Ezek. 37 By the resurrection of dry bones the revival of the lost hope of Israel is prefigured, Ezek. 37:1–14. By the uniting of two sticks is showed the incorporation of Israel with Judah, Ezek. 37:15–19. Their blessings in union under Christ their king, Ezek. 37:20–28.

The hand; either the prophetic Spirit, as Ezek. 1:3, Ezek. 8:1, moving him to prophesy by this emblem; or else the Spirit of God carrying him visionally, not corporeally, as in Ezek. 8:0, into such a prospect or landscape.

Caused me; I was made to go round about them, in the same manner in which I was carried to see them. Round about; round, round, perhaps twice or oftener, to view them well. Behold: he reports what he observed remarkable. Very many; first for number, they were not only many, but very many, as Ezek.

He said; the Lord, who brought Ezekiel hither, asks him what he thought. Can these bones live? either, is it likely they should? or, is it a future thing that shall be, or possible, that they may live? Thou knowest: the prophet’s answer refers all to God, to whom all things are possible which argue…

The prophet had spoken often to things that could as little hear as these bones could, yet when they are deaf to a prophet, they will hear the prophet’s God. Ye dry bones, hear: alas, what, dry bones hear! no, not a syllable of this word.

My prophet prophesied and spake, but I, saith the Lord, only can and I will surely give life to them. When God had formed Adam’s body, as lifeless as these bones, he created him a living soul, by breathing into his face the breath of life; by a creating power he brings breath into these bones too.

Sinews tie the bones together. Flesh fills up the hollownesses, and being full of muscles helps motion. Skin, as the upper silken garment, covers all with a clear and blushing colour. Breath lastly must be added.

I prophesied; declared or pronounced these promises or gracious purposes of God concerning them. As I was commanded: whether it was thus or some other way, the prophet was commanded it, and so he did it; he spake to them which could not but be deaf to him, and which could not but hear when God…

The noise he heard would certainly make any one look, and consider what it was. I beheld; looked carefully, and heedfully observed. Came up upon them; came gradually, spreading itself, as what grows wider and longer. Above; uppermost the skin covered them.

Then said he; the Lord God. Unto me; to Ezekiel, viewing, and no doubt wondering at the sight. Prophesy; declare to that what my will is. Unto the wind, Heb. spirit; and it might be so rendered, but our version hath it wind, while the French hath it spirit, i.e.

I prophesied: see Ezek. 37:7. The breath, Heb. the spirit; the spirit of life, or the soul, Gen. 2:7. Came; entered, took up its abode. They lived; presently discovered that they did live. Stood up; rose with strength, able to support themselves.

The whole house; the hieroglyphic or emblem of the house of Israel. They say; think, discourse, and conclude. Our bones are dried; their state as hopeless, as far from recovery, as dried bones scattered abroad, and, undistinguished, heaped up, are from life.

Prophesy; tell them their mistake, and revive their hope by a new promise and declaration of my purposes of mercy towards them. Say unto them; these poor desponding, dejected Israelites.

When your restitution to your own land, and your prosperity in your land, when your growth to strength and power, shall be so miraculously effected, then you shall acknowledge and publish the glory of my power, faithfulness, goodness, and wisdom.

My spirit: see Ezek. 11:19, Ezek. 36:27. Ye shall live, joyful in, thankful for, and contented with the blessings I give. I shall place you; quietly and in rest settle you in your own habitations, and in your ancient possessions.

One stick; tablet, i.e. a writing tablet or a tally, such as is fitted to be written upon, or a rod, or staff, on which thou mayst write; the Hebrew calls it wood, without describing its form and fashion; but whatever its fashion was, it must be but one.

Join them: some would have this done miraculously, but I do not think God bade the prophet work a miracle; were it so, God would rather have said, I will make them one, for he can do miracles. It was enough if glued together, or but held in his hand, so that in his hand they were one.

When; so soon as. The children of thy people; to whom thou art watchman by office, and near of kin by natural descent. Wilt thou not? there was some reason why they might doubt whether he would, because they had carried it so, frowardly toward him; therefore they request it by an interrogatory,…

The stick of Joseph; on which Joseph’s name is written, and which represents Joseph. Which is in the hand of Ephraim; which was under the government of Ephraim; or thus, which is the tribe of Ephraim, the latter explaining the former. His fellows: Ezek. 37:16.

To affect them the more, and to assure them the more fully, let them see these two divided sticks made one in thy hand.

See this explained Ezek. 36:24. The children of Israel; the ten tribes, as well as Judah and Benjamin; at least, many of the ten tribes. Whither they be gone: the expression seems to look to them that were gone among the heathen by a voluntary peregrination, whether before the captivity or after it…

I will make them one nation: they were one in David’s time, who was type of the Messiah, and continued so to the end of Solomon’s time, whose name includes peace.

Defile themselves: idolatry is a very defiling sin, and the Jews in both kingdoms were exceedingly addicted to it, pertinacious in it, to the utter ruin of both kingdoms; but after the return from Babylonish captivity, we find no where that they fell to idolatry.

David: see Ezek. 34:23–24. It is the Son of David, who was also his Lord, that is here intended. My servant: the Messiah, in his mediatory office, is God’s servant and our Saviour. Over them; over their hearts, and rule there in spiritual manner.

They; the ten tribes and the two tribes. That I have given: see Ezek. 28:25. Your fathers, Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, whose memory you venerate, and greatly affect to be heirs more of their lands and houses than of their virtues and piety.

I will make; as it was my kindness to your fathers to give them, so shall it be to you to give you, my blessings on the sure and inviolable security of a covenant.

My tabernacle; the tabernacle of my presence, or wherein I will show my presence among them. Their fathers had a tabernacle of witness, so shall they; that was brought by Joshua into Canaan, but the Messiah shall bring with him a better, a spiritual and heavenly. I will be their God: see Ezek.

When Christ by his Spirit in gospel ordinances is among them, it shall appear they are a consecrated and a sanctified people.