Ezekiel 34

Ezekiel 34:2

Shepherds. That is, princes, magistrates, chief priests, and scribes. (Challoner) — Shepherds may lawfully take milk, (1 Corinthians ix. 7.) but the sheep and its wool belong to the master. (Worthington) — Excellent instructions are here given for all in authority. (Calmet)

Ezekiel 34:3

Fat. Pastors often disguise the truth to flatter the rich, or the more just souls are ruined by their negligence.

Ezekiel 34:4

Healed. God alone can restore to life. But pastors will not be excused by ignorance if they know not the maladies and the remedies of their flock. — Hand. This was blamed in the Pharisees, and is contrary to the spirit of the gospel, Matthew xxiii. 4., and 1 Peter v. 2.

Ezekiel 34:5

Field. The people being neglected, followed false prophets and idols. Their teachers were so far from striving to reclaim them, that they perhaps shewed them the example. (Calmet)

Ezekiel 34:8

No shepherd. Pastors who seek only their temporal advantage, (1 Timothy vi. 5., and Titus i. 7.; Haydock) are hirelings; and if they teach false doctrine, they are wolves, John x. (Worthington)

Ezekiel 34:10

Cease. Both the leaders and the people were led into captivity.

Ezekiel 34:12

Day, in persecution. I will count my sheep, lest any be lost.

Ezekiel 34:13

Land. All this cannot be understood of the synagogue alone.

Ezekiel 34:16

Preserve, (Septuagint, Syriac) which seems more natural than Hebrew and Chaldean, “destroy.” I will not eat them, like bad shepherds, ver. 3. (Calmet) — God and those whom he sends, will take care of the flock, Ephesians iv. (Worthington)

Ezekiel 34:17

Cattle. The crimes of the pastors do not excuse the flock. In it there are people of different dispositions. The rich often destroy, and these are brought to an account, ver. 24. (Calmet)

Ezekiel 34:23

David; Christ, who is of the house of David. (Calmet) — That king had been dead long before, so that no Jew or heretic can deny but that the Messias is here meant, as [in] chap. xxxvii. 24., &c. (Worthington) — He possessed eminently all the virtues of David, and was of his seed. Zorobabel, &c., cannot be understood, as we have no proof that the governors after the captivity were chosen from the tribe of Juda, chap. xxi. 27.

Ezekiel 34:25

Peace. Christ pacifies all, Romans xv. 33., Micheas v. 5., and Ephesians vi. 15. — Beasts: those who promote idolatry; or, speaking of Christians, who teach heretical doctrine and persecute the Church. (Calmet)

Ezekiel 34:26

Make. Literally, “place.” (Haydock) — Septuagint read not a blessing, which seems superfluous. (Calmet) — Yet Chaldean has it, and the idea is more complete. (Haydock)

Ezekiel 34:29

A bud of renown, He speaks of Christ, our Lord, the illustrious bud of the house of David, renowned over all the earth. See Jeremias xxxiii. 15. (Challoner) — Septuagint, Syriac, “a plant of peace.” Chaldean, “established.” (Calmet)

Ezekiel 34:31

Men. What has been said of sheep (Menochius) relates to you. — Am the Lord. This is not in Hebrew or Protestants. (Haydock) — But it is found in one Hebrew manuscript and Septuagint, as this version is thus frequently confirmed. (Kennicott, Dis. ii.)

Ezekiel 34:33

CHAPTER XXXIV.