1.
And the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,
the LORD . Hebrew. Jehovah. App-4 .
2.
Son of man, prophesy against the prophets of Israel that prophesy, and say thou unto them that prophesy out of their own hearts, Hear ye the word of the LORD;
Son of man. See note on Ezekiel 2:1 .
against = concerning. Some codices, and the special reading called Sevir ( App-34 ), with Aramaean, Septuagint, and Syriac, read "against".
the prophets. See the Structure, "M", above. The reference is to the false prophets of Israel. Compare Jeremiah 5:30 , Jeremiah 5:31 ; Jeremiah 5:23 , Jer 5:9-32 ; Jeremiah 27:14 ; Jeremiah 29:8 , Jeremiah 29:9 , Jeremiah 29:22 , Jeremiah 29:23 .
3.
Thus saith the Lord GOD; Woe unto the foolish prophets, that follow their own spirit, and have seen nothing!
the Lord GOD . Hebrew Adonai Jehovah. See note on Ezekiel 2:4 . foolish. Hebrew. nabel. See note on Proverbs 1:7 .
their own spirit . Not the Holy Spirit.
spirit. Hebrew. roach. App-9 .
4.
O Israel, thy prophets are like the foxes in the deserts.
foxes = jackals.
deserts = ruins.
5.
Ye have not gone up into the gaps, neither made up the hedge for the house of Israel to stand in the battle in the day of the LORD.
gaps = breaches.
hedge = fence or wall of a vineyard (Numbers 22:24 .
Psa. Eze 80:12 .Isaiah 5:5; Isaiah 5:5 ).
saying, ' The LORD saint '
= saying [it] is Jehovah's oracle.
they would confirm the word = their word would be confirmed.
6.
They have seen vanity and lying divination, saying, The LORD saith: and the LORD hath not sent them: and they have made others to hope that they would confirm the word.
7.
Have ye not seen a vain vision, and have ye not spoken a lying divination, whereas ye say, The LORD saith it; albeit I have not spoken?
saith it; albeit, &c. A solemn warning as to some of the changes made in tbe Vulgate versions. Compare Ezekiel 2:5-7 . Jeremiah 23:21 .
8.
Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD; Because ye have spoken vanity, and seen lies, therefore, behold, I am against you, saith the Lord GOD.
saith the Lord GOD = [is] Adonai Jehovah's oracle.
9.
And mine hand shall be upon the prophets that see vanity, and that divine lies: they shall not be in the assembly of my people, neither shall they be written in the writing of the house of Israel, neither shall they enter into the land of Israel; and ye shall know that I am the Lord GOD.
assembly = secret council.
writing = register.
land = soil. Hebrew. 'admath. See note on Ezekiel 11:17 .
ye shall know, &c. This formula occurs only here, Ezekiel 23:49 ; and Ezekiel 24:24 (not the same as Ezekiel 13:14 ; Ezekiel 6:7 , &c.)
10.
Because, even because they have seduced my people, saying, Peace; and there was no peace; and one built up a wall, and, lo, others daubed it with untempered morter:
Because, even because . Figure of speech Epizeuxis. App-6 .
one built = be: i.e. one = a false prophet.
a wall = the outer wall of a house.
lo. Fig, Asteriemos. App-6 .
others : i.e. the false prophets. Compare Ezekiel 13:16 .
daubed = coated,
untempered mortar = whitewash. Compare Mat 28:29 . Acts 23:3 .
11.
Say unto them which daub it with untempered morter, that it shall fall: there shall be an overflowing shower; and ye, O great hailstones, shall fall; and a stormy wind shall rend it.
shower = rain. Compare Matthew 7:25 , Matthew 7:27 .
wind . Hebrew ruach. App-9 .
12.
Lo, when the wall is fallen, shall it not be said unto you, Where is the daubing wherewith ye have daubed it?
13.
Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD; I will even rend it with a stormy wind in my fury; and there shall be an overflowing shower in mine anger, and great hailstones in my fury to consume it.
14.
So will I break down the wall that ye have daubed with untempered morter, and bring it down to the ground, so that the foundation thereof shall be discovered, and it shall fall, and ye shall be consumed in the midst thereof: and ye shall know that I am the LORD.
it. Feminine, referring to ruach (the wind in Ezekiel 13:11 ),
ye shall know ,&c. See note on Ezekiel 6:7 .
15.
Thus will I accomplish my wrath upon the wall, and upon them that have daubed it with untempered morter, and will say unto you, The wall is no more, neither they that daubed it;
16.
