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they brought him into holds, that his voice should no more be heard upon the mountains of Israel.

10 Thy mother is like a vine in thy blood, planted by the waters: she was fruitful and full of branches by reason of many

waters.

11 And she had strong rods for the scepof them that bare rule, and her stature was exalted among the thick branches, and she appeared in her height with the multitude of her branches.

12 But she was plucked up in fury, she was cast down to the ground, and the 'east wind dried up her fruit: her strong rods were broken and withered; the fire consumed them.

13 And now she is planted in the wilderness, in a dry and thirsty ground.

14 And fire is gone out of a rod of her branches, which hath devoured her fruit, so that she hath no strong rod to be a sceptre to rule. This is a lamentation, and shall be

for a lamentation.

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Verse 4. "Brought him with chains unto the land of Egypt."-This lion's whelp was therefore Jehoahaz, who was carried prisoner into Egypt by Pharaoh-necho. See the history, 2 Kings xx: 31-33.

9. "Brought him to the king of Babylon."-It seems to be disputed whether this was Jehoiakim or his son Jeconiah. As, however, the former immediately succeeded Jehoahaz, being made king in his room by Pharaoh-necho, and reigned many years, whereas the latter reigned only three months, we suppose Jehoiakim to be intended. If it had been his son, the prophet would probably have described his being taken to Babylon; but he does not say this, and what he does say agrees with the history of the earlier monarch, of whom we are told that Nebuchadnezzar "bound him in fetters to carry him to Babylon" (2 Chron. xxxvi. 6); but as it is not said that he did carry him thither, and as the notice of his death is immediately subjoined, it is probable that he died before this intention could be executed. The text only says that the lion was brought in chains to the king of Babylon.

10. "A vine in thy blood."-As it is difficult to discover the sense of this, we may perhaps admit, as probable, the conjecture on which several modern translators have proceeded, that, by a mistake of similar letters, 77, "in thy blood," has been read instead of, "like a pomegranate." This proposed emendation results in a double comparison: "Thy mother is like a vine, like a pomegranate, planted by the waters."-The connection is natural, as the vine and pomegranate do not thrive in dry situations. In Georgia we have seen wild vines and pomegranates growing together on the banks of the same streams. This observation perhaps supports the suggested interpretation.

11. "Strong rods for the sceptres of them that bare rule."-The pastoral rod of the shepherd appears to have suggested the first use of a rod as a symbol of authority and rule; and was the more appropriate, as the early condition of superior power was compared to and illustrated by that which a shepherd exercises over his flock, and hence kings and chiefs were wont to be called, as well among the heathen as the Hebrews, "shepherds" of their people. In the Pentateuch we see that not only Moses and Aaron, but all the chiefs of tribes, were distinguished by their rods-doubtless as ensigns of their rank. These were, then, the sceptres of very ancient times, and, from the present text, appear to have continued such till the time of Ezekiel, when, however, they may have, and probably had, become walking staves of a distinctive fashion. Such are some of those which our present cut exhibits after Egyptian figures; the distinction being, in these, chiefly in the form given to the head of the rod: and such are those which the Persepolitan sculptures display in the hands of the king, being a tall and straight staff surmounted by a round head, and used by the monarch as a walking staff. This may be seen in the cuts to Ezra i. It is true that the Persian sceptre, the form of which is thus shown, is said to be of gold, in Esther, which Xenophon confirms: but by this we are probably to understand that it was covered or studded with gold, or had a golden head. Rods served for sceptres to the kings leagued against Troy (see the passage cited from the Iliad in the note to Num. xvii.); but we understand from Homer that they were adorned with studs and rings of gold.

As might be expected, the sceptre among the Hebrew kings appears to have varied at different times. It has been inferred from 1 Sam. xviii. 10; xxii. 6, that the sceptre of Saul was a spear: and if so, it was doubtless distinguished from common spears by its size or ornaments. Possibly it was the war sceptre, while the rod was the sceptre of peace. There was anciently some distinction of this kind: thus, in Egypt, while the common forms were such as appear in all the other figures in our engraving, the war sceptre was sometimes a massive mace, of the form shown in one of the figures, and bearing, as will be seen, more resemblance than any other to the modern sceptres. That, on a similar principle of distinction, a spear should be used for a sceptre by kings when with their armies is highly probable. Indeed, we are told by Justin that the old kings of Rome wore no diadems to mark their dignity, but carried spears, which the Greeks called sceptres. He adds. as a reason, that from the earliest times, the ancients revered spears as immortal divinities, and that it was in memory of this ancient worship that spears continued to be represented in the hands of the immortal

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gods. (Hist. 1. xliii. c. 3.) All this means, we suppose, that as spears seem to have been one of the earliest weapons of war that was invented, men originally, before statuary was practised, made the spear the symbol or representative of the god in whom they chiefly trusted. Under the same idea, the Scythians are said to have worshipped a sword as the representative of the god of war.

