Eze 12:1-28.
EZEKIEL'S
TYPICAL
MOVING TO
EXILE:
PROPHECY OF
ZEDEKIAH'S
CAPTIVITY AND
PRIVATION OF
SIGHT: THE
JEWS'
UNBELIEVING
SURMISE AS TO THE
DISTANCE OF THE
EVENT
REPROVED.
1, 2. eyes to see, and see not, . . . ears to hear, and
hear not--fulfilling the prophecy of
De 29:4,
here quoted by Ezekiel (compare
Isa 6:9;
Jer 5:21).
Ezekiel needed often to be reminded of the people's perversity, lest he
should be discouraged by the little effect produced by his prophecies.
Their "not seeing" is the result of perversity, not incapacity. They
are wilfully blind. The persons most interested in this prophecy were
those dwelling at Jerusalem; and it is among them that Ezekiel was
transported in spirit, and performed in vision, not outwardly, the
typical acts. At the same time, the symbolical prophecy was designed to
warn the exiles at Chebar against cherishing hopes, as many did in
opposition to God's revealed word, of returning to Jerusalem, as if
that city was to stand; externally living afar off, their hearts dwelt
in that corrupt and doomed capital.
3. stuff for removing--rather, "an exile's outfit," the articles
proper to a person going as an exile, a staff and knapsack, with a
supply of food and clothing; so "instruments of captivity,"
Jer 46:19,
Margin, that is, the needful equipments for it. His simple
announcements having failed, he is symbolically to give them an ocular
demonstration conveyed by a word-painting of actions performed in
vision.
consider--
(De 32:29).
4. by day--in broad daylight, when all can see thee.
at even--not contradicting the words "by day." The baggage was to be
sent before by day, and Ezekiel was to follow at nightfall
[GROTIUS]; or, the preparations were to be made by day, the actual
departure was to be effected at night [HENDERSON].
as they that go forth into captivity--literally, "as the goings forth
of the captivity," that is, of the captive band of exiles, namely, amid
the silent darkness: typifying Zedekiah's flight by night on the taking
of the city
(Jer 39:4; 52:7).
5. Dig--as Zedekiah was to escape like one digging through a wall,
furtively to effect an escape
(Eze 12:12).
carry out--namely, "thy stuff"
(Eze 12:4).
thereby--by the opening in the wall. Zedekiah escaped "by the gate
betwixt the two walls"
(Jer 39:4).
6. in . . . twilight--rather, "in the dark." So in
Ge 15:17,
"it" refers to "thy stuff."
cover thy face--as one who muffles his face, afraid of being recognized
by anyone meeting him. So the Jews and Zedekiah should make their exit
stealthily and afraid to look around, so hurried should be their fight
[CALVIN].
sign--rather, "a portent," namely, for evil.
9. What doest thou?--They ask not in a docile spirit, but making a jest
of his proceedings.
10. burden--that is, weighty oracle.
the prince--The very man Zedekiah, in whom they trust for safety, is
to be the chief sufferer. JOSEPHUS
[Antiquities, 10.7] reports that
Ezekiel sent a copy of this prophecy to Zedekiah. As Jeremiah had sent a
letter to the captives at the Chebar, which was the means of calling
forth at first the agency of Ezekiel, so it was natural for Ezekiel to
send a message to Jerusalem confirming the warnings of Jeremiah. The
prince, however, fancying a contradiction between
Eze 12:13;
"he shall not see Babylon," and
Jer 24:8, 9,
declaring he should be carried to Babylon, believed neither. Seeming
discrepancies in Scripture on deeper search prove to be hidden
harmonies.
12. prince . . . among them--literally, "that is in the midst of them,"
that is, on whom the eyes of all are cast, and "under whose shadow" they
hope to live
(La 4:20).
shall bear--namely, his "stuff for removing"; his equipments for his
journey.
cover his face, that he see not the
ground--See on
Eze 12:6;
the symbol in
Eze 12:6
is explained in this verse. He shall muffle his face so as not to be
recognized: a humiliation for a king!
