8 And I looked , and behold , sinews were on them, and flesh grew and skin covered e them; but there was no breath in them. 9 Then He said to me, "Prophesy to the breath , prophesy , son of man , and say to the breath , 'Thus says the Lord GOD , "Come from the four winds , O breath , and breathe on these slain , that they come to life .""' 10 So I prophesied as He commanded me, and the breath came into them, and they came to life and stood on their feet , an exceedingly great army . 11 Then He said to me, "Son of man , these bones are the whole house of Israel ; behold , they say , 'Our bones are dried up and our hope has perished . We are completely cut off .' 12 "Therefore prophesy and say to them, 'Thus says the Lord GOD , "Behold , I will open your graves and cause you to come up out of your graves , My people ; and I will bring you into the land of Israel . 13 "Then you will know that I am the Lord , when I have opened your graves and caused you to come up out of your graves , My people . 14 "I will put My Spirit within you and you will come to life , and I will place you on your own land . Then you will know that I, the Lord , have spoken and done it," declares the Lord .' "
15 The word of the Lord came again to me saying , 16 "And you, son of man , take for yourself one stick and write on it, 'For Judah and for the sons of Israel , his companions '; then take another stick and write on it, 'For Joseph , the stick of Ephraim and all the house of Israel , his companions .' 17 "Then join them for yourself one to another into one stick , that they may become one in your hand .
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Ezekiel 37:8-17
Commentary on Ezekiel 37:1-14
(Read Ezekiel 37:1-14)
No created power could restore human bones to life. God alone could cause them to live. Skin and flesh covered them, and the wind was then told to blow upon these bodies; and they were restored to life. The wind was an emblem of the Spirit of God, and represented his quickening powers. The vision was to encourage the desponding Jews; to predict both their restoration after the captivity, and also their recovery from their present and long-continued dispersion. It was also a clear intimation of the resurrection of the dead; and it represents the power and grace of God, in the conversion of the most hopeless sinners to himself. Let us look to Him who will at last open our graves, and bring us forth to judgment, that He may now deliver us from sin, and put his Spirit within us, and keep us by his power, through faith, unto salvation.
Commentary on Ezekiel 37:15-28
(Read Ezekiel 37:15-28)
This emblem was to show the people, that the Lord would unite Judah and Israel. Christ is the true David, Israel's King of old; and those whom he makes willing in the day of his power, he makes to walk in his judgments, and to keep his statutes. Events yet to come will further explain this prophecy. Nothing has more hindered the success of the gospel than divisions. Let us study to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace; let us seek for Divine grace to keep us from detestable things; and let us pray that all nations may be obedient and happy subjects of the Son of David, that the Lord may be our God, and we may be his people for evermore.