Ezekiel 21

Ezekiel 21:2

SEt thy face toward Jerusalem] Seeing it is so, prophecie the same things in plain and proper termes.

the holy places] Namely, against the Temple and the buildings adjoyning to it, which were not to be spared in this generall desolation. See Jeremiah 7:14. Ezekiel 9:6.

Ezekiel 21:3

the righteous and the wicked] See Ezekiel 20:47.

Ezekiel 21:5

it shall not return] Untill it hath performed all its execution.

Ezekiel 21:6

the breaking of thy loynes] Doing like a woman that travelleth, bowing, and wringing her self. See Jeremiah 16:11. & Jeremiah 21:3. Jeremiah 4:19.

Ezekiel 21:7

For the tidings] Because of the great noise of the coming of the armie of the Chaldeans, which I see approching to Jerusalem to destroy it, as I have foretold.

shall be weak as water] Heb. shall go into water.

Ezekiel 21:9

A sword, a sword is sharpened] Deuteronomy 32:41. My judgement is ready to be put in execution.

Ezekiel 21:10

that it may glitter] That it may terrifie and affright with the brightnesse of it.

should we then make mirth] Can one do any thing but lament, as I do?

it contemneth the rod of my sonne, as every tree] Or, it is the rod of my sonne, it despiseth every tree. Heb. the rod of my sonne contemning every tree. That is, the sword is the rod appointed by me to chastise my people, which is deare to me as a sonne, and being hardened cannot be broken when I use it to strike the rest of the people. Others, Thou nation hardened against all fatherly punishments, as an evill child is against a rod, thou shalt now be punished by the sword. In the Hebrew Text, there is an allusion between a rod or staffe, and tribe: the meaning whereof is, whilest thine afflictions are moderate, as from rod to rod, thou doest contemne them: but this shall be as from rod to sword, which thou shalt not be able to endure nor withstand.

Ezekiel 21:11

the hand of the slayer] To the King of Babylon, who is the executioner of Gods judgements.

Ezekiel 21:12

terrours, by reason of the sword] Or, they are thrust down to the sword with my people.

smite therefore upon thy thigh] Jeremiah 31:19. Devise all the actions of a grieved and moaning person.

Ezekiel 21:13

Because it is a triall, and what if the sword contemn even the rod] Or, when the triall hath been, what then I shall they not also belong to the despising rod? I am almost forced to come to the extremitie of punishment: for all chastisements to try to bring them to repentance would be vain, Isaiah 1:5. Or, as if God had said; Because I have tried Judah with two captivities, and they are not bettered, therefore they are worthy to be further punished with famine, pestilence, sword, and the burning of Temple and Citie; and Nebuchadnezzar, set up by me a conquerour for their sinnes, shall be the rod they shall not resist.

Ezekiel 21:14

smite thine hands together] Heb. hand to hand. In token of extreme sorrow. Ezekiel 6:11.

the third time] For Nebuchadnezzar came three times against Jerusalem, 2 Chron. 36. 6. & 10. 17.

the sword of the slain] By which there shall be a great slaughter in Jerusalem, not only of meane people, but also of Princes and great ones: and the King himself being overcome by this sword shall die in captivitie.

Ezekiel 21:15

I have set the point of the sword against all their gates] Or, glittering, or fear. I have caused their Cities to be furiously besieged and set upon.

wrapt up for the slaughter] Or, sharpened.

Ezekiel 21:16

Go thee one way or other] Heb. unite thy self, &c. In which words, by Apostrophe, God speaketh to the sword comparing it to a souldier, because he commands it to unite it self, to wit, with fellow souldiers to invade with joyned forces all parts of the land of Judea, and to oppose the Jews whether they turne to the right hand or left. Others say it is an expression of the permission which God gave the Chaldeans, to root out at their pleasure.

or on the left] Heb. set thy self, take the left hand.

Ezekiel 21:17

I will also smite] As I have commanded thee, Ezekiel, to smite thy hands for sorrow, vers. 14. so will I likewise smite mine, in sign of joy, that I have vented my wrath, and satisfied my justice. See Deuteronomy 28:62. Isaiah 1:24. Ezekiel 5:13. & Ezekiel 16:42.