CHAPTER XX.

1 God refuseth to be consulted by the elders of Israel. 5 He sheweth the story of their rebellions in Egypt, 10 in the wilderness, 27 and in the land. 33 He promiseth to gather them by the Gospel. 45 Under the name of a forest he sheweth the destruction of Jerusalem.

AND it came to pass in the seventh year, in the fifth month, the tenth day of the month, that certain of the elders of Israel came to enquire of the LORD, and sat before me.

2 Then came the word of the LORD unto me, saying,

3 Son of man, speak unto the elders of Israel, and say unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Are ye come to enquire of me? As I live, saith the Lord GOD, I will not be enquired of by you.

4 Wilt thou judge them, son of man, wilt thou judge them? cause them to know the abominations of their fathers:

5 And say unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD; In the day when I chose Israel, and lifted up mine hand unto the seed of the house of Jacob, and made myself 'known

1 Or, plead for them. VOL. III.

unto them in the land of Egypt, when I lifted up mine hand unto them, saying, I am the LORD your God;

6 In the day that I lifted up mine hand unto them, to bring them forth of the land of Egypt into a land that I had espied for them, flowing with milk and honey, which is the glory of all lands:

7 Then said I unto them, Cast ye away every man the abominations of his eyes, and defile not yourselves with the idols of Egypt: I am the LORD your God.

8 But they rebelled against me, and would not hearken unto me: they did not every man cast away the abominations of their eyes, neither did they forsake the idols of Egypt: then I said, I will pour out my fury upon them, to accomplish my anger against them in the midst of the land of Egypt.

9 But I wrought for my name's sake, that it should not be polluted before the heathen, among whom they were, in whose sight I made myself known unto them, in bringing them forth out of the land of Egypt.

10 Wherefore I 'caused them to go

Chap. 22, 2, and 23, 36. 3 Or, sware. And so verse 6, &c. 4 Exod. 3. 8, and 4, 31.
U

5 Exod. 13. 18. 145

forth out of the land of Egypt, and brought | heathen, in whose sight I brought them them into the wilderness. forth.

11 And I gave them my statutes, and "shewed them my judgments, which if a man do, he shall even live in them.

12 Moreover also I gave them my 'sabbaths, to be a sign between me and them, that they might know that I am the LORD that sanctify them.

13 But the house of Israel rebelled against me in the wilderness: they walked not in my statutes, and they despised my judgments, which if a man do, he shall even live in them; and my sabbaths they greatly 'polluted: then I said, I would pour out my fury upon them in the "wilderness, to consume them.

14 But I wrought for my name's sake, that it should not be polluted before the heathen, in whose sight I brought them

out.

15 Yet also I lifted up my hand unto them in the wilderness, that I would not bring them into the land which I had given them, flowing with milk and honey, which is the glory of all lands;

16 Because they despised my judgments, and walked not in my statutes, but polluted my sabbaths: for their heart went after their idols.

17 Nevertheless mine eye spared them from destroying them, neither did I make an end of them in the wilderness.

18 But I said unto their children in the wilderness, Walk ye not in the statutes of your fathers, neither observe their judgments, nor defile yourselves with their idols: 19 I am the LORD your God; walk in my statutes, and keep my judgments, and do them;

20 And hallow my sabbaths; and they shall be a sign between me and you, that ye may know that I am the LORD your God..

21 Notwithstanding the children rebelled against me they walked not in my statutes, neither kept my judgments to do them, which if a man do, he shall even live in them; they polluted my sabbaths: then I said, I would pour out my fury upon them, to accomplish my anger against them in the wilderness.

22 Nevertheless I withdrew mine hand, and wrought for my name's sake, that it should not be polluted in the sight of the

6 Heb. made them to know.
• Exod. 16. 27.

i

23 I lifted up mine hand unto them also in the wilderness, that I would scatter them among the heathen, and disperse them through the countries;

24 Because they had not executed my judgments, but had despised my statutes, and had polluted my sabbaths, and their eyes were after their fathers' idols.

25 Wherefore I gave them also statutes that were not good, and judgments whereby they should not live;

26 And I polluted them in their own gifts, in that they caused to pass "through the fire all that openeth the womb, that I might make them desolate, to the end that they might know that I am the LORD.

27 Therefore, son of man, speak unto the house of Israel, and say unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Yet in this your fathers have blasphemed me, in that they have "committed a trespass against me.

