Albert Barnes

In the thirtieth year, on the fifth day of the fourth month, while I was among the exiles by the River Kebar, the heavens opened and I saw visions of…

“The thirtieth year - being closely connected with as I, is rather in favor of considering this a personal date.”

the word of the LORD came directly to Ezekiel the priest, the son of Buzi, in the land of the Chaldeans by the River Kebar.

“Came expressly - The phrase marks that it was in truth a heaven-sent vision. The hand of the Lord - A phrase in all prophecy implying a “constraining” power, because the spirit “constrains” the prophet independently of his own will.”

and within it was the form of four living creatures. And this was their appearance: They had a human form,

“Living creatures - The Hebrew word answers very nearly to the English “beings,” and denotes those who live, whether angels, men (in whom is the breath of life), or inferior creatures.”

Their legs were straight, and the soles of their feet were like the hooves of a calf, gleaming like polished bronze.

“The “foot” seems here to mean the lower part of the leg, including the knee, and this was “straight,” i. e. upright like a man’s. The “sole” is the “foot” as distinguished from the “leg,” the leg terminated in a solid calf’s hoof.”

and their wings were touching one another. They did not turn as they moved; each one went straight ahead.

“Two of the wings were in the act of flying, so stretched out that the extremity of each touched a wing of a neighboring living creature, similarly stretched out. This was only when they were in motion. See Eze 1:24.”

Such were their faces. Their wings were spread upward; each had two wings touching the wings of the creature on either side, and two wings covering its body.

“Thus ... - Rather, And their faces and their wings were separated above. All four formed a whole, yet the upper parts of each, the heads and the wings (though touching), rose distinct from one another.”

In the midst of the living creatures was the appearance of glowing coals of fire, or of torches.

“Lamps - “like the appearance of” flames. Omit the “and” before “like.” The “bright flames” resembled “coals of fire.” It went up - i. e. “fire went up.””

When I looked at the living creatures, I saw a wheel on the ground beside each creature with its four faces.

“Translate it: “one wheel upon the earth by” each of “the liviing creatures” on his four sides (i. e. on the four sides of each of the living creatures). There was a wheel to “each” of the living creatures: it was set “by,” i. e.”

As they moved, they went in any of the four directions, without pivoting as they moved.

“Upon their four sides - i. e. straight in the direction toward which their faces looked. Since the four quarters express all directions, the construction of the living creatures was such that they could move in each direction alike.”

And there came a voice from above the expanse over their heads as they stood still with their wings lowered.

“A voice from the firmament - Compare Eze 3:12; in the midst of the tumult, are heard articulate sounds declaring the glory of God.”

“Son of man,” He said to me, “stand up on your feet and I will speak to you.”

“Son of man - This phrase (which occurs elsewhere in Scripture) is applied especially to Ezekiel and Daniel, the prophets of the captivity. Ezekiel is thus reminded of his humanity, at the time when he is especially permitted to have contact with God.”

“Son of man,” He said to me, “I am sending you to the Israelites, to a rebellious nation that has rebelled against Me.

“Nation - literally, as in the margin - the word which usually distinguishes the pagan from God’s people.”

And whether they listen or refuse to listen—for they are a rebellious house—they will know that a prophet has been among them.

“A rebellious house - A phrase employed continually by Ezekiel in bitter irony, in the place of house of Israel, as much as to say, “House no longer of Israel, but of rebellion.” Compare Isa 30:9.”

Then I looked and saw a hand reaching out to me, and in it was a scroll,

“Was sent - Rather, was put forth. A roll of a book - The book was one of the ancient kind written on skins rolled up together. Hence, our English volume Psa 40:7.”

“Son of man,” He said to me, “eat what you find here. Eat this scroll, then go and speak to the house of Israel.”

“Before, there was a direct commission, now there is a symbolic action. John has the same vision (Rev 10:8 ff), but there that is expressed, which is here left to be inferred, namely, that “as soon as he had eaten it his belly was bitter.””

not to the many peoples of unfamiliar speech and difficult language whose words you cannot understand. Surely if I had sent you to them, they would have listened to you.

“To many people - To various nations using diverse languages. Surely - The thought is that expressed by our Saviour Himself (margin reference). Some render it: “but I have sent thee unto these; they can hearken” etc.”

Behold, I will make your face as hard as their faces, and your forehead as hard as their foreheads.

“I have made ... thy forehead strong - I have given thee a strength superior to theirs; a metaphor taken from horned animals.”

I will make your forehead like a diamond, harder than flint. Do not be afraid of them or dismayed at their presence, even though they are a rebellious house.”

“Adamant - Or, diamond Jer 17:1, which was employed to cut flint. Ezekiel’s firmness being that of a diamond, he should cut a stroke home to the hardened hearts of a rebellious people. For “though” read “for.””

I came to the exiles at Tel-abib who dwelt by the River Kebar. And for seven days I sat where they sat and remained there among them, overwhelmed.

“Tel-abib - , on the river Chebar was the chief seat of the Jewish exiles in Babylonia. The name “Tel-abib” (“mount of ears of corn”) was probably given on account of its fertility.”

At the end of seven days the word of the LORD came to me, saying,

“The Lord guards both Ezekiel and his countrymen from dwelling exclusively on the national character of his mission.”

“Son of man, I have made you a watchman for the house of Israel. Whenever you hear a word from My mouth, give them a warning from Me.

“Watchman - The priests and ministers of the Lord were often so called. Ezekiel is especially distinguished by this title Eze 33:7.”

So I got up and went out to the plain, and behold, the glory of the LORD was present there, like the glory I had seen by the River Kebar…

“A fresh revelation of the glory of the Lord, to impress upon Ezekiel another characteristic of his mission. Now he is to learn that there is “a time to be silent” as well as “a time to speak,” and that both are appointed by God.”

But when I speak with you, I will open your mouth, and you are to tell them, ‘This is what the Lord GOD says.’

“He that heareth ... - The judicial blindness of which Ezekiel speaks had already fallen upon the great body of the nation (Eze 14:4. Compare Rev 2:7; Rev 22:11).”

“Now you, son of man, take a brick, place it before you, and draw on it the city of Jerusalem.

“A tile - Rather, a brick. Sun-dried or kiln-burned bricks were from very early times used for building walls throughout the plain of Mesopotamia.”

Then take an iron plate and set it up as an iron wall between yourself and the city.

“An iron pan - Another figure in the coming siege. On Assyrian sculptures from Nimroud and Kouyunjik there are sieges of cities with “forts, mounts, and rams;” and together with these we see a kind of shield set up on the ground, behind which archers…”