Ezekiel 33:2 - Exposition

Speak to the children of thy people . (On the force of the possessive pronoun, see note on Ezekiel 3:1 .) The formula is carried on throughout the chapter ( Ezekiel 33:12 , Ezekiel 33:17 , Ezekiel 33:30 ). Set him for their watchman . Ezekiel falls back upon the thought of Ezekiel 3:17 , but the image is expanded with characteristic fullness. The function of the watchman, in which he sees a parable of his own office, is to stand upon his tower ( 2 Samuel 18:24 , 2 Samuel 18:25 ; 2 Kings 9:17 ; Habakkuk 2:1 ), to keep his eye on the distant horizon, and as soon as the clouds of dust or the gleam of armor gives notice of the approach of the enemy, to sound the trumpet of alarm ( Amos 3:6 ; Hosea 8:1 ; Jeremiah 4:5 ; Jeremiah 6:1 ), that men may not be taken unawares. If he discharge that duty faithfully, then, as in Ezekiel 3:17-21 , the blood of those that perish through their own negligence shall rest on their own head.