Bible Commentaries
Ezekiel 14

Verse 1

Then came certain of the elders of Israel. These are to be distinguished from the elders of Judah (Ezekiel 8:1 ). They had no knowledge (probably) of what was transpiring in Judaea. They had travelled from Tel = abib.

the elders . See the Structure (p. 1097).

Israel . See Ezekiel 8:11 , Ezekiel 8:12 ; Ezekiel 8:6 , Ezekiel 9:6 . in Ezekiel 8:1 we have Judah's elders.

Verse 2

the LORD . Hebrew. Jehovah . App-4 .

Verse 3

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

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

idols = manufactured idols.

iniquity = perversity. Hebrew ' dvah. App-44 .

before their face . Instead of God's law, according to Deuteronomy 6:8 ; Deuteronomy 11:18 ; and Proverbs 3:21-23 .

Verse 4

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

Every man. Hebrew. ish, 'ish . App-14 .

before = in front of, or right before.

will answer , &c. = have been replied to for him; he hath come amid [the] multitude of his idols: i.e. he hath answered My claims by classing his idols with Me. The form is Niphal which in all its three occurances is rendered Passive, except here and Ezekiel 14:7 . See Job 11:2 ; Job 19:7 , and Proverbs 21:13 .

Verse 6

turn yourselves = turn ye.

Verse 7

will answer, &c. = and being replied to for him in Myself: i.e. by his comparing his idols with Me. See note on Ezekiel 14:4 .

Verse 8

I will set My face , &c. Reference to Pentateuch (Leviticus 17:10 ; Leviticus 26:17 ). App-92 .

man . Hebrew. 'ish . App-14 .

will make him, &c. Reference to Pentateuch (Numbers 26:10 . Deuteronomy 28:37 ). Some codices, with eight early printed editions, read "will make him desolate, for a sign and a proverb".

I will cut him off , &c. Reference to Pentateuch (Genesis 17:14 .Exodus 12:15 , Exodus 12:19 ; Exodus 30:33 , Exodus 30:38 . Leviticus 7:20 , Leviticus 7:21 , Leviticus 7:25 , Leviticus 7:27 ; Leviticus 17:4 , Leviticus 17:9 ; Leviticus 19:8 ; Leviticus 23:29 . Numbers 9:13 , &c.) App-92 .

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

Verse 9

have deceived. Hebrew idioms = have permitted him to be deceived: i.e. as a judicial punishment for his own deception of the People.

I will stretch out , &c. Reference to Pentateuch (Exodus 6:20 , &c.)

Verse 10

they shall bear the punishment , &c. Heb to Pentateuch (Exodus 28:38 . Leviticus 5:1 , Leviticus 5:17 . Numbers 14:34 , &c.)

Verse 11

transgressions = rebellions. Hebrew. pasha '. App-44 ,

God. Hebrew. Elohim . App-4 .

saith the Lord God, = [is] Adonai Jehovah's oracle.

Verse 13

the land = a land.

sinneth. Hebrew. chata. App-44 .

trespassing . Hebrew ma'al. App-44 . Note the Figure of speech Polyptoton ( App-6 ). Hebrew - to trespass a trespass i.e. to trespass exceedingly. See note on Genesis 26:28 . Reference to Pentateuch (Leviticus 5:16 ; Leviticus 6:2 ; Leviticus 26:40 . Numbers 5:6 , Numbers 5:12 , Numbers 5:27 ). App-92 .

break the staff of the bread. Reference to Pentateuch (Leviticus 26:26 . &c.) App-92 .

of = that is to say. Genitive of Apposition. App-17 .

man . Hebrew. 'adam. App-14 .

Verse 14

three men . In Jeremiah 15:1 , we have two men, "Moses and Samuel", as intercessors. See note there. Here we have "three men", also as intercessors. All three prevailed in saving others. Noah (1 Peter 3:20 ). Daniel (Ezekiel 2:5 ; Eze 2:48-49 ). Job (Ezekiel 42:8-10 ).

Noah, Daniel, and Job . This order is determined by the Structure, which is an Introversion, in order to separate the true Israelite (of the nation of Israel) from the two who lived before the nation was formed (which is the subject of the book of Exodus).

Noah. Earlier than Job, but before Israel was a nation.

Daniel . A true Israelite.

Job . Later than Noah, but before Israel was a nation. Noah prevailed in saving others (the whole human race). Gen 6-9. Daniel prevailed in saving his fellow wise men (Daniel 2:24 ). He is mentioned again in 28.:3. While Ezekiel bears witness to Daniel (already fourteen years in Babylon) Daniel bears witness to Jeremiah (Daniel 9:2 ).

souls = soul. Hebrew nephesh. App-13 .

Verse 15

If I cause noisome beasts , &c. Reference to Pentateuch (Leviticus 26:22 ). App-92 .

noisome = annoying, hurtful.

Verse 17

if I bring a sword , &c. Reference to Pentateuch (Leviticus 26:25 ). See Ezekiel 5:17 .

Verse 21

How much more, &c. National judgments are thus sent for national sins. Compare Ezekiel 14:13 .

Verse 22

behold. Figure of speech Asterismos. App-6 . remnant. This is always used in a good sense.

their way &c.: i.e. their good way and doings.

evil . Hebrew raa. App-44 .

Verse 23

they: i.e. the remnant of Ezekiel 14:22 .