Matthew Poole and continuators on Ezekiel 10

1 THen I looked, and behold, in the firmament that was above the head of the cherubims, there appeared over them, as it were a saphire stone, as the appearance of the likeness of a f throne.

Or And, which connecting this with the Ninth Chapter, will connote the time, wherein he thus saw

in Spirit or Vision, and this Vision is the same of chap. 1 repeated, or very little differing from it, and with some particular design, which that of chap. 1. did not express, viz. a design of leaving the Temple and City desolate.

See chap. 1. ver. 22. and 26.

Called living Creatures, chap. 1.5. which see.

See chap. 1. ver. 26, 27. where these things are spoken to.

Marginal references: Chap. 1.[illegible: 1 letter]2.; Chap. 1.26.

2 And he spake unto the man clothed with linen, and said, Go in between the wheels, even under the cherub, and fill thy hand with coals of fire from between the cherubims, and scatter them over the city. And he went in in my sight.

That sate on the Throne; i. e. God who rules the World and Church.

To Christ as before, chap. 9.2.

It is said chap. 1. ver. 18. that the rings of the wheels were dreadful, but here is a Divine Command which incourageth and insureth, and lessons the dread and terror.

Whether between the four, or between the two foremost, or hindermost, or either between the wheels, that made up one wheel is not material to enquire.

This expresseth the fulness of vengeance which would overtake them, and the certainty, and speediness of Judgments for such a quantity of Coals in the hand ready to be scattered abroad, will very soon set all in a flame.

Either to intimate to us, that this fire was the vengeance of God upon them; for he sits between the Cherubims, and is consuming fire to sin; or to intimate, that the vengeance was for sins against the Grace of God, who sate between the Cherubims, and thence gave out his Grace toward Israel. Exod. 25.20, 21. and Heb. 9.5. But abused Grace will kindle into fire.

That it may take fire in all parts, and none may escape, so cast the fire, that the Coals may fall on every part.

Which assur'd the Prophet of the certainty, and intimated to the speed of the effect, which will be within five years space.

Marginal references: Heb. hollow of thy hand. Psal. 99.1.

3 Now the cherubims stood on the right side of the house, when the man went in; and the cloud filled the inner court.

As Servants, and ready, waiting for Orders.1 King. 7.39.

The North side, i. e. say some, the side toward Babylon, from whence the desolation, that fire came which consumed the City.

Christ the Lord of Angels, who now attend his coming and commands.

As the sign of God's presence, so an Emblem of the troubles, and darkness of afflictions coming upon Ierusalem.

The Court of the Priests, who were, as it appears, chief in the Apostacy and Idolatry, and shall now be chief in the misery and ruine which overwhelmed them about five years after.

Marginal references: 1 King. 7.39.

4 Then the glory of the LORD went up from the cherub, and stood over the threshold of the house; and the house was filled with the cloud, and the court was full of the brightness of the LORDS glory.

Either the visible token of the Presence of the God of Glory; that which chap. 1. ver. 28. and chap. 3. ver. 23. and chap. 8.3, or Christ, who is the Glory of the Temple, and of his People, Nay, is the brightness of his Fathers Glory.

In displeasure, and in token of his departure from the Temple.

shewing both his unwillingness to leave, and giving them time to bethink themselves, and return by Repentance; and he stands where he might be seen, both by Priests and People, that both might be moved to Repentance.

The Temple, the most venerable and priviledged place.

There had been a fulness of sin, there is now a fulness of sufferings.

A very gre[illegible: 1 letter]t darkness followed upon Christ's departure from the house.

Not to res[illegible: 1 letter]de there, but when Christ did turn h[illegible: 1 letter]s back upon the Temple, and was coming through the Court, a light of Majesty shines before him. Psal. 18.12.13.

Marginal references: See ver. 18.; was filled up.

5 And the sound of the cherubims wings was heard even to the utter court, as the voice of the Almighty God when he speaketh.

There was a great and dreadful noise to awaken, or stop the mouthes of Sinners; whether this was an applause of Christ's righteous procedure, or any sound of Alarum, or both let your own judgment determine. See chap. 1. ver. 24.

