countrey, certain Privileges fhall belong to the 
 Earthly Jerufalem, as the Metropolis of that Nati- 
 on. See IfaAxv. 18, 19. lxvi. 20. Jerem. iii. 17. 
 Joel. iii. 1 7, 8cc. 
 
 Ibid. There fiall all the Houfe of Ifrael, all of 
 them in the Land ferve me.~] There fhall be no more 
 any fuch Separation among you, as was when the 
 Ten Tribes forfook the Worfhip of God at Jeru- 
 salem. See Chap xxxvii. 22, 23. 
 
 Ibid. There will I accept them, and there will 
 I require your Offerings and the Firfl- Fruits of your 
 Oblations, &-c.j Requiring fignifies the fame with 
 eAccepting, by a Metonymy of the Caufe for the 
 Effecl: : juft as Seeking is fometimes ufed for Find- 
 ing : See Ifa. Ixv. 1. In the fame Senfe God is faid 
 not to require fuch Inftances of Worfhip, in which 
 he takes no delight : Ifa. i. 11. Offerings fignify 
 in general every thing devoted to God's Service, 
 fo as to comprehend Tithes under it, Numb. xviiL 
 21, 26. The Firft-Fruits were offered out of the 
 Fruits of the Earth which were firft ripe : Of this 
 kind was a Sheaf of the Corn which was firft 
 
 reaped,
 
 upon EZEKIEL. 155 
 
 reaped, Levit. xxiii. 10. part of the Dough which Chapter 
 was firft baked, Numb, xv. 20. and in general, the XX. 
 firft of all the ripe Fruits, Numb, xviii. 1 2, 1 3. com- L/"V\J 
 pare Chap. xliv. 30. with this Text. This was 
 computed to amount to the Sixtieth part of the 
 whole Produce, See Ezek. xlv. 1$. The Prophet 
 here exprefles the Chriftian Worfhip by thofe reli- 
 gious Oblations which were proper to his own 
 time : as the other Prophets frequently defcribe the 
 State of the Chriftian Church by Reprefen tat ions 
 taken from the Jewifli Temple and Service. See 
 Ifa.xix. 19. lvi. 7. Ix. 7. lxvi. 23. And even the 
 primitive Chriftians brought Oblations out of the 
 Firft: Fruits of their Increafe, for the Support of 
 God's Minifters and Service, out of which the Ele- 
 ments of the Eucharift and the Love Feaft which 
 followed it, were provided : as appears from feve- 
 ral Teftimonies of the ancient Fathers, particularly 
 of Irenaus, lib. 4. c. 32, and $4. who generally in- 
 terpret thofe Words of Chrift, Matth. v. 23. If 
 thou bring thy Gift to the eAltar, &c. of the Sa- 
 crament of the Lord's Supper. 
 
 Ver. 41. / will accep you with your fweet &z- Ver. 41. 
 vour.~] This is mention'd in Opposition to the fweet 
 Savour of their Offerings to Idols : Ver. 28. 
 
 Ibid. When I bring you out of the Teople, and 
 gather you out of the Countries wherein ye have 
 been fcattered.~] Or as it may better be tranflated, 
 When I have brought you out of the Teople, &-c. 
 Compare Chap. xi. 17. xxxiv. 13. xxxvi. 24. 
 xxxviii. 8. 
 
 Ibid. oAnd I will be fan&ified in you before the 
 Heathen.'] I will procure Honour to my Name by 
 the wonderful Works whether of Juftice or Mercy, 
 
 X 2 which
 
 i$6 A Commentary. 
 
 Chapter which Twill fhew toward yon. Compare Chap. 
 XX. xxviii; 22, 25. xxxvi. 23. xxxviii. 23. xxxix. 27. 
 
 ^"VNJ Ver. 42. aAndye (haUhiow that I am the Lord.] 
 Ver. 42. An Epiphone;na often ufed in this Prophet by way 
 of Conclufion of fome fevere Denunciation : See 
 Chap. vi. 7. But in this and the 44th Verfe, and 
 fome other Places added after the Promifes of Grace 
 and Favour, by which God makes his Power 
 known unto the World, as well as by his Judg- 
 ments. See Chap, xxxvi. 2$. xxxviii. 2}. 
 
 Ibid. When I frail lying you [or fhall have 
 brought you] into the Countrey for which I lifted 
 up my Hand. ] See Ver. 5. 
 
 Ver. 43. Ver. 45. oAnd there frail ye rememher your Ways 
 and your Doings.'] The. Prophets Itippofe, 'that the 
 Cpnverfion and Reitoration of the Jews fhall be 
 accompanied with a general Repentance, and a 
 deep Remorfe for their former Mifdoings. See 
 Chap. xvi. 6;. and the Note there. 
 
 Ibid. aAnd ye frail lathe 'your j r elves in your own 
 fight.] See Chap. vi. 7. xvi. 63. xxxvi } 1. 
 
 yer. 44. Ver. 44. When I have wrought with you for my 
 Name's Sake, &rc] When I have exerted my Pow- 
 er in your Deliverance, moved thereto not by any 
 Deferts.of yours* hut purely out of regard to my 
 own Honour, and the Promifes made to your Fa- 
 thers. See Chap, xxxvi, 22. 
 
 Ver. 46. Ver. 46. Set thy Face toward the South.] DirecT: 
 thy Looks and thy Speech (See Chap. iv. 7. vi. 2.)- 
 toward the Land of ljrael r and particularly toward 
 Jerufalem, which lay Southward otXhaldea. See 
 Chap. i. 4. xxi. 2. 
 
 Ibid. 'Drop thy Word toward the South.] The 
 Gift of Prophecy is compared to Rain, or the Dew 
 
 o£
 
 upon EZEK IEL. 157 
 
 of Heaven, which makes every thing fruitful : See Chapter 
 Dent, xxxii. 2. Such is the Benefit of found Do- XX. 
 clrine where-ever it is received. Compare Micab L/V^NJ 
 ii. 6. Job xxix. 22, 25. 
 
 Ibid. oAnd prophecy againft the For eft of the 
 South Field.'] By the For eft of the South Field is 
 meant fifufaletff: the Word Foreft being taken 
 metaphorically in the Prophets for a City : becaufe 
 its ftately Buildings refemble tall Cedars ftanding 
 in their feveral Ranks. Compare Jer. xxi. 14. x\ii 
 7- Kfcb. xi. 1. 
 
 Ver. 47. J will kindle a Fire in thee, and it JIjallYw, 47. 
 devour every green Tree in thee, and every dry 
 Tree.~] Fire is often taken in a general Senfe for 
 God's fevere Judgments. Compare Chap. xix. 1?. 
 xxii. 21,31. xxx. 8. But it may here particularly 
 denote the Deftrutlion otjerujalew by Fire: which 
 the Text faith fhall devour both the green Frees 
 and the dry: i.e. the Righteous as well as the 
 Wicked : See Chap. xxi. 3. The Righteous areelfe- 
 where compared to green and flouiifhing Trees, 
 and the Wicked to dry and withered ones, fuch as 
 are only fit for the Fire. See Tjal. i $. Luke xxiii. 
 31. Joh.w 5, 6. 
 
 Ibid. oAnd all Faces from the- South to the North 
 fliallbe burnt therein.'] The Deftru£lion fhall reach 
 from one End of the Land to the other* See Chap. 
 xxi. 2,4. 
 
 Ver. 49. eAh Lord God, they fay of me, Doth Ver. 49 
 henot fpeak "Parables ?] They make this an Argu- 
 ment for difiegarding what I fay, that I ufe fb 
 many Similitudes and metaphorical ExprefTions,tbat 
 they can't difcover my Meaning. Comp. Chap. \ii. 
 9. Whereupon God commands him in the next 
 Chapter to fpeak the fame thing in plain Terms. 
 
 C H Ait
 
 i$8 
 
 A Commentary 
 
 c ^; CHAP. XXI. 
 
 1 he Argument. 
 
 The Prophet under the Emblem of a Jharp Sword, 
 foretells the Deftruffion 0/Judea, and -particu- 
 larly 0/Jerufalem, and the Country of the Am- 
 monites, by the eArmies of Nebuchadnezzar. 
 
 Ver. 2. Ver. 2. 1 H E T thy Face towardjerufa- 
 
 lem.~] See Chap. xx. 46. 
 
 Ibid. "Drop thy Word to- 
 ward the Holy TlacesJ] i. e. 
 Toward the Sanctuary or 
 Temple, and the feveral 
 Courts belonging thereto. See the Note on Chap, 
 vii. 24. 
 Ver. 3. Ver. 3. 1 will draw forth my Sword out of his 
 
 Sheath.'] The Sword of the King of "Babylon, the 
 Inftrument of my Vengeance. See Ver. 19. and 
 Chap. xiv. 17. 
 
 Ibid. <And will cut off from thee the Righteous 
 and the Wicked.'] The Command given by God, 
 Chap. ix. 6. is to Slay Toung and Old, both Maids, 
 little Children and Women : i. e. thofe that have 
 
 not
 
 upon EZEKIEL. i$p 
 
 not bin guilty of Idolatry and the other National Chapter 
 Sins, as well as thofe that have. Only the Few XXI. 
 Mourners mentioned Chap. ix. 4. have a Promife L/*V\J 
 to efcape. God's abfolute Dominion will juftify 
 any Temporal Calamity he thinks fit to bring up- 
 on Men : and every Man is fb much a Sinner, that 
 no Evil which befals him in this World can be 
 thought unjuft with refpect to God that inflicts it. 
 But yet when God punifheth Men immediately by 
 himfelf, as he did in the Deft ruction of the Old 
 World, and of Sodom, it may be expected he fhould 
 put a Difference between the Righteous and the 
 Wicked : as eAhraham argues with him upon this 
 Subject, Gen. xviii. 2}, 25. 
 
 Ver. 4. oAgainfl all Flejh from the South to the Ver. 4. 
 North.1 See Chap. xx. 47. 
 
 Ver. 5. It (hall not return any more."] Into z£j- Ver. e 
 Sheath, as the Senfe is more fully exprefled, Ver. 
 £o. till it has executed my Commands. 
 
 Ver. 6. Sigh therefore with the breaking of thy y er a 
 Loins, 8tc] Shew all the Tokens of Grief and 
 Concern : Compare Ver. 13, and 17. and let the 
 Senfe of thefe impending Judgments fo deeply af- 
 fect thee, as to make thee ftoop, like one that is 
 perfectly bowed down under the Weight of 
 them. Comp. Ifa. xx'u 3. Tjal. xxxv. 14. xxxviij. 
 5. God's Judgments, as they were reprelented to 
 the Minds of the Prophets, did very often affect 
 them with dreadful Apprehenfions : efpecially 
 when they concerned their own People. See Jen 
 xxiii. 9. Van. viii. 28. Halah in. 16. 
 
 Ibid. Before their Eves.'] Before the Eyes of the 
 Elders of Ifrael, mentioned Chap. xx. 1. or of the 
 Jewifh Captives,who could not but be touched with 
 
 a ten-
 
 i6o ^Commentary 
 
 Chapter a tender Senfe of the Calamities ready to befal their 
 XXI. Brethren in Judea. 
 
 L/~V^O Ver 7. Every Heart pall melt, and all Hands 
 
 Ver. 7. fiall be feeble, See] Men's Hearts and Strength 
 (hall rail them for" Fear: See Chap. vii. 17. 
 
 Ver. 10. Ver. 10. Should we then make Mirth ?] Men 
 that are hardened in Sin are apt to laugh at God's 
 Judgments, and at thofe who give warning of 
 them. This may be applied to thofe who fpeak 
 Teace unto the People, when there was no Teace, 
 Chap. xiii. ro. 
 
 Ibid. It contemneth the Rod of my Son, as every 
 Tree.'] It makes no Diftin&ion between the Scep- 
 ter and common Wood : between the Branches of 
 the Royal Family, defcended from David and So- 
 lomon, whom I honoured with the Title of being 
 my Sons, Tfal. lxxxix. 26. 2 Sam. vii. 14. and the 
 meaneft of the People: See Ver. 12, 25, 26, 27. 
 and Chap. xix. 1 1- — 14. 
 
 Ver. 1 1. Ver. n. It isfurbifhed, to give it into the Hand 
 cf the Slayer. ,] of the King of ^Babylon, the Exe- 
 cutioner of God's Judgments upon Judea : Ver. 19. 
 
 Ver. 12. Ver. 12. It pall be upon .my Teople, it fhall be 
 upon all the princes of Ifrael.] Both Princes and 
 People fhall be involved in one common De- 
 ftruction. Concerning the Princes of Ifrael, fee the 
 Note upon Chap. xxii. 6. 
 
 Ibid. Smite therefore upon thy Thigh.] Ufe all 
 the outward Expreffions of Grief and Mourning. 
 Compare Ver. 6, 14, 17. Chap. vi. n. xxxi. 19. 
 
 Ver. 13. Ver. 13. 'Becaufe it is aTrial] As all great Ca- 
 lamities are ftyled, Job ix. 23. z Cor. viii. 2. Heh 
 xi. 36. 
 
 Ibid.
 
 upon EZEK I EL. 1 6 1 
 
 Ibid. eAnd what if the Sword contemn even the Chapter 
 Rod?] The Scepter and Royal Family : SeeVer. XXI. 
 10. t/V%J 
 
 Ibid. It flail be no more, faith the Lord.] See 
 Ver. 27. 
 
 Ver. 14. Smite thy Hands together.] See Numb. Ver. 14, 
 xxiv. 10. and Ver. 12, of this Chapter. 
 
 Ibid. oAnd let the Sword be doubled the third 
 time.] The Expreflion may import, Firft the 
 Slaughter made at the Siege : then thofe that were 
 flain at the taking of the City ; in which number 
 may be reckoned the Sons oiZedekiah, as alfothe 
 Chief Priefts and principal Officers of State, who 
 were taken and put to Death immediately after- 
 ward : See Ver. 14. and 2 Kjngs xxv. 7, 18, 19, 
 20, 21. To thefe may be added in the third Place, 
 thofe who were flain with Gedaliah, Jerem. xli. 2, 
 3. But perhaps the Expreflion, Let the Sword be 
 doubled a third time, may mean no more than if the 
 Prophet had fa id, Let the Stroke be repeated twice 
 and thrice, i. e. often times. So that Phrafe is 
 ufed Job xxxiii. 29. aAJlthefe Things worketh God 
 twice and thrice with Man, where our Tranflation 
 very fitly exprefTes the Senfe Oftentimes. A Form 
 of Speech much like thofe elfe where ufed, For three 
 Tranfgrejfions and for four, aAmos i. $. Give a 
 Tort ion to [even, yea alfo to eight, EccleJ. xi. 2. 
 
 Ibid. It is the Sword of the Great Men that 
 are Slain, which entreth into their Trivy Cham- 
 bers.] Whither they went to hide themfelves. 
 See 1 Kjngs xxii. 2$. 
 
 Ver. 15. I have fet the point of the SwordVQr.i* 
 againft all their Gates.] The Word Ibchath, tran- 
 sited the Toint, is to be found but in this one 
 
 Y Place
 
 162 ^Commentary 
 
 Chapter Place of the Bible, and (6 is varioufly rendred by 
 XXI. Interpreters. Dr. Cafiell underftands it of the De- 
 L/VNJ ftrutlion made by the Sword, from the ufe of the 
 Word in the Ethiofick Language. 
 
 Ibid. It is made bright.] The Hebrew reads 
 here and Verfe 10. It is made like Lightning : the 
 fame Metaphor which we read in Virgil, ALn. 4. 
 
 —Vaginaque eripit enfem Fulmineum. 
 
 He drew his Sword, which did like Lightning blaze. 
 
 Ibid. It is wrapt up for the Slaughter."] Or ra- 
 ther, It is jharfened for the Slaughter, as the 
 Chaldee tranflates Menuttah, which is derived from 
 the Noun Net, fignifying, an Iron Pen or Styletto. 
 
 Ver. 16. Ver. 16. Go thee one Way or other ^ The Words 
 are directed to the Sword, implying that God hath 
 given it a large Commiflion to go through the 
 Land without any Reftraint. See Chap. xiv. 17. 
 
 Ibid. On the Right Hand, or on the Left.] Ei- 
 ther to the South, or to the North, Ver. 4. Thofe 
 two Quarters of the World being exprefTed in the 
 Hebrew Language by the Right and Left. See 
 the Note on Chap. xvL 46. 
 
 Ver. 17. Ver. 17. I will alj'o jmite my Hands together \] 
 To exprefs my juft Indignation at their Provocati- 
 ons. See Ver. 14. Chap. xxii. 13. 
 
 Ibid. cAnd I will cauje my fury to reft.] See the 
 Note on Chap. v. 1$. 
 
 Ver» 1 9» Ver. 1 9. eApfoint thee two Ways that the Sword 
 of the Kjng of Babylon may come] God fore- 
 fhews his Prophet that the King of 'Babylon com- 
 ing with his Army into Syria, and finding that the 
 o&nmonites had entred into a Confederacy with
 
 upon EZEKIEL. 163 
 
 Egypt, as well as Zjdehiah, he was in doubt a- Chapter 
 gainft which of the two People he fhould fir ft XXI. 
 make War, and committed the Decifion of this L/V^J 
 Matter to his Arts of Divination, defcribed Ver. 
 21. 
 
 Ver. 20. That the Sword may come to RabbathVer. 20. 
 of the oAmmonites,] Rabbath, other wife called 
 Kabbah, Chap. xxv. 5. was the chief City of the 
 ^Ammonites. See 2 Sam. xii. 26. Jerem. xlix. 2. 
 
 Ibid. In Jerufalem the defence d.] Which had 
 been ftrongly fortified, firft by T> avid, 2 Sam. v. 
 9. then by Solomon, 1 Kjngs ix. 24. afterward by 
 Hezekiah, 2 Chron. xxxii. $. and then by Manaf- 
 Jeh, ibid. Chap, xxxiii. 14. 
 
 Ver. 21. F<?r the- Kjng of 'Babylon flood at the Ver. 21. 
 farting of the Way— to ufe 'Divination ; #f ?//#J? Zw 
 oArrows bright.'] This way of Divining by Ar- 
 rows is thus defcribed by St. Jerom in his Commen- 
 tary upon this Place : " They wrote on feveral Ar- 
 " rows the Names of the Cities they intended to 
 " AfTault, and then putting them altogether pro- 
 " mifcuoufly in a Quiver, they drew them out 
 " thence as Lots are drawn : and that City whole 
 " Name was writ on the Arrow firft drawn, was 
 " the City they firft made War upon. Perhaps 
 from this Cuftom the Verb Hat f ah or Hatfats, 
 from whence Hets an oArrow, is derived, comes 
 to fignify the Parting or Dividing any thing by 
 Lot, in which Senfe it is ufed Job xli. 6. Trov. 
 xxx. 27. 
 
 Ibid. He made his oArrows bright.] Or rather, 
 He mingled his oArrows, as the Vulgar Latin tran- 
 flates it : which Senfe of the Verb Kjllzal agrees 
 better with the Defcription of this Kind of Divi- 
 
 Y 2 nation
 
 164 ^Commentary 
 
 Chapter nation already given ; and therefere is preferred by 
 
 XXI. DwTocock, who confirms this Expofition from the 
 
 L/V"^ eArabick ufe of the Word : See his Notes In Spe- 
 
 cim. Hifi. oArab. p. 329. where he treats at large 
 
 of this manner of Divination. 
 
 Ibid. He confulted with Images J] The Hebrew 
 reads Seraphim, which Word as it (ignifies fome 
 Image or vifible Reprefentation of a Deity, fo 
 confequently it muft be taken in an ill Senfe, for an 
 Idolatrous Worfhip, in which Senfe it is certainly 
 ufed 1 Sam. xv. 23. 2 Kjngs xxiii. 24. Zjch. x. 2. 
 Dr. S fencer takes a great deal of Pains to prove 
 that the Word is fometimes taken for a fort of Di- 
 vine Oracle, and is equivalent to the Urim, by 
 which the High Prieft received an Anfwer when he 
 confulted God upon Emergent Occafions. See his 
 Third Book c De Legibws Hebr. Ditfert. tilt, de U- 
 rim i$ Thummim. 
 
 Ibid. He looked in the Liver.'] This was ano- 
 ther noted fort of Divination, which w r as taken 
 from Lucky or Unlucky Tokens which appear'd in 
 the Entrails of the Sacrifices when they were (lain, 
 called t&Arufpicina by the Romans. 
 
 Ver. 22. Ver. 22. (At his right Hand was the 'Divinati- 
 on for Jerujalem.] When the King of "Babylon 
 ftood at the Head of two Ways, Ver. 21. to con- 
 fult which of the Two he fhould take, the To- 
 kens that were fhewed him, perfwaded him to 
 March with his Army to the Right, /'. e. toward 
 Jerufalem. 
 
 Ibid. To anoint Captains to open the Mouth in 
 Slaughter, to lift up the Voice with Shouting.] 
 "Whofe Office it was to encourage the Army to fall 
 upon their Enemies, and deHroy them. See Jerem, 
 Li 5- Ibid.
 
 upon EZE KIEL. 165 
 
 Ibid. To cafi up a Mount.] See Jerem. xxxii. 24. Chapter 
 
 Ver. 2}. aAnd it /hall be unto them as afalfe Di- XXT. 
 vination in their Sight, to them that have [worn L/ m V ms ^J 
 Oaths."] The King of Judea and his Courtiers will Ver. J 2. 
 defpife all thefe Preparations of War, tho' direct- 
 ed againft them, as if they were grounded upon 
 the falfe Arts of Divination : whereas it is indeed 
 God himfelf that direcls the March of the Chaldean 
 Army to revenge the Perjury which Zfdehiah and 
 his Counfellors- were guilty of, in breaking that 
 folemn Oath of Fealty which he made to the King 
 of "Babylon. See Chapt. xvii. 1 }, 15. 
 
 Ibid. "But he will call to remembrance Iniquity, 
 that they may be taken.'] Nebuchadnezzar will re- 
 member Zedekiaffs Breach of his Oath, and revenge 
 himfelf by taking the City, and making him and 
 his Subjects Prifoners of War. 
 
 Ver. 24. ( Becaufe ye have made your Iniquity ^ Ver. 24. 
 be remembred—ye (ball be taken with the Hand.] 
 Becaufe your Sins cry to Heaven for Vengeance, 
 ye fhall fall into the Hands and Power of the King 
 of 'Babylon. 
 
 Ver. 25. aAnd thou profane wicked 'Prince of\j^ % 2 ? 
 Ifrael.] The Words are directed to Zsdekiah, 
 whom the Prophet calls frophane and wicked, 
 chiefly with refpeft to his breaking that folemn 
 Oath uttered in the Name of God, whereby he had 
 engaged himfelf to be Tributary to the King of 
 6 Bah)lon. See Chap. xvii. 19. 1 With God is no re- 
 fpect of Perfons : in like mariner, when the Pro- 
 phets fpeak to Kiniis in the Name of God, they 
 lay afide thofe Titles and Exp e {Rons of RefpecT: 
 which are otherwife due to the regal Dignity. See 
 
 1 Sam*
 
 166 ^Commentary 
 
 Chapter i Sam. xiii. i$. 1 Kjngs xviii. 18. 2 Kjngs iii. 13, 
 XXI. 14. 
 
 L/'V^U Ibid. Whofe Day is come, when Iniquity [hall 
 have an end J] The Day of whofe Calamity is near 
 at hand, when his and his People's Iniquity fhall 
 receive their juft Doom. Compare Chap. vii. 6. 
 xxx. ?. xxxv. 5. 
 
 Ver. 26. Ver. 16. Remove the 'Diadem and take off the 
 Crown.'] The Words Crown and Diadem are equi- 
 valent, and put to fignify the Kingly Ornaments 
 of Dignity. See Ifa. lxii. $. Indeed the Crown is 
 elfewhere taken for the Emblem of Sovereignty, 
 and the Diadem or Miter for the proper Ornament 
 of the Priefthood, and fo the Chaldee Paraphrafe 
 exprelTes the Senfe of the Verfe in thefe Words, 
 Remove the Miter from Seraiah the chief Trieft, 
 and I will take away the Crown from Zedekiah the 
 Kjng. But I conceive this Senfe does not To well 
 agree with the Defign of the place where the 
 Judgment threatned is fpoken only of Zjdekiah. 
 
 Ibid. This fljall not be the fame : exalt him that 
 is low, and ahafe him that is high."] Things fhall 
 not continue in their prefent State : as Zsdekiah 
 fhall be brought down from his Kingly Dignity, 
 fo another Branch of that Family, viz. Christ, 
 (See Ver. 27.) fhall be advanced from an obfcure 
 Original and low Condition, to the fupreme De- 
 gree of Sovereignty. Compare Chap. xvii. 24. 
 
 Ver. 27. Ver. 27. I will overturn — it, and it fljall le no 
 more, until he come whofe right it is, and I will 
 give it him.] After that Zedekiah is deprived of his 
 regal Authority, there fhall be no more Kings of 
 that Family till Chrift come, the King fo often 
 
 foretold
 
 upon EZEKIEL. i6j 
 
 foretold and promifed, who in due time fhall reign Chapter 
 upon the Throne of his Father T>avid, and of whofe XXI. 
 Kingdom there fljall be no End: Luke i. 32,3$. L^V*\J 
 After the Captivity fome of the Priefb of the 
 cAfjamonean Race did alTume the Style and Title 
 of Kings, but they not being of the Tribe ofjudah, 
 could have no juft Right to that Honour. 
 
 Ibid. Until he come whofe right it is.~\ In this 
 Senfe the LXX underftand the Word Shi I oh, Gen. 
 xlix. 10. tranflating it there, *n J-TrUeilcu, To whom 
 it is referved : as if that Hebrew "Word were equi- 
 valent to Sheloh, Whofe it is, as the Learned T. Fa- 
 gins hath obferved in his Notes upon the Targum 
 of that Text. 
 
 Ver. 28. Thus faith the Lord God concerning y er# 2 £ 
 the ^Ammonites, and concerning theiro reproach, ,] 
 They infulted over the Calamities of their Brethren 
 the Jews, for which they are often reproved very 
 feverely by the Prophets, and threatned with the 
 like Judgments. See Chap. xxv. 2, 6. Zeph. ii. 
 8,10. 
 
 Ver. 29. While they fee Vanity unto thee, while Ver. 29. 
 they divine a Lie unto thee.'] While the Soothfay- 
 ers and Pretenders to Divination foretel nothing 
 but happy Events. See Chap. xiii. 2$. xxii. 28. 
 
 Ibid. To bring thee upon the Necks of them that 
 are flain.'] To add thee to the Number of thofe 
 who are flain in Judea : Ver. 14, 15. aud make 
 thy Condition like theirs. 
 
 Ibid. Of the Wicked whofe 'Day is come,] See 
 Ver. 25. 
 
 Ver. 30. Shall 1 caufe it to return into his Ver. 20, 
 Sheath f\ See Ver. 4, 5. 
 
 Ibid.
 
 i68 
 
 A Commentary 
 
 Chapter Ibid. J will judge thee in the flace where thou 
 
 XXI. waft created.] Thou ftiak not be carried Captive, 
 
 \y*\-\± but (halt be deftroyed in thine own Land : See 
 
 Ver. $ 2. 
 Ver. 71. Ver. $i. I will Mow againft thee in the Fire of 
 myW/ath^ Compare Chap, xxii, 20, 21, 22. 
 
 Ver. j 2. Tho» JJxilt be no more remembred,'] See 
 Chap. xxv. 1 o. 
 
 CHAP-
 
 upon EZEKIEL. 
 
 167 
 
 
 
 ■ 
 
 CHAR XXII. 
 
 The Argument. 
 
 Chapter 
 XXII. 
 
 This Chapter contains a Catalogue or Recital of the 
 Sins of Jerufalem, and of all Orders and mC Degrees 
 
 of Men in it r for which God threatens to infUB 
 his fever eft Judgments upon it. 
 
 Ver. 2. f mi' !t f h° u judge the bloody fcV-Ver. 2* 
 
 t) ?] See the Note upon Chap. 
 
 Tbid. The Moody Ci'y2 See 
 H Chap xxiii. jfft 45. X xiv. 6, 
 9. 2 /0"#g«r xxi. 16. 
 Ver. 3. jfto ^k /vV/j* 0/^ come.'} See Chapter Ver. 7. 
 vii. 7. ■ 
 
 Ver. 4. Tte frajt) caufed thy 'Days- to drtzv Wfyfl Ver. 4.. 
 and art come even to thy Tears. 2 Thou hah filled 
 up the Meafure of thine Iniquities, and brought 
 the time of Vengeance upon thy idf. See Chap. 
 vii. 10. 
 
 
 Ibid.
 
 i68 A Commentary 
 
 Chapter Ibid. Therefore I have made thee a Reproach un« 
 XXII. to the Heathen, &c.] See Chap. v. 14. xxi. 28. 
 C/^v^NJ c Deut. xxviii. 37. 1 Kjngs ix. 7. 
 
 Ver. 5. Ver. 5. Tho/e that be ?iear, and thofe that be 
 
 far off, mock thee.'] See Chap. xvi. 57. 
 
 Ver. 6. Ver. 6. 'Behold the Vrinces of lfrael, he] Thefe 
 
 were probably the Members of the Great Sanhe- 
 drim : or the King's Counfellors and chief Officers 
 of State: See Jerem. xxvi. 10. xxxvi. 12. 
 
 Ver. 7. Ver. 7. In thee they have jet light by Father a?id 
 
 Mother?] Againft which Sin there is a folemn 
 Curie pronounced, T>eut. xxvii. 16. 
 
 Ver. 8. ^ er# 8. Thou haft deffifed my holy Things, and 
 
 profaned my Sabbaths. .] Thou haft profaned the 
 Things dedicated to my Service, and the Times 
 and Places fet apart for the fame Purpofe. Compare 
 Ver. 26. Chap, xxiii. 38. and Levit. xix. 30. 
 
 Ver. 9. Ver. 9. In thee are Men that carry Tales to fhed 
 
 'Blood.] That bear falfe Witnefs againft Men m 
 Capital Cafes. See Levit. xix. 16. 
 
 Ibid. (And in thee they eat upon the Mountains^ 
 See Chap, xviii. 6. 
 
 Ver. 10. Ver. 10. In thee have they difcovered their Fa- 
 ther's Nakednefs.] Took their Mother in Law to 
 Wife : which St. Taul calls fuch Fornication as is 
 not named among the Gentiles : 1 Cor. v. 1 . 
 
 Ver. 1 2. Ver. 1 2. In thee they have taken Gifts to Jfjed 
 'Blood.] The Judges have taken Bribes not only to 
 pervert Juftice, but even to take away the Lives 
 of the Innocent, 
 
 Ver. 1 j. Ver. 1 3. Therefore I have fmitten my^ Hand at 
 thy difhoneft Gain.] I have exprefTed mine Indig- 
 nation at thefe unjuft Practices. See Chapter xxi. 
 
 Ver.
 
 upon EZEKIEL. 169 
 
 Ver. 14. Can thy Heart endure, or can thine Chapter 
 Hands be ftrong in the Days that I fhall deal with XXII. 
 thee ?] On the contrary, aAU Hearts {hall melt, L^WJ 
 and all Hands fltall le feebh at the Approach ofV er - J 4- 
 God's Judgments: Chap. xxi. 7... 
 
 Ibid. 1 the Lord have fjpoken it, and will do 
 it. 2 See Chap, xxi v. 14. 
 
 Ver. 1 5. aAnd will confume thy filthinefs out 0/Ver. 1 5. 
 thee.] I will purge thee in the furnace of oAffli- 
 ftions, and take that Method to confume thy Drofs, 
 and put an End to thy Idolatrous Practices. Com- 
 pare Ver. 18, 19, &c. Chap, xxiii. 27. 
 
 Ver. 16. oAnd thou (halt take thine Inheritance Ver. 16Y 
 in thy felfin the Sight of the Heathen,"] Inftead of 
 being mine Inheritance, and under my peculiar 
 Care and Protection, thou fhalt be caft out among 
 the Heathen, and there eat the Fruit of thine own 
 "Ways, and receive the juit Reward of thy Wick- 
 ed nefs.. The Margin of our Bibles reads, Thou 
 fialt be -profaned in thy [elf, &c. Which I think 
 expreffes the Senfe much better : taking the Verb 
 Nihal in the fame Senfe wherein it is ufed Chap. 
 vii. 24. and Chap. xxv. 3. of this Prophecy, i.e. 
 Thou (halt no longer enjoy the Privileges of a City 
 called by my Name, and fet apart for my Refi- 
 dence, but (halt be laid open as common Ground,, 
 to be profaned by Infidels. Compare If a. xlvii. 6. 
 
 Ver. 18,19,20. The Houfe of Ifrael is become 
 to me "Drofs, 8cc] Their Filthinefs may fitly be 
 compared to the Mixture of Drofs and bafer Me- 
 tals with the pure Silver : and as that is purified 
 by being melted in a Furnace or Crucible, h Jeru- 
 falem when it is fet on Fire, fhall be the Furnace 
 wherein I will caft them and their Wickednefs to 
 
 Z 2 be
 
 1 70 ^Commentary 
 
 Chapter be confumed. Compare r jerem.v\. 28, 30. God's 
 XXII. fevere Judgments are exprefled by the Furnace of 
 
 KSV^J tiAffiiftion, Ifa, xlviii. 10. and compared to a Re- 
 finer's Tire, Malach. iii. 2. Ifa, i. 25. becaufe they 
 are deflgned to purge Men from that Drofs and 
 Corruption which is too often the EfFeQ: of Eafe 
 and Profperity. 
 
 Ver. 21. Ver. 2 1 . i" will gather you, and blow upon -you in 
 the Fire of my Wrath,'] God's Vengeance is often com- 
 pared to Fire : See Chap. xx. 47. But here it was 
 fo in a literal Senfe, when both City and Temple 
 were confumed by Fire : 2 Kings xxv. 9. 
 
 Ver. 24. Ver. 24. Thou art the Land that is not cleanfed 
 nor rained upon, in the 'Day of Indignation^ God 
 had in the foregoing Verfes compared his Anger to 
 Fire ; in purfuance of which Metaphor he adds, 
 That if the wholfom Advice and Admonition of 
 the Prophets (compar'd to the Dew or Rain com- 
 ing from Heaven, Chap. xx. 46.) had bin but du- 
 ly received, they would have fupplied the place of 
 Rain, and wafh'd away the filth "of the Land : 
 So that it needed to have bin purged or cleanfed by 
 Fire. The Chaldee Tar aphrafe expounds the Senfe 
 thus, Thou art the Land in which there have teen 
 no good Works done, to protecl it in the 1)ay of 
 God's Curfe or Indignation, 
 
 Ver. 25. Ver. 25. There is a Confpiracy of the "Prophets in 
 the midfi of her 7] i. e. of the Falfe Prophets : See 
 the Note upon Jerem, xxix. 1. Thefe are often re- 
 proved for making -a gain of their Profeflion : See 
 Jerem. vi. 13. Micah iii. 5, 11. 
 
 Ibid. They have devoured Souls ; they have ta- 
 ken the Tre afire and precious Things, &c] They 
 make Merchandife of Men's Souls : or elfe they 
 
 take
 
 upon EZEKIEL. 1 7 1 
 
 take away their Lives, by falfe Accufatioiis, and Chapter 
 then feize upon their. S.ubftance. \ Compare Ver. XXTL 
 27. and Matth. xxiii. 14. tyv'NJ 
 
 Ver. 26., Her Triefts have violated my Law, andVev. 26. 
 have -profaned my Holy Things .~\ The Gifts and 
 Sacrifices offered in my. Service : either by offering 
 them in an undue manner, as the Sons of Eli did, 
 1 Sam. ii. 1 5. or without due Purification of them- 
 felves ; or elfe eati-ng them as Common Meats, 
 without regard to the Rules prefcribed in the Law, 
 Levlt. xx i, xx ii. 
 
 Ibid. They have fut no ^Difference between the 
 Holy and Trofane, &c] They have not fhewed 
 any regard to the Rules the Levitical Laws lay 
 down, whereby to diftinguifh bqtwixt what is Ho- 
 ly or Unholy, Clean or Unclean, and that both 
 with refpect to Perfons and Things. And they are 
 guilty of this Neglect, in contradiction to an ex- 
 prefs Charge given them concerning this Matter, 
 Levit. x. 10. bi 
 
 Ibid. oAnd have hid .tfreir Eyes from my Sal- 
 laths.'] They have not attended upon my Publick 
 "Worfhip on the Sabbath Days, See 2 Chron. xxix. 
 7. and thereby have encouraged my People in -the 
 Neglect and Profanation of that Day. See Ver. S. 
 
 Ver. 27. Her- Trinces in the mid ft of faff are Ver. 2f. ' 
 like Wolves, ravening the Trey, 8cc] The chief 
 'Officers of State under the King : See Jerem. xxxvi. 
 12. xxxviii. 4. not excluding the Kings themfelves, 
 whofe Oppreflions of their Subjects the Prophet 
 elfewhere feverely reproves : See Chap. xix. ?,6. 
 xlv. 9. All thofe, the Tex.t faith, flick at no Me- 
 thod of Injuftice and Oppreflion, whereby they 
 may increafe their Subftance, tho' it be by taking 
 
 away
 
 172 A Commentary 
 
 Chapter away the Lives and Eftates of the Innocent. Com- 
 XXII. pare Ifa. i. 2$. Micah iii. 1, 2, &:c. Zjfh. iii. j. 
 
 L/*V>J Ver. 28. e/4#</ her Trophets have daubed them 
 
 Ver. 25. w/ ># untemper'd Mortar, Sec.'] Have daubed over 
 the evil Practices of the great Men by palliating 
 Devices. See Chap. xiii. 6, 10. 
 
 Ver. 29. Ver. 29. The Teople of the Land have ufedOp- 
 preffion.] See ferem.v. 26. vi. 13. 
 
 Ibid. Tea, they have opprejjed the Stranger 
 wrongfully.'] Contrary to an exprefs Prohibition of 
 God's Law, frequently repeated and urged upon 
 them from the Confideration, that they themfelves 
 were Strangers in Egypt. See Exod. xxii. 21. xxiir. 
 9. Levit. xix. 33, $4. 
 
 yer. 30. Ver. 30. <And I fought for a Man among them 
 that JJjould make up the Hedge--— but I found none J] 
 This general Complaint may be expounded with 
 fome Reftriftion, (fuch as is commonly understood 
 in unlimited Expreffions.) For we read Chap. ix. 4. 
 that there were fome that did figh and cry to God, 
 by way of deprecating his Wrath, for the oAbomi- 
 nations done in Jerufalem. See the like Expreflion 
 Jerem+v. 1. and the Note upon that place. 
 
 Ibid. That Jhould make up the Hedge, and ft and 
 in the Gap, &c] See Chap. xiii. 5. 
 
 Ver. 31.? Ver. 31. Their own Way have I recompenced u$- 
 on their Heads.] See Chap. ix. 10. xi. 21. xvi. 43. 
 
 CHAR
 
 upon EZEKIEL. 
 
 i 
 
 
 
 
 73 
 
 CHAR XXIII. Chapter 
 
 XXIII. 
 
 The Argument 
 
 The Idolatries of Samaria and Jerufalem are here 
 represented under the Metaphor of the lewd 
 'PraBices of two Common Harlots : For which 
 Crimes God de?iounces fevere Judgments agai?ift 
 them loth. The fame Metaphor is here made 
 ufe of which was purfefd at large in the Six* 
 teenth Chapter. See the (Argument there. 
 
 Ver. 2. 3 WB^^§§g^Here were two Women, the Ver. 2, 
 
 Daughters of one Mother.] 
 Countries are commonly re- 
 prefented as Mothers of 
 their People, and the Inha- 
 bitants as their Children : 
 So the Daughters of Syria fignify the Inhabitants 
 of that Country, Chap. xvi. 57. Thus Samaria 
 and Jerufalem are defcribed in this Chapter as Si- 
 fters, the Offspring of the fame Land or Country. 
 Compare Chap. xvi. 46. Jerem/iii. 7, 8, 10. 
 
 Ver. $. aAnd they committed Whoredoms in £- Ver. 5. 
 gyp*] They learned to commit Idolatry there. 
 
 See
 
 174- A Commentary 
 
 Chapter See Chap. xx. 7, 8. It has been already obferved 
 XXIII. that Idolatry is often reprefented as fpiritual A.dul- 
 {yV^J teiy. See Chip.' xvi. V5, kc. 
 
 Ibid. They committed Whoredoms- in their TouthJ] 
 The time when the Israelites were in Egyp, or 
 *vc\-2 lately de-parted- out of it, is called their Touth 
 in the Prophets, becai.fe that was the time when 
 God firft owned them for his People. , See Ver. 8, 
 19. Chap. xvi. 8, 22, 60. Jerem. ii. 2. If of. ii. 15. 
 Ibid. There were their Breafts frejfed, &c] 
 1 There they ferv/d. Idols, and there 'they corruped 
 their Ways', as the CBaldee Ta'raphraJ? exprefTes 
 the Senfe. The Scripture commonly calls Idola- 
 trous Churches and Nations by the Name of Har- 
 lots i and in like manner honours thofe who pre- 
 ferve their Allegiance to God pure and undefiled, 
 with the Title of Chaft Wives or Virgins. See 
 2 Or.xi. a. Revel, xix. 7. xxi. 2. xiv. 4. 
 Ver. 4« Ver. 4- ^A n ^ ^ je Names of them were aAholah 
 
 the Elder, and oAhalibah ' her S'tfler,-— Samaria is 
 eAholah, and Jerufalem oAholilah.J The Word 
 cAholah fignifies, Her Tent ox Tabernacle: <Aholi- 
 hah denotes, My Tent or Tabernacle is in her. 
 Thefe two different Appellations imply, that So- 
 ' maria had indeed a Tabernacle'or Place for Publick 
 "Worfhip, but of her own Devifing : viz. the Ci- 
 ties of T)an and 'Bethel where the Golden Calves, 
 were fet up : whereas God's Tabernacle firft, and 
 afterward his Temple was placed in JerufaJ'em. 
 He placed his Name there, ox chofe it for the Place of 
 bis peculiar Refidence : 1 Kjngs viii. 29. Why cA- 
 holah is called the Elder Sifter, See the Note on 
 Chap. xvi. 46. 
 
 yen * .
 
 upon EZEKIEL. 175 
 
 Ver. $. oAni aAholah flaidthe Harlot when (he Chapter 
 was mine.] After flic had lived in Covenant with XXIII. 
 me, and attended upon my Service and Worfhip L/V^sJ 
 all the time of the Judges, and of 'Uavid and So-V Q ?> 5- 
 lomon, fhe fell off from my Service, and was the 
 firftthat eftablifhed Idolatry by a Law, and con- 
 fented to Jeroboam's wicked Device of letting up 
 the Golden Calves. 
 
 Ibid. oAnd fie doated on her Lover X] i.e. Her 
 Foreign Allies, whofe Idolatries fhe was fond of, 
 and hoped by that means to procure their Friend- 
 fhip and Afliftance. See the Note on Chap. xvi. 
 
 Ibid. On the oAj])rians her Neighbours."] The 
 King of lAJJyria was a very Potent Prince, and 
 thereupon his Alliance was courted both by the 
 Kings of Ifrael and Judah. See 2 KJngs xv. 29. 
 xvi. 7. and Ver. 12. of this Chapter. 
 
 Ver. 6. Which were cloathed with 'Blew, Caf-Vev. 6. 
 tains and Rulers.] As Women are apt to fall m 
 Love with comely Young Men, well Mounted and 
 richly Cloathed : fo the Ifraelites were enamoured 
 with the State and Bravery of the zAfjyrians, and 
 thought themfelves fecure if they could but pro- 
 cure their Alliance and Friendfhip : and in order 
 to it embraced their Idolatries. 
 
 Ibid. Horfemen riding upon Horfes.] Horfes 
 were fcarce in Judea, which made the Jews apply 
 themfelves to the neighbouring Countries for 
 Troops of Horfe in the time of any Holiile Invafi- 
 on. See Ifa. xxx. i<5. xxxi. 2. xxxvi. 8. 
 
 Ver. 7. Thus fie committed Whoredoms withy a\ 7. 
 them.'] She defiled her Jelfwith their Idols, as the 
 
 A a Senfe
 
 ij6 ^Commentary 
 
 Chapter Senfe is more plainly exprefled at the end of the 
 XXIII. Verfe. 
 
 C/VNJ Ver. 8. Neither left Jhe her Whoredoms "brought 
 
 Yer. 8. f rom Egypt.] She added New Idolatries to thofe 
 fhe had formerly committed. See Ver. }. 
 
 Ver. 9. Ver. 9. Wherefore I delivered her into the Hand 
 
 of her Lovers.] God made thefe very oAJJyrians 
 the Executioners of his Judgments upon the Ten 
 Tribes : many of them being carried away Cap- 
 tive by Tul King of oAJJyria, 1 Chron.v. 25,26. 
 afterward by Tiglath-Tilefer, 2 Kjngs xv. 29. and 
 at length the whole Country was fubdued and de- 
 populated by Salmanefer, 2 Kjngs xvii. 6. The 
 Kings of 'Babylon were likewife ftiled Kings of 
 aAffyria : See 2 Kjngs xxiii. 29. 2 Chron. xxxiii. 11. 
 Lovers mean the fame with Allies, thofe whofe 
 Friend fhip and Afliftance the Jews courted by 
 complying with them in their Idolatries. See 
 Chap. xvi. 37. 
 
 VeiMo. Ver. 10. Thefe discovered her Nahednefs, they 
 took her Sons and her "Daughters.] They carried 
 her and her Children away Captive, ftript and 
 bare : Comp. Ver. 29.. and Chap. xvi. 37, 39. 
 
 Ibid. oAnd flew her with the Sword.] Comp. 
 Ver. 47. and Chap.* xvi. 40. Thofe that were not 
 led Captive were llain in the Field of Battle, or in. 
 the Siege of Samaria, 2 Kjngs xvii. 5. 
 
 Ibid. oAnd fie became famous among Women.] 
 The Hebrew reads, She became a Name among 
 Women: As fhe had been formerly renowned among 
 the Heathen for her "Beauty^Ch^. xvi. 14. So now 
 fhe was every where talked of as a remarkable 
 Inftance of God's Vengeance, and fet forth for an 
 
 Ex-
 
 upon EZEKIEL. 177 
 
 Example to other Cities and Nations to deter them Chapter 
 from the like Abominations. See Ver. 48. and XXIII. 
 Chap. xvi. 41. L/V\J 
 
 Ibid. For they had executed Judgment upon her,'] 
 See Ver. 24. 
 
 Ver. 11. wind when her Sifter eAholibah fawVzv.u. 
 this, fie was more corrupt in her inordinate hove 
 than fie.] Jerufalem was fo far from taking War- 
 ning by the Judgments inflicted upon Samaria, 
 that fhe advanced to greater Degrees of Idolatry. 
 See Ver. 14. Chap. xvi. 47, 51. Jerem. iii. 8. and 
 the Notes upon thofe Places. 
 
 Ver. 12. She doated uf>on the eAffyrians for Ver. 12. 
 Neighbours, &c.U Comp. Ver. 1. The King of 
 Judah, oAhaz, entred into a Confederacy with 
 the King of eAffyria, hoping for Relief from his 
 Power and the Bravery of his Army, and ferving 
 his Idols to that End. See 1 Kings xvi. 7 — 11. 
 2 Chron. xxviii. 16 — 23. 
 
 Ver. 1 }. They took both one way.] Both of them Ver. 1 jl 
 were like Common Harlots, impudent in their Ido- 
 latries, and irreclaimable. Compare Jerem. iii. 1 g. 
 
 Ver. 14. When (he faw Men pourtrayed upon the y er# j^, 
 Wall, Images of the Chaldeans, &c] Thefe were 
 probably the Pictures of thofe Deified Heroes whom 
 the Chaldeans worfhipped as Gods : Such were 
 c Bel,Nebo, and Merodach, mentioned Ija.xlvL 1. 
 Jerem. 1. 2. 
 
 Ver. 15. Girded with Girdles upon their Loins."] Ver. 15. 
 A Girdle was a Mark of Dignity, and worn as 
 fuch by Princes and Men in Authority. See 1 Sanu 
 xviii. 4. Ifa. xxii. 21. 
 
 Ibid. In died oAttire upon their Heads.] The 
 Chaldeans, and afterward the Terfians, wore a 
 
 A a 2 fort
 
 i 7 8 
 
 A Commentary 
 
 Chapter fort of Turbans upon their Heads, with different 
 XXIII. Degrees of Ornaments according to their different 
 (./"VNJ Qualities. 
 
 Ver. 16. Ver. 16. &4ndas foonas ffie [aw them with her 
 Eyes, fhe doted upon them, and fent MeJJengers unto 
 them into Chalde/i.~] Thefe Images plea fed her fo 
 much, that fhe fent to "Babylon to learn the man- 
 ner how their Idols were to be worfhipped. See 
 Ver. 40, 41. and Chap. xvi. 17. This probably re- 
 lates to thofe Times when a Correfpondence was 
 maintained between the Cities of 'Babylon and Je- 
 rufalem : after that Nebuchadnezzar had conquered 
 Judea, and made it a tributary Kingdom, in the 
 Beginning of die Fourth Year of . Jehoiakim. See 
 'Dan. u 1, 2- 2 Kjngs xxiv. 1. and the Notes up- 
 on Jerem. xxii 19. 
 e Ver. 17. Ver. 17. eAndthe 'Babylonians came to her into 
 the 'Bed of Love, &c] The Metaphor of reprefen- 
 ting Idolatry by the inordinate Luft of Adultery is 
 Hill carried on. 
 
 Ibid aAnd her Mind was alienated from them.'] 
 She quickly grew weary of thefe too, as lewd Wo- 
 men are of their former Gallants, and look out for 
 new ones. She broke her League and Covenant 
 with them, as St. Jerom very well expreiTes the 
 Senfe: meaning that Covenant which "Jehoiakim 
 made with Nebuchadnezzar to be his Tributary. 
 Compare Ver. \6, 22, 28. and was afterward re- 
 newed by Zjdekiah : See Chap. xvii. 15. 
 Ver. 18. Ver. 18. So fhe discovered her Whoredoms, 8rc] 
 The Senfe might better be expreffed, eAfter Jhe 
 had difcover'd, &:c. the Senfe being ftill continued 
 with the foregoing Verfe. 
 
 Ibid.
 
 upon EZEKIEL. 179 
 
 Ibid. Then my Mind was alienated from herfoc.'] Chapter 
 As fhe bv her Idolatries had broken all the Bonds XXIII. 
 of Duty and Allegiance whereby fhe was engaged tyVNJ 
 to me, a Sin often compared to a Wife's Difloyal- 
 ty toward her Husband : So I withdrew my Love 
 and Affection from her, and refolved to give her 
 a 'BUI of 'Divorce, as the Prophet Jeremy expreffes 
 it, and not own her any more as mine, as I had 
 carl off her Sifter Samaria. Compare Jerem. iii. 8. 
 vi. 8. Hof. ii. 2. 
 
 Ver. 19. Tet (be multiplied her Whoredoms, in Ver. 19. 
 calling to remembrance the 'Days of her Youth, 8rc 3 
 Tho' fhe was fond of new Idolatries, fhe did not 
 -forget her old ones, even thofe which fhe had 
 learnM in Egypt. See Ver. 3. 
 
 Ver. 20. For fhe doted upon their Paramour s, Ver. 20. 
 &c] Upon the Idols of Egypt, and the impure 
 Rites which accompany their idolatrous Worfhip. 
 See the Notes upon Chap xvi. 26: This may re- 
 late to the time when Zjdekiah entred into a New 
 Confederacy with Egypt, See Ver. 21 and Chap. 
 xvii. 1 5. which made the People fond of admitting 
 the Egyptian Idolatries. 
 
 Ver. 22. I will raife up thy Lovers again/I thee, Ver. 22- 
 from whom thy Mind is alienated.'] I will execute 
 my Judgments upon thee by thofe very 'Babyloni- 
 ans, whofe Alliance and Idolatries thou haft been 
 fo fond of: See Ver. 9. but fince haft broken the 
 League thou madeft with them, contracting a new 
 one with Egypt, and thereby haft provoked them 
 to revenge thy Perfidioufnefs. See Ver. .17. 
 
 Ver. 23. The 'Babylonians, and all the Chalde-Vsx.ii- 
 ans, Tekod, and Sfcoa, and Kja, and all the qA[- 
 fyrianswith them.'] The Inhabitants of the fevcml 
 
 Pro-
 
 180 A Commentary 
 
 Chapter Provinces of the "Babylonijh Monarchy. Tekod is 
 
 XXIII. mentioned as a Province of 'Babylon, Jerem. 1. 21. 
 
 L/V>J St. Jerom upon the place underftands thefe three 
 Words Tekod, Shoa, and Kj>a, in an aAppellative 
 Senfe, to denote fo many Titles or Degrees of Ho- 
 nour, as much as to fay, Governors, Princes, and 
 great Men. In which Senfe the two former 
 Words, Tekod, (or Takud) and Shoa, are confef- 
 fedly taken in Scripture : and Kja is fuppofed to be 
 derived from the Verb KjiUng, which fignifies 
 Printing Marks in the Flefh. Levit.xix. 28. and 
 it was the Cuftom of great Men to diftinguifh 
 themfelves from their Inferiors by fuch Marks or 
 Prints : See Dr. Spencer de Legib. Hebr. Jib. 2. c. 
 14. Seel. 1. 
 
 Ibid. oAll of them de fir able young Men, Sec.'} As 
 their Riches and Bravery made them appear ami- 
 able in your Eyes when you firit. courted their Al- 
 liance, Ver. 1 2. So they fliall appear in the fame 
 fplendid Equipage when they come to invade your 
 Country, and to befiege your City : but then their 
 gallant Appearance fliall ftrike a Terror and Con- 
 sternation into you. 
 
 Ver. 24. Ver. 24. <And they (hall come againfl thee with 
 Chariots, Waggons, and Wheels, hc.~] A like De- 
 fcription of warlike Preparations may be (i^Qn. 
 Chap, xxvi. 10. Jerem. xlvii. 3. Nahum iii. 2, 3. 
 Chariots are mentioned both in facred and profane 
 Writers, as of principal Ufe in the ancient way of 
 Pighting. 
 
 Ibid. oAnd I willfet Judgment before them, and 
 they /hall judge thee according to their Judgment s.~\ 
 I will deliver thee into their Power as the Minifters 
 of my Juftice, who fhall make thy Punifhments 
 
 bear
 
 upon EZEKIEL. 181 
 
 bear a Correfpondence with thy Guilt. See Ver. 45. Chapter 
 Ver. 25. &4nd I will fet my Jealoujy againft thee, XXIII. 
 and they {hall dealfurioufly with thee.'] They fhall L/WJ 
 punifh thee with that Fury, with which aMan^ er « 2 5* 
 in the Rage of Jealoufy fhall treat a Wife that 
 hath been unfaithful to him. Compare Chapter 
 xvi. 38. 
 
 Ibid. aAndthey fhall take away thy Nofe, and 
 thine Ears, &x.H As Husbands in that Cafe render 
 thofe Women deformed, whofe Beauty hath been 
 too pleafing to Strangers : fo fhall the Chaldeans 
 deface all the Glories and Ornaments of Jerufalem, 
 and after they have flam and carried Captive its 
 Inhabitants, fhall fee the City on Fire, and reduce 
 it to an Heap of Afhes. Compare Chap. xvi. 4 1. 
 
 Ver. 26. They fiall alfo ftrig thee of thy Clothes, Ver. 26. 
 &c.] See ibid. Ver. 57, 39. 
 
 Ver. 27. Thus will I make thy Lewdnefs ceafe Ver. 27. 
 from thee."] Thefe fevere Judgments fhall effectu- 
 ally deter thee from Idolatry, and make thee ab- 
 hor the leaft Approaches toward ir. See Chapter 
 xxii. 1 5. Accordingly we find, that after the Cap- 
 tivity the Jews never returned to their former ido- 
 latrous Pra&ices. 
 
 Ibid. eAnd thy Whoredoms l? ought from the Land 
 of EgyftJ] Where thou did ft fir ft learn Idolatry, 
 and ever fince haft had an Inclination toward it. 
 See Ver. £, 19. 
 
 Ibid. So tnat thou (halt ?iot lift up thine Eyes un- 
 to them.] See Chap, xviii. 6. 
 
 Ver. 28. / will deliver thee into the Hand of Ver. 2$L 
 them whom thou hat eft, &c] The Chai u eans that 
 were thy Lovers formerly: Ver. 22. But fince 
 thou haft broken thy League and Friendfhip witlr 
 
 them*
 
 182 A Commentary 
 
 Chapter them, thy Love is turned to Hatred. See Ver. 17* 
 XXIII. Ver. 29. oAnd they pall deal with thee hateful- 
 U^ST^J Jy y and fmll take away all thy Labour.'] As thou 
 Ver. 29. i la fl. re q U ited their Love with Hatred, fo fhall 
 they deal with thee : their Hatred againft thee 
 fhall be greater than their former Love toward 
 thee, which was the Conclufion of <&Ammon > s un- 
 lawful Love to his Sifter, 2 Sam. xiii. 15. This 
 fhall prompt them to take a full Revenge upon thy 
 Perfidioufnefs, to confume all the Fruits of thy La- 
 bours, and to take away all the "Wealth thou haft: 
 gather'd by thine Induftry. 
 
 Ibid. oAndfljall leave thee naked and bare.'] See 
 the Note on Chap. xvi. 37. 
 
 Ver. 31, 52, 33. Therefore will I give her Cup 
 into thine Hand : Thou flmlt be laught to [corn and 
 had in derifion — Thou palt be filled with ^Drunken- 
 nefs and Sorrow, &c] God's Judgments are often 
 compared to a Cup of intoxicating Liquors, be- 
 caufe they aftonifh Men, and bereave them of 
 common Judgment and Difcretion, and likewife 
 expofe them to the Scorn and Contempt of their 
 Enemies. See Jerem. xxv. 1 5, 8cc. xlviii. 26. Ha- 
 bak. ii. 16. 
 Ver. 24. Ver. 34. Thou fljalt even drink it, and fuck it 
 out.] The foreft and heavieft of God's Judgments 
 fhall fall to thy Share : like thofe that drink a Po- 
 tion off to the Bottom, where the moft naufeous 
 part of it is fettled. See Tfal. lxxv. 8. Jeremiah 
 li. 17. 
 
 Ibid. Thou palt break the Sherds thereof and 
 fluck off thine own "Breafis.] Thou fhalt behave 
 thy felf as drunken People do, who firft throw 
 away, or break in Pieces the Cup, and then are 
 
 angry
 
 upon EZEKIEL. 183 
 
 angry with themfelves as the Caufe of their own Chapter 
 Misfortunes. The Text mentions her TSreafts, XXIIT. 
 as the Parts which had a principal Share in her L/"VNJ 
 Guilt, according to the allegorical Defcription here 
 given of her Idolatries. See Ver. 3, 21. 
 
 Ver. 35. Tlecaufe thou haft forgotten me, andVew 3$. 
 caft me behind thy 'Back.'] Becaufe thou haft not 
 only forfaken my Worfhip, but haft fhewed the 
 utmoft Contempt and Averfion toward me, (See 
 the Note upon Chap. viii. 16.) thou fhalt defer- 
 vedly bear the Punifhment due to thine Idolatries. 
 Compare Ver. 17, 19, $0, 49. 
 
 Ver. 36. Wilt thou judge oAholah and eAholi-Vev. 36. 
 I ah . ? ] See the Note on Chap. xx. 4. 
 
 Ver. 37. That they have committed oAdultery, Yer. 37. 
 and "Blood is in their Hands, &c] They have com- 
 mitted Adultery with their Idols, as it follows,and 
 have flain their Children in Sacrifice to them. See 
 Chap. xvi. 20, 21. 
 
 Ver. 38. They have defiled my SanBuary in the Ver. 38. 
 fame 'Day, &c] By coming within the Precincts 
 of it polluted with Idolatry. See the following 
 Verfe, and Chap. xxii. 8. 
 
 Ver. 39. oAnd lo, thus have they done in the Ver. 39. 
 midfl of mine Ho ufe .] The Words may be expoun- 
 ded of their fetting up Idols in the very Temple, 
 and worfhipping them there. See 2 Kings xxi. 4. 
 
 Ver. 40. oAnd furthermore that ye have fent for Ver. 40. 
 Men to come from far, to whom a MeJJ'enger was 
 fent, &-C-3 See Ver. 16. Their courting the Alli- 
 ances of Foreign Nations, by complying with their 
 Idolatries, is fet forth under the Reprefentation of 
 the feveral Arts which Harlots ufe to recommend 
 themfelves to new Lovers. Compare Ifa. lvii. 7, 9. 
 
 B b Ibid.
 
 184 
 
 A Commentary 
 
 Chapter Ibid. For whom thou didft wafr thy felf] A Cu- 
 XXIII. ftom generally pra&ifed by Women before the 
 iy"VNJ time of their Nuptials: See Ruth iii. ?. 
 
 Ibid. <And faint edfl thine Eyes."] Or thy Face, 
 as the Phrafe is tranflated 2 Kjngs ix. 30. Seethe 
 Note upon Jerem. iv. 30. 
 Ver.41. Ver. 41. eAndfatteft ufon a {lately 'Bed, and a 
 Table frefared before it.] The Expreffions denote 
 their fitting down with Idolaters, and partaking of 
 their Sacrifices : The Words aAhar and Table, are 
 ufed promifcuoufly in the Prophets. See Malachi 
 i. 7. becaufe all Sacrifices were Feafts made of Of- 
 ferings dedicated to God's Service : fo that he was 
 properly the Entertainer, and thofe that did par- 
 take of the Sacrifices were his Guefts, that did eat 
 at his Table in token of their being in Covenant 
 and Friend fhip with him. What was confumed 
 upon the Altar, was God's Mefs or Portion, and is 
 therefore called, the 'Bread of God, See Chapter 
 xliv. 7. Levit. xxi. 6. and the Food of the Lord, 
 ibid. Chap. iii. 1 1. The Remainder of the Sacrifices, 
 his Guefts were entertained with, either by them- 
 felves, as in Peace-offerings, or elfe by their Proxies 
 the Priefts, as in Sin-offerings. See Mr. Mede^s 
 Ttifcourfe of the Chriftian Sacrifice, Chap. 7. The 
 Jews as well as the Romans lying upon Beds or 
 Couches at their Meals. See Ifa. lvii. 7. So did 
 other Eaftern Nations : See Efth. i 6. 
 
 Ibid. Whereupon thou haft jet mi fie Incenfe, and 
 
 mine Oyl.J See Chap. xvi. 1 8. 
 
 Ver. 42. Ver. 42. <And the Voice of a Multitude being at 
 
 eafe was with her.'] All forts of Expreffions of Joy 
 
 were heard at thefe her Meetings : Such as Mufick 
 
 and
 
 upon EZEKIEL. 1 8$ 
 
 and Dancing, which ufually accompanied idola- Chapter 
 trous Feftivals. See Exod. xxxii. 6, 18, 19. XXIII. 
 
 Ibid. oAnd with the Men of the common fort o^v*XJ 
 were brought the Sabeans from the Wilder nej's,~\ 
 The Prophet perfifts in comparing the Idolatries 
 of the Jews to the Practices oflewd Women who 
 proftitute themfelves to all Comers, even thofe of 
 the meaneft Condition. Such were the Sabeans 
 that came from the Wilder nefs : i. e. from oArabia 
 called the 'Dejart, where dwelt the Pofterity of 
 Seba mentioned Gen. x. 7. Thefe were probably 
 forne of thofe idolatrous People dwelling in the 
 Wildernefs, whom Jeremy mentions, Chap. ix. 26. 
 who polled the Corners of their Heads in honour 
 of fome Idol whom they worfhipped. See the Note 
 upon that place. 
 
 Ibid. Which put 'Bracelets upon their Hands, 
 and beautiful Crowns upon their Heads.'] i. e. Up- 
 on the Hands and Heads of thefe two lewd Wo- 
 men, oAholah and oAholibah, See Ver. 45. Brace- 
 lets and Crowns were Ornaments proper to Brides, 
 See Chap. xvi. 11, 12. and were like wife prefented 
 by Lovers to their MiftrefTes. Crowns were like- 
 wife worn at publick Feftivals and Times of Re- 
 joicing : See I fa. xxxv. 10. Whereupon the He- 
 brew Phrafe is tranflated here and Chap. xvi. by 
 the LXX, Zriipavoy Kwxtxnai, a Crown of Rejoicing : 
 an Expreflion probably taken from hence by St. 
 Taul, 1 Thef. ii. 1 9. 
 
 Ver. 45. Then jaid I unto her that was grown Ver. 4$. 
 old in ^Adulteries, &o] The Words import, that 
 it was time for her to leave off her ill Courfes, that 
 Age and Experience might fufficiently convince 
 her of the Follies of them : but withal they imply, 
 
 B b 2 that
 
 186 ^Commentary 
 
 Chapter that Age and Time feldom correct ill Habits. The 
 XXIII. Word Her, is taken collectively in this and the fol- 
 
 L/'V^O lowing Verfe, fo as to include both the Sifters. So 
 the Singular Number is ufed TfaJ. xii. 7. ThoufJjalt 
 freferve him from this Generation for ever : where 
 our Interpreters rightly obferve in the Margin, 
 that the Word Him, fignifies every one of them. 
 
 Ver.44. Ver. 44. Tet they went in unto her, &c] Both 
 Samaria and Jerufalem defiled themfelves with the 
 Idolatries of all the Heathen round about them. 
 Compare Ver. 7, 17. 
 
 Ver. 45. Ver. 45. oAnd the righteous Men they fljall judge 
 them.~\ By righteous or juft Men, fome underftand 
 the 'Babylonians, who tho' a wicked and idolatrous 
 People, were the Executioners of God's Juftice up- 
 on a Nation that had finned againft a clearer Light 
 and greater Convictions. So Nebuchadnezzar and 
 other Heathen Princes are called God?s Servants, 
 as being Instruments of his Providence. But the 
 Expreflion may in a more proper Senfe be under- 
 ftood of the Prophets who foretold the Judgments 
 God would inflicl: upon Samaria and Jerufalem : 
 fuch as Hofea, oAmos, Jeremiah, &x. The Pro- 
 phets are laid to execute thofe Judgments which 
 they foretel : So Ezekiel faith of himfelf, that he 
 was fent to deftroy the City : Chap, xliii. 5. u e. to 
 Prophecy its Deftru&ion. To the fame Senfe we 
 read Hof vi. 5. / have hewed them by my Tro- 
 fhets, I have jlain them by the Words of my Mouth. 
 Seethe Notes upon If a. vi. 10. Jerem. i. 10. v. 14. 
 Ibid. (After the manner of oAdulterejJes, and af- 
 ter the manner of them thatjhed 'Blood.'] See Ver. 
 37. and Chap.xvi. g8. 
 
 yer;
 
 upon EZEKIEL. 187 
 
 Ver. 46. I will bring a Company upon them, and Chapter 
 give them to be removed and fp oiled.'] This is meant XXITI. 
 chiefly of the 'Babylonians, who fhould plunder L/^V* "O 
 and carry away Captive a great part of the Inha-^ er «4^* 
 bitants ofjerujalem. 
 
 Ver. 47. eAnd the Company (hall ft one them with Ver. 47. 
 Stones, and dijpatch them with their Swords .] See 
 Chap. xvi. 40. 
 
 Ibid. They (hall flay their Sons and their Daugh- 
 ters, &c] See Ver. 25. 
 
 Ver. 48. Thus will I caufe Lewdnefs to ceafe out Ver. 48. 
 of the Land.] See Ver. 27. 
 
