Matthew Poole and continuators on Ezekiel 3:9

9 As an Adamant harder then flint have I made thy forehead: fear them not, neither be dismayed at their looks, though they b[illegible: 1 letter] a rebellious house.

If their foreheads be hard and cutting as the Flint, if they wound the soft and tender, if they sparkle with Fire against those of harder mettal, yet be not afraid I have made thee as the Adamant harder then Flint able to cut, and to break it. But what if here should be allusion to the Talmudic Rabbinical Tradition about their supposed worm Schamir, the word here used, of the Tradition be as old as Ezekiels time twill carry some probability with it. This Schamir was say they a worm, which be secret vertue would, when applied, cut or form hard Stones, and divide the greatest, that Moses used it to prepare the precious Stones for the Breast-plate, and Solomon, say they, used it to fit the Stones without Hammer for the Temple; well then Ezekiel fear not thou shalt be a Schamir to the Jews in Captivity, and fit some of them to be either rich Ornaments in the Breast-plate, or beautiful Stones in the Temple, go about thy work, it shall not be, though it seem, successless.

Let no prevailing fear take thee quite off from thy work.

Let not any lesser surprises and sudden discomposures of mind when thou appearest before them, unfit thee for this work I set thee about.

As a House that is Rebellion it self.

Marginal references: Jer. 1.8.17, Chap. 2.6.