Behold, the princes of Israel ,.... Those that belonged to the royal family, or the nobles of the land, or the members of the grand sanhedrim of the nation: everyone were in thee to their power to shed blood ; everyone exerted himself to the uttermost, according to his ability, to shed blood, or cause it to be shed; everyone strove, as it were, who should shed most, to exceed each other in this abominable sin. read more
Behold, the princes - Ye are a vile and murderous people, and your princes have been of the same character. Like people, like prince. read more
The reproach of Jerusalem. Patriot as he was, Ezekiel was not, like some sincere patriots, blind to his country's faults. His conscience and judgment were enlightened, and his emotional nature was rendered especially sensitive, so that a just and deep impression was made upon his mind by the contemplation of his countrymen's errors and iniquities. Leaders of public opinion, teachers of the time, are ever in danger of flattering those among whom their lot is cast, with whom their interests... read more
The prophet on the judgment-seat. As among men there occurs, now and again, a great assize, when flagitious deeds are examined and flagrant offenders judged, so God has his seasons when high-handed crime is arrested, and the offenders feel the reality of Divine justice. Penalties are not awarded in the dark. Good men see clearly the equity of the proceeding and the extreme patience of the Judge. God places his doings in the public light. I. THE INDICTMENT . It is a long indictment,... read more
An appalling indictment and a just judgment. "Moreover the word of the Lord came unto me, saying, Now, thou son of man, wilt thou judge, wilt thou judge the bloody city?" etc. "This chapter," says Fairbaim, "stands closely related to the last chapter, and may fitly be regarded as supplementary to it; the former having presented a striking delineation of the Lord's purpose to execute the severity of his displeasure upon the people of Jerusalem, while this returns to lay open the fearful... read more
Behold, the princes of Judah , etc. For the "bloodshed," which was conspicuous among the sins, comp. Ezekiel 9:9 ; Ezekiel 16:38 ; Ezekiel 23:37 , Ezekiel 23:45 ; and for special instances of that sin among its princes, those of Manasseh ( 2 Kings 21:16 ) and Jehoiakim ( 2 Kings 24:4 ). To their power ; Hebrew, each man according to his arm, i.e. his strength. There was no restraint upon the doer of evil other than the limitation of his capacity. read more
Render it: Behold the princes of Israel, each according to his might (literally “arm”) have been in thee in order to shed blood. They looked to might not right. read more
Ezekiel 22:6-12. Behold, the princes of Israel, &c. Probably the members of the great sanhedrim, or the king’s counsellors and chief officers, are here intended; every one in thee Not one to be found of a more merciful temper; to their power According to their ability; to shed blood Every one of the princes committed acts of violence, and shed blood, as far as he had it in his power to do it. In thee have they set light by father and mother Disobedience to, or slighting of... read more
National decay (22:1-31)With Jerusalem’s end approaching, God again told Ezekiel to show the city its sins and the humiliating judgment that these sins would bring upon it (22:1-5). Powerful people exploited others, without any respect for the laws of God or the dignity of their fellow human beings (6-8). The corrupt city was characterized by lies, violence, idolatry, bribery, oppression and sexual sins of the worse kind (9-12). God warned that in punishment for its wickedness, he would destroy... read more
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Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Ezekiel 22:1-16
In these verses the prophet by a commission from Heaven sits as a judge upon the bench, and Jerusalem is made to hold up her hand as a prisoner at the bar; and, if prophets were set over other nations, much more over God's nation, Jer. 1:10. This prophet is authorized to judge the bloody city, the city of bloods. Jerusalem is so called, not only because she had been guilty of the particular sin of blood-shed, but because her crimes in general were bloody crimes (Ezek. 7:23), such as polluted... read more