To wit, the prophets of Israel which prophesy concerning Jerusalem, and which see visions of peace for her, and there is no peace, saith the Lord GOD.
visions = a vision.
peace . Reference to meaning of the word Jerusalem.
17.
Likewise, thou son of man, set thy face against the daughters of thy people, which prophesy out of their own heart; and prophesy thou against them,
set thy face against , &c. This required Divine courage on the part of Ezekiel. Compare Ezekiel 14:8 ; Ezekiel 20:46 ; Ezekiel 21:2 ; Ezekiel 29:2 ; Eze 29:38 , Ezekiel 29:2 .
their own heart . Compare verses: Ezekiel 13:2 , Ezekiel 13:3 and a similar transition from men to women in Isaiah 3:16 , Isaiah 3:17 .
18.
And say, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Woe to the women that sew pillows to all armholes, and make kerchiefs upon the head of every stature to hunt souls! Will ye hunt the souls of my people, and will ye save the souls alive that come unto you?
sew pillows to all armholes = sew together coverings upon all the joints of My hands: i.e. hide from the People the hands of Jehovah lifted up and stretched forth in judgment (Isaiah 26:11 ; Isaiah 5:2 , Isaiah 5:10 ).
pillows coverings for purposes of concealment. Hebrew. Kesathoth (occurs only here and in Ezekiel 13:20 ), from kasah, to conceal, to hide. First occurrence (of kasah) Genesis 7:19 , Genesis 7:20 ; Genesis 9:23 ; Genesis 18:17 ; Genesis 24:65 ; Genesis 37:26 ; Genesis 38:14 , Genesis 38:15 , &c . The object is shown in Isaiah 26:11 .
armholes = My hands; referring to the judgments they were to execute (Ezekiel 14:9 , Ezekiel 14:13 ). Compare verses: Eze 9:21 , Eze 9:22 , Eze 9:23 . The Septuagint renders it proskephalaia = for the head.
make kerchiefs upon the head of every stature = make mantles to cover the heads (and therefore the eyes) of those on whom the judgments of God's hand were about to fall, lest they should see.
kerchiefs = wraps that cleave close round the head. Hebrew. mispahoth (occurs only here), from saphah, to join, or cleave closely. Saphah occurs 1 Samuel 2:36 (put = attach); Ezekiel 26:19 (abiding = cleaving). Job 30:7 (gathered together). Iea. Ezekiel 14:1 (cleave). H ab. Eze 2:15 (puttest = holdest). The object being to cover the head so that God's hand may not be seen (Isaiah 26:11 ).
stature = tall figure. Hebrew komah = height. First occurrence Genesis 6:15 . Compare 1 Samuel 16:7 (his stature); Eze 25:20 , &c. Put, here, for every man of high or lofty station: i, e. for the princes or rulers in Jerusalem, whose eyes were blinded by these false prophetesses.
hunt = harry, or ensnare.
souls. Hebrew. nephesh. App-1 B. Put hereby Figure of speech Synecdoche (of the Part), App-6 , for the People.
Will ye . . . ? This is not a question, but a statement.
19.
And will ye pollute me among my people for handfuls of barley and for pieces of bread, to slay the souls that should not die, and to save the souls alive that should not live, by your lying to my people that hear your lies?
to slay , &c. to prophesy (falsely) that they should be slain. Figure of speech Metonymy (of Subject). App-6 .
to save, &c. = to promise life to those who should not live. Figure of speech Metonymy (of Subject), App-6 .
your. Masculine suffix, indicating unwomanly character.
20.
Wherefore thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I am against your pillows, wherewith ye there hunt the souls to make them fly, and I will tear them from your arms, and will let the souls go, even the souls that ye hunt to make them fly.
Behold . Figure of speech Asterismos. App-6 .
fly = escape.
I will tear . So that these wraps could be torn away.
21.
Your kerchiefs also will I tear, and deliver my people out of your hand, and they shall be no more in your hand to be hunted; and ye shall know that I am the LORD.
your . Feminine suffix.
22.
Because with lies ye have made the heart of the righteous sad, whom I have not made sad; and strengthened the hands of the wicked, that he should not return from his wicked way, by promising him life:
the righteous = a righteous one.
the wicked = a lawless one. Hebrew. rasha. App-44 .
his wicked way = his wrong way. Heb raa . App-44 .
by . . . life . Here the Figures in Ezekiel 13:20 are translated.
life. Continuance in life: i.e. escape from the judgments announced by Jehovah.
23.
Therefore ye shall see no more vanity, nor divine divinations: for I will deliver my people out of your hand: and ye shall know that I am the LORD.