 Ibid. That all Women may be taught not to do 
 after your Lewdnefs.] See the Notes upon Ver. 10. 
 and upon Chap. xvi. 41. 
 
 Ver. 49. oAndye [Jjall bear the Sins of your Idols.] Ver. 494 
 Ye fhall bear the Punifhment due to your Sins of 
 Idolatry. To bear Sin or Iniquity, is a noted Ex- 
 preflion in Scripture, fignifying the undergoing the 
 punifhment due to it. Compare Ver. 35. 
 
 CHAP.
 
 1 88 
 
 A Commentary 
 
 Chapter 
 XXIV. 
 
 CHAP. XXIV. 
 
 The Argument. 
 
 *By the Figure of a Boiling Pot is [hewed the Tie- 
 ftrutiion of Jerufalem and its Inhabitants, and 
 by EzekieRr being forbidden to mourn for his 
 Wife is fegnified, that the Calamities of the Jews 
 JhaJl be jo aftonijhing as to be beyond all Exprejji- 
 ons of Sorrow, 
 
 Ver. i. Ver. i 
 
 Ver. 2. 
 
 Ver. i 
 
 GoAI N in the ninth Tear of 
 Jehoiakin's Ca-ptivity.~] See 
 Chap. i. 2. 
 
 Ver. 2. The Kjng of Tlaby- 
 lonfet himfelf againft Jeru- 
 falem this fame day."] See 
 Jer. lii. 4. 2 Kjngs xxv. 1. 
 
 Ver. $. oAnd utter a Parable unto the rebellious 
 Houje.~\ A,dd this Emblem or Parable concerning a 
 Boiling Pot, to the reft thou haft delivered to 
 them : tho' they feem refolved not to give heed to 
 
 what 
 
 I
 
 upon EZEKIEL. 189 
 
 what thou delivereft, either in plain Words or fi- Chapter 
 gurative Expreflions. Compare Chap. xvii. 12. XXIV. 
 xx. 49. L/"V\J 
 
 Ibid. Set on a Tot, fet it on, &-C.1 The Destru- 
 ction of Jerufalem is reprefented by a Boiling Pot 
 or Caldron, both by 'Jeremiah Chap. i. 1 $. and by 
 Ezekiel Chap. xi. 3. 
 
 Ver. 4. Gather the Tieces into it, even every Ver. 4. 
 good piece, &r.] Meaning the chief of the Citi- 
 zens, who fhould be deftroyed together with the 
 City : See Chap. xi. 3. 
 
 Ver. 5. Take the choice of the Flock.'} This be- Ver. 5. 
 longs in Senie to the former Verfe, fo the LXX 
 tranflate the Words, joining them with the forego- 
 ing Sentence, With the choice 'Bones taken out of 
 the Flock. 
 
 Ibid. "Burn alfo the "Bones under it.} The Bones 
 of thofe who have been unjuftly (lain in the mid ft 
 of the City. See Chap. xi. 7. whofe Blood cries 
 for Vengeance againft it, and kindles God's An- 
 ger like Fire. 
 
 Ibid. oAnd make it boil well.'] To denote the 
 City's being fet on Fire : See Ver. 10, 11. 
 
 Ver. 6. Wo to the bloody City*] See Chap. xxli. y er# ^ 
 3. xi. 6. xvi. 30. xxiii. $7. 
 
 Ibid. Even to the Tot whofe Scum is therein.! 
 Whofe Filthinefs is not purged out of it : See 
 Ver. 13. 
 
 Ibid. Bring it out piece by fiece.] The principal 
 Men of the Ciry (See Ver. 4I) fhall be carried out 
 of the City by the Chaldeans, and afterwards (lain :.• 
 See Chap. xi. 7, 9. 
 
 Ibid. Let no Lot fall upon it.] Conquerors ufed 
 to call Lots what Share of the Vanquifh't they 
 
 would
 
 ipo A Commentary 
 
 Chapter would fave : See 2 Sam. viii. 2. jfo?/ iii. 3. Nahum 
 
 XXIV. iii. 10. Here there will be no ufe of Lots, for all 
 
 L/VSJ the principal Inhabitants fhall be (lain. See Jerem. 
 xxxix. 6. 
 
 Ver. 7. Ver. 7. She fet it upon the Top of a Rock, 8rc.] 
 
 In a prefumptuous manner and with an high Hand 
 flie flied it, as the Chaldee Paraphrafe expreffes the 
 Senfe : She was impudent and barefac'd in her 
 Cruelties: She did not feek to cover or excufe 
 them. 
 
 Ibid. She poured it not upon the Ground, to co- 
 ver it with <T)uft.~] The "Words allude to the Com- 
 mand of the Law, Levit. xvii. 13. that they cover 
 the Blood of any Beaft or other living Creature 
 which was (lain, with Duft : which Precept was 
 not only intended to prevent their eating of Blood, 
 but alfo to give Men a fort of Horror or Averfion 
 to the fight of Blood- fhed. 
 
 Ver. 8. Ver. 8. J have fet her Wood on the Top of a 
 
 Rock.'] Her Punifhment fhall be as notorious in the 
 Sight of the World as her Sin was. 
 
 Ver. 9, 10. Ver. 9, 1 o. / will even make the 'Tile for the Tire 
 great, &c] The Inhabitants fhall be the Materials 
 prepared by their Sins to be confumed like Fuel 
 in the Fire. 
 
 Ver. 10. Ver. 10. Spice it well.'} The Expreflion imports, 
 that the Chaldeans fhall be as much fet upon de- 
 flroying the City and Inhabitants, as hungry Peo- 
 ple are greedy of devouring Meat well fpiced and 
 dreffed. 
 
 • Ibid. oAnd let the "Bones le burnt.} The Words 
 denote an utter Deftruftion, that the Fire fhall be 
 fo fierce as to confume the very Bones as well as 
 the Flefh put into the Caldron. 
 
 Ver.
 
 upon EZEKTEL. 191 
 
 Ver. 11. Then fet it empty upon the Coals tliere- Chapter 
 of, &c] After an entire Riddance of the Ihhabi- XXIV. 
 tants, the City it (elf fhall be fet on Fire, and the L/'V^NJ 
 Place and its Wickednefs be confumed together in Ver. 1J - 
 the Flames. 
 
 Ver. 12. She hath wearied her [elf with Lies.^Ytv. 12. 
 The Word Tetmim, never met with but in this 
 place, is commonly derived from eAve;;., which 
 fignifles Trouble or Vanity, and is a Word fre- 
 quently applied to Idols, as particularly Be- 
 thel is ftiled 'Bethaven, upon the accc:.at of the' 
 Golden Calf there fet up, Hof. iv. 1 5. For thefe 
 Reafons I underftand the Expreflion here, She 
 hath wearied her felf with Lies, of the People's 
 multiplying their Idolatries, Idols being elfewhere 
 called Lies, and feeking Relief fometimes from one 
 Idol, fometimes from another, but all in vain. See 
 Chap. xvi. 29, 30. xxiii. 16, 19,40. 
 
 Ibid. eAnd her great Scum went not forth out of 
 her, &c.] All the Admonitions I gave her by my 
 Prophets, availed nothing to the purging her from 
 her Idolatries and other Wickednefs : fo that now 
 the Fire muft purge and confume her and her Sins. 
 
 Ver. 15. In thy Filthinefs is Lewdnefs.'] Thou Ver. 1?. 
 haft fhewed thy felf fhamelefs and incorrigible in 
 thine Idolatries. Compare Chap, xxiii. 29, ? 5. 
 
 Ibid. Becaufe I have -purged thee, and thou waft 
 not purged, &c] I did what was requifite on my 
 part toward thy Converfion, but thou refuted ft to 
 comply with thofe frequent Calls and Exhortations 
 I gave thee, (See the Note on Jer. xxxi. 1 8.) and 
 therefore my Spirit fhall not ftrive with thee any 
 longer, but I will proceed to execute my Judg- 
 ments upon thee. 
 
 C c Ibid.
 
 192 A Commentary 
 
 Chapter Ibid. Till I caufemy Fury to reft upon thee.] See 
 XXIV. the Note on Chap. v. 13. Chap. viii. 18. 
 L/"V"\J Ver. 14. eAccordingto thy 'Doings flail they judge 
 Ver. 14. thee.] See Chap, xxiii. 24. 
 
 Ver. 16. Ver. 16. 'Behold I take away the Defire of thine 
 Eyes with a firoke.] Thy Wife the Object of thy 
 Love and thy Affection. See Ver. 18. 
 Ver. 17. Ver. 17. Bind the Tire of thine Head upon thee.~\ 
 Ufe the ordinary Drefs upon thine Head : where- 
 as in the time of Mourning it was cuftomary fome- 
 times to (have the Head. See Levit. xiii. 45. Jer. 
 vii. 29. xvi. 6. fometimes to caft Duft upon it. 
 See JofJ;. vii. 6. 1 Sam. iv. 12. The Priefts were 
 particularly forbid to uncover their Heads in the 
 time of Mourning : See Levit. x. 6. 
 
 Ibid. aAnd put on thy Shoes upon thy Feet.~] Go- 
 ing bare- Foot was another Expreflion of Sorrow. 
 See 2 Sam. xv. 3 o. 
 
 Ibid. aAnd cover not thy Lips.] Covering the 
 Lips or Face was another Token of Mourning. See 
 Levit. xiii. 45. Micah iii. 7. 2 Sam.xv. 30. Jerem. 
 xiv. 4. 
 
 Ibid. aAnd eat not the 'Bread of Men,"] Partake 
 not of the Mourning Feaft that Relations ufe to 
 prepare for the Funerals of their Friends. See the 
 Note on Jer. xvi. 5, 7. Such were the melfwrv* 
 and Parentalia among the Greeks and Romans. 
 Ver. 18. Ver. 18. So I /pake to the Teople in the Mor- 
 ning, and at Even my Wife died.] My Wife died 
 in the Evening, and the next Morning I declared 
 what Commands God had laid upon me, not to 
 make any outward Shew or Sign of Mourning up- 
 on that Occafion. Compare Chap, xx xiii. 22. The 
 Evening was the Beginning of the Day according 
 
 to
 
 upon EZEKIEL. 192 
 
 to the Jews reckoning. See Gen. i. $. Levit. Chapter 
 xxiii. }2. XXIV. 
 
 Ver. 19. Wilt thou not tell us what thefe things l^"VNJ 
 aretous?~\ They enquire by way of Derifion and Ver. J 9- 
 Contempt what thefe Signs mean : Comp. Chap. 
 xii. 9. xvii. 12. xx. 49. 
 
 Ver. 21. 'Behold I will profane my Sancluary,Ver. 21. 
 the Excellency of your Strength.] I will deliver my 
 Temple into the Hands of the Heathen, and they 
 fhall profane and deftroy it. See Chap. vii. 19, 20. 
 That Temple wherein you placed your Glory, and 
 thought my Refidence there your greater!: Protecti- 
 on. Compare Ver. 25. and fee Tfal. lxxviii. 61. 
 xcvi. 6. cv. 4. cxxxii. 8. 
 
 Ibid The defire of your Eyes, and that which 
 your Soul pitieth.'] The 'Beauty of Holinefs, as the 
 Temple is often called, whofe Defiru&ion will af- 
 fect you with a moft tender Companion. 
 
 Ibid. oAndyour Sons and your daughters whom 
 ye have left, {hall fall by the Sword.] Whom ye • 
 left behind you in the City when ye were carried 
 Captives. Or, who were left by the Famine and 
 Peftilence : See Chap. v. 1 2. xxiii. 47. 
 
 Ver. 2 j. Te fhall not mourn nor weep.] Thefe Ver. 2 j. 
 terrible Judgments fhall ftrike you with Aftonifh- 
 ment, and fuch a Grief as is too great to be ex-' 
 prefTed' by Words or Actions: according to the 
 Verfe of the Poet, 
 
 Cura leves loquuntur, ingentes flupent. 
 
 Small Evils we complain of, greater fir ike us dumb. 
 
 C c 2 Ibid.
 
 1 94- ^Commentary 
 
 Chapter Ibid. 'But ye fhall pine away for your Iniquities, 
 XXIV. and mourn one towards another. - ] Ye fhall Wafte 
 t/VNJ away by a lingring Grief, and by a filent Lamen- 
 tation over each others Calamities. See Chap. iv. 
 2, 17. Levit. xx vi. 39. 
 Ver. 24. Ver. 24. Thus Ezekiel is unto you a Sign.] His 
 Actions forefhew you what [hall be your Conditi- 
 on. Compare Chap. iv. 3. xii. 6. The Holy Wri- 
 ters in ieveral Places fpeak of themfelves in the 
 Third Perfon. See Exod. vi. 26. 1 Sam. xii. 11. 
 Matth. ix. 9. So that this is an Argument of very 
 little Force, when it is urged again ft Mofes being 
 the Author of the Tentateuch. 
 
 Ibid. oAnd when this cometh, ye fhall know that 
 lam the Lord.] Comparing the Prediction with 
 the Event, will convince the moft Obftinate, that, 
 the immediate Hand of God is in the Judgments 
 which are come upon you. See Chap. vi. 7. and 
 compare Job. xiii. 19. xiv. 29. xvi. 4. 
 Ver. 25. Ver. 25. When I fiall take from them their 
 Strength, the Joy of their Glory r the Defire of their 
 Eyes i &x.] When I fhall take from them all that 
 is dear and valuable to them : their Temple, an 
 Emblem of my fpecial Refidence among them, and 
 Protection over them, whofe Beauty and Magni- 
 ficence was their peculiar Glory, and the moft 
 grateful Object of their Sight : together with their 
 Sons and Daughters whereon they placed their Af- 
 fection. See Ver. 21. 
 Ver. 26. Ver. 26. That he that efcapeth in that < Dayfec.~\ 
 
 See Chap, xxxiii. 21, 22. 
 Ver. 27. Ver. 27. In that Day pall thy Mouth leofened 
 to him that is efcaped, and thou Jhalt fpeak and he 
 no more dumb.~] From this time to the time when 
 
 the
 
 upon EZEKIEL. 
 
 195 
 
 the News comes of the City's being taken, thou Chapter 
 fhalt not prophecy any more to thine own People, XXIV. 
 but then will I give thee a new Commiflion to L/VNJ 
 fpeak: See Chap, xxxiii. 22. and that not by Signs 
 as thou doft at prefent, but with Freedom and 
 Plainnefs; the Event fo exactly anfwering thy Pre- 
 dictions, fhall give a new Authority to what thou 
 fpeakeft. See Chap. iii. 26. xxix. 21. and compare 
 Ephef. vi. 19. 
 
 Ibid. oAnd thou fialt he a Sign unto them , &-c] 
 They fhall then be convinced by Experience, that 
 thou didft forefhew by thy Actions and Behaviour 
 all that fhould befal them. And this will likewife 
 convince them of my Foreknowledge and Provi- 
 dence. 
 
 C H A E,
 
 i 9 6 
 
 A Commentary 
 
 ********** *> *•***♦•*<*•****♦**■**♦ 
 
 
 Chapter 
 
 XXV. 
 
 CHAR XXV. 
 
 V* 
 
 The Argument. 
 
 This Chapter contains God's Judgments againfl the 
 Ammonites, Edomites, and Philiftines, for their. 
 Hatred againfl the Jews, and infulting over 
 them in the time of their T^iftrefs. eArchhifhof 
 Ufher in his Annals ad A. M. 5419. and Jofe- 
 phus Antiq. lib. x. c. 11. -place thefe Events five 
 Tears after the Deftrutlion of Jerufalem. 
 
 Yer. 2. 
 Ver. 3. 
 
 Ver. 2. 1 BSPIET thy Face againfl the oAm- 
 
 monitesj] See the Note on 
 Chap. vi. 2. 
 Yer. 5. 'Becaufe thoufaidft 
 (Aha againfl my SanRuary, 
 Sic.'] The aAmmonites, Mo- 
 abites, and Edomites, tho' related in Blood to the 
 Jews, yet bore a conftant Hatred towards them, 
 which they took all Opportunities to fhew, when 
 the Jews were under any Diftrefs, and particularly 
 at the time of their general Captivity, and the De- 
 ftruttion of their City and Temple. For this they 
 are often reproved by the Prophets, and threatned 
 
 with
 
 upon EZEKIEL. 197 
 
 with the like or feverer Judgments, and particular- Chapter 
 ly the (Ammonites : See the Note on Chap. xxi. 28. XXV. 
 Ver. 4. / will deliver thee to the Men of the L/"V"NJ 
 Eaft for a Tofeffion.'] By the Men of the Eaft muft Ver. 4. 
 be meant the Chaldeans : See Chap. xxi. 1 9, 20. 
 Amnion is likewife reckoned among thefe Coun- 
 tries, which God foretold by Jeremy fhould be de- 
 livered into the Hands of the King of "Babylon. 
 See Jer. xxv. 21. By the Eaft Country is com- 
 monly meant Arabia in Scripture, as hath been 
 obferved in the Notes upon Ifa. xi. 14. But Syria 
 and Chaldea and the Countries beyond it, are like- 
 wife called the Eaft : See Nt*mb. xxiii. 7. Ifa. n. 6. 
 Gen. xi. 2. Chaldea indeed lay Northward of Ju- 
 dea and the adjacent Countries, See Chap. 1. 4. 
 but withal lying with a Point towards the Eaft, 
 the Chaldeans and their Confederates may not im- 
 properly be reckoned among the Men of the Eaft ; 
 juft as Cyrus is fometimes defcribed as coming from 
 the Eaft, and fometimes from the North, Ifa. xli. 
 25. with refpecl to his Forces, that confifted both 
 of Medes that lay Northward, and Terfans that 
 lay Eaft ward of ^Babylon. 
 
 Ibid. (And f j all drink thy Milk.'] Milk was the 
 chief Suftenance of thofe People, whofe Riches con- 
 fifted chiefly in their Stocks of Cattle. Hence the 
 Scythians are called Galattophagi by Homer, Iliad 
 3. and Galaclopota by other Writers. The LXX 
 render the Senfe very well, Shall drink or j wallow 
 thy Fatnefs. The Word Heleb fignifying not only 
 Milk, but likewife the fatteft or choiceft Parts of 
 any Flefh or Fruits. So it is ufed Gen. xlv. 18. Te 
 ffiatt eat the Fat of the Land, and Tfal. lxxxi. 16. 
 
 where
 
 i 9 8 
 
 A Commentary 
 
 Chapter where our Tranflation reads, Thefineft cfthe Wheat, 
 XXV. it is in the Hebrew, The Fat of the Wheat. 
 tyV^U Ver. 5. oAnd I will make Kabbah (See Chap. xxi. 
 Ver. 5. 20.) a Stable for Camels, &x.] Inftead of being a 
 City inhabited by Men, it fhall be a place for Cat- 
 tle, and particularly for Camels to feed in, of 
 which that and the neighbouring Countries had 
 great Store. It is a Proverbial Ex predion for utter 
 Deft met ion, to fay that Grafs grows where a 
 Town flood. Compare I/a. xvii. 2. xxii. 10. xxxii. 
 14- Zsph.iL 14, 15. 
 Ver. 6. Ver* 6. "Becaufe thou haft clapped thine Hands, 
 
 and fiamped with thy Feet.'] Geftures that fome- 
 times fignify Grief and Indignation : See Chap. vi. 
 11. but are likewife ufed to exprefs our Joy and 
 Satisfaction: Compare Job xxvii. 23. Lam. ii. 15. 
 Jer. xlviii. 27. 
 
 Ibid. With all thy defpite againft the Lafid of If- 
 rael.-\ See Ver. ?. 
 Ver. 8. Ver. 8. Becaufe that Moab andSeir do fay.] Seir 
 
 is the fame with Edom. See Chap. xxxv. 2. The 
 Prophet joyns them together as guilty of the fame 
 Crime, and then denounces particular Judgments 
 againft each of them. 
 
 Ibid. "Behold the Houfe ofjudah is like unto all 
 
 the Heathen,] They are no longer diftinguifhed 
 
 from their Neighbours by the vifible Prote&ion of 
 
 the God whom they worfhip. 
 
 Ver. 9. Ver. 9. Therefore will I open the fide of Moab 
 
 from the Cities, &c] I will make a Paflage for his 
 
 Enemies to invade his Frontier Cities, and from 
 
 thence to poffefs themfelves of the beft of his Coun- 
 
 trey. Some tranflate the Middle oftheVerfe, 
 
 From the Cities, even from oAr his [City] upon 
 
 his
 
 upon EZEKIEL. 199 
 
 his Frontiers. aAr was the Coaft or 'Border of Chapter 
 Moab, Deut. ii 1 8. XXV. 
 
 Ibid. The Glory of the Countrey.~\ The beft part L/~\~\J 
 of all the Countrey of Moab : the Hebrew Word 
 is Tfebi, frequently fpoken of Judea, as being in 
 many Refpe&s the Glory of all Lands : See Chap. 
 xx. 6. 
 
 Ibid. e Beth-jefimoth, BaaUmeon, and Kjriatha- 
 im^\ See Numb, xxxii. 38. JoJJj. xiii. 20. Jer. xlviii. 
 25. *Baal-meon is called Beth-meon in that place 
 of Jeremy, and more fully Beth-baal-meon, Joffr. 
 xiii. 1 7. £ ^. the #"<?#_/£ or Temple of the Idol Me on, 
 by which Bi.fhop Cumberland underftands Menis or 
 OJyris, the great Deity of the Egyptians: in the 
 firft Book and the fecond Chapter of his Treatife 
 concerning Sanchoniatho^s Phoenician Hi/I. 
 
 Ver. 10. Unto the Men of the Eaft.~] See Ver. 4. Ver. 10. 
 
 Ibid. That the oAmmonites may ?iot he remetn- 
 Ired among the Nations.~\ May make no Figure 
 among their Neighbours, their Strength being en- 
 tirely broken. 
 
 Ver. 12. *Becaufe that Edom hath dealt againflVev. 12. 
 the Houfe ofjudah by taking Vengeance^] The Idtt- 
 means being thePofterity of Efau, bare an ancient 
 Grudge againft the Jews, upon the account of 
 their Anceftor's Iofing his Right of Primogeniture, 
 and the fubduing of Edom by T)avid afterwards, 
 1 Sam. viii. 14. Upon both thefe Accounts they 
 took hold of all Opportunities of venting their Spite 
 toward the Jewif!) Nation, particularly fee 2 Chron. 
 xxviii. 17. For this their Behaviour they were in 
 former Times reproved by aAmos, Chap. Lit. and 
 afterward by Obadiah, Ver. io . and by Ezekiel in 
 this place, and Chap. xxxv. 5. The ill will that 
 
 D d they
 
 200 A Commentary 
 
 Chapter they fliewed toward them at the time of their 
 XXV. Captivity, was very remarkable,, as appears by 
 
 *W*NJ thofe pathetical Words ofTfal. cxxxvii. 7. Remem- 
 ber the Children of Edom Lord in the Day of 
 Jerufalem,how they f aid fD own with it, down with 
 it, even to the Ground. 
 
 Ver. 13. Ver. 1$. / will ftretch out my Hand upon Edom, 
 and cut off Man and e Beaft from it.] See Chap. 
 xxxv. 7, 8, 9. Jer. xlix. 17, 18. Zfph, ii. 9. Mai. 
 i. 3,4. 
 
 Ibid. oAnd I will make it defolate from Teman, 
 and they ofT)edan pall fall by the Sword."] Teman 
 is a noted place in Idumea : See <*Amos i. 1 2. Jer. 
 xlix. 7. to which "Dedan is joyned, ibid. Ver. 8. 
 Compare If a. xxi. 13, 14. The Dedanites were 
 originally Arabians, the Pofterity of Uedan, oA- 
 braham y s Grandibn, but they feem afterward to 
 have been incorporated with the Idumeans. See 
 the Note upon that place of Jeremiah. . 
 
 Ver. 14. Ver. 14. And I will lay my Vengeance ufon Edom 
 by the Hand of my Teople IfraeL] The Jews them- 
 felves whom the Edomites have fo often infulted, 
 fhall be the Inftruments of my Vengeance upon 
 Edom, and fhall requite the Wrongs they have re- 
 ceived by fubduing Idumea, which they did under 
 the Conduct of Judas Maccabeus : See 1 Mace. v. 3. 
 2 Mace. x. 16, 17. Compare Jer. xlix. 2. And af- 
 terward the High Prieft Hy re anus made an entire 
 Conquer! of this Countrey. See Dr. Trideaux Tart 
 2.p. 307. 
 
 Ver. 1 5. Ver. 1 5. *Becaufe the Thili/iines have dealt by 
 Revenge, 8rc] The Thiliflines being Borderers 
 upon the Jews, were their ancient Enemies from 
 the very time of the Judges downward, more par- 
 ticularly
 
 upon EZEKIEL. 201 
 
 ticularly in the time of oAhaz: See 2 Chron. xxviii. Chapter 
 18. xxv. 
 
 Ver. 16. 'Behold I will fir etch out my Hand up- y^^NJ 
 on- -the c Philifiines.~\ I will fubdue them by Nebu-V Qr - I °- 
 chadnezzar : See Jer. xxv. 20. xlvif. 1. 
 
 Ibid. oAnd I will cut off the Cherethims.~\ The 
 Cherethims or Cherethites are the fame with the 
 Thzlzftines, or a Tribe of that People : See 1 Sam. 
 xxx. 14. Zjfh. ii. 5. and the Notes upon Jer. xlvii. 
 
 4- 
 
 Ibid. aAnddefiroy the Remnant of the Sea Coafl.2 
 
 The fame who are called the Remnant of the Thi- 
 
 liflines, eAmos i. 8. the Remnant of oAthdod, Jer. 
 
 xxv. 20. and the Remnant of the Qountrey ofCaph- 
 
 thor, Chap, xlvii. 4. See the Notes upon thefe two 
 
 laft Places. 
 
 
 D d 2 CHAP.
 
 202 
 
 A Commentary 
 
 Chapter 
 XXVI. 
 
 CHAP. XXVI. 
 
 The Argument. 
 
 This and the following Chaffer with fart of the 
 Twenty eighth, foretell the r DeftruBion of Tyre 
 by Nebuchadnezzar, who took it after a thirteen 
 fears Siege, (as Jofephus relates out 0/Philoftra- 
 tus and the Phoenician Annals : See his Antiq. 
 1. x. c. 11. ad fin. 1. 1. contr. Appion. p. 1046.) 
 and in the Thirty fecond Tear of Nebuchadnez- 
 zar' J- Reign according to the Babylonifh eAc- 
 count. See the Note on Chap, xxix. 1 7. T5y rea- 
 fon of which hard Service, every Head was made 
 bald, and every Shoulder was peeled, as our 
 'Prophet [peaks Chap, xxix. 1 8. The fame Cala- 
 mity is foretold by Ifaiah, Chap, xxiii. This Siege 
 forced the Inhabitants to remove their EffeBs in- 
 to an Ifland half a Mile diftant from the Shore, 
 where they built another City called New Tyre. 
 The Learned Dr. Prideaux, in his ConnetJ. of 
 Script. Hift. Part 1. p. 91. and 484. hath obfer- 
 
 ved.
 
 upon EZEKIEL. 20 3 
 
 ve d, that this Trophecy of Ezekiel as well as the Cha pter 
 former one of Ifaiah, was fulfilled in the T>e- XXVI. 
 firuBion 0/Old Tyre, a City that flood upon the L^WJ 
 Cotitinent, and which Nebuchadnezzar utterly 
 deflroyed: thd* he grants fome ExpreJJions in both 
 Trophefies are applicable only to the lafl Siege 
 of that City, when it was conquered by Alexander 
 the Great. 
 
 Vet*. 1. ffiSHSI^lfli N the Eleventh Tear in theVer. 1. 
 
 Fir [I Day of the Month.'] 
 The particular Month not 
 being named, fome fupply 
 . the Word Fifth (as the Word 
 Fourth is fupplied, 2 Kjngs 
 xxv. 3.) and understand it of the Month follow- 
 ing the taking of Jerufalem, at whofe Defolation 
 Tyre rejoiced, Ver. 2. But as Archbifhop Ujber 
 obferves adoA. M. 3416. the Fifth Month belongs 
 to the Twelfth Year of Jehb¥ti%)n% Captivity. So 
 we may more probably unde.ii - ' • fte Expreflion- 
 of the Firft Month of the Yea v of Evil- 
 
 Merodack's Reign, 2 Kjngs \ ig"dy un- 
 
 derftood by our Interpreters 1 • fear -uohen 
 
 he begun to reign, (b the Tktot'h ?/ thl Month 
 
 is neceifarily to be understood' ot Flnft Month, 
 Chap. xl. 1. of this Prophecy. And u I iiabitants 
 of Tyre may very well be ftfpp&fed ro iniuit over 
 Jerufalem at any part of the tim : i. r Siege, 
 which they faw muft inevitably end id tjie telEing, 
 of that City. 
 
 Ver. z. She is broken that was the &af£s oft?ieVei'. c. 
 *People.~] There was a great Confluence u." { vople 
 to Jerufalem from all Parts at the folcinn f carts Df 
 
 the
 
 204 A ":.C O jg ME NTARY 
 
 Cbapoerahe .Year, Og&ft&gftgft^ -sksVi'ofetytex. Sesjoh. 
 
 L/~V?0 Ibid. £Z?* W turned unto me."] Her Wealth is 
 come into -my. Stores. Compare Ija.lx. 5. 
 
 Ibid. /yW/ £f replenified iiow0fe is I aid waff ej] 
 Tyre wis a noted Market for all forts of Trade : So 
 wl^njenijalem was taken and fackt, the Spoil of 
 the City was carried thither for fale, and probably 
 feveral of the Inhabitants being made Captives, 
 were fold there for Slaves, a Traffick the Tjrians 
 dealt in veryanucjj, Cha,p. xxvii. 1$. This Inter- 
 pretation may be confirmed by comparing it with 
 Joel iii. 4, 5, 6. where the Prophet upbraids the 
 Tynans for making Merchandise both of the Per- 
 fons and Subftance of the Jews, when they came 
 into their Hands. To the fame Purpofe we read 
 Maccab. iii. 41. that when Lyfias came with great 
 Forces to fubdue the Jews, the Merchants of the 
 Count rey took Silver and Gold and came into the 
 Camp to buy the Children of Ijrael for Slaves. 
 
 Ver. ?. Ver. $• I will caufe many Nations to come up 
 
 againft thee, as the Sea caufeth his Waves to come 
 np.l The Chaldeans and their Confederates : Com- 
 pare Jer. xxxiv. 1. li. 2,7. whom the Prophet com- 
 pares to the Waves of the Sea, which come up 
 with an irrefiftible Force : See Jer. li. 42. Armies 
 are elfewhere reprefented by an Inundation that 
 carries all before it. See Ifa. viii. 7. Dan. ix. 26. 
 xi. 22. 
 
 Ver. 4, 5. Ver. 4, 5. / will [crape her Duft from her, and 
 make her like the Top of a Rock. It Jhall be a 
 place for the ff reading of Nets in themidfi of the 
 Sea.] I will make an entire Riddance of her Buil- 
 dings, fo that not fo much as any Duft or Rubbifh 
 
 o of
 
 upon EZEKIEL. 205 
 
 of them fhall be left : Compare Ver. 1 2. and no- Chapter 
 thing fhall be feen but the Rocks upon the .Sea XXVI. 
 Shores in the place where the City formerly flood. LA^ 
 Nebuchadnezzar quite demolifhed Old Tyre, and 
 the Stones and Rubbifh of it were afterward made 
 ufe of by (Alexander to carry on a Cau fey from the 
 Continent to' the Ifland \v\\zrz f NewTyre flood, by 
 which means he took that. See Dr. Trideaux, ubi 
 ftipra. This latter City is fince fb decayed, that 
 there are rio Remains of it left, but a few Huts 
 for Fifhermen to hang out their Sk T ets a drying up- 
 on the Rocks, as it is related by Travellers 'that 
 have been upon the place. See MaundreVs Tra- 
 vels, p. 48. and Huetitts, T>emonfi. Evangel. Tr •of. 
 6.adfiwm; 
 
 Ver- 6. Her T) aught ers which are in the Field Ver. 6. 
 JJjallbe flain with the Szvord '.] By the' 'Daughters 
 of Tyre are meant the leffer Towns which were un- 
 der her Jurifditlion, as the Mother City and Seat 
 of the Kingdom. Compare Chap. xvi. 46. and 
 ^r.'xli.x. 2. 
 
 Vev. y. Nebuchadnezzar a King of KJvg : .~]\ r ev.7- 
 Who hath Kings for his Valfi's and Tributaries.' 
 See Chap. xvii. 14, 16. T)av. if. p. . The Rrr«s of 
 Terfia arTe&ed the fame Tide *>, jr.ward ; Ste Ez- 
 ra vii. 12. as the Kings .^'"^JJyria. had done be- 
 fore. Set If a. x. 8. Hot. v vi m 
 
 
 Ver. 8, 9. He flail make a F:>rt againfi thee, andVzi', 8 q 
 cafi a Mount again\c thee, &-/]■ This' ^-.prcilion 
 of a Siege properly relates to Old T -r-: wrricb flood 
 upon the Continent, and was befkged ind taken 
 by Nebuchadnezzar. 
 
 Ver. 9. (And with his (Axes he Jball break dozvnVev. 9. 
 thy'Towns.yjhQ Word we render VK# sJ -f!*nr- 
 
 fies
 
 2o6 A Commentary 
 
 Chapter fies any Inftrument ufed in demolifhing Buildings ; 
 XXVI. See the Note on Jer. xxxiii* 4. 
 
 C/VNJ Ver. 10, 11, 12. Sy reafon of the abundance of 
 his Horfes their T>u(t Jhall cover thee, &c] A live- 
 ly Defcription of the Tumult and Defolation that 
 attends a conquering Army making themfelves 
 Matters of a great City : Compare Nahum ii. 3, 4, 
 9. iii. 2, 3. 
 
 Ver. 1 1 . Ver. 1 1 . aAnd thy flrong Garrifons [hall go down 
 to the ■Ground.'] Some render the Word Matfeboth, 
 thine Images, and underftand it of the Images of 
 their Tutelar Gods. 
 
 Ver. 12. Ver. 12. They flail lay thy Stones, thy Timber, 
 and thy Duft, in the midft of the Water.] The 
 Sea fhall overflow thy Ruins : See Ver. 1 9. 
 
 Ver. 13. Ver. 1 }. &4nd I will caufe the Noij'e of thy Songs 
 to ceafe, &c] Great Cities are full of all kind of 
 Gaiety and Luxury : this fhall be turned into a 
 melancholy Silence. Compare Ifa. xiv. n. xxiii. 
 7, 16. Jer. vii. 34. xxv. 10. 
 
 Ver. 14. Ver. 14. J will make thee like the Top of a Rock, 
 thou fl alt be built no more.'} This part of the Pro- 
 phecy was fulfilled upon New Tyre, whofe Inha- 
 bitants were quite deftroyed by (Alexander when 
 he took the City, and afterward the City it felf be- 
 came defolate : See Ver. 5. 
 
 Ver. 1 5. Ver. 1 5. Shall not the Ifles Jliake at the Sound of 
 thy Fall?] All thofe that are upon the Sea Coaft 
 near thee, fhall be frightened at the New* of thy 
 Deftru&ion. Compare Chap, xxvii. 28. xxxi. 16. 
 Jer. xlix. 21. 
 
 Ver.16 17 Ver. 16, 1 7. Then all the Trinces of the Sea flail 
 come down from their Thrones, &C.3 All the Prin- 
 ces and rich Merchants of Si 'don, Carthage, and 
 
 other
 
 upon EZEKIEL. 207 
 
 other Maritime Cities that maintained a Trade Chapter 
 with Tyre, and got great Wealth by that Means : XXVI. 
 they whofe Merchants are princes, as Ifaiah fpeaks L/"V*NJ 
 of the Merchants ofTyre, Chap, xxiii. 8. Compare 
 Ver. 2, 6, io. of that Chapter : They (hall exprefs 
 a deep Senfe and Concern for her Misfortunes. 
 Compare Chap, xxvii. 30, }t, 32. xxxii. 10. Rev. 
 xviii. 1 1, 17, 19. 
 
 Ibid. Shall come down from their Thrones, and a 
 lay away their Robes.'] Such was the Behaviour of 
 the King of Niniveh at the time of his folemn Hu- 
 miliation : Jonah iii. 6. 
 
 Ibid. They (hall clothe themselves with Trembling, 
 &c] They fliall put on the Habit of Mourners, 
 and fit upon the Ground in a difconfolate Conditi- 
 on : See Job ii. 1 3. Compare Chap. vii. 17. 
 
 Ver. 1 7. The renowned City which was ftrong Ver, 1 7. 
 at Sea, 8cc] Tyre is called the Strength of the Sea, 
 Ifa. xxiii. 4. being ftrong at Sea, both by its Situ- 
 ation and the Strength of its Naval Forces, upon 
 which Account it was formidable to all that had 
 any Trading upon the Sea. 
 
 Ver. 18. Now (I) all the Ifles tremble at the Day Ver. iS. 
 of thy Fall] See Ver. 1 5. St. jerom tranflates it, 
 Now (hall the Ships tremble, &c. i. e. all Seafa- 
 ring Men: Compare Chap, xxvii. 29, 30. Ifa. 
 xxiii. 14. 
 
 Ibid. The Ifles that are in the Sea frail be troubled 
 at thy Departure.'] When thy People fliall be car- 
 ried Captive : See Ifa. x\ui. 7. 
 
 Ver. 19. When I [ball bring up the Deep upon Ver. 19. 
 thee, and great Waters flmll cover thee.] Thy 
 Walls being demolifhed, the Sea fhall come up 
 and cover thy Ruins: See Ver. 12. or eife the 
 
 E e Prophet
 
 208 A Commentary 
 
 Chapter Prophet compares the Deftruftion of Tyre to a 
 XXVI. Ship wrack : See Chap, xxvii. 26. 
 L/'V^U Ver. 20. When I fiall bring thee down with them 
 Ver. 20. that dejcend into the Tit, 8rc] When thou fhalt 
 be thrujl down into Hell, as our Saviour fpeaks con- 
 cerning Capernaum, Luke x. 15. and brought to 
 utter Defolation, like Cities which have been long 
 ago buried in Ruins and Oblivion : Compare Chap. 
 o xxxii. 18, 24. 
 
 Ibid. When I [hallfet Glory in the Land of the Li- 
 ving. - ] Compare this and the following Verfe with 
 Chap. xxxv. 14. When I fhall reftore other Cities 
 conquered by the King of "Babylon, to that flourifh- 
 ing Condition they formerly enjoyed among the 
 Inhabitants of this World : fo the Land of the Li- 
 ving fignifies — Chap, xxxii 23, 26, 27, 32. The 
 Word Tfehi is in many places appropriated to Jti- 
 dea, as being in feveral Refpetls the Glory of all 
 Lands, Chap. xx. 6. but is fometimes applied to 
 other Countries : See Chap. xxv. 9. Some Expo- 
 (itors underftand it here of Judea, to this Senfe ; 
 that when God fhould return the Captivity of the 
 Jews, and reftore them to thofe Marks of his Grace 
 and Favour, which diftinguifhed them from all 
 other Nations, and made them the neareft refem- 
 blance of Heaven that could be found upon Earth : 
 yet even then as it follows- — 
 Ver. 21. Ver. 21. J will make thee a Terror, and thou 
 fhalt be no more~\ Thou fhalt be left in utter Ru- 
 ins and Defolation, and a terrible Example of my 
 Vengeance. The Word IBalaloth which our In- 
 terpreters tranflate Terrors, is generally joined 
 with Words importing utter Deiiru&ion, and fo 
 
 the
 
 upon EZEKIEL. 
 
 209 
 
 the LXX underftood it here, and in other places of Chapter 
 this Prophecy: See Chap, xxviii. 36. xxviii. 19. XXVI. 
 and compare If a. xvii. 14. 'Pjal. ixxiii. 19. L/~\T\J 
 
 Ibid. The? thou be fought for, thouftalt never le 
 found again J] An Ex predion denoting utter De- 
 ftruflion: See Tfal. xxxvii. 36. and compare Ver. 
 5. and 14. 
 
 E e 
 
 1 
 
 ¥.
 
 2IO 
 
 A Commentary 
 
 
 Chapter 
 XXVII. 
 
 Ver. $. 
 
 CHAR XXVII. 
 
 The Argument. 
 
 The fame SubjeB is continued, where the Trofhet 
 Jetting forth the great Trade and Riches of "Tyre, 
 foretels the irrecoverable Fall thereof. 
 
 Ver. 2. Ver. 2. 
 
 fjf|| &4K,E Ufa Lamentation for 
 Tyrus.'] This alludes to the 
 mournful Ditties ufed at Fu- 
 nerals, wherein the Trafica 
 or Mourning Women, re- 
 ISSSSSSiiS counted every thing that 
 was valuable or praife- worthy belonging to the De- 
 ceafed, and then lamented his Lofs : See the Notes 
 upon Jer.h. 17, 18. In like manner thofe that 
 traded with Tyre fhould mourn over her, and be- 
 wail the Lofs of her Riches and Greatnefs : Comp. 
 Chap. xxvi. 16, 17. and fee Ver. 32. 
 
 Ver. $. Thou that art fituate at the Entry of 
 the Sea."] A Seaport fitted by Situation for carrying 
 on Trade with many Countries : See If a. xxiii. 1. 
 
 Ibid. Thou haft faid y I am of fevfeB 'Beauty.] 
 Thou haft faid in the Pride of thy Heart, (See 
 
 Chap.
 
 upon EZEKIEL. 211 
 
 Chap, xxviii. 2.) the Strength of my Navy and Chapter 
 FortrefTes are every way compleat and beautiful : XXVII. 
 SeeVer. 4, 11. and I am furnifhed with all Ac- L/V^J 
 commodations that can make me confiderable in 
 theEyes of the World. See Ver. 10, 11. andChap. 
 xxviii. 12. 
 
 Ver. 4. Thy 'Borders are in the midfl of the Ver. 4. 
 Seas.~] Taking the Words in a ft rift: Senfe, they 
 are a Defcription of New Tyre, which ftood in an 
 Ifland : Compare Chap. xxvi. 5. The Tyrians are 
 called the Inhabiters of the Ifland, Ifa. xxiii. 2. 
 But in the Hebrew Phrafe all Places are called 
 Wands which lie upon the Sea Coaft. See the Note 
 on Ifa, xi. 11. 
 
 Ibid. Thy 'Builders have -perfected thy 'Beauty. ] 
 The following Verfes fhew, that the Words are 
 chiefly to be underftood of the Buildtrs of their 
 Ships, wherein the chief Strength and Glory oi the 
 Tyrians was placed. 
 
 Yer. 5. They have made aU 0J Shi 7 ->?rds 0/Ver. 5. 
 Fir-Trees from Shenir.'] )'■■■■■■■ Decks or rhy Ships 
 were made of Firr ft: 111 £$Qunt Hermon, 
 
 called anciently Shenir . 9. 
 
 Ver. 6. The Compel \ itfis hr.ve made Yer. 6\ 
 
 thy Benches of b'r:yi\ T latoi h.-ive made 
 
 the Seats for the Rowers of Ivo y in a very coitly 
 manner. 
 
 This is the Senie qf the l -.ffe, if we follow the 
 common Reading : R'.s: ,. -jart no: without R^a- 
 fon fuppofes, that thv -V . 'Math a-Jmrim is poin- 
 ted wrong, and fhouM be read Bith-ajjharim, and 
 then the Sentence muft.be tranflated, They have 
 made thy Seats of lyti indpjed in Box, the Ex- 
 preflion being parallel to that o&Virgily ALu. 10. 
 
 —Quale
 
 212 A Commentary 
 
 Chapter 
 
 XXV II. -"Quale per artem 
 L/"VNJ inclufum buxo aut Orycia terelintho 
 Lucet ebur. 
 
 This Senfe the Chaldee follows. 
 
 Ibid. "Brought out of 'the Ifles of 'Chittim."] The 
 JJles of Chittim are the Countries lying upon the 
 Coaft of the Mediterranean Sea. See Jer. ii. 10. 
 Ver. 7. Ver. 7. Fine Linnen with broider*d Work from 
 
 Egypt was that which thou fpreadeft out for thy 
 Sail.'] Fine Linnen was one of the principal Com- 
 modities of Egypt : See 1 Kjngs x. 28. Trov. vii. 
 16. If a. xix> 9. and was an Habit ufed for Perfons 
 of the beft Quality : See Gen. xli. 42. Eft. viii. 15. 
 which fhews to what an Excefs of Vanity the Ty- 
 rians were come, to ufe fuch coftly Manufactures 
 for Sails to their Ships. Suet on in his Life of Cali- 
 gula, c. 57. reckons this among feveral Inftances 
 of that Emperor's Extravagance, that he furnifhed 
 his Pleafure-Boats with Coftly Sails and other ex- 
 penfive Ornaments. 
 
 Ibid. "Blew and Turple from the Ifles of Eliflja 
 was that which covered thee.] Blew and Purple 
 are elfewhere reckoned among thofe Colours which 
 fet off. the richeft Attire: See Exod. xxv. 4. Jer. 
 x. 9. The common Clothing of the Tyrians was 
 of thefe kinds, which were brought from the Illands 
 of the Egean Sea, particularly Coos, famed for Pur- 
 ple among Heathen Authors. Elijha denotes the 
 Countries upon the Coaft of Greece : a part of Te- 
 lopomiefus retains the Name of Elis among the 
 Greek Writers. 
 
 Ver.
 
 upon EZEKIEL. 213 
 
 Ver. 8. The Inhabitants of Zjdon and eArvad Chapter 
 were thy Mariners, &o] Thou madeft ufe of the XXVII. 
 People of other Cities and Countries, to undergo L/~s/~\) 
 the Servile Office of being Mariners or Rowers, V er « &• 
 whilft thy own Citizens pretended to the Skill of 
 Steering thy Ships, and profefled the Art of being 
 Pilots. ZJdon was a famous Seaport Town, the 
 Mother of Tyre: See the Note on If a, xxiii. 12. 
 and eArvad the fame with tArfad or eArphad, 
 2 Kjngs xviii. 33. lfa. x. 9. Jer. xlix. 23. called 
 eAradws by the Greek and Latin Authors, was an 
 Ifland and Town in the Neighbourhood of Tyre. 
 
 Ver. 9. The oAntients of Gebal were thy Gz/- Ver. o.. 
 hers.~\ Thou employeit the Inhabitants of Gebal for 
 calking thy Ships, as being remarkably skilful in 
 that Trade : Gebal w^as a Province of Thcenicia 
 near Tyre : See Tfal. lx xxiii 8. 1 Kjngs v. 1 8. The 
 LXX Interpreters fuppofe it the fame with the 
 City IBjblos, with whom agree Eufebius and St. 
 Jerom y de locis Hebraicis. 
 
 Ver. 10. They of Terfia> of Lud and T ] hut. ] Ver. 10. 
 Thy Citizens being all given to Trading, thou ma^ 
 deft ufe of Foreign Sou'diers for thine Army when 
 thy City was befieged. Lud and 'Phut are two 
 Nations elfewhere mentioned together. See Chap. 
 xxx. 5. Jer. xlvi. 9. Our Interpreters understand 
 by them in thefe two Places, the People of Libya 
 and Lydia. But Thut and Lubim being mentioned 
 asdiftintl People, Nahum iii. 9. Thut p jbably fig- 
 nifies fome part of eAfrica near Eg yj>t, and Ludot 
 Ludim, the eAbyJfines. Thefe People, tho* pAfrz* 
 cans y are joined with the Terfians 7 Chap. xxxviiL 
 
 Ibid.
 
 214- ^ Commentary 
 
 Chapter Ibid. They hanged up the Shield and Helmet in 
 XXVII. thee.'] In thy Garrifons, which they kept in time 
 L/VNJ of Peace. 
 
 Ver. 1 1. Ver. 1 1. The Men ofoArvad, (fee Ver. 8.) were 
 with thine oArmy upon the Walls round about.] 
 They defended thy Walls when they were afTault- 
 ed by the King of TSabylotfs Army : See the Note 
 upon Chap. xxvi. 8, 9. 
 
 Ibid. The Gammadims were in thy Towers.] It 
 is very uncertain what People are here meant by 
 this Name. Our learned Mr. Fuller fuppofes them 
 People of ^Phoenicia. See his MifceJJanies, Lib. vi. 
 c. 3. Ludolphm conjectures they were ^Africans, 
 in his Comment, in Hiftor. ALthiop. l.\. c. 22. The 
 Chaldee Paraphrafe takes th^m to be Cappadocians. 
 The Vulgar Latin renders the Word Tygmies : but 
 if we fhould grant there were fuch a People, as 
 Ludolphws takes a great deal of Pains to prove 
 there were, yet they would not be fit to make ufe 
 of for Soldiers. 
 
 Ibid. They have made thy ^Beauty per/eft.] See 
 Ver. 3. 
 Ver. 12. Ver. 2. Tarjbijh was thy Merchant.] Tarpifi 
 probably fignifies a Port of Spain called by the 
 Greek and Latin Authors Tartejjus, fituate not 
 far from the Place where Cadiz now ftands ; fa- 
 mous of old for Hercules Tillars, being the utmoft 
 Boundary of the Ancient Navigation. It comes 
 from thence to fignify any Merchant Adventurers 
 who Traded in the Mediterranean Sea. See the 
 Note upon If a. ii. 16. The Commodities here men- 
 tioned which thefe Merchants traded in, being the 
 Product of Spain, confirm this Expofition. 
 
 Ver.
 
 upon EZEKIEL. 215 
 
 Ver. 1 $. Javan, Tubal and Mejhech were thy Chapter 
 Merchants.] By Javan is to he underftood Greece, XXVII. 
 in which Senfe (Alexander is ftyled King of Javan iyv*\J 
 or Greece, "Dan. viii. 21*. So the LXX tranflate^ cr * l l* 
 it here, and in that place of "Daniel. And all 
 Greece, except Teloponnefus, was anciently called 
 Jonia. Tubal and Mejhech are Names ufually 
 joined together in Scripture : c Bochart fuppofes them 
 to be the fame with thofe People afterward called 
 Mojchi and Tibareni, whofe Habitation was near 
 the Euxine Sea. 
 
 Ibid. They traded in the Terfons of Men.] In 
 buying and felling Slaves in the Markets. The 
 Hebrew reads /// the Souls of Men, the Word Ne- 
 fhejh Soul, fometimes fignifying a Slave. Comp. 
 1 Chron. v. 21. Numb. xxxi. 35. Revel, xviii. 13. 
 In which Senfe fome underftand the Word Gen. 
 xii. 1 5. 
 
 Ibid. oAud FeJJels of "Brafs in thy Markets.'] 
 Criticks obferve that the Word Nehofteth, com- 
 monly tranflated "Brafs, does like wife fignify Steel, 
 and fo it is rendered by our Interpreters, Tfal. xviii. 
 34. a 'Bow of Steel is broken by my oArms. And 
 we may very well underftand it fo here, for the 
 Chalybes, a People fo called from their Steel Ma- 
 nufactures, lived near Tontus, in the Neighbour- 
 hood of the Mofchi and Tibareni ; for which Rea- 
 fon Steel is called the Northern Iron, Jer. xv. iz. 
 
 Ver. 14. They of the Houfe of Togarmah trade ^ Ver. 14. 
 in thy Fairs.] By Togarmah 'Bochart underftands 
 Cappadocia: The LXX read the Word ®o§jafJ, 
 Gen. x. 14. which comes near in Sound to Trogma 
 oxTrocma, 3. part ofCappadocia. 
 
 F f Ver.
 
 2l6 ^COxMMENTARY 
 
 Chapter Ver. 15. The Men of Tie dan were thy Mer- 
 XXV II. chants."] The fame learned Perfon diftinguifheth 
 \y~\T\} this Tie dan from that mentioned Ver. 20. this lat- 
 Ver. 15. ter was of aAbraham 's PoRerity, whereas T>edan 
 here fpoken of, was derived from that Dedan 
 mentioned Gen. x. 7. the Son of Raamah or Reg- 
 ma. The Pofterity of this 'Dedan is probably pla- 
 ced near the Ver fan Gulph, where there was a Ci- 
 ty called afterwards Rhegma : and fo is fitly joined 
 with many Iflands, or Countries lying upon the 
 Sea Coaft, which are ufually called I/lands in the 
 Hehrew Phrafe : See the Note on If a. xi. 1 1. 
 
 Ibid, Many Ifles were the Merchandife of thy 
 Handy &c] Thofe Countries exported thy Manu- 
 factures, the Wares of thy making, as they are cal- 
 led in the following Verfe : and by way of Re- 
 turn for them, brought thee in Ivory and other 
 Rarities from India, whither they traded. They 
 brought thefe for a Trefent, fays our Tranflation, 
 or rather by way of Price or Return for the Com- 
 modities exported. The Noun EJhear commonly 
 fignifies a Prefent or Gift, but it is near in Sound 
 to the Word Sacar, that fignifies a Price or Re- 
 ward, and Words of fuch near Affinity are often 
 ufed in a promifcuous Senfe. See the Note upon 
 Jer. xxiii. 59. Chap. xx. 37. xxix. 7. and xxxvi. 
 15. of this Prophecy. 
 Ver. 16. Ver. 16. Syria was thy Merchant,^ &c] TheSy- 
 rians imported into thy Haven precious Stones,and 
 all forts of curious Apparel, in lieu of which they 
 carried abroad the Wares of thy own making. 
 Ver. 17. Ver. 17. They traded in thy Market Wheat of 
 Minith, &c] Thefe were the Commodities which 
 the Jews imported to Tyre, chiefly the neceflary 
 
 Pro-
 
 upon EZEKIEL. 217 
 
 Provifions for Food; the Tyrians having none of Chapter 
 their own Growth, the Jews fupplied them there- XXVII. 
 with, from their own, or the neighbouring Coun- L/"\"\J 
 tries. See i Kjngs v. 9, 1 1 . Ezra iii. 7. <&Ads xii. 
 10. 
 
 Ibid. Wheat ofMinnith.~] This was a place be- 
 longing to the <*Ammonites, See Jttdg. xi. 33. noted 
 for excellent Wheat, great Quantities of which the 
 Jews brought to Tyre. 
 
 Ibid. With Tannag.~] A Word never elfewhere 
 to be found : fuppofed by fome to be the Name of 
 a place ; by others more probably taken for fome 
 rich Ointment or Gum. 
 
 • Ibid. oAnd t Balm.~\ For which Gilead was fa- 
 mous : See Jer.viu. ii. There were Balfam-trees 
 about Jericho too, which Jofefhus defcribes, aAn- 
 tiq. /. 4. c. 6. and de TBello Jud. I. 5. c. 4. tho' fome 
 doubt whether that Balfam were the fame with the 
 Balm of 'Gilead. 
 
 Ver. 18. In the Wine of Helbon.] Helbon is fup- Ver. 18. 
 pofed the fame part of Syria which is called Chaly- 
 bonitis by Ttolewy. 
 
 Ibid. oAnd white Wool.'] The Word Tfachar is 
 never met with but here, and Judg. v. 10. where 
 our Tranflation reads White aAjJes. "Bochart ex- 
 plains the Word here to fignify Wool of a bright 
 Purple Colour, from the oArabick ufe of it. So 
 Turfureus in Latin is ufed for a bright Colour m 
 Virgil, JEn. 1. Lutnenque juvent* Turptreum. — 
 The LXX and Chaldee render it Wool from Mile- 
 tus, a place famous for that Commodity. 
 
 Ver. 19. "Dan alfo and Java ft, going to and fro,Vev. ig. 
 &c] By T>an St. Jerom underftands the Town 
 which was afterwards called Qafarea Philipfi, be- 
 
 F f 2 longing
 
 2i8 ^Commentary 
 
 Chapter longing to the Tribe of Dan, which was near 
 XXVII. Tyre: whereas Java?*, whirh likewife traded with 
 
 L/*V*N-J Tyre, lay further off. This is the Senfe of the 
 Words, if we follow the common Tranflation, but 
 *Bochart thinks the Words might be better t ran da- 
 ted, Dan alfo and Javan coming from Uzal occu- 
 pied in thy fairs : to diftinguifh this Javan which 
 he fuppofes to be in the Southern part of oArabia, 
 from Greece, more commonly called by that Name. 
 See Ver. i $. In conformity to this Interpretation, 
 the Copies of the LXX which we have now, read 
 from oAjel : tho' St. jerom informs us, that the 
 former part of the Verfe was wanting in the Sef- 
 tuaginty and fupplied from Theodotion's. Tranfla* 
 tion. 
 
 Ibid. 'Bright Iron [i. e. Steel] and Calamus were 
 in thy Market^ Bochart confirms the foregoing 
 Interpretation from hence, that thofe of javan are 
 faid to deal in Aromatick Gums, which are known 
 not to grow in Greece, but in ^Arabia. 
 
 Ver. 20. Ver. 20. Dedan was thy Merchant, .] This is pro- 
 bably to be underftood of the Pofterity of that De- 
 dan who was oAbrahaw's Grandfon : See Ver. 1 5. 
 and Chap. xxv. 1 $. 
 
 Ver. 21. Ver. 21. oArabia and all the Trinces of Kfdar 
 they occupied with thee."] The Hebrew reads, They 
 were the Merchants of thy Hand : i. e. they took 
 off thy Manufactures (fee Ver. 1 5.) in exchange for 
 Cattle, in which their Subftance did chiefly con- 
 fift : See If a. lx. 7. Kjdar is a Countrey in oAra- 
 lia, often mentioned in Scripture, which received 
 its Name from Kfdar 7 IfhmaePs Son, who fettled 
 there. Gen. xxv. 15. 
 
 Ver.
 
 upon EZEKIEL. 219 
 
 Ver. 22. The Merchants ofSheba and Raamah.~\ Chapter 
 Thefe were People ofaArabia Felix, dwelling near XXVII. 
 the Terfian Gulph : See Ver. 1 5. and Chap, xxiii. U^V^SJ 
 42. They traded in the rich Produces of their own Ver. 22t 
 Countrey, which were Spices, precious Stones,and 
 Gold. Compare 1 KJngs x. 2, u. Tfal. lxxii. 1 5. 
 Ifa. Ix. 6. 'Bochart places Ophir fo famous for Gold, 
 in ^Arabia Felix . See his Thaleg, I. n. c. 27. 
 
 Ver. 23. Haran and Canneh and Eden.~] Haran y^. 2 i. 
 is the place where oAbraham dwelt when he came 
 out from Ur of the Chaldees, Gen. xi. $ 1 . called 
 Charr* by the Romans, and noted for the Defeat of 
 CrajJ'tit. Canneh fome fuppofe to be the fame 
 place that is called Calneh, aAmos vi. 2. or Calno, 
 Ifa. x. 9. a City near Euphrates. Others take it 
 for Ctefiphon, a noted City fituate upon the River 
 Tigris. Eden is join'd with Haran, 2 KJngs xix. 
 12. as it is here. Huetius fuppofes Taradrfe was 
 called the Garden of Eden, from the Name of the 
 Countrey where it was placed, which was where 
 the two Rivers Tigris and Euphrates meet. See 
 hisTradt, DefituTaradiJi, c. 2. n.j. 
 
 Ibid. The Merchants of Sheba.~] There were 
 two Shebd'-s, as there were two ^Dedans : one de- 
 fcended from Ramuab, Gen. \. 7. the other from 
 Jockjhan, ^Abraham's Son, Gen. xxv. 3. As the 
 T , enty fecond Verfe is explained of the former, 
 fo the latter may be underftood here : They were 
 both Inhabitants of oArabia. 
 
 Ibid. Qhilmitd^ Both the Chaldee and LXX ex- 
 plain this by Qarmania. 
 
 Ver. 24.' In Che ft s of rich oApparel.'] The Word Ver. 24* 
 in the Original translated Chejis, is Ginze, which 
 is elfe where render'd Treasuries; See 1 Chron. 
 
 xxviii.
 
 220 A Comment ar y 
 
 Chapter xxviii. n. Eft. iii. 9. From which Word the La- 
 
 XXVII. tin Gaza is derived. 
 
 lyV^O Ibid. 'Bound with Cords, and made of Cedar.~\ 
 Carefully packed up in Chefts of Cedar to give 
 thefe Clothes a fine Scent, and preierve them from 
 Putrefaction. 
 
 Ver. 25. Ver. 25. The Ships ofTarfiifi didfing of thee in 
 thy Market^ Ships ofTarfiifh fignify fbmetimes in 
 Scripture any Trading or Merchant Ships, See the 
 Note on Ija.i'u \6. and here I take it in this gene- 
 ral Senfe : The Prophet having already reckon'd 
 up the principal Countries which Traded with 
 Tyre, now adds in comprehenfive Terms, that all 
 Merchant Adventurers fung or fpake great things 
 of her Riches, or as the Word Sharoth may be ren- 
 der'd, They ruled or governed in thy Markets. 
 Ibid. In the midft of the Seas'] See Ver. 4. 
 
 Ver. 26. Ver. 26. Thy Rowers have brought thee into 
 great Waters.'] The Prophet compaies the Condi- 
 tion of Tyre befieged by the Enemy, to a Ship over- 
 fet by the Winds, and juft ready to fink under Wa- 
 ter. See the like Comparifon I fa. xxxiii. 23. Great 
 Numbers are fometimes fignified by great Waters : 
 See Tfal. xviii. 16. cxliv. 7. Jer. li. 42. 
 
 Ibid. The Eaft Wind hath broken thee in the 
 midft of the Seas.~] As the Violence of the Eaft 
 Wind occafions many Shipwracks in the Sea, See 
 Tfal. xlviii. 7. fo the Chaldean Army, compared 
 elfewhere to an Eaft Wind, fhall ruin thy Strength 
 and Glory, and leave thee like a Wrack eaft upon 
 the Shore : Compare Chap. xvii. 10. xix. 12. 
 
 Ver. 27. Ver. 27. Shall fall into the midft of the Seas.~] 
 Shall be as utterly ruined and deftroyed, as if they 
 were funk in a Shipwrack. See Chap. xxvi. 5, 14, 
 
 21.
 
 upon EZEKIEL. 221 
 
 fii. Or fhall be killed in a Sea Fight while they Chapter 
 defend the City. See the following Verfe, and XXVII. 
 Chap. xxix. 8. iyV"SJ 
 
 Ver. 28. The Suburbs flail fljakeatthe found of Ter. 28. 
 the Cry of thy Tilots.] The Cry of thy Wounded 
 Seamen {hall make the Inhabitants of the Suburbs 
 fliake for Fear, Chap. xxvi. 1 5. 
 
 Ver. 29. e/tf// that handle the Oar-— fljall come Ver. 29. 
 $fc#* //•*>» £jbf£r Ships, &x.] Sea- fa ring Men find- 
 ing no Encouragement to follow their Employ- 
 ment, now thy Traffick is deftroyed, fhall lay 
 afide their Trade and mourn over thee : Compare 
 Chap. xxvi. -6. 
 
 Ver. 30. They fljallcaufe their Voice to le heard 'Ver. 30. 
 again/} thee.'] Or rather, over thee, as the LXX 
 and Vulgar Latin tranflate it : in which Senfe the 
 Prepofition Nal is taken where Perfons are faid to 
 mourn over the Dead, or the calamitous: See 
 Chap, xxviii. 12. 1 Kjngs xiii. 30. Hoi. x. 5. 
 
 Ibid. oAnd fljall caft Dufl upon their Heads, they 
 
 fljall wallow them/elves in %be zAfhes.] Expreffions 
 
 of the deepeft Mourning '^.d Lamentation. See 
 
 1 Sam. hi. 12. Johil 12. Revel, xviih 19. Jerem. 
 
 vi. 26. 
 
 Ver. 31. <And they fljall maize tbeptfeltfes utterly Vev.iU. 
 laid for 'thee.'] Another Expreffion of publick Sor- 
 row: See Je*\ xfrii. k. Mich. i. 16. 
 
 Ver. 32. g/4,7.</ /> their Wailing they /hall take up Ver. 32,. 
 Lamentation for thee, &:c] The Words allude 
 to the publick Lamentations made at Funerals. See 
 the Notes upon jkr.ix. 17, 18. xxii. 18. andcom-- 
 pare Rev. xviii. 1 8. 
 
 Vte.
 
 222 A Commentary 
 
 Chapter Ver. $4. When thou JJjalt he broken by the Seas 
 XXVII. hi the Depth of the Waters. 2 See Ver. z6, 27. and 
 cyv - *^ Chap. xxvi. iy. xx:ix. 8. 
 
 Ver. $4. Ver. 35. eAll the Merchants of the IJles flail be 
 Ver. 35* aftojiijhed at thee, &c.] See Chap. xxvi. 15, 16. 
 Ver. 36. Ver. 36. Thy Merchants among the TeopJe Jhall 
 hifs at thee.'] By way of infulting and Derifion, See 
 1 Kjngs ix. 8. As Men are apt to defpife thofe in 
 Adverfity, whom they courted and refpeded in 
 Profperity. But the Chaldee Tarafhrafe renders 
 it, They Jhall be aftomjhed ; and this Senfe agrees 
 better with the Lamentations of the Sea faring Men 
 mentioned in the foregoing Verfes. 
 
 Ibid. Thou fialt be a Terror, &c.] See Chapter 
 xxvi. 21. 
 
 CHAP-
 
 upon EZEKIEL. 
 
 223 
 
 ♦ * * * ♦ * ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ •* ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ** ♦♦ -#■,*• ♦ ^ * * * * ♦ 
 
 ♦ *•******* *>*<♦**<*♦*•*•******•*>***• 
 
 CHAR XXVIII. 
 
 The Argument. 
 
 /;/ this Chapter the Trophet denounces God?s Judg- 
 ments againft the KJng 0/Tyre, for his Tride 
 and Infolence : He likewife for et els the r De[iru- 
 Hi on of Sid on, and that the Judgments threat- 
 tied upon thofe and other Heathen Countries, 
 Ammon, Moab, £§c. fiall in the End turn to 
 the "Benefit of God's Teople. 
 
 Chapter 
 XXVIII. 
 
 Ver. 2. B loAT to the Trince of Tyrus.] Ver. £ 
 
 Whofe Name was Ithobalus, 
 according to the Thenician 
 Annals, Extracts out of which 
 may be feen in Jofephus, Lib. 
 1. Contr. oAppion. p. 1046. 
 
 Ibid. I am a God, I fit in the Seat of God y in 
 the midft of the Seas.~\ Some Princes have been fo 
 Extravagant as to affect Divine Honours : This 
 feems to have been the Temper of this Vain 
 Man. The Words are an infolent Boaft of felf- 
 
 G g fuffi-
 
 224 A Commentary 
 
 Chapter fufficiency, as if he had faid, I fear none, nor 
 XXVIII. ftand in need of any : I am feated in a Place of 
 O^VNJ impregnable Strength : T s lur round me that 
 
 no Enemy can affinlt me- So they reprefent the 
 Excelftve Pride and Carnal Security of this Prince, 
 who trufted in his own Strength, and forgot his 
 Dependance upon God. The fame Crime was in 
 like manner punifhed in the King of Egypt, Chap. 
 xxix. $. and afterward in Nebuchadnezzar himfelfj 
 Dan.iv. 30,51. So '"'Babylon is reprefented as 
 afcribing ielf-fufficiency to her felf, and faying in 
 her Heart, / am, and there is none elfe befides me, 
 Jfa. lvii. 10. 
 
 Ibid. In the midfi of the Seas. 2 See Chapter 
 xxvii. 4. 
 
