1.

Moreover he said unto me, Son of man, eat that thou findest; eat this roll, and go speak unto the house of Israel.

Son of man . See note on Ezekiel 2:1 .
eat . Compare Ezekiel 3:10 . AIso Job 23:12 , Psalms 119:103 , and Jeremiah 15:16 .
the house of Israel. See note on Exodus 16:31 . house. Some codices, with one early printed edition, Syriac, and Vulgate, read "sons".

2.

So I opened my mouth, and he caused me to eat that roll.

3.

And he said unto me, Son of man, cause thy belly to eat, and fill thy bowels with this roll that I give thee. Then did I eat it; and it was in my mouth as honey for sweetness.

Then did I eat . Compare Revelation 10:10 .
as honey , &c. Compare Psalms 19:10 ; Psalms 119:103 .Jeremiah 15:16 .

4.

And he said unto me, Son of man, go, get thee unto the house of Israel, and speak with my words unto them.

speak with My words. This is inspiration. See note on Ezekiel 2:5 , Ezekiel 2:7 . Ezekiel's voice and pen, but Jehovah's words.

5.

For thou art not sent to a people of a strange speech and of an hard language, but to the house of Israel;

6.

Not to many people of a strange speech and of an hard language, whose words thou canst not understand. Surely, had I sent thee to them, they would have hearkened unto thee.

people = peoples,

7.

But the house of Israel will not hearken unto thee; for they will not hearken unto me: for all the house of Israel are impudent and hardhearted.

hearken = be willing to hearken.
will not hearken = are not willing to hearken.
are = they are.
impudent , &c. Reference to Pentateuch. See note on Ezekiel 2:4 .

8.

Behold, I have made thy face strong against their faces, and thy forehead strong against their foreheads.

Behold . Figure of speech Asterismos. App-6 .
strong = strong, or hard (for endurance). Hebrew. hazak. Same as "harder "(Ezekiel 3:9 ). Compare the name Ezekiel in Title.

9.

As an adamant harder than flint have I made thy forehead: fear them not, neither be dismayed at their looks, though they be a rebellious house.

harder . Same as "strong" (verses: Ezekiel 3:8 , Ezekiel 3:14 ).
rebellious house . See note on Ezekiel 2:5 .

10.

Moreover he said unto me, Son of man, all my words that I shall speak unto thee receive in thine heart, and hear with thine ears.

all My words. See note on Ezekiel 2:7 .

11.

And go, get thee to them of the captivity, unto the children of thy people, and speak unto them, and tell them, Thus saith the Lord GOD; whether they will hear, or whether they will forbear.

captivity. Put by Figure of speech Metonymy (of Adjunct), App-6 , for captives.
unto the children of . The 1611 edition of the Authorized Version omits these words.
children = sons.
the Lord GOD . Hebrew. Adonai Jehovah . App-4
whether , &c. See note on Ezekiel 2:7 .

12.

Then the spirit took me up, and I heard behind me a voice of a great rushing, saying, Blessed be the glory of the LORD from his place.

spirit. Hebrew roach. App-9 . See notes on Ezekiel 8:3 .
took me up = laid hold of me.
behind me. Therefore the prophet must have been facing south, as the glory appeared from the north (Ezekiel 1:4 ).
voice = sound.
saying, &c. By reading berum (arose) instead of baruk (Blessed), Ginsburg thinks the meaning should be "[when] the glory of Jehovah arose (or was lifted up) from its place" (Compare Ezekiel 10:4 , Ezekiel 10:17 , Ezekiel 10:19 ): i.e. when the vision was withdrawn.
the LORD . Hebrew. Jehovah. App-4 .

13.

I heard also the noise of the wings of the living creatures that touched one another, and the noise of the wheels over against them, and a noise of a great rushing.

14.

So the spirit lifted me up, and took me away, and I went in bitterness, in the heat of my spirit; but the hand of the LORD was strong upon me.

lifted me up , &c, Compare Acts 8:39 , Act 8:40 . 2 Corinthians 12:4 .Revelation 1:10 . Compare Obadiah's fear (1 Kings 18:12 ).

15.

Then I came to them of the captivity at Tel-abib, that dwelt by the river of Chebar, and I sat where they sat, and remained there astonished among them seven days.

