---
title: "Clarke"
description: "prophet among them, 30-33. NOTES ON CHAP. XXXIII Verse Ezekiel 33:2. Son of man - if the people of the land take a man — The first ten verses of this chap"
image: "/images/missing.jpg"
url: "https://realbiblebelievers.com/commentaries/clarkes-commentary/ezekiel/33"
---

*prophet among them*, 30-33.
NOTES ON CHAP. XXXIII

Verse [Ezekiel 33:2](../../../kjv/ezekiel/33/2). ***Son of man - if the people of the land take a man*** — The first *ten* verses of this chapter are the same with [Ezekiel 3:17-22](../../../kjv/ezekiel/3/17-22); and to what is said there on this most important and awful subject I must refer the reader. *Here the PEOPLE choose the watchman;* *there*, the Lord appoints him. When God chooses, the people should approve.

Verse [Ezekiel 33:10](../../../kjv/ezekiel/33/10). ***If our transgressions and our sins*****be*****upon us*** — They are upon us, as a grievous burden, too weighty for us to bear: how then can we *live* under such a load?
***We pine away in them*** — In such circumstances how consoling is that word: "Come unto me, all ye who are heavy laden, and I will give you rest!"

Verse [Ezekiel 33:11](../../../kjv/ezekiel/33/11). ***As I live, saith the Lord God, I have no pleasure in**********the death of the wicked*** — From this to the twentieth verse inclusive is nearly the same with [Ezekiel 18:3](../../../kjv/ezekiel/18/3) &c., on which I wish the reader to consult the notes. [Ezekiel 18:3](../../../kjv/ezekiel/18/3).

Verse [Ezekiel 33:13](../../../kjv/ezekiel/33/13). ***If he trust to his own righteousness, and commit**********iniquity*** — If he trust in his *acting according to the statutes and* *ordinances of religion*, and according to the *laws relative to* *rights and wrongs among men*, and in other respects commit iniquity, *he shall die for it*.

Verse [Ezekiel 33:19](../../../kjv/ezekiel/33/19). ***He shall live thereby*** — "The *wages* of sin is death;" the "gift of God is eternal life." It is a miserable trade by which a man *cannot live*; such a trade is *sin*.

Verse [Ezekiel 33:21](../../../kjv/ezekiel/33/21). ***In the twelfth year of our captivity, in the tenth*****month,*****in the fifth*****day*****of the month*** — Instead of the *twelfth year,* the *eleventh* is the reading of *seven* of *Kennicott's* MSS., *one* of *De Rossi's*, and the *Syriac*. My own, mentioned in the preceding chapter, reads with the present text. This was on *Wednesday, Jan*. 25, A.M. 3416 or 3417.
***One that had escaped out of Jerusalem*** — After it had been taken by the Chaldeans.
***Came unto me, saying, THE CITY IS SMITTEN.*** — This very message God had promised to the prophet, [Ezekiel 24:26](../../../kjv/ezekiel/24/26).

Verse [Ezekiel 33:22](../../../kjv/ezekiel/33/22). ***My mouth was opened*** — They had now the fullest evidence that I had spoken from the Lord. I therefore spoke freely and fully what God delivered to me, [Ezekiel 24:27](../../../kjv/ezekiel/24/27).

Verse [Ezekiel 33:24](../../../kjv/ezekiel/33/24). ***Abraham was one*** — If he was called to inherit the land when he was alone, and had the whole to himself, why may we not expect to be established here, who are his posterity, and are *many*? They wished to remain in the land and be happy after the Chaldeans had carried the rest away captives.

Verse [Ezekiel 33:25](../../../kjv/ezekiel/33/25). ***Ye eat with the blood*** — Abraham was *righteous*, ye are *unrighteous*. Eating of *blood*, in any way dressed, or of *flesh* from which the blood had not been *extracted*, was and is in the sight of God abominable. All such practices he has absolutely and for ever forbidden. Let the vile blood-eaters hear and tremble. [Acts 15:20](../../../kjv/acts/15/20), and the passages in the margin.

Verse [Ezekiel 33:26](../../../kjv/ezekiel/33/26). ***Ye stand upon your sword*** — Ye live by plunder, rapine, and murder. Ye are every way impure; and shall ye possess the land? No.

Verse [Ezekiel 33:27](../../../kjv/ezekiel/33/27). ***They that*****are*****in the wastes*** — He seems to speak of those Jews who had fled to *rocks, caves*, and *fortresses*, in the *mountains*; whose death he predicts, partly by the *sword*, partly by *wild beasts*, and partly by *famine*.

Verse [Ezekiel 33:30](../../../kjv/ezekiel/33/30). ***The people still are talking against thee*** — בך *bach* should be rather translated, "concerning thee," than "against thee;" for the following verses show that the prophet was much respected. The *Vulgate* translates, *de te*; the *Septuagint*, περι σου, "concerning thee," both right.
*Talking by the walls and in the doors of the houses* is not a custom peculiar to the *Copts*, mentioned by Bp. *Pococke*, it is a practice among *idle people*, and among those who are *resting from* *their work*, in *every country*, when the *weather permits*. Gossiping *in the inside of the house* is not less frequent, and much more blamable.

Verse [Ezekiel 33:31](../../../kjv/ezekiel/33/31). ***As the people cometh*** — As they are accustomed to come on public days, Sabbaths, &c.
***With their mouth they show much love*** — They respected the prophet, but would not bend themselves to follow his precepts. They loved *earthly things*, and did not relish those of *heaven*.

Verse [Ezekiel 33:32](../../../kjv/ezekiel/33/32). ***As a very lovely song*** — They admired the *fine voice* and *correct delivery* of the prophet; this was *their religion*, and this is the *whole* of the religion of thousands to the present day; for never were *itching ears* so multiplied as now.

Verse [Ezekiel 33:33](../../../kjv/ezekiel/33/33). ***When this cometh to pass - then shall they know that a**********prophet hath been among them.*** — What I have predicted, (and it is even now at the doors,) then they will be convinced that there was a prophet among them, by whose ministry they did not profit as they ought.

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