Matthew Poole and continuators on Ezekiel 21:21

21 For the king of Babylon r stood at the parting of the way , at the head of the two wayes, to use divination: he made his arrows bright, he consulted with images, he looked in the liver.

On the borders of Arabia the Desert, to which one Road brings Travellers from Babylon, but henceforward it divides, and becomes two, one leading to Ierusalem, the other to Rabbath.

To consult with his Gods, and to cast lots and here the Prophet foretels what divination he useth.

This, the first kind of divination he used by Arrows, ([non-Latin text not transcribed]) either writing on them the names of the Cities, and Countreys, then putting them into a quiver, and there mixing them, and thence drawing them out, and concluding according, as the names were, which were on the Arrows, or perhaps by shooting the arrows and judging by the flight, or casting them up in the air, and divining by their fall, as beggars are said to go, as their staffe falls. So then if Ierusalem were on the first arrow drawn out of the quiver, or if the arrows best flew, or most fell that way, toward Ierusalem, Nebuchadnezzar will take that way.

The next way of divining was by asking counsel of his idol, or image, which being made artificially by the skill of their jugling Priests, and Conjurers with little help they could give answers, and the image spake aloud what the Sorcerer spake more softly, somewhat like the artificial whispering places which convey the voice from unseen persons, or by a divine permission, the Devil gave them answers from those Images.

The third divination is by Sacrifice, and judging of future prosperous or unprosperous events by the Entrails, and more especially by the Liver its position and colour. All these he used, that with greater confidence of success he might proceed.

The Prophet by reason of the certainty of the thing speaketh of what shall be as if 'twere already, he stood i. e. he will make a halt, pitch his camp, and consult.

Marginal references: Heb. mother [illegible: 1 word] the way.; Or, knives.; Heb. Teraphim.