Ezekiel 36

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Ezekiel 36

We have done with Mount Seir, and left it desolate, and likely to continue so, and must now turn ourselves, with the prophet, to the mountains of Israel, which we find desolate too, but hope before we have done with the chapter to leave in better plight. Here are two distinct prophecies in this chapter:?I. Here is one that seems chiefly to relate to the temporal estate of the Jews, wherein their present deplorable condition is described and the triumphs of their neighbours in it; but it is... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Ezekiel 36:1-15

The prophet had been ordered to set his face towards the mountains of Israel and prophesy against them, Ezek. 6:2. Then God was coming forth to contend with his people; but now that God is returning in mercy to them he must speak good words and comfortable words to these mountains, Ezek. 36:1, 4. You mountains of Israel, hear the word of the Lord; and what he says to them he says to the hills, to the rivers, to the valleys, to the desolate wastes in the country, and to the cities that are... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Ezekiel 36:16-24

When God promised the poor captives a glorious return, in due time, to their own land, it was a great discouragement to their hopes that they were unworthy, utterly unworthy, of such a favour; therefore, to remove that discouragement, God here shows them that he would do it for them purely for his own name's sake, that he might be glorified in them and by them, that he might manifest and magnify his mercy and goodness, that attribute which of all others is most his glory. And, the restoration... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Ezekiel 36:25-38

The people of God might be discouraged in their hopes of a restoration by the sense not only of their unworthiness of such a favour (which was answered, in the Ezek. 36:1-24, with this, that God, in doing it, would have an eye to his own glory, not to their worthiness), but of their unfitness for such a favour, being still corrupt and sinful; and that is answered in these verses, with a promise that God would by his grace prepare and qualify them for the mercy and then bestow it on them. And... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Ezekiel 36

INTRODUCTION TO EZEKIEL 36 This chapter is a prophecy concerning the desolations of the land of Israel, and the causes of them; of the return of the people to it, and the fruitfulness of it; and of spiritual blessings bestowed upon them in the latter day. And first, for the comfort of the people of Israel, it is observed that their enemies that insulted them will suffer the vengeance of God's wrath, particularly the Edomites, Ezekiel 36:1 , that the land of Israel should again become... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Ezekiel 36:1

Also, thou son of man, prophesy unto the mountains of Israel ,.... The land of Judah, which was very mountainous, at least one part of it, called the hill country, Luke 1:39 and now the country being cleared of men through the captivity, and other desolating judgments, there were none but bare mountains to speak unto: or, "prophesy concerning the mountains of Israel" F4 אל הרי ישראל "de montibus Israelis", Junius & Tremellius, Polanus. ; the inhabitants of them, or those... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Ezekiel 36:2

Thus saith the Lord God ,.... By the mouth of the prophet, who was bid to prophesy: because the enemy had said against you, aha : rejoicing at the calamity of God's people, particularly the Edomites or Idumeans, as in the preceding chapter; and who are chiefly meant; and also the Ammonites and Tyrians, Ezekiel 25:3 , even the ancient high places are ours in possession ; or, "the high places of the world shall be unto us for a possession" F6 במות עולם למורשה היתה לנו ... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Ezekiel 36:3

Therefore prophesy and say, thus saith the Lord God ,.... Who heard all the enemy said, and knew all their designs and purposes, their schemes and devices: because they have made you desolate ; ravaged their country, destroyed their cities, burnt their temple, and carried them captive, and left the land without men or cattle: and swallowed you up on every side ; all their neighbours, being their enemies, were like ravenous beasts of prey, gaping upon them with their mouths; and,... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Ezekiel 36:4

Therefore, ye mountains of Israel, hear the word of the Lord ,.... As in Ezekiel 36:1 , here repeated to raise and quicken their attention to what was about to be said to them: thus saith the Lord God to the mountains, and to the hills, to the rivers, and to the valleys, to the desolate wastes, and to the cities that are forsaken ; before only the mountains are spoken to, though the whole land was included; here the several particulars are given, which describe the whole, and which... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Ezekiel 36:5

Therefore thus saith the Lord God ,.... Because these Heathens have acted such an unkind and cruel part to Israel: surely in the fire of my jealousy have I spoken ; in his fierce wrath and hot displeasure, resenting the ill usage of his people; hot with indignation against their enemies, having a fervent zeal for his own glory, and an affectionate concern for the good of his people. It is in the original text in the form of an oath, "if I have not spoken", &c.; F7 אם לא "si... read more

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