Commentary on Ezekiel Part 9 (No. F026ix)

Chapter 33

¹The word of the LORD came to me: ²"Son of man, speak to your people and say to them, If I bring the sword upon a land, and the people of the land take a man from among them, and make him their watchman; ³and if he sees the sword coming upon the land and blows the trumpet and warns the people; ⁴then if any one who hears the sound of the trumpet does not take warning, and the sword comes and takes him away, his blood shall be upon his own head. ⁵He heard the sound of the trumpet, and did not take warning; his blood shall be upon himself. But if he had taken warning, he would have saved his life. ⁶But if the watchman sees the sword coming and does not blow the trumpet, so that the people are not warned, and the sword comes, and takes any one of them; that man is taken away in his iniquity, but his blood I will require at the watchman's hand. ⁷"So you, son of man, I have made a watchman for the house of Israel; whenever you hear a word from my mouth, you shall give them warning from me. ⁸If I say to the wicked, O wicked man, you shall surely die, and you do not speak to warn the wicked to turn from his way, that wicked man shall die in his iniquity, but his blood I will require at your hand. ⁹But if you warn the wicked to turn from his way, and he does not turn from his way; he shall die in his iniquity, but you will have saved your life. ¹⁰"And you, son of man, say to the house of Israel, Thus have you said: 'Our transgressions and our sins are upon us, and we waste away because of them; how then can we live?' ¹¹Say to them, As I live, says the Lord GOD, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but that the wicked turn from his way and live; turn back, turn back from your evil ways; for why will you die, O house of Israel? ¹²And you, son of man, say to your people, The righteousness of the righteous shall not deliver him when he transgresses; and as for the wickedness of the wicked, he shall not fall by it when he turns from his wickedness; and the righteous shall not be able to live by his righteousness when he sins. ¹³Though I say to the righteous that he shall surely live, yet if he trusts in his righteousness and commits iniquity, none of his righteous deeds shall be remembered; but in the iniquity that he has committed he shall die. ¹⁴Again, though I say to the wicked, 'You shall surely die,' yet if he turns from his sin and does what is lawful and right, ¹⁵ if the wicked restores the pledge, gives back what he has taken by robbery, and walks in the statutes of life, committing no iniquity; he shall surely live, he shall not die. ¹⁶None of the sins that he has committed shall be remembered against him; he has done what is lawful and right, he shall surely live. ¹⁷"Yet your people say, 'The way of the Lord is not just'; when it is their own way that is not just. ¹⁸When the righteous turns from his righteousness, and commits iniquity, he shall die for it. ¹⁹And when the wicked turns from his wickedness, and does what is lawful and right, he shall live by it. ²⁰Yet you say, 'The way of the Lord is not just.' O house of Israel, I will judge each of you according to his ways." ²¹In the twelfth year of our exile, in the tenth month, on the fifth day of the month, a man who had escaped from Jerusalem came to me and said, "The city has fallen." ²²Now the hand of the LORD had been upon me the evening before the fugitive came; and he had opened my mouth by the time the man came to me in the morning; so my mouth was opened, and I was no longer dumb. ²³The word of the LORD came to me: ²⁴"Son of man, the inhabitants of these waste places in the land of Israel keep saying, 'Abraham was only one man, yet he got possession of the land; but we are many; the land is surely given us to possess.' ²⁵Therefore say to them, Thus says the Lord GOD: You eat flesh with the blood, and lift up your eyes to your idols, and shed blood; shall you then possess the land? ²⁶You resort to the sword, you commit abominations and each of you defiles his neighbor's wife; shall you then possess the land? ²⁷Say this to them, Thus says the Lord GOD: As I live, surely those who are in the waste places shall fall by the sword; and him that is in the open field I will give to the beasts to be devoured; and those who are in strongholds and in caves shall die by pestilence. ²⁸And I will make the land a desolation and a waste; and her proud might shall come to an end; and the mountains of Israel shall be so desolate that none will pass through. ²⁹Then they will know that I am the LORD, when I have made the land a desolation and a waste because of all their abominations which they have committed. ³⁰"As for you, son of man, your people who talk together about you by the walls and at the doors of the houses, say to one another, each to his brother, 'Come, and hear what the word is that comes forth from the LORD.' ³¹And they come to you as people come, and they sit before you as my people, and they hear what you say but they will not do it; for with their lips they show much love, but their heart is set on their gain. ³²And, lo, you are to them like one who sings love songs with a beautiful voice and plays well on an instrument, for they hear what you say, but they will not do it. ³³When this comes--and come it will! --then they will know that a prophet has been among them."

33:1-39:29 Oracles of Restoration. This section goes on to the wars of the end and the destuction of the nations of Gog and Magog in the valley of Hamon Gog. This war is the War of Armageddon and the end of the Time of the Gentiles in the Last Days and goes to the Return of the Messiah (see No. 282E; 141C; 141D; 141E; 141E_2; 294; (F066v). See also Part X below.

Intent of Chapter 33

33:1-9 The duties of the watchmen are laid out by the Lord God. God does nothing save He warns the people through His servants the prophets (Amos 3:7). This text specifically lays responsibilty on the leaders as representatives, as the Watchmen of God, in warning the nations and if they fail to do their duty then the blood of the slain or lost is held as being their responsibility and the blood is on their heads. If the watchman warns them and they do not listen then their blood is on their own heads, and they are taken away in their iniquity. This responsibility is to continue on now until the wars of the end and the coming of the Messiah. Isaiah was appointed to warn Israel (Isa. 21:6) of the sequence to the Coming of the Messiah and his execution (Isa. Ch. 53) and on right up to the end and the Restoration of Israel in the final exodus, and the restoration of the laws of God and the Sabbaths and New Moons, on pain of death (chs. 65-66). The response of the leadership was to saw him in half (No. 122C) (so also they stoned Zechariah and beheaded John). Daniel was appointed by God a decade prior to Ezekiel when he was taken to Babylon as captive with the sons of the nobility. Jeremiah was also appointed by God to warn Israel (see Jer. 6:17) and his works were all ordained by God from before Jeremiah was formed in the womb (Jer. 1:5). He was authorised to build up and break down as well as warn the people. Jeremiah was also used by God to nominate the last living prophetic voice in the Churches of God in the Last Days, before the Witnesses are brought forward to Jerusalem. The final phase is of the prophetic voice of Dan in Ephraim (Jer. 4:15-27) in F024 (see also #044 and Jn. 1:19ff; F043) and the Two Witnesses Enoch and Elijah (see ## 135; 141D) and then Messiah returns to Israel and the rule of the world.

