Matthew Poole and continuators on Ezekiel 36

1 ALso thou Son of man, prophesie unto the mountains of Israel, and say, Ye mountains of Israel, hear the Word of the LORD:

And Heb.

Declare from me, and in my word.

The Inhabitants wasted, or in captivity speak concerning the Mountains, that is the land of Iudah, and Israel, which was a countrey full of mountains, which were now horrid, unplanted.

What farther revenge I will take on Edom, and on other Nations, that wasted you, this continued to the end of the 6th. verse. And hear what good I will do to you; this from the 7th. to the end of the chapter.

The severe judgments against your Enemies, his gracious promises to you.

Marginal references: chap. 6.2.; chap. 6.2.

2 Thus saith the Lord God, Because the Enemy hath said against you, Aha , even the antient high places are ours in Possession .

Many were the Enemies of Gods people, but they so conspired in one design, with one consent, and were so one in their humours and enmity and carriage, the Prophet speaks of them as one, and particularly of Edom.

Rejoycingly and with insulting Pride, as Ammon did chap. 25.3. and Tyre did chap. 26.2. which see.

The everlasting Hills, but this is common with other Hills, whose foundations, as the[illegible: 1 letter]e of Israel, are from the beginning, and shall be to the end; That they aim at, is a deriding of Israel, who by promise from God claimed these mountains, as a perpetual inheritance, but were now cast out of it, and they hereby tax the God of Israel, as not keeping his promise, so they blaspheme God, and insult over his people.

Our Right, as of the elder house, now Conquerors, and Feu dataries to him, that hath subdued them, thus they pretend right to justifie their injustice.

We are now where we should have been these 1160 years or more, where we thought we would be one time or other, in spite of them, and all their boasts of their God, we are where we will keep, and none shall put us out, Such impious brags were their Sin, and are implied in the words.

3 Therefore prophesie and say; thus saith the Lord GOD; Because they have made you desolate , and swallowed you up on every side , that ye might be a possession t[illegible: 1 letter] the residue of the heathen, and ye are taken up in the lips of talkers, and are an infamy of the people.

Edomites, and others with them.

First broken your strength, wasted your Cities, and burn[illegible: 1 letter] the Temple, and way lay'd you to cut off them that were escaped at last.

Devoured you, as hungry Beasts devour the prey.

From all coasts of the land through the whole.

That such of the heathen, who remain'd here, might have what they no where else could have, being the scum and worst of men, an inheritance, and possession, so unnatural was Edom, that cast out his own kindred, to bring in the vilest of men, and the most barbarous strangers.

You are th[illegible: 1 letter] subject, on which wild, and foul mouths discourse, which is explain'd

In that the people ever talk'd of them with reproach, and branding them as infamous, this was foretold to Israel, Ier. 24.9. and they were advised to prevent it.

Marginal references: Heb. because [illegible: 1 word] because.; Or, ye are made [illegible: 1 word] come upon the [illegible: 1 word] of the tongue.

4 Therefore ye mountains of Israel hear the word of the Lord GOD; Thus saith the Lord GOD to the mountains and to the hills, to the rivers and to the valleys, to the desolate wastes, and to the cities that are forsaken, which became a prey and derision to the residue of the heathen that are round about.

Now are added a particular of Hills, Valleys, &c. whereas before onely the Mountains were mention'd, but by them the whole land was understood, and to assure them thereof all parts are here particularly mention'd, all that the Enemy wasted, shall be repair'd, all that he took away, shall be restor'd in kind, and those he derided shall be vindicated. Their Estates repair'd, Cities rebuilt and filled, their credit, and honour clear'd, and vindicated. Their deliverance should be compleat and full.

Marginal references: Or, bottoms, [illegible: 1 word] d[illegible: 1 letter]les.

5 Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD; Surely in the fire of my jealousie have I spoken against the residue of the heathen, and against all Idumea , which have appointed my land into their possession, with the joy of all their heart, with despiteful minds, to cast it out for a prey.

In the Heb. 'tis in form of an oath.

In my hot displeasure.

Threatned ruin and desolation to them.

Against all the Nations that are and have been enemies to Israel.

The Land, in which the Edomites dwelt, the Heb. is Edom.

