1Also, thou sonH1121 of manH120, prophesyH5012 unto the mountainsH2022 of IsraelH3478, and sayH559, Ye mountainsH2022 of IsraelH3478, hearH8085 the wordH1697 of the LORDH3068: 2Thus saithH559 the LordH136 GODH3069; Because the enemyH341 hath saidH559 against you, AhaH1889, even the ancientH5769 high placesH1116 are ours in possessionH4181: 3Therefore prophesyH5012 and sayH559, Thus saithH559 the LordH136 GODH3069; Because they have made you desolateH8074, and swallowed you upH7602 on every sideH5439, that ye might be a possessionH4181 unto the residueH7611 of the heathenH1471, and ye are taken upH5927 in the lipsH8193 of talkersH3956, and are an infamyH1681 of the peopleH5971: 4Therefore, ye mountainsH2022 of IsraelH3478, hearH8085 the wordH1697 of the LordH136 GODH3069; Thus saithH559 the LordH136 GODH3069 to the mountainsH2022, and to the hillsH1389, to the riversH650, and to the valleysH1516, to the desolateH8074 wastesH2723, and to the citiesH5892 that are forsakenH5800, which became a preyH957 and derisionH3933 to the residueH7611 of the heathenH1471 that are round aboutH5439; 5Therefore thus saithH559 the LordH136 GODH3069; Surely in the fireH784 of my jealousyH7068 have I spokenH1696 against the residueH7611 of the heathenH1471, and against all IdumeaH123, which have appointedH5414 my landH776 into their possessionH4181 with the joyH8057 of all their heartH3824, with despitefulH7589 mindsH5315, to cast it outH4054 for a preyH957. 6ProphesyH5012 therefore concerning the landH127 of IsraelH3478, and sayH559 unto the mountainsH2022, and to the hillsH1389, to the riversH650, and to the valleysH1516, Thus saithH559 the LordH136 GODH3069; Behold, I have spokenH1696 in my jealousyH7068 and in my furyH2534, because ye have borneH5375 the shameH3639 of the heathenH1471: 7Therefore thus saithH559 the LordH136 GODH3069; I have lifted upH5375 mine handH3027, Surely the heathenH1471 that are aboutH5439 you, they shall bearH5375 their shameH3639. 8But ye, O mountainsH2022 of IsraelH3478, ye shall shoot forthH5414 your branchesH6057, and yieldH5375 your fruitH6529 to my peopleH5971 of IsraelH3478; for they are at handH7126 to comeH935 . 9For, behold, I am for you, and I will turnH6437 unto you, and ye shall be tilledH5647 and sownH2232 : 10And I will multiplyH7235 menH120 upon you, all the houseH1004 of IsraelH3478, even all of it: and the citiesH5892 shall be inhabitedH3427, and the wastesH2723 shall be buildedH1129 : 11And I will multiplyH7235 upon you manH120 and beastH929; and they shall increaseH7235 and bring fruitH6509 : and I will settleH3427 you after your old estatesH6927, and will do betterH2895 unto you than at your beginningsH7221: and ye shall knowH3045 that I am the LORDH3068. 12Yea, I will cause menH120 to walkH3212 upon you, even my peopleH5971 IsraelH3478; and they shall possessH3423 thee, and thou shalt be their inheritanceH5159, and thou shalt no moreH3254 henceforth bereaveH7921 them of men. 13Thus saithH559 the LordH136 GODH3069; Because they sayH559 unto you, Thou land devourest upH398 menH120, and hast bereavedH7921 thy nationsH1471; 14Therefore thou shalt devourH398 menH120 no more, neither bereaveH7921 H3782 thy nationsH1471 any more, saithH5002 the LordH136 GODH3069. 15Neither will I cause men to hearH8085 in thee the shameH3639 of the heathenH1471 any more, neither shalt thou bearH5375 the reproachH2781 of the peopleH5971 any more, neither shalt thou cause thy nationsH1471 to fallH3782 any more, saithH5002 the LordH136 GODH3069. 16Moreover the wordH1697 of the LORDH3068 came unto me, sayingH559, 17SonH1121 of manH120, when the houseH1004 of IsraelH3478 dweltH3427 in their own landH127, they defiledH2930 it by their own wayH1870 and by their doingsH5949: their wayH1870 was beforeH6440 me as the uncleannessH2932 of a removed womanH5079. 