성경 주석서

Now it came to pass in the thirtieth year, in the fourth [month], in the fifth [day] of the month, as I [was] among the captives by the river of Chebar, [that] the heavens were opened, and I saw visions of God.

The Book of the prophet Ezekiel. — The book of Ezekiel, so the Hebrews call it, and forbid any to read the beginning and ending of it till he be thirty years of age, because it is so abstruse and mysterious. Nazianzen In Apolog. calleth this prophet, the beholder of great things, and the interpreter of visions and mysteries. Another A Lapide. calleth him the hieroglyphic prophet. A third, Jeremiah veiled, a band shut up, and you know not what is in it, … Ezechiel scripturarum et Oceanus, et mysteriorum Dei labyrinthus. - Jerome. Many, both writers and readers, have passed over this prophet as dark, difficult, and less useful. - Greenhill, Praef. Contemporary he was to Jeremiah, though in another country, and a great confirmer of what he had foretold, but could not be credited. To him, therefore, as to many others, Ezekiel became, according to the import of his name, "The strength of God," who mightily enabled him, as Lavater well notes, with a stout and undaunted spirit, to reprove both people and princes, and to threaten them more terribly and vehemently than Jeremiah had done before him. But, in the substance of their prophecies, there is no small conformity. Ferunt Ezechielem servum Ieremiae prius extitisse, saith Nazianzen. Orat. 47. Some have affirmed that Ezekiel had sometimes been Jeremiah’s servant, as was afterwards Baruch.

Now it came to pass in the thirtieth year, — scil., Since the book of the law was found, and that famous passover kept in King Josiah’s days, 2 Kings 22:1-20 ; 2 Kings 23:1-30 since the eighteenth year of his reign. 2 Kings 23:23 So elsewhere, they began their account from some memorable mercy or remarkable accident; as from the promise made to Abraham, the birth of Isaac, the departure out of Egypt, the division of the kingdom into that of Israel and the other of Judah, …

In the fifth day of the month. — Which was the Sabbath day say some, Compare Ezekiel 3:16 . Then was this holy prophet in the Spirit, as was afterwards also John the divine upon the Christian Sabbath. Revelation 1:10

As I was among the captives. — In Chaldea. That rule of the Rabbis, therefore, holdeth not - viz., that the Holy Ghost never spake to the prophets but only in the Holy Land.

By the river of the Chebar. — Which was rivus vel ramentum Euphratis, a part or channel of Euphrates. There sat the poor captives, Psalms 137:1 and there this prophet received this vision here, and his vocation in the next chapter. It is observed, that by the sides of rivers various prophets had visions of God; by a river side it was that Paul and his company met to preach and pray. Acts 16:13 And of Archbishop Ussher, His life and death by Dr Bernard. that most reverend man of God, it is recorded, that to a certain place by a water side he frequently resorted, when as yet he was but very young, sorrowfully to recount his sins, and with floods of tears to pour them out in confession to God.

That the heavens were opened. — Not by a division of the firmament, saith Jerome, but by the faith of the believer. The like befell Stephen the proto martyr, when the stones were buzzing about his ears; Acts 7:55-60 and, if we may believe the monkish writers, Wulsin, Bishop of Salisbury, when he lay dying. Speed, 335.

And I saw visions of God, — i.e., Offered by God, or excellent visions. Ut montes Dei, cedri Dei, civitas Dei. Ezekiel was not only a priest and a prophet, but a seer also. Abraham was the like. John 8:56 Genesis 20:7 This was no small honour.

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In the fifth [day] of the month, which [was] the fifth year of king Jehoiachin’s captivity,

In the fifth day. — The Sabbath day, likely, that queen of days, as the Jews call it. See on Ezekiel 1:1 .

Which was the fifth year of Jehoiakim’s captivity. — With whom Ezekiel and other precious persons, called by Jeremiah good figs, were carried captive. Ezekiel 40:1

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The word of the LORD came expressly unto Ezekiel the priest, the son of Buzi, in the land of the Chaldeans by the river Chebar; and the hand of the LORD was there upon him.

The word of the Lord came expressly. — Heb., By being hath been, or hath altogether been - Existendo extitit. Accurate factum est it really wrought upon me and made me a prophet.

Unto Ezekiel the priest. — Whom, therefore, some have called Urim and Thummim in Babylon.

The son of Buzi. — That this Buzi was Jeremiah, so called because despised for his plain dealing, as some Rabbis have affirmed, is as true as that Ezekiel himself was the same with Pythagoras the philosopher; which yet some ancients have fondly fancied.

In the land of the Chaldeans — Though a polluted land, Micah 2:10 and the dwelling place of wickedness, Zechariah 5:8 ; Zechariah 5:11 the mother of harlots, and abominations of the earth. Revelation 17:5

By the river Chebar. — The Rabbis Sabbatian. call it the Sabbath river; and, further, tell us that it runneth not, but resteth on the Sabbath day.

“ Credat Iudaeus Apella:

Non ego. ” - Hor.

And the hand of the Lord was there upon him. — Not only came God’s Word expressly to him, but the power and Spirit of God came mightily upon him; so that he felt the intrinsic virtue of this hand, as one phraseth it, the Spirit of God in his own heart; it was a quick and lively word unto him, and to as many as believed.