Have given, or delivered, help'd to take the land from my people and then left it in the hand of the Chaldeans in hope it should be given back to them for their possession.

Transported with joy, Iacobs children put out, though heathen came in to possess the Land.

With rancorous Minds swelling with hatred and from that acting with utmost Vigour, to slay the inhabitants, that there might be no pretenders to the land, but that they might inherit it.

Marginal references: chap. 38.19.

6 Prophesie therefore concerning the land of Israel, and say unto the mountains, and to the hills, to the rivers and to the valleys, thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I have spoken in my jealousie, and in my fury , because ye have born the shame of the heathen.

See ver. 4. let. s. which is the same with this verse.

See ver. 5. let. u. no difference in the thing exprest, tho' a little difference in the expressing of it, there 'twas the fire of my jealousie, here in my jealousie, and in my Fury.

Which ver. 5. is, being a derision to the residue of the heathen, these loaded them with reproaches, and expos'd them to contempt, and Israel could not prevent it, they were forced to bear it.

7 Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD; I have lifted up mine hand, surely the heathen that are about you , they shall bear their shame.

Sworn in my wrath, but in my truth also, Deut. 32.40. and when men did swear solemnly, they did heretofore use this rite, Gen. 14.22.

Moabites, Ammonites, and Idumeans shall be repay'd in their own Coin; I will, as sure as I am God, as sure as I can, so surely I will make them a Taunt, a Proverb, and a curse among men.

8 But ye, O mountains of Israel, ye shall shoot forth your branches, and yield your fruit to my people of Israel: for they are at hand to come.

Shall be fruitful, and send forth the branches, Trees, Plants, Herbs, and Grass, that are proper for you, and these branches shall not have leaves onely, but they shall bring forth their▪ fruit.

The time will come, yea is near, when my people shall come out of Babyloni[illegible: 1 letter]h Captivity to resettle in their own land. I will perform my word, and give them assured peace, and this will not be long, ere 'tis begun at least.

9 For behold, I am for you, and I will turn unto you, and ye shall be tilled and sown.

Favour you, and am pacified towards you, or I come towards you with Redemption, that your old inhabitants may return to you with singing.

Look towards you with regard to what hath been, and is your estate, your sufferings, which were less then you deserved, yet were the greater because ye are mine, your inhabitants gave me the back, and sinned against me, and I turn'd the back on you, and regarded you not, then all darkness cover'd you, now my face shall be towards you, and you shall prosper, and be fruitful to the comfort of those, that shall dwell in you, and plough and sow you.

11 And I will multiply upon you man and beast; and they shall increase a d bring fruit: and I will settle you after your old estates, and will do better unto you then at your beginnings; and ye shall know that I am the LORD.

I will give spiritual blessings instead of Temporal, and Messiahs Kingdom shall hasten to you instead of that which was abolished, in whatsoever this better consisted; 'tis certain God perform'd his word.

These Ver[illegible: 1 letter]es contain much the same promise of future good▪ which God engageth to do for Israel after their return out of Babylon. He will multiply men upon the Mountains of Israel, he will increase them; now▪ le[illegible: 1 letter]t any should reply there had been men too many on the Mountains, even all the heathen▪ God addeth, they shall be all of them of the house of Israel, Iews ▪ and they should settle, build the wasted Cities, not Ierusalem onely, but other [illegible: 1 letter]ities also, even wasted houses shall be built; you shall have large [illegible: 2 letters]ocks of Cattle, that your condition shall be as in dayes of old.

12 Yea, I will cause men to walk upon you, even my people Israel, and they shall possess thee, and thou shalt be their inheritance , and thou shalt no more henceforth bereave them of men.

For years past since your Captivity, wild devouring beasts ra[illegible: 1 letter]ged up and down, but now men instead of such, shall walk up and down in the mountains of Israel, I will take away the beasts from off you, and bring men upon you.

A People, that are mine by covenant, whom I will own, my Israel.

Edom boasted, he would possess you, O Mountains, but not Edom, or Heathens▪ your own antient dwellers shall possess [illegible: 1 letter]ou, even Abraham's seed.

For perpetuity, as inheritances are.

O land of Canaan

Consume[illegible: 1 letter] and destroy thine inhabitants.