 Ibid. Yet thou art a Man, and not God.~\ A 
 weak Mortal Man : an unequal Match for the 
 King of 'Babylon's Forces ; See Ver. 9. and Ifa. 
 xxxi. 3. 
 Ver. ?. Ver. 3. 'Behold thou art wifer than Daniel. 1 ] 
 
 The Fame of Daniel's Wifdom was quickly fpread 
 over Chaldea, upon his being advanced to feveral 
 Polls of Honour and Dignity by Nebuchadnezzar. 
 See Dan. u. 48. fo here the Prophet in an Ironical 
 Manner upbraids the vain Boafts which the 
 Prince of Tyre made of his Wifdom, and the Poli- 
 cy of thofe about him, as if it exceeded the En- 
 dowments of Daniel, fo famous, though a Young 
 Man, for his Skill in the feveral Parts of Know- 
 lege, and the Arts of Government. The Thenici- 
 ans of whom the Tyrians were a Colony, (fee the. 
 Note on Ifa. xxiii. 1 2.) valued themfelves for their 
 Wifdom and Ingenuity, as being the Inventers of 
 
 Navi-
 
 upon EZEKIEL. 225 
 
 Navigation, of Letters and Sciences. Comp. Zjch. Chapter 
 
 ix. 2. xxvin. 
 
 Ver. 4. With thy Wifdoni and thy under fanding L/"V"\J 
 thou haft gotten thee Riches, &c] Thy Skill in Ycr -4- 
 Navigation and Trade has encreafed thy Wealth ; 
 See Ver. 5. and Zjch. ix. 3. 
 
 Ver. 7. 'Behold, I will bring Strangers tffony 
 thee, the terrible of the Nations.'] The Babyloni- ' ' ' 
 d»x, who by their Conquefts have made them- 
 felves terrible to all the Countries round about 
 them : See Chap. xxx. 11, 12. 
 
 Ibid. They pall draw their Swords againfi the 
 Terfetlion of thy Beauty.] They {hall Deface 
 and Deftroy every thing which thou valuer!: as Or- 
 namental, or Ufeful. Comp. Ver. 12. 
 
 Ver. 8. Thou flj alt die the 'Deaths of them thatYer.S. 
 are flaw in the midft of the Seas."] Thou and 
 thy Mariners fhall be (lain in a Sea-Fight, or fhall 
 be deftroyed as thofe that are fwallowed by the 
 Sea in a Temper!:. See Chap.xxvi. 15. xxvii. 27, 
 28, 34. 
 
 Ver. 9. Wilt thou yet fay to him that flay eth thee, y er> « 
 / am as God?] Mortality will certainly convince 
 thee of thy Folly in pretending to Divinity. 
 Compare Chapter xxxii. 19. So Tint arch tells us 
 of (Alexander, that he vainly affe&ed to be 
 thought Jufiterh Son, and next in Honour to 
 'Bacchut and Hercules: yet when he faw the 
 Blood run out of a Wound he had received, 
 which at the fame time gave him much Pain, he 
 confefs'd that was not fuch Blood as Homer faid tf- 
 fued from the Immortal Gods : Lib. 2. T>e n/Lkx- 
 andri Fortima. 
 
 Ggi Ver.
 
 226 A Commentary 
 
 Chapter Ver. 10. Thou [halt die the "Death of the Uncir- 
 XXVIII. cumcifed."] Thou {halt die by fuch a remarkable 
 
 l^v~NJ Judgment as God ufually infli&s, upon Notori- 
 
 Ver. io. ous Offenders: thou (halt come to the fame 111 
 End as befals the other Enemies of God and of 
 his Truth. Compare Chap. xxxi. 18. xxxii. 19, 
 2,1, 23, 24, &rc. Circumcilion being the Rite 
 which diftinguifhed God's People from the Hea- 
 then, JJncir cumcifed is equivalent in Senfe to 
 "Wicked or Profane. So the Chaldee Paraphrafe 
 renders it here, Thou fljalt die the "Death of tho. 
 Wicked, and to the fame purpofe again Chap. xxxi. 
 18. In the fame Senfe we are to underftand that 
 Expreflion, Levit. xxvi. 41. If their Uncircum- 
 clfed Heart he humbled, and thofe of Jeremy, 
 Chap. vi. 10. Their Ear is uncir cumcifed: And Chap. 
 ix. 26. The Houfe of Ifrael is uncir cumcifed in their 
 Heart. 
 
 Ver. 12. Ver. 12. Take up a Lamentation upon the Kjng 
 of Tyru*.] See Chap. xxvii. \i. 
 
 Ibid. Thoufealefi up the full Sum of Wifdom and 
 perfeH TSeauty.-^ In thine own Opinion thou art 
 the perfect Pattern of Wifdom, and all other Ex- 
 cellencies : Compare Ver. 7. The Expreflion is 
 taken from VefTels and other Repositories, which 
 when they are full, ufed to be fealed up in order to 
 the preferving of what is contained in them : See 
 "Deut. xxxii. 4. Job xiv. 17. The LXX and VuU 
 gar Latin render the former Part of the Verfe,. 
 Thou art the Seal of Likenefs, i. e. Thou art the 
 Image of God, or an Exact Impreflion taken 
 from that great Copy. The following Verfe fhews 
 that the Expreflion alludes to e/Ldam, when he 
 
 was 
 V
 
 upon EZEKIEL. 227 
 
 was firft created, and came pure out of the Chapter 
 Hands of his Maker. And then the following XXVIII. 
 "Words in this Verfe are to be tranflated, Full ofL/ST^) 
 Wijdom, and per/eft in 'Beauty : An exa£r. De- 
 fcription of the State of Innocence. The Word 
 Tacnith is tranflated Tattern, Chap, xliii. 10. of 
 this Prophecy, and fo it fignifies Exod. xxx. $z. 
 to which Senfe the Targum there explains it : 
 But our Tranflation renders it Compqfition. 
 
 Ver. i}. Thou haft heen in Eden, the Garden ofVei'. ij. 
 God.l As thy Situation was pleafant, fo thou waft 
 plentifully fupplied with every Thing that could 
 contribute to make thy Life pleafant and Happy. 
 A State of Paradife does in common Speech de- 
 note a Condition every way Complete and Hap- 
 py. See Ifa. li. 3. But this Expreflion as well as 
 the whole Context alludes to the Complete Hap- 
 pinefs which aAdam enjoyed in Paradife before his 
 Apoftacy and fearful Fall. 
 
 Ibid. Every freciom Stone was thy Covering, 
 &c. ] Like a great Prince or Monarch, thy 
 Crown was adorned with the choiceft Jewels, and 
 thou waft arrayed with Royal Robes, enriched 
 with Gold and Precious Stones of all forts.The Stone 
 probably alludes to the Precious Stones which 
 were placed in the High Priefts Breaftplate, as the 
 next Verfe alludes to the Cherubims over the 
 Mercy-Seat. Accordingly the LXX enlarge the 
 Number of the Stones here mentioned from 
 Nine to Twelve, and place them in the fame 
 Order in which they are ranked, Exodus xxviiL 
 17, 8cc. 
 
 Ibid,
 
 228 A Commentary 
 
 Chapter Ibid. The Worhnanflnf of thy Tabrets, and of 
 XXVIII. thy Tzpes, was prepared in thee [or for thee] in 
 IS~V~\) the Day thou waft created."] The higheft Ex- 
 preflions of Joy, fuch as are the founding of all 
 forts of Mufical Inftruments, ufhered thee into the 
 World, according to the ufual Practice at the Birth 
 of Great Princes, and ever fince thou haft been 
 brought up in the choicer!: Delicacies, which a 
 Royal Palace or a Luxurious City could furnifh. 
 See Chap xxvi. 13. Ija.xiv. 11. 
 Ver. 14. Ver. 14. Thou art the anointed Cherub that 
 covereth.] Anointing is the Ceremony wherewith 
 Kings are Inaugurated ; fo the Prophet compares 
 the Prince of Tyre to a Ruling or Principal Che- 
 ruby one of the chief of the Angelical Order, who 
 attend upon God in Heaven, and are reprefented 
 by the Cherubims in the Temple overfhadowing 
 the Mercy Seat. To this Senfe St. Jerom tran- 
 flates it, The extended Cherub that covereth : i. e. 
 whofe Wings were ft retched out to cover the 
 Mercy Seat : See Exod. xxv. 20. reading Memuf- 
 fiak inftead of Mimjhak. The Words allude to 
 the High Advancement of Satan in Heaven, be- 
 fore his Fall, where he was placed in one of the 
 Higheft Orders of Angels, fuch as were neareft in 
 Attending upon the Divine Majefty. So Ifaiatfs 
 Defcription of the Fall of the King of "Babylon 
 does plainly allude to the Downfal of Satan out of 
 Heaven : Ifa. xiv. 12, &c. 
 
 Ibid. Thou waft upon the Holy Mountain of 
 God.] The Temple is often ftyled God's Holy 
 Mountain, fee Chap. xx. 45. and the Temple be- 
 ing the Place of God's peculiar Refidence, is now 
 
 and
 
 upon EZEKIEL. 229 
 
 and then put for Heaven it (elf, fee Tfal. xi. 4/ Chapter 
 xviii. 6. Jonah if. 7. So the Phrafe denotes that XXVIII. 
 this Prince might be compared to the Cherubims i/"VNJ 
 overfhadowing the Mercy-Seat, or the Angels 
 whoftood before the Throne of God, typified by 
 the Cherubims in the Temple: The Expreflions 
 ftill alluding to the high Station of Satan before his 
 Apoftacy. 
 
 Ibid. Thou haft walked up and down in the midft 
 of the Stones of Fire.'] Thy Dominion was in 
 the upper Region of the Sky, where Halftones 
 and Lightning are formed ; or as Tertullian Pa- 
 raphrafes the Expreflion, Lib. 2. Contr. Marcion. 
 cap. io. Inter gemmantes fiderum radios demora- 
 tws : Thou hadft thy abode among glittering Stars : 
 as the Angels are fometimes called : See Job xxxviiu 
 7. If a. xiv. 1 3. 
 
 Ver. 15. Thou waft ferfeB in thy Ways tillVQv. 1$, 
 
 Iniquity was found in thee.'] An exa£t Defcription 
 of the Angelical Purity in which the Devi! was 
 created, and in which he continued till being lift- 
 ed up with Pride, he fell from his firfb Eftate. 
 
 Ver. 1 6. 'By the Multitude of thy Mc\rchandife, Ver. 1 6, 
 they have filled the midft of thee with Violence. 
 8rc] Thy Skill in Trading hath degenerated i. to 
 Violence, Cheating and Extortion; for which I 
 will degrade thee from the Honour of being near- 
 ly related to me, as my IVSinitfer and the Executor 
 of my Commands, by whi.h thou d'tfft: refemble 
 the Dignity of the Angeiick Order. Sec Ver. 14. . 
 
 Ver. 17. Thine ffeart was Uftt,. trpbecattfe c^Ver. 17,. 
 thy "Beauty.] Compare Ver. 9, 13. Chap. xxxi. 
 1 o. So the Devil was lifted ug with Triae up- 
 on
 
 230 A Commentary 
 
 Chapter on the Account of his Perfections : See 1 Tim. 
 
 XXVIII. iii 6. 
 
 L/"V\J Ibid. Thou haft corrupted thy Wifdom by reafon 
 of thy 'Brightness.'] That height of Glory and 
 Authority to which I had advanced thee, has per- 
 verted thy Judgment, and made thee abufe thy 
 Wifdom to Craft and Deceit. SeeVer. 16. 
 
 Ibid. / will lay thee before Kings-) that they may 
 behold thee.] I will make thee a Spectacle to other 
 Princes, expofe thee as a miferable Object before 
 their Eyes, that thou mayeit be an Example to 
 them to deter them from the like Practices. See 
 Chap. xvi. 41. xxiii. 48. xxxi. 14. 
 
 Ver. 18. Ver. 18. Thou haft defiled thy Sanffuaries by the 
 Multitude of thine Iniquities, Sec] The Word 
 Mikdajf) does fometimes fignify a Palace, in which 
 Senfe it is probably taken aAmos viii. 1 $. where 
 our Tranflation renders it the Kjngs Chaff el : thus 
 Bifhop Tatrick underftands it, Exod. xxv. 8. where 
 the Englijh reads, Let them make me a SanBuary, 
 but it may probably mean a Palace : for God com- 
 manded himfelf to be ferved and attended upon in 
 the Tabernacle, as a King is in his Court. The 
 Cherubims were his Throne, the Ark his Footftool, 
 the Altar his Table, and therefore called by that 
 Name, Chap. xli. 22. Malac.i.j. the Priefts his 
 Attendants, and the Shew-bread and Sacrifices his 
 Provifions. Thus the Word may moft probably be 
 taken here to this Senfe : that fince their Palaces 
 and ftately Buildings are filled with the Iniquity and 
 Injuftice which they have practifed in their Trade 
 and Commerce, therefore God will utterly deftroy 
 them by Nebuchadnezzar, who reduced the whole 
 
 City
 
 upon EZEKIEL. 231 
 
 City to an Heap of Afhes and Rubbifh, which Chapter 
 ^Alexander afterward made ufe of to make a Bank XXVIII. 
 or Caufey, by means of which he afTaulted the L/*V NJ 
 New City of Tyre and took it. See Dr. Trideaux, 
 Part 1. p. 484. If we follow the common Tranfla- 
 tion, it imports a Denunciation of God's Judg- 
 ments for filling their idolatrous Temples with Ri- 
 ches and Prefents gotten bylnjuftice. So God of- 
 ten punifhes the Contempt of Religion in general 
 in thofe who are miftaken in their own way of 
 Worfhip. 
 
 Ver. 19. ThouJJjalt be a Terror ', &c] Sec Chap. Ver. ig. 
 xxvi. 21. 
 
 Ver. 21. Set thy Face again/1 Zjdon, &rcO Di-Ver. 21. 
 reel thy Face and thy Speech towards ZJdon, See 
 Chap. vi. 2. and foretel its Deftrudtion by the King 
 of 'Babylon: See Chap, xxxii. 30. Jer. xxv. 22. 
 xlviii. 4. Tyre and Si don were Neighbours and 
 Partakers of the fame Fate both in Profperity and 
 Adverfity. Si don was afterwards utterly deftroy- 
 ed by Ochus King ofTerfia. 
 
 Ver. 22. J will be glorified in the midft of f/w, Ver. 22. 
 &c] I will make my Power and Juftice known by 
 the Judgments I will execute upon thee. In the 
 fame SenfeGod faith Exod. xiv. 17. 1 will get me 
 Honour upon Tharaoh: where the Word in the 
 Original is the fame. 
 
 Ibid. <And will be fantlifiedin her. 2 God is faid 
 to be fan&ifled in thofe for whofe Prefervation or 
 DeftruQion he exerts his Power in a remarkable 
 Manner, Compare Ver. 25. and fee Chap. xx. 41. 
 
 H h Ver.
 
 232 ^Commentary 
 
 Chapter Ver. 23. aAnd I will fend unto her Tefi Hence 
 XXVIII. and "Blood into her Streets.'] The Peftilence which 
 tyVNJ often accompanies long Sieges, fhall deftroy her In- 
 Ver. 23. habitants as well as the Sword. See Chap. v. 12. 
 
 xxxviii. 22. 
 Ver. 24. Ver. 24. eAnd there flail he no more a pricking 
 "Briar unto the Houfe of Jfrael, &-c] My People 
 fhall dwell in their Land quietly and fecurely,when 
 the reft of their ill Neighbours are deftroyed : who 
 were a continual Vexation to them, and as fo ma- 
 ny Thorns in their Sides. Compare Numb, xxxiii. 
 55. Jofb. xxiii. 13. So a Thorn in the Flefl z Cor. 
 xii. 7. fignifies a cruel Enemy or Perfecutor, as ap- 
 pears by comparing that place with the Context, 
 Ver. 9, 10. The following Verfe fhews, that this 
 Promife chiefly relates to the General Reftauration 
 of the Jews, when all the Enemies of God's Church 
 and Truth are vanquifhed and fubdued* often de- 
 noted in the Prophetical Writings, by the Names 
 of Edom, Moab) and other Neighbouring Coun- 
 tries, who upon all Occafions fhewed their Spite 
 and ill Will againft the Jews. See the Note upon 
 Chap, xxxviii. 17. and upon Ifa. xi. 14. and com- 
 pare Jer. xii. 14. with this place. 
 Ver. 25. Ver. 25. When 1 flail have gathered the Houfe 
 of Ifrael from among the Teofle among whom they 
 were /battered, 8cc] This, if we follow the literal 
 Senfe of the Words, is a plain Prophecy of the ge- 
 neral Reftoration of the Jews and their Return in- 
 to their own Land, as will appear, by comparing 
 the Words with the Parallel Texts in this Prophet, 
 via,. Chap. xi. 17. xx. 38, 41. xxxiv. 13. xxxvi. 
 24. xxxvii. 12, 14, 21, 25. xxxix. 27. and the Rules 
 
 laid
 
 upon EZEKIEL. 233 
 
 laid down concerning the Divifion of the Land Chapter 
 among the Twelve Tribes, Chap, xlvii, and xlviii, XXVIII. 
 do very much favour this Interpretation. Compare L/~V^O 
 Ifa. Ixv. 9, 10. Jer. xxx. 18. xxxii. 41. in which 
 Prediction moft of the other Prophets agree w ith 
 him : See the Note on Ifa. xi. 1 1. 
 
 Ibid. oAnd flail be fanBified in them.} See Ver. 
 22. and Chap, xxxvi. 2$. 
 
 Ver. 26. <And they flail dwell fafely therein^} yer. 26. 
 This denotes outward Peace and Freedom from the 
 Annoyance of Enemies. Compare Chap, xxxvi. 
 28. xxxvi ti, 11. Jer. xxiii. 6. 
 
 Ibid. oAnd Jhalt build Houfes and plant Vine- 
 yards.'} Building and planting are commonly join* 
 ed together. Compare Ifa. Ixv. 21. Jer. xxxi. 4, 5. 
 eAmos ix. 14. 
 
 Ibid. When I flail have executed Judgments ufon 
 all thofe that deffifed them.} See Ver. 24. The 
 Prophets conclude their Threatnings againft Infi- 
 dels with gracious Promifes to God's People, imply- 
 ing, that he will not make an utter Destruction of 
 them as of other People, but referve a Remnant to 
 whom he may fulfil his Promifes made to their Fa- 
 thers. Compare Jer. xlvi. 27, 28. 
 
 Hh 2 CHAR
 
 234 
 
 ^Commentary 
 
 Chapter 
 XXIX. 
 
 Ver. ?. 
 
 CHAP. XXIX 
 
 The Argument. 
 
 In this and the three following Chapters, is foretold 
 the Conqueft of Egypt by Nebuchadnezzar, 
 which came to pafs in the Third Tear of Nebu- 
 chadnezzar'-f Reign, which was the Twenty fe- 
 venth c/Jehoiakin'j Captivity : See Ver. ij.'This 
 was the fame Judgment upon Egypt which was 
 foretold by Jeremiah, Chap, xlvi. i j, &c. 
 
 Ver. 2- V er. 2- 
 
 ETtby Face [See Chap. vi. 2.3 
 againft Tharaoh Kjng of £- 
 gyptj] Tharaoh being a com- 
 mon Name to all the Kings 
 of Egypt, this Prince was 
 called Tharaoh Hophra, by 
 
 way of Diftin£tion by Jeremy, Chap. xlvi. 30. and 
 
 oApries by Herodotus, 
 
 Ver. $. The great "Dragon that lies in the midft 
 
 of his Rivers,'} The Word Tannim fignifies any 
 
 great
 
 upon EZEKIEL. 235 
 
 great Fifh, fuch as a Whale, as it is tranflated Chapter 
 Chap, xxxii. 2. where it is applied to the fame Sub- XXIX. 
 je£t as here. See the Note on If a. xxvii. 1. *Bo- L^VNJ 
 chart in his Hierozoicon, lib. 5. c. 16, 18. not im- 
 probably underftands it here of a Crocodile, (See 
 the following Note) a Fifh in a manner peculiar to 
 the River Nile, to which he likens the King of 
 Egypt, becaufe he valued himfelf fo much upon his 
 Dominion over that River. The fame learned 
 Author obferves, that the Word Tharaoh fignifies 
 a Crocodile in. the oArabick Tongue. The Kings 
 of Egypt are elfewhere compared to Whales or fome 
 fuch great Fifhes, fporting themielves in the Wa- 
 ters, and exercifing a fort of Dominion over the lef« 
 fer Fry : See Tfal. lxviv. 13, 14. Ifa. li. 9. 
 
 Ibid. Which hath faid, My River is my own, and 
 I have made it for my felfi] The Prophet having 
 defcribed this Prince as bearing Rule over the Wa- 
 ters, in purfuance of the fame Metaphor, fpeaks of 
 his Kingdom as if it were a great River, and he 
 priding himfelf in having eftabli^ied his Govern- 
 ment fo firmly over it, That it was not in the 
 power of God himfelf to difpojjefs him of it, as He- 
 rodotus tells us, Lib. ii; c. 169. he profanely boa fl- 
 ed, affe&ing to be a God, as the Prince of Tyre 
 did, Chap, xxviii 2. 
 
 Ver. 4. 'But I will put Hooks inthy Chaws. ] In Ver. 4^. 
 perfuance of the fame Metaphor, God tells him 
 that he will put a flop to all his vainglorious De- 
 figns and Boaftings: having the fame abfolute 
 Power over him as a Fifherman hath over a Fifb, 
 when he has fattened his Hook in his Jaws : Com*- 
 pare z KJngs xix. 28. 
 
 Ibid,
 
 236 
 
 ^Commentary 
 
 Chapter Ibid. Iwillcanfe the Tift of thy River to fick to 
 XXIX. thy Scales, a?id I will bring thee out of the midfi of 
 l^VNJ thy Rivers, &c] Thou (halt fend a great Num- 
 ber of thy Subjects upon an Expedition into Libya 
 againft the Cyrenians, where his Army having ill 
 Succefs, the Egyptians entertaining an Opinion that 
 the Army was fent upon this Expedition on purpofe 
 to be deftroyed, thereupon Mutinied againft him, 
 and fet up oAmafis to be their King. 
 
 Ibid. I will bring thee out of the midfi of thy 
 Rivers.'] By this is Metaphorically exprefTed his 
 undertaking a foreign Expedition : The Exprefli- 
 on alludes to the Nature of a Crocodile, who is not 
 confined to the Water, but ufeth to come upon the 
 Land, where he is frequently taken. 
 Ver. <. Ver. 5. cAnd I will leave thee thrown into the 
 
 Wildemefs, thee and all the Fijh of thy Rivers,] 
 Thy Army fhall be difcomfited, and fall in the 
 Defarts of Libya and Cyre?te : eApries himfelf did 
 not perifh there, but the King and People being 
 like the Head and Body, whatever Calamity be- 
 fals either part is common to Both. So the King 
 of eAJjyria is faid to be involved in that Deftrufri- 
 on which confumed his Army. Ifa. xxx. 3$. oA- 
 fries himfelf was afterward ftrangled in his Palace 
 at Sais, by <Amafis that overcame him. 
 
 Ibid. They fhall not be brought together, nor ga- 
 thered^ Their Bones or CarcafTes fhall not be 
 brought together in order for Burial. See Jer. 
 viii. 2. xxv. 33. 
 
 Ibid. I have given thee for Meat to the IBeafls 
 of the Field, 8cc] See Chap, xxxix. 17. 
 
 Ver.
 
 upon EZEKIEL. 237 
 
 Ver. 6. TSecaufe they have been a Staff of Reed Chapter 
 to the Houfe of IfraeL"] The Expreffion alludes XXIX. 
 to the Canes or Reeds that grow on the Bank of L/'V'NJ 
 the River Nile ; on which if a Man leaned they V er » &• 
 brake, and the Splinters, ran into his Hand. Com- 
 pare 2 KJngs xviii. it. The Prophets often upbraid 
 the Jews with their vain Confidence in Egypt, 
 which would certainly difappoint them : See IJa. 
 xx. 5, 6. xx. 3,5, 8cc. xxxi. $. Jer. if. 36. 
 
 Ver. 7. When they took hold of thee by the Hand, Ver. 7. 
 thou didft break and rent all their Shoulder.'] Or 
 their <*Arm : The King, who was Zsdekiah's 
 Confederate, came with a great Army to raife 
 the Siege of Jerufalem; but durft not engage a 
 Battle with the Chaldeans, but m a little time re- 
 tired again into his own Country, -treacheroufly 
 leaving Zjdekiah, whom they had engaged to re- 
 bel againft Nebuchadnezzar; whereby they be- 
 came the occafion of his own, and his Peoples 
 Ruin : See Chap. xvii. 15. Jer. ^x.-.vii. 5, 7. 
 
 Ibid. oAnd madeft all their Loyns to be at a 
 ftand.] Or to fluike, as Men do when they are 
 tottering and ready to fall. The Hebrew Verb 
 Ha?iamadhta, fignifles properly to rlai;d, bur it is 
 probably here taken in the fame 5enfe with the 
 Verb Hamanddhta : Words of a near Sound being 
 often taken one for the other : See the Note on 
 Chap, xxvii. 15. 
 
 Ver. 8. 'Behold I will bring a Sword up on thee, Ver. 8. 
 and cut off Man and Heafi 'from tbeeJ] See Chap. 
 xiv. 17. This is to be underftood of Nibuchafinez- 
 zar\ Conqueft of Egypt, who taking Advantage of 
 e/Lmafis Revolt againft oApries, overran that 
 
 Country,
 
 2 ? 3 
 
 A Commentary 
 
 Chapter Country, and made a: Prey of the whole King- 
 
 XXIX. dom : See Ver. 1 9. and Chap, xxxii. 1 5. 
 L/^V\J Ver. 9. Becaufe he hath [aid. The River is mine, 
 
 Ver. 9. & c /-j Hophra himfelf (hall be (lain, and his Coun- 
 trey destroyed for his Impiety and Infolence : See 
 Ver. 3. 
 
 Ver, 10. Ver. io. "Behold I am againfi thee and thy Ri- 
 vers. 2 Since thou haft oppofed me, I will fet my 
 felf againft thee, and bring down the Strength and 
 Glory of thy Kingdom, wherein thou magnified 
 thy felf fo much : See the Note on Ver. }. 
 
 Ibid. From the Tower of Syene unto the 'Border 
 of Ethiopia.'] Tf we follow this Tranflation, we 
 muft underftand the Word Cuff) rendered here 
 Ethiopia, ofoArabia, as it is often taken : See the 
 Note on Jer. xiii. 23. For Syene was the Border 
 of Egypt toward Ethiopia : (See Pliny's Nat, Hi ft. 
 I. v. c. 9.) which lay Weft ward of Egypt, as aAra- 
 bia did Eaftward. But the Words may be tran- 
 slated thus, From Migdol to Syene, even to the Bor- 
 ders of Ethiopia. Compare Chap. xxx. 5, 9. Mig- 
 dol was a Town near the Red Sea, mentioned Ex- 
 od. xiv. 2. Jer. xliv. 1. xlvi. 14. fo it lay at the 
 Entrance of Egypt from Talefiine: whereas Syene 
 was at the other End of the Country upon the Bor- 
 ders of Ethiopia. The Parallel Text Chap. xxx. 
 6. confirms this Interpretation, where our Tran- 
 flation reads, From the Tower of Syene, they flail 
 fall in it by the Sword: but the Senfe would be 
 much more perfed, if we tranflate it, From Migdol 
 to Syene ', 8cc. 
 
 Ver. 11. Ver. 11. No Foot of Man Jljall pafs through it, 
 neither (ball it be inhabited Fourty Tears.] The in- 
 
 teftine
 
 upon EZEKIEL. 239 
 
 teftine ; Wars between oApries and oAmafis, Chapter 
 and the Conqueft of the whole Country by XXIX. 
 Nebuchadnezzar, will make Eg) ft a Defolation, L/V^O 
 the greateft part of Fourty Years, nor fliall it 
 recover its former Settlement till thofe are end- 
 ed: See Chap. xxx. 10. xxxii. 13. Compare 
 Chap. xxxv. 7. 
 
 Ver. 1 2. oAnd I will make the Land of Egypt y er , 1 2 , 
 defolate.'] Many of the Jews which fled into 
 Egypt upon the Murder of Gedaliah, were in- 
 volved in the common Deftru&ion of the 
 Country and its Inhabitants : See Jer. xliv, 
 27,28. 
 
 Ibid. oAmong the Countries which are defo- 
 late.'] Egypt fliall have its. Share of Calamities 
 with its Neighbours, who fliall be a Prey to 
 Nebuchadnezzar, according to the Prophefies of 
 'Jer emj, Chap, xxv, xliv, xlvi, &c. and of Eze- 
 kiel, Chap, xxv, 8cc. 
 
 Ibid. J will flatter the Egyptians amo?ig the 
 Nations. - ] Some of them fh a 11 flee for Refuge 
 into Foreign Countries, and fome fliall be car- 
 ried away Captive by the 'Babylonians. Com- 
 pare Jer.xWi. 19. 
 
 Ver. i}. eAt the end of fourty Tears, I will Yew i^; 
 gather the Egyptians from the People whither 
 they were fcattered.] Archbifliop Ufier fup- 
 pofes this to have been fulfilled when upon Cy- 
 rm\ having married aApries^s Daughter, as He- 
 r dot m tells the Story, Lib. ?. .^majis revolted 
 from Cyrws, and no longer continued a Tributa- 
 ry, as he had been under the Kings olBahylon : 
 See his oAnnals, ad qA* '■ M. 347?. 
 
 I i Ver.
 
 240 A Commentary 
 
 Chapter Ver. 14. e,4nd I will cattfe them to return into 
 
 XXIX. the Land of Tathros.l That Part of Egypt 
 
 L/'VNJ which is called Thebais, as "Bochart proves by 
 
 Ver. 14. feveral Arguments : See his Phaleg. Lib. iv. 
 
 c. 27. 
 
 Ibid. aAnd they fiall be there a bafe King- 
 dom.'] i. e. a Tributary Kingdom. See Chap. 
 xvii. 14. 
 Ver. 1 5, Ver. 1 5. Itftjall be the bafeft of Kingdoms fa."] 
 Notwithftanding oAmafis's fhaking of? the Ter- 
 fian Yoke, Egyp t was not able to keep up its 
 former Grandeur, but was entirely conquered 
 by Cambyfes , Cyruses Son, who made it a Pro- 
 vince to the Terfian Empire ; and upon its re- 
 volting from under that Government, it was fi- 
 nally fubdued by Ochus the Tterfian Emperor, 
 and has been governed by Strangers ever fince. 
 " For on the failure of the Terfian Empire, it 
 " became fubjetl: to the Macedonians, after 
 " them to the Romans, after the Romans to the 
 " Saracens, then to the Mammalukes, and is 
 " now a Province of the Turkifi Empire : " As 
 Dr. Trideaux obferves in his Conneff. of Script. 
 Hi ft. Tart 1. p. 79. 
 Ver. 17. Ver. *6' oAnd it fiall be no more the Confi- 
 dence of the Houfe of Ifrael, which bringeth 
 their Iniquity to Remembrance, 8cc] At the 
 fame time that the Jews put confidence in 
 Egypt, they diftrufted the Promifes and Afli- 
 flance of God, and forfook him to comply with 
 the Idolatries of their Allies ; thereby to re- 
 commend themfelves to their Protection. See 
 Ver. 7. Ifa. lvii. %,$. Jer t ii. 18, 36. Hof. xii. 1. 
 
 Ver.
 
 upon EZEKIEL. 241 
 
 Ver. 17. In the [even and twentieth Year, in Chapter 
 the fir ft Month.'] The following Prophecy is re- XXIX. 
 lated here, not with refpect to the Order ofL/^/"\J 
 time (for there is near Seventeen Years diftance V er - l 7* 
 between the Date of the foregoing Prophecy 
 and this) but becaufe both Prophecies relate to 
 the fame Subject, viz. The Conqueft of Egypt 
 by Nebuchadnezzar, which fell out this Year : 
 The City Tyre having been taken by him the 
 Year before, after Thirteen Years Siege. Con- 
 cerning which Event, Dr. Trideaux hath obfer- 
 ved that the Chronology of the Thenician oAn- 
 nals, (the Extracts of which may be feen in 
 Jofephus Lib. i . Contr. eApion.) exactly agrees 
 with the Time the Prophet Ezekiel aftigns for 
 the taking of Tyre. See his Connect, of Script. 
 Hiji. Tar. i. f . 92, 95. 
 
 Ver. 1 8. Nebuchadnezzar caufed his eArmy to y er . x g, 
 ferve a great Service againft Tyrus, &c] The 
 Siege lafted Thirteen Years, as hath been alrea- 
 dy obferved ; till the Heads of their Soldiers be- 
 came bald with continual wearing their Hel- 
 mets, and the Skin was worn off their Shoul- 
 ders with carrying Earth to raife Mounts and 
 Fortifications againft it. See Chap. xxvi. 8. 
 _; Ibid. Tet had he no Wages, nor his oArmy for 
 TyrusJ] Before the Town came to be clofe- 
 ly befieged, the Inhabitants had removed their 
 Effects into an Ifland about half a Mile di- 
 ftant from the Shore, and there built ano- 
 ther City called New Tyre, which was after- 
 wards befieged and taken by ^Alexander the 
 Great: (Seethe Argument to Chap, xxvi.) fo 
 
 Ii 2 that
 
 242 ^Commentary 
 
 Chapter that there was no body left there when \Nebu- 
 XXIX. chadnezzar's Army took the City. 
 
 O^V^NJ Ver. 19. He fiatl take her Multitude, and take 
 
 Ver. 19. herffoilJ] He and his Army fhall have the 
 Advantage of the Captives and Spoil of Egypt, 
 which they fhall utterly pillage and lay waft e: 
 See Ver. io ? \2. Chap. xxx. 12. 
 
 Ver. 20. Ver. 20. 'Becaufe they wrought for me, faith 
 the Lord.] The Deftruclion of Cities and 
 Countries is a Work of God's Providence, for 
 the etTe&ing of whicli he makes ufe of Kings 
 and Princes as his Inftruments. Upon this Ac- 
 count he calls Nebuchadnezzar his Servant, Jer. 
 xxv. 9. becaufe he wrought for him, as it is here 
 exprefTed, i.e. executed his Judgments upon Tyre 
 and the other Cities and Countries which God 
 delivered into his Hand. 
 
 Ver. 21. Ver. 21. /// that Day.'] This Phrafe fre- 
 quently denotes in the Prophets not the fame 
 time which was laft mentioned, but an Extra- 
 ordinary Seafon, remarkable for fome , fignal 
 Events of Providence : See the Note on If a. 
 iv. 2. In this Senfe it is to be underftood 
 here. 
 
 Ibid. / will caufe the- Horn of the Houfe of 
 Ifrael to bud forth.] The Word Horn figni- 
 fies Strength, from whence it comes to denote- 
 Profperity, or a flourifhing Condition. See 
 1 Sam ii. 1. Job xvi. 1 $. From whence it is ap- 
 plied to exprefs Kingly Power and Majefty. See 
 Tfal. lxxxix. 24. xcli. 10. exxxii. 17. So here it 
 fignifies that after the Deftru&ion of God's and 
 his Churches Enemies, denoted by Tyre, Egypt, 
 
 and
 
 upon EZEKIEL. 243 
 
 and other Oppreffors of the Jews, (See the Chapter 
 Note on Chap.xxxviii. 17.) the Kingdom and XXIX. 
 State of the Jews fhould again flourifh under the L^V"^ 
 Meffias, as it is more clearly foretold Chap, xxxiv. 
 and xxxvii. Compare likewife Chap, xxxiii. 
 25,26. 
 
 Ibid. eAnd I will give thee the opening of the 
 Mouth in the midft of them.~\ When thy Pro- 
 phefies are made good by the Event, this fhall 
 add a New Authority to what thou fpeakefL. 
 See Chap. xxiv. 27. 
 
 . 
 
 . 
 
 . 
 
 CHAR
 
 m 
 
 A Commentary 
 
 
 
 
 
 Chapter 
 XXX. 
 
 CHAP. XXX. 
 
 Seethe Argument of the fore- 
 going Chapter. 
 
 Vei% 2, Ver. 2= \ ff $ r^^ i ^ $ A WL ye, Wo worth the 
 
 rDay.-] The Prophet di- 
 rects his Speech to the 
 Egyptians. Compare Ifa. 
 xiii. 6. 
 Ver.?. ' Ver. 3, The T)ay is near, 
 
 even the Day of the Lord, &rc.] The time of 
 Gods Vengeance. See Chap. vii. 7, 1 2. 
 
 Ibid. The cloudy Day. - ] When the Calamities 
 that are coming upon Egypt, fhall make every 
 thing look dark and difmal. See Ver. 1 8. Chap, 
 xxxii. 7, 8. xxxiv. 12. Joel ii. 2. eAmosv. 18. 
 
 Ibid. It fhall he the time of the Heathen.'} Of 
 
 the Punifhment of the Egyptians and their 
 
 .Allies. See Ver. 4, 5. Chap. vii. 7, 12. God's 
 
 Judg-
 
 upon EZEKIEL. 245 
 
 Judgments upon particular Places and Nations Chapter 
 are an Earneft of that General Judgment, when XXX. 
 he fhall execute Judgment upon all the Un- L/WJ 
 godly. See the Note upon Ifa. xiii. 10. 
 
 Ver. 4. Great fain flail be in Ethiopia."] SeeVer.4. 
 Ver. 5, and 9. 
 
 Ibid. oAnd her foundations fhall be broken 
 down.] Her ftrong Forts and Citadels : Com- 
 pare Ifa. xvi. 7. Jer. 1. 1 5. 
 
 Ver. 5. Ethiopia, and Libya, and Lydia.] The Ver. 5. 
 Names in the Hebrew are Cujh Thut, and 
 Lad : "Who are mentioned together as the 
 Egyptian Allies, Jer. xlvl 9. See the Note 
 there, and Comp. Nahum iii. 9. Cujh pro- 
 bably fignifies Ethiopia here ( See Chap, xxix. 
 10.) as being joined with That and Lud : which 
 were People of aAfrica. That is rendered Li- 
 bya by our Interpreters here and in that place of 
 Jeremy ; but Thut and Lubim were a diftincl: 
 People, as hath been obferved upon Chap, yxv'ih . 
 10. Thut may denote fome part of aAfrica 
 near Egypt, and Lud probably fignifies fome 
 part of the eAbyJJines Country. 
 
 Ibid. aAnd all the mingle a Teofle.] All their 
 Auxiliaries : Compare Jer. 1. 37. If we diftin- 
 guifli thefefrom the Men of the League which 
 follow, they may mean that mixture of Qaria?is, 
 Ionians and other Nations lying upon the Medi- 
 terranean Sea, which eApries got together to 
 encounter vimafis, who together with him were 
 deftroyed. See Dr. Trideaux, ubi Jupra ; and 
 the Note on Jer. xxv. 10. 
 
 Ibid. aAnd Chub.] The Cubij are mentioned 
 in Ttolemy as a People of Mareotis^ a Province 
 of Egypt* Ibid.
 
 2^6 
 
 A Commentary 
 
 Chapter Ibid. The men of the land that is in League.] 
 XXX. The LXX tranflate it, The men of my League, 
 
 i/"V"\J or Covenant : i. e. the Jews : Many of whom 
 flying into Egypt, were deftroyed there with 
 the Egyptians : See the Note on Chap. xxix. 
 
 12. • 
 
 Ver. 6. Ver. 6. They alfo that uphold Egypt flmllf 'all. ] 
 
 The Governours of the feveral Provinces, thofe 
 who are called the flay of the Tribes thereof 
 Ifa.yjx. 1 5. L e. of the feveral Nomi or Divifi- 
 ons of Egypt. 
 
 Ibid. From the Tower of Syene they {hall fall 
 in itj The Senfe would be more complete if 
 the Words were tranflated, From Migdol to 
 Syene. See the Note on Chap. xxix. 1 2. 
 y er - Ver. 7. (And they fliall be de folate in the midfl 
 
 of the Countries that are de folate, &c] See 
 Chap. xxix. 10. 
 Ver 8. Ver. 8. When I have {et afire in Egypt,"] 
 
 God's Judgments are often compared to Fire. 
 See Chap. xix. 14. xxii. 21, 31. Jer. \ii. 20. 
 oAmos i. 4. hcTfalm Ixxviii. 6$. 
 
 Ibid. &4nd when all her Helpers fliall be de- 
 ftroyed.] All her Allies and Auxiliaries : Com- 
 pare Chap. xxxi. 7 v xxxii. 21. 
 Ver. O. V ei *« 9. In that Day {liall MeJJengers go from 
 
 me in Ships to make the carelejs Ethiopians 
 afraid.'} The Ethiopians were the Confederates 
 of the Egyptians in former times, and fharers 
 with them in their Good or 111 Fortune. See 
 Jfa. xviii. 1, 2. xx. J, 4. and the Notes upon 
 thofe places. The Verfe may be likewife thus ren- 
 dered j In that Day {hall Mejjengersgofrom me to 
 
 the
 
 upon EZEKIEL. 247 
 
 theTeople in the Wilderness to make the care- Chapter 
 Jefs Ethiopians afraid : The word Tziim is XXX. 
 tran dated the Teople in the Wilder nefs, If a. L/V"^ 
 xxiii. i}. and that Appellation is particularly 
 given to the Ethiopians, Tfalm Ixxii. 9. and 
 Ixxiv. 14. as the LXX tranflate the Word. 
 
 Ibid. oAnd great Tain J/jall come upon them, 
 as in the Day of Egypt.'] The Egyptians and 
 Ethiopians being Confederates, the ill News of 
 the Conqueft of Egypt fhall fenfibly affecl: them. 
 Compare xxiv. 16. xxxiii. 9, 10. xxvii. 35. I/a. 
 xix. 17. xxiii. 5. 
 
 Ver. 11. The terrible of the Nations.'] SeeVer. 11. 
 Chap, xxviii. 7. 
 
 Ver. 12. aAnd I will make the Rivers dry.] Ver. H» 
 I will deftroy the Strength of Egjpt\ the Meta- 
 phor is taken from the Decreafe or Failing of 
 the Nile, upon whofe Overflowing all the Plen- 
 ty and Proiperity of Egypt depended. Com- 
 pare Chap, xx ix. 3. If a. \ix. <J, 6. 
 
 Ibid. oAnd fell the Land into the Hand of the 
 Wicked, and I will make the Land wafte by the 
 Hand of Strangers.] ' See Chap. vii. 24. To Sell, 
 fignifies here to deliver up, as Men do Goods 
 that they fell. Compare T>eut. xxxii. 30. Judg* 
 ii. j 4. iv. 9. 
 
 Ver. ij. I will al/o deftroy the Idols.] - Idola- 
 try being one of the Principal Sins for which 
 God vifits the Infidel Nations, he will take par- 
 ticular Vengeance upon the Idols, thereby fhew- 
 ing how much he is fuperior to them in Power. 
 Compare I/a. xix. 1. Jer. xliii. 12. xlvi. 2$., 
 Exod. xii. ii. 
 
 K k Ibid.
 
 248 
 
 A Commentary 
 
 Chapter Ibid. oAnd 1 will caufe their Images to ceafe 
 XXX. out of Noph.~\. Noph, or Memphis was one of 
 V"V"NJ the Principal Cities of Egypt, a Seat of their 
 Kings where their Sepulchres flood : One of 
 which is ("till remaining. Upon which Account 
 it is often mentioned in Scripture. See IJ'a. xix. 
 3-. Jer. ii. 16. xliv. 1. xlvi. 14. In Hojea k is 
 called Moph, Chap. xi. 6. which comes near in 
 found to Memphis. This Place was famous for 
 the Worfhip of oApis and Ofiris ; whereupon 
 the Prophet in a particular manner denounces 
 Defrrudtion to the Idolatry of that Place. 
 
 Ibid. tAnd there fhall be no more a Trince in 
 the Land of Egypt. ~\ It fhall no more have a 
 Natural Prince of the Egyptian Race to rule 
 over it as formerly, but fhall be fubjecl to Fo- 
 reigners. See the Note on Chap. xxix. 15. 
 
 Ibid. oAnd I will put a fear in Egypt. J Will 
 make them Faint-hearted, and not able to de- 
 fend themfelves. Compare Ija.xix. 16. Jer, 
 xlvii. 5. 
 ¥er. 14. Ver * *4* e/ **^ I will make Tathros defolate.'} 
 See Chap. xxix. 14. 
 
 Ibid. <And I will fet Fire in Z$an.~\ Zjan, 
 or Ttf##, was one of the ancient Cities in Egypt : 
 See Numb. xiii. 20. and the Metropolis of the 
 Kingdom in Mofes's time : See Tjalm lxxviiL 
 12, 43. 
 
 Ibid. nAnd 1 will execute Judgments in No. ] 
 Called the Multitude of No, or Hamctti No, in 
 the next Verfe ; and probably the fame with 
 the City Thebes , famous for its Hundred Gates, 
 See the Note on Jer. xlvi. 25, 
 
 Ver.
 
 upon EZEKTEL. 249 
 
 Ver. 1 5. <sAnd I will pour my Fury upon Sin, Chapter 
 the Strength of Egypt.'] It is generally agreed XXX. 
 that Sin is the fame with "Felufium, one of the l^V^O 
 Seven Mouths of Nile, which was commonly ^ er « x 5« 
 called the Key of Egypt, as Suidas obferves, and 
 dterefore was ftrongly fortified, that no Enemy 
 might gain Admittance. 
 
 Ibid. <And I will cut of the Multitude of No.~\ 
 Or Hamon No, as the Original reads. The 
 Name is generally fuppofed to be derived from 
 Hamon who was the Egyptian 'Jupiter. Mizra- 
 im the Son of Ham was the Founder oKEgyyt, 
 which is called the Land of Ham, Tfal. cvi. 22. 
 And this Hamon was probably either Ham him- 
 felf, or one of his Pofterity advanced to Divine 
 Honours. Tint arch informs us in his Book 'De 
 Ifide if Ofiride, that aAmmon in the Egyptian 
 Language is equivalent to Zw; in Greek, p. 354. 
 Edit. Francof. 
 
 Ver. 16. <And I will fet Fire in Egypt, .] See Ver. 16. 
 Ver. 8. 
 
 Ver. 1 7. The Young Men of <Aven and Ti- Ver, 1 jl 
 befethfiafl fall by the Swords oAven is the 
 fame with On y mentioned Gen. xli. 45. in after 
 times called Heliopolis, as our Margin explains 
 it here, becaufe of a Temple or Image there de- 
 dicated to the Sun. Compare Ifa. xix. 18. Jer. 
 xliii. 1 3. The Word is fo tranflated by the LXX 
 Interpreters, both here, and Gen. xli. 45. who 
 were very well acquainted with Egypt, and the 
 principal Places of it. Tibe/eth was afterward 
 with very little Variation called 'Bubaftnm, and 
 fo tranflated here by the LXX. 
 
 Kk 2 Ver.
 
 250 A Commentary 
 
 Chapter Ver. 18. oAt Tehaphnehes the Day (hall be 
 
 XXX. darkened] Compare Ver. 3. Tehaphnehes elfe- 
 
 ^^V ?-v O where writ Tahpanhes, is fuppofed to be the 
 
 Ver. 10. fame place which was afterwards called Daphr 
 
 n& Telu/lacd. See the Note on Jer. xliii. 7. 
 
 Ibid, When I (hall break there' the Yokes of 
 Egypt. ~] When I fhall fet thofe at Liberty that 
 are oppreiTed by the Bondage of Egypt. Com- 
 pare Chap, xxxiv. 27. 
 
 Ibid. qA Cloud flail cover her, .] See Ver. j. 
 Ver. 21. Ver. 21. J have broken the &4rm of Pharaoh, 
 &c.] I have broken his Strength, fo that he 
 will never be able to recover his former Power, 
 Compare Jer. xlviii. 25. It is ufual for the Pro- 
 phets to fpeak of a Thing future, as if it were 
 already accomplished. See the Note on Ifa. 
 xxi. 9. 
 Ver. 22. Ver. 22. oAnd I will break his oArms, the 
 Strong, and that which was broken.] The. King 
 o£ Babylon had before difpofTefTed the King of 
 Egypt of all his new Conquefts, from the River 
 of Egypt to the River Euphrates, 2 Kings xxiv. 
 7. So that this Part of his Strength was already 
 taken away, and never to be recovered ; and 
 now God threatens to deftroy the Remainder of 
 his Power, the Kingdom of Egypt it felf. 
 
 Ibid. (And I will caufe the Sword to fall out of 
 
 his Hand.] He fhall have no more Strength to 
 
 defend himfelf, than a Man hath to ufe his Sword 
 
 when his Arm is broken. 
 
 Ver. 22. Ver. 23. oAnd I will fcatter the Egyptians 
 
 *' among the Nations y &c] See Chap. xxix. 1 j. 
 
 Ver.
 
 upon E Z EKIEL. 2 5 r 
 
 Ver. 24. oAnd I will firengthen the &Arm of the Chapter 
 Kjngof 'Babylon.'} The fame Promife God af- XXX. 
 terwards made to Cyrus, Ija.xlv. i. Compare l/^V^J 
 Tfal. xviii. 59. • Ver. 24. 
 
 Ibid. oAnd he fljall groan with the Groans of 
 a deadly wounded Man.} His Strength fhall 
 perfectly fail, as a Man's who is dying of his 
 Wounds. 
 
 « 
 
 CHAP-
 
 252 
 
 A Commentary 
 
 Chapter 
 XXXI. 
 
 C H A P. XXXI. 
 
 The Argument. 
 
 oA Continuation of the Judgments denounced a- 
 gainft Pharaoh and his Kjngdom ; whofe Tride 
 God humbles by -putting him in mind of the 
 dreadful Fall of the Kjng of Niniveh, much 
 fuperior to him in 'Power and Greatnefs ; 
 whofe Ruin the Prophet elegantly defcribes 
 under the Metaphor of a Fair flour ijhing Tree 
 cut down and withered. 
 
 Ver. 2. Ver. 2. \m&mA4mMi& HO M thou art like to in 
 
 Greatnefs. 1 ] Thou prideft 
 thy felf as if there never 
 was any Prince or King that 
 could compare with thee. 
 Ver. ?. Ver. 3. 'Behold the &4fjyrian was a Cedar in 
 
 Lebajiofiy &c.j By the oAjJyrian, Archbifhop 
 Ujber y ad a,4. M. 3378, and Dr. Trideaux y V. 1. 
 p. 47. do mod probably underftand that King 
 of oAjJyria whom fome call Chyniladanus, others 
 
 Saracus ;
 
 upon EZEKIEL. 253 
 
 Saracus ; 'tis of this King of <*AJ]yria the Words Chapter 
 of the Prophet Nahum are to be underftood XXXI. 
 Chap. iii. 18. In like manner Zjphaniah joins l/'VNJ 
 the Deftru&ion of aAJJyria and the Defolation of 
 Niniveh together, Chap. ii. 1$. Nabufolajjar 
 the King of "Babylon, and Cyaxares the King of 
 Media, called by the Names of Nebnchadonofor 
 and oAJfuerus in Tobit, Chap. xiv. 15. joining 
 their Forces together againft him, befieged M- 
 niveh, took it, and after having flain the King, 
 utterly deftroyed that great and famous City, 
 and put an End to that part of the eAjJyrian Em- 
 pire. Nabufolajjar having before poitefled him- 
 felf of the other part which was properly called 
 the Babylonian Empire. See Dr. Trideaux, p. 45. 
 In this remarkable Cataftrophe, the Prophecies 
 of Jonah, Nahum, and Zjphaniah, foretelling 
 the Deduction of Niniveh, were fulfilled. 
 
 The King of Niniveh is compared here to a 
 Fair and Tall Cedar, fuch as grow in Mount 
 Lebanon: See the like Companion Ija. x. 34. 
 xxxvii. 24. Zj?cb. xi. 2. The Greatnefs of Afe- 
 buchadnezzarh Power and Kingdom is fet forth 
 under the fame Refemblance, Dan. iv. 10, £jfc. 
 
 Ibid. His Tor was among the thick \ ':.,-.] 
 
 He overtopped all the other flourishing 'iVees. 
 Compare Chap. xvii. j. xix. xi» 
 
 Ver. 4. The Waters maac him great, 8rc] V'er. 4. 
 As Trees flourifh by a River. Side, (Compare 
 Chap. xvii. 5.) fo the Traffic!*, oi ihe fevrrai 
 Branches of the River Tigris, upon which £&£> 
 veb was fituate, made that City and Kingdom 
 rich and populous, and {he imparted her Wealth 
 
 and
 
 2£4 A Commentary 
 
 Chapter and Stores among the Neighbouring Provinces. 
 XXXI. Compare Nahum ii. 6. 
 
 iyW^J Ver. 5. Therefore his Height was exalted a- 
 Ver. 5. J hove all the Trees of the Field.~\ He became 
 greater than all the Kings about him : Compare 
 'Dan. iv. 11. 
 Ver. 6. Ver. 6. &AU the Fowls of Heaven made their 
 
 Nefts in his Houghs, &"cj Several Nations ap- 
 plied to him for Protection, and thought them- 
 felves and all their Concerns fafe under his Go- 
 vernment. Compare Chap. xvii. 23. Daniel 
 iv. I 2. 
 Ver. 8. Ver. 8. The Cedars in the Garden of God 
 
 could not hide him.'] He overtopped the goodly 
 Cedars, called in the Hebrew, the Cedars of 
 God: Tfal. lxxx. 10. fuch fair ones as might be 
 fuppofed to have grown in Paradife. Compare 
 Chap, xxviii. 13. 
 Ver. a Ver. 9. So that all the Trees of Eden— envied 
 
 him.] a/Ill the KJngs of the Eafl envied him and 
 his Greatnefs : as the Chaldee Paraphraft expref- 
 feth the Senfe. 
 Ver. 10. Ver. 10. TSecaufe thou haft lifted up thy felf 
 in Height, &c] Becaufe thy Pride hath ftill in- 
 creafed with thy Profperity : Compare Chapter 
 xxviii. 17. 
 Ver. u. Ver. 11. I have therefore delivered him into 
 the Hand of the mighty one of the Heathen ] Or, 
 The mighty one of the Nations, as the Word Go- 
 jim is render'd in the next Verfe. The Word 
 El, tho' commonly fpoken of God, yet is fome- 
 times applied to Heroes, See Chapter xxxii. 21. 
 (bmetimes to Angels, as being mighty in 
 
 Strength,
 
 upon E Z EKIE L. 255 
 
 Strength, asTjal. Ikx . i :. 6. So God here ftiili, Chapter 
 he delivered the e/ljyrian into the Hand of Na- XXXI. 
 lupolaffar King ot 'tiabyloii, who joining his For- 1/-WJ 
 ces with Cyaxares King of Media his Confede- 
 rate, made themfelves Matters of Niniveh, and 
 the King of oAJJyria, whofe Seat it was. 
 
 Ver. 12. oAnd Strangers, the terrible of theVev. 12. 
 Nations, have cut him off and have left him, 
 &c] Compare Chap, xxviii. 7. xxx.w. The 
 Armies of the Kings of "Babylon and Media,\ha\\ 
 utterly deftroy him and his Empire, and leave 
 him without Life or Strength, like a Tree that 
 is cut down dried up and withered. 
 
 Ibid. Upon the Mountains and in all the Val- 
 leys his 'Branches are fallen, 8rc j As the Limbs 
 of fueh a Tree are Broke by the fall, and thofe 
 that refted under its fhadow'are frighted away 
 and have forfook the place; So the oAffyrian 
 Army lies Slain here and there: Compare Chap. 
 xxxii. 5. xxxv. 8. and thofe that lived under his 
 Protection and Government withdrew their O 
 bedience from him : Compare T>an. iv. 14. 
 
 Ver. 1 3 Upon his ruin fljall all the fowls 0/Ver. 1 J. 
 the Heaven remain, 8rc] As the Birds fit up- 
 on the Boughs of a Tree cut down, 'and the 
 Beafts brovvze upon its Branches : So his Domi- 
 nions fhall be a Prey to the Conquerors : Or his 
 Armies that are flain, fhall become Meat to the 
 Birds and Beafts. Compare Chap. xxix. <. and 
 lfa.xvm.6. 
 
 Ver. 14. To the end that none of the Trees Ver. 14. 
 ly the Waters exalt themfelves % &c] Thy ' De- 
 struction fhall be a Warning to other Kings and 
 L I Potentates
 
 2$6 
 
 A Commentary 
 
 Chapter Potentates to deter them from Priding them- 
 XXXI. felves in the time of their Profperity : See Chap. 
 L/"VNJ xxviii. 1 7. 
 
 Ibid. For they are all delivered unto Death.] 
 Whatever diftinction there is between them and 
 the inferior fort, Death (hall make them all 
 equal : See Tfal. Ixxxii. 7. and particularly to 
 Egypt and thofe other Countries againft which 
 God hath denounced his Judgments, the fame 
 Fate is allotted which this aAjJjrian Monarch 
 has already undergone : See Chap, xxxii. 1 8. £$c. 
 Vei\ 1 5» Ver. 1 5. Z« the day when he went down to 
 the Grave.'] This and the following Verfe are 
 an Elegant Defcription of that Confternation 
 that feized the King of oAfjyria's Allies at the 
 fuddenefs of his Downfal : the fame Metaphor 
 being frill purfued. 
 
 Ibid. I caufed a Mourning, I covered the Deep 
 for him.] The Senfe might better be exprefled 
 thus, I covered the T>eef with Mourning, For 
 when two Verbs are joined together in the He- 
 drew, one is ufually taken in the Senfe of a Noun 
 or an Adverb. The Deep that Nurfed up this 
 fair Tree Ver. 4. is defcribed as Mourning at its 
 Downfal. 
 
 Ibid. I retrained the Floods thereof, and the 
 great Waters were flayed.] As if the Streams 
 had flopped their ufual Courfe, on purpofe to 
 lament his Fate. 
 
 Ibid. I caufed Lehanon to mourn for him, &c.] 
 The Forreft of Lebanon and all the ftately Trees 
 in it, fympathized with his Misfortunes : /. e. 
 all his Confederates and Allies. 
 
 Ver.
 
 upon EZEKTEL: 257 
 
 Ver. 16. I made the Nations to Jhake at the Chapter 
 Sound of his Fall.'] See Chap. xxvi. 1 5. XXXI. 
 
 Ibid. When I cafl him down to Hell [or the L/"VNJ 
 Grave] with them that dejcend into the P/f.3 Ver. 16. 
 See Chap, xxxii. 18, 21. and Ifa. xiv. 15. 
 
 Ibid. <All the Trees of Eden, the Choice of Le- 
 banon, all that drink Water [See Ver. 14.] fl)all 
 be comforted in the nether farts of the Earthy 
 The deceafed Princes, Confederates to the <sAjJ)~ 
 wans, defcribed here as fo many ftately Trees 
 and Cedars, fhall feej fome Mitigation of their 
 Calamities, when they fee thee brought down 
 as low as themfelves. Compare Chap, xxxii. jr. 
 and Ifa. xiv. 8, 9, 10. a Place exactly parallel to 
 this. 
 
 Ver. 1 7. They alfo went down to Hell Cor the Ver. 1 7. 
 Grave] with him.] Mis Allies underwent the 
 fame Fate with himfelf, and were cut off in the 
 common Deftru&ion. See Chap, xxxii. 20, &c. 
 
 Ibid. Even they that were his' $Arm, that 
 dwelt under his Shadow in the midfi'tfthe Hea- 
 then.] Or, the Nations, See Ver. ri. his Auxi- 
 liaries. See Chap. xxx. 8. x*xii. 21. who lived 
 under his Protection in feverai Countries and 
 Provinces : Compare Lament, iv. 20. 
 
 Ver. 18. To whom alri * thou thus like in Glory Ver. 18. 
 and Greatnefs among the Trees of Eden.] The 
 Prophet now applies himfelf to the King of £- 
 gyft : q. d. Wilt thou (till boaft thy felf as if no 
 Prince were thine Equal? See Ver. 2. yet thou 
 fhalt undergo the fame Fate with this fair flou- 
 rifhing Cedar, the King of aAjjyria. See Ver. 
 14. and compare Chap, xxxii. 19. 
 
 L 1 2, Ibid.
 
 QL^t A Commentary 
 
 Chapter Ibid. Thou (halt lie in the midft of the TJnch- 
 XXXI. cttmcifed) 8rc] See Chap, xxviii. 10. xxxii. 19, 
 
 t^TV^J 20. 
 
 Ibid. This is Tharaoh, and all his Multitude, 
 faith the Lord God.'] The Judgment that befel 
 the King of oAjJyria here defcribed, is an exa£t 
 Reprefentation of the Deftru£tion that remains 
 for Tharaoh and his People : The Word Is com- 
 monly denotes the fame as to fignify or reprefent, 
 efpecially in Prophefies, Parables, and fuch like 
 figurative Defcriptions. See Chap, xxxiv. fil 
 xxxvii. 11. Gen. xli. 26. Exod. xii. 11. Matth. 
 xiii. 19. and xxvi. 26. 
 
 <?„ 
 
 
 CHAR
 
 upon EZEKIEL. 
 
 259 
 
 Chapter 
 
 xxxir. 
 
 CHAP. XXXII. 
 
 The Argument. 
 
 eA Continuation of the fame SubjeH, and a fur- 
 ther c £)efcriPtion of the lamentable De/tructi- 
 on tf^Egypt by Nebuchadnezzar : The Tropftet 
 illuft rating the c Dreadfulnefs of his Fall by a 
 Toetical T>e!c^iption of the Infernal Man/ions 
 appointed for Tyrants and QpprejJ'ors, where 
 Pharaoh is to have a place allotted for him. 
 
 Ver. 2. ^^^^HS 2^ X £ *f a Lamentations. 
 
 on for Vharaoh.~] See the 
 Note on Chap. x\ii. 2. 
 Ibid. Thou art like a 
 young Lion of the Nat i- 
 , onu~] Thou art like a 
 Beaft of Prey devouring tar and near : See Chap. 
 xix. ft 6. xxxv iii. 13. 
 
 Ibid. Thou art as a Whale in the Seas.~] By 
 the Word Tannim we may fitly underftand a 
 
 Cro-
 
 260 ^Commentary 
 
 Chapter Crocodile, as hath been obferved upon Chapter 
 XXXII. xxix. 5. and the Defcription that follows of this 
 L^"V~NJ Creature, agrees very well to a Crocodile, but 
 can't be applied to a Whale. 
 
 Ibid. <*And thou came ft forth with thy Rivers, 
 and troubledfl the Waters with thy Feet foe.'] Or, 
 thou rujhedft forth thro 1 thy Streams, and trou- 
 ble dft, Sec. i. e. thou waft the Occafion of great 
 Commotions and Difturbances to all thy Neigh- 
 bours: Compare Chap, xxxiv. 18. 
 Ver. j. Ver. $. / will therefore ffread my Net over 
 
 thee, &c] I will bring thine Enemies upon 
 thee, who (hall encompafs thee, and Mafter 
 thee, as a Wild Beaft or Monftrous Fifh that is 
 taken in a Net : See Chap. xii. 14. 
 Ver. 4. Ver. 4. Then I will leave thee ufon the Land, 
 
 and cafl thee forth upon the of en Field, 8tc.[] 
 Thine Armies fhall fall in the open Field, and 
 become a Prey to Wild Beafts and ravenous 
 Birds. Compare Chap. xxix. 5. 
 Ver. 5. Ver. 5. / will lay thy Flefh ufon the Moun- 
 
 tains, and fill the Vallies with thy height.'] The 
 vaft Bulk of thine Armies when they are ilain, 
 fhall fill both Mountains and Vallies. See Chap. 
 
 XXXI. 12. 
 
 Ver. 6. Ver. 6. J will alfo water with thy 'Blood the 
 Land wherein thou fwimefl.] The Land fhall 
 be foaked with thy Blood wherein thou bareft 
 Rule, juft as in the Waters the great Fifh have 
 an abfolute Power over the lefTer Fry. 
 
 Ibid. Even to the Mountains.] The Moun- 
 tains fhall be wet with it, as well as the lower 
 * Grounds, Ver. 5. Compare Ifa. xxxiv. ?. 
 
 Ver.
 
 upon EZEKIEL. 161 
 
 Ver. 7,8. I will cover the Heavens, and make Chapter 
 the Stars thereof dark, 8tc] Thefe Metaphors XXXII. 
 denote the downfal of States and Governments, l^VNJ 
 Kings and Rulers, being figuratively exprefTed ^ cr# 7>° # 
 by the Sun, Moon and Stars. Compare Ifa. xiii. 
 10. xxxiv. 4. Joel ii. 31. Revel, vi. 12, 1$, 14. 
 God's Judgments upon particular Countries be- 
 ing Earnefts of a General Judgment, they are 
 defcribed in fuch Terms as if the whole Frame 
 of Nature were difTolved. 
 
 Ibid. oAndfet T)arknefs upon thy Land.] Eve- 
 ry Thing fhall look Dark and Difmal. See 
 Chap. xxx. }. 
 
 Ver. 9. cAnd I will vex the Hearts of many Ver. 9. 
 Teople, when I (Imll bring thy 'Deftruftion among 
 the Nations, &-c] When thy Exiles fhall be 
 difperfed into foreign Countries, (See Chap, 
 xxix. 12.) and relate the Miferable Circumftan- 
 cesofthy Deftruclion, it fhall caufe Grief and 
 Confirmation in all that hear it. See the follow- 
 ing Verfe. 
 
 Ver. 10. Tea, I will maize many Teople ama-Vev. 10/ 
 zed at thee, Sec] See Chap. xxvi. 16. xxvii. 
 35. xxx. 9. 
 
 Ver. ix. The terrible of the Nations."] See Ver. 12. 
 Chap, xxviii. 7. 
 
 Ver. 1 j. / will alfo deftroy the 'Be aft s there~Ver> 1$. 
 of from befide the great Waters.] Or, That 
 they be no more befide the Great Waters, as Nol- 
 diws tranflates the Phrafe, p. 6^5. The Horfes 
 fhall be confumed in the War, and the other 
 Cattle that uled to feed in the Meadows by the 
 fide of the Nile, (See Gen. xli. 2.) fhall be de- 
 
 ftroyed
 
 262 A Commentary 
 
 Chapter ftroyed or drove away as a Prey. See Chap. 
 
 XXXII. xxix 8,11. 
 
 t/VNJ Ibid, and Ver. 14. Neither {hall the Foot of 
 Man trouble them any more ; nor the Hoofs of 
 Be aft s, &o] Here is a Tranfition from a 
 proper Senfe to a Metaphorical one : The Pro- 
 phet in the fecond Verfe compared the Diftur- 
 bances the Egyptians gave their Neighbours to 
 troubling and fouling of Waters ; in allufion to 
 which Metaphor he faith here ; that when 
 Egypt is made defolate, and the Number both 
 of Men and Beafts diminifhed by their Wars 
 and Confufions, then their Neighbours will en- 
 joy fuch quiet nefs, as a River does that fmooth- 
 ly glides along, and never hath its Streams foul- 
 ed ordifturbed. 
 
 Ver. 16. Ver. 16. This is the Lamentation wherewith 
 they JJ) all lament her."] This is the Subftance of 
 a Lamentation which may be properly ufed to 
 bewail the Calamities of Egypt. See Ver. 2. 
 
 Ibid. The Daughters of the Nations /Jiall la- 
 ment her.~] i. e. The People of the Neighbour- 
 ing Countries : So the Daughter of Sion and of 
 'Babylon (ignifies the Inhabitants of thofe Ci- 
 ties. The Expreflion alludes to the Mourning 
 Women whofe ProfefTion it was to lament at 
 Funerals. See the Note on Jer. ix. 17. 
 