28 For when I had brought them into the land, for the which I lifted up mine hand to give it to them, then they saw every high hill, and all the thick trees, and they offered there their sacrifices, and there they presented the provocation of their offering: there also they made their sweet savour, and poured out there their drink offerings.

29 Then I said unto them, What is the high place whereunto ye go? And the name thereof is called Bamah unto this day.

30 Wherefore say unto the house of Israel, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Are ye polluted after the manner of your fathers? and commit ye whoredom after their abominations?

31 For when ye offer your gifts, when ye make your sons to pass through the fire, ye pollute yourselves with all your idols, even unto this day: and shall I be enquired of by you, O house of Israel? As I live, saith the Lord GOD, I will not be enquired of by you.

32 And that which cometh into your mind shall not be at all, that ye say, We will be as the heathen, as the families of the countries, to serve wood and stone.

33 As I live, saith the Lord God, surel with a mighty hand, and with a stretched out arm, and with fury poured out, will I rule over you:

34 And I will bring you out from the

7 Levit. 18. 5. Rom. 10. 5. Galat. 3. 12. 8 Exod. 20. 8, and 31. 13, &c., and 35. 9 Deut, 5. 12.

10 Num. 14. 29, and 26. 65. 11 Chap. 16. 21.

13 Or, I told them what the high place was, or,

12 Heb. trespassea a trespass. Bamah.

people, and will gather you out of the countries wherein ye are scattered, with a mighty hand, and with a stretched out arm, and with fury poured out.

35 And I will bring you into the wilderness of the people, and there will I plead with you face to face.

36 Like as I pleaded with your fathers in the wilderness of the land of Egypt, so will I plead with you, saith the Lord GOD.

37 And I will cause you to pass under the rod, and I will bring you into "the bond of the covenant:

38 And I will purge out from among you the rebels, and them that transgress against me: I will bring them forth out of the country where they sojourn, and they shall not enter into the land of Israel: and ye shall know that I am the LORD.

39 As for you, O house of Israel, thus saith the Lord GOD; Go ye, serve ye every one his idols, and hereafter also, if ye will not hearken unto me: but pollute ye my holy name no more with your gifts, and with your idols.

40 For in mine holy mountain, in the mountain of the height of Israel, saith the Lord GOD, there shall all the house of Israel, all of them in the land, serve me: there will I accept them, and there will I require your offerings, and the "firstfruits of your oblations, with all your holy things.

41 I will accept you with your "sweet savour, when I bring you out from the people, and gather you out of the countries

wherein ye have been scattered; and I will be sanctified in you before the heathen.

42 And ye shall know that I am the LORD, when I shall bring you into the land of Israel, into the country for the which I lifted up mine hand to give it to your fathers.

43 And there shall ye remember your ways, and all your doings, wherein ye have been defiled; and ye shall lothe yourselves in your own sight for all your evils that ye have committed.

44 And ye shall know that I am the LORD, when I have wrought with you for my name's sake, not according to your wicked ways, nor according to your corrupt doings, O ye house of Israel, saith the Lord GoD.

45 Moreover the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,

46 Son of man, set thy face toward the south, and drop thy word toward the south, and prophesy against the forest of the south field;

47 And say to the forest of the south, Hear the word of the LORD; Thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I will kindle a fire in thee, and it shall devour every green tree in thee, and every dry tree: the flaming flame shall not be quenched, and all faces from the south to the north shall be burned therein;

48 And all flesh shall see that I the LORD

have kindled it: it shall not be quenched. 49 Then said I, Ah Lord GOD! they say of me, Doth he not speak parables?

14 Or, a delivering. 15 Or, chief. 16 Heb. savour of rest.

Verse 37." To pass under the rod."-There is probably here an allusion to the custom followed in marking out the tenth animal from the flock or herd, for sacred uses, and which has been mentioned in the note to Lev. xxvii. 2.

46. "Toward the south."-That is, towards Judea, which lay to the south-west of the river Khabour, near which Ezekiel resided. We have already mentioned the Oriental neglect of all but the cardinal directions in their statements of the relative bearings of different places.

CHAPTER XXI.

1 Ezekiel prophesieth against Jerusalem with a sign of sighing. 8 The sharp and bright sword, 18 against Jerusalem, 25 against the kingdom, 28 and against the Ammonites.

AND the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,

2 Son of man, set thy face toward Jerusalem, and drop thy word toward the holy places, and prophesy against the land of Israel,

3 And say to the land of Israel, Thus saith the LORD; Behold, I am against thee,

and will draw forth my sword out of his sheath, and will cut off from thee the righteous and the wicked.

