Matthew Poole and continuators on Ezekiel 37

1 THE hand of the LORD was upon me, and carried me out in the spirit of the LORD, and set me down in the valley which was full of bones .

Either the prophetick Spirit, as chap. 1.3. and chap. 8.1. let. g. moving him to prophesie by this Emblem, or else the Spirit of God carrying him visionally, not corporally as in chap. 8. into such a prospect or landskip.

Either in the Power of the Spirit of God, or it may refer to the Prophets own Spirit, he was in his Spirit, or Mind and Apprehension.

So it seemed to me in the vision, that I was set gently down.

'Tis vain to enquire what vally this should be, which was visional, not corporeal or real.

'Tis as vain to enquire, whose bones these were, they are visional and Hieroglyphicks of Israel's present Condition.

2 And caused me to pass by them round about : and, behold, there were very many in the open valley; and lo, they were very dry .

In the same manner I was made to go round about them, in which I was carried to see them.

Round, round, perhaps twice or oftner to view them well.

He reports, what he observed remarkable.

For number first, they were not only many, but very many, as ver. 10. that they made an exceeding great Army.

The place next, the face, or surface of the plain, exposed to wind, weather, and to violence,

The quality of them, dry, very dry, in which could be nothing that might promise life.

Marginal references: Or, Champian.

3 And he said unto me, Son of man, can these bones live? and I answered, O Lord GOD, thou knowest .

The Lord, who brought Ezekiel hither, asks him what he thought.

Either is it likely they should, or is it a future thing, that shall be, or possible, that they may live?

The Prophets answer refers all to God, to whom all things are possible, which argue power in doing, and who knows all he will do in time to come, the Prophets answer seems to own the pos[illegible: 1 letter]sibility, and refers the futurity to the will of God.

4 Again he said unto me, prophesie upon these bones, and say unto them, O ye dry bones, hear the word of the LORD.

The Prophet had spoken often to things, that could as little hear, as these bones could, yet when they are deaf to a Prophet, they'l hear the Prophets God.

Alas what dry bones hear! no, not a syllable of this word.

But this they will hear observe, and obey it, his voice, who calls things that are not, and makes them to be, gives being by his Word.

Marginal references: Or, Over.

5 Thus saith the Lord GOD unto these bones; Behold, I will cause breath to enter into you, and ye shall live .

My Prophet prophesied and spake, but I saith the Lord onely can▪ and I will surely give life to them.

When God had formed Adams body, as lifeless as these bones, he created him a living Soul, by breathing into his face the breath of life▪ by a creating power he brings breath into these bones too.

The effect shall be sure and speedy, when God brings his power to work it.

6 And I will lay sinews upon you, and will bring up flesh upon you, and cover you with skin, and put breath in you; and ye shall live, and ye shall know that I am the LORD.

Sinews tye the bones together.

Flesh fills up the hol[illegible: 1 letter]lownesses, and being full of Muscles, helps motion.

Skin as the upper silken Garment, covers all with a clear, and blushing colour.

Breath lastly must be added all this God declares he will do, and I suppose, these promises are what the Prophet is to declare to these bones that they may revive.

7 So I prophesied as I was commanded : and as I prophesied there was a noise , and behold, a shaking , and the bones came together bone to his bone.

Declared, or pronounced these promises, or gracious purposes of God concerning them.

Whether it was thus or some other way, the Prophet was commanded it, and so he did it, he spake to them, which could not but be deaf to him, and which could not but hear when God speaks.

Either according to the purport of my prophesie, or rather during the time, or while I was prophesying, or so soon as I prophesied.

Thunder say some; others, more likely, the noise was the ratling of the bones in their motion; such noise they could not but make where multitudes of them heaped, or laid together disperse, and rowl themselves from one to other, till they meet their fellow bones.

There was a trembling or commotion among these bones, enough to make this noise, and to manifest a Divine Presence, and word from God working among them.

Crept, or with this shaking motion, glided nearer and nearer, till each bone met the bone, to which 'twas to be tied.

8 And when I beheld , lo, the sinews, and the flesh came up upon them, and the skin covered them above : but there was no breath in them.

The noise he heard would certainly make any one look, and consider what 'twas,

Looked carefully, and heedfully observing.

Came gradually spreading it self, is what grows wider and longer.

Uppermost the skin covered them. So here were men in skin, with flesh, sinews, bones, but, like Adam before inspired with the breath of life.

The Spirit of life was yet wanting.

9 Then said he unto me , prophesie unto the wind , prophesie, son of man, and say to the wind, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Come from the four winds , O breath, and breathe upon these slain , that they may live .

The Lord God.

To Ezekiel viewing, and no doubt wondring at the sight.

Declare to that, what my Will is.