Such as might well be heard, and as the Vision represented such a great found to the Prophet, he reports it to the Iews, not that the Elders now with Ezekiel did hear this, or that such an audible sound was heard in Ierusalem, but 'tis all represented to the Prophet, and by him to them

This was the Court of the Women.

As a mighty and terrible thunder, which is Psal. 29.3▪ 4, 5. the voice of the Lord.

As when he spake on Mount Sinai, which made them all fear, and the sight so terrible, that Moses himself trembled. Heb. 12.

Marginal references: Heb. voice.; chap. 1.24.

6 And it came to pass, that when he had commanded the man clothed with linen, saying, Take fire from between the wheels, from between the cherubims; then he went in, and stood beside the wheels.

Verse 2. See it. For that verse and this are the same in effect.

What is said to be between the Wheels, is said also to be between the Cherubims; which represent Angels the Ministers of God's Providence; and so what now is observed to be among the Wheels, in the effects or order of God's Providence, is among or between the Angels, the ministerial causes thereof.

Readily obey'd.

Either as one that defer'd Execution to try whether the City wo'd repent, or as one that was to give some farther order to Angels, that were to be the Ministers of his just displeasure? and whereas, ver. 3. the Cherubims stood as Servants waiting; here Christ stands as a Lord commanding; they obey him, he obeys his Father.

7 And one cherub stretched forth his hand from between the cherubims unto the fire that was between the cherubims, and took thereof, and put it into the hands of him that was clothed with linen, who took it, and went out.

One of the Four.

Which was under his wing, as chap. 1. ver. 8. which see.

This that reached the Fire to Christ, stood among the Cherubims, and putting forth his hand, or exerting his strength and power, serveth Christ our Lord, and his.

Vid. ver. 2. and chap. 1. ver. 13.

As a Servant that reacheth what his Master would have and use.

Both hands, for 'tis in the Plural Number.

Received it of the Angel as one who might employ it when he would.

From amidst the Angels, and out of the Temple; or from the threshold, where all this Vision appear'd as on its stage; and he goes into the City to prepare all, that nothing be done too soon, or too late.

Marginal references: Heb. sent forth; Heb. gave it.

8 ¶ And there appeared in the cherubims, the form of a mans hand under their wings.

To the Prophet.

The Ministring Spirits.

Shaped to speedy, accurate working; 'tis therefore a man's hand.

One hand was put forth to reach the Fire, and that one is mention'd, though the Angels had hands under their wings.

The manner of Angels working is hereby insinuated, for 'tis secret, and speedy; secret, as hidden under wings, and speedy, as effected by the swiftest motion; the very speed hideth it.

9 And when I looked, behold, the four wheels by the cherubims, one wheel by one cherub, and another wheel by another cherub; and the appearance of the wheels was as the colour of a beryl-stone.

Attentively viewed.

Mention'd chap. 1. ver. 15, 16. and there explained.

One wheel by one cherub, so four cherubims, and four wheels.

The revolutions and effects among worldly and sublunary Affairs; as wheels unstable, yet Governed by a sure Wisdom.

Of Sea green, to note the instability in a more pregnant simile.

10 And as for their appearances, they four had one likeness, as if a wheel had been in the midst of a wheel.

Though there might be various aspects, and faces of things, yet in this great variety there was great Harmony, all of one likeness; vide chap. 1. ver. 16. and move to one great end.

Wheels.

11 When they went, they went upon their four sides; they turned not as they went, but to the place whither the head looked they followed it; they turned not as they went.

Whensoever they did go, what occasion soever they had to go.

The Wheels moved by the cherubims, or that Spirit of Life which moved the living Creatures.

These Wheels were so framed, that they could move on all four sides without the difficulty and delay of turning. See chap. 1. ver. 17.

Of the living Creatures looked, The Spirit, as chap. 1. ver. 12, 20. an admirable wisdom did guide and manage all.

The wheels do certainly and orderly follow.