v. 7 Here God anoints Ezekiel as watchman to Israel in this phase of the captivity (cf. 3:16:21). The blood of the peope is upon this man Ezekiel as prophet at this time. God also appointed Elijah as watchmen in the last phase before the Messiah as we are told by God through the prophet Malachi (Mal 4:5). We are also told that God took a second one forward so that he did not die also in Gen. 5:24. These were the only two who were taken by God so that they had not died until their task in the last days as the final watchmen before Messiah in the restoration of the Law of God.

33:10-20 The oracle re-emphasises 14:12-23 and 18:5-32.

33:21-32

v. 21 This verse details the twelfth year and on the Fifth day of the Tenth month a survivor of the city of Jerusalem came to Ezekiel and told him of its fall. This was in 587/6 BCE which confirms the details in the note to chapter 1, and proves that dating in the Note re the fifth year of Jehoiakin’s captivity. This detail and dating confirm the calendar as the 30^th year with the jubilee in 574 BCE (and 524 BCE). This detail also confirms that the scholars were wrong (incl. Judaica) and were a year behind. Instead of correcting their error, and going on to restoring the Jubilees they say that the Bible here is in error and should be read as the eleventh year (see OARSV n.). There is nothing they will not do to conceal the truth and justify the Hillel false system. They will face the Witnesses and the Messiah imminently.

Thus a few months after the fall of Jerusalem word of the fall reached Ezekiel and his tongue was loosed (3:24-27). (It is suggested by some scholars that these two verses are unrelated and should follow 24:27.) The timing is a critical factor here and is critical to determining the calendar also.

33:23-29 This text deals with the property of the exiles or deportees and notes the three scourges in v. 27. Those in the waste places will fall by the sword, those in the open fields will be given to the beasts to be devoured, and those in strongholds and in caves shall die by pestilence.

All of that is because they are in breach of the Laws of God (L1) and in idolatry. They do not follow the Food Laws (No. 015) correctly and they shed blood and thus have to be punished as the text says. In these last days the blood of the nations is upon all of them and they kill and dismember their children and sell the products to their women and the sick and the aged. Due to the carnage in the last days of their Pharmakeia and the war complex they will all face these same curses (see also #259B).

33:30-33 Human nature hears what it wants to hear and ignores the words of God and the prophets and the elect of the Churches of God. More particularly the ministers of these latter day churches are corrupt and teach for hire. The sins of the nations will be brought to an end with God’s Justice under the Messiah and the Host as we see here and also Jer. 5:12-13. They come before the oracles of God as though they are listening to love songs; they hear but they will not obey the word of God. It is thought that oracles may have been chanted from this and 2Kgs. 3:15. The reality is that they have the form of faith but deny the power.

Chapter 34

¹The word of the LORD came to me: ²"Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel, prophesy, and say to them, even to the shepherds, Thus says the Lord GOD: Ho, shepherds of Israel who have been feeding yourselves! Should not shepherds feed the sheep? ³You eat the fat, you clothe yourselves with the wool, you slaughter the fatlings; but you do not feed the sheep. ⁴The weak you have not strengthened, the sick you have not healed, the crippled you have not bound up, the strayed you have not brought back, the lost you have not sought, and with force and harshness you have ruled them. ⁵So they were scattered, because there was no shepherd; and they became food for all the wild beasts. ⁶My sheep were scattered, they wandered over all the mountains and on every high hill; my sheep were scattered over all the face of the earth, with none to search or seek for them. ⁷"Therefore, you shepherds, hear the word of the LORD: ⁸As I live, says the Lord GOD, because my sheep have become a prey, and my sheep have become food for all the wild beasts, since there was no shepherd; and because my shepherds have not searched for my sheep, but the shepherds have fed themselves, and have not fed my sheep; ⁹therefore, you shepherds, hear the word of the LORD: ¹⁰Thus says the Lord GOD, Behold, I am against the shepherds; and I will require my sheep at their hand, and put a stop to their feeding the sheep; no longer shall the shepherds feed themselves. I will rescue my sheep from their mouths, that they may not be food for them. ¹¹"For thus says the Lord GOD: Behold, I, I myself will search for my sheep, and will seek them out. ¹²As a shepherd seeks out his flock when some of his sheep have been scattered abroad, so will I seek out my sheep; and I will rescue them from all places where they have been scattered on a day of clouds and thick darkness. ¹³And I will bring them out from the peoples, and gather them from the countries, and will bring them into their own land; and I will feed them on the mountains of Israel, by the fountains, and in all the inhabited places of the country. ¹⁴I will feed them with good pasture, and upon the mountain heights of Israel shall be their pasture; there they shall lie down in good grazing land, and on fat pasture they shall feed on the mountains of Israel. ¹⁵I myself will be the shepherd of my sheep, and I will make them lie down, says the Lord GOD. ¹⁶I will seek the lost, and I will bring back the strayed, and I will bind up the crippled, and I will strengthen the weak, and the fat and the strong I will watch over; I will feed them in justice. ¹⁷"As for you, my flock, thus says the Lord GOD: Behold, I judge between sheep and sheep, rams and he-goats. ¹⁸Is it not enough for you to feed on the good pasture, that you must tread down with your feet the rest of your pasture; and to drink of clear water, that you must foul the rest with your feet? ¹⁹And must my sheep eat what you have trodden with your feet, and drink what you have fouled with your feet? ²⁰"Therefore, thus says the Lord GOD to them: Behold, I, I myself will judge between the fat sheep and the lean sheep. ²¹Because you push with side and shoulder, and thrust at all the weak with your horns, till you have scattered them abroad, ²²I will save my flock, they shall no longer be a prey; and I will judge between sheep and sheep. ²³And I will set up over them one shepherd, my servant David, and he shall feed them: he shall feed them and be their shepherd. ²⁴And I, the LORD, will be their God, and my servant David shall be prince among them; I, the LORD, have spoken. ²⁵"I will make with them a covenant of peace and banish wild beasts from the land, so that they may dwell securely in the wilderness and sleep in the woods. ²⁶And I will make them and the places round about my hill a blessing; and I will send down the showers in their season; they shall be showers of blessing. ²⁷And the trees of the field shall yield their fruit, and the earth shall yield its increase, and they shall be secure in their land; and they shall know that I am the LORD, when I break the bars of their yoke, and deliver them from the hand of those who enslaved them. ²⁸They shall no more be a prey to the nations, nor shall the beasts of the land devour them; they shall dwell securely, and none shall make them afraid. ²⁹And I will provide for them prosperous plantations so that they shall no more be consumed with hunger in the land, and no longer suffer the reproach of the nations. ³⁰And they shall know that I, the LORD their God, am with them, and that they, the house of Israel, are my people, says the Lord GOD. ³¹And you are my sheep, the sheep of my pasture, and I am your God, says the Lord GOD."