13 Thus saith the Lord GOD; because they say unto you, thou land devourest up men, and hast bereaved thy Nations,

The heathen round about, the enemies of Israel accuse the land of destroying its natives, and bring an evil report on it.

Either by intestine wars, or forreign invasions, or by unhealthful air, or by multitude of wild beasts, or by barrenness and Famin, thou killest them, art like a womb that conceives often, but almost as often miscarrieth, as the word implyeth.

Hast consumed thy nations, so the French, deprived them of their hope of increasing in numbers of men, as a miscarrying womb deprives a Family of hoped children.

14 Therefore thou shalt devour men no more, neither bereave thy nations any more, saith the Lord GOD.

I will so bless thee, O land, that thou shalt bring forth and breed up many Sons and daughters, thou shalt see thy childrens children increase, and this reproach shall cease for ever.

Marginal references: Or, cause to fall.

15 Neither will I cause men to hear in thee the shame of the heathen any more, neither shalt thou bear the reproach of the people any more, neither shalt thou cause thy nations to fa[illegible: 1 letter]l any more, saith the Lord GOD.

Ver. 6. let. s. and ver. 13. let. [illegible: 1 letter]. x.

Ver. 13. let. y.

This Verse is a confirmation of what was promised in 12, 13, 14. verses, all which is doubled for more assurance, and each part already explicated.

Marginal references: chap. 34.29▪

17 Son of man, when the house of Israel dwelt in their own land, they defiled it by their own way, and by their doings their way was before me, as the uncleanness of a removed woman.

In fulness, ease, and security as in days past they did.

Brought in much sin, and great guilt upon the land. i. e. on themselves, who dwelt there, and sinned greatly.

Leaving my Law, despising my Counsel, forsaking my Worship and Temple.

By their carriage, and practices in their whole conversation.

Or as one excommunicate, and cut off from the Congregation, because of some great sin. Or▪ since Idolatry is so often compar'd to Fornication, and Whoredom, possibly it may be here the filthiness of Spiritual Whoredom, I hated, and loathed the filthiness of their ways as I would the impurity of a whor[illegible: 1 letter]sh woman prostituting her self for gain. The word may include the reward of a Whore, as it doth Ezek. 16.33.

18 Wherefore I poured my fury upon them for the bloud that they had shed upon the land, and for their Idols wherewith they had polluted it.

These and other sins were the true cause, that the land was emptied of men, there was no ground for the Heathens alumny.

I was angry with them, and the effects of my anger were such, as made the land and cities desolate.

For Murthers committed in the land, and frequently charged on them, Ezek. 22.3, 6.9, 12, 27. and chap. 23.45.

Idolatry was another of their sins, which brought desolation on them.

19 And I scattered them among the heathen, and they were dispersed through the Countreys: according to their way and according to their doings I judged them:

My hand scatter'd them, and what hand can retain the inhabitants, that God will t[illegible: 1 letter]ng out?

Driven away, as chaste before the wind.

As their ways and doings provoked me, and deserved what I brought on them, so I judged them, and punisht them with desolation.

20 And when they entred unto the heathen whither they went, these profaned my holy name, when they said to them, these are the people of the LORD, and are gone forth out of his land.

When they were come into Babylon, and entred into familiarity with the inhabitants, as neighbours.

Did profanely sin against those precepts of my law, which heathens did know, venerate, and observe better, then the Iews, or it may include the misery, their sins had brought them to, which misery reflected upon their God in the opinion of the Heathen.

Their Heathen Neighbours.

The miserable and profane Iew.

With taunt, and cutting reprimand: These, These Captive Slaves, that are most forlorn of men, will have it, that their God is the Lord, the mighty, and the good God, the true and faithful one, that gave them the Land out of which they are driven. If he be good, as they boast, how comes it to pass his people are in such ill state? Or, is he not able to better their state? Was he weak, and could not keep them in their own Land? Or doth he falsifie his word? You miserable Iews, say what this meaneth. But, by their impure life, they open'd the mouths of the Heathen more to Blaspheme, and call the Holiness of God into question; when they saw his people so unholy, they concluded as is the people, so is their God, and this, as it was a great offence, and Scandal to the Heathen, so it was a great dishonour to God.

Marginal references: Isa. 52.5. Rom. 2.24.

