Matthew Poole and continuators on Ezekiel 34:13

13 And I will bring them out from the people, and gather them from the countries, and will bring them to their own land, and feed them upon the mountains of Israel by the rivers , and in all the inhabited places of the countrey.

When Cyrus Proclamation came forth that the Iewes might return, this prophesie was literally fulfilled, God did incline the minds of the Iews to retire from the people, amidst whom they had dwelt seventy years, Vid. Ezra 1.5, 6. and 7.13.

Assemble them together, so they did in a place appointed without the Countrey, where they were, (as appears, Ezra 8.15.) in their assembling at Ahava or Diava near where it falls into Euphrates in the Countrey Adiaben[illegible: 1 letter] which was from the more inward recesses of the Babylonian Kingdom, onwards of their Journey to Ierusalem.

Lead, conduct and as a shepherd go before them, till I have put them into possession again of their own Land.

Canaan ▪ their own by grant from the Crown of Heaven, antiently possessed by their Fathers, and out of which violence cast them.

God will provide maintain and nourish them.

Places proper for sheep, where now they shall once more be kept.

Water brooks, as Psal. 42.1. which run down from the spring heads in the sides, and tops of the Mountains, with some impetuousness and noise, or if greater Rivers they are those that run by the foot of the Mountains, on which these sheep shall feed.

This may explain the former, on such hills by Rivers the returned Captives would first settle their habitations, and here these sheep would be safest, thus literaly; spiritually it refers to the gathering the Elect by the Gospel out of the World, &c.

Marginal references: chap. 28.25·