---
title: "Clarke"
description: "years after the destruction of Jerusalem, 28-32. NOTES ON CHAP. XXI Verse Ezekiel 21:2. Set thy face toward Jerusalem — This is a continuation of the prec"
image: "/images/missing.jpg"
url: "https://realbiblebelievers.com/commentaries/clarkes-commentary/ezekiel/21"
---

*years after the destruction of Jerusalem*, 28-32.
NOTES ON CHAP. XXI

Verse [Ezekiel 21:2](../../../kjv/ezekiel/21/2). ***Set thy face toward Jerusalem*** — This is a continuation of the preceding prophecy; and in this chapter the prophet sets before them, in the *plainest language*, what the foregoing metaphors meant, so that they could not complain of his *parables*.

Verse [Ezekiel 21:3](../../../kjv/ezekiel/21/3). ***Behold, I am*****against*****thee*** — Dismal news! When God is *against us*, who can be *for us*?
***And will draw forth my sword*** — War.
***And will cut off from thee*** — The land of Judea.
***The righteous and the wicked.*** — All shall be *removed from thee*. Some shall be *cut off*-removed by the *sword*; shall be slain in *battle*, or by the *pestilence*; and some shall be *cut off* - die by the *famine*; and some shall be *cut off* - removed from the land by *captivity*. Now, among the two latter classes there might be *many* *righteous* as well as *wicked*. And when all the provisions were consumed, so that there was no more bread in the city, during the siege by Nebuchadnezzar, the righteous must have suffered as well as the wicked; for they could not be preserved alive, but by miracle, when there was no bread; nor was their perishing for want any loss to them, because the Lord would take them straight to his glory. And however men in general are unwilling to die, yet there is no instance, nor can there be, of any man's complaint that he got to heaven *too soon*. Again, if God had permitted *none* to be carried off captive but the *wicked*, the case of these would be utterly hopeless, as there would be none to set a good example, to preach repentance, to reprove sin, or to show God's willingness to forgive sinners. But God, in his mercy, permitted many of the *righteous* to be carried off also, that the wicked might not be totally abandoned, or put beyond the reach of being saved. Hence, both *Ezekiel* and *Daniel*, and indeed several *others, prophets* and *righteous men*, were *thus cut off from the land*, and carried into captivity. And how much was God's glory and the good of men promoted by this! What a seed of salvation was sown, even in the heathen countries, by thus *cutting off the righteous with the* *wicked*! To this we owe, under God, many of the *Psalms*, the whole of the *Book of Ezekiel*, all the prophecies of *Daniel*, the *bright* *example* of *Shadrach, Meshach*, and *Abed-nego*, the *decrees* passed *in favour of the religion of the true God by* *Nebuchadnezzar, Cyrus, Darius*, &c. And to this dispensation of God's merciful providence we owe the *Books* and *example* of *Ezra* and *Nehemiah*. Where then is the *injustice*, so loudly declaimed against, of God's thus cutting off *from the land of Judea* the *righteous* with the *wicked*? The *righteous* were not cut off for the *crimes of the wicked*, (see [Ezekiel 18:20](../../../kjv/ezekiel/18/20), &c.,) nor were these crimes visited upon them, yet several of them shared in the common calamity, but none *perished*. Those that were removed by a violent death, (and I believe we shall find few such,) got a speedier entrance into eternal glory.

Verse [Ezekiel 21:4](../../../kjv/ezekiel/21/4). ***From the south to the north*** — The whole land shall be ravaged from one end to the other.

Verse [Ezekiel 21:5](../../../kjv/ezekiel/21/5). ***It shall not return any more.*** — That is, till all the work that I have designed for it is done. Nor did it; for Nebuchadnezzar never rested till he had subdued all the lands from the south to the north, from the *Euphrates* to the *Nile*.

Verse [Ezekiel 21:6](../../../kjv/ezekiel/21/6). ***Sigh - with the breaking of*****thy*****loins*** — Let thy mourning for this sore calamity be like that of a woman in the pains of travail.

Verse [Ezekiel 21:7](../../../kjv/ezekiel/21/7). ***Wherefore sighest thou?*** — The prophet was a *sign* unto them. His sighing and mourning showed them how *they* should act.
***All knees shall be weak*****as*****water*** — [Ezekiel 7:17](../../../kjv/ezekiel/7/17).

