Ezekiel 21

Ezekiel 21:1-32 . PROPHECY AGAINST ISRAEL AND JERUSALEM, AND AGAINST AMMON.

2. the holy places--the three parts of the temple: the courts, the holy place, and the holiest. If "synagogues" existed before the Babylonian captivity, as Psalms 74:8 seems to imply, they and the proseuchæ, or oratories, may be included in the "holy places" here.

3. righteous . . . wicked--not contradictory of Ezekiel 18:4 Ezekiel 18:9 and Genesis 18:23 . Ezekiel here views the mere outward aspect of the indiscriminate universality of the national calamity. But really the same captivity to the "righteous" would prove a blessing as a wholesome discipline, which to the "wicked" would be an unmitigated punishment. The godly were sealed with a mark ( Ezekiel 9:4 ), not for outward exemption from the common calamity, but as marked for the secret interpositions of Providence, overruling even evil to their good. The godly were by comparison so few, that not their salvation but the universality of the judgment is brought into view here.

4. The "sword" did not, literally, slay all; but the judgments of God by the foe swept through the land "from the south to the north."

6. with the breaking of thy loins--as one afflicted with pleurisy; or as a woman, in labor-throes, clasps her loins in pain, and heaves and sighs till the girdle of the loins is broken by the violent action of the body ( Jeremiah 30:6 ).

7. The abrupt sentences and mournful repetitions imply violent emotions.

9. sword--namely, of God ( Deuteronomy 32:41 ). The Chaldeans are His instrument.

10. to make a sore slaughter--literally, "that killing it may kill."
glitter--literally, "glitter as the lightning flash": flashing terror into the foe.
should we . . . make mirth--It is no time for levity when such a calamity is impending ( Isaiah 22:12 Isaiah 22:13 ).
it contemneth the rod of my son, &c.--The sword has no more respect to the trivial "rod" or scepter of Judah ( Genesis 49:10 ) than if it were any common "tree." "Tree" is the image retained from Ezekiel 20:47 ; explained in Ezekiel 21:2 Ezekiel 21:3 . God calls Judah "My son" (compare Exodus 4:22 , Hosea 11:1 ). FAIRBAIRN arbitrarily translates, "Perchance the scepter of My son rejoiceth; it (the sword) despiseth every tree."

11. the slayer--the Babylonian king in this case; in general, all the instruments of God's wrath ( Revelation 19:15 ).

12. terrors by reason of the sword, &c.--rather, "they (the princes of Israel) are delivered up to the sword together with My people" [GLASSIUS].
smite . . . upon . . . thigh--a mark of grief ( Jeremiah 31:19 ).

13. it is a trial--rather, "There is a trial" being made: the sword of the Lord will subject all to the ordeal. "What, then, if it contemn even the rod" (scepter of Judah)? Compare as to a similar scourge of unsparing trial, Job 9:23 .
it shall be no more--the scepter, that is, the state, must necessarily then come to an end. Fulfilled in part at the overthrow of Judah by Nebuchadnezzar, but fully at the time of "Shiloh's" (Messiah's) coming ( Genesis 49:10 ), when Judea became a Roman province.