Ezekiel 21:19

appoint thee two wayes] God commands the Prophet to draw out two wayes upon the tile, in which he had pourtrayed the City of Jerusalem, and the siege thereof, Chap. 4. 1, 2. the one leading to Rabbah the royall Citie of the Ammonites, 2 Samuel 11:1. & 2 Samuel 12:26. Jeremiah 49:2. the other to Jerusalem, vers. 22. and because the King of Babel was purposed to go against both, and the Prophets choice of, or pointing the side to which the King should turn at the head of the way, (or crossing of the road) sheweth, his Army should take the way to Jerusalem. Draw out in Prophetick action, upon a tile, or upon the ground, two wayes, coming both from one plain place, to represent Nebuchadnezzars deliberation, where he had gathered his Army; whether he should goe against Jerusalem, or against the land of the Ammonites, which were the two wayes to set upon Egypt, which was the Chaldeans chiefest intent.

choose thou a place] To make a mustering place to muster the Army in.

the head of the way] At the crossing of a road way, such as those high-wayes were which led to great Cities.

Ezekiel 21:20

Rabbah] The royall Citie of the Ammonites, 2 Samuel 11:1. & 2 Samuel 12:26. Jeremiah 49:2.

Ezekiel 21:21

at the parting of the way] Heb. mother of the way. To know whether he should go against the Ammonites, or them of Jerusalem.

to use divination] According to the custome of the Heathens in deliberations of any importance.

arrows] Or, knives.

images] Heb. teraphim.

he looked in the liver] This was a kinde of divination, by the shape, colour, posture, &c. of entrals of sacrificed beasts, and especially of the liver.

Ezekiel 21:22

At his right hand] His divination admonished him, that he should go by the way on the right hand, which led to Jerusalem.

captains] Or, battering rammes. Heb. rammes.

to open the mouth in the slaughter] To take it by assault, with shout and cries, used in such actions; and with a generall slaughter.

Ezekiel 21:23

a false divination] The Jews who had oftentimes before broken and renewed their Covenants with the Chaldeans, without falling into small ruine, shall think that the 〈1 page duplicate〉〈1 page duplicate〉businesse will passe so farre this time also; and that Nebuchadnezzars enterprize will come to nothing.

to them that have sworn oathes] Or, for the oathes made unto them.

but he will call to remembrance] Nebuchadnezzar will at this time pay them for their former treacheries.

Ezekiel 21:24

to be remembred] Through your wickednesse and impiety which you openly make profession of, you give cause, first to me, whose name hath been used in your oathes, and next to the King of Babylon, to punish you at once for your perjuries, and reiterated rebellions.

Ezekiel 21:25

wicked prince of Israel] Namely, Zedekiah, who practised with the Egyptians to make himself high, and able to resist the Babylonians.

whose day is come] To wit, of thy just punishment.

Ezekiel 21:26

this shall not be the same] The kingdome of Judah shall no more be that triumphant kingdome which it was at other times.

exalt him that is low] Jehoiachin, now a prisoner, and afterward set at liberty, and exalted. 2 Kings 24:12. & 25. 27, 28.

abase him that is high] Zedekiah. See his abasement, 2 Kings 25:7.

Ezekiel 21:27

I will overturn, overturn, overturn it] Heb. Perverted, perverted, perverted will I make it.

untill he come] The kingdome of Judah shall never be restored to it former lustre, untill the Messiah come, to whom by right it belongeth, as Davids successor according to the flesh, and established by God to be King over his Church, who shall alter it into a spirituall and everlasting Kingdome. See Genesis 49:10. Luke 1:32-33. To this place of Ezekiel Nathaneel had respect, John 1:49. acknowledging him come to whom the Kingdome did belong.

Ezekiel 21:28

Thus saith the Lord GOD] By this prophecie is declared, that though the Ammonites were at that time spared, yet at the last they should be destroyed by the Chaldeans.

concerning the Ammonites] Jeremiah 49:1. Ezekiel 25:2-3. Zephaniah 2:8.

concerning their reproach] Namely, the wrongs and outrages offered unto my people, and their insulting over them. Chap. 25. 3, 6. Zephaniah 2:8.

Ezekiel 21:29

Whiles they see vanity] Whiles thy Diviners and Soothsayers do foretell thee all manner of happinesse and security; perswading thee that thou shalt trample upon the Jewes necks which are slain for their sinnes, and that no harme shall come to thee.

their iniquity] Vers. 25.

Ezekiel 21:30

Shall I cause it to return] Or, cause it to return. Jer. 42. 6, 7.

in the place] O ye Ammonites, I will not scatter you into strange lands, as I have done my people, but will destroy you in your own land.

Ezekiel 21:31

I will blow against thee] I will light and kindle it.

brutish] Or, burning.

Ezekiel 21:32

thy bloud shall be in the midst of the land] All thy countrey shall be overflown with bloud.