Ezekiel 28

Ezekiel 28:2

Prince. The Jews say Hiram, (St. Jerome) supposing that he lived a thousand years; though this is not requisite, as he died only four hundred and thirty years before. The idea is childish. The king who was taken and slain, at this siege, was probably (Calmet) Ithobalos. (Josephus, Antiquities x. 11.) — Origen applies this to the angel guardian of Tyre. St. Augustine thins an allusion is made to the fall of Lucifer. But it may all refer to the king, (Calmet) though others explain part of him and the rest of the devil. (St. Jerome) (Estius)

Ezekiel 28:3

Than Daniel; viz., in thy own conceit. The wisdom of Daniel was so much celebrated in his days, that it became a proverb among the Chaldeans, when any one would express an extraordinary wisdom, to say he was as wise as Daniel. (Challoner) (Worthington) — He was now at court, and had explained the dream of Nabuchodonosor, Daniel ii. 27.

Ezekiel 28:10

Uncircumcised. The Jews deemed this a disgrace, 1 Kings xxxi. 4. The king would be exposed to eternal death, being devoid of faith, &c. (Calmet)

Ezekiel 28:12

Resemblance. The king of Tyre, by his dignity and his natural perfections, bore in himself a certain resemblance to God, by reason of which he might be called the seal of resemblance, &c. But what is here said to him is commonly understood of Lucifer, the king over all the children of pride. (Challoner) — A seal is perfect when it represents things exactly. The prophet speaks ironically, to repress the king’s vanity.

Ezekiel 28:13

Paradise. Thou hadst every thing delightful at Tyre. (Calmet) — Covering. Hebrew, “bandage;” diadem, (Haydock) or belt. Septuagint specify twelve stones. See Exodus xxviii. 17. — Pipes; music used at the coronation, which was celebrated as a birth-day. (Calmet) — God give and withdraws power from all kings. As long as they act well, they are a sort of sanctuary. (Haydock)

Ezekiel 28:14

Stretched out. That is, thy wings extended. This alludes to the figure of the cherubims in the sanctuary, which with stretched out wings covered the ark, (Challoner) on the holy mountain. (St. Jerome, &c.) — Fire. That is, bright and precious stones, which sparkle like fire. (Challoner) — With these the king’s robes glittered, or he walked upon them, Esther i. 6. (Calmet) — Calcacabatur onyx. (Lucan x.)

Ezekiel 28:15

Iniquity. Tyre was before wicked; but when the king pretended to be a god, (ver. 2.) it could no longer be endured. (Worthington)

Ezekiel 28:17

Beauty. Riches have corrupted thy heart.

Ezekiel 28:18

Sanctuaries, or temples, which was a crime (Calmet) in an idolater, as he took them to be the temples of a real deity. (Haydock)

Ezekiel 28:22

Sidon. It gave rise to Tyre, yet was now inferior, though independent of it, (Isaias xxiii. 4.) or subject to Egypt. (Diodorus ii. 2.) — It was now pillaged.

Ezekiel 28:24

Bitterness. Jezabel came hence; (4 Kings xvi. 31.) and the Ph'9cnicians hemmed in the Israelites as much as possible, and fought against them. (Calmet) — Sidon was near Tyre, and imitating her crimes was also punished.

Ezekiel 28:25

When. All shall praise God, seeing that he receives his people again after he has justly chastised them. (Worthington)

Ezekiel 28:36

CHAPTER XXVIII.