Verse [Ezekiel 21:10](../../../kjv/ezekiel/21/10). ***It contemneth the rod of my son*** — "It," the sword of Nebuchadnezzar, "contemneth the rod," despises the power and influence *of my son*-Israel, the Jewish people: "Out of Egypt have I called MY SON."
**As*****every tree.*** — As all the *stocks*, kindreds, and nations, over which I have already given him commission. Can the *rod of Israel* be spared, when the *trees of Assyria, Egypt*, &c., have been cut down?

Verse [Ezekiel 21:11](../../../kjv/ezekiel/21/11). ***This sword is sharpened*** — It is prepared for the slaughter, it is *furbished*; from the French, *foubir*, to *polish,* *brighten*. He shall have *splendid* victories every where. Some complain of corruption in the original in this place; but I think without sufficient reason.

Verse [Ezekiel 21:12](../../../kjv/ezekiel/21/12). ***Smite - upon thy thigh.*** — See on [Jeremiah 31:19](../../../kjv/jeremiah/31/19). So HOMER, Il. xv. ver. 113: -
Ὡς εφατ'· αυταρ Αρης θαλερω πεπληγετο μηρω
Χερσι καταπρηνεσσ,ολοφυρομενος δε προσηυδα.

"She spake; and, with expanded arms his thighs
Smiting, thus sorrowful the god exclaimed."
COWPER.

Verse [Ezekiel 21:13](../../../kjv/ezekiel/21/13). ***Because*****it is*****a trial*** — This will be a trial of strength and skill between the Chaldeans and the Jews; and a *trial* of faith and patience to the righteous.
***And what if*****the sword,**(Nebuchadnezzar,) ***contemn even the rod?*** — Overthrow Zedekiah? It will do so; for the regal government of Judea *shall be no more*. Or, *it is tried*; that is, the *sword*. Nebuchadnezzar has already shown himself strong and skilful.

Verse [Ezekiel 21:14](../../../kjv/ezekiel/21/14). ***Let the sword be doubled the third time*** — The sword has been *doubled*, and it shall come the *third time*. Nebuchadnezzar came against Judea THRICE.
1. Against *Jehoiakim*.
2. Against *Jeconiah*.
3. Against *Zedekiah*.
The sword had already been *doubled*; it is to come now the *third time*, i.e., against Zedekiah.
***The sword of the slain*** — חרב חללים *chereb chalalim*, "the sword of the *soldiers*," of the *Chaldeans*. So in the next clause, היא חרב חלל הגדול *hi chereb chalal haggadol*, "it is the sword of that *great soldier*," that eminent *king* and *conqueror*. This is the meaning of the word חלל *chalal*, that is so ill rendered in almost every place of its occurrence, in our Version. See Dr. *Kennicott*.

Verse [Ezekiel 21:15](../../../kjv/ezekiel/21/15). ***Wrapped up*** — It is not a blunt sword, it is carefully sharpened and preserved for the slaughter.

Verse [Ezekiel 21:16](../../../kjv/ezekiel/21/16). ***Go thee one way or other*** — Thou shalt prosper, O sword, whithersoever thou turnest; against Ammon, or Judea, or Egypt.

Verse [Ezekiel 21:19](../../../kjv/ezekiel/21/19). ***Appoint thee two ways*** — Set off from Babylon, and lay down two ways, either of which thou mayest take; that to the *right*, which leads to *Jerusalem*; or that to the *left*, which leads to *Rabbath* of the Ammonites, [Ezekiel 21:20](../../../kjv/ezekiel/21/20). But why against the *Ammonites*? Because both they and the Moabites were united with Zedekiah against the Chaldeans, (see [Jeremiah 27:3](../../../kjv/jeremiah/27/3),) though they afterwards fought against Judea, [Ezekiel 12:6](../../../kjv/ezekiel/12/6).

