1Again the wordH1697 of the LORDH3068 came unto me, sayingH559, 2SonH1121 of manH120, speakH1696 to the childrenH1121 of thy peopleH5971, and sayH559 unto them, When I bringH935 the swordH2719 upon a landH776, if the peopleH5971 of the landH776 takeH3947 aH259 manH376 of their coastsH7097, and setH5414 him for their watchmanH6822 : 3If when he seethH7200 the swordH2719 comeH935 upon the landH776, he blowH8628 the trumpetH7782, and warnH2094 the peopleH5971; 4Then whosoeverH8085 hearethH8085 the soundH6963 of the trumpetH7782, and taketh not warningH2094 ; if the swordH2719 comeH935, and take him awayH3947, his bloodH1818 shall be upon his own headH7218. 5He heardH8085 the soundH6963 of the trumpetH7782, and took not warningH2094 ; his bloodH1818 shall be upon him. But he that taketh warningH2094 shall deliverH4422 his soulH5315. 6But if the watchmanH6822 seeH7200 the swordH2719 comeH935, and blowH8628 not the trumpetH7782, and the peopleH5971 be not warnedH2094 ; if the swordH2719 comeH935, and takeH3947 any personH5315 from among them, he is taken awayH3947 in his iniquityH5771; but his bloodH1818 will I requireH1875 at the watchman'sH6822 handH3027. 7So thou, O sonH1121 of manH120, I have setH5414 thee a watchmanH6822 unto the houseH1004 of IsraelH3478; therefore thou shalt hearH8085 the wordH1697 at my mouthH6310, and warnH2094 them from me. 8When I sayH559 unto the wickedH7563, O wickedH7563 man, thou shalt surelyH4191 dieH4191 ; if thou dost not speakH1696 to warnH2094 the wickedH7563 from his wayH1870, that wickedH7563 man shall dieH4191 in his iniquityH5771; but his bloodH1818 will I requireH1245 at thine handH3027. 9Nevertheless, if thou warnH2094 the wickedH7563 of his wayH1870 to turnH7725 from it; if he do not turnH7725 from his wayH1870, he shall dieH4191 in his iniquityH5771; but thou hast deliveredH5337 thy soulH5315. 10Therefore, O thou sonH1121 of manH120, speakH559 unto the houseH1004 of IsraelH3478; Thus ye speakH559, sayingH559, If our transgressionsH6588 and our sinsH2403 be upon us, and we pine awayH4743 in them, how should we then liveH2421 ? 11SayH559 unto them, As I liveH2416, saithH5002 the LordH136 GODH3069, I have no pleasureH2654 in the deathH4194 of the wickedH7563; but that the wickedH7563 turnH7725 from his wayH1870 and liveH2421 : turnH7725 ye, turnH7725 ye from your evilH7451 waysH1870; for why will ye dieH4191, O houseH1004 of IsraelH3478? 12Therefore, thou sonH1121 of manH120, sayH559 unto the childrenH1121 of thy peopleH5971, The righteousnessH6666 of the righteousH6662 shall not deliverH5337 him in the dayH3117 of his transgressionH6588: as for the wickednessH7564 of the wickedH7563, he shall not fallH3782 thereby in the dayH3117 that he turnethH7725 from his wickednessH7562; neither shall the righteousH6662 be ableH3201 to liveH2421 for his righteousness in the dayH3117 that he sinnethH2398 . 13When I shall sayH559 to the righteousH6662, that he shall surelyH2421 liveH2421 ; if he trustH982 to his own righteousnessH6666, and commitH6213 iniquityH5766, all his righteousnessesH6666 shall not be rememberedH2142 ; but for his iniquityH5766 that he hath committedH6213, he shall dieH4191 for it. 14Again, when I sayH559 unto the wickedH7563, Thou shalt surelyH4191 dieH4191 ; if he turnH7725 from his sinH2403, and doH6213 that which is lawfulH4941 and rightH6666; that…: Heb. judgment and justice 15If the wickedH7563 restoreH7725 the pledgeH2258, give againH7999 that he had robbedH1500, walkH1980 in the statutesH2708 of lifeH2416, without committingH6213 iniquityH5766; he shall surelyH2421 liveH2421, he shall not dieH4191 . 