18Wherefore I pouredH8210 my furyH2534 upon them for the bloodH1818 that they had shedH8210 upon the landH776, and for their idolsH1544 wherewith they had pollutedH2930 it: 19And I scatteredH6327 them among the heathenH1471, and they were dispersedH2219 through the countriesH776: according to their wayH1870 and according to their doingsH5949 I judgedH8199 them. 20And when they enteredH935 unto the heathenH1471, whither they wentH935, they profanedH2490 my holyH6944 nameH8034, when they saidH559 to them, These are the peopleH5971 of the LORDH3068, and are gone forthH3318 out of his landH776. 21But I had pityH2550 for mine holyH6944 nameH8034, which the houseH1004 of IsraelH3478 had profanedH2490 among the heathenH1471, whither they wentH935 . 22Therefore sayH559 unto the houseH1004 of IsraelH3478, Thus saithH559 the LordH136 GODH3069; I doH6213 not this for your sakes, O houseH1004 of IsraelH3478, but for mine holyH6944 name'sH8034 sake, which ye have profanedH2490 among the heathenH1471, whither ye wentH935 . 23And I will sanctifyH6942 my greatH1419 nameH8034, which was profanedH2490 among the heathenH1471, which ye have profanedH2490 in the midstH8432 of them; and the heathenH1471 shall knowH3045 that I am the LORDH3068, saithH5002 the LordH136 GODH3069, when I shall be sanctifiedH6942 in you before their eyesH5869. 24For I will takeH3947 you from amongH4480 the heathenH1471, and gatherH6908 you out of all countriesH776, and will bringH935 you into your own landH127. 25Then will I sprinkleH2236 cleanH2889 waterH4325 upon you, and ye shall be cleanH2891 : from all your filthinessH2932, and from all your idolsH1544, will I cleanseH2891 you. 26A newH2319 heartH3820 also will I giveH5414 you, and a newH2319 spiritH7307 will I putH5414 withinH7130 you: and I will take awayH5493 the stonyH68 heartH3820 out of your fleshH1320, and I will giveH5414 you an heartH3820 of fleshH1320. 27And I will putH5414 my spiritH7307 withinH7130 you, and causeH6213 you to walkH3212 in my statutesH2706, and ye shall keepH8104 my judgmentsH4941, and doH6213 them. 28And ye shall dwellH3427 in the landH776 that I gaveH5414 to your fathersH1; and ye shall be my peopleH5971, and I will be your GodH430. 29I will also saveH3467 you from all your uncleannessesH2932: and I will callH7121 for the cornH1715, and will increaseH7235 it, and layH5414 no famineH7458 upon you. 30And I will multiplyH7235 the fruitH6529 of the treeH6086, and the increaseH8570 of the fieldH7704, that ye shall receiveH3947 no more reproachH2781 of famineH7458 among the heathenH1471. 31Then shall ye rememberH2142 your own evilH7451 waysH1870, and your doingsH4611 that were not goodH2896, and shall lotheH6962 yourselves in your own sightH6440 for your iniquitiesH5771 and for your abominationsH8441. 32Not for your sakes doH6213 I this, saithH5002 the LordH136 GODH3069, be it knownH3045 unto you: be ashamedH954 and confoundedH3637 for your own waysH1870, O houseH1004 of IsraelH3478. 33Thus saithH559 the LordH136 GODH3069; In the dayH3117 that I shall have cleansedH2891 you from all your iniquitiesH5771 I will also cause you to dwellH3427 in the citiesH5892, and the wastesH2723 shall be buildedH1129 . 34And the desolateH8074 landH776 shall be tilledH5647, whereas it lay desolateH8077 in the sightH5869 of all that passed byH5674 . 35And they shall sayH559, ThisH1977 landH776 that was desolateH8074 is become like the gardenH1588 of EdenH5731; and the wasteH2720 and desolateH8074 and ruinedH2040 citiesH5892 are become fencedH1219, and are inhabitedH3427 . 36Then the heathenH1471 that are leftH7604 round aboutH5439 you shall knowH3045 that I the LORDH3068 buildH1129 the ruinedH2040 places, and plantH5193 that that was desolateH8074 : I the LORDH3068 have spokenH1696 it, and I will doH6213 it. 37Thus saithH559 the LordH136 GODH3069; I will yet for this be enquiredH1875 of by the houseH1004 of IsraelH3478, to doH6213 it for them; I will increaseH7235 them with menH120 like a flockH6629. 38As the holyH6944 flockH6629, as the flockH6629 of JerusalemH3389 in her solemn feastsH4150; so shall the wasteH2720 citiesH5892 be filledH4392 with flocksH6629 of menH120: and they shall knowH3045 that I am the LORDH3068.
