16-24 The restoration of that people, being typical of our redemption by Christ, shows that the end aimed at in our salvation is the glory of God. The sin of a people defiles their land; renders it abominable to God, and uncomfortable to themselves. God's holy name is his great name; his holiness is his greatness, nor does any thing else make a man truly great. read more
Israel Restored for the Sake of Jehovah's Name v. 16. Moreover, the word of the Lord came unto me, saying, v. 17. Son of man, when the house of Israel dwelt in their own land, before the time of the Babylonian captivity, they defiled it by their own way, their behavior, their manner of acting, and by their doings, the sinfulness of their works being brought out even in the terms used; their way was before Me as the uncleanness of a removed woman, the monthly purification of a woman by... read more
CHAPTER 361And thou, son of man, prophesy to the mountains of Israel, and say, Mountains of Israel, hear the word of Jehovah. 2Thus saith the Lord Jehovah, Because the enemy says over you, Aha! and the everlasting heights have become a possession for us; 3Therefore prophesy and say, Thus saith the Lord Jehovah, Because, because “make desolate” [is said to you], and they snap after you round about, that ye may be [become] a possession to the remnant of the heathen, and ye are lifted up on the... read more
In contrast with Mount Seir the prophet placed the mountains of Israel, as he delivered the word of the Lord to them. They had been the scorn of their enemies, who had made them desolate and swallowed them up. Therefore Jehovah would proceed against these enemies, and deliver Israel from their oppression. As a result of such deliverance, the whole land, its mountains and its hills, its water courses and its valleys would be made abundantly fruitful. Men would be multiplied, the cities... read more
Israel’s Inglorious Past and Their Glorious Future (Ezekiel 36:16-38 ). As we consider this section we should pause to consider the nature of Biblical prophecy. A Biblical prophet was not a foreteller like Nostradamus is seen as being, who declared events that would happen in the future so that people could mark them off and satisfy their curiosity about particular future historical events, he was rather one who declared what God was going to do. In his prophecy he was concerned with ends... read more
“Because of this I poured out my fury on them, for the blood which they had poured out on the land, and because they had defiled it with idols, and I scattered them among the nations, and they were dispersed through the countries. According to their ways and according to their doings I judged them.” The consequence of their behaviour was that God expelled them from the land so that it could be purified. Stress is especially laid here on two things, violence and idolatry. They shed blood... read more
“And when they came to the nations to which they went, they profaned my holy name in that men said of them, “These are the people of Yahweh, and have come forth out of his land.” But the other consequence was that it reflected on God’s name and reputation. By what had happened to them they had brought God’s name into disrepute, because the nations saw that they had had to leave the land and thus assumed that Yahweh their God could only be weak and helpless. Thus they degraded Yahweh to being a... read more
Ezekiel 36:16-Zechariah : . The Cleansing and Renewing of the People.— This is a passage of peculiar interest and importance, carrying us as it does far into the mind and theology of Ezekiel. First, we are reminded that Israel’ s sins— of bloodshed (whether child sacrifice or judicial murder) and idolatry— had obliged Yahweh to drive them into exile. In this way they had “ profaned His holy name among the nations,” who, according to ancient notions, naturally regarded Him as a worthless God,... read more
My hand scattered them, and what hand can retain the inhabitants that God will fling out? They were driven away, as chaff before the wind. As their ways and doings provoked me, and deserved what I brought on them, so I judged them, and punished them with desolation. read more
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George Haydock's Catholic Bible Commentary - Ezekiel 36:20
Land. Yet their conduct was no better than that of infidels. Thus they throw the blame on the law, and upon God himself, Jeremias xlviii. 9., &c. (Calmet) --- The Jews had provoked God to punish them with captivity; and hence the nations took occasion to blaspheme, that he could not protect them. (Worthington) read more