Ver. 1. And the word of the Lord came unto me.] Junius observeth that this and the two following prophecies, viz., those in Eze. 7,8, were delivered on the Sabbath day; that is the proper season for preaching.
Ver. 2. Set thy face toward the mountains of Israel,] i.e., The Jews, who are haughty, and hard as mountains, who are asperi et inculti, rough and rude, as mountaineers use to be. In Mount Olivet itself, besides other mountains, they boldly set up their idols, even in the sight of the Lord; so that he never looked out of the sanctuary but he beheld that vile hill of abominations; called therefore, by an elegant alliteration, the Hill of Corruption. (2 Kings 23:13)
Ver. 3. Behold, I, even I, will bring a sword upon you.] Because ye are polluted by man’s sins, and so made hateful unto me. For as God thinks the better of the places wherein he is sincerely served, yea, where his saints are born, (Psalms 87:5) or make abode, (Isaiah 49:16) so the worse of such places where Satan’s seat is.
Ver. 4. Your images shall be broken down.] Heb., Your sun images, whence also Jupiter Hammon had his name, which Macrobius saith was the same with the sun. See 2 Chronicles 23:5. And I will cast down your slain men.] Cruentatos vulneratos, vel interfectos vestros; such as when wounded, fly to their idols for safety. Before your idols.] Heb., Your dii stercorei, dunghill deities, more loathsome than any excrements. Lib. i. Sat., cap. 23.
Ver. 5. And I will lay the dead carcases of the children of Israel, &c.] That in the very places where they have sinned there they may suffer. So in the valley of Hinnom, and at Pilate’s praetorium, &c.
Ver. 6. In all your dwelling places.] Omnia everram et evertam funditus. I will turn all topsy-turvy. Your works shall be abolished.] Those toilsome toys, your idols and monuments of idolatry. This the prophet telleth them again and again, that he might waken them, and work them to repentance.
Ver. 7. And ye shall know that I am the Lord.] That I am dicti mei Dominus, one that will be as good as my word. So shall all, not idolaters only, but broachers of heresies also, quae furore et foetere cultores suos faciunt, saith Oecolampadius here.
Ver. 8. Yet will I leave a remnant.] For royal use. See on Ezekiel 5:3.
Ver. 9. And they that escape of you shall remember me.] Here beginneth that true repentance never to be repented of. (Psalms 22:27 20:7) Because I am broken off from their whorish heart,] i.e., I am troubled, saith Piscator. I am tired out, saith Zegedine, and made to break off the course of my kindness. I am broken off from their whorish heart—so Polanus rendereth it; that is, saith he, I leave them, though loath to do it: the breach is merely on their part; for they have an impetus, a spirit of whoredoms in them, that causeth them to err, and go whoring from under their God. (Hosea 4:12 9:1) And with their eyes.] Those windows of wickedness through which the devil (who is ειδωλοχαρης, as saith Synesius) doth oft wind himself into the soul. And they shall loathe themselves.] They shall displease themselves, saith the Vulgate; but that is not enough. Pudefient in faciebus suis, say others. They shall bleed inwardly, and blush outwardly, deeply detesting their former abominations, and not waiting till others condemn them, they shall condemn themselves. κοψονται.— Sept.
Ver. 10. And they shall know.] By woeful experience. He that trembleth not in sinning shall be crushed to pieces in feeling, said blessed Bradford. And that I have not said in vain.] In terrorem only,
Ver. 11. Thus saith the Lord God.] Sic ait Dominator Dominus. Smite with thine hand.] Manibus pedibusque obnixe omnia facito; do thine utmost by gestures and speeches to make this stupid people perceive their sin and danger. Alas for all the evil abominations.] Propter omnes abominationes pessimas; we cannot call sin bad enough; the worst word in a man’s belly is too good for it. O perdita Israel, dicere vult, quae tot malas abominationes operata es, &c. Oecolamp.
Ver. 12. He that is far off shall die of the pestilence.] Pluribus verbis hunc locum tractat. Ointments must not only be laid upon the part that acheth, but also robbed and chafed in; so must menaces and promises, that they may soak and sink into the soul.
Ver. 13. Then shall ye know that I am the Lord.] Vexatio dabit intellectum; smart shall make wit. See Ezekiel 6:10. Four times in this chapter are these words used: Verba toties inculcata, viva sunt, vera sunt, sana sunt, plana sunt. The words are driven home often, they are alive, they are true, they are wholesome, they are plain. Among their idols.] See on Ezekiel 6:4. Where they did offer sweet savour.] Idolatry is costly. Augustine.
Ver. 14. Than the wilderness toward Diblath.] Which was horriditate nobile, bordering upon that terrible howling wilderness mentioned by Moses. (Deuteronomy 8:15 Jeremiah 48:22)