16None of his sinsH2403 that he hath committedH2398 shall be mentionedH2142 unto him: he hath doneH6213 that which is lawfulH4941 and rightH6666; he shall surelyH2421 liveH2421 . 17Yet the childrenH1121 of thy peopleH5971 sayH559, The wayH1870 of the LordH136 is not equalH8505 : but as for them, their wayH1870 is not equalH8505 . 18When the righteousH6662 turnethH7725 from his righteousnessH6666, and committethH6213 iniquityH5766, he shall even dieH4191 thereby. 19But if the wickedH7563 turnH7725 from his wickednessH7564, and doH6213 that which is lawfulH4941 and rightH6666, he shall liveH2421 thereby. 20Yet ye sayH559, The wayH1870 of the LordH136 is not equalH8505 . O ye houseH1004 of IsraelH3478, I will judgeH8199 you every oneH376 after his waysH1870. 21And it came to pass in the twelfthH8147 H6240 yearH8141 of our captivityH1546, in the tenthH6224 month, in the fifthH2568 day of the monthH2320, that one that had escapedH6412 out of JerusalemH3389 cameH935 unto me, sayingH559, The cityH5892 is smittenH5221 . 22Now the handH3027 of the LORDH3068 was upon me in the eveningH6153, aforeH6440 he that was escapedH6412 cameH935 ; and had openedH6605 my mouthH6310, until he cameH935 to me in the morningH1242; and my mouthH6310 was openedH6605, and I was no more dumbH481 . 23Then the wordH1697 of the LORDH3068 came unto me, sayingH559, 24SonH1121 of manH120, they that inhabitH3427 those wastesH2723 of the landH127 of IsraelH3478 speakH559, sayingH559, AbrahamH85 was oneH259, and he inheritedH3423 the landH776: but we are manyH7227; the landH776 is givenH5414 us for inheritanceH4181. 25Wherefore sayH559 unto them, Thus saithH559 the LordH136 GODH3069; Ye eatH398 with the bloodH1818, and lift upH5375 your eyesH5869 toward your idolsH1544, and shedH8210 bloodH1818: and shall ye possessH3423 the landH776? 26Ye standH5975 upon your swordH2719, ye workH6213 abominationH8441, and ye defileH2930 every oneH376 his neighbour'sH7453 wifeH802: and shall ye possessH3423 the landH776? 27SayH559 thou thus unto them, Thus saithH559 the LordH136 GODH3069; As I liveH2416, surely they that are in the wastesH2723 shall fallH5307 by the swordH2719, and him that is in the openH6440 fieldH7704 will I giveH5414 to the beastsH2416 to be devouredH398, and they that be in the fortsH4679 and in the cavesH4631 shall dieH4191 of the pestilenceH1698. 28For I will layH5414 the landH776 mostH4923 desolateH8077, and the pompH1347 of her strengthH5797 shall ceaseH7673 ; and the mountainsH2022 of IsraelH3478 shall be desolateH8074, that none shall pass throughH5674 . 29Then shall they knowH3045 that I am the LORDH3068, when I have laidH5414 the landH776 mostH4923 desolateH8077 because of all their abominationsH8441 which they have committedH6213 . 30Also, thou sonH1121 of manH120, the childrenH1121 of thy peopleH5971 still are talkingH1696 againstH681 thee by the wallsH7023 and in the doorsH6607 of the housesH1004, and speakH1696 oneH2297 to anotherH259, every oneH376 to his brotherH251, sayingH559, ComeH935, I pray you, and hearH8085 what is the wordH1697 that cometh forthH3318 from the LORDH3068. 31And they comeH935 unto thee as the peopleH5971 comethH3996, and they sitH3427 beforeH6440 thee as my peopleH5971, and they hearH8085 thy wordsH1697, but they will not doH6213 them: for with their mouthH6310 they shewH6213 much loveH5690, but their heartH3820 goethH1980 afterH310 their covetousnessH1215. 32And, lo, thou art unto them as a very lovelyH5690 songH7892 of one that hath a pleasantH3303 voiceH6963, and can play wellH2895 on an instrumentH5059 : for they hearH8085 thy wordsH1697, but they doH6213 them not. 33And when this cometh to passH935, lo, it will comeH935, then shall they knowH3045 that a prophetH5030 hath been amongH8432 them.
