---
title: "Clarke"
description: "oracles, of putting the type for the antitype, 11-31. NOTES ON CHAP. XXXIV Verse Ezekiel 34:2. Prophesy against the shepherds of Israel — The shepherds in"
image: "/images/missing.jpg"
url: "https://realbiblebelievers.com/commentaries/clarkes-commentary/ezekiel/34"
---

*oracles, of putting the type for the antitype*, 11-31.
NOTES ON CHAP. XXXIV

Verse [Ezekiel 34:2](../../../kjv/ezekiel/34/2). ***Prophesy against the shepherds of Israel*** — The *shepherds* include, first, the *priests* and *Levites*; secondly, the *kings,* *princes*, and *magistrates*. The *flock* means the whole of the *people*. The *fat* and the *wool*, the *tithes* and *offerings*, the *taxes* and *imposts*. The reprehensible *feeding* and *clothing* with these, as to the priests and Levites, the using these *tithes* and *offerings*, not to enable them the better to fulfil the work of the *ministry*, but to pamper their own bodies, and support them in an idle voluptuous life; and in reference to the *state*, the employing the *taxes* and *imposts*, not for the support and administration of *justice* and good *government*, but to subsidize heathen powers, and maintain their own luxury and idolatrous prodigality.

Verse [Ezekiel 34:3](../../../kjv/ezekiel/34/3). ***Ye eat the fat*** — I think החלב *hacheleb* should be translated *the milk*; and so most of the Versions understand it. Or they lived on the *fat sheep*, and took the *wool* of all.
"The *priests*," says *Calmet*, "ate the tithes, the first-fruits, and the offerings of the people; the *princes* received the tributes and imposts; and instead of instructing and protecting them, the latter took away their *lives* by the cruelties they practiced against them: the former destroyed their *souls* by the poison of their doctrine, and by their bad example. The *fat sheep* point out the *rich*, to whom these pastors often disguised the truth, by a cruel condescension and complaisance."

Verse [Ezekiel 34:4](../../../kjv/ezekiel/34/4). ***The diseased have ye not strengthened*** — No person is fit for the office of a shepherd, who does not *well understand* the *diseases* to which sheep are incident, and the *mode of cure*. And is any man fit for the *pastoral office*, or to be a shepherd of souls, who is not well acquainted with the *disease of sin* in all its *varieties*, and the *remedy* for this disease, and the proper mode of administering it, in those various cases? He who does not know Jesus Christ as his *own Saviour*, never can recommend him to others. He who is not saved, will not save.
***Neither have ye healed that which was sick*** — The prophet first speaks of the *general disease*; next, of the different kinds of spiritual infirmity.
***Neither have ye bound up*** that which was *broken*] If a sheep have broken a leg, a proper shepherd knows how to *set the bones*, and splint and bind it till the bones knit and become strong. And the *skilful* spiritual pastor knows, if one of the flock be overtaken in a fault, how to restore such. Those *sudden falls*, where there was not a strong propensity to sin, are, to the soul, as a *broken* *bone* to the body.
***Neither have ye brought again*** — A proper shepherd *loves* his sheep: he feels *interested* for their welfare; he acquaints himself with them all, so that he knows and can distinguish each. He knows also their *number*, and frequently counts to see that none is missing; if one be *lost* or *strayed*, he goes immediately and *seeks* it; and as he is constantly on the *watch*, it cannot have strayed *far* before he is apprised of its absence from the flock; and the *less* it has strayed, the *sooner* it is found and brought back to the fold.
The shepherds of Israel knew nothing about their flock; they might have been *diseased, infirm, bruised, maimed*, their *limbs* *broken, strayed*, and *lost*; for they *watched not* over them. When they got *fat sheep* and *wool* for their *table* and their *clothing,* they regarded nothing else; as they considered the flock *given* *them* for their *own use*, and scarcely ever supposed that they were to give any thing in return for the milk and the wool.
***But with force and with cruelty*** — *Exacting tithes* and dues by the strong arm of the law, with the most *ungodly feeling*; and with a *cruelty* of *disposition* that proved it was the *fat* and the *wool* they sought, and not the safety or comfort of the flock.