Chebar. Not the Chebar of Ezekiel 1:3 . That was where he dwelt. This was the Chebar whither he was sent. See note on Ezekiel 1:3 ; the modern Khabour, a tributary of the Euphrates, forty-five miles from Babylon.
sat = dwelt; as in the preceding clause.

16.

And it came to pass at the end of seven days, that the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,

17.

Son of man, I have made thee a watchman unto the house of Israel: therefore hear the word at my mouth, and give them warning from me.

made = given. God's prophets and ministers were His "gifts" (Ephesians 4:11 ).
watchman = one who looks out or views from a height, with the object of warning. Hebrew. zaphah. Compare Ezekiel 33:2 , Ezekiel 33:6 , Ezekiel 33:7 , Isaiah 52:8 ; Eze 56:10 . Jeremiah 6:17 . Not shamar , to keep in view with the object of guarding, as in Song of Solomon 3:3 ; Song of Solomon 5:7 . Isaiah 21:11 ; Isaiah 62:6 . These are the two spheres of the pastoral office.
give them warning. Hebrew zuhar , to give a signal by a beacon or other fire (Jeremiah 8:1 ). Occurs fourteen times in Ezekiel in connection with the prophet's or pastor's care. Compare verses: Ezekiel 3:18 , Ezekiel 3:19 , Ezekiel 3:10 , Ezekiel 18:20 , Ezekiel 18:21 ; Ezekiel 33:3 , Ezekiel 33:4 , Ezekiel 33:5 , Ezekiel 33:6 , Ezekiel 33:7 , Ezekiel 33:8 , Ezekiel 33:9 .

18.

When I say unto the wicked, Thou shalt surely die; and thou givest him not warning, nor speakest to warn the wicked from his wicked way, to save his life; the same wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at thine hand.

wicked = lawless. Hebrew. rdsha`. App-44 .
shalt surely die . Note the Figure of speech Polyptbtco, App-6 (Inf. with Fut.), for emphasis. Hebrew "dying, thou wilt die". See notes on Genesis 2:17 ; Genesis 26:28 .
his life = himself alive.
iniquity . Hebrew aval, App-44 ,

19.

Yet if thou warn the wicked, and he turn not from his wickedness, nor from his wicked way, he shall die in his iniquity; but thou hast delivered thy soul.

thy soul = thyself. Heb, nephesh. App-13 .

20.

Again, When a righteous man doth turn from his righteousness, and commit iniquity, and I lay a stumblingblock before him, he shall die: because thou hast not given him warning, he shall die in his sin, and his righteousness which he hath done shall not be remembered; but his blood will I require at thine hand.

righteousness . Heb, is plural in margin, but some codices, with one early printed edition, read "righteous deeds" (plural) in text and margin
sin. Hebrew chata. App-44 .

21.

Nevertheless if thou warn the righteous man, that the righteous sin not, and he doth not sin, he shall surely live, because he is warned; also thou hast delivered thy soul.

shall surely live . See note on "shall surely die" (Ezekiel 3:18 ).
is warned = took warning.

22.

And the hand of the LORD was there upon me; and he said unto me, Arise, go forth into the plain, and I will there talk with thee.

plain = valley.

23.

Then I arose, and went forth into the plain: and, behold, the glory of the LORD stood there, as the glory which I saw by the river of Chebar: and I fell on my face.

behold . Figure of speech Asterismos. App-6 . the glory, Sc. See note on Ezekiel 1:28 .

24.

Then the spirit entered into me, and set me upon my feet, and spake with me, and said unto me, Go, shut thyself within thine house.

25.

But thou, O son of man, behold, they shall put bands upon thee, and shall bind thee with them, and thou shalt not go out among them:

26.

And I will make thy tongue cleave to the roof of thy mouth, that thou shalt be dumb, and shalt not be to them a reprover: for they are a rebellious house.

a reprover = a man of reproof. Compare Ezekiel 24:27 ; Ezekiel 29:21 ; Ezekiel 33:22 .
heareth = is minded to hear.
let him. = will.
forbeareth = is minded to forbear.

27.

But when I speak with thee, I will open thy mouth, and thou shalt say unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD; He that heareth, let him hear; and he that forbeareth, let him forbear: for they are a rebellious house.