Notes and Comments

Calvin's Commentaries, Vol. 23: Ezekiel, Part II, tr. by John King, [1847-50], at sacred-texts.com

NOTES AND COMMENTS

BY THE EDITOR.

THE PROMISED CONTRIBUTION TOWARDS A COMPLETE APPARATUS CRITICUS HAS BEEN ARRANGED AS FOLLOWS

— (See Translator’s Preface, Volume 1) —

SECTIONS 1, 2, AND 3, — Being Indexes, Are Placed At The End Of The Volume

SECTIONS 4, 5, 6, AND 7, — Now Follow One Another

SECTION 8 — Is Preceded By Its Own “List Of Contents.”

A COMPLETE SYNOPSIS

OF THE CONTENTS OF THE WHOLE OF EZEKIEL’S PROPHECIES.

1. THE PROPHET’S COMMISSION.

2. THE PROPHET’S UTTERANCES.

3. THE PROPHET’S CONSOLATIONS.

1. The Prophet’s Commission.

Ezekiel 1-3.

Section 1. Its Allegoric Character — the Whirlwinds — the Four Living Creatures — the Wheels — the Firmaments — the Throne and the Human Appearance seated thereon, Ezekiel 1.

Section 2. The Address — the Roll — the Abounding Lamentation, Ezekiel 2.

Section 3. The Rebellion of the People, the Motion of the Living Creatures — the Charge as a Watchman — the Hand of Jehovah by the river Chebar, Ezekiel 3.

2. The Prophet’s Utterances.

a. AGAINST THE JEWS,...Ezekiel 4-24.

The Utterances Against The Jews are divisible into those against Jerusalem — the Mountain and Land of Israel — the King — the False Prophets — the Elders of the People, with various repetitions, under different images.

Section 1. The Emblem of the Siege upon the Tile, Ezekiel 4:1-3 — that of Lying on the right and left side, Ezekiel 4:4-8 — that of Taking Food by Measure, Ezekiel 4:9-12 The Explanation, Ezekiel 4:13-17

Section 2. The Emblem of the Razor, Ezekiel 4:1-4 The Explanation, Ezekiel 5:5-17

Section 3. Against the Mountains of Israel, Ezekiel 6:1-15

Section 4. Against the Land of Israel, Ezekiel 7:1-27

Section 5. The Vision of the Image of Jealousy, Ezekiel 8:1-11 The Chamber of Imagery, Ezekiel 8:12-16 The Explanation, Ezekiel 8:17, 18

Section 6. The Vision of the man with the slaughter weapon, Ezekiel 9:1-11

Section 7. The Vision of the Cherubim — their description and their motions, Ezekiel 10:1-22

Section 8. The Emblems of the Caldron and the Flesh, and its application to Jerusalem, Ezekiel 11:1-25

Section 9. The Emblem of the Prophet’s removing his Goods, and its Interpretation, Ezekiel 12:1-16

Section 10. The flattering Proverb of Israel rebuked, Ezekiel 12:1 7-28

Section 11. The Utterance against the False Prophets, boot male and female, Ezekiel 13:1-23

Section 12. Against the Elders of the People, Ezekiel 14:1-23

Section 13. Tim Emblem of the Vine used for Fuel, Ezekiel 15:1-8

Section 14. The Emblem of Israel as an Outcast infant nurtured by the Almighty, Ezekiel 16:1-14 Married, and yet committing Adultery, Ezekiel 16:15-34 This Wickedness denounced and punished, Ezekiel 16:35-59 The Almighty’s merciful relenting, Ezekiel 16:60-63

Section 15. The Emblem of the Eagle and the Cedar, Ezekiel 17:1-10 The Explanation, referring to Zedekiah, Nebuchadnezzar, and Pharaoh, Ezekiel 17:11-24

Section 16. A Vindication of the Divine Justice, and Confutation of Israel’s Proverb, Ezekiel 18:1-32

Section 17. The Emblem of the Lioness and her Whelps, Ezekiel 19:1-9

Section 18. The Emblem of the Vine plucked up and consumed, Ezekiel 19:10-14

Section 19. The Elders of Israel rebuked for their sins, Ezekiel 20:1-32

Section 20. The Divine Promises of Restoration, Ezekiel 20:33-44

Section 21. The Word dropped toward the South, Ezekiel 20:45-49

Section 22. The Prophet’s face set toward Jerusalem, Ezekiel 21:1-7

Section 23. The Sharp Sword and the Great Slaughter, Ezekiel 21:8-27

Section 24. The Sword drawn against the Ammonites, Ezekiel 21:9­8-32

Section 25. The Sins of Jerusalem and God’s Vengeance, Ezekiel 22:1-22

Section 26. The Woes uttered against False Prophets, Ezekiel 22:23-31

Section 27. The Adulteries of the People, Ezekiel 23:1-49

Section 28. The Parable of the Boiling Pot, Ezekiel 24:1-14 The Prophet’s severe Affliction, Ezekiel 24:15-27

b. The Utterances against Gentiles.

