Bible Commentaries
Ezekiel 6

Verse 1

Eze 6:1. Ezekiel was an inspired prophet and spoke or wrote only the word of the Lord, as it came unto him.

Verse 2

Eze 6:2. The mountains of Israel were material objects and could have no moral responsibilities. But the people made a specialty of erecting altars and idols on the “high places" and offering their abominable services thereon. Hence in the form of per-sonification the Lord directed his prophet to write against these mountains, Set thy face is a figure of speech aud means that Ezekiel was to focus hie attention upon the object mentioned and then write as the Lord directed him.

Verse 3

Eze 6:3. The thought of the preceding verse is maintained in this, and the impersonation Is extended to include other geographical parts of the land. None of them has any responsibility in the corruptions being condemned, but the impression of guilt should be greater before the mind of the guilty ones by such an all-out picture of the scene. The particular complaint is literally denoted by the words high places.

Verse 4

Eze 6:4. The altars and idols were literally destroyed as the nation went down in captivity. But that fact may well be regarded as a sign of the complete cure from idolatry that was brought about by the exile in the land of Babylon. See the historical note at Isa 1:25 in volume 3 of this Commentary.

Verse 5

Eze 6:5. These dead bodies being laid before the idols would not be as a sacrificial offering, but as a token of the uselessness of false gods. If such deities could not preserve the physical lives of their worshipers, they surely could noi provide them any spiritual help.

Verse 6

Eze 6:6. The weakness of false gods was to be further shown in that they could not protect the homes and cities of the country. It is a poor head that cannot take the proper oversight of its own body, yet these images that were worshiped by the people of Israel were powerless to preserve even the altars erected to their worship.

Verse 7

Eze 6:7. The sight of slain men right in t.he midst of the multitude of idols would prove their frailty. The logical conclusion that such a situation should suggest is that I am the Lord, meaning the Cod of Israel is the true Lord,

Verse 8

Eze 6:8. The remnant promised is numbered in Ezr 2:64. The captivity in Babylon lasted 70 years and the ravages of that period i educed the population of Israel from some millions to this number.

Verse 9

Eze 6:9. Shall remember me among the nations was sadly fulfilled by the children of Israel after they got into the land of Babylon. Their dejected frame of mind is forcefully described by a prophecy of David in Psalms 137. I am broken. Strong defines the original for the last word, “A primitive root; to burst (literally or figuratively).'1 Of course it is used figuratively here and means the Lord was deeply disappointed over the conduct of his people. Whorish heart means their lusting after false gods, as religious unfaithfulness is commonly compared to moral corruption in the Bible, Shall loathe themselves refers to the complete cure from idolatry that was accomplished by the cap-tivity. (See the notes at Isa 1:25.)

Verse 10

Eze 6:10. The main object the Lord had in view by the whole work of the captivity was to convince Israel that He is the only true. God. T)o this evil means something painful, not anything wrong morally.

Verse 11

Eze 6:11, Strong says the original for smite means to strike, literally or figuratively. Ezekiel was to do this “acting” witli his hand and foot as a gesture of emphasis. It would he a sign of the Lord's determination to impose a punishment upon the disobedient nation. The three items named were commented upon at Jer 14:12 and other places previously considered in this Commentary,

Verse 12

Eze 6:12. A pestilence, however, could occur from conditions other than famine, and the Lord threatened to bring it upon some of the people who would not be hemmed by the siege. The general thought is that no one can escape the chastisement that He determines against the unfaithful servants.

Verse 13

Eze 6:13. Slain men among their idols was to signify the weakness of the false godB the children of Israel had been worshiping. The presence of these dead bodies in the same area with the idols would be proof of the helplessness thereof. Hills and mountains are named because they were favorite spots on which the idols and their altars were built. Trees also were used as desirable places for the idolatrous service, and they selected a green or living tree, which Strong defines, ‘‘to be . . . figuratively prosperous.” Something alive might suggest a source of good whereas a dead one would not. There is nothing about a dead tree that would suggest anything to be worshiped. Sweet savor refers to the incense that was burned in sacrifice to a god because of its fragrant odor.

Verse 14

Eze 6:14. Concerning Diblath, the Funk and Wagnalls Bible Dictionary says the following; “No such place is known and the true reading may be 'to Riblah' in the extreme north of the Lebanon region, making the whole expression mean: 'from south to north, i,e„ from one end of the land to the other." The significance to us is that God threatened a widespread desolation over the land as a punishment for their idolatry