John Trapp on Ezekiel 1:4

Ver. 4. And I looked and behold] In this enſuing myſterious viſion of a whirlewind, four Cherubims, four wheeles, a Throne upon the firmament, formidabilis Dei forma proponitur, is ſet forth the appearance of the likeneſſe of the glory of the Lord, as it is expounded, ver. 28. that hereby the peoples arrogancy might be the better ſubdued, the Prophets doctrine more reverently received, and the Prophet confirmed in his calling. The ſum of this celeſtial viſion is, that the Divine Providence doth rule in the world, and is exerciſed in all parts thereof, and not only in Heaven, or in the Temple, or in Jury, as the Jews then thought. As for the changes in the world (which are here compared to Wheeles) they befall not at all adventures, or by haphazzard; but are effected by God, though all things may ſeem to run upon wheeles, and to fall out, as it fortuneth. At the day of judgement, at utmoſt, men ſhall ſee an harmony in this diſcord of things: and Providence ſhall then be unriddled. Meanwhile, God oft wrappeth himſelf in a cloud, and will not be ſeen till afterwards. All Gods dealings, beſure, will appear beautiful in their ſeaſon; though for preſent we ſee not the contiguity and linking together of one thing with another.

A whirlwind came out of the North] i. e. Nebuchadnezzar with his forces: See Jer. 1.13, 14, 15. fitly compared to a whirlwind for ſuddenneſſe, ſwiftneſſe, irreſiſtibleneſſe. A lapide telleth of whirlwinds in Italy which have taken away ſtabula cum equis, ſtables with horſes, carried them up into the aire, and daſhed them againſt the mountaines. See Habbak. 1.6, 7, 9, 10. and conſider that thoſe Chaldaeans were of Gods ſending.

A great cloud] Nebuchadnezzars army,Liv. Jer. 4.13. that peditum equitumque nubes, (2 King. 25.1. chap. 39.9) that ſtormed Jeruſalem.

And a fire infolding it ſelf] Heb. that receiveth it ſelf within it ſelf, as in an houſe on fire. Underſtand it of Nebuchadnezzars wrath againſt Jeruſalem, much hotter then that furnace of his ſeven times more then ordinary heated, Dan. 2. or rather of Gods wrath in uſing Nebuchadnezzar to ſet all on a light free.

And a brightneſſe was about it] The glory of Divine preſence, ſhining in the puniſhment of evil-doers.

Out of the midſt thereof as of the colour of Amber] Not of an Angel called Haſmal, as Lyra (after ſome Rabbines) will have it. Jarchi confeſſeth he knoweth not what the word Haſmal meaneth. This Prophet only hath it here, and ver. 27, and chap. 8.2. as Daniel alſo hath ſome words proper to himſelf.