 Ver 17 Ver. 17. In the Fifteenth Day of the Month."] 
 7 ' Of the Twelfth Month, See Ver. 1. the LXX 
 underftand it of the Firft Month, as that inde- 
 finite Expreflion is probably underftood Chap. 
 xxvi. 1. 
 
 Ver.
 
 upon EZEKIELl 263 
 
 Ver. 18. Wail for the multitude of Egypt.'] Chapter 
 See Ver. 2. and >6. XXXII. 
 
 Ibid. aAnd caft them down, even her, and the iy"VNJ 
 Daughters of the famous Nations.'] The Pro- Ver. I °- 
 phets are faid to do things, when they declare 
 God's purpofe of doing them : See Chap, xliii. }. 
 where Ezekiel faith he was fent to deftroy the 
 City, i. e. to foretel its Deftru&ion. In the fame 
 Senfe we are to underftand the Expreffion here, 
 of cafting down Egypt, i. e. foretelling its Ruin, 
 together with God's Judgments upon other Fa- 
 mous Kingdoms in that part of the World, 
 which are reckoned up in the following Ver- 
 fes, and called here the Daughters of the Na- 
 tions: concerning which Expreffion See the 
 Note on Ver. 16. 
 
 Ibid. Unto the nether parts of the Earthy 
 with them that go down to the Tit.] The Ex- 
 preflions denote utter Deftru&ion, and are pa- 
 rallel to thofe elfewhere ufed of being brought 
 down to Hell, to the Grave, or into Silence. 
 Compare Chap. xxxi. 14. Ifa. xiv. 15. 
 
 Ver. 19. Whom doft thou fafs in "Beauty ? go Ver. 19. 
 down and he thou laid with the Uncircumcifed.] 
 What Reafon haft thou now to prefer thy felf 
 before others ? fince thou fhalt undergo the fame 
 Fate with the worft of them. Seethe Note on 
 Chap, xxviii. 10. 
 
 Ver. 20. They are fallen in the midft of them Ver. 20. 
 that are fain by the Sword.] They do not 'Die 
 the common Death of ail Men, as Mofes fpeaks, 
 Numb. xvi. 29. but are cut off by an extraordi- 
 nary Judgment from the Hand of God himfelf. 
 
 M m Ibid.
 
 2&f 
 
 A Commentary 
 
 Chapter Ibid. 'Draw her and all her Multitudes.] 
 XXXII. Carry her and her People away to the Grave, 
 i/VSJ like fo many Ca trades which are buried with- 
 out any Solemnity. The Words are fpoken to 
 the 'Babylonians, the Executioners of God's Judg- 
 ments upon Egypt. 
 Ver. 2 i . Ver. 2 1 . The firong among the mighty pall 
 fpeak to him out of the midft of Hell, with them 
 that help him.~] Here follows a Poetical Defcri- 
 ption of the Infernal Regions, where the Ghofts 
 of deceafed Tyrants with their Subjects are re- 
 prefented as coming to meet the King of Egypt 
 and his Auxiliaries, See Chap. xxx. 8. upon 
 their Arrival to the fame Place. Hell fignifies 
 here the State of the Dead. Compare Chap. 
 xxxi, 16,17. Ifa. xiv.9, &c. and fee the Notes 
 there. 
 
 Ibid. They are gone down, 8rcVJ Thefe War- 
 riors famous in their Time for their Exploits 
 have undergone the fame Fate with other Men 
 of Blood, and are gone down to the Grave by 
 violent Deaths. See Ver. 1 9. 
 Ver. 22. Ver. 22. oAsJhur is there and all her Company.] 
 The oAjjyrians both King and People, whofe 
 Deftru&ion is reprefented in the foregoing 
 Chapter. 
 
 Ibid. His Graves are alout him.] The E- 
 gyptians lie buried in the fame Place with them. 
 The Mafculine and Feminine Genders are pro- 
 mifcuoufly ufed in the following Verfes. The 
 Mafculine referring to the Prince whofe Sub- 
 jects the Deceafed were; the Feminine to the 
 Nation or Country to which they belonged. 
 
 Ver.
 
 npon EZEKIEL. 26$ 
 
 Ver. 2$. Who fe Graves are fet in the fides Chapter 
 of the Tit.] Compare Chap. xxvi. 20. Ifa. XXXII. 
 xiv. 15. L/"VNJ 
 
 Ibid. aAnd her Company round about for Ver. 2$. 
 Grave.] Like letter Graves placed round the 
 Monument of a Perfon of great Quality : or the 
 Words may import that Death has made them 
 all equal. Compare Ver. 24, 25. 
 
 Ibid. eAU ofthemflain, &c] See Ver. 20. 
 
 Ibid. Which cau fed terror in the Land of the 
 Living.'] Tho' they were a Terrour while 
 they were alive to their Neighbours. See Chap. 
 xxvi. 17. 
 
 Ver. 24. There is Elam and all her Multitude.] Ver. 24. 
 Which was conquered by Nebuchadnezzar. See 
 Jer, xlix. $4. and the Notes there. 
 
 Ibid. Tet have they born their Shame with 
 them that go down into the Tit,] They have 
 been fhamefully fubdued and loft their Lives and 
 Glory together, as &4sfhuf did before them. 
 Ver. 22. 
 
 Ver. 25. They have fet her a "Bed in the midfl Ver. 2<. 
 of the Slain, &C.3 Elam and her People have 
 a Place among the deceafed Princes and Poten- 
 tates. The Word Bed is ufed for the Grave, 
 Ifa. ivii. 2. and may perhaps in both Places al- 
 lude to the coftly Monuments or Sepulchres 
 which ufed to be erected for Perfons of Great 
 Quality. Mittah a Word of the fame Senfe is 
 ufed for a Bier or Coffin, 2 Sam. iii. 31. 
 
 Ibid. Her Graves are round about him.] A- 
 bout thofe of the King of Egypt, and his 
 People. 
 
 M m 2 Ver.
 
 266 A Commentary 
 
 Chapter Ver. 16. There is Mefhech and Tubal and all 
 XXXII. her Multitude^ Who are threatned by God 
 
 L^V^O with a terrible Deftru&ion. See Chap, xxxviii. 
 
 Ver. 26. 2 , 3, &c. But they feemtobe mentioned here 
 by way ofTrolepfis or Anticipation, as the Cri- 
 ticks call it ; for the Deftru&ion threatned to 
 Mefhech and Tubal was not to come to pafs till 
 feveral Ages after this Prophecy againft Egypt? 
 was fulfilled, as may be gathered from feveral 
 Expreflions in that Prophecy. So the Country 
 of Gofien is called the Land of Ramefes, Gen, 
 xlvii. 11. which yet had that Name from the 
 City Ramafes built in after times by the IfraeU 
 ites. See Exod, i. 11. By the fame Figure Ho- 
 reb is called the Mountain, of God, Exod. iii. 1. 
 Concerning Mefhech and Tubal See the Note 
 on Chap, xxvii. 1 3. 
 
 VeiV27. Ver. 27. <And they (hall not lie with 
 the mighty that are fallen of the uncircum- 
 cifed.~] They fhall not lie among thofe Hea- 
 then Heroes who died a Natural Death, 
 and are laid in their Graves with Pomp and 
 Magnificence. Compare this Verfe with If a. 
 xiv. 18, 19. 
 
 Ibid. Which are gone down to HeU, [or the 
 Grave; See Ver. xi.] with their Weapons of 
 War, and they have laid their Swords under 
 their Headsf\ Who were carried to their 
 Graves in State, and had their Atchievements 
 and other Enfigns of Honour affixed to their 
 Monuments for perpetuating their Memory. It 
 has been the Cuftom of all Ages to adorn the 
 Sepulchres of Heroes with their Swords and 
 
 otheir
 
 upon EZERIEL. 267 
 
 other Trophies of War. See iMacc.xiii 19. So Chapter 
 Virgil defcribes Mifenm his Tomb, Mn. 6. XXXII. 
 
 Ingenti mole Sepdchrum Imponit, fukque 
 arma viro. 
 
 Ibid. "But their iniquity Jhall be upon their 
 "Bones, &-C.] Their Death fhall carry in it plain 
 Tokens of their Sins, and of God's Vengeance 
 perfuing them for their Cruelty. 
 
 Ver. 28. Tea thou (halt be broken in the midftVev* 28. 
 of the Uncircumcifed, &c] See Ver. 19. 
 
 Ver. 29. There is Edom, her Kjngs and #7/ Ver. 29. 
 her Princes, &c] Of whofe Deftrufiion Eze- 
 hiel Prophefied, Chap. xxv.. 12. 
 
 Ver. $0. There be the 'Princes of the North yer. 20. 
 all of them, and the ZJdonians,~] By the Trinces 
 of the North, may probably be underftood the 
 Tyrians and their Allies, (See Chap. xxvi. 16.) 
 joyned here with the Sidonians their near Neigh- 
 bours, as they are put together in this Prophecy, 
 Chap, xxviii. as fharers in the fame Deftruction. 
 Some by the Princes of the North underftand 
 Mefljeck, Tubal and other Northern Nations. 
 See Cha. xxxviii. 6, 1 5. xxxix. 2. whofe De- 
 ftru&ion is foretold in thofe Chapters. 
 
 Ver. ? 1. Thar aoh fhall jee them, and fl) all beVev.ji* 
 comforted over his Multitude."] As it affords 
 fome relief to calamitous Perfons to fee others 
 in the fame condition with themfelves. See 
 Chap. xxxi. 16. 
 
 Ver. 52. For I have caufed my Terror in the Ver. 2,2* 
 La?id of the living, &c. As thefe Kings and Na- 
 tions
 
 268 
 
 A Commentary 
 
 Chapter: tions, have bio a terror to the World whilft they 
 XXXII. were in it, Ver. 24, £ffc. fo I will be now 
 iy"W>a terror to them: And efpecially to Tharaoh 
 
 and his People, in making them a remarkable 
 
 Example of my Vengeance. 
 
 . 
 
 
 
 
 CHAP.
 
 upon EZEKIEL. 
 
 269 
 
 Chapter 
 
 XXXIII. 
 
 L/-V-NJ 
 
 CHAP. XXXIII. 
 
 The Argument. 
 
 The Duty of a Trophet in warning a Teofle of 
 their Sins, is exemplified by that of a Watch- 
 man ; then follows an edrneft. Exhortation to 
 Repentance, upon oAJJurance that God. will ac- 
 cept it, being for the moft part a Repetition 
 of what was [aid before in the xviiith Chap- , 
 ter. Upon the News being brought to the ' 
 Trophet that Jerufalem was defrayed by the 
 Chaldeans, he for et els the utter dejolation of 
 Judea, to check the vain Confidence of thofe 
 who [till tarried in it, dud withal reproves 
 the Hypocrify'of thofe *fews who were of the 
 Laptivity. 
 
 Ver. 2. 1 m^^S^p- en I bring a Sword upon a Vei% 2. 
 Lana.~\ B' in^ an Enemy a- 
 gainil a Land with armed 
 Force. See Chap. xiv. 17. 
 Ibid. If the Teople of the 
 Land Jake a Maw of their Qoafts^ Or, From 
 
 am jig
 
 270 ^Commentary 
 
 Chapter among them, to which Senfe the Word Miktfe 
 
 XXXIII. is tranflated Ge?i. xlvii. 2. 
 
 lyVX^ Jbid. oAncTfet him' for a Watchma^^Such 
 watchmen were placed upon the Turrets of 
 their City Walls, to give Notice of the Enemies 
 Approach. See 2 Sam. xviii. 24, 25. 2 Kjngjn 
 ix. 17. fftf.xxl. 8. 
 
 Ver. 2. Ver. 3. If when he fee the Sword come upon 
 
 the Lana.2 When he fpies the Enemy march- 
 ing againft it. See Ver. 2. 
 
 Ver. 4. Ver. 4. His 'Blood fhall he upon his own 
 
 Head.] His Deftru&ion is owing to himfelf. 
 See Chap, xviii. 13. cAcls xviii. 6. 
 
 Ver. <. ^ er * $• *B»* ^ *^* taketh warning fhall deli- 
 
 ver his Soul.2 Shall fave his Life from the Dan- 
 ger that threatens it. In like manner he that 
 takes Warning by the Prophet's Admonition 
 fhall preferve himfelf from the Judgments 
 threatned againft Sinners. See Ver. 10. 
 
 Ver. 6. Ver. 6. He fiall die in his Iniquity, 8cc] See 
 
 Chap.iii. 18. 
 
 Ver. 7 8 Q. Ver. 7, 8, 9. 1 have fet thee a Watchman to 
 the Houfe of IJrael, 8cc] See Chap. iii. 17, 
 18, 19. 
 
 Ver. 10. Ver. 10. If ourTranfgreffionsle upon us, and 
 we fine away in them, how fljall we then live ?] 
 Thou haft threatned that we fhall fine away 
 in our Sins, Chap. xxiv. 2j. How then can the 
 Promifes of Life belong to us ? The Words of. 
 Perfons defpairing of Gods Mercy, and from 
 thence taking Encouragement to go on in their 
 Sins. See a likelnftance Jer. ii. 25. 
 
 Ver. ii. Ver* 11. Why will ye die Houfe oflfrael?"] 
 See the Note on Chap, xviii. 4. 
 
 Ver.
 
 upon EZEKIEL. 271 
 
 Ver. 12, 13. The Righteoufnefs of the righte- Chapter 
 ous fhctU not deliver him in the T)ay of his Tranf- XXXffl. 
 grejfion, hcJ] See the Note upon Chapter ty^/"\J 
 xviii. 16,27. Ver. 12,1$ 
 
 Ver. 1 j. If 'he truft to his own Righteoufnefs. ]y er# f -* 
 If he rely upon the Good Works he hath done, 
 and think the worth of them will overbalance 
 the Guilt of his Evil Deeds. This feems to be 
 the Senfe of the later Jews, who lay this down 
 for a certain Rule in their Mifina, That all Ifrael 
 hath a Share in the World to come. 
 
 Ver. 1 5. Tf the Wicked reft ore the Tledge.] Ver. 1 5. 
 See Chap, xviii. 7. 
 
 Ibid. Give again that he hath robbed.] It is 
 a neceffary Condition of obtaining Pardon, that 
 Men make Reftitution of what they have un- 
 juftly gotten from others. The Law was exprefs 
 to this Purpofe, Levit. vi. 5. where the Offen- 
 der is required to add a Fifth Tart to the Princi- 
 pal, and give it to him to whom it affertaineth ; 
 to the fame purpofe is that received Rule among 
 the Chriftian Cafuiits taken from St. eAuguftin, 
 Epi/L 54. Non dimittitur Teccatum^ nifi refii- 
 tuatur oAblatum. The Sin is not forgiven, unleis 
 what is taken away be reftored. 
 
 Ibid. Walk in the Statutes of Life J] Seethe 
 Note on Chap. xx. 1 1. 
 
 Ver. 16. None of the Sins that he hath com- Ver. 16. 
 mittedjjjali be mentioned unto him.'] See the Note 
 on Chap, xviii. 22. 
 
 Ver. 21. In the Twelfth Tear of our Captivity, Ver. 2 1 . 
 &c] The News of the taking and burning of 
 Jerufalem was brought to that Part of the 'Ba~ 
 
 N n bjlouifi
 
 272 A Commentary 
 
 Chapter tylonijh Dominions where the Jewifh Captives 
 XXXIII. were, m fomething above a Year ard Four 
 C/V^J Months after this Calamity happened. See Jer. 
 
 lii. 12. 
 Ver. 22. Ver. 22 - Now the Hand of the Lord was 
 upon me in the Evening,'] I felt a fend ble im- 
 pulfe of the Prophetical Spirit. See Chap. i. 3. 
 
 Ibid. oAnd had ofened my Mouth until he 
 came to me in the Morning, &-c] God had gi- 
 ven me Commiflion tofpeak in his Name unto 
 the People, which I had not done before near 
 the Space of three Years. Compare Chap. xxiv. 
 1. And the Deftru&ion of the City which I had 
 fo often foretold being now brought to pafs 
 (which at that time you would not believe, See 
 Chap. xi. 5. xii. 22.) gave an indifputable Au- 
 thority and Credit to my Words. See the Note 
 on Chap. xxiv. 27. 
 Ver. 24. ^ er 2 4* They that inhabit thofe waftes of the 
 Land ofljrael.] They that are left behind in the 
 Land that is now waited with Fire and Sword : 
 See Ver. 27. and Chap. xxwi. 4. 
 
 Ibid. oAbraham was one, and he inherited the 
 Land.'} If oAbraham being but a (ingle Perfon, 
 with his Family had the whole Country otjudea 
 given to him, See Gen. xiii. 1 5. there is much 
 greater reafon to conclude that God will preferve 
 the poffeflion of it to us, who are a numerous 
 part of oAbraham's Pofterity. Thefe Men 
 fpake after the Vain manner of the Jews, who 
 fondly prefumethat they have a right in all the 
 Promiies made to oAbraham : See Matth. iii. 8. 
 Joh.viih 33. Rom.ix.j. The Title of One is 
 
 elfe-
 
 upon EZEKIEL. 273 
 
 elfewhere given to •» Abraham, as being Angled Chapter 
 out from the reft of his Family to be the Original XXXTIT. 
 or Head of the Jewifii Nation : See I fa. li. 2. {y\ *^o 
 Malach. ii, 1 5. Heb.xi. 12, 
 
 Ver. 25. Ye eat with the 'Blood.'] Which was Ver. 25. 
 forbidden feveral times in the Law, ?.s being 
 a Rite the Heathens ufed in the Sacrifices they 
 offered to their Idols (whofe worfhip is reproved 
 in the very next words) as Dr. Spencer proves at 
 large Lib. 2. de Legib. Hebraic, v- it. who 
 brings many Arguments to fhew that the He- 
 brew Phrafe, Nal Hadam, fhould be tranflated, 
 Near the 'Blood, in allufion to the Idolatrous 
 Rite of pouring the Blood of the (lain Beaft into 
 a VefTel or Pit, and then eating part of the Sa- 
 crifice juft by it. 
 
 Ibid. $And lift up your Eyes towards your 
 Idols.'} See Chap, xviii. 6. 
 
 Ibid. oAnd fied Wood.} See Chap. ix. 9. 
 xxii. 6, 9. 
 
 Ver. 26. Te ftand upon your Sword.] You Ver. 26, 
 make your Strength the Law of Juflice, ac- 
 cording to the Character given of Ungodly 
 Men, Wifd. ii. 11. Dr. Spencer in the forecited 
 Place thinks that the ExprefTion alludes to a 
 Cuftom of the Heathens, who put the Blood of 
 their Sacrifices into a VefTel or Pit, in order to 
 call up and confult Evil Spirits, and then flood 
 with their Swords drawn to keep the Dxmoiis 
 off from doing them any harm, 
 
 Ibid. Te defile every one his Neighbours Vl 7 ife.~] 
 See ibid. Ver. 6. xxii. 1 1. 
 
 N n 2 Ver.
 
 274- ^Commentary 
 
 Chapter Ver. 27. They that are in the Waftes, (See 
 
 XXXTII. Ver. 24O {half fall by the Sword, &x.] The 
 
 C/V^O Three Judgments here mentioned, together 
 
 Ver. 27. with Famine, are often threatened as the laft 
 
 and finifhing Strokes of God's Vengeance upon 
 
 the Jewifh Nation. See Chap. v. 12, 17. vi; 
 
 12. x'v. 21. Jer. xv. 3. 
 
 Ibid. oAnd they that be in the Forts and in the 
 Caves, (hall die of the Te/lilence.'] Com p. Judg,. 
 vi 2. The Caves here mentioned were a fort 
 of ftrong Holds formed by Nature in the Rocks, 
 or cut out under the Tops of Mountains : They 
 were fo large that Men might fecure themfelves, 
 their Families and their Goods in them. So Da- 
 vid is fa id to abide in firong Holds, and remain 
 in a Mountain in the Wildernefs of Zjph, 1 Sam* 
 xxiii. 14. Such was the Cave of oAdullam, 
 where 'David had his Refidence for fome time, 
 and was there reforted to by his Relations, 
 1 Sam. xxii. 1. and at another time by his prin- 
 cipal Officers : 2 Sam. xxiii. 1 $. 
 Ver. 28. Ver. 28. For I will lay the Land mofl def- 
 late.'] See^r.xliv. 2,6,22. and Chap, xxxvi. 
 34,35. of this Prophecy. 
 
 Ibid. The Tomf of her Strength fhall ceafe.J 
 All that Riches and Magnificence wherein they 
 pleafed themfelves, as that which gave them 
 Strength and Reputation in the Eyes of the 
 World. See Chap. vii. 24. Or the Phrafe may 
 denote the Beauty and Glory of the Temple,, 
 which they looked upon as their chiefeft Strength 
 and Protection : See Chap. ^xiv. 21.. 
 
 Ibid. oAnd the Mountains of Ijrael Jljall be 
 defolate.l See Chap. vi. 2. Ver.
 
 upon EZEKIEL. 27$ 
 
 Ver. 19. Then (hall they know that I am the Chapter 
 Lord, &c] See Chap. vi. 7. XXXIII. 
 
 Ver. 30. The Children of thy Teofle (thofeof l^"V"VJ 
 the Captivitv) are ft ill talking againft thee, Ver. 29. 
 Src.D Or rather, Of thee, as the LXX rightly Ve r- 3°- 
 render it ; for with their Mouth they (hewed 
 much love, as it follows in the next Verfe. 
 
 Ibid. 'By the Walls, and in the "Doors of their 
 Houfes.~] Both in their publick Places of Con- 
 courfe, and in their private Meetings. 
 
 Ibid. Come I fray you, and hear what is the 
 Word that comet h forth from the Lord.] Thefe 
 were fuch as drew nigh to God with their 
 Mouths, hut their Hearts were far from him ; 
 as Ijaiah defcribes their Hypocrifie, Chapter 
 xx ix. 13. 
 
 Ver. 5 j. They come unto thee as the TeopleVer. 31.. 
 comet b.] Or as Difcip'es flo^k to their Teachers ;. 
 So the Chaldee Paraphrafe explains it. 
 
 Ibid. oAnd they fit before thee as myTeople.'] 
 See the Note on Chap viii, 1. 
 
 Ibid. For with their Mouth they (hew much 
 Love. - ] They make Lovej, or f-~fts 9 as our 
 Margin reads out of xh&Hehrew, which -fome 
 Interpreters undcrftand, as if they ridiju'ed the. 
 Prophets Words, or turned them inro Buriefque; 
 fo the Vulgar Latin renders it, In canticum oris 
 fui vertunt. But by comparing this with the. 
 following Verfe, where the lame \V ord Naga- 
 lim is lpoken of a Song or mufuai Tunc, we. 
 may rather underftand the Phrafe to this Senfe,, 
 that they were delighted with the Prophet's 
 Harmonious Voice, or taking Eloquence, but 
 
 would
 
 276 A Commentary 
 
 Chapter would not make the proper ufe of what he 
 XXXTII. faid for the correcting their evil Manners. 
 t^rVNJ Ver. 31. aAndlo, thou art to them as a very 
 Ver. 32. lovely Song, &-c] They come to hear thee for 
 their Entertainment, not for their Edification, 
 as many go to hear Famed and Eloquent Prea- 
 chers. St. eAuguftin tells us that he himfelf 
 was {uch an Auditor of St. eAmbrofe, before he 
 was converted : Confeff. I. 5. c. 13. Studiofe au- 
 diebam diffutantem in fofulo, non attentione 
 qua debui, fed tanquam explorator facundi* 
 
 e)w, utrum conveniret fama Jua. Verbis ejus 
 
 fufyendebar inte?itut, rerum autem incur tofm iS 
 contempor aftabam. " I heard him diligently 
 u when he difcourfed in the Congregation, but 
 " not with that Application of Mind which I 
 " ought to have done ; but T came rather out of 
 u Curiofity to know whether his Eloquence 
 " was anfwerable to that Opinion the World 
 " had of him. I was very attentive to his 
 " Style, and charmed with the fweetnefs of 
 " his Delivery, but had little Value or Con- 
 " cern for the Subjects he treated of. 
 Ver. 21. Ver. 33. <»And when this comes to pafs, lo it 
 will come, &c.] Or rather, lo it is come ; for 
 fo the fame Phrafe is tranflated, Chap. vi. 2, 6 y 
 10. the Verb being in the Prefent Tenfe, When 
 you fee my Prophecies concerning the Deftructi- 
 on of Jentfalem, actually brought to pafs, as it 
 appears they are at this time. See Ver. 21. then 
 you will be convinced of the Truth of my Mif- 
 fion, and of your own inexcufable Crime in de- 
 fpifing my Predictions. See Chap. xxiv. 27. 
 
 CHAP.
 
 upon EZEKIEL. 
 
 277 
 
 
 
 ^F^^ 
 
 CHAR XXXIV. 
 
 The Argument. 
 
 G0J reproves the III Conduct of the G over now s 
 of the Jewi/I) Nation loth Civil and Ecclefi- 
 aftical: oAnd promifes a General Rejl orati- 
 on of his People, and their Happy Condition 
 under the Government of the Messias their 
 
 Ver. 2. s m,Rophefj> againft the Shep-Vev.2. 
 
 1 herds of Jpael.'] The 
 Word Shepherd in the Pro- 
 phetical Writings com- 
 prehends both Civil and 
 Ecclefiaftical Governours. 
 
 See the Notes upon Ifa. lvi. 11. Jerem. ii. 8. 
 
 xxiii. 1. Princes being called Shepherds of 
 
 their Peopie as well as thole who have the 
 
 immedi-
 
 278 
 
 ^Commentary 
 
 Chapter immediate Care of their Souls, See Tfal lxxviii. 
 
 XXXtV. 71,72. To the fame Senfe Homer calls oAga- 
 
 l^VNJ memnon, Tioltuva **&>>, the Shepherd of the Peo- 
 ple. And as the Threatnings here denounced 
 extend to all forts of Governors, fo the feveral 
 Sins of the Princes, Priefts and Prophets are re- 
 proved Chap. xxii. 2$, &c. Compare likewife 
 Chap. xlv. 8, 9. 
 
 Ibid. Wo to the Shepherds of Ifrael that feed 
 them/elves.] That regard their own Profit and 
 Advantage, not the Good of the People com- 
 mitted to their Charge. Tlato in the firft Book 
 of his Commonwealth, defcribing the Office of a 
 Magiftrate, faith, " He fhould look upon him- 
 " felf as fuftaining the Office of a Shepherd, 
 " that makes it his chief Bufmefs to take Care 
 " of his Flock ; not as if he were going to a 
 " Feaft to fill himfelf and fatiate his Appetite, 
 " or to a Market to make what Gain he can to 
 " himfelf." Eufebm in his 1 ith 'Book De Tra- 
 faratione Evangelica, Chap. 44. hath tranfcri- 
 bed the whole Paffage, as an exact Parallel to 
 this place of Ezekiel. 
 
 Ver. 3. Ver. 3. Te eat the Fat.'] Or the Milk, as the 
 
 LXX render it. The Hebrew Words Halab, 
 Milk, and Heleb, Fat, differ only in their 
 Points, fo that the ancient Verfions take them 
 promifcuoufly one for the other. See Chapter 
 xxv. 4. 
 
 Ibid. Te kill them that are fed.] Them that are 
 Fat ye defign for the Slaughter, wherewith to 
 feed your felves : See Zech. x. 5. i. e. they took 
 away the Lives of the Wealthy and SuMantial, 
 
 that
 
 upon EZEKTEL. 279 
 
 that they might enrich themiefves with their Chapter 
 Eftates. See Chap. x\H* 25, 27. XXXIV. 
 
 Ver. 4. The 'Vifedfed have ye not ftrengthen \J~\ *N^ 
 ed, 8rc] Ye have not apn'ie'l proper Remedies * er « 4» 
 to the Wants and Necefliries of the People com- 
 mitted to your Charge. The Magillrates have 
 not took care to relieve the Needy, and defend 
 the Oppreifed. The Priefts and toe Prophets 
 have not been diligent in giving the People pro- 
 per Inftructions, in reducing thofe that are in 
 Error, or in comforting the Difconfolate. 
 
 Ibid. Neither have ye bound #p that which 
 was broken.'] Ye have not given Eafe to the 
 Afflicted and Miferable. A Metaphor taken 
 from Surgeons binding up Wounds. Compare 
 ■If a.- Ixi. 1. 
 
 Ibid. Neither have ye brought again that 
 which was driven away, &x.] Or, which was 
 gon aftray, as the Word Niddahih is tranflated, 
 c Deut.xx'ri. 1. Ye have not fought by good In- 
 ft ructions to reduce thofe that have been feduced 
 into Error ; or to reclaim thofe that are ready to 
 be loft and peri Oi in their Sins. Compare Matt* 
 ix. 36. xviii. 1 1. 
 
 Ibid. "But with force and cruelty have ye ruled 
 them.] You have tried to reduce them to their 
 Duty by the rough Methods of Cruelty and 
 Compulfion, not by the gentle way of Reafon 
 and Argument. In like manner the Methods 
 • of, Inftru&ion and good Example are particu- 
 larly recommended to the Paftors of the Chri- 
 ftian Church, i Vet. v. 3. 2 Tim. ii. 24, 25. 
 
 O Ver.
 
 280 A Commentary 
 
 Chapter Ver. <>. oAnd they were fcattered abroad le- 
 
 XX XIV. caufe there is no She f herd, &. .] By Reafon of 
 
 <.y"V"NJ rhefe Negle£ts of the Governors, the whole 
 
 Ver. 5. Frame of the Government isdillblved, and my 
 
 People are fcattered here and there : Some are 
 
 fled for Refuge into Foreign Countries. See 
 
 3fcra0.xl.il. Others are carried Captives by 
 
 their Enemies, who as fo many Beafts of Prey 
 
 have fpoiled and devoured them. Compare Je r. 
 
 xii. 9. Jfa. lvi. 9. 
 
 Ver. 6. Ver. 6. My Sheep wandered thro* all the 
 
 Mountains, &c] As Sheep when there is no 
 
 body to look after them, wander from one 
 
 Mountain and Hill to another ; fo my People 
 
 have been forced to leave their Habitations, and 
 
 fly to any Place where they might hope for Prd- 
 
 te&ion. Compare Chap. vii. 16, and fee the 
 
 Note upon Jerem. xiii. 16. 
 
 Ibid. oAnd none did feek or fearch after them.'] 
 Their Rulers took no Care of my People while 
 they had Power and Authority ; and now I have 
 difplaced them for their Mifdemeanours, and 
 there is no Body left whofe Office it is to take 
 any further Care of my People. See Ver. 10. 
 Ver. 10. Ver. 10. / will require my Flock at their 
 Hands, and caufe them to ceafe from feeding the 
 Floch~\ I will require a fevere Account of their 
 Kings and Princes, their Priefts and Prophets, 
 of the Damage my People have fuftained 
 through their 111 Management : and I will de- 
 prive them of that Honour and Preheminence 
 which they have made fuch 111 Ufe of, as I have 
 already difplaced Zgdehahy and the Princes, 
 
 Priefts,
 
 upon EZEKIEL: 281 
 
 Priefts, and others that were in Authority un- Chnpter 
 derhim. XXX iV. 
 
 Ver. i2. So willl feek out my Sheep, and de- L/~\T\J 
 liver them out of all f laces, where they have^ er ' I2 « 
 beenfcattered in the cloudy and dark Day.'] I will 
 bring them Home from their feveral Difper- 
 fions, whither they have been driven in the 
 dark and difmal time of the deftru&ion of their 
 Country, and their own Captivity. Compare 
 Chap. xxx. 3. 
 
 Ver. 1 3. oAnd I will bring them out from the Ver. 1 ?. 
 Teople, &o] This Prophefie may in fame de- 
 gree have been fulfilled in the Return of the 
 Jews from the TSabyloniflj Captivity : But feems 
 ftill to look further, even to the General Refto- 
 rationof the whole Nation'; which moft of the 
 Prophets fortel fhall come to pafs in the latter 
 Days : Compare Chap. xi. 17. xx. 41. xxviii. 25. 
 xxxvi. 24. xxxvii. 21. xxxviii. 8. xxxix. 27. 
 
 Ver. 14. Upon the high Mountains of IfraelJ] Ver. 14. 
 See Chap. vi. 2. 
 
 Ibid. There Jball they lie in a good fold. 8tc] 
 The Expreflions denote Plenty and Security. 
 Compare I fa. lxv. 10. °ferem. xxxiii. 12. Hof. 
 ii. 18. Zjph. iii. 13. 
 
 Ver. 1 6. I will Jeek that which is lofl, &c] Ver. 16. 
 The Mejfias, whom I will fet over them, ( See 
 Ver. 23.) fhall faithfully difchargeall the Offi- 
 ces of a Shepherd toward them, which their 
 former Paftors have neglected. Ver. 4. Comp. 
 Ifa. xl. 11. lxi.i. Matth. xv. 24. xviii. n. 
 John*. 11. 
 
 O 2 Ver.
 
 282 A Commentary 
 
 Chapter Ibid. "But I will defiroy the fat and the ftrong ] 
 XXXtV, Thofe that opprefs and domineer over the Weak. 
 L/"V~^ See Ver. 20, 21. Comp. Chap, xxxix. 18. eAmos 
 iv. 1. 
 
 Ibid. / will feed them with Judgment.'] Or 
 w/f/6 Difcretion : i. e. I will deal with each of 
 them according to their Deferts, and make a 
 Diftinclion between the Fat and Lean Cattle. 
 See Ver. 1 8, 20. 
 Ver 17. Ver. 17. 'Between Cattle and Cattle, he* 
 tween the Rams and the He-Goats.] The He-- 
 brew runs thus, 'Between the J'mall Cattle, and 
 the Cattle of Rams and He-Goats ; between the 
 Weak and the Strong Cattle, i.e. between the 
 Rich and the Poor, as the Chaldee Paraphrafe 
 explains the Senfe, upon Vcrfe 20. 
 Ver. 18. Ver. 18. Seemeth it a {mall thing unto you, to 
 have eaten up the good Pafture, &x.] This Re- 
 proof may fitly be applied to thofe great Perfons 
 who take no Care that the Poor may enjoy the 
 Benefit of their Superfluities; but rather let 
 them be thrown away and perifh, than they 
 will be at the trouble of feeing them difpofed of 
 for the good of thofe that Want. 
 Ver. 21. Ver. 2 . *Be 'caufe ye have thrufl with fide and 
 fioulder, Sec] In purfuance of this Comparifon 
 the OpprefTors of the Weak are commonly 
 ftyled in Scripture by the Names of Oxen, Bul- 
 locks, Rams and He-goats. SteTJ'aim xxii. 12. 
 lxviii. 31. "Dan. viii. 3, 5. 
 Ver, 2 2. Ver. 23. oAnd I will jet up one Shepherd over 
 
 them, even my Servant ''David.] The Mejfi- 
 
 as is often defcribed under the Character of a 
 
 Shep-
 
 upon EZEKIEL. 283 
 
 Shepherd both in the Old and New Teftament. Chapter 
 See the Note on Ver. 16. And the Title may be XXXIV. 
 applied to him with refpecl: to his Office of King, U^"WJ 
 as well as that of Prieft and Prophet : See the 
 Note on Ver. 2. He is elfewhere ftyled by the 
 Name of 'David, as being the Perfon in whom 
 all the Pi omifes made to David, were fulfilled. 
 See//tf. Iv. $,4. Jerem.WK.q, Hof.iii. 5. 
 
 Ibid. He (ball feed them, and he ft all be their 
 Shepherd.] This Prophefy was remarkably ful- 
 filled, when Christ by the Preaching of the 
 Gofpel gathered in one the Children of God which 
 were fcattered abroad, Joh. xi. 52. Eph. i. jo. 
 among whom were many of the Loft iheep of 
 the Houfe of Ijrael, Matt. x. 6. But k will re- 
 ceive a farther Completion at the general Con- 
 verfion of the Jew?, when the Time will come 
 that they (hall fay, "Blejjed is he that cometh in 
 the Name of the L ird, Matth. xxiii. 37. And 
 this fignal Event will ufher in or complete the 
 Fzdnefs of the Gentiles, See Rom. xi. 12, 15, 
 
 2 5>) 2 - 
 Ver. 24. (And I the Lor iS will le their God.] Ver. 2 4* 
 
 I will renew my Covenant with them, and re- 
 ceive them again into my Protection. See Ver. 
 $0. Chap, xxxvii. 27. Ltvit. .\v\. 12. and the 
 Notes upon jertm. x x. 22. 
 
 Ibid. oAnd my Servant 'David a 'V bice 
 among them.} See the Note on Chap, xxxvii. 
 22. 
 
 Ver. 25. oAnd I will male with them a Cove- Ver. 25.. 
 nant of 'Peace. ~\ As 1 will be at Peace with 
 them, fo I wiil give thelfr the Blefling of out- 
 ward
 
 284 
 
 A Commentary 
 
 Chapter ward Peace, and will protect them from the 
 XXXIV. Annoyance of all their Enemies, from Perfecu- 
 CVNJ tion and outward Violence. See Jerem. 
 xxiii. 6. 
 
 Ibid. <*And will caufe the evil 'Beafts to ceafe 
 out of the Land.2 This may be meant of 
 Freedom from Perfecution by Infidels and 
 Strangers. Compare Ver. 28. fuch a Security 
 is elfewhere expreffed by making a Covenant for 
 them with the 'Beafts of the Field : See Hof. ii. 
 18. Job v. 2?. Ifa. xxxv. 9. Levit. xxvi. 6. The 
 Words are likewife capable of a Literal Inter- 
 pretation, importing that as God had threatned 
 that after the Delegation of the Land, wild 
 Beafts fhould overrun it, and devour the few 
 Inhabitants that were left, See Chap. v. 17. 
 xxxiii. 27. So upon the repeopling of the Coun- 
 try, thofe Ravagers fhould forfake it. 
 Ver. 26. Ver. 26. eAnd I will make them, and the 
 places round about my Hill, a'Blejfing.'] I will 
 there give remarkable Inftances of my Favour, 
 and the Happinefs which accompanies it. See 
 Gen. xii. 2. Ifa. xix. 24. Z^ech. viii. ij. God's 
 Hill is the fame with his Holy Mountain^ Chap. 
 xx. 40. 
 
 Ibid. aAnd there fhall be {bowers of 'BleJJing.'] 
 Such as fhall produce all forts of Plenty. Com- 
 pare Malach. iii. 10. 
 Ver. 27. Ver. 27. (And the Tree of the Field fiall yield 
 her Fruit, &c] The fpiritual Ble flings of the 
 Gofpel are fometimes defcribed under the Em- 
 blems of Fruitfulnefs and Plenty. See the 
 
 Notes
 
 upon EZEKIEL. 28$ 
 
 Notes on J/a.lv. 2. >,xxv. 2. lxv. 10. Jerem. Chapter 
 xxxi. 12. XXXIV. 
 
 Ibid. When I have broken the 'Bands of their i/V"^ 
 Toke.~] The fame Expreflion which is ufed 
 concerning the Deliverance of Ifrael out of 
 Egypt: Levit. xxvi. i$. Jerem. i'l. 20. Their 
 Final Reftoration being reprefented as the Grea- 
 ter Deliverance of the Two. See Jerem. xxiii. 
 7, 8. 
 
 Ibid. oAnd delivered them out of the Hand 
 of thofe that jerved themjelves of them.~] See 
 Jerem. xxv. 14. 
 
 Ver. 28. oAnd they foall no more le a Trey to\ QV% 2 8. 
 the Heathen, neithe fhall the c Beafts of the Land 
 devour them.] See Ver. 25. 
 
 Ibid. oAnd they fliall dwell fafely, &c] See 
 the Note on Jerem. xxiii. 6. 
 
 Ver. 29. oA//d I will raije them yt> a Tlant 0/Ver. 29. 
 Renown.] The Mejfias is often defqiibai under 
 the Name of the 'Branch ; and the Rod or Shoot 
 growing of the Stem of Jejje. See la. iv. 2. xf. 
 liii. 2. Jerem. xxiii. 5. Zeth. iii. 8. vi. 12. 
 
 Ibid. oAndthey (ball be no more conjumed with 
 Hunger in the Land.] But fhall be bleffed wirh 
 Plenty of all Things : See Ver. 26, 27. and 
 Chap, xxxvi. 29. 
 
 Ibid. Neither bear the Shame of the Heathen 
 any more.] By whom they were reproached, 
 as if their God had caft them off. See Chap, 
 xxxvi. 3, 6, 15. • 
 
 Ver. 30. Then ffjall they know that I they ev ? 0> 
 Lukd their God am with them y &c] See 
 Ver. 24. 
 
 Ver.
 
 286 
 
 Chapter 
 XXXIV. 
 
 Ver. j i. 
 
 *A Commentary 
 
 Ver. $r. ^4tidye, mv Flock, the Flock of my 
 Ta/lttre, are Men.*] Thefe Words at rhe Con- 
 clufion of the Chapter, explain the Metaphor 
 which runs through the whole : that what was 
 faid of a Flock and its Shepherds, is to be un- 
 derftood of Men and- their Governours ; and 
 efpecially of God's People whom he takes Care 
 of, as a Shepherd does of his Flock. See Chap, 
 xxxvi. 38. Tfal. lxxxi. 2. 
 
 C H A P.
 
 upon EZEKIEL. 
 
 287 
 
 ♦5^fe ; llP^P^p SB ; /: s& 
 
 **••*■*■ -*^v ■*•'■* * * 4- ♦ V* *••*%- •*•"* ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ '#• * * ■** 
 
 CHAR XXXV. 
 
 The Argument. 
 
 71&* Trophet renews his former Denunciations 
 of Judgments upon the Edomites, See Chap. 
 xxv. 12. tf.r dijfl/? Tunifhme?it for their Iujult- 
 ing over the Calamities of the Jews, 
 
 Chipter 
 XXXV. 
 
 Ver. 2. i MET thy Face again ft Mount Ver. 2. 
 
 .SV/VO See Chap. vi. 2. 
 Mount Seir is the fame 
 with Idumea. See T)eut. 
 ii. 5. 
 Ver. 4. I w/7/ /#)' £#; Ver. 4. 
 C/V/Vj Wafte, &c.] See Ver. 9. 
 
 Ver. 5. 'Becaufe thou haft had a perpetual Ver. <. 
 hatred, &o] See the Note on Chap. xxv. 12. 
 
 Ibid. In the time that their Iniquity had an 
 End.'] When their Iniquity received its juft 
 Doom. See Chap. vii. 6. xxi. 25, 29. 
 
 Ver. 6. £/>£ thou haft not hated 'Blood, even Ver. <5. 
 < BloodJhall purfue theer\ Since thou haft loved 
 
 P p Cruelty,
 
 288 A Commentary 
 
 Chapter Cruelty, and took delight in fliedding Blood; 
 XXXV. Vengeance fiiall purfiie thee, and thou (halt fall 
 L/"V~\J into the Hands of thofe that will be as eager 
 to (lied thine. The Phrafe, Thou haft not hated 
 'Blood, is fpoken by the Figure called Litotes by 
 the Rhetoricians, when the Words imply more 
 than they exprefs. See the Note on Jerem. 
 vii. 31. 
 
 Ver. 7. Ver. 7- sAnd cut °ff f rom n ^' m that f a ff- 
 eth out) and him that returnethJ] No Travellers 
 (hall go forward or backward in it with Safety. 
 See Chap. xxix. 1 1. Compare Judg. v. 6. 2 Chro. 
 xv. 5. 
 
 Ver. 8. Ver. 8. (And I will fill his Mountains with 
 
 his (lain Men, &x.] Every part of the Country 
 fhall be filled with the Carcafes of thofe that are 
 Slain. Compare C hap. xxxii. 4, 5. 
 
 Ver. 9. Ver. 9. aAnd I will make thee ferfetual Tie- 
 
 jolations, &x.] See Chap. xxv. 13. Jerew.xlix. 
 17,18. Malach.u $. Dv.Trideaux, Script. Hi ft. 
 Tar. 2. f . 299. informs us that the Nabatheans 
 having driven the Edomites out of their Ancient 
 Habitations in the time of the "Babjlonifi Cap- 
 tivity, they fettled them (elves in the Southern 
 part of Judea, where they were afterward con- 
 quered by HyrcaniMy and obliged to embrace 
 thejewifh Religion, and fo became at length 
 incorporated with that Nation. See ibid, 
 f. 307. 
 Ver. 10. Ver. 10. Thefe two Nations, and thofe two 
 Countries Jhali be mine.] They fettled them- 
 felves in part of the County, and hoped to- 
 have got PofTeflion of the whole ia time. See 
 
 the
 
 upon EZEKIEL. 289 
 
 the Note upon the foregoing Verfe. The (Am- Chapter 
 tnonites had the fame Defign, as appears from XXXV. 
 Jerem. xlix. i. iy~V^NJ 
 
 Ibid. Whereas the Lord was there."} They 
 did not believe that God had placed his Name 
 there, had chofen it for a place of his peculiar 
 Refidence, and would never quite relinquifh 
 his Property in it. See Chap, xlviii. 3 5. 
 
 Ver. 11. oAnd I will make my [elf kno7jvnVer. 11, 
 among them, when I have judged thee.} I will 
 make my People fee that I have not quite caft 
 them off, by my avenging their Quarrel upon 
 thee. 
 
 Ver. 1 2. oAnd thou [halt know that I am the Ver. 1 2. 
 Lord.] See Chap. vi. 7. 
 
 Ibid. They are laid defolate, Sec] See the 
 Note on Ver. 10. 
 
 Ver. 15. Thus with your Mouth ye have Ver, if* 
 boafted againft me,~] As if I were not able to 
 make good my Promifes toward the Jews, or 
 to afTert my Right in Judea. See Ver. io. 
 
 Ver. 14. When the whole Earth rejoiceth, /Ver. 14, 
 will make thee defolate.} When I fhall reftore 
 other Countries, conquered by the King of *£>**- 
 bylon, to their former Pofterity, thou (halt Mill 
 lie wade and defolate. The Edomites never re- 
 covered their Country, after the Nabatheans 
 had expelled them out of it. See Dr. Trideaux, 
 in the Place above cited. 
 
 Ver. 1 5. Thou fialt be defolate-— all Idr/meaJ] Ver. 1 J. 
 The Expreffion is like that of Ifaiah, Whole Ta- 
 leftina, Ifa. xiv. 29. /'. e, all the feveral Tribes 
 and Divifions of it. 
 
 P P 2 CHAR
 
 2pO 
 
 A Commentary 
 
 Chapter 
 XXXVI. 
 
 CHAR XXXVI 
 
 The Argument. 
 
 This and the following Chapter contain a Tre- 
 diHion of the general Reft or at ton loth of If- 
 rael and Judab, a Subjeff often fpoken of by 
 this Trophet : of which the Return of the 
 Two Tribes from Babylon may be thought an 
 Eamefi. 
 
 Ver. i. y er# 
 
 Ver. 2. 
 
 Rophefy unto the Moun- 
 tains of lfrael.2 See the 
 following Verfe. 
 
 Ver. 2. *Becaufe the 
 Enemy hath Jaid againft 
 you, even the ancient 
 high Places are ours in ToJJeffion.'] The ldu- 
 means have made their Boafts, (fee Ver. 5. and 
 Chap. xxxv. 10.) that they fhould become Ma- 
 tters
 
 upon EZEKIEL. 291 
 
 fters of the Mountainous Parts of Judea, where Chapter 
 the Ancient FortrefTes were placed which com- XXXVI. 
 manded all the reft of the Country. To the L/^/^O 
 fame Senfe we are to underftand the Expreffion 
 of Treading upon the high T I aces of the Earthy 
 Deut.xxxil i}. i.e. taking PofTeffion of fihe 
 FortrefTes or PaiTes which command the reft of 
 the Country. 
 
 Ver. $. oAnd ye are taken up in the Lips cfVev. 7. 
 Talkers, and are the Infamy of the Heathen.] 
 Your Calamities have made you become a Pro- 
 verb, a By-Word and a Reproach among the 
 Heathen round about you, according to the 
 Threatnincs of the Prophets denounced againft: 
 you. See 'Dent, xxviii. 37. 1 Ifjngs ix. 7, 8. 
 Jerem. xviii. i6. t Lam. ii. 15. Dan.ix. 16. TjaL 
 
 Ver. 4. Which lecame a Trey to the RefidueVev. 4/ 
 of the Heathen that are round about you. ,] To 
 thefe Heathen chat are left, alter the General 
 Defections threatned upon the Neighbouring 
 Countries, Moab, Edom, vAmmon, &c. Com- 
 pare Ver. ?6. and Jerem, xxv. 20. xlvii. 4. 
 
 Ver. 5. Surely in the hi\ , f my Jtalouf] ] In Ver. 5. 
 that fervent Zeal and Concern t\ . 1 have for my 
 own Honnn>, which is H-tfphuncd -.mong the 
 Heathen. "See Chap x-xv. 12, f$. Compare 
 Chap. xxxviii.''Q. *x.<i . 25. 
 
 lbi-K e Igainfi the Rejiam of the Heathen — 
 whico have appointed my 'Land into toeirTof- 
 fejjion:] Seethe Note on Chap.xx<v. 12. 
 
 Ver. 6. 'Becauje ye hate tor 1 the Shame of Ver, 6- 
 the Heathen.'] See Chap, xxxiv. i</. xxxv. 12, 1 $. 
 
 Ver.
 
 292 A Commentary 
 
 Chapter Ver. 7. I have lifted up my Hand.~] I hare fb- 
 XXXVI. lemnly Sworn : See Chap. xx. 5, iyc. 
 ^yVSJ Ver. 8. Tieldyour fruit to my Teople of ll'rael, 
 Ver. 7. f or they are at Hand to come.~] This may have 
 Ver. 8. anvliaimediate Afpccl: upon the Jews Return 
 fkrtu 'Babyloft, when they were reftored to the 
 PofTefTion of their own Covintry. If we fup- 
 pofe the Words to relate to the General Reftora- 
 tion of the Nation, the longed: Diftance of time 
 that the Things of this World can extend to, 
 is but as a Moment in refpeft of Eternity. 
 Compare Heb.x. 37. Thilip. iv. 5. 
 Ver. 10. Ver. 10. oAnd the Waft es 'flail be builded.] 
 Compare Ver. 33. This may likewife have 
 been in fome Meafure fulfilled at their Return 
 from 'Babylon. Compare I fa. lviii. ix. Ixi. 4. 
 Ver. 11. Ver. 11. eAnd I will multiply upon you Man 
 and 'Beaft.'] As God in his Judgments threa- 
 tens to cut off Man and Beaft from a Land ; 
 See Chap. xiv. 17. So here he promifes to re- 
 plenifh it with both. Compare Jerem. xxxi. 27. 
 xxxiii. 12. 
 
 Ibid. oAnd will do better unto you than at 
 your 'Beginnings.'] In beftowing upon you the 
 Blefiings of the Gofpel : the Promifes of which 
 were made firft to the Jews and to their Chil- 
 dren: eAcl.ii. 39. The Words may likewife imply 
 that God would give them a more lafting and 
 fecure PoiTeflion of their Land than ever they 
 had before. See the following Verfes. 
 
 Ver 12. ^ er * I2# Y ea * I w ^ cau J e ^ en towa ^ u i on 
 L ' you.J O Mountains, or Land of JJrael, Ver. 8. 
 
 Ver.
 
 upon EZEKIEL. 293 
 
 Ver. i}. Thou Land devoureft up Men, mid Chapter 
 haft bereaved thy Nations.1 The Neighbouring XXXV]". 
 People raifed this 111 Character upon the Land of l/VNJ 
 fudea, becaufeof the fevere Judgments of the Ver. l 3* 
 Sword, Famine and Peftilence, which had de- 
 ftroyed the greater!: part of the Inhabitants. 
 The Ex predion alludes to that Evil Report 
 which the Spies brought upon it, Numb. xiii. 32. 
 that it was a Land that did eat uf its Inhabi- 
 tants : as if the Air had been unwholfome, or 
 the Country always afflicted by fome Judgment 
 from Heaven. 
 
 Ver. 14. Therefore thou (I) alt devour Men noVev. 14. 
 more, &c] Thou (halt be free from the Strokes 
 of Heaven, and from the Annoyance of Enemies 
 on Earth. 
 
 Ver. 15. Neither will I caufe Men to hear inVcr. 15. 
 thee the Shame of the Heathen any more, &c.} 
 See Ver. 6. and Chapter x xiv 29. 
 
 Ibid. Neither (halt thou caufe thy Nations to 
 fall any more. ~\ The Chaldee and iome otiKr an- 
 cient Verfions tranflate the Words, Neither (Jjalt 
 thou bereave thy Teofle [or Nations] any m'jve: 
 as if the Word in the Original wee Siaccal, the 
 fame which is ufed in the Senfe of ct reaving in 
 the foregoing Verfes : whereas here the preferit: 
 Copies read Cafhai, which fignifjes to h.Jl. But 
 it hath been before obferved, t > ds in t te 
 Hebrew which are near in Su 1 en h ■ in 
 
 Affinity in their Signification So*- die Nc- e -lp- 
 on Chap, xxvii 15. 
 
 Ver. ij. Their Way voi s -xfbrir me* a -^Ver. i7 > 
 Uncle annejs of a removed Woman.] A* foch a 
 
 Per ion
 
 294 ^Commentary 
 
 CK'pter Pencil was under a legal Pollution, and forbid- 
 XXXVI. den to come within the Courts of the Temple, 
 C/"Y"NJ or attend upon God's Worfhip there : So the 
 Defilements the Jews had contracted by their 
 Idolatries, and other heinous Sins, rendered them 
 unqualified to be my People, or to offer up any 
 religious Service to me. 
 Ver. 18. Ver. *■%• Wherefore I poured my Fury ufon 
 them for the "Blood they had fhed ufon the Land, 
 and for their Idols, &o] Murder and Idolatry, 
 two Sins of the fir ft Magnitude, are often joined 
 together in the Catalogue of National Sins reci- 
 ted in this Prophecy : meaning particularly, the 
 Blood of their Children, which they offered to 
 their Idols. See Chap. xvi. 56, 38. xxiii. $7. 
 Ver. 1 9. Ver. 1 9. <And I jcattered them among the 
 
 Heathen, &c] See Chap. v. 12. 
 Ver. 20. Ver. 20. oAnd when they entredunto the He a- 
 then--they frofaned my holy Natne, when they 
 J aid unto them, &c] Or, When it was (aid unto 
 them ; Verbs of the third Perfon being often ta- 
 ken imperfonally. By their evil Practices they 
 brought a Scandal upon my Name, and gave 
 Occaiion to the Heathen to fay, See what pro- 
 fligate Wretches thefe are who call themfelves 
 by the Name of God's People, whom he hath 
 juftly expelled out of their Country which he 
 had given them. The Chaldee Tarafhraft un- 
 derftands the Words to this Senfe, " If thefe 
 " are God's People, why does he fuffer them to 
 " be turned out of the Land which he made the 
 *' Place of his own efpecial Refidence ? Why 
 " does he not continue to protect them ? " But 
 
 the
 
 upon EZEKIEL. 295 
 
 the former Senfe agrees better with the Scope Chapter 
 of the Text, and with St. TauTs Application of it XXXVI. 
 to the Jews of his own Time, Rom. \\. id. and U^VNJ 
 with what follows, Ver. 31. 
 
 Ver. it. r But I had Tity for my Holy A T ame,Ycr. it. 
 &rc] / wrought for my Name's .Sake, that it 
 (Iwuld not be -polluted among the Heathen, as the 
 Prophet fpeaks, Chap. xx. 9. 
 
 Ver. 22. / do not this for your fakes, Houfe Ver. 22. 
 of Jfrael."] The Promifes I make in your Fa- 
 vour in the following Verfes, are not owing to 
 any Defert of yours, but purely to vindicate my 
 own Honour. See Ver. 32. and Compare T>eut. 
 ix 5. Tfal. cwl 8. 
 
 Ver. 2}. oAnd I will fantlifie my great Name Yew 23. 
 which was profaned among the Heathe?i, &c] 
 I will give illuftrious Proofs of my Power and 
 Goodnefs, and vindicate my Honour from the 
 Reproaches with which it has been blafphemed 
 among the Heathen, upon the Occafion of your 
 evil Doings. 
 
 Ibid, o/lnd the Heathen Jhall know that I am 
 the Lord.] The Return of the Jews from the 
 TBabylonifh Captivity, was taken Notice of by 
 the Heathens, as a fignal Inftance of God's Pro- 
 vidence toward them, See Tfal. cxxvi. 2. and 
 their General Converfion will be a much more 
 remarkable Proof of my fulfiling the Promifes 
 made to their Fathers, fo that the Heathens 
 themfelves will be forced to take notice of it. 
 See Chap.xxxvii. 28. It will be an effectual Ar- 
 gument to convince Infidels that your Nation 
 and the reft of the true Ifraelites are the only 
 
 Q. q Churcn
 
 296 
 
 A Commentary 
 
 Chapter Church of God, and ProfefTors of his Truth. 
 
 XXXVL See Zjck viii. 25, 
 
 L/'V^O Ibid. When I fljall be fanHified in you before 
 your Eyes."] When I fhall Santlify my Name, as 
 it is expreffed in the former part of the Verfe, 
 and make my Power and Goodnefs known to 
 the World. See the Notes on Chap. xx. 41. 
 xxv iii. 22. 
 
 Ver. 24. Vet*. 24. oAnd I will take you out from among 
 the Heathen, &c.3 See Chap, xxxiv. 13. xxxvii. 
 
 21. xxxix. 25. 
 
 Ver. 2<. Ver. 25. e/Lnd I will fprinkle clean Water up- 
 on you y and ye (I) all be clean. ~\ The ExprefTion 
 alludes to thofe legal Purifications which were 
 made by fprinkling Water upon the unclean Per- 
 fon, See Numb. viii. 7. xix. 1 $. and denotes the Sa- 
 crament of Baptifm, by which true Believers are 
 cleanfed from their former Sins, and inwardly 
 fan&ified. See eAclsn. 38. xxii. 16. Titm iii. 
 5. and Compare Jerem. xxxiii. 8. St. Taul may 
 probably allude to this Text, when he exhorts 
 the Hebrew Converts to draw nigh to God, 
 having their Hearts fprinkle d from an evil Con- 
 fcience, and their ^Bodies wafied with pure Wa- 
 ter, Heb. x. 22. 
 
 Ibid. From all your Filthinefs, and from your 
 Idols will I cleanfe you.'] When the Prophets 
 foretel the General Converfion of the Jews, 
 they ufually mention their Deteftation of their 
 former Idolatries, as a necefTary Preparation to- 
 ward it. See If a. i. 29. xvii. 7, 8. Jerem. iii. 
 
 22, 23, he, Zjch. xiii. 1, 2. Some account of 
 this Circumftance of their Converfion hath been 
 
 given
 
 upon EZEKIEL. 297 
 
 given in the Note upon Ifa. Ixv. 7. and upon the Chapter 
 forementioned Chapter of Jeremiah. XXXVI. 
 
 Ver. 26, 27. &4 New Heart alfo will I give iy"VNJ 
 you, &r.] See Chap. xi. 19. This Promife will Ver.26,i7 
 be fulfilled, when the Heart of this People fhall 
 turn to the Lord, and the Veil ft all le taken 
 from it, as St. "Vaul informs us, 2, Cor. iii. 1 6. 
 Compare Jerem. xxxi. 53, 34- 
 
 Ver. 28. oAndye ftall dwell in the Land that Ver. 28. 
 1 gave to your Fathers^ See Chap, xxviii. 25. 
 
 Ibid. ^And ye ft all be my Teofle, &c] See 
 Chap. xi. 20. 
 
 Ver. 29. J will alfo fave you from all your ##- Ver. 19. 
 cle annexe s7\ I will take away the Guilt of them, 
 and deliver you from the Punifhments due to 
 them. See Matth. 1. 21. 
 
 Ibid, and Ver. 30. oAnd I will call for the Ver. $0. 
 CV# and will increaje it, 8tc] See the Notes 
 upon Chap, xxxiv. 27, 29. 
 
 Ver. 31. Then frail ye remember your own EvilVei'. t>i. 
 Ways.'} See the Note upon Chap. xvi. 61. 
 
 Ibid. oAndftall loath your felves in your own 
 Sight, &c.] See Chap. vi. 9. 
 
 Ver. 52. Not for your Sake s doIthis---be it Ver. 52. 
 known unto you, &-C.3 The Prophet repeats 
 whathefaid Ver. 22. on purpofe to check all 
 vain Prefumption in the Jews, and confidence 
 of their own intrinfick Worth or Merit : A 
 Fault they have been very prone to in all 
 Ages. 
 
 Ver. 33. / will caufe you to dwell in the C/~Ver. 5 jJ 
 ties, and the Waftes ftall le luilded.~\ See 
 Ver. 10. 
 
 Qq 2 Ver.
 
 298 
 
 A Commentary 
 
 Chapter Ver. 34. Whereas it lay desolate in the fight 
 
 XXXVl.of all that -pajj'ed by it.] As Mofes had threat- 
 
 \j~\~\J ned, 'Deut. xxix. 23-28. 
 
 Ver. 34. Ver. 35. This Land that was de folate is he- 
 
 Ver. $5. come like the Garden of Eden.] See Chap, xxviii. 
 1$. IJa. \l 3. 
 
 Ver. 16, Ver. 36. The Heathen that are left round 
 about you, fjjall know that I the Lord build the 
 ruined Tlaces, &c] The Heathen Nations 
 that are near you, (See Ver. 4.) fhall be convin- 
 ced that the reftoring the Jews to their former 
 State muft be the immediate Hand of God, 
 who will certainly in due time fulfil what is here 
 foretold. See Chap, xxxvii. 14. 
 
 Ver. 17, Ver. $7. / will yet for this be enquired of by 
 the Houfe of Ifrael, to do it for them.] God in 
 his Anger tells the Jews, that he will not be 
 enquired of by them. Chap. xiv. $. xx. J, 51. in- 
 timating that during their Continuance in Ido- 
 latry and other Wicked nefs, they ought not to 
 addrefs themfelves to him, nor expeQ: any Fa- 
 vourable Anfwer to their Requefts : But' now 
 upon their Repentance and Reconciliation, he 
 tells them that he will be enquired of by them, i. 
 e. he will difpofe their Hearts to apply them- 
 felves to him by Prayer, and will anfwer the 
 Petitions they make to him for the fulfilling 
 thefe his Promifes. See Tfal. x. 17. And Com- 
 pare Jerem. xxix. 1 $. 
 
 Ver. 28. Ver. 38. eAs the Holy Flock, as the Flock of 
 Jerufalem in her Solemn Feafts.] The Sheep and 
 Lambs defigned for the Sacrifices which were 
 offered at the three folemn Feafts, were both 
 
 very
 
 upon EZEKIEL. 
 
 2 99 
 
 Very numerous, and likewife of the beft in their Chapter 
 Kind. The Epithet of Holy, and mofl Holy is XXXVI. 
 often applied to Sacrifices in the Levitical Law, L/"V*NJ 
 as being wholly dedicated to God, and fet apart 
 for his Worfhip. See Levit.vi. 25,29. Numb, 
 xviii. 9. 
 
 Ibid. So (hall the wafte Cities he filled with 
 Flocks ofMen.~\ See Chap, xxxiv. 3 1 . 
 
 CHAP.
 
 f3oo 
 
 A Commentary 
 
 CHAP. XXXVII. 
 
 The Argument. 
 
 Under the Figure of a RefurreBion of dry 'Bones 
 is foretold the General Reft or at ion of the 
 Jews from their fever al Difperfions : and by 
 the joining of two Sticks is reprefented the 
 Uniting of Ifrael and Judah into One King- 
 dom. 
 
 Ver. i. Ver. i 
 
 HE Hand of the Lord 
 was upon me.~\ See the 
 Note upon Chap. i. $. 
 
 Ibid. iAnd carried me 
 out in the Spirit of the 
 . Lord.] Or, *By the Spi- 
 rit of the Lord. Compare Chap. iii. 14. viii. 
 3. x i. 24. This was performed either by a 
 
 local
 
 upon EZEKIEL. 30 r 
 
 local Tranflation of the Prophet, or elfe by way Chapter 
 of Vifion and lively Reprefentation. See the XXXVII. 
 Note upon Chap. viii. 3. W^V^J 
 
 Ver. 3. Lord God, thou knowefi.} This Ver. 7. 
 is only an Aft of thy Power and good Pleafure. 
 Raifing the Dead to Life again is peculiarly a- 
 fcribed to God, as being properly the Work of 
 Omnipotence, and a fort of New Creation. See 
 TDeut. xxxii. 39. 1 Sam. ii. 6. Job, v. 21. Rom. 
 iv. 17. 2 Cor. i 9. 
 
 Ver. 4. ye dry Hones, hear ye the Word 0/Ver. 4. 
 the Lord/] A Prophetical and Lively Repre- 
 fentation of that Voice of the Son of God, 
 which all that are in the Graves fh all hear at the 
 la ft Day, and flail come forth out of them, Joh. 
 v. 28, 29. 
 
 Ver. 5. Behold, I will canfe Threat h to enter y^^ * 
 into you.~\ The Breath of Life, as it is expref- 
 fed, Gen.u.y. Compare Tfahn civ. 30. 
 
 Ver. 7. o,4nd as 1 frofhejied, there was #Ver. 7. 
 Noife, and behold a Shaking.'} Such a Noife, 
 or Commotion, as we may fuppofe the 
 Bones of an Human Body would make upon 
 their meeting together again, after having been 
 fevered one from another. 
 
 Ver. 9. Trophejy unto the Wind.} Or rather, Ver. 9. 
 To the 'Breath, meaning that vital Principle 
 which unites Body and Soul together, and is 
 mentioned as diftiuct from 1: he Four Winds in 
 the following Words. 
 
 Ibid. Come from the Four Winds, Breath.} 
 The Words figuratively reprefent the Reftorati- 
 onof the Jewiih Nation from the feveral Coun- 
 tries
 
 202 A Commentary 
 
 Chapter tries whither they were difperfed over the 
 XXXVIT. World, exprefled by their being fcattered to- 
 t^WJ ward all Winds, Chap. v. 10. xii. 14. xvil 21. 
 Ver. xo. Ver. 10. oAn exceeding great oArmy,'] To 
 fignify the great Numbers they will amount to, 
 when they return from their feveral Difperfions, 
 and unite'into one Body. They are elfewhere 
 ftyled a Remnant, but that is in comparifon of 
 , the whole Nation. See the Notes upon Ija.iv. 
 2. x. 22. xxvii. 12, 1 j. 
 Ver, 1 1 . Ver. 1 1 Theft 'Bones are the whole Houfe of 
 Jfrael.'] They reprefent the forlorn and defpe- 
 rate Condition to which the whole Nation is 
 reduced. 
 Ver. 12. Ver. 12, / will open your Graves, and caufe 
 you to come out of your Graves. ,] I will reunite 
 you into one Body or Nation, who now lie fcat- 
 tered and difperfed as the Bones in a Charnel 
 Houfe. Compare Ver. 21. In their State of 
 Difperfion and Captivity they are called the 
 'Dead Israelites in Haruch, Chap. iii. 4. and 
 their Reftoration is defcribed as a R efurre&ion 
 by Ifaiah, Chap. xxvi. 19. at which time their 
 'Bones are fa id to flour iflj, or to be reftored to 
 their former Strength and Vigour, in the fame 
 Prophet, Chap. lxvi. 14. In like manner St. 
 Paul expreffes their Converfion, and the Gene- 
 ral Reftoration which fhall accompany it, by 
 Life from the Dead, Rom. xi. 15. 
 
 Ibid. oAnd bring you into the Land oflfrael.] 
 See Ver. 2$. and the Note upon Chap.xxviii. 
 25. 
 
