Ezekiel 34:2-6 NIV

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Ezekiel 34:1-6

The prophecy of this chapter is not dated, nor any of those that follow it, till Ezek. 40:1-49 It is most probable that it was delivered after the completing of Jerusalem's destruction, when it would be very seasonable to enquire into the causes of it. I. The prophet is ordered to prophesy against the shepherds of Israel?the princes and magistrates, the priests and Levites, the great Sanhedrim or council of state, or whoever they were that had the direction of public affairs in a higher or... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Ezekiel 34:2

Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel ,.... Or, "concerning" F16 על רועי "de pastoribus", V. L. Grotius; "super pastores", Pagninus, Montanus. them; the governors of them, as the Targum and Jarchi; their political governors, their kings, princes, and civil magistrates of every order and degree; so Kimchi interprets it of kings; and it was common with the eastern nations, and with the Greeks, to call kings shepherds; and one and the same word; in the Greek language,... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Ezekiel 34:3

Ye eat the fat ,.... The Septuagint, Vulgate Latin, and Arabic versions, render it, "the milk"; the words for fat and milk differ only in the points; and this was not unlawful, for who feedeth a flock, and eateth not of the milk of the flock ? 1 Corinthians 9:7 , provided it was done with moderation, that they ate some, but not all; but these rulers milked their subjects too much, oppressed them with heavy taxes, and got their substance into their own hands. The Targum is, "ye eat... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Ezekiel 34:4

The diseased have ye not strengthened ,.... Such, in the civil polity, who were poor, and in necessitous circumstances, were not relieved; such who were injured and oppressed by others were not vindicated; and such as were forced to flee to other countries, or were carried captive, no care was taken, or methods used, to ransom them, and, bring them back; all which may be meant by this and the following metaphors, taken from the evil things that befall a flock of sheep: and such who were weak... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Ezekiel 34:5

And they were scattered because there is no shepherd ,.... No good one; there were shepherds, but they were idol shepherds, good for nothing, and it was all one as if there were none: so, in Christ's time, there were the Scribes and Pharisees; yet, since these did not feed the people with wholesome doctrine, they are said to be as sheep without a shepherd, and scattered abroad, as here from the fold, and from one another; dispersed here and there, seeking food, and none, which moved his... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Ezekiel 34:6

My sheep wandered through all the mountains, and upon every high hill ,.... As sheep do, when gone astray, go from mountain to hill; so the people of Israel fled from place to place, through the cruelty of their rulers, or through the force of the enemy, being carried captive into many kingdoms and nations, signified by mountains; and perhaps there is some allusion, to their worshipping of idols on hills and mountains, being drawn into it by the false prophets: yea, my flock was scattered... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Ezekiel 34:2

Prophesy against the shepherds of Israel - The shepherds include, first, the priests and Levites; secondly, the kings, princes, and magistrates. The flock means the whole of the people. The fat and the wool, the tithes and offerings, the taxes and imposts. The reprehensible feeding and clothing with these, as to the priests and Levites, the using these tithes and offerings, not to enable them the better to fulfill the work of the ministry, but to pamper their own bodies, and support them in... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Ezekiel 34:3

Ye eat the fat - I think החלב hacheleb should be translated the milk, and so most of the Versions understand it. Or they lived on the fat sheep, and took the wool of all. "The priests," says Calmet, "ate the tithes, the first-fruits, and the offerings of the people; the princes received the tributes and imposts and instead of instructing and protecting them, the latter took away their lives by the cruelties they practiced against them: the former destroyed their souls by the poison of... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Ezekiel 34:4

The diseased have ye not strengthened - No person is fit for the office of a shepherd, who does not well understand the diseases to which sheep are incident, and the mode of cure. And is any man fit for the pastoral office, or to be a shepherd of souls, who is not well acquainted with the disease of sin in all its varieties, and the remedy for this disease, and the proper mode of administering it, in those various cases? He who does not know Jesus Christ as his own Savior, never can... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Ezekiel 34:5

And they were scattered - There was no discipline kept up; and the flock, the Church, became disorganized, and separated from each other, both in affection and fellowship. And the consequence was, the grievous wolves, false and worldly interested teachers, seized on and made a prey of them. Of the communion of saints such shepherds know nothing, farther than that it makes a part of the common creed. read more

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Ezekiel 34:1-6

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Ezekiel 34:2

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Ezekiel 34:3

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Ezekiel 34:4

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Ezekiel 34:5

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Ezekiel 34:6

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Ezekiel 34:2

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Ezekiel 34:3

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Ezekiel 34:4

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Ezekiel 34:5

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