Jamieson Fausset Brown Bible Commentary 2 RENEWAL OF EZEKIEL'S COMMISSION, NOW THAT HE IS AGAIN TO ADDRESS HIS COUNTRYMEN, AND IN A NEW TONE. (Eze. 33:1-33)
to the children of thy people--whom he had been forbidden to address from
Ezek 24:26-
Ezek 24:27, till Jerusalem was overthrown, and the "escaped" came with tidings of the judgment being completed. So now, in
Ezek 33:21, the tidings of the fact having arrived, he opens his heretofore closed lips to the Jews. In the interval he had prophesied as to foreign nations. The former part of the chapter, at Eze. 33:2-20, seems to have been imparted to Ezekiel on the evening previous (
Ezek 33:22), being a preparation for the latter part (
Ezek 33:23-
Ezek 33:33) imparted after the tidings had come. This accounts for the first part standing without intimation of the date, which was properly reserved for the latter part, to which the former was the anticipatory introduction [FAIRBAIRN].
watchman--
Ezek 33:1-
Ezek 33:9 exhibit Ezekiel's office as a spiritual watchman; so in
Ezek 3:16-
Ezek 3:21; only here the duties of the earthly watchman (compare
2Sam 18:24-25;
2Kgs 9:17) are detailed first, and then the application is made to the spiritual watchman's duty (compare
Isa 21:6-
Isa 21:10;
Hos 9:8;
Hab 2:1). "A man of their coasts" is a man specially chosen for the office out of their whole number. So
Judg 18:2, "five men from their coasts"; also the Hebrew of
Gen 47:2; implying the care needed in the choice of the watchman, the spiritual as well as the temporal (
Acts 1:21-
Acts 1:22,
Acts 1:24-
Acts 1:26;
1Tim 5:22).
3 the sword--invaders. An appropriate illustration at the time of the invasion of Judea by Nebuchadnezzar.
4 blood . . . upon his own head--metaphor from sacrificial victims, on the heads of which they used to lay their hands, praying that their guilt should be upon the victims.
6 his iniquity--his negligence in not maintaining constant watchfulness, as they who are in warfare ought to do. The thing signified here appears from under the image.
7 I have set thee a watchman--application of the image. Ezekiel's appointment to be a watchman spiritually is far more solemn, as it is derived from God, not from the people.
8 thou shalt surely die--by a violent death, the earnest of everlasting death; the qualification being supposed, "if thou dost not repent."
9 Blood had by this time been shed (
Ezek 33:21), but Ezekiel was clear.
10 be upon us--that is, their guilt remain on us.
pine away in them--if we suffer the penalty threatened for them in
Ezek 24:23, according to the law (
Lev 26:39).
how should we . . . live?--as Thou dost promise in
Ezek 33:5 (compare
Ezek 37:11;
Isa 49:14).
11 To meet the Jews' cry of despair in
Ezek 33:10, Ezekiel here cheers them by the assurance that God has no pleasure in their death, but that they should repent and live (
2Pet 3:9). A yearning tenderness manifests itself here, notwithstanding all their past sins; yet with it a holiness that abates nothing of its demands for the honor of God's authority. God's righteousness is vindicated as in
Ezek 3:18-
Ezek 3:21 and Eze. 18:1-32, by the statement that each should be treated with the closest adaptation of God's justice to his particular case.
12 not fall . . . in the day that he turneth-- (
2Chr 7:14; see
Ezek 3:20;
Ezek 18:24).
15 give again that he had robbed-- (
Luke 19:8).
statutes of life--in the obeying of which life is promised (
Lev 18:5). If the law has failed to give life to man, it has not been the fault of the law, but of man's sinful inability to keep it (
Rom 7:10,
Rom 7:12;
Gal 3:21). It becomes life-giving through Christ's righteous obedience to it (
2Cor 3:6).
17 The way of the Lord--The Lord's way of dealing in His moral government.
21 twelfth year . . . tenth month--a year and a half after the capture of the city (
Jer 39:2;
Jer 52:5-
Jer 52:6), in the eleventh year and fourth month. The one who escaped (as foretold,
Ezek 24:26) may have been so long on the road through fear of entering the enemy's country [HENDERSON]; or, the singular is used for the plural in a collective sense, "the escaped remnant." Compare similar phrases, "the escaped of Moab,"
Isa 15:9; "He that escapeth of them,"
Amos 9:1. Naturally the reopening of the prophet's mouth for consolation would be deferred till the number of the escaped remnant was complete: the removal of such a large number would easily have occupied seventeen or eighteen months.
