Ezekiel 21:20

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Ezekiel 21:18-27

The prophet, in the verses before, had shown them the sword coming; he here shows them that sword coming against them, that they might not flatter themselves that by some means or other it should be diverted a contrary way. I. He must see and show the Chaldean army coming against Jerusalem and determined by a supreme power so to do. The prophet must appoint him two ways, that is, he must upon a paper draw out two roads (Ezek. 21:19), as sometimes is done in maps; and he must bring the king of... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Ezekiel 21:20

Appoint a way ,.... Mark out a way, describe a road, draw one out upon the ground, or point out one upon a table, or tile: that the sword may come ; in which the sword will come; or those that kill with the sword, as the Targum, even the Chaldean army under Nebuchadnezzar: to Rabbath of the Ammonites ; which was the metropolis of the Ammonites, and is now called Philadelphia, as Jerom writes; it is so called, to distinguish it from others of the same name; see 2 Samuel 12:26 , ... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Ezekiel 21:18-27

The all-controlling providence of God. We have here a striking instance of the superintending agency of God. From his invisible throne he controls all the plans, divinations, arts, and labours of kings and generals. All persons and all events are directed into the channel of his purpose, and aid in the final consummation of his righteous end. I. GOD USES EVES WICKED MEN TO DO HIS WORK . If he employed only righteous men, he would have to reject the service of the... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Ezekiel 21:18-27

The approaching judgment. "The word of the Lord came unto me again, saying, Also, thou son of man, appoint thee two ways," etc. The following homiletic points are suggested by this paragraph. I. THE DESTINATION OF THE APPROACHING JUDGMENT DETERMINED BY GOD , THOUGH THE AGENTS THEREOF WERE UNCONSCIOUS OF HIS INFLUENCE . "Son of man, appoint thee two ways, that the sword of the King of Babylon may come," etc. ( Ezekiel 21:18-22 ). The prophet is here... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Ezekiel 21:18-32

The impartiality of Divine justice. Very picturesque and memorable is this portion of Ezekiel's prophecies. The prophet in his vision beholds the King of Babylon on his way to execute the purposes of God upon the rebellious and treacherous prince of Judah, and upon his partakers in sin. He sees him at some point of this expedition, standing on the northeast of Palestine, uncertain whether in the first instance to direct his arms against Rabbath, the capitol of the Ammonites, or Jerusalem,... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Ezekiel 21:18-32

The third word of judgment. The king of Babylon’s march upon Judaea and upon the Ammonites. Destruction is to go forth not on Judah only, but also on such neighboring tribes as the Ammonites (compare Jeremiah 27:2-3).Ezekiel 21:19Appoint thee - Set before thee.Choose thou a place, choose it - Rather, “mark a spot, mark it,” as upon a map, at the head of the two roads, one leading to Jerusalem, the other to Ammon. These were the two roads by one or other of which an invading army must march from... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Ezekiel 21:19-20

Ezekiel 21:19-20. Appoint thee two ways So as to represent them to the eyes of thy countrymen: see Ezekiel 4:1; “Designa in tabella, lapide, aut terra.” Mark on a map, a stone, or on the earth. Vatablus. That the sword of the king of Babylon may come Dr. Waterland translates this, “Appoint thee two roads for the king of Babylon’s sword to come by; let both go forth out of one land; and choose thou a way-mark; choose it at the head of the road toward the city: Ezekiel 21:20, Point out a... read more

Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - Ezekiel 21:18-32

No possibility of escape (21:18-32)In another acted message, the prophet drew a map on the ground, showing a road out of Babylon that branched in two directions. One led to Jerusalem, the other to Rabbah, capital of Ammon. By means of markings on the map, Ezekiel indicated that the king of Babylon had arrived at the road junction and was trying to decide whether to go and attack Rabbah or go and besiege Jerusalem. The king used three superstitious methods to determine which way to go: drawing... read more

Thomas Coke

Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible - Ezekiel 21:19-20

Ezekiel 21:19-20. Appoint thee two ways, &c.— Appoint thee two roads for the king of Babylon's sword to come by: Let both go forth out of one land; and choose thou a way-mark: Choose it at the head of the road towards the city. Ezekiel 21:20. Point out a road for the sword to go to Rabbath, &c. Instead of To Judah in Jerusalem, the defenced; Houbigant reads, To Judah in Jerusalem, that he may besiege it. read more

Robert Jamieson; A. R. Fausset; David Brown

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - Ezekiel 21:20

20. Rabbath of the Ammonites—distinct from Rabbah in Judah ( :-). Rabbath is put first, as it was from her that Jerusalem, that doomed city, had borrowed many of her idols. to Judah in Jerusalem—instead of simply putting "Jerusalem," to imply the sword was to come not merely to Judah, but to its people within Jerusalem, defended though it was; its defenses on which the Jews relied so much would not keep the foe out. read more

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