Intent of Chapter 34

This text concerns the Shepherds of Israel

The criticism of the shepherds goes on over the sequence of the cherubim and gets more serious over the centuries until it reaches the critical point in the Last Days when two of the last churches are declared dead and spewed from the Mouth of God as we see in Revelation ch. 3 (F066). Only one is left and goes on to become the final church under the Messiah to form the millennial system. All other systems are completely removed or destroyed (## 122; 141F; 170; 283; Judah will repent under the Witnesses and restore the Temple Calendar or be removed from Israel and die.

34:1-10 The Shepherds of Israel

This texts concerns the leadership of Israel including the Nasi or the Kings (Jer. 23:13-17) who scattered the people or sheep (Jer. 10:21; 23:1-4). The concerns cover the entire period to the Last Days

Ezekiel 34 and the Shepherds of Israel (No. 108B)

The oracle also applies the doctrine of individual responsibility (18:5-32) to the rulers who are subject to God’s Law and responsible to God (2Sam. 12:1-15).

vv. 4-5 In the Last Days the shepherds take care of themselves and not the sheep. Over the period through to the last days the shepherds are then removed.

34:7-8 The corruption of the shepherds continually causes breakdowns in the proper exercise of the law in the Society and causes the people to become food for the wild beasts. Here it was Babylon but it continued under the entire structure of the Beast system of Daniel ch. 2 (F027ii; xiii)

34:11-16 God declares that He will act as the Good Shepherd of His people (Isa. 40:11; Jer. 31:10). He will gather his scattered and injured flock. The passage shows that we are to return to the Theocracy of the Messiah under God (see Hos. 8:4; 1Sam. 8:7).

34:17-22 Christ will judge the sheep by how they treat one another. This can only be done properly by removing the shepherds. The removal and the judgment are referred to in Zechariah 11. Zechariah 11:3ff. notes the wail of the shepherds.

Trumpets (No. 136)

Zechariah deals with the Shepherd designated by the 30 pieces of silver and refers indirectly to the Messiah. (See also Mat. 25:31-32 for the divisions.) From verses Zech. 11:14 God speaks of breaking the Bond of Israel and Judah and in Zech. 11:15 He speaks of the worthless shepherd of the last days. This actually encompasses an entire system in the 20^th and 21^st centuries and they are to be removed from the church systems except for individuals.

The saints were tested as to their capacity to obey the Commandments of God and the Testimony and Faith of Jesus Christ (Rev. 12:17; 14:12 (see also 122, 170, 283 above and F044vii). Millions were killed and rended to the hooves. In the final phase of the 21^st century the removal of the Shepherds will be accomplished by the Beast system (see ##299A and 299B).

The Churches of God will see two of its systems scattered and leave its corrupted ministries (Rev. chapter 3 (F066). They can only save themselves by repentance and restoration of God’s Calendar (No. 156). So also does this text apply to the nations that oppose and oppress Israel.

34:23-24 God will place His Servant David (2Sam. 3:18) over Israel in a restored monarchy under Messiah (see No. 282E). This will extend to the world (see also 37:22-25; Jer. 23:5-6).

One shepherd (see Hos. 1:11; Jn. 10:16 (F043iii)

34:25-31 The text here uses the oldest term for covenant making (see Jer. 31:31-34). God affirms here through the prophet that He will make a covenant of peace (37:26; Heb. 13:20). God here states He will be resident on Mount Zion and that He will preserve the proper sequence of seasons (Gen. 8:21-22) and thus continuous prosperity (see also Amos 9:13-14). They will be free of fear of the wild beasts within (Lev. 26:6) and attacks from the nations without. Nor will they suffer reproach from the nations as all will keep the Laws of God and the Calendar of God (No. 156 above) under the Messiah.