Spirit Heb. and might be to rendred, but our version hath it wind, while the French hath it Spirit, i. e. the Soul, whose Emblem here is Wind, which, as it did gently blow upon these lifeless Creatures, they received, each inspired with its own Soul and Spirit.

Gather your selves from all quarters of the Earth under Heaven, unite to your own bodies, inspire them once more.

By sword of Enemy long since, some of them these 70 years.

Revive, and rise.

Marginal references: Or, breath, or spirit.

10 So I prophesied as he commanded me, and the breath came into them, and they lived , and stood up upon their feet, an exceeding great army.

See ver. 7. let. c.

The Spirit Heb. the Spirit of life, or the Soul, Gen. 2.7.

Entered, took up it's abode.

Presently discovered, that they did live.

Rose with strength, a[illegible: 1 letter]le to support themselves.

A Power ▪ so the Heb. or Army of strong, couragious, and well ordered Souldiers. The phrase in the Heb. is very full. A Power, or host great, very very great, thus they rise, that the Prophet and we might know, how safe in themselves, and how terrible they would be to their Enemies.

11 Then he said unto me, son of man, these bones are the whole house of Israel: behold, they say , Our bones are dried , and our hope is lost , we are cut off for our parts.

The Hieroglyphick, or Emblem of the house of Israel.

Think, discourse, and conclude.

Their State as hopeless, as far from recovery, as dried bones scattered abroad first, and undistinguisht heap'd up at last, are from life.

The hope, not that false Prophets gave us, but that the true Prophets proposed to us, is utterly lost, and we are out of all expectation of a recovery.

12 Therefore prophesie , and say unto them , Thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold O my people, I will open your graves , and cause you to come out of your graves, and bring you into the land of Israel.

Tell them their mistake, and revive their hope by a new promise, and declaration of my purposes of mercy towards them.

These poor desponding, dejected Israelites.

Consider what my Prophet assures you he hath seen, dry bones miraculously revived, and standing up in power as a mighty Host, so shall you.

Though your Captivity be as Death, your Prisons and Confinements close as the Grave, yet I will open those Graves.

I will li[illegible: 1 letter]t you out, lend you a hand to bring you out with life, and strength.

Be your guide, that you may know the way, be your support, that you may be able to go, and your Guard, and defence against dangers of the way, that you may certainly come into your own land.

Marginal references: Isa. 2[illegible: 1 letter].1[illegible: 2 letters]

13 And ye shall know that I am the LORD, when I have opened your graves, O my people, and brought you up out of your graves.

When your restitution to your own land▪ and your prosperity in your land, when your growth to strength and power, shall be so miraculously effected, then you shall acknowledge, and publish the glory of my Power, Faithfulness, Goodness, and Wisdom.

14 And shall put my spirit in you, and ye shall live , and I shall place you in your own land: Then shall ye know that I the LORD have spoken it, and performed it, saith the LORD.

See chap. 11.19. let. f. and chap. 36.27. let. x.

Joyful in, thankful for, and contented with your blessings I give.

Quietly, and in rest settle you in your own Habitations, and in your antient Possessions.

This shall demonstrate the truth of my Promises.

Fulness, and punctualness of my performances.

16 Moreover, thou son of man, take thee one stick, and write upon it, For Judah , and for the children of Israel his companions , then take another stick, and write upon it, For Joseph , the stick of Ephraim , and for all the house of Israel his companions .

Tablet, i. e. a writing Tablet or a Tally, such as is fitted to be written upon, or a Rod, or Staffe, on which thou may'st write, the Heb. calls it wood, without describing it's form and fashion, but whatere it's fashion was, it must be but one,

The Inscription is not onely commanded, but the words also, in which 'tis to be written.

The Tribe, or possibly the Kingdom; if the latter, then the companions mentioned will be such as in process of time fell off from the ten Tribes, and united with the Kingdom of the house of Da[illegible: 1 letter]id; if the former, which is most likely, then

His Companions are [illegible: 1 word] and Levi in part.

Who kept with the Tribe of Iudah their obedience to Davids seed.

When thou hast written on the first stick, then take

A second stick, such as the first was.

He was Father of two Tribes, one of which was chief of the Ten Tribes, and is therefore mention'd here

Ephraim was the Son of Ioseph, whom his Grand-father blest, and by Prophetick Spirit foretold, and promis'd that he should be one of the chie[illegible: 1 letter] of all the Tribes; and Ephraim was most considerable in the Kingdom of Israel when divided from the other two.

The other Nine Tribes.

Who did at first side, and have continued still with Ephraim. Some say Ephraim was the whole Kingdom of the Ten Tribes, and that

His Companions were the Gentiles converted to the Faith of Christ, which I wish were well proved.

Marginal references: See N[illegible: 1 letter]m[illegible: 1 letter]. 17.2.