Jamieson Fausset Brown Bible Commentary 1 ISRAEL AVENGED OF HER FOES, AND RESTORED, FIRST TO INWARD HOLINESS, THEN TO OUTWARD PROSPERITY. (Eze. 36:1-38)
mountains of Israel--in contrast to "Mount Seir" of the previous prophecy. They are here personified; Israel's elevation is moral, not merely physical, as Edom's. Her hills are "the everlasting hills" of Jacob's prophecy (
Gen 49:26). "The enemy" (Edom, the singled-out representative of all God's foes), with a shout of exultation, "Aha!" had claimed, as the nearest kinsman of Israel (the brother of their father Esau), his vacated inheritance; as much as to say, the so-called "everlasting" inheritance of Israel and of the "hills," which typified the unmoved perpetuity of it (
Ps 125:1-
Ps 125:2), has come to an end, in spite of the promise of God, and has become "ours" (compare
Deut 32:13;
Deut 33:15).
3 Literally, "Because, even because."
swallowed you up--literally, "panted after" you, as a beast after its prey; implying the greedy cupidity of Edom as to Israel's inheritance (
Ps 56:1-
Ps 56:2).
lips of talkers--literally, "lips of the tongue," that is, of the slanderer, the man of tongue. Edom slandered Israel because of the connection of the latter with Jehovah, as though He were unable to save them.
Deut 28:37, and
Jer 24:9 had foretold Israel's reproach among the heathen (
Dan 9:16).
4 Inanimate creatures are addressed, to imply that the creature also, as it were, groans for deliverance from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God (
Rom 8:19-
Rom 8:21) [POLANUS]. The completeness of the renewed blessedness of all parts of the land is implied.
derision-- (
Ps 79:4).
5 to cast it out for a prey--that is, to take the land for a prey, its inhabitants being cast out. Or the land is compared to a prey cast forth to wild beasts. FAIRBAIRN needlessly alters the Hebrew pointing and translates, "that they may plunder its pasturage."
6 the shame of the heathen--namely, the shame with which the heathen cover you (
Ps 123:3-
Ps 123:4).
7 lifted . . . mine hand--in token of an oath (
Ezek 20:5;
Gen 14:22).
they shall bear their shame--a perpetual shame; whereas the "shame" which Israel bore from these heathen was only for a time.
8 they are at hand to come--that is the Israelites are soon about to return to their land. This proves that the primary reference of the prophecy is to the return from Babylon, which was "at hand," or comparatively near. But this only in part fulfilled the prediction, the full and final blessing in future, and the restoration from Babylon was an earnest of it.
10 wastes builded--
Isa 58:12;
Isa 61:4;
Amos 9:11-
Amos 9:12,
Amos 9:14, where, as here (
Ezek 34:23-
Ezek 34:24), the names of David, Messiah's type, and Edom, Israel's foe, are introduced in connection with the coming restoration.
11 do better . . . than at your beginnings--as in the case of Job (
Job 42:12). Whereas the heathen nations fall irrevocably, Israel shall be more than restored; its last estate shall exceed even its first.
