Ezekiel 14:1-16:34

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Ezekiel 14:1-11

Here is, I. The address which some of the elders of Israel made to the prophet, as an oracle, to enquire of the Lord by him. They came, and sat before him, Ezek. 14:1. It is probable that they were not of those who were now his fellow-captives, and constantly attended his ministry (such as those we read of Ezek. 8:1), but some occasional hearers, some of the grandees of Jerusalem who had come upon business to Babylon, perhaps public business, on an embassy from the king, and in their way... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Ezekiel 14:1

Then came certain, of the elders of Israel unto me ,.... The Syriac version adds, "to consult the Lord"; by the prophet. These, according to Kimchi, were the elders of the captivity, the heads of the captives that were now in Babylon with Ezekiel: but there are others that think they were some that came from Jerusalem to Babylon on some business or another; and having heard much of the prophet, came to visit him, and to hear his prophecies, and inquire of the Lord by him: and sat before... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Ezekiel 14:1

Then came certain of the elders of Israel unto me - These probably came to tempt him, or get him to say something that would embroil him with the government. They were bad men, as we shall see in the third verse. read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Ezekiel 14:1

Verse 1 Here Ezekiel relates an event worthy of notice. For this was not a mere vision, but a real transaction, since some of the elders of Israel came to him for the sake of consultation. He says that he sat, as men who are perplexed and astonished by evils are accustomed to do, when they see no remedy. The gesture then which the Prophet describes was a sign of anxiety and despair. A person wishing for an answer is said to sit before another; but since it is probable that they disputed among... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Ezekiel 14:1

As the result, probably, of the previous utterances, certain elders of Israel , i . e . of the exiles in Tel-Abib, came to consult Ezekiel, wishing to know what counsels or what predictions he had for them. In Ezekiel 8:1 we have "the elders of Judah," and it is possible that there were two groups in the Population of the town, and that these represented Israel as distinct from Judah—a deputation, as it were, from the earlier exiles. The term appears again in Ezekiel 20:1 . More... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Ezekiel 14:1-5

Idolatry. It certainly seems strange that, at this period of their national history, the Israelites should be chargeable with the folly and sin of idolatry. The admonitions against this offence had been so numerous, and the chastisements following its commission had been so severe, that the reader of Old Testament history is surprised to find that at so late a period the temptation had not been outgrown. I. THE MULTITUDE AND VARIETY OF THE IDOLATRIES OF ISRAEL . The... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Ezekiel 14:1-11

Disastrous answers to prayer. Ezekiel's predictions had been so gloomy and adverse, that the ciders of Israel in Babylon were staggered. They could not acquiesce in their nation's ruin. Hopeful that some message more favourable might come from God, they sought the prophet's presence. We must not place these elders in the same category with those in Jerusalem who preferred the flattering speeches of the false prophets. Nevertheless, they were not right at heart. The taint of idolatry was... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Ezekiel 14:1-11

Hypocritical inquirers of God. "Then came certain of the elders of Israel unto me, and sat before me," etc. In the former chapter false prophets and prophetesses were severely rebuked by the Lord God through his true prophet. In this one certain elders who came to Ezekiel to inquire of the Lord through him, while their hearts were given up to idols, are reproved, exhorted, and warned. The paragraph before us presents the following connected topics for consideration, which we will notice in... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Ezekiel 14:1

Elders of Israel - Some of the fellow-exiles of Ezekiel, among whom he ministered. read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Ezekiel 14:1

Ezekiel 14:1. Then came certain of the elders of Israel Men of note, that were in office and power among the Jews. “The prophet neither tells us the name nor the intention of these elders of Israel, nor the time when they came to him. But the manner wherein God speaks, gives us to understand that they came only to tempt him, as the Pharisees came to Christ, and with no design to profit by what they heard, or to correct their faults:” see Calmet. And sat before me As was the usual posture... read more

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