21 But I had pity for mine holy name , which the house of Israel had profaned among the heathen whither they went.

I spared them, who in captivity continued to sin greatly against me, and for which sins I had just cause to cut them off; but I had pity.

For my own sake, and for the glory of my Name: had I destroyed them the heathen would have concluded against my Omnipotence, and my truth. I preserved, I reduced, I re-establisht them for the honour of my Mercy, Truth and Power.

22 Therefore say unto the house of Israel, Thus saith the Lord GOD; I do not this for your sakes, O house of Israel, but for mine holy names sake , which ye have profaned among the heathen whither ye went.

Which I have done sparing you, and preserving you, and giving you favour in the sight of the Heathen: Nor do I that I am about to do for you, returning you to Iudaea, planting you, increasing you, and establishing you, and making you a blessing, I do not this for your sake, you deserve no such kindness from me.

My infinite Mercy is the spring and fountain, the vindicating my name from all imputation of weakness or unfaithfulness, and the magnifying the glory of my Goodness, Wisdom, Truth and Power, are the reasons, on which I do, what I do for Israel.

Brought under suspicion with the Heathen, who think that the onely and almighty God, should do better for his own and onely people!

23 And I will sanctifie my great name which was profaned among the heathen, which ye have profaned in the midst of them, and the heathen shall know that I am the LORD , saith the Lord GOD, when I shall be sanctified in you before their eyes.

By clearing it up and removing the Objection that the Iews Sufferings and Sins among the Babylonians had raised.

They g[illegible: 1 letter]ve the Heathen occasion to think meanly, and contemptibly of me, but I will shew I am as Great as Good, in both infinite.

See ver. 20. let. p. and ver. 22. let. z.

God chargeth the Iews with the Blasphemies the Heathen cast on God, the Iews were the cause of them, and they are therefore justly imputed to the Iew.

By what I do, the Heathen shall know what I am, and from the great and good things I do for you, performing my Promises, and purifying you, shall see I am Great, Good, Faithful and Holy; then shall I be sanctifyed in you, as I have been profaned by you in their eyes; and so 'twas, Psal. 127.2.

Marginal references: Or, [illegible: 1 word].

24 For I will take you from among the heathen, and gather you out of all countreys, and will bring you into your own land.

The Heathen purpose, as Pharaoh did, to detain you Servants, think it impossible any power should take you out of their hand, or break the yoke, but I will do it, I will by omnipotent hand rescue you from their power.

They were scatter'd so through 127 Provinces, that the heathen judged it impossible to reassemble them, but God will do this too.

So many difficulties lay in their way of getting into their own Land, that they thought them insuperable, so long Journey, so many Enemies, and strong, crafty, and malicious, so weak, poor, and unarmed people, &c. yet all these shall not prevent me; I will bring them safe to their own Land, and settle them. When this is done, they shall confess, and the Heathen shall confess, that I am Great, Good, Wise and Faithful to my promise; a God not like theirs, but worthy to be thought well of, and to be spoken well of, to be praised, and obey'd.

Marginal references: chap. [illegible: 2 letters]

25 Then will I sprinkle clean water upon you, and ye shall be clean : from all your filthiness and from all your Idols will I cleanse you.

He alludes to the sprinklings under the Law, perhaps to that Num. 19.9. which was for purification of sin; and 19, 20. verses. So God will purifie them from their guilt.

Some think it may refer to Baptismal water, if so, 'tis to the blood of Christ, signified by it, and this, say best Expositors, is here intended, and this is the blood of sprinkling Heb. 12.24.

When Sin is remitted, the Person is indeed clean, both in account of God and Christ.

Tho' they have been many of all sorts, and among all ranks of men, yet multitude of sins shall not hinder me from pardoning.

That notorious great Abomination, your multiply'd Idolatry, I will pardon that also that ye may be clean. Thus Remission of Sin is promised.

26 A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh .

A renewed frame of Soul, a disposition, and mind changed, from sinful to holy, from evil to good, from carnal to spiritual. See chap. 11.19. let. g. A heart in which the law of God is written as Ier. 31, 33. It is a sanctified heart, in which the Almighty Grace of God is victorious, and turns it from sin to God.

God takes it to himself, as indeed it is his onely work, vide chap. 11.19.