12 to walk upon you--O mountains of Israel (
Ezek 36:8)!
thee . . . thou--change from plural to singular: O hill of Zion, singled out from the other mountains of Israel (
Ezek 34:26); or land.
thou shall no more . . . bereave them of men--Thou shalt no more provoke God to bereave them of children (so the ellipsis ought to be supplied, as Ezekiel probably alludes to
Jer 15:7, "I will bereave them of children").
13 Thou land devourest up men--alluding to the words of the spies (
Num 13:32). The land personified is represented as doing that which was done in it. Like an unnatural mother it devoured, that is, it was the grave of its people; of the Canaanites, its former possessors, through mutual wars, and finally by the sword of Israel; and now, of the Jews, through internal and external ills; for example, wars, famine (to which
Ezek 36:30, "reproach of famine among the heathen," implies the allusion here is).
14 bereave--so the Keri, or Hebrew Margin reads, to correspond to "bereave" in
Ezek 36:13; but "cause to fall" or "stumble," in the Hebrew text or Chetib, being the more difficult reading, is the one least likely to come from a corrector; also, it forms a good transition to the next subject, namely, the moral cause of the people's calamities, namely, their falls, or stumblings through sin. The latter ceasing, the former also cease. So the same expression follows in
Ezek 36:15, "Neither shalt thou cause thy nations to fall any more."
17 removed woman-- (
Lev 15:19, &c.).
18 The reason for their removal was their sin, which God's holiness could not let pass unpunished; just as a woman's legal uncleanness was the reason for her being separated from the congregation.
20 profaned my holy name, when they--the heathen
said to them--the Israelites.
These, &c.--The Israelites gave a handle of reproach to the heathen against God, who would naturally say, These who take usury, oppress, commit adultery, &c., and who, in such an abject plight, are "gone forth" as exiles "out of His land," are specimens of what Jehovah can or will effect, for His people, and show what kind of a God this so-called holy, omnipotent, covenant-keeping God must be! (
Isa 52:5;
Rom 2:24).
21 I had pity for mine holy name--that is, I felt pity for it; God's own name, so dishonored, was the primary object of His pitying concern; then His people, secondarily, through His concern for it [FAIRBAIRN].
22 not . . . for your sakes--that is, not for any merit in you; for, on the contrary, on your part, there is everything to call down continued severity (compare
Deut 9:5-
Deut 9:6). The sole and sure ground of hope was God's regard to "His own name," as the God of covenant grace (
Ps 106:45), which He must vindicate from the dishonor brought on it by the Jews, before the heathen.
23 sanctify--vindicate and manifest as holy, in opposition to the heathen reproaches of it brought on by the Jews' sins and their punishment (see on
Ezek 36:20).
sanctified in you--that is, in respect of you; I shall be regarded in their eyes as the Holy One, and righteous in My dealings towards you (
Ezek 20:41;
Ezek 28:22).
24 Fulfilled primarily in the restoration from Babylon; ultimately to be so in the restoration "from all countries."
25 The external restoration must be preceded by an internal one. The change in their condition must not be superficial, but must be based on a radical renewal of the heart. Then the heathen, understanding from the regenerated lives of God's people how holy God is, would perceive Israel's past troubles to have been only the necessary vindications of His righteousness. Thus God's name would be "sanctified" before the heathen, and God's people be prepared for outward blessings.
sprinkle . . . water--phraseology taken from the law; namely, the water mixed with the ashes of a heifer sprinkled with a hyssop on the unclean (
Num 19:9-
Num 19:18); the thing signified being the cleansing blood of Christ sprinkled on the conscience and heart (
Heb 9:13-
Heb 9:14;
Heb 10:22; compare
Jer 33:8;
Eph 5:26).
from all your idols--Literal idolatry has ceased among the Jews ever since the captivity; so far, the prophecy has been already fulfilled; but "cleansing from all their idols," for example, covetousness, prejudices against Jesus of Nazareth, is yet future.
