The Book of the Prophet Ezekiel
Ezekiel 2
Chapter II · Vol. III, p. 1314
1 Ezekiel's commission. 6 His instructions. 9 The roll of heavy judgments spread before him.
2 And the cspirit1 entered into me when he spake unto me, and dset me upon my feet, that I heard him that spake unto me.
3 And he said unto me, Son of man, eI send thee to the children of Israel, to a grebellious nation2 that hath rebelled against me: they and their fathers have transgressed against me, even unto this very day.
e Mat.28.18,19. Jn.20.21. Je.44.4,5. Mar.12.2-5. Ro.10.15.
g De.9.27. Ac.7.51. Jos.22.16. Je.3.25; 25.3; 35.5. 2 Ch.36.15,16. 2 Ki.17.7-23. Da.9.5-13. ch.xvi.xx.xxiii.
2 Heb. nations, ch.5.6,7.
4 For they are impudent3 children, and stiffhearted. I do hsend thee unto them; and thou shalt say unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD.
3 Heb. hard of face.
h Mat.10.16.
5 And they, iwhether they will hear, or whether they will forbear, (for they are a rebellious house,) yet jshall know that there hath been a prophet among them.
6 And thou, son of man, kbe not afraid of them, neither be afraid of their words, though briers4 and thorns be lwith thee, and thou dost dwell among scorpions: nbe not afraid of their words, nor be dismayed at their looks, though they be a rebellious house.
7 Ando thou shalt speak my words unto them, whether they will hear, or whether they will forbear; for they are most rebellious.5
o ch.3.11,17-22. 1 Co.11.23. Je.23.28. 1 Jn.1.3. Mat.28.20.
5 Heb. rebellion, Je.44.18.
8 But thou, son of man, hear what I say unto thee; pBe not thou rebellious like that rebellious house: open thy mouth, and eat6 that I give thee.
p Ex.23.2. Ro.12.2. Is.8.11-13; 1.19; 50.5.
6 Heb. embrace and consider well, Re.10.9,10. ch.3.1-3,10. Je.15.16. 1 Ti.4.14-16.
10 And he sspread it before me; and it was writtent within and without; and there was written therein ulamentations, and mourning, and woe.7
s Ac.8.30. 2 Co.2.14. Hab.2.2. Is.30.8.
t Re.5.1. ver.9; ch.3.1.
u Is.3.11. Ro.2.8,9. ch.iv.-xxxii. xxxv. xxxviii. xxxix.
7 It must be borne in mind that the language of Ezekiel is highly symbolical. His figures are bolder even than those of any of the other prophets. The 'roll' symbolized the divine revelation made to the prophet. That revelation was an almost continual recital of judgment about to be inflicted upon the Jews. The eating of the roll symbolized a full comprehension of the revelation by the prophetic mind, and the command, 'Be not thou rebellious,' indicates the necessity laid upon him faithfully to deliver and record the whole revelation—not to withhold a single word, not to modify a single expression, through fear or favour. The history of the past, and perhaps also his own experience, told him how dangerous was his mission, and how much enmity and persecution his words were calculated to excite among his infatuated countrymen; but in the face of all this he must fulfil his appointed work.—P.
Notes
Ver. 1-6. The title son of man, so often given to Ezekiel, and sometimes to Daniel, who also prophesied in Chaldea, might be given them to render them humble under their enjoyment of so many divine visions: or as an honourable representation of them as types of the Son of God in our nature. And the Jews are called briers, thorns, and scorpions, to represent what cursed, mischievous, malignant, subtle, fierce, frowning, venomous, and murderous persecutors they would be to him.
Ver. 1. Son of man. This title is peculiar to Ezekiel and Daniel; and, according to the Hebrew rabbis, it was intended to remind them of their frailty, that they were but men, and not angels. C.
Ver. 6. Briers and thorns. What specific plants are meant it is impossible to determine. The general use of the words translared 'briers and thorns' leaves, however, no doubt that they are some of the many prickly plants with which many parts of Asia and Africa abound. 'One of the inconveniences,' says a learned traveller, 'of the vegetable thickets of Egypt is, that it is difficult to remain in them, seeing nine-tenths of the trees and plants art armed with inexorable thorns, which suffer only an unquiet enjoyment of the shadow.' The 'brier and thorn' are memorials of the curse originally pronounced upon the earth because of sin Ge. 3. 18; He. 6. 8.—Scorpions. According to some authorities the name is derived from two words that signify 'father-killer;' and Pliny informs us that it is the property of the young scorpions to slay their parents. Parkhurst derives it from two words that signify to squeeze or pinch violently, as the creature is armed with forceps, and takes a violent hold. It is a small but very venomous animal, having a poisonous sting in its tail. It is an animal of a very hideous appearance; and, from its aspect and poisonous properties, furnishes an awful emblem of a malignant people. C.
Reflections.—Ministers had need always to keep in view their own infirmities, as well as the dignity of their office; and the Spirit of God must enable them to receive as well as to declare their instructions. Alas! how fast men's wickedness cleaves to them under the heaviest afflictions! God exactly knows what men are and will be, and what entertainment his Word and ordinances will get among them. And marvellous is his patience and pity in using all common methods to reform the most stubborn. And if ministers preach by his commission, and in his authority, whether men be edified or not, he will be glorified by the faithful publication of his truths. They must indeed, in the discharge of their office, expect the most unnatural and infernal persecution; and from none more than from hardened hypocrites. But let them be used as they may, they must faithfully adhere to and publish God's truths, however mournful or cutting. And in order hereto, they must consider, understand, and experience the power of them on their own hearts, before they preach them to others.