Divert not from the designed course, and work till finished.

12 And their whole body, and their backs, and their hands, and their wings, and the wheels were full of eyes round about, even the wheels that they four had.

Now he describes both cherubims and wheels as full of Wisdom, and as governed by an excellent Wisdom.

Angels have not bodies of flesh, but body here is figurative, so back, and wings, and hands, the two latter are expresly ascribed to the cherubims, ver. 8. the two former not mention'd before (as I think,) but all full of eyes; i. e. Wisdom, foresight, watchfulness, and diligence.

The four cherubims had to move, govern, and direct.

Marginal references: Heb. flesh.; chap. 1.11.

13 As for the wheels it was cried unto them in my hearing, O wheel.

As to their frame and motion, however 'twas,

Still there was one who guided as by vocal direction.

To each of them, as appears by that O wheel, and the Prophet is ear witness of it.

Marginal references: Or, T[illegible: 1 letter]n [illegible: 1 word] called i[illegible: 1 letter] [illegible: 1 word] hearing, W[illegible: 3 letters] or Galgal.

14 And every one had four faces; the first face was the face of a cherub, and the second face was the face of a man, and the third the face of a Lyon, and the fourth the face of an Eagle.

Of the living Creatures, chap. 1. ver. 6. the cherubims in this chapter.

Which each had.

In Babylon, at the River Chebar, he saw somewhat a different face, in the Temple he seeth a cherub, one of the faces, which leads us to look on Angels imploy'd in those revolutions.

The second which each cherubim had, was a man's face, &c. vid. chap. 1. ver. 6, 10.

15 And the cherubims were lifted up: this is the living creature that I saw by the river Chebar.

Or lifted up themselves, ready to attend on the Lord of Glory, who was now departing from his polluted and impenitent people.

See chap. 1.13, 14, 15, 19, 20, 21, 22.

Marginal references: chap. 1.[illegible: 1 letter].

17 When they stood, these stood; and when they were lifted up, these lifted up themselves also: for the spirit of the living creature was in them.

These two Verses are explained, chap. 1. ver. 20. which see. A perfect harmony between second causes in their dependance on, and subjection to the one Infinite, Wise, Good, Holy, and Just God.

Marginal references: chap. 1.[illegible: 2 letters], 20, 21.

18 Then the Glory of the LORD departed from off the threshold of the house, and stood over the cherubims.

The Iews dream't that God could not depart from his Temple, indeed, whilest 'twas his, and used as his, he did not, nor would he depart, but he will abandon it, when profan'd, and thereby made not his

Temple he had withdrawn out of the Sanctuary, stood a while at the door.

On the right side of the house, where the cherubims were in the Inner Court, ver. 3.

19 And the cherubims lift up their wings, and mounted up from the earth in my sight: when they went out, the wheels also were besides them: and every one stood at the door of the east-gate of the LORDS house; and the glory of the God of Israel was over them above.

The Glory of the Lord, ver. 18. is said to have stood above the cherubims, and here the cherubims mount, get farther from the Earth, and by nearer access declare their readiness to attend the Lord of Glory.

That he might assure the Iewes of the danger of their losing God's presence.

The Glory, the cherubims, the wheels all stood, respiting execution, and giving opportunity of preventing the approaching misery.

The last Court, the Court of the People, or Laity of Israel.

20 This is the living creature that I saw under the God of Israel, by the River of Chebar, and I knew that they were the cherubims.

Yet four in number, but one in form, mind, and work.

Appearing as he did, chap. 1. ver. 26, 27, 28. in form of a man it leads us to conclude it meant of Christ.

Either by special assurance as a Prophet, or by comparing them with those which he had often, as Priest about the Temple, seen there.

21 Every one had four faces apiece, and every one had four wings, and the likeness of the hands of a man was under their wings.

See verse 14. and chap. 1.10. verse. These two verses are a full repeated attestation of the Prophets that God had appeared to him, foreshewed fiery judgments coming, and '[illegible: 1 letter]is so repeated to awaken a stupid and senseless people. They have been already explained.