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And I looked, and, behold, a whirlwind came out of the north, a great cloud, and a fire infolding itself, and a brightness [was] about it, and out of the midst thereof as the colour of amber, out of the midst of the fire.

And I looked, and, behold. — In this ensuing mysterious vision of a whirlwind, four cherubims, four wheels, a throne upon the firmament, formidabilis Dei forma proponitur, is set forth "the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the Lord," as it is expounded, Ezekiel 1:28 , that hereby the people’s arrogance might be the better subdued, the prophet’s doctrine more reverently received, and the prophet confirmed in his calling. The sum of this celestial vision is, that the divine providence doth rule in the world, and is exercised in all parts thereof, and not only in heaven, or in the temple, or in Jewry, as the Jews then thought. As for the changes in the world, which are here compared to wheels, they befall not at all adventures, or by haphazard, but are effected by God, though all things may seem to run upon wheels, and to happen as it fortuneth. At the day of judgment, at utmost, men shall see a harmony in this discord of things, and providence shall then be unriddled. Meanwhile, God often wrappeth himself in a cloud, and will not be seen till afterwards. All God’s dealings be sure will appear beautiful in their season, though for the present we see not the contiguity and linking together of one thing with another.

A whirlwind came out of the north, — i.e., Nebuchadnezzar with his forces. See Jeremiah 1:13-15 , Fitly compared to a whirlwind for suddenness, swiftness, irresistibleness. A Lapide telleth of whirlwinds in Italy which have taken away stabula cum equis, stables with horses; carried them up into the air, and dashed them against the mountains, see Habakkuk 1:6-7 ; Habakkuk 1:9-10 and consider that those Chaldeans were of God’s sending.

A great cloud. — Nebuchadnezzar’s army, Jeremiah 4:13 that peditum equitumque nubes Liv. 2 Kings 25:1 Ezekiel 39:9 that stormed Jerusalem.

And a fire infolding itself. — Heb., That receiveth itself within itself, as in a house on fire. Understand it of Nebuchadnezzar’s wrath against Jerusalem, much hotter than that furnace of his seven times more than ordinarily heated, Daniel 3:19 or rather of God’s wrath in using Nebuchadnezzar to set all on a light fire.

And a brightness was about it. — The glory of divine presence, shining in the punishment of evildoers.

Out of the midst thereof as of the colonr of amber. — Not of an angel called Hasmal, as Lyra, after some Rabbis, will have it. Jarchi confesseth he knoweth not what the word Hasmal meaneth. This prophet only hath it here, and Ezekiel 1:27 ; Ezekiel 8:2 , as Daniel also hath some words proper to himself.

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Also out of the midst thereof [came] the likeness of four living creatures. And this [was] their appearance; they had the likeness of a man.

Also out of the midst thereof, — i.e., From God’s glorious presence.

Came the likeness of four living creatures, — i.e., Angels; Ezekiel 10:8 ; Ezekiel 10:14-15 ; Ezekiel 10:20 Intelligentias animales, Cicero Quest. Acad., lib. iv. calleth them. See like visions, Daniel 7:9 Revelation 4:6-7 . These are said to be four, because God by his angels diffuseth his power through the four quarters of the world.

They had the likeness of a man, — sc., For the greater part, they had more of a man than of any other creature, as hands, legs, … Ezekiel 1:7-8

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And every one had four faces, and every one had four wings.

And every one had four faces. — To set forth, saith an expositor, that the power of angels is exercised about all creatures. It is as if the angels did bear on them the heads of all living creatures - i.e., did comprehend in themselves all the elements and all the parts of the world; not as if they did move or act by their own power, but as they are God’s hands and agents, employed by him at pleasure, for the good of his Church especially, Hebrews 1:14 as being fit and ready to every good work. So should we strive to be. Titus 3:1

And every one had four wings. — To set forth their agility, their incredible swiftness, far beyond that of the sun, which yet, if Bellarmine De Ascens. ment. in Deum, grad. 7. reckoneth right, runneth, in the eighth part of an hour, seven thousand miles; others say many more.

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And their feet [were] straight feet; and the sole of their feet [was] like the sole of a calf’s foot: and they sparkled like the colour of burnished brass.

And their feet were straight feet. — Importing their right progress in executing God’s will. We must also "make straight or even paths for our feet, lest that which is lame be turned out of the way." Hebrews 12:13 See Ezekiel 1:9 .

And the sole of their feet was like the sole of a calf’s foot — Round, and therefore easily turned. Hoc ad agilitatem et varietatem cursus spectat. The angels, because they see every way, so they are apt to go every way, and this with the greatest facility that can be.

And they sparkled. — So swiftly they went, that their feet seemed to sparkle or strike fire.

Like the colour of burnished brass. — Burnished, not blemished; polished, not polluted.

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And [they had] the hands of a man under their wings on their four sides; and they four had their faces and their wings.

And they had the hands of a man under their wings. — Faces, wings, hands, all to express, saith one, the sufficiency of God’s providence for all means of help. A little of the angels, saith another, is set forth by these faces, wings, hands, feet, but the distinct knowledge of angels, as angels, is reserved till we are like the angels in heaven. Great angels they are, but act invisibly for the most part; their hands are under their wings.

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