 Ver.
 
 upon E Z EK IE L. 303 
 
 Ver. 14. xAnd [hall put my Spirit in you, and Chapter 
 ye fhall live.'] That Principle of Life ex prefled XXXVII. 
 by "Breath or Spirit, Ver. 9. Not excluding that tyVNJ 
 New Spirit of Grace, which God will at that^ er - *4« 
 time plentifully beftow upon them. See Chap, 
 xi. 19. xxxvi. 26,27. The Principle of Grace is 
 often fpoken of as a Higher Principle of Life, 
 and the Earneft of our heavenly Happinefs. 
 See Rom. viii. 11. 1 Cor. vi. 17. xv. 45. 
 
 Ver. 16. Take thee one Sticky and write uponVsr. \G* 
 it, &c.] i. e, one Rod ; the Expreflion alludes 
 to Numb. xvii. 2. where Mofes is commanded to 
 take twelve Rods, one for each Tribe, and to 
 write the Name of the Tribe upon the Rod. 
 
 Ibid. For Judah, and the Children of Ifrael 
 his Companions.] Not only the Tribe of/Bw- 
 jamin, but many of the other Tribes joined 
 themfelves to the Tribe of Judah, and kept clofe 
 to the Law of God, and the worfhip of his 
 Temple. See 2 Chron. xi. 12— 16. xv. 9. xxx. 
 
 I !•> 10. 
 
 Ibid. For Jofeph the Stick of Ephraim, and 
 for all the Houfe of Ifrael his Companions.'] Up- 
 on Reuben's forfeiting his Birth-right, that Pri- 
 vilege was conferred upon the Sons of Jofeph, of 
 whom Ephraim had the Precedence. See 1 Chron, 
 v. 1. Gen. xlviii. 20. which made him reckon- 
 ed the Head of Ten Tribes : Samaria the Seat 
 of that Kingdom, being likewife fituate in the 
 Tribe of Ephraim : Upon thefe Accounts the 
 Name of Ephraim fignifles in the Prophets the 
 whole Kingdom of Ifrael, as diftintY from that 
 of Judah : and particularly in the Prophet Ho- 
 
 R r fea,
 
 304 A COiMMENTARY 
 
 Chapter fea 9 Chap, v* ft 5,&*c. See 1 like wife jfcn?»7. xxxi. 
 
 XXXV1I.6, t8. 
 i_/*V*NJ Veiv 17. e-fe/ J3i& ^0fe% 2fc& £? another into 
 
 \ §K i 7. one stithy A Rod or Scepter is an Emhlem of 
 Power ; See TjaL ex. i. fo the joining thefe two 
 Rods or Sticks together denotes uniting the two 
 Kingdoms under one Prince or Governour : See 
 Vet*. 22. 
 
 Ver. 18. Ver. 18. Wilt thou not f jew us what thou 
 meaneft by thefe t ] Ezekiel foretold many 
 Things by Signs ; and the Jews were very in- 
 quifitive into the meaning of them ; tho' fome- 
 times their Curiofity proceeded rather from a 
 fecret Contempt of the Prophet and his Predicti- 
 ons, than a real Defire of Information. See 
 Chap. xii. 9. xvii. 12. xx. 49. xxiv. 19. 
 
 Ver, 19. Ver. 19. Which is in the Hand of Ephrarm.2 
 Of which he is the Head : See Ver. 16. 
 
 Ibid. They Jhall be one in my Hand.~\ I will 
 make them one Nation, and appoint one King 
 to rule over them, the MeJJias, See Ver. zz. 
 
 Ven 20. Ver. 20. eAnd the Sticks whereon thou wri- 
 teft fiall be in thine Hand before their Eyes. ~\ 
 Thou fhalt place the Sticks or Rods thus joined 
 together before their Eyes, as a vifible Token 
 or Pledge of the Truth of what I enjoin thee to 
 fpeak to them in the following Words. 
 
 Ver. 21. Ver. 21. J will take the Children of Ifrael 
 from among the Heathen^ &c] See Chap. xx. 
 34. xxxiv. 1$. xxxvi. 24. xxxix. 25. 
 
 Ver. 22. Verl 22# *And I will make them one Nation^ 
 They fhall not be divided any more into fepa- 
 rate Kingdoms : the Confequence of which was 
 
 their
 
 upon EZEKIEL. 305 
 
 their fetting up feparate Way's of Worfk'p, and Chapter 
 efpoufing feparate Interefts : Compare I/a. xi. XXX VII' 
 1$. It has been already obferved, that the Pro- L/^V*NJ 
 phefies which foretel of the General Reftoration 
 of the Jews, join Judah and IJ'rael together, as 
 equal Sharers in that Blefling. 
 
 Ibid. oAnd one Kjng fljall be Kjng to them all.'} 
 The Meffias, who is that one Shepherd and 
 Prince that (hall rule over them all, as one Na- 
 tion : See Chapter xxxiv. 23,24. compared 
 with Luke i. $2, 33. The MeJJias is dcfcribed as 
 King of the Jews in moft of the Prophefies of 
 the Old Teftament, beginning with that of 
 Gen, xlix. 10. concerning Shiloh. From T)a- 
 vzd'silme he is commonly fpoken of as the Per- 
 fon in- whom the promifes relating to the Perpe- 
 tuity of David^s Kingdom were to be accom- 
 plifhed. This was a Truth unanimoufly own- 
 ed by the Jews ; See, Job. i. 49. to which our 
 Saviour bore Teftimony before Tontiut Tilate, 
 when the Queftion being put to him, oArt thou 
 a Kjng ? he made Anfwer, 'Thou fayeft [the 
 Truth] for I am a Kjng : Thus thole Words 
 fhould be tranflated,for St. Taut alluding to them, 
 calls them a good Confe/Jion, 1 Tim.vu 13. The 
 Tame Truth Tontitis Tilate himfelf afferted in 
 that Infcription which he providentially order- 
 ed to be written upon the Crofs : See Job, xix. 
 19-22. fo that the chief Priefts impioufly re- 
 nounced their own avowed Principles, when 
 they told THate, That they had no Kjng hit C<z* 
 jar, Ibid. Ver. 1 5. 
 
 <-.- 
 
 R r 2 Ver.
 
 506 A Commentary 
 
 Chapter Ver. 25. Neither fi all they defile themfelves- 
 
 XXXV H. any more with their Idols.'] See the Note upon. 
 
 L/"VNj Chap, xxxvi. 25. 
 
 Ver. 23. Jbid. Nor with their det eft able things, ~] Or, 
 abominations,, as the Word Shikkuts is elfe- 
 whsre tranflated, and commonly applied to Idols. 
 See Chap. xx. 7. 2 KJngs xxiii. 1?. Dan. ix. 27. 
 Ibid. Nor with atiy of their TranfgrejJions.J 
 This Expreflion comprehends in it, their being 
 touched with an hearty Compunction for their 
 great Sin of rejecting and crucifying the Meffias, 
 their King and Saviour. See Zjch. xii. 10. 
 
 Ibid, o/Lnd will fave them out of all their dfisoeU 
 ling places wherein they have finned, and .will 
 cleanfe them.] See Chap, xxxvi. 20, 25, 28. 
 
 Ver 24 ^ er * 2 4* ^ n ^ c ^ >avi ^ m J Savant (hall be Kjng 
 over them, &c.3 See Chap, xxxiv. 2$. 
 
 Ibid. They Jhall alfo walk in my Judgments, 
 &c] See Chap, xxxvi. 27. 
 
 Ver, 2 <. ^ er * 2 5 • ifl&t they Jhall dwell in the Land that 
 I have given to Jacob my Servant.] A Promife 
 often repeated in this Prophecy : See Ver. 12, 
 21. and the Note on Chap, xxviii. 25. 
 
 Ver. 26. Ver. 26. Moreover I will make a Covenant 
 of Teace with them, &-C.J See Chap, xxxiv. 25. 
 The Words may likewife be underftood in a fpi* 
 ritual Senfe,That God will be reconciled to them 
 through Chriflr, and admit them into that Cove- 
 nant of Peace, of which he is the Mediator, and 
 therefore is called ourTeace, Eph. ii. 14. And 
 then the following Words* It Jhall be an everla- 
 fting Covenant with them, may fitly be explain- 
 ed of the Gofpel, being fuch a Covenant as fhall 
 
 never-
 
 upon EZEKIEL. 307 
 
 never be abolifhed, or give way to any new Dif- Chapter 
 penfation. Compare If a. Iv. ^.Jerem. xxxii. 40. XXXVII. 
 Ibid, and Ver. 27. eAndwill fetmy Sanffuary L/VNJ 
 in the midft of them for evermore. My Taberna- 
 cle alfo [hall he with them."] God's placing firft 
 his Tabernacle, and then his Temple among the 
 Jews, was a Pledge and Token of his Prefence 
 among them, and Protection over them. See 
 Levit.xxvu 11,12. and the Note upon Chap. 
 xi. 16. of this Prophecy. And here he promifes 
 new and more valuable Tokens of his Prefence 
 among them, by the Graces of his Holy Spirit, 
 and the Efficacy of his Word and Sacraments. 
 Compare 2 Cor. vi. 16. and perhaps will vouch- 
 fafe them fome extraordinary Appearance of the 
 Divine Majefty. See Chap, xliii. 4, 5, 7. Zech. 
 ii. 5.. 
 
 Ibid. Tea % I will he their God, 8cc] See Chap. 
 xi. 20. 
 
 Ver. 28. oAnd the Heathen flail know that Ver. 28^ 
 I the Lord dofanBify Ifrael.~\ The Converfion 
 of the Jewifh Nation and their being reftored 
 to their former State of Favour and Acceptance 
 with God, willbea Work of Providence taken 
 Notice of by the Heathens themfelves, who (hall 
 join themfelves to the Jews> as the Church of 
 God and Temple of Truth. See Chap. xxxviV 
 
 CHA.P.
 
 308 
 
 A Commentary 
 
 ifPFofiBi i;,^-vaBL-T>^^^3 
 
 1 lOSiiill! 
 
 E^^^^^^SS^ 
 
 Chapter 
 XXXVIII. 
 
 CHAR XXXVIII. 
 
 The Argument. 
 
 The "Prophecy contained in this and the following 
 Chapter concerning IfraeiV Viffory over Gog 
 and Magog, without queftion relates to the 
 latter oAges of the World, when the whole 
 Houfe of Ifrael fiall return into their own 
 Land, Chap, xxxix. 25, 26. oAndth'e Exprej- 
 fions we meet with in this Chapter, Ver. 8, 
 and 16. that this fhould come to pafs in the 
 latter Days, and after many Days, or a conjt- 
 derable number of Tears, and that God had of 
 old Prophefied concerning this Tranfatlion : 
 Thefe and other Circumflances of this "Prophecy 
 are a "Proof that the Event was to happen a 
 great while after the feveral Trediclions of 
 the Trophets concerning it. So that this muft 
 le lookt upon aj one of thofe Obfcure 'Prophe- 
 cies of Scripture, the fulfilling whereof will 
 left explain their Meaning. 
 
 Ver. 2.
 
 upon EZEKIEL. 309 
 
 Ver. 2. W^BSHBE^ET thy Face, (fee Chapter Chapter 
 
 vi. 2.) againft Gog, the XXXVIII. 
 Land of Magog.-] Or, of ^/>?° 
 ^ I W of M^gog. Ma- er * 2 * 
 gog was the Son of jfo- 
 pAf/", Gen. x. 2. from 
 whence the Scythians are generally fuppofed to 
 be derived. The M?g7^ Tartars, a People of 
 the Scythian Race, are ftill called fo by the qA- 
 rabian Writers, as Dr. Hyde informs us, m his 
 Epiftle T)e Menfuris Sinenjibus. By Gog and 
 Magog may moft p.robably here be meant the 
 Turks, who were originally Natives of Tartary, 
 called Turcheftan by the Eaftern Writers: and 
 ; whofe Language is derived from that of the Tar- 
 tars. The Land of Canaan hath been for feve- 
 ral Years in the PofTefHon of the Turks ; feveral 
 Texts in Ezekiel foretel the Jews Settlement in 
 that Country again ; and fome of the Exprefli- 
 ons in this and the following Chapter intimate, 
 that the People called here by the Name of Gog^ 
 and their Allies, will attempt to recover it again 
 out of the Hands of the Jews, its rightful 
 Owners : This may probably occafion the War 
 and Victory here fpoken of. But this is what 
 cannot be pofitively affirmed ; only thus much 
 one may venture to fay, That fince the whole 
 Strength of Europe was fo unfuccefsful in their 
 Attempts to recover that Land out of the Hands 
 of the Infidels in the H^y War, it looks as if 
 God had referved that Work to fome further time 
 
 of
 
 3io A Commentary 
 
 Chapter of his own Appointment, when that Country 
 XX XV III. fhould be the Scene of fome extraordinary Event 
 t^/^V^J of Providence. We may further obferve, that the 
 Second Woe, mentioned Revel, ix. 12. xl 14. is 
 by many Learned Men underftood of the Tur- 
 hijh Empire ; and in Confequence of that Inter- 
 pretation, the putting an End to that Tyranny 
 will be an Introduction to fome extraordinary 
 Changes in the Chriftian part of the World. 
 
 Ibid. The chief Trince of Mefhech and Tubal.] 
 The King or Head of all thofe Northern Nations 
 which lie upon the Euxin Sea. See the Notes 
 upon Chap, xxvii. 1$. The Turk is called the 
 Kjng of the North in Daniel, Chap. xi. 40. as 
 feveral Commentators interpret that Place. The 
 LXX Interpreters take the Word Ro[h, com- 
 monly translated Chief for a proper Name, fo 
 they render the Sentence thus, The Trince of 
 Rojh, Mejhech and Tubal. Rofl) taken as a Pro- 
 per Name, fignifies thofe Inhabitants of Scythia, 
 from whence the Ruffians derive their Name 
 and Original. 
 
 Ver 4. ^ er * 4* *^ n ^ ' w ^ tUYn t ^ >ee ^ ac ^ an ^ t ut 
 
 ' Hooks into thy Chaws ,7j I will difappoint all 
 
 thy Defigns, and turn thee about as eafily as a 
 Fifherman mafters a great Fifh, when he hath 
 once fattened the Hook into his Jaws. See 
 Chap. xxix. 4. 
 
 Ibid. aAnd I will bring thee forth, and all 
 thine aArmy, &c] The Senfe would be plainer 
 if the Words were thus tranflated, oAfter I have 
 hr ought thee forth, 8tc. In which Senfe the Co- 
 pulative Vau, is fometimes ufed. See Naldiut 
 Concordance, p. 291. 
 
 Ibid.
 
 upon EZEKIEL. on 
 
 Ibid. Horfes and Horfemen.] See Ver; i^. Chapter 
 Ver. fi Terfia, Ethiopia, and Libya tyiih then?.'] XXXxIU, 
 Their Allies Ethiopia and Libya are called Cufh tv^VNJ 
 and Thut in the Hebrew, and are joined ro^e- " er ' 5- 
 ther as Allies, Chap. xxx. 5. See the Note there. 
 Terfians are joined in like manner with Afri- 
 cans-, Chap, xxvii. 10. 
 
 Ibid. oAllofthem with Shield and Helmet.] 
 So the Libyans, or People of Thut are defcribed, 
 Jerem. xlvi. 9. as Handling the Shield, I e. be- 
 ing remarkable for their great and large Shields, 
 as Xenophon relates of them, Cyripxd. lib. 6. 
 
 Ver. 6. Gomer and all his "Bands, the Houfe Ver. 6* 
 of Togarmah of the North Quarters'] Gomer is 
 joined with Magog, Gen. x. 2. and probably flg- 
 nifies Galatia, Phrygia and "Bithynia, which 
 with Cappadocia denoted by Togarmah, com- 
 prehends all the Northern Parts of oAfia Minor, 
 which border upon the Euxin Sea. See the mean- 
 ing of Togarmah explained in the Note upon 
 Chap, xxvii. 14. 
 
 Ibid. aAnd many people with thee.~\ Thofe of 
 Cilicia, Tamphylia, and other Nations inhabi- 
 ting aAfia Minor. 
 
 Ver. 7. *Be thou prepared- — thou and all thy Ver. 7. 
 Company that are ajjembled with thee, 2 The 
 Prophet Ironically encourages Gog to make all 
 Warlike Preparations and mufler all his Forces 
 together, that God may gain the greater Ho- 
 nour by their fignal Defeat. See Ver. 16. and 
 Compare Jerem. xlvi. 2, $, 14. li. 12. 
 
 Ibid. oAnd be thou a Guard unto them."] Let 
 them rely upon thy Prowefs and Conduct as 
 their Leader. 
 
 S f Ver.
 
 gi2 /Commentary 
 
 Chapter Ver. 8. (After many Days thou fhalt be vifi- 
 
 XXXVIII. ted, &c] This Judgment fhall be infli&ed by 
 
 K/^^>J God upOn thee, (Compare I fa. xxix. 6.) after a 
 
 Ver* 8.. Succerfion of many Generations : in the latter 
 
 Tears, or Days, as it follows here and Ver. 16, 
 
 i. e. toward the end of the World, Compare 
 
 Dan. viii. 26. Particularly the Expreflion of 
 
 Latter Days, or Years is ufed to denote the 
 
 Times of the General Reftoration of the Jewifh 
 
 Nation. See Dent. iv. 30. Jerem.xxx. 24. Hof. 
 
 iii. 5. 
 
 Ibid. Thoufialt come into the Land that is 
 brought back from the Sword.l The Land is 
 put for the People of the Land, who are faid to 
 be brought back from the Sword, as they are 
 elfewhere ftyled a Remnant, i. e. thole that 
 fhould furviye after the Hardfbips they had dif- 
 fered in their feveral Difperfions, and the Judg- 
 ments that fhould fall upon the Difobedient in 
 their Return Home : See the Notes upon Chap* 
 xx. 54—38. and upon If a. iv. 2. And perhaps 
 thofe Words of Jeremiah, Chap. xxxi. 2. may 
 be belt explained to this Senfe, The Teople that 
 were left of the Sword, found Grace in the 
 Wildernefs. The whole Chapter relates to the 
 General Converfion and Reftoration of the Jews, 
 and the Prophet fpeaks in that Verfe of the Fa- 
 vours God would fhew to thofe that fhould 
 efcape the fevere Judgments that fhould deftroy 
 the Difobedient in their PafTage home to their 
 own Country, called the Defert or Wildernefs 
 by Ifaiah 7 Chap. xl. J. and by Ezekiel the Wil- 
 dernefs
 
 upon EZEKIEL: 313 
 
 dernefs oftheTeople, or Nations, Chap. xx. $$. Chapter 
 See the Notes upon that Place. XXXVIII. 
 
 Ibid. (And gathered out of many Te of le.] See L/ m V m \J 
 the Note upon Chap, xxxiv. 15. 
 
 Ibid. oAgainft the Mountains of Jfrael, [See 
 Chap, xxxvi. 1, 4.] which have been always 
 wafte.] Or rather, altogether wafte, as the LXX 
 rightly tranflate it. 
 
 Ibid. 'But it is brought forth out of the Ac- 
 tions, and they fhall dwell fafely all of them.'] Or, 
 (And they have dwelt fafely all of them ; the fu- 
 ture Tenfe being often put for the Treter perfecl. 
 The Senfe is, that after the Return of the Peo- 
 ple of Ifrael into their own Country, and their 
 having lived there for fome time in Peace and 
 Safety, this Enemy will think to take Advan- 
 tage of their Security, and fall upon them unex- 
 pectedly. Compare Ver. 11. 
 
 Ver. 9. Thou flialt afcend and come like a Ver. 9. 
 Storm.'] A Corriparifon elfewhere made ufe of 
 to exprefs the De variations which attend a de- 
 frroying Army. See Chap. xiii. 11. Ifa. xxviii. 2. 
 Ibid. ThouJJjalt be like a Cloud to cover the 
 Land.] Thou fhalt overfpread the Land like a 
 Dark Cloud which makes every thing look Me- 
 lancholy and Difmal. See Chap, xxx.j. Jerem. 
 iv. 1 j. 
 
 Ver. 11. I will go to the Land of unwalledV&' 1 1. 
 Villages, &c] . A Defcription of a People that 
 live fecurely without any apprehenfion of Dan- 
 ger. Compare "Jerem. xlix. 3 r . 
 
 Ibid. To them that are at reft and dwell fafe- 
 ly.] According to the Promife often repeated in 
 
 S f 2 the
 
 314 ^Commentary 
 
 Chapter the Prophets, that In thofe Dap 'Ifrael JJjould 
 XXXVUI. dwell fafety, and none fhould make them afraid, 
 L^"V~V See Chap, xxxiv. 28. Jerem. xxiii. 6. and the 
 
 Note there. 
 Ver. 1 2. Ver. 1 2. To turn thine Hand ufon the defolate 
 Tlaces that are now inhabited.] Judea is de- 
 fcribed as a Country that lay defolate before the 
 Jews return into it. See Chap, xxxvi. 34, 35. 
 After it had been for fome time reinhabited, Gog 
 and his AfTociates defigned to fall upon it with 
 all their Forces ; in that Senfe to turn the Hand, 
 is taken. If a. i. 25. See the Note there. 
 
 Ibid. That dwell in the midft of the Land.] 
 In the Navel of the Land, as the Hebrew reads, 
 i. e . in Jerufalem, becaufe that flood in the mid- 
 dle of the Holy Land, and likewife was fituate 
 upon a rifing Ground, which the Hebrew Me- 
 taphorically exprefles by the Navel. See Judg. 
 ix. 57. 
 Yer. 13. Ver. 13. Sheba and *Dedan, and the Mer- 
 chants of TarffiifI)~~-fhaU fay unto thee, oArt thou 
 come to take affoil?] Thefe were People that 
 dealt much in Trade : the two former dwelling 
 in the Eaft, the latter often failing from the Spa.- 
 nifh Coafts into the Eaftern Parts ; they are 
 mentioned Chap.xxvii. 12, 1 5, 20, 22. as having 
 Commerce with Tyre, which bordered upon 
 Judea. Thofe Merchants affoon as they heard 
 of this intended In vafion, came into Gog's Camp 
 as to a Market, to buy both Perfons and Goods 
 which fhould come into the Conqueror's Power* 
 See the Note upon Chap. xxvi. 2. 
 
 Ibid;
 
 upon EZEKIEL. gi$ 
 
 ; Ibid. With all the young Lions thereof."] The Chapter 
 7V/rg#wunderfrands it of their Kings, i.e. their XXXVIII. 
 chief Merchants who are defcribed as fb many L^\ r NJ 
 Princes, If a. xxiii. 8. and are called Lions be- 
 caufe of the Injuftice and Oppreflion they too 
 commonly pra£tifed in their Commerce. See 
 Chap, xxviii. .16. But the LXX tranflate the 
 Word Kjphirim, Towns or Villages, in which 
 Senfe it is taken Nehem. vi. 2. and in other 
 Places. 
 
 Ver. 14. In that r Day.~\ At that remarkable Vet*. 14.. 
 time, when God (hall bring again the Captivity 
 of Ifrael and Judah, fo often fpoken of by the 
 Prophets. See the Note upon If a. iv. 2. 
 
 Ibid. Whe n my Teople Ifrael dwelleth fafely, 
 JJjalt not thou know it? &C.3 Afloon as the 
 News of their being fettled in their own Coun* 
 try comes to thy Knowledge, thou wilt certain- 
 ly make Prepartions to Invade them. 
 
 Ver. 1 5. oAnd thou fljalt come from thy Tlace Ver. 1 c 
 out of the North Tarts.] See Ver 6. " 
 
 Ibid. Thou atid man) Teofle with thee, all of 
 them riding ufon Horfes, &c.J The Character 
 here given of this People, may properly be ap- 
 plied to the Turks, the chief Strength of whofe 
 Armies confifts in their Cavalry, and the great 
 Numbers of them which they bring into the 
 Field, as the Writers of the Tnrkif!) Wiftovy or> 
 ferve. Compare Revel, ix 16. \\U\ '1 Place fe- 
 veral Interpreters expound of the Drrks. We 
 may not improbably applv thofe Words of the 
 Prophet Zjchariah to the Event here fpoken of, 
 Chap. xii. 4. Iwillfmite every Horje with oAfto- 
 
 nifhmenty
 
 %i6 
 
 A Commentary 
 
 Chapter nifiment,, and his Rider with Madnefs, and will 
 
 XXXVIII. open mine Eyes upon the Houfe ofjudah. 
 
 iS~\T\) Ver. 1 6. oAsaCloud to cover the Land.] See 
 Ver. 1 6". y er# £ # 
 
 Ibid. That the Heathen may know me, 8cc] 
 This fignal Vi&ory over Gog and his AfTociates, 
 (hall be a Means of bringing Infidels to give Glo- 
 ry unto me. Compare Chap, xxxix. 2 1 . and fee 
 the Note upon Chap, xxxvi. 2$. 
 Ver. 17. Ver. 17. eArt thou he?] The Words would 
 be more fignificant, if they were tranflated, eArt 
 thou not he ? a Senfe which He the Particle of 
 Interrogation often imports. See the Note up- 
 on Chap. xx. 4. 
 
 Ibid. Of whom I have fpoken in old Time ly 
 my Servants the Trophets, who have prof hefted 
 in thofe Days, many Tears ?] Or, And Tears. 
 The Prophet is (peaking here of fome terrible 
 Enemy to God's People, who fhall be fubdued by 
 the immediate Hand of Heaven, which Vi&ory 
 fhould make way for glorious Times of Peace 
 and Profperity. This Enemy is faid to be fore- 
 told of old ly the prophets, and is therefore pro- 
 bably defcribed under the Names of fuch Na- 
 tions as were the chief Enemies to the Jews in 
 the particular Times of each Prophet. Such we 
 may fuppofe the aAfjyrian to be, fpoken of by 
 Ifaiah, Chap. xiv. 24, 25. and by Micah, Chap. 
 V. 5. The fame Enemy may probably be inten- 
 ded under the Figure of Tyre, See the Note on 
 Chap, xxviii. 24. of Egypt, See the Note upon 
 Chap. xxix. 21. and compare Ifa. xi. 15. with 
 Zfcb* x. 11. of Moab, See Ifa, xxv. 10. olEdom, 
 
 See
 
 upon EZEKIEL. ^ij 
 
 See Jfa, xxxiv. 6. lxiii. i. Joel iii. 20. Obad. Ver. Chapter 
 18,19. and under the Name of Leviathan, Ifa, XXXVIIL 
 xxvii. 1. To thefe we may add thofe Prophe- U^V*NJ 
 cies which fpeak of fome great and general De- 
 ftructiort of God's Enemies before the Day of 
 Judgment, or Confummation of all things. Such 
 are P/'alm ex. 5,6. Ifa. xxvi. 20, 21. xxxiv. i,8cc 
 lxvi. 16. Jerem. xxx. 7, 10. Joel iii. 9, 14. Obad* 
 Ver. 1 5, &rc. S^cft. xii. 1. xiv. 1, 8tc. Z^chariah 
 lived indeed after EzekieFs Time, but a great 
 while before the fulfilling of this Prophecy. The 
 Expreffions here ufed, of old time, and which 
 prophefied in thofe "Days [and] Tears, plainly im- 
 ply that there was to be a Succeffion of many 
 Ages between thepublifhing thole Prophecies and 
 this Event foretold by them : and therefore feemto- 
 look beyond the Times of aAntiochus Epiphanes, 
 to which fome Expofitors apply this Place of 
 Ezekiel. See the Note upon Chap, xxxix. 9. 
 
 Ver. 18. Mp Fury fljall come up in my FaceJ]Yev. 18-, 
 An Expreffion taken from human Paflions, 
 which caufe the Blood to fly up into the Face- 
 So Ifaiah defcribes Almighty God as 'Burning 
 with oAnger, his Lips being full of Indignation, 
 and his Tongue as a confuming Fire, Chap. xxx. 
 27. See the Note upon that Place. 
 
 Ver. 19. For in the Jealoufy and in the Fire t/Ver. 19. 
 my Wrath have I fpoken.2 See Chap, xxxvi. 5. 
 xxxix. 25. 
 
 Ibid. Surely in that Day there (liall le a great 
 Jhaking in the Land of IJrael.'] Great Changes 
 and Alterations in Kingdoms and Governments 
 are exprefled in Scripture by flaking of Heave?* 
 
 and
 
 31 S A Commentary 
 
 Chapter and Earth, the Sea and the dry Land, See Hag- 
 XXXVIil. gai ii. 6, 7, '21,22. Helwli 26. and by Earth-' 
 lS~v^ quakes, Revel, vi. 12. xi. 1 $. xvi. 8. 
 Ver. 20. Ver. 20. So that the Fi/hes of the Sea, and the 
 Fowls of Heaven, &x.] Every part of the Crea- 
 tion (hall bear its Share of this Calamity, as if 
 there were a Convulfion of the whole Frame of 
 Nature. Compare Jerem. iv. 24, 65V. Hof. iv. 
 3. The Prophets often defcribe God's Judgments 
 upon particular Countries or Perfons, as if it 
 were a DifTolution of the whole World, becaufe 
 his particular Judgments are an Earned of the 
 general Judgment. See the Notes upon Ifa. xiii. 
 10. 
 
 Ibid. oAnd the Mountains fiall le thrown 
 down, &cl Thefe Expreflions may probably be 
 meant of Walls, Towers, and other Fortificati- 
 ons, which are difmantled and demolifhed in the 
 time of War. Compare Jerem. Ii. 2$. 
 Ver. 21, Ver. 21. I will call for a Sword againft him.-] 
 I will appoint a Sword to deftroy him : Com- 
 pare Chap. xiv. 17. God's Decrees are expref- 
 fed by his fpeaking the Word, and giving out 
 his Command . So he is faid to call for a "Dearth 
 upon the Land of Canaan. Tfalm cv. 16. 
 
 Ibid. Throughout all my Mountains^ See 
 Ver. 8. 
 
 Ibid. Every Man's Sword {hall le againft his 
 'Brother.'] God often deftroys his Enemies by in- 
 teftine Quarrels among themfelves, and making 
 them Executioners of his Judgments upon each 
 other. See 2 Chron. xx. 2j. Judg. vii. 22, 
 1 Sam. xiv. 20. 
 
 Ver,
 
 upon EZEKIEL. g r 9 
 
 Ver. 22. I will -plead againft him with Vefti- Chapter 
 lence and with 'Blood.'] Or, I will plead withXXXVlll 
 him. See Chap. xx. $5. God pleads with Men O^VNJ 
 by his Judgments, which are a manifeft Token ^ er * 22, 
 of the Vengeance due to their Sins. See I fa. 
 lxvi. 16. Jerem. xxv. 31. Peftilence is joined 
 with Blood here, as it is Chap. v. 1 7. xiv. 1 9. 
 xxviii. 25;. 
 
 Ibid. iAn d will rain upon him and his 'Bands 
 — an overflowing Rain, and great Hail-ftones, 
 Fire and t Brimftone.~\ God fhall as plainly fhew 
 himfelf in the Deftru&ion of thefe his Enemies, 
 as when he confumed Sodom and Gomorrah by 
 Fire and Brimftone from Heaven, Gen. xix. 24. 
 arid difcomfited the Armies of the Canaanites 
 and Thiliftines by Tempefts of Thunder and 
 Hail. See Jofi. x. 10. 1 Sam. vii. 10. Compare 
 Tfal. xi. 6. IJa.xxh.6. xxx. 30. and fee Chap, 
 xiii. 11. of this Prophecy. 
 
 Ver. 2 $. Thus will 1 magnify myfelf, andfanRi- 
 fy myfelf, &c] Compare Ver. 16. and fee the 
 Note upon Chap, xxxvi. 23. 
 
 Tt CHAP.
 
 3.2 O 
 
 A C O M M E N T A R Y . 
 
 Chapter 
 XXXIX. 
 
 CHAP. XXXIX. 
 
 See ^Argument of the 
 foregoing Chapter. 
 
 Ver. i. Ver. i. 
 
 Gog, the chief 'Prince of 
 Mefhech and Tubal'} See 
 Chap, xxxviii. 2. 
 
 Ver. 2. oAnd I will turn 
 thee bach."] See ib. Ver. 4. 
 Ibid. oAnd leave but a 
 fixth fart of thee.} So the Word Shijfha, or 
 ShiJJah, as it is read with a different Termina- 
 tion, fignifies Chap. xlv. 1$. Others render k 9 
 I will ft r ike thee with Six Tlagues, viz. Thofe 
 mentioned Chap, xxxviii. 22. 
 
 Ibid. aAnd I will caufe thee to come up from 
 the North Tarts, &C.3 The Words may be 
 better tranflated, oAfter I have caufed thee to 
 come upfront the North Tarts r and have brought 
 
 thee
 
 upon EZEKIEL. 321 
 
 thee upon t be Mountains of IfraeL See alike Chapter 
 Conftru&ion, Chap, xxxviii. 4. XXXIX. 
 
 Ver. }. eAnd 1 will [mite thy *Bow out of thy W~V^J 
 Left Hand, 8rc] There jhall he no might in Vcr - V 
 thy Hand, as Mofes threatens the Israelites, 
 Dent, xxviii. 32. Thou fhaltnotbe able to ufe 
 thy Weapons to any purpofe. 
 
 Ver. 4. I will give thee to the ravenous Thirds Ver. 4. 
 of every fort, &c] See Verfe 17. Chapter 
 xxxiii. 27. 
 
 Ver. 6. And I will fend a Fire on Magog.] Ver. 6. 
 I will confume him by Fire and Brimftone out 
 of .Heaven. See Chap, xxxviii. 22. Fire doth 
 likewife fignify the fiercer!: of God's Judgments. 
 See the Note upon Chap. xxx. 8. 
 
 Ibid. eAnd among them that dwell carelefly in 
 the IJles.] The Inhabitants of the Sea-Coair 
 which dwell fecurely, and think no harm can 
 come upon them. The Expreflion relates to the 
 Merchants of Tarflnjl), and others mentioned 
 Chap, xxxviii. 1 3. All Countries lying upon the 
 Sea-Coaft are called IJIands in the Hebrew Lan- 
 guage. 
 
 Ver. 7. So will I make my holy Name known Ver. 7. 
 in the midft of my People l]rael.~] See Ver. zr. 
 and Chap, xxxviii. 16, 2j. 
 
 Ibid. And I will not let them pollute my holy 
 Name any more.'] The Words in the Hebrew 
 run thus, I ' will not pollute my Holy Name any 
 more, i. e. I will not fufrer it to be polluted, as 
 the Verbs Active often fignify only Permiflion. 
 See the Note upon Chap. xiv. 9. The Senfe is, 
 I will not fuffer my Name to be dishonoured ' 
 
 Tt 2 any
 
 322 A Commentary 
 
 Chapter any more, nor let it be faid among the Heathen 
 
 XXXIX. that I was not able to refcue my People out of 
 
 i/V\) the Hand of their Enemies. 
 
 Ver. 8. Ver. 8. 'Behold it is come, and it is done, 
 
 faith the Lord God. ,] The time appointed for 
 this Great Deftruclion is come, and it is the laft 
 and finifhing Stroke of God's Juftice upon the 
 Enemies of his Church and Truth. Compare 
 Revel, xvi. 17. xxi. 6. 
 
 Ibid. This is the T)ay whereof I have fpoken."] 
 'By my Servants theTrophets, Chap, xxxviii. 17. 
 
 Ver. 9. Ver. 9. oAnd they that dwell in the Cities of 
 
 Ifrael fiall go forth, andjhallfet on Fire and burn 
 the Weapons, 8cc3 In token of an entire Con- 
 queft, and that fuch a lafting Peace fhould en- 
 fue, that there fhould be no more need of war- 
 like Preparations. Compare Tfal. xlvi. 9. 
 
 Ibid. Seven Years.] The burning the Wea- 
 pons of War muft be the Confequent of a com- 
 plete Victory : So that the [even Tears here men- 
 tioned cannot be meant, as fome would under- 
 ftand them, of thofe terrible Conflicts which the 
 Jews had with oAntiochus Epiphanes, from the 
 143d or 145 th Year of the Mr a Seleucidarum, 
 (according to the different Computation of the 
 Beginning of that Perfecution. See 1 Mace ah 
 i. 20, 29.) to the 151ft Year of the fame Mra, 
 when Nicanor was {lain : ibid. c. vji. 1, 4$. Nor 
 is that true which this Opinion fuppofes, viz. 
 that Nicanor r s Death put an End to the Trou- 
 bles of the Jews : for after that there was great 
 oAffliclion in Ifrael, the like whereof had not 
 been fince the time that a Trophet had not been 
 feen among them> as the fame Writer informs us, 
 
 1 Maccah
 
 upon EZEKIEL. 323 
 
 1 Maccab. ix. 27. So that this PafTage of Esse- Chapter 
 kiePs Prophecy muft necefTarily be expounded XXXIX. 
 of fome other Event. L^VNJ 
 
 Ver. 10. So that they Jhall take no Wood out tffVer. 10. 
 the Field,fkc^ The Quantity ofthefe Weapons 
 will afford fufficient Fewel for all that timer 
 
 Ibid. They JJjall ff oil thofe that [foiled them y and 
 rob thofe that robbed themr\ The fame Meafure 
 they dealt to others.fhall be meafuredout to them 
 again. Comp. Ifa. xiv. 2. xxxiii. 1. Revel, xiii. 10. 
 xviii. 6. 
 
 Ver. 1 1. The Valley of the TaJJengers on the Ver. 11. 
 Ea ft fide of the Sea."] i. e. The Sea ofGennefareth, 
 as the Chaldee Paraphraft explains it. In the He- 
 brew Language all Lakes are called by the Name 
 of Seas. The fame is called the Eaftern Sea, 
 Chap, xlvii. 1 8. to diftinguifh it from the Medi- 
 terranean, called the Great Sea Weftward, Jojfr. . 
 xxiii. 4. The Valley near this Sea or Lake is called 
 the Valley of the Tajfengers, becaufe it was a great 
 Road by which the Merchants and Traders from 
 Syria and other Eaftern Countries went into 
 Egypt. 
 
 Ibid. *And it Jhall flop the Nofes of the Tajfen- 
 gersr\ Or, The TaJJengers Jhall flop their Nofes : 
 viz. to avoid the Smell of fo many CarcafTes : 
 The Tranfitive is often taken in a Tajjive or 1m- 
 perfonal Senfe, as hath been obferved upon Ifa. 
 xliv. iS. 
 
 Ver. 13. Tea j all the Teople of the Land fl;aJlVev.i^» 
 hurythemr\ See the Note on the following Verfe. 
 
 Ibid, e/hid it Jhall be to them a Renown, the 
 Day that Lfhall be glorified.'] Or, The 'Day that I 
 
 Jhall
 
 324 .^Commentary 
 
 Chapter fiall.be glorified (ball be to them [a Day] of Re- 
 
 XXXIX. nowti : i.e. a remarkable Day of Joy and Glad- 
 
 l^V^O nefs. See Ver. 21, 22. 
 
 Vet*. 14. Ver. 14. (And they fiall fever out Men of con- 
 tiuual Employment faffing thro 1 the Land, to bury 
 with the Tajjengers thofe that remain upon the 
 Face of the Earth.] The latter' part of the Sen- 
 tence may more clearly be tranflated thus, even 
 *Buriers with the Tajjengers, [to bury] thofe that 
 remain, &c. For the PalTengers or Searchers are 
 diftinguifhed from thofe whofe Office it. is to bu- 
 ry the Dead, in the following Verfe. 
 
 Ibid. oAfter the end of f even Months fiall they 
 fearch.] All the People fhall be employed feven 
 Months, in burying the Dead, Ver. 13. and after 
 they are ended, particular Perfons appointed for 
 that purpofe, fhall make a clear Riddance. 
 
 Ver. 1 5. Ver. 1 5. Then he fhall Jet up a Sign by it.'] A 
 Stone, or fome other Mark of Diftin&ion, that 
 Men may avoid pafling over them. See the Ex- 
 cerfta out of Dr. Tococtfs Mifcellany Notes, in 
 the Synoffis upon Luke xi. 44. 
 
 Ver. 1 7. Ver. 1 7. Speak to every feathered Fowl, and to 
 every "Beaft of the Field, &c.l It was the Cuftom 
 for Perfons that offered Sacrifice to invite their 
 Friends to the Feaft that was made of the Re- 
 mainder. See Gen. xxxiv. 54. 1 Sam. ix. 1 ^. So 
 here the Prophet by God's Command, invites the 
 Beafts and Fowls to partake of the Sacrifice of his 
 Enemies flain. 
 
 Ibid. Gather your felves to my Sacrifice, that I 
 do jacrifice for you^The Slaughter of God's Ene- 
 mies is called a Sacrifice, becaufe it is offered up 
 
 as
 
 upon EZEKIEL. 325 
 
 as an Atonement to the Divine Juftice. Comp. Chapter 
 this Verfe with If a, xxxiv.6. Zjjth.i. 7. Rev. XXXIX. 
 xix. 17. L/*V^O 
 
 Ibid. Upon the Mountains of Ifrael] Where 
 this great Army was to be deftroyed : See Ver. 4. 
 
 Ver. 18. Of Rams, of Lambs, of Goats, of "BuUVcv. 18. 
 locks.'] Of all Ranks and Kinds, who fhall be 
 brought like Beafts to the Slaughter. Comp. TfaL 
 Ixviii.. 31. Ifa. xxxiv. 6. Jerem. 1. 27. li. 40. 
 
 Ibid. &4l! of tkem Fatlings of f Ba]a?i.~] See 
 *Deut. xxxii. 14. 
 
 Ver. 19. oAnd drink 'Blood till ye he drunken.'] Ver. 19. 
 Or be filled, or fatiated : for fo the Hebrew Ra- 
 yah ufually fignifies. See Cantic. v. i.Hag. i. 6. 
 Jerem. xxxi. 14,25. and the Greek Verb Ms0u» 
 is taken in the fame Senfe, John ii. 10. and fo I 
 conceive it fhould be underftood 1 Cor. xi. 21. 
 where the Apoftle reproving the Abufe of their 
 Love Feafts, faith, One is hungry^ and another 
 drinks, or fills himfelf to t he full. 
 
 Ver. 20. Thm {hall ye be filled at my Table .] Ver. 20^ 
 The Feaft made upon the Peace-Offerings or Sa- 
 crifices of Thankfgiving, is properly called the 
 Table of the Lord : See Malach. i. 12. From 
 whence the Expreflion is applied to the Feaft of 
 the Lord's Supper, 1 Cor. x. 21. 
 
 Ver. 21. oAnd I will jet my Glory among the Ver. 21. 
 Heathen, 8cc3 See Chap, xxxviii. 16, 23. 
 
 Ver. 22. So the Houfe of Ifrael fljall know that y er , 2 2. 
 I am the Lord their God, &x.jBoth by my Acts 
 of Mercy in returning their Captivity • See Ver. 
 28,^9. and by my Judgments executed upon 
 their Enemies* 
 
 Ver.
 
 326 A Commentary 
 
 Chapter Ver. 2^24. eAnd the Heathen fiall know that 
 XXXIX. the Houfe oflfrael went into Captivity for their 
 L/^S^SJ Iniquity ', &c] They were not carried away by 
 Ver. 23. their Enemies becaufe I wanted Power to refcue 
 them, but as a juft Punifbment of their Sins. See 
 Chap, xxxvi. 18, 19, 20. 
 Ver. 25. Ver. 2$. Now will I bring again the Capti- . 
 vity of Jacob.] See Chap, xxxiv. 13. xxxvi. 24. 
 xxxvii. 21. 
 
 Ibid. oAnd have mercy upon the whole Houfe 
 oflfrael.] See Chap. xx. 40. 
 Ver. 26. Ver. 26. (After that they have lorn their 
 Shame, and all their Trefpajjes, &c.U The Shame 
 and Reproach due to their Sins : See T)an. ix. 
 16. 
 
 Ibid. When they dwelt fafely in their Land, 
 
 and none made them afraid.] By their Sins abu- 
 
 fing thofe gracious Promifes of Peace and Safety 
 
 which I had given them : See Levit. xxvi. 5, 6. 
 
 Ver. 27. Ver. 27. <And am fanBified in them in the 
 
 fight of 'many Nations. ,] See Chap, xxxvi. 23. 
 
 Ver. 28. Ver. 28. Then Jhall they know that I am the 
 
 Lord their God."] See Ver. 22. Chap, xxxiv. 30. 
 
 Ver. 29. Ver. 29. Neither will Ihide my Face any more 
 
 from them.'] I will never withdraw my Favour 
 
 or Protection from them. See Ifa. liv. 8. 
 
 Ibid. For I have -poured out my Spirit upon the 
 Houfe of Ifrael.] There will be a new Effufion 
 of God's Spirit upon the Jews in order to their 
 Converfion: See Ifa. lix. 20, 21. a place applied 
 by St. Taul to this very Purpofe, Rom. xi. 26, 
 27. Compare likewife Zjch. xii. 10. and Chap. 
 xi. 19. xxxvi. 27. of this Prophecy. 
 
 CHAP.XL.Fol. 343.
 
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 upon EZEKIEL 
 
 4$ 
 
 CHAP. XL. 
 
 The General Argument to the fol- 
 lowing Chapter. 
 
 GOT) having forfaken the City and Temple of 
 
 Jerufalem, and given them up to Tie ft ruction, for 
 
 the Idolatries and other Sins committed there ; 
 
 in this and the following Chapters, he fheweth 
 
 to the Prophet in Vifion, the Model or Plan of 
 
 another Temple, of the fame T)imenJ?ons with 
 
 thvt built by Solomon; as Villalpandus, and 
 
 ■other learned Men, with great Probality fup- 
 
 pofe. David had the Pattern of that Temple, 
 
 which Solomon was to build reveal' d to him 
 
 by God: See i Ch. xxviii. n, 19. as Mofes had 
 
 the Model of the Tabernacle reprefented to him 
 
 by a Vifion, while he was in the Moimt, Ex. xxv. 
 
 40. And here the Plan of Solomon 's Temple is 
 
 again di [covered r^.Ezckiel, who foretelling the 
 
 c DeftrucJion of this Temple by the Chaldeans, 
 
 fiews how highly it was valued by the Jew s,when 
 
 he calls ii, The Excellency of their Strength, 
 
 and the Defire of their Eyes, Chap. xxiv. 21. 
 
 Y y They 
 
 XL.
 
 34 6 
 
 A Commentary 
 
 Chapter They looked upon it as the Honour, Glory, and 
 XL. Safeguard of 'their Nation. This lying in Ruins 
 
 C/*V^O at the Time of this Vifion, the Jews had need 
 of being comforted, inflrucied, and humbled up- 
 on that Occafion-, they would not have cared for 
 the Thoughts of returning Home, were there 
 710 Promife made of reftoring the Temple, as 
 well as their Commonwealth -, the Temple being 
 theT ledge of God's Pre fence among them. Mo fes 
 his Ritual Law would fo on have been adapted' 
 to the Manners of the Gentiles, where they lived, 
 if the Expectations of a new Temple, to which ' 
 moft of its Rites were fitted, had not refrained 
 their Tropenfity to Idolatry ; and they would 
 have been difpirited beyond meafure, as they were 
 afterward, upon Sight of their fecond Temple \ 
 if the 'Prophet had plainly foretold, that their 
 new Temple fhould fall fbort of the Glory of the 
 old one : They were therefore to be incouraged 
 to the Obfervation of their Law, with the 
 Hopes of returning to rebuild their Temple, which 
 fhould be finifhed after the Plan of that of So- 
 lomon. 
 We cannot fuppofe any exact Model of Solomon^ 
 Temple remaining, which might be tranfmitted 
 to thofe that returned from the Captivity - 3 for 
 it was above feventy J ears from the c Deftrut~lion 
 of. the fir ft Temple to the Finishing the fecond, 
 inthefixth TearofDmus, Ezr. vi. 15. ^Du- 
 ring which Interval, the ancient Priefts muft 
 be all dead 5 and thofe that were younger could 
 have but confufed and very imperfect Ideas of 
 zt. To di r ec~t them therefore in the T>imenfions, 
 Tarts, Order, and Rules of their new Temple, 
 
 is
 
 upon EZEKIEL. 347 
 
 is one Reafon, why Ezckicl is fo particular in Chapter 
 the Defcription of the Old. And no doubt but XL. 
 ZerobabalV Temple was accordingly conformable 
 to that 0/* Solomon, in Figure , Difpofition of 
 Parts, and Order of the whole Fabrick and Ser- 
 vice : If in State or Magnificence there was fame 
 Variety, that is to be imputed to the Neceffity 
 of their Circumflances, and doth not imply any 
 effential Alteration. 
 However the Building being found inferior to the 
 Model here prefcribed, the fir ft Difcovery of 
 which was afenfible Mortification to the ancient 
 Men that hadfeen thefirft Temple, Ezr. iii. 12. 
 It was natural for the Jews of former Ages, 
 that ftudied the Style of Prophecy, to conclude, 
 as many of the Jewiih IVr iters of later Times, 
 have done, that EzckielV Temple had a further 
 View, and the chief Intent andDefign of it was 
 that to be fulfilled under the Meflias. Whatever 
 was Auguft and Illuftrious in the Prophetick 
 Figures, and not literally fulfilled in or near their 
 own Times, thofe Things werejufily thought to 
 belong to the 'Days of the Meflias j But as for 
 minuter Circumftances, there is no more Necef- 
 (ity of giving them a 'Place in the fpiritual Ap- 
 plication of a Prophecy, than in the Explica- 
 tion of a Parable. The Temple, and the Temple 
 Worfhip, was aproper Figure of ChriftV Church, 
 and of the Spiritual Worship to be inftituted by 
 Him : A?idthe Notions of the "Jews were to be 
 raifedby 'Degrees to a further and higher Mean- 
 ing, hereafter to be compleated, without defir ey- 
 ing their Obligations to the Statutes and Ordi z 
 nances God enjoined for the prefent, 
 
 Y y z There
 
 348 A Commentary 
 
 Chapter There was the more reafon for Ezekiel\r keeping 
 XL. to the Figure of Solo mo 11V Temple, in fpeak- 
 
 L/"V~\J ing of the times of the Meflias; becaufe Solo- 
 mon was a Type of the Meffms, chiefly in this 
 refpeel, that he was to Build an Houte for the 
 Name and IVorfoip of God, according to Na- 
 than'j- 'Prophecy concerning him, 2 Sam. vii. 13, 
 14. fever al Tarts of which Prophecy are ap- 
 plied to Chrift. in the New-Teftament : See Heb. 
 i. 5, Luke i. 3 2. this Expojition of that Place 
 receives a further Confirmation from hence, that 
 other Prophets for et el the fame thing concern- 
 ing the Meflias. Befide ihofe P aft ages in Eze- 
 kiel, which are under our prefent Lonftderation, 
 Zcchary after him Prop hefted that the Man 
 whofe Name is the BRANCH mail build the 
 Temple of the LORD, and bear the Gloiy, 
 and fit and rule upon his Throne, and (hall be 
 a Prieft upon his Throne, and the Counlcl of 
 Peace {hall be between them both 5 /'. e. be- ' 
 tween the Kingdom and the Prieft hood -, the 
 fame P erf on fhall be both King and Prieft^ and 
 his Offices flail not interfere with, or obftrucJ 
 each other. Zech. vi. 12, 13. 
 The New-Teftament copies the fly le of the Old; 
 St. Paul in his Epiflles calls the Chriflian Church 
 by the Name of the Houfe or Temple of God, 
 fee 1 Cor. iii. 1 6. 2 Cor. vi. 1 6. Eph. ii. 20, &c. 
 1 Tim. iii. 15. Heb. iii. 6. In purfuance of the 
 fame Metaphor he tells us that Antichrift fhall 
 fit in the Temple of God, meaning the Chriflian 
 Church,. 2 The-lT. ii. 4. Jlnd St. John in the 
 Revelation not only defcribes the heavenly San- 
 cluary by Reprefentations taken from the]c\v\{h 
 
 Temple
 
 upon E'ZEKIEL. 349 
 
 Temple (a), but like wife tranfcribes fever al of 'Chapter 
 Ez^'kicTj- Expreffions (b), and borrows his Al- XL. 
 liifions from the' fiat e of the Temple as it was L/V O 
 built by Solomon, not as it flood in our Savi- 
 our's time ; as if the former, had a more i?nme~ 
 diate reference to the times of the Go [pel. Thus 
 Revel, iv. i. Sec. the Throne of God is repre- 
 fented like that over the Ark, where the She- 
 kin ah, or 'Divine Glory fate, encompaffedwith 
 Four Cherubims [See the Note upon Verfe 6th 
 of the following Chapter^ andwith-the Seats of 
 four and twenty Elders, alluding to the Heads 
 of fo many Triejlly Courfes. And before the 
 Throne is placed a Sea of Glafs, like unto 
 Chryftal, refembling the famous Molten Sea of 
 Solomon. All thefe Ornaments were proper to 
 the fir ft Temple, as it was finijlSd by Solomon , 
 whereas in the fecond Temple there was no pro- 
 per Ark, no Throne encompaffed^ by Cherubims, 
 no vifible Glory, no Molten Sea j and but four 
 of the four and twenty Courfes of the Trie/Is 
 returned from Babylon: iSV^Ezraii. 36, 39. 
 Upon the whole we may conclude, that the general 
 Scope of Ezekiel\f Temple h, by giving a Fro- 
 
 ■ mife of refloring, Solomon'.?, to preferve the 
 
 ■ Jews from defiling themj elves with Idolatry du- 
 ring their Capti.ivity •> and when the time of that 
 fhouldbe expired, to encourage them to go Home., 
 and rebuild their Temple, andobferve the Laws 
 
 •' andOrdinances prefcrib'd by M o fes, for perform- 
 ing God's fVorfhip there, which yet was never 
 
 (a) Revel, xi. 19. xiv. 17. xv. 5, 8. 
 
 (\>J Revel, iv. 2, 3, 6: xi. 1, 2. xxi. 12. ££V. xxri. 1, 2. 
 
 to
 
 3* 
 
 Chapter 
 XL. 
 
 Ver. 
 
 i. 
 
 A Co MMENTARY 
 
 to be equal to SolomoriV in every refpefl ; be- 
 fore the MeiTias jbould come, whoflou/dfupply 
 it slJ efficiencies, and who fe Church Jbould 'refera- 
 ble Solomon's Temple in Semmetry and Beauty, 
 in Firmnefs and 'Duration, in a regular, orderly 
 and decent Worship of the true God, and in the 
 manifeftation of the divine ¥ re fence, at firft by 
 the miraculous Gifts of the Holy Ghojt, and 
 ever fine e by the inward AJfiftances, Comforts 
 and Trot e& ion of the fame Spirit. 
 
 THE XLth Chapter contains a T^efcription of 
 the two outward Courts, with the Cham- 
 bers thereto belonging, together with the Torch 
 of the Temple. 
 
 Ver. 
 
 '- cKsreKEraraaatMEattsr 
 
 N the five and twentieth 
 
 Tear of our Captivity. ."J Sec 
 the Note upon Chap. i. 2. 
 Ibid. In the beginning 
 of the Tear, in the tenth 
 T>ay of the Month, ~\ i.e. 
 The firft Month called 
 here the Beginning of the Tear, which in the Ec- 
 cleiiaftical Computation was the Month Nifan. 
 The word Month likewife taken indifinitely, fig- 
 nifiesthe firft Month, Chap. xxvi. 1. 
 
 Ibid. In the fourteenth Tear after that the 
 City was fmitten.] Zedekiah's Reign commen- 
 ced from Jehoiakins Captivity, in the xith Year 
 of whofe Reign the City was deftroyed, Jerem. 
 lii. 5,6. So the fourteenth Year after the De- 
 tection of the City rriuft be co-incident with 
 the xxv th of Jehoiakin's Captivity. 
 
 Ibid,
 
 upon E Z EK I E L. 351 
 
 Ibid. The hand of the LOR *D was upon Chapter 
 me.'] See Chap. i. 3. XL. 
 
 Ver. 2. In the Vifions of God brought he me iy"V"\J 
 into the Land of IfraeL] Sec the Note on Chap. ^ er * 2 ; 
 viii. 3. 
 
 Ibid. And fet me upon a very high Mountain.^ 
 The Expreilion points out Mount Moriah, where- 
 on the Temple was built, which is here called 
 a very high Mountain ; becaufe it represents the 
 Seat of the Chriftian Church, foretold by the 
 Prophets that it mould be ejlablijhed upon the 
 top of the Mountains : Scelfa. ii. 1. Micah. iv. 1. 
 Compared with Revel, xxi. 10. 
 
 Ibid. By which was a Frame of a City on the 
 Souths Mount Moriah lay Southward of the 
 Hill of Sion, or the City of 'David, tho' both 
 of them lay Northward in refpect of the lower 
 Part of the City, which from the times of Solo- 
 mon was molt commonly call'd by the Name 
 of Jerufalem: See Tfal. xlviii. 2. Ifa. xiv. 13. 
 and Dr. Lightfoot's Geographical 'Defcription of 
 Jerufalem, Ch. xxii. So the words defcribe the 
 Situation of the Temple on the South Side of 
 Mount Sion ; which with all its Courts, Build- 
 ings, and Walls encompafilng the Courts, and 
 the whole Area, or holy Mountain, fee Chap, 
 xlii. 20. refembled a City for bignefs. So Ta- 
 citus lib. 5. Hift. defcribes the Temple as built 
 like a Citadel for Strength and Largenefs. 
 
 Or we may fuppole that the Prophet being 
 brought by the Spirit from Chaldea into the 
 Land of Ifrael, which lay Southward of Baby- 
 lon, fee Chap. i. 4. might fee piaced juft before 
 his Eyes a Reprefentation of the City and Tem- 
 ple*
 
 3^ A C O M M ]l NT T A ft Y 
 
 Chapter, pic, (landing upon an Imminence, both in refped 
 XL. or meir natural Situation, and that the Prophet 
 L/'VNJ might take a better View ot them: For it appears 
 from Chap, xiviii. 15, o*c. that he had a View 
 of the Holy City which was to be rellcrcd, as 
 well as of, the Temple. 
 y er , Ver. 3. Behold there was a Man, who [e appea- 
 
 rance was like the appearance of Brafs.] or bur- 
 nifhed- or polimed Brafs, as we read Chap. 1.7. 
 and Uan. x. 6. that is, of a bright or flaming Co- 
 lour. This feems to be an inferior Angel, be- 
 caufe he is diftinguifhed from the Divine Glory, 
 or the Logos appearing in the Shekinah, Chap, 
 xliii. 6. comp. Chap. ix. 3. 
 
 Ibid. With a Line of Flax in his Hand, and 
 a mea faring Reed.'] The ufe of theLinewasto 
 meafure the Land of Ifrael, and of the Reed to 
 take the Dimenfions of the Buidings in and about 
 the Temple : as alfo to fet out fevcral Portions of 
 Land belonging to the Santluary and City, to the 
 Prince and People. See" Chap. xlv. 1, &c, xlvii. 
 3- &c> 
 
 Ibid. And he flood in the Gate.'] Probably the 
 North Gate, being the firft Entrance the Pro- 
 phet may be iiippofed to have arrived to, as he 
 came from Chaldea, which lay Northward of 
 Judea: Seethe Note upon Ver. 2. 
 Ver. 4. Ver. 4. Son of Man.] See the Note upon 
 
 Chap. ii. 1. 
 
 Ibid. Behold with thine Eyes, declare all 
 
 thou fe eft to the Houfe of IJrael.] Comp. Chap. 
 
 xliii. 10. xliv. 5. The Temple now reprefented 
 
 was partly designed to afliire the People that their 
 
 •• Temple mould be rcilored, and to ferve them as 
 
 a Model
 
 -upon EZEKIEL, g$g 
 
 a Model by which they mould rebuild it, at their Chapter 
 Return from Captivity. The Jewijh Writers do XL. 
 confirm this Opinion, when they tell us, " That C*^V~%J 
 " the Children of the Captivity who returned 
 Cf from Babylon, followed the Platform of that 
 " Temple which 2£z*vfo>/delcribed, as far as their 
 " Circumftances would allow." See *Dr. Light- 
 foot' sl^efcription of the Temple, Chap. x. 
 
 Ver. 5 . And behold a Wall on the out fide ofy cr 
 the Houfe round about. ~\ A Wall went round 
 the whole Compafs or Square of the Holy 
 Mountain whereon the Temple was fituate, to 
 feparate the Holy Ground from that which was 
 Prophane : See Chap. xlii. 20. 
 
 Ibid. And in the Mans Hand a meafuring Reed 
 of fix Cubits long, by the Cubit, and a Hand- 
 breadth.^ The Prophet explains what fort of Cu- 
 bit he means in the following Delineation of the 
 Temple, viz. fuch a one as confifts of fix Hand- 
 breadths, or one Hand-breadth over the Cubit 
 ufed in Chaldea, where he now lived. Comp. 
 Chap. xli. 8. xliii. 13. This is the Meafureof a 
 Scripture Cubit, generally agreed to be equiva- 
 lent to eighteen Inches, or a Foot and a half of 
 our Meafure: See Bp Cumberland of Scripture 
 Weights and Me afures, p. 36, &c. 
 
 Ibid. So he meafuredthe breadth of the Build- 
 ing one Reed, and the height one Reed.'] The 
 Breadth or Thicknefs of the Wall was equal the 
 Height of It. 
 
 Ver. 6. Then he came unto the Gate which Ver. 6. 
 looketh toward the Eaft.~\ The Temple being 
 placed toward the Weft Part of the Holy Moun- 
 tain, as the Sanctuary was at the Well End of the 
 
 Z z Temple,
 
 g£4 A Commentary 
 
 Chapter Temple, (fee the Note upon Chap. viii. 16.) this 
 XL. was the firftGate that Jed to it. ThisGateopen- 
 X/^ST^J ed into the firft Court, or the Court of the Peo- 
 ple, fee Vcr. 19. and is called the Kings Gate, 
 1 Chron. ix. 18. as being built by King Solomon. 
 
 Ibid. And went tip the Stairs thereof. ~\ Which 
 confuted of feven Steps, as the Septuagint ex- 
 prefly mentioned, conip. Ver. 22. 26. 
 
 Ibid. Andmeafured the [one] Threshold of the 
 Gate which was one Reed broad, and the other 
 Threfiold 7 dcC] He went up the Stairs that he might 
 more eafily meafure the upper Lintel, as well 
 as the lower Threfhold. The word Saph 
 tranilated Threshold, fignifks the Lintel upper 
 Part of the Door-Cafe, as well as the Threfhold 
 properly fo called, or lower Part of it. The 
 Plural Sippim, comprehends both, fee Chap. xli. 
 1 6. Ifa. vi. 4. and the Septuagint tranflate it there 
 «}zrtpbvepv, the Lintel. Some underftand the 
 word here of the two Side-polts, in which fenfe 
 it is ufed .Amos ix. i. 
 v Ver. 7. And every little Chamber was one 
 
 Reed long, and one Reed broad, &c] Along the 
 Wall of the Porch were Chambers, three on each 
 Side, Ver. 10. Thefe the Angel meafured, and 
 they were of .equal Dimenfioiis, each one Reed 
 fquare, with a PafTage of five. Cubits breadth be- 
 tween them. 
 
 Ibid. And the Threfljold of the Gate by the 
 ^orch of the Gate within, was one Reed.^ The 
 inward TiVr-efhold at the further End of the Porch 
 looking -into the firft Court, was of the fame Size 
 .with the outward one, Ver. 6. comp, Ver. 15. 
 
 Ver.
 
 upon EZEKIEL. 3^5 
 
 Ver. 8. He meafuredalfo the Torch of the Gate Chapter 
 within, one Reed:] Or, He even meafured, 6cc. XL. 
 for the words feem to be a Repetition of what Ks7*kF%J 
 ' was laid in the latter Part of the feventh Vcrfe j Vcr. 8. 
 £0 the Vulgar Latin underftood it, and therefore 
 omit the whole Verfe ; and the Septuagint in the 
 Alexandrian Copy published by Dr. Grabe, join 
 the two Verfes in fenfe together : See the like 
 Repetitions, Ver. 11, 12 and 16. and Chap. xli. 1 r. 
 
 Ver. 9. Then meafured he the Torch of the Gate y 
 eight Cubits , &c] This was a Portieo beyond the 
 little Chambers, which looked inward, i. e. into 
 the firft Court ; it was eight Cubits wide, and the 
 two fide Ports were two Cubits thick, which made 
 up the ten Cubits mentioned vcr. 1 1 . The word 
 Ael tranflated Port, is the fame in fenfe with Me- 
 zuzah, Chap. xlv. 19. which properly fignifies 
 the fide Port that fupports the Lintel : See Exod. 
 xii. 22. 
 
 Ver. 10. And the little Chambers of 'the Gate v « 
 
 Eaftward, &c] Or, The little Chambers of the - 
 Eaftern Gate, which he has been hitherto defcrib- 
 ing ; and the Form of which is here repeated. 
 . Thefe Rooms were for the ufe of the Porters, 
 that took Care of the feveral Gates that led to 
 the Temple, See 1 Chron* ix. 1.8, 23, 24. xxvi. 12, 
 13. 18. 
 
 Ibid. And the Tofts had one meafure on this 
 fide, and on that fide.~] The fide Pofts or Fronts 
 of the Doors belonging to each row of Cham- 
 bers were of the fame fize. 
 
 Ver. 1 1 . And he meafured the breadth of the y er . - ^ 
 entry of the Gate ten Cubits*} See ver. 9. 
 
 Z z z Ibid.
 
 35* 
 
 A Commentary 
 
 Chapter Ibid. A7id the length of the Gate thirteen Cu~ 
 XL. bits.} By the Length of the Gate Villalpandus 
 
 Kf*Sf\} underftands the Height, which he fuppofcs to have 
 been two Reeds, or twelve Cubits and a half 
 high j for he reckons every Reed to confift of 
 fix ordinary Cubits, and a fourth Part over, which 
 in the common Computation of full Numbers for 
 Fractions, may be called thirteen Cubits. Bern. 
 L'Amy in his Book de Tabernaculo Foederis, ex- 
 plains the Expreflion of the Breadth of the Walls 
 on each fide of the Gate, which he fuppofcs to be 
 fix Cubits and an Half. And fo the feventy Inter- 
 preters may be thought to underftand the words, 
 who tranflate the Hebrew Oreb by Evp@*, Breadth. 
 
 Ver. 12. Ver. 12. The Tlace alfo before the Chambers 
 
 was one Cubit on this fide, and on that fide.'} 
 
 There was a Border, or a Rail which enclofed a 
 Cubit's fpace before each Chamber, 
 
 Ibid. And the little Chambers were fix Cubits 
 on this fide, &c] Sec ver. 7. 
 
 Ver i ^ cr ' * 3 ' ^ e wMafuredthen the Gate from the 
 
 roof of one little Chamber, to the roof of another $ 
 the breadth was five and twenty Cubits.} Mea- 
 furing the Arch of the Gate from North to South, 
 it was in breadth five and twenty Cubits 5 which 
 . L'Amy thus computes, the Breadth of the Gate 
 ten Cubits, the Breadth of both the fide Walls 
 thirteen Cubits, and two Cubits for the Space or 
 Border on each fide of the Chambers ; ver. 12. 
 
 Ibid. . c Dooragainft *Door.} The Door on each 
 Chamber exactly anfwered the Door on the op- 
 posite fide. 
 
