Ezek. 14 God reproveth those hypocrites, who came to inquire of him with idolatry in their hearts, Ezek. 14:1–5. They are exhorted to repent, for fear of his judgments, Ezek. 14:6–11. No intercession shall save the guilty land from God’s judgment of famine, Ezek. 14:12–14, noisome beasts, Ezek.

Then, Heb. And, that we need not inquire the precise time of this prophecy. Certain of the elders; men of note, that were in office and power among the Jews, called here elders, &c. Of Israel; who were yet in Jerusalem; not the elders who were now, and had been some time, in Babylon.

These men; who probably were come from Jerusalem, sent by Zedekiah, and mentioned by Jeremiah, Jer. 51:59; some of the courtiers, who, more out of curiosity than religion, give a visit to this famous prophet.

Mince not the matter, lessen not, neither vary, what I say unto thee, but declare fully and undauntedly unto them, though great men, and who will compliment with thee.

That I may convince and pierce their very hearts, or lay open what is in their heart, and discover their hypocrisy and impiety; because they have shamefully followed idols, which now in their distress neither know the cause, or can frame a remedy; and what folly is it to choose such gods! what…

Unto the house of Israel; to these men the elders, whoever they are, give charge that they repent, and by them send word to the residue of the house of Jacob that they do so too. Repent; be sorry and testify your sorrow for such sins.

For every Jew of the seed of Abraham, and every proselyte, who withdraws himself from me, and worships idols, keeps them in his heart to the increase of their own sin and my displeasure, yet forsooth comes to the prophet to inquire how his God resenteth what they do, and what God will do with them,…

My face; my displeased face, my wrath, which none can bear; the phrase Lev. 17:10, Lev. 20:3, Ezek. 15:7. A sign of Divine vengeance, provoked by sin and executed on the sinner. A proverb; of whom every body shall speak with taunt and curse, Deut. 28:37.

The prophet, viz. the prophet who makes this his trade and gain, the false prophet, who speaks all serene and quiet, in hope of reward for his kind answer to those that desired to hear what might please them more than what God commanded, promised, or threatened.

There is so great parity in the folly and impiety of both seducing prophets and the seduced people, that it is hard to say whose sin is greatest. Their punishment shall be by the Lord made as like as they made their sin, and both shall be cut off and destroyed.

Afflictions ever tend to a good and necessary effect or end, for God’s glory, and his people’s good, and so it is here. The house of Israel; which are the seed of Jacob, and my people.

When; at what time soever. The land, put for the men that dwell in the land. By trespassing grievously; as a hypocritical, backsliding people, that give fair promises, but perform them not, rather act contrary to their professions, as the Hebrew intimateth. Upon it; against it.

These three men; most eminent for holy and upright walking with God, very dear to God, exceedingly desirous of the welfare of others, powerful in prayer.

Noisome beasts are one of the great plagues or armies that God hath always at his command. To pass through the land; to range over the land, and spoil their cattle, devour their servants and children, and destroy travellers, and make it as a wilderness.

As I live; a form of speech in which God by oath confirms what he speaketh, and it is such an oath as becomes him only, who is life, and cannot die. Neither sons nor daughters; neither sons that should perpetuate their families, and are the support of houses, nor daughters, the tenderness of whose…

He is Lord of hosts, and hath the militia of all the world in his hand, the sword is the right of the King of kings. Bring a sword; raise war, and send enemies to invade it. That land; what land soever it be.

Diseases are sent whenever they come, especially wasting diseases, which empty nations and cities apace. Pestilence; God’s arrow that flies from God’s bow.

Their own souls; their person, their life. By their righteousness; not meriting the deliverance, but yet the justice and mercy of God shall surely keep them from falling in the punishment who were kept from the sin.

Those three men, with their best interest, should not be able to keep off one of the four, much less able to keep off all four when I commission them all to go at once, as I will, nay, have done, against Jerusalem, to cut off the obstinate, incorrigible ones amidst it.

Therein; in Jerusalem itself, and in the land. A remnant; some that escape, for though none could prevail with God to prevent the emptying the city and the land, and cutting off the most, yet this was not to extend to the utter cutting off and destruction of all.

They that survive the siege, famine, and ruin of Jerusalem, and are brought to Babylon, shall comfort you; either confessing their faults in not doing as you had done, justifying the wise course they took who yielded, condemning the folly of hardening themselves against God, his judgments, and his…