Page 130 - NOTES ON EZEKIEL

124 NOTES ON EZEKIEL.

within the land of Palestine to the harassing and
oppression of Israel ? Did they rise up to avenge their
old grudges if they could not in their old grandeur ? God
was not unmindful. “ Thus saith the Lord Jehovah,
Because the Philistines have dealt by revenge, and have
taken vengeance with a despiteful heart, to destroy it
for the old hatred; therefore thus saith the Lord Je­
hovah, Behold, I will stretch out mine hand upon the
Philistines, and I will cut off the Cherethim, and
destroy the remnant of the sea coast. And I will
execute great vengeance upon them with furious re­
bukes; and they shall know that I am Jehovah, when
I shall lay my vengeance upon them.” (Ver. 15—17.)
Here the menace of divine judgments is intensely
strong. It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands ov
the living God when He avenges His people on their
haughty and spiteful foes.

CHAPTER XXVI.
Another city in the west has an exceptional im­
portance, the renowned city of Tyre, which drew down
upon itself Jehovah’s displeasure and judgment. It is
a lesson the more serious because Tyre does not appear
to have been animated by a spirit of hostility pure and
simple against Israel. It was rather commercial greed
which saw an opportunity of advantage in the disasters
vof the chosen people. This enticed the city into an
antagonism to Israel which Jehovah resented. For
His chastening of His people is no warrant for the