Matthew Poole and continuators on Ezekiel 37:16

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.