Ezekiel 24

Ezekiel 24:1

IN the ninth yeare] Of the second captivitie, since Jeconias, Mordecai and Ezekiel were carried captives and Zedekiah made King: the tenth moneth, and the tenth day of the moneth, Ezekiel is told in Mesopotamia, that Nebuchadnezzar that very day in Judea laid siege to Jerusalem, 2 Kings 25:1. Jeremiah 39:1. & Jeremiah 52:4.

in the tenth moneth] Called Tebeth, which containeth part of December, and part of January.

Ezekiel 24:2

this same day] Jeremiah 52:4.

Ezekiel 24:3

Set on a pot] That is, set a pot on the fire. See such a similitude, Jeremiah 3:13. Ezekiel 11:3. The pot is Jerusalem: the flesh, and the fat pieces are the chief, the richest, and the noblest that are in her: the fire are Gods judgements, by which he would have humbled, and mollified his peoples hearts, to bring them to repentance; but that having taken no effect, by reason of their obstinate rebellion, he would convert those judgements into a totall consumption.

Ezekiel 24:5

burn] Or, heap.

bones under it] Meaning of the innocents, whom they had slain, who were the cause of kindling Gods wrath against them.

seethe the bones of it therein] It seemes that the bones were put into the bottome of the pot, vers. 4. 10. and not, as others have understood it, without the pot, to kindle the fire. And by the bones are meant the great ones and governours, which bear up the body of the State.

Ezekiel 24:6

Wherefore] To make the accomplishment answerable to the figure.

Wo to the bloudy citie] Chap. 22. 2. Nahum 3:1.

to the pot whose scum] Namely, to Jerusalem that hath not been cleansed by my punishments. See Jeremiah 4:11. & Jeremiah 6:29. Chap. 22. 24.

bring it out] Let all the people without any difference be driven out of it, and carried away; let none be pardoned: for in warres oftentimes they cast lots, to slay some, and to save some.

Ezekiel 24:7

her bloud is in the] She is full of mis-deeds, especially of murders and oppressions.

she set it upon] This Citie shewed her crueltie to all the world, and was not ashamed thereof, neither hid it: contrary to what God had commanded; namely, that the very bloud of beasts should be covered over with dust, Leviticus 17:13. Deuteronomy 12:16. 24.

Ezekiel 24:8

set her bloud upon the top of a rock] I will punish her openly, and the signes and monuments thereof shall remaine for ever.

Ezekiel 24:9

Wo to the bloudy citie] Nah. 3. 1. Hab. 2. 12.

I will even make the pile] That is, what I have commanded thee to do for a sign, do thou also in act, making ready the Chaldeans great fire, Jeremiah 1:13.

Ezekiel 24:10

kindle the fire] Meaning, that the Citie should be utterly destroyed; and that he would give the enemies an appetite thereunto.

Ezekiel 24:11

set it emptie] To signifie that Jerusalem after the inhabitants were gone out of it should be burnt by the Chaldeans, as it were to cleanse it perfectly from all its excrements.

Ezekiel 24:12

She hath wearied] In stead of the onely means of deliverance, which was repentance, and conversion, she hath with great care sought out other worldly and unprofitable means.

Ezekiel 24:13

lewdnesse] Thy wicked obstinacie hath been the onely cause that thou hast not been cleansed.

I have purged thee] I laboured by sending my Prophets to call thee to repentance; but thou wouldest not.

till I have caused] Chap. 16. 42.

Ezekiel 24:14

shall they judge thee] That is, the Babylonians. See Chap. 23. 45.

Ezekiel 24:16

the desire of thine eyes] Namely, thy deare wife, as vers. 18.

with a stroke] By a sudden death, proceeding from some supernaturall and divine cause: for whom he is forbid to mourn, signifying that his peoples sorrow for the children of Jerusalem should be greater then open mourning might expresse, Jeremiah 22:10.

runne] Heb. go.

Ezekiel 24:17

Forbear to crie] Heb. be silent.

bind the tire of thine head upon thee] Shew no sign at all of mourning, such as those were of going bare headed, Lev. 10. 6. and 21. 10. and bare footed, 2 Samuel 15:30. Isaiah 47:2. of coverings ones face, Leviticus 13:45. Micah 3:7. and eating of food brought in and given by neighbours and friends, Jeremiah 16:5. 7.

lips] Heb. upper lip: and so vers. 22.

Ezekiel 24:18

morning] Meaning, the morning following.

Ezekiel 24:21

I will profane my sanctuarie] By sending the Chaldeans to destroy it, as Chap. 7. 22.

the excellencie of your strength] Namely, the Temple, the Ark, and other signes of my presence, wherein consisted the glory, and the strength of your subsistence and defence.

the desire of your eyes] Namely, your wives.

that which your soul pitieth] Heb. the pitie of your soul. That which you are most jealous and tender of.

your daughters whom ye have left] In Judea: for the Prophet spake to those which had been carried away prisoners with Jehoiachin.

Ezekiel 24:22

ye shall do as I have done] You shall be forced to digest all these sorrowes, not daring so much as to seeme to be grieved thereat, for feare of angring your enemies: Or because that in such a great desolation every one shall think upon himself, without taking any care for others: Or because that there will an expresse curse of God be perceived in it: Or for that there will be more cause of weeping for those that are alive, and languish in sorrow, then for the dead. See Job 27:15. Psalms 78:64. Jeremiah 16:5. Amos 6:10. & Jeremiah 22:10.

ye shall not cover] Jer. 16. 6 7.

Ezekiel 24:23

but ye shall pine away for your iniquities] Lev. 26. 39. Ezekiel 33:10. Ye shall be busied in weeping for your own sinnes and miseries.

Ezekiel 24:24

a signe] Chap. 12. 6. & 4. 3.

Ezekiel 24:25

in the day when I take] When I shall have fulfilled these prophecies, by the taking, and ruine of Jerusalem, I will cause tidings thereof to be brought unto thee, and then shalt thou put the people in mind of these things, for their instruction and conviction.

that whereupon they set their minds] Heb. the lifting up of their soul. That is, that which they desire and hope for; namely, to see and enjoy their children again.

Ezekiel 24:26

he that escapeth in that day] Chap. 33. 21, 22.

Ezekiel 24:27

dumbe] The Prophet as he was speaking these things became dumbe in an instant, by miracle: but when thse things were fulfilled, he recovered his speech: to assure the Jewes that all proceeded from God. See Chap. 3. 26, 27. and 33. 22. Others do take this of becoming dumbe, for holding his peace: as if he said, Thou hast spoken enough to this people, for to warn them; let them alone, untill that by the bringing to passe of these things, thou mayest convince and waken them again.