Section 1. Against the Ammonites, Ezekiel 25:1-7

Section 2. Against the Moabites, Ezekiel 25:8-11

Section 3. Against the Edomites, Ezekiel 25:12-14,

Section 4. Against the Philistines, Ezekiel 25:15-17

Section 5. Against Tyre, through Ezekiel 26, Ezekiel 27, and Ezekiel 28:1-19.

Section 6. Against Zidon, Ezekiel 28:20-26

Section 7. Against Pharaoh, Ezekiel 29:1-7

Section 8. Against Egypt, Ezekiel 29:8-21

Section 9. Against Etillopia, Ezekiel 30:1-5

Section 10. Against the Upholders of Egypt, Ezekiel 30:6-19

Section 11. Against Pharaoh, Ezekiel 30:20-26

Section 12. Assyria as a Cedar of Lebanon, Ezekiel 31:1-9

Section 13. Its Fall and Destruction, Ezekiel 31:10-18

Section 14. A Bitter Lamentation over Egypt, Ezekiel 32:1-21

Section 15. A Bitter Lamentation over Assyria., Ezek. 32:22, 23

Section 16. A Bitter Lamentation over Elam, Ezek. 32:24, 25

Section 17. A Bitter Lamentation over Meshech and Tubal, Ezekiel 32:26-28

Section 18. A Bitter Lamentation over Edom, Ezekiel 32:29-32

These Utterances are all most vividly and graphically portrayed. Allegories, Metaphors, and Parables are most appropriately interspersed with fiery Denunciations and awful Threatenings in consequence of gross iniquities.

3. The Prophet’s Consolations.

A Series of Exhortations and Promises of Deliverance under Cyrus, a Description of the Temple, and a View of the Future Divisions of the Land under the Prosperous Reign of Messiah.

Section 1. The Prophet’s duty as a Watchman, Ezekiel 33:1-16

Section 2. A Vindication of God’s equity, Ezekiel 33:17-33

Section 3. A Reproof to the Shepherds of the People, Ezekiel 34:1-10

Section 4. The Almighty the Good Shepherd, Ezekiel 34:11-31

Section 5. The Desolation of Mount Seir, Ezekiel 35:1-15

Section 6. The Destruction of the Heathen, Ezekiel 36:1-7

Section 7. The Blessings on Israel, Ezekiel 36:8-38

Section 8. The Vision of the Dry Bones, Ezekiel 37:1-14

Section 9. The Rods of Judea and Ephraim, Ezekiel 37:15-20

Section 10. The Future Reign of David the King, Ezekiel 37:21-28

Section 11. Prophecies against Gog and Magog, Ezekiel 38:1-23

Section 12. Judgments upon Gog, Ezekiel 39:1-16

Section 13. The Great Sacrifice on the Mountains, Ezekiel 39:17-20

Section 14. Israel Restored from Captivity, Ezekiel 39:21-29

Section 15. The Vision of Measuring the Temple, Ezekiel 40:1-49

Section 16. The Measures and Ornaments, Ezekiel 41:1-26

Section 17. The Priests’ Chambers and the Outer Court, Ezekiel 42:1-20

Section 18. The Returning Glory of Jehovah, Ezekiel 43:1-9

Section 19. The Whole Fashion of The House, Ezekiel 43:10-12

Section 20. The Measurement of The Altar, Ezekiel 43:13-1 7

Section 21. The Sacrifices on The Altar, Ezekiel 43:8-27

Section 22. Various Ordinances for the Priests, Ezekiel 44:1-31

Section 23. The Apportionment of the Land, Ezekiel 45:1-8

Section 24. The Duties of the Priests, Ezekiel 45:9-25

Section 25. The Duties of the Prince and of the People, Ezekiel 46:1-25

Section 26. The Vision of the Rising Waters, Ezekiel 47:1-12

Section 27. The Divisions and Limits of the Land, Ezekiel 47:13-23

Section 28. The Portions for the Tribes and the Priests, Ezekiel 48:1-29

Section 29. The various Gates of the City, Ezekiel 48:30-35

These closing Visions and Consolations are singularly striking, and afford scope for copious illustration; but as our Commentator did not live to expound them, it would in become his Translator to obtrude on the reader his own research into these deep things of the Spirit of God.

A minute description of The Temple Scenery has been attempted by a learned Jew, Soloman Bennett, R.A. of Berlin, (Edit. London, 1834.) His work contains a most elaborate account of every interesting particular. Ezekiel 40, Ezekiel 41, and Ezekiel 42 are explained verse by verse; and a ground-plan and bird’s-eye view are subjoined.

These chapters are also explained by Fry on The Second Advent, volume 1. Section 13.