Chapter 35

¹The word of the LORD came to me: ²"Son of man, set your face against Mount Se'ir, and prophesy against it, ³and say to it, Thus says the Lord GOD: Behold, I am against you, Mount Se'ir, and I will stretch out my hand against you, and I will make you a desolation and a waste. ⁴I will lay your cities waste, and you shall become a desolation; and you shall know that I am the LORD. ⁵Because you cherished perpetual enmity, and gave over the people of Israel to the power of the sword at the time of their calamity, at the time of their final punishment; ⁶therefore, as I live, says the Lord GOD, I will prepare you for blood, and blood shall pursue you; because you are guilty of blood, therefore blood shall pursue you. ⁷I will make Mount Se'ir a waste and a desolation; and I will cut off from it all who come and go. ⁸And I will fill your mountains with the slain; on your hills and in your valleys and in all your ravines those slain with the sword shall fall. ⁹I will make you a perpetual desolation, and your cities shall not be inhabited. Then you will know that I am the LORD. ¹⁰"Because you said, 'These two nations and these two countries shall be mine, and we will take possession of them,' --although the LORD was there-- ¹¹therefore, as I live, says the Lord GOD, I will deal with you according to the anger and envy which you showed because of your hatred against them; and I will make myself known among you, when I judge you. ¹²And you shall know that I, the LORD, have heard all the revilings which you uttered against the mountains of Israel, saying, 'They are laid desolate, they are given us to devour.' ¹³And you magnified yourselves against me with your mouth, and multiplied your words against me; I heard it. ¹⁴Thus says the Lord GOD: For the rejoicing of the whole earth I will make you desolate. ¹⁵As you rejoiced over the inheritance of the house of Israel, because it was desolate, so I will deal with you; you shall be desolate, Mount Se'ir, and all Edom, all of it. Then they will know that I am the LORD.

Intent of Chapter 35

35:1-15 The Oracle Against Edom.

The establishment scholars consider this text to be “an editorial expansion of an oracle of Ezekiel, using Ezekiel’s phraseology (compare vv. 1-3 with 6:1-3). Properly belonging with 25:12-14, it was placed here to be contrasted with ch. 36 (esp. 36:5), forming the prelude to Israel’s restoration. It reflects the growing intensity of Jewish hatred for Edom subsequent to Edom’s occupation of Southern Judah (Jer. 49:7-22)” (OARSV n.).

The phraseology of 1-3 is similar to that of 6:1-3 but they are spoken against two different nations. Ch. 6 is against Israel and ch. 35 is against Edom.

Edom is also the subject of the text in 20:45-49 and they were to be dealt with in 130 CE by John Hyrcanus and the Macabbees in accordance with these prophecies. The similarity of the wording of the two prophecies indicates that God gave it to Ezekiel, and he wrote it down.

The text here refers to Mount Seir which is the plateau rising east of the Arabah, in which Petra, or Sela, the Edomite captial was located.

Edom was made desolate and then taken captive in 130 BCE and made a Jewish enclave in Judea. The prophecies of this text are correct and accurate, to be carried out because of their attitude to Israel and Judah.

Chapter 36

¹"And you, son of man, prophesy to the mountains of Israel, and say, O mountains of Israel, hear the word of the LORD. ²Thus says the Lord GOD: Because the enemy said of you, 'Aha!' and, 'The ancient heights have become our possession,' ³therefore prophesy, and say, Thus says the Lord GOD: Because, yea, because they made you desolate, and crushed you from all sides, so that you became the possession of the rest of the nations, and you became the talk and evil gossip of the people; ⁴therefore, O mountains of Israel, hear the word of the Lord GOD: Thus says the Lord GOD to the mountains and the hills, the ravines and the valleys, the desolate wastes and the deserted cities, which have become a prey and derision to the rest of the nations round about; ⁵therefore thus says the Lord GOD: I speak in my hot jealousy against the rest of the nations, and against all Edom, who gave my land to themselves as a possession with wholehearted joy and utter contempt, that they might possess it and plunder it. ⁶Therefore prophesy concerning the land of Israel, and say to the mountains and hills, to the ravines and valleys, Thus says the Lord GOD: Behold, I speak in my jealous wrath, because you have suffered the reproach of the nations; ⁷therefore thus says the Lord GOD: I swear that the nations that are round about you shall themselves suffer reproach. ⁸"But you, O mountains of Israel, shall shoot forth your branches, and yield your fruit to my people Israel; for they will soon come home. ⁹For, behold, I am for you, and I will turn to you, and you shall be tilled and sown; ¹⁰and I will multiply men upon you, the whole house of Israel, all of it; the cities shall be inhabited and the waste places rebuilt; ¹¹and I will multiply upon you man and beast; and they shall increase and be fruitful; and I will cause you to be inhabited as in your former times, and will do more good to you than ever before. Then you will know that I am the LORD. ¹²Yea, I will let men walk upon you, even my people Israel; and they shall possess you, and you shall be their inheritance, and you shall no longer bereave them of children. ¹³Thus says the Lord GOD: Because men say to you, 'You devour men, and you bereave your nation of children,' ¹⁴therefore you shall no longer devour men and no longer bereave your nation of children, says the Lord GOD; ¹⁵and I will not let you hear any more the reproach of the nations, and you shall no longer bear the disgrace of the peoples and no longer cause your nation to stumble, says the Lord GOD." ¹⁶The word of the LORD came to me: ¹⁷"Son of man, when the house of Israel dwelt in their own land, they defiled it by their ways and their doings; their conduct before me was like the uncleanness of a woman in her impurity. ¹⁸So I poured out my wrath upon them for the blood which they had shed in the land, for the idols with which they had defiled it. ¹⁹I scattered them among the nations, and they were dispersed through the countries; in accordance with their conduct and their deeds I judged them. ²⁰But when they came to the nations, wherever they came, they profaned my holy name, in that men said of them, 'These are the people of the LORD, and yet they had to go out of his land.' ²¹But I had concern for my holy name, which the house of Israel caused to be profaned among the nations to which they came. ²²"Therefore say to the house of Israel, Thus says the Lord GOD: It is not for your sake, O house of Israel, that I am about to act, but for the sake of my holy name, which you have profaned among the nations to which you came. ²³And I will vindicate the holiness of my great name, which has been profaned among the nations, and which you have profaned among them; and the nations will know that I am the LORD, says the Lord GOD, when through you I vindicate my holiness before their eyes. ²⁴For I will take you from the nations, and gather you from all the countries, and bring you into your own land. ²⁵I will sprinkle clean water upon you, and you shall be clean from all your uncleannesses, and from all your idols I will cleanse you. ²⁶A new heart I will give you, and a new spirit I will put within you; and I will take out of your flesh the heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. ²⁷And I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes and be careful to observe my ordinances. ²⁸You shall dwell in the land which I gave to your fathers; and you shall be my people, and I will be your God. ²⁹And I will deliver you from all your uncleannesses; and I will summon the grain and make it abundant and lay no famine upon you. ³⁰I will make the fruit of the tree and the increase of the field abundant, that you may never again suffer the disgrace of famine among the nations. ³¹Then you will remember your evil ways, and your deeds that were not good; and you will loathe yourselves for your iniquities and your abominable deeds. ³²It is not for your sake that I will act, says the Lord GOD; let that be known to you. Be ashamed and confounded for your ways, O house of Israel. ³³"Thus says the Lord GOD: On the day that I cleanse you from all your iniquities, I will cause the cities to be inhabited, and the waste places shall be rebuilt. ³⁴And the land that was desolate shall be tilled, instead of being the desolation that it was in the sight of all who passed by. ³⁵And they will say, 'This land that was desolate has become like the garden of Eden; and the waste and desolate and ruined cities are now inhabited and fortified.' ³⁶Then the nations that are left round about you shall know that I, the LORD, have rebuilt the ruined places, and replanted that which was desolate; I, the LORD, have spoken, and I will do it. ³⁷"Thus says the Lord GOD: This also I will let the house of Israel ask me to do for them: to increase their men like a flock. ³⁸Like the flock for sacrifices, like the flock at Jerusalem during her appointed feasts, so shall the waste cities be filled with flocks of men. Then they will know that I am the LORD."