Verse [Ezekiel 34:5](../../../kjv/ezekiel/34/5). ***And they were scattered*** — There was no discipline kept up; and the flock, the Church, became disorganized, and separated from each other, both in affection and fellowship. And the consequence was, the grievous wolves, false and worldly interested teachers, seized on and made a prey of them. Of the *communion of* *saints* such shepherds know nothing, farther than that it makes a part of the common *creed*.

Verse [Ezekiel 34:6](../../../kjv/ezekiel/34/6). ***My sheep wandered through all the mountains*** — They all became idolaters, and lost the knowledge of the true God. And could it be otherwise while they had such pastors?
1. He professes to be a *shepherd*, and to be *qualified* for the office.
2. In consequence he *undertakes the care of a flock*. This supposes that he believes the great Bishop of souls has *called him* to the pastoral office; and that office implies that he is to give all diligence to *save the souls of them that hear him*.
1. He is *skilful*; he knows the *disease of sin* and its consequences; for the Eternal Spirit, by whom he is called, has convinced him of sin, of righteousness, and of judgment.
2. He knows well the *great remedy* for this disease, the passion and sacrificial death of the Lord Jesus Christ.
3. He is skilful, and knows *how to apply* this remedy.
4. The flock over which he watches is, in its *individuals*, either, - 1. *Healthy* and *sound*. 2. Or, in a *state* of *convalescence*, returning to health. 3. Or, still under the *whole power* of the *general disease*. 4. Or, some are *dying* in a state of *spiritual weakness*. 5. Or, some are *fallen into sin*, and sorely bruised and broken in their souls by that fall. 6. Or, some have been *driven away* by some sore *temptation* or *cruel usage*. 7. Or, some have *wandered* from the flock, are got into strange pastures, and are perverted by erroneous doctrines. Or, 8. Some *wolf* has got among them, and scattered the whole flock. Now, the true shepherd, the pastor of God's choosing, knows-
1. How to keep the *healthy* in health; and cause them to grow in grace, and in the knowledge of Jesus Christ.
2. How to *nourish, feed*, and *care for* the *convalescent*, that they may be brought into a state of spiritual *soundness*.
3. How to *reprove*, instruct, and awaken those who are still under the *full power* of the *disease of sin*.
4. How to *find out* and *remove* the cause of all that *spiritual* *weakness* of which he sees some slowly *dying*.
5. How to deal with those who have *fallen into some scandalous* *sin*, and restore them from their *fall*.
6. How to *find out* and *turn aside* the *sore temptation* or *cruel* *usage* by which some have been *driven away*.
7. How to *seek* and *bring back* to the fold those who have *strayed* into strange pastures, and have had their souls perverted by *erroneous doctrines*; and knows also how, by a godly *discipline*, to preserve him in the flock, and keep the flock honourably together.
8. How to *oppose, confound*, and *expel* the *grievous wolf*, who has got among the flock, and is *scattering* them from each other, and from God. He knows how to *preach, explain*, and *defend* the truth. He is well acquainted with the *weapons* he is to use, and the *spirit* in which he is to employ them.
In a word, the true shepherd gives up his life *to* the sheep; spends and is spent for the glory of God; and gives up his life *for* the sheep, in defence of them, and in labouring for their welfare. And while he is thus employed, it is the duty of the flock to feed and clothe him; and see that neither he nor his family lack the *necessaries* and *conveniencies* of life. The *labourer* is worthy of his meat. He who does not *labour*, or, because of his *ignorance* of God and salvation, *cannot labour*, in the word and doctrine, deserves neither meat nor drink; and if he exact that by law, which he has not honestly earned by a proper discharge of the *pastoral function*, let him read this chapter, and learn from it what a fearful *account* he shall have to give to the chief Shepherd at the great day; and what a dreadful *punishment* shall be inflicted on him, when the blood of the souls lost through his neglect or inefficiency is visited upon him! [Ezekiel 3:17](../../../kjv/ezekiel/3/17), &c.