4 Seeing then that I will cut off from thee the righteous and the wicked, therefore shall my sword go forth out of his sheath against all flesh from the south to the north:

5 That all flesh may know that I the LORD have drawn forth my sword out of his sheath: it shall not return any more.

6 Sigh therefore, thou son of man, with the breaking of thy loins; and with bitter ness sigh before their eyes.

7 And it shall be, when they say unto

:

thee, Wherefore sighest thou? that thou shalt answer, For the tidings; because it cometh and every heart shall melt, and all hands shall be feeble, and every spirit shall faint, and all knees 'shall be weak as water: behold, it cometh, and shall be brought to pass, saith the Lord GOD.

8 Again the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,

9 Son of man, prophesy, and say, Thus saith the LORD; Say, A sword, a sword is sharpened, and also furbished:

10 It is sharpened to make a sore slaughter; it is furbished that it may glitter: should we then make mirth? it contemneth the rod of my son, as every tree.

11 And he hath given it to be furbished, that it may be handled: this sword is sharpened, and it is furbished, to give it into the hand of the slayer.

12 Cry and howl, son of man: for it shall be upon my people, it shall be upon all the princes of Israel: 'terrors by reason of the sword shall be upon my people: 'smite therefore upon thy thigh.

13 'Because it is a trial, and what if the sword contemn even the rod? it shall be no more, saith the Lord GOD.

14 Thou therefore, son of man, prophesy, and smite thine hands together, and let the sword be doubled the third time, the sword of the slain: it is the sword of the great inen that are slain, which entereth into their privy chambers.

15 I have set the 'point of the sword against all their gates, that their heart may faint, and their ruins be multiplied: ah! it is made bright, it is wrapped up for the slaughter.

16 Go thee one way or other, either on the right hand, or on the left, whithersoever thy face is set.

17 I will also smite mine hands together, and I will cause my fury to rest: I the LORD have said it.

18¶ The word of the LORD came unto me again, saying,

19 Also, thou son of man, appoint thee two ways, that the sword of the king of Babylon may come both twain shall come forth out of one land: and choose thou a place, choose it at the head of the way to the city.

20 Appoint a way, that the sword may come to Rabbath of the Ammonites, and to Judah in Jerusalem the defenced.

21 For the king of Babylon stood at the 10parting of the way, at the head of the two ways, to use divination: he made his "arrows bright, he consulted with "images, he looked in the liver.

13

22 At his right hand was the divination for Jerusalem, to appoint captains, to open the mouth in the slaughter, to lift up the voice with shouting, to appoint battering rams against the gates, to cast a mount, and to build a fort.

23 And it shall be unto them as a false divination in their sight, "to them that have sworn oaths: but he will call to remembrance the iniquity, that they may be taken.

24 Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD Because ye have made your iniquity to be remembered, in that your transgressions are discovered, so that in all your doings your sins do appear; because, I say, that ye are come to remembrance, ye shall be taken with

the hand.

25 ¶ And thou, profane wicked prince of Israel, "whose day is come, when iniquity shall have an end,

26 Thus saith the Lord GOD; Remove the diadem, and take off the crown: this shall not be the same: exalt him that is low, and abase him that is high.

27 18I will overturn, overturn, overturn, it : and it shall be no more, until he come whose right it is; and I will give it him.

28 And thou, son of man, prophesy and say, Thus saith the Lord GOD concerning the Ammonites, and concerning their reproach; even say thou, The sword, the sword is drawn: for the slaughter it is furbished, to consume because of the glittering:

29 Whiles they see vanity unto thee, whiles they divine a lie unto thee, to bring thee upon the necks of them that are slain, of the wicked, whose day is come, when their iniquity shall have an end.

30 Shall I cause it to return into his sheath? I will judge thee in the place where thou wast created, in the land of thy nativity.

31 And I will pour out mine indignation upon thee, I will blow against thee in the fire of my wrath, and deliver thee into the

1 Heb. shall go into water. 2 Or, it is the rod of my son, it despiseth every tree. 3 Or, they are thrust down to the sword with my people. Jer. 31. 19. Or, when the trial hath been, what then? shall they not also belong to the despising rod? 11 Or, knives.

6 Heb, hand to hand.

7 Or, glittering, or, fear.

18 Heb. teraphim.

8 Or, sharpened. Heb. set thyself, take the left hand. 10 Heb. mother of the way.
13 Or, battering rams. 14 Heb. rams.
16 Heb. Perverted perverted, perverted will I make it.

15 Or, for the oaths made unto them. 17 Or, cause it to return.

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