Verse 1
the LORD. Hebrew. Jehovah. App-4.
Verse 2
Son of man. See note on Ezekiel 2:1.
holy. See note on Exodus 3:5.
the land of Israel = the soil of Israel, Hebrew. "admath Israel. See note on Ezekiel 11:17.
Verse 3
Behold. Figure of speech Asterismos. App-6.
draw forth My sword, See note on Ezekiel 5:2, Ezekiel 5:17, and Ezekiel 12:14.
the righteous, &c. Therefore Ezekiel 18:2, Ezekiel 18:3, is not yet ful filled, but corresponds with the green tree and the dry of Ezekiel 20:47.
the righteous = a righteous one.
the wicked = a lawless one. Heb, rasha". App-44.
Verse 5
it shall not return, &c.: i.e. until it has executed its mission.
Verse 7
spirit. Hebrew. ruach, App-9.
saith the Lord GOD = [is] Adonai Jehovah"s oracle. See note on Ezekiel 2:4.
Verse 9
the LORD = Jehovah. App-4. Some codices, with three early printed editions (one Rabbinic in margin), read Adonai. App-4.
A sword, a sword. Figure of speech Epizeuxis (App-6), for emphasis = a great or sharp sword.
Verse 10
make a sore slaughter. Figure of speech Polyptbton (App-6), for emphasis. Hebrew to slay a slaughter.
glitter = flash as lightning.
should we then make mirth? or, "should we flourish [the sceptre of My son (i.e. of Judah? "
it, &c. i.e. "Jehovah"s sword despiseth the [wooden] sceptre of My son (i.e. Judah), as [it despiseth] every tree". The Ellipsis is to be thus supplied.
rod = sceptre.
Verse 11
the slayer: i.e. the king of Babylon.
Verse 12
it: i.e. the sword of Jehovah, the king of Babylon.
princes = leaders.
be = come.
terrors by, &c. = who shall be delivered to the sword with My People.
smite therefore, &c. This was the symbol of grief in man, as beating the breast was in woman.
Verse 13
it is a trial = sit (Jehovah"s sword) has been tried (or proved).
and what, &c. = and what [will happen or be the result] if [Jehovah"s sword shall not despise] the [wooden] sceptre?
it shall be no more = it will not [despise it.
saith the Lord GOD = [is] Adonai Jehovah"s oracle.
Verse 14
smite thine hands together, &c. A sign of disappointment or grief in men. Reference to Pentateuch (Numbers 24:10).
Verse 15
their ruins = the overthrown. So the Septuagint and Syriac. Compare Jeremiah 18:23.
bright = bright as lightning.
wrapped up keen, or sharp.
Verse 16
Go thee. Figure of speech Apostrophe. App-6. Addressedto the sword.
thee: i.e. the sword. Not Ezekiel. It is feminine, not masculine: = Go to the right, turn to the left: or, One stroke to the right, another to the left, &c.
thy face = thine edge.
Verse 17
I will also smite, &c. Figure of speech Anthropopatheia. App-6.
Verse 19
that the sword . . . may come = for the sword to come.
both twain = the two ways.
choose thou a place = grave a hand: i.e. set up a
sign = post.
Verse 21
stood = bath come to a stand.
to use divination = to divine a divination.
made his arrows bright = hath shaken his arrows. This was one of the modes of divination by which the arrow (marked like a lot), gave the decision.
images = teraphim.
looked in, &c. = inspected the liver; another mode of divination. It healthy or double and the lobes inclined inward, the omen was favourable; but if diseased or too dry, or without a lobe or a band between the parts, the omen was unfavourable.
Verse 22
appoint captains = set up battering-rams. Compare Ezekiel 4:2.
the mouth in the slaughter = a hole by a breach.
shouting = a war shout.
and. Some codices, with four early printed editions (one Rabbinic in margin), Aramaean, Septuagint, and Syriac, read this "and" in the text.
a fort = a siege wall.
Verse 23
them: i.e. Zedekiah and the rulers in Jerusalem. sworn oaths. Referring to Zedekiah"s reacherous breach of faith with the king of Babylon. See Ezekiel 17:11-21.
iniquity = treachery. Hebrew. "avdh. App-44.
Verse 24
transgressions = rebellion (plural of Majesty) = great rebellion. Hebrew. pasha". App-44.
sins. Hebrew. chata". App-44. plural of Majesty = great sin.
with the hand = captured, or made captives.
Verse 25
profane = pierced through: i.e. deadly wounded
one. Zedekiah a type of the future Antichrist. Compare Revelation 13:3.
wicked = lawless. Hebrew. rasha . App-44. x,
iniquity . . . an end. Figure of speech Hypallage. App-8, Hebrew "iniquity of the end" = an end
of the iniquity. Hebrew. "avah, as in Ezekiel 21:23.
Verse 26
be the same: or, endure. They might exalt and abase. but Jehovah would not recognise it.
Verse 27
overturn, &c. Figure of speech Epizeuxis (App-6), for great emphasis.
until He come: i.e. the promised Messiah Reference to Pentateuch (Genesis 49:10). App-92. See Isaiah 9:6, Isaiah 9:7; Isaiah 42:1. Jeremiah 23:5; Jeremiah 33:17. Zechariah 6:12, Zechariah 6:13, &c.
Verse 28
their reproach. Brought against Jerusalem. See Jeremiah 49:1. Zephaniah 2:8.
to consume = that when it beginneth it may flash like lightning.
Verse 29
the wicked = wicked ones (plural) their. Refers to "them" (Ezekiel 21:23).
Verse 31
men. Hebrew, plural of "enosh. App-14.