 Ver. 14. Ver- 14. He made alfo Tofts of threefcore Cu- 
 bits.} The Angel defcxibed or made a Delinea- 
 tion
 
 upon EZEKIEL. 357 
 
 tion of the Heighth of the Columns or Pillars, Chapter 
 which were to fupport the Rooms or Stories over XL. 
 the Arch of the Gate, and thefe were in Heighth l/V\J 
 fixty Cubits 5 the whole Building being divided 
 into three Stories, like thofe defcribed Chap. xlii. 
 6. The Heighth of each Story is thus computed 
 by Vtllalpandus Tart 2. lib. 5. Cap. 1 6. That the 
 Pillars of the lower Story were twenty Cubits 
 high; thofe of the fecond, fifteen j and the up- 
 permoft, twelve j the Remainder being allowed 
 for the Floors and the Roof. The Word Tofts in 
 this Verfe ftgnifies Pillars, comp. Chap. xlii. 6. 
 
 Ibid. Even unto the Tofts of the Court rounda- 
 bout the gate.] Vtllalpandus and feveral Inter- 
 preters fuppofe there is an Ellipfis in the Words, 
 which they thus fupply 5 And there was one mea- 
 fure to the Pillars of the Court, and of the Gate 
 round about; which makes the Senfe run plain 
 and eafy, comp. Chap. xli. 9. where there is the 
 fame Ellipfis. 
 
 Ver. 15. And from the face of the gate of the^ o.^. 15. 
 Entrance unto the face of the inner Gate, wcrcfif- 
 ' ty Cubits.'] The whole length of the Porch, from 
 the outward Front (comp. Chap. xli. 21. 25.) un- 
 to the inner Side, which looks into the nrft Court, 
 ver. 1 7, was fifty Cubits 5 which may be thus com- 
 puted ; twelve Cubits for the Thickncfs of the 
 Wall at each End, ver. 6. eighteen for the three 
 Chambers on each Side, ver. 7. and ten Cubits for 
 the Spaces between the Chambers 5 allowing the 
 fame Space between the Chambers on each Side, 
 and the two Walls. Ibid. Vtllalpandus obferves 
 the jult Proportion between the breadth and length 
 of the Gate, the length being double to the breadth, 
 
 ver.
 
 85 8 
 
 A Commentary 
 
 Vcr. 16. 
 
 Chapter ver. 13. The fame, he tells us, was obferved be- 
 
 XL. tween the Breadth of the Cloy tiers of the outward 
 
 t/*V^O Court, which was fifty Cubits, and the Contents 
 
 of the whole Area, which was an Hundred. Sec 
 
 the Note on vcr. 18. 
 
 Ver. 1 6. And there were narrow windows to 
 the little Chambers, and to their pofts within the 
 Gate round about .] Every one of thefc little Cham- 
 bers, ver. 7. had a narrow Window to it toward 
 the Infide of the Gate, where the Paflagc was; 
 and fo there was over the fide Pofts or Fronts, pla- 
 ced at the Entrance of every Chamber. By nar- 
 row or clofed Windows, fomc underftand Win- 
 dows with Lattice- Work, to let in the Light. But 
 the Phrafe feems equivalent to that which is more 
 fully exprefled 1 Kings \i. 4. by open and narrow 
 Windows -, i. e. as the Margin of our Bibles doth 
 very well explain it ; broad within [ to difperfc 
 the Light] and narrow without. 
 
 Ibid. And likewife the Arches. ,] By Windows 
 to the Arches. Villalpandus underftands the Stone 
 itfelf wrought into Figures of Net- work, and made 
 in the fhape of a Lattice. The Word tranflated Ar- 
 ches doth likewife fignify a Porch, or Entrance, and 
 fo the vulgar Latin tranflates it 5 and then 
 the Senfe is, that there were Windows over every 
 Door; Compare ver. 31 and 34, with ver. 37; 
 where the fame Senfe is exprefled in the two for- 
 mer Verfes j by Arches, Aelamo in the Hebrew, 
 and in the latter, by Tofts, or Fronts, Aelau. 
 
 Ibid. And the windows were round about in- 
 ward.2 A Repetition of what was faid in the for- 
 mer Part of the Verfe, fee ver. 10. 
 
 Ibid.
 
 upon EZ EKIEL. 059 
 
 Ibid. And upon each poft were Tahn-trees.] A Chapter 
 Palm-tree was carved upon the Chapiter of each XL. 
 fide Poft, or Front, fee ver. 26. tyVXJ 
 
 Vcr. 1 7. Then brought he me into the outward v 
 Court.'] There were two Courts bolonging to So- r ' I7 ' 
 lomoris Temple 5 the outward for the People, the 
 inward for the Priefts. It is probable, that Solomon 
 built only the inner Court, fee 1 Kings vi. 36. 
 compared with Chap. viii. 64 > and that the outer 
 Court was built after his Time, whereupon it is 
 called the new Court, 2 Chron.xx. 5. After which 
 Time there is particular mention of the two Courts 
 of the Houfe of the LO RT), 2 Kings xxi. 5. 
 A third Court, called the Court of the Gentiles, 
 was afterwards added by Herod, when he rebuilt 
 the Temple. 
 
 The Great Court, mentioned 2 Chron. iv. 9. as 
 diftinct from the Court of the Priefts, Dr. Light- 
 foot explains of the Holy Mountain, or Area, where 
 the Temple ftood, which Solomon cnclofed with 
 a Wall, and feparated it from common Ground : 
 fo that Text 1 Kings vii. 12. The Great Court 
 round about was with three rows of hewed Stones, 
 ire. is to be underftood only of this Enclofure, 
 according to his Opinion. See his 'Defcrifitwn of 
 the Temple, Chap. 10, and 18. 
 
 Ibid. Andlo, there were Chambers and a 'Pave- 
 ment made for the Court round about.'] Thefc 
 Chambers were over the Cloyfter, and iupported 
 by it, feev. 14, and Chap. xlii. 8. They might be 
 for the ufe of the Priefts, and likewifeto be Store- 
 houfes for Tithes and Offerings, fee 1 Chron, 
 xxviii. 12. 
 
 Ibid,
 
 3<5o 
 
 A Commentary 
 
 Chapter . Ibid. Thirty Chamber sw ere up on theTavement .] 
 XL. The Number of them Villalpandus thus divides : 
 
 {y^sT^J Toward the Eaft and Weft, feven on a Side, an- 
 fwcring one another ; on the North and South 
 Sides, eight a-piece, abating one Chamber, both 
 on the Eaft and Weft Side, for the Thicknefs of 
 the Walls or Arches, which fupported thofe two 
 Gates, which he fuppofes to be higher than the 
 North and South Gates. 
 
 Vcr. 1 8. Ver. i 8. And the Pavement by the Side of the 
 Gates, over-againft [or equal to] the length of the 
 Gates, was the lower 'Pavement.'} The Breadth 
 of this Pavement, that lay on the Side of the Gate, 
 was equal to the Length of the whole Porch or 
 Gate, which was fifty Cubits, ver. 15. This will 
 plainly appear, if we confider, that the Area of 
 the outward Court contained an hundred Cubits, 
 ver. 1 9 : So the Portico's, or Cloyfters, cutting the 
 Area in right Angels, by the Gate placed in the 
 middle of the Court, the Pavement belonging to 
 each Side of the Gate, or Cloyfter, muft be juft half 
 that Dimenfion, 17,3. fifty Cubits. The Word Gates 
 in the plural Number, feems to be ufed for the lin- 
 gular, as it implies the whole Building confiding 
 of upper Rooms, as well as the lower PaiTage : 
 See the Note upon ver. 14. The Word Leiimmah, 
 which our tranflation renders over-againft, often 
 signifies Equal, anfwerable, or the fame Propor- 
 tion. See Notidius, p. 5 2 5 .and fo it is ufed Chap. i. 
 20. iii. 8. xlv. 7. xlviii. 13. &c. This was called 
 the lower Pavement, in refpecl: of the feveral A- 
 fcents which were ftill to go up, the nearer you 
 came to the Temple. See Dr. Light foot' s < T)efcrip- 
 tion of the Temple, Chap. 20. Villalpandus 'ex- 
 plain
 
 upon EZEKIEL. ^61 
 
 plains the lower Pavement by Way of Diftin&ion Chapter 
 to the upper Rooms, or Chambers, placed over XL. 
 them, for the Life of the Priefts, or as Store- rooms L^^v/^^J 
 for the Service of the Temple. 
 
 Ver. 19. Then he meafured the Breadth fromVct:. 19, 
 the fore -Front of the. lower Gate unto the fore - 
 Front of the inner Gate without, an hundred Cu- 
 bits eaffward.2 That is, unto the hither Side of the 
 Gate which faced the inner Court. He meafured 
 the whole Space of Ground between the Weft 
 Front of the lower Gate, to the Front of the up- 
 per Gate, which leads into theEaftern inner Court, 
 and found it an hundred Cubits 5 the fame was the 
 Space between the South Front and North Front : 
 fo the Court was exa&ly fquare. See ver. 23, 27. 
 47. The Expreflion is Elliptical; as if he had faid, 
 there were an hundred Cubits from Weft to Eaft, 
 and from North to South. There were two Gates 
 belonged to the Porch, or Paflage, that led to the 
 inner Court j the firft was Eaftward looking to- 
 ward the outer Court, which is here meant j the 
 other looked Wefhvard into the inner Court. The 
 Gate at the Eaft End of the outer Court is called the 
 lower Gate, for the fameReafon as the Pavement is 
 called the lower Pavement, ver. 1 8 5 becaufe there 
 was (till an Afcent, as you went from one Court to 
 the other. The Expreflion of the inner Gate, with- 
 out, is explained in the Note upon Chap. xlvi. 2. 
 
 Ibid. North-ward.'] The Septuagint join this word 
 to the following Verfe, and render the Sentence 
 thus-, And he brought me to the North, and behold 
 the Gate looking to the North in the outer Court, 
 Villalpandus explains the 19th Verfe to this 
 Seniej That the outward Court conftfted of feven 
 
 A a a Squares,
 
 Qfi\ 
 
 A Commentary 
 
 Chapter Squares, an hundred Cubits each; thefirft placed 
 XL. directly before the Court of the Pricfts, and of the 
 
 ^/"V^w fame Dimenfions with it; the others extended on 
 the North and South Sides of the outer Court, and 
 likewife com men fur ate with the Sides both of the 
 inner Court and of the Temple, each of which con- 
 tained ioo Cubits. By which Defcription it muft 
 contain a Square of 300 Cubits on the Eaft Part, 
 and 200 Cubits both on the North and South Side. 
 Confult Villalpandus's 'Delineation of the Temple. 
 
 Ver. 20. Ver. 20, 21. 'And the Gate of the outward 
 Court that looketh toward the North.— -And the 
 little Chambers thereof &c] The whole Model 
 was the fame with that of the Eaft Gate : See Ver. 
 9, 10, 13, 15, 16. 
 
 Ver. 22. Ver. 22. And they went up into it by feven 
 Steps.~] See Ver. 6. 
 
 Ibid. And the Arches thereof were before them.1 
 Or at the Entrance of them. The Septuagint ren- 
 der the Word liphni, before them, as if it meant 
 the fame with el penimith, within, or inward, 
 Chap. xlii. 4. This Senfe is followed by molt Ex- 
 pofitors, to denote that the Arches were within, 
 or at the Top of the Stairs j but the Phrafe may 
 probably mean the lame with NalTenehem, fui- 
 tablc to them; /. e. to thofe of the Eaft Gate. See 
 the following Note. 
 
 Ver. 2 3 . Ver. 2 3 . And the Gate of the inner Court was 
 over-againft the Gate toward the North and to- 
 ward the Eaji.~] The Word might be translated 
 more plainly thus j And the Gate of the inner Court 
 was proportionable, or anfwerable, to the Gate that 
 was toward the North and toward the Eaft. The 
 Expreflion is Elliptical, as that of ver. 19. and the 
 
 full
 
 upon EZ EKIEL. 363 
 
 'full Import of it is, That the North Gate of the Chapter 
 inner Court did exactly anfwer this North Gate of XL. 
 the outer Court, defcribed ver. 20, 22. And in^'V"^ 
 like manner, the Eaft Gate of the inner Court an- 
 fwered the Eaft Gate of the outward Court. The 
 Word Neged, tranflated over-againft, fignifies here 
 fuitablc,or proportionable j in whichSenfe it is ufed 
 Chap. xli. 1 6. and Gen. ii. 18. I will make him an 
 Help, Kenegdho,fuitable to him: So an equivalent 
 Expreflion, NalTene hem, before them, is ufed in 
 describing theHoufe which Solomon built, 1 Kings 
 vii. 6. where our Margin exprelles the Senfe very 
 properly, The 'Porch was according to them-, i. e. 
 anfwerable to them, or of the fame Proportion 
 with them. See the Note upon Chap. xli. 4. So 
 the Greek Proportion K<£\svclvti may moft proper- 
 ly be underftood, Rom. iv. 17. Kcdevocvn § &^'<p&<7z 
 Gey, not before, but like unto htm whom he be- 
 lieved, even Gods to this Senfe : That Abraham 
 is a Father of many Nations, in like manner as 
 the God in whom he believed, is the Father of 
 Gentiles as well as Jews} as it is laid in the fore- 
 going Chapter, ver. 29. 
 
 Ver. 24, 25, 26. After that he brought me ft?- Ver. 24, 
 ward the South, &c] The 23d Verfe is to be read 25, 2(5. 
 in a Tarenthefa, where the Prophet having mew- 
 ed the exact Correfpondence between the Gates 
 of both Courts, he proceeds in the three follow- 
 ing Verfes to defcribe the South Gate of the outer 
 Court, by the fame Dimenfions he had before gi- 
 ven of the Eaft and North Gate. He takes no No- 
 tice of the Weftern Gate of the outer Court, be- 
 caufe it joined to the Eaftcrn Gate of the inner 
 Court, which he defcribes ver. 32. 
 
 A a a 2 Ver.
 
 3 6 + 
 
 A Commentary 
 
 Chapter Ver. 27. And there was a Gate in the inner 
 XL. Court toward the South.'] The South Gate in the 
 
 L^V - * 5 ^ inner Court was exactly parallel to the South Gate 
 in the outer. See ver. 23. 
 
 Ibid. And he meafured from Gate to Gate an 
 hundred Cubits.] See ver. 19, 23, 47. 
 
 V. 2 7, 2 8 . y cr> 27,28. And there was a Gate in the inner 
 Court toward the South. ----- And he brought me 
 to the inner Court by the South Gate.] Villalpan- 
 dus, and thofe of his Opinion, who maintain that 
 the outer Court inclofed the inner on the Eaft, 
 North and South Sides, explain thefe Words to 
 this Senfe 5 That the Prophet was conducted from 
 jhc South Gate of the outer Court, ver. 24. to the 
 South Gate of the inner Court, which was over- 
 againlt it, and fo into the inner Court itfelf. 
 
 V. 28, 29. Ver. 28, 29. And he brought me to the inner 
 Court toward the South, &c] After he had mea- 
 fured the inner Court, he took the Dimenfions of 
 the South Gate itfelf,. and the Chambers thereto 
 belonging, and found them of the fame Dimen- 
 fions with the former. 
 
 Ver. 30. Ver. 30. And the Arches round about were five 
 and twenty Cubits long, and five Cubits broad.] 
 Length is here taken for Height, as before, ver. 1 r. 
 The Words cxprefs the Dimenfions of thofe Ar- 
 ches, which were between the feveral little Cham- 
 bers, between each of which there was the Space 
 of five Cubits, ver. 7. 
 
 Ver. 31.. Ver. 31. Arid the Arches thereof were toward 
 the outer Court.] or were like [thofe of] the outer 
 Court; for the Prepofuion El is fometimes taken 
 in this Senfe, fee Noldius, p. 63 . If. we underftand 
 it according ,to the common Interpretation, 1 that 
 
 the
 
 upon EZEKIEL. 3 <S$ 
 
 "the Arches or Fronts (fee the Note on ver. 16.) Chapter 
 of the inner Court looked toward the outer, it is XL. 
 a Confirmation oiVillalpandus's Opinion, that the cyV^J 
 outer Court furrounded the inner. Sec the Note 
 upon ver. 19. 
 
 Ibid. And the going tip to it had eight Steps. ] 
 Whereas in the outer Court the Afcent had but 
 feven ; ver. 22, 26. The fifteen Tfalms fron^ *'ib 
 exxth forward, called Songs of^Degrees, or A fa • :s, 
 are fnppofed to have been fung upon fome of thefe 
 Steps, or Alcenrs. 
 
 Ver. 3 2 to 37. And he brought me into the inner Ver. 3 2. 
 
 Court to-joard the Eaft, &c. And he brought 
 
 me to the North Gate, &c] The Eaft and North 
 Gate had the fame Dimensions with the South 
 Gate, defcribed ver. 28, 29, 31. 
 
 Ver. 34. And the Arches thereof.'] What is ex- Ver. 34. 
 preflcd here by Arches , is fignified by Tofts, or 
 Fronts, ver. 37. See the Notes upon ver. 10, and 16. 
 
 Ver. 38. And the Chambers and the Entries^ cr# *% % 
 thereof were by the Tofts of the Gates, when they 
 wafljedthe Burnt-Offering.] The Chambers men- 
 tioned ver. 3 6. were near the Entrance of the North 
 Gate, where they wafhed the Legs and Entrails of 
 the Burnt- Offering, and marble Tables were pla- 
 ced there for that Purpofe 5 fee Dr. Light foot of 
 the Temple, Chap. 35. According to this Expofi- 
 tion the Word Gates ftands for the fingular Num- 
 ber, as ver. 18. But that learned Author obferves 
 in the fame Chapter, that they warned the Sacri- 
 fices on the South Side of the Court of the Prieits, 
 as well as on the North Side, when the Sacrifices 
 were more numerous than the North Side could 
 ■well contain; fo he underftands the Word Gates 
 
 as
 
 $66 
 
 A Commentary 
 
 Chapter as comprehending both North and South Gate; 
 XL. and confirms this Interpretation from the placing 
 
 lyV^J of the Layers, which were defigned for that Ufe, 
 and were fet five on the right Side of the Houfe, 
 and five on the left, i Kings vii. 39. 
 V. 39,40. Ver. 39, 40. In the Torch of the Gate were 
 two Tables on this fide, and two Tables on that 
 fide, &c] Thofe Expofitors, who be the word 
 Gates in the foregoing Verie understand both the 
 North and South Gates, render the fenfe of thefe 
 two Verfes perfpicuoufly thus: In the Torch of 
 one Gate, (viz. that on the South) were two Ta- 
 bles on this fide, and two Tables on that fide, &c. 
 And at the outer fide of the Step of the entry of 
 the North Gate were two Tables 5 which Inter- 
 pretation agrees very well with what follows, 
 Ver. 41. Four Tables were on this fide, and four 
 Tables on that fide. But they that understand 
 thefe Verfes to be only a Defcription of the North 
 Gate, (on which fide of the Altar the Sacrifices 
 were commonly killed) fuppofe that two Tables 
 were on each fide, as you came into the Porch of 
 that Gate, and two on each fide of the inner part 
 of the Gate that looked toward the Altar. 
 
 Ver. 39. Ver. 39. The fin Offering, and the Tre/pafs- 
 Offering.'] It is no eafy matter to afcertain the 
 Difference between a Sin-ofFcring and a Trefpafs- 
 orTering. Dr. Outram I. de Sacrifices, is of Opi- 
 nion that a Trefpafs-ofFering implied an Injury 
 done to another, as well a Breach of God's Law. 
 Dr. Lightfoot hath accurately related the Senie 
 of the Jewijh Writers upon this Subject, in his 
 Temple Service, Chap. viii. feci:. 2, 3. 
 
 Ver.
 
 upon EZEKIEL. 367 
 
 Ver. 43. Within were Hooks an Hand broad Chapter 
 faftened round about,'} Within the Gate or En- XL. 
 trance on the North fide of the Inner Court, were (^"V^J 
 Iron Hooks for the hanging up the Beafts that Ver. 43. 
 were to be facrificed, in order to the flaying off 
 their Skins. See Dr. Light foot's T)efcription of 
 the Temple, Chap. xxxv. 
 
 Ibid. And upon the Tables was the Flefh of 
 the Offering.} or, they laid the Flefh of the Of- 
 fering. Upon thofe Marble Tables the Priefts 
 laid the Flefh of the {lain Beafts, and there cut 
 it in Pieces, and fitted it for laying upon the Al- 
 tar. See Levit. i. 6. 
 
 Ver. 44. And without the inner Gate were the y er# ., 
 Chambers of the Singers in the inner Court.} On 
 the further Side of the inner Gate, as you come 
 into the inner Court, (comp. Ver. 40.) were the 
 Chambers of the Singers, who conftantly attend- 
 ed upon the Service of the Temple. See 1 Chron. 
 vi. 31, 32. 
 
 Ibid. JVhich was on the fide of the North-gate, 
 and their projpecj was toward the South.'} Thcfc 
 Chambers were placed at the North Eaft Corner 
 of the inner Court, and fo had their Profped to- 
 ward the South. 
 
 Ibid. One at the fide of the Eaft Gate, having 
 the Profpecl; toward the South.} They had like- 
 wife Chambers on the South Eaft Corner of that 
 Court which had their Profpecl: toward the 
 North. 
 
 The Copies which the Septuagint followed, 
 read this Verfe to a clearer and better Senie 
 thus : And he brought me into the Inner Court, 
 and behold, there were two Chambers -, one on 
 
 the
 
 g68 A Commentary 
 
 Chapter the fide of the North Gate, looki?ig toward the 
 XL. South 5 ajidthe other on the fide of the South Gate, 
 
 v-^'V^ looking toward the North. 
 
 V Ver. 45. This Chamber whofe Trofpeft is to- 
 
 ward the South, is for the Triefts, &c] The 
 word Chamber may ftand for Chambers in the 
 Plural/ (as Side-Chamber doth, Chap. xli. 5, 9.) 
 and fignify a Row of Buildings on the North fide 
 of. the inner Court, diftinct from the Chambers 
 of the Singers, Ver. 44. and deflgned for the ufe 
 thePriefts who were in conitant Attendance, ac- 
 cording to their Courfes, upon the Service of 
 the Temple. Sec Numb, xviii. 5.1 Chron. vi. 49. 
 2 Chron. xiii. 1 1 . 
 
 Ibid. The Keepers of the Charge of the Houfe.'X 
 They took care of the holy VeiTels, and kept 
 conftant Watch and Ward (as the word M/flme- 
 reth properly ilgnihes) about the Temple. See 
 1 Chron. ix. 23. Tf exxxiv. 1. The word Priefts 
 may include Levites under it, as Levites elfe- 
 where comprehends Priefts. See Chap. xliv. 10. 
 xiviii. n. 
 
 Ver. 46. Ver. 46. And the Chamber whofe Trofpect is 
 toward the* North, is for the Triefts and Keep- 
 ers of the Charge of the Altar.'] Another Row 
 of Chambers on the South fide of the inner Court 
 is for the defcendants of the Family of Aaron, 
 whofe Office it is to attend upon the Service of 
 the Altar, and keep the Fire burning thereon 
 perpetually, Levit. vi. 12, 13. 
 
 Ibid. Thefe are the Sons of Zadok among the 
 Sons of Levi. ~\ To the eldcft Houfe of the Sons 
 of Aaron the High Priefthood belonged -, fo that 
 Office of right belonged to Zadok, though the 
 
 Family
 
 upon EZEKIEL. 369 
 
 mlly of Ithamar ufurped it for fome time, from Chapter 
 Eli who was High Pried in Samuel's time, to XL. 
 Abiathar, whom Solomon difpoflefled and reftored tyVNJ 
 the High Prieflhood to the right Line, by pla- 
 cing Zadok in his room, 1 Kings ii. 27, 3 5. The 
 Family of Zadok is only taken notice of in this 
 Vifion, it may be for this reafon, becaufe they 
 kept clofe to the Worfhip of God ; when the 
 Priefts of Ithamar 's Line forfook it, and fell into 
 Idolatry. See Chap. xliv. 15. And the eldeft 
 Son of Zadok's Family having an unqueftionable 
 Title to the High Priefthood, See Numb. xxv. 1 3 . 
 upon that Account was an eminent Type of the 
 MeJJias the Eternal High Pried. See Numb. xxxv. 
 25. 28. 
 
 Ver. 47. And he meafured the Court an hun-Vcr. 47. 
 dred Cubits long, and an hundred Cubits broad, 
 four fquare.] The inner Court was of the fame 
 Dimenfions with the outer: See Ver. 19, 23, 
 27. 
 
 Ibid. And the Altar that was before the Houfe.] 
 Or, rather, and the Altar was before the Houfi i 
 i. e. flood in the inner Court juft before the Porch 
 that opened into the Temple. The Altar was 
 now meafured, the Meafure of it being defcribed 
 afterwards, Chap, xliii. 13, <&c. 
 
 Ver. 4 8 . And meafured each Toft of the Torch, Ver. 4 S . 
 
 five Cubits on this fide, and five Cubits on that 
 
 fide.'] By the Ports are meant the fide Ports or 
 
 Columns on each fide of the Door or Entrance, 
 
 fee Ver. 9. thefe were meafured to be five Cubits 
 
 thick both on the North and South fides. 
 
 Ibid. And the breadth of the Gate inas three 
 Cubits on this fide, and three Cubits on that fide.] 
 
 B bb By
 
 37^ A C M M E N T A R Y 
 
 Chapter By the Breadth of the Gate VillalparJus under- 
 XL. {lands the ipacc of the Wall on caeh fide, from 
 l/V\J the Entrance itfelf to the two Corners 5 com. Ch. 
 xli. 3. which fuppoiing with the Text here to take 
 up fix Cubits, and the Entrance of the Porch to 
 be 14 Cubits, both thole Dimensions make up the 
 length of the. Porch to be twenty Cubits from 
 North to South, according to the Mcafure fet down 
 in the following Verfe. This Interpretation is 
 countenanced by the Septuagint, who tr an flat e 
 the latter Part of the Verie thus : And the breadth 
 of the Gate fourteen Cubits, and the fides of the 
 Gate of the Torch, three Cubits on this fide, and 
 three Cubits on that fide. 
 
 Ver 40 ^er. 4~ 9, The length of the Torch was twenty 
 ) Cubits.^ The fame Length with the Porch of 
 Solomons Temple, 1 Kings vi. 3. which being 
 there faid to be of the fame Meafure with the 
 Breadth, of the Houfe, muft be underftood of its 
 Dimenfions from North to South. 
 
 Ibid. , And the breadth eleven Cubits.'} The 
 Porch; in Solomons Temple was but Ten Cubits in 
 Breadth, 1 Kings yi. 3. the Length of fuch Build- 
 ings being commonly double to the Breadth : 
 >cc Yer. 13, 15, 21, 25, 33 and 3 6th of this Chap, 
 and Chap. xli. 2. Some Copies of the Ixx read Ten 
 Cubits i 3ndL'Amj> conjectures that was the An- 
 cient Reading in the Hebrew. St. Jerom upon 
 the Place fufpecls there might be a Miftake in the 
 Hebrew Copy, tho' the Emendation he offers doth 
 not at all render the Senfe- clearer. 
 
 Villalpandus fuppofes the Breadth of the Porch 
 to'bc Ten Cubits and an half, (fee the Note on 
 
 Y cr -
 
 upon 
 
 EZEKIEL. 
 
 37t 
 
 Vcr. xi.) which putting an entire Number in the Chapter 
 room of a Fra&ion, may be accounted Eleven. XL.- 
 
 Ibid. And ho. brought me by the Steps thereby C/"V"\J 
 they went up to it.~\ The A (cent was by eight 
 Steps according to the Vulgar Latin ; the fame 
 Number which belonged to the feveral Entrances 
 into the inner Court 5 fee ver. 31, 34, 37. The 
 Copies of the lxx read Ten Steps. 
 
 Ibid. And there were Pillars by the Polls.] By 
 the fide Pofts of the Door or Entrance, fee Ver. 
 48. like thofe erected in Solomon 's Temple called 
 Jachinand Boaz, 1 Kings vii. 21. which were 
 let up before the Temple, as it is exprefied 2 Chron. 
 iii. .17. 
 
 ,1 
 
 
 Bbb2 
 
 
 :, 
 
 c h a r.
 
 372 A Commentary 
 
 Chapter 
 XLI. A^t^\^«£/^vlf^ r ^^^^^<&'*£^&* 
 
 ^gf* *£j£v : /^ £$*■&$* f^ v^ $ ^. tf$% ^f» «££?v Ap* «^J> /^f* 
 
 C H A P. XLI. 
 
 'he Argument. 
 
 This Chapter contains a T>efcription of the Mea- 
 fures, Tarts, Chambers, and Ornaments of the 
 Temple it J elf 
 
 Ver. i. Ver - i- 
 
 Fterwards he brought me 
 to the Temple, and mea- 
 fured the Tofts fix Cubits 
 broad on one fide, and fix 
 Cubits broad on the other 
 fide, which was the breadth 
 of the Tabernacle] By the Potts are meant the 
 Peers or Door-Cafes on each fide qf the En- 
 trance, fee Chap. xl. 9, 48. Thefe were fix 
 Cubits thick on the North and South fides. Ro- 
 ^^tranflated Breadth, fometimesfignifiesThick- 
 nefs 5 fee Ver. 9. and 12, of this Chapter, and 
 Chapter xl. 5. the fame Thickncfs had the upper 
 Lintel over the Door -, for fo Villalpandus right- 
 ly explains the Hebrew word Ohel, which we 
 render Tabernacle. That word fometimes figni- 
 fies a Covering, and fo it isrender'dby our Tran- 
 slators, Exod.xxwi. 7. and is to be underftood in 
 
 the
 
 upon EZ EKIEL. 373 
 
 the fame Senfe, Exod. xxxvi. 14. where our Chapter 
 English reads, For a Tent over the Tabernacle, XLI. 
 but it fhould be tranflated, For a Covering owrU?V\J 
 the Tabernacle j to which fenfe the lxx tranflate 
 ir in both Places. In this Signification it may 
 not be unfitly applied to the upper Lintel, which 
 is a kind of Covering to the Door, and thus it is 
 generally underftood by the Rabbins upon this 
 Place. 
 
 Yer. 2. And the breadth of the 'Door was ten Ycr. 2. 
 Cubits, and the fides of the 'Doer were five Cu- 
 bits on this fide, and five Cubits on the other 
 Jide.^ The Entrance itfelf being ten Cubits 
 broad, and the Wall on each fide five Cubits, 
 makes the Breadth of the Houfe it felf to be juft 
 twenty Cubits, as it is cxprefled in the latter part 
 of the Verfe, which was the fame in Solomons' s 
 Temple, 1 Kings vi. 2. 
 
 Ibid. And he meafured the length thereof forty 
 Cubits.~\ The Length of the firlt Sanctuary, as 
 diftind from the inward, or the Holiefl of all, 
 which was twenty Cubits in Length, Ver. 4. and 
 made the whole Structure fixty Cubits long: 
 wherein it agreed with Solomons Temple, 1 Kings 
 vi. 2, 17. 
 
 Ver. 3 . Then he went inward, and meafured Vcr. 3 . 
 the T? oft of the door two Cubits, &c.] From the 
 outward Sanctuary he went forward toward the 
 Holieft of all, and meafured the Thicknels of the 
 Partition Wall, called the Vail of the Temple, 
 Matth. xxvii. 51. to be two Cubits, the Entrance 
 itfelf to be fix Cubits, and the Breadth of the 
 Wall on each fide the Door to be Ccvcn Cubits -, 
 comp. Chap. xl. 48. where the Breadth of the 
 
 Gate
 
 374 d Comment a r y 
 
 Chapter Gate is taken in the fame Senfe ; the Breadth of 
 XLI. the Wall thus computed making up fourteen Cu- 
 
 L/^V^ bits, and being added to the Breadth of the En- 
 trance itfelf, makes up twenty Cubits, the Breadth 
 of the inner Sanctuary, as it is fet down in the 
 following Verfc. 
 Vcr. 4. Ver. 4. So he me af tired the length thereof 
 
 twenty Cubits, and the breadth twenty Cubits.] 
 It was an exact Cube of the fame Dimenfions in 
 Length, Breadth and Height : See 1 Kings vi. 20. 
 Ibid. Before the Temple.] The words mould 
 rather be rendered, according to the [Breadth of] 
 the Temple. The Hebrew word, El-pene, before, 
 is promifcuoufly ufed with Nal-pene, which fig- 
 nifies ofthefamejize, or Proportion, fee the Note 
 on Chap. xl. 23. and fo it is ufed 2 Chron. iii. 8. 
 where the Text fpeaking of this Subject runs 
 thus in the Hebrew, He made the mo fl holy Houfe, 
 the length thereof before the face of the Breadth of 
 the Houfe 5 where our Trauflation very properly ex- 
 prefles the fame Senfe, Accordingto the Breadth of 
 the Houfe. In the fame Senfe the Phrafe is ufed, 
 1 Kings vi. 3 . fo the SchCc here is, that the Breadth 
 of the inner Sanctuary was equal to the Breadth 
 of the outer part of the Temple, which is (aid 
 to be twenty Cubits, ver. 2. 
 
 Ver. 5. After he meafuredthe JVallof the Houfe 
 
 fix Cubits.] The Thicknefs of the Wall from the 
 
 Foundation the firft Story of the Side Chambers* 
 
 See ver. 8. 
 
 Ver. 5. Ibid. And the breadth of every Side Chamber 
 
 four Cubits.] The Side Chambers upon the lowcr- 
 
 moft Floor were four Cubits in Breadth, 1 Kings 
 
 vi. 6. Therefore Villalpandus underitands thefe 
 
 Words
 
 upon EZ EK I E L. 375 
 
 Words ofthc Thicknefs of the ButtreiTes which fup- Chaptcr 
 ported thofe Side Chambers. XLI. 
 
 Ver. 6. And the Side Chambers were three, one ->^V^vj 
 over another.'] They were three Stories high 5 fcc* cr - 6 - 
 1 Kings ii. 6. 
 
 Ibid. And thirty in order. ] As in Solomon's Tem- 
 ple, according to Jofephus's Defcription of it, An- 
 tiq.lib. S. C. 3. i&£?. 2. and built roundabout the 
 Houfe on every Side; as it is expreficd in the fore- 
 going Verfe ; to which the Text in the firft Book 
 of Kings agrees, Chap. vi. 5. The Talmudifts in- 
 creafethe Number to eight and thirty, placing fif- 
 teen on the North Side, fifteen on the South, and 
 eight on the Weft Side of the Temple, lee Cod. 
 Middoth. C. 4. The fupernumerary Chambers be- 
 ing probably added in latter Times. 
 
 Ibid. And they entred into the Wall which was 
 for the SideChambers roundabout.] At five Cu- 
 bits Height from the Ground, the Wall or the 
 Buttrefi.es which iupportcd thefe outward Cham- 
 bers ( fee ver. 5 . ) abated of their Thicknefs one Cu- 
 bit, and there was a Reft or a Ledge of one Cubits 
 Breadth, on which the Ends of each Story were 
 fattened. See 1 Kings vi. 6, 10. 
 
 Ibid. But they had not hold in the Wall of the 
 'Houfe.] They were not faftcned into the main 
 Wall of the Houfe, but rcfted on the outfidc of 
 the Wall were it grew narrower 5 which is meant 
 byMigrenoth, the narroweft Refts, orRebatements, 
 which we read 1 Kings vi. 6. 
 
 Ver. 7 . For there was an enlarging and a wind- Ver. 7 
 ing about ft til upward to the Side Chambers, &c.3 
 So much of Breadth was added to the Side Cham- 
 bers, as was taken out of the Thicknefs of the 
 
 Wall 3
 
 V 6 
 
 ^Commentary 
 
 Chapter Wall ; fo that the middle Story was one Cubit 
 XLI. larger, and the uppermoft Story two Cubits lar- 
 
 v - x ^V^ v w g Cr t i ian t h e i OW cr Rooms. And winding Stairs 
 which enlarged as the Rooms did, went up be- 
 tween each two Chambers from the Bottom to 
 the Top s and there were two Doors at the Top 
 of each Pair of Stairs, one Door opening into one 
 Room, the other into that overagainft it. See i 
 Kings vi. 8. The Talmudifts add, that thefe Win- 
 ding Stairs were continued from one Side of the 
 Temple to the other, beginning at the North Eaft 
 Side, and by thefe they went into the upper Room 
 which was over the Sanctuary. See Cod. Middoth. 
 Cap. 4 SeEl. $. 
 
 Ver. 8. Ver. S. Ifawalfo the Height oft he Houfe round 
 
 about.'], By the Houie is meant thefe Chambers 
 three Stories high $ in which Senfe the Word Beth, 
 Houfe, is ufed ver. 9. 
 
 Ibid. The Foundations of the Side Chambers were 
 a full Reed of fix great Cubits C\ By the Founda- 
 tions oftheSideChambers, Villalpandus u nderftands 
 thofe Refts or Buttrefles which fupported them, 
 which were at fix Cubits Diftance from each other. 
 Bernard L'Amy fuppofes this Verfe to contain a 
 Defcription of the fecond Story of thefe Side Cham- 
 bers, which were fix Cubits broad, being one Cu- 
 bit wider than the lower Rooms j fee the Note 
 on ver. 7. Concerning the Size of thefe Cubits, fee 
 the Note upon Chap. XL. 5 . They are called^r^f 
 Cubits •, becaufe they are larger than the Cubit ufed 
 in Chaldea, as was there obferved. 
 
 Ver. 9. Ver. 9 The Thicknefs of the Wall that was for 
 the Side Chamler without, was jive Cubits, ,] This 
 is to be underftood, not of the Vail of the Tem- 
 ple,
 
 upon EZEKIEL. 377 
 
 pie, which was fix Cubits thick, vcr. 5. but of Chapter 
 the outward Wall that enclofcd thefe fide Cham- XLI. 
 bers. Side Chamber in the fingular Number is u/'-V""^ 
 ufed for the Plural, as in ver. 5. and Chap. xlii. 1. 
 So 'Door is ufed for Doors, vcr. xvi. 20. Toft 
 for Tofts, ver. 21. Chamber, Chap. xlii. 1. for 
 Chambers, ver. 4. 
 
 Ibid. And that which was left, [or the void 
 Space] was the place of the fide Chambers that 
 were within] or, that belonged to the Honfe, or 
 Temple. This void Space was of the fame Mea^- 
 fure, viz. Five Cubits, comp. ver. 1 1. So theSenfe 
 Is fupplied by Villalpandus and Noldius, N. 889. 
 comp. Chap. xl. 14. The fpace of Five Cubits 
 was allowed for the lower Chambers, tho' the 
 upper Stories were wider, by Reafon oftheRer 
 batement of the Wall : See ver. 7. and 1 Kings 
 vi. 6. Others underftand this fpace of five Cu- 
 bits to be allowed for a Walk before the Cham- 
 bers, or a PalTage from one Chamber to ano* 
 ther, fee ver. 1 1 . 
 
 Ver. 10. And between the Chambers was they er. 10,- 
 widenefs of twenty Cubits round about the 
 Houfe.~] The Chambers called Lefljacoth in 
 the Hebrew, are to be diftinguifhed from the 
 fide Chambers mentioned in the foregoing Ver- 
 fes; they mean probably the Chambers of the 
 inner Court defcribed Chap. xl. 44, 45. Between 
 thefe and the Temple was left a Space of 20 Cubits. 
 The Temple flood in an Area of an hundred Cu- 
 bits fquare, ver. 14. and was feventy Cubits wide, 
 ver. 12. to which adding the five Cubits on ei- 
 ther Side mentioned vcr. 9. and the twenty Cu- 
 
 Ccc bits
 
 378 A Commentary 
 
 Chapter bits in this Vcrfe, makes up juft an hundred 
 XLI. Cubits. 
 
 L^^v^^J Vcr. 1 1 . And the doors of the fide Chambers 
 
 Y cr. 1 1 . r^ ere toward the place that was jeft, &c] or, 
 toward the void Space: The Doors of the lower 
 Rooms opened into this void Space before the 
 Chambers, vcr. 9. Or it may be underftood of 
 the two Doors on the North and South fide, 
 which opened on the top of the Stair- cafe into 
 the upper Rooms, fee ver. 7. 
 
 Ibid. And the breadth of the place that was 
 left was five Cubits round about.'] Sec vcr. 9. 
 
 Ver. 1 2. Ver. 1 2. Now the Building that was before the 
 
 feparate Tlace, at the end toward the IVefi, was 
 
 feventy Cubits broad.] Bernard L'amy fecms 
 
 to give the clearer!: Account of this difficult 
 
 Place, lib. 6. c. it. n. 2. He underllands this 
 
 word Binian tranilated Building, of a Wall or 
 
 Inclofure, as it is ufed Chap. xl. 5. which ran 
 
 along the outfide of the PrieiYs Court, commen- 
 
 furate with the Breadth of the Weftern fide of 
 
 the Temple, which was feventy Cubits froni 
 
 North to ■South; and extended in Length from 
 
 Eaft to Weil ninety Cubits; ten Cubits ITiortcr 
 
 than the whole Area itfelf, (fee the following 
 
 Vcrfe) and inclofing a void Space of five Cubits 
 
 Breadth, which lay between the fide Chambers 
 
 and the Inclofure; fo he explains thofe Words, 
 
 the Wall of the Building was five Cubits thick 
 
 round about - 3 comp. Chap. xlii. 10. which void 
 
 Space he underllands by the feparate place in this 
 
 Vcrfe, and the place which was left, ver. 11. 
 
 1-bid. Severity Cubits broad.] This was the 
 Breadth of the Temple at the Weft End,' and 
 
 the
 
 upon EZ EKIEL. 379 
 
 the Buildings adjoining to it, which the above- Chapter 
 mentioned Author thus computes: The Breadth XLI. 
 of the Oracle twenty Cubits, the thicknefs of L/"V*\J 
 the fide Walls, fix Cubits on each fide; the fide 
 Chambers fix Cubits on each fide, (fee the Note 
 upon Vcrfe 8.) Thicknefs of the out-Walls of 
 thofe Chambers five Cubits on each fide; a Walk 
 or Gallery of five Cubits before thofe Chambers, 
 (fee the Note on Verfe 9.) and the utmofl Wall 
 enclofmg the whole Building, five Cubits. Thofe 
 that differ from him as^to fome of thofe particu- 
 lars, make up the Sum of feventy Cubits, by 
 making an Allowance for the Stairs, and for Con- 
 veyances to carry off the Water. 
 
 Ver. 13. So he meafured the Houfe an hun-y^. 13, 
 dred Cubits long, and the feparate place, &c.] 
 The whole Temple, with the Porch and Walls, 
 was in Length an hundred Cubits from Eail to 
 Weft, which may be thus computed: The Thick- 
 nefs of the Wall of the Eaft Porch five Cubits^ 
 the Paffage thro' the Porch, eleven Cubits ; the 
 Wall between the Porch and the Temple, fix 
 Cubits; the outward Sanctuary, forty Cubits; 
 the Partition Wall two. Cubits; the Holicft of 
 all, twenty Cubits; the Thicknefs of the Weft 
 Wall, fix Cubits; the fide Chambers at the Weft 
 End of the Holy Place, five Cubits, and outer 
 Wall of thofe Chambers, five Cubits. 
 
 Ver. 14. Alfo the breadth of the face of 'the y 
 Houfe, and of 'the feparate place toward the Eaft, 
 an hundred Cubits.'] The whole Front of the 
 Houfe Eaftward was an hundred Cubits, which 
 fome Expofitors thus compute : The Breadth of 
 the Temple, twenty Cubits ; the Thicknefs of 
 C c c 2 the
 
 ^8 
 
 A Commentary 
 
 Chapter the outward Walls, twelve Cubits; the fide. 
 XLI. Chambers, eight Cubits 5 (of thefe Dimenfions 
 
 L/"V"\J they explain the latter Part of the 5 th Vcrfc of 
 this Chapter) the Walls of thofe Chambers, rive 
 Cubits on each fide 5 the Breadth of the void 
 fpace, five Cubits on each fide, and the twenty 
 Cubits round about the Houfe, ver. 10. Others 
 compute the Sum a different way, by making 
 different Allowances for the outward Buildings, 
 and the feveral Paffages from one part of the 
 Temple to the other. 
 
 Ver. 15. Ver. 15. And he meafured the length of the 
 Building over againft the feparate 'Place, which 
 was behind it.~\ Noldius tranflates this Sentence 
 more clearly, thus : And he meafured the length 
 of the Building which was before the feparate 
 place, [and] that which was behind it, or oppo- 
 fite to it; by which he underftands the North 
 and South Porch ; the Eaft and Weft fides ha- 
 ving been meafured before, ver. 12, 14. fee his 
 Concordance, p. 104. The Phrafe Elpene, tran- 
 llated here Over-againfl, is rendered Before, in 
 our Englifh Verfion, Chap. xliv. 4. 
 
 Ibid. And the galleries thereof on one fide, and 
 on the other fide, an hundred Cubits - s with Cor 
 and] the inner Temple, and the porches thereof^ 
 As the Temple, and the Area wherein it flood, 
 made a Square of an hundred Cubits ; fo the 
 Courts and Buildings thereto belonging, were of 
 the fame Dimenfions, fee Chap. xl. 19, 47. 
 
 By the Galleries are meant the fide Cham- 
 bers defcribed Verfe 6, 7. Compare the follow- 
 
 ing Verfe. 
 
 Ibid.
 
 upon EZ EKIEL. g8i 
 
 Ibid. With the inner Temple.'] Called the in- Chapter 
 nerHoufe,vcr. 17.andChap.xlii. 15. todiftinguifh XLI. 
 it from the Courts and Buildings which were a- L/'VXJ 
 bout it. 
 
 Ver. 16. The door f oft s y and the narrow Win-y Ci:t I( 5 % 
 dows, and the galleries round about in their three 
 /lories.] He meafured likewife the thicknefs of 
 the Walls on each fide of the Porch 5 fee Chap, 
 xl. 48. and the thicknefs of the Door-cafes, at 
 the Entrance into the Temple, Chap. xli. 1. as 
 alio the narrow Windows belonging to the three 
 Stories of Chambers, which were placed on the 
 outfide of the Temple : See Ver. <5. and Chap, 
 xl. 16. 
 
 Ibid. Over-againft the Door cieled with Wood 
 round about.] Or, Anfwerable to which was the 
 'Door cieled with Wood. The Doors of the little 
 Chambers exactly anfwered one another, as thofe 
 belonging to the Porch did, Chap. xl. 13. The 
 word Neged, Over-againft, figniries likewife, An- 
 fwerable or Proportionable : See the Note on 
 Chap. xl. 23. 
 
 Door fignifies every Door, fee the Note upon 
 Verfe 9. 
 
 Ibid. And from the Ground up to the Win- 
 dows.] He meafured from the Ground up to the 
 Windows of the Temple, which were placed a- 
 bove the fide Chambers. 
 
 Ibid. And the Windows were covered.] Either 
 becaufe the fide Chambers jetting out beyond the 
 main Wall of the Temple, hindrcd their being 
 feen in the inner Court : or elfe they were co- 
 ver'd on the infidc with Curtains drawn before 
 them. 
 
 Ver.
 
 382 i Commentary 
 
 Chapter Ver. 17. To that above the door, even to the 
 XLI. inner houfe, and without, &c] This Verfe may 
 
 L/^V^O beft be explained by joining it to what went be- 
 
 Ver. 17. f orCj t0 tliis Senfe: That the Windows were 
 made in exad Proportion, both over the Porch 
 and through every Part of the Temple, and the 
 Buildings adjoining to it. The inner Houfe may 
 mean only the firit or outward Sanctuary in this 
 Verfe, as it is diftinguifhed from the Porch and 
 outer Buildings, expreiled by the word without y 
 comp. ver. 15. For it is generally fuppofed that 
 there were no Windows in the inner Sanctuary. 
 But Villalpayidus explains the words, Even unto 
 the inner Houfe, in an exclufive Senfe, as if he 
 had fa id, As far as the inner Houfe - y and by the 
 Walls round about, underftands the North and 
 South Walls of the Temple. Tart. 2. 1. 4. 
 c. 34. 
 
 Ver. 18. Ver. 18. And it was made with Cherubims 
 and with T * aim-trees, &c] On the infide of the 
 Houfe, the Walls were adorned with carved work 
 of Cherubims and Palm-trees, as Solomons Tem- 
 ple was, 1 Kings vi. 29. The Cherubims and 
 Palm-trees were placed alternately, and accord- 
 ing to the different way of counting them, you 
 might reckon a Palm-tree placed between two 
 Cherubims, or a Cherubim placed between two 
 Palm-trees. 
 
 Ver. 19. .Ibid. Ver. 19. And every Cherub had two fa- 
 ces: fo, that the face. of a Man was toward the 
 c Pa/m r tfee m ■ .the one fide, and ihe face of a 
 young v Juion .to-war d the T aim-tree, on the other 
 fide.'} ■■ The Cherubims had four Faces or Appear- 
 ances : Sec Chap. 1. 10. but only two of thefc 
 
 appeared
 
 upon EZEKIEL. 383 
 
 appeared in the carved Work 5 the two other Chapter 
 Faces, -viz. that of an Ox and an Eagle being XLI. 
 iuppofed to be hid in the Plain or Surface of the ^/~~\T^> 
 Wail. 
 
 Ver. 20. From the Ground up to above theVcr. 20. 
 'Door.'] Up to the Windows, as it is cxprcflcd 
 ver. 16. up to the Cicling, as the Septuagint ex- 
 plain it. 
 
 Ver. 21. T.he pofts of the Temple were fquaredV^- 2 r • 
 and the face of the Sanctuary.] i. e. The En- 
 trance into the inner Sanctuary, cornp. Chap. xl. 
 15. The Lintels or Door-poft both of the Tem- 
 ple and inner Sanctuary were not Arched but 
 fquare, with a flat Beam or upper Lintel, laid up- 
 on the top of the fide Potts, comp. 1 Kings vi. 33. 
 where the Margin tranilates the word Rebingim, 
 Four-fquare. 
 
 Ver. 22. The Altar of Wood was three Cubit ^Ver. 22. 
 high, and the length thereof two Cubits.] The 
 Septuagint add by way of Explication, And the 
 breadth thereof two Cubits \ that it might be Four- 
 fquare, as Mofes's Altar of Incenfe was, Exod. 
 xxx. 2. The Altar here defcribed is a Cubit higher, 
 and double the Breadth to that of Mofes, which 
 is fuppofed to be agreeable to the Dimcnfions of 
 the Altar made by Solomon, who did not exa&ly 
 obfervc the Proportions prefcribed to Mofes, in 
 making the Cherubims and the other Furniture of 
 the Temple: God having given a new Model to 
 \David of all the Parts and Ornaments of the 
 Temple: See 1 Chron. xxviii. 12, 19; This Al- 
 tai:: was made of Wood, but overlaid with Gold, 
 Exod. xxx. 3. and therefore is called the Golden 
 Altar, 1 Kings vii. 4$. Revel, viii. 3. 
 
 Ibid.
 
 3 8 4 
 
 A Commentary 
 
 Chapter Ibid. And the Corners thereof, the length there- 
 XLI. of, and the Walls thereof were of Wood.] The 
 
 V*<^"V^J Corners are the fame with the Horns mentioned 
 Exod. xxx. 2. being made out of the four Pofts 
 which fupportcd each Corner of the Altar. The 
 Surface or Top of it is called the Length, and 
 the fides the Walls. 
 
 Ibid. This is the Table that is before the 
 LORT).] Comp, Chap. xliv. 16. The words 
 Altar and Table are ufed promifcuoufly, as hath 
 been obferved upon Chap, xxiii. 41. Inccnfe was 
 an Emblem of the Prayers of Saints 5 fee Tfal. 
 cxli. 2. Revel, viii. 3, 4. which are the Spiri- 
 tual Sacrifices of thofe that worfhip God in Spi- 
 rit and in Truth-, fee Hof. xiv. 2. This Table 
 or Altar is faid to be before the LORD, i. e. in 
 the Place of his peculiar Prefence, comp. Exod, 
 xxx. 8. In the fame Senfe the Burnt-offering is 
 faid to be made at the T>oor of the Tabernacle 
 of the Congregation, before the LOR T>, i. e. in 
 the Place dedicated to his Worfhip, Exod. xxix. 
 42. and the Lamp is faid to bum before the 
 LORT), Chap, xxvii. 21. tho' the Candleftick 
 flood in the outward San&uary. 
 
 Ver. 23. Ver. 23. And the Temple and the Sanctuary 
 had two doors. ~\ Each of them had a double, or 
 a folding Door, fee 1 Kings vi. 31, 34. 
 
 Ver. 24. Ver. 24. And the doors had two leaves apiece.'] 
 The two Doors being exceeding large, that of 
 the outward San&uary Ten Cubits broad, and that 
 of the inner, fix ; fee ver. 2, 3. and of an Height 
 proportionable 5 each of them had two Leaves, 
 that they might be more eafily opened, and each 
 
 Leaf
 
 upon 
 
 EZEKIEL. 
 
 385 
 
 Leaf had a Wicket in it. Compared 1 King s Chapter 
 vi. 34. XLI. 
 
 Ver. 25. And there were made on them, on y^^^ 
 the doors of the Temple, Cherubims and 'Palm- "' 25 * 
 trees."] On the Doors both of the outward and 
 inward Sanctuary 5 comp. 1 Kings vi. 32, 34. 
 
 Ibid. And there were thick flanks upon the 
 face of the porch without. ~\ There was a Wain- 
 icot work of Boards fattened to the End of the 
 great Beams, which came out beyond the Wall 
 of the Porch : Thefe were laid Co, as to make a 
 Frize-work over the Entrance into the Eaftern 
 Porch. 
 
 Ver. 2 6. And there were narrow windows dndVc):, 2 6 . 
 T aim-trees on the fides of the Porch, and upon 
 the fide Chambers of the Honfe.] Comp. 
 Chap. xl. 16. 
 
 Ibid. And thick Tlancks.] The Senfe would 
 be plainer, if we tranflate it, And [upon] the 
 thick Tlanks-y i.e. the Figures of Palm-trees 
 were carved upon that Wainfcot, which was de- 
 feribed in the foregoing Verfe. 
 
 Ddd 
 
 CHAP.
 
 386 
 
 Chapter 
 XLII. 
 
 A Commentary 
 
 Chap. XLIL 
 
 The Argument. 
 
 A T>efcription of the Triefts Chambers, and 
 their ufe, and the T)imenjions of the Holy Moun- 
 tain whereon the Temple flood. 
 
 Ver. ^-^^^^HE N he brought me forth 
 into the outer Court, the way 
 toward the North, &c] The 
 jgj Angel now brings the Pro- 
 phet out of the inner Court 
 by the North Gate, into fome Chamber or Build- 
 ing, which looked toward the South fide of the 
 Temple, and faced the Wall or Inclofure that 
 encompafled the North fide of the inner Court 
 and Temple, mentioned Chap. xli. 12, 15. Some 
 
 fup-
 
 upon EZEKIEL. 387 
 
 fuppofe this to be a Building diftinc~t from all the Chapter 
 Parts of Temple hitherto defcribed. XLII. 
 
 The words of the 7th and 9th Verfes imply, W^T^J 
 that it was a diftinct Building from the outer 
 Court. 
 
 Ibid. Into the Chamber that was over-againft 
 the feper ate place, and before the building.] Or, 
 before the feparate Place, and before the Build- 
 ing : For the Prepofition Neged is ufed in both 
 Parts of the Sentence. Chamber is put for Cham- 
 bers, fee ver. 4. and Chap. xli. 9- 
 
 Ver. 2 . Before the length of an hundred Cn- Ver. z . 
 bits was the North door, and the breadth was 
 fifty Cubits.] This North Door faced one of the 
 Cloyfters, whofe Length was an hundred Cubits, 
 and its Breadth fifty 5 which was the Proportion 
 of all the Cloyfters j fee the Note upon Chap, 
 xl. 15. Noldius tranflates the Words to this 
 Senfe, Unto the place whofe Length was an hun- 
 dred Cubits towards the North door. He fuppofes 
 thefe Buildings to be diftind from any hitherto 
 defcribed, and adds, that the Jews profefs their Ig- 
 norance, how they were fituate ; becaufc there was 
 nothing in the fecond Temple that anfwered to 
 them: See his Concordance, No. 390. 
 
 Ver. 3. Over-againft the twenty Cubits, whichV ci'. 3. 
 were for, [or which belonged to] the inner Court, 
 and over-againft the 'Pavefnent which was for 
 [or belonged to] the outer Court.'] One fide of 
 thefe Buildings look'd upon the void Space a- 
 bout the Temple, which contained twenty Cubits, 
 mentioned Chap. xli. 10. and the other fide was 
 toward the Pavement belonging to the outer 
 Court, defcribed Chap. xl. 17^ 
 
 Ddd 2 Ibid.
 
 3 88 
 
 A Commentary 
 
 Chapter Ibid. IFas gallery againf gallery in three fto- 
 XLII. Ties.] Like thole mentioned Chap. xli. 16. 
 <^V^*j Ver. 4. And before the Chambers was a walk 
 Ver. 4. ^^0 C//^'/j inward.] There was a Walk or 
 Cloyfter of ten Cubits Breadth, running along 
 the infide of the Wall, which divided the Build- 
 ings into two Rooms, one half of which looked 
 into the outer Court, the other into the Inner, 
 lee Chap. xlvi. 19. 
 
 Ibid. A way of one Cubit.'] This fome un- 
 derhand of an Entrance at each End of the Clov- 
 ftcr. 
 
 Ibid. And their 'Doors toward the North.'] See 
 ver. 1, 2. 
 Ver. 5. Ver. 5. Now the upper Chambers were fior- 
 ter, for the Galleries were higher than thofe, 
 than the lower, &c] The Marginal Reading in 
 the Hebrew is to be preferred, the Senfe of which 
 is, For the Galleries did abate of thefe, i.e. of 
 the lower and middlemoit Parts of the Building ; 
 the Rcafon of which is ailign'd in the next 
 Verfe. 
 
 Ver. 6. For they were in three Stories, but had 
 not Pillars, as the Pillars of the Courts, &c.rj 
 The two upper Stories had Balconies (landing out 
 of them, the Breadth of which was taken our of 
 the Rooms thcmfelvcs, and made them fo much 
 the Narrower, becaufe the weight of the Balco- 
 nies was not fupportcd by Pillars, as the Rooms 
 over the Cloyitcrs of the outward Court were, 
 but only by the Wall. This is L' Amy's Exposi- 
 tion of the Words. 
 
 Ver. 7. And the Wall that was without 
 
 toward the outer. Court, en the forepart of the 
 
 Chambers,
 
 upon EZ EKIEL. 389 
 
 Chambers, the length thereof 'teas fifty Cubit s.~\ Chapter. 
 ■The Wall thatcnclofed tHejLe Buildings, was com- XL1I. i 
 menfurate with the Breadth of one of the Cloy- 
 fters of the outer Court, which were fifty Cu- 
 bits Broad? See ver. 2. 
 
 Ver. S. For the length of the Chambers thaty CXt § > 
 ki&ere in the outer Court was fifty Cubits.'] The 
 Chambcts that were built over the Cloyfters were 
 in Length fifty Cubits. What is called Length 
 here, is expreffed by Breadth, ver. 2. as that is 
 oppofed to the Length of the outer Court, which 
 Was an hundred Cubits: Sec the following 
 Words. 
 
 Ibid. Andlo before the Temple were #72 hundred 
 Cubits.'] The words imply that the Angel con- 
 ducted the Prophet from thefc North Chambers, 
 to thole on the South fide: Ver. 11, 13. 
 jfo that crolllng over that fpace of Ground, 
 that fronted the Eaft fide of the Temple, they 
 took Notice of its Dimenfions, which they had 
 before meaiured and found to be an hundred 
 Cubits ; See Chap. xli. 14. The Ixx with a fmall 
 Alteration of the Hebrew Text, and reading 
 probably Hennah for Hinneh, and Haelle col 
 for Hdecal tranflatc the Sentence thus : The one 
 fide was oppofite to, or anfwered the other, and 
 in all were an hundred Cubits •, meaning that the 
 Chambers on the North and South fide, contained 
 each of them fifty Cubits. 
 
 Ver. 9. And from under thefe Chambers was 
 the entry on the Eajl fide, &c] The Entry in- c f" 9 * 
 to thefc South Chambers was by a pair of Stairs 
 at the Eaft Corner of the outer Court. Com- 
 pare this Veric with Chap. xlvi. 19. and wirhthc 
 
 1: 
 
 »r
 
 390 A Commentary 
 
 Chapter Defcription Dr. Lightfoot gives of the Stairs that 
 
 XLII. went up into the Chamber about the Temple, 
 
 {S~Y^J Chap. xii. tho' his Defcription belongs to the 
 
 Temple as it was in our Saviour's Time. 
 Vcr. 10. Ver. 10. The Chambers were in the thicknefs 
 of the wall of the Court toward the Eaft.l Or 
 rather, In the breadth of the Wall. — i. c. in the 
 Breadth of Ground which that Wall enclofed ; 
 fo thofe words Chap. xli. 12.' The wall of build- 
 ing was five Cubits thick round about, are ex- 
 plained by fome of a Space of Ground five Cu- 
 bits broad enclofed by that Wall. See the Note 
 there. 
 
 Ibid. Over-againft the fepar ate place, and 0- 
 < ver-againft the building.] Or, Before the fepar ate 
 place, and before the building: See ver. 1, 13. 
 The Exprcffions denote, that thefe South Cham- 
 bers had the fame Situation, with refped to the 
 Temple, as the North Chambers had, fpokcnof 
 ver. 1. 
 Ver. 1 1 . Ver. 1 1 . And the way befre them was like 
 the appearance of the Chambers that were to- 
 ward the North.'} Such a Way led to thefe 
 Chambers, as is defcribed leading to the Cham- 
 bers on the North fide, vcr. 4. 
 
 Ibid, as long as they, and as broad as they, 
 and their goings out were both according to their 
 Fafhions, &c] The Proportions of both were 
 the fame ; and the Windows, Doors and Paf- 
 iages belonging to thefe, were exactly Uniform 
 with thofe on the North Iide. 
 Ver. 12. Ver. 12. And according to the doors of the 
 Chambers that were toward the South.'] The 
 Senfe would be plainer if the words were thus 
 
 trail-
 
 uponEZEKIEL. gpi 
 
 tran flated, And fuch were the doors of the Cham- Chapter 
 bers toward the South, [as thofc toward the XLII. 
 North.] In which Senfe the Affix Ke, is ufed L/~V"XJ 
 in the foregoing Verfe. 
 
 Ibid. [There was] a door in the head of the 
 way, &c] Like that defcribed ver. 9. 
 
 V~r. 13. The North and South Chamber 'J">Ver. I?> 
 Sec.'} Which were defcribed in the forego- 
 ing Part of the Chapter. See Verfe 8, 10, 
 11, 12. 
 
 Ibid. They be holy Chambers, where the Triefts 
 that approach unto the LOR^D, fh all eat the 
 moft holy things.'} The Shew-bread, the remain- 
 der of the Meat-offering, Sin-offering, and Tref- 
 pafs-offering, and exprefly called the moft holy 
 things, Levit. vi. 14, 17. xxiv. 9. Numb. 
 xviii. 9. and are diftinguifhed from the holy things, 
 fuch as are the Peace-offerings, Firft-fruits and 
 Tithes, Livit. xxi. 22. Thefe were to be eaten 
 within the Precincf s of the Temple, by the Di- 
 rection of the fame Laws. 
 
 Ibid. There they fhall lay up the moft holy 
 things.} Thefe Rooms were likewife fet apart 
 for laying up the remainder of the Sacrifices, 
 'till they were eaten by the Priefts and their Fa- 
 milies: See Levit. x. 13. xxii. 13. 
 
 Concerning the difference between the Sin- 
 offering, and the Trefpafs- offering, fee the Note 
 upon Chap. xl. 39. 
 
 Verfe 14. And when the ^Priefts enter y cr j* 
 therein.} Within the inner Court. Chapter 
 xliv. 17. 
 
 Ibid
 
 39 2 A Commentary 
 
 Chapter Ibid. They ft all not go out of the Holy Tlace 
 XLII. into the outward Court -, but there they fhall lay 
 
 \-><7^/~%J their Garments wherein they minifter.~] They lhall 
 not go into the Court of the People in their Prieft- 
 Jy Vcftmcnts, but lhall lay them up in iomc of 
 thefe Chambers : The Pricitly Garments were on- 
 ly to be uied in the Time of their Miniftration, 
 as appears fronvExod. xxix. 43 . and is farther con- 
 firmed from this Vcrfe, and Chap, xliv, 19. Jo- 
 fephus aiTerts the fame, T)e Bello Jud. lib. vi. 
 cap, 1 5 . 
 
 The Chriftian Church followed the Practice of 
 the Jewiflj, in this as well in many other Cu- 
 ftoms : The Testimony of St. Jerom, in his Com- 
 mentary upon Chap. xliv. 19. of this Prophecy, 
 plainly proves, That the Clergy of that Age wore 
 a diftind Habit from the Laity, at the Time of 
 their performing the pubiick Offices of Religion : 
 Religio 'Divina alterum habitum habet in mini- 
 Jlerhj alterum in ufu vitaq-y communi. And that 
 this was the Practice of the earlier Ages of the 
 Church, may be probably concluded from the Te- 
 ftimony of Tolycrates, a Writer of the next Age 
 to the Apoftles, who tells us, That St. John wore 
 an Ornament upon his Head, rcfembling the Mi- 
 tre with a Plate upon it, which was worn by the 
 Jewifi High- Pried. See Eufeb. Hift. Eccl. lib. 5 . 
 cap. 24. And in the next Age, Tontius, the Writer 
 of St. Cyprians Life and Martyrdom, acquaints us, 
 that the Bifhop's Scat in the Church ufed to be 
 covered with JF.hite {a) : and it can hardly be ima- 
 
 (a) Sedile erat fortuito Vmteo ftratum, id & fub i&U PaJJicms Epzf- 
 copatus boaore frueretur. 
 
 gined,
 
 upon EZ EK IE L. 393 
 
 grncd, there fhould be a peculiar Drefs for the Chapter 
 JBifhop's Seat, and none for the Bifhop himfclf. XLII. 
 
 Ibid. And flail approach to thofe Things that L/"VNJ 
 are for the 'People.'] The Words fhould rather be 
 thus tranflated, And flail come into the Court be- 
 longing to the 'People? the outer Court menti- 
 oned at the Beginning of the Verfe. 
 
 Ver. 15. Now when he had made an End of Vox. 15. 
 meafuring the inner Houfe.l The inner Houfe de- 
 notes the Temple, as it is diftinguifh'd from the 
 Courts about it. Comp. Chap. xli. 15. 
 
 Ibid. He brought me forth to the Gate whofe 
 Profpecl is toward the Eajl.~] The Gate that o- 
 pened into the firft Court; fee Chap. xl. 6. 
 
 Ver. 1 6. He meafured the Eafi Side with theYzx. 1 6. 
 meafuring Reed, five hundred Reeds, &c] This 
 and the following Verfes contain the Meafures of 
 the Holy Mountain, or Area, upon which the 
 Temple flood, which is defcribed to be an exact 
 Square, confirming of five hundred Reeds in mea- 
 fure on each Side of it. We may obferve, that 
 the Heavenly Jerufalem reprefented to St. John, 
 Revel, xxi. 1 6. is likewife defcribed as four-fquare, 
 that Figure being an Emblem of Solidity. And 
 Ezekiel's Vifion, as well as St. John's, is design- 
 ed, in its myftical Senfe, to reprefent the Regu- 
 larity and Strength of Chrijl's Church and King- 
 dom. Comp. with this Verfe Chap. xl. 47. xli. 
 1 3, 14. xlv. 2. xlviii. 20. 
 
