This chapter is of the same argument with the former; and contains a type of Jerusalem’s destruction; an explanation of that type; what were the reasons of God’s judgments on that city; and the nature, rise, and end of them. The type is in Ezek. 5:1–4; the explanation of that type is in Ezek.

And thou, son of man, take thee a sharp knife Or, “sword” [[11]]. The word signifies any sharp instrument, by which anything is cut off, or cut asunder; what is here meant is explained by the following: take thee a barber’s razor.

Thou, shall burn with fire a third part in the midst of the city Of Jerusalem, as portrayed upon the tile, ; or the prophet was now in Chaldea. The burning of the third part of the hair with fire denotes such who were destroyed by the pestilence and famine during the siege; see ; or it denotes the…

Thou shall also take thereof a few in number These are they that were left in the land of Judea by Nebuzaradan, for vinedressers and husbandmen, and such as returned out of Egypt into the land of Judah, ; and bind them in thy skirts; in the pockets of them; signifying both the very small number of…

Then take of them again Of that small number preserved: and cast them into the midst of the fire, and burn them in the fire: this was fulfilled in Gedaliah and the Jews that were with him, over whom the king of Babylon had made him governor, who were slain by Ishmael, ; for thereof shall a fire…

Thus saith the Lord God, this is Jerusalem A type or sign of it; it may refer to both the former and latter type. It is the city of Jerusalem that is designed by the city portrayed upon the tile; and the same is signified by the head of the prophet that was to be shaved; that being not only the…

And she hath changed my judgments into wickedness more than the nations So they changed their glory for that which did not profit; and the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man; and the truth of God into a lie, (Rom. 1:23, Rom.

Therefore thus saith the Lord God Having observed their sins, and which are still enlarged upon, the Lord proceeds to denounce his judgments against them: because ye multiplied more than the nations that are round about you; not in numbers, nor in wealth and riches, or in blessings and privileges,…

Therefore thus saith the Lord God, behold, even I, am against thee Or, “behold, I am against thee, even I” [[19]]; who am the Lord God omnipotent, great King, and a dreadful one; and a terrible thing it is for a people to have the mighty God against them; or for any to fall into the hands of the…

And I will do in thee that which I have not done In any other nation, or to any other people; not in the old world, when the flood was brought upon the world of the ungodly; not in Sodom and Gomorrah, when they were destroyed by fire from heaven; not in Egypt, when he inflicted his plagues on…

Therefore the fathers shall eat the sons in the midst of thee, &c.] Which was long ago threatened by the Lord, and prophesied of by Moses, (Deut. 28:53, Deut. 28:55, Deut.

Wherefore, as I live, saith the Lord God This is a form of an oath, and shows that what is after said should certainly be done; God would not repent of it, nor revoke it: surely, because thou hast defiled my sanctuary, with all thy detestable things, and with all thine abominations: that is, with…

A third part of them shall die with the pestilence This, with what follows, explains the division of the hair into the three parts, and what was done with them; and shows that the burning of one third part denotes their being destroyed by the pestilence, mentioned along with burning coals, ; and by…

Thus shall mine anger be accomplished Finished, perfected, consummated, by bringing the above judgments upon them, pestilence, famine, and sword, and by scattering them to every wind: what had been threatened long, and only some drops of it were let fall in times past, now was poured forth to the…

Moreover I will make thee waste That is, their land; which, being without inhabitants, lay untilled; and so became barren and unfruitful: and a reproach among the nations that are round about thee, in the sight of all that pass by; who, seeing it in this desolate condition, shall throw out their…

So it shall be a reproach and a taunt The subject of the reproaches and taunts of the enemy; see ; this is repeated for the greater confirmation of it: an instruction; or “discipline”, or “correction” [[22]].

When I shall send upon them the evil arrows of famines Either famine itself, which is as an arrow; it is taken out of the quiver of the Lord of hosts, and is shot by him; and moves swiftly when it has a commission; and is very destructive: or arrows which bring on a famine, such as drought,…

So will I send upon you famine, and evil beasts Famine is repeated for the further confirmation of it; and “evil beasts” are added, by whom are meant, not the Chaldeans, comparable to such; but literally lions, wolves, hears which are threatened the Jews, in case of disobedience, ; and which…