Page 124 - NOTES ON EZEKIEL

118 NOTES ON EZEKIEL.
image, a truth which the Gentiles soon forgot and lost)
was deeply ingrained and unblushingly committed,
without care to conceal it, so would Jehovah deal in
His retribution.
Inverses 9—14 we see that Jerusalem should be taken
and destroyed after no superficial sort; and this is de­
scribed in continuance of the former allegory. For now
Jehovah lets it be known that not only should the bones
be burnt, but the city itself under the emblem of the
caldron set no longer with water but empty on the coals,
that its copper might glow, and its filthiness be smelt
in its midst, and its scum be consumed. “ With frauds
it wearied itself; and the greatness of its scum goeth
not off from it: into the fire its scum ! In thy unclean­
ness is incest: because I cleansed thee and thou wouldst
not be cleansed, thou shalt not be cleansed from thy
uncleanness any more till I have caused my fury to rest
on thee. I Jehovah have spoken: it cometh to pass, I
will do it; I will not go back, nor have pity, nor repent:
according to thy ways and according to thy doings shall
they judge thee, saith the Lord Jehovah.” Disciplinary
measures had long failed, proper government according
to His law was despised. Let the haughtiest and most
cruel of earthly marauders come and execute the divine
decree now fixed.
The prophet is next called to fear himself a stroke
from God of the most intimate kind, if by any means
the captives at the Chebar could be forced to feel the
seriousness of the crisis and of that rebellious denial of
the true God which had brought judgment on the Jews.
“ And the word of Jehovah came unto me, saying, Son
of man, behold, I take away from thee the desire of