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William Nicoll

Expositor's Bible Commentary - Ezekiel 4:1-17

THE END FORETOLDEzekiel 4:1-17 - Ezekiel 7:1-27WITH the fourth chapter we enter on the exposition of the first great division of Ezekiel’s prophecies. The chaps, 4-24, cover a period of about four and a half years, extending from the time of the prophet’s call to the commencement of the siege of Jerusalem. During this time Ezekiel’s thoughts revolved round one great theme-the approaching judgment on the city and the nation. Through contemplation of this fact there was disclosed to him the... read more

Arno Clemens Gaebelein

Arno Gaebelein's Annotated Bible - Ezekiel 4:1-17

Ezekiel 4:1-3 . The word tile means “brick.” They were used by the Babylonians to preserve their records, and many have been found marked with building plans, etc. The sign of the tile foretells the siege of Jerusalem and Jehovah’s opposition against the city. Ezekiel 4:4-8 . While in the preceding sign Jehovah’s action against Jerusalem was pictured, in this new sign a portrayal is given of the punishment which should come upon the inhabitants of the city. In his own person Ezekiel had to... read more

John Calvin

Geneva Study Bible - Ezekiel 4:12

4:12 And thou shalt eat it [as] barley cakes, and thou shalt bake it {k} with dung that cometh out of man, in their sight.(k) Signifying by this the great scarcity of fuel and matter to burn. read more

James Gray

James Gray's Concise Bible Commentary - Ezekiel 4:1-17

SECOND VISION OF GLORY Remember that in the first part of this book, chapters 1-24, we are dealing with prophecies before the siege of Jerusalem and foretelling its overthrow. The present lesson begins at Ezekiel 3:22 . (Compare v. 23 with Ezekiel 1:1 ; Ezekiel 1:24 with Ezekiel 2:2 ; and Acts 2:4 ; Acts 4:31 .) Verse 25 is to be taken figuratively. (Compare 2 Corinthians 6:11-12 .) The same is true of verse 26, which means that as Israel had rejected the words of the prophets hitherto, the... read more

Joseph Parker

The People's Bible by Joseph Parker - Ezekiel 4:1-17

The Ministry of Symbolism Ezekiel 4:0 , Ezekiel 5:0 In the fourth chapter there begins a series of symbols utterly impossible of modern interpretation. The prophet is commanded to take a tile, and portray upon it the city of Jerusalem, and to conduct certain military operations against that city; then he is commanded to take an iron pan, and set it for a wall of iron between himself and the city; having done so he is to lay siege against Jerusalem. Afterwards he is commanded to lie upon his... read more

Robert Hawker

Hawker's Poor Man's Commentary - Ezekiel 4:9-15

The Reader will have a better idea of the coarse and scanty fare of the Prophet, if he understands, that this mixed grain not only made the whole unpleasant, but the allowance was scarcely enough, (and to a poor man confined to lay on his side, still harder) to keep life. A shekel was only about half an ounce; and an hin only eight ounces, or half a pint. And what a filthy and loathsome method of dressing was enjoined the Lord's servant. And though the Lord, at his representation, permitted an... read more

George Haydock

George Haydock's Catholic Bible Commentary - Ezekiel 4:12

Barley, the worst or usual food of the poor. (Haydock) --- Ashes, to denote hurry. (Calmet) --- Cover with hot ashes, (Haydock) formed of dry excrements. (Calmet) --- That of oxen is still used in Egypt, (Val. ep. xi.) and in some parts of England, by the poor people. (Hooke.) --- This was more tolerable, (Calmet) and God agrees to substitute it, ver. 15. Hebrew, "Thou shalt eat it as barley cakes, and shalt bake," (Protestants) or "hide it," &c. (Septuagint) (Haydock) --- "The law... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on the Bible - Ezekiel 4:9-17

9-17 The bread which was Ezekiel's support, was to be made of coarse grain and pulse mixed together, seldom used except in times of urgent scarcity, and of this he was only to take a small quantity. Thus was figured the extremity to which the Jews were to be reduced during the siege and captivity. Ezekiel does not plead, Lord, from my youth I have been brought up delicately, and never used to any thing like this; but that he had been brought up conscientiously, and never had eaten any thing... read more

Paul E. Kretzmann

The Popular Commentary by Paul E. Kretzmann - Ezekiel 4:9-17

The Symbols of the Famine v. 9. Take thou also unto thee wheat, and barley, these grains usually being eaten in the form of roasted kernels, and beans, and lentils, and millet, and fitches, or spelt, and put them in one vessel, as signifying the last of provisions to be had, gathered for the extremity of the siege, and make thee bread thereof, food in the customary roasted form, according to the number of the days that thou shalt lie upon thy side; three hundred and ninety days shalt thou... read more

Johann Peter Lange

Lange's Commentary on the Holy Scriptures: Critical, Doctrinal and Homiletical - Ezekiel 4:1-17

2. The Four Signs, and their Interpretation (Ezekiel 4:1 to Ezekiel 5:17)1And thou, son of man, take thee a brick, and give [lay] it before thee, and 2portray upon it the city, [viz.] Jerusalem. And give [lay] siege against it, and build a siege-tower against it, and cast a mound against it, and make a camp 3against it, and set battering-rams against it round about. And do thou take thee a pan in [of] iron, and give [set] it as a wall in [of] iron between thee and the city; and direct thy face... read more

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