Ezequiel 4:3-7 NVIPT

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Ezekiel 4:1-8

The prophet is here ordered to represent to himself and others by signs which would be proper and powerful to strike the fancy and to affect the mind, the siege of Jerusalem; and this amounted to a prediction. I. He was ordered to engrave a draught of Jerusalem upon a tile, Ezek. 4:1. It was Jerusalem's honour that while she kept her integrity God had graven her upon the palms of his hands (Isa. 49:16), and the names of the tribes were engraven in precious stones on the breast-plate of the... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Ezekiel 4:3

Moreover take thou unto thee an iron pan ,.... Which Kimchi thinks, for its metal, represented the hardness of the hearts of the people of Israel; and, for its colour, the blackness of their sins: though others are of opinion, this being a pan in which things are fried, it may signify the miseries of the Jews in captivity; the roasting of Ahab and Zedekiah in the fire, and particularly the burning of the city: others, the wrath of God against them, and his resolution to destroy them: but... read more

John Gill

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

Lie thou also upon thy left side ,.... Some think this was not in reality, but in vision, as Kimchi observes; and so Maimonides F3 Moreh Nevochim, par. 2. c. 46. ; and in like manner they understand his eating and drinking by measures and preparing food, as he is directed in a following part of this chapter: but others are of opinion that all this was really done. The reasons given on both sides are not despicable. It is urged against the reality of the fact, that the prophet, without... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Ezekiel 4:5

For I have laid upon thee the years of their iniquity ,.... Or the iniquity which for so many years they have been guilty of; that is, the punishment of it: according to the number of the days ; a day for a year; three hundred and ninety days ; which signify three hundred and ninety years; and so many years there were from the revolt of the ten tribes from Rehoboam, and the setting up the calves at Dan and Bethel, to the destruction of Jerusalem; which may be reckoned thus: the... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Ezekiel 4:6

And when thou hast accomplished them ,.... The three hundred and ninety days, by lying so long on the left side, bearing the sins of the house of Israel in this way; or, as Cocceius renders the words, "and thou shall accomplish them, and thou shalt lie", &c.; F7 וכלית את אלה ושכבת "et absolves hos, et decumbes", Cocceius, Starckius; "et consummabis haec, et jacebis", Montanus. , that is, thou shalt so accomplish these days, that thou mayest lie through forty days on the... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Ezekiel 4:7

Therefore thou shalt set thy face toward the siege at Jerusalem ,.... All the while he was lying either on the left side or the right, his face was to be directed to the siege of Jerusalem, portrayed upon the tile, and to all the preparations made for that purpose, to show that all had reference to that and that it wound certainly be; for, as the prophet represented the Chaldean army the directing and setting his face to the siege shows their resolution and inflexibleness, that they were... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Ezekiel 4:3

Take thou unto thee an iron pan - מחבת machabath , a flat plate or slice, as the margin properly renders it: such as are used in some countries to bake bread on, called a griddle or girdle, being suspended above the fire, and kept in a proper degree of heat for the purpose. A plate like this, stuck perpendicularly in the earth, would show the nature of a wall much better than any pan could do. The Chaldeans threw such a wall round Jerusalem, to prevent the besieged from receiving any... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Ezekiel 4:4

Lie thou also upon thy left side - It appears that all that is mentioned here and in the following verses was done, not in idea, but in fact. The prophet lay down on his left side upon a couch to which he was chained, Ezekiel 4:6 , for three hundred and ninety days; and afterwards he lay in the same manner, upon his right side, for forty days. And thus was signified the state of the Jews, and the punishment that was coming upon them. The prophet himself represents the Jews. His lying,... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Ezekiel 4:6

Forty days - Reckon, says Archbishop Newcome, near fifteen years and six months in the reign of Manasseh, two years in that of Amon, three months in that of Jehoahaz, eleven years in that of Jehoiakim, three months and ten days in that of Jehoiachin, and eleven years in that of Zedekiah; and there arises a period of forty years, during which gross idolatry was practiced in the kingdom of Judah. Forty days may have been employed in spoiling and desolating the city and the temple. read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Ezekiel 4:4

Verse 4 We must first consider the scope of this prophecy, and we shall then discuss more conveniently its separate parts. It is not doubtful that God wished to oppose the pride of the people, for they thought themselves punished more severely than they deserved. And this is customary with hypocrites, because while they dare not acquit themselves altogether, they yet murmur as if God afflicted them too severely, then they willingly offer something in compensation that they may free themselves... read more

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Ezekiel 4:1-8

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Ezekiel 4:3

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

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Ezekiel 4:5

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Ezekiel 4:6

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Ezekiel 4:7

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Ezekiel 4:3

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Ezekiel 4:4

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Ezekiel 4:6

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Ezekiel 4:4

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