13. My net--the Chaldean army. He shall be inextricably entangled in
it, as in the meshes of a net. It is God's net
(Job 19:6).
Babylon was God's instrument
(Isa 10:5).
Called "a net"
(Hab 1:14-16).
bring him to Babylon . . . ; yet shall he not see it--because he should
be deprived of sight before he arrived there
(Jer 52:11).
14. all . . . about him--his satellites: his bodyguard.
bands--literally, "the wings" of an army
(Isa 8:8).
draw out . . . sword after
them--(See on
Eze 5:2;
Eze 5:12).
16. I will leave a few . . . that they may declare
. . . abominations--God's purpose in scattering a remnant
of Jews among the Gentiles; namely, not only that they themselves
should be weaned from idolatry (see
Eze 12:15),
but that by their own word, as also by their whole state as
exiles, they should make God's righteousness manifest among the
Gentiles, as vindicated in their punishment for their sins (compare
Isa 43:10;
Zec 8:13).
18. Symbolical representation of the famine and fear with which they
should eat their scanty morsel, in their exile, and especially at the
siege.
19. people of the land--the Jews "in the land" of Chaldea who thought
themselves miserable as being exiles and envied the Jews left in
Jerusalem as fortunate.
land of Israel--contrasted with "the people in the land" of Chaldea.
So far from being fortunate as the exiles in Chaldea regarded them, the
Jews in Jerusalem are truly miserable, for the worst is before them,
whereas the exiles have escaped the miseries of the coming siege.
land . . . desolate from all that is
therein--literally, "that the land (namely, Judea) may be despoiled
of the fulness thereof"; emptied of the inhabitants and abundance of
flocks and corn with which it was filled.
because of . . . violence--
(Ps 107:34).
20. the cities--left in Judea after the destruction of Jerusalem.
22. proverb--The infidel scoff, that the threatened judgment was so
long in coming, it would not come at all, had by frequent repetition
come to be a "proverb" with them. This skeptical habit contemporary
prophets testify to
(Jer 17:15; 20:7;
Zep 1:12).
Ezekiel, at the Chebar, thus sympathizes with Jeremiah and strengthens
his testimony at Jerusalem. The tendency to the same scoff
showed itself in earlier times, but had not then developed into a
settled "proverb"
(Isa 5:19;
Am 5:18).
It shall again be the characteristic of the last times, when "faith"
shall be regarded as an antiquated thing
(Lu 18:8),
seeing that it remains stationary, whereas worldly arts and sciences
progress, and when the "continuance of all things from creation" will
be the argument against the possibility of their being suddenly brought
to a standstill by the coming of the Lord
(Isa 66:5;
2Pe 3:3, 4).
The very long-suffering of God, which ought to lead men to repentance,
is made an argument against His word
(Ec 8:11;
Am 6:3).
days . . . prolonged . . . vision faileth--their twofold argument:
(1) The predictions shall not come to pass till long after our time. (2)
They shall fail and prove vain shadows. God answers both in
Eze 12:23, 25.
23. effect--literally, "the word," namely, fulfilled; that is, the
effective fulfilment of whatever the prophets have spoken is at hand.
24. no more . . . vain vision . . . flattering divination--All those
false prophets
(La 2:14),
who "flattered" the people with promises of peace and safety, shall be
detected and confounded by the event itself.
25. word . . . shall come to pass--in opposition to
their scoff "the vision faileth"
(Eze 12:22).
The repetition, "I will speak . . . speak," &c. (or as
FAIRBAIRN, "For I, Jehovah, will speak whatever
word I shall speak, and it shall be done") implies that whenever God
speaks, the effect must follow; for God, who speaks, is not divided in
Himself
(Eze 12:28;
Isa 55:11;
Da 9:12;
Lu 21:33).
no more prolonged--in opposition to the scoff
(Eze 12:22),
"The days are prolonged."
in your days--while you are living (compare
Mt 24:34).
27. Not a mere repetition of the scoff
(Eze 12:22);
there the scoffers asserted that the evil was so often
threatened and postponed, it must have no reality; here
formalists do not go so far as to deny that a day of evil is
coming, but assert it is still far off
(Am 6:3).