17 And joyn them one to another into one stick; and they shall become one in thine hand.

Some would have this done miraculously, but I do not think God bade the Prophet work a Miracle, were it so, God would rather have said, I will make them one, for he can do Miracles, 'twas enough if glew'd together, or but held in his hand, so that in his hand they were one.

18 And when the children of thy people shall speak unto thee, saying, Wilt thou not shew us what thou meanest by these?

So soon as they enquire.

To whom thou art watchman by office, and near of Kin by natural descent.

There was some reason why they might doubt, whether he would, because they had carried it so frowardly toward him; therefore they request it by an Interrogatory. Wilt thou not? We shall never know the meaning unless thou un[illegible: 1 letter]old it, wilt thou not do it then?

19 Say unto them, thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I will take the stick of Joseph which is in the hand of Ephraim, and the tribes of Israel his fellows , and will put them with him , even with the stick of Judah, and make them one stick , and they shall be one in mine hand .

On which Iosephs name is written, and which represents Ioseph.

Which was under the government of Ephraim, or thus, which is the Tribe of E[illegible: 1 letter]hraim, the latter explaining the former.

See ver. 16. let. [illegible: 1 letter]. f.

Iudah and his companions.

One Kingdom, one people, whereas these have been divided, and Enemies a great while.

Real, cordial in their union.

Under my Government, Care, and blessing. This is the meaning, God will make the two divided Kingdomes one in his hand, as I make these two stickes one in my hand.

20 And the sticks whereon thou writest shall be in thine hand before their eyes.

To affect them the more, and to assure them the fullier, let them see these two divided sticks made one in thy hand.

21 And say unto them, thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I will take the children of Israel from among the heathen whither they be gone , and will gather them on every side , and bring them into their own land.

The ten Tribes, as well as Iudah, and Ben[illegible: 1 letter]amin, at least, many of the ten Tribes.

The expression seems to look to them that were gone among the Heathen by a voluntary peregrination, whether before the Captivity or after it, I will not conjecture, but 'tis likely enough to me, that among the Iews carried away, and among their children▪ there were some that were uneasie, where they were against their wills, who would ramble, and range over Countreys hoping to fare better, and perhaps these wanderers may be the persons meant by this gone, where they are, who walk't thither, as the Heb.

The wind was to come from the four coasts of heaven, ver. 9. let. s. thereby telling us, they should, as in this, be gathered on every side.

See this explain'd chap. 36.24. tot.

22 And I will make them one nation in the land , upon the mountains of Israel; and one king shall be king to them all: And they shall be no more two nations, neither shall they be divided into two Kingdoms any more at all.

They were one in Davids time, who was Type of the Messiah, and continued so to the end of Sol[illegible: 1 letter]mons time, whose n[illegible: 1 letter]me includes peace. So when the Beloved, the Peace-maker, the Messiah shall be King, and on his Throne exercis[illegible: 1 letter]ng his [illegible: 1 word] Power, they shall be once more one again.

Of [illegible: 1 span] here, as elsewhere▪ the Mountains of Israel.

M[illegible: 1 letter]ss[illegible: 1 letter]a[illegible: 1 letter] most, and best, if not learnedst, interpreters understand nor [illegible: 1 word], nor Nehemiah, nor Iudas Macca[illegible: 1 letter]eus.

The union under the Messiah's visible and actual exercise of his Regal po[illegible: 1 letter]er sha[illegible: 2 letters] be perpetual. On this place so full and express for a firm lasting union between the two Nations Ephraim, and [illegible: 1 word], and their being of two Kingdoms made one in the land, whence they were scatter'd some take occasion to enquire whether it be fulfill'd already, or remaineth yet to be accomplish'd, the di[illegible: 1 letter] cussion whereof, as very alien to a literal paraphrase, and would be too prolix▪ I pass over, saying no more of it in the Affirma[illegible: 1 letter]tive or Negative.

Marginal references: Isa. 11.13. [illegible: 1 word]. 3.18. [illegible: 1 word]. 1.11.; Joh. 10.16.

23 Neither shall they defile themselves any more with their idols, nor with their detestable things, nor with any of their transgressions : but I will save them out of all their dwelling-places, wherein they have sinned , and will cleanse them: so shall they be my people , and I will be their God.

Idolatry is a very defiling sin, and the I[illegible: 1 letter]ws in both Kingdom's exceedingly addicted to it, pertinacious in it to the utter ru[illegible: 1 letter]n of both Kingdoms, but after the return from [illegible: 1 word] Captivity, we find no where, that they fell to Idolatry.

It may refer to the Heathen, and then 'tis, they shall not defile themselves with the Idols the heathen did worship, or to the Idols of the Iews, their own Idols, with which they shall no more be defiled.

The same with Idols, and added to set our the loathsomness of the sin.

The former obstinate, bold-daring transgressors did that which these shall not defile thems[illegible: 1 letter]lves with, Vid. chap. 36.25, 33. and chap 11.1[illegible: 1 letter] ▪ 1[illegible: 1 letter].