Intent of Chapter 36

36:1-39:29 The New Israel

36:1-38 Prophecy to the Mountains of Israel: Restoration of Israel

36:1-7 Mountains of Israel This reference is often applied to the actual hills and mountains of Israel (Deut. 3:25), which are at the time of the prophecy bereft of both of the tribes of Israel and Judah. At this time Israel was scattered throughout the north beyond the Araxes and had been since 722 BCE dispersed among the Celtic tribes of the Hittites and the Scythians in what was to become the Parthian Empire. They were at this time Hg I national groups spread among the Hg R1b Celts. The Apostles were sent to them from the Establishment of the Church under the Seventy (No. 122D); (F058).

Judah had been taken into captivity and Edom had entered and taken over her lands (35:1-15) and also by the surrounding nations from the east into the Israelite lands east of the Jordan (Neh. 2:19). Israel is, however, to be restored to her heritage (Mal. 1:2-5) as also is Judah at the return of the Messiah.

36:8-15 The land will surpass its initial productivity at the Exodus (Hos. 11:1-4; Jer. 2:1-3).

v. 14 No longer devour men The sacrifices of the fertility cults (involving men and children/foetuses) will no longer be held on the high places (6:1-14; Deut. 12:1-3; 29-31).

36:16-21

Israel and Judah’s idolatry and pagan sacrifices defiled their land, profaned God’s Name and His Law (Lev. 18:21; 20:3), and brought them into punishment and captivity and will do so again in these last days. The antinomian Gnostics that declare God’s Law is done away will all face repentance or death.

v. 17 Uncleaness – due to menstruation (18:6; Lev. 15:19-30)

36:22-32 God reminds Israel (see Ch. 20) that He will restore His people (Ex. 6:7; Lev. 20:24) for His own name’s sake. As in Ezekiel 12:6 and 24:7, they will be a sign for all nations and especially so in the last days for the coming of the Messiah (##210A and 210B).

36:26 The New Heart (18:31) is to be created by God’s Holy Spirit (No. 117). In the First Three Cherubim the Spirit was given by delegation to the Patriarchs and Prophets. After Pentecost 30 CE it was given to the Church and those called to it by request on baptism for repentance (No. 052).

36:33-36 The text is a prophecy for future days and covers the millennial system under Jesus Christ. There are four elements of the Churches of God alive in the Last Days. The first is Thyatira which has endured much over the centuries and no more is asked of it. Then the final three are Sardis, Laodicea and Philadelphia (see 170 and 283) which is formed out of Sardis in the Last Days. Of all the churches, this last church is the financially weakest prior to the Witnesses due to its membership. Sardis as stated is spiritually dead and thus its weakness is manifest and declared by God in prophecy (Rev. 3:1). Materially powerful, Laodicea is crippled spiritually, by the constant intrusions of the mainstream system in the last days. When examined against the prophecies in Ezekiel 34 and Malachi 2:1ff., the church is obviously rejected by God i.e. spewed from the Mouth of God (F066). Thus the Marriage Supper of the Lamb is a source of great distress for this church as well as Sardis.

36:37-38 The previous section was an example to the Nations and a sign of their redemption under Messiah. In the millennial system the Nations will go to Jerusalem (Zech. 14:16-19) and the cities of Israel shall be filled with people (Isa. 65:19-66:24)

Trumpets (No. 136)

Sanctification of the Temple (No. 241).

Bullinger’s Notes on Ezekiel Chs 33-36 (for KJV)

Chapter 33

Verse 1

the LORD . Hebrew. Jehovah . App-4 ,

Verse 2

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

children = sons.

a = one.

man. Hebrew. ish, App-14 .

coasts = borders: i.e. one man out from within the border. of their land.

Verse 3

the sword = judgment. Put by Figure of speech Metonymy (of the Effect), App-8 , for that which executes the judgment.

Verse 4

his own head = himself: "head" being put by Figure of speech Synecdoche (of the Part), App-6 , for the whole person.

Verse 5

soul. Hebrew.

nephesh . App-13 .

Verse 6

person = soul. Hebrew. nephesh. App-13 .

iniquity. Hebrew ' avah . App-44 . Not the same as ise verses: Ezekiel 33:13 , Ezekiel 33:15 , Ezekiel 33:18 .

