Ezekiel 1

Ezekiel 1:1

THe thirtieth] that is to say, From the beginning of Nabopolassar his reign, who was father to Nebuchadnezzar the great, according to the Babylonian accompt, where Ezekiel was, which accompt was also observed for a long time after Captives] namely, under King Ichoiakim, 2 Kings 24:12 Chebar] a river of Mesopotamia, neer to which it should seem were appointed the habitations for the Iews which were led into captivitie, Psal. 137. 1 The heavens] a kinde of speech very much used in the description of visions, Matthew 3:16. Acts 7:56; Acts 10:11. Revelation 19:11. to shew a suddain breaking forth of light from above, created by God miraculously, as if it came out of Heaven it self: in and through the midst of which were shewn the representations of divine things.

Ezekiel 1:3

The hand] that is to say, God did work in him after a miraculous manner, did ravish him in Spirit, did enlighten and strengthen his minde, and the other faculties of his soul, and did reveal to him in vision such divine secrets as did far surpasse any humane capacity, 1 King. 18. 46. 2 King 3. 15.

Ezekiel 1:4

A whiwinde] a figure of the coming of the Son of God, eternall King of the Church, in judgement against the Iews; using the Caldeans, which lay northerly from Iudea, for his instruments Amber] the Italian, sine brasse; the Hebrew word is of a very uncertaine signification: according to some, it is a kinde of mettall composed of gold and silver; according to others, a kinde of very fine brasse, as Revelation 1:15.

Ezekiel 1:5

Out of the mids] the meaning of this vision seems to be, That the Son of God, who had estastlished the Ark of the covenant with all the things belonging to it, for a signe of his residence amongst his people, and for a figure of heaven, where he dwelleth and reigneth in glory amongst his angels, doth here reveal his heavenly Majestie in forms and shapes answerable to the earthly figures of the Temple, appearing in judgement against his people, purposing to depart from them and destroy them, as it is declared, Ezek. 10. 17, 19. and 11. 22. untill the time appointed for the restauration of the Church, at which time he would return in the same form, Ezekiel 43:3. See the like visions, Daniel 7:9. Revelation 4:6-7 Thereof, namely, of the fire Creatures] living and moving bodies, which represented the Angels about Christ his throne, as likewise upon the Ark, and upon the walls on the outside and inside of the Sanctuary, there were pictures of Cherubims, as these beasts are also called, Ezekiel 10:15.

Ezekiel 1:6

Four] See vers. 10. and Ezekiel 10:14.

Ezekiel 1:7

Their scot.] according to the Hebrew phrase, by the foot is meant the leg and thigh, here described to bestait, without any bending in the ham or houg like unto the fore legs of beasts Sl] to signifie, as it should seem, the indefatigable motion of Angels in the service of God and of his Church

Ezekiel 1:8

The hands] to shew the vertue and diversity of their operation The four sis] namely, on the four sides of the wagon, on each side of which there was a Cherubim.

Ezekiel 1:9

Their wings] namely, with which they did flee, vers. 11. did spread themselves and move alike, to signifie the equall uniformity of the Angels motions in Gods service Returned not] namely, at their own will and pleasure, but according to the directions of him tht sat upon the throne, vers. 14. A figure of the constancy, perseverance, simplicity, and uprightnesse of the Angels in all their service.

Ezekiel 1:10

Faces] which by some have been taken for resemblances of a man in the generall shape of the body, of an ox in the ho’s, of a lion in the hair, and of an eagle in the wings. But most commonly they are taken for resemblances of the head: those of the man and of the lion being opposite, seem to represent the angls, done sometimes in milde nesse and sometimes in rigour: those of the eagle and the ox, the various object of their working, sometimes in earthly, and sometimes in heavenly things.

Ezekiel 1:11

Vpwards] namely, above the shoulders where the four faces did begin to divide themselves, and where the four wings of the Cherubims were also divided, whereof two they used to she with, and with the other two they covered the lower parts of their bodies: The first two signifie the swiftness, equeualitie, and sublienesse of their service; the secon their unspotted purity, as Isaiah 6:2.

Ezekiel 1:12

The Spirit] namely, the will and pleasure of him that ate upon the Throne, who did drive nd put forwards the beasts and the wheels to the same kinde of motion, vers. 20.

Ezekiel 1:14

Returned] not in a tumultuary way, by chance, and according to their own minds, but according as their hed did guide them.

Ezekiel 1:15

One wheel] the Ark, which was the figure of Gods throne of glory, is called a chaiot, 1 Chronicles 28:1-21. 8. to shew that God is not shut up in heaven, nor is not idle, but moves and works continually by hi Spirit and power. So also he set wheels to the celestiall throne, Daniel 7:9. The meaning in this place is, that the Prophet did see a wheel by every one of the beasts, so that there being four beasts, there were also four wheels; and so there was the whole frame of a cart or wagon, see Ezekiel 10:9 Vn the earth] namely, upon the floor which appeared in this vision Faces] that is to say, Sides; so that two Cherubims flew before the two first wheels, the other two by the chariot side, before the two last wheels.

Ezekiel 1:16

s a wheel] not in manner of a sphere, two circles cutting one another by direct angles, which would be absurd in a chariot, but one wheel being doubled upon the other, to signifie, as it shuld seem, either the severall sphericall compasses of the Heavens upon which Gods Majestie is carried. Or the two orders of Gods manner of working, nmely, the order of nature, and the order of grace. Or his two orders of government, namely, the temporall and spirituall order joyned together in his Church.

Ezekiel 1:17

They returned not] they did not move cut of the direct tract wherein the beasts did lead them, but even as the beasts were led by their chief, so did they also guide the wheels, see vers. 20. A figure of the consonant harmony which is in all the works of Gods providence towards his Church.

Ezekiel 1:18

ll of] in stead of great nails wherewith Charet wheels are garnishd, here were eyes, for to represent either the stars of Heaven, or more particularly the providence of God in all parts of this government; or the gifts of the Spirit in the instruments which are thereunto imployed, see Zach. 3. 9. Reu. 4 6.

Ezekiel 1:20

The Spirit] see vers 12 For the Spirit] that is to say. The same divine inspiration which did drive the beasts did also give a motion to the wheels, to signifie that God is present and effectuall in all the instruments of his providence, and at 〈◊〉st doth do all in all in his Church, 1 Corinth 12. 16, Ephes. 1. 11 Col 3:11.

Ezekiel 1:22

The smmnt] see Genesis 1:6 by this is meant Christs celestiall glory, who is King of the Church.

Ezekiel 1:23

Straight] namely, when they did flie, for when they stod still they did 〈◊〉 down their wings.

Ezekiel 1:24

As the voyce] namely, like thnder.

Ezekiel 1:26

A ma] which represnted the Son of God, Head of the Church and King of the universe, who at the appointed time was to take upon him humane flesh, see Isaiah 6:1. Ioh. 12 41. and was the same who was personally present upon the Ark of the covenant.

Ezekiel 1:28

I sell] astonished and affrighted at the sight of Gods Majestie, alwayes terrible to sinfull men during this mortall life, see Daniel 8:17. Revel. 1. 17.