Bible Commentaries
Ezekiel 12

Verse 1

the LORD. Hebrew. Jehovah. App-4 .

Verse 2

Son of man. See note on Ezekiel 2:1 .

rebellious = perverse. See note on Ezekiel 2:3 .

Verse 3

stuff = vessels, or baggage.

removing: i.e. for captivity.

Verse 4

at even. The sign (Ezekiel 12:11 ) that the prince (Zedekiah) would try to escape by night (2 Kings 25:4 .Jeremiah 39:4; Jeremiah 39:4 ).

Verse 5

Dig thou through the wall . The sign (Ezekiel 12:2 ) that Zedekiah would do this "betwixt the walls" (2 Kings 25:4 .Jeremiah 39:4; Jeremiah 39:4 ).

Verse 6

cover thy face . The sign (Ezekiel 12:11 ) that Zedekiah would disguise himself.

the ground = the land: i.e. the land Zedekish was going forth from and would never see again. Hebrew. eth haerez.

a sign. Hebrew. 'oth. Compare Genesis 1:14 . Divine portents as to things that were to come.

Verse 7

as = according as,

captivity . See notes on Ezekiel 12:3 .

Verse 10

the Lord God . Hebrew Adonai Jehovah. See note on Ezekiel 2:4 ,

burden coneerneth the prince (i.e. Zedekiah). Note the Figure of speech Paronomasia ( App-6 ), for emphasis. Hebrew. hannasi hammassa. Eng. "this grief [concerneth] the chief

Verse 13

My net , &c.: i.e. the Chaldean army which overtook Zedekish.

not see it. The Figure of speech Amphibologia, or AEnigma ( App-6 ), as in Jeremiah 34:3 . The explanation is given in 2 Kings 25:7 , and Jeremiah 39:7 ; Jer 39:52 , Jeremiah 39:11 . Zedekish was taken to Babylon, but he never saw it, though he died there,

Verse 14

wind. Hebrew. ruach, App-9 . draw out the sword, &c. See note on Ezekiel 5:2 , Ezekiel 5:17 .

Verse 16

they shall know. See note on Ezekiel 6:10 .

I shall scatter them. Ref to Pent, (Leviticus 26:33 .Deuteronomy 4:27 ; Deuteronomy 28:64 ). App-92 .

Verse 18

I will leave , &c. Reference to Pentateuch (Deuteronomy 4:27 ).

men. Hebrew, plural of enosh. App-14 .

from . Some codices, with four early printed editions, Septuagint, Syriac, and Vulgate, read "and from", which em phasises the Figure of speech Polysyndeton ( App-6 ), to enhance the completeness of the enumeration.

heathen = nations.

Verse 19

of the inhabitants = to the inhabitants.

the land, &c. = concerning the land, &c. Hebrew admath. See note on Ezekiel 11:17 .

her . Some codices, with one early printed edition, read "their".

all . The 1611 edition of the Authorized Version omitted this "all".

Verse 20

the cities . . . shall be laid waste. Reference to Pentateuch (Leviticus 26:31 ). App-92 .

ye shall know, &c. See note on Ezekiel 6:7 .

Verse 22

what . . . ? Figure of speech Erotesis. App-6 .

proverb . See the Structure, "i", on p. 1119.

prolonged : i.e. protracted, or postponed.

Verse 23

are at hand. The fulfilment took place five years later.

effect = word: i.e. the [fulfilled] word, meaning, or purpose.

Verse 24

vain vision. Compare Lamentations 2:14 .

house. Some codices, with one early printed edition (Rabbinic in margin), Aramaean, Septuagint, Syriac, and Vulgate, read "sons".

Verse 25

prolonged : i.e. delayed, or deferred.

with the LORD = [isj Adonai Jehovah's oracle.

Verse 27

behold. Figure of speech Asterisnaos. App-6 ,