This is exegetical, and tells us what the new heart is, 'tis a new holy frame in the spirit of man, which is put in him, not found in him, given to him, not wrought by his own power.

Stubborn, senseless, untractable heart, that receives no kindly impressions from Word, Providences, or the Spirit of God in its ordinary operations, and influences, that hardens it self in a day of Provocation, that is hardned by the deceitfulness of Sin; this evil heart shall be taken away, and God will do, who onely can do it.

Out of your flesh, put for the man.

That is a heart different from the stony hard heart, quite of other temper and frame, hearkning to Gods Law, trembling at his Threats, by gentlest Providences moulded to a compliance with his will; to forbear, do, be or suffer what God will, receiving the impress of God, as softned wax receiveth the impress of the Seal.

27 And I will put my Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my Judgments and do them.

Else-where pour out, God will give, as freely, so abundantly.

The holy Spirit of God, which is the Immediate Principal cause of that change of an old heart into new, and of hard into soft, by the efficient cause we may know the effect, and understand what a New Heart is, and what the New Spirit is, when we know they are wrought in us by the Spirit of God, which is given to, and dwelleth in the Saints, which makes them Saints, and then abideth with them.

Sweetly, Powerfully, Successfully, yet without compul[illegible: 1 letter]ion; for our spirits, framed by Gods Spirit to a disposition suitable to the Spirits Holiness, readily concurreth, and co-worketh.

Be willing and ready, able and in your degree sufficient to keep the judgments, and to walk in the statutes of God, which is to live Holiness.

Marginal references: chap. 11.[illegible: 1 letter]

28 And ye shall dwell in the land which I gave to your fathers; and ye shall be my people, and I will be your God.

Spiritual blessings promised in ver. 25, 26, 27. are now followed with temporal blessing[illegible: 1 letter] ▪ so Earth doth follow Heaven, ye shall dwell; God add[illegible: 1 letter] this to his taking, gathering, and bringing into the land, [illegible: 1 word]. 24. when they are there, they shall settle and continue proprietors, po[illegible: 1 letter]se[illegible: 1 letter]sing their own houses and Lands.

They were greatly pleas'd to think, Canaan their land was by God given to their Fathers; in this land under this character you shall dwell: The land that by promise to Abraham, was your right, 134[illegible: 1 letter] years or near it.

As your Fathers were, who reverenced, loved, worshipped, obey'd and believed in me.

As I was their God to Protect, Guide, Comfort, and Enrich, &c. vide chap. 11.20. let. p. to perform promise to their Faith and Patience, and so you shall inherit the blessing.

29 I will also save you from all your uncleannesses : and I will call for the corn, and will increase it, and lay no famine upon you.

Salvation from all uncleannesses includeth Justification in our Pardon, Sanctification the renewing our Minds, somewhat of Adoption in peace and hope, and a consummate Glorification in Heaven, that State of a[illegible: 1 letter]solute purity, all this God gives, when he is our God.

Corn, all necessaries for aliment comprised in one, and these brought to them at Gods Call which they will hear, Psal. 105.16.40. H[illegible: 1 letter]. 2.21, 22.

This is Gods Arrow, he shoots it, where 'tis, he layeth it, but his people shall, neither have it their Misery or their Reproach any more: As in next verse.

Perhaps the former part of this Verse would have been better joyned with the former verse, as a glorious fruit of Gods taking them to be his people, and his condescending to be their God.

Marginal references: chap. 34.29.

30 And I will multiply the fruit of the tree, and the increase of the Field, that ye shall receive no more reproach of famine among the heathen.

The former part of this verse explain'd, see chap. 34.27. and 8, 9, 10. ver. of this Chap. The latter part explain'd in ver. 29.

31 Then shall ye remember your own evil ways, and your doings that were not good, and shall loath your selves in your own sight for your iniquities and for your abominations.

When I have given you my Spirit, renewed your hearts, brought you by miraculous mercy out of Captivity in a strange Land unto Liberty in your own.

Call to mind, review, and examine all your past life.

Ways opposite to Gods, therefore both their own by choice, and also evil in their very nature, the ways the Prophets condemned, and threatned, as chap. 22. and Ier. 3.5. &c.

It is a Meiosis, not Good, i. e. exceeding evil like, yea worse, then other Nations, chap. 5.6. then Sodom, chap. 16.46.

