Bible Commentaries
Ezekiel 4

Verse 1

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

tile: or, brick . A Babylonian brick, as used for inscription, was about 14 inches by 12.

lay = give, or take, as in verses: Ezekiel 4:1 , Ezekiel 4:2 , Ezekiel 4:5 , Ezekiel 4:8 ; not Ezekiel 4:4 . Hebrew. nathan, rendered "appointed" in Ezekiel 4:6 .

pourtray = grave.

Verse 2

fort = a siege tower, or bulwark.

mount = embankment.

Verse 3

pan = a flat plate, as used for baking.

set thy face . Ref to Pentateuch (Leviticus 17:10 ; Leviticus 20:3 , Leviticus 20:5 , Leviticus 20:6 ; Leviticus 26:17 ). App-92 . Compare Jeremiah 21:10 ; Jeremiah 44:11 .

the house of Israel . See note on Exodus 16:31 . To be carefully distinguished here from Judah.

Verse 4

lay = set, or place. Hebrew sum. See note on Ezekiel 4:1 .

according to the number , &c. Reference to Pentateuch, (Numbers 14:34 ). This is no evidence that in prophetic scriptures there is a "year = day "theory. These exceptions prove the opposite rule. In all of them "day" means "day", and "year" means "year".

bear their iniquity . A technical expression belonging to the Pentateuch - to endure the punishment due to iniquity, or sin. See Exodus 28:38 , Exo 28:93 .Leviticus 5:1 , Leviticus 5:17 ; Leviticus 7:18 ; Leviticus 10:17 ; Leviticus 16:22 ; Leviticus 17:16 ; Leviticus 19:16 ; Leviticus 20:17 , Leviticus 20:19 , Leviticus 20:20 (sin); Leviticus 22:9 (sin), Leviticus 22:16 ; Leviticus 24:15 (sin). Numbers 5:31 ; Numbers 9:13 (sin); 14, 33 (whoredoms), 34; Ezekiel 18:1 , Ezekiel 18:1 , Ezekiel 18:22 (sin), 23, 32 (sin); Ezekiel 30:15 . Outside the Pentateuch, only in Ezekiel 4:4 , Ezekiel 4:5 , Ezekiel 4:6 ; Ezekiel 16:54 (shame); Ezekiel 18:19 , Ezekiel 18:20 , Ezekiel 18:20 ; Ezekiel 23:49 (sin); Ezekiel 32:24 (shame), 25 (shame), 30 (shame); Ezekiel 44:10 , Ezekiel 44:12 ; and in Isaiah 53:4 , Isaiah 53:11 , Isaiah 53:12 , where the verb is sabal (not nasa, as in Pentateuch), and Lamentations 5:7 .

iniquity . Hebrew. `avon. App-44 . Put by Figure of speech metonymy (of Cause), App-6 , for the punishment brought about in consequence of it.

Verse 5

three hundred and ninety days. These were to be literal "days" to Ezekiel, and were to represent 390 literal "years". The date of the command is not material to the understanding of this prophecy. The meaning of the expression "bear their iniquity" (see note on Ezekiel 4:4 ) determines the interpretation as referring to the duration of the punishment, and not to the period of the iniquity which brought it down. The 390 days stand for 390 years and the 40 days for 40 years, the duration of the punishment of Israel and Judah respec tively. As this has to do with the city Jerusalem (verses: Ezekiel 4:1-3 ), the periods must necessarily be conterminous with something that affects the ending of its punishment. 'This was effected solely by the decree for the restoration and rebuilding of Jerusalem in 454 B.C. ( App-50 ). Three hundred and ninety years take us back to the sixteenth year of Asa, when Baasha made war on Judah (844 B.C. 2 Chronicles 16:1 . App-50 ); which was followed by the solemn announcement by the prophet Jehu against Baasha of the quickly coming punishment of Israel (1 Kings 16:1 , &c.), The punishment of Judah, in like manner, began forty years betore (455-4 B.C.): viz. in 495-4 B.C.; 495 (his fifth year), being the year of Jehoiakim's burning of the roll. The prophecy of this punishment was given in his fourth year (Jeremiah 25:1 , Jeremiah 25:9-11 ), and the execution of it speedily followed. This symbolical action of Ezekiel shows no how long Jerusalem's punishment lasted, and when it ended.

Verse 6

again = a second time, showing that they are not necessarily consecutive or continuous, but are conterminous, though not commencing at the same time.

forty days. See note on Ezekiel 4:4 .

a ppointed = given. Some word as "lay", verses: Ezekiel 4:1 , Ezekiel 4:2 , Ezekiel 4:5 , Ezekiel 4:8 .

Verse 7

the siege of Jerusalem . This is thepoint which determines the interpretation, as do Ezekiel 4:1-3 .

Verse 8

behold. Figure of speech Asterisimos App-6 .

Verse 9

Ftches, in English, is another spelling of vetches, is plant having tendrils. But the Hebrew - kaseemeth is defined as trlticum spetla, or spelled, a kind of eon), always distinguished from wheat, barley, &c. Compare

Ex. Eze 9:32 .Isaiah 28:25 . Here, in plural.

Verse 10

shekels . See App-51 .

Verse 11

hin. See App-51 .

Verse 12

bake it with = bake it upon. Compare Ezekiel 4:15 . man. Hebrew. 'adam. App-14 .

Verse 13

the LORD . Hebrew. Jehovah. App-4 .

children = sons.

Gentiles = nations.

Verse 14

Lord GOD . Hebrew. Adonai Jehovah . See App-4 .

soul . Hebrew. nephesh. App-13 .

that which dieth of itself . Reference to Pentateuch (Exodus 22:31 .Leviticus 11:39 , Leviticus 11:40 ; Leviticus 17:5 ). App-92 .

abominable flesh . Reference to Pentateuch (Leviticus 7:18 ; Leviticus 19:7 ). Elsewhere, only in Isaiah 65:3 . App-92 .

Verse 15

Lo . Figure of speech Aster's. App-6 .

given . Same word as "appointed", Ezekiel 4:6 .

therewith : or., thereupon. Compare Ezekiel 4:12 .

Verse 16

I will break . Reference to Pentateuch (Leviticus 26:26 ). Occurr ing again in Ezekiel 5:16 ; Ezekiel 14:13 ; but nowhere else in O.T.

Verse 17

consume away , &c. Reference to Pentateuch (Leviticus 26:39 ). Compare Ezekiel 24:23 ; Eze 24:33 . to ("pine away "). App-92 .