Ezekiel and the Book of His Prophecy

MURRAY AND GIBB, PRINTERS, EDINBURGH.

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4-23-1932

PREFACE TO THE SECOND EDITION.

It is sometime since the first impression of the following Exposition was exhausted; and the opportunity, which the call for a New Edition has presented, of introducing a few alterations and improvements has not been neglected. The changes, however, are not material, as regards the substance of the work, or even the interpretation of particular parts. On a very few passages only, and these not of primary moment, has a different view been presented from the one formerly given. But the Exposition has been rendered more uniform by a translation of the whole Book, while in the first edition, this was limited to the more difficult parts; and that has necessarily led to a number of minor changes and re-adjustments. It has also rendered necessary the printing of the translation in a smaller type, as otherwise the size, and consequently the expense of the volume, must have been increased beyond what was deemed advisable. An Introduction, besides, has been prefixed, in which certain topics of a preliminary kind, that were not altogether omitted in the former edition, but rather too briefly noticed, have been more fully discussed. These, which constitute the chief alterations in matter and form, it is hoped, will be found to have added somewhat to the usefulness of the volume.

The reception it has met with in its first shape has been, for the most part, so favourable and encouraging, that anything beyond the grateful acknowledgments of the author would be here out of place. He did not expect that all would agree with him in the views embodied in his interpretations, or would entirely approve of the form which he has given to his Exposition. Some,

he has observed, have sought to account for the latter, by supposing it to have been, in the first instance, preached to a congregation. In this, he takes leave to state, they are mistaken ; and it is on principle, and from a regard merely to what he thinks should be found in an Exposition of the Word of God, and in particular of the writings of Ezekiel, that he has introduced so much of the spiritual and practical element. But, as this point has been noticed in the Introduction, it is needless to say more on it at present. If the volume shall be made, by the Divine blessing, instrumental in promoting a more exact acquaintance with this portion of Prophecy, or advancing the study of the prophetic Word in general, the great desire of the Author will be fulfilled.

ABERDEEN, May 1855.

CHAP. I.-The Time and Manner of Ezekiel's Entering on the Prophetical

CHAP. III. 12-27.-Ezekiel's Entrance on his Mission, and the First Message
imparted to Him,

CHAP. IV. The Vision of the Siege and the Iniquity-Bearing,
CHAP. V. VI.-The Vision of the Shorn Hair, and its Foreshadowing Deso-
lations,

CHAP. VII.-Lamentation over the Guilt and Fall of Israel,

CHAP. VIII. The Vision of the Image of Jealousy, and other Abominations
at Jerusalem,

CHAP. IX. The Vision of the Sealing,

CHAP. X.-The Vision of the Coals of Fire,

100

CHAP. XI.-Destruction of a Corrupt Priesthood, with the Promise of Grace
and Blessing to a Believing Remnant among the Exiles,
CHAP. XII.-The Vision of Ezekiel's Typical Removing as an Exile, and
accompanying Instructions,

CHAP. XIII.—The False in Prophecy, its Character and Doom,

126

CHAP. XIV. Hypocritical Inquirers after God-their Wickedness Discovered
and Rebuked,

141

CHAP. XV.-The Guilt and Condemnation of Israel Parabolically Represented,
CHAP. XVI.-The Story of Israel's Guilt and Punishment,
CHAP. XVII.-The Parable of the Two Great Eagles, and the Cropping of
the Cedar of Lebanon,

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CHAP. XIX.-The Lamentation Over the Fall of the Royal House,
CHAP. XX. 1-44.-A Display of the People's Long-continued Sinfulness, and
the Lord's Long-Suffering-Mercy and Goodness,
CHAP. XX. 45-49.-XXI.-The Vision of the Lord's Fire and Sword,
CHAP. XXII.-The Lord's Judgment upon the All-Pervading Sinfulness of
Jerusalem,

202

209

230

247

CHAP. XXIII.—The Story of Israel's Sin and Punishment Parabolically Exhi-
bited under the Names of Aholah and Aholibah,

CHAP. XXIV.-The Vision of the Boiling Caldron, and of the Death of
Ezekiel's Wife,

258

CHAP. XXV.-The Judgment of Israel's Immediate Neighbours and Rivals—
Ammon, Moab, Edom, and the Philistines,

270

CHAP. XXVI.-The Judgment of Tyre,

281

CHAP. XXVII.-The Lamentation upon Tyre, with an Account of Her Former

Greatness and Prosperity,

297

Page

CHAP. XXVIII. 1-19.-The Criminatory Address to the King of Tyre, and
the Lamentation Over His Coming Downfal,

303

CHAP. XXVIII. 20-26.-The Judgment of Sidon, and the Ultimate Peace of
Israel,

316

CHAP. XXIX.-The Judgment of Egypt, its Desolation for Forty Years and
Subsequent Degradation- the First Instrument of Chastisement,
Nebuchadnezzar,

321

CHAP. XXX.-Continuation of Egypt's Judgment,

335

CHAP. XXXI.-The Certainty of Pharaoh's Doom Confirmed, by a Parabolical
Relation of Assyria's Greatness and Destruction,

340

CHAP. XXXII.-Songs of Lamentation Over the Fall of Pharaoh and his
Kingdom,

CHAP. XXXIII.-Renewal of Ezekiel's Commission, his Office as Watchman,
CHAP. XXXIV.-The Promise of the True Shepherd, after the False Shep-
herds have been Punished and Removed,

354

366

CHAP. XXXV.-The Judgment of Edom,

381

CHAP. XXXVI.-Israel Revenged and Comforted-the New Heart and the
Blissful Heritage,

CHAP. XXXVII.-The Vision of the Dry Bones Restored to Life again, as
Symbolical of Israel's Death and Resurrection,

400

CHAP. XXXVIII.—XXXIX.—The Assault of Gog and His Destruction,
Preliminary Remarks on the Vision in Chap. XL.-XLVIII., with Respect to
the Principles on which it ought to be interpreted,
CHAP. XL. 1-48.-The Position, Walls, Gates, and Courts of the Temple,
CHAP. XL. 48, 49.-XLI.-The Temple Itself, .