The transition is easy from this carnal security to the gross
infidelity of the former class.
Ezekiel 12 Bible Commentary
Jamieson, Faussett, and Brown
Eze 12:1-28. EZEKIEL'S TYPICAL MOVING TO EXILE: PROPHECY OF ZEDEKIAH'S CAPTIVITY AND PRIVATION OF SIGHT: THE JEWS' UNBELIEVING SURMISE AS TO THE DISTANCE OF THE EVENT REPROVED.
1, 2. eyes to see, and see not, . . . ears to hear, and hear not--fulfilling the prophecy of De 29:4, here quoted by Ezekiel (compare Isa 6:9; Jer 5:21). Ezekiel needed often to be reminded of the people's perversity, lest he should be discouraged by the little effect produced by his prophecies. Their "not seeing" is the result of perversity, not incapacity. They are wilfully blind. The persons most interested in this prophecy were those dwelling at Jerusalem; and it is among them that Ezekiel was transported in spirit, and performed in vision, not outwardly, the typical acts. At the same time, the symbolical prophecy was designed to warn the exiles at Chebar against cherishing hopes, as many did in opposition to God's revealed word, of returning to Jerusalem, as if that city was to stand; externally living afar off, their hearts dwelt in that corrupt and doomed capital.
3. stuff for removing--rather, "an exile's outfit," the articles proper to a person going as an exile, a staff and knapsack, with a supply of food and clothing; so "instruments of captivity," Jer 46:19, Margin, that is, the needful equipments for it. His simple announcements having failed, he is symbolically to give them an ocular demonstration conveyed by a word-painting of actions performed in vision.
consider-- (De 32:29).
4. by day--in broad daylight, when all can see thee.
at even--not contradicting the words "by day." The baggage was to be sent before by day, and Ezekiel was to follow at nightfall [GROTIUS]; or, the preparations were to be made by day, the actual departure was to be effected at night [HENDERSON].
as they that go forth into captivity--literally, "as the goings forth of the captivity," that is, of the captive band of exiles, namely, amid the silent darkness: typifying Zedekiah's flight by night on the taking of the city (Jer 39:4; 52:7).
5. Dig--as Zedekiah was to escape like one digging through a wall, furtively to effect an escape (Eze 12:12).
carry out--namely, "thy stuff" (Eze 12:4).
thereby--by the opening in the wall. Zedekiah escaped "by the gate betwixt the two walls" (Jer 39:4).
6. in . . . twilight--rather, "in the dark." So in Ge 15:17, "it" refers to "thy stuff."
cover thy face--as one who muffles his face, afraid of being recognized by anyone meeting him. So the Jews and Zedekiah should make their exit stealthily and afraid to look around, so hurried should be their fight [CALVIN].
sign--rather, "a portent," namely, for evil.
9. What doest thou?--They ask not in a docile spirit, but making a jest of his proceedings.
10. burden--that is, weighty oracle.
the prince--The very man Zedekiah, in whom they trust for safety, is to be the chief sufferer. JOSEPHUS [Antiquities, 10.7] reports that Ezekiel sent a copy of this prophecy to Zedekiah. As Jeremiah had sent a letter to the captives at the Chebar, which was the means of calling forth at first the agency of Ezekiel, so it was natural for Ezekiel to send a message to Jerusalem confirming the warnings of Jeremiah. The prince, however, fancying a contradiction between Eze 12:13; "he shall not see Babylon," and Jer 24:8, 9, declaring he should be carried to Babylon, believed neither. Seeming discrepancies in Scripture on deeper search prove to be hidden harmonies.
11. sign--portent of evil to come (Eze 24:27; Zec 3:8, Margin). Fulfilled (2Ki 25:1-7; Jer 52:1-11).
12. prince . . . among them--literally, "that is in the midst of them," that is, on whom the eyes of all are cast, and "under whose shadow" they hope to live (La 4:20).
shall bear--namely, his "stuff for removing"; his equipments for his journey.
cover his face, that he see not the ground--See on Eze 12:6; the symbol in Eze 12:6 is explained in this verse. He shall muffle his face so as not to be recognized: a humiliation for a king!
