Ezekiel 13:5

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Ezekiel 13:1-9

The false prophets, who are here prophesied against, were some of them at Jerusalem (Jer. 23:14): I have seen in the prophets at Jerusalem a horrible thing; some of them among the captives in Babylon, for to them Jeremiah writes (Jer. 29:8), Let not your diviners, that be in the midst of you, deceive you. And as God's prophets, though at a distance from each other in place or time, yet preached the same truths, which was an evidence that they were guided by one and the same good Spirit, so the... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Ezekiel 13:5

Ye have not gone up into the gaps ,.... Or "breaches" F4 בפרצות "in fracturas", Pagninus, Montanus, Tigurine version; "rupturas", Calvin, Piscator, Starckius. ; so the Targum. The allusion is to breaches made in the walls of a city when besieged; at which time those within gather together in great numbers to meet the enemy, and prevent his entrance by the breaches. These words are either spoken to the princes of Israel, the civil magistrates; or to the prophets, who seeing the sins... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Ezekiel 13:5

Ye have not gone up into the gaps - Far from opposing sinners, who are bringing down the wrath of God upon the place, you prevent their repentance by your flattering promises and false predictions. Ye have neither by prayers, example, nor advice, contributed any thing for the preservation of the place, or the salvation of the people's souls. read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Ezekiel 13:5

Verse 5 Hence he pursues the same sentiment, but presses the false prophets harder. He has said generally that they were sacrilegious, making a false use of God’s name when speaking entirely in their own. He now separates them by another mark from the approved and faithful servants of God, namely, they had not gone up into the breach, nor built up a hedge to protect the house of Israel, that they might stand in the battle in the day of Jehovah. This verse is variously explained: some refer what... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Ezekiel 13:1-9

Pretended prophets. There is no institution in itself so good but it may be corrupted and turned to evil purposes. Prophecy was given to the Hebrew people as a token of Jehovah's interest in them and care for them. The intention was to afford national guidance and consolation, to give to religion an intellectual character, and to counteract any tendency to formalism which a misunderstanding of the sacerdotal and sacrificial system would naturally encourage. Prophecy was especially adapted... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Ezekiel 13:1-9

The perils of falseness. The work of God's prophets is made more difficult by the competition of pretenders. They cater for popularity by predicting only what is pleasing to flesh and blood. Hence they bring discredit on all God's revelations. In Ezekiel's day the false teachers were specially busy in Jerusalem, confronting and counteracting Jeremiah; and the sad effect of false hopes was felt at Chebar as well as in Judaea. I. CARNAL AMBITION IS OFTEN THE PARENT OF ... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Ezekiel 13:1-16

The sin and punishment of false prophets. "And the word of the Lord came unto me, saying, Son of man, prophesy against the prophets of Israel," etc. This subject has already been introduced in Ezekiel 12:24 . In that verse we have as it were the text, and in this chapter the sermon. It has been suggested that this chapter should be read in conjunction with Jeremiah 23:9-40 . "The identity of phrases and ideas forces upon us the conclusion that the author of the one must have had the... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Ezekiel 13:5

The verse contains two distinct images. There were breaches in the walls of Jerusalem, literally and spiritually, and the false prophets had not been as "repairers of the breach" ( Isaiah 58:12 ; Psalms 106:23 ). The hedge of the vineyard of Israel had been broken through ( Isaiah 5:5 ), and they had done nothing to restore it ( Ezekiel 22:30 ). The day of battle, the day of the Lord, had come, and they were betraying the people instead of helping. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Ezekiel 13:5

The breaches of sin, and the duty of closing them. "Ye have not gone up, into the gaps," etc. Our text suggests the following observations. I. THE PRACTICE OF SIN EXPOSES MEN TO THE GREATEST DANGERS . The text suggests the figure of a besieged city, in the walls of which breaches have been made, through which the enemy rushes in to fight with its inhabitants and to take possession of its treasures. There is perhaps a reference to the approaching siege of Jerusalem... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Ezekiel 13:5

For - Or, before. In a time of siege when there are gaps or breaches in the walls, it is the part of the leaders to go up to defend them, and to throw up works to stop the in-road of the enemy. Yahweh is now assailing His people as an enemy (compare Isaiah 63:10; Job 16:11-13), and where are those who claim to be prophets, leaders of the people? read more

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