Matthew Poole and continuators on Ezekiel 4:5

5 For I have laid upon thee the years of their iniquity, according to the number of the days, Three hundred and ninety days: so shalt thou bear the iniquity of the house of Israel.

I have pointed out the number of years wherein Apostate Israel sinned against me, and I did bear with them according to the number of dayes, wherein thou must lye on thy left side.

See v. 4. There is some difference, though of no great moment, in fixing the periods of beginning and ending these Prophetick dayes, these years some begin them at Solomon's falling to Idolatry, in the 27th. year of his Reign, and end them in the fifth of Zedekiah's Captivity. Others begin at the fourth year of Rehoboam, and end them in the 21th. year of the Captivity. Others begin them in the first of Rehoboam and I[illegible: 1 letter]r[illegible: 1 letter]boam when the Kingdom was divided and then they must end about the 17th. year of the Captivity. The first s[illegible: 1 letter]pputation to me is much the likeliest, and agrees nearest with the year wherein this Prophet begins his Prophesie▪ It is not altog[illegible: 1 letter]ther unlikely that the Prophet may intimate though obscurely the continuance of the Siege of Ierusalem, which the Chald[illegible: 1 letter]a[illegible: 1 letter]s began on the 10th. day of the 10th. moneth of the 9th. year of Zedekiah, and lasted the remaining two moneths of the 9th. year, and the whole 10th. year, except some five months wherein the Babylonia[illegible: 1 letter]s retired to fight the Egyptians, beat them, spoiled them and returned to the Siege of Ierusalem, which lasted to the 9th. day of the 4th. moneth of Zedekiahs 11th. year. So that one whole year, and three weeks, and 4 days; or 13 moneths, at 30 days in each month, taking up 390 days, and discounting the five moneths and odd days in the Egyptian expedeition, you come to the continuance of 390 days in the threatned Siege, and possibly this may be the intent of the Prophesie.

This verse explains the former.

Marginal references: Num. 14.34.