26 new heart--mind and will.
spirit--motive and principle of action.
stony heart--unimpressible in serious things; like the "stony ground" (
Matt 13:5,
Matt 13:20), unfit for receiving the good seed so as to bring forth fruit.
heart of flesh--not "carnal" in opposition to "spiritual"; but impressible and docile, fit for receiving the good seed. In
Ezek 18:31 they are commanded, "Make you a new heart, and a new spirit." Here God says, "A new heart will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you." Thus the responsibility of man, and the sovereign grace of God, are shown to be coexistent. Man cannot make himself a new heart unless God gives it (
Phil 2:12-
Phil 2:13).
27 my spirit-- (
Ezek 11:19;
Jer 32:39). The partial reformation at the return from Babylon (
Ezra 10:6, &c.; Neh. 8:1-9:38) was an earnest of the full renewal hereafter under Messiah.
28 ye . . . my people, . . . I . . . your God-- (
Ezek 11:20;
Jer 30:22).
29 save . . . from all . . . uncleannesses--the province of Jesus, according to the signification of His name (
Matt 1:21). To be specially exercised in behalf of the Jews in the latter days (
Rom 11:26).
call for . . . corn--as a master "calls for" a servant; all the powers and productions of nature are the servants of Jehovah (
Ps 105:16;
Matt 8:8-
Matt 8:9). Compare as to the subordination of all the intermediate agents to the Great First Cause, who will give "corn" and all good things to His people,
Hos 2:21-
Hos 2:22;
Zech 8:12.
30 no more reproach of famine among the heathen--to which their taunt (
Ezek 36:13), "Thou land devourest up men," in part referred.
31 remember your . . . evil ways--with shame and loathing. The unexpected grace and love of God, manifested in Christ to Israel, shall melt the people into true repentance, which mere legal fear could not (
Ezek 16:61,
Ezek 16:63;
Ps 130:4;
Zech 12:10; compare
Jer 33:8-
Jer 33:9).
35 they shall say--The heathen, who once made Israel's desolation a ground of reproach against the name of Jehovah Himself (
Ezek 36:20-
Ezek 36:21); but now He so vindicates its sanctity (
Ezek 36:22-
Ezek 36:23) that these same heathen are constrained to acknowledge Israel's more than renewed blessedness to be God's own work, and a ground for glorifying His name (
Ezek 36:36).
Eden--as Tyre (the type of the world powers in general: so Assyria, a cedar "in the garden of God, Eden,"
Ezek 31:8-
Ezek 31:9), in original advantages, had been compared to "Eden, the garden of God" (
Ezek 28:13), from which she had fallen irrecoverably; so Israel, once desolate, is to be as "the garden of Eden" (
Isa 51:3), and is to be so unchangeably.
36 Lord . . . spoken . . . do it-- (
Num 23:19).
37 I will yet for this be inquired of--so as to grant it. On former occasions He had refused to be inquired of by Israel because the inquirers were not in a fit condition of mind to receive a blessing (
Ezek 14:3;
Ezek 20:3). But hereafter, as in the restoration from Babylon (Neh. 8:1-9:38; Dan. 9:3-20, 21, 23), God will prepare His people's hearts (
Ezek 36:26) to pray aright for the blessings which He is about to give (
Ps 102:13-
Ps 102:17,
Ps 102:20;
Zech 12:10-
Zech 12:14;
Zech 13:1).
like a flock--resuming the image (
Ezek 34:23,
Ezek 34:31).
38 As the holy flock--the great flock of choice animals for sacrifice, brought up to Jerusalem at the three great yearly festivals, the passover, pentecost, and feast of the tabernacles.
Three stages in Israel's revival present themselves to the prophet's eye. (1) The new awakening of the people, the resurrection of the dead (
Ezek 37:1-
Ezek 37:14). (2) The reunion of the formerly hostile members of the community, whose contentions had affected the whole (
Ezek 37:15-
Ezek 37:28). (3) The community thus restored is strong enough to withstand the assault of Gog, &c. (Eze. 38:1-39:29) [EWALD].