contain, according to most commentators, the Divine interpretation of the vision, Kliefoth alone contending that they furnish, not so much an exposition of the vision—which, he thinks, must be explained independently, and which he regards as teaching the future resurrection of God's people—as an application to Israel's ease of the doctrine contained in the vision. read more
The Divine Restorer. The interpretation of the vision of the valley of dry bones was given by the prophet himself. It was intended that the Israelites, when restored to their own land and to national unity and vigor, should discern in this restoration the hand of Divine Providence. A most unlikely event was about to happen, and Ezekiel desired that those in whose favor the great interposition was about to be wrought should be mindful, both of the condition of hopelessness into which they... read more
I will open your graves . That this is not exact interpretation of the foregoing symbol may be argued from the fact that in the vision no mention is made of graves; yet the discrepancy to which it is supposed to point is more apparent than real. If the prophet was to see the bones, it was requisite that these should be above ground rather than beneath. On the other hand, when one speaks of a grave, it is not needful to always think of an underground tomb. To all intents and purposes a person... read more
Ezekiel 37:11-12. These bones are the whole house of Israel These bones represent the forlorn and desperate condition to which the whole nation of Israel is reduced; they say, Our bones are dried, &c. Our affairs are in the most desperate condition; there is not so much as any hope left of their being retrieved. We are cut off for our parts We are separated and cut off from one another, like a limb that is cut off from the body. Therefore prophesy, &c. Inform these poor,... read more
The nation revived and reunited (37:1-28)With Jerusalem destroyed and the people in exile, Israel’s national life had come to an end. To Ezekiel it appeared as if a great army had been slaughtered in battle and the bodies of the dead left to rot in the sun. All that was left was a lot of dry bones. Israel’s condition appeared to be beyond hope (37:1-3).God now promises Ezekiel that he will do the impossible. He will bring Israel back to life - as if he brings the scattered bones together, puts... read more
graves = sepulchres, or burying-places. Hebrew. keber , not Sheol . See App-35 . The repetition of this must include resurrection as well as restoration. into the land of Israel = upon the soil of Israel. Hebrew. 'admath . See note on Ezekiel 11:17 . read more
when I have opened = by My opening. and brought yo up = by My causing you to come up. read more
spirit. Hebrew. ruach . App-9 . Same word es "breath" and "wind" above. place = settle. in your own land = upon your own soil. Hebrew ' adamah . Compare Ezekiel 37:21 , and see note on Eze 37:32 . saith the Lord GOD = [is] Adonai Jehovah's oracle. read more
Ezekiel 37:12-14. Behold, O my people— That is, you who are truly such: for this most gracious appellation seems evidently taken from the words of the covenant so often mentioned; I will be their God, and they shall be my people. There would be no difficulty in this passage, if we only take the land of Israel, Eze 37:12 and your own land, Eze 37:14 as meant of that land of promise, or that better country, which the faithful all along believed in, and hoped for, Heb 11:16 that land, in short,... read more
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The Pulpit Commentary - Ezekiel 37:1-28
1. The view, that what the prophet beheld in vision was the final resurrection of mankind , though favored by Jerome, Calovius, and Kliefoth, must be abandoned, not because the doctrine of a general resurrection would not have been a powerful consolation to the pious-hearted in Israel, or because that doctrine was not then known, but because, in the prophet's own explanation, the bones are declared to be those, not of the whole family of man, but merely of the house of Israel. At the... read more