Verse [Ezekiel 34:7](../../../kjv/ezekiel/34/7). ***Therefore, ye shepherds***, (ye *bad* and *wicked shepherds*,)*******hear the word of the Lord*** — In the preceding character of the *good* *shepherd* the reader will find, by reversing the particulars, the character of a *bad shepherd*; and therefore I may be excused from entering into farther detail.

Verse [Ezekiel 34:10](../../../kjv/ezekiel/34/10). ***I will - cause them to cease from feeding the flock*** — God, in this country, *unpriested* a whole hierarchy who fed not the flock, but *ruled them with force and cruelty*; and he raised up a new set of shepherds better qualified, both by sound doctrine and learning, to feed the flock. Let these be faithful, lest God cause *them to cease*, and raise up other feeders.

Verse [Ezekiel 34:12](../../../kjv/ezekiel/34/12). ***Cloudy and dark day.*** — Times of general distress and persecution; in such times the shepherd should be especially watchful.

Verse [Ezekiel 34:13](../../../kjv/ezekiel/34/13). ***I will - feed them upon the mountains*** — When I bring back the people from their captivity, I will raise up to them a holy and diligent priesthood, who shall in all places give them sound instruction. But this, and some of the following promises, belong to the *Christian Church*, as we shall find below.

Verse [Ezekiel 34:16](../../../kjv/ezekiel/34/16). ***I will destroy the fat and the strong*** — I will destroy those cruel and imperious shepherds who abuse their authority, and tyrannize over the flock.

Verse [Ezekiel 34:17](../../../kjv/ezekiel/34/17). ***And*****as for*****you, O my flock*** — After having spoken to the *shepherds*, he now addresses the *flock*.
***I judge between cattle and cattle*** — Between *false* and *true* professors; between them that have only the *form* and them that have the *power* of godliness; between the *backslider in heart* and the *upright man*.

Verse [Ezekiel 34:18](../../../kjv/ezekiel/34/18). ***Have eaten up the good pasture*** — Arrogate to yourselves all the promises of God, and will hardly permit the simple believer to claim or possess any token of God's favour.
***Ye must foul the residue with your feet?*** — Ye abuse God's mercies; you *consume much* upon yourselves, and ye *spoil more*, on which the *poor* would have been glad to *feed*. There are some who would rather give food to their *sporting dogs* than to the *poor* around them, who are ready to starve, and who would be glad of the crumbs that fall from the table of those *masters*!

Verse [Ezekiel 34:20](../../../kjv/ezekiel/34/20). ***I will judge between the fat cattle and between the**********lean cattle.*** — Between the *rich* and the *poor*; those who *fare* *sumptuously* every day and those who have not the *necessaries of* *life*.

Verse [Ezekiel 34:23](../../../kjv/ezekiel/34/23). ***I will set up one Shepherd - my servant David*** — DAVID, king of Israel, had been dead upwards of *four hundred years*; and from that time till now there never was a ruler of any kind, either in the Jewish *Church* or *state*, of the name of *David*. This, then, must be some *typical person*; and from the texts marked in the margin we understand that *Jesus Christ* alone is meant, as both *Old* and *New* TESTAMENTS agree in this. And from this one *Shepherd* all Christian *ministers* must derive their authority to teach, and their grace to teach effectually.
By the kind providence of God it appears that he has not permitted any *apostolic succession* to be preserved, lest the members of his Church should seek that in an *uninterrupted* *succession* which must be found in the HEAD *alone*. The *papists* or *Roman Catholics*, who boast of an *uninterrupted succession*, which is a mere fable that never was and never can be proved, have raised up *another head*, the POPE. And I appeal to themselves, in the fear of God, whether they do not in *heart* and in *speech* trace up all their *authority* to *him*, and only compliment Christ as having appointed *Peter* to be the first bishop of Rome, (which is an *utter falsity*, for he was never appointed to such an office there, nor ever held such an office in that city, nor, in their sense, *any where else*;) and they hold also that the popes of Rome are not so much *Peter's successors* as *God's vicars*; and thus both God and Peter are nearly *lost sight of* in their *papal* *enumerations*. With them the *authority of the Church* is all in all; the *authority of Christ* is seldom mentioned.