Verse 8

wicked = lawless. Hebrew. rasha '. App-44 . iniquity. Hebrew 'avah App-44 .

Verse 9

in: or, for.

Verse 10

transgressions. Hebrew. pasha . App-44 .

sins . Hebrew. chata . App-44 .

pine away, &c. Ref: to Pentateuch. See notes on Ezekiel 4:12 with Ezekiel 24:23 .

Verse 11

As H live, he. Figure of speech Delete. App-6 .

saith the Lord GOD = [is] Adonai Jehovah's oracle, See note on Ezekiel 2:4 .

turn ye. Note the Figure of speech Epizeuxis . App-6 .

evil. Hebrew. ra'a. App-44 .

why will ye die . . . ? Figure of speech Erotesis . App-6 .

Verse 12

thereby: or, therein.

in the day = when. See App-18 .

for his righteousness = thereby, or therein, in the day, &c.

sinneth . Hebrew. chata '. App-44 .

Verse 13

trust = confide. Hebrew batch App-69 .

righteousnesses = righteous deeds. In Hebrew text it is singular. ("righteousness "); but the margin, with four early printed editions, reads "righteousnesses" (plural) for: or, in. Compare Ezekiel 33:9 .

iniquity. Hebrew ' aval App-44 . Not the same word as in Ezekiel 33:5 , but same as in verses: Ezekiel 33:15 , Ezekiel 33:18 .

for it = thereby, or therein, as in Ezekiel 33:12 ,

Verse 14

that which is . . . right = judgment and righteousness.

Verse 15

restore the pledge , he. Reference to Pentateuch (Exodus 22:26 . Leviticus 6:2 , Leviticus 6:4 , Leviticus 6:5 .Deuteronomy 24:6 , Deuteronomy 24:10-13 , Deuteronomy 24:17 ).

give again. Note the Figure of speech Asyndeton ( App-6 ), hurrying on to the climax at end of verse.

he shall surely live. Reference to Pentateuch (Leviticus 18:5 ).

he shall not die . Note the Figure of speech Pleonasm ( App-6 ), for emphasis.

Verse 16

sins. Hebrew text reads "sin"; but margin, some codices, and four early printed editions, read "sins" (p1.)

Verse 17

the LORD . One of the emendations of the Sopherim , by which they say they changed Jehovah of the primitive text to Adonai. See App-32 .

equal. See note on "pondereth", Proverbs 21:2 .

Verse 18

thereby : or, in them: i.e. in those deeds.

Verse 20

the Lord. Hebrew. Adonai . App-4 .

Verse 21

the twelfth year . . . tenth month . . . fifth day. This is the date of the taking of Jerusalem by Nebuchadnezzar. See Ezekiel 40:1 . The event in the twenty-fifth year is said to be the fourteenth year from the twelfth (i.e. from the tenth month of tho twelfth year to the first month of the twenty-fifth). The prophecies of the preceding chapters were given to Ezekiel in the Land before this twelfth year. See the table on p. 1105, and App-50 .). This was the eleventh year of Zedekiah, in the fourth month and ninth day (Jeremiah 39:1 , Jeremiah 39:2 ; 2 Kings 25:1-4 ).

came unto me. While still in the Land, probably in hiding,

Verse 22

the evening. Doubtless, of the same day of his escape. he that was escaped. As foretold in Ezekiel 24:26 .

my mouth was opened . Compare Ezekiel 24:27 ; Ezekiel 29:21 , i.e. in prophecy.

no more dumb : i. e silent from prophesying, Note the Figure of speech Pleonasm ( App-6 ), to emphasise the fact.

Verse 24

wastes = ruins.

the land of Israel = the soil of Israel. Hebrew ' admath. Not the same word as in Ezekiel 33:28 , which is 'eretz . See note on Ezekiel 11:17 .

Ye eat with the blood = eat over ( 'al ) the blood: i.e. over or near (as the heathen in their necromancy). Reference to Pentateuch (not to Deuteronomy 12:16 (where it is lo = not), but to Leviticus 19:26 (where it is ' al = over), as here, and where it is connected with the idolatrous practices of the heathen.

idols = manufactured gods.

shall ye. ? Note the Figure of speech Protests ( App-6 ).

Verse 26

Ye: i.e. Ye [men]. The verb is masculine.

Ye stand upon your sword = Ye take your stand (first occurrence Genesis 18:8 , Genesis 18:22 ), [leaning] upon, &c. The posture assumed by necromancers waiting for the rites, ye work, &c.: i.e. ye [women] work, &c. The verb is feminine.

Verse 28

the land. Hebrew ' eretz. Not the same word as in Ezekiel 33:24 .

Verse 29

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

Verse 30

against = about.

doors = entrances.

to = with.

Verse 31

as the People cometh: or, according as an assembly cometh together.

shew much love: or, counterfeit lovers. Hebrew ' agabim . See note on next verse.

Verse 32

10. Figure of speech Asterismos . App-6 .

a very lovely song. Hebrew ' agabim = a song for the pipes. Note the Figure of speech Paronomasia (Revelation 6:0; Revelation 6:0 ), with "lovers", in Ezekiel 33:31 .

Chapter 34

Verse 1

the LORD . Hebrew. Jehovah. App-4 .

Verse 2

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

shepherds = rulers.

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

Verse 3

kill = kill for sacrifice, and eating. Hebrew. zaback . App-48 .

them that are fed = the fat ewe.

Verse 4

neither. Note the Figure of speech Paradiastole ( App-6 ), emphasising the five counts.

oruelty = rigour. Reference to Pentateuch (Exodus 1:13 , Exodus 1:14 .Leviticus 25:46 , Leviticus 25:53 , its only other occurrences).

Verse 5

because there is no shepherd: or, without a shepherd.

Verse 8

As I live . Figure of speech Deisis. App-6 .

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

Verse 9

Therefore = Therefore [I repeat] O ye, &c.