Whilest there I preserved them, and now I will bring them safe out of the places.

Where out of a bad fear, or worse choice, they s[illegible: 1 letter]n'd, as did the Heathen with whom they dwelt.

Both sanctifie and make them holy, and justifie and give them pardon, chap. 36.29.

Vid. ch[illegible: 1 letter]p. 11.2[illegible: 1 letter]. [illegible: 1 word]. p. and chap. 36.26. l[illegible: 1 letter]t. d.

24 And David my servant shall be king over them; and they all shall have one shepherd: they shall also walk in my judgments, and observe my statutes and do them .

See chap. 34.23, 24. 'Tis the Son of David, who was also his Lord, that is here intended.

The M[illegible: 2 letters]siah in his Mediatory Office is Gods Servant, and our Saviour.

Over their hearts, and rule there in spiritual manner.

This King shall be a shepherd, that feeds, not fleeceth the flock; but one chief shepherd, others, that feed an[illegible: 1 letter] rule the flock are so by Commission from him.

It is both declaratory of Duty, and predictive of the Event, and promissory of ability and assistance to keep the holy Commandments of God, Christs Kingdom is that, which by law and precept commandeth Righteousness, and which by Grace, and power strengthens its subiects to this, and so the event is sure, and freest grace makes holiest lives.

Marginal references: Isa. 4[illegible: 1 letter].1[illegible: 1 letter] ▪ Jer. 23.5. and 3[illegible: 1 letter].9. Hos. 3.5. Luk. 1.32.; Ver. 22. Joh. 1[illegible: 1 letter].16.

25 And they shall dwell in the land that I have given unto Jacob my servant, wherein your fathers have dwelt; and they shall dwell therein, even they and their children, and their childrens children for ever : and my servant David shall be their prince for ever.

The Ten Tribes, and the two Tribes.

See chap. 28.25. let. h. i.

Abraham and Isaac and Iacob, whose memory you venerate, and greatly affect to be heirs more of their lands and houses than of their virtues and piety.

If this Prophesie or Promise be to be understood with the precedent verses in the letter of it, and not mystically and onely spiritually, I doubt not but to the end of the World▪ till Christs coming to Judgment, the Iewes converted to Christ, and professing the Gospel, shall they and their seed after them, inherit this land of Canaan in much peace and glory. But I speak on supposition not asserting any thing herein;

Typically understood it asserts the everlasting Kingdom of our M[illegible: 2 letters]si[illegible: 1 letter]h, and the everlasting happiness of all the faithful subjects of this King, Vid. chap. 34.23, 24.

26 Moreover, I will make a covenant of peace with them; it shall be an everlasting covenant with them: and I will place them, and multiply them, and will set my sanctuary in the midst of them for evermore .

As 'twas my kindness to your fathers to give them, so shall it be to you, to give you my blessings on the sure and inviolable security of a Covenant.

Comprehending all blessings that may give a People content, and r[illegible: 1 letter]nder them happy, Peace with God in Heaven, Peace in your Conscience with [illegible: 1 letter]our s[illegible: 1 letter]lves, with your brethren in the Church, with the Beasts of the Field, and with your enemies, who shall for fear, tho' not of love, keep peace with you, while your [illegible: 2 letters]yes pl[illegible: 1 letter]ase your God.

The spiritual part is absolutely endless, the external part shall be for a long time as 'tis alwayes to be interpreted where Temporals seem promised for ever.

Both Temple, and worship, not such as is typical of the Messiah to come, but such as may assert he is come, such as bring to the knowledge, love, and obedience of him. I will set up a spiritually glorious Temple, and worship amidst you.

Never to be alter'd, or abolisht on Earth, but to be consummated in Heaven.

Marginal references: Psal. [illegible: 2 letters].4. chap. 34.2[illegible: 1 letter].; 2 Cor. [illegible: 1 letter].1[illegible: 1 letter].

27 My tabernacle also shall be with them; yea, I will be their God, and they shall be my people.

The Tabernacle of my presence, or wherein I will shew my presence among them. Their Fathers had a tabernacle of Witness, so shall they, that was brought by Ioshua into C[illegible: 1 letter]n[illegible: 1 letter]an. But the Messiah shall bring with him a better, a spiritual, and heavenly.

See chap. 11.20. Rev. 21.1, 2, 3.

By my grace I will make them Holy, as the people of a Holy God ought to be, and I will make them happy, as the people of the ever blessed God expect and hope to be.

Marginal references: Joh. 1.14.; chap. 14.11.

28 And the heathen shall know that I the LORD do sanctifie Israel, when my sanctuary shall be in the midst of them for evermore.

When Christ by his spirit in Gospel Ordinances is among them, it shall appear they are a consecrated and a sanctified People.