Verse [Ezekiel 34:24](../../../kjv/ezekiel/34/24). ***I the Lord will be their God, and my Servant David a**********Prince*** — Here we find God and his Christ are *all in all* in his Church, and Jesus is still PRINCE *among them*; and to him the *call* and *qualifications* of all genuine pastors belong, and *from* him they must be derived. And he has blotted out what is called *uninterrupted succession*, that every Christian minister may seek and receive credentials from himself. Here is the grand reason why the *uninterrupted succession cannot be made out*. And here is the proof also that the Church that *pretends to it*, and builds upon it, must be a *false Church*; for it is founded on a falsity; an *uninterrupted succession* which does not exist either in *history* or in *fact*.

Verse [Ezekiel 34:25](../../../kjv/ezekiel/34/25). ***I will make with them a covenant of peace*** — The original is emphatic: וכרתי להם ברית שלום *vecharatti lahem berith shalom*, "And I will cut with them the peace covenant;" that is, a *covenant sacrifice*, procuring and establishing peace between God and man, and between man and his fellows. I need not tell the reader that the *cutting* refers to the ancient mode of *making* *covenants*. The blood was poured out; the animal was divided from mouth to tail, exactly in *two*; the divisions placed *opposite to* *each other*; the contracting parties entered into the space, going in at each end, and met in the *middle*, and *there* took the *covenant* *oath*. He is the *Prince of peace*, and through him come glory to God in the highest, and *peace* and good will to men upon earth.
***And will cause the evil beasts to cease*** — These *false* and *ravenous pastors*. Christ purges them out of his Church, and destroys that *power* by which they lorded it over God's heritage.

Verse [Ezekiel 34:26](../../../kjv/ezekiel/34/26). ***The shower to come down*** — The Holy Spirit's influence.
***There shall be showers of blessing.*** — Light, life, joy, peace, and power shall be manifest in all the *assemblies of Christ's* *people*.

Verse [Ezekiel 34:29](../../../kjv/ezekiel/34/29). ***I will raise up - a plant of renown*** — מטע לשם *matta* *leshem*, "a plantation to the name;" to the name of CHRIST. A *Christian Church* composed of men who are *Christians*, who have the spirit of *Christ* in them, and do not bear his *name* in vain. I believe the words might be applied to the *Christian Church*; but that Christ may be called a *plant* or *plantation* here, - as he is elsewhere called a *branch* and a *rod*, [Isaiah 4:2](../../../kjv/isaiah/4/2); [Isaiah 11:1](../../../kjv/isaiah/11/1); so [Jeremiah 23:5](../../../kjv/jeremiah/23/5); [Jeremiah 35:15](../../../kjv/jeremiah/35/15), - is most probable. He is the Person of *name*, *leshem*, JESUS; the *Saviour*, CHRIST; the *Anointer,* long *spoken* of before he was manifested in the flesh, and since the *daily theme* in the Church militant. It is he who hath loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood, no other *name* being given under heaven among men by which we can be saved; he who has a *name* above every *name*, and at whose *name* every knee shall bow; through whose *name*, by faith in his *name*, the diseased are healed; and in whose *name* all our prayers and supplications must be presented to God to make them acceptable. This is the Person of NAME!
***They shall be no more consumed with hunger*** — For this glorious *plant of name* is the *Bread of life*; and this is broken in all the assemblies of his people where his *name* is properly proclaimed.

Verse [Ezekiel 34:31](../../../kjv/ezekiel/34/31). ***And ye my flock*** — That is, under the allegory of a *flock* of *sheep*, I point out *men*; under that of a *pasture*, my *Church*, and under that of a *shepherd*, the *Messiah*, through whom I am become *your God*. And he who is your God is אדני יהוה *Adonai* *Jehovah*, the self-existent Being; the *Governor* and *Director*, as well as the *Saviour* and *Judge* of men.

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