Verse 10

Behold . Figure of speech Asterismos . App-6 .

Verse 11

I, even I . Note the Figure of speech Epizeuxis ( App-6 ), for emphasis.

Verse 12

In the day . See App-18 .

Verse 13

people = nations.

land = soil.

rivers = ravines. Hebrew. aphikim . See note on "channels", 2 Samuel 22:16 .

Verse 16

destroy : or, watch", reading (? = R) for (? = D)).

Verse 17

cattle and cattle : i.e. between the sheep and the goats: rams being the sheep, while the he-goats are set in contrast.

Verse 18

Seemeth it: or, supply "Is it".

you: i.e. ye goats. The verse goes on to describe the evil work of the goats in fouling the pastures of the sheep. There is a solemn application of this to the churches and congregations in the present day,

your : i.e. the goats.

Verse 22

save = bring saltation or deliverance to.

Verse 23

one shepherd = one ruler. Compare Isaiah 40:11 . Joh 10:11 .

My servant David. Occurs only here, Ezekiel 34:24 ; Eze 37:24 , 1 Kings 11:32 , 1 Kings 11:34 , and Ezekiel 14:8 . Compare Jeremiah 30:9 . Hosea 3:5 . David. Either David the king, or Messiah, of Whom he was the type.

Verse 24

God. Hebrew. Elohim. App-4 .

Prince = a leader. Compare Isaiah 9:6 , Isaiah 9:7 ; Isaiah 55:4 .

Verse 25

a covenant of peace. Compare Ezekiel 37:2 ,

wilderness = a place of pasture. Compare Psalms 65:12 . Not a barren place or desert, unless so stated or implied.

Verse 27

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

safe = confident.

in = on.

when I have broken: or, by My breaking.

those , &c.: i.e. the f:dse rulers.

Verse 28

heathen = nations.

beast. The 1611 edition of the Authorized Version reads "beasts".

land: or, earth.

Verse 29

plant. Referring to Messiah, as in verses: Ezekiel 34:23 , Ezekiel 34:24 . of renown: for fame.

consumed = pinched [with hunger].

Verse 30

shall they know . See note on Ezekiel 6:10 . Some codices, with three early printed editions, read "shall the nations know",

Verse 31

flock. The 1611 edition of the Authorized Version omitted these two words "flock, the".

are = ye [are]

men. Hebrew ' adam , App-14 . I: i.e. human beings, not "sheep", as spoken of in this chapter.

your God. Some codices, with Septuagint, Syriac, and Vulgate, read "Jehovah your Elohim".

Chapter 35

Verse 1

the LORD . Hebrew. Jehovah. App-4 .

Verse 2

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

mount Seir i.e. Edom. Compare Ezekiel 6:2 ; Ezekiel 25:12-14 . Ch. 35 is introductory. Compare Ezekiel 36:5 , preparing the way for the reoccupation by Israel.

Verse 3

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

Behold . Figure of speech Asterismos . App-6 .

Verse 4

thou shalt know . See note on Ezekiel 6:7 .

Verse 5

a perpetual hatred = a hatred of old.

children = sons.

by the forms = by the hands of: "hands" being put by Figure of speech Metonymy (of the Effect), App-6 , for the slaughter wrought by thorn.

that their iniquity had an end : or, in the time of the final punishment for their iniquity.

iniquity. Hebrew ` avah . App-44 .

Verse 6

as I live. Figure of speech Deieis . App-6 .

saith the Lord GOD = [is) Adonai Jehovah's oracle.

sith = since.

Verse 8

I will fill . Compare Isaiah 34:1-15 .

Verse 9

return = be rebuilt, or inhabited.

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

Verse 10

thou host said . Compare Psalms 83:4 , Psalms 83:12 .

two : i.e. Israel and Judah.

it. Can this refer to the blessing which Esau sought?

whereas : or, though.

was there . Compare Ezekiel 36:2 , Ezekiel 36:5 , and Ezekiel 48:35 ,

Verse 11

do = deal.

Verse 15

the house of Israel. See note on Ea. Ezekiel 16:31 .

Idumea = Edom,

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

Chapter 36

Verse 1

What now follows refers to the yet future Restoration of the People and Land of Israel and Judah, as shown in the Structure above.

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

mountains of Israel. See Ezekiel 6:1-7 ; Ezekiel 36:1 .

the LORD. Hebrew. Jehovah . App-4 ,

Verse 2

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

the enemy . Note the Structure above.

hath said . The 1611 edition of the Authorized Version reads "had said"

the ancient high places = the everlasting hills, promised to Israel (Genesis 49:26 . Deuteronomy 13:13 ; Deuteronomy 33:15 ).

Verse 3

Because = Because, even because. Figure of speech Epizeuxis . App-6 .

swallowed you up . Like a beast of prey. Compare Job c. e. Psalms 56:1 , Psalms 56:2 ; Psalms 57:3 .Ecclesiastes 10:12 .

are = have been.

infamy = evil report.

Verse 4

hear . Figure of speech Apostrophe . App-6 .

to the mountains, &c. Note the Figure of speech Merismos ( App-6 ).

rivers = torrents, or ravines. Hebrew. aphikim . See note on "channels", 2 Samuel 22:15 .

Verse 5

fire of My jealousy . Reference to Pentateuch (Deuteronomy 4:24 ),

heathen = nations.

Idumea = Edom,

minds = souls. Hebrew. nephesh . App-18 ,

Verse 6

the land of Israel = the soil of Israel. See note on Ezekiel 11:17 . Behold. Figure of speech Asterismos . App-8 .

Verse 7

lifted up Mine hand = sworn. Hebrew idiom. Reference to Pentateuch (Exodus 6:8 . Numbers 14:30 . Deuteronomy 32:40 ). Compare Daniel 12:7 . Elsewhere only in Pentateuch. See Genesis 14:22 , and Ezekiel 20:5 ,

heathen = nations.

that are = which are yours; referring to "ours" in Ezekiel 36:2 .