22 in the evening--(see on
Ezek 33:2). Thus the capture of Jerusalem was known to Ezekiel by revelation before the messenger came.
my mouth . . . no more dumb--that is, to my countrymen; as foretold (
Ezek 24:27), He spake (Eze. 33:2-20) in the evening before the tidings came.
24 they that inhabit . . . wastes of . . . Israel--marking the blindness of the fraction of Jews under Gedaliah who, though dwelling amidst regions laid waste by the foe, still cherished hopes of deliverance, and this without repentance.
Abraham was one . . . but we are many--If God gave the land for an inheritance to Abraham, who was but one (
Isa 51:2), much more it is given to us, who, though reduced, are still many. If he, with 318 servants, was able to defend himself amid so many foes, much more shall we, so much more numerous, retain our own. The grant of the land was not for his sole use, but for his numerous posterity.
inherited the land--not actually possessed it (
Acts 7:5), but had the right of dwelling and pasturing his flocks in it [GROTIUS]. The Jews boasted similarly of their Abrahamic descent in
Matt 3:9 and
John 8:39.
25 eat with the blood--in opposition to the law (
Lev 19:26; compare
Gen 9:4). They did so as an idolatrous rite.
26 Ye stand upon your sword--Your dependence is, not on right and equity, but on force and arms.
every one--Scarcely anyone refrains from adultery.
27 shall fall by the sword--The very object of their confidence would be the instrument of their destruction. Thinking to "stand" by it, by it they shall "fall." Just retribution! Some fell by the sword of Ishmael; others by the Chaldeans in revenge for the murder of Gedaliah (Jer. 40:1-44:30).
caves-- (
Judg 6:2;
1Sam 13:6). In the hilly parts of Judea there were caves almost inaccessible, as having only crooked and extremely narrow paths of ascent, with rock in front stretching down into the valleys beneath perpendicularly [JOSEPHUS, Wars of the Jews, 1.16.4].
28 most desolate-- (
Jer 4:27;
Jer 12:11).
none . . . pass through--from fear of wild beasts and pestilence [GROTIUS].
30 Not only the remnant in Judea, but those at the Chebar, though less flagrantly, betrayed the same unbelieving spirit.
talking against thee--Though going to the prophet to hear the word of the Lord, they criticised, in an unfriendly spirit, his peculiarities of manner and his enigmatical style (
Ezek 20:49); making these the excuse for their impenitence. Their talking was not directly "against" Ezekiel, for they professed to like his ministrations; but God's word speaks of things as they really are, not as they appear.
by the walls--in the public haunts. In the East groups assemble under the walls of their houses in winter for conversation.
in the doors--privately.
what is the word--Their motive was curiosity, seeking pastime and gratification of the ear (
2Tim 4:3); not reformation of the heart. Compare Johanan's consultation of Jeremiah, to hear the word of the Lord without desiring to do it (Jer. 42:1-43:13).
31 as the people cometh--that is, in crowds, as disciples flock to their teacher.
sit before thee--on lower seats at thy feet, according to the Jewish custom of pupils (
Deut 33:3;
2Kgs 4:38;
Luke 10:39;
Acts 22:3).
as my people--though they are not.
hear . . . not do-- (
Matt 13:20-
Matt 13:21;
Jas 1:23-
Jas 1:24).
they show much love--literally, "make love," that is, act the part of lovers. Profess love to the Lord (
Matt 7:21). GESENIUS translates, according to Arabic idiom, "They do the delights of God," that is, all that is agreeable to God. Vulgate translates, "They turn thy words into a song of their mouths."
heart goeth after . . . covetousness--the grand rival to the love of God; therefore called "idolatry," and therefore associated with impure carnal love, as both alike transfer the heart's affection from the Creator to the creature (
Matt 13:22;
Eph 5:5;
1Tim 6:10).
32 very lovely song--literally, a "song of loves": a lover's song. They praise thy eloquence, but care not for the subject of it as a real and personal thing; just as many do in the modern church [JEROME].
play well on an instrument--Hebrew singers accompanied the "voice" with the harp.
33 when this cometh to pass--when My predictions are verified.
lo, it will come--rather, "lo it is come" (see
Ezek 33:22).
know--experimentally, and to their cost.
Having in the thirty-third chapter laid down repentance as the necessary preliminary to happier times for the people, He now promises the removal of the false shepherds as preparatory to the raising up of the Good Shepherd.