Jamieson, Fausset & Brown

Say to them: ‘As surely as I live, declares the Lord GOD, I take no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but rather that the wicked should turn from…

“A yearning tenderness manifests itself here, notwithstanding all their past sins; yet with it a holiness that abates nothing of its demands for the honor of God's authority.”

“Son of man, those living in the ruins in the land of Israel are saying, ‘Abraham was only one man, yet he possessed the land.

“Abraham was one . . . but we are many--If God gave the land for an inheritance to Abraham, who was but one (Isa 51:2), much more it is given to us, who, though reduced, are still many.”

As for you, son of man, your people are talking about you near the city walls and in the doorways of their houses.

“Their talking was not directly "against" Ezekiel, for they professed to like his ministrations; but God's word speaks of things as they really are, not as they appear. by the walls--in the public haunts.”

You have not strengthened the weak, healed the sick, bound up the injured, brought back the strays, or searched for the lost.

“The diseased--rather, those weak from the effects of "disease," as "strengthened" (that is, with due nourishment) requires [GROTIUS]. broken--that is, fractures from wounds inflicted by the wolf. brought again . . . driven away-- (Ex 23:4).”

I will feed them in good pasture, and the lofty mountains of Israel will be their grazing land.

“20:40, the phrase is "the mountain of the height of Israel" in the singular number. The reason for the difference is: there Ezekiel spoke of the central seat of the kingdom, Mount Zion, where the people met for the worship of Jehovah; here he speaks…”

I will save My flock, and they will no longer be prey. I will judge between one sheep and another.

“After the restoration from Babylon, the Jews were delivered in some degree from the oppression, not only of foreigners, but also of their own great people (Ne 5:1-19). The full and final fulfilment of this prophecy is future.”

‘You are My flock, the sheep of My pasture, My people, and I am your God,’ declares the Lord GOD.”

“But as God had promised many things which mere "men" could not expect to realize, He shows that it is not from man's might their realization is to be looked for, but from GOD, who would perform them for His covenant-people, "His flock" [ROSENMULLER].”

“Son of man, set your face against Mount Seir and prophesy against it,

“Singled out as badly pre-eminent in its bitterness against God's people, to represent all their enemies everywhere and in all ages. 63:1-4, Edom, the region of the greatest enmity towards God's people, is the ideal scene of the final judgments of all God's foes.”

therefore as surely as I live, declares the Lord GOD, I will give you over to bloodshed and it will pursue you.

“I will prepare thee unto blood--I will expose thee to slaughter. sith--old English for "seeing that" or "since." thou hast not hated blood--The Hebrew order is, "thou hast hated not--blood"; that is, thou couldst not bear to live without bloodshed [GROTIUS].”

Because you have said, ‘These two nations and countries will be ours, and we will possess them,’ even though the LORD was there,

“The broken sentences express the excited feelings of the prophet at Edom's wicked presumption. The transition from the "two nations and two countries" to "it" marks that the two are regarded as one whole.”

therefore prophesy and declare that this is what the Lord GOD says: Because they have made you desolate and have trampled you on every side, so that you became a…

“Literally, "Because, even because." swallowed you up--literally, "panted after" you, as a beast after its prey; implying the greedy cupidity of Edom as to Israel's inheritance (Ps 56:1, 2). lips of talkers--literally, "lips of the tongue," that is, of the slanderer, the man of tongue.”

therefore, O mountains of Israel, hear the word of the Lord GOD.

“Inanimate creatures are addressed, to imply that the creature also, as it were, groans for deliverance from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God (Ro 8:19-21) [POLANUS].”

For this is what the Lord GOD says: Because people say to you, ‘You devour men and deprive your nation of its children,’

“Like an unnatural mother it devoured, that is, it was the grave of its people; of the Canaanites, its former possessors, through mutual wars, and finally by the sword of Israel; and now, of the Jews, through internal and external ills; for example, wars, famine…”

And wherever they went among the nations, they profaned My holy name, because it was said of them, ‘These are the people of the LORD, yet they had to leave…

“These, &c.--The Israelites gave a handle of reproach to the heathen against God, who would naturally say, These who take usury, oppress, commit adultery, &c., and who, in such an abject plight, are "gone forth" as exiles "out of His land," are specimens of what…”

But I had concern for My holy name, which the house of Israel had profaned among the nations to which they had gone.

“I had pity for mine holy name--that is, I felt pity for it; God's own name, so dishonored, was the primary object of His pitying concern; then His people, secondarily, through His concern for it [FAIRBAIRN].”

I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will remove your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh.

“In Eze 18:31 they are commanded, "Make you a new heart, and a new spirit." Here God says, "A new heart will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you."”

Then they will say, ‘This land that was desolate has become like the garden of Eden. The cities that were once ruined, desolate, and destroyed are now fortified and inhabited.’

“Eden--as Tyre (the type of the world powers in general: so Assyria, a cedar "in the garden of God, Eden," Eze 31:8, 9), in original advantages, had been compared to "Eden, the garden of God" (Eze 28:13), from which she had fallen irrecoverably; so Israel…”

Like the numerous flocks for sacrifices at Jerusalem during her appointed feasts, so the ruined cities will be filled with flocks of people.

“As the holy flock--the great flock of choice animals for sacrifice, brought up to Jerusalem at the three great yearly festivals, the passover, pentecost, and feast of the tabernacles.”

And He said to me, “Prophesy concerning these bones and tell them, ‘Dry bones, hear the word of the LORD!

“Prophesy--Proclaim God's quickening word to them. On account of this innate power of the divine word to effect its end, prophets are said to do that which they prophesy as about to be done (Jer 1:10).”

As I looked on, tendons appeared on them, flesh grew, and skin covered them; but there was no breath in them.

“So far, they were only cohering in order as unsightly skeletons. The next step, that of covering them successively with sinews, skin, and flesh, gives them beauty; but still "no breath" of life in them.”

Then He said to me, “Son of man, these bones are the whole house of Israel.

“Our bones are dried-- (Ps 141:7), explained by "our hope is lost" (Isa 49:14); our national state is as hopeless of resuscitation, as marrowless bones are of reanimation. cut off for our parts--that is, so far as we are concerned.”

Therefore prophesy and tell them that this is what the Lord GOD says: ‘O My people, I will open your graves and bring you up from them, and I will…

“The hope that is utterly gone, if looking at themselves, is sure for them in God, because He regards them as His people. Their covenant relation to God ensures His not letting death permanently reign over them.”

“And you, son of man, take a single stick and write on it: ‘Belonging to Judah and to the Israelites associated with him.’

“The union of the two rods was a prophecy in action of the brotherly union which is to reunite the ten tribes and Judah.”

When your people ask you, ‘Won’t you explain to us what you mean by these?’

“God does not explain the symbolical prophecy until the Jews have been stimulated by the type to consult the prophet.”

I will make them one nation in the land, on the mountains of Israel, and one king will rule over all of them.

“Ho 1:11). one king--not Zerubbabel, who was not a king either in fact or name, and who ruled over but a few Jews, and that only for a few years; whereas the King here reigns for ever. MESSIAH is meant (Eze 34:23, 24).”