The word of the Lord came again unto saying. At the same time as before, continuing the prophecy, and a denunciation of judgments; for it does not seem to begin a new prophecy. The Targum renders it, the word of prophecy from the Lord. read more
A new section begins, implying as before an interval of silence. What follows presents a striking parallelism to Jeremiah 15:1 , Jeremiah 15:2 . There also we have the "four sore judgments," the declaration that not even the presence of Moses and Samuel would avail to save the people. They were obviously selected by Jeremiah as examples of the power of intercession ( Exodus 32:11 , Exodus 32:12 ; 1 Samuel 7:9 ; 1 Samuel 12:23 ). Ezekiel's selection of names proceeds on a different... read more
Human atonement valueless. The hopeful among the Jews probably remembered that in times of former correction God had yielded, in some measure, to the intercessions of the saints. If they had not gained all that they asked, they had gained some advantage. Why might that not occur again? Might not God concede some of his demand? This was impossible, for the first necessity was that righteous government be maintained. No good can ever come to men by tampering with righteousness. I. SIN ... read more
Jeremiah 14:0; Jeremiah 15:0 is a remarkable parallel to this prophecy. Here, as elsewhere, Ezekiel is commissioned to deliver to the exiles the same message which Jeremiah conveys to the inhabitants of Judaea. The answer discovers the nature of the questions which had been expressed or implied.(1) Can God cast out a people who are holy unto Himself?(2) Is it just to punish them with utter desolation?The prophet answers:(1) That when a people is so corrupt as to call down national judgment,... read more
Ezekiel 14:9-12. And if the prophet be deceived Or, seduced. This is to be understood of the false prophets, whose practices are reproved throughout the whole foregoing chapter. I the Lord have deceived that prophet I Jehovah have suffered him to be deceived; I have given him up to strong delusions, as a just judgment upon him for going after idols, and setting up false pretences to inspiration, 2 Thessalonians 2:11-12. Or the words may signify, I will disappoint the expectations of... read more
Justice in punishing Jerusalem (14:12-23)Some were no doubt saying that God would not destroy Jerusalem as Ezekiel had been prophesying. God would surely spare the city out of consideration for the godly people within it, even though such godly people may have been few in number. Ezekiel replied that even if some of the godliest people who ever lived were in the city, God would still destroy it; though he would deliver the godly (12-14). God’s punishment could take various forms, but the same... read more
"And the word of Jehovah came unto me, saying, Son of man, when a land sinneth against me by committing a trespass, and I stretch out my hand upon it, and break the staff of the bread thereof, and send famine upon it, and cut off from it man and beast; though these three men, Noah, Daniel, and Job were in it they should deliver but their own souls by their righteousness, saith the Lord Jehovah."EVEN A RIGHTEOUS REMNANT COULD NOT SAVE JERUSALEM"When a land sinneth ... by committing a trespass... read more
12. The second part of the chapter: the effect which the presence of a few righteous persons was to have on the purposes of God (compare :-). God had told Jeremiah that the guilt of Judah was too great to be pardoned even for the intercession of Moses and Samuel (Psalms 99:6; Jeremiah 14:2; Jeremiah 15:1), which had prevailed formerly (Exodus 32:11-14; Numbers 14:13-20; 1 Samuel 7:8-12), implying the extraordinary heinousness of their guilt, since in ordinary cases "the effectual fervent... read more
The Lord spoke to Ezekiel again. He revealed that Jerusalem’s great sins had made deliverance from divine punishment impossible. Evidently some of the exiled Jews were remembering God’s promise to Abraham that He would deliver Sodom if there were enough righteous people in it (Genesis 18:22-33). Surely, they thought, there were enough righteous people in Jerusalem that God would not destroy it."This attitude is nothing less than using the saints as an insurance policy to cover the sinners. It... read more
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Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Ezekiel 14:12-21
The scope of these verses is to show, I. That national sins bring national judgments. When virtue is ruined and laid waste every thing else will soon be ruined and laid waste too (Ezek. 14:13): When the land sins against me, when vice and wickedness become epidemical, when the land sins by trespassing grievously, when the sinners have become very numerous and their sins very heinous, when gross impieties and immoralities universally prevail, then will I stretch forth my hand upon it, for the... read more