 Capellus is of Opinion, that inftead of five hun- 
 dred Reeds, we ought to r.zz<\ five hundred Cu- 
 bits: He fuppofcth the Word Ammoth, Cubits, 
 wanting in the prefent Reading of the Text, to 
 have been rejected as fpurious by the Correctors 
 
 Eee of
 
 594 ^ Commentary 
 
 Chapter of the Hebrew Copies, by reafon of its Affinity 
 XLII. with Meoth, an Hundred -, and the Word Kanim, 
 L^"V^J Heeds, fubftituted in its Place. This Emendation 
 he juftifies from the Authority of the Septuagint, 
 who read Cubits both in the 17th and zoth Ver- 
 fes: Which Reading St. Jerorn acknowledges to 
 have been in the Greek Copies in his Time; he 
 confirms it likewife from the parallel Text, Chap, 
 xlv. 2. which he thinks according to the Rules 
 of Grammar, mould be expounded of Cubits. And 
 he farther argues, that the Jews themfelves for- 
 merly underftood this Text of Cubits 5 becaufe 
 they are generally of Opinion, that the Temple 
 flood in an Area or Square, containing five hun- 
 dred Cubits on every Side; fee Dr. Light foot of 
 the Temple, Chap. 2. Whereas, according to the 
 prefent Reading, the whole Compafs of the Area 
 will amount to three Miles and an half, accord- 
 ing to the fame Author's Computation ; which is 
 more than half the Circuit of the whole City of 
 Jerufalem in its moft flourifhing Condition. See 
 the Excepta out of Capelluss Triplex IDelinea- 
 tio Templi, in the Firft Volume of the Tol/glott 
 Bible, 
 
 Whereas the Angel is faid to meafure the Eaft 
 Side of this Square round about, and fo of the 
 other three Sides; we need not from hence con- 
 clude, that the whole Compafs of the Ground was 
 meafured four Times over; for the Phrafc round 
 about often .fignilies, in this Prophecy, only from 
 Side to Side, or from one End to another; fee 
 Chap. xl. 14. xli. 16. The Words therefore only 
 import, that the Angel continued mcafuring from 
 
 one
 
 upon EZ EKIEL. 
 
 39$ 
 
 one Side to the other, 'till he had gone over the Chapter 
 whole Compafs of the Area. XLII. 
 
 Ver. 20. It had a Wall round about, &c] ToL^V^^J 
 defend it from being invaded or prophaned,comp. Ver. 20. 
 Revel, xxi. 17. Such a fquare Wall as is here de- 
 fcribed, feems only capable of a myflical Senfe 
 and Interpretation. See the Note upon ver. 15. 
 
 Ibid. To make a Separation between the Sanctu- 
 ary and the prophaneT lace. ~\ By the SancJuary is 
 here meant the whole Compafs of Ground, 
 which was the Precin&s of the Temple, clfewhere 
 called the Holy Mountain. See Chap, xliii. 12. 
 In companion of which, Jerufalem itfelf, though 
 upon feveral Accounts ftiled The Holy City, was 
 efteemed but as prophane Ground. See Chap, 
 xlviii. 15. 
 
 
 
 
 Ece 2 
 
 CHAP.
 
 39* 
 
 A Commentary 
 
 Chapter 
 XLIII. 
 
 Chap. XLIII. 
 
 The Argument. 
 
 Ver. 2, 
 
 The Glory of the L O R D is reprefented as Re- 
 turning to the Temple, where GOT) promifes 
 to fix his Refidence, if the People Repent, and 
 Forfake thofe Sins which made Him depart 
 from them. Then the meafures of the Altar, 
 and the Ordinances relating to it are fet down. 
 
 Ver. i. Ver. 
 
 HE N he brought me to the Gate, 
 even theGatethat looketh toward 
 the Eaft.^ The Eaftern Gate of 
 the Priefts Court, which was juft 
 before the Temple. Comp. ver. 4. and Chap. xliv. 
 1. xlvi. 1. 
 
 Ver. 2. And behold the Glory of the GOT) of 
 Ifrael came from the Way of the Eaft.~] The Word 
 Behold is anExpreflion of Joy and Admiration; 
 as if the Prophet had faid, Behold a wonderful 
 
 and
 
 upon EZ EKIEL. 397 
 
 and joyful Sight! the Glory of that God, who calls Chapter 
 himfelf the GOT) oflfrael, as chooilng to dwell XL II. 
 among them, and to give evident Tokens of hisV^^/^^J 
 Prefcnce among them, and protection over them. 
 This Glory which had departed from this Place for 
 fo long a Time, now returned to it, and fixed its 
 Refidence there, The Glory of the Lord, when 
 it forfook the Temple, is defcribed as departing 
 from the Eaftern Gate of it, Chap. x. 19. After- 
 ward it is reprefented as quite forfaking the Ci- 
 ty, and removing to a Mountain on the Eaft Side 
 of the City, Chap. xi. 23. and now it returns by 
 the fame Way it departed. 
 
 Ibid. And his Voice was like the Noife of ma- 
 ny Waters.] Great and Terrible. Comp. Chap. i. 
 24. Revel, i. 15. either to ftgnify the Dreadful- 
 nefs of God's Judgments, or the Efficacy of his 
 Commands, who calls Things into Being by fpeak- 
 ing the Word. 
 
 Ibid. And the Earth joined with his Glory.] The 
 Rays of his Glory, like the Sun-Beams, enlightncd 
 the Earth. Comp. Chap. x. 4. Ifa. vi. 3. Habak. 
 iii. 4. 
 
 Ver. 3 . And it was according to the Vifwn which y cr . 3 . 
 Ifaw when I came to deftroy the City. ] See Chap, 
 ix. 3 , 5 . The Prophets are laid to do thofe Things 
 which they foretell mall come to pafs. Sec the 
 Notes upon Chap. xiii. 19. xxiii. 45. and upon 
 Jeremy i. 10. 
 
 Ver. 4. And the Glory of the LORD came\ Ql> 4j 
 into the Houfe by the tVay of the Gate, whofe 
 TrofpecJ is toward the Eaft.'] Sec ver. 1, 2. and 
 Chap. xliv. 2. 
 
 Ver.
 
 39 8 
 
 A Commentary 
 
 Chapter Vcr. 5. So the Spirit took me up. 2 See Chap. iii. 
 XLIil. 12, 14. viii. 3. xxxvii. 1. xl. 2. 
 
 V/Y\) Ibid. And he brought me into the inner Court. ~\ 
 
 Vcr. 5. Carried from the Gate that enters into it, into the 
 middle of it, juft before the Temple. 
 
 Ibid. And behold the Glory of the LORT> 
 filled the Houfe.] That Glory, or Symbol of the 
 Divine Prefence, which I faw coming from the 
 Eaft, ver. 13. entered into the Temple, and fet- 
 tled there; as it did when it was rlnifh'd by So- 
 lomon, 1 Kings viii. 10, 11. 
 
 Ver. 6. Ver. 6. And I heard him /peaking to me out 
 of the Houfe. With a great and mighty Voice, 
 ver. 2. 
 
 Ibid. And the Man flood by me.'] See Chap, 
 xl. 3. 
 
 Ver. 7. Ver. 7. The Tlaceofmy Throne, and the Tlace 
 of the Soles of the Feet.] The Senfe would be 
 plainer, if the Beginning of the Verfe were thus 
 rendered, This is the Tlace of my Throne, &c. 
 The Cherubims were God's Throne, from whence 
 he is faid to dwell or fit between the Cherubims y 
 and the Ark was his Footftool. See Tfalm xcix. 
 
 Ibid. Where I will dwell in the midft of the 
 Children oflfraelfor ever.] He means the Promife 
 formerly made with Relation to the Tabernacle 
 and Temple. See jP/ aim lxviii. 16. exxxii. 14. 
 which is to be underflood, as thofe were under 
 the Condition of their Obedience, fee ver. 9. and 
 to be eminently fulfilled in Chrifi, in whom all 
 the Promifes of the Old Teftament are to have 
 their final Accomplifhment. Zachary prophefles 
 of the Mejfias, Chap. vi. 13. that he mould build 
 
 the
 
 upon EZEKIEL. 399 
 
 the Temple of the LOR T>, and bear the Glory ; Chapter 
 i. e. as the ipirituai Senfe of thefe Prophecies is XLIII. 
 explained in the New Tcftament, He fhall build L/^V^J 
 the Chriflian Churchy in him fhall all the Full- 
 nefs of the Godhead dwell Bodily, and really, not 
 in Types and Figures. See Heb. iii. 3. Matt. xvi. 
 18. Joh. i. 14. Colojf. ii. 9. To the fame Scnfe 
 we may explain the Prophecy of Haggai, Chap. 
 ii. 7. The Glory of the latter Houfe flail be greater 
 than that of the former. There was no vifible She- 
 kinah, or Glory, appeared in the fecond Temple, 
 'till the LOR T), whom they expected, came to 
 his Temple, Malach. iii. 1. /. e. 'till the Meffias, 
 who was the Brightnefs of his Father s Glory, ap- 
 peared there, and made it an illuftrious Figure of 
 that true Church, or Temple of Believers, where 
 he would continue his Prefence for ever. See 
 2 Cor. vi. 16. 
 
 Ibid. And my Holy Name flail the Houfe of 
 Ifrael no more defile by their Whoredom.'] By Ido- 
 latry, often defcribed in Scripture, and particu- 
 larly by this Prophet, under the Metaphor of For- 
 nication ; fee Chap. xvi. and xxiii. The Captivity 
 had that good EfFeft upon the Jews, that they 
 fcarce ever afterwards relapfed into Idolatry. The 
 intire Deftrudtion of Idolatry is likewiie often 
 mentioned as a Bleding referved for the Latter 
 "Days, when the Jews fhall be converted, and 
 the Fullnefs of the Gentiles come into the Church. 
 See the Note upon I fa. i. 30. 
 
 Ibid. Nor by the Carcaffes of their Kings -in 
 their high places.] Idols are called Carcaffes-, bc- 
 caufe they are without Life and Motion, and 
 likewife upon the Account of their bcinc Hate- 
 ful
 
 400 A Commentary 
 
 Chapter fnl and Loathfomc in the fight of God. Sec 
 XLIII. Levit. xxvi. 30. Jer. xvi. 18. They are called 
 L^*V^>j the Carcajfes of Kings-, becaufe they were fet up, 
 and the Worfhip of them encouraged by the Ido- 
 latrous Kings of Judah, who ere&cd High-pla- 
 ces for that purpofe near Jerufalem, in the very 
 fight and view of the Temple s fee 2 Kings xxiii. 
 13. By this means the Temple itfelf was pro- 
 faned by thofe that came dire&ly from the Wor- 
 fhip of Idols, to attend upon God's Service in the 
 Temple* fee Chap, xxiii. of this Prophecy, 38, 
 
 39. 
 Ver. 8. Ver. 8. In their fetting up their Threfho/ds 
 
 by my Threfho/ds, &c] Their Kings £1111 advan- 
 ced to greater Degrees of Idolatry, in fetting up 
 Altars and Images for their Idols in the Temple 
 itfelf, and the Courts before it : See Chap. v. 
 11. viii. 6, 15. 2 Kings xvi. 14. xxi. 4, 5, 7. 
 Ibid. And the wall between me and them.'] 
 The Margin gives a plainer Senfe, For there was 
 but a wall between me and them. 
 Ver. 9. Ver. 9. Now let them put away their Whore- 
 dom, &c] See the Note upon ver. 7. 
 Ver. 10. Ver. 10. n. Shew the Houfe to the Houfe of 
 Ifrael, that they may be aflamed of their Ini- 
 quities, &c] The Words, if understood as fpo- 
 ken to the Jews of that Age, imply, that the 
 Houfe here defcribed, with the whole Platform 
 of it, and the Ordinances relating to it, might 
 be a Model for them to imitate, as far as they 
 were able, when they mould return to their own 
 Country, and rebuild the Temple. See the ge- 
 neral Preface before Chap. xl. The fame Draught 
 or Defer iption, when duly confidered, would be 
 
 a proper
 
 upon EZEK I EL. "^or 
 
 a proper Inducement to make them fenfible of Chapter 
 their former Deviations from God's Worfliip, and XLIH. 
 touched with deep Remorfe for thofe Sins, which Ix^V^J 
 provoked him to deprive them of the Honour 
 of his Refidence among them, and the Benefit 
 of his Ordinances: See vcr. 7, 8. But we may 
 probably fuppofe, that the Words may have a 
 farther View, and import that the Model of God's 
 Temple, here fet forth, is but a Pattern of Hea- 
 venly things, as Mofes's was, Exod. xxv. 40. and 
 a Type of that pure Church built upon the Foun- 
 dation of the Apoftles and 'Prophets, Jefus 
 Chrift being the Chief Corner Stone ; which we 
 may hope God will in due Time every where 
 Reftore. And in the mean Seafon, it is the Du- 
 ty of all good Chriftians, according to their A- 
 bilities, to inform themfelves and others, what is 
 the Pattern, Form and Fafhion of this true 
 Church of God, in order to reform all thofe 
 Deviations, which have been made from it. 
 
 Ibid. And let them meafure the c Pattem.~\ In 
 order to build their new Temple by it, when 
 they (hall return from Captivity, as far as their 
 Abilities will reach: See the general Preface be- 
 fore the xlth Chapter. For the fame purpofe 
 the Prophet is commanded to write it in their 
 fight, in the following Words. 
 
 Ver. 11. And if they be afhamed.l Or, AndVct. iu 
 that they may be afiamed: So the Particle In 
 is often ufed, fee Noldius, p. 90. 
 
 Ver. 12. Upon the top of the Mountain.^ Ver. 12. 
 Whereupon the Temple itood 5 fee Chap. xl. 2. 
 
 F f f Ibid.
 
 4-02 A Commentary 
 
 Chapter Ibid. The whole limit thereof round about flail 
 XLII. be moft holy.'] See Chap. xlii. 20. 
 
 M**"\/^j Ver. 1 3 . The Cubit, is a Cubit and an Hand 
 
 Ver. 13. breadth. ,] fee Chap. xl. 5. 
 
 Ibid. The bottom fhall be a Cubit, and the 
 breadth a Cubit, and the border thereof — - flail 
 be a Span.] 1 he Bottom ftgnifies the Bafis or 
 Foundation; fee ver. 14. this. fhall be a Cubit in 
 Height, and a Cubit over in Breadth ; the Parts 
 above the lower Settle being contracted, and 
 growing narrower by the breadth of a Cubit, 
 fee the following Verfe» This lower Ledge or 
 Settle about the Altar had a Border of the Height 
 of a Span, or half a Cubit, fee ver. 17. to keep 
 the Blood that was poured out at the Foot of 
 the Altar, from running upon the Pavement ; 
 but it was convey'd away into Holes at the South 
 Weft Corner of the Altar, and fo into a Sink 
 or common Shore under Ground. 
 
 Ibid. And this flail be the higher place of the 
 Altar] The Hebrew reads, The back of the 
 Altar j which imports, that this Bafis Was the Pro- 
 tuberance of the Altar, or the wideft part of it. 
 The Hebrew word, Gab, fignifying any part that 
 Iticks out, and is ufed for the Eye-broWs, the 
 Protuberance of an Hill, or men like Eminence. 
 Ver. 14. Ver. 14. And from the Bottom upon the ground, 
 even to the lower fettle flail be .two Cubits.] 
 The Altar was made narrower asit came nearer 
 to the top ; thefe ,-Narro wings, or In-benchings 
 . are called here Settles. The word is A zar ah in 
 the Hebrew, which is elfewhere ufed for a 
 
 Court 5
 
 upon E Z EK I EL. 403 
 
 Court --, becaufe the Pneits trod upon thefe Set- Chap tee 
 ties, as they and the People did in die Courts be- XLIII. 
 fore the Temple. From the Foundation to the 
 lower of the two Settles here mentioned, the 
 Text faith, was to be two Cubits 5 which feems 
 to contradict the words in the Vcrfe before, The 
 bottom fhall be a- Cubit, This Difference in Hx- 
 prellion Dr. Lightfoot thus reconciles, in his 
 c Defcription of the Temple, Chap. 34. That the 
 Foundation, as it lay flat upon the Ground, was 
 but a Cubit high* but then there arofe a Slope 
 of another Cubits Height, which was thicker 
 than the Compafs of the Altar, juft above it ; 
 So that from the Ground to the top of the Ri- 
 flna was two Cubits. And thus he reconciles the 
 Defcription here given with that of the Talmud, 
 which reckons Five Cubits from the lower Set- 
 tle to the Higher j whereas the Prophet counts 
 but Four, in the following Words. 
 . Ibid. And the breadth one Cubit, ,] The Breadth 
 of this lower Settle or Border was one Cubit, 
 which made that part of the Altar, which was 
 above it, narrower by a Cubit on every fide of 
 the Square, than that part which was nearer the 
 Foundation. 
 
 Ibid. And from the lejfer fettle, even to the 
 greater fettle, fhall be four Cubits, and the 
 breadth one Cubits Dr. Lightfoot in the fame 
 Place afligns this Reafon, why the upper Settle 
 is here called the Greater ; becaufe the upper Set- 
 tle, tho' it were lefs in Compafs, (being nar- 
 rower by two Cubits on every fide of the 
 Square) yet was larger it Breadth 5 the lower 
 F f f 1 Settle,
 
 4.04 A Commentary 
 
 Chapter Settle rifing with a leaning Slope, as was ob- 
 XLIII. fcrvcd before, which took up a confiderable part 
 
 K^W^aJ of its Breadth, and made the Walk upon it not io 
 large as that upon the upper. 
 
 v m Ver. 15. So the Altar fh mil be four Cubit s.~] 
 
 *' i. e. From the upper Settle, which makes the 
 Altar ten Cubits high, the fame Height with that 
 made by Solomon, 2 Chron. iv. 1. The 14th 
 Verfe reckons fix Cubits to the upper Settle, and 
 here are four Cubits added to the top of the 
 Altar. The Dimenfions of the Altar are the 
 fame in the Talmud y as Dr. Lightfoot obferves 
 in the place above cited ; who further Remarks 
 out of the Jewifb Writers, that within two Cu- 
 bits of the Top, or the Place where the Hearth 
 was, there was another Narrowing or Bench, 
 of a Cubit's Breadth, where the Pricfts flood to 
 officiate. 
 
 The Altar is twice mentioned in this Verfe, 
 under two different Names, the firft Harel, that 
 is, the Mountain of God, being lb called, as 
 fome Rabbins think, in opposition to the Idola- 
 trous Altars built upon high Places 5 the fecond 
 Ariel, that is, the Lion of God,, having that 
 Name given to it, becaufe it devoured and con- 
 fumed the Sacrifices offered upon it. Sec Ifa, 
 xxix. 1. 
 
 Ibid. And from the Altar and upward flail be 
 four horns.'] To be added at each Corner, as 
 was in Mofes's Altar, Exod. xxvii. 2. Thcie 
 were Squares of a Cubit on each fide, and hol- 
 low in the middle j and into thefe Cavities fome 
 of the Blood of the Sacrifices was put, fee ver. 
 
 20.
 
 upon EZ EKIEL. 4.05 
 
 20. They rofe from the uppermoft Bench, where Chapter 
 the Prieft ftood to Officiate. XLIII. 
 
 Vcr. 1 6. And the Altar mall be twelve Cubits L/"V*XJ 
 long, twelve broad, &c] The upper Part of it fhall V er - l6 - 
 be an exact Square, reckoning from the fecond Set- 
 tle, which is properly called the Altar, and diftin- 
 guifhed from the Bottom or Foundation : See 
 Ter. 1 5 . 
 
 Ver. 17. And the Settle mail be fourteen Cubits Ver. l 7- 
 long, and fourteen broad, .] This is to be underftood 
 of the lower Settle, which was two Cubits wider 
 than the upper Part of the Altar, as appears by the 
 Defcription already given. 
 
 Ibid. And the Border about it [hall be half a 
 Cubit.'] Or a Span, as it is exprefs'd, ver. 13. 
 
 Ibid. And the Bottom thereof [hall be a Cubit 
 about. ~\ a Cubit wider than the lower Settle. See 
 ver. 13. 
 
 Ibid. And his Stairs [hall look toward the E aft. ~] 
 God forbad his Priefts to go up by Steps to his Al- 
 tar, Exod. xx. 26. which is ufually expounded, 
 that he would not have his Altar fet upon a great 
 Afcent, in Imitation of the Heathen High Places 5 
 Yet Solomons Altar was ten Cubits high, 2 Chron. 
 iv. 1. Which neceflarily required ibmc Afcent for 
 _the Priefts to go, that they might officiate on the 
 Top of it. And in this Place there is exprefs men- 
 tion of Stairs to go up to the Altar here defcribed, 
 being of the fame Height with Solomon's. The 
 yews tells us, That fince the Law prohibited Stairs, 
 or Steps, the Afcent to the Altar was by a gentle 
 Rifing, which they call Kibbe[h, of thirty two 
 Cubits in Length, and fixteen in Breadth ; the 
 
 Landing-
 
 4o5 
 
 A Commentary 
 
 Chapter Landing-Place being upon the upper Bench or 
 XLIII. Walk, next the Hearth or Top, of which men- 
 
 iy"V"NJ tion hath been already made in the Notes upon 
 ver. 1 6. Sec Dr. Light foot, in the forecited 
 Place, and Dr. Trideaux ConneB. of Script. Hift. 
 Tart I. where there is a 'Draught of the Altar, 
 and the Afcent to it, which very much helps to 
 explain the Description here given of it. 
 
 This Afcent is dire&ed to be placed at the 
 Eaft-Side of the Altar, that they who went up 
 mould look toward the Weft, and upon the 
 Temple, and mould turn their Backs to the Ri- 
 fing-Sun, in oppofttion to the Rites of thofe 
 Idolaters, who worfhipped the Riling- Sun. See 
 the Note upon Chap. viii. i<5. 
 
 Ver. 18. Ver. 18. And to fpr inkle Blood thereon.~\ See 
 Levit. i. 5. iii. 8. 
 
 Ver. 19. Ver. 19. And thou ft alt give to the Triefts, 
 the Levit es, that be of the Seed of Zzdok.] See 
 the Notes on Chap. xl. 45. xliv. 15. 
 
 Ibid. A young Bullock for a Sin offering, &c] 
 To confecrate the new Altar therewith, and the 
 Perfons who were to offer Sacrifice upon it. Comp. 
 Chap. xlv. 18, 19, and Exod. xxix, 10, 12, and 
 ver. 36. 
 
 Ver. 20. Ver. 20. And upon the four Corners of the Set- 
 tle."] The Word Settle may fignify both the Set- 
 tles j as thefmgular Number elfcwhere ftands for 
 the Plural. See the Note upon Chap. xli. 9. 
 
 Ver. 21. Ver. 21. And he flail burn it .] Or rather, It 
 flail be burnt , as the lxx rightly cxprefs the Senfe.5 
 the Verb Tranfitive being often uicd for the Im- 
 perfonal. See the Note upon Ifa. xliv. 18. 
 
 Ibid.
 
 upon EZEKIEL. 407 
 
 Ibid. In the appointed!? lace of the Houfe with- Chapter 
 out the S ancillary.'] In fome Place appointed for XLIII. 
 that Purpofc, within the Ffecincls of the Holyu<^V^>J 
 .Mountain. The Temple itfclf is called the Inner 
 Houfe, Chap. xli. 15. xlii. 15. to diftinguifh it 
 from the outward Courts, and Precincts thereof. 
 The Body of the Bullock, whofe Blood was to 
 fan&ify the Altar, was to be burnt without the 
 Camp, by the Order of the Law, Exod. xxix. 
 
 14. 
 
 This was the firft Day's Sacrifice, the Cere- 
 mony of Confecration being to laft feven Days. 
 See Ver. 26. 
 
 Ver. 22. Andonthefecond^Daythouftaltof-Yzt. 22, 
 fer a Kid of the Goats without Blemifl) for a Sin- 
 Offering.} This is over and above the Sacrifices of 
 Confecration, prefcribed Exod. xxix. 1 . Some o- 
 ther R^ites are. prefcribed in the following Ordi- 
 nances that differ a little from thofe ordain'd by 
 Mofex: See the Note upon Chap. xlvi. 4. 
 
 Ven. 23. Thou fhalt offer a. young Bullock, and Ycv. 23, 
 a Ram out of the Flock.} Called the Ram of Con- 
 fecration, Exod. xxix. 31. Levit. \\\\. 22. Thcfe 
 Sacrifices were to be repeated every one of the 
 feven Days -of Confecration. , S'ce* ver. 25. 
 
 Ver. 24. And theTriefts fhall caft Salt uponYcr. 24. 
 them.} Every Sacrifice was to be falted with Salt. 
 Levit. ii. 13. 
 
 Ver. 26. Seven *Days fhall 'they purge the Altar ,Vcr. 26, 
 and purify it.} Seven Days were appointed for the 
 performing the Ceremonies of purifying the Al- 
 tar, and confecrating the Priefts. See Exod, 
 xxix. 35. Levit. viii. 34. 
 
 Ibid.
 
 408 
 
 Chapter 
 XLIII. 
 
 Ver. 27, 
 
 A Commentary 
 
 Ibid. And they fhall confecrate themfelves.'] The 
 Expreflion in the Hebrew is, They fhall fill their 
 Hands i the Phrafe being taken from that Cere- 
 mony ufed in Confecrating a Prieft, of filling his 
 Hands with Part of the Sacrifice then offered. See 
 Exod. xx ix. 24. 
 
 Ver. 27. Upon the eighth 'Day, and fo ■ forward. 1 
 See Levit. ix. 1. 
 
 Ibid. Tour ^Peace-Offerings. ^The Margin reads, 
 Thank-Offerings , becaufe they were Offerings of 
 Thankfgiving for Mercies received. 
 
 CHAP.
 
 upon 
 
 EZEKIEL. 
 
 409 
 
 
 CHAP. XLIV. 
 
 The Argument. 
 
 The Chapter begins with a Description of the Glory of 
 God returned into the Temple : then follows a Re- 
 proof of the "People for fuffer'wg idolatrous Priefts 
 to profane the Temple by minijlring there j and Or- 
 dinances are fet down relating to the Deportment of 
 God's true Prieftfj and the Maintenance due to 
 them. 
 
 Chapter 
 XLIV. 
 
 Ver. i.fc SUHE N he brought me back the Ver. 1. 
 
 way of the Gate of the out- 
 ward Sanftuary.~] From the 
 Altar to the Gate belonging 
 to the Court of the Priefts, 
 that leadeth to the outward 
 
 Court of the Temple. Comp. Verfe 27, and Chapt. 
 
 xlvi. 1. All the Courts were . reckoned Holy 
 
 Ground, and called fometimes by the Name of 
 
 the Temple : See Job. viii. 20. Aft. xxi. 28. 
 Ibid. And it was fiut.'] After that the Glory of 
 
 the Lord had entered that Way : Chap, xliii. 4. to 
 
 G <* p 
 
 fignify
 
 410 ^Commentary 
 
 Chapter fignify that the Divine Prefence would never for- 
 
 XL1V. fake the Temple any more. 
 v^vn^ Ver. 2. This Gate JJoall be Jhut, it Jhall not be 
 Ver. 2. opened.'] It fhall not ftand open continually, as it 
 formerly did, but only at certain Seafons : See 
 Ver. 3. and Chap, xlvi. 1. and that out of" refpecT: 
 to the Divine Glory which made its Entrance into 
 the Temple that Way, where it had now took up 
 its fixed Residence : See Chap, xliii. 7. not to de- 
 part any more by the Eaft-gate of the Temple, as 
 it formerly did : See the Note on Chap, the 
 Kiiii. 4. 
 
 Ibid. Becaufe the LOR D, the God of Ifrael, 
 hath entered in by it. ] That is, the Glory of the 
 Lord, as it is exprefled Chap, xliii. 2, 4. The 
 Glory of God is himlelf, and is often called by 
 the Name of the Lord, or the God of Jfrael: 
 See Exod. xxiv. 10. If a. vi. 1, 5. 
 Ver. 3. ^ er ' 3* ^ /; f or ^ je Prince. ~\ Solomon placed his 
 Seat at the Entrance into the inner Court before 
 the Altar of the Lord, 2 Chron.vi, 13. and here the 
 Prince feems to have had his Place in after Times, 
 whenever he came to worfhip at the Temple: 
 See 2 Chiron, xxiii.13. xxxiv. 31. Not far from 
 which Place, a Seat was placed for the High- 
 Prieft, as may be gathered from Elrs Seat men- 
 tioned 1 Sam, i. 9. And from whence the 
 High-Prieft pronounced the Ble fling after the 
 Service was ended : SeeEcclus. 1. 20. and Light- 
 foot, Temple Service, c. 36. Some underftand 
 by the Prince, the High-Prieft ; which Title does 
 very properly belong to the Mejfiar, who is 
 both King and Prieit, and hath the Style of Prince 
 given him. Chap, xxxiv. 23. But in the Pa- 
 rallel
 
 upon EZEKIEL. 411 
 
 rallel Place to this, Chapt. xlvi. 2. 3, 8, 9. the Word Chapter 
 Prince is oppofed to the People : And other Ordi- XLIV. 
 nances are there laid down, which cannot be fitly ^~v-s_> 
 applied to the Mejfias. For which Reafon I con- 
 ceive the Word muft be taken here in its ufual 
 Senfe, to denote the Chief Governors of the Jews, 
 fuch as were Zerubbabel and Nehemiah after the 
 Captivity. 
 
 Ibid. The Prime fljall fit in it to eat Bread before 
 the Lord.] To eat Part of the Peace-offerings, 
 which are to be provided at his Charge : See 
 Chapt. xlvi. 2. Bread (lands for all fort of Enter- 
 tainments : See Gen. xliii. 31. and particularly for a 
 Religious Feaft made of the Remainder of a Sa- 
 crifice, ibid. c. xxxL 54. 
 
 Ibid. He Jhall enter by the way of the Porch of 
 that Gate, &c] See Chapt. xlvi. 8. 
 
 Ver. 4. Then brought he vie the way of the North- Ver. 4. 
 gate before the Houfe. ] The Eaft-gate being flout, 
 Ver. 1. 
 
 Ibid. And behold the Glory of the Lord filled the 
 Houfe of the Lord.] There was no Door into the 
 Houfe on that Side, but I could fee the Brightnefs 
 of the Divine Glory fhining through the Windows. 
 See Chapt. xliii. 3, 5. 
 
 Ibid. And I fell upon my Face.'] See Chapt. i. 2S. 
 Ver. 5. Mark well, and behold with thine Eyes, Ver. 5. 
 8cc] See Chapt. xl. 4. xliii. 2. 
 
 Ibid. Mark well the entering of the Houfe zvith 
 the going forth of the Sanftuary.] The Word Laws 
 is here to be repeated, to this Senfe, that the Pro- 
 phet ihould admonifh the People of the Laws re- 
 lating to the admitting certain Perfons into the 
 Temple or the Courts of it, and fuffer none that 
 
 G g g 2 are
 
 412 ^ Commentary 
 
 Chapter are unqualified to attend upon God's Service there. 
 XLIV. See the following Verfes. 
 
 ks~v~**j Ver. 6. And jay to the rebellious [Houfe] even to 
 Ver. 6. %y e J-] ufe of Ifracl.] See Chapt. ii. 5. 
 
 Ib'd. Let it fuffice you of all your Abominations.) 
 Let the Time paft be diffident for you to have 
 provoked me with your Abominations : See Chapt. 
 xlv. p. Com p. 1 Pet. iv. 3. We find the fame 
 Expreflion Numb, xvi. 3. where our Tranflation 
 reads, ye take too much upon you : But the Phrafe 
 may more properly be tranflated, Let it Juffice you, 
 [to have uiurped an Authority hitherto.] 
 Ver. 7. V er « 7« l n ^ dat y° u hive brought into my San- 
 ctuary, Strangers uncircumcifed in Heart, &c] In 
 fetting up Idols within the Precin&s of mine own 
 Houfe, and appointing idolatrous Priefts to officiate 
 there : See Chapt. xliii. 8. 
 
 Ibid. When ye offer my Bread, my Fat and my 
 Blood.] At the fame Time that ye offer my Sacri- 
 fices upon the Altar. Or the Words may imply 
 that they fuffered Heathens to offer at God's 
 Altar, exprefly againft the Law, Lcvit. xxii. 27. 
 
 By Bread may be understood, the Meat-Offer- 
 ings made of Flower which accompanied the other 
 Sacrifices : Altho' every Thing offered upon the 
 Altar, is properly called the Bread of God : See 
 the Note upon Chapt. xxiii. 41. The Fat and 
 Blood of every Sacrifice was peculiarly appropriated 
 to God : See Levit.iii. 16. xvii. 11. 
 
 Ibid. And they have broken my Covenant.] Idola- 
 try was a direct Breach of that Covenant God 
 had entered into with the Jews, that he would 
 be their God, and they his People, Levit. xxvii. 12. 
 Upon which Account it is fo often reprefented un- 
 der
 
 upon EZEK1EL. 413 
 
 der the Metaphor of Adultery and Fornication : Chapter 
 Being a Breach of that Covenant which is ufually XL1V. 
 defcribed under the Notion of a Marriage Con- ^^v^» 
 trad : See the Note upon Chap. xvi. 8. 
 
 Ver. 8; And ye have not fapt the Charge of ?nyVtv. 8. 
 holy Things &c. J You have not obferved the Laws 
 I gave you, for taking care of the Things relating 
 to my Houfe and Worfhip; but have appointed 
 fuch Perfons to officiate there, as beft fuited with 
 your own Inclinations : Seethe Note upon Chap, 
 xl. 45. 
 
 Ver. 9. No Stranger ffoall enter into my SanBua- Ver. 9. 
 ry.~] To offer any Sacrifice or Oblation there ; See 
 Ver. 7. nor be (uffered to go beyond the Precincts 
 appointed for Profelytes. 
 
 Ver. 10. And the Levitei that are gone far from Ver. 10. 
 me , &c] The fame who are called the Priefts, 
 the Lcvites, Ver. 15. /'. e. the Sons of Levi who 
 are Priefts. Many of thefe departed from attend- 
 ing upon God's Service, and fell into Idolatry • 
 firfr, in the general Apoftafy of the Ten Tribes, 
 afterwards under Ahaz 3 and other wicked Kings of 
 jfudah : See 2 Kings xxiii. 9. thefe fhall bear the 
 Punifhment due to their Iniquity, and fhall be de- 
 graded from attending upon the higher Offices be- 
 longing to the Priefthood, and thruft down to 
 meaner Services. See Ver. 13. It is not likely 
 that any of thofe Priefts who had been defiled with 
 Idolatry in former Times, lived to fee the Refto- 
 ration of God's worfhip in the Temple after the 
 Captivity : So the Punifhment here allotted to 
 them, either relates to their Pofterity : God hav- 
 ing particularly threatned to punifh the Sin of Ido- 
 latry to the third and fourth Generation, Exod. xx. 
 
 5. Or
 
 4f4 ^ Commentary 
 
 Chapter 5- Or elfe the Ordinances here prefcribed, are 
 XLIV. landing Rules that were to be perpetually obier- 
 >w/""v~>w' ved, whenfoever this Cafe mould happen. 
 
 The Difciplineof the Chriftian Church was mil 
 more fevere : For whoever of the Clergy had com- 
 mitted Idolatry in the Times of Perfecution, was 
 for ever deprived of his Function ; and even for letter 
 Crimes they were degraded from an higher to a 
 lower Station ; as the learned Mr. Bingham, in his 
 EcclAntiq. Book 17. Chap. 3. hath Uiewed in leveral 
 In fiances. 
 Ver. 11. ^ er IT - H#«u/>2g Charge of the Gates of the 
 ' Houfe.] Performing the Office of Porters, an in- 
 ferior Station belonging to the Levites : See 
 1 Chron. xxvi. 1. 
 
 Ibid. They Jhall flay the burnt Offering."] Kill the 
 Beafts appointed for the daily Burnt- offering and 
 other Sacrifices, and flay their Skins, which was 
 an Office ufually performed by the Levites : See 2 
 Chron. xxxv. 11. 
 
 Ibid. And they JJmll ftand before them'] They 
 mall be Servants to the People, in undergoing the 
 moft fervile Offices belonging to the Temple ^ 
 whereas it is the proper Office of a Prieft, to be 
 God's immediate Minifter : See Deut. x. 8. xvii. 1 2. 
 Ver. '1 2 . V er * 1 2 . Becaufe they minifter ed to them before 
 their Idols, and caufed the Houfe of Ifrael to fall into 
 their Iniquity.] They led the People into Idolatry, 
 by giving them an ill Example. 
 
 Ibid. Therefore have I lift up my Hand again ft 
 them^] I have folemnly fworn that I will Punifn. 
 them for this their Sin : [See the Note on Chap. 
 xx. 6. 
 
 Ver. 13.
 
 upon EZEKIEL. 415 
 
 • Ver. 13. And they JJo all not come near to vie, to do Chapter 
 the Office of a Prieft unto the± &c] They (hall not XLIV. 
 offer Sacrifice at my Altar, or come into the Tern- ^^~^ 
 pie, to perform any Part of the prieftly Office Ver. 1 3. 
 there. So Jofiah difcharged the Priefts that had 
 been guilty of Idolatry, from attending upon the 
 Service of the Altar : 2 Kings xxiii. 9. 
 
 Ver. 14. But I will make them Keepers of the Ver. 14. 
 Charge of the Houfe, for all the Service thereof, &c] 
 They fhall perform the fervile Offices belonging to 
 my Temple and worfhip: See 1 Chron. xxiii. 28, 
 
 32- 
 Ver. 15. But the Priefts, the Levites.] The Sons Ver. 15. 
 
 of Levi who are Priefts. Comp. Dent. xvii. 9. 
 
 xviii. 1. xxiv. 8. 
 
 Ibid. The Sons of Zadock.~] See Chap. xl. 46. 
 xliii. 1 p. 
 
 Ibid. To offer to me the Tat and the Blood ] See 
 Ver. 7. 
 
 Ver. 16. They fo all enter into my San ft nary, cindy^ t l , 
 theyJJoall come near to my Table,"] The foregoing Verfe 
 expreffes their miniftringat the Altar, and offering 
 Sacrifice there: This denotes Attendance upon 
 God's Service within the Temple : The principal 
 Part of which was burning Incenfe there upon the 
 Altar placed in the Temple for that pnrpofe : 
 Which myftically implied the offering up the 
 Prayers of the People to God. This Altar of In- 
 cenfe is called here the Table of the LORD, 
 as it is Chap. xli. 22. See the Note there. 
 
 Ver. 17. When theyJJoall enter in at the Gates ofy _ 
 the inner Court.] The Court juft before the Tern- ' '' 
 pie, where the Altar of Burnt-Offering flood. Ver. 
 27 of this Chapter. 
 
 Ibid;
 
 4*6 
 
 A Commentary 
 
 Chapter Ibid. The Ephod, Breeches, Miter and Girdle, 
 
 XL1V. which was the Habit of the ordinary Priefts, were 
 
 v^"v\-» all of fine Linnen, contrived for Glory and Beauty : 
 
 Exod. xxix. 40. Fine Linnen being the Habit of Per- 
 
 ibns of the greateft Quality. See the Note upon 
 
 Chap, xxvii. 7. 
 
 Ibid. While they Minifter in the Gates of the inner 
 Court , and within .] Or in the Houfe, or Temple it 
 felf, as Noldius tranflates the Word Bayetha. Num. 
 829. 
 Ver. 18. Ver. 18. They jhall not gird the?nfelves with any 
 thing that caufeth Sweat J] With a woolen Girdle, 
 which may make them Sweat, during their labo- 
 rious Services about the Altar, and make their 
 Garments fmell ofFenfively. But the Chaldee Pa- 
 raphrafe renders it thus : They floall not be girt a- 
 bout their Loins, but be girt upon (or about) their 
 Heart, i.e. They fhalJ not wear Girdles about 
 their middle, or under their Arm Pits, either of 
 which may caufe them to Sweat, but fhall wear 
 them about their Breafts. So St, John deicribes our 
 Lord appearing in the Habit of a High Prieft, and 
 girt about the Paps with a Golden Girdle, Rev. i. 13. 
 Ver. 1 5?. Ver. 19. And when they go forth into the utter 
 Courts they Jhall put off their Garments wherein they 
 minifter ed.~\ See the Note on Chap. xlii. 14. 
 
 Ibid. And they Jhall not Santfify the People with 
 their Garments.'} By the Rules of the Law, things 
 immediately dedicated to God's Service, did con- 
 vey fome Degree of Holinefs to common things 
 that touched them : So the Altar fanftified the Gift 
 that was laid upon it : See Levit. vi. 27. Mattb. 
 xxiii. 13. Thus fome fort of Holinefs might be de- 
 rived to the Garments of the People, by touching 
 
 thole
 
 upon EZEKIEL. 417 
 
 thofe of a Prieft : Which God would have pre- Chapter 
 vented, to keep up an exadt Difference between the XLIV. 
 Holy and Profane, Ver. 23. v^-v" - ^ 
 
 Ver. 20. Neither Jhall they /have their Heads. ]Ye\:, 20. 
 This Prefcription is implied in thofe Words of the 
 Law , Levit. xxi. 5. efpecially according to the 
 Tranflation of the Septuagint, who render the Sen- 
 tence, Thou Jhalt not frave thy felf with Baidnefs 
 [to make Baldnefs] upon thy Head for the Dead. 
 They indeed underftand it as an Expreflion of 
 Mourning for the Dead, which agrees with the 
 Senle of the Parallel Texts, LeTit. xix. 27, 28. 
 Deut. xiv. 1. But the Words in the Original con- 
 tain a general Prohibition, and confequently in- 
 clude the Times of Mourning as well as other 
 Seafons. St. Jero?n upon the Place does with great 
 Probability fuppofe, that the Jewijh Priefts were 
 forbid to {have their Heads, thereby to diftinguifh 
 them from feveral of the Heathen Priefts, particu- 
 larly the Egyptian Priefts of Ifis and Serapis, who 
 had their Heads fhaved and uncovered, which were 
 Funeral Rites, and therefore proper to be ufed in 
 the Worfhip of the Heathen Gods, who were no 
 better than dead Men : See Baruchvi. 3 1. Learned 
 Men have obferved, That many other JezviJhLaws 
 were made, in Oppofition to the Funeral Rites ob- 
 ferved in the Heathen Worfhip. 
 
 Ibid. Nor fuffer their Locks to grow long.'] It is 
 the Opinion of Dr. Spencer, Leg. Hcbr. lib. 2. c. 25. 
 and Schindler, that this Law is likewife taken out 
 of the fame Chapter of Leviticus at the 10th Verfe ,• 
 where our Tranflation renders the Original, He 
 jhall not uncover his Head. But the Chaldee Para- 
 phrafe tranflates the Words, He Jhall not nowiflj the 
 
 H h h Hair
 
 4i8 
 
 A Com mentary 
 
 Chapter B air of his Head, which Senfe feveral Interpre- 
 XLIV. ters follow : Letting the Hair grow long and neg- 
 <^/^<n^o lecled, being a Sign of Mourning, as well as ftia- 
 ving it clofe to the Head. 
 - Ver. 21. Ver. 21. Neither jhall any Prieft drink tyine^ 
 when they enter into the inner Court. ] During the 
 Time of their Miniftration : See Ver. 17. This 
 Law is likewife taken from Leuit. x. 9, 10. And 
 the Reafon of the Prohibition is there given, that 
 they might put a Difference between holy and 
 unholy , between dean and, unclean, i. e. that they 
 might be able exactly to determine the Cafes 
 relating to Legal Uncleannels : Many of which 
 had a great deal of Nicenefs in them, by Reafon 
 of the Variety of Circumftances. Comp. Ver. 23. 
 of this Chapter. 
 Ver. 22. Ver. 22. Neither fiaH they take for their lVi<ves 
 a Widow, or her that is put away, &c] This Law 
 we find in Levit. xxi. 13, 14. But it is there fpo- 
 ken of the High-Prieft only, here it is applied to 
 all the Priefts in general. 
 Ver. 23. Ver. 23. And in Coniro'verfy they fiall ft and in' 
 Judgment, &c] The Priefts were to determine all 
 Contioverfies relating to the Law, as well the 
 Judicial as the Ceremonial Part of it, which were 
 brought before them : See Deut. xvii. 8, 9. and 
 the People were to feek the Law at their Mouths , 
 Mai. ii. 7. i. e. to enquire of them, what was 
 the Purport and meaning of it: and to ftand to 
 their Determination. And when the fupreme 
 judicial Power was placed in the Sanhedrim y 
 the Majority of that Court confifted chiefly of 
 fuch as had the chief Stations among the Priefts : 
 See Alls iv. 5, 6. 
 
 Ibid.
 
 upon EZ EKIEL. 419 
 
 Ibid. And they {hall keep my Laws and my St a- Chapter 
 tutes in all mine Affemblies, &c] As well upon the XLIV. 
 folemn Feftivals, and the Allemblies proper to <v^rvj 
 them ( fee Exod. xii. 16.) as on the ordinary Sab- 
 baths; 
 
 Ibid. And they (hall hallow my Sabbaths^] Where- 
 as the Priefts before the Captivity profaned them, 
 and negle&ed to perform the Divine Worfhip pre- 
 fcribed upon them i See Chapt. xxii. 26. 
 
 Ver. 2 j. Ihey Jhall come at no dead Perfon to de- Ver. 25. 
 file themfehes.] Whofoever touched a dead Body 
 became legally unclean, Num. xix. 11. and there- 
 by was unqualified to attend upon God's Worfhip 
 in the Temple : See Lev it. xxii. 3. upon which 
 Account the Priefts were forbidden to contract (uch 
 a Defilement, unlefs for their neareft Relations, 
 Levit. xxi. i 3 2, 3: which Prohibition is here 
 renewed. 
 
 Ver. 26. And after he is clea?ifcd, they JJjall reckon Ver. 26, 
 unto him [even Days. ] His Uncleannefs continued 
 for feven Days by the fore-cited Law, Nwn.xix. 11. 
 and the Priefts were to reckon to him feven Days 
 more, before he was to be admitted into the 
 Sanctuary. 
 
 Ver. 27. And in the Day that he goeth into the Ver. 27. 
 Sanlluary^ unto the inner Court.'] See Ver. 17. 
 
 Ibid. He jhM offer his Sin-offering.'] He mall 
 offer a young Bullock for a Sin-offering : See Levit. 
 iv. 13. 
 
 Ver. 28. And it floall be unto them for an Inheri- Ver. 2$. 
 tance, &c.] Their Miniftry in my Sanctuary men- 
 tioned in the foregoing Verfe, and the Perquifltes 
 thereto belonging, mall be to them .rnftead of 
 Lands and Cities, of which : they mail not have 
 
 Hhh 2 any
 
 420 A Commentary 
 
 Chapter any Share as the other Tribes : See Veut. x. g. 
 
 XL1V. JoJJj. xiii. 14. excepting the Portion allotted to 
 
 t/VNJ them in the beginning of the following Chapter. 
 
 Ver. 29. Ver. 29. They Jhall eat the Meat-offering, and the 
 Sin-offering, and the Trefpafr-Offering.'] They fhall 
 have their Share of it^after God'sPart hath been con- 
 fumed upon the Altar : See Levit. vi. 18, 29. vii. 6. 
 Ibid. And every dedicate Thing fhall be theirs.'] 
 Whatsoever Men dedicate to God, the Ufe of it 
 fhall accrue to the Priefts : If it be a living Crea- 
 ture, it fhall be killed, and the Prieft fhall have 
 the Benefit of it : If it be a Piece of Land, it fhall 
 belong to the Priefts: See Levit. xxvii. 27, 28. 
 Num. xviii. 14. 
 
 Ver. 30. Ver. 30. And the fir ft of all Firfl-fruit s of all 
 things, and every Oblation of every [ort of your Ob- 
 lations Jhall be the Priefts.~\ • The Words tranflated 
 Tirft-fruits and Oblations, are in the Hebrew Bkcu- 
 rim and Trumah. The former imports the Firft- 
 ripe, or beft of the Fruits, while they were grow- 
 ing in the Field. Comp. Exod. xxiii. 19. with Nu?n. 
 xviii. 12. The latter denotes an Oblation out of 
 the Product of the Ground, after it was made fit for 
 Ufe : As out of the Corn after it was threfhed 
 and laid in Heaps in the Floor or Granary : And fo 
 of Oyl and Wine, after they were prefled and fit- 
 ted for fpending. Thefe Oblations are by fome 
 Authors, particularly by Mr. Selden in his Trea- 
 tife of Tithes, Chap. 2. efteemed to amount to the 
 fixtieth Part of the whole produce. Schindler rates 
 the Biccurim at the loweft Proportion to be the 
 fixtieth Part, and computes the Trumah at the fif- 
 tieth. Dr Cumber fuppofes the Biccurim to amount 
 to an hundreth Part, and the Trumah at a Medium 
 
 to
 
 upon EZEKIEL. 421 
 
 to be the Fiftieth : See his Treatife of Tithe /, Chaptei 
 Part 1. Chapt. 2. and the Notes on Chapt. xlv. 13. XL1V. 
 
 Ibid. Te floall alfo give unto the Prieft the firft of v^y^-> 
 your Dough.] The firft Dough that you bake of the 
 new Corn every Year, fliall belong to the Priefts, 
 in the fame Proportion to be obferved here, as in 
 other Firft-fruits, viz. a fixtieth Part: See Num. 
 xv. 20. 
 
 Ibid. That he may caufe a BleJJing to reft in thine 
 Houfe.] That the Prieft, whofe Office it is to blefs 
 the People in God's Name ( fee N«w. vi. 23. 
 Deut, x. 8.) may procure a Bleffingupon thee from 
 him, according to the Promife he hath made of 
 Blefling thofe with an extraordinary Degree of 
 Plenty, who confcientioufly pay their Tithes and Of- 
 ferings, as grateful Acknowledgments to God the 
 Giver of all good Things : See Prov. iii. 9, 10. 
 Mai. iii. 10. 2 Chron. xxxi. 10. Comp. Veut. xxvi. 
 13*149*5- 
 
 Ver. 31. The Prieft foall not eat of any Thing that Ver. it I 
 is dead of its j elf or torn.'] A Command given to 
 all the jews, Exod. xxii. 31. and more particu- 
 larly to the Priefts, Levit. xxii. 8. 
 
 CHAP.
 
 422 
 
 A Commentary 
 
 Chapter 
 XLV. 
 
 
 CHAR XLV. 
 
 
 . 
 
 The Argument. 
 
 The fejv'irdl Portions of Land, appointed for. the San- 
 flaary, 'the City, and the Trince -, tcgether with 
 Ordinances concerning the Trovifjons for the ordina- 
 ry and extraordinary Sacrifices. 
 
 Jfo. \\ Ver. i. 
 
 OREO VER when ye Jhall 
 divide the Land by lot for 
 Inheritance, ye jhall offer an 
 Oblation to the Lord.] The 
 Land was divided by Lot in 
 the firft Divifion of it under 
 JoJhiMj and is appointed to be divided io in the 
 Partition of it, as it here follows : See Chap, 
 xlvii.. .14, 22;- A particular Share of which was to 
 be Q6(J^P6rtion, as an "Acknowledgment of his 
 Sovereign Dominion: See\LmY. xxv. 23. 'tis 
 therefore here called Trumah or Oblation, which 
 Word properly fignifies the Offering made to God 
 out of the Firft-fruits, and other increafe of the 
 und i -Se<Chapt, xliv. 30. Num. xviii. 24. &c. 
 *' became 
 
 Q<oi
 
 upon EZEKIEL. 423 
 
 becaufe this was a fort of Firft-fruits of the Land, Chapter 
 or Soil its felf, Chapt. xlviii. 14. XLV. 
 
 Ibid. The Length ffloall be five and twenty then- v^~v~^ 
 [and Reeds, and the Breadth Jhall be ten thoufand.'] 
 The Hebrew doth not exprefs either Reeds or Cu- 
 bits : Our Tranflation fupplies the Word Reeds, 
 but many Interpreters expound the Place of Cubits, 
 which Senfe they think is plainly determined by 
 Ver. 3. where it is faid. Of this Meafure, (viz. the. 
 Cubit Meafure mentioned Verfe 2.) (Jo alt thou mea- 
 fure the Length of five and twenty thoufand, &c. 
 According. to this Meafure the Portion here fet a 
 part, will be alrnoft feven Miles fquare ; whereas 
 if we meafure by Reeds, it will arife to fix times 
 as much, and can only be underftood in a myftical 
 Senfe. 
 
 Ver. 2. Of this there fiail be for' the Santfuaty Ver. 2. 
 five hundred in length, with five hundred in breadth, 
 fquare round about.'] If we underftand thefe Di- 
 menfio ns of Cubits, it exactly, agrees with the Opi- 
 nion of the Jews,- that the -Temple flood in on 
 Area of 50c Cubits fquare V See "Dr. Light foot of 
 the Temple, Chap. 2. A fquare Figure is the Em- 
 blem of Solidity : See the Note on Chap.xlii. 20. 
 
 Ibid. And fifty Cubits round about for the Suburbs 
 thereof.'}' This likewiie bears a fui table Proportion 
 to the Content of a Square of 500 Cubits. 
 
 Ver. 3. Of this Meafure Jjj alt thou meafure the Ver. 5. 
 length of five and twenty thoufand.~] See the Note 
 upon Ver. 1. 
 
 Ibid. And in it fhall be the Sanctuary, and the 
 ttioft holy Place.] Both the outward Sanctuary and 
 the inward Oracle or Holieft of all, together with 
 
 the
 
 424 A Commentary 
 
 Chapter the Courts adjoining, fiiall be placed in the Cen- 
 XLV. ter or Middle of it: See Cbapt. xlviii. 10. 
 
 >-s~\^^> Ver. 4. And it Jhall be a Ylace for their Houfef.~\ 
 \ er. 4. 'jj le prjefts were divided into four and twenty 
 Courfes, 1 Chron. xxiv. who performed the Pub- 
 lick Worfhip by Turns : So the Houfes were for 
 them to live in, who were not in their Courie of 
 waiting. 
 
 Ibid. And an holy Place for the Sanctuary.] See 
 Chap, xlviii. 10. 
 Ver. 5. Ver. 5. And the five and twenty thoufar* of 
 length, and ten thoufand of breadth, foall aljo the 
 Levites have for them[elvesJ\ The French Tranila- 
 tion renders the Senfe plainer thus, There JJoall be 
 other five and twenty thoufand, &c. See Chapt. 
 xlviii. 13. This appears to be the true Senfe of 
 the Place , becauie elfe there will be wanting 
 1 0000 in breadth, to make an exacl Square of 
 2 5000. See the following Verfe. The Levites being 
 very numerous (they were reckoned 38000 in Da- 
 vid's time, 1 Chron. xxiii. 3. ) had as large a Piece 
 of Ground allotted to them, as belonged to the 
 Temple, and the whole Prieftly Order. The 
 Word [other] is upon a like Occaflon fupplied by 
 our Interpreters, Chapt. xlviii. 8. 
 
 Ibid. For twenty Chambers^ Moft Commentators 
 underftand this of feveral Rows of Chambers, or 
 Ranges of Building. The LXX read nXoe<s nocloimv, 
 Cities to inhabit : Such Cities as were allotted to 
 them by Mofes, Num. xxxv. 2. The Copies the 
 Septuagint to]lowed, probably read, Narim Lajhe- 
 beth, inftead of the prefent Reading, Nefoarim 
 Lefliacoth, a and 3 being ealily put one for ano- 
 ther. 
 
 Ver. 6.
 
 This Figure fhould have been placed at Tage 4.25 1 
 
 
 
 
 NORTH. 
 
 
 The Tribe of Jttdah's Portion from Weft to Eafh 
 
 
 
 The Priefts Portion, 
 
 ' 
 
 25000 Ions. 
 5 a- 
 
 O 
 
 ^> 
 
 P" 
 
 The Prince's Portion on the Eaft Side. 
 
 J3 
 
 ■4-» 
 
 c 
 
 
 
 C! 
 O 
 
 "■!_» 
 
 O 
 
 pH 
 
 "O 
 
 c* 
 
 •1— < 
 M 
 P-t 
 
 O 
 
 H 
 
 The Levites Portion, o 
 
 
 
 25000 long. 
 
 cr 
 
 
 
 1 0000 in length, 
 Weftward ; 
 
 Food for the City. 
 
 The City 
 Portion, 
 
 5000 
 fquare. 
 
 1 0000 in length, § 
 
 E aft ward > 
 
 cr 
 
 Food for the City. § 
 
 • 
 
 The Tribe of Benjamin's Portion from Weft to Eaft. 
 
 
 
 SOUT 
 
 H, 
 
 
 <
 
 upon EZEK1EL. 425 
 
 Ver. 6. And ye Jhall appoint the Poffeffton of the Chapter 
 City, five thoufand broad, and five and twenty XLV. 
 thousand long, over againft (or by the fide of : J- >/ " v ^ 
 See Chapt. xlviii. 15.) \ the oblation of the Holy por- Ver ' 6t 
 tion] This muft run parallel in length with the holy 
 Portion, tho' but half its breadth. By which means 
 thefe three Portions made an exa£t Square (See 
 Chapt. xlviii. 20.) as you may fee in the follow- 
 ing Draught. 
 
 Ibid. It jhall be for the whole Houfe of Ifrael] 
 
 The Capital City to which all the Tribes mall 
 
 refort upon the Solemn Feftivals, and mall have 
 
 .twelve Gates according to the Number of the 
 
 Tribes of Ifrael : Chapt. xlviii. 31. 
 
 Ver. 7. And a Portion jhall be for the Prince on Ver. f. 
 the one fide, and on the other Side of the oblation of 
 the Holy Portion ej-c] One half of the Prince's Por- 
 tion was to He on the Weft fide of the three Por- 
 tions laid out for the Priefts and San&uary, the 
 Levitesand the City : And the other half lay on the 
 Eaft of it, and it lay parallel to them in breadth from 
 North to South. 
 
 Ibid. And the length mail be over againfl one of 
 thefe Portions from the Weft border to the Eaft hrder\ 
 I think the words may be Tranflated more plainly 
 thus, and the length mall be answerable to every one 
 of thefe Portions, both on the Weft border and the Eaft : 
 b e. It fhall run parallel with them both on the 
 Eaft and Weft fide. The word Lenmmath tranflat- 
 ed over avainft, fignifies likewife parallel or anfwer- 
 able, as it hath been 6bferved upon Chapt. xl. 18. 
 the word Echad, One, fignifies each one or every 
 one, and is underftood fo in this Text by Noldins i 
 p. 785. and the Phrafe from the Weft border to the 
 
 I i i Eaft,
 
 426 
 
 A Commentary 
 
 Chapter Eafi, is equivalent to that Expreffion which often 
 
 XLV. occurs in the Sacred Text, from (mall to great, which 
 
 ix"Y>J is very properly rendred, both fmali and great. 
 
 Ver. 8. Ver 8# j n t fo Landftiallbe his Poffeflionin IfrreJ] 
 
 Or this (hdl be his PoffcJJion of Land in J(rad : For 
 the Particle La, in Laaretz, is iometimes the Note 
 of t' e Genitive Cafe: Particularly in the iBtb and 
 1,9th Veries of: this Chapter : Or, As for Land, this 
 jhall be his PcffeJJicn in Jfrael 
 
 Ibid. And my Princes jhall no more cpprefs ?ny 
 People] As they formerly did : For which they aire 
 feverely reprov'd See Chapt. xxii. 27. Chapt. xix. 
 6,7. and Jerem* xxii. 17. 
 
 Ver. 9. Ver. 9. Let it faffice you,0 ye Princes of Jfrael, 
 
 &Cc] This is a Reproof of the Oppreflions of the 
 former Kings, and their chief Officers : See the 
 Note upon Chapt. xliv. 6. 
 
 Ver. 10. Ver# IO# Ye Jhall ha-ve juft balances, &c] Ye fhall 
 take care that there be no Deceit in Private Trade: 
 Ye fhall provide juft Meafures, both for Buying 
 and Selling both Dry things and Liquid : See the 
 following Verfe. 
 
 Ver. 11. Ver. 11. The Ephah and the Bath fljall be of one 
 Mea(ure.~\ The Ephah was the Meafure of Dry 
 things, as the Bath was of Liquid : The Homer 
 was about ten Bufhells, which amounts to about 
 eighty Gallons in Liquid things. 
 
 Ibid. The Ephah the tenth part of an Homer~\ We 
 muft diftinguifh the word Homer or Chomer writ 
 with a Cheth in the Hebrew, and Omer writ with 
 an Ain. The Ephah is faid here to be the tenth 
 part of an Homer, whereas the Omer is but the tenth 
 part of the Ephah, Exod. xvi. 36. 
 
 Ver. 12. Ver. 12. And the Shekel ihall be twenty Gerahs] 
 
 This
 
 upon EZEKIEL. 427 
 
 This is made the Standard of the Shekel, Exrd. Chapter 
 xxx. 13. which confutes the common Opinion that XLY; 
 the Weights of the Sanctuary were double tothofe v^v"V) 
 of common Ufe. Biftiop Cumberland computes a 
 Gerah to be Equivalent to an Attic Obolus y con- 
 lifting of almoft eleven Grains of Silver. The She- 
 kelis ufually Valued at 2 s 6do£ our Money : But 
 the fame Learned Author fuppofes it to be 
 in Value but it qd J-. of our Money, and a little 
 over. See his Treatife of Script, Weights and Mea- 
 jures, p. 104, ejc. 
 
 Ibid. Twenty Shekels, five and twenty Shekels, and 
 fifteen Shekels fhall be your Maneh] Maneh is the 
 fame with the Greek ^voT, and the Latin Mina, be- 
 ing both deriv'd from it. A Maneh orM/wd, con- 
 fifts of fixty Shekels, i. e. thirty Ounces of Silver. 
 See Ibid. p. 1 122. which, Reckoning every She- 
 kel at 2 s 6d. Value, amounts to-jl 10 s. The Divi- 
 ding the Maneh into twenty, twenty-five, and 
 fifteen Shekels, fuppofes there were Coins of thefe 
 feveral Values, which taken all together are to be 
 of the fame Weight with the N[ina. 
 
 Ver. 13. This is the oblation ye jhall offer] TheVer. 13. 
 Hebrew word tranflited oblation is Trumn,b\ Which 
 is always diftinguihYd from the Biccuri?}/, or Firjt- 
 fruits, and fignifethe Portion belonging to the Le- 
 vites out of the Fruits of the Earth when they were 
 gathered in : See Hiapt. xliv. 30. For which Rea- 
 fon St. Jerotn upon the Place fuppofes the follow- 
 ing Words to exprefs the Proportion the People 
 ought to pay the Levites out of the increafe of 
 their ground : Which by their Rabbies was deter- 
 mined to amount to at Jeaft a iixtieth part, in 
 which Determination they probably followed the 
 
 Iii 2 Rule
 
 428 
 
 A Commentary 
 
 Chapter Rule laid down in this Verfe : Comp. Verfe n. 
 
 XLV. This Senfe is like wife favoured by the Chaldee 
 
 VVX) pharathrafe: After which Separation a' tenth part 
 was to be paid out of the Remainder. no T he Por- 
 tions allotted to the Priefts and Levitei were not 
 intended only for their own Maintenance. But 
 likewife to make a Conftant ProvTion for thofe 
 Sacrifices both Ordinary and Extraordinary which, 
 were appointed by the Law : See Malachi iii. 
 10. 
 
 Ver: 14: Ver. 14. Concerning the Ordinance of 0)7, a Bath 
 of Oyk &c] Or, ' Concerning the Ordinance of Oyl, 
 e'ven the Bath of Oyl. The Cor and the Homer 
 are mentioned as containing the fame Quantity : 
 So a Bath is the tenth part of a Ccr, as an Ephah 
 is the tenth part of an Homer: And the tenth part 
 of a Bath of Oyl is the Hundredth part of a Ccr 9 
 which amounts to about fix Pints of our Meafure 3 
 according to Bifliop Cumberland, p. 137. 
 
 yen 15.' y er# x ^ # Undone Lamb out of the flock out of two 
 hundred'] This offering is enjoyned, befides the Set- 
 ting apart the firft-born for the Ufe of the Priefts 
 and Levites, Numb, xviii. 15. for making Provi- 
 fion for thedaily Burnt Offering, Numb, xxviii. 3. and 
 for Burnt offerings, and Peace offerings, or Sacrifices 
 of 1 hankfgiving, that were to be made upon pro- 
 per Occafions: See Chapt. xliii. 27. 
 
 Ibid. Out of the fat Pafturef of Ifrael] This im- 
 plies that thefe Lambs were to be of the beft and 
 tatteft of their[Kind : See Malachi i. 8, 14. as all o- 
 ther Tithes and things dedicated to God were to 
 be: See Numb, xviii. 12. 
 
 Ibid. For a Meat-Offering] Thefe words relate 
 to the i$th and iqth Verfes. The Meat-Offering, 
 
 which
 
 upon EZ EK1 EL. 429 
 
 which might be more propely translated the Chapter 
 Bread-Offerings being made of fine Flower mingl- XLV. 
 ed with Oyl. Levit. li. 5, 6. ^-v^ 
 
 Ibid. To make Reconciliation for them] This Effect 
 is alcribed to Burnt- Offerings as well as to thole 
 which are properly SacrinVd for Sin : See Levit. 
 i. 4. 
 
 Ver. 1 6. All the People of the Land (hall give Ver * l6 ' 
 this Oblation for the Prince'] The Marginal Reading 
 is, xvith the Prince^ which makes the plainer fenfe, 
 i. e. The Prince fhall join with the People in mak- 
 ing thefe Oblations, whereas thofe that follow in 
 the next Verfe, are to be at the Sole Charge of 
 the Prince; 
 
 Ver. 17. And it Jhallbe the Princes part to give y er 
 Burnt-Offerings, andMeat-Offering\ and Drink-O x er- 
 ings in the Feafis and in the New-Moons &c] Or, 
 even in the New-Moons, as the particle Van o£en 
 fignirles. Meat-Offerings .and Drink- Offerings were 
 always joined with Burnt-Offerings : See Numb. 
 xxviii. 5, 7. The particular Sacrifices which the 
 Prince was to provide upon the Sabbaths and o- 
 ther Festivals, are {pearled Chapt. xlvi. 4, it. 
 
 Ibid. He Jhall prepare the Sin-Offering'] i. e. Pro- 
 vide it : Concerning the Sin-Offering, See Chapt. 
 xl 39 
 
 Ibid. To make Reconciliation for the Houfe of If 
 raef] See Verfe 15. 
 
 Ver. 18. In the fir fl Month in the fir f Day of the y x g 
 Month, thou fhal f take a young bullock and cleanfe the 
 Sanejuary] The words are direcled to the Prince, 
 who is commanded on the firft Day of the new 
 Year, (which according to the Ecclefiaftical Com- 
 putation begun with the Month Nifan, and anf wers 
 
 to
 
 430 A Commentary 
 
 Chapter to our tenth of March ; See Exod. xii. 2.) to pro- 
 XLV. vide a Bullock for a Burnt- Offering, to ckaiife the 
 <-^V^ Temple from any Defilement it may have con- 
 traded, by the Peoples Offering their Sacrifices, 
 or coming into any of the Co irtti belonging to it, 
 while fhey were under any Legal Pollution. See 
 Levit.xvi. 19. 
 
 Ibid, A young Bullock without bjemjb] Whatever 
 was offered to God was to be perfect without 
 blemifh, and the very bed in its Kind : See the 
 "Note upon Verfe 15. and Leznt, xxii. 20. 
 Ver. 19. ^ er# l 9* ^ n ^ f ^ e P r ieft foall take of the Blood of 
 the Sin-Offering] Of the Bullock which was offer- 
 ed for a Sin- Offering : See Chapt. xliii. 19. The 
 Office of the Prieft is here diftinguifhed from that 
 of the Prince : The Prince was to provide the Sai 
 crifices, and the Prieft was to offer them. 
 
