Again the Lord told His prophet to speak a message of judgment against Jerusalem, the pagan sanctuaries, and the whole land of Israel (i.e., Judah). This would be a clarification of the figures used in the previous parable. read more
The interpretation of the parable 21:1-7 read more
Ezekiel was to announce that Yahweh stood opposed to His people (cf. Luke 9:5; Luke 9:41; Luke 19:41; Luke 21:20-24). Instead of being their divine defender (cf. Deuteronomy 32:41; Joshua 5:13-15; Isaiah 31:8; Isaiah 34:5-8; Isaiah 66:16; Jeremiah 25:31; Jeremiah 50:35-37; Zephaniah 2:12), He was going to turn against them. He would put them to death with a sword (cf. fire, Ezekiel 20:47-48), both the righteous (the green tree) and the wicked (the dry tree) throughout the whole land. The Book... read more
3, 4. The righteous and the wicked] corresponding to the green tree and the dry in the parable (Ezekiel 20:47). In spite of his strict theory of retribution in Ezekiel 18, Ezekiel recognised the fact that good men as well as bad would perish in the siege of Jerusalem.10. It contemneth, etc.] RV ’The rod of my son, it contemneth every tree’ These words are almost hopelessly obscure, and the text is probably corrupt. As it stands, the meaning may be (a) that the rod (the sword) with which God... read more
(2) Set thy face . . . drop thy word . . . prophesy.—These expressions, with the “say to the land” of Ezekiel 21:3, connect this with 20:46, 47; but there they were followed by figurative terms, while here we have plainly “Jerusalem,” “the holy places,” and “the land of Israel.” read more
(3, 4) The righteous and the wicked.—This explains the green tree and the dry of Ezekiel 20:47; and “all flesh” of Ezekiel 21:4-5, corresponds to “all faces” of the same. These expressions are meant to show the universality of the approaching desolation. The actual separation in God’s sight between the righteous and the wicked has already been plainly set forth in 9:4-6. But still in this, as in all national judgments, the innocent must of necessity be involved in the same temporal sufferings... read more
Ezekiel 21:9-10 The roaring of lions, the howling of wolves, the raging of the stormy sea, and the destructive sword, are portions of eternity too great for the eye of reason. Blake. Reference. XXI. 9, 10. R. A. Suckling, Sermons Plain and Practical, p. 215. Ezekiel 21:26-27 After quoting these words, John Owen adds: 'One dissolution shall come upon the neck of another, until it all issue in Jesus Christ. "I will overturn it," saith God. "But men will set it up again." "I will overturn it... read more
THE SWORD UNSHEATHEDEzekiel 21:1-32THE date at the beginning of chapter 20 introduces the fourth and last section of the prophecies delivered before the destruction of Jerusalem. It also divides the first period of Ezekiel’s ministry into two equal parts. The time is the month of August, 590 B.C., two years after his prophetic inauguration and two years before the investment of Jerusalem. It follows that if the Book of Ezekiel presents anything like a faithful picture of his actual work, by far... read more
Ezekiel 21:1-32 . A solemn message is given to the prophet: “Behold I am against thee, and will draw forth my sword out of its sheath, and will cut off from thee the righteous and the wicked.” It was to be a widespread judgment, against all flesh. Ezekiel was commanded to sigh with bitterness before their eyes and was to tell them the cause of his grief (Ezekiel 21:1-7 ). The sharpening of the sword of judgment is given in Ezekiel 21:8-17 . It was hanging over their heads, ready to strike at... read more
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Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - Ezekiel 21:3
3. righteous . . . wicked—not contradictory of Ezekiel 18:4; Ezekiel 18:9; Genesis 18:23. Ezekiel here views the mere outward aspect of the indiscriminate universality of the national calamity. But really the same captivity to the "righteous" would prove a blessing as a wholesome discipline, which to the "wicked" would be an unmitigated punishment. The godly were sealed with a mark (Ezekiel 9:4), not for outward exemption from the common calamity, but as marked for the secret interpositions of... read more