13. My net--the Chaldean army. He shall be inextricably entangled in it, as in the meshes of a net. It is God's net (Job 19:6). Babylon was God's instrument (Isa 10:5). Called "a net" (Hab 1:14-16).
bring him to Babylon . . . ; yet shall he not see it--because he should be deprived of sight before he arrived there (Jer 52:11).
14. all . . . about him--his satellites: his bodyguard.
bands--literally, "the wings" of an army (Isa 8:8).
draw out . . . sword after them--(See on Eze 5:2; Eze 5:12).
16. I will leave a few . . . that they may declare . . . abominations--God's purpose in scattering a remnant of Jews among the Gentiles; namely, not only that they themselves should be weaned from idolatry (see Eze 12:15), but that by their own word, as also by their whole state as exiles, they should make God's righteousness manifest among the Gentiles, as vindicated in their punishment for their sins (compare Isa 43:10; Zec 8:13).
18. Symbolical representation of the famine and fear with which they should eat their scanty morsel, in their exile, and especially at the siege.
19. people of the land--the Jews "in the land" of Chaldea who thought themselves miserable as being exiles and envied the Jews left in Jerusalem as fortunate.
land of Israel--contrasted with "the people in the land" of Chaldea. So far from being fortunate as the exiles in Chaldea regarded them, the Jews in Jerusalem are truly miserable, for the worst is before them, whereas the exiles have escaped the miseries of the coming siege.
land . . . desolate from all that is therein--literally, "that the land (namely, Judea) may be despoiled of the fulness thereof"; emptied of the inhabitants and abundance of flocks and corn with which it was filled.
because of . . . violence-- (Ps 107:34).
20. the cities--left in Judea after the destruction of Jerusalem.
22. proverb--The infidel scoff, that the threatened judgment was so long in coming, it would not come at all, had by frequent repetition come to be a "proverb" with them. This skeptical habit contemporary prophets testify to (Jer 17:15; 20:7; Zep 1:12). Ezekiel, at the Chebar, thus sympathizes with Jeremiah and strengthens his testimony at Jerusalem. The tendency to the same scoff showed itself in earlier times, but had not then developed into a settled "proverb" (Isa 5:19; Am 5:18). It shall again be the characteristic of the last times, when "faith" shall be regarded as an antiquated thing (Lu 18:8), seeing that it remains stationary, whereas worldly arts and sciences progress, and when the "continuance of all things from creation" will be the argument against the possibility of their being suddenly brought to a standstill by the coming of the Lord (Isa 66:5; 2Pe 3:3, 4). The very long-suffering of God, which ought to lead men to repentance, is made an argument against His word (Ec 8:11; Am 6:3).
days . . . prolonged . . . vision faileth--their twofold argument: (1) The predictions shall not come to pass till long after our time. (2) They shall fail and prove vain shadows. God answers both in Eze 12:23, 25.
23. effect--literally, "the word," namely, fulfilled; that is, the effective fulfilment of whatever the prophets have spoken is at hand.
24. no more . . . vain vision . . . flattering divination--All those false prophets (La 2:14), who "flattered" the people with promises of peace and safety, shall be detected and confounded by the event itself.
25. word . . . shall come to pass--in opposition to their scoff "the vision faileth" (Eze 12:22). The repetition, "I will speak . . . speak," &c. (or as FAIRBAIRN, "For I, Jehovah, will speak whatever word I shall speak, and it shall be done") implies that whenever God speaks, the effect must follow; for God, who speaks, is not divided in Himself (Eze 12:28; Isa 55:11; Da 9:12; Lu 21:33).
no more prolonged--in opposition to the scoff (Eze 12:22), "The days are prolonged."
in your days--while you are living (compare Mt 24:34).
27. Not a mere repetition of the scoff (Eze 12:22); there the scoffers asserted that the evil was so often threatened and postponed, it must have no reality; here formalists do not go so far as to deny that a day of evil is coming, but assert it is still far off (Am 6:3). The transition is easy from this carnal security to the gross infidelity of the former class.