Verse 10

men. Hebrew ' adam . App-14 .

Verse 11

old = former.

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

Verse 12

bereave , &c. = make childless.

Verse 13

Thou land devourest, &c. Reference to Pentateuch (Numbers 13:32 ). App-92 .

Verse 14

bereave . Hebrew text reads "cause to fall"; but margin reads "make childless". Some codices, with three early printed editions, Aramaean, Septuagint, Syriac, and Vulgate, read "make childless" (text and margin)

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

Verse 15

the people = peoples.

thy. The 1611 edition of the Authorized Version reads "the".

Verse 17

land = soil.

they defiled it , &c. Reference to Pentateuch (Leviticus 15:19 ; Leviticus 18:25 , Leviticus 18:27 , Leviticus 18:30 . Numbers 35:33 , Numbers 35:34 ). App-92 .

as the uncleanness , &c. Reference to Pentateuch (Leviticus 15:19 ; Leviticus 15:18 , Leviticus 15:19 , &c.)

Verse 18

I poured, &o. Sea Ezekiel 7:8 ; Ezekiel 7:14 , Ezekiel 7:19 ; Ezekiel 21:31 . Compare 2 Chronicles 34:21 , 2 Chronicles 34:25 .Jeremiah 7:20 ; Jeremiah 44:6 , &c.

idols = dirty idols

Verse 19

I scattered , &c. See Ezekiel 5:12 ; Ezekiel 22:15 . Reference to Pentateuch (Leviticus 26:33 .Deuteronomy 28:64; Deuteronomy 28:64 ). App-92 .

according to their way . See Ezekiel 7:3 , Ezekiel 7:8 ; Ezekiel 18:30 ; Ezekiel 22:31 ; Ezekiel 39:24 .

Verse 20

they. Hebrew text reads "he", or "it". A special various reading called Sevir ( App-34 ), and some codices, with Aramaic, Septuagint, Syriac, and Vulgate, read "they".

profaned, &c. Ref to Pentateuch (Leviticus 19:12 , &c.) App-92 .

holy . See note on Exodus 3:5 .

name. See note on Psalms 20:1 .

they said to them: i.e. men said of Israel.

gone = come.

Verse 21

I had pity, &c. See Ezekiel 20:9 , Ezekiel 20:14 , Ezekiel 20:22 .

Verse 22

not . . . for your sakes, &c. Reference to Pentateuch (Deuteronomy 7:7 , Deuteronomy 7:8 ; Deuteronomy 9:5-7 ). App-92 . Compare Psalms 106:8 ; Psalms 115:1 , Psalms 115:2 .

Verse 23

I will sanctify, &c. The opposite of the profanation of Ezekiel 36:20 .

shall know. See note on Ezekiel 6:10 .

in you. So in the Babylonian Codex; but some codices, with Codex Hillel and three early printed editions (one in margin), read "in them".

their. The Babylonian Codex, Codex Hillel, and other codices, with nine early printed editions (one Rabbinic, in margin), read "your".

Verse 24

will bring you, &c. Compare Ezekiel 11:17 ; Ezekiel 34:13 ; Eze 34:37 , Ezekiel 34:21 , Ezekiel 34:25 ; Ezekiel 39:27 , Ezekiel 39:28 , &c. Ref to Pentateuch (Deuteronomy 30:3-6 ). App-92 . into your own land on to your own soil. Hebrew 'ado:oeh. Not the some word as in Ezekiel 36:28 .

Verse 25

Then . Note the time for the fulfilment of this prophecy. Not now, among the Gentiles; not now, in the Church of God; but, when Israel shall be brought back "into their own land" (verses: Ezekiel 36:16-24 ). Note the "you . . . ye . . . your", &c., of verses: Ezekiel 36:25-29 . Observe the importance of this word "Then" in other passages. See notes on Exodus 17:8 . Malachi 3:4 , Malachi 3:16 . Matthew 25:1 . 1 Thessalonians 4:17 , &c.

sprinkle = throw. See Leviticus 1:5

water. See Isaiah 44:3 .

you . . . ye . . . your. The same People referred to Isa 44:25-29 as in or Ezekiel 16:17 . See the Structure, p. 1167.

Verse 26

new heart . Not the old heart improved, but a new heart created and "given". The old one "taken away".

spirit. Hebrew. ruach . App-9 .

Verse 27

statutes . . . judgments. Reference to Pentateuch. See note on Deuteronomy 4:1 . App-92 .

Verse 28

land. Hebrew ' eretz . Not the same word as in Ezekiel 36:24 . ye: i.e. the People who are the subject of these verses. See note on "Then", Ezekiel 36:25 .

be My People = become to Me a people. Reference to Pentateuch (Leviticus 26:12 ).

be your God = become to you it God.

God. Hebrew. Elohim . App-4 .

Verse 29

the corn, &c. Pointing to the physical blessings.

Verse 30

reproach, &c. Reference to Pentateuch (Deuteronomy 29:23-28 ). App-92 . Compare Joel 2:17 , Joel 2:26 .

Verse 31

shall ye remember. See Ezekiel 6:9 ; Ezekiel 16:61-63 ; Ezekiel 20:43 .

evil . Hebrew. ra a'. App-44 .

iniquities. Hebrew. 'raa , App-44 .

abominations: i.e. idolatries.

Verse 32

be ashamed. Compare Ezekiel 16:63 .

Verse 33

In the day that = When. See App-18 .

cause you to dwell, &c. = cause the cities to be inhabited.

Verse 35

like the garden of Eden . Ref, to Pentateuch (Genesis 2:8-15 ). See note on Ezekiel 28:13 .

fenced = fortified.

Verse 37

yet . . . be enquired of : i.e. the time shall come when they will ask for what they had in the past despised.

Verse 38

As the holy flock = Like a flock of holy offerings.

solemn feasts = appointed seasons.

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