Verse [Ezekiel 21:21](../../../kjv/ezekiel/21/21). ***For the king of Babylon stood at the parting of the**********way*** — He was in doubt which way he should first take; whether to humble the Ammonites by taking their metropolis, *Riblath*, or go at once against Jerusalem. In this case of uncertainty, he made use of *divination*. And this was of *three* kinds: 1. By *arrows*. 2. By *images* or *talismans*. 3. By inspecting the *entrails* of a sacrifice offered on the occasion.
1. *He made bright his arrows*. This might be after the manner in which the divination is still practiced among the Arabs. These arrows were without head or wing. They took three. On one they wrote, *Command me, Lord*. On the second, *Forbid me, Lord*. The third was *blank*. These were put in a bag, and the querist put in his hand and took one out. If it was *Command me*, he set about the business immediately; if it was *Forbid me*, he rested for a *whole* *year*; if it was the *blank* one, he drew again. On all occasions the Arabs consulted futurity by such arrows. See *D'Herbelot*, under the word ACDAH.
2. As to the *images*, the Hebrew calls them תרפים *teraphim*. [Genesis 31:19](../../../kjv/genesis/31/19).
3. And as to the *liver*, I believe it was only inspected to see whether the animal offered in sacrifice were *sound* and *healthy*, of which the state of the *liver* is the most especial indication. When the liver is sound, the animal is healthy; and it would have been a bad omen to any who offered sacrifice, to find that the animal they had offered to their gods was *diseased*; as, in that case, they would have taken for granted that the sacrifice was not accepted.

Verse [Ezekiel 21:22](../../../kjv/ezekiel/21/22). ***At his right hand was the divination for Jerusalem*** — He had probably written on *two* arrows; *one, Jerusalem*; the *other,* *Riblath*; the *third*, left *blank*. He drew, and that on which *Jerusalem* was written came to his hand; in consequence of which he marched immediately against that city. It was ripe for destruction; and had he marched *before* or *after*, it would have fallen; but he never considered himself as sure of the conquest till now.

Verse [Ezekiel 21:23](../../../kjv/ezekiel/21/23). ***To them that have sworn oaths*** — To Zedekiah and his *ministers*, who had bound themselves by the oath of the Lord to be faithful to the Chaldeans, and to pay them the promised tribute. The *oaths* may refer, farther, to the *alliances* formed with the Egyptians, Ammonites, and others. They will not believe that Nebuchadnezzar shall suceeed against them, while they expect the powerful assistance of the Egyptians.

Verse [Ezekiel 21:25](../../../kjv/ezekiel/21/25). ***And thou profane wicked prince of Israel*** — Zedekiah, called here *profane*, because he had broken his oath; and *wicked*, because of his opposition to God and his prophet.
***Whose day is come*** — Who in a short time shalt be delivered into the hands of thy enemies.

Verse [Ezekiel 21:26](../../../kjv/ezekiel/21/26). ***Exalt*** him that is *low*] Give Gedaliah the government of Judea.
***Abase*** him that is *high*] Depose *Zedekiah*- remove his diadem, and take off his crown.

Verse [Ezekiel 21:27](../../../kjv/ezekiel/21/27). ***I will overturn*** — I will utterly destroy the Jewish government. Perverted will I make it. See the margin.
***Until he come whose - is*** — משפט *mishpat*, the judgment; i.e., till the coming of the son of David, the Lord Jesus; who, in a mystic and spiritual sense, shall have the throne of Israel, and whose *right it is*. See the famous prophecy, [Genesis 49:10](../../../kjv/genesis/49/10), and [Luke 1:32](../../../kjv/luke/1/32). The *avah*, which we translate *overturn*, is *thrice* repeated here; to point out, say the rabbins, the *three* conquests of Jerusalem, in which *Jehoiakim, Jeconiah*, and *Zedekiah* were *overthrown*.

Verse [Ezekiel 21:28](../../../kjv/ezekiel/21/28). ***Concerning the Ammonites*** — They had reproached and insulted Judea in its low estate, see [Ezekiel 25:3](../../../kjv/ezekiel/25/3); [Ezekiel 25:6](../../../kjv/ezekiel/25/6). This prophecy against them was fulfilled about *five* years after the taking of Jerusalem. See Joseph. Ant. lib. x. c. 11; and [Jeremiah 27](../../../kjv/jeremiah/27), [Jeremiah 48](../../../kjv/jeremiah/48), [Jeremiah 49](../../../kjv/jeremiah/49); [Ezekiel 25](../../../kjv/ezekiel/25).

Verse [Ezekiel 21:30](../../../kjv/ezekiel/21/30). ***I will judge thee*** — This seems to refer to Nebuchadnezzar, who, after his return from Jerusalem, became insane, and lived like a beast for *seven* years; but was afterwards restored, and acknowledged the Lord.

Verse [Ezekiel 21:32](../../../kjv/ezekiel/21/32). ***Thou shalt be no*****more*****remembered*** — The empire of the *Chaldeans* was destroyed, and the power transferred to the *Persians*; the Persian empire was destroyed, and given to the *Greeks*; the Grecian empire was destroyed, and given to the *Mohammedans*; and the destruction of the Mohammedans is at no great distance.

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