Ezekiel 22

Ezekiel 22:1

Flee - These seem to be the prophet’s words.

Ezekiel 22:2

Arise - The result of Nebuchadrezzar’s counsels, giving charge to his armies to march against the Kedarens, who lived at ease and took no care, nor had any neighbours that could assist them.

Ezekiel 22:5

Against Elam - Probably the Persians.

Ezekiel 22:9

My throne - God calls the throne of Cyrus or Alexander his throne; because he gave it the conqueror.

Ezekiel 22:10

But - We had the like promise as to Moab, chap.48:47, and as to Ammon, ver.49:6, the same latter days either signify after many days, or in the time of the Messiah. In the former sense it may refer to Cyrus, who conquered Persia. In the latter sense it refers to the spiritual liberty which some of these poor Heathens were brought into by the gospel. We read Acts 2:9, that some of the Elamites were at Jerusalem at pentecost, and were some of those converted to Christ.

Ezekiel 22:12

But - We had the like promise as to Moab, chap.48:47, and as to Ammon, ver.49:6, the same latter days either signify after many days, or in the time of the Messiah. In the former sense it may refer to Cyrus, who conquered Persia. In the latter sense it refers to the spiritual liberty which some of these poor Heathens were brought into by the gospel. We read Acts 2:9, that some of the Elamites were at Jerusalem at pentecost, and were some of those converted to Christ.

Ezekiel 22:13

Bel - Bel and Merodach were the two principal idols of the Babylonians.

Ezekiel 22:14

The north - From Media which lay northward to Babylon and Assyria.

Ezekiel 22:15

In those days - In the days wherein God shall begin to execute judgment upon Babylon, (which was in the time of Cyrus) the children of Judah shall come out of captivity, and some of the children of Israel hearing that their brethren were gone out of Babylon, shall go up also from the several places into which they were disposed by the Assyrians: weeping for their sins, or for joy that God should shew them such mercy.

Ezekiel 22:17

Their shepherds - Their civil and ecclesiastical governors have been a cause of it. The former by their wicked commands and example; the latter by example as well as doctrine. Turned them - To offer sacrifices unto idols. From mountain - From one idolatry to another. Forgotten - They have forgotten me.

Ezekiel 22:18

Habitation - Some think this is a name here given to God, who indeed is the habitation of justice, but whether the Chaldeans would call him so, may be a question. Others therefore think the preposition in is understood, making this the aggravation of the Jews sins, that they were committed in a land which ought to have been an habitation of justice.

Ezekiel 22:19

Remove - God commands his people to remove out of Babylon, and to go forth chearfully like the he - goats of a flock leading the way.

Ezekiel 22:21

Satisfied - Satisfied with spoil and plunder.

Ezekiel 22:22

Because - They rejoiced at the ruin of the Jews. Fat - The cause for which Babylon is threatened, was doubtless their luxury of all sorts commonly attending great wealth.

Ezekiel 22:23

Mother - Your country, shall be ashamed of you, who are not able to defend her.

Ezekiel 22:26

Given her hand - Acknowledging themselves overcome, and yielding. As she hath done - Unmerciful men find no mercy.

Ezekiel 22:27

Every one - Either such strangers as for commerce had their abodes in Babylon, or such assistance as the Babylonians had gotten against their enemies.

Ezekiel 22:28

Israel - The whole twelve tribes. Lions - Enemies cruel as lions had carried them into captivity.

Ezekiel 22:31

Not found - God will no longer punish the sins of the Jews, they should be sought for as to punishment and not found. Reserve - Whom I save from the captivity of Babylon.