 Ibid. And put it upon the Pofts of the Honf(] Upon 
 the Lintels, or the Door Pofts of the Houfe: See 
 Chapt. xli. 21. 
 
 Ibid. And upon the four comers of the fettle of the 
 Altar'] See Chap, xliii. 14, 20. 
 
 Ibid. And upon the Pojis of the Gate of the inner 
 Cour:~\ See Chapt. xlvi. 1. 
 Ver. 20. Ver. 20. So jhall ye do the feventh Day of the 
 Months for every one that erreth) There were parti- 
 cularSacrifices appointed for Sins of Ignorance, whe- 
 ther of private Perfons or of the whole Congrega- 
 tion : See Lcvit. iv. 13, 27. 
 
 Ibid. So Jhall ye reconcile the Bouje] Cleanfe it 
 from any Pollution it may have contracted, thro' 
 the Ignorance of any of the common People : See 
 Verie 18. 
 
 Ver. 22
 
 nponEZEKlEL. 431 
 
 Ver. 22. And upon that Dayjhallthe Prince pre- Chapter 
 pare for himfelf^ &c] See Ver. 17. XLV. 
 
 Ver. 2 3 . And [even Dajs of the Feafl he Jhall y~v-^> 
 prepare a Burnt- offer tug to the Lord] Mofes in Ver. 22. 
 fome Places fpeaks of the Feaft of Unleavened Bread, Y er * 2 3* 
 which lafted lev en Days, as difHnct from the Day 
 wherein the Paflover was to be eaten : See Levit. 
 xxiii. 5, 6. which is agreeable to the Injunction of 
 this and the foregoing Verie, and the Words may 
 be eaiily reconciled with thofe Texts, which in- 
 clude the whole Solemnity within the Compafs of 
 feven Days, by fuppofing the Paflover to be eaten 
 early in the Evening on the 14th Day, between the 
 two Evenings as the Hebrew Text hath it, Exod. 
 xii. 6. immediately after which Ceremony was 
 over, they reckoned the 15th Day to begin, for 
 they reckoned their Days from one Evening to ano- 
 ther : See Lei)it. xxjii. 32. 
 
 Ibid. Semen Bullocks, and [even ~Rams.~\ Seven 
 was a Number often uled in Religions Rites : Mod 
 of the Feafts nndei the Law continued feven Days; 
 and this Number of Sacrifices feems to be deri- 
 ved from Patriarchal Inftitution, becaufe fuch a 
 Ciiftom prevailed where Mo/fj's Law was not 
 known : See Nu?hb.xxui. 1, 2. Job xlii. 8. 
 
 Ibid. And a Kid of the Goats daify for a Sin- offer- 
 ing,~\ This was the Sin-offering moft commonly pre- 
 fcribed : See Numb, xxviii. 15, 22, 30. xxix. 5, n 3 
 
 Ver. 24. And he flmll prepare a Meat Offering flf Ver.24, 
 an Ephah, &c] See Ver. 11 and 15. 
 
 Ibid,
 
 Ver. 25, 
 
 ^Commentary 
 
 Ibid. And an Wn of Oil for an EphabJ] For each 
 Ephah of fine Flour : an Hin was the iixth Part of 
 
 an Ephah or Bath : Which contains one Gallon 
 and two Pints, according to Biihop Cumberland in 
 the forecited Place. 
 
 Ver. .25. In the fevcnih' Month ,. in the fifteenth 
 Day of the Month.'] When the Feaft <of Taberna- 
 cles was kept : See Levit. xxiii. 34. 
 
 CHAP.
 
 upon EZEKIEL. 
 
 433 
 
 * 44 44444444*44444444 4>*4 44 ^ AAAA4*AAA*AAA,*.^;-.t/./. ,\ 
 
 ^ii^^^^^^f ^tr?* & *-f ^^^^ ¥****■ 3f,w^H tjHrV^tiHHm^ 
 
 CHAR XLVL 
 
 The Argument. 
 
 ^ Continuation of the Ordinances relating to the 
 Worjhip of the Prince and People : And concerning 
 the Gifts he Jljall beftow on his Sons and Servants. 
 Then follows a Defcription of the Courts appointed 
 for boiling and baking any Part of the Holy 
 Oblations. 
 
 Chapter 
 XL VI. 
 
 Ver. 1. 
 
 m 
 
 HE Gate of the inner Court Ver. r, 
 that looketh towards the Eaft y 
 jhall be jhut the fix working 
 Vays.~\ See the Notes upon 
 Chap. xliv. 1,2. 
 Ibid. But on the Sabbath it 
 
 Jhall be opened, and in the Day of the New-Moon.'] 
 Under the Sabbath and New-Moon, all the other 
 Feafts may probably be comprehended : See Chap, 
 xlv. 17. 
 
 Ver. 2. And the Prince Jhall enter in by the Porch 
 of that Gate, without. ] He fhall go through the 
 outer Gate of that Court, and fo pafs to the inner 
 
 K k k Gate, 
 
 Ver 
 
 T. 2.
 
 aoa. A Commentary 
 
 Chapter Gate, where he may fee the whole Service per- 
 XLVL formed at the Altar. Or the Porch of the Gate with- 
 \s~v~^ out may fignify, the further-moil: Porch of the 
 Gate, with refpeft to thofe that are coming to- 
 wards the Temple, which is the fame with the in- 
 nermoft, in refpeft of the Temple it felf. In this 
 Senfe the Word is taken Chapt. xl. 44. The 
 Word MichutSj or Michutfah, figniries both the 
 hither, and the further Side, both being Relative 
 Terms, and applicable to the lame Place, as Per- 
 sons are going out, or coming into the Temple. 
 It fignifies the hither Side, Chapt. xl. 19. and the 
 further Side, ibid. ver. 44. and in this Verfe. So 
 the Word Neber /Ignifies both the further and hi- 
 ther Side of a River. See Noldius, p. 660. 
 
 Ibid. Shall fland by the Pofl of the Gate.'] i. e. by 
 the Entrance of the Gate, where there was a Seat 
 prepared for him : See the Note upon Chapt. 
 xliv. 3. 
 
 Ibid. And the Priejl Jhall prepare his Burnt-offer' 
 ing.] Or, offer his Burnt-offering : For fo the Verb 
 Nafah often fignifies, as Facio does in Latin. 
 
 Ibid. And he JJmll worjhip at the threshold of the 
 Gate.'] By bowing his Head, and bowing down 
 his Face to the Earth, or falling down upon the 
 Ground, as the Pofture of Divine Worfhip is elfe- 
 where defcribed: See Gen. xxiv. i6 y 52. Exod. xii. 
 27. 1 Qhron. xxix. 20. 2 Qhron. xxix. 25?. Job 1.20. 
 Ibid. But the Gate Jhall not bejhut until the Eve- 
 ning.] Becaufe the People were to pay their folemn 
 Worfhip in the fame Place, as it is prefcribed in 
 the following Verfe. 
 Ver. *; Ver. 3. Likewife the People of the Land Jhall 
 worjhip at the Door of this Gate> §cc] During the 
 
 Con-
 
 upon EZEKIEL. 43$ 
 
 Continuance of the Tabernacle, they that would Chapter 
 offer any Sacrifice, were required to bring it to the XLVI. 
 Door of the Tabernacle of the Congregation : and there ^/y^J 
 lay their Hands upon the Head of it* Levit. i. 3,4. 
 and under the Temple they came to the North, or 
 South-gate of the inner Court, according as the 
 Sacrifice was to be flain on the North or South-fide 
 of the Altar, and there prelented their Sacrifice : 
 See Dr. Lightfoot's Temple, Chap. 34. Here the 
 inner Porch of the Eaft-gate is affign'd for their 
 Station, who came to prefent themfelves before the 
 Lord upon the fole'mn FeftivJs, and they were to 
 come ho further into the inner Court. 
 
 Ver. 4 And the Burnt-offer'mg that the Prime Jb.ill Ver. 4. 
 offer-in the Sabbatb-ddy, &c:'] It was the Prince's 
 Part to provide Sacrifices for the Sabbaths and 
 other Feftivals : See Chapt. xlv. 17. This was a 
 new Ordinance, whereupon the Number of the 
 Beafts that were to be offered, and the Proportions 
 of the Meat and Drink-offerings, are different here 
 from thofe prefcribed in the Law : As will appear 
 by comparing the 4th, 6th, 7th, and 14th Verfes 
 of this Chapter, with Numb, xxviii. 9,11, 12, and 5. 
 
 Ver. 5. And the Meat-offering foallbe an Ephah Ver. 5.' 
 for a Ra?n, a?id an Htn of Oil to dn Ephah.'] See 
 Chapt. xlv. 24. 
 
 Ibid. And the Meat-offerings for the Lambs y as he 
 [hall be able to give.] The Margin reads from the 
 Hebrew, according to the Gift of bis Hand, i. e. As 
 much as he lhall think fufficient : See the fame Ex- 
 preflion Deut. xvi. 17. 
 
 Ver. 8. He Jhall go in by the way of the Porch of Ver. 8J 
 that Gate.] See Ver. 2. To go in at the Eaftern 
 Gate, was the Privilege of the Prince and the Priefts 
 
 Kkk 2 only
 
 43 6 
 
 A Commentary 
 
 Chapter only : The People were to enter in by the North 
 
 XLVI. or South-gates, as it is faid in the following Yerfe. 
 Ky^Y^) Ver. 9. He that entreth in by the North gate to 
 
 Ver. 9. worjhip, Jhall go out by the way of the South-gate] 
 The Words imply the Reafon why the People were 
 not to come in at the Eaft-gate, becaufe there 
 being no Paflage or Thorow-fare out of the Tem- 
 ple weft ward ; if they had entred in at the Eaft- 
 gate, they nruft have returned back the fame way 
 they came in, which would have been turning their 
 Back upon God, and the Place of his Residence : 
 See Note upon Chapt. VIH. 1 6. 
 
 Ver. 10. ^ er - IO - And the Prince in the midft of them 
 when they go in, Jhall go hC\ He fhall pay the fame 
 Attendance upon God's Worfhip with \xhz People, 
 fince all Men are equal m the Sight of God. 
 
 Ver. 12. Ver; 12. When the Prince Jhall prepare a 'voluntary 
 Burnt-offering.'] The foregoing Verfes gave orders 
 about the Sacrifices, the. Prince was enjoined to of- 
 fer upon folemn Days: This. gives Directions con- 
 cerning Free-will -Offerings : Concerning which fee 
 Levit. xxii. 18, 21. 
 
 Ibid. One'Jhall then open hint the Gate, &c] when 
 the Service is performed, he mall go back the fame 
 Way : See Ver. 8. and the Porter mall fliu't the 
 Gate after him, becaufe it may not ftand open upon 
 ordinary Days, Ver. 1. 
 
 Ver 12.. Ver. x 3 # ^ fo a ^ ^ a *ty P re P are a Burnt-offering 
 unto the Lord. Thou fh alt prepare it every Morn- 
 ing.] The daily Evening Sacrifice is generally fup- 
 pofed to be here implied, according to Prefcripti- 
 on of the Law, Numb, xxviii. 3, 4. And both toge- 
 ther called by the Name of the daily Sacrifice, 
 Van. will. 11, 12. The daily Oblation feems to 
 
 have
 
 - upon EZEKIEL. 437 
 
 have been provided at the joint charge of Prince Chapter 
 and People. See Chapt. xlv. 16, 17. XLVI. 
 
 Ver. 14. The fixth part of an Ephah, and the third o^TO 
 part of an Hin of Oyl] In Numb.xxvui. 5. the Pro- Ver. 14. 
 portion required is the tenth part of an Ephah, and 
 the fourth part of an Hin of Oyl. 
 
 Ibid. By a perpetual Ordinance unto the LORD] 
 So the Law of the Paffover is call'd a perpetual Or- 
 dinance, Exod. Kii. 17. and like wife Ordinances a- 
 bout the Firft-fruits, Levit. xxiii. 14. the Hebrew 
 word Olavi is ufedin eachofthefe places : But that 
 does not always denote Perpetuity in a ftridt Senfe, 
 but only a remarkable Period or Succeflion of 
 time \ accordingly the Jews themfelves divide 
 the Duration of the World into three Olams; or 
 Ages, that before the Law, that under the Law, 
 and the times of the Meflias. 
 
 Ver. 17. It /hall be his to the Tear of Liberty] So Ver. 17; 
 the Year of 'Jubilee is called by the name of Liberty, 
 Levit. xxv. 10. becaufe it freed both Mens Perfons 
 from the Service of their Matters, and their Eftates 
 from any Engagements, by which the Right of them 
 was transferred from their proper owners 
 
 Ibid. After, it /hall return to the Prince] Or to 
 his Heirs, if he be Dead. 
 
 Ibid. But his Inheritance /hall be his Sons for the ?n] 
 Or, his Inheritance fhall belong to his Sons, it (hall 
 be theirs: So as not to be alienated. 
 
 Ver. 18. Moreover the Prince /hall not take of Ver. 18, 
 the Peoples Inheritance by Oppie/Jion] As Ahab did, 
 . 1 Kings xxi. 16. Comp. Chapt. xlv. 8. 
 
 Ibid.- That my People be not fcattered every Man 
 from his Poffe/fionJ] Left being turned out of their 
 
 own
 
 43 8 
 
 A Commentary 
 
 Chapter own, they be forced to wander up and down the 
 XV LI. Country tor a Lively-hood. 
 
 <v^\TO Ver. 19: Afterwards he brought me through the 
 Ver. 19. entry which was at the fide of the Gate \into the Holy 
 Chambers of the Priefts which looked towards the 
 North,'] This entry or private pailage (See Chapt.- 
 xlii. 9.) led to the Priefts Chambers which were 
 on the North fide of the Inner Court, and are de- 
 scribed Chapt. xl. 44, 46. 
 
 Ibid. Behold there was' a Place on the two fides 
 IVeftward.] Or, on their fides Wefiward : i. e. There 
 was an inclofure on the Weft fides of thefe Cham- 
 bers : If we follow the Senfe of the Englifh Trans- 
 lation, we may fuppofe a walk or way between 
 thefe Weftern Buildings, which divided them into 
 two Rows or equal Parts. See Chapt. xlii. 4. 
 Ver. 20. Ver. 20. This is the Place where the Priefts Jhall 
 boil the Trefpafs-Offering and the Sin-Offering.] See 
 Chapt. xlii. 13. xliv. 29. The Flefh of the Sacrifices 
 which were to be eaten was to be boiled, except 
 theFlefli of the Paflbver: See 2 Chron. xxxv. 13. So 
 it is taken notice of as a piece of Daintinefs and 
 an over nice Palate in the Sons of Eli, that they 
 would not have the Flefh which came to their Share 
 Sodden, but Roafted, 1 Sam. ii. 15. 
 
 Ibid. Where they pall bake the Meat-Offering] 
 According to the Directions given Levit. ii. 4, 5, 7. 
 Ibid. That they bear them not into the utter Court, 
 to fanffifie the People.] The Flefh of thofe Sacri- 
 fices and the Remainder of the Meat-Offering was 
 accounted mod Holy : See Levit. vi. 17, 29. 
 vii. 6. and confequently did convey fome Holinefs 
 to thofe that touched it : See the Note on Chapt, 
 xliv. 19? 
 
 Ver. 2*;
 
 upon EZEKIEL. 439 
 
 Ver. % 1. Then he brought me forth to the utter Chapter 
 Court] The Court of the People, mentioned in the XL VI. 
 foregoing Verfe. is*v\j 
 
 Ibid. And behold in every corner of the Court there Ver. 2 1, 
 was a court ^ At every corner where the fide walls 
 met in right Angles, there was another little Court. 
 
 Ver. 22. In the four corners of the Court there were Ver. 2 2 . 
 Courts joined^ ofjorty Cubits long, and thirty broad] 
 Thefe little Courts were in the fhape of an Oblong 
 Square, joined with inner Walls to the outfide Walls 
 of the Greater Court. The Hebrew word Keturoh, 
 tranflated pined, is rendered in the Margin, made 
 with Chimneys, which Senie very well agrees with 
 the Defcription that follows of the ufes for which 
 thefe Courts were defigned. 
 
 Ver. 23. And there was a Row of Buildings \r 
 round about in them.~] On the infide of thefe Courts. ' 2 ^' 
 Ver. 24. Thefe are the Places where the Mini- Ver. 24. 
 flers of the Houfefi all boil the Sacrifice of the People.'] 
 As there was a place in the inner Court for boil- 
 ing the Trefpafs and Sin-Offering, Verfe 19 20. 
 So thefe Boiling places might be appointed for the 
 Boiling the Peace-Offerings, which were efieemed in- 
 ferior in Holinefs to thofe above-mentioned, (lee the 
 Note upon Chapt. xlii. 13.) and therefore perhaps 
 were dreffed by the Levites, or inferior Mini- 
 fters : Whereas the Former were boiled by the Priefts . 
 in the Court properly belonging to them. Altho' 
 it muft be granted, the Priefts and Levites are often \ 
 taken promifcuoufly in this Prophecy : See the 
 Note upon Chap. xl. 45. 
 
 C-H A p.
 
 4*o 
 
 A C MM ENTARY 
 
 ft**********-************ ' *** &*» **** **************** 
 
 <>£^?&\/f~*- ; ir r *^tfZr<y~ i*- f^ v i"'-* 1 , t*^ <f^(^ ft* &\ (Ft f*^V 5 
 
 Chapter 
 XLVII. 1 
 
 CHAR XLVIL 
 
 The Argument. 
 
 TIm Fi/ww of J&<? Holy Waters JJJuing out of the 
 Tetnpky and the Virtue of them i together with a 
 Defer ipt ion of the federal bounds of the Holy 
 Land, which is to be indifferently fhared between 
 the If raelites and the Proielytes that [ojoumed a- 
 viong them. 
 
 Ver. j. Ver. i 
 
 FTERWARD he brought 
 me again unto the Door of 
 the Houfe.] The Door of the 
 Temple, which is defcribed 
 Chapt. xli. 2. 
 Ibid. And behold Waters 
 iffued out from under the Threjhold Eafiward.~\ 
 There was a great Quantity of Water neceflfary 
 for the Ufes of the Temple, for wafliing the Bodies 
 of thofe that officiated, as well as the Sacrifices which 
 they offered. This was conveyed in Pipes under 
 ground from the Fountain Etam, as Dr. Lightfoot 
 obferves from the Rabbins, and from Arifteas, an 
 Eye Witnefs : See his Temple, Chapt. 23. Thefe 
 Waters gave Occafion to the Vifion here related; 
 
 Ibid.
 
 upon EZEKIEL. 441 
 
 Ibid. Tor the Forefront of the Houfe ftcod toward Chapter 
 the Eaft.'\ The inward Sanctuary being placed to- XLVIL 
 wards'the Weft : See the Note upon Chapt. viii. 16. l^w 
 
 Ibid. And the Waters came down from under the 
 right- fide of the Houfe, at the South-fide of the Altar. ~\ 
 This is fpoke with refpect to thofe that come out 
 of the Temple, and direct their Faces Eaftward, 
 for then the South-fide is on a Man's Right-hand. 
 Thefe Waters were conveyed by the right-fide of 
 the Altar, into a Room they called the Well-room : 
 See Dr. Lightfoot, in the fore cited PJace. 
 
 Ver. 2. Then brought he me out of [or by] the Ver. 2. 
 Way of the Gate, North-ward.'] The Eaft-gate 
 being fhut: See Chapt. xlvi.i. The Prophet in this 
 Vifion is led to the North-gate of the inner 
 Court. 
 
 Ibid. And led me about the way without, unto the 
 utter Gate.~\ He led me into the outward Court, and 
 fo on till he came to the outmoft North- Wall, that 
 encompafTed the whole Mountain of the Lord's- 
 Houfe : See Chapt. xlii. 20. 
 
 Ibid. By the way that looketh Eajlward.~\ when 
 the Prophet was come quite through all the Courts, 
 and is on the outfide of the outermoft, he is dire- 
 cted to come from the North-gate toward the Eaft- 
 gate. 
 
 Ibid. And behold there ran Waters out on the right- 
 fide. ~\ On the South-fide : See Ver. 1. Thefe 
 were the fpare Waters not ufed in the Service of 
 the Temple, which were conveyed away by the 
 Eaft-part of the Mountain, and by Degrees en- 
 creafed its Stream, till it became a River, and fell 
 at laft into the Vead-Sea : See Ver, 8, 10. and 
 Comp. Joel iii. 1 8. 
 
 L 1 1 Ver.
 
 442 A Commentary 
 
 Chapter Ver. 3. And the Man that had the Line in his 
 • XLVII. Hand went forth Eaflward.~] The Angel defcribed 
 .o^v^O with a Line in his Hand, Chapt. xl. 3. went on 
 Ver. 3. directly from the Eaft-gate before the Holy Moun- 
 tain. 
 Ver. 4, 5. Ibid, and Ver. 4, 5. He meafured a thoufand Cu- 
 bits, and he brought me through the Waters, and the 
 Waters were to the Ancles, &c] The gradual Rife 
 of the Waters reprefented in this Virion, denotes 
 the large Effuiion of the Spirit, which was very re- 
 markable at the firft Publication of the Gofpel, 
 and its wonderful Increafe from fmall Beginnings ; 
 and will be fo again, when God mall pour the Spi- 
 rit of Grace upon the Jews, in order to their Conver- 
 iion : Zech. xii. 10. See the Note upon If a. liv. 13. 
 The Supplies of Grace are often reprefented in the 
 Holy Writers under the Metaphor of a River, and 
 Streams watering the dry and thirfty Earth, both 
 cleanfing and making fruitful the Ground where 
 they pafs. The Metaphor is probably taken from 
 the River that watered Paradife : See Revel, xxii. 1 . 
 and Compare Zech. xiii. 1. xiv. 8. I fa. xliv. 3. and 
 fee the Notes upon I fa. xxx. 25. 
 Ver. 6, Ver. 6. And he [aid unto me, Son of Man, haft 
 thoufeen this?~\ Haft thou confidered or taken No- 
 tice of this Virion now fhewed unto thee ? Comp. 
 Chapt. xl. 4. To fee, often fignifies to take Notice 
 of what we fee -, on the contrary, they are faid to 
 have Eyes, and fee not, who do not obferve what is 
 placed hi fore their Eyes. 
 
 Ibid. Then he caufed me to return to the Brink 
 of the River.J He made me go along by the Ri- 
 ver fide, 
 
 yer. 7.
 
 upon EZEKIEL. 44.3 
 
 Ver. 7. Behold, on the Bank of the River were Ch 
 very many Trees ^ on the one Side, and on the otl>-.t'\ XL VII. 
 The Words allude to the Trees planted in Para- ^^r^, 
 dife, and defTgned for Man's Food in the State of 
 Innocence, and efpecially to the Tree of Life 
 which grew there : See Ver. 12. and Conip. R#- 
 vel. xxii. 2. 
 
 Ver. 8. Thefe Waters iffue out towards the Eafl- Ver. 8. 
 Country, and go down into the Defart, and g r ) into 
 the Sea.'] Thefe Waters are defcribed as taking 
 their Courfe along the Plain or Champagne Coun- 
 try (for that is theSenfe of the Word Araba, here 
 rendred Defart) toward the Lake where Sodom for- 
 merly flood, called the Dead-Sea, and by Mofes, 
 the Salt-Sea : Comp. Dent. iii. 17. with this Verfe. 
 
 Ibid. Which being brought forth into the Sea, the 
 Waters Jhali be healed.'] This is the Obfervation of 
 all Writers who defcribe this Lake, that nothing 
 can live in it : And the Text here tells us, that 
 thefe living Streams fhall by mixing with thefe 
 Salt and brackifh. Waters, make them wholefome 
 and fit for life : Myftically denoting the healing 
 Vertue of God's Grace to cure the Vices and Cor- 
 ruptions of wicked Men. 
 
 Ver. 9. And it Jhalhome to pafs, that every Ihing Ver. 9. 
 that liveth, which moveth whither foever the Rivers 
 Jhall come, fhall live, &c. ] The Metaphor is mil 
 continued, to this Senfe : That as the Fifli which 
 move or fwim, (Comp, Gen. i. 20. ) in Waters 
 cured or made wholefome, have Life and Nou- 
 riiliment from thence, whereas no Filli can live in 
 the Dead-Sea : So the Waters which flow from the 
 Wells of Salvation, 2ls the Prophet Ifaiah exprefles it, 
 If a. xii. 3. fhall make all thofe thrive and multiply 
 
 L 1 1 2 who
 
 444 A Commentary 
 
 Chapter who enjoy the Benefit of them, though their Con- 
 XLVI1. dition before were never fo defperate. The Word Rj- 
 o^v^v? wrs and Rher are promifcuoufly ufed in this Verfe, 
 tho' fome of the JewiJJj Writers are of Opinion that 
 thefe Waters divide themfelves, and fome flow Eaft- 
 ward, and others Weftward : Which Opinion they 
 ground partly upon the Plural Number ufed in this 
 Verfe, but chiefly upon the Words of Zechariah, 
 Chapt.xiv. 8. 
 Ver. ic£ Ver. 10. And it Jhall come to pafs, that the Fi- 
 Jhers jhall flan d upon it, from En-gaddi to En-eglaim.] 
 Engaddi was a Town that lay on the South-weft of 
 of the Lake of Sodom, or the Dead-Sea, called Hrt- 
 zezon-tamar, Gen, xiv. 7. compared with 2 Chron, 
 xx. 2. En-eglaim, or En-gallim as St. Jsrom reads 
 the Word, is another on the EauMide of the fame 
 Lake, where Jordan falls into it j upon the Con- 
 lines of Moab, as may be conjedured from If a. xv. 
 8. which is confirmed by the Parallel Text in 
 Joel iii. 18. where it is faid that a Fountain Jhall 
 come forth of the Hou/e of the Lord, and Jhall water 
 the Valley of Shittim : Which we know was in the 
 Country of Moab : See Num. xxv. 1. So thefe 
 two Places denote the whole extent of that Lake, 
 which the Prophet faith, fliall be full of Fifh, ftill 
 profecuting the Allegory begun in the foregoing 
 Verfes. 
 
 Ibid. They Jhall be a Place to fpread forth their 
 Nets.'] Thefe two Towns fliall afford Conve- 
 nience for the Fiihers to hang out their Nets a 
 drying : See Chapt. xxvi. 5. 
 
 Ibid. Their Fijh Jhall be according to their Kinds, 
 as the Fijh of the great Sea.] This Lake for plenty 
 of Jriih may compare with thsMediterranean-Sea, 
 
 called
 
 upon EZEKIEL. 445 
 
 called the Great Sea here, and ver. 15, 19. and Chapter 
 Chapt. xlviii. 28. and more diftinftly defcribed in XLVII. 
 JoJljua, by the Great Sea weflward, JrJIo. xxiii. 4. v>^YXJ 
 Perhaps Chrift may allude to this Place, when he 
 tells his Difciples, he will make them Fifhcrs of Men, 
 Matth.iv. 19. 
 
 V. 1 r. But the wiry-placer Jhall not be healed, they Ver. 1 r. 
 jhall be given to Salt.'] By thofe unlbund, rotten 
 Places may be underftood Hypocrites ; who fhall 
 receive no Benefit by thefe healing Waters, no 
 more than fome fort of Marfhland can be made 
 fruitful : Bnt after all the Care or Culture that can 
 be bellowed upon it, continues barren and unpro- 
 fitable, which the Hebrew Language expreffeth by 
 being ghten to Salt : Saltnefs is equivalent to Bar- 
 rennefs in that Language : See Pfal. cvii. 34. Dent. 
 xxix. 23. Jerem. xvii. 6. fo we read Judg. ix. 45. 
 when doimelech deftroyed Siebem, he [owed the 
 Ground whereon it ftood with Salt, to denote 
 that it mould never be cultivated or inhabited 
 
 again. 
 
 V. 12. And by the River upon the Bank thereof, Ver. 12, 
 Jhall grow all Trees for Meat."] See the Note on 
 ver. 7. 
 
 Ibid. Whofe Leaf Jlmll not fade, neither Jhall the 
 Fruit thereof be con fume d?\ They mall be perpetual- 
 ly in a thriving Condition, like the Trees of Pa- 
 radife, never barren or withering : A proper Em- 
 blem of the Flourifhing State of the Righteous 
 (till bringing forth Fruit unto Holinefs, and whofe 
 End is everlafting Life : See Pfal. i. 3. ^ferem. xvii. 8. 
 
 Ibid. H Jhall bring forth new Fruit according to its 
 "Months.] It mall be conftantly fruitful, not only 
 once a Year, as Fruit-trees commonly are, Com p. 
 Rev, xxii. 2. Ibid.
 
 44^ 
 
 A Commentary 
 
 Chapter Ibid. ThsTruh thereof foall be for Meat y find the 
 
 XLV1I. Leaf thereof for Medicine,'] As the Waters ifliiing 
 txw; from the Sanctuary have an healing Vertue: See ver. 
 8. fo the Leaves or. the Trees fhall have the fame 
 Quality. The Expreffion alludes to the Opinion 
 commonly received among Naturalifts and Phyfi- 
 cians, that the Leaves offeveral Trees are Medicinal. 
 v . Ver. 13. This fhall be the Border, &c] The 
 
 *' Borders defcribed in the following Part of this 
 Chapter, fhall be the Limits or Boundaries of your 
 Country. By the ieveral Captivities both of ijrael 
 and JudaJ^ the feveral Limits or Borders belong- 
 ing to the Inheritance of each Tribe were oblitera- 
 ted and forgotten : Whereupon here is a new Boun- 
 dary and Divifion made of the Holy Land, a full 
 PoflefliorTof which they might have expected to 
 enjoy, if their Sins had not prevented iuch a BleC- 
 fing. This may perhaps be the literal Senfe of the 
 following Part of the Prophecy ; though there is 
 without QuefHon a myltical Senfe implied under 
 this literal Defcription : See the Note on Chapt. 
 xlviii. 7, 20. 
 
 Ibid. Jofeph fhall have two Portions. ]XJ$on Reu- 
 bens forfeiting his Birth-right, the double Portion 
 belonging to the Firft-born, accrued to Jofeplfs 
 two Sons, Manaffeh and Ephraim 3 according to 
 "Jacob's own Appointment : See Gen. xlviii. 5. 
 1 Chron. v. 1. 
 
 Ver. 14. And ye Jhall inherit it 3 one as well as 
 Ver. 14. another ] The Ten Tubes which are fcattered abroad, 
 as well as Judah and Benjamin : (See Chapt. xlviii. 
 i, 7, 23, 27.) who together with fome of the Fa- 
 milies of the Tribe of Levi, made up the princi- 
 pal part of thofe who returned from the Baby 
 
 lomjh
 
 upon EZ EK I EL^ 447 
 
 lonifh Captivity ^ from hence we may conclude Chapter 
 that this Prophecy relates to the general Reftor- XLVII. 
 ation of the Jews, an Event ofcen foretold in the 'W^J 
 Prophecies of the old Teftament : See the Note 
 upon Chapt. xxviii. 25. 
 
 Ibid. Concerning the which I lifted up my F\and 
 to give it to your Fathers.] See Chapt. xx. 5, 6. 
 
 Ibid. And this hand /ball fall unto you for In- 
 heritance.'] The Word Fall, is taken from the man- 
 ner of their firft acquiring the Pofleffion of the 
 Land, which was by Lot, as it had formerly been, 
 when they firft took Pofleffion of it : See Verfe 
 22. Chapt. xlviii. 29. By which means all Con- 
 troversies will be prevented, the Lot referring 
 all Things to the Divine Defignation and Appoint- 
 ment. Prot). xvi. $3. 
 
 Ver. 15. From the great Sea, the way of Heth- 
 lon as Men go to Zedad.] The Northern border Ver.- 15. 
 of the Land was to begin from the Weft-point, 
 on which fide lay the Mediterranean Sea (See 
 Verfe 10.) and go on North- ward toward Hclhlou, 
 a place near Damafcrts: See Chapt. xlviii. 1. and fo 
 on forward, to Zedad, mentioned Nehem. xxxiv. 8. 
 
 Ver. 16. Hawath, Berothab, Stbraim, which /V Ver. 16: 
 between the border of Damafcus, and the border of 
 Ffawath,] The Places here mentioned were with- 
 in this tract of Ground. FLamath was the ut- 
 moft point of the Land North-ward, therefore 
 cailed the Entrance of Hatnath, and defcribed as 
 the oppofite point to the River of Egypt, See 1 
 Kings viii. 65. Amos vi. 14. The other two Town? 
 were Situate between Fiaviath and Damafcus. 
 
 Ibid. Flazar-hatticcn, which is by the Coafl of 
 Flauran.] Or, as our Margin reads, the middle 
 
 Villages
 
 44B 
 
 A Co MM ENTARY 
 
 Chapter Villages between Hamath and Hauran, a place 
 
 XLVII. lying Eaftward from Hamath, from whence that 
 
 l/"Y"^> Country was called Auranitis. 
 
 Ver. 17. Ver. 17. And the border from the Sea, ffiall be 
 
 Hazar-enari} &c] Or, jZw// be to Hazar-enan, even 
 
 //.-■£ border of Dam a/ cm, a??d all the Northern frontier^ 
 
 and the border of Hamath : i. e. That traft oi 
 
 Land which is called the Entrance of Hamath, 
 
 as was obferved before. Your North border ihall 
 
 be, as if a Line were drawn from the Mediter- 
 
 ra?ican Sea along by Hamath, and fo to Hazar- 
 
 enan: (See Nnmb. xxxiv. 9.) Keeping along by 
 
 the frontier of that part of Syria-, called Syria of 
 
 Damajcus : So as to diftinguifh the Northern 
 
 Boundaries of Ifrael, from the Southern Limits 
 
 oiSyria. 
 
 Ver. 18. Ver. 18. And the EaU fide yefimll Meafure from 
 
 Hauran andfromDamafcw, and from Gilead.] Damaf- 
 
 c«j\lay moreNortherly than Hauran, but the Country 
 
 called Auranitis might reach near it. Gilead was 
 
 a long tra& of Ground that joined to Mount 
 
 Libamu, and was extended to the Land of Sihon 
 
 King of the Amorites, as St. Jerom tells us in his 
 
 Book de Locis Hebrakis : it is called the Land 
 
 of Gilead, and reached unto Dan. Deut. xxxiv. 
 
 1. 
 
 Ibid. From the Land of Ifrael by Jordan, from 
 the border unto the Eafl Sea.'] From the Northern 
 Limits of the Land of Ifrael Verfe 17. near Crffarea or 
 Dan, where the River Jordan takes its rife, unto 
 the Dead Sea or the lake of Sodom: See Verfe 
 8. 
 Ver 19 ^ er * l 9' ^ n ^ ^ f out h fide Southward, from 1a- 
 mar even to the Waters offirife in Kadefh^ [to] the 
 
 River,
 
 upon EZEKIEL. 449 
 
 River, to the great Sea.~] Comp. Chapt. xlviii. 28. Chapter 
 The Southern Frontiers fhall be from Engeddi, XL VII. 
 called Wazazon-tamar, 2 Chron. xx. 2. (See Dr. '>>VV> 
 Light foot's Defer ipt. of the Land of Ifrael. Chapt. 
 6.) to the Waters of Meribab or ftrife, in Kadefh, 
 Deut. xxxii. 52. and from thence to the River of 
 Egypt. The River of Egypt rifeth out of Mount 
 Varan, taketh his Courfe weftward to Jibinocorura, 
 and from thence falls into the Mediterranean called 
 the great Sea, Verfe 10. See 1 Kings viii. 65. Gen. 
 xv. 18. Joflj.xv.qj. Ifa. xxvii. 12. where the lxx. 
 tranflate it, e^ p/vokop^hs , to Rhinocorura, in- 
 to which it falls. This River feems to be the 
 fame with Sihor, mentioned Jojh. xiii. 3. tho' that 
 Name be commonly underftood to fignifie the 
 Nile : See the Notes upon Jer. ii. 18. 
 
 Ver. 20. The weft-fide alfo fhall be the great Sea Ver: 20; 
 jrom the border.] i. e. From the fouth border men- 
 tioned in the foregoing Verfe : So Verfe 1 8, from 
 the border, means the Northern border, mention- 
 ed Verfe 17. 
 
 Ibid. Till a Man come over againfl Elamath.~] Or 
 rather, till a Man come to Ha?nath : For fo the 
 Particle Nad-Nocah fignifles: See Noldius, p. 657. 
 Till you come to Uamath the Northern Point to- 
 ward the weft Frontier. 
 
 Ver. 22. Ye fhall divide it by Lot for an Jnhe ri- Ver. ? 
 tance unto you.'] See the Note upon Verfe 14. 
 
 Ibid. And to the Strangers that r o)oum among you.] 
 Foreigners never before had the Privilege of pur- 
 chafing or pofleffing any Inheritance among the 
 Jews : So {his Myftically denotes the Incorpora- 
 
 M r\\ m ting
 
 45° 
 
 A Commentary 
 
 Chapter ting the Gentiles into the fame Church with the 
 XLVII. Jews: Making them fellow-heirs and of the fame 
 
 Body with them by the Gojpel : EpheJ. iii. 6. 
 Ibid. They Jhall ha've Inheritance with you 
 
 among the Tribes of IfraeL] In whatfoever 
 
 Tribe they fojourn, as it is expreft in the next 
 
 Verfe. 
 
 CHAP.
 
 upon EZEKIEL. 
 
 45 * 
 
 4''^L*y , ^i*y ''ffi'pjfy^&sfy ^j&^j&'Pjify 'x&^&^jiiy'^ty'tyy^ffi : * 
 
 A ***t*> VyV«» vJLt* uJ^tf v/k»» H,'.j.' SrV* V^-* S*^ «f^-^ *»A** •vS*' Sr^- S*V A 
 
 CHAP. XLVIIL 
 
 The Argument- 
 
 TCi" laft Chapter contains a Description of the federal 
 F onions of hand belonging to each Tribe : To- 
 gether with the Fort ions allotted to the Santiu- 
 ary y City, Suburbs, and Prince : As alfo the Mea- 
 sure and Gates of the New City. 
 
 Chapter 
 XLVIIL 
 
 Ver. 1. 
 
 ROM the North-end to the Ver. 1. 
 Coaft of the JVayofHethlon.'] 
 As the Defaiption of the 
 Limits or Boundaries of the 
 Land began on the North- 
 fide, Chapt. xlvii. 15, &c. fo 
 Tribe to whom the moft 
 firft namedj which is 
 
 is 
 
 the Portion of that 
 Northern Lot fell 
 Dan. 
 
 Ibid. For thefe are his fides, Eaft and Weft.'] 
 Thefe are the Boundaries belonging to that Tribe, 
 from the Eaft Point near Mount Libanus and 
 Gilead, to the Weft Point which is bounded by the 
 Mediterranean Sea. See Chapt. xlvii. 15, &c. 
 
 Mmm 2 Ver. a.
 
 4$2 A Commentary 
 
 Chapter Ver. 2. And by the border of Dan, from the Eaft 
 XLV1II. fide to the Weft fide, a Portion for Afher.] All 
 along from the South fide of Dan Meaf tiring 
 from Eaft to Weft, fhall the ftiare of AJher be. 
 Ver. 7. And by the border of Reuben — a Portion 
 for Judab."] From the fir ft Verfe to the feventh, 
 the Situation of (even of the twelve Tribes is 
 defcribed, which were placed on the North fide 
 of the Holy Portion, the length of Judea from 
 North to South being divided into twelve E- 
 qual Parts, See Chapt. xlvii. 14. befide the Al- 
 lotment for the Holy Portion and for the Prince ; 
 and the City and Temple being placed where 
 they ftood formerly, there muft be [even fhares 
 on the North fide of that Allotment, and but 
 five on the South fide. For Jerufalem did not 
 ftand in the middle of the Holy Land, but more 
 toward the South, as may appear to any one that 
 confults the Map of Judea. 
 
 But for the fuller Explaining this Difficulty, 
 we may reafonably conclude, that Judah's Por- 
 tion lay neareft to th.it which was allotted for 
 the Priefts and Sanctuary. 
 
 It is the Opinion of fome Learned Men, that 
 fo particular a Defcription of the feveral Portions 
 allotted to each Tribe relates to the Jews Set- 
 tlement in their own Country after their Con- 
 verfion. Several Paflages in the Prophets look- 
 ing that way: See the xxxvi. and xxxvii. Chap- 
 ters of this Prophecy. But without laying too 
 great a ftrefs upon this Opinion, we may fairly fup- 
 pofe fome Myftical Senfe contained under this 
 Defcription. The twelve Tribes denote the Pure 
 Chriftian Church in the New Teftament: See Luke 
 
 xxii %
 
 upon EZ EKIEL. 453 
 
 xxii. 30. Rev. vii, 4, &c. Twelve is an Hiero^Iy- Chapter 
 phical Number in the fame Book, denoting the XLVIII 
 true Church, built upon the Doctrine of the twelve o^VO 
 Apoftles. See Rev. xii. 1. xxi. 14. By the fame 
 Analogy the Number of an Hundred and forty mid 
 four Thoufand, Revel, vii. 4. xiv, 1. fignifies the 
 Church of Pure Chriftians, who continue ftedfaft 
 in the Apoftolical Do&rine, twelve being the 
 Square Root out of which that Number arifeth : So 
 this Divifion of the Land among the twelve 
 Tribes may imply, that all true Chriftians fhall 
 be equally Sharers in the Privileges of the Gof- 
 ple. 
 
 Ver: 8. And by the border of Judab, from the y e r. Z. 
 Eafi-fide unto the Weft fide, ffiali be the Offering 
 which yefiall offer of five and twenty thoufand Reeds 
 in breadth."] Next to the border of Judah which 
 runs in length from Eaft to Weft, fhall be the 
 Offering ye fhall fet apart for the Service of God, 
 Chapt. xlv. 1. The word Reeds is not in the Ori- 
 ginal either here, or in that Text : And we may 
 more probably underftand the Meafure in both 
 places of Cubits : See the Note there. 
 
 Ibid. And in length as one of the other Parts 
 [are,] from the Eaft fide to the Weft fide.] Which 
 was likewife five and twenty thoufand, according 
 to the Dimenfions of the Holy Portion fet down 
 Chapt. xlv. 1 - — 6. For the Oblation was to be 
 four-fquare, confiding of five and twenty thouf- 
 and multiplied by five and twenty thoufand : See 
 Verfe 20. of this Chapter: 
 
 Ver. 9. The Oblation that ye jhall offer unto the y er ^ 
 LO RD fhall be of five and twenty thoufand in 
 length, and ten thoufand in breadth.] This fhall be 
 
 i*t
 
 454 <d Com mkntary 
 
 Chapter (et apart for the Sanctuary, and the moft Holy 
 XLVIil. Place, and the Priefts Houfes: See Chapt. xlv. 3. 
 
 Ver; 10. y er , IO# Toward the North five and twenty thouf- 
 [and in length, and toward the JVeft> ten thoufand 
 in breadth, &c] The Dimenfions from Eaft to Weft 
 are called by the Name of Breadth here, but of 
 length Verfe 8. And fo they truly are, as may ap- 
 pear from the Plan of the whole defcribed in the 
 Notes upon the.xlvffc Chapter. Butifwefuppofe that 
 fpace of Ground which is exprefled by the Breadth 
 in one Place, to be called by the Name of length 
 in another, there will be no impropriety in the 
 Expreflion, becaufe in an exacl: fquare, as the 
 whole Compafs of Ground is here fuppofed to 
 be, all fides are equal. 
 Ver. 11. Ver. 11. It ftiall be for the Priefts that are 
 fanflified, of the Sons of Zadok] See Chapt. xliv. 
 
 "10, 15. 
 
 Ibid. As the Levites went aftray.~\ Or, as the 
 other Levites went aftray. So the word [Other] 
 is fupplied Verfe 8. The Levites denote in general 
 the Sons of Levi, fo as to comprehend the Priefts 
 too : See Verfe 22. Many or thefe had defiled 
 themielves with Idolatry, for which Crime they 
 were to be degraded from the Honours and Pri- 
 vileges due to thofe Priefts who had continued 
 faithful in their Office. See the Notes upon Chap- 
 ter xliv. 10, 11. 
 
 Ver, 12 Ver- 12. And this Oblation /ball be unto 
 
 them a thing moft holy.'] As all things dedicated 
 to God were ; See Levit. xxvii. 28. 
 
 Ibid. By the Border of the Levites.] It fhall 
 lie next to the Portion of the Levites, which lay 
 
 South-
 
 upon EZEKIEL. 455 
 
 South- ward between the Priefts and the Cities Chapter 
 Portion.See the Scheme placed at the xlv fib Chapter. XLV1II. 
 
 Ver. 13. And over againft the Border of the 'v'VNj 
 Priefts, the Levites fliall have five and twenty flMW-Ver. 13. 
 I and in Length, &c] It might be better translated, 
 jufi by the Border of the Priefts, or, befide the Border 
 of the Priefts, as the Word Leummath is translated 
 in our Englijh Bible, Chapt. x. 19. xi. 22. The 
 Words import that the Border of the Levites ran 
 parallel to that of the Priefts. And to the fame 
 Senfe the Word ftiould be tranflated in the 15th, 
 1 8th, and 21ft Verfes of this Chapter. See the 
 Note upon Chapt. xl. 1 8. 
 
 Ver. 14. They jh all not fell of it, neither exchange. Ver. 14. 
 nor alienate the Firfl-Fruits of the Land&c] It be- 
 ing God's Portion, they were not to fell nor part 
 with it upon any Pretence of Advantage or greater 
 Convenience, This Portion of Land is called the 
 Firft-fruits, as it is ftyled an Oblation, ver. 8. and 
 12. to denote that the whole Land was Gods 
 Property. See the Note upon Chapt. xlv. 1. 
 
 Ver. 15. And the five thoufand that are left in Ver. \y„ 
 the Breadth, over againft [or befide, See ver. 13.] 
 the five and twenty thoufand,'] which was the Por- 
 tion afligned to the Levites, Ibid. This five thou- 
 fand added to the five and twenty thoufand in 
 Length, and two ten thoufands in Breadth, men- 
 tioned ver. 10. makes up a Square of five and 
 twenty thoufand every Way. See ver. 20. 
 
 Ibid. Shall be for a profane Place for the City, Sec] 
 See Chapt. xlv. 6. It is called a profane Place com- 
 paratively, becaufe it was not f(? Holy as the 
 Temple and the Sanctuary. See the Note upon 
 Chapt. xlii. 20; 
 
 Ibid.
 
 45* 
 
 A Commentary 
 
 Chapter Ibid. And the City jh all be in the midft thereof.] 
 XL VIII. A fquare Piece of Ground of four thoufand and 
 v^~\^~ rive hundred Cubits on every Side, ihall be taken 
 out of the middle of the five and twenty thoufand 
 Cubits in Length, for the Area of the City. ver. 
 1 6. 
 Ver. 1 6. Ver. 1 6. And thefe {hall be the Meafures there- 
 of I the North- fide four thoufand and five hundred, 
 &c] It ihall be an Eaui-lateral Square, every fide 
 being exa&ly of the lame Meafure, confiding in 
 all ol eighteen thoufand Meafures. See ver. 35. 
 Ver. 17. Ver. 17. And the Suburbs of the City Jhall be to- 
 ward the North two hundred and fifty, and toward 
 the South two hundred and fifty, &c] thefe Dimen- 
 fions of the Suburbs, added to thofeofthe City, 
 make the whole Area or Equi-lateral Square of five 
 thoufand Cubits on every Side : Adding five hun- 
 dred in Breadth, and Eve hundred in Length, to 
 the 4500 Cubits, which was the Compafs of the 
 City. 
 
 Ver. 18. And the refidue in Length over again ft, 
 ver. ib. j- or befide, See ver. 13.] the Oblation of the holy 
 Portion, Jhall be ten thou land Eaft-ward, and ten 
 thoufand Weft-war d^\ thefe two Dimenfions of ten 
 thoufand in Length, both Eaftward and Weft- 
 ward, remain on each fide of the Area, which is 
 five thoufand Cubits Square, and fet apart for the 
 fife of the City. 
 
 Ibid. It jhall be over againft [or befide] the Ob- 
 lation of the holy Portion.] It ihall join to the Le- 
 vites Portion, both on the Eaft and Weft Side : 
 And it fhall lie Parallel with the two Portions be- 
 longing to the Priefts and Levites. Confult the 
 Scheme placed above. 
 
 Ibid.
 
 upon EZEKIEL, 457 
 
 Ibid. And the increafe thereof JJoall he for Food to Chapter 
 them that [ewe in the City.] Tnat periorrii inferior XL VIII; 
 Offices in the City. The Prieits and Levites hav- ^^v^^ 
 ing a large Portion already ailigned for their 
 Snftenance. 
 
 Ver. 19. And they that ferve the City, flmll ferve Ver. i 
 it cut of all the Tribes of lfrael.~] This Service be- 
 ing a Burden, it is fit that all the Tribes mould 
 bear their part in it. 
 
 Ver. 20. All the Oblation {hall be five and twenty V : 
 thoufand, by five and twenty thoufand.'] Five and 
 twenty thoufand in length;, multiplied by five 
 and twenty thoufand in breadth. See Verfe io. 
 
 Ibid. Ye Jhall offer the Oblation four e-fquare.~\ So 
 the Heavenly Jerufakm is defcribed as lying four- 
 fquare, Revel, xxi. 16. A fquare Figure being the 
 Emblem of Perpetuity, ftrength and Solidity. 
 Comp. Chapt. xlii. 16 — 20. 
 
 A great Part of the Wifdom of the Eaflem Nati- 
 ons was wrapped up in Hieroglyphical Emblems 
 and Numbers. The Symbols of Phythagoras are a 
 remarkable Inftance of this fort of Ancient Learn- 
 ing. This Method God hath thought fit to make 
 ufe of to difcover fome Myfterious Truths in his 
 Word : Such as perhaps he thinks not convenicnr 
 to be more clearly revealed till its proper Time 
 and Seafon : Intending by fuch obfeure Hints to 
 encourage Men's Searching into the more abftrufe 
 Parts of the Scriptures, and to fhew that all Human 
 Knowledge may be made Subfervient to Di- 
 vine. 
 
 The Text before us compared with its Paral- 
 lel in the xtii Chapter of this Prophecy, and in 
 the Revelation, plainly fhews that a fquare is an 
 
 Nnn Em-
 
 45 B 
 
 A Commentary 
 
 Chapter Emblematical Figure. In like manner the Num- 
 XLVIII. ber Iwelve is a Sacred Number, as I obferv- 
 <-^Y*NJ ed upon Verfe 7 : and the learned Mr. Potter in 
 his Book of the Number 666, hath with great 
 Acutenefs reconciled the 12000 Furlongs, the Mea- 
 sure of the New Jerufalem in the Revelation, with 
 the Meafures of Ezekiel here, by interpreting them 
 of Solid Meafures, and extracting the Root of each of 
 them. 
 
 Ibid. With thePoJfejffionoftheCity.'] Or the land 
 afligned for the fite of the City ; Which was a 
 fquare of five thoufand Cubits , and being add- 
 ed to the Portion of the Priefts and Levites, made 
 their twice ten thoufand, to be five and twen- 
 ty thoufand in breadth. See Verfe 10, 15. 
 Ver. 21. Ver. 21, And the refidue ftiall be jor the Prince y 
 on the one fide and on the other of the holy Oblati- 
 on, and of the Poffejjion of the Oty,\ The Princes 
 part mall be extended both on the Eaft and Weft 
 iide of the feveral Allotments belonging to the 
 Priefts, the Levites and the City. The particular 
 Extent of the Princes Portion is not here fpeci- 
 fied, but it is computed by fome to contain a- 
 bove four times us much as thofe Allotments. See 
 the Note upon Verfe 22. 
 
 Ibid. Overagainfi the five and twenty thoufand cf 
 the Oblation toward the Eaft border, and We ft- ward 
 < ver again ft the five andtwenu thoufand toward the 
 Wtft border.'] The particle Elpene transited overa- 
 gainfi is rendered, Before, in the parallel Text, Chapt. 
 xlv. 7. and thus interpreted makes the Senfe clearer ; 
 the Words then importing, that the Prince's Por- 
 tion ran along Eaft-ward and Well-ward, like a 
 Frontier before the Holy Portions. See the fore- 
 mentioned Scheme. Ibid,
 
 upon EZEKIEL. 459 
 
 Ibid. Overaga'mft the Portions for the Prince, and Chapter 
 it JhAl be the Holy Oblation, &c] Our Tranflation XLVIII. 
 hath rendered the latter part of this Verfe very 's^r^J 
 imperfectly : Which fhoukl be thus tranfhted : Be- 
 fide thefe [or joining to thefe] Portion* y (fo Lewn- 
 math iignifies, fee Verfe 13.) Jhall be that belong- 
 ing to the Prince : And this JJoall be the Holy Obla- 
 tion, and the Santfuary of the Houfe jhall be in the 
 midft thereof. The laft Part of the Sentence is on- 
 ly a Recapitulation of what is laid more at large, 
 Verfe 8. 
 
 Ver. 22. Wloreover, -from the PoffcJJion of the Le-Wer. 22, 
 'Vites, and from the Poffejfionof the City, being in the 
 ?nid[i of that which is the Princes.'] The words might 
 be more plainly tranflated thus, Moreover, beyond 
 the Poffejjion of the Levites, and beyond the Poffef- 
 
 fion of the City to this Senfe : That the Pofleilions 
 
 belonging to the Priefts and Levites, (See Verfe 
 n.) and the City, were bounded on the Eaft and 
 Weil fide with the Prince's Portion : So thofe lay in 
 the middle, and this beyond them. The Hebrew 
 Particle Min fignifles Beyond, in feveral places: Ex- 
 amples of which may be feen in Noldius, p. 564. 
 
 ibid. Between the border of Jitdah, and the bor- 
 der of Benjamin Jhall be for the Prince.~\ The bor- 
 der oijudah was extended from Eaft to Weft next 
 to the Holy Portion on the North- fide. See Verfe 
 
 1, 8. The Portion of Benjamin lay from Eaft to 
 
 Weft next the Allotment fet apart for the City, on 
 
 the South- fide, Verfe 23, 28. The feveral Portions 
 
 allotted for the Priefts, the Levites and the City, 
 extended only to the length of five and twenty 
 thoufand Cubits from Eaft to Weft: So that what 
 ever ground ran in a Parallel Line Eaft- ward 
 
 Hnn 2 and
 
 460 A Commentary 
 
 Chapter and Weft- ward beyond that Boundary, even to the 
 
 XLVII1. Lands end, belonged to the Prince : And fuppofing 
 
 t>*"V^ the whole Country to be fixty Miles in b eadth,, 
 (as St. Jexom reckons it from Joppa to Jordan, 
 Epift. ad Dardanum) and the Holy Portion about 
 (ever! Miles Square : (See the Note upon Chapt. 
 xlv. 1.) there will remain above fix and twenty 
 Miles both on the Eaft and Weft Side for the Prince's 
 Share. See the Scheme placed at the xlvth Chapter. 
 Ver. 23. Ver. 23. As for the reft of the Tribes, from Eaft 
 to Weft, Benjamin fhall have a Portion.] The Por- 
 tion affigned to Judah was fituate next to the Ho- 
 ly Portion on the North-fide: See Verfe 1, 8. 
 
 The Portion affigned to Benjamin lay next to the 
 Ground allotted for the City on the South-fide : 
 See Verfe 28. All thefe Allotments run from Eaft 
 to Weft in length, and from North to South in. 
 breadth. 
 
 V24 27. Ver. 24 27. And by the border of Benjamin, 
 
 '^ &c:] In thefe Verfes the four remaining Tribes have 
 their Allotments affigned them, lying on the South 
 fide of the Holy Portion. Thefe Appointments 
 are not laid out with any Regard to the Divifion 
 of the Land made in JoJhua r s time ; for here a Plat- 
 form of a New Church and State is fet forth. 
 
 Ver. 28. Ver. 2 ^' And by the border of Gad, at the South- 
 
 fide the border Jhall be toward the Great Sea.~] 
 
 This is a Defcription of the Southermoft borders 
 of the Land, extending by the South and Weft 
 to the Mediterranean Sea. See Chapt. xlvii. 15?. 
 
 Ver 2 p. Ver. 2 9' This is the land which yejhall divide by 
 lot &c] See Chapt. xlvii. 14-, 22. 
 
 Ver. 30. Ver. 30. And thefe are the goings out of the City, 
 * on the North-fide^ &c.J The fame Meafures of the 
 
 City
 
 upon EZEKIEL. 461 
 
 City are already fet forth, Verfe 16. beginning Chapter 
 with thofe on the North-fide, as the general Di- XLVIII . 
 vifion of the Land doth : See Verfe i . v^^v^ 
 
 Vcr. 31. And the Gates of the City fhall be after y 
 the Navies of the Tribes of JfraelJ] The fame Defcrip- ' ' 
 tion is given of the Gates of the New Jerufalem, 
 Revel, xxi. 12, 13. tofignify that all true Ifraelites 
 have their Share in this Heavenly City, and a right 
 to enter into it, Revel, xxii. 14. 
 
 Ver. 35. And it was roundabout eighteen thou- Ver. 35. 
 fand Measures'] See Verfe 16. 
 
 Ibid. And the Name of the City from that Day 
 fhall be, the LORD is there.~\ Jerusalem was for- 
 merly called the City of God, Pfal. Ixxxvii. 3. and 
 the City of the great King, Pfal. xlviii. 2. But in 
 this New Jerusalem God fhall dwell in a more 
 glorious manner, and make it the Place of his 
 perpetual Re fide nee. So that every Part of that 
 City, and every Member of it, fhall be as 
 Holy as the Temple it felf, where God had 
 placed his Name, r Kings viii. 29. Comp. with 
 Revel, xxi. 22. this is in a lower Degree fulfil- 
 led in all good Chriftians, who are called the Tem- 
 ples of the living God, 2 Cor. vi. 16. 1 Pet. ii. 5. 
 and an Habitation of God through the Spirit. Epb. 
 ii* 22* 
 
 Texts
 
 
 Texts of Scriptures occafionally 
 
 explained. 
 
 Gen, xiii. 9. 
 xviii. 25. 
 xlix. 10. 
 Exod.xx.26. 
 xxv. 8. 
 xxxvi. 14. 
 Leu xviii. 5. 
 xxi. 22. 
 xxvi.41. 
 Nil xiii. 32. 
 D^.xxxiL 13. 
 Jofi.xiii. 3. 
 ^#d. ix. 45, 
 1 S<w/. i. 9. 
 ii. 15. 
 --- 27: 
 xxvi. 19. 
 1 /£/». vi. tf . 
 
 — 33. 
 -36. 
 
 vii. 6. 
 
 — 12. 
 2&0.iv. ?. 
 
 XX. 5. 
 
 Ifaiah 1.2 9. 
 
 Chap. xvi. 46. J/i. xxvii. 12. 
 
 xxi. 3. 
 
 xxi. 27. lii. 10. 
 
 xliii. 17. jfcr. xxvi. 10. 
 
 xxviii. 18. xxxi. 2. 
 
 xli. 1. Hof. ii. 18. 
 
 xx. 11. Joel iii. 18. 
 
 xiii. 14. NahumAil 18. 
 
 xxviii. 10. Zephan, ii. 13. 
 
 xxxvi. 13. iii. 9. 
 
 xxxvi. 2. Hagga'u ii. 6. 
 
 xlvii. 19. — y, 
 
 xlvii. 11. 
 
 xliv. 3. John viii. 5. 
 
 xlvi. 20. — 20. 
 
 xx. 4. xviii. 37. 
 
 xvi. 2$. 
 
 xli. 6. R0///. iv. 17. 
 
 xli. 21. 1 Cor. xi. 21. 
 
 xl. 17. 2 Cor. xii. 7. 
 
 xl. 23; 2 Tim. i. 7. 
 
 xl. 17. Jtew/. iv. 6. 
 
 J xxi. 16. 
 
 Chapt 
 
 1 
 
 xlvii. 
 
 ip. 
 
 iv. 
 
 7- 
 
 ix. 
 
 2. 
 
 xxxviii. 
 
 8. 
 
 xxxiv. 
 
 25. 
 
 xlvii. i 3 
 
 10. 
 
 xxxi. 
 
 3- 
 
 ibid. 
 
 
 xi. 
 
 ip. 
 
 xxxviii. 
 
 1 9» 
 
 xliii. 
 
 7- 
 
 xvi. 
 
 40. 
 
 xliv. 
 
 I; 
 
 xxxvii. 
 
 22. 
 
 xl. 
 
 33. 
 
 xxxix. 
 
 ip. 
 
 xxviii. 
 
 24. 
 
 ii. 
 
 5- 
 
 i. 
 
 5- 
 
 xxxviii. 
 
 1 P- 
 
 xlviii. 
 
 20. 
 
 1 xxxvi. 25.
 
 ERRATA. 
 
 PAGE 6. Line 12. read Numb.ii. 
 P. 36. 1. 28. r. Piggul. 
 P. 39. 1. ult. r. Chap. xx. 8. 
 P. 69. 1. 1 1. r. Chap. x. 3, <. 
 P. 84.I. 1. r. Lib. xi. 
 P. 87. 1. 28. r. any other. 
 P. 89. 1. 15. r. there was. 
 P. 126. 1. 15. r. Hand. 
 P. 156. 1. 19. r. Chap. xvi. 61. 
 P. 164. 1. 7. r. Teraphim. 
 P. 182. 1. 7. r. Amnon. 
 P. 21=;. 1. 18. r. Gen. xii. 5. 
 P. 216. 1. 21. r. Efhcar. 
 P. 234. 1. 8. r. Thirty fixth Year. 
 P. 252. 1. 1 1. r. Whom art thou like unto? 
 P. 275. 1. 19. >-. Niddabath. 
 P. 281. I. 17. r. foretel. 
 P. 3 14. I. 15. r. near the Middle. 
 P. 345. The Page ntifnumbred for 327. 
 
 and fo onward. 
 P. ibid. 1. 10. r. Villalpandus. 
 P. 347. 1. 19. r. yet to be. 
 
 P. 349. I. n.r.the Firfl: Chapter. 
 
 P. 350. 1. 4. r. Symmetry. 
 
 P. 352. I. ult. r. partly to ferve them. 
 
 P. 360. 1. 29. r. Noldius. 
 
 P. 366. 1. 28. r. Lib. i.e. i3.deSacrinc. 
 
 P. 374. 1. 33. ,. Five Cubits. 
 
 P..377- L 5-'"- i<5. 
 
 P; 398. 1. 4. r. carried me. 
 
 P. 401. 1. 29. r. the V article Im. 
 
 P. 410. 1. ult. r. 24. 
 
 P. 416. 1. 1. r. Ibid. They (hall be cloth- 
 ed with Linnen Garments.] The Epbod, 
 &c. 
 
 P. 424. 1. 29. r. noAs/f. 
 
 P. 427. 1. 17. r. pag. 122. 
 
 P. 447. 1. 23. r. Numb, xxxiv. 
 
 P. 45 2. 1. 23. two Lines left out ; fo after 
 Sancluary, r. to bea Barrier and De- 
 fence to them, againft the Invafion 
 of Gog and Magog, or any other Ene- 
 mies. 
 
 P. 456. 1. 16. r. an Equilateral Square. 
 
 ADDENDA^ CORRIGENDA. 
 
 AGE 6. Line 19. after Rev. iv. 6. add j And in that 
 Text the four living Creatures denote fomc Part of 
 the Chriftian Church, as appears by comparing that Place 
 with Rev. v. 8, 9. 
 
 Page 91.I. 9- The learned Gataker, in his Cinnus,p. 200." 
 thinks the Words may more properly be rendered, That 
 put (or fatten) Tillows to all Armholes \ fo he understands 
 the fame Word, Job xvi. 15. / have put Sackcloth upon 
 my Skin. 
 
 Page 1 1 5 . 1. 3 . Great and crying Sins are compared to thofc 
 of Sodom j fee Ifa. i. 9. iii. 9. Matt. xi. 23. Rev. xi. 8. 
 
 Page 174. 1. 4. add, And fee the Note upon Chap. xx. s. 
 
 Page 239. 1. 22. This Captivity of the Egyptians, though 
 not taken Notice of by Herodotus, is mentioned by Berofus 
 
 O o <j in
 
 ADVENT* A & CORRIGENDA. 
 
 in one of the Fragments of his Hiftory, quoted by Jofephus, 
 Antiq. L 10. c. n. and publifhed with Notes by Scaliger, 
 at the End of his Books de Emendatione Temporum, whofe 
 Remark upon the Place is very obfervable, viz. " The Ca- 
 " lamitics that befel the Egyptians arc patted over by Hero- 
 11 dotus, becaufe the Egyptian Priefts would not inform him 
 " of any Thing that tended to the Difgrace of their Nation. " 
 
 Ibid. 1. 25. All the following Note is to be expunged, 
 Archbiihop UJher being cited there by aMiftake. The Sto- 
 ry is told by Herodotus, at the Beginning of his 3 d Book, 
 to this Purpofe : That this Daughter oiApries, whofe Name 
 was Nitetis, pafled for fome Time for the Daughter of Ama- 
 fis ; but after having had feveral Children by Cyrus, (he dif- 
 covered the Truth of the whole Matter ; and excited him to 
 revenge the Wrongs done to her Father by Amafis $ which 
 might occafion Amafis's Revolt. 
 
 But Dr. Trideaux conjectures, that Cyrus's Death, which 
 happened the following Year, might be the true Rcafon of it. 
 See his Connect, of Script. Hift. p. 167. Edit. %vo. 
 
 Page 266. 1. 6. It is ufual in the Prophets to fpeak of what 
 is to come, as if it were already pail, as hath been obferved 
 clfewhcrc. 
 
 Page 395. 1- 5. Blot out the three following Lines, and 
 inftcad thereof read, The Wall was 5 00 Cubits every way, 
 Sec ver. 1 6. as it compofed the Length and Breadth of the 
 Temple, and its Courts. See the fame Expreilion, Chap. xl. 47. 
 
 Page 461 . 1. 1 8. Every Part of that City mail be honoured 
 with evident Tokens of the Divine Prcfence ; and every 
 Member of it being dedicated to God's Service, and becom- 
 ing an Habitation of God through his Spirit, (hall have 
 fomc Degree of the Holinefs of the Temple.
 
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 Arch-bifhop of Canterbury, wherein are contained, the Publick 
 Benefactions of that Great Man, from his firfl Entrance into Ho- 
 ly Orders, 'till his departure from this Life, in the higheft Station 
 in the Church of England, as by Law Eftablifhed at the Archiepif- 
 copal Pallace of Lambeth: With an Account of bis Examplary 
 Piety, his diffufive Charity, and Irreprochable Probity, from his 
 Birth to his much Lamented Death ; together with his laft Will and 
 Teftament ; collated with the Original. 
 
 The Civil Law in its Natural Order, together with the Publick 
 Law, Written in French by Monfieur Ditnat, and Tranflated into 
 Englifh by William Straban, L. L. D. 2 Vols. 
 
 Archcehgia Graca, or the Antiquities of Greece, the fourth Editi- 
 on. By John Totter, D. D. Now Lord Bifhop of Oxford, 2 Vols. 
 Original Letters Familiar, Moral and Critical, by Mr. Dennis 
 in 2 Vols. 
 
 TheHiftory of Dion-Cajjius abridg'd hy Xipbilin y containing the 
 moft confiderable Paflfages under the Roman Emperours, from the 
 Time of Vompey the Great, to the Reign of Alexander Severns, in 
 2 Vols. Done from the Greet by Mr. Manning.