See chap. 6.9. Your mind shall abhor what you loved, and deeply grieve at what you rejoyced in, when Swine, ye wallowed in mire, when made sheep, you shall as much fear, and fly from it.

Not in sight of others, but Repentance in the chief parts lieth more retired and inward, and loaths sins that are in the heart, tho' none ever knew them beside God and his own Soul. This fruit is the first and most sure sign of true Repentance.

Marginal references: chap. 16.61, 63.; Lev. 26.39. chap. 20.43.

32 Not for your sakes do I this, saith the Lord GOD; be it known unto you: be ashamed and confounded for your own ways, O house of Israel.

To a Self-exalting people, who have too high thoughts of themselves, this is a necessary Monition; we are all like the Iews, proud of somewhat we have not, vide ver. 22. an old disease, and we long since warned of it, as well as they, Deut. 9.5, 6.

Shame and Confusion, Self-abhorrence, and deepest Humiliation, that will become you, for you have walked stubbornly in your own ways, tho' I would have reclaimed you, and did call you back from them by my Prophets.

33 Thus saith the Lord GOD; in the day that I shall have cleansed you from all your iniquities, I will also cause you to dwell in the cities, and the wastes shall be builded.

Sin committed, that deserveth, and sin imputed, that doth bring down Judgments on the sinner, so did the Iews sins, and continued the Punishment in those Judgments, until a Pardon take away Guilt, and then Judgments will be removed; so here, pardoned Captives return to, and dwell in their own Cities; Sin unpardoned wasted the Countrey, but Sinners repenting and pardon'd shall build the wastes. Sin unpardon'd leaves the land Untilled and Barren, but pardon'd ones shall Plough, Sow, Reap, and Eat.

35 And they shall say, This land that was desolate, is become like the Garden of Eden : and the waste and desolate and ruin'd cities are become fenced and are inhabited.

Strangers, or Forreigners, who had heard or seen the sad wastes, and now either hear or see the replanting of it, and how it succeedeth.

See the phrase, chap. 28.13. most fruitful, pleasant, and desireable. This is true of the Church of Christ without an H[illegible: 1 letter]p[illegible: 2 letters]b[illegible: 1 letter]le, but here 'tis to be accommodated by a comparative, thus, that good s[illegible: 1 letter]ate the Iews are now in, compar'd with what they were in, is as an Eden to a Wilderness.

Not [illegible: 1 letter]nely built for habitation, but fortified for defence.

Marginal references: Isa. 51.3.

36 Then the heathen that are left round about you shall know, that I the LORD build the ruined places, and plant that that was desolate: I the LORD have spoken it, and I will do it.

That were not carried away and dispersed, whether they were Tyrians, Zidonians on the North, or Ammon, and Moab, and the Philistins, and Edo[illegible: 1 letter]ites Eastward and Southward, these remnants of the heathen shall see and confess a Peculiar Providence of God toward the Iews, in their flourishing so greatly upon their return.

Marginal references: chap. 17.24. and 22.14. and 37.14.

37 Thus saith the Lord GOD; I will yet for this be enquired of by the house of Israel, to do it for them, I will increase them with men like a flock.

Though I have repeated so often my promise to return them, to rebuild, to multiply them, yet they shall know, 'tis their duty to intreat it, to wait on me, and then I will give a merciful answer, and do it. Thus Daniel pray'd, when he knew the return was sure and near. Or else it may be thus; Above all this, or yet more than all this, I will be found of them, when they do seek me, thus 'tis a promise made to their prayer, in the other 'tis a requiring them to pray, so they shall increase as a Flock.

38 As the holy flock, as the flock of Jerusalem in her solemn feasts; so shall the waste cities be filled with flocks of men: and they shall know that I am the LORD.

Flocks designed to holy uses, as Sacrifices, and therefore farther described by the place where they are, Ierusalem.

The occasion, and time, solemn Feasts, either the three annual great Feasts, or you may take in the daily Sacrifices. These Flocks were for quality, the best of all, and for numbers, very great, on the solemn Feasts. 30000 at once▪ of Lambs and Kids in Iosiahs time, and many more at the passeover in after times. Thus should men multiply, and fill the cities of replanted Iudaea.

Marginal references: Heb. flock of holy things.