12 And there is a word of Jehovah unto me, saying, 13 'Son of man, the land—when it sinneth against Me to commit a trespass, and I have stretched out My hand against it, and broken for it the staff of bread, and sent into it famine, and cut off from it man and beast— 14 and these three men have been in its midst, Noah, Daniel, and Job—they by their righteousness deliver their own soul—an affirmation of the Lord Jehovah. 15 'If an evil beast I cause to pass through the land, and it hath bereaved, and it hath been a desolation, without any passing through because of the beast— 16 these three men in its midst: I live—an affirmation of the Lord Jehovah—neither sons nor daughters do they deliver; they alone are delivered, and the land is a desolation. 17 'Or—a sword I bring in against that land, and I have said: Sword, thou dost pass over through the land, and I have cut off from it man and beast— 18 and these three men in its midst: I live—an affirmation of the Lord Jehovah—they deliver not sons and daughters, for they alone are delivered. 19 'Or—pestilence I send unto that land, and I have poured out My fury against it in blood, to cut off from it man and beast— 20 and Noah, Daniel, and Job, in its midst: I live—an affirmation of the Lord Jehovah—neither son nor daughter do they deliver; they, by their righteousness, deliver their own soul. 21 'For thus said the Lord Jehovah: Although My four sore judgments—sword, and famine, and wild beast, and pestilence—I have sent unto Jerusalem, to cut off from it man and beast, 22 yet, lo, there hath been left in it an escape, who are brought forth, sons and daughters, lo, they are coming forth unto you, and ye have seen their way, and their doings, and have been comforted concerning the evil that I have brought in against Jerusalem, all that which I have brought in against it. 23 And they have comforted you, for ye see their way and their doings, and ye have known that not for nought have I done all that which I have done in her—an affirmation of the Lord Jehovah.'
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Ezekiel 14:12-23
Commentary on Ezekiel 14:12-23
(Read Ezekiel 14:12-23)
National sins bring national judgments. Though sinners escape one judgment, another is waiting for them. When God's professing people rebel against him, they may justly expect all his judgments. The faith, obedience, and prayers of Noah prevailed to the saving of his house, but not of the old world. Job's sacrifice and prayer in behalf of his friends were accepted, and Daniel had prevailed for the saving his companions and the wise men of Babylon. But a people that had filled the measure of their sins, was not to expect to escape for the sake of any righteous men living among them; not even of the most eminent saints, who could be accepted in their own case only through the sufferings and righteousness of Christ. Yet even when God makes the greatest desolations by his judgments, he saves some to be monuments of his mercy. In firm belief that we shall approve the whole of God's dealings with ourselves, and with all mankind, let us silence all rebellious murmurs and objections.